Feed aggregator

Seize the Grey ended Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan's Triple Crown bid by going wire to wire to win the Preakness, giving trainer D. Wayne Lukas his seventh victory in the race.

Dr. Adam Hamawy is a former U.S. Army combat surgeon currently in Gaza. He said he's treating primarily civilians, rather than combatants: "mostly children, many women, many elderly."

Want a smartwatch upgrade? We've gathered the best deals on Samsung Galaxy 6 and Galaxy 5 models.

The handwritten restaurant napkin from the year 2000 was the starting point for an agreement between the then 13-year-old Messi and FC Barcelona.

(Image credit: Minas Panagiotakis)

The unbeaten rivals clash in a hotly anticipated undisputed title fight in Saudi Arabia.

A vitamin deficiency may be the cause of your damaged hair or hair loss. Including these vitamins in your diet may help support hair growth.

The switch from Lightning to USB-C opens up a new world of accessories for the iPhone 15.

Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel's three-member war cabinet, threatened to resign from the government if it doesn't adopt a new plan within three weeks.

The mobile industry is poised to undergo a significant transformation in the next two years, with the impending shift to integrated SIMs, or iSIMs, new research has claimed. 

A new study from Juniper Research predicts a huge increase in the global number of iSIMs installed in connected devices, jumping from 800,000 in 2024 to over 10 million by 2026. 

The release of GSMA's SGP.41/42 specifications, expected by the end of 2025 year, will drive the anticipated 1,200+ percent growth. These guidelines will standardize and streamline iSIM-enabled device rollout.

Anticipated surge in connections

An iSIM (also known as the iUICC - Integrated Universal Integrated Circuit Card) is based on the eSIM (embedded SIM) form factor and integrated in the device’s processor, effectively removing the need for a separate SIM module. The iSIM's integration looks likely to propel us towards an era where the traditional SIM card will become obsolete and networks will preload plans onto devices.

The GSMA's SGP.41/42 specifications establish the framework for In-factory Profile Provisioning (IFPP) capabilities. IFPP enables the upload of iSIM profiles onto a device during production, enabling the shipment of devices with pre-configured cellular connectivity to the desired network. 

Juniper’s report points out that “Despite the increased readiness, it is important to note that there is no industry-wide standard for iSIM technology as of yet. Without a standard, manufacturers will not be willing to risk launching a solution that is not compliant with an official standard.” 

Elisha Sudlow-Poole, the author of Juniper Research’s report adds, “eSIM vendors must ensure that they provide standard-agnostic platforms that are flexible to upcoming form factors, standards and use-case demands. Additionally, eSIM vendors must develop trusted partnerships with manufacturers to ensure adoption of iSIM connectivity services once it becomes demanded in the market.”

Juniper's study expects to see the number of iSIM connections surge to 210 million worldwide by 2028, thanks to adoption opportunities in scenarios such as smart energy meters and remote logistics, where there's a need for power-conscious and small form factor devices. 

More from TechRadar Pro

• These are best eSIMs for travel
• What is an eSim?
• This multi-operator SIM could make swapping mobile networks as easy as ABC

Save time, space and money working out at home with our favorite adjustable dumbbells.

Tiny houses provide an alternative, budget-friendly living space in an unaffordable housing market.

The Memorial Day sales event is almost here. In fact, retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Samsung have launched early deals, which include massive savings on best-selling TVs. You can save up to $1,000 on 4K, QLED, and OLED displays, and I'm rounding up nine of the best Memorial Day TV deals below.

In today's early Memorial Day TV sales, you'll find a range of displays on sale, from brand-new OLED displays to budget big-screen TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, and Hisense. Some of today's best deals include LG's all-new 48-inch C4 OLED TV on sale for $1,499.99, this 50-inch 4K smart TV from Hisense marked down to an incredible price of $299.99, LG's 65-inch B3 OLED TV on sale for a new record-low price of $1,199.99.

Shop more of today's best early Memorial Day TV deals, and keep in mind that most of the displays listed below are best-ever offers, and we don't expect prices to be reduced further on Memorial Day.

The 9 best early Memorial Day TV deals

Hisense 50-Inch U6 Series 4K Google TV: was $499.99 now $299.99 at Amazon
If you're looking for a budget mid-size TV in today's early Memorial Day sales, you can't get much better than this 50-inch Hisense 4K smart TV on sale for a record-low price of $299.99. In our Hisense U6 Series review, we praised it for its excellent picture quality at an affordable price. You're getting support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, plus the Google Assistant, hands-free voice control, and Game Mode Plus - all for $300.View Deal

LG UQ75 65-inch 4K Smart TV: was $429.99 now $399.99 at Best Buy
This 65-inch LG 4K smart TV is down to just $399.99 at Best Buy - an incredible price. You get a premium picture experience with brilliant colors thanks to LG's α5 Gen5 AI processor. Gamers will also love the game optimizer and dashboard, which allows them to see and adjust all their settings in one place.View Deal

Amazon 50-inch Fire TV Omni QLED 4K TV: was $529.99 now $419.99 at Amazon
Amazon's Fire TV Omni QLED Series is a big step up in the otherwise cheap range of smart TVs. This set boasts premium features, including a QLED display, full-array local dimming, Dolby Vision IQ, and HDR10+ Adaptive support to deliver a high-quality picture for all-around viewing and gaming. A good overall buy for the budget-conscious who don't want to compromise on performance, especially now that it's down to $419.99.View Deal

Onn. 75-inch 4K UHD Roku Smart TV: was $498 now $448 at Walmart
Today's best big-screen budget TV is hands-down this 75-inch 4K smart TV from Onn. for just $298 - an incredible price. For your money, you get support for 4K Ultra HD resolution, the Roku experience for easy streaming, and an edge-to-edge viewing experience thanks to the frameless bezel.View Deal

LG B3 Series 65-inch TV: was $1,299.99 now $1,199.99 at Best Buy
One of the cheapest OLED TVs you can buy is LG's 65-inch B3, which is on sale for a record-low price of $1,199.99. You're getting a gorgeous display (120Hz refresh rate, 8.3 million self-lit pixels) that provides rich contrast and color. The LG TV also comes with Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and VRR built-in, along with four HDMI 2.1 ports, making it perfect for gaming.View Deal

Samsung QN90C 65-inch 4K QLED TV: was $1,699.99 now $1,499.99 at Best Buy
Samsung’s mid-range Neo QLED TV is great value for money after this small price cut in the latest Best Buy sale. As we found in our Samsung QN90C review, this is a great TV for sports viewing and gaming, thanks to its high peak brightness and superior viewing angles. All of that is wrapped up in a sleek and appealing design that makes for one of the best Samsung TVs you can buy right now.View Deal

LG C4 48-inch OLED 4K TV: was $1,599.99 now $1,499.99 at Best Buy
LG's all-new 48-inch C4 OLED TV is getting a first-time $100 discount, bringing the price down to $1,499.99 at Best Buy's early Memorial Day sale. The C4 is a successor to the highly-rated LG C3, and we predict it will become one of this year's best OLED TVs. Upgrades include new gaming features, LG's latest Alpha 9 AI chip for improved performance and exceptional brightness.View Deal

Samsung 65-inch S90C Smart 4K OLED TV: was $2,599.99 now $1,599.99 at Samsung
The Samsung S90C OLED is TechRadar's best TV of the year, and the 65-inch model is on sale for $1,599.99. That's a massive $1,000 discount and $100 more than the record-low price. Our Samsung S90C review awarded this TV five stars, praising its gorgeous picture, extensive gaming features, super slim design, and reasonable price - especially with today's $1,000 price cut.View Deal

Samsung 85-inch The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV (2022): was $4,299.99 now $2,999.99 at Samsung
Samsung's early Memorial Day has slashed $1,300 off the massive 85-inch The Frame QLED TV, bringing the price down to a record low of $2,999.99. The best-selling Samsung Frame TV transforms into a beautiful piece of art to seamlessly blend into your home's decor and includes customizable bezels, a QLED screen, and smart capabilities.View Deal

Shop more early Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 50% off TVs, clothing, vacuums & more
• Adidas: clothing & sneakers from $14
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $89
• Appliances: save 30% on major appliances
• Best Buy: up to $800 off TVs
• Casper: 30% off all mattresses
• DreamCloud: 50% off mattresses sitewide
• Home Depot: up to 60% off patio furniture
• Lowe's: 40% off appliances, patio & grills
• Nectar: up to 40% off mattresses
• Nike: 50% off sneakers, leggings & t-shirts
• Nordstrom: up to 50% off shoes, clothing & beauty
• Purple: save up to $800 on mattresses + a free base
• Saatva: up to $600 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,900 off select appliances
• Target: 35% off patio furniture, appliances & clothing
• Walmart: $400 off TVs, clothing & more
• Wayfair: outdoor furniture from $100

A helium leak pushed back a planned launch to May 25. Boeing's program that would shuttle astronauts to and from the International Space Station has been plagued with problems.

HiFi Walker H2: Four-minute review

The HiFi Walker H2 has carved out a very unique spot itself in the portable media players market. When it comes to MP3 players or digital audio players, the space between the super-cheap Amazon-flooding options and the super-premium bank-account-draining high-end best MP3 players is a no-man’s land. Into that desolate area strides the HiFi Walker H2, which is lovely and premium in some aspects and startlingly rough in others.

HiFi Walker is a Hong Kong-based tech company that, according to its website, only seems to make four products: a bone conduction headphone, an MP3 player carry case, a touch-controlled MP3 player and this, the HiFi Walker H2. I’d put money on the fact that you heard about this device on Amazon, or another shopping website, when looking for a new MP3 player.

So, should you pick up the HiFi Walker H2? Well, that really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an alternative to the kinds of feature-flush digital audio player that make up our list of the best MP3 player, then the HiFi Walker H2 might be your best option that doesn’t cost an eye-watering four-figure sum.

The device supports a wide range of audio file types including MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC and WMA, with a Texas Instruments-made DAC that’s a favorite amongst audiophiles and an on-board equalizer so you can tweak your sounds depending on your tastes and ears.

With two 3.5mm headphone ports, you can plug in headphones or connect the player to your home sound system or vehicle stereo; there’s also Bluetooth compatibility so you can stream wirelessly to other devices or from your smartphone using Qualcomm aptX. The HiFi Walker really ticks as many connectivity options as it can.

If you just care about your listening experience to the exclusion of everything else, then, this is a great device that far undercuts similarly-featured rivals. But that’s at a big expense: in almost every other department, the HiFi Walker is a bit of a dud.

Take the battery life, for example: the device lasts for roughly 10 hours of listening before going flat (a figure which is even lower if you’re listening via Bluetooth). For some people, that’s not even a full working day of listening, and it’s much less than the vast majority of the device’s rivals.

The design is another area that needed a second draft: it’s basically a big bulky block. The glass rear picks up fingerprints quicker than a crime scene investigator and the device weighs down your pocket like a big rock.

Perhaps the most questionable area is the software though, which would be most aptly described as ‘harebrained’. Over the course of my testing the HiFi Walker, I never quite worked out how to get around in a manner beyond ‘pressing random buttons to see what happens’. Sometimes pressing ‘back’ from a song menu will take you onto the music player, other times it’ll take you one step back in the menu list. I could never work out if I should play songs from the ‘explorer’ menu or ‘category’. There are two different settings menus with options randomly scattered between the two.

All of the above is to say, the HiFi Walker H2 has plenty of rough edges, and so it’s really only worth considering if you need great audio and the only cost you care about is the financial one.

HiFi Walker H2 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Costs $149 / £129 (roughly AU$230)
• Not the cheapest, but pretty cheap

The default price of the HiFi Walker is $149 / £129 (roughly AU$230) but you likely don’t need to reach that far into your wallet; at the time of writing, the device is on sale for $120 / £105 (roughly AU$200) and its price seems to fluctuate between these prices, sometimes going even lower.

At that price, this certainly isn’t the cheapest MP3 player we’ve ever tested, and there are options at the mid-two-figures mark that are certainly worth buying if you’re looking for a simple and portable music player.

However some DAPs (digital audio players) on the market go for eye-watering four-figure sums, and a brief perusal of our list of the best MP3 players shows plenty of much more expensive rivals. The HiFi Walker holds its head against some of those, making a decent case as to its place as a budget alternative.

If you see a pricier device on sale, that’s actually the HiFi Walker H2 Touch, a touch-screen version that’s about $20 / £20 more expensive and is different in a few ways. That’s not the device being tested for this review.

HiFi Walker H2 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• 10-hour battery life max
• Onboard equalizer is handy
• Two 3.5mm ports and Bluetooth connectivity options

According to HiFi Walker, the battery life of the H2 is 10 hours of use. Some of you may be wondering something to which the audio-tech-heads already know the answer: no, that’s not very long at all. It’ll be fine for listening at home or on short walks, but don’t expect to take it on long holidays (unless you’ll spend lots of time near a charging port).

I should also mention that users online have reporting a use time that’s somehow even shorter, closer to 8 hours. I tested using wired headphones and 10 felt like a more appropriate estimate, but if you rely on Bluetooth for your listening, this 8-hour figure is probably more apt.

So what features does the HiFi Walker H2 have on board? The first, and perhaps most important, is an onboard equalizer to let you tweak the sound of your music to your ears.

There are various presents including rock, jazz and ‘classic’ (presumably classical), but you can also jump into a custom mode if you dare. This requires an adept understanding of the various navigation hiccups of the H2 (more on that later), but it gives audiophiles a lot of leeway to control their musical experience.

Otherwise, the H2 is distinctly feature-bare. There’s no support for non-musical file formats, no in-device recorder, and relatively little way to customize the device.

The HiFi Walker’s saving grace is its range of connectivity options, which should impress people with lots of gadgets. There are not one but two 3.5mm aux ports, so you can plug in headphones or a jack to connect it to your existing hi-fi systems, and it connects using Bluetooth not just to headphones but to a smartphone as well.

This is done using Qualcomm’s aptX, and it’s meant to let you pull through your phone’s songs onto your HiFi Walker to control it in an extra way… in theory. In practice, the H2 failed to pair with my phone on every occasion, so I never got to test the feature.

• Features score: 3.5/5

HiFi Walker H2 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Giant black obelisk
• Heavy, but not too heavy
• Plenty of buttons across the body

The images that accompany this review aren’t screenshots from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. No, it’s the HiFi Walker H2, which is perhaps cosplaying as the famous monolith, in that it’s a big black rectangle. 

The device measures 5.6 x 1.5 x 8.9cm so it’s about average sized for a DAP: bigger than your cheap MP3 player but not as big as some of the chunky top-end models on the market. However with a weight of 150g it’s really showing its heft; this isn’t gadget you can idly chuck in your pocket or leave on your chest as you doze.

An interesting little design feature is the presence of a gap at the bottom-right of the face of the device, which seemingly looks like it’s for a lanyard or wrist grasp to attach to. One is not included in the box. 

It’s fair to say that the H2 has more buttons in more places than a Bop-It game. The top edge has the power button, the right edge has the volume rocker and an exposed microSD card slot, and the bottom edge has one USB-C and two 3.5mm audio ports.

On the front you’ve got a forward and backward button on the right edge, with a back button below them. To the left you’re looking at an iPad Classic-style scroll wheel with a pause/play button in the middle, and under that is the M button. If you press M during music playback, it brings up a list of options including the equalizer and the option to add the song to your favorites.

The screen measures 2 inches diagonally, with a resolution of 320 x 240. That’s almost fit for purpose – almost but not quite, and so album artwork is generally cropped off for its lower fifth when you’re listening to music. Unlike most rivals it’s not a touchscreen.

Instead, you’re using that scroll wheel to navigate menus. Thankfully it’s nice and responsive, with a little physical ‘click’ at every interval to indicate that you’ve scrolled onto the next option. This may be blasphemous to some, but I think I prefer it to the one on ye olde iPod!

No official IP rating has been provided for the HiFi Walker H2, so don’t take it in the bath with you.

• Design score: 3/5

HiFi Walker H2 review: Usability and setup

(Image credit: Future)

• Easy to add files via USB-C
• Memory card is technically external
• Confusing interface layout

Adding music the the H2 couldn’t be simpler: you plug it into your computer, drag audio files onto its window and disconnect the device. It couldn’t be simpler!

By default, the HiFi Walker H2 has 64GB memory for storage. I say “by default” instead of “on-board” as there is no on-board storage, and this 64GB is thanks to a microSD card lodged in the side of the device. Remove it and you can’t listen to music; you can swap it for a higher-storage option up to 256GB for more space though.

This could be really useful for people who really want to easily swap between, for example, their jazz cards, or their opera cards, or their pop-rock cards. However for the average user, this is just a potential tiny piece of tech to use — particularly because the card is literally poking out of the H2’s body, and you can eject it by pressing it.

If you find the thought of juggling microSD cards daunting, then maybe click off this review now, because the process of actually navigating the HiFi Walker’s menus is an absolute nightmare.

The user interface layout of this MP3 player is illogical and confusing. It’s easy to sum this up by pointing out one thing: there are four options on the main menu: ‘category’, ‘explorer’, ‘settings’ and ‘system settings’. To make that clear; the first duo are two different ways to scroll through your music library, the second duo are two different lists of settings.

So which of those options do you press in order to explore your library of songs? If you picked ‘explore’ you’re wrong, it’s category. What about to change the system-wide wallpaper? If you picked ‘system settings’, you’re once again wrong, it’s just ‘settings’.

The myriad buttons you have at your disposal are confusing too, not least because they seem to do different things. Sometimes when you’re in a menu, hovering over a song, the M button will add a song to your favorites. Other times it’ll prompt you to start a new playlist, and in some other circumstances it’ll just act like the ‘select’ button. Same as with the back button and foward/backward buttons too.

Honestly, navigation in general is a pain, and it took me a while to figure out how to get around the user interface — after two weeks of testing, I sometimes still get lost. If you own this product, here’s my helpful tip: pressing the power button once just turns off the screen, and you need to press and hold to turn the whole system off.

As a reviewer, I probably shouldn’t also gripe about spelling and grammar mistakes in the user interface… but as a writer, I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring that up too!

• Usability & setup score: 3/5

HiFi Walker H2 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Neutral sound
• Plenty of file formats supported

I’m going to give it to the HiFi Walker: this review has been fairly middling, but it’s ticking all the boxes when it comes to sound quality.

The player’s default sound quality is slap-bang neutral: don’t expect any booming basses or shrill trebles here. It’s inoffensive but lovely and balanced.

I say ‘lovely’ because the equaliser is right there: you’ve got a nice blank slate so you can tweak the sound to your heart’s content.

The H2 plays loads of different file formats; whether your library is saved in MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, AIF, AAC or even DSD, you can play them on this device.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

HiFi Walker H2 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Much cheaper than high-end audio players
• Pricier than budget MP3 players

If all you care about is listening to a range of audio file types on a range of devices, then the HiFi Walker H2 absolutely offers value for money; its price is a fraction of what you’d pay for many rival devices offering similar feature sets.

However if you just want a simple digital audio player so you can listen to tunes when out and about, the H2’s price just won’t be worth it when you consider all the rough edges in the user interface and design.

• Value score: 3/5

Should I buy the HiFi Walker H2?

(Image credit: Future) Buy it if... Don't buy it if... HiFi Walker H2 review: Also consider How I tested the HiFi Walker H2

(Image credit: Future)

• Two-week testing period
• Pop, rock, classical and spoken word music tested
• Used at home, in the office and on walks

I tested the HiFi Walker H2 using a range of headphones including Bluetooth-connected over-ears, wired in-ears and my running headphones. The testing was done simultaneously to several other MP3 players to give some context to it.

The music I listened to was largely classical but I also tested using rock, pop and hip-hop to get a wide mix of genres. This was mainly done in the H2's default sound state but I fiddled with the equalizer a little too.

I have over five years of experience under the belt testing gadgets for TechRadar which includes, in the audio space, speakers, over-ear headphones, earbuds and radios.

• First reviewed May 2024
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

If you're feeling a little down, try these tips to boost your mood.

Specs

Type: color A4 LED/laser all-in-one  

Functions: print, scan, copy, fax  

Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet 

Data storage slots: USB Host     

Print speed: 31ppm (mono) 

Paper capacity: 250 + 30 sheets

Print quality: 600 x 600 dpi

Scan quality: 600 x 600 dpi

Apple AirPrint: yes 

Consumables included: 4x toner cartridges (3,000 mono pages, 1,400 color)

Dimensions/Weight: 410 x 462 x 401 mm (WxDxH) / 21.4kg

The Brother Workhorse MFC-L8395CDW (Brother MFC-L8390CDW in Europe) is a feature-packed four-in-one aimed at a busy home office or small workgroup, though it can be expanded to serve a pretty large shared office. It’s an LED printer, which is to say that it uses an LED array to guide the toner particles onto the drums rather than a moving laser, but it still sits happily in our best laser printer category because in all other respects, the print technology is the same. 

We’ve tested many of the best small business printers, and being a business-oriented Workhorse model at the upper end of Brother’s product range means it has an impressive spec sheet. It prints quickly at 31ppm (pages per minute) and can automatically scan two-sided documents using its 50-sheet ADF (automatic document feeder). With its NFC reader, touchscreen display, front USB Host port and fax modem, this premium printer leaves nothing out. So, let’s find out if the performance measures up to expectations.  

During this review, we'll use the American name Brother MFC-L8395CDW, but Europe's Brother MFC-L8390CDW is the same model.

Brother MFC-L8395CDW: Design and build

(Image credit: Brother)

The Brother MFC-L8395CDW looks similar to the more expensive and rather good Brother MFC-L8690CDW and has an almost identical specification. It’s the technology that’s different because the older model is a traditional class 1 laser product, while the new model is using electrophotographic LED. The first thing you notice is that it’s significantly smaller in every dimension. That’s mostly down to good resign and partly because LED printers use fewer moving parts to apply the toner. The form factor is the same and there’s still room for the same 250 sheets of Legal or A4 paper in the main tray and a further 50 in the multipurpose tray, while the out-tray holds 150 sheets. The design is expandable and you can add a lower paper tray that will take another 250 sheets. The ADF is also slightly smaller so the new model looks less top heavy, but also holds the same amount of paper — 50 sheets. 

The control panel jutting out at the front offers a color touchscreen and this too is slightly smaller than the laser model, but it’s still an easy-to-read 8.8cm. The multipurpose tray opens directly above the main paper tray, providing a useful shortcut for feeding headed letter paper or envelopes. Power, USB, Ethernet and fax modem cables all plug into the rear panel, while a USB Host port for walk-up printing from a thumb drive is located at the front. One visible difference from the laser model is that you now have an NFC logo, indicating where you can tap your smartphone or security card to call down a secure print job.  

Brother MFC-L8395CDW: Features & specifications

(Image credit: Brother)

As the uppermost model in Brother’s LED line-up, the MFC-L8395CDW has a high specification and all the features you can think of. It can auto-duplex print and auto-duplex scan, send and receive a fax, copy a stack of 50 pages using its ADF and print or scan wirelessly via the Brother Mobile Connect companion app. It has a 3.5-inch color touchscreen interface and an NFC reader for secure printing by specified cardholders, which could be useful in a shared office. Connections include Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi and a USB Host port.

There’s plenty of room for paper, even without the optional lower paper tray, and a decent amount of toner comes in the box. The setup cartridges are good for 1,400 color pages and 3,000 mono, but super high yield carts are available that’ll give you up to 4,000 color pages and a whopping 11,000 mono. The print speed of 31ppm for simplex pages is pretty fast and it doesn’t slow down much for duplex printing, which is given as 12 sides per minute. Like many of the best laser printers, with this rapid print speed and a high capacity for paper and toner, the MFC-L8395CDW can handle a heavy workload. Brother suggests an average monthly duty cycle of 4,000 pages which should satisfy most SMBs (small to medium-sized business). In other words, this smaller and less expensive LED model matches the Brother MFC-L8690CDW laser printer for features and raises it by one NFC module, while only lagging one page-per-minute behind in terms of print speed. 

Brother MFC-L8395CDW: Setup & operation

(Image credit: Brother)

Setting up any Brother laser/LED printer involves extracting the four toner cartridges, removing the transport packaging and reinstalling them. This is easy enough to do and the two-page quick setup guide is there to help you. After loading some paper and turning it on, you can then turn to Brother’s Mobile Connect app to complete the setup. The printer’s own touchscreen interface is sensitive and the menu system is logical enough, but it’s still easier to use a smartphone to get connected to your Wi-Fi network. With its prompt print speed and two paper trays to choose from (main and multi-purpose), the Brother MFC-L8395CDW is an easy printer to operate. 

It's only a pity the operational cost is not lower. Replacement cartridges, even the super high-yield carts, do not bring the CPP (cost per page) down as low as most premium laser printers manage. It’s also worth considering the other replaceable items. You won’t need to buy four new imaging drums, a transfer belt or waste toner bottle any time soon, but they’re an expense you don’t have with inkjet printers. 

Brother MFC-L8395CDW: Performance

(Image credit: Brother)

The Brother MFC-L8395CDW put in a solid all-round performance without suffering any crashes or paper jams. Plain text documents are turned out in both simplex and duplex modes at the claimed prompt print speeds and the quality was consistently good. The characters appeared sharp and clearly legible down to the smallest point sizes. Mixed color documents print at the same speed, as with all laser printers, and showed a bright color palette. The image quality is fine, but not quite as bright as Brother’s equivalent laser printers. It’s the same story with photographs, which look detailed enough, but could be a little more vivid. 

The ADF proved itself to be a good one by drawing in a stack of test documents and copying both sides automatically. Duplicates made in this way, or by using the glass scanner bed, looked faithful to the original and only slightly softer in their detail. It copies quite quickly making this a suitable printer-cum-copier in a shared office. One thing it is not so good at is printing on heavy paper or card because the rollers turning it around tightly inside the machine tend to leave the documents curled when they emerge.

Brother MFC-L8395CDW: Final verdict

(Image credit: Brother)

This exceptionally well-equipped MFD (multifunction device) has enough functionality to meet the varied print demands of a shared office and has the toner capacity and print speed to handle a heavy workload. With room for 250 sheets of paper in the main tray and scope to add a second lower paper tray it’s clearly designed for a high monthly duty cycle. The 50-sheet automatic document feed is a cut above the average ADF thanks to its single-pass dual-side scanning feature, while an integrated NFC module is a real bonus for any business where the staff are issued with NFC-enabled ID cards. It might not be the best printer we’ve ever tested, but given the decent overall print quality of this LED all-in-one, the fairly high purchase price and running cost is justified.  

Looking for your next printer? We compared the best Brother printers 

• ^ Back to top

You can read through our iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) review to find out just how impressed we are with Apple's latest premium-level tablet – and a newly published teardown video reveals some of the under-the-hood design changes in this model.

If you remember back to the launch of the device, Apple mentioned incorporating graphite sheets into its main housing, and using copper in the Apple logo to improve thermal performance over the previous 2022 model by nearly 20%.

The new teardown video from Phone Repair Guru (via MacRumors) includes a close up look at those alterations, as well as showing the internal shifts needed to get the front camera and Face ID components over to the right side (as you look at the screen of the iPad Pro in portrait mode).

We also see changes to the array of magnets built into the tablet: these have been moved around quite a bit to add support for the new Apple Pencil Pro and the new Magic Keyboard that were launched at the same time as the new iPad Pros.

Tear it down

The video runs to nearly nine minutes, and we get a close look at the display cables, the four stereo speakers, the front and rear camera modules, and the M4 chip responsible for running everything (complete with Apple logo).

There's also a look at the 10,209 mAh battery, which is split into two sections, and the Apple logo on the back of the tablet, with its added copper – this essentially acts as a heatsink for the M4 chip, ensuring it stays cool enough.

In the video, the tablet is described as having "pretty repairable" innards, and there's an acknowledgement of the "genius" way that Apple has packed everything in here. Remember, this is the thinnest iPad ever, at just 5.1 mm.

We'll no doubt see more teardowns like this appear as time goes on, but we're yet to see the same treatment given to the iPad Air 13-inch (2024). You'll see that both of these new models have jumped right into our best iPads guide.

You might also like

• iPad Pro users are noticing a weird grainy effect
• Here's what to expect at Apple WWDC 2024
• How Apple is preventing another iPad bendgate

Can Mystik Dan stay on course for the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course?

Adobe Fresco is a fun app for iPad and Microsoft Surface tablets. It’s all about simulating the real-world painting process - so expect to go to town on your digital canvas with the stylus as paintbrush. 

We’ve tried out a number of the best digital art and drawing software, and Adobe’s graphic design set has always impressed us. We liked Fresco last time we reviewed the painting app. But how does Adobe Fresco hold up in 2024? We wanted to find out.  

Adobe Fresco: Pricing & plans

• Free for a few brushes and some online storage, but it’s more than enough to get started. Subscriptions are available and Fresco is also bundled in with other Adobe  plans. 

You can download and install Adobe Fresco for free, which will allow you to work with about a hundred brushes, and be offered 2GB of online storage. You’ll need an Adobe account to take advantage of this - which is also free (save for a few minutes of your time).

This is the basic Fresco app, but you can choose to subscribe to it for around $10 a month to gain access to over 1,000 additional brushes, more online storage, additional shapes, and access to Adobe’s premium fonts. However, if you already subscribe to the Adobe Design Mobile Bundle, the Adobe Photoshop Single Plan, or the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps plan, then you already have access to the full version of Fresco. Subscription prices vary depending on whether you’re an individual, in education, or a business, and whether you choose to pay on a month by month basis or opt for a yearly plan, but as a guide, an individual person can expect to pay between around $23 and $60 a month for the Photoshop Single Plan and the Creative Cloud All App respectively.

Whichever option you decide to go with, Fresco will broadly look the same, so let’s install it and take it for a spin.

• Pricing & plans: 4/5

Adobe Fresco: How it works

A traditional Adobe homepage, recognisable from anywhere, whether you’re on a computer or a portable device (Image credit: Adobe)

• A compact interface has tools that appear as you need them, with an interesting rotating feature.

If you’re familiar with other Adobe software, you’ll feel right at home in Fresco. From the home page’s style, to the layout of the various sidebars, you’re in no doubt you’re working with an Adobe product.

To the left are the various brushes available to you. Tap on one of them for that menu to expand, offering you further options. On the right is a series of parameters affecting your entire document. This is where you can access your layers (on by default), see various layer properties, enable options such as snapping, add comments, and even expose more layer-related tools. Top right of the interface are sharing options, and undo and redo buttons among others. It’s a very compact yet very full featured interface.  

Obviously, the bulk of the screen is devoted to your artwork. As it’s an app designed for a tablet, you can turn your device in any orientation and the toolbars will rotate in kind - but your artwork won’t. This might feel a little disconcerting at first, but it does allow you to work on your project from any angle. Plus, if that doesn’t suit you, all it takes is a simple two finger rotate gesture to bring your canvas into the ‘right’ orientation.

• Score: 4/5

Adobe Fresco: What it does

Changing the colour of your chosen brush is just a couple of taps away (Image credit: Adobe)

• Painting and drawing on a portable digital device is smooth and easy, coupled the advantage of digital convenience and capabilities.

From the sound of it, Fresco feels like a portable version of Adobe Photoshop, but the fact there is a version of Photoshop for mobile devices shows that it’s more than that. Its focus is on trying to replicate the real world experience of drawing and painting.  For that to work, Fresco offers a wealth of different brushes whose strokes can interact with others.

Take the watercolours for instance. They come with a ‘watercolour flow’ parameter, which is there to determine just how much bleed you’ll get when using them, ie, just how wet is the brush and how much will the new colour you’re using interact and mix with surrounding colours already on your canvas. This makes for a fun, versatile and highly interactive simulation, which is far removed from how too many digital image compositors work (not all, mind - Corel Painter is a notable example of software trying to replicate how paint behaves in the real world, only this time on a computer)

Combine this with layer work, the ability to use and customise so many different brushes, and compatibility with a stylus, allows you to get pretty close to real world painting - without the mess, or running out of paint. It’s an attempt to blend the physical with the virtual in what we felt to be a very enjoyable experience.

Add to that your ability to export your work as a PSD file, so you can work on it further in Photoshop on your computer, increasing your workflow possibilities immensely.

• Score: 4/5

Adobe Fresco: What’s new?

Add a touch of dynamism to your project with the new easy-to-use motion paths (Image credit: Adobe)

• Motion paths and rotation. It may not sound like much, but it’s well implemented and easy to use.

 On top of all this great art creation tool, Fresco also lets you animate portions of your artwork, and these capabilities have been improved in the latest version. You can now create motion paths. 

This in part due to an easy to control floating toolbar at the bottom of the screen, with various additional parameters available on the sidebar to the right, once that option is triggered. From there, you’ll also find a new feature to either rotate or sway your chosen layer. It’s all incredibly easy to use, adding additional dynamism to your project. 

Should I buy?

Layer Properties offer you numerous parameters to control the look of each of your projects’ layers (Image credit: Adobe)

Buy it if...

You enjoy creating digital artwork but would like to replicate the feel of the real painting experience. Fresco is a great app for working on the go, and linking to other Adobe apps across your devices.

Don't buy it if...

You're not an artist or painter, and you especially don't like free painting apps. 

• For more Adobe-style options, we've reviewed the best Adobe Lightroom alternatives and the best alternatives to Adobe Photoshop

Time is running out to snag huge discounts on books over at Amazon. Get up to 50% off print bestsellers and up to 80% off Kindle Books until May 20.