Technology

July's full moon, also known as the Thunder Moon, will fill the sky on July 10.

• Strong webcam and infrared login make daily video calls simpler and more secure for professionals
• No 4K resolution makes these monitors feel outdated for today’s professional display needs
• ViewSonic VG41V Series USB-C charging limited to 15W is a major letdown for modern laptop users

The new ViewSonic's VG41V Series marks the company’s latest effort to carve out space in the crowded business monitor segment.

These monitors target video conferencing and productivity users by integrating Windows Hello facial recognition, a built-in 5MP webcam, and enhanced ergonomic designs.

On paper, they check a lot of boxes, but in practice, the lineup leaves a few open questions, particularly around display resolution and power delivery.

Productivity perks can’t mask a resolution compromise

The VG41V Series includes three models: the 24-inch VG2441V and two 27-inch options, the VG2741V and VG2741V-2K.

While the VG2741V-2K supports QHD (2560x1440) resolution, the VG2741V and VG2441V only support FHD (1920x1080) resolution.

None of them reach 4K resolution, which is increasingly expected in higher-end office monitors - but still, the lineup introduces thoughtful touches like infrared-enabled facial recognition via Windows Hello.

The 120 Hz refresh rate and Eye ProTech+ (flicker-free technology and low blue light) make extended sessions more bearable, features that align well with ViewSonic’s productivity branding.

This series enables secure, instant login to digital workspaces, which could appeal to enterprises managing device access without passwords.

It also integrates a 5MP webcam, tiltable by ±5°, and includes a physical privacy cover, while dual microphones and stereo speakers support a more complete conferencing setup.

For remote workers or office-based teams regularly joining Zoom or Teams calls, this package could provide a plug-and-play convenience that some will value.

However, powering the VG41V Series via USB-C introduces a compromise.

While USB-C is undeniably a flexible standard for video, data, and charging, its implementation here feels awkward.

ViewSonic offers dual USB-C ports, one upstream for data and video, and one downstream that supports just 15W charging.

That’s enough to charge a phone or small accessory, but it won’t power a laptop or meet the needs of many desk setups.

This could frustrate users relying on a single-cable solution, especially Apple users searching for the best monitor for Mac Mini or MacBook Pro.

That said, the series performs well on ergonomics, with support for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments. It also includes a compact stand to maximize desk space.

ViewSonic’s VG41V Series uses FSC-certified, recyclable packaging and meets EPEAT and ENERGY STAR standards.

The VG41V Series will arrive in select markets in North America, Asia, and Europe in the coming months.

Pricing for the VG41V Series remains unknown at the time of writing, making it difficult to judge whether the trade-offs in resolution and power delivery are ultimately justified.

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Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on July 9 and will mark the company’s big summer showcase.

It’s there we expect to see follow-ups to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, along with other products, likely updates to the Galaxy Watch lineup.

This Unpacked will be the third one of the year; the first was the Unpacked that saw the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 phones, then the second was the full launch of the Galaxy S25 Edge.

So read on for how to watch the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked and a brief overview of what to expect.

How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked

The next Galaxy Unpacked showcase will be held on Wednesday, July 9 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST and midnight July 10 in Australia.

You’ll be able to watch a live stream of the launch on Samsung’s own website. However, a simpler route would be to visit the brand’s YouTube channel and watch the showcase there, or use the video embedded below.

TechRadar will also be at the showcase, where you can get updates live from Unpacked on our TechRadar TikTok account. And we’ll be covering Unpacked live as it happens, so make sure to check back with TechRadar for all the news, views, reactions, and more.

What to expect at July 9th‘s Galaxy Unpacked

The ‘summer’ Unpacked events tend to be all about Samsung’s latest foldable phones, and we expect this event to be no different with the reveal of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and perhaps a third phone, say a Galaxy Z Fold Ultra.

In general, the rumors so far are pointing towards iterative design changes and a few spec improvements, but nothing hugely radical in terms of design or performance. Samsung is likely to tout new Galaxy AI features and use the new foldable phones to showcase them on, though such features are very likely to roll out to other Galaxy phones and devices too.

We’re also expecting to see new smartwatches, likely the Galaxy Watch 8 and its ‘Classic’ stablemate, and perhaps a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

An evolved design has been tipped for the Watch 8, with a potential ‘squircle’ design reminiscent of the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s square-meets-circle aesthetic, and the potential return of a rotating bezel.

Expect new AI-centric fitness features and tools in the software for these watches, but I’d also expect such features to roll out to other Galaxy Watch models.

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• OWC's hardware-level encryption activates instantly without dragging your computer’s performance down during transfers
• Randomized touchscreen keypad helps block spying eyes and shoulder-surfers trying to steal passwords
• Encrypted or not, OWS Guardian SSD’s 1000MB/s speed is fast enough for 4K video editing

OWC has announced Guardian, a compact portable SSD focused on delivering strong hardware encryption and fast transfer speeds.

The OWC Guardian connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) and delivers up to 1000MB/s in real-world read and write speeds, making it capable of handling 4K video files, media archives, and quick backups.

Designed with 256-bit AES OPAL hardware encryption, the Guardian handles data protection at the hardware level.

Seamless encryption without system slowdown

The encryption process starts automatically when data is written and is reversed (decrypted) when accessed by an authorized user.

This avoids reliance on host system resources, preserving performance even during large data transfers.

It's one of the few devices in its price range that combines both speed and encryption without demanding software installation, which may place it among the best secure drives for routine professional use.

OWC says the device is compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, and even iPadOS.

It includes a touchscreen interface, which serves as the primary method for user authentication through PIN or passphrase, but also allows access to additional features such as multi-user profiles, read-only mode, auto-timeout, secure erase, and a randomized keypad layout.

Physically, the drive is housed in anodized aluminum for improved heat dissipation and general durability.

However, unlike some of the best rugged hard drives, the Guardian lacks an IP rating for dust or water resistance.

This may limit its reliability in field conditions or outdoor environments, where environmental protection is a priority.

The Guardian comes with a 1TB OWC Aura Pro IV NVMe SSD (960GB usable) but is also available in higher capacities, including a 4TB version.

The internal firmware reserves a portion of space for data correction and redundancy.

It’s formatted in APFS for Apple devices by default, but can be reformatted for Windows or Android using OWC's Drive Guide utility.

However, full cross-platform read/write access requires separate software like MacDrive.

“We designed the OWC Guardian for anyone who needs simple, reliable data protection on the go, but without the typical hassles,” said Larry O’Connor, CEO and Founder, Other World Computing (OWC).

“Whether you're transferring a huge file in the boardroom, backing up data at the local coffee shop, or editing a 4K video for your latest content drop, you shouldn’t have to choose between security, speed, and ease of use. The OWC Guardian delivers all three, in a rugged, intuitive design built to travel.”

Pricing starts at $219.99 for the 1.0TB model while the 2.0TB and 4.0TB models cost $329.99 and $529.99, respectively.

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