Technology

• Full Disk Access was introduced for system-wide backups, but agentic AI has introduced a new threat
• Apple has confirmed it will be "introduc[ing] additional controls" to protect sensitive data
• No word on when the changes could apply – no signs for macOS 27.2 just yet

Apple has announced plans to give users more control to the Full Disk Access setting on macOS in a bid to prevent agentic AI from gaining too much access to unwarranted information.

Typically, giving an app Full Disk Access would let it bypass many of macOS's privacy protections, including files and documents, emails, messages, browser history and other data.

It was introduced largely to support system-wide backups, which genuinely needed access to all that data, however with the rise of agentic AI, Apple has been forced to tighten that.

Apple makes major change to Full Disk Access due to AI

"Some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could put users at risk, exposing everything on their systems," the company said in an October 2 announcement.

"We will introduce additional controls to ensure that users who genuinely wish to grant an app this extraordinary level of access can only do so with very explicit user action."

The company specifically called out AI agents for prompting this change, referring to it as a critical measure in terms of safety.

Crucially, Apple hasn't yet updated the interface and options for Full Disk Access, however an upcoming version of macOS will likely include such changes. Currently, there's no indication that the changes are included in the beta version of the upcoming macOS 27.2, however both Beta 1 and Beta 2 predate the October announcement, so there's always the possibility that future beta versions or the full release could include the change.

The change was likely triggered by a recent report that Meta's Muse AI agent had accessed a user's messages, however Meta spokesperson Andy Stone did stress in an X post that both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector are "entirely opt-in" for each user.

Still, Apple's current Full Disk Access settings are very broad, so more granular controls can only be a good thing.

• Eyewear retailer Hans Anders has stopped sales of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses
• The decision comes amid growing concerns over the public use of the tech
• Dutch consumer rights group Consumentenbond has said it will take Meta to court if it fails to comply with the law

The clampdown on privacy-threatening ‘pervert glasses’ continues, with Dutch eyewear retailer Hans Anders pulling the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses from its online and high street stores in Belgium and the Netherlands indefinitely.

Hans Anders is part of the nexeye retail group, which operates over 400 stores across those two countries alone. When combined with its stores across Germany, Austria, and Sweden, it has 776 stores in total, although the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses aren’t sold in the latter three regions.

The use of smart glasses has sparked a heated debate about whether these devices belong in public spaces, with concerns raised about general safety and privacy. Speaking with Reuters, a spokesperson for Hans Anders detailed the company’s decision to make the bold move, sharing the following:

"This decision follows the ongoing public and political debate surrounding smart glasses and the questions being raised about the conditions under which this technology can be used”.

One of the biggest areas of concern is women's privacy. According to a report from the NL Times, Meta's smart glasses have been used to capture footage of 'hundreds, maybe thousands' of Dutch women without their consent over the past few months. The outlet says the footage has been shared on messaging apps such as Telegram, as well as other harmful online sites.

The move follows a recent warning issued by the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP), which said that photos and video footage of identifiable individuals taken using smart glasses can’t be shared without the individual's permission — though this is something that's clearly difficult to control in public spaces.

That’s not the only organization that’s decided to take an active stance against Meta. Earlier this week Consumentenbond, a consumer rights group, declared it will take Meta to court if the tech giant doesn’t amend its smart glasses to comply with privacy laws. That said, Meta says it’s always developing its smart glasses:

"Every pair with a camera ​has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a ​photo or video — it can't be turned off, and the camera is disabled if someone covers ‌or ⁠tampers with it," a Meta spokesperson said. Despite this indicator, there’s nothing in place to stop users from covering the light to stop others from knowing if they’re being filmed.

As far as retailers go, Hans Anders is one of the first to enact a public protest against smart glasses, joining the fight to protect the privacy and wellbeing of consumers. The Netherlands’ combat against these devices is only just beginning — and other nations have expressed similar concerns.

The UK is also taking similar measures to ensure public spaces are free from the looming threat of smart glasses. Popular pub chain Wetherspoons has banned the use of smart glasses in its pubs across the country, while the UK Cinema Association says movie theaters could also introduce similar smart glasses restrictions to prevent piracy, and even stop users from livestreaming movies to social media platforms .

Currys has launched its latest 'Epic Deals' event, beating the next Amazon Prime Day to the punch. I've looked through it, and it's a mixed bag — there are some really tempting discounts in there, but some areas (especially TV and audio) are very light.

• Browse the full Currys Epic Deals sale

Below, I've picked out the options I think are actually worth paying attention to. There are 27 in total, and there's a good breadth of stuff — if you want to browse through the different categories yourself, you can do that first in our Quick Links.

Otherwise, here are the deals I think you should consider from this early sale.

Currys Epic Deals quick links

• Browse Computing deals at Currys
• Browse TV & Audio deals at Currys
• Browse Gaming deals at Currys
• Browse Small Appliances deals at Currys
• Browse Mobile deals at Currys
• Browse Home & Outdoor deals at Currys
• Browse Health & Beauty deals at Currys

Computing, Mobile & Gaming

Vivobook S16 16" Laptop - Snapdragon X, 256 GB SSD: was £799 now £499
A big screen, good performance from the Snapdragon chip, and plenty of battery life, all in a thin and light laptop — this is great for people who need to work on the go but not be weighed down, especially for this price.View Deal

Modern 14S G3mg-022uk 14" Laptop - Intel Core 5, 512GB SSSD: was £899 now £599
A 14-inch screen is a good balance between portability and space for working — more space than a 13-inch laptop, but not much more weight or footprint. You've got a good amount of storage and power here too.View Deal

XPS 13 DX13260 13.4" Laptop - Intel Core 5, 512 GB SSD: was £1099 now £749
The Dell XPS line is always popular, and this gives you a laptop with a good screen, a nice premium design, and plenty of storage for the price in this case.View Deal

Galaxy Tab S10 Lite 10.9" Tablet: was £369 now £309
This isn't a huge saving, but if you want a budget tablet with plenty of features, which is capable of running just about anything you can throw at it, here you go — all for a low price.View Deal

Galaxy A27 5G - 128 GB: was £319 now £279
Samsung's budget phone is designed to deliver handy AI features for a really low price — if you want a phone that feels modern but costs way less than the flagships, this has all the features you need.View Deal

2-Port 52.5W USB Type-C Car Charger: was £26.99 now £13.99
A really useful addition to any car — adding a USB-C port makes it easy to get faster charging from your car, and the classic USB port is great for sat navs, dash cams or anything else that didn't get upgraded to the newer port.View Deal

Odyssey G5 LS27CG552EUXXU Quad HD 27" Curved VA LCD Gaming Monitor: was £179 now £139
A 165Hz monitor with HDR support for under £140 is a pretty great deal. This is a 2560x1440 monitor, and its VA panel means strong black tones.View Deal

Odyssey G6 LS27HG612SUXXU Quad HD 27" OLED Gaming Monitor: was £439 now £379
An OLED gaming screen for under £400 is always a pretty strong deal — this could be ideal if you're looking to upgrade ahead of GTA 6. It's a 2560x1440 display, and supports HDR, plus has a 240Hz refresh rate.View Deal

Blackshark V2 X 7.1 Gaming Headset for Playstation: was £49.99 now £39.99
Another great upgrade ahead of GTA 6, this surround gaming headset will fully immerse you, with no latency. It should be comfortable for long sessions, as well.View Deal

TV & audio

A6S 43" LED 4K HDR Smart TV With Freely: was £329 now £259
If you want a small TV that's good quality and has Freely's free streaming channels ready to go out of the box, this is a great option — and Hisense provides years of guaranteed software updates.View Deal

The Frame Pro (2026) 55" Neo QLED 4K Art Mode Smart AI TV with Slim Fit Wall Mount: was £1699 now £1299
The Frame Pro takes the ever-popular Frame formula and adds better image quality, and a totally wireless connections box — you just have a power cord going to the screen and that's it; everything else goes into a box you can hide away.View Deal

B6 48" OLED 4K HDR Smart TV 2026: was £1299 now £999
The rich picture quality of OLED, at a smaller size, and now under £1,000 for the latest model. Our LG B6 review rated this TV positively, and it's an especially great gaming upgrade for smaller rooms ahead of GTA 6.View Deal

Space One Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Headphones: was £88.99 now £64
These are impressive headphones, as you can read in our full Soundcore Space One review. Comfortable, good-sounding and with effective battery life — you can't do much better for this price. And they look pretty premium too.View Deal

Liberty 5 Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Earbuds: was £99.99 now £64.99
In our Soundcore Liberty 5 review we liked these earbuds, but felt that, at full price, they didn't offer quite the value level we wanted. Well, now they've dropped by more than a third, they're looking like pretty good value.View Deal

Boom Go 3i Portable Bluetooth Speaker: was £59.99 now £39.99
A small, portable speaker from a reliable name for a great price. This is tough, waterproof to an IP68 level, and promises 24 hours of battery life, which is pretty good for a small speaker like this.View Deal

Home & small appliances

Nespresso by Krups XN911NG0 Smart Pod Coffee Machine with Aeroccino Milk Frother: was £199.99 now £99
This is a tiny little Nespresso machine that's ideal for compact kitchens, but the great value here is that it comes with the Aeroccino frother so you can go beyond espresso and Americano and all the way to latte.View Deal

Magnifica Evo Bean to Cup Coffee Machine - Silver: was £529.99 now £349.99
Big savings on a device that makes at-home lattes easy, thanks to its 'LatteCrema' system to handle smooth milk or foam. This has a lot of functions in a pretty small space for a full bean-to-cup option.View Deal

Nespresso by De'longhi Vertuo Next Coffee Machine: was £149 now £69
Small, cheap Nespresso made easy — this is a great deal. The machine takes multiple different cup sizes, and powers off after a couple of minutes of inactivity to save energy.View Deal

V8 Cyclone Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: was £349 now £239
One of Dyson's best-selling models, for a good reason — it's small, easy to use, has good suction power, and is a good price in today's deals.View Deal

Cyclone V10 Total Clean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - Grey & Purple: was £449 now £299
Save a third on Dyson's ever-popular cordless vacuum. In our Dyson Cyclone V10 review, we said that despite being older, it offers "excellent suction, even on the lowest power setting, and it's well designed and easy to use". We also said that because new models have improved on it, you should only get it with a significant discount — like this one!View Deal

LiftOut Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner: was £219 now £129
The LiftOut design here means you can easily take just the cylinder and tube to clean awkward spaces, such as stairs or cupboards — or use the whole thing together as an upright cleaner. It's a lot of flexibility for this sale price.View Deal

Duoclean Lift-Away Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner: was £319.99 now £199.99
Shark's upright includes a Lift-Away design so you can take the cylinder and 'wand' away for flexible cleaning, or in the upright design you have the company's dual-roller system for strong dust pickup.View Deal

Hetty Quick HTY.100 Cordless Bagged Vacuum Cleaner: was £299 now £199
The modernization of a classic! The friendly Hetty hoover has been turned into a cordless stick vacuum, in its famous fetching shade of pink. It's convenient, and promises up to 60 minutes of cleaning from a single charge.View Deal

6-in-1 DualZone XL DZ901UKWH 9.5L Air Fryer: was £239 now £189
Need an air fryer with lots of room, but also dual trays for different temperatures? This is a great buy for under £200, and has 25% more cooking space than Ninja's regular DualZone fryer.View Deal

Halo Flexi VDF130 Dual Zone Air Fryer: was £229.99 now £129.99
The 11-liter total capacity here makes this such a flexible air fryer for big meals, but it also has dual-zone functionality if you want to cook two smaller items at different temperatures. It has tons of options, and is easy to clean.View Deal

3000 Series Na352/00 9l Dual Basket Air Fryer - Charcoal Grey & Copper: was £179.99 now £109.99
Another dual-drawer air fryer, but this time with differently sized drawers, which can be really useful. It's a smart-looking design, and has a bunch of presets to make life easy.View Deal

Sport Smart WiFi Treadmill: was £699 now £449
Want to keep fit even when the weather's bad? This smart treadmill has a great discount, and can throw speeds of up to 10mph and an incline of up to 10% at you.View Deal

• Microsoft has admitted there's a bug in the latest Windows 11 update
• The September preview update causes some games and apps to crash
• According to some reports, this patch is also leading to sluggish performance, or even boot failures, so tread very carefully

Windows 11's latest update has a bug that's causing havoc with some PC games and apps, or worse still, according to reports that have found the upgrade breaking their entire system.

Windows Latest highlighted a post on the Windows health dashboard where Microsoft admits there's a problem with September's optional update, which was released almost two weeks ago now.

Bear in mind that this patch (KB5124010) is a preview update, then, but there certainly seem to be quite a few issues for gamers here based on some of the feedback on social media. These problems affect Windows 11 26H2 and 25H2 users, as well as those still on 24H2.

Microsoft tells us that: "Some applications which require the decoding of AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio might close unexpectedly."

The company adds: "Affected applications may vary and can include games, media players, and certain productivity applications."

The bug may cause the game or app to completely fail to launch, or it might crash, and in some circumstances things could be fine until certain features are used, notably playing music.

At least Microsoft assures us that "many modern applications do not use Windows for this type of encoding and therefore will not encounter this issue," but clearly there are problems here.

There are reports on Reddit from gamers expressing their displeasure at witnessing crashing with, for example, Fallout: New Vegas, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Wardogs. In all cases, players found that the problems started after installing the September preview patch, and ceased when the update was removed.

What's more worrying is that some of the affected gamers are reporting more serious issues that include the system ending up broken with boot failures, or very slow performance for booting or shutting down the PC. Other complaints include general sluggishness on the desktop.

As one Redditor observes: "KB5124010 was a disaster on one of my Win11 25H2 PCs. It caused boot issues, very slow shutdown/search, and after uninstalling it the machine got stuck at the Asus logo and stopped booting. Clean reinstall in the end."

Another agrees: "I thought I was going insane with slow boot up. File Explorer issues. Just big grey boxes taking forever."

Analysis: this needs a quick fix

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Microsoft says: "We are working on releasing a resolution for this issue in a future Windows update. We will provide an update when more information is available."

Well, this is a nasty one by all accounts, so Microsoft better muster all its bug squashing powers pretty swiftly. After all, while this is a preview update now, it becomes the full October update for Windows 11 a week tomorrow – so that's not far away at all.

Also, there are some folks who may have wanted to grab this optional update straight away because it packs a fix for a previous bug in the September (non-preview) update which broke a backup feature in Windows 11. So, they could have downloaded KB5124010 and been happy to receive this particular fix, only to find that their games or apps are suddenly in hot water (or worse). Sadly this kind of situation is all too common with Windows 11 these days.

Furthermore, this is a warning to be careful around preview updates, because seemingly the only cure for the bugs here is to uninstall the patch – there's no workaround. Also be aware that if you have selected the option to 'Get the latest updates as soon as they're available' in Windows 11 then you will get all these preview updates automatically, and possibly be hit by bugs like these.

That's why I'd be cautious about exercising this right, even if you are very keen to receive new Windows 11 features as soon as possible.

What's the deal?

Apple's new Mac mini desktop computer is down to $799.99, a saving of almost $120 (or 13%) off its official selling price. It is very rare for Apple to drop the price of a popular product that quickly and that deeply after launch.

Grab that "Big Day Deals" special as it won't be around for long. Amazon says that more than 2,000 in the past month have been sold, no surprise that it is the best seller in mini PCs there.

Mac mini (M6): was $899 now $779.99
The 2026 model of the ever-popular Apple Mac mini desktop gets its first price cut since launch.

In the UK: now £824 (was £899)View Deal

What is it?

This is the newest evolution of the Mac mini. This 2026 version of the award winning, game changing tiny PC crams a lot of new technology into a familiar form factor and that makes it higher price tag more palatable. There's Wi-Fi 7, now powered by Apple's own wireless chip, and standard 2.5Gb LAN ports but the cherry on the cake is the new mighty M6 chip. 0

According to two respected test sites (CPUBenchmark and GeekBench), it is the fastest single thread processor ever produce, ahead of the M5 Ultra. Let that sink down for a second. Apple's cheapest PC is powered by a blindingly quick processor with a solid penchant for AI workloads. You don't see that in the world of AMD and Intel.

Other than the 12-core CPU, the M6 has a 12-core GPU and two 16-core Neural Engine NPU to tackle those all important 'personal, professional and creative tasks'. The onboard memory (16GB) and SSD (256GB) are the two major letdowns but then again, that's against the backdrop of the ongoing RAMpocalypse that decimated global memory and NAND markets. On the other hand it is the only mini PC in this price range with three Thunderbolt 4 ports.

What others say?

The Guardian (5/5): “Truly mighty but now more pricey… Apple’s cheapest desktop computer is no longer a bargain but its newest, fastest chip makes it a pocket powerhouse.”

Wired (4.5/5): “Apple has refreshed the Mac mini with a brand-new chip, the M6. And this time, it’s more focused on AI than ever. Unprecedented power in a tiny box. Impressive gaming for what it is. Big gains in some AI performance. Good port selection with support for dual 5K monitors.”

Gizmodo (4.5/5): “A Better Tiny Desktop, With or Without AI. The latest Mac mini offers unparalleled performance for its price. Just know the AI connoisseurs are waiting to gobble it up first.”

Petapixel (3.5/5): “The novelty of the M4-generation Mac mini’s redesign has worn off. But on the plus side, there’s something else all-new to enjoy, the first Mac with M6 is here.”

TechRadar hasn't reviewed the new Apple Mac mini yet.

Read more: We're currently tracking all the best Prime Big Deal Days home office deals in the October sale

As we approach the end of the year, big sales events will begin cropping up regularly, culminating in Black Friday in November. This week, it's the Amazon Big Deals Days event, and I've just found what might just be the worst laptop deal of the year.

That's right, the worst. So why am I writing about it? Well, I think it's worth pointing out 'deals' that are actually a waste of money, and explain what makes those deals bad, to help you avoid getting stung in the future. Of course, I've also added some alternative laptop deals that are much better, and worth buying instead.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

The awful laptop deal in question is for the HP 14-em0018na (what a great name for a product), that Argos is selling for £279.

Now, with prices for many devices climbing ever upwards, getting a Windows 11 laptop for under £300 might seem like fantastic value, but looking at the hardware involved, you should stay well clear.

The biggest red flag is that this laptop comes with just 4GB of RAM. That's a pitiful amount for a Windows 11 laptop in 2026 — these days I'd recommend 16GB as a minimum, with 8GB only being worth it if the laptop is really cheap.

Unlike ChromeOS, which Chromebooks run on, Windows 11 is a heavy (some might say 'bloated') operating system that needs a lot of memory to run smoothly, and 4GB just won't cut it. This laptop will be slow, unreliable and very annoying, especially if you want to run multiple apps at once.

The dual-core AMD Athlon 7120U processor is also pretty pathetic, and despite HP claiming the laptop has "plenty of storage", 128GB isn't going to last long these days, especially as most of that space will be taken up by Windows 11.

I'm annoyed at Argos selling this, as anyone buying it is likely going to feel ripped off. According to the Argos website, it seems this laptop is selling steadily as well, which is worrying. User reviews are positive, though vague (and one even admits they've not used it yet, but have still given it a high score), and I wonder if those impressions will be quite so positive after a few weeks of using the laptop.

Of course, budgets are tight at the moment, and not everyone can afford a high-end laptop packed with RAM and cutting-edge components, but there are plenty of cheap laptop deals out there that will offer much better value for money. So don't be tempted just because this laptop has a rock-bottom price tag — check out these laptop deals instead:

Today's best cheap laptop deals in the UK

14a-nf0003na 14in Intel 8GB 128GB Chromebook: £259
Here's another HP laptop deal from Argos, and not only is it cheaper, it's just an all-round better buy. For a start, it's got twice the RAM, which will help make things feel quicker, and because it runs on Chrome OS, that extra RAM will make even more of a difference with how snappy it feels compared to a Windows 11 laptop with similar specs. If you're after the absolute lowest price possible, then a Chromebook like this is a great pick.View Deal

15-fd1007nax: £299
See? HP can make good cheap laptops, and Argos knows it. This laptop is just £20 more expensive but comes with double the RAM and storage (8GB and 256GB, respectively), and a more powerful Intel Core i3 processor. While it's still far from powerful, it'll be much better at handling day-to-day tasks, and should last a lot longer as well before you feel the need to upgrade.View Deal

CX14 Chromebook Plus: £299
This is another sub-£300 laptop that's worth considering. It's a Chromebook Plus device, which is more powerful than a regular Chromebook, so with a decent (for a Chromebook) 8GB of RAM and Intel Core 3 processor, you're going to have a much better experience than if it was a Windows 11 laptop with half the RAM. Just remember that Chrome OS doesn't support all the applications Windows 11 does, but there's often alternative software that is just as good.View Deal

This has been the year of console price increases, with everything from the PlayStation 5 to the Xbox Series X getting steadily more expensive. It might seem all doom and gloom, but Nintendo is bucking that trend this Amazon Prime Day with a nifty Switch 2 discount.

A range of retailers have the system at 15% off, including Amazon, where it's on sale for £354.99 (was £419.99), matching its lowest ever price on the storefront.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

That's less than the console's £395.99 launch price (the RRP went up to £419.99 last month), so a genuinely good deal – a rare sight in today's gaming market!

Today's best Nintendo Switch 2 deals

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you - this is a bona fide console discount in 2026! At £65 off, the Nintendo Switch 2 is currently cheaper than it's ever been at Amazon right now. Lots of other retailers are matching that price too, as you can see below.

Argos - £354.99 | John Lewis - £354.99 | Smyths Toys - £354.99View Deal

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a console that almost needs no introduction. The successor to the supremely popular Nintendo Switch, the Switch 2 boasts enhanced graphical capabilities and a wealth of new features.

It has a selection of exclusive games too, including recent hits like Splatoon Raiders and Donkey Kong Bananza as well as family favorites such as Mario Kart World.

I've tested more sets of headphones than I can even count during my time here at TechRadar, but Sony's most premium cans ever are true stand-outs. Be it their incredibly expansive sound, stellar look, or capable ANC, these headphones really have it all… but one thing has held me back from recommending them more regularly: their steep asking price. Thanks to an early Amazon Prime Day Big Deal Days offer, though, the Sony 1000X The Collexion can be yours for $598 (was $649.99) at Amazon US and just £474 (was £549) at Amazon UK. As a result, I think they're well and truly worth snapping up if you're looking for premium headphones.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

I like to think of The Collexion as Sony's answer to Apple's AirPods Max 2. They go all in on a spacious, immersive soundstage that affords every element in a track plenty of breathing space, but the headphones are also immensely stylish and feature-rich. Android users who can't get the iOS-specific features from Apple's cans should seriously consider these. They have a highly customizable EQ, LDAC and DSEE Ultimate for higher-quality Bluetooth listening, and class-leading touch controls — things that Apple's cans skip on entirely.

There's even more to love about The Collexion, and I'll delve a bit deeper down below. However, the bottom line is that these are an excellent pair of headphones, and now, at a record-low price in both the US and UK, they're all too easy for me to recommend. So, make sure to scroll down for the best deals and more details on the Sony 1000X The Collexion.

Today's best Sony 1000X The Collexion deal in the US

With impeccable, immersive audio, an excellent standard of build, and a seemingly endless suite of features, the Sony 1000X The Collexion stand as a fantastic set of over-ear headphones in a highly competitive market. I was hesitant to recommend them regularly in the past due to their steep asking price, but with this deal, I think they're well-worth snapping up.View Deal

Today's best Sony 1000X The Collexion deal in the UK

I love the expansive sound signature of the Sony 1000X The Collexion, as well as their incredibly comfortable fit, luxurious looks, and gigantic feature-set. Now, you can net £75 off Sony's most premium wireless headphones ever, making them a must-buy for anyone that wants the ultimate blend of premium sound and design.View Deal

When I reviewed the Sony 1000X The Collexion earlier in 2026, they impressed me in a few key areas. Of course, sound is one of them. I've already spoken about their expansiveness, but they also offer excellent balance across the frequency range, with impactful and dynamic bass output, rich and intricate mids, and expressive treble. If you have LDAC switched on for higher-res streaming — or if you're using a wired connection — The Collexion can also unearth some of the finest details in your favorite tracks, resulting in a highly insightful, engaging listening experience.

Something else that impressed me was their active noise cancellation. Although these headphones have a relatively relaxed fit, they still crush external sounds to impressive effect, and whether I was using them on public transport or just while working in the office, they kept me focused on my tunes with ease. There's also a transparency mode if you want to be more aware of your surroundings, something that you can trigger by placing your hand over the right earcup, or with a simple button press.

I also absolutely loved the look and feel of the Sony 1000X The Collexion. Thy have a much sleeker look than the aforementioned XM6, with gorgeous metal details, a faux-leather exterior, and plush earcups. These headphones are some of the most, if not the most, comfortable I've ever used, and I had no problems using them for hours on end without stopping.

Even with this discount, they're still expensive, sure. But for the all-round quality you get in return, I think they're well worth the investment. If you're looking for some cheaper Sony headphones, though, I've got you covered with a few extra deals in the US and UK — head on down for more details.

More Sony headphones Prime Day deals in the US

WH-1000XM5: was $248 now $198
Sony's previous-gen flagship headphones are down to an incredible low price, and they're all too easy to recommend. With energetic, bass-heavy sound, a classy design, and excellent ANC, they're an absolute steal at under $200.View Deal

Prefer on-ears? Then it's good news. The Sony WH-CH520 are available right now for less than $35, which is an unbelievable price for the quality you get here. With clear, balanced audio, customizable sound, and 50 hours of battery life, you simply can't go wrong with these.View Deal

More Sony headphones Prime Day deals in the UK

They may not be Sony's newest flagship model, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 still have an awful lot to offer, with amazing ANC, exciting and punchy audio, an attractive look, and no end of features to play around with in Sony's Sound Connect app. At less than £200, you're looking at an unbeatable value for money option.View Deal

If you're a fan of on-ears, then I'd highly recommend scooping up the Sony WH-CH520 right now. For under £30, the quality you get in return is astonishing. With clean, balanced sound, 50 hours of battery life, and excellent in-app controls, there's just so much to love.View Deal

The MaxExtract has turned me into a juice enthusiast.

• Businesses are tracking AI as consumers shift to AI-powered buying patterns
• Social media is also a big are for monitoring consumer trends
• Conventional retail like Walmart and eBay have dropped

AI platforms have become synonymous with scraping other sites for information, but it's not every day you hear of AI sites themselves becoming targets. The latest Decodo research has revealed just that, though, with ChatGPT and Perplexity both appearing in the top five.

Decodo argues this marks a fundamental shift in what organizations are now demanding from the web – "Two years ago, businesses scraped the web to see what people were searching for," CEO Vaidotas Juknys noted.

"Now they scrape AI platforms to see what people are being told. The use case for data collection is changing."

AI platforms like ChatGPT are now being scraped

Besides AI platforms, Decodo found that seven of the top 10 sites are actually new entrants, with just TikTok (number one) Google (second place) and Amazon (eighth place) re-entering as repeat offenders.

ChatGPT, in third place, accounted for 14% of the activity observed by the analysis, which could account for businesses checking how the AI tool ranks their products against competitors, monitoring how it describes the company, measuring brand mention frequency, recording ChatGPT citations and more.

Perplexity accounted for 10% of the data, landing it in fifth place, while TikTok saw the most scrapes at nearly one in five (18%).

\But with several top-10 sites from 2025 dropping out of the charts, including Walmart, eBay and Airbnb, Decodo's data shows much more than just the rise of AI. It's also a much broader indication of how and where consumers are shopping, including AI and social media.

Looking ahead, the company is also anticipating that Gemini and Copilot could end up in next year's top 10. But marking an even bigger shift, Decodo also predicts that AI agents could replace humans in starting those scrapes in the first place.

"Next year the agents might be doing the deciding instead of just reading the answers," Juknys added.

Walmart has just launched a massive fall sale today that feels like an early preview of the brand's upcoming Black Friday sale. Running until October 11, the 'Deals & More' sale is absolutely worth checking out if you're looking for price cuts on a range of tech.

I've been scanning today's sale and found 13 highlights for our readers, including laptops, TVs, phones, and audio, with prices starting at just $39. Everything is included here, from cheap gift ideas to serious price cuts on high-end products that we've tested (and loved) here at TechRadar.

• Check out the Walmart Deals & More sale in full

Highlights include the latest Apple AirPods 4 for a record-low price of $79 (was $129), the outstanding TCL QM8L TV for $1,498 (was $1,698), and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro for $419 (was $499). These are all models that we've personally reviewed here at TechRadar, so they're very easy to recommend at these prices.

Check out my full list of deals just below, and remember that the overall sale will be running until Sunday. If I spot any more recommendations, I'll be sure to add them to the list. Alternatively, check in regularly at TechRadar over the next week for more coverage of Walmart and other leading retailers' sales.

Quick links — today's best sales at Walmart

• Apple: AirPods and iPads from just $79
• Headphones: JBL, Apple, Beats, and more
• Computing: laptops and tablets from $219
• PC gaming: gaming laptops and desktops from $799
• TVs: Samsung, LG, TCL, and more

Today's best deals in the Walmart Fall sale

The AirPods 4 are one of the overall highlights of Walmart's big Fall sale this week, as Apple's latest entry-level earbuds are currently sitting at their lowest-ever price. While this particular model doesn't have noise cancellation, they're still a decent buy at this price if you need a good pair of buds for your iPhone. Not only do they sound great, but the spatial audio is genuinely good, too. View Deal

V14 G5 Laptop: was $1999 now $699
Processor: Intel Core i7-13620H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

Laptop prices have really taken a hit recently, which is why this Lenovo V14 is well worth taking a look at in the Walmart sale this week. It's a slightly older model, but it's still features a combination of a 13th-gen Core i7 chipset and 16GB of RAM, which makes it a good option for working from home or relatively demanding applications.View Deal

14-inch Chromebook: was $399.99 now $249
Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 540
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB

Want a laptop for just the basics? A Chromebook is a great (and affordable) choice. Right now, Walmart has a good price on this entry-level 14-inch Lenovo, which is a compelling option if you just want something to stream content or do light web browsing. View Deal

Cyborg 15.6 gaming laptop: was $2099 now $1349
Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 260
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

RTX 5070 gaming laptops tend to be pretty expensive, considering this graphics card is one of Nvidia's higher-end models. This MSI Cyborg, however, is relatively reasonably priced with today's big price cut at Walmart. Not only do you get a really quick graphics card here, but the AMD Ryzen 7 chipset is also fantastic. Annoyingly, you do only get 16GB of RAM here, but that's still enough to run most games smoothly. View Deal

15.3-inch gaming laptop: was $1499.99 now $799
Graphics card: RTX 4050
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 220
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

It's extremely uncommon to see an Alienware gaming laptop for under $1,000, let alone $800. With that said, this 15-inch Alienware is very much a basic, entry-level machine with a slightly older RTX 4050 graphics card and a Ryzen 5 chipset. This machine is definitely not a high-end option, although it does still feature that stunning futuristic design that Alienware laptops are known for.View Deal

Codex Z2C gaming desktop: was $1599 now $999
Graphics card: RTX 5060 Ti
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 8700F
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

If I were buying a mid-range gaming PC for myself, I'd be severely tempted by this MSI Codex at Walmart today. The RTX 5060 TI is a fantastic graphics card for 1080p and even 1440p gaming, and the Ryzen 7 chipset is also really good here. Annoyingly, you do only get 16GB of RAM here, but that's still more than enough to get you started with decent performance right out the box. View Deal

Galaxy Tab A11+: was $249 now $219
The latest in Samsung's well-received budget tablet range, the A11+ picks up where the A9 left off, and at the same price too. This is the base model, with just Wi-Fi connectivity and 128GB of storage, but you can expand that easily up to 2TB via a microSD card. If you need an Android tablet for daily use like web browsing, watching videos, and maybe playing a few games, this one's well worth considering.View Deal

Go 5 portable speaker: was $47 now $39
The JBL Go 5 is our favorite budget portable speaker, so it's a strong recommendation if you're looking for a lightweight speaker for your tunes. This particular model features upgraded sound, new ambient lighting, and an ultra-durable build. Overall, well worth the money, although we still think the 10 hours of battery life is beaten by some of the competitors on the market currently.View Deal

75-inch QM8L Mini LED TV: was $1698 now $1498
The TCL QM8L is one of the best TVs that we've reviewed this year, by far. For the price, it's a very, very compelling high-end option that combines an impressive, bright picture with a range of excellent tech. TCL's backlight tech in particular does a great job of offering a clean image with no blooming, highlighting detail no matter how bright or dark the picture is. With four HDMI 2.1 ports, it's also a fantastic option for gamers looking for the highest possible frame rates at 4K. View Deal

77-inch C6 Series 4K UHD OLED TV: was $2799.99 now $2299.99
This is the latest iteration of LG's well-renowned 'C' series of OLED displays. They've been a favorite at TechRadar for a few years, and this sixth-gen model is the best yet. For the price, you get almost unbeatable image quality, support for 165Hz frame rates at 4K, and the brand's latest Alpha 11 AI Gen 3 image processor. In short, this mid-range OLED display is worth every penny. View Deal

Looking for something a little different? Walmart currently has the excellent Nothing Phone (4a) Pro listed at its lowest price yet. Awarded an almost perfect score in our review, we think the Phone (4a) Pro is a great mid-range option for most people. Not only do you get a fantastic 144Hz AMOLED display, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset also provides great bang for the buck. Of course, the main selling point is the device's stunning modern (and unique) design. View Deal

• The world's tallest wind turbine has been built in Germany
• It's designed to catch higher, stronger, more consistent winds
• An 'inside out' construction process was deployed to build up

There's a new milestone to report in the field of wind energy engineering: German company Gicon just completed construction on the tallest wind turbine in history, standing 365 meters (1,198 feet) tall near the town of Schipkau in Brandenburg.

According to the official press release (via Interesting Engineering), the structure is now the second tallest in Germany, as well as the tallest wind turbine in the world. The official commissioning of the towering electricity generator is set for November.

The reason for the extra height is simple: a higher altitude means stronger and more reliable winds. However, experts won't know if the additional power generation is worth the extra costs and engineering efforts until the new turbine has started operating.

This first super-tall turbine will have a rated output of 3.8 MW, with future builds expected to hit 7 MW. That's fairly modest by turbine standards, but it's expected that the new structure will hit peak capacity more often and more consistently, ultimately achieving twice the energy yield of a conventional wind turbine with the same rotor diameter.

A new approach to construction

"This is an overwhelming moment for our entire team," says Gircon CEO Prof. Dr. Jochen Großmann (via Google Translate). "What was long a challenging idea and then an equally challenging construction project now stands as a globally unique facility in Schipkau... we at Gicon are extremely proud of this."

The engineering team used a special 'inside out' approach to constructing the tower, using what's known as a strand jack system to lift the higher sections through the center of the base of the turbine before fixing them in place.

And there's another promising aspect to all this: Gicon says current wind farms can be retrofitted with the taller structures, meaning (in theory) more power from existing turbine plots without the need for more land development.

Once the world record turbine is running, we'll be able to see just how effective it is at harnessing the faster, more consistent winds at higher altitudes. If it proves a success, expect to see wind turbines getting a lot faster in the future.

Thinking about upgrading your gaming TV in time for GTA 6? While there are tons of great options, you can't really go wrong with LG's OLEDs — and I've found some great deals ahead of Prime Day.

If you're in the US, you can pick up the LG B6 48-inch for $699.99 (was $1,199.99) at Best Buy. A perfect-sized TV for bedroom gaming, the B6 is packing everything you need for the best gaming experience.

If you're in the UK, today's LG B6 deals aren't as good, but the excellent LG C5 48-inch is available for £819 at PRC Direct. Crampton & Moore had this TV for £99 earlier, but the price has gone back up: PRC Direct now has the best price. This is a great price for what was easily one of 2025's best TVs.

Today's best 48-inch gaming OLED TV deals

48" B6 OLED 4K TV (2026): was $1199.99 now $699.99
The LG B6 is a brilliant OLED TV, delivering colorful, contrast-rich picture quality along with full gaming features and an intuitive smart TV platform. The 48-inch model is down to $699.99 at Best Buy, which is an excellent price if you're looking for a bedroom-sized TV or gaming display. View Deal

C5 48-inch 4K OLED TV (2025): was £999 now £819
One of 2025's very best TVs, the LG C5 is the total package. Showcasing awesome picture quality and carrying every feature you could need, especially for gaming, the C5 is a tough TV to beat in terms of value. While stock of the C5 continues to thin out, the 48-inch model is available at PRC Direct for £819 (use code AUTUMN10 at checkout). View Deal

Top-notch gaming OLEDsThe LG B6 is a fantastic gaming TVFutureThe LG C5 delivers on all areas of gaming Future

LG's OLEDs are among the best gaming TVs each year, as each model comes packed with all the features you could need.

While the LG B6 may be the entry-level model in the 2026 LG OLED lineup, it still offers four HDMI 2.1 ports, which support 4K 120Hz, full VRR, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM. With a measured 8.9ms input lag time, performance on the B6 is excellent. While playing Battlefield V, I found the B6's response times to be razor-sharp, delivering smooth performance that never faltered, even in intense shootouts as I tried to dodge enemy fire.

The B6 is brighter than its predecessor, the B5, offering roughly 150 nits more peak brightness. This means HDR highlights have more punch, resulting in richer picture quality. Colors are vibrant, black tones are inky and contrast is strong: the B6 delivers a great picture that's perfect for movies and games.

The LG C5 may be one of last year's models, and while this year's LG C6 is an improvement, the C5 is still a fantastic TV, especially for gaming. It too has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 144Hz, full VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, and its measured 9.2ms input lag time mean performance is smooth. Again while playing Battlefield V, the C6 did a phenomenal job handling fast-paced action as I tried to navigate chaotic battles.

The C5 also has brilliant picture quality ideal for movies and gaming. Colors really pop on screen, detail is refined with 3D-like textures, it offers rich contrast with dazzling bright tones and deep dark tones and it has razor-sharp motion handling.

Quick links TV deals: US

• Best Buy: save up to 50% on LG, TCL and more
• Walmart: TVs from as low as $68

Quick links TV deals: UK

• Currys: save up to £500 on TVs from Sony and more
• Argos: TCL and Samsung TVs from £189
• John Lewis: up to £350 off Sony TVs

Kodiak is planning to bring its fully self-driving trucks to highways later this year. I took a test ride to see the technology in action.

As smartwatches head toward becoming AI companions, Meta might be working a new angle.

• Deliveroo says its first robot deliveries will start soon in London
• Canary Wharf will get its first four-wheeled robot deliveries this month
• Four other UK cities will follow "in the coming weeks and months"

Your next Deliveroo order could arrive courtesy of a four-wheeled robot rather than a human rider — with the delivery giant revealing that its first robot deliveries are starting soon in five locations.

Deliveroo has partnered with Coco Robotics to use its fully-electric robots for some deliveries, which will start in London's Canary Wharf sometime in October. These will use onboard sensors, cameras and AI to trundle around at "walking pace" through public streets to bring orders straight to customers.

The robots won't be used for every food or takeaway option. Initially, they'll only accept orders from the likes of Patty & Bun, Signorelli and the restaurant Beam in Wood Wharf. Deliveroo says the service will expand to more merchants including Ole & Steen "at a later stage", but hasn't commented on when that'll be.

The Canary Wharf scheme will be followed by similar pilots in Milton Keynes, Leeds, Stockton on Tees and Nottingham, which can expect to see the teal-colored robots arrive "in the coming weeks and months".

This will the first time Deliveroo has used autonomous delivery vehicles in the UK, and it's likely to be just the start. The announcement will spark concerns among human Deliveroo riders, but the company has promised that "the majority of orders will continue to be fulfilled by Deliveroo’s extensive rider network". And given the limitations of these four-wheeled robots, that's likely to be the case for a while.

Analysis: The delivery robots and drones are coming

(Image credit: Getty Images / Bloomberg / Amazon)

Deliveroo is far from the first delivery giant to experiment with robot delivery recently. Since October 2025, the company has been owned by the US giant Doordash, which has already partnered with Coco's robots in the likes of Los Angeles, San Jose, Chicago, Miami, Washington D.C and Helsinki.

Just last week, Doordash also revealed its new delivery drone for North California, which can apparently get food to you in under five minutes — although it was launched to a background hum of Texas residents complaining about the noise from Amazon's first Prime Air drones. Evri also recently announced a trial of its first two-legged robot delivery drivers in the UK.

While some pedestrians might not be thrilled about sharing the pavements with a growing army of delivery 'bots, there is one potential benefit for the blind and partially-sighted. Coco's robots are able to share real-time data on pavement hazards with the popular GPS navigation app BlindSquare.

"Coco's robots are essentially a real-time accessibility mapping network, feeding hazard data, discarded e-scooters, temporary construction, straight into BlindSquare's self-voicing app, giving blind and partially sighted pedestrians the crucial seconds they need to navigate safely," BlindSquare's founder Ilkka Pirttimaa said.

Amazon's October Prime Day — officially named the Prime Day Big Deals, if you want to call it that — isn't here for another day. Someone forgot to tell Sony, though, because the company's already discounted a range of its headphones.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

The highlight here is a $30 discount on the WH-CH730N — they're now just $148, (was $179) — this being a highlight because those puppies were only unveiled at the beginning of September.

What I'm saying is, we haven't seen a reduction on these already-affordable over-ears before. Brand new tech, brand new prices. To be clear, these are over-ears with noise cancellation that sit just below Sony's flagship 1000X lineup — but an even cheaper new set also exists, and it's also discounted. Hurrah for Prime Day!

Their contemporaries, the WH-CH530, are also reduced, but by a relatively minor $11 from $69.99 to just $58 (they are, after all, much more affordable Sony cans).

Again, the product is only a month old, so this discount is the first we've seen on them. They're on-ears and don't offer active noise cancellation, but do deliver Sony-grade audio, for a bargain price.

WH-CH730N: was $179.99 now $148
These modern cans from Sony haven't seen a discount before, so losing almost 20% of their price is a great incentive for you to pick them up. Just note: only the black model is officially reduced.View Deal

WH-CH530: was $69.99 now $58
Sony's affordable on-ear headphones are enjoying their first price cut, jumping the wait on the other Prime Day deals.View Deal

We haven't reviewed either of these products yet, that's how new they are. But we've previously been impressed by members of Sony's over-ear family, often naming them the best of their market segment, and there's no reason to think these will be different.

If you're not interested in Sony's mid-range and affordable headphones, then you'll be glad to know that the brand also has a few other options with temporarily-lowered prices.

Want something really cheap? The WH-CH530's predecessor is down to $33 at Amazon, and they were already great affordable options as we detailed in our Sony WH-CH520 review.

And if you want something more premium, some past-gen flagships are back down to $198, a saving of 50% on the MSRP, and we gave them a perfect score in our Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

WH-CH520: was $69.99 now $33
Need cheap Sony cans now? These get the job done. No ANC and they've just been superseded by a newer set, but this is a return to their lowest-seen price — which is a massive 53% off! — and we gave them a great write-up at their full whack asking fee. View Deal

WH-1000XM5: was $248 now $198
Oh, how we love these headphones. They're not the newest Sony flagship ANC headphones, but the fit and comfort levels are excellent, and their popularity endures. This is also a return to their lowest ever asking fee — we've listed their most recent regular price, but it's worth remembering that these headphones cost $399 at launch, so the discount is huge. View Deal

A big week of sales begins this week and Best Buy is getting in early with its huge Techtober event, which promises savings of up to 50% on TVs, appliances, laptops, headphones, and much more. I've dove into the sale to uncover all the best deals, sharing the 35 top offers that I'd recommend right here.

• Browse the full Best Buy Techtober sale

As is always the case with a Best Buy sale, there are some very strong TV offers. A couple of the highlights include the excellent value TCL QM6K 55-inch Mini-LED TV for $499.99 (was $799.99) and the five-star-rated LG C6 65-inch OLED TV for $1,499.99 (was $2,699.99). The latter is currently our expert's pick for the best TV you can buy right now.

Elsewhere, capitalising on the growing popularity of wired earbuds, there are these Sony MDREX14AP for a ridiculously low $9.99 (was $19.99). That's a super-cheap pair of buds from a top manufacturer, so they feel like a bit of a steal in my eyes.

I've summarised all of the key categories from the sale below and then hand-picked 35 of the best deals further down, so do have a browse or see if anything specific inspires you. With the Best Buy Techtober sale set to run all week, I'll be back to add any more standout offers I find over the coming days.

And be sure to stick with TechRadar for our full Amazon Prime Big Deal Days coverage once that event kicks off on October 6.

Best Buy Techtober sale — quick links

• Apple: up to $500 off MacBooks & AirPods
• Appliances: up to 40% off
• Cameras: up to $1,000 off Sony, DJI & Canon
• Gaming: PS5 & Switch games from $19.99
• Headphones: Apple, Sony & Bose from $9.99
• Kitchen: up to 50% off Ninja & Breville
• Laptops: from $189
• Phones: up to $1,200 off iPhone & Samsung
• Smart home: up to 50% off cameras & doorbells
• Smartwatches: up to $200 off Apple & Google
• Speakers: up to $400 off LG & JBL
• Tablets: up to $100 off iPad & Lenovo
• Toys: up to 50% off
• TVs: from $69.98
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Dyson & Shark

My top 10 deals

MDREX14AP Wired Earbuds: was $19.99 now $9.99
Wired earbuds are rising in popularity right now, and this is a great low price for a solid pair from Sony. You get excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit, a small and lightweight design, and an integrated microphone on the wire for making calls. All for under $10 is a bit of steal.View Deal

QM6K 55-inch 4K Mini-LED TV: was $799.99 now $499.99
A truly great, budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality along with solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank. Upgrades here include support for 120Hz refresh rates at 4K resolution, which is perfect for gamers. This deal knocks a decent $300 off the 55-inch model, making it an appealing option for those who want a premium display at a mid-range price. View Deal

OmniBook 3: was $799.99 now $629.99
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

This is a solid discount on a modern laptop powered by one of the efficient Snapdragon X CPUs. As well as excellent levels of all-around performance, this device boasts a huge all-day battery life of up to 41 hours, so you won't need to worry about being attached to a charger at all times. Storage is also solid with a 512GB SSD, so this is an impressive laptop for the price for everyday, college and business use.View Deal

Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle: $499.99
Nintendo Switch 2 bundles have been a rare sight in recent months, so it's good to see this customisable option available at Best Buy. As well as a console, you can also choose between a downloadable copy of either Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia, for a saving of up to $29.99.View Deal

The Breville Barista Express is on par with some of the best espresso machines we've reviewed here at TechRadar. It has a higher learning curve than the average espresso machine, but it allows you to hone your coffee skills to make drinks exactly how you like them. This is a return to the record-low price for the entry-level espresso maker, and it remains a best-seller during all sales events, so it's looking like the right time for me to upgrade.View Deal

C6 65-inch OLED TV: was $2699.99 now $1499.99
The LG C6 is the successor to our best-rated TV, LG's C5 OLED, and it has a whopping $1,200 discount at Best Buy's Labor Day sale. This year's OLED TV delivers more accurate, brighter colors than the C5, with powerful contrast thanks to its new Alpha 11 AI processor. The C6 also includes impressive gaming features and LG's intuitive smart TV platform.View Deal

We awarded the JBL Charge 6 five stars, and it currently sits atop our list of the best speakers, so I definitely want to shout out this deal you can nab right now at Best Buy. With booming sound and an easy-to-carry design, you really can't go wrong with this one if you need an all-purpose speaker.View Deal

XPS 13 Laptop: was $999.99 now $799.99
Display - 13.4 inches
Processor - Intel Core 5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

The Dell XPS 13 has regularly been one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar. With a 13.4-inch touchscreen display, Intel Core 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and excellent battery life, it has everything you need for solid all-around performance at work or college.View Deal

Crispi: was $179.99 now $152.99
Here's an excellent discount on Ninja's portable air fryer. This bundle includes the PowerPod lid, plus two resealable glass containers to carry your dishes until you're ready to cook. According to our testing, it cooks exceptionally quickly, is easy to use and a breeze to clean, making this one of the best air fryer deals I've seen this year.View Deal

Fire TV Stick 4K Select: was $49.99 now $17.99
Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is now $17.99 at Best Buy. Since it's only a couple of bucks more than the cheaper HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade and get higher-resolution streaming—as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but that is more than enough for everyday use.View Deal

Best Buy Techtober sale — Laptops

Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 540
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB

You don't always find a laptop with 8GB of memory for under $300, so this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook really stands out in Best Buy's Labor Day sale. Other components are good for light use, but that bump to 8GB of RAM will really help with everyday performance and load times. It's still a fairly basic laptop, but with enough extra power to avoid dramatic slowdown when multitasking.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel Core 3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 128GB

While this HP 14 Chromebook offers a similar level of power to the Acer above, it does come with a smaller, higher-resolution display. If easier portability and a sharper image are more important to you, then I would consider paying the little extra to get this device instead. It also has a more modern processor, which isn't dramatically more powerful, but will be better supported and more efficient for general use.View Deal

OmniBook 3: was $799.99 now $629.99
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

This is a solid discount on a modern laptop powered by one of the efficient Snapdragon X CPUs. As well as excellent levels of all-around performance, this device boasts a huge all-day battery life of up to 41 hours, so you won't need to worry about being attached to a charger at all times. Storage is also solid with a 512GB SSD, so this is an impressive laptop for the price for everyday, college and business use.View Deal

OmniBook X Flip: was $1199.99 now $749.99
Display - 16 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 7
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 1TB

This powerful and versatile HP OmniBook Flip offers impressive performance for the price, with powerful components such as a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM to boost performance, and a decent 1TB SSD for storage. You can comfortably handle everyday tasks, demanding work, video calls, media streaming and more with this laptop, all with the option to flip it around to a 16-inch touchscreen tablet when needed, too.View Deal

XPS 13 Laptop: was $999.99 now $799.99
Display - 13.4 inches
Processor - Intel Core 5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

The Dell XPS 13 has regularly been one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar. With a 13.4-inch touchscreen display, Intel Core 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and excellent battery life, it has everything you need for solid all-around performance at work or college.View Deal

MacBook Air 13-inch (M5): was $1299 now $1099
Display - 13.6 inches
Processor - Apple M5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

Our reviewer called the newest MacBook Air M5 "the best ultraportable I've ever used" and awarded it 4.5-stars, so it's every bit as good as its already excellent predecessor. As well as the powerful and efficient M5 chip, the latest MacBook Air boasts a slick 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD as standard. Those are solid overall specs for all-around use, productivity, and creative tasks. This is the best offer we've seen since the recent price hike, too.View Deal

MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5, 2025): was $1999 now $1849
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Apple M5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 1TB

Apple's powerful MacBook Pro with the latest M5 chip and a chunky 1TB of storage is on sale at Best Buy. Boasting that powerful M5 chip, a gorgeous Liquid Retina display and an impressive 18 hours of battery life, this is a complete creative workstation. We awarded this model a solid four stars out of five in our MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) review, praising the overall performance, elegant design, and long-lasting battery, but we were disappointed by the lack of a larger redesign and the overemphasis on AI features rather than other useful upgrades.View Deal

Best Buy Techtober sale — Televisions

F20 32-inch HD Fire TV: was $129.99 now $69.98
It's one of the smallest and cheapest TVs you can buy, but if that's all you need, then this Insignia F20 is very hard to beat. Definitely don't expect the best picture quality or the fastest performance, but if you just need a display for infrequent streaming in a kid's room, the bedroom, or kitchen, then it's up to the job — and it doesn't cost very much at all.View Deal

F50 Series 55-inch 4K Fire TV: was $349.99 now $189.99
This large and budget-friendly 55-inch TV from Insignia supports high-quality 4K HD resolution, has smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa controls. I've picked out this size in particular as it's a great low price for the already affordable display. All this for under $200 is a solid offer for a no-frills TV of this size.View Deal

QD50 58-inch Hi-QLED 4K TV: was $399.99 now $199.99
I can't speak too much about the overall quality of this TV given we haven't had extensive testing time, but I can't deny that it's a super low price for a TV of this size. It also sports the budget version of Hisense's QLED tech, which offers superior brightness and more vivid colors, although it's not as powerful as the premium displays. Still, this is a big and cheap TV that will be ideal for general everyday viewing and streaming for someone who isn't too bothered about getting the very best picture possible.View Deal

U8000H 50-inch 4K TV: was $299.99 now $249.99
If you're looking for a mid-sized budget display, Best Buy has this 50-inch 4K TV on sale for $249.99. It won't rival the premium QLED and OLED displays, but this entry-level TV from Samsung still packs a solid 'Crystal' UHD 4K processor, the easy-to-use Tizen operating system, and full HDR support. That's good value for money if you need a straightforward but capable display for your everyday viewing and media streaming.View Deal

C350 75-inch 4K Fire TV: was $729.99 now $399.99
The Toshiba C350 is getting older now, but finding a 75-inch 4K smart TV for under $400 is still an amazing deal. Toshiba's C350 is a 4K TV with HDR support, delivering solid picture quality for everyday viewing. Access to streaming apps is easy with the Fire TV OS, which has Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and more at your fingertips. It's not as powerful as many premium options, but if you're on a tight budget and want a large display, this is an excellent option.View Deal

QM6K 55-inch 4K mini-LED TV: was $799.99 now $499.99
A truly great, budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality along with solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank. Upgrades here include support for 120Hz refresh rates at 4K resolution, which is perfect for gamers. This deal knocks a decent $300 off the 55-inch model, making it an appealing option for those who want a premium display at a mid-range price. View Deal

U7 55-inch Mini-LED QLED TV: was $1299.99 now $649.99
This is my pick for the best Hisense TV deal in the latest Best Buy sale. You get a lot of top TV tech for the money in a reasonably sized display, including a bright and vibrant QLED panel with excellent contrast, and a high 165Hz refresh rate support for smooth images. It will excel as a TV to watch the World Cup, as well as stream all of your favorite shows and movies, and play the latest games.View Deal

C6 65-inch OLED TV: was $2699.99 now $1499.99
The LG C6 is the successor to our best-rated TV, LG's C5 OLED, and it has a whopping $1,200 discount at Best Buy's Labor Day sale. This year's OLED TV delivers more accurate, brighter colors than the C5, with powerful contrast thanks to its new Alpha 11 AI processor. The C6 also includes impressive gaming features and LG's intuitive smart TV platform.View Deal

R85H 75-inch Micro RGB TV: was $2799.99 now $1799.99
The 75-inch version of Samsung's latest R85H just got its largest discount ever at Best Buy. This TV stands out for its excellent color and image quality, thanks to the array of micro RGB LEDs. That means it also boasts superior brightness and fantastic contrast, ensuring you get a smooth, sharp and vibrant image. It's an ideal all-rounder for films, movies, sports, and gaming, as it also supports 144Hz and a variable refresh rate to give you a smooth and responsive picture. It's easily one of the best premium TV deals I've seen right now.View Deal

G6 77-inch OLED 4K TV: was $4499.99 now $3699.99
The LG G6 is a pricey TV, but this flagship OLED delivers superb picture quality and unbeatable gaming performance, according to our LG G6 review. It uses a new-gen Primary RGB Tandem 2.0 OLED panel and a new Alpha 11 AI Gen 3 processor to deliver a better bright-room viewing experience than the previous model. With four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting a full suite of features, the G6 is also a fantastic gaming display.View Deal

Fire TV Stick 4K Select: was $49.99 now $17.99
Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is now $17.99 at Best Buy. Since it's only a couple of bucks more than the cheaper HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade and get higher-resolution streaming—as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but that is more than enough for everyday use.View Deal

Best Buy Techtober sale — Appliances

The Breville Barista Express is on par with some of the best espresso machines we've reviewed here at TechRadar. It has a higher learning curve than the average espresso machine, but it allows you to hone your coffee skills to make drinks exactly how you like them. This is a return to the record-low price for the entry-level espresso maker, and it remains a best-seller during all sales events, so it's looking like the right time for me to upgrade.View Deal

Air Fryer Pro XL: was $179.99 now $119.99
An air fryer allows you to enjoy your favorite fried foods with less oil, and this Ninja Pro model is ideal for families who want a big but budget-friendly option. The five-quart capacity drawer is enough to make meals for the whole family, and preset functions allow for easy air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating.View Deal

Crispi: was $179.99 now $152.99
Here's an excellent discount on Ninja's portable air fryer. This bundle includes the PowerPod lid, plus two resealable glass containers to carry your dishes until you're ready to cook. According to our testing, it cooks exceptionally quickly, is easy to use and a breeze to clean, making this one of the best air fryer deals I've seen this year.View Deal

Pro Coffee Maker: was $59.99 now $29.99
This will never be one of the best coffee makers you can buy, but there's no denying that it is dirt cheap. It's a basic and no-frills drip filter coffee maker that can brew up to 12 cups at once, has a programmable timer so you can wake up to a fresh pot, and dishwasher-safe components that make it easy to clean.View Deal

4 qt Touchscreen Slim Air Fryer: was $69.99 now $59.99
The Bella Pro is exclusive to Best Buy, and we have seen this four-quart model a little cheaper in previous sales. However, for under $60, this is excellent value for money if you just need a compact air fryer for a small household or kitchen.View Deal

Best Buy Techtober sale — Headphones & Audio

MDREX14AP Wired Earbuds: was $19.99 now $9.99
Wired earbuds are rising in popularity right now, and this is a great low price for a solid pair from Sony. You get excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit, a small and lightweight design, and an integrated microphone on the wire for making calls. All for under $10 is a bit of steal.View Deal

Best Buy's latest sale has the previous-generation AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation available for $119.99 — that's just $20 more than the record-low price. These AirPods 4 feature a new comfortable design, handy controls, and Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation — alongside that all-important ANC.View Deal

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $199
Apple's newest premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds really are 100% flagship audio and the noise-cancelling quality is outstanding. Today's deal at Best Buy is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods, and just $10 more than the record-low from earlier in the year.View Deal

Right now, you can grab the incredible Sony WH-1000XM6 for $80 less in the Best Buy Techtober sale, bringing them back down to the lowest price they've ever been. These headphones deliver beautifully balanced audio, top-tier touch controls, a comfortable fit, and noise-crushing ANC to block out unwanted sounds.View Deal

AirPods Max 2 (USB-C): was $549 now $429
The AirPods Max use an Apple-designed dynamic driver to provide high-fidelity audio – and they sound fantastic for it. Exceptional active noise cancellation, personalized Spatial Audio, and Dolby Atmos support all reinforce that. They feel good on your head as well, thanks to the knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions, so you can easily wear them for the full 20 hours of battery life if you ever want or need to.View Deal

We awarded the JBL Charge 6 five stars, and it currently sits atop our list of the best speakers, so I definitely want to shout out this deal you can nab right now at Best Buy. With booming sound and an easy-to-carry design, you really can't go wrong with this one if you need an all-purpose speaker.View Deal

Best Buy Techtober sale — Tablets

iPad A16 (2025): was $449 now $399
The brand-new Apple iPad A16 is down to its lowest-ever price in the Best Buy Labor Day sale, so it's worth taking advantage of if you have an eye on the latest Apple slate. The biggest upgrade over the previous-generation model is the A16 chip for faster performance. You also get double the storage, with 128GB standard, a sharp 11-inch Liquid Retina display, and solid 12MP front and back cameras.View Deal

iPad Air 11-inch (M4): was $749 now $649
The iPad Air hits the middle ground between power and affordability while still offering many of the same features and capabilities as the much pricier iPad Pro range. It has an attractive 111-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone support, which means it looks good in all lighting conditions — including outdoors. It's not quite as compelling a buy after a price hike, but still a good option for work and creatives.View Deal

iPad Pro 11-inch (M5): was $1199 now $1149
There's a decent $100 saving on the latest iPad Pro 11-inch at Best Buy, which we'll have to take after the recent price hike on Apple's tablets. Even at this higher price, you get the brand-new M5 chip, high-quality tandem OLED display and 256GB as standard. Expect this to be one of the better offers we see on the tablet until later in the year.View Deal

Best Buy Techtober sale — Phones

The iPhone Air is one of a kind. Apple's first thin-and-light flagship measures just 5.6mm thick, boasts the powerful A19 Pro chipset, and sports a beautiful 6.5-inch display. It's as fast as a Pro in daily use, and while its battery life isn't quite so impressive, you won't find a better iPhone for this price.View Deal

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: was $2099.99 now $1799.99
You can get a $300 discount when buying the Fold 8 Ultra at Best Buy. That equals the biggest flat saving available on the latest flagship foldable and is a great option if you don't have an existing phone to trade in. This high-end foldable was awarded an impressive 4.5-stars in our review for its thin design, super-fast performance, and excellent cameras.View Deal

AirTag 4 Pack (2nd generation): was $99 now $89
The best-selling Apple AirTag is on sale for $89 during Best Buy's Labor Day sale. A great way to track a child's backpack or luggage, the AirTag can be attached to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone can locate it.View Deal

• Apple has confirmed that a "small number" of iPhone 18 Pro Max users are experiencing an unfixable bug
• Affected users will have to replace their phone
• Any currently unaffected iPhone 18 Pro Max users on AT&T should download a pair of updates to ensure their phones don't break

Most bugs can be fixed by software updates, but right now, some iPhone 18 Pro Max users are facing a glitch that requires a whole new handset.

In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple has confirmed that a “small number” of iPhone 18 Pro Max devices on AT&T have lost cellular service, leaving them unable to make calls.

The company is rolling out a carrier settings update which — along with iOS 27.0.1 — is designed to prevent this issue from occurring on phones that aren’t already affected, but it won’t fix things for devices that already have the bug.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)How to check if your phone is affected

So, how can you see if your phone is affected? Well, first off, the issue is limited to iPhone 18 Pro Max models on AT&T — the iPhone 18 Pro isn’t affected, likely because it uses a different modem. So if you’re not on AT&T or not using an iPhone 18 Pro Max, you should be fine.

If you are using this phone on AT&T, then you should easily be able to tell if the bug has hit your handset, as it will be displaying the word ‘SOS’ in the status bar, and you won’t be able to use AT&T’s network for calls, texts, or data — though Wi-Fi should still work.

If you haven’t experienced that, then make sure to update your phone to iOS 27.0.1 immediately. The carrier settings update that Apple is additionally rolling out should automatically be installed within the next 14 days, but you can trigger it before then by heading to Settings > General > About, where a prompt should then appear to download this.

But what if you’ve already been affected by this glitch? Well, sadly, the only option there is to get your phone replaced.

To do this, get in touch with Apple Support or AT&T over the phone or online, or visit an Apple Store or AT&T branch. Since this is an unfixable glitch, you should then be issued a free replacement — though make sure you’ve backed up your current iPhone first.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns' season 1 finale.

Lanterns episode 8 is out now on HBO Max. And, after weeks of engrossing storytelling and a surprising amount of meme-able content, it's brought the increasingly popular show's debut season to an end.

As the dust settles on Lanterns' season 1 finale, I suspect you want answers to your most burning questions. It's a good job, then, that I'm here to provide them. Just make sure you've watched this week's chapter, titled 'Dirt and Stars', before you proceed, for the purposes of spoiler avoidance!

Who murdered Hal Jordan in Lanterns?

Hal-lelujah, we finally know who murdered the former Green Lantern (Image credit: DC Studios/HBO Max)

It's only been eight weeks since Lanterns episode 1 dropped the bombshell that someone had killed Hal Jordan in its 2026 storyline, but the wait to find out the identity of his murderer has felt longer.

Well, we finally have an answer — and, after correctly guessing the individual in question in my Lanterns pre-season 1 finale predictions piece, I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself right now.

But, enough posturing: the person responsible for Hal's demise is none other than Sheriff Kerry Kane.

It was Sheriff Kane, with the sidearm! (Image credit: DC Studios/HBO Max)

Truth be hold, Hal's death was more akin to manslaughter than pre-meditated murder. After all, the only reason Kerry shot the former Green Lantern — and man she was in a romantic relationship with, no less — was to protect her son Noah after Hal learns a game-changing secret about him. I'll get into the weeds of that later in this article.

So, yes, after weeks of speculation, it turns out the most unlikely candidate of all was behind Hal's death.

Does John Stewart become a Green Lantern?

John Stewart becomes a Lantern... but of which color? (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

Strictly speaking, yes. Prior to the release of 'Dirt and Stars', some viewers were convinced that John would become the DCU's first Yellow Lantern, but the sci-fi crime drama's latest entry dispelled that fan theory.

That said, John isn't a legitimate member of the Green Lantern Corps., aka the space cop organization set up by the Guardians of the Universe whose agents patrol the wider cosmos.

Guy Gardner, who watches over Sector-2814, is Earth's one and only official Green Lantern because our world falls under his jurisidiction. However, after John charges Hal's old ring with the Lantern Battery made by Sinestro (more on this in a moment) and comes up with his own Lantern Corps. oath, he's technically a Green Lantern, albeit an independently contracted one.

"In brightest day, in darkest night..." (Image credit: DC Studios/HBO Max)

Ironically, the only way that the DC Universe's (DCU) John Stewart becomes a Lantern is because of Hal's villainous former mentor Sinestro. Want more information on him? Read my Sinestro in Lanterns explained article.

But, I digress. As we learn in 'Dirt and Stars', Sinestro was broken out of his space prison cell by none other than Noah (I'm getting to him, don't worry), marooned on the dead world of a major alien genocide, and tasked with making a Lantern Battery for Noah. Long story short: Sinestro successfully crafts said Lantern, which is charged with Fear and Will energy owing to the toxic fear gas and planet's remaining water supply.

Sinestro tries to individually manipulate and tempt John and the Hal-O-Gram (the latter being a digital back-up of Hal's consciousness) with respective promises to help them become a Lantern and be brought back to life. However, the pair reject his offers and head back to Earth, leaving a chained-up and furious Sinestro to presumably live out his days on this barren world.

"They'll send an army, to hunt you down" (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

Fast-forward to the end of the HBO Max show's eighth episode, and John uses Hal's ring, the Lantern Battery, and reciting of his self-made oath to become a Green Lantern.

Unsurprisingly, Guy, who's summoned by John before the latter does that, isn't exactly pleased to hear John's plan — one which John says will allow Guy to continue patrolling Sector-2814 while John only watches over and protects planet Earth. Guy is also convinced the Guardians will be angry at this rebellious development, so it'll be interesting to see if a second season of Lanterns picks up and runs with this story beat.

Anyway, John's plan means the Hal-O-Gram will be permanently erased from Hal's ring once he recites his oath. Incredibly sad though I am to see Kyle Chandler's portrayal of Hal for what could be the final time, at least there's an incredibly touching goodbye between he and Aaron Pierre's John.

Unfortunately, while we get to finally see John fly, we don't get to see him in his full Lantern super-suit. I guess we'll have to wait for his next DCU appearance for that...

Is Noah Macon a Manhunter?

That fan theory about Noah was correct! (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

Yes. Another fan theory to emerge in recent weeks, Lanterns episode 8's arrival on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, revealed that Noah is a Manhunter.

As Kerry tells Hal prior to the latter's death, she mysteriously fell pregnant after Zoe, who appeared to be the sole remaining Manhunter, used her advanced medical technology to grow Kerry a new pinky finger. Remember, in episode 5's flashback to 2007, we learn that, at Zoe's suggestion, Kerry removed that digit on her right hand to give to the criminals chasing her to 'prove' to their mob boss that they'd caught and killed her.

Clearly, during the process of growing Kerry's new pinky finger, Zoe used her alien android tech and Manhunter blood to also make Kerry pregnant. That way, in the even that Zoe died, the Manhunters wouldn't become extinct. And, prior to Zoe's death at John's hands in episode 5 during the 2016 storyline, she tells Noah not to forget everything she's previously told him, which must mean she informed him of his true nature.

Will Noah ever decide between his humanity and Manhunter conditioning? (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO Max)

Fast-forward to the present, and Noah ambushes John when the latter returns from the dead world that Sinestro is marooned on.

Taking Hal's old ring and the Lantern Battery, Noah says he can use them alongside his Manhunter abilities to enact revenge on the Guardians for what they did to his race.

However, as evidenced by him saving Hal from that near-fatal house fire, Noah's humanity is constantly at odds with his Manhunter conditioning. And, after finding out that John mercy-killed Zoe because she was tired of her immortality and never-ending guilt over what she did to Antaan's people, Noah asks John to do the same for him.

Long story short, John decides not to mercy-kill Noah. However, the possibility of Noah's Manhunter conditioning winning out some day and threatening humanity as a whole is what pushes John to fulfil his destiny and become a Green Lantern in the DCU Chapter One TV series.

Does Lanterns have an end credits scene?

Thaal Sinestro doesn't form the Yellow Lantern Corps. in a post-credits stinger (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

No. So, if you were hoping that Lanterns had a mid-credits or post-credits scene to stick around for, you'll be severely disappointed.

Has Lanterns season 2 been announced?

"I love you, too, Junior" (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

Not yet, but it's only a matter of time before Lanterns season 2 is officially given the *ahem* green light.

Indeed, Lanterns' glowing viewing figures and the assembly of a writers room have given fans hope that it'll be renewed for another season. Add in comments made by DC Studios co-head James Gunn that 'Dirt and Stars' was only the season 1 finale, not the full series finale, and things look even *double ahem* brighter for one of the most popular DCU projects so far.

How does Lanterns episode 8 set up James Gunn's Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow?

David Corenswet will return as Superman... in Man of Tomorrow (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

It doesn't. Okay, while we already knew that Aaron Pierre will return as John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow, there's a point to be made about the fact that he'll be a Green Lantern in the follow-up to 2025's Superman movie.

Even so, Lanterns' season 1 finale doesn't tell us anything about Stewart's role in Man of Tomorrow, nor that film's wider plot. We'll just have to wait until the Gunn-directed comic book flick's first trailer to get a sense of how Stewart fits into its narrative, and/or how Lanterns sets up its story.

For now, find out everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow, including its current release date and confirmed cast.