Technology

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 9, No. 858.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 9, No. 1,846.

We’re hurtling towards the October release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and it seems like everyone has already forgotten about Black Ops 7.

Last year’s entry wasn’t perfect (I still stand by my verdict that it has one of the worst campaigns in the series), but if there’s one area where it seriously delivers, it’s the core multiplayer experience. It took the strong foundations established in its predecessor, Black Ops 6, and refined them expertly, augmenting the slick omni-movement system with a new wall jump and finally cutting the awkward tactical sprint to save us all from sore thumbs.

It was a compelling offering at launch, but over the last few months it’s become even better thanks to a steady stream of impressively expansive, high-quality updates. I can’t think of the last Call of Duty game I’ve stuck with this long after launch, and, having spent close to 400 hours playing now, I’m sad that it's coming to an end.

Quantity (and quality)

(Image credit: Activision)

What’s made Black Ops 7’s post-launch offering so enjoyable? Volume, for starters. Seasons 1 and 2 came packed with a whopping nine core maps each, offering a good mix of new arrivals, remastered classics, and some favorites carried over from Black Ops 6.

Season 3 kept up the pace with another seven, adding to the massive 16 available at launch, meaning there’s no shortage of combat environments to master, even as things begin to slow down, with the current Season 4 bringing just five.

(Image credit: Activision)

It’s not like “just five” is an insubstantial number either — it’s still more than double what most seasons of 2022’s Modern Warfare 2 would give you. They’re all well-made maps with a good mix of aesthetics, ranging from the brightly colored neon skyscrapers of a futuristic Tokyo in Yakei to the psychedelic corridors of an imagined hospital in Paranoia.

There’s just so much more variety than you had in previous games, which seriously helps stave off boredom after hundreds of hours of play.

You could argue that Black Ops 7 lacks a coherent visual direction and setting, and I would wholeheartedly agree, but, as disappointing as it is for someone who cares quite a lot about the series’ universe and lore, on a practical level the total abandonment of stodgy military theming opens the door to so many cool design possibilities.

You have maps filled with floating platforms to parkour off, buttons that open secret passageways to reward those who pay attention to their surroundings, or magic portals that teleport you to the other side of the map to help you get the jump on the enemy team.

I can’t remember the last time Call of Duty felt this experimental and free. It’s reinvigorating.

Broken, but in the best possible way

(Image credit: Activision)

The developers took the same approach with the weapons, adding a boatload of them every season. They’re completely stupid and often massively unbalanced, but that’s what makes them so much fun.

You’ve got one-shot rifles galore, an SMG that loads with three magazines at once, a secondary that’s somehow a full-size rifle that fires homing bullets, and an energy weapon that shoots slow-moving, glowing balls that can take out entire groups of foes.

The unlockable weapon attachments are delightfully nuts as well. Earlier this month, I spent a weekend grinding through weekly challenges to unlock the latest attachment for the XR-3 Ion sniper rifle.

It’s a grip that transforms the unwieldy weapon into a literal minigun that shreds foes by rapidly firing high-power sniper bullets with a massive ammo pool, which I immediately deployed to rampage through the tiny Nuketown map in some public matches.

バカ武器ありがとう#cod #bo7 #CallofDuty pic.twitter.com/clCe6pNWcHJune 26, 2026

It joins a pantheon of unapologetically bonkers additions, like the high-tech magazine for the Carbon 57 SMG that literally 3D prints new bullets in between shots so you never have to reload or the customized barrel that converts the Maverick X9 assault rifle into a long-range harpoon gun.

At this point, I’m convinced the developers are trying to one-up themselves with something even crazier in every update — and make no mistake, I’m absolutely here for it.

Throw in a deluge of quality limited-time events with a strong line-up, free and paid rewards, some of the nicest-looking battle pass skins yet, countless progression systems to work towards, and it’s no wonder that I’m logging in every day for more.

As a frequent visitor to a handful of Call of Duty subreddits, I know that I’m not the only one having a great time either. “We are very lucky that we didn’t listen to the internet and bought Black Ops 7,” wrote one poster just last week, who praised the “huge” amount of content on offer. “We are so lucky that we experienced the best Call of Duty multiplayer and zombies since 2015,” they added.

“I’m also a little sad we only have 1 more Season left”, responded a commenter, with another calling Black Ops 7 the “Best COD of the 2020s”. Sure, the campaign underdelivered, but if we’re going off multiplayer alone, I’m inclined to agree.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is out for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

• Two US army websites were defaced on their 404 error pages
• The messages included an expletive insult targeting Donald Trump and Tom Barrack
• The messages appear to be written by people sympathetic to the Kurdish cause

Two pages belonging to the US Army had their error pages defaced with pro-Kurdish messages criticizing US President Donald Trump.

Cybersecurity researcher Ronald Lovelace discovered the defaced pages, before notifying both the US Army and Cyberscoop.

One of the messages on a 404 error page read, “FREE KURDISTAN,” while another said “Kurdish sr was here.”

Kurds deface Army websites

One of the pages defaced belongs to the Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AIIC), and the second belongs to the Army’s Open Innovation Lab (OIL). These sectors of the Army were founded in 2019 and 2020 respectively, with the AIIC working to improve the integration of AI technologies within the Army and train personnel, while OIL established to help test new software and cyber capabilities.

The defaced error messages also labelled Donald Trump a “pedophile & thief,” likely referring to the President’s connections to financier and child sex offender Jeffery Epstein. An expletive message also referenced United States Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack.

Lovelace noted that the affected websites are hosted using WordPress and Microsoft cloud infrastructure. Numerous WordPress plugins are frequently exploited by hackers to gain control over websites, although how the hackers defaced the Army website still has not been confirmed. The websites have since been taken down.

Who are the Kurds and why are they targeting Trump and Barrack?

The Kurdish peoples are an ethnic group who occupy a stateless nation that covers southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and northern Syria.

The US and the Kurdish people have worked together on numerous occasions, even being considered allies when it suited the US, particularly in the fight against Suddam Hussein and later against ISIS.

But the US has since turned away from supporting the people of Kurdistan, with the President recently endorsing a Turkish bombing campaign targeting the area of Kurdistan that falls within their territory, hence the messages targeting Tom Barrack.

It appears that whoever is responsible for the defacement of the US Army websites feel betrayed by this shift in policy.

Moana is an absolute blast thanks to solid performances by Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson, who is simply magical as demigod Maui.

AI images, videos and writing used to be relatively easy to spot. There were too many fingers, warped backgrounds, strange nonsensical text and other visual artefacts that really quickly gave the AI game away. Deepfake videos often had delayed lip-syncing and AI-generated writing felt repetitive and formulaic, like reading a clunky LinkedIn post.

But AI has improved. A lot of AI-generated images, videos and messages now look convincing enough to fool even the most careful observers and experts. Which means some of the older tricks for spotting what's AI and what's not no longer work as reliably as they once did.

So this isn't about spotting signs and glitches. It's about taking extra steps to verify what you're seeing and hearing. We can't rely on zooming in to see six fingers in a strange-looking ad anymore. We need to know what questions to ask and which tools to use when something doesn't feel quite right.

Fact-checking Facebook pages

(Image credit: Shutterstock / mundissima )

AI-generated content is all over Facebook, particularly photos and videos designed to trigger a strong emotional response.

In May, a Full Fact investigation examined pages sharing AI-generated stories about UK politicians and found that many were managed from outside the UK, despite using names that sounded British. The posts featured heartwarming tales of politicians donating millions, rescuing dogs or helping sick children. None of it was true.

One useful tool in situations like this is Facebook's Page Transparency feature. Found within a page's profile, it can reveal where a page is managed from, when it was created, whether it has changed names in the past and other clues about who is really behind it. If those details don't match the image the page is trying to project, that's often a good reason to be sceptical.

Spotting scams on LinkedIn

(Image credit: LinkedIn)

Job scams aren't new, but AI is making them harder to spot. Scammers can now generate realistic recruiter messages, professional-looking profiles and convincing emails on a huge scale.

Some recent campaigns have even imitated LinkedIn notifications and job alerts, using urgency and curiosity to pressure people into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information.

Before responding to an unexpected job offer, do some basic checks. Is the recruiter connected to a real company? Does their profile look legitimate? Does the business exist on Companies House? Taking a few minutes to verify the opportunity could save a lot of trouble later.

Verifying viral videos

(Image credit: Getty Images / We Are)

Deepfake videos are getting eerily realistic. At normal speed, an AI-generated video may now look completely authentic. But you could try increasing the playback speed, which is when subtle inconsistencies can become easier to spot. Watch for lip movements that don't quite match the speech, unnatural blinking, strange pacing or facial movements that feel slightly out of sync with the audio you’re hearing.

It's also worth paying attention to facial expressions. Now, of course no one reacts perfectly all the time, but if a person's expressions consistently feel disconnected from what they're saying, it may be worth investigating further.

Investigating AI influencers

(Image credit: Xicoia)

Sometimes the answer is hiding in plain sight. You just need to know where to look. AI influencers, AI-assisted fashion shoots and AI-generated advertising campaigns are often disclosed by brands and creators, but the information could be hard to find in a caption, hashtag, profile description or small print. For example, lifestyle publisher and brand SheerLuxe creates AI-generated content and influencers under the name Sheerluxe lab.

You could also try a reverse image search. Uploading an image to Google Images can sometimes show you where it first appeared online, if it’s been altered and whether the person in the image actually exists anywhere else on the internet. If an influencer only appears in AI-generated content and nowhere else, that’s a pretty big sign they might be completely made up.

Take the AI or not quiz

• The Topolino will start from $13,995
• Customers will have to pay extra to make it road legal
• A/C comes courtesy of removing the doors

The US is about to get one of the cheapest electric vehicles ever offered for sale, as the Stellantis Group has confirmed that the tiny Fiat Topolino will be available Stateside.

Starting from just $13,995 (plus a $990 destination fee), the compact electric runaround features an equally minuscule 5.4kWh battery pack that delivers just 46 miles of range on a full charge. There's also a distinct lack of creature comforts.

Based on the Citroën Ami, the glorified golf cart is designed to offer a mobility solution for busy European cities, with the model classed as a light quadricycle (category L6e) that sees the law regard it more like a four-wheeled scooter or moped than a traditional passenger car.

FiatFiatFiatFiatFiat

This allows drivers as young as 14 to get behind the wheel in some European countries, and with the lack of a stereo, air conditioning, or an infotainment display (there is a smartphone cradle), the vehicles are about as basic and easy to maintain as they come.

That said, micromobility options like this are on the rise in the USA, where a craze for golf carts seems to be sweeping the nation.

According to a report by Today, residents of affluent neighborhoods are using electric carts for everything from grocery shopping trips to school drop-offs.

Golf cart manufacturer Club Car says the market value has soared from $1 billion pre-pandemic to more than $5 billion today.

Fiat hopes to cash in on this boom, with a range of stylish Topolinos that arguably have slightly more character than your average golf course transportation.

Analysis: Cute, but not really a car

(Image credit: Fiat)

Thanks to its restricted top speed, diminutive proportions, and limited crash safety features, the Fiat Topolino isn't really classed as a traditional "car" in North America.

In fact, should customers want to use it on public roads, they will have to pay for a special conversion kit to raise the top speed to 25 mph and make it street legal on roads with speed limits of 35mph or less.

According to CNBC, Stellantis won't charge extra for this, but a mandatory destination fee of $990 will see the final price increase to $14,985.

The impossibly cute car, which roughly translates to "little mouse" from its native Italian, will also go on sale in the UK, with prices starting from £8,995.

Numerous models and special editions have already been touted, including a Sport edition that adds bespoke wheels, colors, and badges.

Fiat also unveiled a Multiplina concept (see above) that takes the Topolino platform and stretches it to act as "the missing link between a Topolino and a car," according to its maker.

There's no word on when we will see that go into production, but order books for the standard micro machine are already open in most markets.

• The first agentic ransomware attack has been dubbed JADEPUFFER by researchers at Sysdig
• Threat exploited a known vulnerability, adapted to obstacles, and targeted an Alibaba Nacos
• Unfortunately for victims, paying up means nothing, as JADEPUFFER fails to back up the data

Has ransomware become self-aware? Sysdig researchers have analyzed an attack on an internet-facing Langflow instance, and discovered what they believe to be the first ransomware infection driven not by a human, but by AI.

As the attack progressed via a vulnerability, it accessed a server, removed data, overcame challenges, and phoned home regularly – all controlled not by a remote operator, but by a large language model (LLM).

Dubbed “JADEPUFFER” the attack seems to point to the direction of travel for extortion-based cybercrime -- if not for the entire sector, then certainly for the cybercrime-as-a-service (CaaS) market. As highlighted in Sysdig’s conclusion: “It’s a marker of where extortion tradecraft is heading.”

Fully autonomous hack

Using a code-injection attack on a Langflow deployment, Sysdig reported that the attack was fully automated, and after exploiting the vulnerability (CVE-2025-3248) JADEPUFFER sought out credentials for LLM providers, databases cloud platforms, and cryptocurrency wallets.

It also harvested data from the Langflow instance’s Postgres database, and committed various acts of destruction before the intended Alibaba Nacos (Naming and Configuration Service) and connected MySQL database were reached.

At this point, the ransomware demand was issued, with 1,342 Nacos configuration items encrypted and crucial database tables dropped. What is interesting about this is that random encryption was applied, but no backup was made and no key or report was created – so even if the ransom was paid, the data would remain unrecovered.

(Langflow fixed the vulnerability in April 2025, so this attack could have been avoided if the instance had been patched. Ironically, Langflow is also an AI platform, providing low-code solutions to build and deploy chatbots, agents, and advanced workflows using artificial intelligence.)

A new phase in cybersecurity

Security researchers have been on the lookout for Agentic Threat Actors (ATAs) for a while now, so the arrival of JADEPUFFER is not completely unexpected. Its arrival essentially means that anyone can create and operate a ransomware (or other cyberthreat) operation, relying on intelligent prompts and low-effort, fully automated testing in the wild, from which the LLM can learn and improve.

If this does indeed represent the dawning of a new age of cybersecurity, it isn’t all bad news. This incident has demonstrated how LLM-based attacks can be detected.

It used historical vulnerabilities, for example, but the most interesting thing about it is that this attempt was pretty verbose. The Sysdig team noticed that when JADEPUFFER was presented with obstacles to its primary aim, it adapted and shared its rationale.

While this narration is common among LLMs, other threats don’t do this, which offers an advantage for detecting LLM-based threats like JADEPUFFER and the variants which will inevitably appear.

• A new update is coming to Meta's smart glasses
• It should stop modders from disabling the light that lets people know you're using the camera
• Meta is also targeting modders on and off its platform

Last month we shared details of reports that Meta glasses were being modded to bypass privacy protections and turn them into secret spy glasses. Now Meta has revealed it will update the glasses’ software to detect whether its light has been tampered with (or destroyed) to prevent recording.

Whenever you take a photo or video with Meta glasses, a white light appears on the front of the glasses to signal to people around you that you’re filming.

For creeps looking to be more secretive with their recordings, this light is a hindrance, but Meta has imposed more basic tamper-proof features since launch. That is, any attempt to use the camera while the light is blocked — such as by a piece of tape — wouldn’t be allowed. The trouble is, modders have found ways to open up the glasses and disable or damage the light and its mechanisms that prevent it from showing, without getting flagged by the system — meaning you can use the camera as you normally would, but without anyone else knowing.

(Image credit: Meta)

This is (to put it bluntly) not good, and when the reports came out, a Meta spokesperson told me that the company was looking into ways to disable this workaround.

They also explained that Meta is working hard to stamp out advertisements for these kinds of services — some of which appeared on its own Facebook Marketplace platform — with its latest announcement explaining this means banning accounts, taking down listings, and taking legal action against people or businesses that tamper with its tech.

Beyond the detail of updating software to prevent tampering, the whole article from Meta is focused on privacy, and crucially how Meta keeps you and others safe.

Thanks to people misusing its tech, the wider notoriety these gadgets are getting again, and reports of contractors seeing recorded images and videos that Meta glasses users might not have fully realized they could see, Meta and smart glasses makers have been facing major privacy questions.

With this article, Meta seems to answer many of them, though we’ll have to wait and see if it can convince users — or if they might be tempted by the rise of cameraless smart glasses.

The only way is cameraless?

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Even Realities, another smart glasses firm, recently announced it has raised $150 million in investment at a $1 billion valuation — not too shabby for a company that only launched its first XR gadget in 2024.

Instead of Meta’s camera-first approach, Even Realities went for a display-first approach. Information is shown visually as green text and basic diagrams to provide features such as AI advice, navigational directions, or a speech appearing on a virtual prompter. Its specs also lack speakers, though that’s not true for all glasses of their kind.

Losing out on the camera is, of course, a major privacy win for some, as there’s no possible way for the glasses to see something they shouldn’t or be used to spy.

The thing is, I think these kinds of glasses are pretty terrible. Having tested a few at home, the ones without a camera just aren’t worth wearing.

(Image credit: Future / Hamish Hector)

Smart glasses, despite being increasingly popular, are in their infancy, which in the tech world means you can expect to pay a fair sum for relatively limited features — that’s the price of being an early adopter. That’s especially true, I’ve found, for these XR glasses specifically, because while they can offer several tools like navigation, on-screen translations, a prompter, and notification pop-ups, their usefulness is pretty limited.

How often do you need a prompter? Or one-way translation tools? In the case of the latter, because these kinds of glasses often have you rely on your phone to set up the translation feature or access other features, you might as well just turn to something like Google Translate — which has conversation modes so that two people can talk and see translations through a single device.

The software I’ve found for these types of specs can also be pretty terrible with sluggishness, inaccuracies, and crashes — and if I, as someone who tests smart glasses professionally, have trouble, I can’t imagine what less techy people must think.

Additionally, the green text can be hard to make out on a bright day if you’re outside, making on-screen directions difficult to see.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

While admittedly more limited feature-wise, the Meta glasses and smart specs like them feel like way better value for money. From Meta specifically, the software is generally very reliable, and more broadly, the ability to snap a photo whenever — either to capture a moment or to provide context for an AI’s response — comes in handy so often.

Even if it isn’t as good as my phone camera, the ability to record a memory, hands-free and without being taken out of the moment, is so utterly delightful.

Yes, there are privacy challenges which need to be hashed out more formally, as even without the ability to record privately there is still plenty of room for creeps to harass people with this kind of gadget, but if you want a pair of smart glasses right now there simply isn’t a better option.

When we tested the Ugreen NASync DH2300, we called it “the perfect starter NAS.” It's compact, quick for home office use, and affordable.

Right now, the Ugreen NASync DH2300 is $200 (was $220) at Amazon. It's not the biggest discount in the world, but if a NAS system has been on your list, this one is the approachable entry point worth buying.

In our review, we found the DH2300 hit around 115MB/s read and 105MB/s write speeds over Gigabit Ethernet — comfortably fast enough to stream 4K content to multiple devices at the same time, handle automatic backups from a few computers without slowing anything down, and serve files to phones and laptops across the house. It’s not a speed demon, but for a home or small office NAS running two drives in RAID 1, those figures are exactly what you need.

Today's top NAS deal

A compact 2-bay NAS with a quad-core ARM processor, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and UGOS — Ugreen’s own operating system — pre-installed. Drives go in vertically and click into place with a magnetic lid. There’s a 4K HDMI port for hooking it directly to a display (uncommon at this price), USB-C 3.2 on the front, two USB-A ports on the rear, and a single gigabit Ethernet port. RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD support. Diskless — add your own drives. Quiet, efficient, and idle power draw of just 8W.View Deal

The UGOS operating system is where Ugreen has genuinely impressed us. Most entry-level NAS software is either overwhelming (QNAP’s QTS requires time investment to master) or too limited to be useful. UGOS lands in a sensible middle ground: clean enough that a first-time NAS owner can set it up without a tutorial, but capable enough to run cloud sync apps, computer backup agents, and media serving to local screens via the HDMI port. The HDMI output is a feature that even TerraMaster, which includes the port, doesn’t actually have working apps for — the DH2300 can genuinely use it.

The vertical drive mounting is an unusual design choice that actually works well. Drives slide in and sit vertically rather than horizontally in trays, which makes them easy to install and remove. Screws are required for 3.5-inch drives (3.5-inch tool-free trays would be nicer), but this isn’t something most buyers will do more than once or twice. The magnetic lid clicks on securely and comes off easily when you need to swap a drive.

Being diskless is a feature rather than a limitation for most buyers in this category. You get to choose your drives — WD Red or Seagate IronWolf NAS drives are the standard choices, and picking your own capacity (1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB, 16TB per bay) gives you flexibility over cost and total storage. For RAID 1, both drives should match. For JBOD or a single-drive start, one drive is enough to get going, with space to add a second later.

At just 8W idle power draw, the DH2300 is one of the more efficient NAS options available — the kind of machine you leave on permanently without worrying about what it’s adding to your electricity bill. It runs quietly in our testing, making it suitable for a home office, bedroom, or living room without being a distraction.

Also consider: More NAS deals

The diskless Ugreen NAS DXP6800 Pro features a powerful 10-core Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, a built-in 128GB system SSD, dual 10GbE networking, and dual M.2 NVMe slots. Designed for demanding creators and professionals, it delivers fast, centralized, and highly expandable storage.View Deal

This diskless NAS combines a 6-core Intel Core i3-1215U processor with 8GB of DDR5 RAM, dual high-speed networking, and six drive bays for massive storage expansion. Built for creators, professionals, and growing businesses, it delivers fast, centralized, and secure data storage and management.View Deal

• See all network-attached storage deals at Amazon

Network switches have long been one of the easiest ways to expand and organize a wired network. That's true whether you're adding more PCs, security cameras, wireless access points, or network storage.

Now, I've found a terrific deal on the Zyxel GS1915-24EP smart switch that's just $200 (was $282) at Newegg. That's definitely an appealing price if you're upgrading your setup without paying enterprise prices.

This 24-Gigabit-port unit packs plenty of networking power into a compact chassis, making it a great option for small businesses, growing home offices, and anyone managing multiple wired devices.

Today's top network switch deal

Offering 24 Gigabit ports, including 12 PoE+ connections with a 130W budget, this smart managed switch supports free Nebula cloud management, NebulaFlex standalone operation, remote device power cycling, and compact, near-silent operation for growing networks.View Deal

With 24 Gigabit ports, including 12 PoE+ connections, it offers plenty of flexibility without pushing you toward expensive enterprise hardware.

Nebula cloud management doesn’t require an additional software or hardware controller. You can manage the switch through a web browser or the Nebula mobile app, giving you remote access to monitor your network, reboot powered devices, and make configuration changes wherever you are.

Although cloud management is available, you aren’t locked into it. NebulaFlex technology lets you switch between standalone local management and Zyxel's free cloud platform whenever it suits your setup.

Twelve PoE+ ports share a 130W power budget, giving you enough capacity for wireless access points, IP cameras, VoIP phones, and other powered devices without filling your workspace with separate power adapters.

That simplifies installations and reduces cable clutter, especially in smaller offices.

Beyond power delivery, the GS1915-24EP delivers Gigabit speeds across all 24 Ethernet ports and supports a wide range of networking standards, including link aggregation, VLANs, spanning tree protocols, energy-efficient Ethernet, and Layer 2 management features.

Those capabilities help keep business networks organized while providing room to expand as additional devices are added.

Remote management also includes the ability to power cycle connected PoE devices through the Nebula app.

If an access point or security camera stops responding, you can restart it remotely instead of making an on-site visit, which could save you plenty of time.

Despite offering 24 ports, the switch measures just 13 x 9.1 x 1.7 inches, making it easy to place on a desk, mount on a wall, or install in a rack.

Smart fan management keeps noise under control, making it suitable for offices where loud networking equipment could quickly become distracting.

For more top-performing picks, check out our round up of the best network switches.

Also consider: More network switches at Newegg

The GS308 compact unmanaged switch adds eight Gigabit Ethernet ports with simple plug-and-play setup, requiring no software or maintenance. A fanless design keeps operation silent, while energy-saving features automatically adjust power consumption based on connected devices and cable length.View Deal

This unmanaged switch delivers eight Gigabit Ethernet ports with PoE+ support, supplying up to 62W of shared power for compatible devices. Silent fanless operation, non-blocking performance, advanced PoE controls, and flexible mounting make deployment straightforward in almost any workspace.View Deal

Featuring eight Gigabit Ethernet ports with an 83W PoE+ power budget, this unmanaged switch powers access points, IP cameras, and phones through a single cable. Automatic PoE balancing, silent fanless operation, and plug-and-play installation keep networking simple.View Deal

This unmanaged switch expands your network with eight Gigabit Ethernet ports and simple plug-and-play installation. A sturdy fanless metal enclosure, traffic prioritization for voice and video, reliable data transfer, and automatic power saving make it ideal for everyday networking.View Deal

• See all switch deals at Newegg

I track laptop deals for a living, so I have a good idea of what’s a genuine bargain, and what just looks like one. Dell has one of the best laptop deals I’ve seen in a while, but you’ll have to act fast if you want to get it.

The price of the Dell 14 Laptop has been slashed to $700 (was $1230) at Dell. That's a massive $530 discount, making it the lowest priced 14-inch laptop in the Dell line-up right now. If you need a dependable everyday system for work, study, or creative projects, this one definitely fits the bill.

The Windows 11 Home laptop is powered by an Intel Core 7 150U processor, which pairs 10 cores with boost speeds of up to 5.4GHz for responsive multitasking. Intel Graphics handle everyday workloads, media streaming, photo editing, and office tasks without trouble.

Today's top Dell laptop deal

Powered by an Intel Core 7 processor, Dell's 14 Laptop pairs 16GB of DDR5 memory with a 1TB NVMe SSD, a 14-inch FHD+ IPS display, Wi-Fi 6, aluminum construction, and a fingerprint reader for fast, secure access.View Deal

The 14-inch FHD+ display delivers a 1920 x 1200 resolution, an anti-glare finish, and a 300-nit IPS panel that provides extra vertical screen space compared to a standard Full HD display.

A metal Platinum Silver chassis gives the laptop a premium finish while keeping the weight as low as 3.44lb.

Dell includes 16GB of DDR5 memory running at 5200MT/s alongside a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD which offers plenty of room for documents, photos, videos, and applications.

You get two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, HDMI, an SD card slot, and a headset jack. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth.

A backlit keyboard includes Microsoft's Copilot key, while the power button doubles as a fingerprint reader for quick and secure sign-ins.

The laptop also packs a 1080p webcam with dual-array microphones, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos Core, a Precision touchpad, and a 54Wh battery paired with a 65W charger.

Knocking $530 off the original price turns an already well-equipped laptop into a terrific buy.

Between the modern processor, generous 16GB of memory, roomy 1TB SSD, premium aluminum construction, and practical feature set, Dell's latest offer delivers plenty of value for the money.

For more buying options, take a look at our roundup of the best Dell laptops.

• See all desktop and laptop deals at Dell

OpenAI says the new AI models should be better at live translation.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review

I’m not going to sugar-coat this. I’ve been a big fan of Sony’s soundbars, but its latest generation can feel like a step backward, and that includes the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7.

I genuinely like some of the choices Sony has made: these new speakers are simple and elegant, becoming one with your room. They’ve also got a much smaller footprint, making placement (both in front of a TV and on a wall) much easier.

The included remote has fewer buttons, giving it a friendlier feel than the previous models. And Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping might be the easiest room correction feature ever baked into a soundbar.

(Image credit: Future)

You get an HDMI input for passthrough as well as the HDMI eARC connection to the TV, which is a soundbar feature that’s becoming harder to find; it comes with every cable you need, plus a wallmount kit; and you no longer need to spend $1,000 to get up-firing drivers (an essential ingredient for convincing Dolby Atmos sound). They’re included in the $869 / £699 / AU$1,199 Bravia Theater Bar 7.

And yet despite these benefits, the Bravia Theater Bar 7 (AKA model HT-A7100) nixes some of my favorite features from the previous generation.

There’s no built-in subwoofer, no on-screen setup menus, no alphanumeric front display, no hi-res Bluetooth codecs, no ability to connect wireless headphones, no Chromecast support, no Google Assistant/Amazon Alexa compatibility, and no playback via USB storage or UPnP (for streaming music from a networked server).

(Image credit: Future)

Of these omissions, the one I noticed most is the lack of a built-in subwoofer. While it’s true that too much low-frequency sound can be, at times, unwanted — for instance, if you’re a condo-dweller with thin walls between units — I believe that’s a good problem to have. You can always dial the bass down if the neighbors complain. But not having enough bass to start with? That’s tough to accept, especially at this price.

It’s not that the Bar 7 has no low-end; it does. It’s just that it doesn’t get low or loud enough to provide what I think of as a truly cinematic experience, even with the available bass adjustment set to ‘max’.

The obvious and easy way to overcome this limitation is to buy the Bar 7 with Sony’s Bravia Theater Sub 7 wireless subwoofer, a combo that only costs $230 / £100 more. If you buy the Theater Sub 7 after the fact, it will cost you $329 / £249 / AU$299. Sony sent me a Sub 7 to test, and it does the trick, restoring the weight and punch that the Bar 7 lacks.

Still, if bass isn’t your thing, the Theater Bar 7 delivers crystal-clear mids and highs, and can do so at volume levels that are shockingly loud. Dialogue is crisp and well separated from the rest of the soundtrack. Sony deserves top marks for this — poor dialogue clarity has become something of an epidemic in the last decade, and the Theater Bar 7 really helps.

With dedicated up-firing drivers for height channels and side-firing units designed to bounce rear channel sound to your listening position, the Theater Bar 7 should deliver a compelling, immersive experience, especially when playing Dolby Atmos or DTS:X content.

(Image credit: Future)

I don’t want to be too harsh in my analysis; the Theater Bar 7 definitely creates a soundstage that is taller, wider, and deeper than non-Dolby Atmos speakers, but given its price, I expected more.

I use a number of different test clips when evaluating spatial immersion, such as the Aston Martin chase scene from No Time To Die, the opening of Mad Max: Fury Road, and the first sandworm reveal from Dune.

The Theater Bar 7’s strengths (its clarity and power) created a strong sense of energy and immediacy — both vital elements for enjoying cinematic sound — but these couldn’t overcome the soundbar’s struggles to place key effects like bullet impacts or whispery voices accurately in my space.

Normally, when a soundbar underperforms my expectations, I reach for the settings menus, where you can usually tweak everything from bass and treble to the levels of individual channels.

Unfortunately, Sony doesn’t provide any way to tweak the Bar 7’s tuning. There’s no equalizer, no set of bass/treble adjustments, and no EQ presets. If you find the sound signature too emphatic when it comes to the high frequencies (as I definitely do), there’s not much you can do about it.

(Image credit: Future)

All of this adds up to a soundbar that finds itself in the anti-Goldilocks zone. The less expensive Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 may not be expandable, but out of the box it can deliver more cinematic punch thanks to the included wireless sub.

By the same token, if you spend just a little more than the price of the Theater Bar 7, you can get the Bravia Theater Bar 8. With its built-in sub, you get all of the sleek, single-speaker appeal of the Bar 7, with genuinely good low-end bass (and lots of expansion options).

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Price & release date

• Released April 2026 (US), May 2026 (UK), July 2026 (Australia)
• $869.99 / £699 / AU$1,199

As the name suggests, Sony has priced the Bravia Theater Bar 7 to sit between the existing Theater Bar 6 ($699.99) and the Theater Bar 8 ($999.99).

While the Theater Bar 6 comes with its own subwoofer, it can’t be expanded later with optional surround speakers. If you want that, you’ll have to buy the more expensive Bravia Theater System 6, which comes with a sub and surrounds.

Both the Bravia Theater Bar 7 and Theater Bar 8 can be expanded with subs and/or surrounds, however the Theater Bar 8 has a built-in sub, which may provide enough low-end for some people (especially for those in apartments or other small spaces).

(Image credit: Future)Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Specs

Dimensions

37.5 x 2.6 x 5 inches

Speaker channels

5.0.2

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI input, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / Yes

Sub included

No

Rear speakers included

No

Should I buy Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Excellent spatial audio format support plus HDMI passthrough. But a severe lack of settings and some hi-res options holds it back.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Top marks for dialogue, but bass isn't cinematic and spatial immersion is lacking.

3 / 5

Design

Low-profile, with clean lines, it blends into the base of any TV.

4 / 5

Setup and usability

Easy, app-based setup, but no on-screen menus, no front display, and no controls on the speaker itself.

3.5 / 5

Value

It needs Sony’s subs and surrounds to reach its potential, making it average value on its own.

3 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Buy it if...

You have thin walls
The Bravia Theater Bar 7’s lack of deep low-end means noise complaints from neighbors should be less of an issue, even if you’re listening at relatively loud levels.

Dialogue clarity is a top consideration
The Theater Bar 7’s center channel is crystal clear. If you still can’t understand what people are saying with this speaker, your speaker may not be the problem.

You want expansion options
With its HDMI input and the ability to add a variety of Sony’s wireless subs and surround speakers, you can easily extend the Theater Bar 7’s capabilities as your needs, budget, and space allow.

Don't buy it if...

You want versatile hi-res streaming music options
With no support for Google Cast, DLNA, or Tidal Connect, there aren’t many ways to get the Theater Bar 7 to deliver top-notch music performance without the use of third-party devices like an Apple TV 4K or Nvidia Shield TV.

You want full cinematic immersion from a single speaker
It’s possible to get fabulous Dolby Atmos from just a soundbar, but with its poor bass performance and underwhelming spatial rendering, the Theater Bar 7 isn’t the way to go.

You like to take control of your sound
Sony has always taken a less-is-more approach to its soundbar settings, but the Theater Bar 7 has almost no adjustments to let you tailor the sound to your liking.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Also consider

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8
It’s a little more expensive, and it adds exactly zero features on the Theater Bar 7’s list of capabilities, except in one area: bass. But since low-end is so critical to delivering cinematic immersion, that one area matters a lot. Alternatively, you can buy the Theater Bar 7 with a wireless sub, but you lose the appeal of a single-speaker system.
Read our full Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review

Klipsch Flexus Core 200
In the opposite direction, price-wise, is the Klipsch Flexus Core 200. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi (so no AirPlay or Spotify Connect), but I can’t say enough about how fabulous it sounds. Its power and immersion is truly impressive for a single unit, and the low end that I find so absent on the Theater Bar 7 is served up in heaping piles here. If you ever want more, it’s expandable via Klipsch’s optional wireless subwoofers and surrounds, or you can plug in your own wired subwoofer — a great option for anyone who has one of these units kicking around.
Read our full Klipsch Flexus Core 200 review

How I tested Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7

(Image credit: Future)

• Used the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 as my main audio system for one week
• Tested in my basement media room
• Sources: Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield 2019, and streamed music from various apps

After setting up the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7, I used it as my main audio system for watching movies, TV shows, and music in my basement media room. Over the course of a week, I played a variety of Dolby Atmos test clips from movies such as No Time To Die, Ford v Ferrari, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune, and Unbroken. I took careful note of details like dialogue clarity, surround sound, and height channel immersion.

I streamed most content from an Apple TV 4K connected via an LG OLED TV, which fed the Theater Bar 7 from its ARC output. However, I also connected an Nvidia Shield TV to the soundbar’s HDMI input to test Dolby Atmos in Dolby TrueHD, and see what, if any video passthrough issues came up.

I evaluated the effect of Sony’s limited sound modes as well as its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping room correction feature.

For music, I used a variety of apps, including Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music, listening to a wide range of genres and formats, like Dolby Atmos Music. Some were played from apps on the Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield, while others were streamed wirelessly using AirPlay and Bluetooth.

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

Formula 1 has always been a sport where fine margins can make all the difference, with success and failure sometimes coming down to hundredths of a second.

It’s no surprise then that many of the teams have looked to AI for assistance in getting that extra edge, whether it’s through designing new parts, determining race strategy, or simply getting staff to better communicate with each other.

AI giant Atlassian has been working with the Williams F1 team since 2025, signing a title partnership to show its commitment, and at the recent British Grand Prix 2026, I got to speak to the company to find out just how its tools and services are being used.

The best teamwork and the best technology

“We came across the Williams F1 team, and we quickly identified that there was quite a good opportunity for both organizations,” Andrew Boyagi, Atlassian Customer CTO, tells me at Silverstone.

“It’s not a sponsorship, it’s more of a partnership because we can help each other…we had a similar view that in Formula 1, the success goes to the teams that have the best teamwork and the best technology.”

Atlassian’s first season with Williams F1 saw the team achieve a huge jump up the rankings, rising from ninth place overall in 2024 to fifth in 2025, netting it millions of dollars more in prize money.

And although the 2026 season hasn’t been quite as successful so far, Boyagi is keen to highlight how working closely with the team has led to huge improvements in productivity and collaboration.

This has primarily been through Atlassian’s AI tools, which have become common sights in businesses and organizations across the globe. AI usage in the team was also fairly low before the Atlassian partnership, but Boyagi points that after using Rovo, 63% of the team now say, “they have more time to work on strategic, innovative stuff, which means they’re delegating a lot of their work, the repeatable low-value stuff, to AI.”

This includes a new Fault Management tool, which monitors for conflict and repetition when mechanics at the track or the factory report issues. Boyagi notes that it can be so busy at the track, the same fault might be logged multiple times, which can lead to wasted time and effort at the factory, which is particularly painful in a cost-cap limited sport like Formula 1 where every second counts.

Another example is in garage setup - Formula 1 is a global sport, with teams travelling to 24 locations across the world, arriving at an empty garage which needs to be quickly transformed into a cutting-edge hub.

Previously, the team used manual checklists, often with pen and notepads, to track what was being done, leaving the door open to error, but Atlassian redesigned the workflow with Jira and Rovo natively built in, so tasks auto-populate in Jira boards by category and assigned employee, meaning everyone can see who is working on what, and work moves across as it is completed, so hopefully nothing is ever missed.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

I ask Boyagi what success will look like in terms of the partnership, especially as Williams F1 has struggled in the initial races so far in 2026.

“Success in Formula 1 is about good technology and good teamwork, but it is always a sport where luck comes into it as well,” he notes, “but what we like to see is an improvement in how things are collaborating, and how effective they are in terms of doing their work.”

Boyagi points out that Atlassian took baseline data between October 2025 and March 2026, finding that 92% of the team now say they’re working for the right organization priorities, “so they’re working on the right things.”

Knowledge transfer has also improved, with trust in documentation going up by 200% in those five months, as Boyagi notes, so “in terms of knowledge, in every company, but especially Formula 1, it is a foundation of productivity - being able to find what you need, when you need it, and trusting what you find without asking someone.”

“Teams are now working on the right things, they’re getting that work done faster, they’re having less meetings and they’re delegating the low value, repetitive tasks to AI,” he adds, “and it doesn’t always translate to what happens on track, but I’m 100% confident we are already making a difference.”

The difference isn’t just for the mechanics or workers back at base - Boyagi says that the team’s drivers are also embracing it. He mentions one example where Alex Albon was having a debate with his engineers around different car set ups - to which Boyagi said, why don’t you ask Rovo?

“As it turned out, Rovo agreed with him, not the engineers - that was a nice moment for us,” Boyagi says, adding that what is important is why Rovo can give a solid answer because the platform is underpinned by Atlassian’s Teamwork Graph, which connects various parts of the business and its processes.

“All of these things are connected, so when you ask a question, it connects dots that humans can’t connect, where it would take us too long,” he says.

Getting over the line

As for Williams 1, the team clearly values the partnership, with Matt Harman, Technical Director for Engineering, championing the time and efficiency savings seen by using Atlassian's systems.

"We need to build systems, tools and techniques across the whole team that allow us to be collaborative," he said on a briefing call attended by TechRadar Pro, "we need to give people more insight, more ideas, so that people can not spend as much time on what I call 'business as usual'".

Harman also highlighted the benefits of the Atlassian service causing "less meetings, more insights", as the partnership looks to provide engineers with the insights and the support to do more.

"When we do that, the Atlassian tools just give people that instant access...without having to sit in a meeting."

Boyagi also points out that the partnership between Atlassian and Williams F1 has multiple sides, noting the team is a customer, “so the fact that they’re using all of our products, and they’re choosing to do that, using precious cost cap dollars, really talks about the value they’re getting from the partnership.”

“I’ve led many transformations, and the hardest thing is getting people over the line - implementing technology is easy, but getting humans to change how they work and want to use the technology is a bit of an art," he says.

"But in Williams, there’s such a strong demand, and a pool, that we have to prioritize what we’re going to do, because they want the team to benefit."

• ChatGPT’s new voice mode is rolling out today to everybody, even Free users
• It allows for much more natural conversations and won’t interrupt if you stop talking
• You’ll be able to do simultaneous translation for the first time ever in ChatGPT

OpenAI has upgraded ChatGPT’s voice mode for everybody with two new models that are rolling out globally, starting today.

I listened to the new GPT-Live-1 model in a demo run by OpenAI, and it does sound much more natural than ChatGPT’s previous voice model.

The new model aims to address two particular problems with the existing ChatGPT voice mode. Firstly, the previous version just wasn’t as smart as the text version of ChatGPT. Secondly, it tended to interrupt too much. You notice this especially if you go quiet while you’re thinking of a reply — ChatGPT will often fill the gap by talking.

Sounding more intelligent

To get around the intelligence problem, the new model actually delegates harder questions to ChatGPT-5.5, then comes back with an answer. It will say things like “let me just check that for you” to let you know it’s doing this, which keeps the flow of conversation feeling natural and doesn’t make it seem like you have to wait too long for an answer.

It does the same thing with any answer it needs to look up on the web. So, for example, if you asked it when your team’s next match was in the World Cup, it would say something like “OK, let me check that” while looking it up using GPT-5.5, then give you the answer.

"Hey Chat"

(Image credit: OpenAI)

OpenAI also demonstrated how the new ChatGPT voice mode is quite happy to stop talking and listen if you tell it to, without interrupting. You can simply ask it not to reply until you speak to it directly again, and it will wait.

Of course, this requires you to call it a name, which it doesn’t officially have. In the demonstration I saw, the OpenAI employee called it “Chat”, so he said “Hey Chat”, just like you would say “Hey Siri”. In practice that seems to work quite well.

Simultaneous translation

The final new feature of note is simultaneous translation. If you watch world leaders being briefed at places like the United Nations, you’ll see that they have an earpiece through which they receive a simultaneous translation in their own language of whatever the speaker is saying.

Now you can do this with ChatGPT. Say “I’d like you to simultaneously translate whatever I’m saying into [language]”, then start talking, and ChatGPT will provide a live translation as you speak. Seeing this in action was actually quite impressive and I could imagine it being very handy in several real world situations.

All major languages appear to be supported as well.

The future for AI

The new GPT-Live-1 models — there are two, the normal one and a mini version — will start rolling out for all users immediately, but it could take a few days to reach everybody. The smaller GPT-Live-1 mini model will be the default for Free users, while paid users get the full GPT-Live-1 model.

So far, ChatGPT’s voice mode has been a handy tool for when you need to use your hands for something and can’t type, but it’s never been good enough to become the standard way you interact with ChatGPT. Now it looks like OpenAI is trying to unlock the ability to use voice as the primary interface to AI, and it’s quite possible that this is the future OpenAI is aiming for. Today I think we've all just taken a step closer to it.

When you're building or upgrading a PC, one of the easiest ways to make it faster is by adding a high-performance internal SSD.

Right now, Amazon has cut the cost of the 2TB Samsung 990 Pro to just $390 (was $640), making this one of the best SSD deals I've seen in quite a while. And in the UK, the price of the 990 Pro 2TB slips to £292 (was £503) at Amazon.

We were so impressed with the Samsung 990 Pro's performance that we awarded it a full five stars in our review. We said: "The Samsung 990 Pro is an absolutely stellar M.2 SSD for both professional users and gamers alike. With solid capacities at a fair price and the fastest read/write performance of any PCIe 4.0 SSD we’ve tested, this SSD should definitely be at the top of your list if you’re looking to upgrade or do a new PC build."

Today's best Samsung SSD deal

The Samsung 990 Pro is one of the best SSDs around, especially at an unbeatable price like this. In our review, we hailed it as "an absolutely stellar M.2 SSD for both professional users and gamers."

In the UK: now £292 (was £503)View Deal

The 990 Pro delivers sequential read speeds of up to 7,450MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,900MB/s, pushing PCIe 4.0 close to its limits.

Samsung says the SSD offers more than 55% better random performance than the previous-generation 980 Pro, helping applications load faster and demanding workloads complete more quickly.

Another advantage is improved power efficiency. The drive delivers up to 50% better performance per watt than the 980 Pro, allowing it to maintain exceptional performance while using less power, which is especially useful during intensive creative workloads.

During our testing, the drive handled large file transfers with ease and consistently delivered outstanding responsiveness.

We summed it up by saying, "This is easily one of the fastest SSDs we've ever tested, so you can expect top-tier file operation performance."

Although the 1TB and 4TB versions are also on sale, with the 1TB model reduced from $319.99 to $239.99 and the 4TB version falling from $1,099.99 to $865.73, I'd still recommend the 2TB drive as it offers the best balance between capacity and overall value.

There's plenty of room for creative projects, applications, and large media libraries without constantly worrying about running out of space.

• Shop all internal SSDs at Amazon

If you're absolutely infuriated with slow internet speeds while working from home, I've spotted a top deal on TP-Link's Deco BE25 3-pack mesh router system, now $180 (was $250) at Amazon.

Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems don’t have to cost a fortune, and this set-up definitely proves it. Here, three Wi-Fi 7 nodes covering up to 6,000 square feet, AI-powered roaming, TP-Link’s HomeShield security, and compatibility with every other Deco device you might already own — all for $60 less than usual.

For households conducting online video calls and business tasks alongside 4K streaming and gaming, it's a genuine upgrade on any existing system. Especially given the Deco BE25's AI Roaming feature that's designed to prevent mid-call drop-outs.

Today's top mesh router system deal

Three Wi-Fi 7 nodes covering up to 6,000 sq ft with combined speeds up to 3,600 Mbps across 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. AI Roaming automatically connects your devices to the fastest available node as you move around. Each unit has two Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired devices, and works with smart home devices, too. View Deal

The case for upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 — even at the dual-band level — is clearer than it was a year ago. Wi-Fi 7’s key improvements over Wi-Fi 6E aren’t just about raw speed; Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which lets a device use both bands simultaneously, reduces latency and improves reliability in ways that show up in real-world use rather than just benchmarks.

The AI Roaming feature is the BE25’s distinguishing addition over the BE23. Standard mesh roaming hands off your connection between nodes based on signal strength thresholds; AI Roaming uses TP-Link’s algorithm to predict when and to which node your device should move before signal quality actually degrades. In practice, this means fewer mid-call dropouts as you walk from room to room and fewer situations where your phone stubbornly clings to a distant node when a closer one would serve it better.

At 6,000 square feet of combined coverage across three nodes, the BE25 handles most house sizes comfortably. Each node covers roughly 2,000 square feet, which means even houses with challenging layouts — multiple floors, thick walls, a garage or back garden you want covered — can be addressed with strategic placement. The Deco app’s network map shows signal strength for each node, making positioning straightforward even without networking experience.

The TP-Link HomeShield integration is a practical bonus. The free tier includes real-time network threat detection, intrusion prevention, malicious site blocking, and basic parental controls. Upgrading to HomeShield Pro (subscription required) adds more granular content filtering and reporting, but the free features are genuinely useful for most households at no ongoing cost.

One note: the BE25 is dual-band only — no 6GHz band. If you have a multi-gig internet connection (above 1Gbps) and want to fully utilize it wirelessly, or you have a dense device environment that would benefit from the less-congested 6GHz airspace, the Deco BE63 or BE63 Pro is the right choice despite the higher price. For households on 500 Mbps or 1 Gbps internet plans — the majority of US broadband subscribers — the BE25 delivers all the speed the plan can provide, and the 6 GHz band won’t be missed.

For anyone still running a single router or an older mesh system, the TP-Link Deco BE25 3-pack at $179.99 is one of the clearest Wi-Fi upgrades available right now.

Also consider

This two-pack eero 6 system features a router and extender, and is ideal for medium-sized homes, with coverage of up to 3,000 square feet. Many homes won't need more than two units, so you can save some money by getting this smaller pack. If you find you need more coverage, you can buy an extender. View Deal

• See all mesh router deals at Amazon.

Meta's aware that its camera glasses are making people worried. A new update aims to prevent tampering with the recording light. But even more is needed.

When it comes to on-the-move charging, the Anker Laptop Power Bank for $105 (was $120) at Amazon is a total beast. It's so powerful, you can even stay productive on your laptop while sitting on the beach this summer if you really want to.

That's because this isn't just your everyday power bank. With a long-lasting 25,000mAh battery and three 100W USB-C ports capable of charging larger devices like laptops, this is one of the most powerful devices of its class. In the UK, it's currently discounted to £75 (was £90) at Amazon, too.

In our review, we found that while it's not exactly the easiest to carry, "considering the spec and superb build quality, it’s still great value." Bonus points, too, for including two retractable cables so you never have to worry about forgetting your own leads.

Today's top Anker portable charger deal

A 25,000mAh power bank with three USB-C ports, each delivering up to 100W — enough to fast-charge a MacBook Pro, a Windows ultrabook, or a flagship phone simultaneously. Total output is 165W when all three ports are in use. The two built-in retractable USB-C cables mean you don’t need to carry separate cables for everyday charging.

In the UK: now £75 (was £90)View Deal

In our 4-star review, we awarded the Anker Laptop Power Bank a TechRadar Recommends badge, and said "If you’re a power user who travels with large devices, you likely won’t be disappointed with the Anker Laptop Power Bank as your companion."

The 165W total output is the headline spec, and it earns its place on the box. Most portable chargers marketed at laptop users top out at 65–87W on their highest-output port, which is adequate for most ultrabooks but leaves power-hungry 16-inch laptops and mobile workstations underserved. At 100W per port, this Anker bank handles everything from a MacBook Pro M4 to a ThinkPad T16 at full charge speed, without any of the port-sharing throttling that affects cheaper multi-port power banks.

The built-in retractable cables are the feature that changes how you actually use the thing. A dedicated USB-C cable is always the right length, already attached, and can’t get left at home or tangled in a bag. The retractable mechanism means the cables snap cleanly back into the housing when not in use, keeping the whole unit neat. For laptop users who already carry a cable between the power bank and their computer, eliminating that one extra item is a small quality-of-life improvement that adds up over a long travel day.

At 25,000mAh, the capacity math works out well for typical use cases. A 15-inch MacBook Pro with its 70Wh battery gets charged from flat just under twice over; a laptop with a 50Wh battery gets charged roughly twice and a half. A phone with a 4500mAh battery gets charged around four times. The realistic expectation for a two-day business trip or a transatlantic flight is that this keeps a laptop and a phone topped up without needing a wall outlet in between.

Flight-ready certification matters more than it might seem for frequent flyers. The FAA and most international aviation authorities limit carry-on power banks to 100Wh; this bank sits within that limit, meaning it won’t be confiscated at security. Anker prints the compliance information clearly on the unit itself, which is a small but practical detail when you’re fielding questions from a security officer at 6am.

Anker’s ActiveShield 2.0 temperature monitoring is worth understanding for buyers who plan to leave this plugged in charging devices overnight or during a flight. The system samples the internal temperature over 3 million times a day and dynamically adjusts charging parameters to keep the battery and connected devices within safe thermal limits. It’s a meaningful safety layer above what generic power banks provide, and it’s part of why Anker has maintained a better reliability reputation than its lower-cost competitors over many years of testing.

• US: Shop all portable power banks at Amazon
• UK: See all power banks at Amazon.co.uk