Technology

If you missed out on grabbing a laptop during Amazon October Prime Day, don’t worry. We’ve found a laptop deal that delivers the kind of performance you’d normally expect from a $1,500 machine, but for well under $600.

The Hasee X5 15.6-inch laptop is currently available for $559.99 on Newegg, and what really sells it for us is the processor. The offer ends on October 18th. The Intel Core i9-12900H, a 14-core, 20-thread CPU typically reserved for high-end workstations and premium creator laptops, powers it.

This level of processing power at this price is non-existent especially after the RAMgeddon that pushed prices of components to levels never seen before. In most cases, $429 gets you an entry-level Core i3 or a low-power Ryzen chip. This is on a completely different level but comes with some strings attached.

Compared to the very capable Apple MacBook Neo, which runs the A18 Pro, it is more than 2x more powerful with twice the memory and twice the storage capacity.

• Shop all Newegg laptop deals

Today's best laptop deal

X5 15.6 laptop: $559.99
The Hasee X5 15.6" laptop is powered by an Intel Core i9-12900H processor and 16GB LPDDR5 RAM. It features a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, FHD IPS anti-glare display, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. Crafted in sleek silver metal, it includes a backlit keyboard, privacy shutter, and multiple ports.View Deal

The laptop comes with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. There’s also an extra M.2 slot inside, giving you room to expand storage later.

For coding, data analysis, content creation, large spreadsheets, or heavy multitasking, this machine punches far above its asking price.

Now for the downsides. Graphics is courtesy of Intel integrated graphics, so this is not a gaming laptop. Modern AAA games are off the table, although light titles and older games will run fine.

The RAM is also likely soldered, meaning 16GB is the maximum. That’s perfectly adequate for most users today, but it’s something to be aware of.

The rest of the package is solid though. You get a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS anti-glare display, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C, HDMI, and a microSD card slot.

There’s a backlit keyboard, a 2.0MP webcam with a privacy shutter, and a 62.7Wh battery, all housed in a slim silver metal chassis weighing just 3.86 pounds.

Build quality feels premium for the price, despite Hasee not being a household name like Dell or Lenovo.

The laptop comes with a 30-day return window and a 12-month warranty, which helps offset the lesser-known brand. It is sold by “Shinelon Official” through Newegg Marketplace (rather than Newegg itself), which could make returns or warranty claims slightly more complicated, so bear that in mind.

If you want the absolute maximum CPU performance for the money and don’t care about gaming, this is one of the best laptop deals we’ve seen this year.

While you're here, check out our roundup of the best business laptops, and the best laptops for video editing.

More laptop deals

15 Laptop: $629.99
Dell’s 15-inch Windows 11 laptop offers everyday performance at an impressive discount. It features an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor with Radeon 610M graphics, 8GB of fast LPDDR5 memory, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. The Full HD 120Hz display provides clear visuals for work or streaming. It’s a solid budget choice for students or home users.View Deal

Omnibook X Flip 2-In-1 Copilot+ PC: was $1299.99 now $805.99
An absolutely stunning deal with a powerful AI-ready CPU that comes with Copilot+ certification for enhanced AI experiences. The OmniBook X Flip is a convertible 2-in-1 laptop with a full HD touchscreen display and a 5-megapixel IR camera. Its frugality means that it can deliver nearly 20 hours of battery life as well.View Deal

Yoga 7 2-In-1 Copilot+ PC: was $999.99 now $699.99
Similar to the above deal but slightly cheaper is the Yoga 7 from Lenovo. I love its big 16-inch touchscreen display and the full size numeric keypad which works great for number crunchers and students. Like the HP, it is AI ready thank to theIntel Core Ultra CPU and while it has a smaller battery life compared to the Omnibook, it does have faster Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.View Deal

MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip: $1254
The 2026 MacBook Air 13-inch features Apple’s M5 chip, a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD. It includes a 12MP camera with Center Stage, Touch ID and a lightweight design in SKy Blue.View Deal

The Acer Aspire Go 15 Laptop features a 15.3-inch WUXGA 1920 x 1200 IPS display, Intel Core i5-1334U processor, Intel UHD Graphics, 8GB DDR5 RAM, and a 256GB PCIe Gen4 SSD. With Windows 11 Home, Wi-Fi 6, and a lightweight 3.7-pound design, it delivers solid everyday performance at an excellent price.View Deal

If you vlog or create content, the Insta360 X5 is well worth a look. In our 5-star review, we called it "the best overall 360 camera currently on the market."

This "best-in-class 360 action camera" lets you shoot first and choose your angle later, with an invisible selfie stick effect and InstaFrame mode that hands you a ready-to-share flat video. An 8K resolution, dual 1/1.28-inch sensors, replaceable lenses, 4-mic wind guard, and rugged design round out the feature-set.

• Best for: Vloggers, travel creators and action shooters who want to reframe footage after the fact and never carry a selfie stick.

• The deal: The Insta360 X5 8K 360° camera is now $465 (was $550) at Amazon.

Today's top Insta360 X5 deal

The X5 shoots 8K at 30fps with two 1/1.28-inch sensors and a triple AI chip design, and it uses FlowState stabilization with 360° horizon lock instead of a gimbal. It has replaceable lenses, a four-mic array with a built-in wind guard, a 2.5-inch screen and a microSD slot. View Deal

Why we recommend it

Our Insta360 X5 review credits its larger sensors for better video, especially in low light, along with improved sound capture and easily replaceable lenses. For creators, the invisible selfie stick, auto-framing and wind guard are what make it work for vlogs, and 360° capture means you can recover shots you didn't line up properly.

During testing, we said: "Of the shooting modes on board, perhaps the two most notable are PureVideo, a new mode intended for night-time and low-light shooting that supports up to 8K 30fps quality, and InstaFrame, which captures two videos simultaneously: one flat ‘normal’ 1080p video for instant sharing, and another full 360 video for adding extra angles. It’s a good option for creators who want to ensure they don’t miss anything but also want a quick, usable video of the ‘main’ angle – although it's worth noting that it reduces maximum frame rate to 30fps, and removes HDR as an option."

Price Context & Historical Value

At $464.99, this is $85 (15%) off the $549.99 list price. Our review noted retailers listing it at $464.99 around the time of testing, so this is a good price rather than a new low. It hasn't dropped below this yet, and appears to be the general 'sale' price, making it a good buy right now.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Insta360 X5 8K 360° camera if...

You vlog or create content and want 8K 360° footage, strong low-light video and the freedom to reframe shots later.

❌ Skip the Insta360 X5 8K 360° camera if...

You already own an X4, since our review found few changes to justify upgrading, you shoot long 8K clips, since battery life can drain quickly, or you just want a standard action camera with a flat image.

Also consider

X4 Air Starter Bundle: was $439.99 now $349.99
We scored the X4 Air 4.5 stars in our review, and found "the best bits from the X5, squeezed into an even more portable body." This starter bundle includes a selfie stick, lens cap, and spare battery. View Deal

• See all action camera deals at Amazon.

• Nvidia claims that for each gigawatt an AI data center uses, only 70% is used for AI work
• Inefficiencies include cooling and power distribution, failures, and restarts
• While a chip shortage was considered to be the main bottleneck to AI data center capacity, it is now a facility’s connection to the grid

AI data centers are inefficient, says Nvidia, with various physical and systems issues contributing to power use beyond AI processing. This opinion, shared by data center builder Vertiv at its recent annual EMEA event, underpins future development steps, in which it plans to assemble sustainable facilities.

Vertiv and Nvidia have been collaborating since early 2026 on co-designing the next generation of data centers, with Vertiv providing power and infrastructure management for Nvidia’s GPUs.

With a maximum of 70% of electricity drawn from the grid used for AI processing, the remaining 30% represents inefficiencies that optimized data center designs for the future should reduce.

That's not efficient

Although the various inefficiencies affecting AI data centers may not come as a surprise, the scale of them might. According to Nvidia – via its Vice President of Supercomputing, AI Cloud Infrastructure, and AI/HPC for EMEA Rod Evans – that 30% consists of infrastructure and system issues.

For a one-gigawatt data center, 20% is lost through cooling, power distribution, and conversion. A further 10% is lost to incorrectly configured racks, as well as failures and restarts.

Evans says that “You sign a contract for 100 megawatts, but you never actually get that. With a bit of luck, you’ll get 93 megawatts, and at certain times of the day, even less.”

Nvidia believes some of the 30% (which can be as high as 40%) can be recovered. Evans notes that “A data center is actually designed for peak load and outages, not for what it typically uses.” This means that unused capacity can be tapped, and power and cooling can be revised to find the optimum configurations.

Bottlenecks of power

Rod Evans states that Nvidia and Vertiv are planning data centers that are more efficient and sustainable. “Together, we want to build sustainable AI data centers where the focus isn’t on using as much power as possible, but on getting the most out of every watt.”

One of the most significant details from the press conference is the challenge posed to AI data centers not by a shortage of chips, but by a lack of power. Bottlenecks are resulting in underpowered data centers, with some waiting for several years to receive the power to match their capacity.

This can be impacted by location. Vertiv’s EMEA president Paul Ryan explained that while you can get power in some locations but no permit. “In another, the permit is granted quickly, but there’s no power. And sometimes you have both, but the location is so remote that you can barely get the equipment there.”

Espionage in AI labs poses a national security threat, according to US intelligence and security officials.

• Squarespace and Titan have teamed up to offer professional business email
• Plans start at $3 a month, per user
• Plans come with an inbox, calendar, and contacts

Website-building giant Squarespace has this week announced a partnership with business email platform Titan, with the goal of bringing professional email to entrepreneurs for as little as $3 a month. The new partnership will allow Squarespace users to access personalized business email, such as hello@yourbusiness.com, right from day one.

According to a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, Squarespace users with a domain purchased through or connected to Squarespace will be able to benefit from Essential Email by Titan, offering reliable and secure professional email with all the essentials, including an inbox, calendar, and contacts, all of which can be accessed and managed both on desktop and via mobile apps.

Giving Squarespace users the professional edge

A dedicated email can help businesses establish a more professional brand presence – essential for small businesses and startups aiming to make a name for themselves.

"A professional email address is one of the first things that makes an idea feel real. With Essential Email by Titan, entrepreneurs can put their brand front and center from their very first email, right alongside everything they're already building with Squarespace," said Kevin Doerr, President, Squarespace.The new partnership means Squarespace users can do everything from registering a domain and launching a website to creating a professional email address all from one central location.

“Most email platforms were built for large enterprises, not small businesses, whereas Titan is built from the ground up for small businesses - a founder with an idea, and small teams getting started," said Bhavin Turakhia, Founder and CEO of Titan. "Titan is simple to use, affordable to keep, and made for how small businesses actually work. Millions of entrepreneurs already run their business email on Titan, and with Squarespace, we're bringing that to millions more as they start their businesses."

Titan’s Essential Email plan is available now to Squarespace customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. A wider global rollout is planned in the coming months.

• Laser-based technology is being trialed in the US to remotely charge UAV batteries while the craft are in flight
• The “power beaming” technology from PowerLight Technologies is known as Aerial ReCharge (ARC)
• ARC can recharge UAVs remotely as well as their payloads, where appropriate

The United States Department of War’s (DOW) Operational Energy - Innovation (OE-I) Directorate has awarded a contract for the development of a laser-based remote recharging system for drones.

Known as the Aerial ReCharge (ARC) system, it uses directed lasers to recharge an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or a payload, and can be used over long distance.

Described as “power beaming” the system relies on a wireless power beaming transmitter and a receiver on the UAV. With remote recharging capabilities, drones can be deployed and retain use of the same battery without landing and recovery, which saves time -- and potentially even lives.

Power beaming over distance

The notion of transmitting energy from one point to another has been a staple of science fiction for decades.

With advances in laser technology, it appears to be making headway, with PowerLight’s system relying on a power beaming transmitter that directs lasers to a drone-mounted receiver. This in turn charges the UAV’s battery, and can also be used to charge a payload the drone may be carrying.

(Image credit: PowerLight Technologies)

It uses optical power beaming, which while delivering the same outcome (a charged device) is very different to the electromagnetic induction used on wireless phone chargers. Crucially, it can charge UAVs while they (and it) are in motion.

“Power beaming means more time on mission and less time on the ground, ” said OE-I Combat Power Portfolio Lead Chris DePuma. “By enabling autonomous, in-flight recharging, the Aerial ReCharge system reduces the need to land and swap batteries, extending mission endurance and reducing risk in contested environments.”

Autonomous ARC transmitter

Like the UAV it powers, the ARC transmitter unit is autonomous, and can follow the drone, providing recharge while the UAV is in flight.

Demonstration of the technology has been released by PowerLight, which saw a Kraus Hamdani Aerospace K1000ULE (pictured) taking to the skies equipped with a power beaming receiver.

“This new DOW award reflects confidence in where wireless power beaming is today and in the operators who are shaping it,” said Tim Jenks, the CEO of PowerLight. “Power beaming applies well beyond a single domain, from ground-to-ground, ground-to-air, air-to-air, and space-to-space, and that is the opportunity ahead.”

Development of the technology is taking place at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and PowerLight has designed it to be usable with various drone classes. This includes Group 2 fixed-wing platforms and larger aircraft with heavier sensor or effects payloads.

• Standard Zero DS completes over 271 miles on a single charge
• Previous record only managed 193 miles
• Mountainous environment helped with the endeavor

Californian electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero, which also has a major presence in Europe, has just set a new Guinness World Record after its Zero DS adventure bike covered just over 271 miles on a single charge of its 19.2 kWh battery set-up.

The model in question was factory standard and uses the firm’s high-density integrated battery, a passively-cooled interior permanent magnet motor, and regenerative deceleration technology to eke the most mileage out of every charging session.

Running standard tires and tire pressure, with no modifications beyond the factory-available Power Tank, which sees an additional 3.6 kWh battery stashed where a traditional fuel tank would be, the 19.2 kWh total battery array managed to clock 271.23 miles (436.5 kilometers) on its GPS unit.

This figure was then independently verified by Guinness World Records, which concluded that the Zero DS travelled 40% further than the existing record holder, set by Verge Motorcycles’ TS Pro around London in 2025.

(Image credit: Zero Motorcycles)

Zero had a helping hand when it came to the terrain, as the route contained mainly quieter A and B roads in France (no highways were involved).

It also started high in the French Alps and wound its way down toward the Mediterranean coast, meaning the riders could take full advantage of regenerative braking.

Despite this, the undertaking was no mean feat, as the riders faced a long time in the saddle and battled the elements as the final stretch was met with pouring rain.

We say riders, because three intrepid explorers took on the challenge, with both the Zero SRS and DSR/X models also attempting to make history.

Those machines managed 217 miles and 239 miles respectively.

Analysis: An incredible achievement, with a caveat

(Image credit: Zero Motorcycles)

Alongside high prices, range anxiety is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to electric motorcycles, as packaging makes it very difficult to engineer any sort of meaningful battery into the inherently svelte frames.

“Range anxiety remains a hurdle for prospective riders,” Jarno Middelbosch, Senior Director Global Marketing of Zero Motorcycles said.

“By proving a real-world range of over 270 miles on a single charge, we're showing what's possible to welcome the next generation of riders to Zero Motorcycles”.

However, there are a few things to consider here. Firstly, the Zero riders took full advantage of elevation, with regenerative braking likely playing a huge part in the record attempt.

Personally, I have experienced the same phenomenon when I rode the Can-Am Pulse and Origin along the winding routes of Southern France. During the descents, I found I was actively adding a considerable amount of range to the bike’s read-out.

Secondly, the Zero riders deliberately set out at night, where there would be less traffic and they could target a speed of around 32mph for maximum efficiency.

Both of these scenarios might not exactly be representative of most people’s daily commutes, but it does prove what is possible with some forward planning and 'sensible' riding.

Plus, with improvements in battery and motor efficiency, as well as the promise of more power-dense solid-state batteries on the horizon, this record might not stand for much longer.

The Insta360 Link 2 Pro is a 4K webcam with a motorized gimbal that earned itself 4.5-stars in our review, where we called it one of the best webcams we've ever reviewed. That's a bold declaration, but it's backed up with sharp 4K image quality, strong low-light performance and an AI-powered gimbal that keeps you in frame.

At $210, it's absolutely overkill if you're not already in front of the camera every day. if you're running the occasional meeting with the boss, there are more affordable options out there. But the Link 2 Pro is still the best pick for those who need the resolution and features on offer here.

• Best for: Remote workers, streamers and creators who want a webcam that looks sharp in low light and follows them around the room.

• The deal: The Insta360 Link 2 Pro 4K webcam is now $210 (was $250) at Amazon.

The Link 2 Pro has a 1/1.3-inch sensor that records 4K at 30fps, a two-axis gimbal with AI tracking, HDR and a dual-mic system with directional pickup. It connects over USB-C, works with Zoom, Teams and Twitch, and supports Stream Deck controls. This is the Standard Bundle in Graphite Black, sold by Insta360 Direct and shipped by Amazon.View Deal

Why we recommend it

In our Insta360 Link 2 Pro review, our expert Christian called it "genuinely one of the best webcams I've ever reviewed." He found it to be "a straight upgrade to last year's Link 2", praising its 4K picture quality, reliable gimbal tracking, wide range of controls and premium build.

Ultimately, it really "a powerhouse webcam for serious content creators and remote business." But the high price tag means you'll need a good reason to fork out for it. Still, the image quality, resolution, and motorized gimbal are excellent features if you're upgrading from a built-in laptop webcam. And the $40 saving sweetens the deal.

Price Context & Historical Value

At $209.99, this is $40 (16%) off the $249.99 list price, which is also the price we listed in our review last month. That's not an all-time low, which was $200 in June this year. So, still a discount, but there's a chance it'll drop back to that price in the upcoming Black Friday sale.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Insta360 Link 2 Pro 4K webcam if...

You spend your day on video calls or stream regularly, and you want a premium 4K webcam with reliable gimbal tracking that keeps you in shot even as you move in your seat.

❌ Skip the Insta360 Link 2 Pro 4K webcam if...

A cheaper webcam would do for occasional calls, or you need Windows Hello support.

• See all webcams at Amazon.

• Ray-Ban Meta users have noticed unwanted voice recordings
• Meta says the issue is resolved but hasn't said what went wrong
• Turning off voice activation for the AI seems to fix the problem

If you're already facing a barrage of criticism over perceived privacy intrusions, then you really don't want more allegations of spying loaded on top — but that's what Meta is dealing with when it comes to its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Over on Reddit (via Android Authority), one Ray-Ban Meta user says they've found audio conversations and text transcripts saved by the glasses that were never requested or associated with a "hey Meta" command to invoke the on-board AI.

According to the individual, it's happened on three different pairs of specs (including 2nd and 3rd generation models), and others have posted in the conversation to say they've seen the same behaviour on their own Ray-Ban Metas.

Meta has responded to Android Authority, without providing much detail, and says the issue "has been resolved". We've reached out to Meta ourselves to see if there's any further comment, and will update this article if we hear back.

Check your voice logsWARNING: My Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Are Recording Conversations Without “Hey Meta” — Happening on 3 Pairs! from r/MetaGlasses

If you own a pair of Meta smart specs, you can check voice recording activity by opening the Meta AI app on your phone, then selecting Glasses > Device settings. Tap on the name of your glasses, then Glasses privacy > Voice activity log.

You can delete voice recordings from here, but you can't stop them being captured in the first place. In theory, they should only be recorded when you say "hey Meta", or activate the AI with a button push.

The associated privacy notice does mention voice services being "inadvertently" activated, which may be what's happened here. It also says some recordings may be reviewed by Meta staff to "help improve Meta's voice services".

Some Redditors have resorted to turning voice activation off for the integrated AI, which you can do from the same device settings screen in the Meta AI app. Clearly though, that's an inconvenience users shouldn't have to put up with to stop this from happening.

• Deliveroo's robot delivery trials have been blasted by a UK trade union
• GMB Union says "innovation should not come at the expense of real people"
• It adds that the robot delivery plans weren't negotiated with workers

Deliveroo's first robot delivery trials in the UK have been heavily criticized by a trade union representing human couriers, which says they're "disappointing" and weren't negotiated with workers.

The UK's first Deliveroo robot deliveries will take place this month in London's Canary Wharf, after the delivery giant announced a partnership with Coco Robotics to use its fully-electric 'bots. Other trials will take place in Milton Keynes, Leeds, Stockton-on-Tees and Nottingham "in the coming weeks and months".

But the GMB Union, which represents couriers across Deliveroo's rider network, says the Nottingham trials represent an investment that hasn't been forthcoming to its human equivalents. "If Deliveroo can afford to invest in autonomous technology, why can it not invest properly in the workers who keep the platform running every day?", said Claude Bahati (GMB Organizer).

Another bone of contention for the GMB is the lack of dialogue with workers. "Innovation should not come at the expense of real people, and these developments must always be negotiated with workers," Claude Bahati added.

The prospect of Deliveroo's four-wheeled robots moving around city centers has understandably sparked some anger from human riders, who have been demanding better working conditions. "Food couriers continue to struggle with rising living costs and are calling for fairer pay and compensation for return journeys," said Claude Bahati.

"Decision makers must pay greater attention to the realities of the gig economy and ensure that riders are treated with dignity, respect and fairness. Deliveroo’s future must include investment in the people who have built its success, not just its technologies," they added.

We've asked Deliveroo to respond to the GMB Union's criticisms and will update this page when we receive a response.

Analysis: Do we really want robot deliveries?

(Image credit: Evri)

We asked TechRadar readers in a poll (below) last week whether they'd be happy to have robots bringing their Deliveroo order to their door — and just under half (48%) said "no, I'd rather have a human deliver".

Robots weren't completely ruled out, with 31% of respondents saying "yes, why not — it's the future". But the sentiment right now, at least among our readers, is still a preference for human riders, despite the novelty of four-wheeled robots.

These flare-ups between delivery companies and human riders are only likely to increase, as Deliveroo is far from the only company experimenting with robotics. Evri recently announced a trial of its first two-legged robot delivery drivers in the UK, while in the US DoorDash revealed its new delivery drone for Northern California.

The debate will hinge on the benefits versus the costs to both customers and human workers. Deliveroo has promised that "the majority of orders will continue to be fulfilled by Deliveroo’s extensive rider network", and also pointed to their robots' ability to share real-time data on pavement hazards with a popular GPS navigation app, BlindSquare, for the blind and partially sighted.

But in the US, Amazon has recently come under fire in Texas for the noise created by its first Prime Air drones. Further, it remains to be seen whether four-wheeled robots, which are already trundling around cities like Los Angeles, Miami, and Helsinki on behalf of DoorDash, become a real threat to human couriers or just a niche pair of extra hands.

It seems that with the RAMpocalypse and component cost crisis that saw even Apple recently increase prices across the range, laptops are next in line for a price hike. So, we've been looking out for future-proofed laptops with the specs professionals need to see out the latest cost increases.

One that caught my eye is the Lenovo's ThinkPad T14s Gen 7 with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. It features Wi-Fi 7, an 80 TOPS NPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB drive. Exactly the kind of specs that keep a work laptop useful as software gets more demanding.

• Best for: Business users and mobile professionals who want a thin, future-proof ThinkPad with long battery life and Copilot+ AI features.

• The deal: The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 7 now $2169 (was $2669) at Lenovo. In the UK, the same model is currently £2855.

This ThinkPad T14s Gen 7 has a Snapdragon X2 Elite X2E-80-100 processor, 32GB of soldered LPDDR5X memory, a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD and Windows 11 Pro on Arm. The 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display is non-touch, anti-glare and rated at 400 nits and 60Hz. It also has Wi-Fi 7, a 5MP IR camera with a privacy shutter, a fingerprint reader and a 58Wh battery, and Lenovo limits this doorbuster price to five units per order.

UK price: now £2855View Deal

Price Context & Historical Value

ThinkPads have always performed strongly in our tests - and our hardware editor has sworn by them for years now. The T14s line remains one of our favorites, delivering high scores across the Gen 4 and Gen 6 models.

So, while we haven't tested the Gen 7 configuration yet, it ticks the future-proofing boxes business buyers care about: an 80 TOPS NPU for Copilot+ features, Wi-Fi 7, ThinkShield security, MIL-STD-810H durability testing, and customer-replaceable parts that Lenovo says make it easier to extend the laptop's life.

It's a thin, light ThinkPad built for work on the move, and it comes with 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage rather than the lower-spec starting configurations.

For more picks, we've tested the best business laptops.

Value verdict

At $2,169, this is $500 (about 19%) off Lenovo's $2,669 "est. value", which is Lenovo's own reference price rather than a tracked street price. Lenovo labels it a doorbuster with a five-unit limit, so the price may not last. Lenovo also offers business and student pricing through its members-only offers.

• Check out all laptop deals at Lenovo.

The headline feature of Apple’s new smart home devices, including the HomeView, will also be available on older Apple TV models.

• Nvidia has considerably improved the AI model for DLSS 5
• This means the tech now offers up to 40% faster frame rates
• Team Green has also improved frame generation, and is bringing DLSS 5 to two new games: Hogwarts Legacy and Where Winds Meet

If you were wondering how soon Nvidia might start ramping up the performance of DLSS 5, well the answer is that it just happened.

Team Green's neural-rendering tech, which officially debuted in NBA 2K27, has only been out for just over a month, but Nvidia is claiming that it has doubled the performance of the AI that drives DLSS 5.

When it was first previewed in March 2026, DLSS 5 needed a pair of RTX 5090 GPUs to run, with the company improving the performance of the AI model by 5x for the release of the tech in NBA 2K27. With this latest update, it's now 10x more performant than that baseline.

Nvidia also made it clear that it has reduced the video memory (VRAM) usage of the tech considerably, noting that: "The DLSS 5 October update shrinks the [AI model] footprint by 24% to roughly 118 million parameters while reducing 4K VRAM usage by 20%. The result is half the GPU overhead of the September [launch] version while maintaining comparable visual fidelity."

Based on Nvidia's testing in NBA 2K27, that translates to boosts in frame rates in the order of 30% to 40%. Check out the video clip below to see the gains in the basketball game.

This new DLSS 5 model launches on October 16, with availability for RTX 5000 GPUs, RTX Spark laptops and the GeForce Now streaming service.

Nvidia also announced that DLSS 5 is being introduced for Hogwarts Legacy on November 5, and also Where Winds Meet in the "near future", although we aren't given a specific launch date in the latter case.

Finally, away from DLSS 5, Nvidia announced that it's bringing in a new performance mode for frame generation, speeding up the tech considerably. The company explains that this benefits from a "faster and lighter algorithm" that boosts frame rates even further, and that it'll offer up to 35% better frame rates with an RTX 5060.

This performance mode is called 'Preset C' in the Nvidia app's frame-generation override.

DLSS 5 is also coming to RTX Remix on October 23, meaning old games can get a graphical makeover with added neural-rendering goodness. That only makes sense. given that gamers have been fudging support (in various ways) with classic PC games anyway.

Analysis: a laudable step forward — but gamers want more

It's remarkable to see DLSS 5 performance being boosted so quickly, although Nvidia needed to act in this regard. One of the main criticisms of this tech has been that the performance hit is too hefty, and it requires a powerful RTX 5000 GPU to run smoothly enough — at a time when the prices of such graphics cards are getting rapidly more expensive.

That said, an increasing number of gamers seem to be accepting that DLSS 5 is worth the cost to the frame rate for the visual uplift. Those folks will doubtless be pleased with Nvidia's progress here, and likely wouldn't disagree with Team Green's assertion in its blog post that 2026 has been a "year of relentless DLSS innovation."

Of course, there are still skeptics who'd rather Nvidia didn't bring AI into play in this way with DLSS. And it's also true that these early optimizations are where the larger gains will be carved out, and as the AI model is further refined, performance improvements are likely to become a lot more modest.

There are also gamers out there who are asking whether, now that the AI model is much improved, this going to usher in wider support for Nvidia's older graphics cards? As this Redditor put it: "Great so could we get official support on the [RTX] 40 series now since the new model is so efficient?"

It's a good question, given that Nvidia has promised that after tuning RTX 5000 performance it's going to work on bringing support to the last-gen RTX 4000 range. I'm guessing this won't happen until early next year, though.

The other work on DLSS frame generation is obviously welcome, too, albeit the new 'Preset C' option has attracted some criticism for causing a bit more glitching and artifacts while boosting frame rates by a decent amount. Not everyone is seeing this, mind, and how obvious it is may be somewhat subjective going by reports (and it could obviously depend on the specific game, too).

At any rate, this preset should be useful for laptop gamers looking to further bolster frame rates with relatively modest Nvidia GPUs — and indeed, it's likely tied into the release of RTX Spark laptops to help their gaming chops.

• Two LiteLLM flaws let low-privileged users gain administrative control and execute malicious code
• Attackers could also steal AI provider API keys through a server-side request forgery bug
• Organizations should upgrade to LiteLLM 1.83.9+ and rotate potentially exposed credentials

Security researchers recently discovered two vulnerabilities in a popular AI gateway that allowed threat actors to take complete control of the system, steal sensitive files and AI provider API keys, and execute malicious code remotely.

The AI gateway in question is called LiteLLM. It is an open source solution allowing users to connect their applications to large language models (LLM) from different providers, including the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic.

The connection goes through a single interface, where users can route requests, manage API keys, control user access, and monitor things like usage and costs.

Right now, LiteLLM supports some 140 AI providers and has become quite popular - it has more than 90 million monthly downloads on GitHub, and more than 61,000 stars.

LiteLLM

However, security experts from Check Point Research (CPR) recently found two bugs in LiteLLM.

The first one is an access control bug in the way LiteLLM enforces permissions. It is tracked as CVE-2026-35029 and was given a severity score of 8.7/10 (high). According to CPR, the bug allows users with minimal privileges to reach admin functions controlling the gateway’s core configuration which, in turn, allows them to read files stored on the server, overwrite admin credentials, download and run malware, and more.

The second one is a server side request forgery bug, allowing gateway users to direct LiteLLM to send API requests to third-party servers. In theory, threat actors could send API requests to servers under their own control, and since these carry AI provider authentication keys, this would deliver the credentials directly to the attackers. In turn, they could use the credentials to use other organizations’ AI accounts and rake up their bills. The bug is tracked as CVE-2026-59823 and was given a severity score of 5.3/10 (medium).

“The credentials a gateway holds provide direct, billable access to AI providers with no further authentication required,” CPR explained. “Given LiteLLM’s scale of adoption, a flaw in this component has the potential to affect a very large number of AI deployments at once.”

Vulnerable versions and patches

CPR says that all organizations running LiteLLM versions earlier than 1.83.9 are exposed to both vulnerabilities. Security teams should also check for LiteLLM instances running indirectly, since the gateway is embedded in many platforms and internal tools used to build AI applications. As such, it could be present in environments where it was never deployed as a standalone solution.

LiteLLM has released a fix for both bugs included in version 1.83.9, and users are advised to install this one as soon as possible. Besides that, CPR advises users review who has access to the gateway, since any account could be used to exploit these flaws. AI provider API keys stored in LiteLLM should be rotated if there is any indication the gateway way accessed by unauthorized users, and permissions should be verified in practice.

“Confirm that users with limited roles are actually limited, because the gap between configured and enforced permissions is where flaws like CVE-2026-35029 cause the most damage,” CPR warns.

“Include LLM gateways in security assessments by extending penetration tests and vulnerability assessments to cover AI tooling alongside web applications and cloud infrastructure.”

According to the researchers, both bugs are a “well understood class” of errors, meaning AI infrastructure suffers from the same risks as enterprise software. That means organizations need to approach AI gateway security “with the same rigor they apply to any other business critical system.”

Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike review: Two-minute review

The Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike isn’t the gaming mouse revolution that its predecessor was. The X2 Superstrike wowed in our review when it launched earlier this year, earning a rare five-star score, with most of the praise centered around its incredibly HITS (haptic inductive trigger system) switches.

These allow the user to fully customize the actuation point of the two main mouse buttons in the Logitech G Hub companion software, so you can tweak them specifically for the game that you’re playing. Hair trigger actuation cuts down click latency in competitive first-person shooters like Counter-Strike 2, potentially giving you a split-second advantage, while going for deeper, more deliberate clicks might be preferable for productivity work or slower strategy titles.

You can also choose the level of haptic feedback provided with each input, ranging from very little (or even nothing) to robust, strong clicks. Built on much the same principles as popular Hall effect switches, the sensors are extremely durable too, which is a massive plus.

(Image credit: Future)

Though they now lack that initial novelty, the HITS switches remain superb in the Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike. Other things we appreciated, like the comfortable right-handed shape, two customizable side buttons, and understated aesthetic, remain just as good this time around as well — as very little has been changed on the surface beyond the introduction of two new colorways: a sleek Midnight Black and a bright Magenta Eclipse (a cool pink and black).

Internally, things are different. Logitech G has redesigned the weight distribution to make the mouse less top-heavy. It’s weighs very slightly less at 59g, so very comfortable and light, and is now more balanced overall, which makes it slide even more smoothly in your hand. It’s also powered by a new chipset, the NxLOGI, designed for increased power efficiency.

Logitech G claims that it has taken the battery life all the way to 135 hours per charge, up by 45 hours compared to the previous model. Although it didn’t quite hit that lofty target in my testing, it still comfortably lasts a full week of daily use even with power-hungry features like click haptics cranked up.

(Image credit: Logitech)

The Logitech Pro X3 Superstrike has an upgraded Hero 2 sensor, too, raising the sensitivity from the X2’s 44,000 DPI (dots per inch) to 48,000 DPI and tracking speed from 888 IPS (inches per second) to 930 IPS. You can now access the 8,000Hz polling rate when using the mouse in a wired capacity too – the feature was previously locked to just wireless mode.

I’m not exactly an esports pro, but throughout my testing I found the mouse to be incredibly responsive and accurate, undoubtedly helping my performance as I sunk hour after hour into Counter-Strike 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

I do wish Logitech G had packed even more upgrades to really justify the X3 name, but all contribute to a successor that is a clear upgrade compared to what came before. You do unfortunately have to pay a little more this time around, though, as you will see below.

Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike review: Price & availability

• Costs $199.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
• Available via Logitech and online retailers
• More expensive than the X2 Superstrike

The Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike comes at $199.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95 and is available via the official Logitech website and online retailers like Amazon. In the US and UK, it’s slightly more expensive than the X2, which costs $179.99 / £159.99 / AU$299.95 and remains on sale alongside this newer arrival.

That’s firmly in premium territory for a gaming mouse, and whether the added $20 / £10 for the newer model is worth it for you is going to come down to whether you’re willing to pay a little more for even greater specs and better weight distribution.

Bizarrely, the price is the same as the old model in Australia, making the X3 the clear choice out of the two in that region.

Should I buy the Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike?Scorecard

Value

The Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike isn’t cheap, but it’s also clearly aimed at competitive gamers willing to pay big bucks for the best of the best.

4.5/5

Design and features

Maintains everything we loved about the X2, but now offered in fresh colorways with improved weight distribution.

5/5

Performance

Snappy, comfortable in the hands, and highly customizable. You can’t ask for more from a gaming mouse.

5/5

Final score

More upgrades to justify the X3 Superstrike name would have been appreciated, but Logitech G has otherwise delivered a superior version of one of the best gaming mice we’ve ever tested.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want the best of the best
The Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike is pricey, but you really get what you pay for. Top-of-the-line specs and the incredibly customizable HITS switches make this the best of the best in competitive gaming mice right now.

You want unique haptic switches
There are few alternatives out there if you want haptic switches on a mouse like this, making the Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike a clear choice.

You’re a serious FPS gamer
Being able to set the main buttons to activate on a hair trigger cuts down the time it takes to fire – which can make a real difference in competitive FPS titles.

Don't buy it if…

You can settle for less
Realistically, most buyers don’t need the high specs or features on offer here. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives to the Logitech G Pro X3 if you’re not a competitive gamer.

Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike review: Also consider

Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike
The original Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike is still an excellent mouse, and it’s a little bit cheaper than the X3 despite offering nearly all the same features. With this new version out, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s soon on sale at great prices too.

Read our full Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition
This Asus and Aim Lab collaboration is a fantastic competitive gaming mouse that comes in at half the price of the X3 Superstrike. It’s incredibly lightweight and integrates seamlessly with the popular Aim Lab training software.

Read our full Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike

• Tested for multiple weeks
• Tried with popular esports titles
• Compared to other competitive gaming mice

I tested the Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike for multiple weeks, both in the lead-up to and after its official reveal and release. I used it daily for both gaming sessions and productivity tasks.

On the gaming side, I endeavoured to test popular esports titles including Counter-Strike 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. I also played a range of other games from Gears of War: E-Day to Cities: Skylines 2 and Far Cry 6.

Throughout my hands-on time with the mouse, I compared its performance to that of other high-end gaming mice – particularly my usual go-to models, the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition and Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: October 2026

The DeepMind co-founder addressed AI’s role in scientific inquiries and the positive outcomes he expects in addressing climate change.

Most people spend more time in their browser than in almost any other piece of software they use. It's where they read the news, check their bank accounts, work, shop and more. Yet, for something so central to daily life, most people have a surprisingly limited understanding of what their browser is actually doing behind the scenes.

That gap was easier to overlook when browsers had a relatively simple job. They opened websites and displayed them on a screen. But today, browsers hold login credentials, manage permissions, block trackers and increasingly give AI agents the ability to act on a user's behalf. The browser has gone from being a window on the internet to one of the most important layers between people and everything they do online.

That shift is understandably enough to make users more cautious than they used to be when online. But, misunderstandings about browsers means that caution may be misdirected. Many users make decisions about tools based on outdated assumptions, shaping everything. Users make very different from what they install to what they let an AI feature access.

As the browser takes on more responsibility, understanding what it actually does is becoming a basic part of staying safe online. Here are three common misconceptions worth clearing up.

1. The browser is tracking everything users do

The browser is the interface through which almost everything online happens. So, when people see ads following them around the internet or notice that a website seems to know something about them, it's natural to assume the browser itself is responsible.

But seeing someone's activity isn't the same as the browser collecting, storing or monetizing it.

In most cases, the data collection comes from websites, advertising technology, embedded trackers and third-party scripts, not the browser itself. A single website can have dozens of companies collecting information about a visitor's behavior, even though the user may have no idea those companies are present.

With that in mind, the browser can actually be one of the most transparent parts of the ecosystem. It's the layer that can show users when a website wants access to their location, expose cookie controls and privacy settings, block trackers, and flag potentially dangerous connections.

Those protections don't mean browsers are inherently private, but the browser is often the place where users have the clearest opportunity to see and control what's happening.

That doesn’t mean every browser handles this the same way. Different browsers make different decisions about which protections are enabled by default, what information they expose to users, and how much control they give people over their data. So the browser isn’t necessarily the source of the privacy problem, but it is often one of the most important places to address it. That distinction becomes even more important as AI moves into the browser.

2. AI assistants inside browsers automatically see everything

People sometimes assume that giving an AI assistant access to one part of their browsing experience means giving it access to everything else. But browser access doesn't have to be all or nothing. An AI can be given access to a specific page, tab or task without being given unrestricted visibility into everything else the user has open.

A useful comparison here is employee privilege. No serious organization would give a new hire the keys to every system on day one, or leave that access in place permanently after a project ends. AI assistants inside a browser should be treated the same way. An AI drafting an email should only need access to the email tab, not the banking session running in another window. And when the task ends, access should end with it.

The practical implication for security teams is that AI browser features deserve the same scrutiny as any other tool touching sensitive data. That means asking vendors what the default permissions are, whether access is scoped to a task or granted broadly, and whether users are meaningfully informed about what the AI is doing on their behalf.

The overarching takeaway is that "AI is inside the browser" and "AI has access to everything in the browser" are not the same. Confusing the two is how users end up giving away more than they intended.

3. Privacy and security are the same thing

People often use "privacy" and "security" interchangeably, but they describe two different problems.

Security is primarily about preventing unauthorized access or stopping malicious activity. Privacy is about controlling what information is collected, shared and retained.

Anonymity is a good example of this. More anonymity can mean better privacy because less of a user’s activity can be traced back to them. But take anonymity too far and it can work against security, making malicious activity harder to identify and stop. The two aren’t necessarily opposites, but they aren’t interchangeable either, and maximizing one can sometimes come at the expense of the other.

The same idea also applies to AI tools. An AI feature can be highly secure, with encryption, sandboxing and carefully designed permissions, and still raise privacy concerns if a user’s prompts or page content are sent to a third-party AI provider. At the same time, an AI system can be highly private by running entirely on a user’s device and still create a security risk if a hostile webpage can manipulate it into taking an action the user never intended.

The better option is to ask two separate questions of any browser or feature. First, is my browser safe enough to protect me from malicious activity? And second, does my browser enable me to control the data I’m giving to other companies? A good browser answers yes to both.

The common theme running through all three misconceptions is that browsers have outgrown the way we talk about them. And they’re not done evolving. So, the better we understand where the real privacy and security risks live, and just as importantly where they don't, the better equipped users and organizations will be to make informed decisions about the tools they trust.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

I’ve used Oppo’s Find X10 and these are my favorite example photos.

• Researchers found an exposed database containing 13.7 million records from past data breaches and leaks
• Archive included passwords, banking details, and data tied to major firms like AT&T and Amazon
• The database was secured after disclosure, highlighting ongoing risks from exposed breach repositories

Indian software development platform Vibetech seems to have been collecting data exposed in various leaks and cyberattacks and creating one big repository.

Besides the questionable legality of the whole ordeal, an equally important issue is that the archive was sitting on the open internet, available to anyone who knew where to look.

AT&T, PayPal, and more

The news comes from Jeremiah Fowler, a security researcher known for hunting down non-encrypted, non-password-protected databases across the web.

Fowler's research found one database containing 13.7 million records, including a “collection of highly sensitive data from previous breaches,” including names, people’s phone numbers, email addresses, passwords, bank account details, and more.

“In a limited sample, I saw accounts and credentials belonging to individuals from multiple countries," Fowler noted.

The archive was split by company names - the majority of the records (almost eight million) came from an AT&T data leak, but other notable mentions include Amazon (1.2 million), Walmart (420,000 records), BluBank Digital Bank (24,000 records), and PayPal (18,000 records). There were even (relatively small) leaks from the FBI Employee Directory (4,084 records), as well as Interpol (929 records).

This is, by no means, your average data breach archive, as it contained passwords and banking details, which makes it infinitely more potent, as threat actors can directly access people’s online accounts, escalate privileges to deploy ransomware, and possibly wire funds directly from people’s bank accounts.

Fowler later discovered that the IP address of the database was connected to a data intelligence platform operated or developed by Vibetech, which, Fowler speculates, was collecting datasets from previous breaches or leaks, and inadvertently made them publicly accessible without authentication.

The researcher notified both the company and the hosting provider, and the database was restricted and made no longer publicly accessible, soon after. Furthermore, a day later the IP address no longer hosted the plaintext credentials and instead displayed an Information Security Management System (ISMS) compliance platform dashboard.

Unprotected databases - the bane of internet privacy

According to Fowler’s report, there is a “growing number” of organizations that intentionally collect and sell breached credential datasets, apparently for research, monitoring, or threat intelligence purposes, but the question is how legal the activity actually is.

“Although these datasets can provide valuable insights into attack trends, credential reuse, and emerging threats, organizations that collect compromised personal information operate in a legally and ethically complex environment,” Fowler argues.

Unprotected databases are one of the leading causes of data leaks. In many instances, these are unintentional - businesses generating or harvesting data often misconfigure their buckets or are under the impression that securing the data is the cloud provider’s responsibility.

For example, in early 2024, Cybernews discovered an archive with personal information on approximately 223 million Brazilians. Brazil is a country of 214 million people, making some researchers speculate if the country’s entire population was exposed. The researchers said they discovered the database after running a query in Elasticsearch but couldn’t determine who the owners were.

Earlier still, in 2021, a B2B sales and marketing company leaked personally identifiable information (PII) of up to 126 million US citizens, when researchers discovered an unsecured database on Amazon’s cloud computing platform AWS. The archive, owned by a US-based marketing company OneMoreLead, included email addresses, home address, and phone numbers, and more could easily have been used to perpetrate identity theft, financial fraud, or be used to devise effective phishing campaigns.

Individuals who think their information may have been exposed in any of these breaches should change their passwords immediately and be careful with incoming email messages.

If I could scoop up the feeling of playing any game for the first time and relive it, I’d use my free pass on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Thankfully, after two hours with the game in an early access preview with Nintendo of Europe, I’m fully backing the 40th Anniversary remake for the Nintendo Switch 2 as the next best thing.

I was invited to play through the first 45 minutes in Kokiri Forest, a quick 15-minute jaunt across Hyrule Field and into the Hyrule Castle Town Market, as well as the entirety of Adult Link’s forest temple, and in that time, I was totally won over on this long-awaited remake.

From what I’ve seen so far, Ocarina of Time’s 2026 remake is faithful to the original, but additive in all the right ways. Having replayed the same segments in the original through Nintendo Switch Online post-preview, though, these refinements make the two feel worlds apart, and I think the 2026 remake is shaping up to be the definitive way to enjoy the Hero of Time’s epic adventure.

NintendoNintendoNintendoNintendoNintendoNintendoNintendoSomething old, something new…

Rendered in vivid greens and cerulean blues, the Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive 40th Anniversary remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a feast for the senses. The biggest talking point and most drastic change is, of course, the art style.

The level of detail could be described as maximalist, from the intricate woven patterns on Link’s iconic green garb to the litany of floaties, sprites, and fairies crowding the airways of Kokiri Forest. However, online discourse suggests it hasn’t been to everyone’s taste — nor was it to mine, at first glance.

From playing the game, I’m reassured that the art style makes sense in Ocarina of Time’s Hyrule. Nintendo has a history of shifting artistic gears with each new era, but there’s a sound logic, thematically, behind its arguably garish style.

The game has always had plenty of visual cues for the loss of innocence, the death of magic, and the corruption of whimsy; I’ve previously compared many of Nintendo’s artistic treatments within Zelda games to mid-century fantasy media like The Lord of the Rings. That contrast is all the more apparent with such a lush backdrop to build upon, and every second I played felt totally immersive visually. Plus, with free camera movement and no fixed perspectives in Hyrule Castle Town Market, you can take in every angle of the world; it’s a facelift I feel the game really deserves.

There is a cartoonish quality to the character models, with some online naysayers calling them DLSS or AI slop-coded. While I still have my reservations when it comes to Zelda and Sheik’s models, they do fit well in this more fantasy-inspired Hyrule. Perhaps not to everyone’s taste, no, but welcome to the world of entertainment media where your feelings are not fact. To me, all of the stylistic changes feel true to what the game would have looked like if hardware back in the late 90s was capable of rendering it, but most crucially, the feeling of the original is preserved and, in places, improved.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

The soundtrack is grand and sweeping, refining an already beautiful soundscape with re-orchestrated themes, refreshed vocal efforts (read: Link’s “hyup” and “hyaah”s), and all-new cutscene voice acting.

Given there’s a lot more dialog now, too, nailing the voice acting feels more important than ever; I’m personally not sold on some of the performances, though. The sparse lines I heard from Navi weren’t quite as distinctive (nor annoying) as I was hoping for, and the Greak Deku Tree is less epic Shakespearean, more audiobook reader on 0.75x speed. In fairness, I wasn’t immediately impressed by some of Breath of the Wild’s voice acting, either, but over time these grew on me — perhaps it will be the same here.

I noticed in my time with the game a few shifts in the story beats; the Deku Tree gives some more context about spirit stones and the fate of Hyrule in his first meeting with Link, and Malon wasn’t in the Hyrule Castle Town Market by the fountain as she is in the original. Those hoping for a 1:1 repeat of the story might find themselves slightly alarmed when the full game releases, but what I’ve seen so far is minimal at best and serves only to neaten up the narrative and some translations.

Fundamentally, though, the core gameplay loop seems to have been preserved, and again, the bulk of what you’re getting with this remake is refinement. Smoother combat and tweaked dungeons and puzzles work around Link’s increased mobility; menus feel more streamlined, and locations for collectibles and items have moved around somewhat. It’s an altogether more cohesive package and offers older fans a chance to rediscover the Hero of Time’s world.

Outside of the obvious talking points already covered in Nintendo’s 40th Anniversary Zelda Direct back in September (Threads of Time quest log, better mobility with dashing, jumping, and swimming, fewer loading screens, etc.), the main addition I noticed that’s entirely new to me is Fairy Messages hidden around Hyrule. I only encountered two of these, but they seem to be a hint system for finding secrets and clues for dungeons. These appear to replace (and add to) at least some of Navi’s clues; though I did miss her near-constant yelling.

NintendoNintendoNintendoSomething borrowed, something blue

I’d wager Nintendo was very intentional in choosing these segments for our demo to keep some of the bigger surprises and adaptations shielded from view before release; and my deepest desires for the remake lurk in these as-yet-unexplored locations.

Some are more expected; from extended gameplay footage and these recent demos, we already know the topology of some locations like Kakariko Village has changed, and arguably for the better, with more to see and do.

We were under strict instruction not to enter peripheral locations like the Lost Woods, and my hope is that’s because there’s a meaty change here. I loved stumbling through Breath of the Wild’s swirling mists and spindly trees; seeing something similar here rather than a series of logs would be a great reimagining of the location, and I'm all for borrowing from more recent games' success.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

I’d be willing to bet that changes will be more significant in later adult Link locations I didn’t see in my preview, though. It’ll be interesting to see how Nintendo navigates the gritty, dark themes in the new world of game age ratings and its more squeaky-clean image. Those who skipped the 3DS remaster might be surprised to discover that, in all likelihood, the blood stains in the Bottom of the Well and Shadow Temple dungeons might be heavily sanitized or entirely removed — but I’m really hoping they find a sensible way to keep the sinister atmosphere intact.

There’s also an opportunity to tie up some loose ends: namely, Zora’s frozen domain, which, presumably for file size reasons, never unfreezes after Adult Link defeats the Water Temple in the original game. It's one of my favorite locations, and seeing it returned to its vibrant ultramarine hues would make Link's efforts all the more satisfying.

These are nice-to-haves, but based on what I’ve played, Nintendo has built a reimagining of greatness from the ground up, and it might even be hard to return to the original without noticing its every flaw or limitation. I certainly struggled post-preview despite racking up more than 20 saves in my lifetime.

I’ll certainly be playing the full game when it releases on November 5th, so make sure to check back then for our full review. Provided it doesn’t take me eons to figure out the new Water Temple… again.