Technology

DJI is a household name when it comes to some of the best drones available to buy today, so the last thing you expect is for it to venture into the home appliances category. And yet that's exactly what it did and DJI's debut robot vacuum nailed every element.

Our DJI Romo P review gives it a high score of 4.5 stars out of 5, calling it an "extremely impressive smart-home debut" and it's all thanks to the company's existing drone technology that gives the robot vacuum practically perfect navigation and obstacle avoidance. And it doesn't compromise on cleaning either.

This powerful combination is what earned it a coveted TechRadar Product of the Year Award this year, where the DJI Romo P made it to the top in the Home category.

It typically retails for well over the two-grand mark, but if you're keen on grabbing one of the best robot vacuums in Australia and save over a thousand dollars, JB Hi-Fi is offering a massive 44% discount on the DJI Romo P right now in an early Black Friday deal. Honestly, that's excellent value — take it from someone who's been testing vacuums of all kinds for a decade.

Romo P: was $2299 now $1296
Looking like it would happily belong inside the Millenium Falcon, this futuristic robovac is a debut model from DJI and yet it can clean just as well as established competitors in the same price bracket. We call it a "hugely impressive package all-round" and, the best part, you can have it for a lot less than its retail price — it's not even officially Black Friday sales time yet!View Deal

There's very good reason that the DJI Romo P won our coveted Home Device of the Year. Let's begin with the obvious, shall we? It's futuristic good looks. There's no robot vacuum like it on the market at the time of writing and it gives off Nothing design vibes where you can see the insides of the machine. I think it would look fabulous inside any modern home.

While its 25,000Pa of suction might not seem like a lot compared to other premium models that now boast upwards of 40,000Pa, you really don't need that much and, in real-world use, the high suction spec doesn't always translate well — just take a look at my Mova V70 Ultra Complete review to find evidence of that. The DJI Romo P, instead, harnesses its suction ability well and, as our tests proved, it vacuums well, aided by extendable brushes.

It's also an excellent mop, but uses dual spinning pads rather than the roller that I personally prefer.

The dock is surprisingly compact and takes care of ongoing maintenance very effectively, giving you as much of an hands-off cleaning experience as is possible for a robot vacuum.

The DJI Home app is one of the rare robovac controllers that we actually like here at TechRadar, with our reviewer saying it's "almost everything a robot app should be".

All in all, the DJI Romo P is a worthy winner of our Home Device of the Year award and definitely worth considering if you're planning on purchasing a new robot vacuum for your home during the Black Friday sales in Australia this month.

• The state of Delaware wishes to add businesses run by AI agents to the already lengthy list of generous regulations in operation
• Rep. James Comer is demanding safety assessments and warning of potential federal legislation if the results are not satisfactory
• Delaware’s bill specifies a 30-month regulatory sandbox for testing, and allows any lawful business to be operated by an Artificial Intelligence Company except banking

The US state of Delaware is planning to add to its generous business rules by allowing companies to be run by AI agents – but Congress lawmakers are not so sure, with one Republican representative writing to the state's governor expressing his concerns, with demands for safety assessments.

Businesses with a Delaware address operate under a range of advantageous regulations, including low (or zero, depending on where the businesses conducts its sales) tax rates and specialized courts.

The prospect of an Artificial Intelligence Company (AIC) being founded is not unlikely, but law experts believe that Delaware’s bill could be used to implement a liability shield for businesses with AI interests.

Harmful actions

Delaaware’s plans have come under the scrutiny of the House Oversight Committee, wish its chairman, Rep. James Comer, pushing back, with concerns over the ability to place an AI in charge of a business.

According to the Financial Times, Comer wrote to the Delaware governor Matt Meyer.“We are concerned," he wrote, "that Delaware’s AIC proposal could be used to protect powerful AI companies and their investors from responsibility for reckless harmful actions.”

In short, if things go wrong, the AI is to blame and the owner of the business has no responsibility.

The draft bill states a 30-month regulatory period in which the AI would be sandboxed. During this time, the concept can then be tested, with an AI agent making the business decisions rather than a human. Like any other business, the company could be sued, and take legal action itself if warranted.

Delaware’s plan could aid in the establishing of AI-centric corporate structures (such as autonomous commerce businesses), something that many believe could happen overseas if no US state acts quickly.

Legal certainty

Various names in business and AI have previously supported the idea of AI-run businesses. Most notable is Mark Cuban, the billionaire investor who suggested earlier this year that as “First to market makes a killing,” any “governor of a state looking to grow their revenues” should allow “anyone to incorporate using an AI agent and stablecoins.”

Andrew Baker, a professor of law at the University of California, indicated to the FT that the Delaware legislation could be an attempt to reach a midway point, perhaps to achieve “legal certainty” for Delaware-registered businesses using agentic AI.

“Ultimately the most likely outcome appears to be an overly generous liability shield which seems unwarranted without some underlying policy rationale that hasn’t been developed or justified well,” Baker said.

As corporations operate as a shield to personal liability, this would not seem beyond the reach of business legislation. However, those cases involve businesses run by humans who have to be accountable to themselves if not the law, and an AI agent has no such moral restrictions.

• Intel and AMD discuss cooperation without revealing the project's purpose
• Intel's existing x86 partnership with AMD already supports shared processor standards
• AMD's ZenDNN optimizations are entering Intel's oneDNN software library

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has discussed potential cooperation with AMD CEO Lisa Su, but neither executive has disclosed what the two companies might develop together.

Intel is pursuing customized processors, new semiconductor technologies, and external manufacturing contracts, and Tan is looking to strengthen these businesses.

Both companies already cooperate on processor standards and AI software, although their latest discussions could involve different technologies or commercial arrangements.

Existing partnerships provide several possibilities

Intel and AMD established the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group in October 2024 alongside other technology companies to coordinate improvements to their shared processor architecture.

The initiative addresses compatibility across x86 processors, helping software developers support products from both manufacturers while the companies continue competing for customers.

Their cooperation has also extended into AI software, with AMD integrating its ZenDNN optimizations into Intel's open-source oneDNN library for CPU-based PyTorch inference.

They have also worked on Advanced Matrix Extensions and other x86 capabilities, providing established examples of cooperation between competing processor manufacturers.

During a chat with Chinese American Semiconductor Professional Association President Jimmy Cheng, Tan discussed his plans to strengthen Intel's processor business.

“We have to reclaim the leadership in CPU. That is something that I am very determined to do,” said Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO.

“I'm modifying it for customer needs, and so that, to me, is a fast-growing area, and I'm double, triple down on it.”

He also described a shift towards accommodating individual customer requirements rather than relying exclusively on Intel's existing processor designs.

Intel's foundry business offers another potential area

Intel's manufacturing operations provide another possible area for cooperation, although no announcement has confirmed that AMD intends to manufacture chips through Intel's foundry business.

Tan said Intel's 18A manufacturing process had entered volume production, while development of its next-generation 14A technology continued.

The company has released version 0.5 of its 14A process design kit, with version 0.9 expected before version 1.0 becomes available for volume production in early 2027.

In January, two prospective customers were evaluating 14A test chips, with firm supplier decisions expected during the second half of 2026 and first half of 2027.

Tan said several customers wanted to expand their businesses through Intel's manufacturing services, but he did not identify them or disclose potential order sizes.

His strategy also includes application-specific integrated circuits, co-packaged optics, advanced packaging, and physical AI, with two or three of these businesses expected to contribute approximately 10% of Intel's revenue individually.

Customer confidence remains important to Intel's manufacturing ambitions because chip designers depend on reliable production schedules and manufacturing quality when developing commercial products.

According to Tan, a customer waited for six to eight months for him to become CEO and then raised 15 areas where Intel had fallen short.

The company said all the complaints were tackled effectively, after which the customer agreed to expand its relationship with Intel.

Tan's account appears intended to reassure prospective foundry customers that Intel can resolve manufacturing problems and retain business, but it does not confirm that AMD will use Intel's manufacturing process.

Via Tom's Hardware

• Google and NASA are developing a robot to assist astronauts medically
• Deep-space communication delays could make onboard medical assistance essential during emergencies
• NASA's robotic assistant could retrieve ultrasound equipment for astronauts experiencing severe pain

Google is developing a robotic medical assistant with NASA to help astronauts handle health emergencies and routine duties during future deep-space expeditions.

The system is intended to support onboard medical personnel while also performing maintenance, moving equipment, and managing supplies when medical assistance is unnecessary.

The project remains experimental, with laboratory testing indicating progress in basic robotic tasks rather than readiness for autonomous medical procedures.

A robotic assistant for astronauts far from Earth

The project brings together Google Cloud, NASA's Human Research Program, Johnson Space Center's robotics team, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to develop robotic assistance for spaceflight.

The work builds on the Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant, an AI medical support system that Google and NASA have been evaluating since 2025.

That earlier system is designed to help astronauts assess health problems when distance and communication delays make immediate consultation with Earth-based doctors difficult.

“An astronaut on a future deep space mission to Mars could face severe operational challenges, including round-trip communication latencies of up to 44 minutes,” said Jim Kelly, Google's public sector vice president.

Such delays could complicate medical decisions during emergencies, making onboard resources increasingly important when astronauts cannot receive immediate instructions from mission control.

Rather than replacing the crew's medical officer, the robot would assist with practical tasks, leaving diagnosis and treatment decisions under human supervision.

For example, an astronaut experiencing intense back pain possibly associated with kidney stones could request an ultrasound examination using equipment retrieved and prepared by the robot.

The machine could then help position the necessary equipment while the medical officer examines the resulting images and determines the appropriate response.

Early tests show progress, with major limitations remaining

Google is also adapting navigation technology developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to help the robot move through its surroundings and locate equipment.

The team has also used DeepMind's MuJoCo physics simulator to assess movement and object handling before attempting more demanding applications.

According to Kelly, during the initial laboratory trials, the robot achieved an 85% success rate when locating and moving a medical bag.

That result concerns a relatively basic retrieval task and does not establish whether the system can reliably perform medical examinations or assist with complicated emergencies.

“To maximize its utility for a lean crew, the robotic system is designed as a versatile 'payload' handler capable of managing cargo, logistics, and equipment,” Kelly explained.

“When not needed for routine maintenance like organizing tools or securing compartments, it can pivot to medical support.”

Google has described the work as a proof of concept, with early laboratory demonstrations completed but no confirmed fully integrated, space-ready robot.

The agency has declined to provide detailed information about the project, stating that it is examining several advanced AI initiatives with partners for possible future missions.

The robot is also expected to handle cargo, organize tools, secure compartments, and support routine maintenance, allowing a small crew to allocate its time more efficiently.

Google's proposed system therefore combines physical assistance with AI-enabled support, although its practical capabilities will depend on further testing and successful integration with spacecraft operations.

“The ultimate goal is to build a robotic system that can execute a variety of tasks via simple voice instructions, under the astronauts’ direct supervision and command,” Kelly said.

“For instance, the robot might be directed to assist with routine health monitoring—such as capturing basic vitals or simple ultrasounds—under the strict guidance of a human crew medical officer.”

Via The Register

• Keybytes lets users assemble custom keyboards from magnetically connected individual keys
• Every Keybit contains its own RISC-V microcontroller for individual key operation
• A full-size Keybytes configuration could cost approximately $900 to assemble

MIT student Nathan Alspaugh has developed Keybytes, an open source keyboard project that lets users create custom layouts by connecting individual keys to a central controller.

The design uses magnetic connections and dedicated microcontrollers to support flexible arrangements.

Keybytes consists of two main elements: the Keyword controller and individual Keybit modules, which connect magnetically to form a personalised keyboard.

Magnetic keys allow custom layouts

Each Keybit contains a RISC-V microcontroller, allowing individual keys to operate independently rather than relying entirely on one central processor.

Every Keybit measures 19.05 x 19.05mm, corresponding to a standard 1U keyboard unit.

Its four-sided pogo pin connections carry power and I2C communications, allowing modules to connect through different edges and accommodate varied arrangements.

The central Keyword module contains two stacked circuit boards, with an Arm Cortex M4 microcontroller.

The Keyword controller contains two stacked circuit boards, with its upper board housing an Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller, a Bluetooth antenna and flash memory.

Its lower board provides USB-C connectivity, charging functions and a buck-boost converter for power management.

Each Keybit accommodates a Cherry MX mechanical switch, giving builders the option of selecting compatible switches for their preferred typing experience.

The magnetic connections allow keys to attach around the Keyword controller or alongside other modules, removing the fixed layout restrictions found in conventional keyboards.

Alspaugh has published the project files, design assets and construction details on GitHub under the permissive MIT licence.

This allows others to examine the design, build their own units and modify the hardware according to their requirements.

Building a full keyboard could cost $900

Despite its flexibility, Keybytes remains an early-stage project, with Alspaugh reporting that the basic system had only recently reached a working state.

Publicly available project documentation currently shows limited combinations of modules rather than a completed, full-size keyboard layout.

The developer estimated that assembling a full-size version using approximately 2 Keyword controllers and 110 Keybits would cost around $900.

That figure indicates how quickly expenses could accumulate when each additional key requires its own circuit board, microcontroller, and other electronic components.

Builders must also account for printed circuit board production, component purchases, soldering, and custom 3D-printed enclosures.

These requirements could make large layouts considerably more demanding than smaller configurations designed around a handful of shortcuts.

The current design also has limitations in its lighting options, since the Keyword includes a status indicator while individual Keybits lack dedicated illumination.

Future versions could add features such as customisable RGB lighting, rotary controls, fingerprint recognition modules or a compatible touchpad. These remain proposed additions rather than confirmed developments.

• ICE has requested numerous social media platforms to hand over data on users who are critical of its agents and operations
• Tech companies have complied, but are now expecting Democrat-led investigations into their compliance following the midterm elections
• Executives want to shield themselves from Congressional inquiries into their conduct

The US midterm elections are just days away, and big tech companies such as Google and Meta are already quietly defying Trump’s orders to hand over data on users who have criticized his stance on immigration.

The incumbent party usually loses seats in the midterm elections, and with a wave of Democratic governors potentially on the horizon tech companies are attempting to stave off future scrutiny.

“They need to be prepared to say, under oath, why they did what they did,” Rep. Shri Thanedar (D., Mich.) said, referring to an investigation into companies who have complied with Trump administration subpoenas.

T&C update: your data may be handed to the authorities

Numerous tech companies with platforms upon which people have voiced critical views of Trump’s handling of immigration policy have begun updating their terms of use to include transparency on how user data could be handed over to the authorities.

Much of the criticism has centered around how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have conducted operations investigating illegal immigrants.

As a recent Department of Homeland Security breach exposed, ICE agents have conducted undercover surveillance operations of protestors, critics, and journalists using wiretaps.

The DHS has also expanded its definition of doxing - the revealing of personal information such as a home address for malicious purposes - to include names and titles. Social media platforms and search engines such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok and X have then been scoured by ICE to identify anything it deems a threat to its agents or operations.

Many of these platforms have been handed administrative subpoenas that do not require approval from a judge. Citizen journalists with channels on YouTube have also been targeted by ICE, with requests to hand over customers’ personal information.

“Violence, threats, and conspiracies to impede law enforcement operations are not protected by the First Amendment,” said White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis.

People familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal that the DHS has increased the number of grand jury subpoenas submitted to platforms that handle user data, which carry heavy consequences for noncompliance.

In order to prepare for potential Democrat inquiries into how tech companies have conducted themselves in line with such subpoenas, some companies have delayed or pushed back on some requests to help insulate themselves from investigations.

A letter from Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) to the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the acting head of the Government Accountability Office accused ICE of using subpoenas to “surveil, intimidate, and suppress the free speech of ordinary citizens and even the free press.”

An ICE spokesperson told the WSJ that all of its operations are “conducted in accordance with applicable law and policy.”

• Nvidia has quietly cut Rubin's listed HBM4 bandwidth from 22 TB/s to 19.2 TB/s per GPU and NVLink 6 from 3.6 TB/s to 3 TB/s
• The eight-GPU HGX Rubin NVL8 fares worst, losing 26% of its memory bandwidth and dropping from 2.3 TB to 2 TB of HBM4 capacity
• On paper, AMD's MI455X now leads on per-GPU memory bandwidth and Helios on scale-up bandwidth, though neither side's figures are benchmarked

Nvidia has quietly lowered the memory and interconnect bandwidth it publishes for Vera Rubin, cutting per-GPU HBM4 bandwidth by about 13% and NVLink bandwidth by about 17%, without a press release or explanation.

The Vera Rubin NVL72 product page now rates each Rubin GPU at 19.2 TB/s of HBM4 bandwidth, down from 22 TB/s, and 3 TB/s of NVLink 6 bandwidth, down from 3.6 TB/s.

Memory capacity holds at 288 GB, and the headline 50 PFLOPS of sparse NVFP4 inference remains unchanged; however, at rack scale, aggregate memory bandwidth slips from 1,580 TB/s to 1,400 TB/s and the NVLink total from 260 TB/s to 216 TB/s, while the two-GPU Vera Rubin Superchip drops from 44 TB/s to 38.5 TB/s.

An edit without an announcement?

The revision surfaced in a report from IT Home, which compared Nvidia's October documentation with a copy saved in June 2026. Wccftech then narrowed the window with Wayback Machine snapshots, placing the edit between September 1 and September 11. Nvidia, as Hardware Busters observed, went "the quiet way: by editing the product pages."

The timing matters here: the change landed shortly after Nvidia's August second-quarter results said Vera Rubin racks were already running at partners including CoreWeave, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, months after early systems began reaching select customers, and just as the fall production shipments Nvidia promised in May 2026 were due to begin.

This suggests the new figures describe hardware going out the door rather than a distant goal, and the nerfed figures sat on Nvidia's site for at least six weeks before anyone reported them.

The downgrade wasn't completely proportional, though, with some configurations taking a bigger hit.

Most noticeably, the HGX Rubin NVL8, Nvidia's standard eight-GPU server board, fares worst. The HGX page now lists 2 TB of HBM4 at 130 TB/s for the whole system, down from 2.3 TB and 176 TB/s, a 26% bandwidth cut.

NVLink Switch bandwidth falls from 28.8 TB/s to 24 TB/s, and dense training figures slip from 280 to 270 PFLOPS of NVFP4 and from 140 to 130 PFLOPS of FP8. Scale-out networking is the only line that rises, by 12.5% in most configurations, and Nvidia hasn't said why.

Scaling back to ensure delivery?

Interestingly, the math does not hold completely anymore: its per-GPU table still advertises 288 GB at 22 TB/s with 3.6 TB/s of NVLink, figures that no longer add up to the system totals printed beside them, and Nvidia's July Rubin architecture deep dive still promises 22 TB/s. Split across eight GPUs, the new totals come to about 16.25 TB/s and roughly 250 GB each.

This fits two potential readings: eight smaller HBM4 stacks running at just under 8 Gbps per pin, the industry baseline, or one of the usual eight stacks disabled per GPU, a trick Nvidia used on the 80 GB H100, but Nvidia hasn't said which approach it took.

The retreat makes more sense given the history here: JEDEC's HBM4 standard, published in April 2025, specifies up to 8 Gb/s per pin across a 2,048-bit interface, or 2 TB/s per stack. Nvidia wanted far more, but it might have had to settle for less.

According to a TechPowerUp report from March, Rubin's per-GPU target climbed from 13 TB/s at GTC 2025 to 20.5 TB/s by that September and 22 TB/s at CES 2026, and a SemiAnalysis note it relayed said SK hynix and Samsung were struggling to reach the final figure, with early shipments expected to be nearer 20 TB/s.

TrendForce reported in September 2025 that Nvidia was pressing suppliers for 10 Gbps per pin as AMD readied Helios, and warned that if volumes fell short or costs ballooned, Nvidia "may abandon the upgrade or segment its platform products."

By January, TrendForce said the request had passed 11 Gbps and sent all three HBM makers back to redesign, though an Nvidia spokesperson told Tom's Hardware that "our HBM4 memory partners remain on track for production shipments." SK hynix finished HBM4 development first, and Samsung began shipping in February at 11.7 Gbps, above Nvidia's stated requirement.

More than a year after TrendForce's warning, the revised sheet reads like its fallback scenario: a lower overall ceiling, plus a further-reduced HGX tier, and this seems to be because Nvidia needs to deliver solutions to its customers as a higher priority than chasing an elusive memory bandwidth goal.

Team Red for the win?

Because of the retreat, perceived or otherwise, the competitive picture shifts considerably, at least on paper. AMD's Instinct MI455X spreads 432 GB across 12 HBM4 stacks for 23.3 TB/s, which needs only about 7.6 Gbps per pin, below the JEDEC baseline. AMD bought its bandwidth with width rather than speed, so it never needed above-standard memory.

When it launched Helios in July 2026, AMD claimed 6% more HBM bandwidth than Vera Rubin NVL72's published figure; against the revised 1,400 TB/s, Helios' 1.67 PB/s is roughly 19% ahead. Scale-up bandwidth, Nvidia's traditional stronghold, was level at 260 TB/s per rack and now favors AMD by about a fifth, while the scale-out increase trims AMD's claimed 50% lead there to about a third.

For buyers running inference, the bandwidth line matters more than the FLOPS line. Nvidia's engineers write in that July deep dive that decode is bound by the memory subsystem, though they argue that what counts is how efficiently kernels use it, and that it is "not about peak bandwidth specs."

The marketing hasn't moved, however: the NVL72 page still promises up to 10x more tokens per megawatt and one-tenth the cost per million tokens versus GB200 NVL72, footnoted as subject to change, and Nvidia hasn't said whether it reran those projections on the lower figures.

None of this makes Rubin slow. At 19.2 TB/s, it still offers about 2.4 times a Blackwell GPU's 8 TB/s, rather than the 2.8x Nvidia's blog still claims. Jensen Huang said in August that "Vera Rubin, now in full production, was built to power exactly this moment." The moment, it turns out, arrived with a little less bandwidth than advertised.

On my recent unboxing of the brand-new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (the one with the brushed aluminum back), I noticed someone asking about the quality of colors in dark mode, and I realized I didn't have a good answer.

Dark Mode, which became popular on modern screens over the past 15 years or so — a throwback to the original CRT displays — has never been my thing. As a result, I don't use it on phones, browsers, or Kindle e-readers. Still, the more I thought about this question (below). The more I wondered about it.

"This might be a dumb question," started one TikTok commenter, "but do the colors still show when in Dark Mode? I've only seen photos in light mode."

I instantly tried to imagine what a comic or graphic novel might look like in Dark Mode and realized I'd never seen it that way either.

Let's try the Colorsoft Dark mode

The Kindle Colorsoft shares a menu system with the rest of the monochrome Kindles, with the Dark Mode option sitting right up top. You access the quick menu with a swipe down from the top of the display. You can also dig into settings to turn on the control from there.

I turned on Dark Mode on the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition and noticed that my library immediately reversed, turning all the white borders black, but the book, magazine, and graphic novel covers remained untouched. If I opened a book, I saw white text on black pages.

The other thing I noticed is that the screen looked a lot dimmer. Basically, Dark Mode automatically lowers the screen brightness by half.

I opened a graphic novel. As with the rest of the Colosoft interface, the borders around each graphic novel page were black. However, each page was still white, with the untouched color panels inside. Honestly, this makes sense, since I can't imagine any artist would want dark mode reversing their work. It would probably look terrible.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

I could see all the colors, but the pages looked too dim. Fortunately, I could still push the front-lit LEDs brighter (I turned them up to max) to return some of that vibrancy, though I'm not sure if that defeats the purpose of Dark Mode.

The other option is to take advantage of the Kindle Colorsoft's reflective display (unlike an LCD, there are no traditional backlights). If you have a good external light or even sunlight, the page looks great with or without dark mode, which can reduce eye-straining screen glare and save some battery life (not much of an issue with Kindles).

Here's what I learned: Yes, you can still see colors in Dark Mode, but as Amazon confirmed to me, "When setting Colorsoft devices to dark mode, the screen may appear dimmer overall due to the color E-Ink layer."

If the screen looks too dim, adjust the brightness or find a good light source and enjoy your colorful graphic novels.

Against a backdrop of component shortages and price hikes, 2026 has been a challenging year for camera companies, and it's been a quieter year for new gear as a result. That being said, we were still treated to some cracking cameras — but standing tall above them all was the Sony A7R VI, with a new 66.8MP full-frame stacked sensor, Bionz XR 2 processor, Sony's latest subject-detection autofocus, and its first new battery for 10 years.

It's a formidable camera whatever your genre of photography, and won both our Best Professional Camera and overall Camera of the Year awards for 2026 at the TechRadar Product of the Year Awards 2026. Here's what makes the A7R VI so special, in my opinion.

Bird photography with the 400-800mm lens was one of the many occasions I made good use of the Sony A7R VI (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Can a camera really be ‘perfect’?

It's possible that I got carried away slightly when I said the A7R VI “had no weaknesses”, but after weeks testing the full-frame mirrorless camera across landscape, portrait and wildlife photography, I had no doubt in my mind that it deserved a perfect 5-star rating.

I’ve been reviewing cameras for almost two decades, and the A7R VI genuinely feels like peak camera. In my A7R VI review, I was even compelled to say “Sony can stop making cameras now.”

The A7R VI is a powerful all-rounder, as opposed to a pure pixel monster

First up, I must point to the new sensor, which had an admittedly modest bump in pixels from the already class-leading A7R V’s 61MP sensor, to 66.8MP. But that’s not the exciting part about this sensor — it’s also a ‘stacked’ type with a faster read-out speed.

Faster read-out speeds can improve a camera’s performance in multiple ways, not least by reducing rolling shutter (an ugly distortion effect that appears when recording video and taking photos of high-speed subjects).

For me, I preferred having the smaller bump in resolution and a greater emphasis on speed, as opposed to an even bigger bump in resolution but no speed improvement. The A7R VI is a powerful all-rounder, as opposed to a pure pixel monster.

The camera packs Sony’s Bionz XR 2 processor, which combines two chips, including one that’s tasked with subject-detection autofocus. Whether I was photographing small birds or large mammals in a nature reserve, or taking portraits, the A7R VI never skipped a beat.

The versatile multi-axis screen can tilt, pull out, and flip out to the side (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Then there’s the camera’s handling. Historically, for me Sony's design and user experience haven't matched those of other leading mirrorless camera brands — I’m a sucker for Nikon in particular. But the A7R VI is spectacularly well designed.

There’s a tilt-and-flip touchscreen, meaning the screen can be pulled out and used as a tilt screen for waist-level shooting, or flipped out and rotated for selfies — traditionally you’d have to pick either / or (or have neither). It’s the most versatile design on the market, and one which you can also find on the latest Lumix S1 II cameras. If I had one wish, it would be that Sony increased the size of its 3-inch display in the future, even if only to 3.2-inches like Nikon.

The viewfinder is big, bright and highly detailed class-leading 9.36m-dot display, while the button layout makes perfect sense, and the camera’s grip is nice and deep and comfortable to hold.

Housed inside the grip is an all-new battery — Sony’s first for 10 years since the legendary NP-FZ100. The new unit has a higher capacity, and increases shot life by 20%; not bad, considering the previous battery already delivered class-leading power.

The downside to the new battery is that it’s not forwards / backwards compatible with the NP-FZ100, so upgraders are going to have to splash out on additional batteries should they need them.

Sony's new high-capacity battery debuted in the A7R VI (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Video specs are decent, though arguably not as strong as those of some lower-resolution rival cameras. For example, Sony again omitted open-gate recording (this would finally appear later in the yet-to-go-on-sale FX5 cinema camera).

But if photography is your beat, and you need a high-resolution sensor with huge scope for cropping — the A7R VI’s Super 35 (APS-C / 1.5x crop) mode is still a healthy 28MP — and don’t need the absolute top speed and buffer performance of cameras like the A9 III and A1 II, there really is no better camera.

The A7R VI was so good, in fact, that it put the (much) pricier A1 II’s position in doubt, given that it can do 90% of what that camera can, while boasting a higher-resolution sensor.

I reviewed some fabulous cameras in 2026, but my absolute favorite was without doubt the A7R VI — it’s the camera I wish I owned, along with some of Sony’s spectacular recent pro GM lenses. It was the crowning achievement for Sony in a year in which it also scooped our Brand of the Year award, and comfortably maintained its #2 market position behind Canon.

Sony A7R VI image galleryTim ColemanFuture / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim Coleman

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has pushed back at the suggestion that artificial intelligence could end software and SaaS businesses like his, arguing that AI will actually just make enterprise applications even more capable than they ever have been.

Speaking during his keynote at the company's annual AI World conference, Ellison directly addressed ongoing concerns that businesses could use AI to build their own software – we've already seen many popular apps and suites like Adobe's Creative Cloud be imitated by AI, for example.

"There's been some talk about there's going to be a SaaSpocalypse because everyone's going to use AI to build their own applications," he said. "I don't think that's quite true. I think companies will continue to build applications, but they will be quite different because of AI."

Future apps will be fully tailored to geographies and industries

Rather than making today's software redundant, Ellison believes AI will allow developers to make their apps far more comprehensive, capable of handling entire business processes and fine-tuned for every type of sector and business need.

He argued that even the most established enterprise applications today are only so good, automating just a proportion of the processes businesses actually need.

"They may be the best things that are commercially available... [but] they're not done," he revealed, acknowledging that many sectors still need to build their own extensions and buy other third-party apps and connectors.

"For the first time... [the] software industry can actually finish the applications if we start doing them industry by industry."

Oracle's biggest clear push is in the healthcare sector currently, with Ellison speaking on stage about the notoriously complex and highly regulated nature of this industry – immense challenges for one global software company when navigating endless geographical variabilities is a must.

SaaSpocalypse doesn't kill off apps – but it certainly shifts the focus from interface to functionality

Ellison also believes that AI could fundamentally change how workers interact with applications, replacing complicated menus, dashboards and multi-step processes with smoother, natural language interaction.

"If you can ask a question describing what you want to see, you should then immediately see it. Any other user interface is nonsense."

"There should be no training required to use any of these applications," he added.

While Ellison remains confident about the future of commercial software, that doesn't necessarily mean businesses will continue to interact with apps in the same way, and it seems that a company as big as Oracle is singing from the same hymn sheet.

In two separate interviews with TechRadar Pro, company execs pointed toward the same trend. Brian Chess, NetSuite's Chief Operating Officer, implied that the underlying business software could eventually become invisible to users.

Discussing customers who might prefer to access NetSuite through AI assistants like ChatGPT or other platforms like Slack, Chess said "If they never log in, that's ok with us." Oracle knows that as long as it can still serve as a company's system of record, adapting to new ways of access is a must.

But what this means is that, for software vendors, the value of their products will likely come more from the data, logic and processes they manage, rather than the polished interface they've been used to building for potentially decades.

Ultimately, earlier SaaSpocalypse concerns remain valid, but it's not so much about AI wiping software from the world entirely. It just marks the next chapter in software, where interfaces become less critical and functionality becomes the biggest USP.

Shares in Oracle rose around 14% to $144.14 in the couple of days that Oracle AI World took place, likely partly in thanks to Ellison's thoughts on the future of software as well as the company's whole suite of product announcements, but share prices are still down markedly on their late 2025 high of $330.34.

The RAM crisis has grown even more limbs during the month of October. If the memory shortage was incarnated in physical form, it'd have more legs than a spider at this point, and be a multi-limbed monstrosity with a bite that's getting nastier by the day as more negative news seems to roll in at a frightening pace.

Just this week, we've witnessed SK Hynix predicting that RAM supply woes are going nowhere and will persist through to 2030, after Dell's CEO recently warned that we're stuck with this crisis until the end of the decade, and Intel's chief exec agreed – on top of other similar forecasts from earlier this month.

The latest nugget of doom is from Samsung, with the memory chip maker giving out similar vibes to its rival SK Hynix when reporting its financial results (as Wccftech spotted), informing us that RAM shortages will get worse next year, and supply will remain thin on the ground in 2028, too.

You can barely catch a breath between the various dire predictions during the past month. Naturally, in the face of such grimness, it's human nature to try to look on the bright side, or in this case, at least attempt to find a glimmer of light shining through from somewhere. There must be something, right?

Well, there is: Black Friday. An event with a distinctly gloomy name, ironically, but I'm increasingly of the opinion that this is going to be a very important sales season from the computing and PC point of view (and likely other tech, too). Mainly because I expect that the deals you'll get this year will likely be the best prices to be had in a long while, and possibly this entire decade, if those 'it's here until 2030' voices are correct in their assertions about the RAM crisis.

But I hear you (possibly) cry: given all these price hikes, isn't Black Friday going to be a wash anyway? At least based on what we saw with Amazon's recent Prime Day sales? And yes, that's a fair point. You should manage your expectations with the discounts that'll be on offer, certainly, and don't expect to snag a bargain on RAM sticks or that beefy SSD you've been dreaming about. That just isn't happening (to no one's surprise).

However, on Prime Day, there were some decent deals to be had, for example on GPUs. Notably on the RTX 5080, where if you grabbed the deal I highlighted back then, you saved yourself 20% (£300) compared to the price of the cheapest model of that Nvidia GPU on Amazon now (at the time of writing).

So, given that, what should you be looking at buying this Black Friday, which is less than a month away now (with early offers starting already)? Well, the best deals will likely be in the products set to be more affected by the memory shortage as time rolls on, and I'm going to highlight what I believe are a few key areas bargain hunters should focus on when it comes to the PC sphere.

Graphics cards

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

I'm putting this one front and center because I believe this should be a priority for PC owners who are looking at a GPU upgrade at some point in the not-too-distant-future. As I already mentioned, there were some decent graphics card deals on Prime Day earlier this month – albeit when it comes to the higher-end GPUs, the word 'decent' translates to 'not inflated', which isn't quite the same thing.

Still, the problem is that prices are likely to rise a good deal more next year, and if you do need a higher-end GPU in particular, during 2027 I think there's a good chance pricing will get a lot worse. Meaning that what you'll pay on Black Friday, with the odd scattered deal on the likes of an Nvidia RTX 5070 model or AMD RX 9070 XT – and maybe even an RTX 5080 – will be a relative bargain (maybe for quite some time to come).

I think this is especially true given the rumors around the RTX 5090 being discontinued (Nvidia has insisted it isn't, but even so, something's clearly amiss with the flagship GPU somewhere), and the ridiculous inflation the RTX 5080 has seen over the past month. All of this indicates a rocky picture with Nvidia's GPUs, and with memory (VRAM) difficulties set to worsen next year – and AMD also rumored to be implementing price hikes with Radeon graphics cards – my advice is to get in ahead of wider GPU price spikes next year.

The catch is that Black Friday deals on graphics cards could be thin on the ground, but we may actually get some decent price cuts in the mid-to-lower-end of GPU territory.

Gaming laptops

(Image credit: Canva)

If you're thinking about buying a gaming laptop, I think there's scope for some good deals on Black Friday – traditionally laptop discounts are plentiful among the massed ranks of portables, and gaming devices have more headroom for cuts, too.

What you need to consider here is that serious gaming laptops run with a discrete GPU, and as noted above, graphics card price increases are very much on the table. Indeed, this is already happening, and XMG is pushing up prices for its top-end gaming laptops with the RTX 5090 in a major way, while promising that "other laptop GPUs are also facing supply constraints." Further price rises are coming, then, and with RAM getting more costly next year too, we can expect some painful hikes.

As a result, I'd be inclined to keep a careful watch on what Black Friday presents in the way of gaming laptop price cuts, and move sooner rather than later if at all possible.

Laptops

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Outside of the gaming arena, everyday laptops are another area where I'd seriously think about trying to nab a Black Friday bargain. As mentioned, there are usually a lot of laptop deals – we highlight the top offers at TechRadar, of course, and notebooks represent quite a number of the bargains we pick out – and while there may not be so many this year, expect them to be there.

With the rising tide of RAM prices and the worsening of the crisis next year, it seems inevitable that this will jack up the asking prices of all laptops (and especially gaming laptops, as noted, due to the extra pressure added by the video RAM of discrete GPUs).

Analyst firms are already predicting that laptop manufacturers are soon going to ramp up pricing as they run short of stockpiled components (purchased at a cheaper cost). And one analyst outfit, IDC, recently advised that the only positive glimmer here is that some retailers are carrying too much notebook stock (given flagging PC sales this year) which may result in "promotions and some short-term relief for consumers," which is clearly referring to Black Friday.

I agree, of course, and think that if you want a new laptop in the next couple of years, Black Friday 2026 is likely to be the best time to make your move.

What else?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

On the PC side, then, I feel that laptops – particularly gaming notebooks – and desktop GPUs are the key areas to focus on for Black Friday bargains.

The trouble with other key desktop PC components aside from graphics cards is that pricing has got so high with RAM and SSDs that even a 'bargain' with a big price cut feels like a very sour purchase compared to prices last year. These components are just depressingly expensive (especially system memory), so it's difficult to recommend buying at all unless you're absolutely forced to. (Top-end GPUs are now in this territory too, of course).

That said, there may just be a half-decent deal on storage somewhere (we did see one or two of those in the most recent Prime Day).

On a lighter note, you might well see some solid deals on CPUs if you're on the hunt for a new processor. This is likely to be the exception in terms of the other core PC components aside from GPUs, although I'm not expecting CPU prices to face the same upward pricing pressures that graphics cards will encounter next year, so there isn't the same sense of urgency to buy in that respect. I could be wrong in that, mind – and the same goes for all my musings here – so season this advice liberally.

This month, you’ll find three meteor showers and a planetary alignment starring four planets.

Elegoo, known for its hobbyist 3D printers, is changing, and its more recent hardware shows big changes in both design and manufacturing quality. The M1 Ultra is one of the signs of this change yet, with a premium design and build that put it firmly in competition with established 3D scanning manufacturers such as Creality.

The M1 Ultra combines blue laser and infrared structured-light scanning, with five main scanning configurations that cover everything from small mechanical components and intricate objects to larger structures and even humans. The scanner offers a top accuracy of 0.02mm in the finest blue laser mode, and other standout features include full wireless operation, a 3-inch touchscreen and a swappable battery.

I’ve recently tested quite a few handheld 3D scanners, and there’s no doubt the market is getting competitive; however, whilst it’s a surprise to see Elegoo launch into the market, it’s even more surprising when I lifted the scanner from the hard case to discover the quality of the design and build.

The M1 Ultra is beautifully finished with a well-balanced design, with part rubberised grip that makes it comfortable to manoeuvre around objects. If anything, I would have liked the grip to be slightly longer, but otherwise the physical design is excellent.

The scanner connects through either wired USB or Wireless connection, with a slide switch enabling you to quickly switch between the two. This link connects you to the software, which initially guides you through the scanning process, and for first-generation software it’s all extremely well thought out.

The most important factor is scan quality, and while scanning a selection of household ornaments, mechanical components, and structural parts, it produced detailed, dimensionally accurate models that I could then export for direct 3D printing or import and edit within Blender.

One of the biggest surprises that I had during the scan process was firstly the speed and then the difference between the initial scanning preview that appeared in the software and the processed model. The preview scans looked OK, if a little rough, but after completing the scan and running the first processing stage, the detail suddenly appeared.

The Elegoo Scan software, being an early release, is surprisingly good and avoided any freezes or glitches through the testing. Scan processing typically took a couple of minutes, depending on complexity and the size, while editing and removing unwanted geometry was straightforward, partly due to my ever-increasing familiarity and use of these scanners. The usage and workflow of the software is very similar to other systems.

Wireless scanning on a scanner of this price is great to see, and I was quickly able to connect to the scanner over Wi-Fi. Once that connection was made, I found the live preview on the scanner’s touchscreen made moving around larger objects much easier.

Through the test, I did find many of the usual limits, such as scanning glossy black plastic and highly reflective surfaces still requiring scanning spray. In all cases, how easily something scans rests solely on careful preparation and marker placement. When using the scanner wirelessly, the scanner also takes over the computer’s Wi-Fi connection, preventing access to a normal workshop wireless network, which I also found was a little inconvenient.

Considering that this is Elegoo's first 3D scanner, the speed, quality and ease of use make it feel like a product that has already undergone several iterations. This is a great option for small businesses, makers, enthusiasts, and other 3D professionals looking for a decent 3D scanner at a reasonable price.

ELEGOO M1 Ultra: Price and Availability

The Elegoo M1 Ultra has a recommended retail price of $1,699 in the US, £1,399 in the UKand €1,699. The scanner is being sold through the official website here.

Elegoo M1 Ultra: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

One of the first things that impressed me about the M1 Ultra was the physical design and quality of the build. In contrast to their range of hobbyist 3D printers, Elegoo has clearly aimed this at a more professional level, and it feels significantly more refined than many of their previous product lines.

Elegoo's hardware design improved dramatically, as I saw with its H1 HT filament dryer a few months back and again when it comes to finish and build quality; this feels premium and much like the quality that I’ve come to expect from companies like Bambu Lab.

Weighing in at just over half a kilogram, the M1 Ultra is relatively compact compared with several scanners I’ve used recently. The weight is well balanced for the size, and it's comfortable to hold while moving around objects, with the grip featuring a rubberised texture that provides excellent purchase.

Grip in the scanner is especially important when scanning smaller mechanical components, where controlled movements can affect tracking and the quality of the capture. If anything, I do feel that the grip could have been slightly longer, but overall it’s comfortable enough to handle.

The front of the scanner features the optical system, including the laser emitters, cameras and illumination; these all look like lenses. These are neatly integrated into the casing, while the controls on the large touch screen enable you to start, pause and access the hardware settings.

The 3-inch touchscreen is more than just a monitor for settings and enables less reliance, in some situations, on using a computer screen when scanning. An example is when using the scanner wirelessly, and the display provides a live scan preview; you can also use it to adjust the exposure and zoom.

Additional hardware settings can also be accessed through the touchscreen, including Wi-Fi hotspot information, display brightness, screen rotation, language, prompt sounds and sound alerts. I also liked the fact that I could access the onboard user guide.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Not all aspects of the user interface are as polished as the hardware itself. The start and pause controls, exposure adjustment, and zoom interface use a slightly dated visual style, with gradient effects that feel more like enthusiast equipment than professional; still, the actual functionality is there.

As I’ve seen with many of these scanners, it arrives in a hard carrying case which is identical in design to the one that arrived with one of the Creality scanners recently; the only difference is the logo on the front and the equipment inside.

Inside, the scanner is neatly laid out, with the scanner, batteries, calibration board, USB cable, tripod, and reflective markers. In contrast to some other scanners, the cables are kept to a minimum, with power and data handled through the same USB connection when using wired.

• Design: 4/5

ELEGOO M1 Ultra: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Specs

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Dimensions: 191 × 50 × 76mm

Weight: 511g (including battery)

Scanning Accuracy: Up to 0.02mm (blue laser)

Scanning Modes: Five, including blue laser and infrared

Scanning Speed: Up to 100fps (USB), 60fps (Wi-Fi)

Scanning Resolution: 0.05–2mm (blue laser)

Scanning Volume: 5 × 5 × 5mm to 4,000 × 4,000 × 4,000mm

Display: 3-inch HD touchscreen

Connectivity: USB-C 3.1 and Wi-Fi 6

Battery: 4,800mAh removable

The M1 Ultra features five scanning modes designed to enable you to scan different materials, object sizes, and most importantly, levels of detail.

A quick run-through, and you have the 34-line crossed blue laser, which is designed for fast scanning of medium-to-large objects. The seven-line parallel mode is better suited to smaller parts and more detailed areas. The single-line configuration lets the scanner capture recessed features, deep holes, and narrow gaps.

Alongside these are infrared structured light mode, designed for larger objects, faces, and bodies, and the marker-free blue laser option for situations where reflective markers can't be applied, such as when scanning valuable museum artefacts.

Within each mode, there are a variety of options that you can configure through the Elegoo Scan software, which offers adjustments to tracking, field of view, capture resolution, as well as the main scan quality settings.

This does take some time to get your head around, and depending on the mode, you can select marker-assisted or marker-free tracking, standard or wide-angle fields of view, global marker workflows and different laser patterns. This sounds complex, but Elegoo have created guides for each type and practice is definitely needed in order to fully understand what type and size of object needs what type of scan and settings.

The software does go some way to make things easy, with an example being the infrared scanning mode that offers dedicated presets for normal objects, faces, and bodies, plus geometry-based and texture-based tracking options.

Although the number of settings is considerable, the software is generally well organised. If you are new to 3D scanning, there’s also plenty of guides and visual prompts in the software to explain how the different options work.

• Features: 4.5/5

ELEGOO M1 Ultra: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Getting started, the first step is the hardware setup. After installing Elegoo Scan on my MacBook Pro, connecting the scanner through USB and selecting the connection option, it was almost ready to go aside from a quick initial firmware update.

Before the scanning process could begin, I needed to run through the calibration process, and this was all surprisingly easy with the calibration chart sitting on the table and the software directing me through a series of manoeuvres with the on-screen guide. This style of calibration used to take me ages; however, here I found the process pretty quick and straightforward.

I started the test using the wired connection, but to switch to wireless there’s a small switch on top of the scanner that enables the change from USB to WLAN. As the switch is moved, the system restarts, and then you can select the scanner’s hotspot from the computer’s Wi-Fi connections, enter the on-screen password, and again it’s ready to go.

The process is easy enough, though wireless operation means the scanner creates its own Wi-Fi hotspot, which the computer must connect directly to. That meant disconnecting from the workshop Wi-Fi, and there was no option to keep both connections active at once.

This isn’t an issue during scanning, especially since the software works offline, but it becomes a bit annoying when switching between scanning and anything that I needed to do online.

When everything was set and ready, I was able to start the scanning process, starting with the 34-line cross blue laser options, which proved to scan objects at speed. Once a scan was captured, it was then possible to clean up the point cloud, as well as easily align multiple scans, and move through mesh wrapping and optimisation before exporting the finished model.

The M1 Ultra and the software effectively give you an easy scan-to-model process, and when finished, you just click export.

For testing, I scanned a variety of objects, ranging from household and office ornaments to mechanical components and structural parts that I needed to reproduce or work around when creating brackets and replacement pieces.

These included objects made from tarnished metal, matte ceramic, plastic, and wood, and the scanner performed exceptionally well across these materials. As with other 3D scanners I’ve tested, good results come down to preparation. While marker-free scanning sounds appealing, I have found that reflective markers remain the most reliable approach.

My usual setup includes a rotating platform, custom 3D-printed marker blocks positioned around the object, and adhesive reflective markers attached directly to the object wherever practical. I also use acrylic blocks to raise the object above the surface. This helps separate the subject from the surrounding environment, especially the platform it sits on, and makes the captured data easier to cut out and process.

The whole preparation process generally takes around five minutes, but it makes an enormous difference to the ease and reliability of scanning. Through the setup process, I aim to keep at least five reflective markers visible to the scanner at any one time, and this generally meant that tracking was straightforward. Scanning objects without markers proved less reliable, even with the scanner’s marker-free configuration.

Once I had properly prepared the subject, most objects took around five to ten minutes to scan from each orientation. Where possible, I tried to capture the object in just two orientations, as this made alignment quicker and generally produced better results.

The scanning process itself was fast, and it was good to see the preview build up the model. When scanning, I started off with the crossed blue laser pattern as this tended to provide the best overall coverage, and then switched to the seven-line mode when scanning more complex objects. For recessed features and deeper holes, switching to the single-line laser again helped to fill in some of the gaps.

After scanning, each model is previewed on the screen, and then you can go through the various processing modes. One point to make here is that the initial scanning is surprisingly fast and the initial point-cloud preview can look a little rough, giving little indication of the level of detail that has actually been captured. However, after you finish the scan and move through the first refinement stage, the model's detail suddenly snaps into place, and it’s impressive.

The M1 Ultra reproduced fine surface features and dimensional accuracy extremely well. One example of the accuracy came when I scanned the car's EV charger, with the model generated being imported into CAD software as a template for a wall-mounted holder. The finished product, while needing some refinement, fitted the EV charger perfectly.

The software is able to export OBJ files that can then be used in applications such as Blender for further editing. The range of available export formats also makes it relatively straightforward to move finished models into other design and manufacturing workflows, with 3MF and STL alongside OBJ.

Not every object's surface was easy to capture, and as ever, while tarnished metal, wood, ceramic and plastic surfaces generally scanned very well, glossy black plastic gained mixed results.

Essentially, any surface that reflects or absorbs the scanning light causes a bit of an issue, and you can get matte scanning sprays to help with the scanning of this type of object.

Infrared scanning also produced ok results, and making sure you work in a well-lit, soft-light environment definitely helps. Again, as with any scanning mode, practice and skill often play a large part in the scanning success.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

One of the main skills when scanning is alignment, essentially when you take a couple of scans of an object from different angles and then align them into one. The alignment option worked well and was surprisingly fast to process between scans, provided the reflective markers' position was maintained. This works by completing the first scan; then the object could be repositioned to capture another side without moving any of the base markers, and the resulting scans could then be selected and aligned within Elegoo Scan.

The important point here is that the markers used as reference points must remain in the correct positions. If you move markers on the platform between scans, alignment will be much harder, and in most cases it's easier to start again.

Mesh processing generally took a couple of minutes per scan, though the time varied considerably with the model's size and complexity. There is still a need to remove unwanted surfaces and sections of the surrounding environment manually, but the software proved effective. Throughout testing, Elegoo Scan remained solid, with no crashes, freezes, or other problems that I have come across in the past with scan software.

For a first-generation Elegoo scanner, and with software at such an early stage of development, this level of reliability is excellent.

At the start of the test, I stuck to a wired connection, mainly due to having to check guides, etc., but over the weeks of the test I switched to the wireless option. There are some sacrifices that you make as you switch over to the wireless connection, most notably that the scanner has a lower quoted maximum frame rate; however, I didn’t notice much of a difference.

The real improvement going wireless was the ergonomic feel of scanning alongside the obvious effect of no longer having trailing wires. The main benefit is that instead of looking back at the laptop monitor to check scan progress, the wireless connection let me monitor the preview directly on the handheld scanner’s touchscreen. This made scanning far more natural, especially when moving around larger or awkwardly positioned objects.

Through the test, I found that the battery runtime was about 60 minutes, shorter than Elegoo's advertised maximum of 90 minutes, but still enough for several typical scans, and I also discovered I could hot-swap the battery with the second battery that was included. I experimented with swapping the battery while USB power was connected, which appeared to work, though this wasn't officially covered in the material I had.

• Performance: 4 / 5

ELEGOO M1 Ultra: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Elegoo M1 Ultra shows the direction that the company is moving, and this is an impressive start for them in the 3D scanning market. The arrival in the hard case, with the premium build and design, is far removed from their hobbyist machines, and it all has a decidedly higher-quality feel.

The overall ergonomics and build are excellent, and this quality of design comes across in use, with it being easy to handle and with the ability to switch between wired and wireless scanning.

As ever, there are the usual issues with the time taken to prepare the scan, but this is part of the course for all 3D scanners and the more time you put in, the better the scan you get. However, the speed of the scans that the M1 enables is impressive, and more importantly, the quality of those scans was exceptionally detailed.

The Elegoo Scan software is also well thought out, although I do feel there needs to be a little more thought on the design of both the scanning software and the touchscreen interface. The old Elegoo is still apparent in both, giving that hobbyist rather than slick professional aesthetic.

Wireless scanning is another point, and while this works exceptionally well, it does lock your computer out of the normal Wi-Fi network. There are then the usual points about scanning highly reflective or glossy surfaces, which will require scanning spray.

While good results can be achieved with what's in the box, I would, as always, highly recommend the following: turntable, reflective markers, marker blocks, acrylic supports, and scanning spray; these are all relatively inexpensive but will save you hours.

Should you buy the Elegoo M1 Ultra?

Value:

Exceptional first-generation scanner at a very reasonable price considering the alternatives.

4.5

Design:

Premium build and ergonomics highlight Elegoos investment in design.

4

Features:

Packed with scanning modes and plenty of options to refine your scanning

4.5

Performance:

Fast and very capable with one of the easiest workflows yet

4

Total:

Excellent scanner for everyone from enthusiasts to professionals.

4.5

Buy it if...

You need detailed scans.

If you regularly design replacement components, custom brackets, or work with existing physical objects, the M1 Ultra delivers excellent scan quality that you can update in CAD.

You want wireless flexibility.

The integrated touchscreen, direct Wi-Fi connection, and removable batteries make the M1 Ultra much easier to manoeuvre around objects than scanners that rely on wired connections.

Don't buy it if...

You expect instant results.

Despite the ease of use, successful 3D scanning still requires preparation, reflective markers and practice. If you expect to point the scanner at an object and instantly produce a perfect model, you’ll be disappointed.

You scan difficult surfaces.

Highly reflective, transparent or glossy black objects remain difficult to scan. While the M1 Ultra is more versatile than some alternatives, you may will need additional scanning spray and lighting to get good results.

For more crafting essentials, I've also tested out the best 3D printers and best laser engravers

If you celebrate Halloween, you'll no doubt be on the lookout for some things to entertain you this weekend. With this in mind, I checked out three of the biggest new horror releases in October to see if they're any good.

Scream or Skip

Scream or Skip, that is the question. With so much horror out there to watch and play, our senior entertainment writer, Lucy Buglass, is here to help you decide what's worth your time (or worthy of a Scream) and what's not (so you might want to Skip). Her goal is to help you spend less time scrolling and more time enjoying some great TV shows, movies, and games. Read the full series here.

There have been some real highs and lows this month, and I found myself especially disappointed by one movie in particular. Thankfully, there's a great TV show and game to keep you occupied, so it's not all bad.

So, what do I recommend checking out this spooky weekend? Scroll down to find out.

TV — Crystal Lake

Where to watch: Peacock (US); Sky (UK); Stan (AU)
Lucy's verdict: Scream

Crystal Lake is the anticipated Friday the 13th prequel, and it's a great choice if you want a binge-worthy series to watch over the Halloween weekend. With all eight episodes streaming at once, how could you resist?

I did have my reservations about this series, but it is an excellent entry into the horror franchise. In my full Crystal Lake review, I noted there's a clear love for the original movies here, and that it expands upon the lore by focusing on Pamela Voorhees, an under-explored character in the Friday the 13th universe. Played excellently by Linda Cardellini, it's very worth your time.

Movie — Other Mommy

Where to watch: Theaters worldwide
Lucy's verdict: Skip

As someone who loved the book Incidents Around the House and was genuinely freaked out by it, I was excited to hear it was getting a movie adaptation. I was even more excited to hear that Jessica Chastain would star in a dual role as a woman and an entity that emulates her, known as "Other Mommy".

Unfortunately, the movie ended up being a massive letdown. Not only does it suffer from the cliché of tired and overused jump scares, but it also deviates from the book to the point that it loses the psychological dread and tension that had me looking over my shoulder. Other Mommy does very little to stand out from similar supernatural movies like it

Game — Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival

Where to play: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Lucy's verdict: Scream

Hellraiser has been everywhere recently, from its haunted house at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights to a new video game. I was very impressed with Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival and would highly recommend it this Halloween weekend.

It's clear it's been made by people who have a genuine appreciation for Hellraiser, as the atmosphere and the willingness to stick to canon are excellent. Iconic character Pinhead returns too, and the result is a gripping game with puzzles and heart-pounding moments.

The iPhone Duo has a palm-size build, but how does that measure up against Apple’s other current phones?

My husband was assimilated at an Emerald City Comic Con, and even the Borg adored him. Thank you, Patrick Stewart.

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman would rather have RAM put into data centers
• Altman says it's 'quite terrible' that RAM is sitting in individual PCs
• The comments haven't gone down well with consumers online

The increasing demands from data centers powering AI engines has plunged us into a global RAM shortage crisis, and the CEO of one of the companies responsible thinks the memory that is available should be in data centers rather than individual PCs.

Offering up an opinion that's unlikely to add to his popularity among the general public, OpenAI boss Sam Altman told the Cheeky Pint podcast (via IGN) that "from a global allocation perspective, actually, it's quite terrible to have everybody have a bunch of the world's limited supply of DRAM sitting in their own computer."

Individual PCs rarely make full use of their RAM, was Altman's larger point, whereas data centers often do. "You want maximum utilization in the cloud if you're trying to deal with this very supply constrained environment," the OpenAI CEO continued. "And somehow many people's intuition is the opposite of that."

The PC owners Altman was referring to have had to deal with rising prices, job insecurity, and data center pollution thanks to the rise of AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, so the opinion he's shared is unlikely to be supported by the masses.

Not a popular opinionOpenAI CEO Sam Altman Thinks It's 'Terrible' for You to Have RAM in Your Gaming PC from r/technology

As you would expect, consumers aren't particularly pleased with what Altman has had to say. A Reddit thread discussing the comments is packed with pushback against AI, data centers, and the RAM shortage.

"It's only 64GB but he can pry it from my cold, dead hands," writes one commenter in the thread, while another is of the opinion that "[tech company executives] will destroy the planet by continuing with this mentality and then they'll promptly blame everyone else for the downfall".

The out-of-touch mentality of AI company bosses gets several mentions — as do their ethics, with bots like ChatGPT having built up their training data on vast amounts of information, often copyrighted, without paying for it. It's fair to say Altman's comments haven't gone down well.

Most analysts expect RAM to be in short supply for years to come, which is going to mean prices for consumer gadgetry continue to rise, and anyone thinking about building their own PC will have to pay top dollar for its components.

The past four weeks have been, frankly, a wild time for our product testers. Each month I put together a Reviews Recap of the gadgets that have impressed us most; the products that have endured our tough tests and come out with a score of 4.5 or 5 out of 5. And this month there's a bumper crop, with dozens of great gadgets and gizmos to explore, across a variety of different product categories.

It won't surprise you to see Apple amongst the standouts of the past month: the Duo won us over with its "exquisite engineering" and "vibrant, virtually crease-free screen", but it was the Apple Watch Series 12 that earned perfect marks, with our tester dubbing it "the best mainline [Apple Watch] in years".

We also reviewed several excellent laptops, some sublime speakers, and many a magnificent TV. If you're not sure we're branching out enough, we also gave the stamp of approval to an innovative, podless pod coffee machine and a microwave that moonlights as an air fryer.

Scroll down to browse all the most impressive tech we've tested over the past four weeks. Tap the View details button for a run-down of what we thought, plus a link to read the full review for each. Note: only the products that are available in your region will display as cards.

5-star products

Apple Watch Series 12

Read our full review

Pros

• Readiness Score is terrific and not locked behind a paywall
• Refreshed Health Sensing System
• S11 Chip ensures smooth, responsive performance
• Still delivers all-day battery life

Cons

• No major design changes

Sony Bravia Theatre Trio

Read our full review

Pros

• Exceptional sound quality for both films and music
• Excellent adaptation to any room layout
• It’s a perfect partner for really big TVs
• Good expansion options

Cons

• It’s… reassuringly expensive
• Needs optional rear speakers for a proper surround sound effect
• Rather limited listening ‘sweet spot’
• Limited physical connectivity

Logitech Yeti 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Exceptional audio quality
• Solid build quality
• Automatically adjusts the polar pattern as needed
• Auto-gain is a useful extra

Cons

• All-in-one dial can be a bit finicky
• More expensive than the original Yeti

Sony ULT TOWER 5 speaker

Read our full review

Pros

• Bass might that almost defies belief
• Excellent connectivity options
• Sleek design with customizable lights
• Great value for money

Cons

• Middling IPX4 waterproofing
• Fairly hefty

4.5-star products

Apple iPhone Duo

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent design
• Best folding hinge ever?
• Flat, matte folding screen that hides the crease
• Excellent performance
• Split-screen multitasking

Cons

• Cover screen loses too much space to the dock placement
• No telephoto camera
• Needs more third-party app support
• Missing Face ID

Hisense XR10 4K projector

Read our full review

Pros

• Wonderfully bright and colorful
• Incredibly flexible optics
• Gorgeous looks and classy carrying case
• Punchy speaker
• Adaptable for bright and dark rooms

Cons

• Missed out on VRR and 4K/120Hz modes
• VidaaOS could be better
• Pricey

Oppo Pad 5 Pro tablet

Read our full review

Pros

• 13-inch screen is great for movies and games
• Huge battery = multiple days of use
• Great tools for productivity

Cons

• RAM down to 8GB vs predecessor
• Available in just one color
• Heavier than key 13-inch rivals

Apple Watch Ultra 4

Read our full review

Pros

• Another battery life increase
• Readiness Score makes your activity data actionable without a monthly price
• S11 chip ensures a responsive experience
• Still a very rugged build

Cons

• No major design changes
• Not a night-and-day performance boost over Ultra 3

Acer Swift Air 14 laptop

Read our full review

Pros

• Very long battery life
• Portable and attractive
• Budget-level pricing

Cons

• Not a lot of power
• The two USB-C ports are on the same side
• Audio quality is mediocre

Bissell CrossWave Reach Plus wet and dry vacuum

Read our full review

Pros

• Great job vacuuming and mopping
• Gets to edges (along the right side)
• Lies almost flat to get under furniture

Cons

• Can’t pick up larger pieces of debris
• Solid and wet debris in same tank

Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC gaming headset

Read our full review

Pros

• World-class game audio
• Excellent feature set
• Strong noise cancellation
• Great design and build quality
• Has all the same excellence as the non-ANC model

Cons

• ANC might not be enough for existing Maxwell 2 owners to upgrade
• Battery life takes a big hit
• Head tracking feature still feels a little niche
• A price jump up from the non-ANC version

Lavazza MilkEasy Plus

Read our full review

Pros

• Incredibly easy to use and clean
• Hot and cold milk options
• Great results with dairy and plant-based milk

Cons

• A little difficult to make out max fill markings
• Foamed milk takes a good while to froth
• Lacks a handle for maximum ease when pouring

Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 heart rate monitor

Read our full review

Pros

• Highly accurate HR compared to other wearables
• ECG livestream functionality super useful
• Screen and tactile button enormously helpful
• Rechargeable

Cons

• No ANT+
• Very premium price tag
• Some features locked behind subscription paywall

JBL Bar 800MK2 soundbar

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent performance across the frequency range
• Impressive virtual Dolby Atmos
• Strong feature-set and connectivity options

Cons

• Lacks up-firing speakers for true Atmos
• Middling looks with very bulky sub
• HDMI input supports 4K, but only at 60Hz

Razer Reclusa X Mini 65%

Read our full review

Pros

• Surprisingly sturdy plastic chassis
• Excellent tactile switches built-in
• Lots of customisation potential

Cons

• Software can be a little basic
• ABS keycaps have the potential to get quite shiny
• No flip-out feet feels like a missed feature

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max smartphone

Read our full review

Pros

• Zero-compromise triple 200MP camera system
• Incredible video features
• Great performance and battery life
• Slick, feature-packed software

Cons

• It's more expensive than the X9 Pro
• ... and has less RAM

Sony ULT Tower 7 speakers

Read our full review

Pros

• Gigantic bass output with clear mids and highs
• Versatile connectivity options
• Attractive design with fantastic lighting
• Strong battery life

Cons

• 360-degree sound could be more convincing
• Heavy and a little cumbersome to move
• IPX4 waterproofing is just OK

Lavazza Tabli Automatic Tab Coffee Machine

Read our full review

Pros

• No coffee capsules to recycle
• Extremely simple to use
• Coffee tastes better than rivals like Nespresso
• Mobile app works well, allowing customization and remote brewing

Cons

• Google Home connectivity didn't work during my tests

Sony Bravia 9 II RGB LED 4K TV (2026)

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent picture quality
• Effective anti-glare screen
• Great for gaming

Cons

• Expensive
• Some blooming when viewed off-center
• Only two HDMI 2.1 ports

Sony ECM-W5 wireless mic

Read our full review

Pros

• In-camera 32-bit float recording
• Huge transmission range and rock-solid signal
• 3.5mm lav mic input with screw lock

Cons

• Much pricier than its key rivals
• Noise reduction is fairly mild
• No audio cable included

Marshall Bromley 150 portable speaker

Read our full review

Pros

• Stunning design and build quality
• Exceptional bass output
• Tasteful, customizable lighting

Cons

• Thin companion app
• Mids could be a little more articulate
• No LDAC as seen on other Marshall speakers

Acer Swift Spin 14 AI

Read our full review

Pros

• Surprising performance
• Great battery life
• Attractive build with 360-degree hinge

Cons

• Not exactly cheap
• Sound quality is mediocre

Logitech G Pro X3 SuperStrike gaming mouse

Read our full review

Pros

• Upgraded sensor delivers superior sensitivity
• Improved weight distribution
• HITS sensors are still second to none
• Excellent battery life

Cons

• Few upgrades to justify the X3 name
• Comes with a (modest) price hike

Braun OptiBrew Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Great range of coffee styles and sizes
• Makes seven sizes ranging from a single serving to a carafe
• Makes cold brew and coffee over ice
• Makes concentrated coffee shots
• Built-in milk frother
• Has timed auto-brew function
• Has a keep-warm feature
• Can pause brewing
• Easy to use and clean up
• Makes great coffee

Cons

• Must use pre-ground coffee
• Milk frother only froths, does not heat milk
• Somewhat pricey

Technics EAH-A1000 wireless over-ear headphones

Read our full review

Pros

• Layered, expansive audio quality
• Still the only company regularly offering triple-device connectivity
• Competent spatial audio and ANC
• Supreme comfort

Cons

• Occasionally a little polite-sounding
• Physical buttons sometimes fail to register presses (including playback and power)

Astell & Kern PD5 DAP

Read our full review

Pros

• Staggeringly clean, open and revealing sound
• Thoroughly specified
• Plenty of scope for user influence

Cons

• Some operational quirks
• Looks and feels less premium than the price demands

Ninja Crispi Microwave

Read our full review

Pros

• Brilliantly versatile as air fryer and microwave
• Premium, modern design and controls
• Large capacity is great for families

Cons

• Large footprint not good for small kitchens
• No steam function
• Internal light a little too dim

Cambridge A100 SE earbuds

Read our full review

Pros

• Spacious, informative and disciplined sound
• Dynamic and punchy presentation
• Impressive specification

Cons

• Not the most accomplished when it comes to rhythmic expression
• Don’t look or feel in any way special
• Touch controls could be more reliable

Ruark Audio Talisman R

Read our full review

Pros

• Direct, unified, organized and informative sound
• Easy-going where partnering equipment and room positioning are concerned
• Compact and attractive
• Exemplary standard of build and finish

Cons

• Lack outright scale compared with similarly priced, but physically larger, rivals
• Not as impressive as some alternatives where on-paper specification is concerned

OM System PEN camera

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent value
• In-body image stabilization and neat computational photography modes
• Classy design
• Splash-proof, as is the new kit lens

Cons

• Basic video features
• Some controls are fiddly
• Design less suitable for long lenses
• Lower rated weather resistance than the OM-5 II

Noble FoKus Artemis wireless headphones

Read our full review

Pros

• Conjure up an impeccable sense of space
• Beautifully balanced, nuanced sound
• Premium design and feel
• Unique feature-set with personalised EQ

Cons

• Average ANC and looser fit allow quite a bit of sound in
• The price is undoubtedly steep
• Spatial audio modes aren’t class-leading

TCL QM7L TV

Read our full review

Pros

• Very good picture quality
• Great for gamers thanks to high refresh rate and AMD Freesync Pro
• Lots of value for those looking for premium-adjacent viewing

Cons

• Google Gemini is still a disappointment
• Limited bass
• Picture lacks a little depth

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro smart scale

Read our full review

Pros

• Quick results
• Measurements across five body zones
• Well designed and engineered
• Easy-to-use app

Cons

• TFT-LCD display feels cheap
• Pretty basic app
• No heart health tracking

Focal Mu-so Hekla home theater system

Read our full review

Pros

• Big, detailed, full-range sound with an appreciable ‘spatial’ effect
• Great control app
• Impressive build and finish

Cons

• Overplays its low-frequency hand on occasion
• Can't switch off spatial audio algorithms entirely
• Better Bluetooth compatibility would be nice

LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP)

Read our full review

Pros

• Under three pounds thanks to the use of a new type of material
• Impressive performance considering the package
• Long battery life
• Has some interesting LG specific apps

Cons

• So expensive
• Comes with McAfee
• USB-C ports all on the same side

Razer Blade 16 (2026) gaming laptop

Read our full review

Pros

• RTX 5090 delivers exceptional performance
• Stunningly clean aesthetic design
• Impressive battery life given the spec
• Crisp, punchy, OLED display

Cons

• No Ethernet port on a gaming laptop
• Very high price

Corsair Harpoon V2 Wireless

Read our full review

Pros

• Ergonomic design
• Fast, accurate sensor
• Long battery life
• Versatile connectivity

Cons

• Too small to be comfortable for larger-handed users
• Removable rear foot has a tendency to trap debris

HP OmniBook X 14 AI PC

Read our full review

Pros

• Thin and light
• Great performance
• Easy keyboard to type on

Cons

• Inconvenient ports
• Display can be a little reflective
• Not exactly cheap

Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review

Apple's second-cheapest new AirPods are a fantastic little buy. But you'd be forgiven for overlooking them given Apple's curious naming strategy. After all, the last time Apple unveiled two sets of entry-level AirPods, one had ANC and the other didn't — easy to work out where the extra money went there. But with AirPods 5, both the base model and the step-up option tote ANC. So what's the deal?

It's not as simple as it first appears. As the name implies, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging offer a better case that charges wirelessly. But what the name doesn't tell you is that here there are a few other perks the cheaper model lacks, which I think makes this set far worthier of the nominal extra fee.

Said case also includes a speaker for audible pairing status pings and Find My help, for instance, which you won't get with the cheaper set. Then, there's the force sensor with volume swipe functionality in both stems, for playback and call handling. To clarify, you can't change the volume on-ear with the cheaper model, which for me is a huge deal — as a woman who often commutes alone at night, I don't want to be digging my phone out if I don't have to, thank you very much.

Lastly, there's an extra hour's playback available to you in this model, with ANC deployed. Don't get overly excited; said figure is only upped to five hours from the buds (or up to 22 with the case) from four and, for me, this is AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging's biggest issue. Almost any price-competitive rival can beat that, in 2026.

But now that I'm done with my main criticism, let's get to the praise — there's plenty of it. Some of the best budget earbuds around? Oh definitely. For iPhone owners, there's nothing else that can cut through the noise for this money.

(Image credit: Future)

• More on differences between AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging

Kicking things off with their design, the case is tiny. I've put it next to my regular reference Technics EAH-AZ100 below, but even that doesn't really do its neatness justice. The magnets also snap shut reassuringly so you won't lose an earbud; I've slung this charging nest in my pocket for a few weeks now without issue.

The buds are Apple's open-fit option (think a much-tweaked update on the company's wired EarPods) so there are no ear tips to switch out. You either love this design or hate it. I love it since it means the buds sit slightly less intrusively in the ear, with no 'twist to lock' screwing them into my ear canals to contend with. However, I wouldn't recommend this slightly more relaxed fit for energetic sports use. AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging are secure in the ear, but only to a point. Why? Because you're not creating a seal between a silicone ear tip and the skin of your ear canal.

Also, I occasionally found switching between iOS devices, even using the same Apple account, wasn't as seamless as billed. I actually had to reset them once (it's simple, you just double-tap the front of the case a few times, 'til the light glows orange) and even then, the promised pop-up telling you, 'AirPods used on another device. Connect?' isn't always forthcoming. It's a small issue at this level but still, it's my job to notice.

(Image credit: Future)

Another note on the buds: I find that making a 'pinch' shape with my thumb and index finger to swipe up or down along the indent/force sensor of the stem is the best way to change the volume on these particular AirPods. Apple suggests keeping your thumb on the bottom of the stem to steady them, then swiping up using only your index or middle finger. What I'm trying to say is, there's a knack to this and you need to find your own path with it, but it'll be worth the rehearsal.

Said stems also can be squeezed in a more traditional way, to perform every action you'll want. To play or pause audio, you press a stem once; to skip forward (next track) you double-press a stem; skipping back (previous track) is a triple-press. You can also press a stem when a call comes in to answer it, press and hold to summon Siri (or not, in your settings), start a Live Translation by pressing and holding both stems, or scroll through Noise Cancellation profiles with a press and hold of one stem.

It's a comprehensive solution — and since I've just hit on Live Translation, let's send some more praise that way, shall we?

(Image credit: Future)

Thanks to the inclusion of Apple's H2 chip, not only do these buds offer Personalized Spatial Audio, you can also chat about the bus timetable in Northern Spain with a local Asturian. You'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer and you need to download certain language packs (one for the prep-and-packing stage of your trip, rather than when you're on vacation and without wi-fi) on iOS 26 or later with Apple Intelligence turned on. It's largely a case of opening the Settings app on your iPhone, tapping your AirPods, tapping 'Live Translation (Beta)' and going from there, but worth knowing you can't simply have it from the box.

Once up and running, though, it's a dream. I used it with ANC on and Conversation Awareness also toggled on (this, while not exclusive to AirPods 5, is an excellent feature that lowers your music's volume and pipes in external voices when you start speaking). I happen to have a partner who speaks fluent Spanish. Squeeze both stems of the AirPods 5 and behold! See some snippets of our conversation, which is also piped into the buds vocally with very little lag.

Apple Apple Apple Apple Apple Apple Apple Apple

I mention my conversation with my partner because, when I deployed ANC to try to talk to him (in either of its Adaptive or Regular variants) I simply couldn't hear his voice. It was quite astonishing. I cannot explain the wizardry Apple's invoked to make the ANC 50% better over the AirPods 4 any more than I can explain the driver size under the hood, because Apple hasn't said. But I can at least vouch for the truth in the company's statement. Most household noises, street life or hubbub of your everyday will melt away here at the tap of a finger, if you want them gone.

Call handling? Good and clear during my testing, both for callers and for me, the wearer. Head gestures regarding said calls? They're fine, but you need to be quite animated with your head nods and I tend to operate on a more subtle level — when AirPods can respond to an eyebrow raise over who's decided to pick up the phone after all this time, we'll be in business.

And sonically, they're a triumph for the level — yes, despite their lack of hifalutin codec support. Fontaines D.C.'s Six Shot Morning is as darkly vivacious as it is foreboding, with Grian Chatten's oddly angelic bass registers coming in centrally and conveying knowledge that belies his years. In Brandon Flowers' Tiger's Blood there's a delightful accuracy to the various guitars in my left and right ear. Sure, they're not for critical listening — if you wanted flat, untouched detail you won't look to these earbuds — but for expanse, impetus and good old-fashioned fun, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging won't let you down. There's space around each musical instrument, underpinned by the kind of layering you'd normally find in much pricier options.

Yes, if I switch out to my much pricier Technics buds, there's an extra ounce of detail to the intake of Flowers' breath or the inflections at the end of his new-found (to us) country vocal, but that's hardly a fair test. For an energetic listen that has you living in your head and reveling in music, these unassuming little Apple buds have really surprised me. And given my 'good, not fantastic' take on AirPods 4, I hadn't expected to like them as much as I do. Bravo, Apple.

Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review: price & release date

• $149 / £139 / AU$249
• Announced on September 9, 2026 (released September 18, 2026)

This is 2026, I don't need to tell you that there's a lot of competition at the $149 / £139 / AU$249 level for a set of wireless earbuds.

And it's not just 'traditional' sets now, open earbuds such as the similarly priced Sennheiser Accentum Clip are taking up a significant chunk of the market too. And in the over-ear arena, the also-new Sony WH-CH730N can be yours for a little more or a little less, depending on where you live (at $179 / £99.99 / AU$229).

In all honesty, Apple's closest competition here is probably its own entry-level AirPods 5, at a slightly cheaper $129 / £129 / AU$219 or possibly even its AirPods Pro 3, which will set you back a little under $249 / £219 / AU$429 now and add a heart-rate monitor, Apple's extensive Hearing Health suite and, er, ear tips…

The bulk of this review should serve to explain why I think Apple's AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging outdo the former for sound-per-pound value. And unless you want to use them for workouts or for the excellent hearing-help tech, I'd even suggest you go for these over the Pro set.

(Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review: specs

Waterproof rating

IP57

Drivers

'Custom high-excursion Apple driver and high dynamic range amplifier, powered by the H2 chip'

Battery life

5 hours (buds, with ANC on, or 7 without ANC), up to 22 hours with charging case

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

4.3g (per bud)

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

At this level, there's nothing more you should reasonably expect — and ANC and Live Translation get special praise

5/5

Performance

Sonically and for ANC I cannot pick fault here — but the disappointing battery life means they lose a full mark

4/5

Design

Tiny case that makes sounds; gloriously fuss-free buds that fit well — unless you're doing more extreme sports

5/5

Value

In every area except stamina, these buds are class-leading for iPhone owners

4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Buy them if…

You want the cheapest iPhone ANC around
I know, I know. Before you write in: the basic AirPods 5 also tote ANC. But here, you get it for an extra hour — and believe me, it's so good you want that extra 60 minutes for a $20 / £20 surcharge.

You think small is beautiful
The case is remarkably pocketable, but it's neither flimsy nor insignificant. There's a beauty to the simplistic, function-first design here.

You often start conversations while wearing your buds
In case I haven't emphasized the point enough, Apple's Conversation Awareness is beautifully implemented here. Pipe up and your music pipes down, while voices of others nearby are subtly amplified so you can hear them. View Deal

(Image credit: Future)Don’t buy them if…

You own an Android
I hope it goes without saying, but I feel the need to say it anyway: these Apple buds are designed to keep you ensconced in an iOS ecosystem. Outside it, you'll be better served by products such as the slightly older Nothing Ear (a) or Earfun Air Pro 4 Plus.

You want Apple's Hearing Health and heart-rate perks
No dice here, friend. If you're looking to get a handle on your heart-rate or would like to have your buds boost certain frequencies where you need them, you'll need to seek out Apple's AirPods Pro 3 instead.

You want your earbuds to outlast a long-haul flight
The ANC will certainly be good enough to drown out cabin noise, but if you're flying from LAX to London Heathrow, their five-hour stamina means you won't get to use them for the duration of the flight without popping them back in the case for a charge (and thus, enduring a jolt back to reality). View Deal

(Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review: also consider

Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging

Apple AirPods 5

Nothing Ear (a)

Price

$149 / £139 / AU$249

$129 / £129 / AU$219

$99 / £99 / AU$169 (possibly even cheaper)

Drivers

Custom high excursion

Custom high-excursion

11mm custom driver

Waterproof rating

IP57

IP57

IP54 buds / IPX2 case

Battery life

5 hours (buds, with ANC; 7 hours without), 22 hours (with charging case)

4 hours (buds), 20 hours (with charging case)

Buds: 5.5hrs (9.5hrs without ANC)
Total with case: 24.5hrs (42.5hrs without ANC)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC

Weight

4.3g (per bud)

4.3g (per bud)

4.8g per earbud

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

20Hz-20kHz

Not stated (other than 5000Hz range)

AirPods 5
Apple's even cheaper AirPods 5 launched at the same time as the set you came here to read about. They are also open-fit earbuds (rather than the Pro's design that seeks to create a seal betwixt its ear-tips and your ear canal), and there's still ANC to block out the outside world. They’re just as waterproof as the set with wireless charging, at IP57, and they are beautifully lightweight as well. Again, non Apple-users may find their functionality limited, and their battery life is even more disappointing at only four hours. But if volume swipes on the stems, a chirpier case and an hour of extra stamina don't seem worth an extra $20 / £20, they could be for you. Read more about the Apple AirPods 5.

Nothing Ear (a)
They're a little older, but this simply means you'll likely get them for even cheaper than their $99 / £99 original asking fee. They're also gloriously good-looking and offer better stamina, especially if you switch off the ANC. Android owners will be happy to note that you get LDAC support too (none of that with AirPods) and although the noise-nixing isn't quite as good as Apple's latest batch of AirPods and you're sacrificing a waterproof design for a water resistant one, they're very nearly as energetic and engaging, sonically speaking.
Read my full Nothing Ear (a) review View Deal

How I tested Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested using an iPhone 15 Pro (running iOS 27.2) and MacBook Pro
• Streamed Apple Music (with Spatial Audio and without) also Qobuz and Tidal
• Compared against AirPods 4, Nothing Ear (a), AirPods Pro 3 and Technics EAH-AZ100

I spent four weeks testing the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging, using a wireless charger to recharge (they juice up very well on it, too, although of course at a slower rate compared with direct USB-C charging) and streaming Apple Music tracks, a music platform of which I was an early adopter.

As always, I used the TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to a lot of newer music — I don't know you, dear reader, but I know that human beings have vastly varied music tastes and all are valid here.

I've been testing audio products as my full-time job since 2019, alongside occasional freelance jobs as a performer and dancer/singer. My love of music means I will never tire of trying to find the best audio kit to suit fellow music lovers, whatever their budget. Believe me, I have been a starving artist, too. Music always helps us get through challenging times.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

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