• Microsoft warns of TerminalFix, a campaign abusing compromised sites with fake Cloudflare CAPTCHAs
• Victims paste malicious PowerShell commands, sideloading DLLs and deploying a Python implant
• Implant enables encrypted reverse tunnels, giving attackers pivot access into internal networks

Security researchers from Microsoft are warning of an ongoing malicious campaign that uses compromised websites to trick users into installing a powerful backdoor.

Whenever people visited any of the tainted websites, they would see a custom overlay instructing them to complete a fake Cloudflare CAPTCHA verification by copying and running a malicious PowerShell command into Terminal, or PowerShell. Microsoft named the campaign “TerminalFix”, since it is rather similar to the classic ClickFix attack.

“While traditional ClickFix campaigns direct victims to the Windows Run dialog, TerminalFix campaigns apply the same technique but direct users to Windows Terminal or PowerShell instead, increasing the likelihood that complex, multi-line scripts execute successfully,” the researchers explained.

Look for lateral movement

Unlike classic ClickFix campaigns that try to deliver simple infostealers, TerminalFix tries to deploy a more complex solution. After running the command in the Terminal, the victim would receive two files - a legitimate binary, and a malicious DLL file. The binary would sideload the malicious DLL which, in turn, delivers a hidden payload called “client.py”.

It is a custom Python implant that creates an encrypted WebSocket connection back to the attackers and gives them SOCKS5-style proxy access into the victim’s internal network.

In other words, the attackers are deploying a remote-access/network tunneling implant that can connect to internal machines, probe domain controllers, run commands, maintain access after reboots and ultimately use the compromised machine as a pivot point for lateral movement.

“This type of intrusion is particularly dangerous because it provides attackers with direct access to an organization’s internal network through the reverse tunnel,” Microsoft explained. “The observed reconnaissance and reverse-tunnel capability could enable an attacker to identify and reach additional systems from a compromised host.”

Microsoft did not observe the attackers actually carrying out lateral movement, so it is difficult to say what they’re using the access for. Still, the researchers are urging caution:

“Organizations should treat affected devices as potential network pivot points and investigate for lateral movement and credential exposure. In the hands-on-keyboard phase that typically follows, attackers leverage this access to escalate privileges, disable security controls, exfiltrate sensitive data, and deploy ransomware across the organization.”

Over the past year, I've had countless conversations with treasury and payment teams at major banks, and I'm often asked the same question: how do we compete with wallet-native fintechs on cross-border payments? But as I tell these teams, this isn't the right question to be asking anymore. Banks no longer need to play catch-up; now they can play to win.

It starts with Swift's payments scheme: the rulebook, built with more than sixty banks, that commits participants to full-value delivery, upfront fee and FX transparency, and end-to-end tracking on international transfers. It's already live across major corridors.

And now the real-time domestic rails banks already use to move money instantly within a country are being extended to handle the cross-border leg of a transaction too. Together, banks can extend their reach into digital wallets across the globe by connecting to networks that already exist, rather than building new ones from scratch.

That reach matters well beyond the traditional remittance corridors most people still picture when they think about cross-border payments. While global remittances represent huge sums of money ($905 billion in 2024, according to World Bank estimates – up 4.6% on the previous year), they are no longer the whole picture.

Increasingly, the volumes crossing borders come from businesses paying each other, platforms paying creators and freelancers, and small firms invoicing overseas customers directly. Every one of those flows still needs to arrive somewhere the customer trusts, and that is where banks already hold five advantages that fintechs cannot easily replicate.

Rather than worrying about being outmaneuvered by fintechs, I challenge you to think about the advantages you already have. So, here's a better question: which of these will you put to work first?

The account relationship starts and ends with you

Every cross-border payment revolves into an account somewhere, and for the majority of consumer and business transactions, that account sits with a bank. Fintechs and wallet providers can originate volume, but at some point, in the chain, funds still land in a regulated deposit account banks already hold.

What has changed is the ability to extend that advantage outward: connecting existing account infrastructure directly to wallets and local schemes elsewhere, rather than routing through a chain of correspondents to get there.

Holding the funds is what holding trust means

In the customer experience at a bank, whoever holds the funds determines whether a payment arrives intact or arrives short, deduction by deduction, across a chain of intermediaries.

Swift's payments scheme commits participants to delivering the full value of a payment with no deductions along the way. Banks are the natural home for that commitment because they already hold the funds under direct regulatory oversight, rather than passing them through intermediaries without transparency.

Supervision and regulatory oversight are what customers are already paying for

Banks operate inside some of the most heavily supervised frameworks in financial services, and that supervision is precisely what customers are buying when they choose a bank for a cross-border payment.

Combined with the move to ISO 20022 messaging, now the mandatory standard for cross-border payment instructions, which carries richer, more structured data through CBPR+, banks can now show customers more of what is happening to a payment in transit, not less, under the FATF travel rule being applied.

No fintech or wallet provider can replicate the confidence that comes from being the regulated counterparty in the chain and the enforceability of the FATF travel rule.

Trust built over decades cannot be matched and built in months

For high-value corporate and SME flows, trust is the existing product offering, and it does not transfer easily to a newer entrant, however good its infrastructure. That matters more, not less, as the flows crossing borders diversify: SMEs trading directly with overseas buyers, gig workers and independent creators paid from platforms based in another country, and B2B and B2C commerce settling at volumes few payment providers were built to handle a decade ago.

Every one of those flows still needs a bank willing to stand behind it. Banks that have already spent decades building that trust are better placed to extend it into these newer categories than to concede them.

Only the bank can control and own the whole journey, start to finish

Real-time domestic rails are now reaching for the border. The Clearing House's RTP network, for example, is targeting September 2026 to support correspondent bank activity for one-leg-out international payments, giving banks a way to originate the domestic leg of a cross-border transaction on infrastructure they already use daily.

Bank of America has already announced a cross-border real-time payments service built on Swift and its own CashPro platform. Neither move required building new global rails from scratch. Both give the bank full visibility and control from origination to final credit, a position no correspondent chain or third-party wallet provider can offer in the same way.

None of this is guaranteed, and none of it is evenly distributed. Community and regional banks without the scale of a Bank of America face a real cost to adopting real-time and ISO 20022-native infrastructure, and regulatory harmonization across corridors remains uneven even as individual schemes go live.

The advantage described here is available to banks that choose to invest in using it. It is not conferred automatically by size or incumbency alone.

Banks already have most of what this moment requires: the accounts, the funds, the regulation, the trust, and now the connectivity to reach beyond their own rails. What happens next depends on who decides to use it.

The opportunity is clear: Banks have all the foundational strengths to capture the rapidly growing real-time cross border payments-to-wallets market. By combining their established customer base with modern payment networks with the SWIFT scheme solution, banks can transform cross-border payments into a faster, more accessible, compliant, and customer-centric experience.

We've featured the best money transfer app.

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Dyson CameraJet: One minute review

As the only toothbrush and water flosser with a built-in 100k pixel macro lens camera, the CameraJet offers something unique. It’s designed to identify gaps in the teeth and precision floss as you brush and gently blast away at plaque for a thorough clean. The Dyson CameraJet was unveiled by its founder and chief engineer James Dyson in Paris on Tuesday 1 September, and I’ve been using it for a week prior to launch. I was keen to see if its impressive spec could change the way I brush, and see, my teeth. While I’m still getting to grips with how to get the best from its settings and perfect my brushing technique, so far I’ve been enjoying the results and it may well make it onto our best electric toothbrush list.

At £419.99 (US $568 / AUS $794) for the set including a charging dock, travel case, Dyson Toothpaste and Dyson Mouthrinse, there’s no denying that this mouth-watering set comes at an eye-watering price.

You can already find AI/smart toothbrushes with sensors, smart apps and voice guidance available online from the likes of Oclean, Philips, Oral-B or Feno, of course, but none of these have a built-in endoscopic camera like the Dyson CameraJet, or include such an array of promising tech. I’ve tried water flossers in the past, but none that seem so mindfully designed.

The CameraJet provides a live-view the inside of your mouth, which you can view on the accompanying MyDyson app on your smartphone. This allows you to see where you’re cleaning, where you need to brush and how you can improve brushing and flossing. Having a toothbrush with built-in Wi-Fi camera in the bathroom does make me feel a little uneasy, but Dyson assures me that no images are recorded or stored on the product or in the cloud, and images remain private to the user.

At the time of writing, the companion MyDyson CameraJet app has only just gone live, so i’ve only used the live-view feature for a few guided brushing sessions. But the picture quality is clear, even if all I can see is a sea of gum, teeth and bubbles, and it streams with no lag, which is very impressive. I’ll be interested to see what personalised oral care insights it gathers in the coming days.

The CameraJet’s built-in anti-gravity mouthrinse tank makes its cordless design bulkier than your standard electric toothbrush, but I’ve found it comfortable to handle and control. I also like that it’s cordless unlike some water flossers, and you can use it in multiple directions in your mouth. However, if I don’t close my mouth properly, it splashes my mirror unapologetically while in auto-jet flossing mode.

The dual-bristle brush feels a nice size against my teeth and it glides along the contours with a satisfying pressure and firmness. Its variable sonic oscillation technology keeps the brush in constant motion to make it easier to get hard to reach areas without the brush stalling. It’s easy to refill and charge on its dedicated stand too.

What makes the Dyson CameraJet seemingly effective when blasting mouthrinse at plaque is its broad conical shaped spray that provides wide coverage. It took me a while to get used to the feel of the jet spray as it tickled every tooth. But with a slow and steady pace I was able to improve my brushing and flossing technique every time to get the best from the CameraJet, even if I couldn’t see myself in the bathroom mirror afterwards.

Dyson CameraJet: Specifications

Dyson CameraJet: Price and availability

• £419.99 (around $568 and $792 AUD)
• Available in Ceramic Ultra Blue or Ceramic Pink colorways
• For use with 75ml tube of Dyson Toothpaste and 400ml bottle of Dyson Mouthrinse

At the time of writing, the mouth-watering Dyson CameraJet costs £419.99 (around $568 and $792 AUD). This includes the colour choice of either Ceramic Ultra Blue or Ceramic Pink, and comes in a set including a charging dock, travel case, 75ml tube of Dyson Toothpaste and 400ml bottle of Dyson Mouthrinse.

While oral care may be a far cry from Dyson’s floorcare and air purifying categories, I think the CameraJet aligns mindfully with Dyson’s growing portfolio of tech beauty products. If you already own the game-changing Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and new Dyson Co-anda2x complete with new attachments, buying the CameraJet may just feel like a natural next step, but you will need to take the hit of its high-end price.

Just as Dyson has complemented its beauty tools with hair products such as its Chitosan styling range, Dyson has also formulated its special Dyson toothpaste and mouthwash formula. These are optimised to be non-foaming so the camera can see clearly while you brush. A 400ml bottle of mouthrinse that dispenses the precise 12.5ml should last around 32 brushes – if you’re using the mouthrinse twice daily that gives you around 16 days before having to refill. A set of two brush heads costs £25, while the Dyson toothpaste and mouthrinse are £8.49 ($11.50 / AUS $16 each.

The toothbrush heads will need to be replaced every three months. The brushes are RFID enabled, so you’ll get an alert on the app when it’s time to change them.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Dyson CameraJet: Design

• Dual-bristle brush head to contour teeth
• Powerful sonic motor oscillates 245 times a second to help remove plaque
• WiFi enabled at 2.4 GHz with Bluetooth connectivity, designed to work with companion smart app

With its built-in camera, conical jet, flexible control pad, feature-packed app and luxurious pink or blue styling, the Dyson CameraJet design looks and feels premium.

It comes presented in a Dyson-branded cardboard box with a refill dock, USB-C charger and two dual-bristle brush heads with plastic case. There’s no carry bag in the box, but I think this would make a nice addition if you’re travelling with it.

You also get a Dyson mouthrinse and non-foaming toothpaste, which contains sodium fluoride to help fortify enamel and strengthen teeth.Both the toothpaste and mouthrinse taste agreeable, and are quite subtle in minty-ness.

It takes eight hours to recharge the brush fully on the refill dock that takes a USB-C. Battery should last for eight hours, but this all depends on how long you use it for, and which settings you choose.

To set up you can either pour the mouthrinse into the refill dock or straight into the CameraJet tank. I poured three quarters of my 400ml mouthrinse bottle into the refill doc, so that I could fill up the mouthrinse tank on the CameraJet after each use simply by pressing a button on the dock. To clean the brush after use, I simply rinsed its brush head, ran the tank under water and allowed the brush to dry while on the dock.

The 100k pixel macro lens camera is built into the design just below the brush head. What makes the camera accurate in its jet sprays while flossing – so you’re not just blinding firing mouthrinse into your mouth – is its Gap Optical Targeting, which is Dyson’s AI learning machine algorithm. This scans 28 live images per second to identify, track and predict gaps between the teeth.

With variable sonic oscillation that varies the angle of the brush to improve plaque removal and prevent it from stalling, the brush head feels comfortable to use. While the body of the CameraJet is quite large for a toothbrush, the brush head is a comfortable size, and it contours my mouth smoothly.

The brush comes with a control panel on the front with three intensity settings, and modes for brushing, flossing or brushing and floss at the same time. The anti-gravity mouthrinse tank also delivers the recommended 25ml amount of mouthrinse each time you use it. This has a diaphragm pump and pressure chamber that adapts during use to eliminate air pockets and prevent the device from firing blanks. This means it should provide uninterrupted jets of mouthwash, whichever way you hold its cordless design. I found it a little hit and miss at times, particularly in the front teeth, but there’s a knack to brushing correctly that I haven’t quite mastered yet.

With the WiF-connected camera acting like a dental endoscope, the brushes smart app can show you a live-view of the inside of your mouth. I found it easy to connect to the app over WiFi, and while I’ve only tried it a few times, i’m really impressed with how clear a picture quality it displays and how quickly the picture streams.

As I use the brush more, and follow the guided cleaning sessions in the app, my technique will no doubt improve, resulting in a much more thorough clean. Here you can see which bits you’re missing and get advice on how to improve your clean.

• Design score: 4/5

Dyson CameraJet: Performance

• Variable sonic oscillation to prevent stalling and keep bristles moving
• With 100k pixel macro lens camera and conical jet to target gaps between teeth
• Flexible jet-flossing controls and three brushing intensity modes

The first time I tried to use the CameraJet I got a spray of mouthwash on my forehead when I turned it on. It’s then that I discovered my rule number one – make sure to direct it away from the face when turning it on.

Once inside my mouth, I found it comfortable to use, even if its tooth-tickling spray did take a few attempts to get used to. At 61.3 dBa – measured at home on my decibel meter app on its highest setting – it’s not too noisy either but gently hums away. Its medium-firm, dual-bristle brush head is a nice shape and glided along my gums comfortably.

On board its powerful sonic motor and diaphragm pump is designed to deliver a targeted, pressurized conical jet spray in as fast as one-tenth of a second to target plaque effectively.

Dyson suggests applying light pressure and allowing the toothbrush to do the work. You also need to keep moving the brush as you use it to ensure the camera can find the gaps dispense the jet sprays, and this can be a little tricky to start off with. It doesn’t always fire a jet spray when I think it should, but I’m getting better at handling it. This is where the app is also helping, as I can see exactly which teeth are being cleaned and getting prompts to ‘part my lips wide’ and move sections. I can also follow the guided cleaning sessions, while the camera tracks which teeth i’m cleaning in real time.

The app only went live a day prior to launch, so I haven’t really had a proper chance to use it, but I do find it strangely exciting to see the inside of my mouth in real time while I brush. It’s a sight I only thought I’d see when visiting the dentist, and while it offers a little more insight than I’d like, I can see that it has the potential to be very helpful when cleaning - and when you’ve got toothache or something stuck in between your teeth.

From the three brush intensity settings, I’ve been finding the deepest clean the most effective. As well as the option to either brush or floss for two minutes, you can also brush and floss for three minutes at the same time. The toothpaste is non-foaming, which helps to reduce any slurry in my mouth, but when I’m flossing and trying to look at which teeth I’m brushing, my bathroom mirror is getting a lot of spray. I think when the app goes live and Ii’m able to view a live-stream of the inside of my mouth while flossing, this might make things a little less messy. It will also be able to tell me which teeth I’m missing.

After a week, this more disciplined approach has left my mouth feeling fresher and cleaner. But while I trust the jets are working, I don’t think I’m quite ready to give up my dental tape completely just yet.

When I first set eyes on the Dyson CameraJet, I couldn’t help but wonder if its built-in camera was just a superfluous gimmick or a useful oral health tool. But having trialled it for a week, I’m impressed by its premium feel and just how deeply it seems to be cleaning my teeth. On first look I think the app is rather special too, and has the potential to be really quite useful.

Overall, I think if you’re willing to make the spend, the Camerajet can be a smart and informative oral health tool. And as regularly as I’m currently using it, I know I’ll feel much more confident next time I visit my hygienist.

• Performance score: 4/5

Dyson CameraJet: Scorecard

Dyson Camerajet: Should I buy?

Buy it if…

You want to improve your cleaning coverage

The conical jet on this device is optimized to precision floss while you brush. By simply using it twice a day for three minutes at a time, you’re taking positive steps to try and improve your oral hygiene. There’s also an accompanying app to help guide you.

You love a smart app with health data

This smart toothbrush pairs with the MyDyson app on your smartphone to give you access to even more health data.

You want to try jet flossing

The convenient thing about the Dyson CameraJet is that its conical jet spray delivers the recommended amount of mouthrinse from its built-in anti-gravity tank. It can help keep plaque at bay and leave your mouth feeling fresh.

Don’t buy it if…

The idea of a camera-based product makes you uneasy

Smart devices aren’t for everyone, although Dyson does take privacy seriously. The camera is only active during live viewing or auto-jetting settings and Dyson states that no images are recorded or stored on the product or in the cloud, and images remain private to the user.

You’re squeamish

The built-in camera on the CameraJet doubles as an oral endoscope and is designed to work alongside the MyDyson smart app to provide a live feed of the inside of your mouth while you brush. Of course you don’t have to use this feature, but it’s a key part of the offering and may just help with brushing.

Your budget is tight

You could argue that with this toothbrush you’ll be potentially saving money on dental bills, but you’ll also need to factor in the cost of replacement brushes every three months, Dyson toothpaste and mouthrinse.

Also consider

Suri Core 1.0 electric toothbrush

It may not have a built-in water flosser, but the latest Suri Core 1.0 electric toothbrush is very effective. It comes with gentle haptic pressure sensor to let you know when you’re brushing too hard, recyclable heads and gives you an impressive four-weeks battery life on a full charge.

Read our full Suri Core 1.0 review

Oral-B iO Series 10

Our best premium AI powered electric toothbrush.

Read our full Oral-B iO Series review

How I tested

Back in May 2026, I visited Dyson’s global headquarters to see how the CameraJet was engineered, constructed and tested. Prior to its launch on September 1st, I tested CameraJet myself at home over the course of a week. I assessed its design, performance, battery life, brush modes and noise levels using a decibel meter reading on my smartphone. At the time of reviewing, the app has only just gone live.

Autonomous AI agents are already running inside core infrastructure – executing code, applying policies, and managing DevOps functions. And the projects keep stalling, because the security models they’re being wired into were built for a world that no longer exists.

Retrofitting non-deterministic actors into those models is costing engineers time they don’t have, and it introduces risk no enterprise can manage.

Many projects have stalled amid concerns about deploying without a robust security foundation – and with good reason. We’ve already seen an agent delete a company’s entire production database, and its backups, in nine seconds. Security teams are being asked to stop scenarios like that with tools built for a world of two actors. The cracks are starting to show. Something has to change, or innovation stalls under the weight of its own controls.

AI agents require a new identity model

The pressure on production and engineering teams to speed up delivery is very real and pervasive. So they often fall back on old habits like granting agents broad privileges and treating them as any other microservice.

But agents are very different from machines; they are error-prone and non-deterministic, just like humans. Yet, operating at machine speed, 24/7. Agents can delete entire production databases in nine seconds. How many humans do you know who could do that?

And this brings me to the crux of the problem. Identity systems were built for a world with two kinds of actors – humans and machines – but there are now three. Trying to fit agentic AI into outdated systems makes each agent a potential source of compromise, and one that can execute thousands of actions across infrastructure in seconds.

Yet this is what engineers are asked to do; stop catastrophic scenarios with legacy IAM tools that are breaking down. The cracks are starting to show.

Why the old model breaks

Historically, identity fragmentation has plagued engineers working with Kubernetes clusters, cloud platforms, container orchestration, CI/CD pipelines, databases, etc.

For a human workforce, this was manageable. Humans are trackable; they log in and log out. They are slow enough that visibility gaps rarely turn into immediate incidents.

Enter agentic AI, and the speed gets turned up to the max. Suddenly, teams are inundated with thousands of activity logs, and they lack the ability to effectively contain the agent before it executes unauthorized changes.

Trying to enforce strong authentication and short-lived privileges would mean building individual integrations for every tool in the stack. It makes AI hard to scale when each tool uses a different integration protocol.

Rather than focusing on innovating with agentic AI, engineers are forced to stitch together IAM, infrastructure, and secrets by hand — with no consistent identity, no visibility into agent actions, and every team building its own container or VM workflows from scratch.

But creating a new tool to handle a third identity type is the worst reaction the industry could have. It would double the work for engineers, as they would need to rebuild the identity policy from the ground up and introduce greater anonymity. A new identity silo is anonymous to other siloed systems, making it even harder to catch attackers.

This leaves us with the question of how enterprises can control an agent's behavior. The solution isn’t about adding to the tech stack or implementing more tools; it's about changing our identity models to eliminate anonymity entirely.

AI control means zero anonymity

To remove anonymity from infrastructure, enterprises must give every actor –spanning humans, machines, workloads, and AI agents – first-class identities, cryptographically secured by a hardware root of trust.

Ditch static credentials entirely. Eradicating API keys and passwords eliminates the credential sprawl that causes breaches, as well as the threat of secrets being stolen or handed over to the wrong actors. With identity rooted in real-world factors, attackers cannot impersonate a trusted machine and trick an agent into exfiltrating a database.

But strong authentication in itself is not enough. AI agents, like all other actors, need to adhere to zero-trust principles. This can only happen when siloed systems are replaced by an infrastructure layer in which agents have the exact same identity type as the machines they run on and the humans who authorize them.

Agents should operate with short-lived privileges tied directly to specific actions authorized by a human user. Privilege attached to the action, not the actor. For example, an agent generating code must inherit its mandate from a human owner with matching authority, restricting privileges to only the specific data tables required for that task.

Non-deterministic actors also require a contained, trusted execution environment before touching production infrastructure.

With no default privileges, the blast radius is heavily bounded. But this can only be achieved when a single policy is set by a single system for all identities.

Identity policy can also be introduced as an enforcement layer between the agent and its inference endpoint, so behavior is controlled before instructions are ever executed.

With a unified architecture, identity becomes the control plane for AI

AI agents are unlocking immense opportunities in enterprise environments, especially when deployed in live infrastructure, where they deliver the most value. From managing routine changes to fixing deployments in real-time, the possibilities are endless. Succeeding with AI in such critical business operations requires tight control of behavior.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

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• Dali launches budget-friendly subwoofer in colorful colors, to match its Rubik and Sonik 1 speakers
• 8-inch downwards firing subwoofer with adjustable gain and phase, 170W RMS / 220W peak Class D amplification
• Launching in October 2026 for $800 / £429 (about AU$815)

Dali has a habit of making five-star speakers, including the Dali Kupid and Dali Sonik 1, both of which got full marks from us. And now there's a colorful compact subwoofer to give these two speakers even more oomph, if you find bookshelves to be light on low-end.

The new Basik Sub turns your stereo setup into a 2.1 system and solves a problem that applies to any compact bookshelf speakers: there's a limit to how low you can go without putting in bigger drivers. By adding an eight-inch downfiring subwoofer to your setup, the Basik Sub is designed to add the low-end punch that makes music and movies even more entertaining.

Dali Basik Sub: key features and pricing

The Basik Sub features Dali's own 8-inch long throw woofer, which is teamed with an oversized ferrite magnet and a high-flux motor system that Dali says delivers precise control. It also features a long, vented voice coil designed to maintain cooling and minimize compression as you turn the levels up.

Dali went with a down-firing rather than front-firing subwoofer for two key reasons: to deliver more even bass distribution, and to give you more options when it comes to positioning your subwoofer in your room.

Power comes from a 170W RMS / 220W peak Class D amplifier, and there's a built-in dual-stage limiter. Gain, crossover and phase controls are adjustable to make the Basik compatible with a wide range of speaker setups.

Of course, it's not just limited to being used in a 2.1 system — the Dali Sonik range is also designed to be used as surround sounds as well as for stereo setups, so the Basik is a good fit for a budget home theater system too.

The enclosure is made of MDF, features four decoupled feet to reduce vibration and comes in a choice of Solid Black, Solid White, Caramel White, Golden Yellow and Chilly Blue.

The Dali Basik Sub will go on sale in October 2026 with a recommended price of $800 / £429 / €500 (about AU$815).

• TP-Link has unveiled two new Wi-Fi 8 routers at IFA 2026
• The Archer 9 Ultra is a traditional router with a smart design and coverage of up to 3,600 square feet
• The Deco 8 Ultra is a mesh system, and a 3-pack is good for a home of up to 9,800 square feet

TP-Link has revealed the world's first Wi-Fi 8 routers at IFA 2026, with two models arriving in the form of a standard router and a mesh Wi-Fi offering.

These are the Archer 9 Ultra router and the Deco 8 Ultra, the latter being the mesh Wi-Fi system. Both are built around TP-Link's Wi-Fi 8 StabilityEngine.

With the Deco 8 Ultra, you're getting a tri-band (including 6GHz) Wi-Fi 8 mesh system offering a speed of 22Gbps (19Gbps in Europe). A 3-pack of these cylindrical routers can cover a home of up to 9,800 square feet, with support for 200+ devices.

The Archer 9 Ultra boasts a tri-band speed of 19Gbps and bristles with 18 antennas, delivering coverage of up to 3,600 square feet in your home (or 3,000 square feet in Europe).

TP-Link underlines three key benefits of these routers thanks to Wi-Fi 8. First, they are more reliable with a greater number of devices hooked up, and they also cope much better with interference. Finally, Wi-Fi 8 allows for a better wireless connection at the edge of the system's effective range.

Handling devices more reliably is facilitated by Dynamic Sub-band Operation (DSO) and Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) tech. The former ensures every connected device gets only the bandwidth it needs — so more is open for other usage — and NPCA opens a second channel if the main one gets too busy. Or as TP-Link puts it, "Every device gets its own fast lane."

New modulation technology in these routers helps to deal with interference from other devices or nearby networks (like your neighbor's Wi-Fi), and boosts performance at longer distances from the router.

There are also Enhanced Long Range (ELR) and Distributed Resource Units (DRU) features with these Wi-Fi routers, which further strengthen the wireless signal at the edge of its reach.

TP-Link notes, "ELR extends the router's usable range, while DRU concentrates a device's limited uplink power into a narrower band so it can be heard clearly from far away. Uploads, calls, and camera feeds hold where they used to stutter."

Both routers benefit from a smart and contemporary design, with a minimalist and streamlined look. TP-Link argues that it needs to make its hardware look good so it won't be hidden away in a cupboard or under a table.

Gary Chang, Lead Industrial Designer at TP-Link, commented, "We stopped building a piece of networking equipment and started designing for the home. When a router's design becomes something people want to display, it ends up exactly where it performs best."

Analysis: ready for the future of Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 8 doesn't deliver any speed boost over Wi-Fi 7, at least not in terms of raw performance — but it does aim to improve performance by delivering a stronger signal when you're further away from the router, and a more reliable connection overall. Part of that strategy is to better deal with interference from other wireless networks (or appliances in general), and as TP-Link observes, this is a big part of the puzzle here.

We don't yet have a release date (or price) for the Archer 9 Ultra or Deco 8 Ultra, but the expectation is that these routers will ship later this year. Of course, to get the benefit of a Wi-Fi 8 router, you'll need devices that support the new wireless standard, too — and they won't be here for a while yet.

Indeed, the Wi-Fi 8 standard itself is still a draft and not finalized, and the likes of smartphones and laptops won't arrive with Wi-Fi 8 support until next year (and there probably won't be very many of them, either, to begin with).

That said, your Wi-Fi 7 (or earlier) devices will still run just fine on a Wi-Fi 8 router, because as ever, the new standard is fully backwards compatible — you just won't get the benefits that Wi-Fi 8 phones and laptops will (when they arrive).

That said, some of the improved traffic management and interference reduction tech in these routers will still help with devices that don't support Wi-Fi 8. However, buying a Wi-Fi 8 router later this year when these TP-Link models (and others) emerge is more about future-proofing than anything else for now.

• Premiere: Mon, Aug 31 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT on Peacock (USA)
• Watch US streams from abroad with NordVPN (try now)
• Tip: grab Peacock for free with this $1 Walmart Plus trial

The Love Island USA season 8 reunion premieres exclusively on Peacock on Monday, August 31 at 9pm ET and if it's anything like the spicy trailer, reality TV fans are in for a treat. All eyes on Melanie... that's all we're saying.

You can watch the Love Island USA season 8 reunion online from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free.

The fiery sneak peek, co-hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen and Ariana Madix, sees the islanders going in hard: "If you don't like me, go f–k yourself" rages paralympian Beatriz Hatz. Fans can also expect season 8 winner Trinity Tatum – still going strong with Bryce btw – to address the wild rumors on social media.

Peacock has officially confirmed season 8 racked up over 19 billion minutes streamed, so let's find out all the ways to watch the Love Island USA season 8 reunion from anywhere.

Watch the Love Island USA S8 reunion from anywhere

If you're keen to watch the Love Island USA reunion 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 Love Island reunion from anywhere:

Watch the Love Island USA S8 reunion in USA

The Love Island USA S8 reunion premieres at 9pm ET / 6pm PT on Mon, Aug 31 in the US, streaming exclusively on Peacock.

You'll need the $11.99/month plan to tune in.

Alternatively, you can access Peacock for just $1 with the Walmart Plus trial. Peacock Premium is thrown in for free.

Traveling outside the US? Try using a VPN – check the details above for more.

How to watch the Love Island USA S8 reunion in Canada

The Love Island USA season 8 reunion show premieres an hour after the US show airs – 10pm ET/PT on Mon, Aug 31 on Crave in Canada.

Outside Canada right now? Use a VPN to gain access to all the content you'd normally stream at home.

Can I watch the Love Island USA S8 reunion in the UK?

Free-to-air ITVX is home to Love Island USA in the UK, but the season 8 reunion show isn't likely to drop for a while. For now, you can watch all 35 episodes of season 8 for free...

Remember a VPN will help you tune in if you're an American or a Canadian traveling across the pond. NordVPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth NordVPN review (basically, it unblocks Peacock and many other VPNs don't).

How to watch the Love Island USA S8 reunion in Australia

The Love Island USA season 8 reunion show with Bravo's Andy Cohen premieres on Stan in Australia on Tuesday, September 1.

A subscription starts at AU$12 a month.

Traveling outside Australia? As detailed above, if you’re overseas you’ll struggle to connect to any of the streaming services you usually use. The solution? Try using a VPN.

What to expect: Love Island USA S8 reunion

Andy Cohen is co-hosting – For the first time in Love Island history, host Ariana Madix is joined by Bravo big cheese Andy Cohen to co-host Monday's reunion special, meaning the Islanders can expect a proper Real Housewives-style grilling.

Live studio audience – The 2026 reunion show was filmed on location at Universal Studios Hollywood in front of a live studio audience, departing from standard closed-set reunion formats. How will the crowd react?

More blockbuster ratings – According to Peacock, Love Island USA season 8 racked up over 19 billion minutes streamed, ranking as the No. 1 reality streaming title of the 2026 summer season for six consecutive weeks (per MediaPlayNews).

Breakups on stage – Season 8 winners Trinity and Bryce are still together, but let's be honest, many couples who look solid after leaving Fiji hit the buffers when the cameras stop rolling. The reunion will catch viewers up on the breakups – and we might even see some on-stage breakups.

Season 9 preview – Alongside the reunion announcement, Peacock has officially renewed Love Island USA for season 9 with host Ariana Madix returning in 2027. The streamer also greenlit third seasons of both spinoffs – Love Island Games and Love Island: Beyond the Villa. Monday's reunion show could contain some kind of teaser...

Love Island USA S8 reunion date and & time

Peacock officially confirmed that the Love Island USA Season 8 Reunion drops on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.

Love Island USA S8 reunion cast?

The Finalists:

Trinity Tatum & Bryce Dettloff (Winners)

Aniya Harvey & Carl Schmidt (Runners-Up)

Melanie Moreno & Sincere Rhea (3rd Place)

Kayda Bosse & Zach Georgiou (4th Place)

Notable Returnees & Bombshells:

KC Chandler & Tierra “Titi” Davis

Kenzie Annis

Jen Terry

Beatriz Hatz

Caleb & Jaiden (returning to discuss their post-villa split)

No Shows / Minimal screentime

Unlike previous seasons there no major boycotts (so far) but don't expect to see much of early dropouts, early bombshells or Casa Amor cuts such as Tino Ellis or Trae Taylor (looks like they were either not invited to stage seats or only featured in the audience).

We 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.

Every F-35 pilot in the US Air Force gets their own custom-fitted $400,000 helmet, which lets them peer through the cockpit mid-flight to see what's going on in the surrounding airspace and the ground below.

This is possible through six infrared cameras embedded on to the flight's exterior, broadcasting a 360-degree video stream straight into the pilot's visor. Pilots say it's like being able to see through the hull of the aircraft, as if it were made of glass.

No expense spared

Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II is one of the world's most expensive fighter jets, priced anywhere between $80-110 million USD. These are single-seat, supersonic, stealth fighter jets designed for air strikes and electronic warfare.

Each fighter jet also comes equipped with a Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS). A single F-35 Gen III helmet costs four times more than what the older F-16 jets came equipped with. To be more specific, an investigation by Air Force Times in 2015 put their per-unit pricing at roughly $400,000.

Given that the United States Air Force has a contract with the helmet manufacturer, Collins Elbit Vision Systems, to build thousands of these helmets — that makes the combined project cost for the headgear alone in the billions of dollars.

What do Air Force pilots get for the exorbitant price tag? When looking down through the visor, they get a real-time view of the airspace and ground below, the closest that the US military has come to X-ray vision.

Mark Welsh III, a retired four-star general who served as the Air Force's 25th Chief of Staff, remarked that "the helmet is a workspace," adding "It's an interpretation of the battle space. It's situational awareness. Calling this thing a helmet ... we've got to come up with a new word."

What makes the helmet special

The new F-35 Gen III helmets were designed by Collins Elbit Vision Systems, a joint venture between Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems of America. Through their contract with the F-35 Joint Program, Collins Elbit has so far shipped more than 3,000 units of these helmets to the United States Air Force.

Each helmet is custom-built to match an individual pilot's skull and facial structure, assigned right away during training, and retained by the pilot for all future flight runs.

The flagship feature of the Gen III helmets is that they let Air Force pilots see through the floor of their aircraft, using a Distributed Aperture System (DAS) designed by Northrop Grumman. This system consists of a set of cameras and built-in sensors, all connected using a software module that lets pilots track nearby aircrafts or missiles. Pilots can even lock on to targets as far as 800 miles away simply by looking at them.

Apart from the mounted display system and cameras, F-35 helmets are also equipped with digital night vision and thermal imaging. The visor uses high-resolution LCD lenses for improved picture clarity, plus the helmet itself is equipped with head and eye tracking systems to adjust to the pilot's motions.

A vast improvement over previous models

Earlier versions of the F-35 helmet suffered from jittery visuals and ejection issues, so much so that the Pentagon funded a backup program with BAE Systems in case Lockheed Martin wasn't able to deliver.

It took years for the joint venture to get the helmet designs right. There were multiple design iterations and several rounds of reviews before the Pentagon finally cleared the helmets for Air Force use, with the current version improved in mobility and vision.

Bob Hess, a senior director at Elbit America, went on record claiming that the Gen III HMDS was "the most advanced helmet-mounted display system in the world" in a 2024 press release. "The system’s next-generation user interface serves as a pilot’s primary display system, providing them with vital flight, tactical and sensor information day or night," he said.

The MSI PRO MP243 is a slim-bezel monitor that delivers nearly everything you would want from a low-cost display. At the same time, it’s exactly what you would expect when you hear the words “budget monitor.”

It’s not going to impress you with flashy features, and it’s not going to win any performance awards. It's not the very best business monitor we've ever tested. But what it does offer, however, is a sleek design, an easy setup, and enough of what most people need to make it a practical choice for everyday work in the office or home.

Maybe you need a larger screen for your home office, or perhaps you just bought a mini PC or Mac mini and need an affordable display to go along with it. It could also work well as a second monitor in a dual-screen setup. In those cases, the MP243 does the job.

MSI PRO MP243: Price and availability

The price is where the MP243 really starts to make sense.

At around $120, you are getting a 23.8-inch IPS panel, a 144Hz refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync, HDMI, DisplayPort, built-in speakers, VESA support, and a clean white design.

That is a good group of features for a monitor in this price range.

One of the closest alternatives is the Dell SE2426HS. It has a similar 23.8-inch Full HD IPS panel, 144Hz refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync, and VESA support. The Dell also has a height-adjustable stand, which is a real advantage over the tilt-only stand on the MSI.

The MSI does have a few advantages of its own. It includes built-in speakers and DisplayPort, and the white finish gives it a cleaner look than most budget monitors.

At a lower sale price, the MSI is an easy monitor to recommend. At around $120, it is still a good option, but there are more competitors worth considering.

It really comes down to what matters more to you. If you want the white design, built-in speakers, and DisplayPort, the MSI is a good pick. If you care more about stand adjustment (and a higher resolution), there are better options.

MSI PRO MP243: Unboxing and First Impressions

Most of the monitor and stand are plastic, but they don’t really feel cheap. It’s lightweight enough that I’d still be careful when putting it together and taking it apart.

Everything included in the box is white, even down to the cables, which gives the setup a uniform look. If you’re someone who likes a certain aesthetic, I think you’ll appreciate that everything matches.

The monitor is really simple to put together. Everything just clicks in, and then you’re good to go. The back of the stem includes a cable-management clip for routing your power and display cables. It is a small feature, but it helps keep the back of your desk a little cleaner.

The top of the base includes a simple organizer slot. It’s big enough that you can put a USB adapter, thumb drive, or anything else in there that would otherwise just be sitting on top of your desk. It's an unexpected little feature that actually turned out to be useful.

MSI advertises it as a spot to hold your phone. You can place your phone in landscape and, depending on your workflow, use it as a secondary screen or simply keep it visible for notifications, your calendar, or something similar. It’s not a huge feature by any means, but it’s another small touch I appreciated that adds to the overall practicality of the monitor.

MSI PRO MP243: Design & Build Quality

The monitor’s control button is on the back right side. It doubles as both the power button and the joystick for navigating the menu.

The monitor keeps things simple when it comes to connectivity. It has one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, and one 3.5mm headphone jack. Both display inputs support 1080p at refresh rates up to 144Hz.

Honestly, support for up to 144Hz is a nice bonus for this price range, even if it’s clearly built for office work first. It's not necessary, but it's handy and opens up the customers for this monitor a little bit as well.

The MP243 has the standard settings you would expect, including brightness, contrast, sharpness, volume, and color controls. It also includes a few MSI-specific features that are worth mentioning.

MSI’s EyesErgo features include Less Blue Light, Anti-Flicker, and an anti-glare coating. These are all meant to make the monitor easier on your eyes during longer work sessions. If you spend most of your day reading emails, writing, or working through spreadsheets, they are nice features to have.

There is also an Eye-Q Check feature that gives you basic reminders for posture, eye fatigue, and taking breaks. It is not a feature I would buy the monitor for, but it makes sense on something that is primarily designed for office use.

The monitor supports Adaptive-Sync, HDR Ready, and refresh rates up to 144Hz. Adaptive-Sync can help reduce screen tearing, while 144Hz makes scrolling through webpages and moving things around the screen feel smoother than it would on a basic 60Hz monitor.

One of the more useful features of this monitor is its support for VESA mounting. The obvious benefit is that the monitor can be attached to a compatible wall mount or monitor arm. However, I think the more interesting use case is mounting a compatible mini PC directly to the back of the monitor.

Pairing this monitor with any of the best mini PCs is a more affordable alternative to a prebuilt all-in-one desktop. The computer stays out of sight, you can use shorter cables, and the whole setup takes up less space and looks cleaner.

I’m a stickler for cable management and keeping electronics as organized as possible. Being able to mount a mini PC behind the monitor, hide most of the hardware, and cut down on visible cables really adds to the value of this monitor.

The MP243 uses a 24-inch IPS panel with a claimed viewing angle of 178 degrees.

The bezels are thin along the left, right, and top edges, while the bottom bezel is slightly thicker. Combined with the white finish, the slim borders give the monitor a more high-end appearance than its price might suggest.

That is where this monitor arguably shines the most. It looks sleek, occupies relatively little space, and can blend naturally into a clean home-office environment.

The actual display is more conventional. Its 1080p resolution and standard image-quality features are appropriate for email, web browsing, documents, spreadsheets, and other everyday office tasks.

You can do just about anything with it, of course, but if you're trying to edit photos or creative content on this, you may miss some things you would catch on a higher end monitor, it also just won't look as clear.

MSI PRO MP243: In use

One thing I actually didn’t mind was virtual meetings on this monitor. While I didn't have the clearest images of everyone, I didn't feel the virtual meeting was degraded or compromised in any way when using this screen.

The monitor includes two built-in 2W stereo speakers. The best comparison I can make is that they sound like basic laptop speakers without Dolby features or any other processing trying to make them sound better than they are.

It was good enough to hear clear audio, but I won't be listening to music through this anytime soon. If you do not already own desktop speakers, they are enough to get started. You can always add better speakers or headphones later.

I also connected an Xbox Series X and tested the monitor with Overwatch. It worked and the game was “playable.” However, the deficiencies were pretty noticeable when compared to my dedicated gaming monitor, which was already around five years old.

The 144Hz refresh rate may make it seem gaming-friendly on paper, but refresh rate alone doesn’t define the overall experience. For casual gaming, especially with a system limited to Full HD, it gets the job done.

I would not buy it specifically for gaming, though. Anyone shopping primarily for gaming should look elsewhere, which makes sense as this is more of a budget business monitor, despite the 144Hz tag that will get gamers excited.

MSI PRO MP243: Final verdict

The MSI PRO MP243 is best suited to someone who wants to upgrade or expand a home-office setup without spending much money.

Its strongest qualities are its clean design, compact footprint, useful stand, cable-management features, built-in speakers, and support for VESA mounting systems. It provides the basic features most people need for regular office work while looking better than many inexpensive monitors.

Its limitations are just as clear, though. It’s only 1080p, the build is lightweight, and while it supports 144Hz, I wouldn’t recommend buying it specifically for gaming. That doesn’t make it a bad product. It just means it should be purchased for the right reasons.

This is a practical choice for emails, documents, web browsing, secondary-screen use, casual media consumption, and compact desktop setups. If you’re not concerned about having 4K, it offers a straightforward and affordable way to add more screen space to your desk.

iFi iDSD GR 2: one-minute review

With the iFi iDSD GR 2, a seemingly arduous task was at hand. British hi-fi brand iFi had to produce a portable DAC/amp that could improve on the spectacular xDSD Gryphon, which we handed a rave five-star review. But boy, did they pull it off.

The iDSD GR 2 provides upgrades that feel meaningful, practical, and tangible. It delivers around 50% more amplification power than its predecessor, making it easier to drive more demanding headphones, all while providing enhanced dynamic range and lower distortion. What’s more, it adds K2HD tech, licensed from JVC Kenwood, which helps to restore warmth and musicality that digital recordings sometimes lose.

Oh, and it fixes our only major gripe with its predecessor, by adding a vivid OLED touchscreen display, making it feel intuitive and easy to use when switching sources, toggling XBass and XSpace processing, or accessing settings. As a result, it easily competes with the best headphone DACs that money can buy.

It's a fantastic performer, delivering articulate, layered, and balanced sound. I paired the DAC/amp with the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 music player and a range of headphones/IEMs, including the Sennheiser HD 600, and the results blew me away. The GR 2 supplied intricate instrument separation, punchy bass, phenomenal mid-range clarity, and expressive treble, making for a captivating listen, no matter what genre I threw at it.

What’s more, the DAC/amp has higher battery capacity (4,900mAh) with adaptive power, meaning I could indulge in long listening sessions without interruption. Combine that with a neat companion app, numerous connectivity modes, and a lightweight feel, and the GR 2 is the ideal device for audiophiles to carry while on the move.

At launch, the iFi iDSD GR 2 is cheaper than its predecessor was at the point of release, despite making a whole host of improvements. And while it would’ve been nice to see a case bundled in at this price-point, and while there are cheaper options on the market, I still think this model offers impeccable value for money when considering the sheer volume of tech crammed into this little device. As a result, it’s all too easy for me to recommend the GR 2.

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: price & release date

• List price of $529 / £529 / AU$849
• Released in June 2026

The iFi iDSD GR 2 released in June 2026, and is the spiritual successor to the brand’s popular portable DAC/amp, the iFi xDSD Gryphon — a model that hit the market back in 2021. Despite offering a number of upgrades over its predecessor, the GR 2 is cheaper at launch, coming in at $529 / £529 / AU$849.

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: features

• Brilliant OLED touchscreen display
• 4,900mAh battery capacity with adaptive power
• K2HD tech opens up even more textured, subtle playback

The iFi iDSD GR 2 is rammed with features, and improves significantly on its already impressive predecessor.

Some of the most captivating options are back, including XBass and XSpace filters, which you can use in tandem or individually. XBass provides a tasteful bump to low-end sounds, while XSpace aims to deliver a more expansive soundstage — both work brilliantly, and I found myself using them often for more hard-hitting hip-hop and dance tracks.

You can select these via a new OLED touchscreen interface, which is phenomenally responsive and very easy to use. Here, you can access a range of settings, including Bluetooth pairing, dual charge mode, a voice prompt toggle, volume sync and more. The main menu also enables you to sift through the GR 2’s vast array of sources, such as Bluetooth (with higher-res aptX Lossless and LDAC support), USB-C, optical, coaxial, and line in. There’s also a lock button if you want to avoid accidental screen touches.

On top of this, the model features dedicated 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone ports and a USB-C charging slot. Speaking of charging, it will take about 3.5 hours to get to 100% from flat, which isn’t particularly impressive, although I still found that I got quite a lot of playtime from the GR 2 without having to juice it up. That’s because the model features an upgraded battery capacity of 4,900mAh, which should be good for around 7 hours of use — though this will vary depending on volume and if you’re using sound filters.

You can use the GR 2 while charging it via its dedicated USB-C port, a very useful feature if you find you’re indulging in long listening sessions (as I did during testing). The DAC/amp also brings a new adaptive power feature to the table, which balances external power and battery operation. So, if you’ve got the GR 2 hooked up to an external supply, it can prioritize mains power, and in the case that additional power is required, it can be drawn from the device’s battery. The GR 2 will also automatically return to external power if demand drops.

Perhaps my favorite new feature on the GR 2, though, is its K2HD tech, which we saw before in iFi’s considerably pricier and larger iDSD Phantom desktop DAC. This is intended to restore harmonic detail, and bring a track closer to its intended sound, and is exclusively licensed to iFi by JVC Kenwood. I’ll speak more about the sonic benefits of K2HD in the ‘sound quality’ section, but for now, just know that it is indeed a brilliant addition.

Finally, it's worth noting that you can control the GR 2 with the iFi Nexis app, which is incredibly easy to use. It displays all of the options you’d typically see on the device’s touchscreen display, enabling you to easily switch between connectivity modes, adapt volume, toggle on the XBass / XSpace modes and more.

• Features score: 5/5

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: sound quality

• Balanced, articulate, and nuanced sound
• K2HD adds beautiful depth and detail, XBass / XSpace fantastic too
• 50% more headphone drive, but less distortion and greater dynamic range

The original Gryphon was a great performer, delivering impeccable detail, precision, and dynamism, so it should come as no surprise that its sequel is phenomenally talented as well.

Although I tried the GR 2 with a few pairs of IEMs, I conducted most of my testing with the Sennheiser HD 600 headphones, and iFi’s DAC/amp got the very best out of them.

When tuning into a 24-bit 192kHz FLAC of Doralice by Stan Getz, João Gilberto, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, the GR 2 provided a beautifully balanced, insightful listen. Vocals were textured and carefully defined, and the K2HD feature added a nice dosage of warmth. Acoustic guitars were brilliantly separated too, and sounded as if they were operating in a discrete pocket within a broad and nuanced soundstage. Subtle percussion worked away in the right channel and expressive, leading sax also flowed through with personality and natural tonality.

With a more energetic track, Rocking Chair by Mr Scruff, the GR 2 continued to impress. The resonance of bongos in the intro was striking, higher pitched percussion in the treble range came through with vibrancy and precision, and there was an incredibly warm and textured quality to the squelchy bass, which hit with impressive impact — especially with XBass active. Individual instruments, like keys and tambourines were again fantastically weighted and separated, and K2HD added a delicious layer of subtlety and detail that effortlessly restored the richness of the tune’s low end.

Even compared to a strong portable rival, like the FiiO BTR17, the iFi iDSD GR 2 proved to be exceptional. In Felini by Venerus and Marco Castello, the trickling of water was true-to-life and acoustic guitars were expertly separated from emotive vocals. On that subject, iFi’s model just added a bit more detail and depth to the vocals compared to its (still impressive) FiiO rival. The GR 2 exhibited a markedly delicate, raw quality with the vocals and I felt as if I was getting the sort of listening experience the artists had intended.

The capability of the GR 2 to serve up punchy bass, articulate mids, and expressive treble while maintaining such excellent balance across the frequency range has to be applauded. Combining this with its nuanced and precise soundstage — with or without XSpace — and impressive handling of dynamics, it truly feels like the full package.

What’s more, the GR 2 has around 50% more power to drive headphones with (up to 1,513mW RMS) than its predecessor, but it still offers even greater dynamic range and less distortion. So, whether you’re looking to upgrade from the OG Gryphon or get a portable DAC/amp with serious audiophile credentials, I think the GR 2 is one of the best options on the market right now.

• Sound quality score: 5/5

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: design

• Excellent OLED touchscreen display
• Lightweight and pretty portable
• Case can be purchased separately

In terms of design, the iFi iDSD GR 2 is a considerable upgrade over its predecessor, largely as a result of one major change: its touchscreen.

Not only is the OLED color display vivid and clear, but it's incredibly easy and intuitive to use. The touchscreen is responsive and enables you to easily make any changes you want or switch to a different source. You can also adjust the screen’s brightness to your liking, or lock the screen entirely if you want to prevent accidental commands.

Otherwise, the GR 2 has all of the qualities you’d want from a portable DAC/amp. It’s lightweight (at just 0.6 lbs / 268g), has a wide range of connectivity ports, and has a good standard of build. It also has a tactile volume control knob with a small set of physical buttons — all of which are well-sized and effective.

Some may find that there are more ‘portable’ options out there. The FiiO BTR17 I compared to the GR 2 has a considerably smaller footprint, and will fit in just about any pocket. But for the tech stuffed inside iFi’s new model, I’d still argue it’s portable enough, and I had no issue slotting it into my short pockets or a small bag. Oh, and in case you're wondering, no, my review sample never ran hot — not that the OG did either, you understand, but it's often a question we're asked. These products bear plenty of power squirrelled away within a small enclosure, so it's important to mention.

The only thing I would have liked is a case, which has to be purchased separately. But otherwise, the GR 2 is a certified hit in the design category.

• Design score: 4.5/5

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: setup & usability

• Incredibly easy to get set up and started
• iFi Nexis app only adds more seamless usability
• Easy to use interface

The iFi iDSD GR 2 is incredibly easy to start using. Just power the device on and it’s ready to go — no overlong login process, no confusing pairing requests, just plug and play design at its best.

Even if you’re not a seasoned user of DACs or amps, everything is labelled clearly, making it very simple to navigate. The iFi Nexis app also helps you tap into any settings you need on the fly, only heightening the device’s versatility.

• Setup & usability score: 5/5

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: value

• Not the cheapest option around, but still great value
• Less pricey than predecessor at launch
• Impeccable all around quality makes it feel worth the investment

Look, I’m not going to pretend that the GR 2 is a cheap piece of tech. It comes in at $529 / £529 / AU$849, which is a considerable investment to make into your audio setup — but I still think it more than earns its price.

First of all, it's cheaper than its predecessor at launch, but offers 50% more amplification power, a much-improved user interface, K2HD tech, and more. It does all of this while remaining highly portable and delivering stellar sound, and there can be no doubts over the quality you get in return for your outlay.

Yes, you could grab a model like the aforementioned FiiO BTR17 for around $219 / £179 / AU$349, and while that’s a nifty small pick with strong performance and features to match, it can’t deliver the depth of the GR 2, which stuns with its excellent sound filters, wide connectivity options, top-tier audio, and mighty portable power.

• Value score: 5/5

Should I buy the iFi iDSD GR 2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

iFi iDSD GR 2 review: also consider

How I tested the iFi iDSD GR 2

• Tested across multiple days
• Used with Sennheiser HD 600, Beyerdynamic IEMs, and more
• Compared against rival model

I spent multiple days intensively testing the iFi iDSD GR 2, during which time I spent countless hours listening to music and exhausting its various features.

Most of the time, I used the Sennheiser HD 600 headphones to test the GR 2 out, although I did also use a few pairs of IEMs from the likes of Beyerdynamic. I used the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 as my main source device, and played a range of file types. And when listening to music, I tuned into tracks from a wide variety of genres, and made sure to compare the GR 2 against a rival from FiiO.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a resident Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed a range of products, from hulking party speakers like the Marshall Bromley 750 through to reference-grade IEMs, like the Sennheiser IE 600.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: August 2026

• AI data center construction is now a hot-button topic in the US
• President Trump wants constituents to embrace data centers or risk falling behind
• Trump does not address energy, resource, or other growing concerns

The growth and expansion of generative AI is unprecedented, surpassed only, perhaps, by the rapid expansion and impact of the data centers that support it. While anti-data center sentiment is on the rise, US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social social media platform on Monday to urge people to support rapid data center growth, warning those who oppose that "the only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is that they want to end up being backwards and poor."

Before we dive into the rest of Trump's post, it's worth stepping back to look at data center construction growth and the more recent and somewhat remarkable backlash.

Data centers are not just an artificial intelligence phenomenon. These large buildings packed with servers and connected to the Internet have been around for decades and initially marked their greatest expansion during the rise of the World Wide Web. As the Internet grew in the 1990s and the number of websites skyrocketed, data centers that could keep copies of these sites and their data and then serve them to whoever wanted to access them around the world popped up around the world. Modern-day cloud systems like Amazon Web Services (AWS) serve millions of websites with a reported 900 data centers.

The recent rapid rise of AI usage around the globe in the form of ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini has supercharged a new kind of data center growth. While traditional cloud servers relied on relatively efficient CPUs, generative AI demands more powerful and power-hungry GPUs, primarily from Nvidia.

Power-hungry AI

According to the World Resources Institute, a single AI data center can eat as much energy as 100,000 homes. When you consume that kind of energy, you also generate a lot of heat, and one of the other earmarks of modern AI data centers is their use of water for cooling. The WRI reports that a large AI data center can consume up to 5 million gallons of water a day.

Finally, these large data centers can be loud, producing a constant hum that can be heard in nearby communities.

These issues are being amplified by the stunning growth of these data centers. Cleanview reports roughly 3,400 US data centers, with another 2,059 planned. Many of these massive buildings are planned along the eastern seaboard of the US and in Texas, where the governor recently instituted a moratorium.

Perhaps more concerning are the AI data centers planned for Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, where a lengthy drought and the shrinking Colorado River are leading to water shortages that may result in far more stringent water conservation measures. It's unclear how AI data center plans sync with that.

In the meantime, public opinion on data centers has shifted. A May 2026 Gallup poll found that 7 in 10 Americans oppose local construction of AI data centers, basically a "not in my town" sentiment. As expected, chief concerns revolve around the environment and quality of life. Many are also worried about resources.

In the midst of all this, we have the US leadership trying to encourage people to just let AI data center companies build. Here's Trump's full post:

"The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is that they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign. The good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them. If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame. China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can't believe it is happening!"

Yes and no

Trump is right that data centers can result in an economic boom, including investment and new jobs, but it can also be short-lived after construction is done. Basically, the workforce is needed for the build and setup, and then automation tends to take on the majority of the day-to-day workload.

The concern about falling behind China in the AI race is more supportable in that there is undoubtedly an AI global supremacy race. With its lack of regulation and fewer open-source models, the US has not necessarily done itself any favors. And it's safe to assume that Chinese citizens have little say in the power, resources, and quality-of-life impacts of AI data center development and construction.

Still, the idea that consumers, as opposed to AI companies, and the companies that build, support, and invest in these companies, will get rich is — well — rich. Communities can potentially benefit economically if the tax base is spread over these massive structures (utilities in your town can have a similar effect), therefore taking some of the burden off residents, but that doesn't address water, electricity, sound, and aesthetic concerns.

Some data center developers are working with communities and local utilities to ensure they pay their fair share of electricity (and maybe manage electricity use) and reuse water, but no regulation ensures these data centers are built responsibly.

Naturally, Trump does not address any of those worries in his post, and his administration has in recent days worked with the EPA to try and remove opportunities for communities to comment on the construction of these AI data centers before they're built in their communities.

"Let data reign" sounds like a campaign slogan that might work for more simplistic issues, but Trump's promises of jobs and wealth for all are likely to fall flat with communities who see the cranes dotting the landscape, walls rising from the dust and, eventually, resources being sucked dry.

TechRadar's reviewers don't take the summer off. Oh no, they've been as busy as ever, testing gadgets of all shapes and sizes to bring you our top recommendations for the products worth buying... and the ones to avoid. In this month's Reviews Recap, I've rounded up our top-rated tech of the past four weeks. These are the products that made it through our tough tests and earned a score of 4.5 or above.

In the five-star camp, we have two standout pieces of content creator kit. The Insta360 X6 won us over with its rugged build, lengthy battery life, and ability to capture pin-sharp images in any lighting conditions. Our tester called it "the most capable small 360 camera [he's] tested to date" and "the finest all-round performer in its class".

DJI also continues on its winning streak with the Mic Mini 2S. This compact wireless mic offers many of the flagship Mic 3's most appealing features — from internal recording to AI noise cancellation — but comes in at around half the price. It makes no sense, but we'll take it.

Elsewhere, we were impressed by Samsung's new foldable phones, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra both earning a near-perfect 4.5 stars. We declared the former "a shot in the arm for the foldables market" and our roaming editor argued the latter was "virtually unbeatable" when compared to other flagships.

Scroll down to check out all of our top-rated gadgets from the past four weeks, across all of our physical product categories. Click the 'View details' button for a summary of our main takeaways for each product, plus a link to read the full review. Note: only the products that are available in your region will display as cards.

5-star products

4.5-star products

• Asobo Games says it's interested in making a new A Plague Tale game set in the modern day
• The studio says it would be like The Last of Us, since Naughty Dog's game was a "big inspiration"
• Actor Anna Demetriou says a modern-day spin-off would work well since the Macula is "fantastical"

Asobo Games has said it "would love" to make a new A Plague Tale game set in the modern day, since Naughty Dog's The Last of Us influenced the series.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom ahead of the launch of the studio's latest game, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Valérian Robert (lead level designer), Carol Ann Bañuls (lead writer), and actor Anna Demetriou, who played the part of Resonance protagonist Sophia were asked about its next project and confirmed that a modern-day spin-off is something they're asked about frequently.

"Absolutely," Bañuls replied when asked if the setting would be a good pick for Asobo. "Definitely. Personally, I think so. I think it would be great."

Demetriou said, "It's one of the things a lot of people ask me about," with Bañuls adding, "It would be really Last of Us kind of."

Bañuls went on to say that, "Yeah, definitely, because it was a big inspiration. So yeah, if it's in modern days, it would be great."

In the A Plague Tale universe, the Prima Macula is an ancient curse that poisons the blood of certain families and is something that appears in every major A Plague Tale game, including Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy. Demetriou thinks the Macula would work very well in a modern-day setting, because the plague is "fantastical."

"It would be amazing," Demetriou continued, "I would love that to fit into a modern-day setting. Yeah, it would be interesting to see what that would look like. I would love that."

Asobi Games hasn't announced its next project just yet, but A Plague Tale game set in a time gamers are familiar with sounds awesome. Now, fans can pick up Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, which is available today on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer: 30-second review

The Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer is an air fryer and then some.

Sure it does a great job at being an air fryer, and so it should for the premium price tag it comes in at. The sizable 9.5L basket offers plenty of space for family-sized portions, while the handy divider allows you to cook two different foods, at differing durations and temperatures, simultaneously. It’s pretty par for the course these days, but the 5000 Series Megabasket is only just getting started.

Things are turned up a notch with the steam functionality Philips has built in. Being able to perfectly steam vegetables, fish and dumplings without the need for a separate appliance saves on counter and cupboard space, and the results here are just as good as the air fryer.

However, the versatility is kicked into overdrive with the streamfry function, allowing you to bring the best of both worlds to your food. The crispy finish of an air fryer combined with the moisture locking abilities of steam. The result? Some of the best chicken wings I’ve ever made.

All this functionality not only comes at a cost to your wallet, but also your counter top. This is a wide, tall air fryer that requires plenty of space — especially when using the steam or steamfry function, as the water vapor vents from the rear.

I’m a big fan of Philips’ controls though. The touch buttons are intuitively laid out, with easily recognizable icons that require little reference to the manual to work out - that can’t be said of all air fryer brands.

The basket, trays and divider are dishwasher safe, and you can also use the steam function to give the appliance its own steam clean. You will need to give the top a wipe every now and then, as the glossy finish attracts grime — but it’s a minor point in what is an overwise excellent appliance.

Whether you’re looking to make cakes, cookies, sausages, chicken wings, fish, vegetables, fries, dumplings or pretty much anything else, the Philips 5000 Series Megabasket delivers consistently great results.

Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer price and availability

• At £259.99 (about $350 / AU$490), it’s at the premium end of the air fryer market
• Available in the UK, but not in the US or Australia

The Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer price is £259.99 (about $350 / AU$490), putting it at the premium end of the market, and pits it against the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket in the larger-basket arena.

There are cheaper, big-basket air fryers on the market that also perform well, with the Philips 1000 Series Dual Basket and Tower Elite 11 Litre Flexi Drawer both coming in at around half the price of the 5000 Series.

This exact model (the NA465) isn’t available in the US and Australia, with these regions instead getting the $349.99 / AU$499 5000 Series Dual-Basket Airfryer with Steam (NA551) with two separate drawers, rather than one large one.

• Value score: 4/5

Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer: specifications

Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer: design

• Wide and tall, but for good reason
• Set of tongs included in the box is a nice touch
• Touch controls are easy to understand and well laid out

The Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer is big, it’s almost as if a UFO has landed on your worktop. Wide and tall, it dominates the kitchen counter — but for good reason.

The spacious 9.5L basket provides great flexibility as one large cooking space big enough for 2.5kg of fries, 1.9kg of ribs, or whole chicken, but can easily be split into 3L and 6L baskets with the included divider. This allows you to cook two separate things, at different temperatures and durations, at the same time.

You can even just choose to use one of the sides only, saving on power consumption when cooking smaller portions.

The only small issue with the basket is its handles, which consist of two small protrusions on either side. It means you have to use two hands to open the drawer, and to lift and carry it.

When the basket is fully loaded with food, it’s heavy so you’ll be using two hands anyway, but for times when you want to quickly check on cooking progress, you can’t open it with just one.

The additional height of this air fryer is down to the inclusion of Philips’ clever steam function, giving you more ways to cook from a single machine. You can steam food in this air fryer, as well as 'Steamfry', which combines both cooking methods.

What this means is you’ll need to consider where you want the air fryer to go, and whether you have suitable space for this 496mm x 329mm x 355mm model to fit - especially if you have low-hung wall cabinets over your worktops.

Hot air vents from the rear of the machine, so you need to leave space between it and the wall, and when using the steam function water vapor will also rise from the back of the machine.

The one meter power cable will be long enough for most kitchen setups, and the Philips 5000 Series comes with a clip-on cable tidy for the rear to keep things neat if you like to store your air fryer in a cupboard when not in use. Although, it’ll need to be a sizable cupboard.

A nice inclusion in the box was a set of tongs, a particularly useful addition when cooking with an air fryer, as it makes tossing food and removing it from the basket much easier.

There’s also a paper manual in the box that covers all the basics, mainly via pictorial guides, but for those who want a more detailed breakdown of functionality you’ll need to download the free HomeID app on your phone.

What isn’t made obvious out of the box is the need to run the air fryer empty initially to burn off the protective shipping coating.

Diving into the app deeper, Philips advises to wash the basket and accessories with a soft sponge, water and washing up liquid, dry them, and then run the air fryer empty, a 200C, for the maximum cook time (which for this model is 180 minutes).

That seemed excessive to me. I did an initial four minute cycle at 180C, allowed the basket to cool down, and then washed it, the divider, and the crisp trays, and set the machine at 200C for 50 minutes. The smell did get very strong during this time, but it did the trick.

When I came to cook with the air fryer for the first time, there was a slight smell during cooking, but it didn’t transfer to the food.

The controls here are excellent, just as they are on the Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer. The illuminated touch buttons on the top of the machine make it really easy to select the basket size you wish to cook with, and to set the temperature and time.

The only slight negative against this design is the glossy black surface quickly gets dirty, and shows up finger smudges. Plus, if your hands aren’t clean it can sometimes struggle to pick up your presses.

There are a number of presets to pick from too (frozen fries, mixed vegetables, chicken drumsticks, tray bakes, fish, dumplings, reheat), if you want to just press and play.

While the presets are useful, I did find during my weeks of testing they sometimes needed to be fine tuned to my preferred cook level. It’s all part of the early trial and error of using a new air fryer to work out the times and temps that work best for the food you’re cooking regularly.

When it comes to cleaning, the good news is the basket, trays and divider are all dishwasher safe. If you don’t have access to one, hand washing also works - although the sheer size of the basket means it can be tricky to clean in smaller sinks.

Another nice feature is the steam cleaning function. Simple to enact - just make sure the water reservoir is full and select the steam clean mode - it does a good job of loosening grease and marks in the basket. It means you can just run a cloth or paper towel round the basket and it’s pretty much clean. No need for hard scrubbing. It’s not going to remove stubborn marks or pieces of food debris, but it’s a handy option when only lightly used.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer: performance

Performance

• Steam and SteamFry functions are excellent
• Quiet operation
• Great all-round cooking performance

The Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer is one of the quieter models I’ve tested, making it an excellent cooking companion, especially in smaller kitchens as the noise doesn’t dominate the room.

As well as the presets, there are a couple of other useful features here. First is the shake reminder, where the 5000 Series will work out how many shake intervals are required based on the cook duration you’ve set, and will beep at set times to alert you to the fact you need to shake or turn the food in the basket.

This allows you to ensure an even cook, be it fries, chicken wings, vegetables, or pretty much anything else you’re cooking. If you’re not using a preset, you will need to manually enable the shake reminder by pressing the icon on the control panel.

The second handy feature is sync, allowing you to utilize the dual basket setup, and cook two different foods, at different temperatures, for different lengths of time, but have them finish at the same time.

The air fryer delays the start of the side with the shorter cook time, starting it when its duration matches that left on the other side. It’s simple to set up, and works really nicely.

The 5000 Series Megabasket is certainly well equipped, but how does it actually perform when it comes to cooking food?

As this is a large basket air fryer, and given my penchant for consuming pizza, I decided to kick things off with a simple, store-bought margarita. When I reviewed the Tower Elite 11 Litre Flexi Drawer, I was able to fit a whole round (admittedly small) pizza into the basket.

With the Philips, the basket isn’t as deep, which meant I had to slice my circular pizza in half and lay the two halves at an angle in the basket. It worked fine, but if this pizza was frozen rather than fresh, I would be forced to use the oven.

After warming up the air fryer for a couple of minutes first, I cooked the pizza at 190C for nine minutes. It turned out this was a minute or so too long, as the topping came out a little overdone. It was still fine to eat, but a glass window on the basket would have allowed me to keep a better eye on the progress being made. Alas, there’s no window on the basket.

I returned a few days later however with an oval shaped pizza. This easily sat in the basket, and having learned my lesson I cooked it for seven minutes at 180C.

The final cook was much better, with a crisp base and juicy toppings, although I noticed the part of the pizza towards the back of the basket was slightly more cooked than that at the front.

You don’t always get a completely even cook from this air fryer, but it wasn’t a problem during the weeks of cooking I did.

Fries came out great with this air fryer, whether they were frozen or fresh. Crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, and using the frozen fries setting I got automatic reminders to shake the basket a few times during the 24 minute cook at 200C.

For the fresh fries I had to set the temperature (200C) and time (21 minutes) manually, as well as enable the shake reminder. Still, the results were great.

Baking is another highlight when using the Philips 5000 air fryer, with a simple banana bread recipe producing a moist inside, crunchy-topped loaf with an excellent texture. I cooked it at 160C for 25 minutes, and then 20 minutes at 140C.

I also produced delicious, gooey-centered chocolate cookies, with an eight minute bake at 175C doing the job nicely. The chicken breasts, mixed green vegetables and sausages I also cooked using the air fryer mode all came out well.

But air frying is only part of the story. The reservoir atop this device is the signal this device has more tricks up its sleeve. The Steamfry function, that utilizes both the air frying components along with generating steam, aims to lock in moisture and enhance tenderness, creating juicy and golden textures. Basically, the best of air frying and steaming in one.

And it works really well. I used the entire basket to Streamfry large, hand-seasoned chicken wings on the chicken preset (32 minutes at 200C).

During the cook there are periods of air frying and periods of steaming, the latter of which are obvious as you can hear the steam being produced, and see it vent out the rear of the machine. If you have it up close to a wall, or under a kitchen cabinet, expect significant condensation. I’d recommend giving it plenty of breathing room when using a steam function.

The results were superb. Wonderfully crisp skin, and juicy meat made for a delicious dinner, and had me returning the next day for lunch to cook the rest of the wings I didn’t need the night before.

And when it comes to solely steaming, the 5000 Megabasket performs well yet again. Popping a selection of Japanese chicken and vegetable gyoza into the right side of the basket (steam and steamfry are available in the whole basket, or the right side only) and using the preset dumpling mode produced perfectly steamed, silky pillows.

A word of warning on the presets though, they aren’t a sure-fire win every time. When I cooked some green beans, broccoli, sugar snap peas, I split the batch between the two compartments. The veg I put in the smaller side I air fried, while I opted for steam on the larger side.

I selected the vegetables preset for both, which gave me settings of 200C for 30 minutes for the air fried veg, and 100C for 14 minutes for the steamed side. I also selected the sync option, so both sides would finish at the same time. However, at the first shake reminder for the air fried side (after 15 minutes) it was clear my veg was already overcooked.

I completed the full cycle for both sides, and the air fried veg was cremated. Thankfully, the steamed side had cooked very well, with tender broccoli stems, beans and peas.

Put bigger, chunkier pieces of veg in the air fry side (such as roughly chopped carrots and parsnips) and the preset is closer to what you need. It’s a good reminder that you need to spend time with your air fryer in the initial weeks to find out which settings work best for the food you cook - even with premium models such as the 5000 series.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer?

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer: also consider

How I tested the Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer

• I used the Philips 5000 Series air fryer for multiple weeks in my kitchen
• I cooked a wide variety of food with it, including fries, cakes, vegetables, pizza and meat
• I tested the various cooking functions, and the cleaning process

I spent multiple weeks using the Philips 5000 Series Megabasket with Steam Air Fryer in my kitchen. During that time I cooked using the air fry, steamfry and steam settings, and used the various preset modes, along with manual setting.

I cooked a wide variety of food, including baking cakes and cookies, air frying chips, pizzas, sausages and chicken, steaming vegetables and dumplings, and steam frying chicken wings.

I also tested the steam cleaning function, and cleaned the basket, trays and divider both by hand, and with the dishwasher.

First reviewed August 2026

FiiO FG3: one-minute review

As an audio journalist, I’ve covered FiiO plenty of times; the brand is known for beloved digital audio players like the JM21 and digital-audio converters like the FA15. But I was surprised to see the brand enter a totally different market, trying its hand at a gaming headset.

The FiiO FG3 is the resulting device, and it clearly bears some of the audiophile DNA that FiiO is known for. It offers a coaxial dual-driver set-up, which is uncommon in games-focused headphones, and also totes a lightweight DAC control module to jump between audio presets.

So it should be a gaming gem, right? Right? Well, I think something was lost in translation.

FiiO’s hardware is fantastic for music, and the FG3 is the same, with the dual-driver set-up and handy EQ modes working well. However, it’s not quite as good for gaming, which isn’t ideal for a 'gaming' headset.

Audio is often too muddy and rumbly to do justice to the layered sound design of an immersive environment or frantic battlefield. It’s largely the low-end which lets the side down, with higher-pitched sounds cutting through pretty effectively. This won’t affect all games, and dialogue-heavy or rhythm ones will benefit massively from the tuning.

The fit of the headphones isn’t perfect either. While the cups are incredibly soft, the headphones squeeze and the headband is too firm. I had to take breaks from long gaming sessions to avoid my head hurting.

That all may sound like a series of criticisms, but there’s a lot to like here too. The cans are easily portable, and the control app being online-only is a breath of fresh air in this bloatware-riddled world (even if it rules out EQ control when you’ve got no internet).

The FG3 is also, crucially, pretty affordable, and I can see a discount or two making it an absolute bargain. If you’re reading this when they’re even $10 / £10 off, they’ll be an absolute bargain.

So it’s easy to look past some of the more annoying elements, or rougher edges, of FiiO’s sound tuning and design. But I can’t help but hope that the brand’s second foray into gaming headsets makes some improvements on what we’ve currently got.

FiiO FG3: Price and availability

• List price: $69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$140)
• Available in the US, UK and Europe
• Matches RIG R5 Spear Pro HS, undercuts other rivals

The FiiO FG3 sells for $69.99 / £69.99 (about AU$140, though at the time of writing, it’s not on sale in Australia), and was unveiled in June, 2026.

At that price, it undercuts many of the best wired gaming headsets, though it matches our top-rated pick: the catchily-titled RIG R5 Spear Pro HS. That makes it fairly good value for a gaming headset, with many alternatives going for three-figure sums.

For your money, you get the headset as well as a removable microphone, control cable and USB adaptor (which lets you plug the USB-C control cable into a USB-A port, if that’s what you have available).

FiiO FG3: specs

FiiO FG3: design and features

The FiiO FG3 comes with a non-removable cable, which connects into a 3.5mm jack. It’s not long, but it’ll reach a hand-held controller. However, it’s best to connect it to a control module which comes in the box; this offers you the ability to mute, change EQ or modify volume, and has a much longer cable which connects to a device via USB-C (or USB-A, thanks to an included adaptor).

These cans aren’t particularly unique-looking, although the cups are slightly canted, which helps them fit a head shape better. They rotate a little horizontally and vertically, which also helps with the fit, though some other elements like the thin metal headband or certain cheap-feeling plastic elements discourage any notion of these being premium headphones. There are no on-cup controls either.

While the ear pads are soft and comfortable, I did find that the padded headband wasn’t padded enough. Longer gaming stints ended in growing aches; the FG3 fit isn’t as comfortable as other gaming headsets I’ve used. A slight squeeze offered by the cans didn’t help either.

You can fold the cups in on each other, and remove the microphone, transforming the headset into a compact unit which is easy to transport (though it doesn’t come with any kind of carry case). Combined with a feature we’ll get to later, it’s a great headset for people who game in different venues.

Now onto the feature set. A potentially-divisive feature of the FiiO FG3 is that you don’t need to download a control app to clutter up your PC. Instead, FiiO’s website offers the ability to change EQ and flick between presets.

I loved the fact I didn’t need to download more bloating software onto my rig, and that I could tote the FG3 between different systems and locations and still customize them, but it does mean that you get no control while offline.

The control site lets you choose three presets, which the control module lets you change between: a gaming mode, a cinema one, and a music one. The latter list, which includes the custom mode, is the one I found myself using most.

This module also means you can still jump between your EQ presets when you're on a console or handheld, so your decision to play on a Switch, PlayStation or Xbox doesn't mean you're banned from customizable sound.

Don’t expect any Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) here. I found that the Passive Noise Cancellation (PNC) or natural ear cup blocking, managed to cut out annoying background sounds from my street, as did the closed-back design. But it won’t save you from louder interruptions.

FiiO FG3: performance

True to its audiophile heritage, FiiO has packed the FG3 with two drivers per cup: one 50mm dynamic driver designed to handle mid- and low-end, and a smaller 16mm dynamic driver for higher-end sounds. The benefit of dual drivers, rather than the sole unit found in most gaming headsets, is twofold: firstly, each being dedicated to different frequencies means that they can be better catered to them. Secondly, simultaneous sounds can be delivered with better clarity.

This latter is certainly true of the FiiO FG3, which has a distinct V-shaped sound profile; that means that bass and treble are well-defined and clear, though mids are a little lost. This isn’t a huge issue for gaming, as most sound effects are low or high ones, but it’s audible in music (including game scores).

It’s also clear that the high-end dynamic driver does its job well. Dialogue is easy to make out, even in frantic battles, including in-game audio and friends’ voice chats during gameplay. It’s also easy to make out nearby footsteps or the twinkle of a distant collectible.

However, I’m not as sold on the bass capabilities of the larger driver. In music it’s scooping and well-defined, but while gaming it lacks the power or ‘oomph’ of some other headsets I’ve tested. This means the chatter of your gunfire sounds a little dulled, nearby explosions lose a visceral edge, and roaring monsters sound like they have a sore throat.

Perhaps most importantly, the background rumble of a city or busy landscape which so often defines an alive-feeling open world felt a little too ‘rumbly’ for me. Some of FiiO’s equalization modes go some way to fix its issues, but not the whole way; I never found a way to stop the sound feeling a little muddy, and sometimes even made it worse.

A much-touted selling point of the FG3 is the use of Virtual 7.1, an algorithm which spreads sound to give a feeling of surround sound, without using 8 speakers (which would simply be 7.1 sound). It helps a little in spreading environmental and atmospheric sounds about you, though you’ll never forget that you’re simply getting spread-out headphone sound.

The removable microphone is… fine for purpose, but won’t deliver especially crystalline audio. Even recording onto my PC’s own voice recorder app, speech is a little crackly. However, I appreciate how dexterous the strut holding the microphone is: you can move it to different angles or heights, and there’s far more versatility than in many other headsets I’ve used.

Should I buy the FiiO FG3?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

FiiO FG3: Also consider

Here are two more gaming headsets that we've given positive reviews to, if you're not sold on the FiiO FG3.

How I tested the FiiO FG3

• Used for three weeks
• Tested for gaming and other tasks
• Mainly connected to gaming PC

I tested the FiiO FG3 for roughly three weeks in order to write the review. Through this time, I used the headset while connected to my gaming PC; I tried to plug it into my Android phone, but the connection was stuttery.

The majority of the testing was done gaming; predominantly Nioh 3 and Total War: Pharaoh, but with time also spent on Old School Runescape, Isonzo, Slay The Spire, Crying Suns and the Mortal Shell 2 beta. I also used the headset to stream music while at work, and watch YouTube videos and TV shows.

Since I review audio products for a living, I have plenty of experience testing gaming headsets (and using other headphones for gaming purposes). I've also tested other FiiO products.

First reviewed August 2026

Read more about how we test

• Castle unveils four new loudspeakers in two ranges
• Castle Tintagel sell for lower prices, with refined driver combos
• Castle Walmer are a higher price, and one has an unusual driver layout

When you think about British Castle, you probably think about Windsor, Warwick or the Tower of London; little did I know that the name also referred to a brand making old-school-looking loudspeakers.

I learned the truth because British Castle is back with a new quartet of speakers, all designed and made in the UK.

These new models, named Castle Tintagel and Castle Walmer after the real-life castles (and, in the case of the former, King Arthur's stomping ground), all have an old-school look which really catches the eye. Now, I'm not talking 'ancient castles' old-school — think ’70s wood-on-wood vibes.

The models will go on sale in September. We only have UK prices for now, and there's no word whether the models will sell elsewhere.

Hearing some Wamler audio

The lower-cost new models are the British Castle Tintagel range: the Tintagel 1 costs £1,999 (roughly $2,700 / AU$4,000) for a pair and a duo of the Tintagel 2 sell for £2,999 (about $4,000 / AU$6,000). The former is a two-way standmount, the latter a 2.5-way floor-stander.

The Tintagel 1 combines a 130mm mid/bass driver and 28mm silk dome treble, while the Tintagel 2 keeps that treble, but enhances the low-end with twin 150mm drivers. Apparently the low-end drivers are a real selling point, and are fiber cones that are designed for quick response and controlled low-end.

Despite not being cheap, the Tintagel is aimed as British Castle's entry-level speaker line. It offers a warm sound profile and classic ’70s look at a lower cost compared to its other options.

Then we have the Castle Walmer line. The Walmer 1 is a 2-way standmount speaker which sells for £2,499 (roughly $3,400 / AU$5,000) for a pair, while the Walmer 2 is a 3-way floorstander that you can buy for the sum of £4,999 (around $6,800 / AU$10,000) for a pair.

In the Walmer 1, you'll find a 130mm mid/bass driver and 12x45mm high-frequency true ribbon unit. The Walmer 2 keeps the latter but uses dual 150mm bass drivers and a 115mm midrange unit, with all of these made of the same fibre as we've already seen in the Tintagel — and what's unusual is that one of the two bass drivers is actually above the tweeter and mid/bass driver, while the other one is below them.

Normally, speaker drivers are simply arranged from highest-frequency at the top to lowest at the bottom, so I'm curious as to how this performs.

Not only does this more advanced driver combination keep the Walmer feeling unique, but the ribbon unit apparently offers a unique top-end which is detailed and delicate. The entire Walmer 2 set-up is unusual, with a bespoke mid-range speaker being relatively rare.

I have become quite the expert when it comes to portable power stations. It's definitely a weird flex, but I'll take it when I can get it.

When it comes to power stations, there are several different categories of how they are scaled. Some can run your phone, some can run your fridge, some can run your room, and some can run your house.

The Anker Solix E10 is on that home side. The company calls it "a Whole-Home Backup System, uniting battery, solar and a smart generator." And that's absolutely - and impressively - what it does.

It can scale up to where it could be a larger home and scale down to where it'll be a smaller home, or maybe a large garage, depending on what all you have in your garage.

The point is that it is a power station comparable to probably a Tesla Power Wall, as a lot of people would recognize just due to the brand name. It is not only a reservoir of power that you can pull from in case of a power outage, but also a transfer switch.

It has the ability to connect with solar panels to intake solar power from the sun and utilize that to run your home. Depending on the power company, you have potentially even kicked back some power to the grid and gotten yourself a return.

If you run out of power in case of emergency and you don't have enough solar to run your entire home, you can even connect to a portable smart generator that happens to be tri-fuel. That means you could then run that off of natural gas, propane gas, or gasoline.

So at the end of the day, over the last 141 days that I have had this set up at my home, I have not once worried about a power outage or a storm that's coming, knocking out my power and causing food to spoil or for my kids to panic. In fact, I've welcomed several storms and excitement, actually, to test the system.

Anker Solix E10: Price and availability

Depending on how many batteries and accessories you get, your price is going to change pretty aggressively with this setup, especially if you start counting in install costs as well.

Your base system with one inverter and one battery is going to cost just over $4,000. Once you get up to the Basecamp Power Dock Smart Generator, you get up to $10,000 pretty easily.

You can get these through Anker or Amazon. One thing you will want to note is that, unless you are a licensed electrician, you're going to need to get one to get this all installed. Mine even had to consult with the city code and the utility company in order to get everything approved, since I am tied into the power grid.

Anker Solix E10: Unboxing and First Impressions

My entire setup showed up on a semi truck off a pallet because I got several batteries, the inverter, the generator, and other components needed to help with install.

From the first moment I started unboxing everything and looking at the quality, I was blown away with how sharp this looked. Once I found out that this was going to have to get strapped to the side of my house, I actually wasn't that upset because it looks so sleek and professional.

It doesn't look like it's some toy or cheap product that needs to be mounted, but actually it looks like it's floating. It looks like it's an addition to my home, not just a slap-it-on-the-side. It looks intentional.

Anker Solix E10: Design & Build Quality

Like I mentioned, I needed to have a licensed electrician install this, but once he installed it and handed it over to me, the setup process within the app was significantly easier than I'm sure his job was. All I had to do was pair the already set-up device to my app, answer a few questions on how the system was set up, and then I was good to go.

Now I have the ability to run more isolated breakers if I'd like. I can see my power output level. I can see when the smart generator is hooked up and trigger when and how to turn that on. I can check my battery levels.

Another huge thing that I noticed right away is that, much like some of the other units from Anker Solix, I can have my location set so that when there's a storm coming in, it will automatically top my batteries off.

Meaning that I can let them idle and sit at around 80%, maybe 90%, during the winter. When there's a storm, they will automatically top themselves off to help with the longevity of the battery while also still getting the benefit of having the entire battery's capacity when needed.

At first, I was thinking that I would need to have this installed in my garage, but once I found out that it was rated for extreme weather, extreme cold, and even extreme heat, I knew that I could have this outside my home, even in my Midwest temperament, and be just fine.

Anker Solix E10: In use

One of these days I'll get solar added to my roof, but according to what I'm seeing, it looks like the solar input can take up to 9,000 W with two batteries which is madness if you ask me.

What I can speak to is the smart generator. I've tried it both with propane and with gasoline, and both have worked very well. It's a smart generator, meaning that it can automatically trigger when needed based on my E10 power panel, so already I'm a step ahead.

This feels almost like a Generac kind of style, where it will kick on when needed, but what's really cool is that I can disconnect and utilize this as just a generator if I ever needed it as well. If I'm working out on a property somewhere else, or my cabin property, or anything like that, I could bring this generator and get power immediately wherever I need it.

The other nice thing about this generator is that, since it is a smart generator, it has push-to-start, so I won't ever have to rip on that cord unless there's something that's going wrong. Lastly, this generator starts up pretty quickly and has its own built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so I can pair it to my app independently of the E10 power wall. It runs fairly quietly.

I've tested several times and barely notice it kicking on, and I don't notice it kicking on. When it comes to the power output on the inside, it seamlessly transitions, and I haven't even noticed a flicker or the inside of my house recognizing that there's power loss at all.

It's genuinely a bit hard for me to understand sometimes, even being in this world, but this one little generator has been able to run my entire home when testing. I've intentionally made the system go off-grid, and then my house will run simply off of this generator, and there have been zero drops in ability.

Admittedly, I'm not charging a car off of my house or anything else insane while doing that, but a full house with two fridges, microwaves, air fryers, two-stage HVAC, and 3,000 sq. ft., plus a basement. I've had zero issues running off of this one simple generator.

I used to have the F3800 Whole-home backup system through Anker. While that worked and was solid, I was very aware of the battery capacity, just in case there was ever an issue. Now, though, I don't have any concern at all because, worst-case scenario, I can run off of gasoline.

If I run out of gasoline, I can run off my two propane tanks that I have at the house. While I'm running those, I can go and get more gas if I needed to, or more propane. Down the road, I could hook up to my natural gas line as well.

This may not be for everyone, but I have had a hard time pointing people away from it when I've talked to Dee about Whole Home Backup Systems. Other than, of course, the cost and the fact that this is slightly different than what people have gotten used to when it comes to a Generac or Tesla Powerwall. When I explain just how beneficial my system is, it definitely gets their head turning and gets them interested in this for their own.

One final positive note is that down the road, if I choose to get an electric vehicle or expand or want to have some additional power outside of my house, I could run an independent circuit directly from this Powerwall and then control it from my phone. Anker allows me to customize the output, the schedule, and the control of the circuit independently from my house, and I can do it all from my phone.

Anker Solix E10: Final verdict

The Anker Solix E10 Powerwall makes incredible sense for most homeowners, especially those who are looking for some flexibility and want to have the gas, propane, or natural gas backed up as well. Not only can I use this as a whole-home backup system, but then I can actually use each piece independently for more than what they originally used it for.

It is, of course, a bit of a headache having to consult with the local electric company to ensure that you can hook up your system in line with the grid, because that is a very real concern. It did cause some delay for my install; however, if you can get that solved, this is an absolute no-brainer for me.

For more off-grid essentials, we've tested the best portable power stations.

By almost any measure, Tim Cook has been one of the best tech CEOs ever. He diversified product lines, launched new lines of business, expanded across the globe, and grew Apple's overall market value ten-fold.

Cook is the rare public tech figure who has, for the most part, survived the vagaries of a public life. Did he disappoint many when he appeared to bend the knee before the United States' divisive President? Absolutely, though if you understand Cook, and you listen to his explanations, you know why he did it and how it actually fits into his worldview. Generally, though, Cook's been on a 15-year-long winning streak that was made possible by both sticking to the strict ethos of Steve Jobs' original Apple charter and by pragmatically doing things his own way.

I once wrote that Steve "Jobs was Apple." Tim Cook made Apple. Where Steve Jobs' mercurial personality was intertwined with Apple across its products, development, and marketing, Cook's fingerprints are so absent from the company he's run that you might wonder if he has them.

Cook became a celebrity at Apple, but without the rabid hero worship Jobs would sometimes foster.

I'd argue, though, that in an era of a million rising individual influencer personalities, Cook may have been exactly the CEO Apple needed. He commanded the stage at keynotes and even engaged in some playful "acting" for short comedic product segments, but Cook has clearly never been interested in building on a cult of personality. When the opportunity to speak in his own biography arose, Cook characteristically deferred to the people who know him. As a result, his voice is largely absent from a tome purporting to tell the story of his remarkable life.

Cook built it to last

What Tim Cook has done is build an Apple for the ages. At his fifth anniversary, I wrote about how often he proved "he was about choice." It wasn't a complete departure from Steve Jobs, who diversified the iPod line, but Cook carried that idea through virtually every product category. In the iPhone, this has provided the freedom to offer not just a wide range of iPhones, but handsets at a wider range of sizes and prices, opening up the cachet-filled handset to an even bigger audience.

Cook took Steve Jobs' germ of an idea for "technology that would improve the relationship between patients and health care providers," and turned it into the Apple Watch. Over the next decade, Cook and company would lean into that ideal, continuously enhancing the wearable to turn it into a true life-enhancing fitness and health wearable. There was obvious pride in Cook's voice whenever he shared true stories of the Apple Watch detecting potential health issues and possibly saving lives.

One of Cook's most remarkable creations is the Services business, originally built around a collection of "Plus"-named services that include Apple TV+ (now just Apple TV), Fitness+, Apple News, iCloud, and Apple Music. Services is now Apple's fastest-growing business, recently reaching over $30 billion in revenue in the last quarter.

I remember sitting in the Steve Jobs Theater audience in 2019 as Cook introduced a launch lineup that included Jason Momoa, Oprah, and Big Bird, wondering how, even with all that star power, Apple TV+ could compete with Netflix. Today, that's almost a laughable concern, as Apple TV enjoys some of the most acclaimed and widely-watched shows in streaming, including Widow's Bay and Ted Lasso. With movies like F1, Cook has even built a formidable movie studio.

It's not that I don't think Steve Jobs couldn't have built something similar. After all, it's unlikely we'd have Pixar's Toy Story franchise if it weren't for Jobs, who helped pivot the software company to filmmaking. Still, I think Jobs saw the Tech and Entertainment industries as two parallel but never intersecting lines. Cook's head was always on a swivel, and he has focused on business-strengthening diversification.

Missteps and power moves

For Apple purists, services might be a less exciting and interesting area than new product categories like the aforementioned Apple Watch, and Cook's track record in pure-play innovation has been somewhat spotty.

Cook's biggest swing, the mixed-reality Apple Vision Pro, remains one of the most impressive pieces of technology I have ever seen, but I have to wonder if Jobs would've made the same call, shipping a $3,499 headset and claiming it was for consumers. I have a strong feeling that the Vision Pro will not survive deeply into the John Ternus era.

Similarly, Apple under Cook has fumbled the AI ball, a fact that Apple has more or less admitted to us. It remains to be seen if the far more intelligent Siri AI will deliver on all the Apple AI promises and finally put it properly into an Artificial Intelligence race that has all but passed it by.

These are minor blemishes in an otherwise sterling track record, one that may ultimately be defined by the stunning transformation from a collection of Mac hardware that relied on Intel CPUs to an impressive array of Apple Silicon systems that perform well at virtually every level of demand.

If there's a natural handoff from the efforts of the outgoing CEO to the incoming one, John Ternus, it's this one. As a longtime hardware lead, Ternus has been deeply involved in all Mac innovations. The first time I spoke to him, it was about the short-lived 12-inch MacBook and all the work Apple did to move antennas and speakers and create a layered battery system. More recently, Ternus fronted the impressive MacBook Neo launch.

True continuity

Unlike Cook, who took over for a dying and idolized CEO in 2011, Ternus steps into the seat of a moving car as the deeply respected Cook scoots over to an Executive Chairman role.

15 years ago, people openly questioned Apple's ability to continue in Jobs' absence (I did not, writing, "Apple will be fine without Steve Jobs"). That concern does not exist in this transition. Ternus not only knows and understands the strategic plans laid out by Cook, but he can also still turn to his mentor at any moment for additional guidance.

As was the case when Cook took over, there won't be many changes evident in the first 12 months of Ternus' control. But a decade from now, there will be new products and services, devices sunsetted, and endless post-mortems about how well or poorly Ternus handled the Siri AI rollout.

Tim Cook was no Steve Jobs, which turned out better than fine for Apple. Similarly, Ternus is no Tim Cook. They have different temperaments and skill sets (Ternus is more of a true technologist). In the end, this next era of Apple is another exciting mystery full of anticipated unveilings like a folding iPhone and AR glasses, and surprises like Apple robots and EV cars (equal chance those don't happen), but the biggest surprise of all might, as it was with Cook, be what the company will be like under Ternus. That, and how Ternus will greet us all when he takes the stage for the next iPhone launch on September 9. Maybe, "Hey, everyone"?

It's hard to believe that we're almost halfway through Ted Lasso season 4, but we are. Indeed, once its fifth episode has been released, the hit Apple TV show's latest season will have reached its midpoint.

So, when will it premiere on Apple's streaming platform? Below, I'll tell you the exact dates and times for the soccer comedy-drama's next chapter, so you can block out some time in your busy schedule to catch it as soon as it arrives. Here, then, is when Ted Lasso season 4 episode 5 will drop in your neck of the woods.

What is the launch time for Ted Lasso season 4 episode 5?

Episode 5 of Ted Lasso's fourth season will launch at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Tuesday, September 1 in the US and Canada.

If you frequent these parts, you'll know that new episodes have come out on one of the best streaming services every Tuesday in North and South America. So, it won't be a shock if (or, rather, when) this week's entry does as well.

If you live on another continent, you'll have to wait until Wednesday, September 2 to catch season 4 episode 5. Depending on where you live, here are the exact launch times for the series' forthcoming installment:

• US — Tuesday, September 1 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Tuesday, September 1 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Wednesday, September 2 at 2am BST
• India — Wednesday, September 2 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Wednesday, September 2 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Wednesday, September 2 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Wednesday, September 2 at 1pm NZST

Ted Lasso season 4 full episode schedule: how many are there?

If it wasn't obvious from this article's introduction, there'll be 10 episodes to enjoy in Ted Lasso season 4. After this week's installment, there'll be five more to laugh, cry, and cheer at before the hugely popular program's latest season ends, too.

Want to know when each subsequent episode will be released? Of course you do, so read the list below for more details:

• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 1 — out now
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 2 — out now
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 3 — out now
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 4 — out now
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 5 — September 1/2
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 6 — September 8/9
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 7 — September 15/16
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 8 — September 22/23
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 9 — September 29/30
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 10 — October 6/7

Just days before the FBI issued a warning over Iranian attempts to hack critical infrastructure in the US, a UK power generation plant was taken offline for four days after a cyberattack.

The attack has been attributed to Iran, which has stepped up its offensive cyber warfare efforts since the US and Israel began conducting strikes in February 2026. These cyberattacks have been largely focused on the US and its allies.

A UK government spokesperson responded to the attack, stating, “This story refers to an incident impacting a small-scale energy generator, and at no point was there a risk to the wider energy system. The U.K. has a highly resilient energy system. We work closely with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and ensure the highest security standards,” (via CNBC).

The wider impact for critical infrastructure

While the attack may have only targeted a ‘small-scale energy generator’, it shows that state-sponsored groups are actively attempting to disrupt UK energy production in any way they can, regardless of how much power it provides.

As has been made abundantly clear in the US, much of the world’s major critical infrastructure relies on small network-enabled operation technology (OT) components.

If OT devices have passed their end-of-life and no longer receive software updates, or have simply been misconfigured, these devices can show up on the internet to a hacker looking for a way into a protected network.

The UK has taken very careful steps to shield these devices from the internet to prevent them being used to access critical infrastructure, but it only takes a single internet-facing OT to cause issues.

Following the aftermath of the attack, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has issued new guidance on protecting OT devices from state-sponsored threats.

In its guidance, the NCSC said “the threat from state use of offensive cyber, including outside of conflict, has almost certainly increased.”

So what do the experts think the attack means for critical infrastructure, the UK, and the wider world?

Expert perspectives on UK powerplant attack

• Muhammad Yahya Patel, vCISO and cybersecurity advisor for EMEA, Huntress:

Attackers don’t care whether an energy operator is large enough to meet a reporting threshold. If it can be disrupted, it can be targeted. The significance isn’t the size of the facility, but that a cyberattack turned into four days of real-world operational disruption.

That raises an important question: why did recovery take four days, and are smaller operators adequately prepared to contain and recover from these incidents?

There is also a potential visibility gap. If smaller energy operators fall outside mandatory cyber-reporting thresholds, we risk underestimating how frequently this part of our infrastructure is being targeted or successfully compromised.

Critical infrastructure security cannot stop with the organisations considered large enough to be critical. Attackers will look for the weakest route in, so resilience, monitoring and rehearsed recovery need to extend across the wider energy ecosystem.

The real measure of cyber resilience is no longer simply whether you can prevent an intrusion. It’s whether you can contain one quickly enough that a cyber incident doesn’t become an operational crisis

• Graeme Stewart, head of public sector, Check Point:

This marks a grave escalation in the Iran conflict because a hostile state-linked cyber threat has reportedly reached into UK energy infrastructure and caused a physical shutdown lasting four days. That should concern every organisation responsible for keeping this country running. The fact that this was a relatively small generator and the wider grid was unaffected does not remove the threat. The far more serious point is what the attackers appear to have demonstrated: an ability to get inside.

UK energy infrastructure and stop it working. We have to ask what happens if the next target is bigger, more critical or more deeply connected to the services millions of people rely on. Britain’s Critical National Infrastructure underpins almost every part of modern life, including electricity, water, transport and communications, and those systems are increasingly digital, interconnected and dependent on one another. A serious attack on one part of that ecosystem has the potential to cause disruption far beyond the original target.

For most Brits, the Iran conflict is happening thousands of miles away and cyber warfare probably still conjures up images of stolen passwords, leaked data and companies being held to ransom. The prospect of a hostile state being able to reach into the infrastructure beneath our everyday lives changes that dramatically, because suddenly an international conflict has a potential route to our front doors through the power we use, the water we depend on and the networks that keep us connected. We also need to consider whether causing widespread disruption was ever the objective here. If this attack was intended to demonstrate that Iranian-linked hackers can penetrate UK infrastructure and cause real-world consequences, then the significance isn't measured by the size of the generator they managed to shut down, but by what they have demonstrated may be possible.

The question now has to be whether Britain is genuinely ready if something more serious follows. We cannot build our resilience around the assumption that every attacker will be stopped at the door, particularly when we have just seen reports of one getting through. Operators of essential services need to know exactly how they keep functioning when systems are compromised, how quickly an attack can be contained and how they recover without allowing disruption to spread. Cybersecurity is rapidly becoming about something much bigger than protecting information. It is about protecting the systems that allow a modern country to function and finding out how resilient those systems are during a major attack would be far too late

• Matt Caswell, Executive Director, OpenSSL Foundation and Principal Software Engineer:

An attack that can take part of the UK’s power infrastructure offline is a reminder that cyber resilience is about more than protecting the organisation at the front of the incident. We also need to understand the technology and dependencies sitting underneath critical services.

Modern infrastructure contains layers of software from different suppliers and open-source projects. Organisations need enough visibility to know which dependencies really matter before an attack happens, so they can understand their exposure and respond quickly when something goes wrong.

For the UK, this is also a wider resilience question. Regulation can improve security practices, but resilient infrastructure depends on understanding and sustaining the software it relies on. That needs to be part of the conversation about how we protect essential services.

• Tim Williams, CEO, Quod Orbis:

The fact that this attack was contained to a small-scale generator and did not threaten the wider energy system should not obscure the significance of what has happened. The real warning is that a hostile actor was able to disrupt a piece of the UK’s energy infrastructure in the first place.

Avoiding a major outage is all well and good, but it shouldn’t be seen as the success metric for true cyber resilience. The real measure of cyber resilience isn't whether an organisation has controls documented in a framework. It's whether it can continuously demonstrate that those controls are working when they matter most, identifying control weaknesses before they are exploited and become operational incidents.

As geopolitical tensions increase, organisations need to assume that cyber attacks are potential business continuity events and ones that are capable of impacting far more than the businesses themselves. Critical national infrastructure such as electricity, power and water are likely to be the targets for more attacks so resilience will really depend on knowing, in real time, whether the controls designed to protect critical operations are actually working, and having clear accountability when they are not.

Reactive incident response is important but it’s not enough. Continuous assurance needs to become part of how organisations manage operational resilience, particularly as state-linked actors increasingly look for ways to exploit the digital systems underpinning essential services

Onimusha: Way of the Sword has blown me away after 30 hours with its engaging, emotional, and immersive narrative, filled with epic combat encounters. Capcom nailed the sword-fighting in almost all areas, further aided by some of the best boss battles I've ever played in the action-adventure genre.

The enemy variety in Way of the Sword appears a little weak initially, but fortunately, there is surprisingly a decent number of diverse enemy types to tackle, some of which will put players' skills to the test, and enemies that tie directly to some of the darker and morbid aspects of the story — giving me every bit of motivation to defeat those responsible.

Much like previous games in the Onimusha series, upgrades and enhancements work by collecting red souls from defeating enemies or by finding other necessary resources to stay well-equipped for more difficult encounters or boss fights (because there are many of them).

Capcom has blended elements from the beloved franchise with modern elements (notably thanks to the RE Engine, used in Resident Evil Requiem), creating a sword-fighting, narrative-driven experience that successfully revitalizes the franchise for future entries — and yet again, it proves that it's in the best form it's ever been in.

What it takes to be the strongest

In Onimusha: Way of the Sword, we follow Miyamoto Musashi, a confident young samurai looking to climb to the very top to be the best swordsman there is, battling rivals and those with the same goal. When an encounter with a fierce rival, Sasaki Ganryu, goes wrong, both Musashi and Ganryu are thrust into lives and roles neither could ever expect.

Genma (demons) are seeping into Kyoto, Japan, from the depths of hell, and chaos is unfolding, with the lives of innocents taken brutally, and formidable Genma tormenting those who are vulnerable.

Musashi and Ganryu seek the same goal: master the blade and become the ultimate swordsman. However, both will eventually learn that far more important matters are at stake: humanity's attempt to repel Genma is in dire need of attention, and with Ganryu led astray, it's up to Musashi to forge the right path to heroism.

Equipped with Oni gauntlets, Musashi and Ganryu possess strengths far above the ordinary human, with plenty of abilities to challenge and defeat Genma. However, as expected, with that power comes plenty of responsibility.

Do strength and power derive from one's own efforts? Is it honorable to seek absolute power with the sacrifice of innocents? These are questions Musashi is left to answer throughout his journey, learning through victory but also through trial and error, ultimately creating an engaging rollercoaster that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Musashi is far from perfect in his use of Oni powers, but the character's development throughout the Way of the Sword and his bravado (significantly amped by the face model of the late and legendary Toshiro Mifune) are the strongest aspects of the game, keeping you coming back for more after each main story mission.

Miyamoto Musashi shines in every single cutscene, with a level of charisma that accurately represents the legendary Japanese figure, Musashi himself, and Toshiro Mifune's prowess. (Video Credit: Capcom)

As much as Onimusha: Way of the Sword maintains a strong focus on sword combat, it's very much a strong cinematic experience, with cutscenes that are absolutely phenomenal. The level of detail in every character's facial expressions and speech makes it feel like you're watching a movie at times.

Unfortunately, that makes the switch back to gameplay and dialogue sequences quite jarring. It's not that the visuals aren't great during gameplay; it just doesn't match up to those cinematic sequences, and I found myself constantly wishing gameplay looked as great as those important cutscenes — but ultimately, those beautiful visuals are designed for what's most important: the story.

Exceptional, addictive sword combat

Unsurprisingly, the combat in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is fantastic, taking fundamentals from what series veterans are accustomed to, alongside new and exciting skills, making every encounter entertaining.

As mentioned in my preview, the Issen technique makes its return, allowing players to viciously strike enemies right before being hit, and it makes for an incredible spectacle.

More importantly, parrying and deflecting are pivotal to overcoming foes in Way of the Sword. Just like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice by FromSoftware, both defence options significantly deplete enemy stamina or 'posture', leaving them open to attacks for huge damage.

Way of the Sword treats Sekiro's 'deathblows' slightly differently; instead of one central area to attack, players have several options for areas to strike against bosses.

In scenarios where Musashi runs out of Hozuki (used for quick healing), most bosses will have a limb or part of a weapon (notably with the Byakue boss) highlighted in purple that is filled with red, yellow, blue, and purple souls, but does less damage to the enemy compared to the traditional main attack.

It's an aspect of combat that creates a dynamic back-and-forth between Musashi and various bosses, especially if you need more yellow souls for health from dealing too much damage earlier on.

Patience is key when attempting to execute Issen or Chain Issen, as the timing window is very narrow, more so than those for parries and deflects. When mastered, though, you'll overcome most enemies with ease. (Video Credit: Capcom)

Capcom did promise that enemies further into the game's story would be more difficult, after players voiced concerns that the demo was too easy. While I can say that endgame enemies are certainly more formidable and aggressive, some even making me sweat when in larger numbers, most basic enemy encounters are still easy.

This is directly due to Capcom's design for Way of the Sword's combat, which is very obviously focused on replicating samurai-like fights, taking after historical samurai duels that often ended in a single strike. Enemies won't attack Musashi in groups, making clashes with enemies easy, but I can see what director Satoru Nihei was aiming for with slower, more deliberate, and steadily paced sword clashes.

Fortunately, once you beat the game, you'll unlock the hard mode, Carnage, which is encouraged for use in New Game Plus. This raises the stakes to a new level, as a single hit could result in death, similar to Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima and its Lethal difficulty.

While that doesn't directly address the fundamental aspect of enemies not attacking Musashi all at once, it will keep players on their toes to remain efficient in combat.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword genuinely has some of the best animations I've ever seen in any video game, particularly when parrying. Musashi oozes so much swagger in every single fight, making his confident and cocky attitude shine through combat, not just dialogue and cutscenes.

At the same time, I was slightly disappointed to see that Musashi's katana is the only primary weapon to use throughout the game. Yes, you'll find Oni Armaments on the journey, which effectively act as secondary weapons, but they require blue souls to pull off special attacks. It's a step away from a series tradition, where characters like Samonsuke or Jean Reno had a wide arsenal of weapons to use on the fly.

The game excels at its parry and deflect animations, but is surprisingly lacking in the number of animations for enemy finishers — and I couldn't help but feel like another primary weapon besides the katana would instantly fix that.

Nonetheless, Onimusha: Way of the Sword's boss fights make up for it, as they are easily the standout in an already immersive and addictive game experience. While some of the boss encounters are repeated too often, particularly during the game's climax, they are easily among some of the most epic boss battles I've played in games.

Besides the final boss battle, Dohatsu-ten is a strong favourite of mine, putting my reflexes to parry fast attacks to the test, and its design reminds me of Capcom's very own familiar and beloved half-demon, half-human demon hunter, Dante. (Video Credit: Capcom)

If difficulty is a major concern, fear not, because not only are the boss fights a fantastic spectacle, but they're also very challenging. Bosses will often launch attacks (where swords have a purple glow) that can't be dodged or blocked, so players must parry or deflect them or lose plenty of souls in the process.

Losing souls from being hit by an enemy's unblockable attack is very risky, as they'll be collected and used to make them even stronger mid-fight — and this is the last thing you'll want to happen during the final boss fight, which I won't spoil.

Players will also have to look out for bosses attempting to grab Musashi by hitting the dodge button just before it lands, as mistiming this results in serious damage and can single-handedly decide a fight. Pulling off well-timed dodges, parries, deflects, and counters to grabs makes the entire combat experience addictive, and once you unlock the Oni transformation, the game takes a new leap to greater heights.

What about performance?

I played Onimusha: Way of the Sword on my main desktop gaming PC, equipped with an RTX 4080 Super and an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D processor, and performance was the least of my concerns. Through most of my 30-hour playthrough, I played at maximum graphics settings at the 3440x1440 display resolution, with DLSS Quality enabled, and consistently stayed above the 100 fps mark.

When testing the game on my Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme handheld gaming PC, I could easily hit around 40fps with graphics settings preset to medium, with FSR set to balanced, at around 24W (power consumption).

This is another Capcom game that runs very smoothly, which was a worry considering some of its semi-open world hubs. The RE Engine seems to struggle in open-world (open-area) games like Dragon's Dogma 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds, rather than those with linear environments in Capcom's Resident Evil games.

I did experience a few odd moments of heavy frame rate dips during some cutscenes, but these were few and far between, so it didn't break the flow of important narrative development.

There is full ultrawide support in both cutscenes and gameplay, which isn't exactly common for PC ports, as the former is often restricted to the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Should you play Onimusha: Way of the Sword?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Onimusha: Way of the Sword has plenty of accessibility options, notably color blindness aids alongside visual and auditory accessibility presets. Within those presets lie options such as subtitles (toggle on or off), subtitle size, subtitle background, menu text size, and HUD size.

There are also numerous options to change the blood color, disable dismemberment, remove action prompts, and motion sickness reduction settings.

Players can also change keybinds for mouse and keyboard play, while there are several different options for sprint control (toggle or hold), deflect control, menu cursor speed, and even one to disable the Windows key's functionality.

The game ships with DLSS 4.5 and FSR 3 frame generation, CPU performance presets, and ray tracing, which doesn't seem heavy to run — at least on a high-end gaming system.

How I reviewed Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Most of my 30-hour playthrough of Onimusha: Way of the Sword was on my main gaming PC, using the LG 45GS95QE OLED ultrawide display, providing exceptional immersion thanks to its 800R curvature.

During my trip to Gamescom, I put Onimusha's performance to the test by lowering my Lenovo Legion Go S handheld's TDP as much as possible, and was quite impressed by how steady it was around 40fps. It's certainly possible to achieve 60fps, but it would require lowering graphics settings further and increasing the TDP.

First reviewed August 2026

I've always been a big fan of the ThinkPad lineup. Although that's a very clear lineup, split across the S series, the E series, and beyond.

The S series is the slimline series, and even with a 16-inch laptop, the fact that they can keep it this lightweight is pretty impressive. It begs the biggest challenge: what backpack are you going to put it in? Not necessarily if you want to carry it with you or not.

This is the kind of laptop that you want to bring with you if you need some serious power and some screen real estate, but not necessarily a high-power CPU. I wouldn't bring this with me if I'm trying to edit video or push some 3D renderings or anything like that. If I'm doing coding work, need some serious CPU on the go, and want that bigger screen without breaking my back carrying it around, then this is one I would strongly consider.

It is supposed to be a desktop replacement, after all. One thing that Lenovo loves to talk about with this laptop is its ability to run CAD at a desktop performance level, even without the BVR GPU. The RTX Pro 500 Blackwell GPU is plenty good enough for most 3D renderings and mobile work.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4: Price and availability

The ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 is widely available from both Lenovo and online retailers like Amazon and B&H Photo. You can pick up the Ultra 7 with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage for around $3,000, but it comes in a range of configurations.

That's about what we'd expect for a workstation packing this sort of power, and puts it around $2000 cheaper than the behemoth ThinkPad P16 Gen 3.

It's available with an Intel chip in the US here and UK here via Lenovo. For the AMD version, Lenovo has it in the US here and the UK here.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4: Unboxing and First Impressions

I'm fairly certain that unboxing every single Lenovo laptop that I've ever opened has been nearly the same exact experience. So much so that I frequently have to properly label the boxes so that I don't get them mixed up when I'm reviewing several ThinkPads at one time.

With all that being said, there's nothing fancy or outrageous about the ThinkPad unboxing, and that's honestly one of the things I love about them (and one reason, beyond hardware, that I suspect they're a business favorite). The unboxing experience very matter-of-fact.

Taking it out of the box, I was impressed that the laptop is just as slim as Lenovo claims. While it's not the thinnest of my laptops, it's not even the thinnest of all the ThinkPads I have right now, it's startling how well-designed it is considering how powerful this machine is.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4: Design & Build Quality

It's almost boring to talk about Lenovo laptops when it comes to reviews and design and build quality, because they all look almost identical: just slightly different thicknesses and minor changes, but nothing major.

In a sense, that's one of the major strengths, though. They all have phenomenal build quality. It's one of the reasons so many businesses rely on them: they are built to last and to be used and abused, not just looked at as a pretty showcase device.

As all good performance business devices should, the ThinkPad P16S Gen 4 has a MIL-STD-810H-tested build and a spill-resistant backlit keyboard.

It still feels snappy and comfortable to type on all day long. It has a large trackpad, great ports, the track point that people either love or hate, and even core features such as a privacy shutter and human presence detection.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4: In use

I've been jumping in and out of this laptop, along with several others, for the last 100 days or more. So far, it's been able to handle even my most demanding AI business workflows. Yes, while I do write all these reviews by myself without any help from AI, there are several other clients that I have in my day-to-day jobs that I do utilize AI heavily for.

In those times, I'm running several chats at one time across ChatGPT, Claude, Notion, and even Gemini. Sometimes my computer can definitely get slowed down on some of my testing machines.

This one, however, seemed to hold up pretty well, even with multiple AI workflows at the same time, which is pretty impressive. It could be because of its RAM or just the powerful CPU, but either way, this machine gets the work done.

Of course, we are using this for day-to-day office work as well. For basic admin, this machine is overkill and will do it without any problem. The 16-inch screen is great for spreadsheets, research, email, really anything that you need to get done in a business context. But where it really shines is heavy CPU Tasks on the go.

I carry a MacBook Pro 14-inch every day, and that seems just about the largest I normally want to carry. Most 16-inch laptops that I try to carry in my normal backpack are a little bit too big, but the ThinkPad P16S Gen 4 does fit in my normal backpack size. If you are looking to get one and you're curious, that's good news for you.

Further, if you are one of the people who are lucky enough to be in a constant work-from-anywhere or remote work environment or job, and you need something that can handle every workload, this one is a phenomenal option.

Purely for research purposes only, I spent an afternoon at a coffee shop working away at this laptop, and it was very comfortable. It wasn't too big for the awkwardly small café tables and some coffee shops, nor was it awkward to pull out. I was able to get my work done.

The keyboard is comfortable enough to type on all day long. The mics are strong enough for dictation in virtual meetings, and it actually didn't even sound too bad using the built-in mics for virtual meetings in a moderately background-noise-filled coffee shop

Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4: Final verdict

If you're a developer on the go, if you work on GPU-light but CPU-heavy work, or if you just need a machine that won't slow down with your heavy workloads, then the ThinkPad P16S Gen4 may be something worth considering for you.

This slim moniker really does showcase itself here, all while keeping the same trusted and reliable ThinkPad build. This is definitely designed for mobile pros but could be utilized by just about anybody if the build and specs are right for you.

For more powerhouse performers, we've tested the best business laptops, the best mobile workstations, and the best laptops for engineering students, which is one area I'd definitely recommend the ThinkPad P16s Gen 4.

September is upon us, and in many countries we'll be preparing for cold weather and cozy nights in front of the TV. If you're looking for a good horror movie for a night in, there's plenty across the best streaming services this month.

Indeed, the streaming giants have added more new movies to their libraries, whether you're in the mood for big new releases, indie horror gems, or classics you haven't watched in ages.

Here's seven horror titles that caught my eye in September 2026.

Carrie (1976)

When: September 1
Where: HBO Max (US); MGM+ (UK); 7Plus (AU)

Ahead of Mike Flanagan's Carrie series on Prime Video, why not watch the original Brian De Palma movie? I love revisiting this horror classic, based on Stephen King's first novel.

Here, Sissy Spacek plays the titular role opposite Piper Laurie's terrifying performance as Carrie's overbearing mother, Margaret. After suffering bullying from her classmates and abuse from her mother, Carrie finally snaps on prom night, resulting in one of horror's most iconic scenes.

Sinister 

When: September 1
Where: Hulu (US); Lionsgate+ (UK); Stan (AU)

Before he became The Grabber in The Black Phone, Ethan Hawke was being terrorized by a demonic presence. In Sinister, he plays a true crime writer who discovers snuff films and attempts to piece together what happened to the victims.

This is a very scary watch with some great jump scares, one of which is widely regarded as one of the best jump scares in modern horror. So if you want to be sleeping with the lights on, Sinister is a great movie to stream this month.

Ready or Not

When: September 1
Where: Netflix, Hulu (US); Disney+ (UK, AU)

Sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come recently landed on Disney+, so you could have yourself a double bill and check out the first movie now it's streaming across some of the best streaming services.

In Ready or Not, Grace (Samara Weaving) marries into a wealthy family who made their fortune making puzzles and games. On her wedding night, she is invited to play hide and seek as part of a tradition, but it soon turns out to be much more deadly than she'd expected and she ends up fighting to stay alive.

Parasomnia

When: September 4
Where: Shudder (US only)

It's not a horror round up without Shudder's latest offerings, and I'm so excited about Parasomnia. The new original movie follows Riley, a young woman haunted by severe night terrors and a traumatic childhood linked to a tragic past of murder-suicides.

She is plagued by recurring visions of a dungeon maze and a malevolent entity known as 'The Seer', and this is set to be a supernatural thrill ride I'm sure.

Heretic 

When: September 8
Where: Hulu (US); rent or buy (UK); Netflix (AU)

After seeing Hugh Grant in an A24 horror movie, I seriously want to see him in more scary titles going forward. In Heretic, he plays a manipulative intellectual man named Mr Reed, who lures two Mormon women into his home under false pretenses.

Once trapped, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) must try to survive and escape the house whilst he repeatedly "tests their faith". With some chilling monologues, this is not one to miss.

Bloody Tennis

When: September 25
Where: Shudder (worldwide)

If you thought Challengers was dramatic, wait until you see Bloody Tennis. This new Shudder exclusive movie follows a prestigious tennis academy where the brutality of competitive sports is taken to the extreme.

When newcomer Sophie arrives, the elite Southern European backdrop isn't at all what she expected and she finds herself surrounded by blood, gore, and she'll have to rely on her own survival instincts if she wants to get through the semester. Not your average school, then.

Backrooms

When: September 25
Where: HBO Max (US only)

Finally, Backrooms is making its streaming debut on HBO Max for US viewers. I've talked at length about why I love this movie in my five-star Backrooms review, but I'm happy to convince you why you should watch it once again.

Based on the Creepypasta phenomenon and Kane Parson's YouTube series, the movie follows down on his luck furniture salesman Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) after he discovers that he can clip through a wall in the basement and enter the Backrooms, a terrifying, seemingly endless labyrinth that popularized the 'liminal space' subgenre. When Clark goes missing, his therapist Mary (Renate Reinsve) ventures in to try and find him. It's so good, I've watched it three times already.

Following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the organizers were unsurprisingly keen to capitalize on the worldwide attention the tournament secured and keep fans across the globe excited for the next big game.

To do so, FIFA partnered with Globant to redesign its global digital fan experience, using the latter's Glob.AI and AI Pods to try and create a more personalized and integrated ecosystem for football fans across all of FIFA's platforms and tournaments.

We spoke to Martín Nanni, Chief Experience Officer - EMEA, at Globant, to find out more.

• How did this partnership come about? And why is it only being released now, so soon after the World Cup?

The recent news is a continuation of a partnership that has been growing since 2022. This announcement marks the next step in their ongoing partnership and the developments that have taken place.

Recently, FIFA tested Globant’s newly launched Glob.AI model and AI Pods to improve the digital fan experience. Now that Glob.AI is public, it’s a good time to share how FIFA is using this technology.

Major tournaments like the World Cup give FIFA an opportunity to engage with fans globally, including those who may be interacting directly with FIFA for the first time. The main focus now is using AI, real-time data and individual fan identities to build on that engagement and create continuous, more direct relationships that don’t stop after a tournament.

• You talk about providing a “joined-up” experience for fans - what does that look like in reality, and why should they be excited for this?

We want a joined-up experience that means fans won’t feel like they have to start over every time they interact with FIFA. The aim is for fans to feel recognised and rewarded for long-term interaction through their single FIFA ID.

The goal is for a fan’s FIFA ID to connect all their digital experiences, whether they’re following a tournament online, using FIFA.com, using the FIFA Tournament App, watching at home, or going to a match.

For fans, this could mean having access to more relevant content, easier access to information they care about, and experiences that reflect their long-term connection to football, not just one event.

Globant has helped integrate FIFA ID across FIFA’s digital ecosystem, including experiences such as Rewards and the FIFA Tournament App, so it can act as a single user identifier across different products and engagement tools. This means that fans who engage with FIFA during the World Cup can continue that relationship beyond the tournament.

This is similar to the loyalty programmes many fans know from clubs or national teams, where ongoing support is recognised. It’s similar to the way that a local FA may have loyalty points for its long-term fans. The difference is that FIFA is doing this worldwide, across many competitions and digital platforms.

• What role will Glob.AI play in helping create these new fan journeys? How will it use real-time data and create new experiences?

Glob.AI is the AI system FIFA is using. It uses AI Pods, which combine specialised AI agents with human guidance, to help design, build, and improve digital experiences faster.

With Glob.AI, FIFA can build digital solutions that collect data from fan interactions across its digital platforms and use those insights to build a smarter, more connected ecosystem. This helps FIFA better understand how fans engage, what they’re interested in, and how content and services can continuously evolve to improve their experience.

The key is that this system is designed to be adaptable to different tournaments. The platform does not learn or adapt on its own. Instead, FIFA’s editorial teams use the insights it provides to adapt and adjust the experience to the needs of each tournament, without having to build separate platforms for each one.

This could mean faster updates to digital products, quicker delivery of content, better personalisation on FIFA.com or the Tournament App, and more responsive engagement during match days and big tournaments.

• You talk about boosting efficiency - what does that entail when it comes to fan experiences?

The goal here is to give fans more of what they want, quickly.

For example, it could mean building a new app in days, not months or updating fan-facing digital products faster or delivering content during the live match, not three hours later.

The aim is to move from slow, disconnected digital services to a system where FIFA can react faster to fans’ needs. Early tests have shown a 20% boost in efficiency, with quality staying the same or getting better.

What improvements will FIFA see in getting more information about fans? Is the era of the “anonymous fan” ever really going to end?

Fans have autonomy here based on how they want their experience to be. Fans can still decide how much information they share and how personalised they want their experience.

This work lays the groundwork for a more direct and helpful relationship with fans who use FIFA’s platforms. By making FIFA ID stronger and connecting more of the digital journey, FIFA can better understand how fans interact with football all year, not just during one tournament.

The World Cup is a great example. The whole world is watching and that is the time to attract huge numbers of fans into its platform.

This helps FIFA see which content, players, competitions, and platforms different fans like. With this insight, FIFA can offer more relevant updates, better digital services, and more effective sponsor activities.

What plans are now in place for the next few years, particularly with the new domestic season beginning in Europe and the Women’s World Cup in 2027?

The aim is to build out an ecosystem. This means FIFA will keep linking FIFA ID with new and existing digital platforms, and will design these services based on what fans need in different competitions and situations.

The goal is to create an experience that works before, during, and after big tournaments, whether fans are there in person, watching from home, or connecting with FIFA content between events.

Looking forward, the main goal is to make the system more useful and to be able to grow across FIFA’s worldwide schedule. The World Cup served as a great platform for many new fans to engage with FIFA and our goal is to continue enhancing FIFA’s direct connection with those fans and attract even more to enjoy these digital experiences.

And what will success look like to you? How far out will you be measuring the effects of this programme?

Success can be measured in the amount of global fans that engage with it, as well as the fans who stay way beyond the World Cup. This is a multi year and multi tournament initiative.

As this is a long-term change in how FIFA connects with fans online, FIFA will measure success over several years and many tournaments.

In general, success means more fans using FIFA’s platforms and finding them helpful, relevant, and worth coming back to.

There will also be operational measures, such as how quickly FIFA can launch or improve digital experiences. For us, success is building a more direct, continuous and valuable relationship with fans around the world.

Announced during Computex 2026, Nvidia's RTX Spark is billed as "a new beginning" for gaming laptops, productivity laptops, and small form factor PCs. Described as a "Superchip", it's an SoC that seeks to combine the company's AI technologies and its RTX graphics utility into one unified package for work and play.

The proposed RTX Spark specs are impressive on paper. 6,144 Blackwell GPU cores combined with 20 Grace CPU cores, and a maximum of 128GB of unified memory. Or, up to 1 Petaflop of AI performance, promising an all-day battery life in a slimline chassis that's purpose-built for Team Green's bespoke tech, such as DLSS, Reflex, and G-Sync.

On this side of the announcement, RTX Spark is confirmed to be coming to the Asus ProArt P16, the Dell XPS 16, the HP OmniBook X 14, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9n, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra, and the MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+. Clearly, Nvidia is targeting not only the best laptop manufacturers, but also vying for a spot against the best gaming laptops.

Can one chip really do it all, though? While these are some bold promises, I have reservations. With the way the computing landscape is now, things will change, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

Monopolization of our modern lives

Few tech companies have had the meteoric rise that Nvidia has over the last decade. While the company made its name with graphics cards for gaming, it would then innovate time and time again as GeForce matured. The GTX generations saw graphics and rendering technologies get better than ever, with playable framerates at higher and higher resolutions achievable for even entry-level components.

I'd argue that it wasn't until the launch of the RTX 20 series and the AI boom that the rest of the world really took notice of Nvidia. It's easy to forget its history now, what with it being the biggest company in the world by market cap, beating out the likes of Apple, Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, and Amazon. This (clearly) didn't happen just because people were buying graphics cards to game on. No, Team Green made its serious cash from AI, and that's also the core selling point of RTX Spark, with its gaming functionality seemingly a secondary concern.

The AI revolution was spearheaded by Nvidia, with its chips now utilized in a myriad of different ways. Nvidia was the frontrunner in how GPU architecture could be used for wider AI applications, realizing that it's far more energy efficient than using CPU for AI, which means it's able to handle far more sophisticated demands as a result. The core Nvidia ecosystem is used to scale cloud facilities with its Blackwell, Hopper, and Grace Hopper chips, and its CUDA platform and libraries remain unrivalled.

In truth, GeForce and RTX tech is just a small part of Nvidia's business now, and it's been that way for some time. You only need to look at the Nvidia Drive infrastructure, using AI for autonomous vehicles, or the Nvidia Jetson modules for edge computing and wider mainstream robotics use. Team Green is no longer concerned with being a rival to Intel, Apple, or AMD. Instead, it wants to be the sole provider of hardware for every facet of our modern lives.

How does RTX Spark perform inside of laptops for gaming?

In a video published on August 26, Nvidia claimed that RTX Spark was Game Ready. The three-minute video outlined what consumers can expect from the upcoming unified Superchip and how it compares to a traditional CPU-and-discrete-graphics (or iGPU) setup.

The language around the RTX Spark's utility states that the Superchip is designed for "creators and developers who work on large projects who also game". What we can glean from this assessment is that being "Game Ready" here appears to be a tertiary concern for Nvidia. It's backed up by the boast of "not having to choose" between the gaming laptop and the work one, because "you'll just have the one".

Exactly how good is RTX Spark for gaming, then? We know that it runs on Windows 11, so confirmed support is standard for Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Xbox Game Pass, among others. Specifically, Alexander Mejia (Senior Product Manager) claimed that "Triple-A gaming is great on RTX Spark". Bold claims indeed. This is followed by footage of Alan Wake II, Cyberpunk 2077, Pragmata, F1 25, Fortnite, Neverness to Everness, Doom: The Dark Ages, Naraka: Bladepoint, Apex Legends, Arc Raiders, Anno 117 Pax Romana, and The Finals, shown to be running on the platform.

Good game stack there, sure, but what is the expected performance actually like? Nvidia gives us a (somewhat) satisfying answer: "100 FPS 1440p Gaming" when using Ray Tracing and DLSS. Unfortunately, that's all we get in terms of performance info, with no quoted statistics or more granular information available. There's quite the disparity in running Fortnite in High/Epic settings compared to pushing Cyberpunk 2077 or Doom: The Dark Ages to the max of their sliders. It's vague, but at least a little encouraging.

How does RTX Spark rival other SoCs for gaming?

We only have 100 FPS in 1440p to go off with RTX Spark's projected gaming performance, so the next logical course of action is to weigh that up against the likes of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max series as a point of comparison.

We know that AI-powered upscaling (DLSS / XeSS / FSR 4) and AI-generated frame interpolation (Frame Generation / MFG) must be used to achieve playable framerates at target resolutions. In 1080p, with 2X MFG, Team Blue's chip can do 121 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 and 178 FPS in Naraka: Bladepoint. Doubling that to 4X MFG, the incoming chip can go as high as 199 FPS and 267 FPS, respectively. In 1080p, the Radeon 8060S iGPU baked onto the Ryzen AI Max 395+ APU could do 66 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 when rasterized and 45 FPS on average with ray tracing enabled.

This is about what can be expected from the native performance of the Qualcomm Adreno X2-90 iGPU baked onto the Snapdragon X2 Elite, which is able to achieve 43 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 (via Notebookcheck) on High settings in native (no AI-scaling) 1080p. Where this SoC shines, though, is in its power consumption, with an estimated 0.841 FPS per Watt, only lagging behind Apple's M5 chip, as found inside the Apple MacBook Air 13 M5 model.

Taken as an average, the RTX Spark looks to be about on point with what those devices can do, but we won't have a full remit of the performance potential until we see the full game-by-game benchmarks closer to the proposed launch date. The real deciding factor for unifying between a CPU and a GPU for both work and play comes down to the factor that can sway people away from (or towards) a dedicated gaming laptop: the price tag.

Intergrated hardware you cannot afford

Computing components are more expensive now than ever; there's no other way to put that. Anything that utilizes memory in particular, such as graphics cards, flash storage, and RAM, has seen its street prices rise far above the usual MSRP, and they're not coming down any time soon. It's the case for price hikes of even the best phones and the best games consoles, nothing is safe from the supply-and-demand loop here, so RTX Spark-enabled laptops aren't expected to be cheap.

Ultrabooks in particular, which are the primary demographic market for RTX Spark, have never been affordable, but 2026 has meant an entirely new definition. You only need to see how the pricing has escalated from competitors to gauge how bad it could be. The Apple MacBook M5 range MSRP increased by 20%, and something similar could be observed with the likes of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, which also shot up by 20%, just a month after launch, too.

If the prices of components that we know have historic rates are increasing month-on-month, then what about something as unproven and unknown as the RTX Spark Superchip? Nvidia has full dominion over pricing its CPU + GPU combo however it likes. As the most profitable and in-demand company on the planet, it holds all the cards here. We're at a turning point where products can almost double in price overnight, so who is to say that the cheapest RTX Spark-enabled laptop won't carry an eye-watering MSRP?

The idea behind RTX Spark is solid: a simple, unified approach built by Nvidia that combines all you need for work and play, similar to what Apple did when it started manufacturing its own silicon in 2021, albeit with more of an AI focus. RTX Spark will sink (or swim) based on its price-to-performance offering and whether consumers want an all-in-one device. One thing's for sure: Nvidia has the cash to muscle in on the market and can afford to lose face burying its competition in the process.

TechRadar reached out to Acer, Asus, Lenovo, MSI, and Razer for their takes on how Nvidia's RTX Spark could impact the computing market. A PR representative from Acer declined to comment, and despite PR representatives from each company forwarding our questions to the relevant teams and chasing the answers, none have commented on RTX Spark at this time. Team Green's Superchip stands on the precipice of change and progress, but at what cost?

• Samsung's flagship now comes with Canvas's audiophile soundbars
• 1,000 to 1,500W of Class D amplification
• From $7,999 (about £5,905 / AU$11,165)

Samsung's flagship S99H OLED TV (S95H in the US) is a phenomenal TV with a divisive design: as we said in our Samsung S99H review, "A new silver frame around the TV, called the FloatLayer Design, has been added and [we] found the frame to be distracting. While meant for wall-mounting, the extra width may cause space issues for some people, and the handsome central pedestal stand of its predecessor has been replaced by two plastic feet."

The good news: Samsung has made its flagship OLED beautiful by teaming up with Danish audiophile firm Canvas to create the Samsung HiFi S99H, which looks great and gives you a hugely powerful sound system too.

The bad news: prices start at $7,999.

Boom, shake the room: the HiFi S99H has a seriously powerful sound system

The Samsung HiFi S99H will debut at IFA 2026 in Berlin this week, and it'll be available in 55", 65", 77", and 83" sizes. It includes a fixed floor stand or wall mount as standard, and there's an optional rotating floor stand in aluminum or black.

As you can see, it's a good-looking thing — but there's sonic substance as well as Scandi style. You can choose between two versions of the Canvas soundbar: the standard Canvas or the larger, even louder Canvas L. With 1,000W or 1,500W of Class D amplification, both versions will make you very popular with your neighbors.

Canvas describes its soundbar as the world's first audiophile soundbar, and while other manufacturers might dispute that claim, there's no doubt that both Canvas models are serious sound systems: we were very impressed when we heard the Canvas in action. However, it's worth noting that while Canvas has just announced a full Dolby Atmos soundbar system, the two models in the HiFi S99H are stereo rather than surround systems — although they do include Baach's 3D sound processing to create a more immersive experience than standard stereo.

According to Samsung, the goal is "more than simply the combination of a TV and a sound system. The ambition is to create a new category in which true HiFi, picture quality and furniture design are developed as one integrated solution — developed for consumers who do not want to choose between performance and interior design."

The HiFi S99H will launch on September 4, 2026, at IFA Berlin and will be available in selected Canvas showrooms from October 2026. The Canvas L version will be available later this year.

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• Linus Torvalds introduced Linux in 1991 as a modest personal project
• Linux grew from roughly 10,000 lines into more than 40 million
• Linux now operates across servers, embedded devices, and cloud infrastructure worldwide

On August 25, 1991, a 21-year-old Finnish computer enthusiast introduced an operating system project online.

At that time, Linus Torvalds was experimenting with Minix, an educational operating system created for teaching operating system principles.

His announcement appeared on Usenet, where he sought reactions from people familiar with Minix and explained what he was developing.

A modest announcement becomes Linux

Torvalds described the project cautiously, making clear that he did not expect anything particularly large from his experiment.

In his original announcement, he wrote, "I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since april, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat (same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons) among other things)."

However, this operating system did not remain merely an announcement for very long, because Torvalds released the first version less than one month later.

Linux became available on September 17, 1991, establishing a project that would continue developing through contributions from programmers worldwide.

The early project therefore moved quickly from private experimentation into something available for other developers to examine and modify.

Its development model eventually became closely associated with open-source software, where publicly available code permits further examination and modification.

From personal project to computing mainstay

The scale of Linux's later adoption contrasts sharply with the modest expectations expressed in Torvalds' original announcement.

Linux also became an important foundation for technologies that millions of people encounter without necessarily knowing which operating system supports them.

What began around personal computers eventually became associated with servers, embedded systems, cloud computing infrastructure, and numerous other computing environments.

By January 2025, the Linux kernel had grown from roughly 10,000 lines in 1991 to more than 40 million lines of code.

The 6.19 kernel development cycle involved 2,141 developers and produced 14,344 non-merge changesets during its development.

Linux also runs on all 500 systems listed in the TOP500 ranking of the world's most powerful supercomputers.

The project's development now involves thousands of contributors, with Open Hub recording 6,201 contributors during its latest twelve-month period.

Its continued development has involved contributions from individuals, companies, organisations, and communities working across different parts of the tech industry.

Thirty-five years after that initial announcement, Torvalds remains closely involved with Linux development, although the project's circumstances have changed considerably.

The anniversary therefore provides a direct comparison between the project's modest beginnings and its extensive role across modern computing environments.

Torvalds' original description was understandable given his circumstances, since he was announcing a personal project rather than predicting decades of technological adoption.

Still, describing Linux as merely a hobby now appears remarkably restrained considering how extensively the operating system subsequently spread.

The original message remains available today, preserving an unusually clear record of the moment Linux first entered public discussion.

Via XDA-Developers

• Microsoft has made a welcome change to OneDrive in Windows 11
• Prompts to use the backup service can now be permanently dismissed
• The change has been positively received by most users online

There have been complaints about this going back years, but Microsoft has finally caved in and decided to stop nagging users to back up their files to OneDrive: these alerts can now be permanently dismissed with an Opt out of backup button.

As spotted by Windows Latest, the move is going to please users who have no intention of using OneDrive to store their files, and would rather not have occasional reminders from their operating system that this is an option.

The change seems to be tied to the latest stable Windows 11 25H2 build. Previously, if you didn't want to go ahead with the OneDrive sync, you could only pick Remind me later or Remind me in 3 days — and the message would eventually loom back into view.

It's something we see across the majority of software now, and it's what Windows Latest rightly calls "dark patterns": interface choices that are designed to nudge users towards a certain option even if they're not sure about it.

Heading in the right direction

The reaction on Reddit has been mostly positive, with the general sentiment of the comments suggesting that this change was long awaited. "I fully opted out of Windows instead," remarks one commenter in the thread.

Several contributors to the Reddit discussion say they've already bailed on Windows 11 and switched to Linux or macOS — not just over the OneDrive issue, but also for other problems like memory management and privacy concerns.

For many years now, Microsoft has been trying to foist OneDrive and its other Windows-adjacent apps on to users of its desktop operating system, but it appears that it's finally figured out that this may be doing more harm than good.

To give Microsoft some credit, it has largely been making good on its promise to address the biggest complaints users have had about Windows 11 in recent months, even if a lot of the improvements should've been made a long time ago.

It has been a few months since Intel rolled out XeSS 3 with its Multi-Frame Generation to any Arc-supported device. With the unveiling of dedicated handheld gaming PCs using the tech, such as the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, Acer Predator Atlas 8, and OneXPlayer 3, hardware manufacturers are finally cashing in on the promised performance capabilities that were previously only dreamt about: no-compromise playable framerates and high-resolution PC gaming in your pocket.

Multi-Frame Generation and AI-powered upscaling technology like Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR have become essential for PC gaming in 2026. Even the best graphics cards on the market need a boost from a hand-tuned algorithm that interlaces generated frames with purely rasterized ones. In short, that means a higher-than-native framerate with a (hopefully) minimal impact on image fidelity.

Intel XeSS 3 is Team Blue's latest version of the tech, and its USP for how it works with Arc graphics isn't relegated to the best gaming PCs or the best gaming laptops. Now, as the Intel Arc G3 lineup makes its way to new handhelds, MFG becomes a reality for the form factor. Finally, Full HD (1080p) at playable framerates on a small, portable, handheld gaming device. However, it's not all good news; it comes at a cost, and it could bury the appeal of these devices completely.

The Intel Arc G3 lineup is a geniune generational leap for handheld gaming

The core of the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chips, and the rest of the lineup, can best be summarized in four core pillars: Performance, Integration, Efficiency, and Software.

It's the third generation of the purpose-built SoCs from Team Blue, primarily built for handheld devices. Intel promises AI-based upscaling, MFG, DirectX 12 Ultimate support, and full ray tracing at a low wattage with high performance capabilities. It's claimed that the company's partner devices, such as the aforementioned MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and Acer Predator Atlas 8, can expect up to 11 hours of gameplay, while being "up to 42% faster than the competition on average".

It's early days for Intel's partner devices, which are yet to properly hit the market; however, the company's internal benchmarks give us a rough idea of how much more capable the G3 Extreme is at 35W when weighed up against the previous-generation Arc graphics found in the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V at 30W. In 1080p in High settings, there's a clear performance gap of anywhere from 18% to 47% when directly compared generation-on-generation.

Intel claims the G3 Extreme is up to 44% faster on average, and this performance gap is most evident when looking at how the newer SoC handles demanding games. The Ultra 7 258V can't quite hit a stable, playable 30 FPS in the likes of Crimson Desert or Assassin's Creed Shadows here, but you can expect a respective 34 FPS and 35 FPS average from the G3 Extreme. Crossing that all-important 1080p at 60 FPS mark is also now possible, particularly in intensive software such as Battlefield 6, Pragmata, Baldur's Gate 3, and Dying Light: The Beast, just to name a few examples.

The numbers are similar when comparing the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ with the Intel Arc G3 Extreme at 35W versus the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X with the AMD Z2 Extreme chip as well. There's a similar 42% performance improvement on average in 1080p in High settings with upscaling enabled by default.

In fact, in some cases, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme nearly doubles the performance potential of the previous fastest chip in a handheld gaming PC to date. This is particularly noticeable with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Arc Raiders; Team Blue's SoC achieved average framerates of 56 and 100 in those games (respectively), whereas Team Red's silicon lagged behind with 37 and 67. The Z2 still produces playable figures, at least as much as a stable 30 FPS and above can accommodate from a handheld; however, it's a night-and-day difference with the Xe3 cores here.

XeSS 3 as a package incorporates Super Resolution (AI upscaling) as well as MFG and low-latency responsiveness. The revised silicon has meant that Team Blue has been able to facilitate not only playable framerates at 35W, but also 17W and 12W as well, with some concessions, as you would expect. For transparency, the maximum wattage means it has to be plugged into mains power or be receiving power delivery through USB-C PD, etc.

On battery, the Intel Core G3 Extreme is still 24% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V at 17W, meaning 1080p at High settings, making 30 FPS and above possible from many of the aforementioned demanding games. It also means 1080p at 60 FPS and beyond for many titles, such as Resident Evil Requiem and Diablo 4, which are pretty intense for their respective genres as well.

Playability at 12W has been a challenge for even the best gaming handhelds, especially when trying to balance the longest battery life and settling for a dimmer display just to get a long play session in. This is where the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ with the Intel Arc G3 Extreme demonstrates the power efficiency of Team Blue's new chip; 1080p in Low settings on a display that small is a necessary compromise, but it means 30 FPS in the likes of Battlefield 6, Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and Dying Light: The Beast, which wasn't previously possible from AMD's Z2 chip, while also managing 60 FPS+ averages in older games, such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, F1 25, and Grand Theft Auto V.

Eye-watering price tags show the cost of progress

Now that I've outlined just how capable the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip is, it's time for the stinger. The three confirmed handhelds that utilize Team Blue's new chips are incredibly expensive, nearly double the cost of a Steam Deck OLED (even post-price hike), and a heftier amount than the AMD Z2 Extreme alternatives, like the MSI Claw A8, and the Lenovo Legion Go 2. That's a depressing (although not surprising) reality of the PC gaming market in 2026; your money doesn't go very far for the parts, owing to the ongoing RAM crisis, making components scarce and in higher demand than ever.

The new era of handheld gaming PCs has performance that feels like a dream, but with truly nightmare pricing. Confirmed UK pricing for the Acer Predator Atlas 8 shows you just how much you'll need to splash out. The base model features a standard G3 chip with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD for £999.99 (around $1,363 / AU$1,915). However, if you want the G3 Extreme variant, it's available in two RAM configurations: 24GB and 32GB, each with a 1TB SSD for £1,299.99 (about $1,772 / $AU2,490) and £1,499 (approx $2,043 / AU$2,871), respectively.

Pre-orders for the OneXPlayer 3 are also available for a similar rate in the US, with the product expected to ship in "late August". If you hoped that a smaller company would undercut the major players, then you're sadly mistaken. It's being sold exclusively with the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, with the three variants this side of the launch window confirmed to cost $1,499 (about £1,100 / $AU2,100) for 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD, $1,599 (around £1,170 / $AU2,245) for 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD, and $1,799 (approx £1,319 / $AU2,527) for 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD. That's the early bird pricing, though, as buying after launch will see the rates rise to $1,699 (about £1,245, $1,899 (around £1,392 / AU$2,667), and $2,099 (approx £1,539 /AU$2949), respectively.

Priced out of the next generation

While the early benchmarks are impressive, you just aren't getting good value from a price-to-performance perspective here. We're still talking about 1080p at 60 FPS or above, which is palatable for a device costing around $500 / £500 / AU$1,000, but a real hard sell when it's at least three times that amount at minimum (or more) for less than a 50% generational performance boost. Form factor aside, even with the current price gouging of components, you can pick up a far more capable RTX 5070 laptop for less, such as the Acer Nitro V 16 AI, the MSI Katana 15 HX, or the Gigabyte Gaming A16.

It begs the question of exactly who the next generation of handheld gaming PCs will be for. We know the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip carries a high asking price at a time when people don't have the cash to burn; if you're already a PC gamer, you have a desktop or a laptop of some description, and shelling out over $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$2,000 for a secondary machine isn't going to be worthwhile for the vast majority of people. If you game on an Xbox Series X, PS5, or Nintendo Switch 2, however, there's even less reason to consider handheld PC gaming: you would potentially be spending double (or even triple) the cost of the console for objectively worse gaming performance.

These high prices betray what made the likes of the Steam Deck so revolutionary back in 2022. The killer handheld was easy to use and powerful enough, but (most importantly), it was competitively priced. The original LCD variant shipped starting at $399 / £349 to $649 / £569, depending if you wanted eMMC storage or a proper NVMe SSD inside. Hardware manufacturers still haven't got the key messaging that made Valve's handheld such a success when it was revealed nearly five years ago: it has to be cheap enough to justify the investment and powerful enough to play your games. Backed by the aging RDNA 2 semi-custom hardware and a respectable 720p screen, it achieves this goal.

So where do we go from here, then? It feels as though we're back to where we started with handheld gaming PCs that made them niche, luxury items from boutique manufacturers rather than viable ways to play PC games on the go. The performance potential of Intel Arc G3 Extreme (and XeSS 3 in general) cannot be understated; however, it's come at too high a cost, which means this incoming next-generation could be the turning point that buries the concept completely.