Technology

Open-weight models let you run an AI chatbot on your own computer, even offline. Here’s how they work and what that means for your privacy.

In our experience, when it comes to business laptops you can't really go wrong with a Dell. But while the likes of the XPS dominate the high-end, I'm not convinced most professionals need a machine like that.

For remote and hybrid workers the Dell 15 laptop for $900 (was $1200) at Best Buy, is an easy pick for productivity that doesn't compromise on power for general office work, emails, video calls, and - of course - streaming movies in your downtime. For me, laptop checks every box and gives you plenty of room for files.

• Best for: students, families, and home workers who want a dependable, big-screen everyday laptop with lots of storage.

• Why we like it: a 15.3-inch touchscreen with 400 nits of brightness, a generous 1TB SSD, 16GB of memory for smooth multitasking, a backlit keyboard, and a light 3.34-pound design.

15 (Core 7 350): was $1199.99 now $899.99
A 15.3-inch laptop with a 1920 x 1200 IPS touchscreen rated at 400 nits, Intel’s Core 7 350 processor from its new Core Series 3 lineup, integrated Intel graphics, 16GB of memory, a 1TB SSD, a backlit keyboard, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Windows 11. It weighs 3.34 pounds and comes in Celestial Blue. View Deal

Why we recommend it

Dell’s mainstream laptops have long been a safe pick for anyone who wants a reliable machine without paying for premium extras, and the 2026 Dell 15 brings a thinner, lighter design and Intel’s new Core Series 3 chips. We haven’t tested it yet, although we've reviewed plenty of similar models from Dell, and have a couple in use at home precisely as WFH machines. The specs are great here, and the 1TB SSD stands out, since most laptops at this price still ship with 512GB.

Price Context & Historical Value

This is $300, or 25%, off Best Buy’s $1,199.99 comparison price, but since this model just launched, there’s little price history to compare it to. Personally, I think the $1,199.99 list price flatters the discount.

Still, $899.99 for 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a touchscreen is a fair price given how much memory costs have climbed this year. It’s a sensible buy if you need a laptop, but it may well get cheaper as Black Friday nears.

Should You Buy It?

✅ Buy the Dell 15 (2026) if... you want a reliable office laptop with a big touchscreen, need plenty of storage for photos and files, or want a light machine that’s easy to carry around the home office, into work, or to class.

❌ Skip the Dell 15 (2026) if... you need a laptop capable of graphics-intensive workloads, as that's beyond what this Dell machine can handle.

• Check out all laptop deals at Best Buy.

EcoFlow has been a consistent top-performer in our tests, with one model earning the top spot in our guide to portable power stations. High-capacity, durable build, and reliable output are all strong with this line.

So, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic with 45W solar panel for $479 (was $598) at Best Buy is an easy recommendation. If a power outage leaves you without heat controls, internet, or a working fridge, the Delta 3 Classic gives you a quiet, fume-free backup you can keep indoors.

• Best for: Professionals, campers, and RV owners who want dependable backup power for outages or portable power on the go.

• Why we like it: Beyond the strong performance in our tests, this EcoFlow model features 1,024Wh of long-life LFP battery capacity, 1,800W of continuous AC output to run big appliances, 3,000 charge cycles, and a five-year warranty. The solar panels for off-grid use sweeten this one considerably for us.

• What you need to know: At $479 it’s good value for the battery alone, though the small panel is more of a bonus for added energy security rather than a serious charging option.

Delta 3 Classic: was $598 now $479
A 1,024Wh portable power station with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery rated for 3,000 cycles, 1,800W of continuous AC output with a 3,600W peak, and a weight of 26.7 pounds. This bundle includes a 45W solar panel and a protective bag, and it comes with a five-year warranty. EcoFlow sells and ships it through Best Buy’s marketplace.View Deal

Why We Recommend It

EcoFlow is one of the biggest names in portable power, and the Delta 3 Classic is a pared-back version of its Delta 3 that keeps the essentials: a large, long-lasting LFP battery and enough output to run a full-size fridge or a space heater for a while. We haven’t tested this model ourselves, so this pick rests on EcoFlow’s track record and our experience testing other models. Expect fast charging, easy of use, and total dependability if you need additional or on-the-move power supply. The five-year warranty adds welcome peace of mind for a product you may rely on in an emergency.

For more top picks, see our guide to the best portable power stations.

Price Context & Historical Value

This is $119, or 20%, off the bundle’s $598 list price, which is a solid discount on a 1kWh power station with a five-year warranty. Keep in mind that the included 45W panel would take more than a full day of ideal sunlight to refill the battery, so think of it as a top-up tool rather than a full-blown charging solution. If you want backup power in place before winter, this is a good time to buy.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic bundle if... you want reliable backup power for outages, you need enough output to run a fridge, router, or CPAP machine, or you value a long-life LFP battery with a five-year warranty.

❌ Skip the EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic bundle if... you plan to rely on solar charging, since a 45W panel is far too small to refill this battery quickly, you need a power station that’s easy to carry long distances at 26.7 pounds, or you’d prefer to buy directly from Best Buy rather than a marketplace seller.

• See all power stations and generators at Best Buy

If you want a laptop that doubles as a tablet for notes, streaming, and sketching without paying premium prices, the OmniBook X Flip delivers a lot for the money. The 2K touchscreen laptop comes equipped with a Core Ultra 5 226V chip that supports up to 40 NPU TOPS for general AI tasks. The 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD that makes it ideal for work, study, and downtime.

Now, as part of Best Buy's Halloween Doorbuster sale, the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is $649.99 (was $999.99). Considering I see sluggish 8GB laptops selling for that price (and I urge you not to buy them), this is an easy recommendation.

• Best for: students and professionals who want a stylish, versatile 2-in-1 for work, note-taking, and entertainment.

• Why we like it: a sturdy all-metal 2-in-1 design, a high-resolution 14-inch touchscreen, efficient Intel Core Ultra 5 performance with Copilot+ AI features, and battery life that comfortably lasts a workday.

OmniBook X Flip 4: was $999.99 now $649.99
A 14-inch 2-in-1 convertible with a 1920 x 1200 IPS touchscreen, an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD, and Copilot+ PC features, finished in Atmospheric Blue. View Deal

Why we recommend it

While we haven't reviewed this specification, our sister site Tom’s Guide tested the exact configuration and found it a premium, durable 2-in-1 with a solid display, strong mid-range performance, and more than eight and a half hours of battery life. He did note that it comes loaded with bloatware you’ll want to remove, that the gapless keyboard takes some getting used to, and that the chassis warms up under heavy loads. Those are small trade-offs for a laptop that looks and feels far pricier than it is.

Price Context & Historical Value

This is $350, or 35%, off the $999.99 list price, but the OmniBook X Flip regularly sells well below that, and Tom’s Guide reviewed it when it was going for $599. That means $649.99 is a good price but not the lowest we’ve seen, and a newer Core Series 3 version is also listed alongside it. Buy now if you need a 2-in-1 today, but it may drop lower over Black Friday next month.

Should You Buy It?

✅ Buy the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 if... you want a laptop that converts into a tablet for notes and streaming, you value a sturdy, premium-looking metal design, or you need battery life that lasts a full workday.

❌ Skip the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 if... you’d rather not spend time removing preinstalled bloatware, you prefer a traditional keyboard layout, or you’re willing to wait in case it drops back to $599 for Black Friday.

• Check out all laptop deals at Best Buy.

Speaking on-stage at the company's recent AI World conference, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison declared AI could eventually make everyone "healthier and wealthier".

Apparently unfazed by the technology's impacts on humanity, Ellison does acknowledge that governments need to have a shift in mindset to adapt to this new future.

In a Q&A during the conference's hotly anticipated final keynote, Ellison outlined a future where AI systems and robots could dramatically reduce the cost of goods and services. But rather than accepting the suggestion that AI would end up replacing us all, he argued that the technology would ultimately serve to make us more productive, allowing workers to achieve things that simply weren't possible before.

AI won't replace us, but it will change the economics of work in a lasting way

"I think that's kind of nonsensical," Ellison said about predictions that AI will eventually replace everyone.

The multi-billionaire accepted AI and automation will inevitably displace some jobs, pointing toward rideshare services in a hint to ongoing approval of driverless cars in Las Vegas and other cities.

But he also stressed not all jobs would be impacted equally, revealing his pilot qualifications on-stage and stressing that autopilot hasn't replaced human pilots despite being a decades-old technology.

Although humans will continue to play supervisory roles in many industries (we're already seeing human knowledge worker roles evolve into AI agent managers in some cases), Ellison argued that the overall benefits would be positive, providing governments get involved to support the humans they represent.

Painting a picture of what he meant, he described a hypothetical house being constructed entirely by robots in a scenario where automation had replaced human labor. Whereas human labor would have accounted for, say, 80% of the cost of a house before, four-fifths of the house instantly becomes cheaper because of the impact of automation.

He used this example to set the foundation for the idea of 'universal high income' – a concept already floated by other tech billionaires, including Elon Musk.

Taxation needs to change to enable the provision of a universal income

"We need to change from taxing human labor to taxing value added," he said. "So when the robots add value, all that value that the robots add is taxed, and we could have universal high income."

Universal high income is an evolution of the universal basic income concept, which provides citizens with a regular payment that covers essential living costs. Instead, he suggested that the enormous productivity gains that AI could eventually unlock could create enough wealth to support much higher incomes, despite declining human work activity.

He referenced economist Milton Friedman's negative income tax proposal, describing it as a "reverse income tax" that could help distribute some of the wealth generated by AI.

"The robots are adding value. The government's taxing the value... We all become wealthy as a result."

However, Ellison's vision is a wildly ambitious one that would require a colossal change to today's systems. It would take more than a decade, he admitted. While a future of AI-induced human wealth with less work might sound far-fetched at best in today's economy, Ellison's optimism remains on track.

"All of that is doable," he concluded.

layoffs.fyi has tracked over 135,000 layoffs in the tech sector alone in 2026 to date, including around 21,000 Oracle workers in the 12 months between June 2025 and June 2026, and likely thousands more in September 2026.

The Apple Mac mini M6 may be catching all the headlines right now, but I still think for most people looking for a stylish and powerful mini PC, the Mac mini M4 is the optimal choice. It might lack the extra oomph of the M6, but for daily office tasks and content creation, it's way better value.

Case in point. The Apple Mac mini M4 is currently $650 (was $799) at Best Buy. If you want a fast, compact desktop for work, photo editing, or everyday use, and you already own a monitor and keyboard, the Mac mini M4 is the best-value Mac you can buy. Meanwhile, Best Buy has the Mac mini M6 for $799 (was $899).

• Best for: Professionals and creators upgrading an older Mac or Windows mini PC to a powerful, near-silent desktop without paying M6 prices. .

• Why we like it: We scored this machine 5 stars in our review, and wondered if it might actually be the best Mac ever. For most people, it will be. Apple’s speedy M4 chip, 16GB of unified memory for smooth multitasking and Apple Intelligence, a tiny five-inch-square design, and handy front-facing USB-C ports and a headphone jack.

Mac mini M4: was $799 now $649
A compact desktop with Apple’s M4 chip, 16GB of unified memory, and a 256GB SSD, with front USB-C ports and a headphone jack, plus Thunderbolt, HDMI, and Ethernet on the back. It supports Apple Intelligence and comes in silver.View Deal

Why we recommend it

In our Mac mini M4 review, our expert Matt awarded it an Editor’s Choice badge and full marks for value, praising its strong performance, much smaller design, and convenient front ports. He called it the cheapest way into the Mac ecosystem, though he noted it struggles with modern games and that its power button sits awkwardly on the underside. Our review unit had a 512GB SSD rather than this model’s 256GB, but it used the same M4 chip and 16GB of memory.

Price Context & Historical Value

Apple raised the Mac mini’s starting price to $799 earlier this year as memory costs surged, so this $150 discount is measured against Apple’s real current price rather than an inflated list price. It’s still more than the $599 the M4 Mac mini launched at, and well above the sub-$500 deals we saw before the price hike. Given today’s pricing, though, $649 is a strong deal and a good time to buy.

For comparison, the Mac mini M6 is currently down to $799 at Best Buy. For some workloads, it may be better. For general office tasks, the M4 is still worth considering for its value.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Apple Mac mini M4 if... you want an affordable, powerful Mac desktop, you already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, or you want a near-silent machine for work, photo editing, or music production.

❌ Skip the Apple Mac mini M4 if... you need lots of local storage, since 256GB fills quickly; you want to play the latest PC games; or you don’t already own a monitor and accessories, which add to the total cost.

• See all Apple deals at Best Buy.

I don't know about you, but I'm sort of the gadget-man of the family. The tech-head. The makeshift IT consultant that gets called upon whenever there's an issue with technology. If you fall into the same category (or you never want to call on your family IT support again), I'd definitely recommend checking out the Google Nest Wifi Pro 6e Wi-Fi mesh router for $100 (was $200) at Best Buy.

The half-price deal makes it incredibly tempting. It's ridiculously simple to set up and manage, making it the ideal no-fuss mesh router pick if you or your family need better connections while working from home. If your home Wi-Fi is spotty and you don’t want to wrestle with complicated router settings, Nest Wifi Pro delivers fast, reliable coverage with minimal setup.

• Best for: home workers and families in small to midsize homes needing fast, easy-to-manage Wi-Fi with the option to add more units later.

• Why we like it: tri-band Wi-Fi 6E with a 6GHz band for less congestion, up to 2,200 square feet of coverage from one unit, effortless setup through the Google Home app, and support for adding more units to build a mesh.

Nest WiFi Pro: was $199 now $99
A single tri-band Wi-Fi 6E (AXE5400) mesh router covering 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands, with up to 2,200 square feet of coverage, support for up to 100 connected devices, WPA3 security, parental controls, and two Gigabit Ethernet ports. It’s managed through the Google Home app and also works as a Thread border router and Matter controller for smart home devices. Sold by Best Buy.View Deal

Why We Recommend It

Google built the Nest Wifi Pro for people who want Wi-Fi to simply work, and its app-based setup and automatic updates make it one of the least intimidating routers to own. We haven’t reviewed the Nest Wifi Pro, so this pick rests on Google’s track record with mesh networking and the router’s specs. Its 6GHz band is a real plus if you have newer phones and laptops that support Wi-Fi 6E, since it’s far less crowded than the older bands.

Price Context & Historical Value

Half off its $199.99 launch price is a strong deal, and $99.99 puts a Wi-Fi 6E mesh router within reach of almost any budget. Keep in mind that it launched in 2022, so it lacks the newer Wi-Fi 7 standard and multi-gig Ethernet found on pricier routers. For most homes with internet plans under 1Gbps, though, it’s a great buy at this price.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Google Nest Wifi Pro if... you want fast Wi-Fi that’s easy to set up and manage, your home is under about 2,200 square feet or you plan to add more units, or you use Google Home and want a router that doubles as a smart home hub.

❌ Skip the Google Nest Wifi Pro if... you want Wi-Fi 7 or multi-gig Ethernet ports for a very fast internet plan, you need lots of wired ports, or you already own older Google Wifi or Nest Wifi units, which can’t join a Nest Wifi Pro mesh.

• See more router deals at Best Buy.

When it comes to our testing, Geekom has a strong track record in mini PCs. The range runs from high-performance machines for content creation and heavy workloads to compact machines built for general office duty, browsing, streaming, and other undemanding tasks.

The Geekom Air12 Lite, currently $269 (was $599) at Best Buy, falls into the latter camp. If you need a small, cheap PC for a kitchen counter, a kid’s homework desk, or a living room TV, the Air12 Lite covers the basics without taking up any space.

• Best for: anyone who needs a simple, compact computer for web browsing, email, documents, and streaming video.

• Why we like it: a tiny, quiet design, a quad-core Intel N95 processor that handles everyday tasks, a 256GB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro preinstalled.

• What you need to know: The Intel N95 is a low-power chip that’s built for browsing, email, office documents, and streaming, but it will feel sluggish with lots of tabs open or more demanding software.

Air12 Lite: was $599 now $269
A compact mini PC with a quad-core, four-thread Intel Processor N95 boosting to 3.4GHz, integrated Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of DDR4 memory, a 256GB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro. Sold and shipped by Geekom through Best Buy’s marketplace.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Geekom has built a solid reputation for well-made mini PCs, and the Air12 Lite is its entry-level model, designed for light everyday tasks rather than heavy workloads. We haven’t tested it ourselves, so this pick rests on Geekom’s track record and the specs. We have, however, tested the improved Air12, which features DDR5 RAM and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. We scored that machine 4 stars in our review, and for general office tasks, expect performance to be about the same.

Price Context & Historical Value

Ignore the $599 comparison price, since that’s far more than an N95 mini PC with 8GB of RAM has ever been worth, and budget machines with this chip have typically sold for well under $300. Rising memory prices have pushed up the cost of mini PCs this year, so $269 is a reasonable price today rather than a steal. Buy it if you need a basic PC now, but don’t expect much more than browsing and email from it.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Geekom Air12 Lite if... you need an inexpensive, compact PC for browsing, email, documents, and streaming, you want Windows 11 Pro preinstalled, or you’re setting up a simple machine for a family member.

❌ Skip the Geekom Air12 Lite if... you plan to multitask heavily or run demanding apps, since 8GB of RAM and the N95 chip will feel limited; you want to play games; or you’d rather spend a bit more for a mini PC with a faster processor.

• See other mini PC deals at Best Buy

The Boulies EP200 isn't the fanciest office chair to ever pass through our testing grounds. But it is one of the most reliable value picks you can get - far superior. It's been our office furniture editor's daily driver for home-working for since February 2025, and it's as good as the day he got it. It is, he said "the archetypal office chair for most people."

Now, as part of the company's early Black Friday sale, the Boulies EP200 is down to $220 (was $310) in the US, while the UK sees the chair discounted to £210 (was £280). If your home office chair leaves your back aching by mid-afternoon, the Boulies EP200 offers proper ergonomic support without the premium price tag.

• Best for: home and office workers who want a comfortable, supportive mesh chair for long days at the desk on a modest budget.

• Why we like it: an airy mesh back that keeps you cool, adjustable lumbar support and headrest, adjustable seat depth and armrests, and a sturdy, professional-looking build.

EP200: was $309.99 now $219.99
A mesh office chair with adjustable lumbar support, a removable adjustable headrest, four-level seat-depth adjustment, 3D padded armrests, a multi-tilt mechanism with recline up to 120 degrees, a Class 4 gas lift, and a five-star base. It comes in black or green, ships free in the US, and includes a two-year limited warranty and a 14-day return window.

UK price: now £210 (was £280)View Deal

Why it's worth a look

In our Boulies EP200 review, our office furniture editor Steve found it supremely comfortable and breathable, and said he felt no fatigue even after long sessions in it. He also praised its sturdy, stable build and clean, professional look, and his one-year follow-up confirmed it has held up well. His main complaints were that adjustability is more limited than on pricier chairs, which is to be expected, while the mesh back won’t suit anyone who prefers padding.

For more picks, including the Boulies EP200, see our guide to the best office chairs.

Price & Value Context

This is $90, or 29%, off the $309.99 list price. The EP200 dropped to about $200 around the time of our review, so this isn’t a record low, but it’s close. At this price, it’s an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a quality mesh chair without spending $300 or more.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Boulies EP200 if... you want a comfortable, breathable mesh chair for long workdays, you need adjustable lumbar support and a headrest, or you’re after quality ergonomics without a premium price.

❌ Skip the Boulies EP200 if... you need the fine-tuned adjustability of a high-end ergonomic chair, or you prefer a padded backrest to mesh.

• See other chairs at Boulies.

• AI-generated code security improved for the first time in a year, with vulnerability rates dropping from 44% to 38%
• Top models performed better at preventing common flaws like XSS, but still struggled with complex security reasoning
• Researchers stress AI-generated code still requires independent security testing and verification before deployment

Computer code generated by frontier AI models has gotten more secure and consequently - contains fewer vulnerabilities.

This is according to a new report by Veracode, which claims this is the first significant improvement in a year.

In July 2025, Veracode started releasing its GenAI Code Security Report, which analyzed code generated by LLMs for vulnerabilities and security risks. Since then, the company’s researchers noticed a trend - the code was functioning almost perfect, but on the security side it left much to be desired.

Are XSS flaws worth the trouble?

“We’ve been analyzing code generated by multiple LLMs for more than a year. Until now, we have not seen a marked improvement in AI code security, despite consistently near-perfect functionality,” said Chris Wysopal, Co-founder & Chief Security Evangelist at Veracode.

“This is the first time since running our study that we’ve been able to report a meaningful move on the security dial.”

That meaningful move is a jump from 56% to 62% in overall AI-generated code security. At the same time, there’s been a drop in vulnerabilities from 44% to 38%, Veracode added, saying this was the most significant improvement since the reports started coming out. Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 and OpenAI's GPT-6-Sol co-lead the rankings at 73%, surpassing the previous high of 68% set by GPT-5.5 in July 2026.

“Ten models now clear 60%, up from four in the last report, and the overall average has jumped six percentage points,” Wysopal said. “With around half of code now generated by AI, today’s results are truly encouraging.”

To draft the report, Veracode tested 18 models across four languages (Python, C#, JavaScript, and Java), and four Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) categories (CWE-89, CWE-327, CWE-80, CWE-117). Claude Opus 5.5 and GPT-6-Sol claimed the top spot with 73% followed by GPT-5.5 which holds 68%. In July, six of 11 models scored between 50 and 53, while today only two remain in that band, while 10 scored at least 60%. The bottom is still at 44% - 50% percent.

While the results are definitely commendable, there is a caveat. Apparently, the main driver of the overall gain was on cross-site scripting (XSS), which is arguably one of the weakest categories. XSS rose to 18% which is also the single biggest change in the dataset. According to Veracode, XSS is the “easiest vulnerability to fix through pattern recognition”, which is exactly how LLMs improve. In cases where data-flow reasoning across multiple functions is required (such as, in log injection cases, for example), LLMs continue to stall.

Low-hanging fruit

In other words, AI has just picked low-hanging fruit and called it a day. We’re not sure if we should be disappointed with this, since XSS attacks are common and the vulnerability is still present across the web.

In the report, Veracode also said that water was wet and the sky is mostly blue: it found that top-performing models cost more.

However, they said throwing money at the problem most likely isn’t the best solution: “The models that produce the most secure code are the ones that cost the most to run at scale, yet they still fail on more than one in four security tasks,” Wysopal said. “The answer should never be to use the most expensive model and hope for the best. A mid-tier model at a 60% pass rate plus Veracode scanning is more accurate, more cost-effective, and more scalable than a frontier model at 73% with no verification.”

In conclusion, the improvement is there, but “mends a small part of a larger wound”, Veracode said. Organizations should make sure they combine AI code with continuous and independent security verification that can catch what the models miss.

Fairphone Fairbuds 2: Two-minute review

I don’t like Fairphone’s products because they’re more environmentally-friendly and repairable than anything else on the market (though they’re all definitely perks). I like them because they always offer something a little different to make them recommendable as some of the best wireless headphones by their own merits.

Last year’s Fairbuds XL 2025 over-ears, for example, had the best controls I’ve used on a pair of headphones before or since (and remain the best-looking cans I’ve reviewed too). And now the Fairphone Fairbuds 2 are here, with a little design decision I didn’t know I wanted so much.

Fairphone is best known for its mobiles, like the recent Fairphone 6 Plus; its whole modus operandi is making green tech (eco-friendly, not colored, although they’re usually also colored green). The brand dabbles in audio too, though, alternating between releasing new earbuds or headphones every other year, and after the original Fairbuds launched in 2024, a new pair are here.

Like the last pair, these are relatively affordable earbuds — 'expensive budget' or 'cheap mid-range' might suffice as definitions — which are great for eco-friendly buyers. They let you enjoy your listening safe in the knowledge that your buying choice was made from renewable energy, using plentiful recycled parts, and won’t impose planet-unfriendly, water usurping AI features on your device.

And then there’s the unexpected bonus. Earlier this year, a fairly shocking study revealed that basically all headphones are coated in PFAS, or forever chemicals, which had people wondering whether they're rubbing toxins on their ears and head. As someone who uses these products for a living, I was a little alarmed to read this, and I’ve been pretty conscious of my listening since then, usually opting for speakers over headphones when I can help it.

It won’t surprise you to learn that the Fairbuds 2 have none of these ‘forever chemicals’, and I could listen for as long as I wanted without worrying about the effects of doing so. It’s hard to put a price on peace of mind, but for music listening, the Fairbuds 2 provide just that.

But I’ve beaten about the bush long enough: beyond health and eco concerns, just how good are these things? Well, the reason I’ve beaten about the bush so much is that “yeah, they’re just fine,” isn't engaging copy.

Design-wise, these are pretty simple buds, with a hardy and light carry case, and pretty feature-light design. There’s little to distinguish them from other buds however, beyond their lack of discernible features. Being pretty plain isn’t the end of the world, and they fit fine.

They’re not the best-sounding earbuds I’ve tested by any stretch of the imagination, but they’re fine for the price if you can look past some rough edges.

I found the ANC pretty good, though it takes its toll on a battery life which roughly matches their price-competitive AirPods rivals (that is to say, it’s not very long). An app brings some extra features, including some of the most effective audio EQ presets I’ve heard from earbuds — if you like customizing your music but aren’t familiar with equalizers, it’s a great option.

If it wasn’t for the Fairphone touch, these would just be middling wireless earbuds that’d disappear behind the competition. But the eco-friendly appeal, their repairability plus the absence of toxic chemicals, all make them far easier to recommend.

Fairphone Fairbuds 2 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released in October in Europe, November US
• Sells for $119 / £99 (about AU$200)
• Cheaper than AirPods 5, which is all that matters

Fairphone unveiled the Fairbuds 2 on October 14, 2026, roughly two years after the release of the original pair and a year after the reimagined Fairbuds XL 2025 over-ears. They went on sale immediately in Europe, but US buyers had to wait until November 2.

You can buy the Fairbuds 2 for $119 / £99 (about AU$200) — Fairphone doesn’t sell its tech in Australia. The brand is increasing its presence in the US; while the original buds did sell there, it only began selling phones earlier this year with the Fairphone 6 Plus.

That phone makes the Fairbuds 2 slightly pricier than their predecessors in the US, but cheaper in the UK; the original Fairbuds went for $99 / £129. Despite this reshuffle, they’re still more affordable than the cheapest version of AirPods 5 (which will set you back $129 / £129 / AU$219), and the Fairphone option actually has ear tips.

Fairphone Fairbuds 2 review: Specs

Drivers

11mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

6 hours (ANC on), 8 hours (ANC off)

Weight

5.8g (buds) 64g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Frequency response

20-20kHz

Waterproofing

IP54

Fairphone Fairbuds 2 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• 6-hour battery life isn't amazing
• ANC is surprisingly solid
• App has EQ including useful presets

According to Fairphone, the earbuds last for 6 hours of listening with ANC on, or 8 hours off; that’s not a very competitive spec, all things considered. In my own testing, I’d say I got a little extra time on those figures, but not enough that I can call the battery life ‘good’. Apple's base model AirPods 5 only last for 4 hours with ANC; the step-up model with wireless charging support last 5 with ANC (or 7 without it) so it's a little better than that, but not by much.

The case provides up to 40 hours of battery life, which is a little better (Apple's step-up model only offers 22), but that spec is for ANC-off listening. An ANC-on figure isn’t provided, but I’d estimate it’s about 32 hours.

The ANC is more impressive — I’ll confess, I wasn’t expecting Fairphone to have created top-of-the-class noise cancellation. While this doesn’t match the likes of Soundcore or Bose, the Fairbuds 2 were surprisingly effective at stripping out noisy backgrounds or the kinds of sporadic sounds that other buds struggle with.

(Image credit: Future)

The Fairbuds app is pretty basic, but it’s not strictly necessary; I’d used the buds for two whole weeks before I decided to download it to my phone.

The app lets you toggle between ANC modes (on, off, or transparency), see the charge levels, play with an EQ and presets, and set up multipoint connectivity, although I couldn’t find the option to do so myself. There’s also a Find My Earbuds tool which lets you summon both the left or right bud, and this is a feature you don’t always see in earbuds.

The equalizer is a simple five-band one, but I was surprised how effective the five presets are: Balanced, Bass Boost, Treble Boost and Voice all had significant impacts on the sound profile, in a way that I see being really useful for those who like their audio a certain way and don’t want to play with the custom EQ mode. I found Voice useful for spoken-word content, as it did a great job at maintaining the reader’s voice while dampening other sounds.

• Features score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Fairphone Fairbuds 2 review: Design

• Small, hardy carry case
• Simplistic buds which fit well
• Eco-friendly, chemical-free design

In one way, the Fairphone Fairbuds 2 are some of the most basic-looking buds there can be, but modest looks hide the real selling point of these options. But we’ll get to that later.

Firstly, the case: it’s a small cylinder, weighing 64g (when the buds are inside) and opening in a clam-shell form. You get the basics: a pairing button, a USB-C port, plus a handy three-LED strip to show you how charged your buds are. Handy! The case is made of plastic that’s so solid that I initially thought it was metal, and it feels more robust than most at protecting your buds.

Next, the buds: unlike the first-gen models, these are stem-toting options, and they look far too simplistic to be confused with AirPods: there’s the in-ear bud, a straight and flat stem, and nothing much else (well, other than some lovely responsive touch controls). They weigh 5.8g each.

When I first started testing them, the Fairbuds 2 felt a little loose in the ear; I thought I had another Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro situation going on. But quite quickly they took to my ear, and after the second day they fit perfectly. So if you've just bought a pair, and are having problems, just give them time.

(Image credit: Future)

Now for the whole point of the Fairbuds: Fairphone’s eco credentials. The brand is at the forefront of eco-friendly tech, using eco-friendly materials and processes when possible, and in the buds that means the speaker magnets and solder is all recycled material, while the cobalt, copper, gold and silver are all fairly mined or sourced. The eco-friendly-ness doesn’t just keep your conscience clean, though, because it manifests in a few great ways.

Firstly, these things are completely repairable, so if they break you can buy and replace one part instead of needing new buds. There are seven parts in all, all of which can be replaced using a simple screwdriver. Also in the Fairbuds 2, the earbuds don’t use PFAS, or forever chemicals – you can listen for as long as you want without any fear of the chemicals and their as-yet-unknown effects on the human body.

You can buy the FairBuds 2 in green or black, but if you’re going for green tech, I don’t see why you shouldn’t also be buying green-colored tech. The buds themselves have an IP54 protection against dust and splashes, but the case doesn’t have an official rating.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Fairphone Fairbuds 2 review: Sound quality

• 11mm driver per bud
• Prominent bass downs out treble
• Supports LDAC playback on supported phones

The Fairphone Fairbuds 2 come with 11mm dynamic drivers, working as jacks of all trades to cover the audio spectrum.

As fairly affordable earbuds go, the Fairbuds 2 are just fine — you’re not getting any obvious issues like tinny audio, overblown bass or a lackluster sound profile, and so I can’t give them a bad sound score. But there are a few audible issues which it’s worth flagging.

I’d call these buds bass-first, because low-end has more heft than high-end, and it does mean that sometimes vocals can lack the sparkle they deserve. In something like Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Factory of Faith or Dispatch’s May We All, the singers sound like they’ve lost an argument with their bassists and rhythm guitarists, and in Macklemore’s Hind’s Hall the drums and bass keep distracting you from the lyrics.

Bass, while prominent, is perhaps not especially refined; the lack of a bespoke low-end-focused driver here is noticeable. Low-end has power prominence but less direction or distinction than you’d hope. It results in a low-end that sometimes sounds just fine, other times a little rumbly.

(Image credit: Future)

In Tom Petty’s Supernatural Radio, for example, the bass riff sounds meaty until the other instruments come in, making it sound indistinct. However with the later guitar and piano solo, the bass drowns out the higher-pitched parts.

These are the first buds I’ve tested in about a month in which I can really hear a song’s mids, though, so props go to Fairphone for not leaning too hard into popular sound profiles. However I did notice peaking in certain songs around the high-end.

It’s easy to point out the issues in the Fairbuds 2, because some rivals at this price point are putting out frankly incredible options, but I should clarify that the buds are still pretty good, and most people will be perfectly happy with them.

For some technical specs, the buds support LDAC if you’re using a compatible Android phone, and use the Bluetooth 6.0 standard.

• Sound quality: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Fairphone Fairbuds 2 review: Value

• You get what you pay for: solid, reasonably-priced earbuds
• However, there are some fantastic alternatives at the price

The Fairbuds 2 straddle the border between affordable and mid-range earbuds, but given that the brand's tech generally comes with a green premium, I'm happy to consider these a more affordable option.

If I were to close my eyes, and picture buds at this price, I'd basically envision the Fairphones; they audio quality, feature set and design all roughly match what you'd expect from the price. Fine value for money...

... if it wasn't for the fact that it's a really competitive market segment, with some stellar alternatives.

• Value: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Fairphone Fairbuds 2?Fairphone Fairbuds 2 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The ANC and app presets work well, though the battery life isn't great.

4/5

Design

The eco-friendly and chemical-free build wins all the points, though the simple carry case and buds are charming in their own way.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Audio is perfectly serviceable, though a few quirks will put off audiophiles.

3.5/5

Value

They're fine value for money, though not the best in their market segment.

4/5

Buy them if…

You want eco-friendly tech
Fairphone is second-to-none with its green materials, production and sourcing.

You'll repair your earbuds if they break
Repairable tech is all the rage, and if you think you'd be up to fix broken buds, these are the ones to buy.

You like svelte carry cases
The Fairbuds 2 have one of the smallest carry cases I've seen in ages, and it's pretty protective too.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You're a staunch audiophile
If all you care about is the sound, I think you'll find the Fairbuds 2 a little disappointing.

You'd like something long-lasting
The Fairbuds are long-lasting in terms of the product life span, but the actual battery life isn't that great.

Fairphone Fairbuds 2 review: Also consider

Looking for alternative in-ears? Here are a few alternatives at the same price point.

Fairphone Fairbuds 2

Soundpeats H3

Huawei FreeBuds Neo

Drivers

11mm

12mm + dual balanced armatures

11mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life (ANC on)

6 hours (buds) 32 hours (case)

7 hours (buds) 37 hours (case)

6 hours (buds) / 22 hours (case)

Weight

5.8g (buds) 64g (case)

6g (buds) 53g (case)

4.8g (bud) 31.4g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 5.4

Bluetooth 6.0

Waterproofing

IP54

IPX5

IP55

Soundpeats H3
For a tiny amount more, you can buy arguably the best-sounding earbuds at this price point. The H3 look funky, fit well and sound incredibly, but don't have the eco appeal of the Fairbuds.
Read our full Soundpeats H3 review

Huawei FreeBuds Neo
A Fairbuds 2 contemporary with pretty similar specs, the Neo sound better and are lovely and small, but the app barely works and the ANC isn't as good.
Read our full Huawei FreeBuds Neo review

How I tested the Fairphone Faurbuds 2

• Tested for three weeks
• Paired with Android phone for Bluetooth playback
• Used on holiday as well as use at home and around neighborhood.

I used the Fairphone Fairbuds 2 for about three weeks before writing this review; I used them back-to-back with the Huawei FreeBuds Neo, generally bringing them both with me on trips.

In this testing time I went on holiday, so they got time on flights, train and coach trips, and I also used them at the gym, at home and on walks around my local area.

For the entirety of the testing time, the buds were connected to my Samsung phone. I listened to Spotify, played from my high-res collection, played games, conducted video calls and watched videos to test them out.

I've tested most of Fairphone's gadgets since I joined TechRadar in 2019, including the Fairbuds XL 2025 last year, and also have experience reviewing plenty of other earbuds from a range of brands (including almost every other pair mentioned in the review)>

• First reviewed in October 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Apple's 512GB Mac Studio costs $22,299. Explore its M5 Ultra specs, memory upgrades, pricing, and whether this high-end workstation is worth buying.

The post Apple’s 512GB Mac Studio Now Costs $22,299: Here’s What You Get appeared first on TechRepublic.

China's AGIBOT sets a Guinness World Record by deploying 110 humanoid robots to dance in sync, showcasing advances in robot coordination and fleet automation.

The post 110 Humanoid Robots Dance in Sync as China Sets Guinness World Record appeared first on TechRepublic.

• IPVanish has launched a dedicated IP, a feature reviewers have long flagged as missing.
• It gives you a fixed VPN IP address that no other user shares, with five locations at launch.
• It's aimed at people who need reliable logins and remote access, but there's a privacy trade-off to weigh up.

IPVanish has launched a dedicated IP, an optional add-on that fills one of the most noticeable gaps in its feature list.

Until now, the provider only offered shared, dynamic IP addresses. Reviewers have repeatedly pointed to the missing option as a weak spot, particularly for remote workers and small businesses, and as recently as last week, rivals were still listing it as something IPVanish couldn't do.

NordVPN and Surfshark have offered dedicated IPs for years, so the launch brings IPVanish closer in line with the best VPN services on the market.

How IPVanish's dedicated IP works

When you connect to a VPN normally, you share an IP address with everyone else on that server, and you might get a different one each session. A dedicated IP flips that: it's a unique address assigned to a single user, and it stays the same every time you connect.

This stops you from getting locked out of your accounts when service providers get suspicious of your ever-changing IP address, and you can also add it to your allowed lists for remote work networks, staging servers, or a home NAS.

The add-on launches in five locations: New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. It supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, and works across IPVanish's Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, and Apple TV apps.

You buy and manage it through the IPVanish account portal, after which it appears under a Dedicated IP tab in the app's Locations menu. You're not locked in, either. You can switch between your dedicated IP and the regular shared servers at any time, so you only use the fixed address when you need it.

The privacy trade-off

This isn't an always-on feature, however. Shared IPs let you blend into a crowd, while a dedicated IP makes it easier for trackers to build a profile of your activity.

For everyday browsing, a shared IP remains the more private choice, which makes the option to easily switch back a welcome touch. But if endless verification checks or locked accounts have been driving you up the wall, the new feature is worth a look.

It also rounds out a busy year for the provider, following the launch of Threat Protection Pro and its ongoing move to RAM-only servers by 2027.

The other five are Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea and Makemake.

• PS5 Bazzite Deck is a new spin on this gaming-focused version of Linux
• It allows you to boot your PS5 to a Steam Deck interface and play PC games
• You need to jailbreak your Sony console to run it (via the PS5 Linux loader), and that's a risky path to take for a number of reasons

Don't want to fork out all that cash for a Steam Machine? If you've got a PS5, you could turn it into a spin on Valve's gaming PC thanks to a custom version of a Linux distro — although the major catch is you'll need to jailbreak your console.

TechPowerUp noticed the PS5 Bazzite Deck project on GitHub, which takes this flavor of the gaming-focused Bazzite distro and adapts it for Sony's console. (Bazzite Deck is different from vanilla Bazzite, as it was built specifically for handhelds to offer an experience similar to SteamOS for the likes of the Asus ROG Ally — but without some of the headaches of running Valve's OS on that portable).

When PS5 Bazzite Deck is run on a jailbroken console, it'll boot straight into the Steam Deck interface (Steam Gaming Mode), and you can play your PC games from there.

You don't need to install the PS5 Bazzite Deck OS, either; you can just run it from a USB stick (via the PS5 Linux loader). As the developer VivaLaVent explains, when you next restart the PS5, it'll boot its own operating system again, and you'll be back at Sony's welcome hub.

So the PS5 isn't modified by running this OS as such, except for the fact that you have to jailbreak the console (then run the PS5 Linux Loader).

This project is compatible with the base PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles, and you can also switch to a desktop mode running KDE Plasma on your PS5, should you wish.

Of course, game compatibility is going to be hit-and-miss, although a gamer on Reddit observed that they've successfully run Horizon Zero Dawn, Palworld, Genshin Impact, and Rimworld — although Marvel Rivals was a non-starter.

Analysis: interesting times

(Image credit: Future)

I should make it very clear up front that I wouldn't recommend jailbreaking your console even as an experiment. There are potential legal ramifications (depending on where you live) with doing so, the possibility of Sony banning your account, and a whole raft of risks (including the third-party software involved, of course). So, if you do want to turn your PS5 into a take on a Steam Machine in this way, proceed at your own risk.

That said, there's an increasing amount of activity around getting the PS5 to run PC games, as you might have seen, so clearly this is something that quite a few gamers are interested in. Most notably, we've seen Playden, which is a very different way of running PC titles on a PS5, by using a compatibility layer (a custom port of Wine) to pull this off. PS5 Bazzite Deck differs in that it replaces the entire OS with a new one, as opposed to running on top of Sony's system.

By all accounts, PS5 Bazzite Deck is pretty slick. One Redditor shares their experience: "I've been using this distro for 4 days, and WOW! Seriously, it's way better than the others. There are constant updates that bring bug fixes."

The DualSense controller support is also niftily implemented by all accounts, as you can pair to both Linux and the PS5 system (saving you from unpairing when switching between the two). The controller's touchpad works like a mouse on the PS5 Bazzite Deck, and seemingly waking from sleep takes only two seconds (much faster than the PS5's normal wake time).

Another gamer on Reddit declares: "If the PS5 turns out to have been the perfect Steam Machine all along, it would be so funny."

But I refer you back to my previous advice on jailbreaking (and game compatibility). Still, this kind of modding is attention-grabbing, to say the least, and we're also seeing it in reverse, with a breakneck pace of development for PS5 emulation on the PC (very much accelerated by the use of AI, it's worth noting).

That effort is, of course, generating a ton of interest given that GTA 6 is nearly here, and indeed there are theories floating around that the work on that PS5 emulator could force Rockstar to launch the PC port much earlier than intended (before an emulated version is up and running). The rumor mill reckons we could see the PC version of GTA 6 early in 2027 as a result.

I reviewed the MacBook Neo way back in March, and even then I knew there was very little chance that I'd be giving our Laptop of the Year award to any other device at the TechRadar Product of the Year 2026 Awards.

It's not necessarily the best choice for everyone — many far more powerful laptops have been released this year, and if you want to play PC games on your laptop don't even think of buying the Neo — but what Apple did with the MacBook Neo is pretty incredible, and it set the tone for a lot of other laptops that have come out this year.

Apple has always been seen as a premium brand, offering expensive devices that (usually, but not always) justify their price tags with superior build quality, and the kind of lifespans that owners of Windows laptops, who feel they have to upgrade every five years, can only dream of.

With the MacBook Neo, however, Apple has produced a (relatively) cheap laptop that manages to keep a lot of what we love about Apple's more expensive MacBooks, while making it affordable for more people.

The timing couldn't have been better, as a global cost-of-living crisis has meant that more people are struggling to afford day-to-day essentials, let alone 'luxury' purchases like laptops. At a time when a lot tech is also increasing in price because of the RAM crisis, it was very welcome to see a company like Apple release a relatively inexpensive new device.

Before the Neo's announcement, rumors had been swirling that Apple was planning on announcing a cheaper MacBook, but I don't think any of us were expecting the earthquake of its $599 / £599 / AU$1,049 starting price.

I say 'earthquake' because not only was it a lot cheaper than expected, it changed the landscape of the laptop market, shaking Apple's competitors, and leaving them scrambling to come up with a response.

And respond they did, with the likes of Dell and Acer releasing laptops at a similar price point that were explicitly pitched as competitors to the MacBook Neo when I discussed them with the makers.

A victim of its own success?

(Image credit: Future)

The fact that the MacBook Neo has had such an influence on the laptop market is one of the key reasons why I've picked it as TechRadar's Laptop of the Year. The likes of the Dell XPS 13 (2026) and Acer Swift Air 14 have made affordable Windows 11 laptops worth buying again, and the higher price of the new Googlebook laptops have a more difficult time justifying their price tags when the MacBook Neo, and the laptops it inspired, offer such good value.

In fact, you could almost argue that the MacBook Neo proved a bit too successful in inspiring its competitors, especially given that, a few months after launch, Apple increased the price of the MacBook Neo by $100 / £100. Not only did this make the MacBook Neo less groundbreaking value (and less of an 'instant recommendation' when people asked me which laptop they should buy), but its competitors seem to have mostly held steady with their initial pricing.

All of a sudden, Apple appeared to have inspired its competitors to make rival products that were cheaper than the MacBook Neo. Whoops.

Despite that price bump, the MacBook Neo remains an excellent laptop that continues to offer plenty of value. If you're looking for a dependable, well-built laptop for day-to-day tasks that doesn't cost a fortune, it's still one of the best laptops you can buy — and it remains the cheapest way to get into the Mac ecosystem.

The MacBook Neo proved that, at a time when hardware prices appear to be rising inexorably, it's still possible to make an impressive, affordable device, without making too many sacrifices — and that's exactly what we need in 2026.

Prusa’s Core One+ is the 3D printer that changed the way our expert changed prints and thinks about 3D printing. Scoring the full 5 stars in our review, and an Editor's Choice award, he ran it for weeks without a single misprint. And the speed outclasses other multi-filament 3D printers.

So, I was excited to see the Core One+ for $999 in Prusa's early Black Friday sale (or £919 in the UK). Instead of cutting the price, Prusa is bundling the printer with hundreds of dollars worth of free stuff, including free filament and an OpenPrintTag upgrade.

• Best for: Professionals and engineers rapidly prototyping models.

• Why we like it: This is an exceptional 3D printer for serious users. We particularly liked the workshop-style design, which makes it a better fit for many business uses.

• What you need to know: The Core One+ has a smaller build area than the Core One, but shows improved speed and accuracy compared to other machines of its kind like the Bambu Lab H2C.

Core One+ Assembly Kit: $999
This early Black Friday deal bundles together just about the best 3D printer we've ever tested alongside free 1kg filament, four new models, a Prusa OpenPrintTag upgrade, an extended warranty, and $50 voucher for upgrading the machine further. Worldwide shipping is free. A pre-assembled version is available for a higher price.

UK bundle: now £919View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Core One+ is a fully enclosed CoreXY 3D printer. It has active chamber temperature control, a 250 x 220 x 270mm build volume and is capable of printing with PLA, PETG, TPU, PC and nylon.

The second-generation model builds on the first-gen machine's success with redesigned heatbed mounting and an integrated nozzle wiper. It also has new GT1.5 belts to reduce surface artefacts, which means smoother-looking surfaces with fewer visible repeating patterns.

We recently tested the Gen 2 and were completely blown away - it earned a five-star review and our Editor’s Choice award. Our expert Alastair was particularly enamoured with its multi-material printing capability, and he loved its speed and reliability, even saying it “changed the way I think about printing”.

The rig ran continuously for three weeks without a single reprint following its initial calibration, and its offline operating options and repairable design also impressed.

One thing to note: the eight-tool INDX system mentioned in our review is an optional extra, not a standard addition to the CORE One+, and it costs $949 to add to your configuration.

Prusa's Black Friday deal includes a $50 voucher that can be used toward an INDX tool-changing system.

For more top performers, check out our guide to the best 3D printers.

Price Context & Historical Value

All of Prusa’s Black Friday bundles offer plenty of value, so they’re great options if you’re already considering investing in a Prusa device.

The filament, extended warranty, and INDX voucher are particularly useful. They give you a good basis for immediate printing, protect you from any issues for a longer period of time, and empower you to expand your work as you get more confident with the device.

However, because this isn’t a standard price cut, it’s worth doing a little digging. Weigh up whether you’ll actually use all of the included extras so you can get maximum value out of the deal, and compare the purchase price against competing devices - other units might have price cuts that are better suited to your requirements.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Prusa Core One+ 3D printer if...

You want a reliable, enclosed 3D printer with excellent build quality, a repairable design and plenty of upgrade potential. The Black Friday extras make the package particularly attractive if you'll use the additional filament, extended warranty and Prusa Academy courses.

❌ Skip the Prusa Core One+ 3D printer if...

You want a substantial upfront price reduction. The Black Friday promotion adds value through bundled extras, not with a discount. If you don't need those extras, you may find better value elsewhere.

Also consider

Core One L+: $1999
Buy this model, with prices starting at $1999, and you’ll get up to $550 worth of extras, including a USS Drybox, Prusament PETG filament, an additional year of warranty and an INDX voucher.

UK bundle: now £1829View Deal

XL+ Single-Tool: $2299
Get up to $960 worth of extras with this $2299 device, including print sheets, filament, an extended warranty, and an INDX voucher.

UK bundle: now £2109View Deal

MK4S 3D Printer Kit: $709
If you opt for this everyday $709 device, you’ll qualify for four free 3D models, two Prusa Academy courses, and free shipping.

UK bundle: now £649View Deal

Prusament filaments:
You can save up to 40% on PC Blend filaments, with up to 30% on certain PLA or PETG spools, and up to 25% on TPU 95A. Discounts are also available on resins and refills. View Deal

• Shop the full Black Friday 3D printer sale at Prusa

Mistral releases Large 4, a 1-trillion-parameter open-weight AI model targeting cybersecurity. Here's what IT teams should know about costs and deployment.

The post Mistral Releases 1-Trillion-Parameter AI Model for Cybersecurity appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Researchers report the first confirmed PHP2Shell compromises, targeting organizations linked to the US government
• Attackers chained PHP2Shell with a Linux privilege-escalation flaw to gain root access and persistence
• Breaches progressed from initial compromise to Active Directory attacks within minutes, underscoring patching urgency

We now have confirmation of the first successful exploits of the infamous PHP2Shell vulnerability discovered earlier this month.

The news comes courtesy of cybersecurity outfit Dream, who claim to have seen attackers breach organizations affiliated with the US government.

PHP2Shell is a name given to two critical-severity vulnerabilities found in PHP. When they were first disclosed, most of the cybersecurity community went full panic mode, given that PHP powers roughly 70% of all websites and web apps on the internet, and there was no patch at the time. The flaws allegedly enabled complete website takeover, and some government and education organizations in Europe even preemptively shut down their websites, in anticipation of mass exploitation attempts.

But after the dust settled, a strange thing happened - there were no successful attacks. Researchers were seeing attempts and probes, but no successful breaches. Amazon said it observed first attacks four days before the patch, and Cloudflare later tracked “thousands” of attempts in the 10 hours before the patch was announced. This grew to tens of thousands within an hour of disclosure, and hundreds of thousands within two hours. Now, it’s gone into the millions.

Some said exploiting the bugs was easier said than done, and that threat actors were hitting different roadblocks, including Address Space Layout Randomization, a security feature that randomly changes where a program’s code and data are stored in memory every time it runs. Still, they warned that all of that might be temporary, and that a successful hit was a question of “when”, not “if”.

Targeting firewalls

Now it seems the claims were on point, as Dream says Chinese threat actors successfully chained PHP2Shell with a Linux kernel privilege-escalation flaw against Palo Alto Networks firewalls, breaching 25 servers, some allegedly belonging to US government-affiliated organizations.

The attacks started on October 23 2026, probing firms in the US, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, and soon focused on Palo Alto Networks’ PAN-OS-powered devices, running an older, vulnerable version of the OS.

According to Dream, the crooks chained PHP2Shell with Fragnesia, a local privilege escalation flaw that allows unprivileged users to obtain root access. It was disclosed in mid-May this year and is tracked as CVE-2026-46300.

After breaking into the devices, the attackers ran some 40 custom post-exploitation scripts, Dream added.

“Within hours of compromising a US government-affiliated firewall, they had tunneled into the internal network, compromised a third server using the same PHP2Shell exploit, and launched a full Active Directory attack campaign - all through a chain that started with a single unauthenticated HTTPS request to a management interface that should never have been exposed to the internet,” the company’s report reads.

Not automated

To make matters worse, the researchers believe the attackers still have unabated access.

“The total chain - from unauthenticated HTTPS connection to persistent root webshell - completes in under 15 minutes,” Dream said. The researchers could not say what the endgame was here because that information was not found in the artifacts they retrieved. Besides the obvious, which seems to be persistent access and credential theft, the threat actors could do anything from dropping backdoors to exfiltrating sensitive information.

In the context of “Black October”, and the fact we’re seeing a significant increase in automated attacks, it is also worth mentioning that this incident was likely not AI-powered.

Dream did find evidence of AI usage but believes it was not fully automated. Claude Code was installed, as was an offensive security platform called AIscan, which was configured with Chinese AI models DeepSeek and Kimi. Furthermore, they found API keys for FOFA, a Chinese counterpart to the Shodan search engine.

With the help of FOFA, the attackers allegedly identified around 19,000 internet-connected Palo Alto Networks firewalls, which they used as a starting point for their attacks.

Via The Register