It’s no secret that one of 2025's most anticipated TVs has been the LG C5 OLED TV. LG’s OLEDs, especially its mid-range C-series, are always among the most popular TVs year-on-year and the C5 continues the trend.
As the successor to the LG C4, one of the best TVs of 2024, the C5 does everything the C4 does and adds a bit more. I’ve fully tested it and in my LG C5 review, it earned a full five-out-of-five stars. This was because of its incredible picture quality, full suite of gaming features that match the best gaming TVs, and its intuitive smart TV platform. Plus, it’s likely to be the most competitively priced TV in the mid-range OLED category, based on previous years.
There were a a few standout things I took away from my time testing the C5 , so I’ve picked the five that I think you should be aware of if the C5 is a TV you're interested in buying.
1. It still sets the bar for mid-range OLEDs The LG C5 looks like it'll be tough to beat in 2025. (Image credit: Future)LG’s C-series TVs have been one of the standard bearers for what's possible in a mid-range OLED over the past few years. That’s not to say other mid-range OLEDs are bad; in fact some beat LG’s C-series in various areas. The Sony Bravia 8 had better sound than the LG C4 for example (and I suspect this will be the case with whatever Sony has for us in 2025 as well).
But, every year, no OLED can really compete with the C series in terms of its versatility and sheer bang for your buck. It often offers the most complete list of features with the best performance and often for the cheapest price (once prices have fallen for the C5 and its rivals).
The Samsung S90F, Samsung’s mid-range OLED, looked set to be the LG C5’s main rival for 2025. However, it seems the same panel lottery that plagued the Samsung S90D in 2024 is set to happen again, where at certain sizes you may not know what kind of performance to expect from it (I've asked Samsung to clarify this situation, but it won't say what the deal is in either direction).
As a result, the C5 looks like it’s going to be the measure for mid-range OLEDs to match up to in 2025.
2. Reflections – the C5’s weak spot The LG C5 handles reflections well in brighter scenes, but in darker scenes in movies such as The Batman (pictured), it struggles. (Image credit: Future)TV reflections can be a real problem and can really hamper the viewing experience. In fact, they’re effectively OLED’s kryptonite, with even the best OLED TVs struggling to overcome them in bright rooms (unless you have the Samsung S95D with its anti-reflection screen) and while there are ways to beat TV reflections, sometimes they are just unavoidable.
I expected some reflections before testing the C5, but their prevalence really stood out to me, especially in brighter conditions. In dark scenes in movies such as The Batman, there were obvious mirror-like reflections with myself and other objects appearing on screen whenever a strong light source was nearby in the room.
In dimmed conditions, the C5 fared a lot better – and this is a problem for all equivalent OLEDs – but it’s still worth noting about these reflections. If you’re interested in the C5, make sure you can limit the light in your room.
3. AI Sound Pro is the best sound mode AI Sound Pro surprised me as the best sound mode, especially in action packed movies. (Image credit: Future)In my experience testing TVs, I’ve generally come to find that the best preset sound mode is Movie/Cinema mode. It usually has a bolder, richer and overall more rounded sound, with the best balance. While I found it to be a solid option for the C5, I was drawn to another sound mode; AI Sound Pro.
The Batmobile chase scene in The Batman serves as an excellent test for sound quality and I found that AI Sound Pro delivered an immersive, punchy and dynamic sound that had a little bit extra compared to Movie mode. As a sceptic of so-called AI tools in TVs, I found it surprising that I preferred the AI Sound Pro mode.
I still recommended hooking up the C5 to one of the best soundbars for a sound to match the C5’s picture. But, if you are using the C5’s built-in sound, give AI Sound Pro a try.
4. The arrival of more AI features Personalized Sound Wizard (pictured here on the LG C5) is the most exciting of the latest AI features. (Image credit: Future)Speaking of AI, LG has introduced a host of AI features to its 2025 TVs via the latest iteration of its smart TV platform webOS 25. While there've been AI picture enhancements on LG’s TVs for a while now (Super Upscaling, AI Picture Wizard, AI Sound Pro), this latest group is aimed more at the smart side of things.
Highlights among these include AI Concierge, which recommends content based on your viewing history; AI Search, which can recommend content based on your search criteria across a large number of streaming services (this feature is only in the US and Korea currently) and lastly the AI (Personalized) Sound Wizard, where users can create their own sound mode created by AI after users listen to a number of audio clips to determine their preferred sound.
There’s even an AI Art Store where you can create your own artworks using prompts (although it costs real money to do so) and a nifty AI Voice ID feature so the TV switches to your user account if you use the voice commands, based on it recognizing your voice.
While I didn’t personally find I needed any of these AI features, some definitely had more potential to be useful. Undoubtedly, some users will revel in using these new AI tools, so it’s a welcome addition to the C-series overall.
5. It’s not that different to the C4 The LG C4 (pictured) delivers a lot of what the LG C5 does, currently at a fraction of the price. (Image credit: Future)OK, let’s address the elephant in the room: how different is the LG C5 from its predecessor, the LG C4? The answer – not very. Other than the aforementioned AI features and an HDR peak brightness boost, the C5 is almost identical to the C4.
Currently, this is bad news for the C5. The C4, one of 2024’s best OLED TVs, is still widely available and getting discounts all the time. The C5 is at its most expensive, launching in March 2025 and although its prices will drop throughout the year, who knows if it'll fall to the C4's price in the current economic climate.
If you’re an LG C4 owner or if you’re thinking of buying one, I’d still recommend it over the C5. But, once the C4 does retire, the C5 is a more than worthy successor and it’ll be worth your time.
You might also likeA new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, March 28 (game #656).
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #657) - today's words (Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #657) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #657) - the answers (Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #657, are…
I muddled through today with just one mistake. That came when I put LINEN instead of CARGO (which I consider a full leg-length garment) in KINDS OF SHORTS.
The rest I got away with despite not really knowing what I was doing — CHINA, CRYSTAL, LINEN, and SILVER as they were all expensive materials; CANAL, MAN, PANAMA, and PLAN because they all had “an” in them.
The famous palindrome in question ( a man, a plan, a canal — Panama!) was coined in a 1948 edition of Notes & Queries magazine, although that is under dispute as some Googling reveals.
In the 1980s other items were added by wordsmiths, including a cat, a ham, a yak, a yam and a hat. Next, a computer programmer came up with a version with 243 words. But then, putting the seal on any future revisions, computer scientist Peter Norvig created his definitive 2,473 word Panama palindrome. I can only imagine the crushing sense of disappointment when he went over 2,002 words.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 28 March, game #656)NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, March 28 (game #390).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #391) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Power plants
NYT Strands today (game #391) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
• Spangram has 13 letters
NYT Strands today (game #391) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 3rd column
Last side: bottom, 4th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #391) - the answers (Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #391, are…
A wonderful search full of lovely VEGAN PROTEINS. Something that will come as a surprise to many, who wouldn’t consider not eating meat due to the perceived lack of protein. In truth there are plenty of alternatives.
Question: How do you know when someone is a vegan? Answer: They’ll tell you.
Everyone has different dietary requirements, but there is something about being a vegan that means you have to let people know within a minute of meeting them regardless of your vicinity to food, but just in case they pull a pork chop out of their pockets or start espousing the brilliance of WingStop.
I say this as a former full-time vegan and now part-time vegan (cheese is my weakness). I prefer vegan food, but will eat the occasional sausage or tin of tuna – a position which seems to annoy both vegans and non-vegans. Maybe I should keep quiet about it.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, 28 March, game #390)Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, March 28 (game #1159).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1160) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1160) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #1160) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #1160) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #1160) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• L
• O
• C
• A
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1160) - the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1160, are…
Too early to call it a streak, but I checked out after seven guesses again. Not that it felt as “green lights all the way home” as it did yesterday, because I spent a good couple of minutes pondering before coming up with CUMIN.
One of the many health medical trends I followed for a few weeks was eating a banana sprinkled with cumin every night before bed. It wasn’t as bad as it sounds, but I gave up as it didn’t seem to make any health difference.
Anyway, I digress. In fairness today’s double letter words did make life easier, so I can’t claim to be at genius level just yet!
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1160) - the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1160, are…
Welcome, Garmin fans! After yesterday's announcement of Garmin Connect+, the new premium tier available in the Garmin Connect app, we've seen a big conversation begin to take place online.
Some Garmin users are furious, stating they want to "take a stand" against the company for introducing a paid tier. Even though the existing free features will remain free, user sentiment is generally that this is the beginning of a slippery slope for Garmin, and more and more features will be added to Connect+ instead of being available on the app's free tier.
Especially egregious is the price of the best Garmin watches, some of them numbering among the most expensive smartwatches ever, and having to now pay still more on top for the whole package.
Want to make your voice heard? Email us at matt.evans@futurenet.com, and we'll feature your reply here as part of this live blog. Stay tuned!
What is Garmin Connect+, anyway?For those not in the know, Garmin Connect+ is Garmin's new premium tier available for its previously-free Garmin Connect app, costing $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$12 per month or $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$120 annually, with a one-month free trial available.
For this privilege, Garmin Connect+ will supply Garmin users with new features on top of their free ones, including AI-powered insights dubbed "Active Intelligence" which puts all your stats into context, a Performance Dashboard that allows you to view historic graphs, and improvements to Garmin’s LiveTrack service, including a text-based alerts system.
This isn't the first time it's charged for a service (it also charges for an Outdoor Maps+ subscription plan) but this is a service aimed at all Garmin users, not a specific subsection or service.
Why has this angered Garmin users?Existing Garmin users are angry, in part, because they feel like their app is going to slowly get taken away. While Garmin has been very careful in its messaging, insisting that everything currently free will remain free, users believe they will eventually have to either leave the platform or resort to paying for a usable version of it.
Even if all current features remain free, as new ones are added and older ones are no longer supported, the existence of a Connect+ tier invites the possibility that future features will only be available to premium subscribers, a galling prospect if you bought an expensive smartwatch with the expectation it would be supported for years to come.
One of the top comments on the video above reads: "No. Bait and switch. We pay premium prices, like my £800 for my Garmin Descent Mk2s, with the understanding that the extra price is subsidising the Garmin Connect platform and its development. Now with just the existence of this, there's little to no chance we'll see any meaningful updates to the free Connect platform from now on. Class action anyone?"
Another commenter puts it more succintly: "Is this the beginning of the end?"
Garmin Reddit is furious (Image credit: Reddit)With 7,100 upvotes at the time of writing, this thread has prompted an enormous outcry from the community determined to make their voices heard. Here are a few comments from the 431 and counting:
Comment from r/Garmin Comment from r/Garmin Comment from r/Garmin @techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadarWe took to TikTok to ask Garmin users what they thought about the changes, and got quite a few comments there. One user writes "This is bad news. All new features from now on will be behind a paywall. And in few years, then the initial rage settles, they will move more and more features behind paywall like strava did."
Another said: "wow! I love paywalled AI which tells me the most basic of information which I could gather my self easily."
However, in the interest of balance, not everyone is irate about it. Another TikTok user writes: "If the current features are to stay free then nonworries, pay for the new stuff if you want them if not, don't."
"A greedy company"The emails have begun to roll in. Remember, if you want to get in touch, email matt.evans@futurenet.com. This one's from Michelangelo:
"I'm writing this email to show Garmin what they are risking by being a greedy company... We have probably around 20 devices from Garmin. We just like the quality and the details you get from a premium device.
"This is why I'm so vocal right now. If Connect+ goes on, I'm definitely done with Garmin. I'll buy another watch for my SO (I was planning for one in May) and I will start doing the opposite of what I've been doing since receiving my original watch. I'll start discouraging people from buying Garmin and propose a valid, European, alternative.
"Tread lightly Garmin, people hate subscription models, especially on PREMIUM products!
Sincerely, A very, VERY, angry customer."
Garmin's AI-powered insights (Image credit: Garmin)What exactly is "Active Intelligence", anyway?
Similar to Strava's Athlete Intelligence (also on a premium tier: AI's apparently expensive to run), Garmin's Active Intelligence will offer personalized in-app advice based on your training metrics.
The example above is a good indication of the kind of AI-generated advice you can expect: top-line, general, quick-fire tips to guide your training based on past and current performance, rather than anything too granular and concrete like a workout plan. You'll reportedly be able to get these messages multiple times a day as your activity and recovery levels change.
It's worth noting a Garmin representative emailed and confirmed that the AI was built with user data security in mind. Garmin's aware how sensitive health data is, and the need to keep it secure – especially after a high-profile cyberattack five years ago.
More messages coming throughAn email from Vasil says he'll switch away from Garmin if the decision isn't reversed. "Even though I have been a fan of the brand for over 10 years and always buy the latest Fenix model, if the paid version of the mobile application is introduced, I will change the brand!"
Meanwhile, a new comment on TikTok simply says "How do you sign up to it?". Sounds like someone's convinced!
The Garmin subreddit is not taking this well Garmin is getting rid of what makes it special from r/GarminThe Reddit post above has some particularly poignant things to say.
"They were different than smartwatch companies locking you to a specific phone. They were different than smartwatch companies forcing you to pay a monthly fee just to use the watch. Heck, they were even different than gaming companies providing you games on a platform and then being able to ban you or change the rules after the fact.
"They felt like one of those companies you loved being associated with.... Yet another great company losing track of its identity and tacking on or removing things that just don't speak to its customer base."
Below are some more examples of negative, highly-upvoted feedback from the subreddit.
I paid $700 for a fenix to avoid the subscription bullshit from r/Garmin It’s the beginning of the end for Garmin. from r/GarminI mean, you've got to laugh...
Me buying my first Garmin watch 2 days ago and joining this sub from r/Garmin Is the panic overblown?If you're a new Garmin owner, don't panic. Garmin users aren't going to suddenly see the bottom fall out of their watches' ecosystem; as of now, pretty much all the features on your watch remain unchanged. You can still create routes, generate plans, get your Fitness Age, Body Battery, Endurance Score, workouts, and all the rest of Garmin's goodies as well as ever, without paying a subscription fee. Garmin was keen to emphasize this in all communications about Connect+.
Most of the fear is hypothetical, and based on a term coined by blogger-activist Cory Doctorow called "enshittification". This refers to the process of platform decay, as those in charge of online platforms make things worse for users in order to maximize profit.
We see it with social networks, media websites, online stores, gaming and all other rmanner of online platforms. Garmin users are afraid that their free experience will eventually get worse, as the company attempts to move more of its users onto the paid platform. We've seen it happen enough times that these fears are not unfounded.
On his Pluralistic blog, Doctorow explains it best: "Here is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. Then, they die. I call this enshittification."
Has LiveTrack changed?! (Image credit: Garmin)More discourse in our TikTok video, with one user sounding very optimistic: "Probably not for the AI, but I would be interested in the Live Track, I use it anyway as I cycle a lot in the mountains, so would be keen to see what the difference is".
The updated Live Tracking service offers a personalized LiveTrack profile to share with followers (useful for cross-posting on Strava, for example) and the ability for family and friends to be notified via text when a workout has begun, along with the usual link to share your current location that you get in the free version.
However, our Homes Editor (and former Fitness Editor) Cat Ellis, herself an avid user of the Garmin Fenix 7, uses LiveTrack a lot, and told me her LiveTracking recently changed. The LiveTrack text messages to show auto-starts and finishes used to be part of the free version, but seems to have been removed this week ahead of the GC+ announcement.
Check out her screenshot from this Monday, then swipe to check out Tuesday's:
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Future)While Garmin mentioned that all features currently free will remain so, this may indicate a feature was changed shortly in advance of the announcement, which is very disingenuous if so. TechRadar has reached out to Garmin for comment, but email in and let us know if this has changed for you.
Two very different reactions with the same sentiment there
(Image credit: Reddit) How much does Garmin Connect+ cost, and what do you get?Garmin Connect+ will cost $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$12 per month or $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$120 annually, with a one-month free trial available.
For the price, you're getting those Active Intelligence AI messages, the LiveTrack texts mentioned below, exclusive badges and challenges not available to free-tier Connect users (something which isn't helping quell the ire of badge-hunters unwilling to subscribe) new social features and a Performance Dashboard which allows you to customize how you view historic data.
This is confirmed to be different to the Performance Stats tab in the free version.
Black Ops 6 Season 3 launches Wednesday, April 2, adding new maps, some new weapons, as well as a set of iconic tie-in skins (this one's for Kevin Smith fans). This means that next week, players will have a whole host of new features to check out, whether that's in Zombies, Warzone, or core Multiplayer.
Even without extra Season Three, we're still having a blast with Black Ops 6, landing it a place on our list of the best FPS games to play in 2025. This upcoming refresh sees the return of Verdansk to Warzone, and it's looking very close to the original indeed.
Here's what we know about Black Ops Season 3 so far, including a closer look at Wednesday's confirmed release time, as well as what's set to be added. It's worth noting that times do vary depending on your time zone, so be sure to check out the information below for when Season 3 launches in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Japan.
Update (April 1, 2025): Added the news of the fresh zombies enemies coming to the game alongside tomorrow's update, as well as some info on new Gobblegums. We can't wait to unlock the Die Pitched Gobblegum, which gives all enemies high-pitched voices for three minutes!
Black Ops 6 Season 3 release time in your time zone (Image credit: Activision)The Black Ops 6 Season 3 release time is April 2 at 9AM PST / 12PM EST / 5PM GMT. Here are some more specifics related to the release schedule per your timezone:
Activision has now announced what'll be added to Black Ops 6 as part of Season 3. This includes new maps, weapons, and modes, as well as big updates to Warzone. Here's a brief summary of what's being added:
For a full breakdown of Black Ops 6 Season 3, visit the Call of Duty blog. You'll be able to see the specifics on the new maps and modes that'll arrive soon.
You Might Also Like...An Asus version of the Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU has been spotted piled high on the shelves of a major US retailer, which might make you think that perhaps the stock drought for the flagship is over – but I doubt that’s the case.
Nonetheless, it’s a novelty to see such a stack of Blackwell graphics cards on the shelves, and there are some more positive hints about RTX 5080 stock, too – which I’ll come back to later. All of which comes courtesy of a Reddit post that shared a photo of a bricks-and-mortar Micro Center store in Dallas (see below) which VideoCardz flagged up.
Microcenter Dallas got tons of 5090 Astral Liquid’s in today from r/nvidiaOf course, this isn’t likely a case of supply suddenly spiking, or Nvidia’s production lines spinning up for the Blackwell flagship – rather it’s (surely) a lack of demand, due to the extortionate price tag pinned on the Asus RTX 5090 board in question.
This is the Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 OC Edition, which is admittedly the top-end offering from the graphics card maker – the LC refers to liquid cooling, and OC indicates it’s overclocked – but the price is still astronomical (or astral-nomical, perhaps, ahem) at $3,719.
That’s 85% more expensive than the (lofty) MSRP set by Nvidia, and it’s even almost 10% costlier than the asking price set by Asus on its own online store for this particular ROG Astral model – and that’s already outrageously high as it is.
Yes, it’s a top-end custom board, and yes, there will always be a premium to pay in that case, for the improvements to the card and cooling that’ll (hopefully) help you get a meaningfully better overclock – but the difference won’t be that much versus an entry-level RTX 5090, in all probability.
And to be forced to pay nearly double for that? Well, even PC gaming enthusiasts won’t do so, which is (doubtless) why all these RTX 5090 models are sat on shelves – and will probably remain so for some time, until Micro Center adjusts its pricing.
That will, of course, eventually happen when the clamor for RTX 5000 graphics cards starts to calm down, and demand doesn’t outweigh supply by such an immense factor.
(Image credit: Future) Analysis: A glimmer of hope – but not for the RTX 5090Okay, so is there any chance at all that the sudden appearance of a decent number of these flagship Blackwell graphics cards is a hopeful indication of improving stock levels? After all, that was rumored to happen for the RTX 5090 towards the end of March, where we are now. I can’t see it, frankly – whatever might be going on at that Micro Center store, if we look at the major online retailers in the US, RTX 5090 stock remains non-existent. For now, the flagship GPU is only obtainable in local stores.
However, the Reddit poster also notes that there are RTX 5080 GPUs in plentiful stock at that Micro Center – though we don’t see them, or what price they’re at. I’m guessing there won’t be any boards at MSRP level, though, but there is a glimmer of hope here in that at the time of writing, there are a couple of RTX 5080 models in stock for ordering online at Newegg.
Predictably, they aren’t anywhere near MSRP, so this isn’t cause for a true celebration yet – the cheapest model (of three boards available currently) is $1,360, which is the MSI Ventus 3X RTX 5080. That’s still 36% above the MSRP of $999, of course, but nonetheless, even seeing some stock available at all is a change for the better from what I typically discover when I check Blackwell availability.
I wouldn’t get carried away with this notion, but perhaps we are starting to turn a (slight) corner here – although clearly not with RTX 5090 stock, with some truly ridiculous price inflation still very much blighting the Blackwell flagship.
You might also like...An Asus version of the Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU has been spotted piled high on the shelves of a major US retailer, which might make you think that perhaps the stock drought for the flagship is over – but I doubt that’s the case.
Nonetheless, it’s a novelty to see such a stack of Blackwell graphics cards on the shelves, and there are some more positive hints about RTX 5080 stock, too – which I’ll come back to later. All of which comes courtesy of a Reddit post that shared a photo of a bricks-and-mortar Micro Center store in Dallas (see below) which VideoCardz flagged up.
Microcenter Dallas got tons of 5090 Astral Liquid’s in today from r/nvidiaOf course, this isn’t likely a case of supply suddenly spiking, or Nvidia’s production lines spinning up for the Blackwell flagship – rather it’s (surely) a lack of demand, due to the extortionate price tag pinned on the Asus RTX 5090 board in question.
This is the Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 OC Edition, which is admittedly the top-end offering from the graphics card maker – the LC refers to liquid cooling, and OC indicates it’s overclocked – but the price is still astronomical (or astral-nomical, perhaps, ahem) at $3,719.
That’s 85% more expensive than the (lofty) MSRP set by Nvidia, and it’s even almost 10% costlier than the asking price set by Asus on its own online store for this particular ROG Astral model – and that’s already outrageously high as it is.
Yes, it’s a top-end custom board, and yes, there will always be a premium to pay in that case, for the improvements to the card and cooling that’ll (hopefully) help you get a meaningfully better overclock – but the difference won’t be that much versus an entry-level RTX 5090, in all probability.
And to be forced to pay nearly double for that? Well, even PC gaming enthusiasts won’t do so, which is (doubtless) why all these RTX 5090 models are sat on shelves – and will probably remain so for some time, until Micro Center adjusts its pricing.
That will, of course, eventually happen when the clamor for RTX 5000 graphics cards starts to calm down, and demand doesn’t outweigh supply by such an immense factor.
(Image credit: Future) Analysis: A glimmer of hope – but not for the RTX 5090Okay, so is there any chance at all that the sudden appearance of a decent number of these flagship Blackwell graphics cards is a hopeful indication of improving stock levels? After all, that was rumored to happen for the RTX 5090 towards the end of March, where we are now. I can’t see it, frankly – whatever might be going on at that Micro Center store, if we look at the major online retailers in the US, RTX 5090 stock remains non-existent. For now, the flagship GPU is only obtainable in local stores.
However, the Reddit poster also notes that there are RTX 5080 GPUs in plentiful stock at that Micro Center – though we don’t see them, or what price they’re at. I’m guessing there won’t be any boards at MSRP level, though, but there is a glimmer of hope here in that at the time of writing, there are a couple of RTX 5080 models in stock for ordering online at Newegg.
Predictably, they aren’t anywhere near MSRP, so this isn’t cause for a true celebration yet – the cheapest model (of three boards available currently) is $1,360, which is the MSI Ventus 3X RTX 5080. That’s still 36% above the MSRP of $999, of course, but nonetheless, even seeing some stock available at all is a change for the better from what I typically discover when I check Blackwell availability.
I wouldn’t get carried away with this notion, but perhaps we are starting to turn a (slight) corner here – although clearly not with RTX 5090 stock, with some truly ridiculous price inflation still very much blighting the Blackwell flagship.
You might also like...For the first time, an EU expert group has explicitly mentioned VPN services as "key challenges" to the investigative work of law enforcement agencies, alongside encrypted devices, apps, and new communications operators.
The group's final report also refers to end-to-end encryption as "the biggest technical challenge."
Known as the High-Level Group (HLG), the expert group was tasked by the EU Council in June 2023 to develop a strategic plan "on access to data for effective law enforcement."
Lawful data access by designThe HLG's first set of recommendations leaked to the public in June last year. The goal was simple – make the digital devices we use every day, from smartphones and smart homes to IoT devices and even cars, legally and technically monitorable at all times by law enforcement bodies.
Commenting on this plan, Mullvad VPN CEO Jan Jonsson told TechRadar at the time: "It would mean total surveillance and that Europe's inhabitants carry state spyware in their pockets."
The final wording of the LHG report from March 13, 2025, shows not much has changed from the original ethos. Yet, the recommendations on achieving"lawful data access by design" look more refined.
As mentioned, experts are now considering including VPN services among the key challenges to investigations.
Previously, concerns were mostly reserved for messaging apps or secure email software using encryption to scramble users' content into an unreadable form, de facto making it difficult (if not impossible) for authorities to successfully decrypt wanted information.
Law enforcement agencies from the EU, North America and Australia continue their work to gain future lawful access to private communications within the EU initiative Going Dark.We also note that VPNs are mentioned under “key challenges”.https://t.co/ktu9HlZre0March 18, 2025
Widening the target to VPN services seems to align with experts' view on metadata access as "essential for identifying suspects."
Metadata refers to data not concerning the content, such as who's sending the message, who's receiving it, at what time, and from where. VPNs work to mask IP addresses, which provide the details of our location when we access the internet.
For experts, however, EU lawmakers need to find solutions to force service providers to retain some necessary metadata for a minimum time period. Thankfully, the need for a "harmonised and consistent" legal framework for data retention is among the latest LHG suggestions.
Introducing new obligations to collect users' identifiable metadata, however, would clash with the technical infrastructure and policies of many privacy-focused services. That's especially true for no-log VPNs that, as the name suggests, never collect information that can link users with their online activities.
The security conondrumDespite the emphasis on the need for authorities to access people's data to carry out investigations, LHG experts recognize that "this must not be at the expense of fundamental rights or the cybersecurity of systems and products."
In particular, the report highlights on more than one occasion how encryption is also essential for people's security, protecting against data theft, state-sponsored espionage, and other forms of unauthorized data access.
Did you know?(Image credit: Shutterstock)The aftermath of the Salt Typhoon attacks sparked an outcry from authorities for all citizens to switch to Signal-like messaging apps to improve their online security.
It remains to be seen how EU lawmakers will find a balance between the will of accessing people's data – no matter if these are encrypted – and preserving information security.
On their side, cryptographers and other tech experts have long argued that encryption either works as intended or is broken for everyone.
Commenting on the ongoing push for encryption backdoors, Proton CEO Andy Yen recently said, "Encryption is math – it either adds up or it doesn't. You're not able to create a backdoor that will preserve encryption. It is simply not possible."
You might also likeFor the first time, an EU expert group has explicitly mentioned VPN services as "key challenges" to the investigative work of law enforcement agencies, alongside encrypted devices, apps, and new communications operators.
The group's final report also refers to end-to-end encryption as "the biggest technical challenge."
Known as the High-Level Group (HLG), the expert group was tasked by the EU Council in June 2023 to develop a strategic plan "on access to data for effective law enforcement."
Lawful data access by designThe HLG's first set of recommendations leaked to the public in June last year. The goal was simple – make the digital devices we use every day, from smartphones and smart homes to IoT devices and even cars, legally and technically monitorable at all times by law enforcement bodies.
Commenting on this plan, Mullvad VPN CEO Jan Jonsson told TechRadar at the time: "It would mean total surveillance and that Europe's inhabitants carry state spyware in their pockets."
The final wording of the LHG report from March 13, 2025, shows not much has changed from the original ethos. Yet, the recommendations on achieving"lawful data access by design" look more refined.
As mentioned, experts are now considering including VPN services among the key challenges to investigations.
Previously, concerns were mostly reserved for messaging apps or secure email software using encryption to scramble users' content into an unreadable form, de facto making it difficult (if not impossible) for authorities to successfully decrypt wanted information.
Law enforcement agencies from the EU, North America and Australia continue their work to gain future lawful access to private communications within the EU initiative Going Dark.We also note that VPNs are mentioned under “key challenges”.https://t.co/ktu9HlZre0March 18, 2025
Widening the target to VPN services seems to align with experts' view on metadata access as "essential for identifying suspects."
Metadata refers to data not concerning the content, such as who's sending the message, who's receiving it, at what time, and from where. VPNs work to mask IP addresses, which provide the details of our location when we access the internet.
For experts, however, EU lawmakers need to find solutions to force service providers to retain some necessary metadata for a minimum time period. Thankfully, the need for a "harmonised and consistent" legal framework for data retention is among the latest LHG suggestions.
Introducing new obligations to collect users' identifiable metadata, however, would clash with the technical infrastructure and policies of many privacy-focused services. That's especially true for no-log VPNs that, as the name suggests, never collect information that can link users with their online activities.
The security conondrumDespite the emphasis on the need for authorities to access people's data to carry out investigations, LHG experts recognize that "this must not be at the expense of fundamental rights or the cybersecurity of systems and products."
In particular, the report highlights on more than one occasion how encryption is also essential for people's security, protecting against data theft, state-sponsored espionage, and other forms of unauthorized data access.
Did you know?(Image credit: Shutterstock)The aftermath of the Salt Typhoon attacks sparked an outcry from authorities for all citizens to switch to Signal-like messaging apps to improve their online security.
It remains to be seen how EU lawmakers will find a balance between the will of accessing people's data – no matter if these are encrypted – and preserving information security.
On their side, cryptographers and other tech experts have long argued that encryption either works as intended or is broken for everyone.
Commenting on the ongoing push for encryption backdoors, Proton CEO Andy Yen recently said, "Encryption is math – it either adds up or it doesn't. You're not able to create a backdoor that will preserve encryption. It is simply not possible."
You might also likeThe UK’s public spending watchdog has released a report outlining barriers to AI adoption, and cites “out–of–date legacy IT systems” as a contributing factor, as well as poor quality data, and data sharing obstacles.
The Department’s recommendations come as part of the UK Government’s plans to “unleash AI” with a plan to inject the tech into all corners of British industry with a £14 billion private sector investment.
The Committee of Public Accounts estimates as much as 28% of central government systems are “end-of-life” products that can no longer be updated, receive support from suppliers, or are no longer cost effective.
A matter of urgencyThese legacy systems are of high priority for the Department of Science and Technology (DSIT), not just so AI can be used more widely, but because out-of-date tech can cause serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
But, DSIT warns there “is no magic bullet” and that hardware will take time and effort to replace and fix, even admitting it needs “to get a better grip on the issue”. Of the 72 “red-rated” legacy systems that are highest risk, 21 still lack remediation funding, so there is a long way to go.
“The Government has said it wants to mainline AI into the veins of the nation, but our report raises questions over whether the public sector is ready for such a procedure,” says Committee Chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP.
“The ambition to harness the potential of one of the most significant technological developments of modern times is of course to be welcomed. Unfortunately, those familiar with our Committee’s past scrutiny of the Government’s frankly sclerotic digital architecture will know that any promises of sudden transformation are for the birds.”
You might also likeThe UK’s public spending watchdog has released a report outlining barriers to AI adoption, and cites “out–of–date legacy IT systems” as a contributing factor, as well as poor quality data, and data sharing obstacles.
The Department’s recommendations come as part of the UK Government’s plans to “unleash AI” with a plan to inject the tech into all corners of British industry with a £14 billion private sector investment.
The Committee of Public Accounts estimates as much as 28% of central government systems are “end-of-life” products that can no longer be updated, receive support from suppliers, or are no longer cost effective.
A matter of urgencyThese legacy systems are of high priority for the Department of Science and Technology (DSIT), not just so AI can be used more widely, but because out-of-date tech can cause serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
But, DSIT warns there “is no magic bullet” and that hardware will take time and effort to replace and fix, even admitting it needs “to get a better grip on the issue”. Of the 72 “red-rated” legacy systems that are highest risk, 21 still lack remediation funding, so there is a long way to go.
“The Government has said it wants to mainline AI into the veins of the nation, but our report raises questions over whether the public sector is ready for such a procedure,” says Committee Chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP.
“The ambition to harness the potential of one of the most significant technological developments of modern times is of course to be welcomed. Unfortunately, those familiar with our Committee’s past scrutiny of the Government’s frankly sclerotic digital architecture will know that any promises of sudden transformation are for the birds.”
You might also likeWhile Intel's Battlemage Arc B580 and B570 GPUs have provided great and affordable mid-range options for PC gamers, Team Blue is yet to make a high-end GPU to compete with Nvidia (since AMD is also focusing primarily on the mid-range space going forward). Unfortunately, it now looks like the wait will continue.
According to a reputable leaker, Jaykihn0 on X, Intel's supposed high-end Battlemage GPU plans were cut short in Q3 of 2024: in other words, Xe2-based GPUs reportedly featuring up to 24GB of VRAM have been canceled. The 'BMG-G31' die supposedly had a 256-bit memory bus with 32 Xe cores and at least 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM.
Any hopes of a strong high-end alternative to Nvidia's RTX GPUs are seemingly slimmer than ever, as both AMD and Intel continue to target affordable options for consumers.
While Jaykihn0 suggests there are currently no updates on the upcoming Celestial discrete GPU lineup, it's certainly not over for Intel potentially delving into the high-end market. Celestial GPUs are rumored to use Xe3P architecture, which could involve some high-end GPUs and improved features like XeSS Frame Generation - however, it's not yet clear when they will be ready for consumers.
In the meantime, Intel's Xe3 architecture will be used for the upcoming Panther Lake processors, likely including mobile processors for ultrabooks and handhelds. There's plenty to look forward to on Team Blue's end, especially after the success of its current Battlemage GPUs, and processors like the Core Ultra 7 258V.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) We seriously need any high-end competition we can get from IntelIf it wasn't clear enough already, the GPU market is in dire need of a helping hand: scalping, price inflation, and low availability are at an all-time high, and the only way I can see this changing is if consumers don't acquiesce to purchasing overpriced GPUs. However, most importantly, we need more high-end GPUs that aren't from Nvidia.
Team Green's Blackwell GPU lineup is the only product range that includes true high-end options this generation, and it's not a surprise that there's hardly any stock for Founders Edition cards, considering their popularity and demand.
While AMD's mid-range Radeon RX 9070 XT comes at an incredible $599/£569, there are no reference cards, which means consumers must rely on AIB partner cards sold by retailers - which are currently charging over $200 more than MSRP. Don't believe me? Just have a look at Best Buy.
With this in mind, Intel is potentially the only one in the market that could offer high-end alternatives in the near future: I'll admit it's hard to suggest any of these GPUs would beat Nvidia's RTX 5090, but PC gamers need all the industry competition we can get.
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