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• Nikon has announced a 'necessary price adjustment' for cameras in the US
• This is happening "due to the recent tariffs", according to the camera giant
• The price hikes will take effect from June 23

Nikon is officially joining the list of camera manufacturers who are raising camera prices in response to, you guessed it, the US tariffs.

In a short post on the Nikon US press site, the camera giant said that "due to the recent tariffs" it was planning a "necessary price adjustment for products". This will apparently take effect from June 23, making it a potentially good time to pick up that Nikon camera you've been eyeing.

We don't yet know which cameras (or lenses) will be affected, but that should become clear in the next few weeks. Nikon offered a small crumb of comfort by stating that it will be "carefully monitoring any tariff developments and may adjust pricing as necessary to reflect the evolving market conditions".

That could mean an adjustment in the wrong direction if the trade wars continue to heat up, but hopefully the price changes won't be as damaging as the ones we've already seen from other manufacturers.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3, for example, has jumped from its $500 launch price to $800, and has remained at that level despite a 90-day truce on China's tariffs that have temporarily reduced the rate on US imports down to 10%.

What other camera price hikes have we seen?

(Image credit: Future)

Nikon is far from alone in announcing tariff-related price hikes, though not all of them have come into effect just yet.

Canon gave us a similar warning earlier this month by stating in its quarterly earnings call that it had "notified major dealers that we will raise prices and are in the process of estimating the timing and amount of the increase".

This means we're in a strange waiting period where camera fans are bracing themselves for price rises, without knowing exactly which models will be hit and how they might affect existing stock that's in the US already (in theory, the latter shouldn't be hit by tariff-related price rises on imports).

As spotted by Sony Alpha Rumors, Sony has seemingly already raised prices on its China-made cameras and lenses, which include the Sony RX100 VII and a number of lenses including the FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II (which has seen an 18% price jump). But we don't yet know if these prices are a temporary reaction to the current tariffs or a more permanent hike.

Fujifilm, meanwhile, was recently forced to pause pre-orders on cameras including the X100VI, GFX100RF and X-M5 (black version), while the new Fujifilm X half has a high price in the US compared to other regions ($849, compared to £699 / AU$1,349 in the UK and Australia).

It's clearly a tumultuous time for cameras and lenses – and while panic-buying is never a wise option, if could be worth pulling the trigger soon if you're in the US and have been considering buying new from Nikon or Canon.

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• Apple’s first smart home hub could launch as soon as later this year
• It will look like a cross between a HomePod and an iPad
• A more advanced device with a robotic arm may launch a year or two later

If you’ve been following recent Apple news, you might have heard the rumor that the company is working on a home hub that would look something like a cross between a HomePod and an iPad. Given Apple’s pedigree, it has the potential to become one of the best smart home devices around, and it now looks like the device could launch as soon as the end of 2025.

That’s according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who claimed in his Power On newsletter that we could get our hands on this product “by the end of this year at the earliest” (although that’s not yet set in stone). It could mark Apple’s attempt to both dominate the smart home and make further inroads into artificial intelligence (AI) – something it hopes its Apple Intelligence platform will be a key part of.

1. A new OS that pulls from tvOS

Interested in this device? We’ve heard a few things about it already, and it's certainly shaping up to be an eye-catching addition to Apple’s product roster. That’s due in part to the fact that Apple is allegedly working on an entirely new operating system for the product, potentially named homeOS, that is based on tvOS and will prominently feature Siri and Apple Intelligence.

2. The display will be the focal point

Secondly, the key focal point of the so-called HomePad will be its display. Here, rumors have pointed to a 7-inch screen with a thick bezel, with a front-facing camera mounted on the top edge. The latter will reflect an emphasis on using the device for video calling.

3. The smart display will support apps, and carry over a popular iPhone feature

The third point is that Apple apps will, of course, be supported. And finally, you can expect some features from other apps, such as the iPhone’s StandBy dashboard. The focus, though, will remain on controlling your connected smart home devices.

4. Eyes on the AI prize

(Image credit: Amazon)

Apple has never really embraced the smart home to the extent that some rivals have. Sure, you can control connected products using HomeKit and the Home app, but these have their problems. Beyond that, there’s also a surprising lack of Apple-branded hardware in this space. That could all change in the next year or two.

But the smart home isn’t Apple’s real target here – it’s artificial intelligence. AI is a huge, booming market right now, and Apple has already fallen behind due to its well-documented struggles with its Apple Intelligence platform, with a host of promised features delayed and missing altogether.

Like many tech firms, Apple wants to get its AI into as many customers’ homes as possible, so launching a smart home hub makes a lot of sense in this regard: it gives Apple another way to appeal to customers who might not be convinced by Apple Intelligence so far.

This isn’t the only smart home product that rumors claim Apple is working on, though. The company also has something up its sleeve that would comprise a screen on the end of a robotic arm, allowing it to be moved around at will. This more advanced product isn’t expected until “a year or two” after the HomePad launches, though, while Gurman adds that Apple has “pulled some bolder features from the device” in order to get it ready faster.

Time is of the essence, and Apple is all too aware of that. With its first home hub potentially launching later this year, we’ll soon find out if Apple’s efforts have been worth the wait or need more time in the oven.

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HBO' forthcoming Harry Potter TV show (it'll also be streaming on HBO Max), has finally found the crucial part of its cast, having already signed up a combination of Hollywood and British names for its adults cast.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron have all been cast – and as you'd expect for young kids, they're pretty unknown names.

Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, and is somehow already a veteran of the 'kid attends mysterious school for those with special skills' genre, having played a part in the BBC TV series Gifted, which was about kids with superpowers.

Arabella Stanton plays Hermione Granger, and also isn't new to acting, having played Matilda in the wonderful Matilda the Musical in London's West End. She followed that up with a role in Starlight Express on stage.

Lastly, Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley, and is notable among the three for having the name most like a character in the Harry Potter books. He seems to have the least acting experience of the three, but has appeared in a potato commercial, which also somehow feels very appropriate for a character like Ron.

HBO's TV adaptation is scheduled to begin filming sometime in mid-2025, so they'll have to get stuck into their textbooks ASAP to be ready to go. It's expected that the early books will take up a season each, too, so it'll be interesting to see if HBO pumps out a new season annually to ensure that this intrepid trio don't age out of the teenage roles they'll soon grow into.

By the time we get the fourth book/season, we might find that things need to be split across two parts. We'll see, but the best streaming services love to split seasons, so you have to assume it'll be the case here.

Who's joining Harry, Ron, and Hermione's new actors in the Harry Potter TV show

Six actors were previously cast in big roles for HBO's Harry Potter TV series (Image credit: HBO)

The kids will join John Lithgow as Hogwarts' headteacher Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, and Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirell.

There's a huge swathe of roles not cast yet, of course (at least, not officially), ranging from the likes of the Weasley siblings through to Neville Longbottom – but, perhaps the biggest missing role is Draco Malfoy.

We don't know exactly when the show will air yet, but it's planned to arrive in 2026. Time will tell if it winds up making it onto our best Max shows list.

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• OnePlus has revealed the Plus Key, a new button positioned as a way to access the new OnePlus AI suite
• The Plus Key replaces the Alert Slider found on OnePlus phones since the OnePlus 2
• The Plus Key will come to all OnePlus phones launching this year

OnePlus has announced OnePlus AI, and while the Chinese company’s vision for mobile artificial intelligence comes mainly via new software, the list of changes includes an update to one of the brand’s most iconic hardware features.

The new Plus Key is a physical button that replaces the three-stage Alert Slider. The button can be customized in settings to activate one of several features, like opening the camera or starting a live translation.

The new hardware feature will make its debut with the OnePlus 13s, a China-only model previously known as the OnePlus 13 Mini in online rumor circles.

OnePlus has confirmed the Plus Key will come to all OnePlus smartphones rolling out this year – at a minimum we’d expect this to include the rumored OnePlus 14 and OnePlus 14R, which based on prior releases we'd expect to launch in China at the end of 2025 for global launch in 2026. Though note that OnePlus might skip the number 14 and call this the OnePlus 15 series instead.

By default, the Plus Key activates the new AI Plus Mind capture system, which saves a screenshot, plus an AI summary of the on-screen information, in the new AI Plus Mind app.

It’s this, alongside the timing of this hardware announcement, that illustrates OnePlus’ vision of the Plus Key as a part of the company’s AI strategy.

"It's time for us to evolve"

OnePlus revealed its new AI suite on May 27 (Image credit: OnePlus)

At the official OnePlus AI reveal event, I spoke with Arthur Lam, director of OxygenOS and AI strategy at OnePlus, about how the Plus Key and AI Plus Mind work together.

“The thought process behind it was we wanted to bring AI that can empower you to do different things. And I think one of the biggest things was we live in this digital age where we have a lot of fragmented memories across multiple places” said Lam.

“We believe that this is not a software-only solution,” Lam continued, “it's a hardware-software solution; that makes it uniquely OnePlus.”

When OnePlus announced the end of the Alert Slider, I wrote that I’d always found it to be a useful and charismatic addition to the brand’s handsets. However, even with the Alert Slider’s fan-favorite status, Lam tells me the company is confident that it’s time for an update.

“People ask us, ‘after using the Alert Slider for a decade, why are you changing it?’ Because now is the time, because it's connected with your AI Plus Mind.”

“It makes sense for us to make changes. Even though we've been there for the last decade, and many of the users love it, we think it's time for us to evolve it to the next generation.”

More than just a button

OnePlus is keen to market the Plus Key as a versatile, AI-forward feature (Image credit: OnePlus)

There’s more to OnePlus AI than just the Plus Key and AI Plus Mind – upcoming features include AI Translation, an AI Reframe tool for cropping photos, and AI VoiceScribe, which automatically transcribes phone calls.

With that said, the Plus Key is the most fully-fledged AI hardware feature we’ve seen on a smartphone so far – this AI-first approach could help OnePlus to differentiate the Plus Key from the iPhone's Action Button, which clearly served as inspiration.

It's also telling that OnePlus is willing to cut a well-loved feature like the Alert Slider for the AI-focused Plus Key. This suggests that OnePlus AI could be a major priority for the brand going forwards.

Personally, I'm a fan of the Alert Slider, but I think AI Plus Mind is a great idea, and a good enough feature to make the Plus Key seem novel and genuinely useful.

Be sure to keep up with our phones coverage for the latest updates as the Plus Key comes to more of the best OnePlus phones.

What do you think of the Plus Key? Will you miss the Alert Slider? Let us know in the comments below.

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• Security researchers spot fake Ledger Live app targeting Mac users
• The app replaces the legitimate one and shows a fake critical error
• The error requires the user to submit their 24-word seed phrase

Cybercriminals are targeting cryptocurrency owners with Apple Mac devices using a highly sophisticated piece of malware which hides in plain sight and aims to steal their seed phrases.

A ‘seed phrase’ is a 12 or 24-word combination that allows anyone to load an existing wallet into a new device and gain access to all of the funds inside.

In a new report, security researchers Moonlock said there are currently four active campaigns distributing a fake Ledger Live app spoofing an official offering which allows users to send, manage, and track their crypto portfolio.

"High-stakes effort"

The campaign has allegedly been active since August 2024, and although the report doesn’t discuss how the victims end up downloading the fake Ledger Live app, it does detail how it works: It replaces the existing, legitimate app, and then during the login process displays a fake error message.

The “critical error” can only be remedied by submitting the 24-word seed phrase which then immediately gets relayed to the attackers.

“This isn’t just a theft. It’s a high-stakes effort to outsmart one of the most trusted tools in the crypto world,” Moonlock explains. “And the thieves are not backing down.”

“Users should take the news as a clear signal to stay alert,” the researchers concluded, urging users to be wary of phishing emails, to never share their seed phrases with anyone, and to only download cryptocurrency wallet apps from legitimate sources.

Cryptocurrency users continue to be a major target for cybercriminals everywhere - in the US, users lost around $9.3 billion to various scams in 2024 alone, CoinDesk said, citing an FBI report, a 66% increase compared to 2023.

Via BleepingComputer

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PopSockets is finally ready for your vertical close-up. Unveiled this week, the new MagSafe Kick-Out Grip & Stand finally makes it possible to use a PopSocket as a stand for an iPhone in vertical mode. That's right, all you TikTokers, PopSockets just became your hands-free filming friend.

For years, I carried PopSockets on the back of my best iPhones (I even had one featuring a design created by one of my children). I never stuck the reusable PopSocket adhesive directly to the back of my phone and instead always placed a thin, clear plastic case over the phone chassis and stuck the pop-out grip to that.

However, when Apple introduced MagSafe, it no longer made sense for me to cover the charge magnet. I could, but for wireless charging, I had to pull the phone out of the case. So, I switched to a MagSafe-friendly case and attachable stand from Speck that included a fold-out foot for – you guessed it – hands-free vertical video shoots.

Now, though, I might not need the Speck (which is unfortunately prone to breakage; I've gone through three stands). The new PopSockets Kick-Out Grip & Stand resembles a traditional PopSocket, but instead of a small glue-covered base, the pop-out grip is attached to a larger, round, MagSafe-ready base.

A post shared by PopSockets (@popsockets)

A photo posted by on

Once attached to the back of an iPhone 16 or an iPhone 16 MagSafe case, the base features a hinged body, allowing you to tilt the PopScocket grip away from the phone, where it becomes a stand. You can rotate the base to create a stand for horizontal or vertical positioning of videos. In the photos and videos provided by PopSockets, the kick-out stand appears to perfectly reach the table, putting the phone at nearly a 90-degree angle.

This looks like a nifty bit of engineering from PopSockets, as the hinge has a full range of motion, meaning you could set up your iPhone at almost any angle.

You could use the Kick-Out Grip & Stand without a case and attach it directly to the back of your iPhone, but PopSockets is also selling a companion set of MagSafe cases for the iPhone 16 line (no other iPhone lineups are supported). Like the Kick-Out, each case sells for $40. No international pricing is currently available.

Kick-Out and Stand is not PopSockets' first MagSafe-friendly design, but it is the first that can act as a versatile stand. $40 might seem like a lot to pay for an iPhone grip, but the ability to film hands-free in either mode is hard to quantify.

I've done many TikTok unboxings using my Speck stand in vertical mode, and when a tripod was unavailable, I've propped it up on tables to get a full-figure shot.

One thing that is not clear is if the PopSocket heads can be swapped for, for instance, seasonal grip heads, as you could do with previous PopSockets grips. In my house, my wife likes to switch between a spring one and a winter-friendly head, which is actually a disc-shaped snow globe.

The MagSafe Kick-Out Grip & Stand comes in six material styles and colors, including Aluminum Raidal Silver (or Purple), Black, Latte, Putty, and Dusk.

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Telecoms in Britain is a growth priority for the UK Government. That’s not my opinion, that’s a stated fact in a new report highlighting the 15 top technologies that will drive growth, improving British society and business in the next ten years. The study claims telecoms could be worth up to £70 billion (around 0.73% of UK GDP growth). That’s great, but as I sit here, we are less than two years from the (already extended) PSTN switch-off and many organizations are panicking about how they are going to fund switching over from 150 year old technology, never mind be part of a glorious future.

Let’s start with the positive though. The report, written by PwC and called The Wider Economic Impacts of Emerging Technologies, offers timely insight into how the technologies shaping tomorrow’s economy are already influencing today’s business decisions. Among the 15 technology categories assessed, telecoms plays a unique and yet underappreciated role. It may not be seen as the flashiest innovation on the list, but its transformative potential is significant, particularly for enterprise IT leaders navigating an era of converging platforms, AI-driven customer expectations, and budget constraints.

It’s heartening to see the report acknowledging future telecoms will serve as connective tissue across all digital innovation, underpinning everything from AI applications to digital twins to immersive customer experiences. I also suspect that telecoms will contribute far more than £70 billion of UK GDP growth when you consider that telecoms enable productivity enhancements in virtually every sector, from healthcare to finance to retail.

It’s not about more tech—it’s about better outcomes

Too often, discussions around digital transformation fall into the trap of tech for tech’s sake. Within the telecoms space, the focus must shift from individual technologies to integrated outcomes. As I’ve said before, our customers don’t care whether something is technically labelled as UCaaS, CCaaS, or CPaaS. They care about technology that solves real business problems, such as how to connect with customers more efficiently, how to make their experience more meaningful, or how to ensure regulatory compliance without adding complexity.

The future of telecoms makes those outcomes possible through capabilities such as: Ultra-reliable connectivity that supports real-time communication and zero-latency experiences. Infrastructure that’s agile enough to support AI, 5G, edge computing, and increasingly remote workforces. Integrated systems that collapse the silos between contact centers, back-office functions, and field teams.

Modernization as a mission-critical imperative

The report correctly identifies that business adoption will vary depending on cost, feasibility, and workforce readiness, but IT leaders shouldn't see these as barriers; they're an invitation to modernize with purpose. That’s why 8x8 continues to invest in solutions that enable seamless interaction across voice, video, chat, and APIs, all underpinned by analytics and AI.

We've already seen the impact of this through projects where healthcare providers are using the 8x8 platform to enable multilingual telehealth services across fragmented networks, and where financial institutions have modernized their infrastructure while remaining compliant. These are not future visions. In a lot of telecoms, we can deliver the future today.

That’s if the funding and will is there.

The real risk is standing still—or being left behind

One point in the report stood out to me: the true cost of inaction. Delayed adoption of emerging technologies leads to missed productivity gains, talent disengagement, and customer churn. For telecoms, the risk isn’t in adopting new infrastructure - it’s in clinging to legacy systems that were built for a different era, which is what brought us to the reality of the PSTN switch-off.

The report notes that 80% of those surveyed around telecoms identified cost as a major factor while 73% felt infrastructure was an issue when it came to considering upgrading. As we move towards January 2027 and, what we are promised, is the final deadline for the copper network being switched off, these are worryingly high numbers.

Another stat that is either cause for concern or an opportunity, depending on how you look at it, is that 67% of respondents felt they did not have a relevant supplier relationship to be future-proofed. That means there is massive opportunity for the UK’s tech and partnership network to be picking up the phone and building their networks.

And while 65% of those surveyed said they were unsure of the benefits of modernizing, let me tell you, the cost of doing nothing is far more expensive.

Looking forward

The report has a purpose: to inspire individuals and businesses into what could be key drivers for the UK economy over the coming years. It shows where there may be skill gaps, where businesses need to start concentrating, and seeing what their role is in the coming years. It’s a welcome report into a potential future. Still, if we don’t address the legacy of the past and properly transition to the future, as in the case of the PSTN network, then it won’t be a case of being switched off - we’ll be disconnected.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

AI is guzzling energy. Scientists estimate North American data centers' power requirements increased nearly 100% from 2022 to 2023, largely driven by generative AI (GenAI). By 2026, they anticipate data centers to become the fifth largest electricity consumers in the world, exceeding the usage of most countries.

However, speculation about AI's detrimental effects on the environment might be overblown. For many corporations, particularly those that produce or sell physical goods, AI technology makes up only a small portion of their overall emissions. Oversimplifying AI as “carbon-intensive” diverts attention from its impactful sustainability opportunities. When used wisely, AI has the potential to offset its own footprint and actively contribute to a greener future.

What is AI's emissions trajectory?

AI's carbon output is primarily measured through data center energy consumption. These algorithms, especially GenAI, require significant computational power for training and operation. As usage grows, so does the electricity drain.

These impacts are significant. However, the belief that AI will remain an exponential data hog ignores the rapid pace of innovation in model design, hardware, deployment and the transition to renewable energy.

Today's algorithms are likely the most inefficient they will ever be. Techniques like model distillation are becoming more prevalent, creating smaller, more energy-conscious models, and manufacturers are designing more energy-efficient AI chips.

Additionally, the energy grid is getting greener, translating to fewer emissions from data centers. Consider these factors: According to the World Resources Institute, renewables outpaced other energy generation sources, accounting for 90% of the United States' new installed capacity in 2024.

The International Renewable Energy Agency states that more than 80% of renewable capacity additions produce cheaper electricity than fossil fuel alternatives.

BloombergNEF reported that more than 40% of the world's electricity came from zero-carbon sources in 2023. Major companies, including Google, Microsoft and Amazon, are investing in clean energy to power their growing data centers.

Experts predict that economics alone could drive renewables to account for 50% of electricity by the end of the decade. Meaningful government policies could accelerate that transition. This momentum makes me optimistic that we can mitigate the environmental impacts of AI use.

AI emissions also attract significant attention because they are easy to track. Unlike the complex, fragmented emissions from manufacturing and global supply chains, AI's carbon footprint stems primarily from data centers, which are fixed physical locations with measurable electricity consumption. This creates clear accountability, as we can directly attribute these emissions to specific technology providers and data center operators.

AI's traceability can skew public and corporate attention toward it over other potentially more significant sources of emissions that are harder to quantify. For many companies, addressing only AI emissions is a drop in the bucket. To make meaningful progress on climate goals, organizations must work to reduce carbon emissions across all business operations, including their value chain.

AI as a sustainability enabler

Focusing solely on AI's carbon footprint misses the opportunity to unlock new reduction and efficiency opportunities.

Efficiency improvements, often the first step in corporate decarbonization, can be amplified through AI. For example, predictive maintenance prevents energy-wasting malfunctions and extends equipment's life span. Optimizing logistics and supply chains reduces transportation distances and fuel consumption. Intelligently adjusting energy consumption, distribution and storage can maximize efficiency and resource utilization — all while minimizing costs as well.

AI is also a powerful enabler for sustainability professionals. AI can support routine tasks like data collection, reporting and drafting communications so teams with limited resources can focus on impactful strategic efforts.

These benefits extend to more complex sustainability initiatives, like supply chain decarbonization. AI-powered solutions can inform business planning by aggregating and analyzing supplier data at scale. Teams can quickly detect trends, highlight emissions hotspots and track progress to prioritize action on the most urgent and impactful reduction opportunities. For example, rather than focusing on broad procurement policies, organizations can directly engage suppliers responsible for a disproportionate amount of emissions, resulting in more impactful reductions.

Predictive modeling enables companies to forecast emissions trends, identify future risks and calculate the impacts of different decarbonization strategies for proactive, long-term business planning and supply chain resilience.

As sustainability becomes more integrated across different business functions, AI will help organizations efficiently incorporate these initiatives into their everyday work.

A word of caution about AI

AI will not solve climate issues on its own; it's a tool to amplify human efforts. Algorithms are only as good as the data they use. Emissions data — especially from value chains — can be sparse, inconsistent or incomplete. AI won't meaningfully fill the gaps, but it will guide teams in their decarbonization strategy.

In addition, many AI models are black boxes. This lack of transparency poses a serious problem for emissions reporting, where audibility and traceability are essential. Auditors, investors and regulators need to see the underlying methodology. AI's conclusion may be accurate, but it can't be the foundation of reporting if companies can't explain it.

However, we can't let perfection be the enemy of good. If AI helps you do your job more effectively, and your job is helping decarbonize the planet, then use it.

We can't discount AI entirely based on its carbon emissions. Every technology has tradeoffs; anyone in sustainability knows this fact all too well. Sustainability professionals should leverage AI's decarbonization potential while understanding the adverse effects. In the broader context of climate action, AI's energy demands are a challenge — but not the biggest one we face.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro