Technology

From Windows models with Qualcomm Snapdragon X and Intel Panther Lake processors to MacBooks running on Apple's latest M5 chip, these are the longest-lasting laptops we've tested.

Apple has just announced major price rises on a huge range of its products, and among them are its two HomePod models. The price of the HomePod mini is rising from $99 / £99 to $129 / £129, which is a 30% increase.

The full-size HomePod 2 is also getting a price change, but it's a more palatable 17%, meaning that it's changing from costing $299 / £299 to now $349 / £349.

I think the HomePod 2 can take that price rise, even though I'd obviously rather we were still in an era when products came down in price over time; the big HomePod is already a more premium product, and still sounds very good for the price.

But I think this change is devastating to the HomePod mini. I reviewed it when it came out, and I was so impressed by the dynamic range of its sound and its detail, bearing in mind not only the price, but the size. For ages, I had a pair as my desktop speakers out of choice, even though, as an audio editor, I can get my hands on pretty much any stereo setup I want to try.

As a result, I've been strongly recommending the HomePod mini since it came out, and advocating for its position as the best 'cheap' option in our list of the best wireless speakers. Being a HomePod, it's very limited as to who it's ideal for (all-Apple households, basically), but it's been in a totally different league to anything else when it comes to value since it's launch, in my opinion — yes, even five years later.

Well, until today.

The problem is that the gap has very suddenly closed between it and the next-best cheaper wireless speaker, which is the freshly released Sonos Era 100 SL.

The Sonos speaker has much bigger sound, Android and iOS support for all streaming services, Bluetooth as well as AirPlay and direct app control, and the ability to connect analog devices via an adapter — it's way more capable, but it was fair enough that the HomePod doesn't do all that considering its lower price.

At the start of this week, there was $90 / £70 between them. Today, the gap between them is $30 / £12.

Today's best Sonos Era 100 SL prices

We gave this speaker 4.5 stars in our Sonos Era 100 SL review, based largely on it being a great low price while having impressive audio and connectivity. And now it's even cheaper — it's my top pick for a small wireless speaker.View Deal

The Era 100 SL is an even better deal in the UK — for just £12 more than the HomePod mini, you're getting something that's way more futureproof. There's no contest between them any more.View Deal

Now, that's a slightly unfair comparison — I'm comparing full price to the Sonos' discounted price — but it's a very practical one, because it's the real choice most people will face when they buy.

The biggest sales for something like the Sonos Era 100 SL happen during sales events. Right now, it's Amazon Prime Day. Soon, it will be the July 4th sales in the US. And obviously Black Friday is huge for selling this stuff — the Era 100 SL will be discounted to this kind of level at all these times, and more besides.

The HomePod mini was very rarely discounted, by comparison, and usually only by a couple of bucks. So once this price rise settles in, and at the times most people are actually thinking about which one to buy, the comparison of the $129 / £129 very limited HomePod mini vs the $159 / £141 chad Sonos Era 100 SL is going to be the choice people will actually face.

And despite being the HomePod mini's strongest advocate since its launch, I'm just not going to be able to recommend it any more.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

In the current climate where tech devices seem to be rocketing in price due to the global memory shortage (Apple just annouced some pretty brutal hikes, as has Xbox), buying a new Wi-Fi router has now become one of the most affordable - and impactful - ways to upgrade the devices in your home, and for Prime Day, Amazon has cut the price on a number of its eero routers, including the three-pack eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi system, which is now $194.99 (down from $299.99).

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Mesh routers are fantastic devices for ensuring every device in your home can access your Wi-Fi. Unlike single routers, mesh routers consist of several units that wirelessly connect to one another and help spread their Wi-Fi signal throughout your home.

Because so many devices in our homes need internet connections these days, making sure you have fast, reliable Wi-Fi can boost the performance of a wide range of devices in your home.

And while the likes of laptops, tablets, graphics cards, and other memory-dependent devices are seeing price hikes, mesh routers aren't as affected. So, rather than despairing over constantly rising prices, check out these eero router deals below and upgrade your entire home's internet instead.

Today's best eero router deals

If you've already got an eero mesh system, you can expand it with this extender, which is now under $50. This is great for people who need extra coverage, but note that you need an existing eero network to add this to - it won't work on its own. According to Amazon, this will add 1,500 square feet to your coverage.View Deal

This two-pack eero 6 system features a router and extender, and is ideal for medium-sized homes, with coverage of up to 3,000 square feet. Many homes won't need more than two units, so you can save some money by getting this smaller pack. If you find you need more coverage, you can buy an extender (listed above).View Deal

This three-pack has had a $70 price cut, making it very tempting, and the perfect Wi-Fi solution for most large homes thanks to its 4,500 sq. ft coverage and support for over 75 simultaneous device connections. If you don't want, or need, Wi-Fi 7 support (the vast majority of your devices are likely Wi-Fi 6) this is a brilliant buy that can make a big difference to your home Wi-Fi.View Deal

If you have more modern devices in your home but haven't fully embraced Wi-Fi 7, then the eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi System is a great choice. Unlike the eero 6 systems, the eero 6+ uses an extra Wi-Fi radio channel, which means network congestion is reduced - and that means a potentially faster and more reliable internet connection for the devices around your home. This two-pack offers coverage of up to 3,000 square feet, and for $80 off, this is an excellent value.View Deal

Summer's here, the World Cup is on, so making sure your outdoor space has great Wi-Fi is essential, and eero's outdoor model connects to your existing eero network, whilst spreading super-fast Wi-Fi 7 wireless to the furthest reaches of your yard, and ensuring garages and summer houses all have solid, fast internet.View Deal

This three-pack features Amazon's latest and fastest eero mesh system, with Wi-Fi 7 support, so compatible devices will get maximum speeds from your Wi-Fi. It can handle internet speeds of up to 5 Gbps, cover up to 6,000 square feet, and cope with over 600 devices connecting to the Wi-Fi. As the name suggests, this is mainly aimed at professional environments, but big homes will benefit as well, and with the $150 price cut, it's more affordable than ever.View Deal

All of these eero systems benefit from an easy, app-based installation process, automatic updates to keep your home secure, and they also act as an Alexa smart home hub, allowing your smart devices to be controlled by an Alexa-capable smart speaker.

Not in the US? Check out these eero deals where you are:More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK (DELETE IF US ONLY DEAL)

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

A group representing child actors is criticizing contracts that would allow AI to reuse a child's voice.

It's only a matter of time before iPhone and Apple Watch prices go even higher.

Your next iPhone could cost more than you think.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for June 26 No. 845.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for June 26, No. 1,833.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for June 26 No. 1,111.

The RAM crisis is gradually ruining PC and console gaming, with higher prices, notably with Microsoft increasing prices for its Xbox consoles. Gamers only have AI to blame, as data centers and their demand worsen memory availability.

Fortunately, OLED monitors are not in the category of hardware seeing price hikes as a result of the RAM crisis, and unsurprisingly so, since they don't require RAM.

Affordability is key, and Prime Day has opened the door to cheaper OLED monitors. A prime example is the Alienware AW3425DW OLED ultrawide available on Amazon for £589.33 (was £693.70), providing an immersive visual experience for any PC gamer, especially one upgrading from a 16:9 display.

The Alienware AW3425DW OLED ultrawide gaming monitor is an easy choice for any PC gamer looking to level up their visual experience. With an OLED panel and a 240Hz refresh rate, you'll be able to enjoy fantastic image quality with deep black levels and fast, smooth gameplay in motion.View Deal

This model is very similar to my former Alienware AW3424DWF ultrawide, but this AW3425DW model features a faster 240Hz refresh rate instead of 165Hz, and HDMI 2.1 compatibility.

There's so much to enjoy when upgrading from a regular LED display to an OLED, as it completely revitalizes the visual experience when gaming. Scenery that is supposed to be dark will indeed be entirely dark, making games like Resident Evil Requiem even more immersive with its horror.

I've still got my eye on Alienware's 5K2K display, but if you're out for something more affordable, the AW3425DW is the one to opt for.

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

Are Apple's price hikes making you consider a refurb? Expect to pay more for those, too.

• The Vesuvius Challenge is decoding scrolls hit by the 79 AD eruption
• Another scroll has just been partially read by AI
• This is despite the scroll being rolled up and severely burned

Look at the ancient PHerc 1667 scroll, recovered from the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum that was smothered by the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD, and you'd think there wasn't much chance of finding out what was written on it. It's rolled up, burned and blackened, and impossible to open up without destroying most of it.

However, using the latest AI techniques, researchers from the Vesuvius Challenge project (via The Guardian) have now been able to read 20 columns of sealed-off text, describing the stoic philosophy that was much discussed at the time — and how it relates to ethics, art, and human behavior.

Here's how it works: without needing to open up this scroll and others like it, a combination of X-rays and AI algorithms can be used to recognize subtle differences between papyrus fibers locked away in the charred manuscript. That tells researchers where the ink is.

Further AI processing can identify and fill out fragments of lettering, and suggest possibilities for what might be missing. It's then left to human researchers to read through and interpret what the writing actually means — an approach that has seen multiple successes since the Vesuvius Challenge launched in 2023.

Digging into the texts

AI and human researches combine forces to decode the texts (Image credit: Vesuvius Challenge)

Experts think that PHerc 1667 may actually date from two or three centuries before Mount Vesuvius erupted, making it an intriguing look into the ancient past. The same cloud of fire and ash that enveloped Herculaneum also (and more famously) covered Pompeii, though the two towns were preserved in quite different ways.

Researchers working on the project say the scroll is one of many thought to be housed inside a library, and part of a luxury Roman villa. Before now, the scroll has already been broken in half — it now measures just 8 cm (3.15 inches) in length — and part of it has disintegrated from previous attempts to tease it open.

Each new discovery reveals more about the scroll collection as a whole, including how these texts relate to each other and who authored them. An initial analysis suggests this particular scroll may have been written by the Greek philosopher Chrysippus, a prominent member of the stoic school.

"People now know that this can be done and now we're exploring what [the texts] actually mean," one of the research team, computer scientist Professor Brent Seales from the University of Kentucky, told The Guardian. "For me that's the World Cup. I just won the World Cup: that's my victory."

Dell has knocked a massive $680 off its Dell 16 Plus Laptop now $750 (was $1430) as part of its laptop sale. But you'll need to be quick - this limited time deal ends in a few hours (seriously, Dell even has a countdown clock running).

• See all laptop deals at Dell

The 16 Plus is a true mid-range machine aimed at business and creative professionals who need real performance. It's thin, lightweight, and even boasts a full-sized keyboard for effortlessly ploughing through work.

The US configuration ships with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, 16GB LPDDR5X memory, and a 1TB SSD. The 16-inch 2.5K IPS display with ComfortView Plus is a highlight — it's a noticeably more capable screen than you'd typically get at this price. For UK readers, the closest configuration powered by the same chip is the Dell 16 Plus with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for £599 (was £1199).

Today's top laptop deal

The Dell 16 Plus is a mid-range professional-grade laptop powered by a Core Ultra 7 chip, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. If you want smooth workflows, this is the Dell machine I'd recommend for business.

In the UK: now £599 (was £1199)View Deal

In our Dell 16 Plus review, we said: "The Dell 16 Plus offers a solid mid-tier laptop experience throughout. Between great general computing performance for any college student or executive and long-lasting battery life, the base $799 options make a ton of sense. Add a thin and lightweight design, and there’s much to appreciate here."

However, it's worth noting that the webcam and speakers were disappointing, and I'd definitely recommend upgrading them with external options. We've added a few picks to our guide on Prime Day home office deals, like the Obsbot Meet and Anker Powerconf.

Overall, though, this Dell laptop proved to be a a quality Windows machine that's thin, lightweight, and seriously portable. We badged this one with a TechRadar Recommends award.

Also consider: More Dell laptop deals

Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | 16GB LPDDR5X | 1TB SSD

The Dell 14 Plus is a slim, lightweight 14-inch machines with a 2.5K resolution. Several configurations are discounted right now, but if you want a back to school or office laptop, the cheaper of the two is well-specced and well-priced for that.View Deal

Intel Core i7-1355U | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD

For general work and study tasks, the Dell 15 Laptop is a rock-solid workhorse. If you're just looking for a reliable laptop, this is my go-to recommendation. View Deal

• Shop all deals at Dell

Catan is a board game icon for a reason. It takes everything you love about childhood classics and serves them with gameplay that's much more satisfying, properly blending luck and skill. But which version should you play?

With Amazon Prime Day US deals serving up so many different versions of Catan it can feel impossible to choose one, thankfully for you I’ve played them all and I know the answer.

The base game is at a phenomenally good asking price of $29.99 — saving you 45% at Amazon if you’re a Prime member — but there are plenty of alternatives and expansions to consider sticking in your basket too.

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

(Image credit: Future/Matt Thrower)

Of course, the classic base game is the best starting point, especially with the Prime Day deal Amazon has going on right now. The only issue is that the game can have an awkward number of players at exactly three or four, which is why the five-to-six player expansion is an excellent pickup if, like me, you find your game nights are rarely small enough for the base limit.

Alternatively my partner I have loved the two-player Rivals game as it provides a lot of the same strategic rivalry without needing a group over to get a game in.

If you’ve opted for the classic original, you also have the option to enhance it with one of three expansions (which can be expanded further with components for five or six-player games). My favorite is Cities & Knights as it takes core elements in the base game and makes them a little more complex — such as expanding the role of cities, and giving your army of knights an enemy to oppose — without altering the game so much that it feels inaccessible. Explorers & Pirates alters the game board to include islands to be explored (and harvested), as well as pirates to contend with; much like Cities & Knights, it expands the core elements of the base game without making it feel unfamiliar.

Traders & Barbarians includes several smaller changes in one larger package. There are new two-player rules, you can replace dice rolls with event cards, there are new trading mechanics, and the addition of fishing — a mechanic all games need in my opinion.

Lastly, I’ve included three entirely different standalone versions of Catan. New Energies will feel very familiar except there’s now an energy mechanic, with consequences to contend with as you pollute the world (and benefits to be gained by investing in renewables). Dawn of Humankind introduces a much larger map (essentially the whole globe) and encourages true exploration and travel supported by the game’s familiar resource gathering. Meanwhile, On the Road turns the classic into a portable card game with streamlined rules that make it excellent for playing while traveling.

Dawn of Humankind is pricier than we’ve seen in the past, unfortunately, but I love these Catan alternatives so much that I can’t include them.

Prime Day board game sale — top picks

• All of Amazon Prime Day's board game deals
• Catan Board Game (6th Edition) was $54.99 now $29.99

The best Catan games and expansions

CATAN Board Game (6th Edition)

CATAN Catan 5-6 Player Board Game Expansion (6th Edition)

CATAN Rivals 2-player Card Game (Deluxe)

CATAN Explorers & Pirates Board Game Expansion (6th Edition)

CATAN Traders & Barbarians Board Game Expansion (6th Edition)

CATAN Cities & Knights Board Game Expansion (6th Edition)

CATAN Explorers & Pirates 5-6 Player Expansion (6th Edition)

CATAN Traders & Barbarians 5-6 Player Expansion (6th Edition)

CATAN Cities & Knights 5-6 Player Expansion (6th Edition)

CATAN New Energies Board Game

CATAN On The Road Card Game

CATAN Dawn of Humankind Board Game

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Back-to-school tech: 48% off laptops, headphones & tablets
• Cheap TVs: Samsung, Sony & LG from $89.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Smartwatches: up to $250 off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

I think it's safe to say that a large majority of the British public have been struggling to get through their daily lives in this extreme summer weather, but if you're a freak for the heat, well, props to you.

Since it's Amazon Prime Day, everyone has been racing to try and get their hands on the best fans before the online retailer is completely ransacked, but we've just spotted this fan and air conditioner hybrid (it's more of an air cooler) for less than £100, and it's quite a steal if you ask me.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day

One of the few remaining air coolers on Amazon is the Midea 5L 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner, an evaporative air cooler that's now at £89.99 from £93.49. While we haven't had the chance to test it out yet, there's no denying that this is an affordable price point for most people who are searching for the key to cooling their home. But in spite of its undoubtedly handy features, there's something you should know before you add it to your basket.

Today's best Midea 5L Air Cooler deal

This is more than a standard oscillating fan, it uses water to project a cold breeze into a humid room which, given this heat, sounds like a dream on paper. And it's not too expensive either compared to the likes of the premium range of Dyson fans, which are well into the triple figures. View Deal

Price aside, the Midea 3-in-1 fan does come with some functional perks, the main ones being its fan, humidifier, and cooling settings, giving you a variety of options depending on your need.

Its large 5-litre tank is a plentiful, and when it's filled to the top, you can make the most of its air-cooling properties for up to 12 hours each day before refilling, so that way, you're not constantly patrolling back and forth to fill it up. You can also choose from three speeds and two operation modes, normal and natural, to adjust the air flow to your comfort.

Sounds great for its price point right? And it is, but the only caveat is that it adds moisture to your air which, when it gets quite humid in the summer months, can make the air feel even hotter. Therefore, the more moisture added to the air in your home, the more moisture in the air the heat has to work with.

In short, evaporative air coolers like this one will solve your issues in dry heat, but as for humid heat (which it currently is in the UK), the results may not be the same. If this has swayed you in the opposite direction, here's an alternative dehumidifier we've selected below.

We haven't had the chance to test this one out yet, but we've had plenty of hands-on experience with Honeywell's range of other home tech and we've been pleased each time. This model comes with a 3.4-litre water tank and custom humidity controls levels, as well as a smart mode that can automatically adjust dehumidification. And it's not going to make an absolute racket while in use either, it produces sounds up to 44db. View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

AMD has seen its Instinct GPUs continue to get traction in an increasingly competitive marketplace, as it continues to take data center market share from new and existing players and ekes out wins with gaming-centric CPUs in the consumer market.

Its most recent acquisition of MEXT, an AI-centric startup that currently deploys software that allows users to treat NAND flash as DRAM at an operating system level.

AMD says Santa Clara-based MEXT a "pioneer in AI-driven memory optimization technology".

SSD storage to DRAM for data centers?

The idea that MEXT builds on is hardly a new one, but one that it seems to have refined considerably, making it an important acquisition at a time when hyperscalers continue to struggle with limited DRAM availability, even as an even worse SSD crisis looks to be on the horizon.

MEXT's Predictive Memory is essentially a tiering engine that monitors which memory pages applications tend to access, treating regularly accessed sections as "hot" working sets kept in DRAM while offloading "cold" or less frequently accessed sections to SSDs.

This allows for a far lower performance offset than using all of one's flash memory as DRAM, with the latter being an order of magnitude faster for access, even as speed becomes a driving factor for newer chips that are increasingly memory-bound.

There is also an important economic factor at play here: DRAM is nearly 50 times more expensive than the corresponding NAND flash, making cost and scalability key considerations for most data centers looking to avoid an already expensive DRAM market that is slated to only get worse over time.

The move itself is not AMD's first foray into the storage segment, with its consumer-focused StoreMi offering essentially allowing a faster SSD to work as a cache, making up for slower drives on one's system by essentially creating a copy of files that regularly need to be loaded or accessed on the fastest possible storage solution.

Its lesser-known (and since abandoned) Radeon RAMdisk offering allows users to do the exact opposite of what MEXT is offering: creating a very fast virtual disk on existing system memory. even as enthusiasts have replicated the idea on AMD's ultra-fast 3D V-Cache tech.

AMD's purchase makes sense given how deeply embedded its hardware is expected to be in datacenters over the next decade, and one could argue that MEXT's team, which offers expertise in AI infrastructure and memory systems, could be a much more prized acquisition than the underlying technology it offers.

AI and chip talent have become increasingly difficult to lock in, with companies splurging to attract some of the biggest names in both segments, and MEXT's acquisition could help both AMD's short-term and long-term goals in the data center segment.

We now know with more certainty than before that your next iPhone, especially if it's a more affordable model, will probably be more expensive come September.

Allow me to walk you back through my reasoning.

At approximately 8:30AM ET (that's 10:30PM AEST) the RAM crisis reached Apple shores in the form of price hikes across multiple product categories, including MacBooks, Macs, iPads, and HomePods.

It was inevitable and, as Apple told us, the culprit is clear: "The rapid expansion of AI data centers has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage."

It's the component crunch we've seen repeated over and over again. Everything from the latest gaming rigs to storage and memory is getting more expensive.

And it's only going to get worse.

"We are not at the bottom and will take more time to climb out," wrote Creative Strategies Founder and longtime analyst Tim Bajarin when I asked him via email if this marked a tipping point for our RAM crisis travails. It did feel like Apple held off as long as possible, and I think Bajarin concurs, "Apple had no choice," he wrote to me.

No RAM crisis end in sight

Not only does Bajarin see the issue continuing, but he thinks it could drag on for years. As he wrote in his recent Forbes column, with just a few major memory factories already "maxed out" and those under construction years away from coming online, "I see this memory squeeze at the least lasting another two years," he told me via email.

This aligns, by the way, with reports we've seen elsewhere from those who run these memory plants.

"We expect tight conditions to persist beyond calendar 2027 as a result of AI-driven demand across all segments coupled with structural supply constraints," said Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra in a recent earnings report.

We've all been wondering if and when the RAM crisis would affect iPhone prices, and while the fresh price hikes miss out iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods, Apple's comment on why it raised the prices now, makes it clear that they're probablly not done: "We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices on a number of products, including today’s increases for iPad and Mac."

Did you pick up the key phrase? "need to begin raising prices". Apple didn't say, "we've raised the prices," and instead opened the door to further hikes.

Those price increases might come to the full lineups in affected product categories, but I believe that this issue will affect the anticipated iPhone 18 launch in September.

But wait. It gets worse.

An affordability crisis

Bajarin says the price/performance trajectory we've seen for decades (more and faster/better tech for lower prices) is, with this component crisis reversing itself, making it harder to build affordable devices, or rather devices at affordable prices, because one of the key components is exponentially more expensive than ever. We already have some evidence of this with Nothing cancelling its affordable model in response to RAM crisis.

This means that those who usually buy the iPhone Pro, iPhone Pro Max, and iPhone Air might easily absorb higher prices because they can probably already afford them.

It's with base models like the anticipated iPhone 18 where a dramatic increase could push the phone out of reach. This will, by the way, affect Android phones too (see Nothing, above), especially, Bajarin notes, those affordable handsets sold around the world.

You see, they all source their memory from the same handful of suppliers. It's all in shorter supply and more expensive.

In the end, if any of us thought Apple could hold out indefinitely and show the industry a way around this AI-led RAM crisis (the AI boom isn't slowing down, and its demands on energy, water, and memory will probably only increase), they were mistaken. Apple isn't magic, RAM doesn't grow on trees, and we're in for a very rough couple of years.

A look at all the Apple price hikesiPad price changes — US

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

iPad

$349

$449

$100 (29%)

iPad Air 11

$599

$749

$150 (25%)

iPad Air 13

$749

$949

$200 (27%)

iPad Pro 11

$999

$1,199

$200 (20%)

iPad Pro 13

$1,299

$1,499

$200 (15%)

iPad mini

$499

$599

$100 (20%)

iPad price changes — UK

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

iPad

£329

£429

£100 (30%)

iPad Air 11

£599

£749

£150 (25%)

iPad Air 13

£799

£949

£150 (19%)

iPad Pro 11

£999

£1,199

£200 (20%)

iPad Pro 13

£1,299

£1,499

£200 (15%)

iPad mini

£499

£599

£100 (20%)

iPad price changes — AU

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

iPad

AU$599

AU$749

AU$150 (25%)

iPad Air 11

AU$999

AU$1,249

AU$250 (25%)

iPad Air 13

AU$1,299

AU$1,599

AU$300 (23%)

iPad Pro 11

AU$1,699

AU$1,999

AU$300 (18%)

iPad Pro 13

AU$2,199

AU$2,599

AU$400 (18%)

iPad mini

AU$799

AU$949

AU$249 (36%)

Mac price changes — US

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

MacBook Neo

$599

$699

$100 (17%)

MacBook Air 13

$1,099

$1,299

$200 (18%)

MacBook Air 15

$1,299

$1,499

$200 (15%)

MacBook Pro M5

$1,699

$1,999

$300 (18%)

MacBook Pro M5 Pro

$2,199

$2,499

$300 (14%)

MacBook Pro M5 Max

$3,599

$4,099

$500 (14%)

Mac mini*

$599

$799

$200 (33%)

iMac

$1,299

$1,499

$200 (15%)

Mac Studio (M4 Max)

$1,999

$2,499

$500 (25%)

Mac Studio (M3 Ultra)

$3,999

$5,299

$1,300 (33%)

Mac price changes — UK

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

MacBook Neo

£599

£699

£100 (17%)

MacBook Air 13

£1,099

£1,299

£200 (18%)

MacBook Air 15

£1,299

£1,499

£200 (15%)

MacBook Pro M5

£1,699

£1,999

£300 (18%)

MacBook Pro M5 Pro

£2,199

£2,499

£300 (14%)

MacBook Pro M5 Max

£3,599

£4,099

£500 (14%)

Mac mini*

£699

£799

£100 (14%)

iMac

£1,299

£1,499

£200 (15%)

Mac Studio (M4 Max)

£1,999

£2,499

£500 (25%)

Mac Studio (M3 Ultra)

£3,999

£5,299

£1,300 (33%)

Mac price changes — AU

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

MacBook Neo

AU$899

AU$1,049

AU$150 (17%)

MacBook Air 13

AU$1,799

AU$2,099

AU$300 (17%)

MacBook Air 15

AU$2,199

AU$2,499

AU$300 (14%)

MacBook Pro M5

AU$2,699

AU$3,199

AU$500 (19%)

MacBook Pro M5 Pro

AU$3,499

AU$3,999

AU$500 (14%)

MacBook Pro M5 Max

AU$5,799

AU$6,399

AU$600 (11%)

Mac mini*

AU$999

AU$1,299

AU$300 (30%)

iMac

AU$1,999

AU$2,399

AU$400 (20%)

Mac Studio (M4 Max)

AU$3,499

AU$4,299

AU$800 (23%)

Mac Studio (M3 Ultra)

AU$6,999

AU$9,099

AU$2,100 (30%)

Other price changes — US

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

HomePod mini

$99

$129

$30 (30%)

HomePod

$299

$349

$50 (17%)

Apple TV 4K

$129

$199

$70 (54%)

Vision Pro

$3,499

$3,699

$200 (6%)

Other price changes — UK

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

HomePod mini

£99

£129

£30 (30%)

HomePod

£299

£349

£50 (17%)

Apple TV 4K

£149

£199

£50 (34%)

Vision Pro

£3,199

£3,499

£300 (9%)

Other price changes — AU

Device

Old price

New price

Increase

HomePod mini

AU$149

AU$199

AU$50 (34%)

HomePod

AU$479

AU$549

AU$70 (15%)

Apple TV 4K

AU$219

AU$299

AU$80 (37%)

Vision Pro

AU$5,999

AU$6,299

AU$300 (5%)

Google settled YouTube claims brought by a Florida teen, leaving Meta, TikTok, and Snap to face a July trial over social media addiction.

The post YouTube Exits Teen Addiction Lawsuit as Meta, TikTok, Snapchat Head to Trial appeared first on TechRepublic.

• ExtraHop’s Global Threat Landscape Report shows 49% of ransomware victims only detected attacks after data theft, up from 31% last year
• Average dwell time before detection is 2.5 weeks; attackers exploit encrypted channels, valid accounts, and alert fatigue to evade defenses
• Ransom payments fell from $3.6M to $2.8M, but payment frequency rose sharply, with 83% of surveyed victims paying in 2026 vs. 70% in 2025

Criminals are getting better at hiding within their victims’ infrastructure, lurking and stealing files without triggering any alarms whatsoever.

Earlier today, network detection and response experts ExtraHop released the “Global Threat Landscape Report”, based on a survey of more than 1,800 IT and security leaders worldwide. In it, it is said that roughly half (49%) of organizations that were struck by ransomware did not detect the threat until after the data was stolen.

This is up from 31% a year ago, ExtraHop stressed, showing the improvement criminals made within just 12 months.

Several factors

On average, cybercriminals have 2.5 weeks of quiet time before being spotted in ransomware incidents, the report stated. Furthermore, 14% of victims were unaware of an attack until receiving a ransom demand, which is also up from 6% a year ago.

“Prolonged dwell times often parallel a highly complex threat environment where critical alerts are obscured,” ExtraHop said in a press release shared with TechRadar Pro. The researchers uncovered several factors that led to delays in investigating critical alerts, including attackers using encrypted channels (41%), attacker activity mirroring legitimate workflows and processes (38%), using valid, high-privilege account permissions (34%), and alert fatigue (30%). Undermined baseline behavior also enabled anomalous actions to fly under the radar (27%).

The good news is that the average ransom payment dropped year-on-year, from $3.6 million down to $2.8 million. However, the bad news is that the payment frequency spiked. While in 2025 70% of respondents paid a ransom, this year 83% have done the same, at least among ExtraHop’s respondents.

When Chainalysis ran a similar survey recently, it said that in 2025 the number of successful ransomware attacks grew, while the number of payments remained relatively flat, meaning that in absolute numbers - there were fewer companies paying ransomware attackers.

Been on the lookout over Prime Day for some 4K Blu-ray deals? I've been searching through them and have picked offers on discs I've tested as part of our Blu-ray Bounty feature, so I know these discs are worth your time.

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Amazon Prime Day can be a great time for 4K Blu-ray sales and this time is no different. Some highlight discs I've found include Sinners, which is both a picture and audio showcase, especially for Dolby Atmos. There's also Se7en, a fantastic-looking movie with plenty of richly detailed scenes that show off 4K's clarity, which look great on the best OLED TVs.

Sunset Boulevard looks excellent on 4K and shows what new life it can bring to older movies. My final highlight here is F1. If you're looking for a disc to show off your sound system, be that one of the best soundbars or a full surround setup, this is an awesome disc.

Prime Day deals for 6 4K Blu-rays I've tested - US

WARNER BROS Sinners 4K Blu-ray

WARNER BROS Seven 4K Blu-ray

Paramount Sunset Boulevard 4K Blu-ray

WARNER BROS F1: The Movie 4K Blu-ray

Paramount Minority Report 4K Blu-ray

UNIVERSAL Wicked 4K Blu-ray

Prime Day deals for 6 4K Blu-rays I've tested - UK

Warner Bros Sinners 4K Blu-ray

Warner Bros Seven 4K Blu-ray (Steelbook)

Paramount Home Entertainment Sunset Boulevard 4K Blu-ray

Warner Bros F1: The Movie 4K Blu-ray

20th Century Pictures Minority Report 4K Blu-ray

Walt Disney Tombstone 4K Blu-ray

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Back-to-school tech: 48% off laptops, headphones & tablets
• Cheap TVs: Samsung, Sony & LG from $89.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Smartwatches: up to $250 off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Fans: from £20
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura