Technology

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 23.

Toy Story 5 only hit theaters three days ago, but ahead of Amazon's Prime Day and thanks to Walmart Deals — yes, a very to-the-point name — you can already save on some of the most exciting toys launched alongside the film.

Yes, Toy Story 5 might be all about toys versus tech, but Mattel's Interactables are some of the most exciting figures around because they can talk to each other. While these are "playscale" rather than movie-scale and a bit less tech-heavy, these versions of Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie still delight.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Even better, they're a record 54% off, bringing each figure down to just $10. That's right: you can get a movie-accurate, play-sized Jessie, Woody, or Buzz Lightyear for only $10 — a deal that's definitely headed to infinity and beyond.

Each figure can speak on its own, but when you bring them near one another, some clever under-the-hood tech lets them interact, cycling through more than 10 phrases together. If you've got a friend in these toys already, now's a pretty good time to add another one to the collection.

Today's best Toy Story 5 figure deals

Scoring a Toy Story 5 figure for $10 is a pretty incredible feat, and if you're a Walmart+ member, you'll score free, fast shipping as well. Both Woody and Jessie come with their iconic hats, and you'll notice that Jessie sports a sheriff badge while Woody doesn't, making these figures accurate to their appearances in Toy Story 5.

Jessie stands 8.8 inches tall, Woody measures 9.2 inches, and Buzz Lightyear comes in at 7 inches tall. The entire Interactables PlayScale line from Mattel is designed around this scale, meaning that if you pick up one of these figures — or all three — and add Forky or Lilypad down the line, they'll fit right in. Better yet, they're also designed to work with Mattel's other PlayScale figures.

Either way, whether you're shopping for a kid who just saw Toy Story 5 in theaters or looking to upgrade your own collection — because we're all young at heart, and we won't judge — Walmart is serving up a practically perfect deal here. It's a straight-out-of-Star-Command bargain to score a new Mattel figure for a record 54% off, and you can check out our behind-the-scenes tour at Mattel to see how these figures came to life.

Now for some minor spoilers. If you haven't seen Toy Story 5 yet, consider this your warning.

(Image credit: Mattel)

Friendly reminder: a minor spoiler lies ahead.

Alright, if you've scrolled this far, you've probably already seen Toy Story 5 and know about the arrival of a new Buzz Lightyear. If you're anything like me, you've likely been waiting to see a toy version of that upgraded Space Ranger.

I'm talking about the new Hi-Tech Buzz Lightyear, which gets an upgrade that finally lets the iconic toy take flight. Mattel is already serving up its own version, set to ship later in 2026 — specifically around August — that's designed to be safe for both kids and the young at heart.

Yes, Mattel has unveiled the Toy Story 5 Flying RC Hi-Tech Edition Buzz Lightyear, an enhanced version of the iconic character from›› the film. Rather than wings that pop out and somehow generate flight, this version deploys four propellers protected by safety guards, making it much more suitable for younger fans.

Designed for kids ages 8 and up, the Toy Story 5 Flying RC Hi-Tech Edition Buzz Lightyear comes with a controller that makes takeoff and landing easy with the press of a button. It's also intended for indoor use, and I'm certainly looking forward to going hands-on with it later this year.

If you're already sold, Walmart is taking preorders for the Toy Story 5 Flying RC Hi-Tech Edition Buzz Lightyear right now at $75.57 with an estimated delivery date of August 20, 2026.

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

• Hackers reportedly breached Russia's Glaz/Groza combat control platform
• Attackers gained access to manuals, patents, and training materials
• Telegram groups reportedly handled software updates and user support

Ukrainian hackers have reportedly breached the Russian Glaz/Groza combat control system, gaining access to data and internal materials linked to the platform.

The incident has drawn attention because Groza is used to coordinate reconnaissance, targeting, and battlefield communications between different military units.

Information released following the breach suggests that attackers obtained technical documentation, training resources, and other operational records connected to the system.

Telegram-based administration raises security questions

According to the “Where is Russia today” community, the compromised materials included instructions, patents, videos, and extensive user documentation.

Groza serves as one of Russia’s command-and-control applications, helping connect drone operators, field commanders, and artillery units during military operations.

The software is designed to shorten the period between identifying a potential target and directing fire against it.

The hack revealed that support and software distribution functions were reportedly managed through Telegram groups used by administrators and military personnel.

Those channels were allegedly responsible for providing application updates and assisting users with operational issues.

The reported reliance on Telegram for elements of administration has prompted scrutiny because combat management systems typically handle sensitive battlefield information.

Maps integrated into the platform enable personnel to record the locations of friendly and opposing forces, helping users maintain operational awareness.

Following the breach, attackers reportedly altered portions of the mapping data and inserted images of the Ukrainian flag alongside other messages.

Reports from the group behind the disclosure indicated that affected users encountered persistent disruptions while attempting to access or restore application functionality.

“Numerous complaints from users about the breach have been recorded: they cannot connect to the application, are unable to remove images that keep reappearing, and administrators are trying to fix the problem,” the group stated.

Internal documents and training materials reportedly exposed

Beyond the visible disruptions, the breach reportedly exposed a substantial collection of supporting materials related to the combat management platform.

The Ukrainian hackers discovered hundreds of pages of user guides explaining the operation of the application and its various functions.

The disclosed information also included a training video that allegedly demonstrated the system operating in real time.

A patent connected to Groza was reportedly among the recovered materials, providing details regarding how the system functions and interacts with other technologies.

The patent documentation is said to contain information concerning the platform’s architecture, intended users, and integration with related military systems.

Such materials could potentially offer insight into the broader structure supporting the software environment.

The operational impact of the breach has not been independently verified, and the extent of any resulting disruption remains uncertain based on currently available information.

Via Militarnyi

Amazon Prime Day is upon us, and headphones will fly out of Amazon warehouses like the best brownies at the bake sale — and if the best models sell out, the deals-hungry public will flock to competing retailers.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon

But I want you to be first in line when the deals land, and that means knowing how to sort the wheat from the chaff. Stick with me, and you'll never be led astray to an unknown (but very lavishly packaged) set of cans that turn out to be 2019-launched duds still toting Bluetooth 4.1 and with no app to speak of.

Look, I'm being harsh here because I want you to have the good products. The ones I'm listing here are, in fact, the best. And because Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest sales events in the tech calendar, some discounts are likely (not certain, you understand… but likely).

What follows are my top three noise-canceling headphones for iPhone, Android, and audiophiles, along with my advice on pricing. Know this now and bookmark the product page for the day(s) ahead. You got this!

Not looking for noise-nixing cans? That's OK — see TechRadar's early Prime Day roundup for the best deals across tech.

1. The bubble-of-silence cans for iPhone users

(Image credit: Future)

You may not want to hear this, because believe me, I know that the second-generation Apple over-ears launched in March 2026, devoid of any huge redesign we might have hoped for.

Here's the thing: you won't care once they're on. That is because the ANC is so much better this time around. I know because I reviewed them for TechRadar, and their noise-nixing performance is jaw-droppingly, head-shakingly, 'No you must have lowered your voice, come on' good. Really.

Also excellent is the new Conversation Awareness feature, which picks up your voice to lower all other sounds and enable an important chat much faster than in competing options I've tested.

Why are they so good? It's their new H2 chip and its computational wizardry. They're also punchier sonically, and the extra perks (Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, Head Gesture control, and the Camera Remote feature, in short) work seamlessly and with minimal button-pushing to get you there.

Provided you've got an iPhone 15 Pro or newer (ie. something that supports Apple Intelligence) these features are unbeatable. These are the headphones I reach for daily. And it's not even close.

Launch price: $549 / £499 (March 2026)

Prices to look for on Prime Day:
US: $399 is already live!
UK: as above, look for 10% savings (or £449) over Prime Day

These are the new new March 2026 edition, with the H2 chip and all of the upticks in performance that brings. And though many might have predicted an Apple-style $50 saving (yawn), this $150-off steal is crazy! Nobody had this on their bingo card for Prime Day. Let me be abundantly clear: the noise cancellation here is absolutely fantastic — and I know, because I reviewed them… View Deal

2. The cocoon-of-quiet set for Android owners (that's also device agnostic)

(Image credit: Future)

And now for something slightly cheaper, and slightly older — although a September 2025 launch date still makes them thoroughly relevant and modern, even in the fast-moving worlds of Bluetooth audio and wireless headphones.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are my second-most-reached-for cans when I need to block out the world. I pick them up whenever I want to listen in ‘cinema’ mode (within the ‘Immersive’ audio offering), but my source material is from Tidal, say, because unlike Apple's AirPods, these headphones will give you top-tier head-tracked dynamic content irrespective of the source device or streaming platform.

And while you'll also get Lossless from the AirPods Max 2 above, being able to hard-wire the QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) headphones to a source of music in order to enjoy truly hi-res audio quality isn't to be sniffed at either — oh, and you get aptX Adaptive for better quality over Bluetooth, too, which we loved in our full review of the Bose QCU Headphones (2nd Gen).

OK, the option below this product (and the one above it, though that's a far closer call) will give you slightly more detail and a more faithful neutrality in your music. But for noise cancellation at this price, these Bose headphones still cannot be beaten nine months after their release. Bose basically wrote the book on ANC back in the 1970s, and the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are more than worthy of their history.

Launch price: $449 / £449 / AU$699 (September 2025)

Prices to look for on Prime Day:
US: their lowest ever price of $379 has just been seen
UK: £399 is the lowest-seen deal in the UK (but keep your eyes peeled!)

This is the new record-low price for the latest Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at Amazon, so one to consider snapping up even before Prime Day is here. We awarded them the full five stars in our review, thanks to the brilliant noise cancellation, excellent audio quality, and extremely comfortable design. We had nothing more to say except that they are the 'best active noise-canceling cans for the money.'View Deal

Providing yet more proof (as if any were needed) that Bose is the king of ANC, this improved set of QC Ultra headphones ticks virtually every box imaginable. Impressive noise-nixing capabilities, hi-res audio support over USB, solid battery life, and an energetic and engaging sound. Our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) review is the place to go for the full scoop, but know this: this is a return to their lowest-seen price. View Deal

3. The isolation chamber for picky audiophiles

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Want class-leading sound as well as near-class-leading ANC? You've really got to give the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 your complete and undivided attention, as we said in our five-star Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review.

When I want a wireless listen that's as close to a wired listen as I've ever heard, with very good noise-cancellation performance to boot, I go for these. Also, these are by far the best-looking headphones I've ever worn. They're a classy, timeless set of over-ears and no mistake — but on this, they also launched in September 2025, like the Bose option above.

The B&W are the priciest set of headphones within what is hardly a bargain bucket roundup, I grant you — but again, I have ruthlessly selected my favorite headphones for this missive. They are the only sets of cans I'd advise splurging on this Prime Day, because I can personally vouch for their talents.

Honestly, you do tend to get what you pay for in audio — and here you're getting aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless compatibility, with the option for wired USB-C listening as well. However you choose to listen, I could wax lyrical on the sound quality for days. Just be careful when wearing them on public transport, because I've missed my stop more times than I'd care to admit while wearing these headphones.

Launch price: $799 / £629 (September 2025)

Price to look for on Prime Day:
US: Anything less that $749 (or 6% off) would make for a new lowest-seen price
UK: Anything under £629 would be a new lowest-seen fee (so stay tuned!)

The latest model in Fujifilm's long-running series of budget instant cameras might've only launched earlier this year, but I've just spotted the Instax Mini 12 at Amazon US for $79.95 (was $93.95), which is a record-low price ahead of Amazon Prime Day.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

It hasn't been discounted that low since last year, making this the first opportunity anyone who's had the best instant camera on their wish list to bag a bargain. That's great timing if you ask me, because the Instax Mini 12 is a great camera for the summer. In the UK, there's another record-low deal on the same Instax Mini 12 camera for £69.99 (was £79.99).

From capturing holiday moments to being passed around at weddings, this is the perfect time of year to own an instant camera. The Instax Mini 12 produces great-looking prints, and is extremely easy to use — what's more to like?

Today's best Instax Mini 12 deals

Instax Mini 12: was $93.95 now $79.95 at Amazon
Snag a record-low price for the best instant camera around at Amazon. It's comfortable to hold and capable of producing attractive prints at a reasonable price. This is a limited-time deal, though, so I wouldn't wait for stocks to run out, as I expect this will be a popular deal throughout Prime Day. View Deal

Instax Mini 12: was £79.99 now £69.99 at Amazon
Don't miss grabbing a record-low price for what we rated as the best instant camera around. It was almost a year ago that prices hit this low, making this the perfect time to snap up the Instax Mini 12. With Prime Day running through to June 26, I'm not sure stocks will last for this, so be quick. View Deal

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: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

It's a tale as old as tech time: a new flagship device appears on the scene, which means the device it's replacing gets a price drop, and potentially offers better value for money for the discerning gadget buyer.

For this guide, we're going to be looking specifically at the Oura Ring 4 (which launched in 2024) and the Oura Ring 5 (launched in 2026). The Oura Ring 4 is likely to see some great Amazon Prime Day deals, but should you go all in on the latest and most expensive model? Or is the older model the better investment when bought at a discount?

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

There's no doubt that both models qualify as two of the best smart rings on the market right now, but which one is right for you depends on your budget and what your priorities are. Here's how they compare.

Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: pricing

The (Image credit: Oura)

While pricing varies as special offers come and go, the Oura Ring 5 launched for a starting price of $399 / £399 / AU$649, with some finishes costing extra at $499 / £499 / AU$799 – that's a little more expensive than the original Oura Ring 4 (note that the prices for Australia are for third-party resellers, not from Oura directly).

There's an upgraded charging case available for $99 / £99 / AU$159 for the Oura Ring 5, and then there's the monthly subscription: $5.99 / £5.99 / AU$9.99 a month or $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$109.99 a year. While a subscription isn't technically necessary to use an Oura Ring, you do need one to access the bulk of its features.

So what about Oura Ring 4 price drops? At the time of writing, the starting price is $349 / £349 if you go through the official channels, and we're seeing some good deals on the Oura Ring 4 already, which you can find below. Given that it's an older model, you're much more likely to see discounts on this smart ring on both the Oura shop and third-party retailers like Amazon.

Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: specs and features

The Oura Ring 4 launched in 2024 (Image credit: Oura)

What you need to know first is that the Oura Ring 5 is notably slimmer than the Oura Ring 4: for the most affordable finishes, it's 6.09 mm (0.24 inches) wide and 2.28 mm (0.09 inches) thick, down from 7.9 mm (0.31 inches) and 2.8 mm (0.11 inches), which is a reduction of about 40%.

That can make a difference when it comes to comfort and day-to-day wear. The new model is lighter too, with those reduced dimensions, weighing 2 grams rather than 3.3 grams. Both models are available in a variety of ring sizes to fit your finger, though the Oura Ring 5 introduces a new sizing scheme that doesn't match its predecessor.

The new, slimmer Oura Ring 5 (Image credit: Oura)

The Oura Ring 5 is also more scratch resistant, while both models offer the same level of waterproofing (down to a depth of 100 meters). Battery life has been improved on the new model too, with the official estimates standing at 5-8 days for the Oura Ring 4, and 6-9 days for the Oura Ring 5.

As for sensors and health tracking features, this is where the rings are mostly tied. Oura says the fifth-generation model is more accurate because of a change in the sensor layout, but the core sensor tech is the same between the two models, and the software experience through the app is the same for tracking steps, activity, heart rate, and more.

Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: Verdict

The Oura Ring 4 is still an excellent smart ring (Image credit: Oura)

There's clearly a lot that's new and improved in the Oura Ring 5: it's slimmer and lighter, and offers better battery life. Oura says it's also more accurate, though that's not something we've finished testing ourselves just yet. That said, the tracking capabilities, sensors, and app features are more or less identical between the models.

Where the Oura Ring 4 really has the potential to outdo the newer model is in terms of pricing. As time goes on, you're likely to see bigger and bigger discounts on the fourth-generation model — and don't forget that we awarded it our Health & Fitness Device of the Year award for 2025. It's a seriously impressive bit of kit, and if the right discount comes along during Amazon Prime Day, it'll certainly be a better-value package than the Ring 5.

Regardless, you'll need to weigh up what's most important to you for your next smart ring, and how much you're prepared to spend to get it. Both of these premium smart rings from Oura will give you years of use — so we might be talking about the Oura Ring 6 before you need to think about upgrading again.

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: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

If you're looking for the most powerful mini PC you can get under $500, I've found it - after a lot of searching ahead of Prime Day, it turns out the real deal is over at Newegg, where the Brenuc Bren7P mini PC is down to $499 (was $599) right now.

This compact desktop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS — a high-performance 8-core, 16-thread Zen 4 chip with a 5.1GHz boost clock that sits comfortably at the top of the mini PC performance tier. Paired with DDR5 memory, a PCIe 4.0 SSD, and dual 2.5G Ethernet, this is a machine that genuinely earns the “powerful” label without needing a large chassis to do it.

The AMD Radeon 780M is the upgrade that really caught my eye. For video editors using hardware acceleration in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere, photographers using GPU-accelerated processing in Lightroom, or developers running GPU-compute workloads, the difference is immediately tangible. It also handles a broader range of gaming titles than Intel’s integrated graphics at playable frame rates.

Today's top mini PC deal

For the price, this is the most powerful mini PC - or PC of any size - you can get for less than $500. And that's because it's packing the high-performance Ryzen 7 7840HS, 16GB DDR5, 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and AMD’s Radeon 780M GPU. That makes a real difference for anything visually demanding, from photo and video editing to light gaming. You can even upgrade to 64GB RAM and dual M.2 NVMe storage.View Deal

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS is the real engine here. It’s a Zen 4 processor built on TSMC’s 4nm process — the same generation as the chips AMD put in its premium gaming handhelds — and it consistently benchmarks among the strongest mobile CPUs in the 15W–54W power envelope. Eight performance cores with simultaneous multithreading and a 5.1 GHz boost clock mean this chip handles sustained multi-threaded workloads like video transcoding, compiling, data processing, and running virtual machines without throttling, as lower-TDP mobile chips often do in compact chassis.

The dual 2.5G Ethernet ports are a standout feature in this category. Most mini PCs at this price ship with a single 1G port; dual 2.5G gives you 2.5 times the bandwidth per port and the ability to connect to two separate networks simultaneously. For home office users who keep work and personal networks separate, IT professionals who need multiple network interfaces, or anyone running a network-attached storage server or a home lab, this is a genuinely practical inclusion you’d typically pay more for.

USB 4.0 at 40 Gbps on the rear I/O is another connectivity highlight. At full bandwidth, it’s four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 2, and it supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, Power Delivery, and Thunderbolt 3-compatible devices. In practice, you can connect an external SSD and transfer a 4K video library in a fraction of the time it would take over USB 3.2, or connect a high-res display and still have bandwidth left over for data.

The triple 4K display capability (HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, USB-C) mirrors what the KAMRUI H2 offers, and the dual M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4 slots support up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and as much storage as you want. The tool-free interior access — four base screws and a pull tab — makes upgrades straightforward without needing specialist equipment.

Right now, the Brenuc Bren7P is the most well-rounded mini PC you can currently find under $500 — and the Radeon 780M is what tips it over the line. Check out more options in our guide to the best mini PCs.

• See all mini PCs at Newegg

The production studio is receiving $75 million to produce AI tools for its filmmakers -- and for the search giant's AI ecosystem.

Well, the Steam Machine's price has been announced, and at $1,049 for the base 512GB model, it's safe to say that any hopes people had that Valve would pull another Steam Deck and heavily subsidise the Steam Machine to make it more affordable have been dashed.

While the price of the Steam Machine isn't outrageous considering the PC gaming market, especially at the moment with component prices being so high, it's certainly not cheap, and the specs make me worried that it's both over priced and under powered.

If you're in the same boat, the good news is that it's pretty easy (dare I say, even fun) to build your own compact gaming PC that offers far more performance for your money. And, with Amazon Prime Day pretty much in full swing, despite it officially starting on Tuesday, it could even be quite a bit cheaper than the Steam Machine, which won't be getting any price cuts, since it's only been officially launched.

• Shop Amazon's full early Prime Day sale

I've been building my own PCs for decades now, including small console-like gaming PCs, and it's always fun and rewarding. Small form factor PCs offer a particular challenge, as you need to find components that fit inside a small chassis, ensure there's plenty of airflow even in small spaces, and installing the components can be tricky due to the cramped insides.

But, as I said it's a lot of fun. I've picked out some components below that you can put together to make your own Steam Machine. You don't need to buy an operating system, either, as you can download and install SteamOS for free.

The components I've picked below are all compatible with each other, and total $1,295.23. Now, that's more expensive than the base model of the Steam Machine, but you get twice the storage space (1TB) and faster RAM. You're also getting a discrete GPU, the Asus Dual Nvidia Geforce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 White OC Edition, which will outperform the integrated AMD RDNA 3 Navi GPU in the Steam Machine.

If you want to keep the price down, you could skip the graphics card, and rely on the integrated graphics of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X chip. This reduces the overall cost to $940.84, well below the cost of the Steam Machine, though gaming performance will take a big hit.

I recommend buying a dedicated GPU for best performance, but the beauty of building your own PC is that you can always buy that later, though with Prime Day sales currently running, now might be the best time to buy all the components now.

Prime Day sale – quick links

• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199

Build your own Steam Machine

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor

Thermalright AXP90 X47 Black Low Profile CPU Cooler

ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi

Cooler Master NR200 Mini-ITX PC Case

Corsair SF750 (2024) Fully Modular 80 Plus Platinum Power Supply

CORSAIR Vengeance DDR5 RAM 16GB (2x8GB)

Western Digital 500GB WD Green SN3000

ASUS Dual Nvidia Geforce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7 White OC Edition

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 Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £21.99
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• TVs: from £129.99

I love my Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, especially when using it with some smart glasses like my RayNeo Air 4 Pros. However, I know that the setup I have could be better.

So this Amazon Prime Day, I’m looking to enhance my PC handheld gaming experience with a bunch of accessories, including a dock, a super-fast portable charger, and a case to keep it safe. These are the pieces I’m looking to buy, and I can’t wait to see how they upgrade my ROG Xbox Ally X's gaming experience.

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Prime Day sale – quick links

• Shop Amazon's Xbox Prime Day deals
• Check out Amazon's Asus tech deals for Prime Day

The ultimate Asus ROG Xbox Ally setup

ASUS ROG Xbox Ally with Gsf 3-In-1 Kit (16GB | 512GB SSD)

ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X (24GB | 1Tb SSD)

RayNeo Air 4 Pro glasses

UGREEN Nexode portable power bank (20000mAh 130W)

JSAUX carrying case

Amfilm 3 pack screen protector

GameSir G7 Pro wired controller

JSAUX docking station

Anker 100W laptop charger

More Amazon 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

This week isn't all about Amazon Prime Day. As in years past, Walmart has launched a rival sale a full day before Prime Day. That means you can shop bargains right now that beat Prime Day prices, from brands like Apple, Ninja, Samsung, Dyson, and more.

• Shop Walmart's full rival Prime Day sale

As TechRadar's deals editor, I've handpicked the 24 best offers from Walmart's rival sale, aptly named 'Walmart Deals'. The retailer launched its week-long sale today, with exclusive offers for Walmart Plus members and deals available to everyone. You can find record-low prices on everything from TVs, AirPods, and laptops to robot vacuums, air fryers, summer essentials, and more.

If you aren't already a Walmart Plus member and see an exclusive discount that you want to buy today, I have some good news. The retailer is currently offering an incredible 50% discount on its annual Walmart Plus membership, bringing the price down from $99 to $49 - an outstanding value for unlimited grocery deliveries and free shipping.

Walmart's 2026 anti-Prime Day sale - quick links

• 4th of July: decor, party supplies & clothing from $1.99
• Apple: AirPods, iPads & Apple Watch from $99
• Clothing: 40% off sweaters, jeans, & shoes
• Grills: best-selling grills & accessories from $18
• Furniture: couches, beds & chairs starting at $49
• Gaming: PS5, Switch & Xbox games from $14
• Headphones: Sony and Apple from $29
• Home: coffee makers & air fryers from $35
• Laptops: up to $550 off
• Patio & outdoors: 40% furniture, outdoor tools, plants & more
• Toys: up to 40% off Lego, Star Wars & Barbie
• TVs: smart 4K TVs from $148
• Vacuums: robot vacuums from $99

Walmart's best outdoor deals

KOTTO Kotto 100 Ft Flexible Garden Hose

Blackstone Blackstone Adventure Ready Outdoor Griddle

Sportspower Sportspower Big Wave II Inflatable Water Slide With Climbing Wall & Splash Pool,

Walmart's best home & kitchen deals

Ninja Ninja Slushi 72-Oz Frozen Drink Machine With Rapidchill Technology

SIMZLIFE Simzlife Nugget Ice Maker Countertop

Cuisinart Cuisinart Multiclad Pro 12-Piece Cookware Set

Keurig Keurig K-Express Essentials Plus, Iced and Hot Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker

Ninja Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer 4-QT

Ninja Ninja Foodi Air Fryer 8-QT, Dualzone Flexbasket

Walmart's best vacuum deals

BISSELL Bissell Powerforce Pet XL Upright Deep Cleaner

Dyson Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum

Roborock Roborock Qrevo Series Robot Vacuum and Mop

Walmart's best Apple deals

Apple Apple Airpods 4

Apple AirPods Max 2

Apple Apple 11-inch iPad A16

Walmart's best laptop & tablet deals

Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ Widescreen Tablet

Acer Acer Chromebook 315 15.6-inch Laptop

MSI MSI Thin 15 15.6-inch Full HD Gaming Laptop

Walmart's best TV deals

onn Onn 32-inch 720P HD Smart TV

VIZIO Vizio 43-inch 4K Led Hdr Smart TV

VIZIO Vizio 50-inch Mini LED Quantum 4K QLED HDR Smart TV

Hisense Hisense 65-inch 4K UHD Roku Smart TV

Samsung Samsung 75-inch Class Crystal UHD U7900F 4K Smart TV 2025

Samsung Samsung 85-inch Class M70HB Series Mini Led 4K Smart Tizen Tv 2026

I've got a special love for the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2), as I've said elsewhere on this site. It's the watch I used to train for and eventually run the London Marathon, and I'd recommend it to every hobbyist runner out there. It's now cheaper than it's ever been, and considering the amount of features it's got, I'd recommend buying it even though it's not Amazon Prime Day yet.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

However, the deal's not even on Amazon: it's actually at jewelry retailer H Samuel, which has been selling the now-discontinued running favorite for so long that I was sure it would have run out of stock by now. However, the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) is now on sale for £299.99 at H Samuel (was £349.99, formerly £739.99).

This offshoot of Garmin's ultra-powerful Fenix line is now less than the price of a Garmin Forerunner 170 Music, an Apple Watch Series 11, or a Google Pixel Watch 4. Check out the deal in full below.

Today's best Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) deal in the UK

An incredible, better-than-half-price deal on an incredible watch. I gave the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) 4.5 stars in my review, and at under £300, I'd buy this over a similarly-priced Forerunner watch in a heartbeat.View Deal

Don't let its age fool you: its up-to-date parts sport accurate metrics. Even though it will now receive only security updates and bug fixes rather than new features, its hardware is rock-solid. It packs Garmin's most powerful heart rate sensor, the Elevate V5, which is also used on the current-gen Fenix 8.

It's great for skiing and golfing, with thousands of preloaded route maps. I actually used its mapping software during marathon training, as I created a street map of my London route in the Garmin Connect app, loaded it onto my watch, and it guided me turn by turn around a 20-mile route. If I went off-course, it rerouted me.

All this with fantastic battery life, health tracking, and a rugged, adventure-proof exterior. It's even got Garmin's LED torch in its casing.

It's definitely the best-value Garmin right now: I'd get it now rather than wait for it to sell out. However, you might not be looking for a large, rugged watch: you might be after something slimmer, like a Fitbit or an Apple Watch. In which case, I have another deal I can recommend: the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is now £149.99 (was £209.99) at Amazon, the lowest price ever.

A lowest-ever price on the Garmin Vivoactive 5 means there's never been a better time to snap this up. Garmin's comprehensive and (still mostly free) app has served me well for years, while the Vivoactive 5 at this price is an easly swallow for Fitbit users used to cheaper devices. View Deal

More Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) dealsMore Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £21.99
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• TVs: from £129.99

Amazon Prime Day is imminent, but Argos has beaten Amazon to the punch with its catchily named 'Seize the sale' event, which includes offers on home tech, toys, garden essentials for the summer weather, and more. You can view the full Argos sale here.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK

I have to say that Argos' sale is pretty light on tech deals, and sadly isn't even heavy on cooling options. However, there are a few nice deals in there, including the LG C5 55-inch OLED TV for a record-low £989 (down from £1,099) with free delivery, and the five-star Philips Baristina bean-to-cup coffee machine for a bargain £255 (down from £299), plus a Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan for £289 (down from £399).

Argos 'Seize the sale' Quick Links

• See all Appliance deals
• See all Garden & DIY deals
• See all Health & Beauty deals
• See all Tech deals
• See all Toys & Games deals

My top 12 Argos 'Seize the sale' deals

We're not really focusing on the 'Hot' part of this right now, but it makes it a useful device for all seasons. This Dyson fan can blast you with air to help beat the heatwave, or create heat waves of its own when winter rolls back around. I have a Dyson Hot + Cool in my bedroom, and it's really useful to have one device that does it all well.View Deal

Save an extra 40% with code: ELEC40
This has an initial discount bringing it from £95 to £69, then you can apply a 40% code at the checkout to unlock the bigger discount. It's a slick, narrow pod coffee machine that's great for smaller kitchens.View Deal

Save an extra 10% with code: ELEC10
TechRadar Homes Editor Cat Ellis is absolutely obsessed with the Baristina, giving it five stars in our full Philips Baristina review. Part of that was because of its bargain price, and now you can get it even cheaper.View Deal

Save an extra 10% with code: ELEC10
This is down to £129 anyway, and then you get the extra 10% off using the above code at the checkout. This is one of our favourite air fryers, and while it's fallen to £99 in the past, it's a really good price for something so versatile, with dual drawers for cooking at different temperatures.View Deal

Save 30% with code: ELEC30
A no-nonsense vacuum available for this low price by using the above code at checkout. It's got different speeds for carpet and hard floors, a battery so you can grab and go, and a good size of dust bin.View Deal

Save 50% with code: ELEC50
This cordless vac looks like a real bargain if you use this code at checkout — it's got a 'FlexiClean' handle so it can bend for easy cleaning under furniture, anti-hair-wrap rollers (a godsend), and up to 45 mins of battery power.View Deal

Save 50% with code: ELEC50
Grab this adaptive shaver for half price, by using the code above at the checkout stage. It comes with travel accessories, and charges over USB for extra convenience.View Deal

Free delivery, and save 10% with code: TCLTV10
This is arguably the best bang-for-buck TV available today, delivering high-quality images for a great price. This is a solid discount, especially with free delivery — though be warned that Argos can be selective about where it offers to deliver to. Here's our full TCL C7K review.
See also: TCL C7K 65-inch for £799 £719View Deal

Free delivery, and save 10% with code: LGC10
The five-star 55-inch LG C5 has dropped to a record-low of £989 at Argos, using the code above. Read our full LG C5 review for why we like it so much, but the short version is that does everything excellently. Argos is also offering free delivery on all TVs, so you're saving extra money here compared to many stores. However, if it's not available locally it can't be delivered, so check to see if you can actually make that saving.View Deal

Free delivery, and save 10% with code: LGC10
A magnificent OLED TV for the price, delivering 'perfect' cinematic contrast and nearly all the features of the LG C5 for cheaper. It's less bright and colour-rich than the C5, which does make the C5 better for brighter living rooms, but this is still an amazing TV for this price — here's our LG B5 review.View Deal

Free delivery, and save 10% with code: TCLTV10
TCL's most affordable mini-LED TV is the best big-screen bargain around right now — you can get a giant set with image quality that actually holds up, and great features. Here's our full TCL C6K review — it's our pick as being the best budget TV right now.
See also: TCL C6K 75-inch for £899 £809.10View Deal

There's a whole range of Lego sets for different interests, many with discounts at Argos, ranging from Harry Potter to One Piece to Batman to Minecraft to Bluey to Disney. Take a look at the full list here to see what's up your alley.View Deal

More of the best Amazon Prime Day deals

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £21.99
• 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 £27.59
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Amazon Prime Day is almost here, and while I'm busy browsing Amazon's plethora of deals on smart speakers, smart displays, and e-readers, I'm also keeping one eye on the range of accessories it has on offer.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Aside from Black Friday, Prime Day is one of the best events to find price drops on Amazon's range of smart speakers, so why not go the extra mile and elevate your new speaker with a stand? Because simply placing it on a bare countertop can sometimes look a little dull.

Have you managed to score yourself a new Kindle? Amazon's selection of deals on e-reader accessories is just as worthwhile as its smart speaker stands, especially its sleek wireless charging docks, which also double as reading stands. There's also a killer deal on an adjustable Echo Show stand, now at $9.99 down from $49.99— which is by far the best deal of the bunch.

Today's best Echo accessory deals in the US

The newer Echo Dot Max will be one of the most sought-after devices in this year's Prime Day sale, but purchasing a new display stand will help take your new speaker to the next level. It also means you won't need a power lead for your smart speaker, as this stand comes with a built-in plug. View Deal

Got yourself a new Echo Show and want to display it proudly? This adjustable stand is a handy gadget for elevating your smart display to a higher, more visible level, and it features a 40° tilt and 360° swivel to easily view content and follow recipes. View Deal

Wall outlets like this are perfect if you want your Echo speaker out of sight, rather than opting for a countertop stand. With outlet stands like this, you can also rotate the mount to point the speaker in your preferred direction for the best audio output. View Deal

Amazon has been spoiling us with its early deals on Kindles, and if you've been lucky enough to score one while they were available, why not go the whole hog and equip yourself with a new stylus? Smart pens across the board are expensive (especially Apple), so Prime Day is the ideal time to make the most of the discounts. View Deal

This Echo Dot stand is a great companion to the smart speaker you've just purchased for your kid, or for you if you're an adult who's a child at heart or a Spider-Man obsessive. At TechRadar, we won't judge either way. View Deal

Amazon has tons of offers on its popular e-readers, and the same goes for its charging docks. The best part about these accessories is that they can double as a reading stand, letting you read your favorite books hands-free while giving them some extra juice. View Deal

An 80% saving is very generous, especially when Prime Day hasn't even started yet. When it comes to wireless charging accessories, they can set you back quite a bit, so this record-low price is a no-brainer - and its smart design will complement your new Fire tablet nicely. View Deal

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

OpenAI and Google have rolled out World Cup fan experiences to help you make the most of the tournament.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for June 23, No. 1,830.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for June 23, No. 842.

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for June 23, No. 638.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for June 23, No. 1,108.

Instant film, man — you just can’t beat it, and for me, Polaroid is top of the pile. Since the brand’s rejuvenation in 2017, I’ve been a huge admirer of the range of cameras it has come out with, catering to all different stripes of users. I’ve reviewed, owned and used several of them — but there’s one in particular that has caught my eye this Prime Day, and that's coming with me on my World Cup watch parties.

I just finished up my Polaroid Go Gen 3 review, and I came away really impressed. This palm-sized instant camera packs in everything that I’ve loved about the diminutive Go series in a smaller-than-ever body, with a better lens and more powerful flash.

But my Prime Day recommendation is going to be the previous model, the Polaroid Go Gen 2. Why? Well, because while the Gen 3 is an improvement on the Gen 2, it’s not a radical upgrade, and the discounts on the Gen 2 are looking very tempting.

In the US, there's over $30 off for the Go 2 (black) with a pack of film, now just $78.99 at Amazon, while in the UK there's £20 off for the white version of the Go 2, again with a pack of film for just £74.99 at Amazon. There are currently no such discounts for the Go 3.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK

Today's best Polaroid Go Gen 2 deal (US)

There's a catch to the Go 2 deal — it's for the black version of the camera. But, these are the best discounts I've seen, what now that the Gen 3 has arrived. For this price, you also get a double-pack of Go color film, giving you everything you need to get started.View Deal

Today's best Polaroid Go Gen 2 deal (UK)

The deal I'm seeing in the UK is for the white version of the camera, with a double-pack of Go color film included. That's all you need to get started.View Deal

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Considering that the Go Gen 2 and Gen 3 use the exact same film, and so are both capable of producing images with that gorgeous Polaroid lo-fi look, that’s a tough bargain to argue with. I wouldn’t expect to see similar discounts on the Gen 3 any time soon, considering it has only just been released.

I think for most instant photography newbies, something from the Go series is going to be the best choice. These cameras produce much smaller prints than the larger models, taking dedicated ‘Go’ film rather than full-size I-Type. It makes the film much cheaper, meaning you can be more relaxed about your shots, and the tiny dimensions give it a similar ‘cuteness’ factor to the mega-popular Fujifilm Instax film.

And I know that sales figures don’t agree with me here, but having tried both brands extensively, I think Polaroid film and cameras are much better than Instax! The tonality is better, and the lo-fi look has much more retro charm.

Sure, the Gen 3 is a little smaller, and its selfie game has definitely been raised. But the Go Gen 2 still has that Polaroid charm. It’s still got the selfie mirror, the simple point-and-shoot operation, and even the double-exposure mode.

Thanks to that cheaper Go film, it’s a much more sensible choice for fun events like World Cup watch parties — if a few frames come out badly, it’s not the end of the world. And I speak from experience when I say that instant cameras always go down well at gatherings. Making tangible instant prints is just so much more interesting and fun than capturing yet more wide-angle selfies to disappear forever down your phone’s camera roll.

So, if you’re looking for an instant-film hit to document your adventures or summer parties, the Polaroid Go Gen 2 is my recommendation to jump on over the next few days. But I’d pounce sooner rather than later, as those discounts won’t hang around forever.

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: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99