Technology

Take photos, steal art from rich bozos. What's not to like?

• Nearly half of Gen Z believe their bosses don’t understand the benefits of workplace AI
• Employees across generations agree AI should help with tasks, not act as a human replacement
• AI is expected to save Gen Z employees nearly 90 minutes per workday

A growing divide is emerging in the workplace over the role of AI, and Gen Z is increasingly at odds with their managers.

New data from a UKG and Harris Poll survey reveals that 49% of Gen Z employees believe their bosses simply do not understand the real benefits of artificial intelligence.

The findings reveal a potential disconnect between younger employees, who are often teaching themselves how to use AI tools, and older leaders who may be hesitant or unsure about adopting new technologies at scale.

AI should support, not replace

Employees across generations want AI to help with their work, but not replace it, with 89% of all surveyed workers saying AI should be viewed as a tool, not a co-worker.

“Every few decades, breakthrough technology fundamentally changes the way we do everything… AI is quickly becoming ubiquitous and indispensable to work – and ignoring it now is like choosing not to use a computer or the internet,” said Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at UKG.

Most employees (84%) also think that AI should be used to automate tasks, not perform the entire role.

This view is held consistently across organizations of all sizes, from startups to global enterprises.

Despite this consensus, the tension lies in how fast adoption should move, and who is driving it.

Younger workers appear to be the most proactive, and 70% of Gen Z employees say they’ve taught themselves most of the AI tools they use, compared to just 40% of Boomers.

90% of Gen Z believe AI will save them time, with nearly a third expecting to reclaim up to 89 minutes a day.

Tasks like summarizing company policies, building schedules, verifying pay, and managing time-off requests are among the functions they are most eager to hand over to machines.

However, tasks involving empathy, discretion, or complex judgment are not seen as appropriate for automation.

In simple terms, AI should take the repetitive and boring part of the job so that people can focus on the meaningful ones.

“Gen Z may be on the leading edge of AI adoption in the workplace, but this technology has the power to transform work for every generation,” he continued.

“From simplifying and automating everyday tasks to increasing productivity to unlocking more time for creativity, innovation, and personal connection, AI will reshape the employee experience in the years ahead. The sooner organizations act on AI’s potential, the greater competitive advantage they’ll gain.”

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• GMKtec EVO T1 delivers high-end performance, AI power, and expandability
• Supports local AI tasks, high-speed storage, and multiple 4K displays
• The mini PC offers USB4, dual LAN, OCuLink, and up to 128GB RAM

In recent years, we've seen mini PCs come a very long way, from being simple systems for basic tasks, to now being powerful enough to handle creative workloads, multi-tasking, local AI processing, and even high-end gaming.

With many users turning away from bulky desktops, the appeal of compact systems with full-scale capabilities keeps growing.

The GMKtec EVO T1 is a clear example of how small machines can deliver big performance, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, which includes 14 cores and reaches up to 5.1GHz.

Demanding AI tasks

The chip is part of Intel’s newer lineup, and is designed to handle demanding AI tasks like local LLM inference. GMKtec claims its new mini workstation can run Deepseek 32B at 15 tokens per second with 77 TOPS AI compute.

The EVO T1 can support up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM and it comes with three M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots.

The inclusion of an OCuLink port also allows for external GPU use, which opens the door to advanced rendering tasks and even a spot of AAA gaming.

Dual 2.5Gbps LAN ports support fast networking, while USB4 promises data transfer at up to 40Gbps.

The EVO T1 can drive up to four displays at once, thanks to HDMI and DisplayPort support.

Something this powerful obviously needs decent cooling to keep system performance steady under load, and the EVO T1 offers a dual-fan system that balances airflow and noise.

There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but GMKtec says it’s coming soon.

The company’s new AI Max+ 395 powered EVO-X2 AI mini PC, with 64GB and 1TB SSD, has an MSRP of $2199 (it’s currently on sale at $1499), so it’s likely the EVO T1 will come in at around $1299, perhaps as low as $999 with pre-sale discounts.

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My advice: Skip the two-in-one and opt for the clamshell laptop I tested, when it goes on sale.

Elle: key information

- Arriving on Prime Video in mid-2026
- A prequel spinoff TV show of '00s movie, Legally Blonde
- Lexi Minetree will star as Elle Woods
- Plot will follow Elle Woods' high school years
- No official trailer released yet
- With season 1 yet to air, there's no word on more seasons to follow

Legally Blonde is an iconic early '00s movie that made us believe it really could be that easy to get into Harvard after being crowned sorority queen, having the best friends and all while pursuing the man of our dreams.

I mean, I don't think I've ever stopped trying to master the "bend, and snap!" And now, Elle the prequel spinoff TV show is on its way – arriving on Prime Video, one of the best streaming services, in mid-2026.

Sure, there's been Legally Blonde 2 and Legally Blondes, but nothing has been quite as iconic as the first movie – arguably, not even close. Although, that may about to change.

Elle sees a young Elle Woods in her high school years, giving an insight into her earlier life. And it's got the OG Elle magic behind it with Reese Witherspoon acting as executive producer alongside her own production company, Hello Sunshine.

Here's everything we know so far about Elle from release date, confirmed cast, plot, trailer and more.

Spoilers to follow for Legally Blonde.

Elle: is there a release date?

A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)

A photo posted by on

There's no specific Elle release date just yet, but there is a release window – and that's sometime in mid-2026.

While Prime Video announced plans to produce a Legally Blonde prequel series last year, it followed up on May 12 during the Upfront presentation that Elle would be dropping on the streamer next "summer". This likely refers to the northern hemisphere's summer and so will be sometime from June to August.

And, as of April, Reese Witherspoon took to Instagram to announce: "Harvard was hard. High School was harder. Our new series, Elle, is now in production!"

I'll be sure to update here when we get a more specific date to write on our calendar with our pink fluffy pen.

Elle: has a trailer been released?

There's no Elle trailer to share just yet (Image credit: Prime Video )

With filming of Elle only commencing in April, there's no official trailer to share. As is the case with most Prime Video shows, it's most likely to drop in the months approaching the show's release. So, check back here in the first half of 2026.

Elle: confirmed cast

A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)

A photo posted by on

There's been a lot of announcements for the Elle cast, but none quite as big as Reese finding her Elle Woods. Here's who we is so far confirmed to be starring in the Legally Blonde prequel:

• Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods
• June Diane Raphael as Eva, Elle's mom
• Tom Everett Scot as Wyatt, Elle's dad
• Gabrielle Policano as Liz
• Jacob Moskovitz as Miles
• Chandler Kinney as Kimberly
• Zac Looker as Dustin
• Jessica Belkin as Madison
• Logan Shroyer as Josh
• Amy Pietz as Donna
• Lisa Yamada as Amber
• Chloe Wepper as Ms. Burke
• David Burtka as Chad
• Brad Harder as Charlie
• Kayla Maisonet as Tiffany

As a prequel series, it seems pretty unlikely that any of the original Legally Blonde movies cast will return. Though I'd love to see Jennifer Coolidge's Paulette one more time.

Instead, casting has been focused on finding the younger version of Reese Witherspoon's Elle, of which there were an abundance of audition tapes. Lexi Minetree (Law & Order: SVU, The Murdaugh Murders) was given the titular role and, as seen in the Instagram post above, they're eerily similar!

Elle: story synopsis and rumors

Prequel series, Elle, follows Elle Woods' high school years (Image credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Full spoilers for Legally Blonde to follow.

As the prequel spinoff TV show for Legally Blonde, Elle will reportedly head back in time to Elle Woods' high school years, documenting her younger life before Harvard Law School.

As per the series official logline, it "follows Elle Woods in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first 'Legally Blonde film."

Speaking to Variety, Reese revealed: "Fans will get to know how Elle Woods navigated her world as a teenager with her distinct personality and ingenuity, in ways that only our beloved Elle could do."

And, as Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, calls it, viewers are being treated to Elle's "origin story".

A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)

A photo posted by on

In true Elle Woods' fashion, Reese has been excitedly vocal and incredibly bubbly about the show's arrival – taking to Instagram to share her delight.

And in a clip that Legally Blonde fans will recognize as a tribute to the opening credits of the original movie, Reese can be seen getting ready in bright pink with a top secret (and also pink) script.

The caption reads: "Before she became the most famous Gemini vegetarian to graduate from Harvard Law, she was just a regular '90s high school girl. And all of you are going to get to know her, next year on Prime Video. I'm so excited!"

Will there be more seasons of Elle?

No news yet on future seasons of Elle (Image credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Considering Elle season 1 won't be reaching Prime Video until mid-2026, there's no news yet of a possible renewal.

As is the case with many new shows to streamers, it'll likely rely on how well it performs once it hits the platform.

Though with the persuasive powers and adorable charm of Elle Woods behind it, I feel pretty confident that Legally Blonde fans and anyone new to the character will be eager for more to come.

For more Prime Video TV-based coverage, read our guides on The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, Mr and Mrs Smith season 2, The Rings of Power season 3, and Fallout season 2.

As the mercury rises in the Northern Hemisphere, so does anticipation for the next iPhone, which we’re currently calling the iPhone 17. But as temperatures increase, I also get hot under the collar.

The thing that piqued my temper is kinda not a thing at all... it's the lack of any rumors of a high-refresh rate display for the iPhone 17 and its Plus compadre. It’s been literally years that I’ve bemoaned the lack of a 90Hz or 120Hz display on non-Pro iPhones, and it wasn't until the iPhone 13 Pro that we had such displays even in the most premium iPhones.

Comparatively, Android phones pushed into 90Hz years before Apple followed suit, and now all of the best Android phones offer 120Hz displays, often with adaptive technology, for prices that undercut the standard iPhone 16.

My hope is that Apple will finally move towards a high-refresh rate display for its standard and Plus iPhones, and I'm crossing my fingers in hope that this happens as soon as the iPhone 17.

What brought this to mind was a recent article from my colleague Thomas Deehan who questions the need to go Pro when the standard iPhones are rather good. While I agree with him in part, I also agree with some of the comments on that article which note the non-Pro phones lack the slick displays of their more expensive stablemates and come without the telephoto camera; two things I rather like on my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

But while I can live without a telephoto camera - the telephoto camera on the iPhone 16 Pro still uses a 12-megapixel sensor - I cannot swallow a 60Hz display. Neither should you.

I absolutely get that there are still swathes of people - less tech-savvy - who might not care about their display's refresh rate. Compared to the old Android phones that used a 60Hz display, Apple manages to make its standard iPhones feel smooth and responsive; such is the nature of iOS and Apple having a tight grip over both its phone software and hardware.

I want a refreshing change

(Image credit: Future)

I also understand that sticking with a 60Hz display can help get as much life out of a battery on a single charge as possible.

But having used 120Hz displays on a range of phones for some time now, I feel that rate, or at least 90Hz, should be the minimum standard for phone screens.

Not only does it make the whole experience on both iOS and Android feel notably slicker and more responsive, it's also more comfortable on my eyes.

The best phones with high-refresh rate displays I'd reccomend

I really think I’d struggle going back to 60Hz - but this article is more about why I think others should be able to enjoy higher refresh rates, especially if you are locked into the Apple ecosystem or can’t fork out the cash for an iPhone 17 Pro.

What’s more, when Apple adopts a technology or a technique, it achieves mastery, even if it’s late to the party. I reckon the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max offer some of the best high-refresh rate OLED displays on any smartphones.

By making 90Hz or 120Hz the iPhone screen standard, Apple could help see the tech improve, perhaps making it more efficient or finding ways to reduce eye strain.

The year is 2025 and I think Apple really needs to move past 60Hz displays when the rumored iPhone 17 arrives. Doing so will make the next-generation iPhone the best showcase for iOS 26 and potentially usher in a chapter where iPhones again feel fresh, and not like an iterative update.

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We can each have our own AirPods while we watch a video or movie on an iPhone or iPad.

• Reports of various Nvidia GPU scams keep surfacing, and scammers find new ways to trick shoppers
• Some buyers claim to have received old GPUs or a bag of rice instead of the card they expected to get
• Shopping and selling second-hand is riddled with tricky situations, too — my friend got scammed out of $1,900

It's definitely not a buyer's market for GPUs right now, which might explain why scams are running rampant. I keep hearing about new ways in which scammers target buyers (and sellers) of the best graphics cards, and honestly, some of them are truly baffling.

Some people are getting bags of rice and pasta instead of a high-end GPU; others get a backpack; and some get what looks like a graphics card, but the insides reveal that it'll never work.

To help you navigate the obstacle course of buying and selling GPUs right now, here's a guide to all of the main scams to watch out for – and how to avoid the fate of two of my unfortunate friends.

What kind of GPU scams are out there?

I started noticing the scams in the early days following the launch of the RTX 5090. While trying to find one for sale on eBay, I noticed a lot of listings at MSRP – but checking those listings revealed that people weren't selling the GPU, but rather a printed photo of the card. Yes, a photo, for $2,000 and up.

Since then, I've heard of over a dozen innovative scams. Our sister site Tom's Hardware recently reported on an Amazon customer who ordered a Gigabyte Aorus RTX 5090 graphics card, but upon arrival, found the box to be filled with pasta, rice, and an old, dusty GPU.

I made the wonderful mistake of ordering a 5090 from Amazon Netherlands... from r/pcmasterrace

Meanwhile, an unlucky Micro Center customer got several backpacks instead of the Zotac Gaming RTX 5090 Solid OC they expected to receive.

Northwest Computer Repair recently shared another scam that seems to have migrated from the RTX 4090 to the RTX 5090. The repair shop is receiving cards that have been stripped of the GPU and the memory die, leaving behind an empty shell that looks convincing enough … up until you try to use it, that is.

Another hardware repair YouTuber, this time based in China, was sent four RTX 4090 graphics cards that were reportedly in need of repair, but opening them up revealed modded RTX 3090 and RTX 3080s; three of the cards were beyond saving (via Tom's Hardware).

Buying second-hand isn't a lot easier. A friend of mine recently tried to buy an open-box RTX 5080 from a local Facebook group. He met up with the seller, paid the full price, and went home with a GPU that didn't work. He's now having to turn to the authorities for help in recovering his money.

I got scammed buying at Micro Center in Santa Clara today. from r/Microcenter

Even selling your GPU makes you vulnerable to scams. Another friend once tried to sell his RTX 3090 during the GPU shortage of 2021.

The person he met up with reportedly didn't have cash and instead showed him their banking app, confirming the transfer of £1,400 (around $1,900). It looked legitimate, so he believed it, but it was a fake app, and the money obviously never arrived. Checking Reddit shows me that this scam still exists to this day.

How to stay safe and get a legitimate GPU

Many of the scams I outlined above originated from platforms you'd normally trust. Amazon and Micro Center are both trustworthy, and yet, things like this can happen, so it's important to stay vigilant.

On Amazon, I recommend buying from sellers you know and trust (or directly from Amazon). Smaller sellers, especially those with unintelligible names, are best avoided if the listing sounds too good to be true. The same rule applies to retailers: look into return policies and don't buy suspiciously cheap GPUs.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Aleksandr Grechanyuk)

Given the rising number of scams that involve the GPU box containing something other than what you ordered, make sure to film the whole unboxing process. Ideally, start filming the moment you receive the package, then show step-by-step as you open it. A photo won't suffice, as that's too easy to tamper with. If buying in store, open the box in front of an employee and inspect the contents.

Buying second-hand can be a nightmare. Even meeting up with sellers doesn't always mean that you'll get a GPU that actually works and is real. Your best bet is to meet up at a place that lets you test the GPU before picking it up, but that opens a whole new can of worms, as you'll need to enter a stranger's home. An easier way is to buy through platforms that offer buyer protection and film yourself receiving and opening the GPU.

As a seller, don't be fooled by legit-looking banking apps or promises of sending you money when they get home. Use a platform that protects both you and the buyer. It can be a hassle, but it's wild out there right now, so it's truly for the best.

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• ShortLeash gives hackers root-level stealth and blends malicious activity into everyday network traffic
• LapDogs uses fake LAPD certificates to disguise malware, bypassing even the best endpoint protection systems
• The malware quietly hijacks routers and devices that often go unmonitored for months

A recently disclosed cyber espionage operation, dubbed LapDogs, has drawn scrutiny following revelations from SecurityScorecard’s Strike Team.

The operation, believed to be conducted by China-aligned threat actors, has quietly infiltrated over 1,000 devices across the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

What makes this campaign distinctive is its use of hijacked SOHO routers and IoT hardware, transforming them into Operational Relay Boxes (ORBs) for sustained surveillance.

Stealth, persistence, and false identities

LapDogs is an ongoing campaign, active since September 2023, targeting real estate, media, municipal, and IT sectors.

Devices from known vendors such as Buffalo Technology and Ruckus Wireless have reportedly been compromised.

The attackers use a custom backdoor named ShortLeash, which grants extensive privileges and stealth, allowing them to blend in with legitimate traffic.

According to the report, once a device is infected, it may go undetected for months, and in worst-case scenarios, some are used as gateways to infiltrate internal networks.

Unlike typical botnets that prioritize disruption or spam, LapDogs reveals a more surgical approach.

“LapDogs reflects a strategic shift in how cyber threat actors are leveraging distributed, low-visibility devices to gain persistent access,” said Ryan Sherstobitoff, Chief Threat Intelligence Officer at SecurityScorecard.

“These aren’t opportunistic smash-and-grab attacks—these are deliberate, geo-targeted campaigns that erode the value of traditional IOCs (Indicators of Compromise).”

With 162 distinct intrusion sets already mapped, the structure of the operation suggests clear intent and segmentation.

What is especially unsettling is the spoofing of legitimate security credentials.

The malware fabricates TLS certificates appearing to be signed by the Los Angeles Police Department.

This forgery, combined with geolocation-aware certificate issuance and assigned ports, makes it extremely difficult for conventional detection systems to flag malicious behavior.

Even the best endpoint protection tools would be challenged in spotting such well-disguised intrusions, especially when activity is routed through compromised home routers rather than enterprise assets.

SecurityScorecard compares LapDogs with PolarEdge, another China-linked ORB system, but emphasizes that the two are distinct in infrastructure and execution.

The broader concern raised is the expanding vulnerability landscape. As businesses rely more on decentralized devices and fail to update embedded firmware, the risk of persistent espionage increases.

The report calls on network defenders and ISPs to review devices across their supply chains.

SecurityScorecard compares LapDogs with PolarEdge, another China-linked ORB system, but emphasizes that the two are distinct in infrastructure and execution.

The broader concern raised is the expanding vulnerability landscape. As businesses rely more on decentralized devices and fail to update embedded firmware, the risk of persistent espionage increases.

The report calls on network defenders and ISPs to review devices across their supply chains.

This means there is a need to reconsider reactive solutions and focus on more proactive infrastructure-level measures, such as the best FWAAS and best ZTNA solution deployments.

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• Android 16 will include alerts for fake cell towers and suspicious networks
• Update detects ‘stingray’ devices which pose as cell towers
• Feature likely to arrive with devices that launch on Android 16

Not every mobile network is what it seems. If your smartphone unwittingly connects to a fake cell tower, it could expose your private data to interception. Fortunately, Google is doing something about it: a new security feature in Android 16 is designed to detect suspicious connections and warn you if someone is trying to eavesdrop on your calls and texts.

Cell mast simulators, known as ‘stingray’ devices, create a phoney (pun intended) signal which can trick your mobile into revealing your location and communications. It’s a tricky tactic that’s previously been undetectable to smartphone users. Until now, users have had a very limited toolkit to protect themselves.

To tackle the risk of silent spying, Google has developed a warning system which detects these rogue networks and flags when a connection is not what it seems. Expected to arrive with new Android 16 devices, it’s a background feature with big implications for privacy.

No more phoney towers

Stingrays work by mimicking cell towers. When a smartphone connects to the fake network, its operator can track the device and harvest data, including unique identifiers such as the IMEI. It can also transfer the device to a less secure network in order to intercept calls and messages – all without any indication to the targeted user.

A kind of IMSI catcher, stingrays are known to be used by law enforcement agencies. While they’re sometimes justified in the name of national security, they also have the potential for misuse, particularly if they fall into the hands of nefarious actors.

Stingray devices generally use 2G to target smartphones. Even if you’re on 4G or 5G, most phones can fall back to 2G. This built-in vulnerability can be exploited by stingrays: by broadcasting a strong 2G signal, they can trick nearby devices into connecting. Because 2G networks lack modern encryption standards and don’t authenticate towers, your phone can’t verify if they’re real.

Right now, the best way to protect yourself against stingray attacks is to disable 2G network connectivity altogether.

The Android 16 update adds another layer of protection. According to developer notes on the Android Open Source Project, it introduces ‘network notification’ warnings. Compatible phones will be able to detect when a mobile network requests the device’s identifiers or tries to force it onto an unencrypted connection. Both of these events will be flagged to the end user.

The feature can be configured under ‘Mobile network security’ in the settings menu, alongside the option to enable 2G network protection. The problem is that no Android phones actually have the hardware required to unlock the feature – not even the best Pixel phones. That’s why the setting is currently hidden.

As a result, it’s likely that the first Android phones with the ability to detect fake cell towers will launch later this year. There’s a good chance it will debut on the Google Pixel 10, which might just make it the most secure smartphone ever.

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Analog keyboards are more popular than ever, providing gamers with greater tactility and nuance. They allow for modulated presses and customizable actuation points, and come with exclusive features – such as the all-important Rapid Trigger – that make them ideal for elite-level play.

There are plenty of analog boards to choose from, but the best, in my view, is the SteelSeries Apex Pro. We’ve included the 2023 version in our best gaming keyboard guide, and the updated Gen 3 model is no less impressive. So let's dive into what makes the Apex Pro such a fantastic analog keyboard.

Best in class

Let’s start with the build quality: you won’t find many other keyboards built to such exacting standards. Every inch of the Apex Pro looks and feels premium and durable.

The chassis is solid yet not too heavy, making it relatively easy to get into position. As you would expect, it also comes equipped with double-shot PBT keycaps – the gold standard material. These feel great in use, thanks to their subtle but noticeable texture that makes them tactile.

The TKL models and bigger even feature a small screen in the top-right corner. This can be customized to display all manner of content, from pictures and GIFs to vital in-game information for popular titles, such as Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends. It also has a menu where you can alter various settings, including the global actuation point and Rapid Trigger toggle.

The insane brightness of the G5 OLED allows colorful movies such as Wicked to really pop. (Image credit: Future)

It might not be the most eye-catching gaming keyboard, but beneath that restrained exterior lurks an incredibly high-performing machine. In my SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review, I noted how great those analog switches feel: they’re satisfyingly damped, yet still provide plenty of snap, which makes the Apex Pro ideal for gaming and typing.

What’s more, the keys provide enough feedback and travel to make hitting certain actuation points easier than on other analog keyboards I’ve experienced. The indentations of the keycaps help to get a secure and comfortable position, while the bottom row is easy to use when adopting the WASD position – which isn’t something I can say about every gaming keyboard I’ve tried.

SteelSeries GG software can be used to customize the Apex Pro. You’ll find a multitude of rebinding options, although the selection isn’t quite as vast as you’ll find in other apps, such as Razer’s Synapse. Still, the media and system shortcuts that are available should suffice for most users.

The Hisense C2 Ultra projector delivers excellent colors, but needs a darkened room to really shine. (Image credit: Future)

Naturally, there are various actuation adjustments and features, too. You can set the activation point between 0.1mm and 4mm for each key individually, and you can also choose whether a key activates on its down or upstroke. Along with Rapid Trigger, there’s a dual-actuation mode that lets you bind two inputs to a single key.

GG is quick to run and has an easy layout to navigate, although I wish it provided more visual feedback for actuation, as other analog keyboard software provides.

The wireless variant of the Apex Pro has excellent connectivity, providing both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth methods for greater versatility, and both performed with aplomb on the devices I tested. As I noted in my SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 review, battery life is also quite good, living up to its 40-hour claim according to my experience.

Even with light coming in through the windows to the right of the screen, there's barely a reflection in sight. (Image credit: Future)

About the only drawback I can find with the Apex Pro, aside from its eye-watering price tag, is the wrist rest: it lacks padding, and I didn’t find it wide enough to accommodate my whole wrist – and I don’t have big hands. What’s more, it has an annoying tendency to flip upwards when exerting too much pressure in the wrong place.

Yes, the Apex Pro costs a lot of money, but you’re getting one of the best-made and best-performing gaming keyboards on the market. Also, there are TKL and Mini variants that help to bring the cost down. The latter in particular does a sterling job of compensating for its lack of keys with some useful second-layer shortcuts.

There are wired models that are cheaper too, although the price difference isn’t that great, which is why I would recommend the wireless models (although the Mini is currently wired-only). But no matter which variant you go with, the Apex Pro offers a superlative analog experience.

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• Upcoming iPad Pro rumored to have slimmest bezels to date
• Change could come from adoption of LG chip-on-film OLED panel
• Timeline for the redesign remains unclear

Apple’s iPad Pro could be set for an even slicker design. A new rumor suggests the next-generation OLED iPad Pro will have the slimmest bezels of any Apple tablet to date – bringing it closer than ever to a true edge-to-edge display experience.

According to a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo, upcoming models of the iPad Pro will have bezels similar in width to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. The information was shared by Instant Digital, an established leaker with more than 1.4 million followers.

The post also suggests that Apple has figured out how to reduce the width of the borders around the iPad display without introducing a notch, like the one found on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. That tablet already has a screen-to-body ratio of more than 90%. Without a notch, the redesigned iPad Pro line would be firmly in all-screen territory.

Exciting as this latest iPad display rumor is, it also raises a lot of questions – and leaves many of them unanswered.

A borderless future?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra doesn't have much in the way of bezels (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

We’ve heard rumors about ultra-slim iPad Pro bezels before, some of which came from the very same source. While Instant Digital has accurately leaked some Apple specs ahead of time, the account has also had its share of misses. That gives cause to take the suggestions with a pinch of skepticism.

Still, developing a tablet with ultra-sim bezels certainly seems like something within the Apple wheelhouse. And if there’s one device Apple loves to show off its design chops with, it’s the iPad Pro. From mini-LED panels to Apple Pencil hover support, the Pro line has long been a playground for premium features.

The move would require a reconfiguration of the internal hardware, particularly in relation to the display. Recent reports suggest part of the answer could come from chip-on-film technology, which LG will reportedly use to make integrated OLED panels for future iPad Pro models.

With slim bezels and no notch, Apple will still need somewhere to hide the front-facing camera and TrueDepth sensor system required for Face ID. When it removed the notch from the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple introduced the Dynamic Island. One option could be to bring this feature over to the iPad Pro lineup.

An alternative solution would be under-display sensors. We’ve seen these on other devices. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold range, including the latest Z Fold 6, has long been equipped with under-display cameras. We’ve also written about a recent Apple patent for an under-display Face ID system. This suggests that Apple is working on a way to eradicate notches from its iPhone range – and the technology could certainly be extended to its tablets.

Perhaps the most pressing question is when all of this will actually come about. The Weibo post makes clear that arrival point of the redesign is ‘not necessarily the next generation’.

The current iPad Pro (2024) launched in May 2024. The next-generation iPad Pro is expected to land late in 2025 with an M5 processor. As much as we’d like to see an all-screen iPad this year, it seems more realistic to hedge our bets and wait for slimmer bezels on the following generation – likely due in the first half of 2027.

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Here's when you can catch up with #MomTok.

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 279, for June 29.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for June 29, No. 483.

Here are hints -- and the answer -- for today's Wordle for June 29, No. 1,471.

Here are some hints -- and the answers -- for the NYT Connections puzzle for June 29, #749.

WWDC 2025 is in the rear-view mirror, and it’d be fair to say there was plenty to get excited about, even with Apple (wisely) sidestepping its wider Apple Intelligence upgrades.

iPad getting true window management was a great addition, while the new design language across all platforms is sure to be a big focus come September. But relatively tucked away, almost as a footnote, was the promise of more features to come to Reminders - and seeing those features arrive might actually get me to move away from Things 3.

Let me explain.

Here’s the Thing

Cultured Code’s 'Things' app is, as anyone who uses it will tell you, the holy grail of UI design. It’s a task manager that looks so good, even Apple itself couldn’t have done a better job, and it’s been my go-to organizational tool for the best part of a decade. It's a powerful tool for anyone using one of the best MacBooks and Macs - or any Apple device, for that matter.

I use the app on my Mac, my iPad, my iPhone, and my Apple Watch, even jotting down tasks with an Action Button shortcut on my phone. And yet, I find myself straying from the path. It’s not that Things 3 is any less magical than it was when I started using it; it’s just that so many rivals have closed the gap.

Things 3 remains an easy place to dump tasks, file them away into sections, and enjoy that serotonin hit when you tick them off. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s missing some key features that its rivals now offer.

There’s no shared reminder list, so my wife can add things for me to do, and there’s no web version, either. It’s also lacking in ‘true’ Siri integration, meaning I essentially have to file my tasks in Reminders and have them sync across to Things 3 if I want them to be dictated.

So - what if I didn’t sync them across? What if I just, you know, used Apple Reminders to run my life?

Rejigging the system

I use Notion as a database to run my working life from, but Things is where my day-to-day stuff gets done. Every night, I load it up with tasks for the morning, and every morning, I start checking them off.

But what if my wife needs me to grab something from the shop? What if I want to ask Siri via CarPlay to add something to my daily list? These are the kinds of things where Reminders would work great, but that’s nothing new. In fact, Apple has been putting a ton of work into Reminders over the last few years, so what’s got me thinking of switching now?

As a writer, I’m wary of AI. Models trained on content I’ve worked hard for are always worth keeping a wary eye on, but I acknowledge that machine learning has plenty to offer (and no, I don’t mean those awful notification summaries).

This year, with iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe (and the assorted other Apple OS releases), Apple Intelligence will be integrated into Reminders, so that it can automatically assess what the next action item should be. Receive confirmation that one of my freelance articles has been published? It would be great to have a task pop up to invoice it. Make a note from a meeting? Having the place to send the details afterwards would be super helpful.

The app will even be able to intelligently work out which list your tasks should go into, meaning less time is spent funnelling them into the correct places.

I might be getting ahead of myself (and I’m not even sure if any AI functionality is in the current beta to test at present), but even if it’s not Reminders I move to (I still don’t love that UI), I feel like Things 3 (or surely a fourth version) could do with more forward thinking on the update front.

What could Things 4 add?

Okay then: Cultured Code, are you listening? There are a handful of things a longtime user like myself would love to see in a potential 'Things 4'.

For one, I’d love to have Morning/Afternoon/Evening as different timeslots (at present it’s just day and evening), which could then allow for more granularity with ordering tasks.

A web app is also a must (some of us use Windows, y’know?) while a collaborative list option could make Things 3 even better for small business owners like myself. And hey, a Kanban view would mean I don’t have to take tasks from Notion and throw them into Things, too.

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