TechRadar News

• NATO's modernization command plans to buy six portable kits that can jam GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou, plus drone control and video links
• The blackout radius is adjustable from 500 m to 11 km, and each kit must deploy in 30 minutes, run for four hours on battery, and be controllable remotely over encrypted satellite links
• The purchase is a direct response to years of Russian-blamed GPS interference over the Baltic, including the 2025 jamming of the President of the European Commission's aircraft over Bulgaria

NATO is shopping for the ability to make satellite navigation disappear, on command, over an area the size of a small city.

The alliance's modernization command has signaled plans to buy six portable kits that can jam satellite navigation signals and the radio links drones use for control and video, so trainers can expose ships, aircrews, and drone operators to realistic interference during exercises.

For context, NATO wants to practice fighting in the same electromagnetic fog Russia has been generating over Europe's eastern flank for most of the past three years.

What is the NATO actually buying?

The buyer is Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, the Norfolk, Virginia, command that runs NATO's training and modernization work. According to the notice, first reported by Defence Blog, the command intends to issue a request for proposals on October 26, 2026, with bids due November 30 and a resulting fixed-price contract expected on December 11.

The kits are framed as training gear, but the fine print leaves the door open for much more: they could also be used in operations. The requirements read like a wish list for electronic warfare.

Each kit must be light enough for one or two people to carry, ready to use within 30 minutes, and able to operate from a ship, rigid inflatable boat, uncrewed surface vessel, vehicle, tripod, or fixed ground site. It must also be able to target all satellites at once.

The system must be able to jam all four major satellite navigation constellations, America's GPS, Russia's GLONASS, Europe's Galileo, and China's BeiDou, across multiple frequency bands simultaneously, with each band individually selectable.

Operators must be able to set the area where satellite navigation is denied anywhere from 500 meters to 11 km (6 nautical miles), in increments of no more than 500 meters. That is a jamming bubble you can expand or shrink like a volume knob.

Because an invisible wall of interference near civilian aviation is potentially a genuine hazard, vendors must supply tables predicting how far the effect will reach at altitudes up to 10,000 ft (about 3,050 m), so exercise planners can keep it clear of civilian air traffic.

The drone-killing side is more complex but equally specific: beyond satellite signals, the kits must jam drone video links in the 5 to 6 GHz band and drone control links at 400 to 500 MHz and 2 to 3 GHz, along with several cellular and other bands. That maps neatly onto how small drones actually get beaten in the field. As the notice itself explains, interfering with a drone's navigation or control signals can push it off course, force it to hover, land, or fly home, or cut the operator's video feed.

NATO also does not want a system that only a signals-intelligence professional can run. The requirement calls for the kit to be operated from a laptop with an interface simple enough for non-specialists, with both omnidirectional and directional antennas, at least four hours of battery operation, and the ability to be controlled remotely anywhere in the world over encrypted satellite links, with a local override and a remote shutdown.

Not just a random wishlist for a GPS jammer

This procurement does not come out of nowhere. GPS interference has shifted from a rare curiosity to daily background noise along NATO's eastern edge. The alliance's own notice points to the pattern, noting that jamming has become a regular problem around the Baltic Sea, where airlines and shipping have reported widespread interference that several European governments have blamed on Russia.

The most politically pointed episode came in 2025. The NATO notice recalls that an aircraft carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lost GPS signals while approaching an airport in Bulgaria, an incident Bulgarian authorities attributed to suspected Russian interference.

An important distinction underlies all of this, and it explains why NATO wants crews to practice against the real thing rather than read about it. Jamming simply drowns the signal. Spoofing is nastier: it feeds a receiver a convincing but false position, so the crew never gets a clean warning that anything is wrong. As explained in our coverage of GNSS vulnerability, the real danger of spoofing is that the victim doesn't know what is happening and keeps acting on false information.

NATO argues that its training and evaluation teams need equipment that can create controlled interference on demand, so crews can be watched as they detect, report, and adapt.

For an alliance that has spent three years on the receiving end of Russia's electronic harassment, buying six suitcases that can do the same thing on cue is less about matching Moscow and more about making sure its own people are not blind when the signal drops. The kicker is obviously that the for-training component could just as easily be used aggressively by the same organization, that is, if the spec sheet holds.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: One minute review

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 isn't a radical aesthetic redesign, but it doesn't need to be. Apple's rugged smartwatch keeps the familiar 49mm titanium build, bright display, and customizable Action Button, while upgrades to its rear health sensors and internals make it a more capable companion for everyday wear and endurance workouts.

The biggest upgrade is arguably its battery life. Apple promises up to 50 hours of normal use, but I've easily managed two days with the Always-On display enabled and sleep tracking running overnight. That's seriously impressive for a fully featured smartwatch, even if some lower-power rivals like the best Garmin watches can last longer.

The new S11 chip keeps everything feeling responsive, with apps opening quickly and watchOS 27 running smoothly. Faster charging is another welcome addition, letting me replenish around 30% of the battery in just 15 to 20 minutes.

Health and fitness tracking also gets a meaningful boost. The new Health Sensing System improves measurements, and Readiness Score is one of my favorite additions to watchOS 27. It gives you a useful snapshot of how prepared you might be for the day, without requiring another subscription.

It also adds plenty of smaller quality-of-life improvements, including real-time step-count complications. Siri AI also brings more intelligence to the wrist, with features like Shazam and Sound Recognition. Siri Rewind and Live Recap have yet to arrive and prove themselves.

The downside is that the Ultra 4 looks and feels much like its predecessor, so Ultra 3 owners may not find enough here to justify an immediate upgrade. And while the battery life is excellent, the Ultra 4 still can't match every rival in sheer endurance.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 costs $799 / £749 / AU$1,349 and is available now in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium. Both finishes come with Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, so there's no need to choose between separate Bluetooth-only and cellular models, as you can with the Apple Watch Series 12.

Ultimately, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is a refined, reliable smartwatch that builds on an already excellent foundation. Its multi-day battery life, capable fitness tracking, and smoother watchOS experience make it a compelling choice for endurance athletes and Apple fans who want a rugged watch that does it all.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Video reviewApple Watch Ultra 4: Specs Table

Component

Apple Watch Ultra 4

Price

$799 / £749 / AU$1,349

Dimension

49 x 44 x 12mm

Weight

63g (without band)

Case/bezel

Grad 5 Titanium

Display

49mm Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display (up to 3,000 nits)

Processor

Apple-made S11 chip

GPS

Dual‑Frequency GPS (GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou)

Battery life

Up to 50 hours with normal use

Connections

4G LTE, Satellite SOS, Wi‑Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3

Water resistant

Water resistance 100m

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Price and availability

• $799 / £749 / AU$1,349
• No increase from last year
• You’re paying for an LTE model as usual

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 costs $799 / £749 / AU$1,349, and comes in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, with both finishes including Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity as standard. This means you’re paying for your phone’s ability to add to a data plan whether you want to or not.

The watch is more expensive than other Apple Watches, which is standard for the Ultra series, but crucially, it’s the same price as the Apple Watch Ultra 3, with no annual price increase. In an era of an electronics components crisis, this is great news. It’s also absolutely stuffed with features as usual, with a premium build quality that, together, justifies the high price.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Design

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• Redesigned sensor array
• Identical display and case
• Useful programmable Action button

Like the Apple Watch Ultra 1, 2, and 3 before it, the Ultra 4 stands on its own in Apple's smartwatch lineup, offering one option: a squircle 49mm screen in a thicker, much more rugged design that's ready for the road — and truly any road. It still comes in Black or Natural Titanium and looks pretty much the same as previous iterations on your wrist. Still, the one-size-fits-all device is an issue for smaller wrists.

I've been testing the silver Natural Titanium version, and it's been a welcome change after rocking the Black Ultra 3 for well over a year. I like the contrast of the silver rim around the 49mm Retina display, and especially how the ‘Ultra Orange’ Action Button on the left side pops against the silver case.

The Action Button remains a nice addition for easily running a customized Siri Shortcut or quickly starting a workout, and the 49mm Always-On Retina OLED LTPO3 display still looks great in pretty much any condition, whether that's under fluorescent lights, in the gym, or outside on a very sunny day.

The Action Button sits alongside the speaker and microphone on the left side, while the rugged Digital Crown (with its orange ring) and the main side button live on the right. The top and bottom of the Apple Watch are still where the bands connect, and there's no change to the connector — fingers crossed Apple never changes that, as it’s exemplary.

The main design changes, aside from the new bands, are on the rear. Apple is rolling out a new Health Sensing System to the Ultra 4 and Series 12, which looks a little like a complex sundial on the back of the case. It features a new wider layout for electrodes and diodes to cover a larger surface area on the wrist, which lets the Apple Watch take more accurate health measurements — particularly when tracking heart rate.

This is also where the magnetic Apple Watch charger attaches, and the box includes an updated charging puck. It still connects to a wall adapter or another power source via USB-C, with improvements to charging speed. And while the Series 12 is still a stunner and the Ultra 3 could run laps around plenty of other watches, there's a larger battery inside the Ultra 4. I'll share more on this in the Performance section, but battery life is seriously impressive, surpassing its 50 listed hours.

Aside from the Health Sensing System on the back, though, much of the design here is Apple sticking with what has made the Ultra successful since its launch. It's an ultra-rugged, road-ready Apple Watch that's likely a necessity for endurance athletes, but its distinctive build also appeals to those who simply want something different from the standard Apple Watch.

• Design score: 5/5

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Features

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• Readiness score is excellent
• Siri AI features to come
• Improved vitals app

With the design mostly unchanged, much of what's new with the Apple Watch Ultra 4 comes from watchOS 27 and its health and activity features. I'm starting with the latter, as it's truly been the highlight of my testing.

I've worn an Apple Watch since it first launched in the spring of 2015. My original aluminum model arrived on launch day, and I was admittedly hooked on closing my rings. Now, after more than a month with the Ultra 4 — alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 — my new favorite feature is Readiness Score. It received a big round of applause at the launch event, and for good reason: it fills a gap in Apple's health feature set compared with the competition.

Many other wearables, including smartwatches and smart rings, offer ways to contextualize your data and help you understand what it means. Most notably, the Oura Ring provides a daily score that gives you an idea of what you're ready to take on. It's not medical advice, of course, but it can help you make sense of the data it collects. However, that feature sits behind a paywall, as do comparable offerings from Whoop, although Google Health, Garmin, and others provide it for free after you purchase a tracker.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Apple's take on a Readiness score is sometimes less elaborate, but it's free if you have a compatible new Apple Watch and enough data for it to work. Based on your sleep score and previous day's activity, you'll get a score from 0 to 10 tailored to you, alongside a matching phrase. It's presented as a curved line or half-moon graphic. Sometimes, I was greeted with a blue 7, marked "Ready," with the explanation: "You had a good night's sleep last night, and all your other metrics are typical. It looks like you're rested and ready for today."

Jacob Krol/FutureJacob Krol/Future

Below is a smaller breakdown of Fitness, Vitals, and Sleep Score. These can change throughout the day depending on your activity rings and whether you log workouts. When you open the Health or Fitness app on your connected iPhone, there's more data to explore, too.

It's become my favorite feature of watchOS 27 because of how it integrates with the Activity Rings experience, while building on Vitals. Rather than opening another app each morning and scrolling through a series of statistics, you're presented with a single score that feels actionable. Compared with other health wearables, it's also nice that Apple isn't locking it behind a monthly subscription. You do need a compatible recent Apple Watch, so there's an upfront cost, but you won't have to keep paying to use the feature.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

watchOS 27 also brings Siri AI to the wrist, provided your Apple Watch is paired with a compatible iPhone. While some more extensive requests can take an extra beat, the experience has been smooth, whether I raise my wrist to talk or simply say "Hey Siri." You can also ask for relevant information about your activity directly from your wrist.

The new Siri Modular watch face certainly spotlights this feature, placing Siri Suggestions below the time and above other complications. At times, it might suggest identifying a song with Shazam, remind you of your upcoming bedtime, provide the weather forecast, or offer other contextually relevant information.

Thanks to the new Health Sensing System, which supports activity and heart-rate tracking, blood oxygen measurements, hypertension notifications, and sleep tracking, Apple says heart-rate measurements are more accurate than ever. The Ultra 4 also introduces heart-rate variability (HRV) to the experience. You can add a complication that updates your heart rate in real time, as well as one for your step count.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Performance

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• Battery life performs as described
• Accurate against HRMs and competitor wearables
• Not yet able to test Audio Intelligence features

Apple's new S11 chip is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the Apple Watch Ultra 4, and it's a noticeable part of the experience. Apps open quickly, navigating watchOS 27 feels incredibly responsive, and everything runs smoothly. Suffice to say, it’s what you expect from a $799 smartwatch in 2026, and while it doesn’t run laps around the Ultra 3, it has its moments where it has a bit more pep in its step.

The S11 also features a Secure Enclave and a separate always-on processor, helping balance performance with efficiency. That last part matters even more with the Ultra 4's physically larger battery.

Apple promises up to 50 hours of battery life with normal use, up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, and up to 45 hours in Max Extended Workout Mode. In my testing, I've easily managed two and a half days on a charge with the Always-On display enabled and sleep tracking running overnight. That's seriously impressive for a fully featured smartwatch, even if some competing watches can last longer. The Ultra 4 won't win every battery-life comparison, but getting multiple days of use without sacrificing those everyday features is a big deal.

When you do eventually run low, faster charging makes it easier to top up. I've been able to get about 30% battery back in 15 to 20 minutes, which is handy if you forgot to charge overnight or want to give the watch extra juice before heading out. It doesn't eliminate the need to charge, of course, but combined with that extended runtime, it makes battery anxiety much less of a concern.

The S11 chip and new Health Sensing System also help power features like Readiness Score, which has quickly become one of my favorite additions to watchOS 27. But the chip is also laying the groundwork for Apple's forthcoming Siri Rewind and Live Recap features.

I haven't been able to test either just yet, and while I still expect them to arrive in the coming months, Apple hasn't confirmed exactly when they'll ship. If those features are the main reason you're considering the Ultra 4 — or the Apple Watch Series 12, for that matter — I'd wait until Apple provides a firm release date and we've had the chance to put them through their paces.

There are other smaller improvements that make the Ultra 4 nicer to use, too. Shazam and Sound Recognition are handy additions to have on your wrist, letting you identify music or recognize certain sounds without needing to reach for your iPhone. Shazam still struggles with some live music, though, so don't expect it to identify every song you hear at a concert.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Then there's the pedometer. It's a little wild that it's taken this long, but you can finally add a complication that updates your step count in real time right on your watch face. It's a simple quality-of-life improvement, but one that makes the Ultra 4 more useful at a glance.

In my testing across indoor cycling, outdoor walks, yoga, and indoor walks, the overall workout statistics and heart-rate readings have been in line with those from other devices, including the Oura Ring 5, Pixel Watch 5, Fitbit Air, and Apple Watch Series 12. Against an electrical heart rate monitor during a 5km run, the Apple Watch Ultra 4’s average heart rate reading was just 2 bpm away from the monitor’s. That’s well within the margin for error and just 1 bpm away from the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro’s readings during the same run.

Taken together, these aren't necessarily the sorts of changes that will make an Ultra 3 owner immediately rush out to upgrade. Instead, the S11 chip delivers a smoother, more efficient experience, while the larger battery makes it easier to take advantage of everything the watch has to offer. And with two and a half days of real-world battery life, that's a combination that's hard to beat.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4?Buy it if..

You need long battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 can last for days, performing for up to two and a half days of real-world use in my testing.

You want Apple’s latest health features

The Readiness Score and Health Sensing System are only available on the current gen watches.

Don’t buy it if..

You don’t need Apple’s AI features

If you don't want the Audio Intelligence features or the Readiness Score, the experience is pretty close to Ultra 3.

Also consider

Apple Watch Series 12

Apple's cheaper, less powerful wearable.

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro

The Apple Watch Ultra 4's biggest competitor in the premium adventure watch space.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 9 Pro review

How we tested

We tested the Apple Watch Ultra 4 by sleeping, working out, and living with the watch during a testing period comprising multiple weeks, staff members, and a review unit. We compared the watch's readings against competitor wearables, including an electrical heart rate monitor, drained the battery, and used as many available features as possible.

First reviewed October 2026.

• Craft is Canva's first publicly available AI image generation model
• It was trained on existing templates so it understands layers
• Developers can access the model via an API

Canva has launched its first-ever publicly available AI image generation model, and it's already proving to be hugely successful.

Looking to take on the likes of industry giants such as OpenAI and Google, 'Craft', its image generating model, debuted at number four on DesignArena's leaderboard, falling short of three leaders from OpenAI but coming in better than a number of other GPT, Grok and Gemini models – including Nano Banana 2.1.

With such high performance, Canva is proudly boasting that Canva Research, its internal research division, is now the second-highest performing AI lab in terms of image generation models behind OpenAI, which is a big deal.

Canva Craft

The launch follows significant investment from the company into its own internal lab, which has tripled in size over the past year.

But besides placing fourth overall for image generation, Canva Craft actually came in first place of 87 models for people and portraits, first of 85 in landscapes and nature, and second for abstract designs and patterns.

The company explained that Craft workers by planning an image's composition before generating a result, which means it decides where individual elements should appear, how composition should be structured, where words need to appear and how the entire thing can come together in a cohesive, readable way. Something that's especially important for the type of work Craft is likely to conduct, particularly around generating marketing materials and social media graphics.

The model's success likely stems from training – it was trained on millions of human-made templates in Canva's library, so it understands layout, visual hierarchy and typography unlike models that were trained on flat images.

Craft came about because Canva is a firm believer that developing its own in-house models gives it greater control over the economics of generative AI, rather than having to rely on third parties, and we're already seeing how unpredictable agentic AI costing is impacting enterprise-grade users.

But Craft isn't being locked into the Canva ecosystem, because the company is also making it available via an API to let developers integrate the model into other platforms.

As for the next steps, Canva already promises it's working on future generations of Craft with faster and more affordable options on the cards.

• Audi is the first manufacturer to introduce Spotify’s ground-up app for cars
• New platform takes advantage of passenger screens
• A more comprehensive interface brings with it more features

Audi has announced that it is the first automaker to introduce Spotify’s dedicated in-car application, which has been co-developed by the music streaming service and the Volkswagen Group’s Cariad automotive software company.

Yes, a dedicated Spotify app already exists for cars running Android Automotive, such as those from Renault, Volvo and more, but that is a template-based solution, which uses standardized layouts and controls. It also keeps a tight lid on the myriad Spotify features that have been introduced over the past few years.

Jonathan Tarlton, Automotive Business Development Lead at Spotify, told The Verge that the company was “drawing all the pixels” during the development stages, going on to state that it owns the user experience and that it is “100 percent Spotify”.

Unlike the limited Google Automotive OS app, as well as the smartphone projections experienced by both Android and Apple users in Android Auto and CarPlay, the software debuting on Audi models uses a layout that feels more like the desktop experience, making the most of massive infotainment real estate.

When passenger screens are specified, for example, front-seat passengers can watch Spotify music videos while the vehicle is moving, they can also see real-time lyrics and scan QR codes to join listening parties or create ad-hoc road-trip playlists.

The large central display in Audi’s current line-up can do all of those things, but for safety reasons, this functionality is blocked as soon as the wheels start rolling.

Analysis: A slicker Spotify experience

(Image credit: Audi/Spotify)

Audi says that this is the first time that music videos and real-time lyrics, as well as popular features like Spotify Jam and Spotify DJ have been featured on a native app, but doesn’t mention if or when it will be arriving on other models within the Volkswagen Group or further afield.

Judging from the imagery Audi has provided, the native app looks a lot cleaner than anything currently found on Android Automotive OS, with a layout that closely mimics the set-up found on laptops and desktops.

I don’t now about you, but I often get frustrated with the limited capabilities of the Apple CarPlay projection, as well as the clunky music search functionality. I often end up listening to the same old playlists on repeat because of this.

In contrast, Audi says that its AI-powered voice assistant works seamlessly to control the music while driving, with the “Hey Audi” command used to switch playlists or search for individual tracks.

Spotify users must have an account and use a smartphone to sign in, but Audi says the new Spotify app can be downloaded from the Audi Application Store free of charge.

• Critical PHP2Shell flaws also impact internet-exposed NAS devices and PHP-based Docker workloads
• Major vendors are still releasing patches, leaving some Synology, QNAP, and other systems exposed
• Researchers urge immediate updates, removal of public exposure, and VPN-only remote access

Websites and web servers are apparently not the only products affected by the php2shell vulnerability - Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are at risk, too - and to make matters worse, some of the most popular manufacturers have not yet released a patch, despite the flaws being actively abused in the wild.

Research by Apple Insider noted that the flaw also affects software maintained by NAS manufacturers, as well as applications running independently in Docker containers, with NAS devices that are reachable through the public internet also at risk.

What's particularly concerning is that some of the biggest NAS manufacturers have said to be working on a fix, but the work is yet to be done. Synology, for example, released a new security advisory saying PHP versions 7.3 - 8.4, Mail Station, and Synology Calendar are all affected and adding that it released updated PHP packages to address the flaws. Those running Synology NAS products should head over to the company’s Package Center and download archive and look for updated PHP 8.2 and PHP 8.4 packages.

Twofold risk

The company also stressed that there is a difference between installed PHP packages and PHP components within DiskStation manager, and added that its built-in PHP isn’t exposed to the public internet, therefore most likely not at risk.

Another major NAS manufacturer, QNAP, confirmed a wide range of affected products, including QTS 5.2.11 and older, QTS 6.1.9, QuTS hero and QuTScloud, and Note Station 3. It said it was currently working on a fix, but did not give a timeline on when the patch might become available. So far, there is no evidence of in-the-wild attacks, but the company does recommend removing the devices from the open internet, disabling unnecessary port forwarding, UPnP, and remote-access services.

Other manufacturers are also currently working on a fix, including TerraMaster, Ugreen, and Asustor, Apple Insider found. “NAS owners should check their manufacturer's security notices and available updates for their specific models,” the publication said.

For NAS owners, the risk is twofold, since PHP is found in both the operating system and Docker containers.

Those running PHP-based services in Docker should check if their container images are running affected versions of PHP, and update them as soon as humanly possible.

There is also the problem of running older devices that have reached end-of-life and are, as such, no longer supported with patches. These, security experts agree, should be removed from public access. Unsolicited inbound connections should be blocked, and the device should be kept accessible only locally. Remote access should be achieved through a secure VPN, instead of forwarding NAS management ports.

P2PShell?

PHP2Shell is a name for a pair of vulnerabilities - CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619 - that were recently discovered in the PHP programming language. They are considered critical and allow malicious actors to take over websites, steal data, deploy malware, and more. However, the story that has so far revolved around internet sites and web apps is now expanding into NAS devices, too.

PHP2Shell is shaping up to be the biggest security incident of the year, and possibly longer, arguably rivaled only by the Spectre/Meltdown flaws from eight years ago.

The pair of vulnerabilities - both critical in severity and both allowing for remote code execution - affects the vast majority of websites and web apps in existence today.

Knowledge of the flaws leaked four days before the patches were released, according to Amazon, and the number of exploitation attempts went from a few hundred 10 hours before publication, to millions today.

However, most of these attempts seem to have been unsuccessful. Analysis is ongoing as to why that is the case, with some researchers thinking code execution needs to get past ASLR, which is a difficult thing to do remotely. However, breaking in only seems to be a matter of time, which is why the security community urges manufacturers to release a fix as soon as possible, and owners to apply them without delay.

• Clayface's director has revealed why Batman doesn't appear
• James Watkins has also addressed the lack of a post-credits scene
• The new DC Universe movie is out now in theaters worldwide

Full spoilers follow for Clayface.

Clayface director James Watkins has explained why Batman doesn't appear — despite confirmation that the Caped Crusader is already active in Gotham City when the film takes place.

Prior to the movie's late October release, DC Studios co-head Peter Safran confirmed to Collider that the Dark Knight is already fighting crime during the events of Clayface. Despite this, the new DC Universe (DCU) film doesn't feature a cameo from Bruce Wayne's alter ego.

On the surface, the decision not to include Batman makes sense, because nobody has been cast as the DCU's iteration of the iconic DC superhero yet. Myriad actors have been linked with the role, but Safran and his studio co-chief James Gunn have repeatedly denied that someone has been picked to play him.

Batman made his DCU debut, albeit via a very brief cameo, in Creature Commandos season 1 (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

Even so, a precedent has already been set for Batman appearing in the DCU.

Indeed, the World's Greatest Detective showed up — albeit in silhouetted form — in season 1 episode 7 of Creature Commandos, i.e. the adult animated show that kickstarted the DCU when it premiered on HBO Max in late 2024. So, why is the crime-fighting vigilante conspicuous by his absence in a movie that tells the origin story of one of his most formidable foes?

"If you look at [the 2019 Joaquin Phoenix-starring movie] Joker, it's one man's story in the world of Gotham, which is a city of many million people," Watkins told me as part of an exclusive chat ahead of the DCU Chapter One flick's launch. "So, for me, it was just trying to tell another man's story, Matt Hagen's story, to the best of my ability.

"I didn't want to be cute or cheap or tricksy," he added about Batman's no-show. "So, to try and crowbar something in, I felt was was inappropriate. There are references and Easter eggs, but I didn't want to include a stunt casting cameo."

That's not the only thing missing in Clayface, because the body horror movie also lacks an end credits scene of any description.

Again, initially, that's to be expected for a DCU film. Sure, Superman included a mid- and post-credits scene, but neither sequence offered a tease for what's to come in Gunn and Safran's fledgling cinematic universe. Meanwhile, Supergirl came and went without a single post-credits stinger.

Gunn has gone on record to discuss his philosophy regarding end credits scenes and why it differs from Marvel's. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly last year, Gun said he doesn't want to use them "unless they really, really work", and he can fulfil the promise of what they tease to fans in future projects.

Read more exclusive Clayface coverage

- Clayface review: Tom Rhy Harries shines in solidly sculped comic book flick
- Where does Clayface sit on the DCU timeline?
- Clayface director on the fierce fan backlash to the Batman villain's reframing as an anti-hero

It seems, then, that Watkins had to follow that approach for Clayface — but there's another reason why he elected not to include a post-credits scene, and it's to do with its last frame that shows Matt Hagen's full transformation into the shape-shifting villain's final form.

"I think, where the film ends, it ends in a really tragic way," Watkins said. "I just wanted people to walk out of their screening with that shot still imprinted in their minds, rather than undercut the emotional tragedy of it with a tease for a future film."

Magic: The Gathering is ready to boldly go where it has never gone before with its upcoming Star Trek Universes Beyond set, and I have a pair of cards from it to showcase for you today!

Let’s start with Jake Sisko, War Correspondent. A mono-Green Commander with Landfall is nothing new, though I see them working much better in the 99 given their ability, especially in more budget-friendly or color-restricted decks after somewhat reliable card draw.

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / CBS)

I’m coming back around on incidental lifegain, especially on cards like this where it’s not the only reward for your chosen strategy — in this case, playing as many lands as possible. In more grindy, elongated games, it can help you cling to life for a turn or two more to eke out a win, and can offset any life loss afflicted by your value engines.

The Clue reward for your second land drop each turn isn’t as useful as a full card, but in a deck with access to plenty of mana (which Landfall decks tend to be) and especially in such decks without the card draw efficiency afforded by Blue, it’s not a terrible alternative.

Tireless Tracker sees play for this reason, and while Jake Sisko is arguably worse given the restrictions on its Clue generation, it does offer a little redundancy.

If you do want to build Jake Sisko, War Correspondent out as a Commander, I’d recommend including cards like Academy Manufactor, Stridehangar Automaton, and Tippy-Toe, Terrific Partner which each turn you Clue into a Clue and other tokens — Tippy-Toe will also turn even one Landfall trigger into card draw on your end step. You’ll also want cards like Captain Kathryn Janeway, Exploration, and Asuza, Lost but Seeking to help you consistently play two lands a turn.

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / CBS)

Turning to Ravenous Cosmozoan, a Red Tolarian Terror that gives up protection and some stats for Flying and Haste — lending itself to a more immediately aggressive approach the turn it comes down.

At Uncommon, the Cosmozoan won’t see the Pauper play of its predecessor, but I fear it may mimic Terror’s low Standard play rate.

There are some notable differences. Flying and Haste should help the Cosmozoan pressure opponents more aggressively the turn it comes down — even if it packs a softer punch — and notably it cares about all nonland, noncreatures in your Graveyard, not merely your Instants and Sorceries.

We’ll have to wait and see if that’s enough to save it, though.

The best (perhaps only) place for it may unfortunately be Limited. If the environment is more grindy and games tend to go a little longer, it shouldn’t cost more than a couple of mana in the late game, and a few of these could swing over an opponent’s board to steadily chip them down to zero — perhaps as a surprise attack thanks to its Haste.

• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen has explained how the original Dawn of War influenced the new game's RTS systems
• Theysen says King Art Games "wanted the battles to take a while" in Dawn of War 4
• He says that the game's on-field reinforcement feature was almost cut because it was "weird," but now the team loves it because it "brings the macro [management] and the economy side into the battles"

King Art Games co-founder and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen has described how the game manifests the classic real-time strategy (RTS) experience of the original Dawn of War.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Theysen explained that the first question the team asked itself was which game it wanted to draw inspiration from for the foundations of Dawn of War 4; it ultimately chose the first game, which was released in 2004, as it was the more "classic RTS" and the game the team refers to as its "north star."

"We basically said, 'Okay, we want to do a new Dawn of War,' but then the question was: 'What are we talking about? Dawn of War 1 or 2?' Which are both great but very different," Theysen said. "Maybe even Dawn of War 3. And we said, 'Okay, let's really go back to Dawn of War 1, which for us was more this classic RTS with base building, with big battles."

King Art looked at how big the battles were and how long they took in the original game, and decided on a larger and longer "time-to-kill" gameplay system for the newest iteration.

"We wanted the battles to take a while, so that you can actually throw more units into the battle, right?" he said. "And maybe you win the battle and lose the war because you put all your resources into this one battle, for example; it was something that we looked into a lot, because you know it's something that different RTS [games] handle very differently.

On-field reinforcements is one of the "weirder" things Dawn of War 4 will feature, which Theysen revealed King Art didn't have initially because it's an old system that not many modern RTS games have. Turns out, when the team tested it, [and they] really liked it.

"We felt like it was a little bit weird, right?" he said. "Lore-wise, it doesn't make any sense, and even gameplay-wise, it's not something that a ton of RTS games have. Maybe it's a weird thing that they had like 20 years ago, and maybe it's not that important, but then we actually tried it out, and now we love it."

The creative director added that "we think it's great" because on-field reinforcement also "brings the macro[management] and the economy side into the battles," as well as the real-time unit control with micromanagement.

"By just auto-healing everything or auto-reinforcing everything, the battles become easier, but actually the economy part suffers, right? Or it becomes harder," Theysen explained. "But if you are more about the macro and more about the big picture, it might be totally fine to just put all your units on auto in battle, and they'll do their stuff.

"While if you're really into micro, you probably say, 'no, I can optimize the battle', and then you spend less time in the macro but more in the micro, and that's also fine, and that is maybe an example you know that we directly took from Dawn of War 1."

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 is slated to launch on PC on December 3.

As the leader in cartridge-free printing, Epson also has the largest range of refillable printers, which now includes this entry-level all-in-one promising ultra low-cost color printing at home.

The white Epson EcoTank ET-2980 has several variants, including the black Epson EcoTank ET-2950 tested here, but it’s essentially a budget tank printer aimed at the small office or anyone who wants to cut their consumables bill by 95%.

Yes, bottled ink is that much cheaper than cartridge ink. But can it compete with the Brother DCP-T580DW and HP Smart Tank 210 to become one of our best ink tank printers?

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Design and build

(Image credit: Future)Specs

Type: color inkjet tank multifunction printer

Functions: Print, copy, scan

Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi

Data storage slots: None

Max print speed: 15ppm

Max paper size: Letter/A4

Print quality: 4,800 x 1,200 dpi

Memory: unknown

Apple AirPrint: yes

Consumables included: 4 x bottled ink (6,600 black or 5,500 color pages)

Dimensions/Weight: 375 x 347 x 187 mm (WxDxH)/11.4lb/5.2kg

For an all-in-one bulk tank device with an integrated 8.5" x 11" scanner, the Epson EcoTank ET-2950 is reasonably compact. It replaces the outgoing Epson EcoTank ET-2850 and as well as printing a little faster using an improved printhead, I think it looks better too.

The tanks protrude less, and yet they’re still conspicuous enough that it’s easy to see the ink levels at glance. And I’m glad to see the capacity is the same, because Epson’s reservoirs are slightly larger than those of the Brother DCP-T580DW. The sleeker replacement also gets an attention-grabbing LED on top that illuminates usefully when there’s printing in progress.

There’s no touchscreen on this budget model, but the 1.4” color LCD is clear enough and the control panel tilts upwards conveniently. There’s no USB Host port and no paper input tray. Instead, you have to load paper in the rear tray, which can only hold up to 100 sheets. The whole thing weighs little more than 11 pounds making it feel insubstantial, so it’s somewhat surprising to find that the out-tray is motorised. That’s really the only luxury.

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Features & specifications

(Image credit: Future)

We’re so used to seeing cartridge printers packed with features and selling for fifty bucks and less, that tank printers, which are not being subsidized in order to make money from their ink, can seem expensive.

Likewise, the feature set on this US$240 EcoTank could also look slim. As mentioned, there’s no touchscreen, no USB Host port and no paper drawer. There’s no ADF (automatic document feed) either, but these are all non-essential items that Epson has dropped to keep the price competitive.

Crucially, the Epson EcoTank ET-2950 can auto-duplex and has a flatbed scanner, unlike the HP Smart Tank 210, and it has Wi-Fi with AirPrint and Mopria compatibility. It can print on a wide variety of paper up to Letter or A4-size, including quite think cardstock, but its best feature is perhaps the generous amount of ink included in the box. Enough to keep you printing for three years according to Epson.

If you would rather have a printer with a paper input tray and an ADF for copying multiple documents at a time, you should consider the excellent step-up Epson Ecotank ET-3850 for around seventy dollars more. Or, if you don’t need auto duplexing or the scanning feature, you can save money with the economical HP Smart Tank 210.

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Setup and operation

(Image credit: Future)

The Epson EcoTank ET-2950 comes with an easy-to-follow quick-start guide printed on a single sheet, but you probably won’t need it. When you plug in and turn on for the first time, the printer’s on-screen prompts will help you get your new printer online and printing the first test page in a matter of minutes.

Alternatively, you can use Epson’s free companion app for iOS and Android called Smart Panel to avoid having to enter your Wi-Fi password via the printer’s control panel.

Filling up with ink is also stress free as the capacity of the bottles matches that of the tanks. That’s 65ml for CMY and 127ml for black. And the keyed bottle necks mean you can’t pour the wrong color in the wrong tank. In day-to-day use, I’d say this is a user-friendly device, thanks to the reasonably sized color display and the intuitive companion app that really simplifies printing remotely.

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

The Epson EcoTank ET-2950 printed every test page on every type of media from card to envelopes without a hitch or a jam. It printed slowly but steadily with the quoted print speed of 15ppm for simplex mono printing proving accurate.

That slows to just 8ppm in color. In duplex mode, each page is turned over automatically and quite promptly, so long 2-sided documents can actually be printed out faster than the manual duplexing HP Smart Tank 210 despite its superior 22ppm print rate.

Black and white text pages are printed with crisp dark black characters that are smudge resistant and easy to read at small point sizes. Through the magnifying glass I can see evidence of overrun, but it’s not visible with the naked eye. If you need fast laser precision and rarely print in color, you should consider a mono laser printer like the Brother HL-L5100DN.

Color prints look rich and bright with well contained colors. It’s perhaps a tad too red and also slightly softer than some rivals. Epson is using its energy efficient Micro Piezo technology to deliver ink through a total of 784 nozzles. That’s 65% fewer than the cheaper HP Smart Tank 210 with its thermal inkjet system.

Although nozzle-count doesn’t equate directly with print quality (their quoted print resolutions are exactly the same) I think the Epson achieves less detail when it comes to printing photos at best quality on coated photo paper. For a business-oriented inkjet, its photo printing is perfectly acceptable, but it’s not a strong point.

Where the Epson EcoTank ET-2950 excels is in handling paper. I always find it annoying when there’s no front drawer and you have to load paper in the rear slot where it curls and collects dust. On the plus side, the paper path is straighter this way so the printer can feed through thicker media without causing a jam. I printed on envelopes, stickers and some pretty thick 300g/m² card with great results. The HP Smart Tank 210, for comparison, chokes on anything heavier than 200g/m².

The Letter or A4-sized flatbed scanner makes decent copies at 1,200 x 2,400 dpi resolution and is easy to operate with the dedicated ‘copy’ button. It’s a pity there’s no ADF to go with it, but at least it has a scanner bed, unlike the HP Smart Tank 210 which relies on your phone for scanning.

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Consumables

(Image credit: Future)

The headline feature here is the three years’ worth of ink you’re getting in the box. To be more precise, that’s three 65ml bottles of colored ink and one 127ml bottle of black that should yield up to 5,500 color pages or 6,600 monochrome. That’s about the same as Brother, HP and Canon give away with their entry-level tank printers.

In this case, Epson’s 102 black ink is pigment-based, while the 102 CMY inks are dye-based because the quicker-drying pigment is better for smudge-free handouts. That’s different from the 106 inks Epson supplies with its photo printers which are all dye-based for their superior performance on coated photo paper.

Epson’s bottled ink is around 95% cheaper than its cartridge ink, though there’s nothing to stop you from using even cheaper third party bottled ink.

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Maintenance

(Image credit: Future)

As with any inkjet printer, the printheads are liable to clog if left unused for long periods, but it’s easy to unblock any nozzles by running a cleaning cycle. Just go into the printer’s maintenance menu, choose one and it will automatically flush the nozzles with fresh ink until it can print a clean test page.

That detachable compartment at the rear corner of the printer is the maintenance box that catches any excess ink generated in this way and at some point in the printer’s lifetime, you may need to replace it.

Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Final verdict

(Image credit: Future)

Epson’s entry-level EcoTank all-in-one is short on features, but delivers crisp documents, vibrant color prints and exceptionally low running costs, with enough ink included to last three years.

Admittedly, there’s no touchscreen, ADF, USB Host port or even a front paper drawer, just a 100-sheet rear feed and small color display. But crucially, you still get automatic duplex printing, Wi-Fi and a flatbed scanner. Setup is straightforward using Epson’s excellent Smart Panel app, and the keyed ink bottles make refilling painless.

In my tests, the ET-2950 printed reliably on everything from envelopes to thick 300g/m² cardstock. It’s not a fast printer, but automatic duplexing is a welcome convenience. Pigment black ink produces crisp, smudge-resistant text, while dye-based colors look bright and punchy. Photographs are slightly soft and oversaturated towards red, but perfectly acceptable for occasional use.

The biggest attraction is the ink economy. Epson is putting plenty of ink in the box and replacement bottles are cheap. At around $240, the ET-2950 is relatively expensive upfront, but I think its low running costs, reliable performance and essential duplexing feature make it excellent long-term value.

FutureFutureFutureFutureFuture

For more top-performing units, I've tested out the best home printers.

• Amazon has rebranded Kindle Unlimited as Kindle+
• The rebrand also comes with additional audiobooks, though many of these are narrated by AI
• The price hasn't changed but some users worry it might go up soon

Kindle Unlimited is no more — instead, you’re now a Kindle+ subscriber, as Amazon has just rebranded its ebook subscription service.

The good news is that the price hasn’t changed, and all the features remain the same too. In fact, you’re actually getting more for your money, because — as reported by ZDNet — there are now significantly more audiobooks included.

The bad news is that many of these new audiobooks are narrated by AI, with Amazon’s Virtual Voice allowing authors to create AI-narrated audio versions of their books at no additional cost.

The Kindle Paperwhite 2024 (Image credit: Future)A worrying change

Aside from that, this is seemingly the same as Kindle Unlimited, but the name change has made some users wary that a price increase could follow.

Over on Reddit, one user said “I don’t love it. It’s a signal that things will change and it’ll most likely start with the price,” while in another thread about the change, comments included the likes of “wouldn’t be surprised if there is a price rise in the near future,” and “I’m just glad they didn’t Kindle plus on the price. I was scanning that email and just waiting for them to say there was a price increase. Or is this a soft launch on that later?”

Certainly, there’s reason to worry, especially with Amazon now being able to argue that you’re getting more with the subscription (even if much of that extra is AI-generated).

This could also potentially pave the way for tiered pricing — after all, ‘Kindle+’ sounds like a less complete service than ‘Kindle Unlimited’ before it, so maybe a pricier additional tier will be rolled out at some point.

But on the other hand, Amazon might simply have wanted to get away from the arguably confusing ‘Unlimited’ name, since there were in fact limits to what books were available and how many you could access at once. So it remains to be seen whether this is a simple rebrand or something more insidious.

• Customers are increasingly enlisting AI agents to handle banking jobs for them
• Banks are struggling to distinguish between human, legitimate AI and rogue activity
• Many are now preparing for worst-case scenarios when AI does go rogue

Several major US banks have detected third-party AI agents accessing their customers' bank accounts, sometimes even attempting to carry out actions beyond what users actually wanted them to do.

New Axios reporting has claimed banks are now said to be struggling to even distinguish between legitimate human activity and agentic activity – but especially between authorized and rogue AI agents.

Importantly, the concern isn't so much disconnected, rogue AI going after system vulnerabilities to obtain customer information – banks are currently worrying about AI agents that human users themselves are setting off on their behalves.

Banks are struggling to deal with an influx of customer-authorized AI activity

In many cases, customers are voluntarily providing their banking usernames and passwords to AI assistants to hand over some workflows and processes to them, however while customers may be prepared to share these sensitive details, it can often violate banks' policies – which require the customers themselves to log into the accounts.

Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup have all started to restricted third-party agent access. Well Fargo is also said to be responding to potential threats.

Besides a lack of visibility and account security, banks are also worried about financial liability, because it's still unclear who's responsible for AI agents' activity if things go wrong.

Charles Schwab CEO Richard Wurster explained that he now expects a daily report about "how many ⁠times we've had to block one of the different agents" so that the bank has "control over ​authentication and the experience."

Looking ahead, banks are now likely scrambling to prepare for worst-case scenario events. With huge parts of the internet recently shut down due to outages and vulnerabilities, banks are now preparing to quickly shut down customer accounts in the event of unwarranted access – and restore them post-incident.

Amazon has just offered up a rare discount on the MacBook Neo, which brings the budget Apple laptop down to the best price I've seen since June. Stock is very limited, but there's still time to grab the MacBook Neo at Amazon for £609.97 (was £699).

Unfortunately, that's still around £50 more than the previous record-low price, but the chances of seeing a discount like that again are very slim, given the MacBook Neo received a fairly hefty price hike earlier this year. Still, at around £600, the Neo is an excellent value buy for home use, college, and university, if you want a reasonably powerful entry-level MacBook at a more budget-friendly price.

At this sort of price, it puts it more comfortably in direct competition with the likes of the Dell XPS 13 and several more modern Snapdragon-powered machines, which offer a similar level of power, performance, and battery life. It also means you no longer need to pay quite such a premium to get on the Apple ecosystem, if that's your preference for a laptop.

Amazon's rare MacBook Neo deal

Display: 13 inches
Processor: A18 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

The MacBook Neo got a price bump earlier this year, but it's now back down to its lowest price in months at Amazon. The latest budget MacBook is a smart buy at around £600, thanks to the 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life. Discounts have been better in the past, but I think it's unlikely we'll see it drop to £549 or less ever again, outside of a rare chance during this year's Black Friday sales.View Deal

Our MacBook Neo review was full of praise for Apple's newest device, calling it "the best budget laptop you can buy". It's a tougher recommendation following the price hike, but discounts like this bring it back down into that mid-to-entry-level price range that we find it excels in.

Yes, with specs that include an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, you aren't getting the raw power you'd find in the Air or Pro. However, the Neo isn't designed for the advanced creative and productivity workloads that the more expensive MacBooks excel at. Instead, it's a smart buy for general use, or for students to take to college and university who prefer the Apple ecosystem.

DDR5 is the memory standard for newer PCs, but it costs far more than DDR4, especially when you're looking for faster or higher-capacity kits. So I was pleased to find this TeamGroup T-Force 32GB DDR4 RAM kit down to $200 (was $264) at Newegg when you use code GTWF576.

This is a straightforward desktop memory kit for anyone who wants more DDR4 RAM without paying extra for RGB lighting and the like.

• Best for: Anyone looking to upgrade a compatible DDR4 desktop PC to 32GB of memory for multitasking, photo editing, gaming, and other memory-intensive tasks.

• What we like: This memory kit supports Intel XMP 2.0, and features aluminum heat spreaders. You get two 16GB modules, and the kit operates at DDR4-3200 speeds, with CL16 latency and 16-20-20-40 timings.

Today's best DDR4 RAM deal

32GB Vulcan Z DDR4-3200 Desktop Memory: was $263.99 now $199.99
This 32GB DDR4-3200 desktop memory kit includes two 16GB modules, CL16 latency, 16-20-20-40 timings, aluminum heat spreaders, Intel XMP 2.0 support, and compatibility with supported Intel and AMD desktop motherboards. For the full discount, use code GTWF576. View Deal

Why we recommend it

With Intel XMP 2.0 support, this RAM allows compatible systems to load the advertised memory settings via the BIOS. Each module features a gray aluminum heat spreader, and the memory uses a standard 288-pin desktop DIMM design and runs at 1.35V at its rated settings.

It's non-ECC, unbuffered, and compatible with supported Intel and AMD platforms, although you'll need to check your motherboard's specifications to make sure it will work with your system.

Price context & historical value

Newegg currently sells the RAM kit for $239.99, down from $263.99, which represents an initial saving of $24. However, apply code GTWF576 to take an additional $40 off, lowering the total price down to $199.99, roughly $6.25 per gigabyte.

That means you're saving $64 overall, equivalent to approximately 24% off the original price. Unsurprisingly, given the memory crisis, this isn't the lowest I've seen it go for. It's previously been on sale at Newegg for just $119.99, which is $80 less than today's discounted price.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Team T-Force 32GB Vulcan Z kit if...

You have a compatible DDR4 desktop with 16GB or less of RAM and regularly encounter memory limitations. Moving to 32GB can help with more demanding memory-intensive tasks.

❌ Skip the Team T-Force 32GB Vulcan Z kit if...

Your existing system already has sufficient RAM, or you're building a new PC around a motherboard that requires DDR5 memory. This kit cannot be installed in DDR5 slots.

• Shop all RAM at Newegg

It's iPhone Duo launch day! While many questions have been raised over the device's availability, it has also become clear that many of your favorite apps might not be optimized for the new layout at launch.

For apps to scale seamlessly across the iPhone Duo, they need to be built on the iOS 27.1 software development kit (SDK). This SDK provides the tools required for apps to stretch effectively across the Duo's new 1:4.1 aspect ratio inner screen.

Without using the updated SDK, apps render with varying sizes of black bars across the unused display area, depending on which legacy SDK version they were built on.

For top-tier VPNs, a lack of display compatibility can be frustrating even if it doesn't impact their functionality. We reached out to major providers to find out if your favorite VPNs are compatible on day one.

Which VPNs are compatible?Which VPNs are fully compatible with the iPhone Duo?

(Image credit: IPVanish)

These VPNs offer the best iPhone Duo experience right now. They are fully compatible with both the inner and outer displays, using the full screen area without letterboxing or black sidebars.

IPVanish was among the first VPN providers to announce full compatibility with the new iPhone. Its updated layout brings faster access to its server list and dedicated feature controls on the adjacent panel. For me, this UI is a marked improvement over its regular interface, and demonstrates the benefits the broader display can have.View Deal

ExpressVPN has long been among the simplest VPNs to use. Unsurprisingly, its iPhone Duo layout closely resembles its iPad app, featuring quick-connect toggles and side-by-side protocol customization. If you're after a simple way to have rock-solid security, this is the choice for the Duo. View Deal

CyberGhost has also opted to simply adapt its iPad layout to the new Duo. It's a great option if you're looking for an affordable, beginner-friendly VPN that takes full advantage of the screen real estate. It does sacrifice additional features for the cost, but it's proven to be an effective VPN for streaming and browsing time and time again, securely nonetheless. View Deal

Private Internet Access has a simple layout for anyone on iPhone Duo, but it also brings the deep customizability that any advanced user could want. It's had some serious updates recently, improving its server network and speeds in ways we haven't seen in years. View Deal

Partially compatible VPNs

NordVPN currently runs on the iOS 27.0 SDK, meaning that while it isn't severely unoptimized, you will still see slim black bars around the display edges that aren't present on fully updated apps. That said, it remains our top-rated overall VPN, so if you're willing to overlook the minor visual compromise while an update rolls out, you'll still benefit from top-tier performance.View Deal

Which VPNs aren't compatible?Which VPNs aren't compatible with the iPhone Duo right now?

(Image credit: Proton)

These VPNs currently run an SDK older than 27.0, meaning you'll see large black spaces when using the service on both the inner and outer display. This doesn't necessarily impact the performance of the VPN itself, but could become extremely annoying nonetheless.

Mullvad confirmed to TechRadar that it currently has no plans to optimize its app for the iPhone Duo. This means you'll be looking at a condensed version of the app when both folded and unfolded for the time being. We haven't seen this cause any major functionality issues, but it could become increasingly annoying depending on how much you use your VPN. View Deal

Proton VPN, at the time of writing, uses the iOS 26.2 SDK. This means you'll experience the same unoptimized experience as you would with Mullvad. But a Proton representative has confirmed to TechRadar that "Total optimisation and SDK 27.1 will be coming soon when the latest Xcode version is more stable."View Deal

• Evidence suggests PHP2Shell exploitation began days before public disclosure, indicating prior attacker knowledge
• Researchers say real-world attacks remain limited, though exploitation attempts rapidly surged after disclosure
• Millions of PHP systems remain exposed, with experts urging immediate patching of supported versions

The exploitation of php2shell began four days before the vulnerabilities were made public, Amazon has claimed, meaning someone knew well in advance about the bugs in the popular software.

The company has released its own analysis which shows that the attacks actually started several days earlier.

“Amazon Threat Intelligence identified a PHP2Shell exploitation attempt dating to Oct. 17, 2026, in MadPot telemetry, four days before public disclosure of CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619,” the company said in an advisory. “The exploit attempt originated from an IP address associated with a commercial anonymization network. While the vulnerability was under embargo, the targeting of a honeypot from an anonymized IP address suggests the activity was conducted by a threat actor, though it remains unclear how the actor acquired exploit information prior to disclosure.”

Attacks four days prior

On the day of the patch release, four days into the disaster, Amazon Threat Intelligence discovered multiple proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits, and since the payloads and choices in anonymization infrastructure varied, it was most likely the work of multiple threat actors. The company is currently analyzing the payloads to see if they would have been successful in the wild or not.

Together with a handful of partners, PHP Foundation was working on a fix for two critical vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619 and nicknamed ‘php2shell’. Both have a severity score of 9.2/10, and both can be used for full website takeover. Given that PHP is a programming language used to write a significant majority of all websites in existence, the bugs were quite dangerous, and required carefully coordinated disclosure and patching.

The patch was supposed to be released on October 21, and those who were aware of it, were asked not to disclose the details until it was released. However, a few hours before that embargo were to be lifted, security outfit Chainguard allegedly published container images containing fixes for the flaws. At approximately the same time, news started breaking that cybercriminals were actively exploiting php2shell to target websites.

All hell broke loose - many major government, education, and healthcare websites around the world preventively shut down, while PHP Foundation issued an alert telling admins to prepare and apply the patch as soon as it becomes available.

What is ASLR and why is it important for p2pshell?

One of the reasons why we’re yet to see many successful exploitation attempts is apparently ASLR. Short for Address Space Layout Randomization, it is a security feature that randomly changes where a program’s code and data are stored in memory every time it runs. This is according to Yotam Perkal, Director of Security Research at Pluto Security.

“PHP2Shell doesn't seem trivial to exploit. I believe that part of the reason we’ve yet to see successful exploitation is that reliable code execution requires getting past ASLR, a memory protection that randomizes where code sits in memory,” Perkal said. “That's hard to do remotely, and most of the public PoCs floating around (many of them vibe coded) simply don't work reliably on real systems.”

“I wouldn't count on it staying that way, though. Exploits will get better, and most PHP servers out there are still unpatched, so teams should patch and restart their PHP workers now. But compared with all the drama before and after the release, real-world exploitation so far looks pretty limited.”

At the same time, Cloudflare has said the number of attacks launched in the hours after disclosure was staggering and growing at an unprecedented rate. Company CEO Matthew Prince said in a post on X that the team saw thousands of exploitation 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.

To make matters worse, different threat actors are approaching the flaws in different ways and are adapting on the go. According to Cloudflare, some threat actors were modifying their payloads based on feedback from blocked requests, all in order to find a way past web application firewalls (WAF).

Via The Register

Halloween 2026 is a matter of days away, but the world's best streaming services aren't getting into the spooky season spirit.

Indeed, despite a plethora of new movies and TV shows hitting various platforms this week, none are remotely horrifying. Well, unless you count this year's live-action remake of Moana, which bombed at the box office, as some sort of nightmare fuel-ish flick...

But, I digress. Below, we've rounded up the seven biggest and/or most interesting streaming releases of the week, so read on to see if any of them pique your interest. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Moana (Disney+)

The "who asked for this?" crowd celebrated another win when Disney's live-action adaptation of a beloved 10-year-old animated film flopped in theaters earlier this year.

Yep, just one decade one from the original Moana's big screen debut, the House of Mouse saw fit to remake the hugely popular flick. And, amid plenty of competition from other major releases in the middle part of 2026, plus the fact that this year's Moana is a scene-by-scene recreation of its animated counterpart, it wasn't a huge surprise to see that audiences had very little interest in seeing it.

With the remake out now on Disney+, though, you can see if the audience indifference was justified or not. — TP

• Watch Moana on Disney+

The Terminal List season 2 (Prime Video)

James Reece is back. That's right, season 2 of The Terminal List, which stars Chris Pratt as the titular US Navy SEAL, has landed on Prime Video, so fans of Pratt and/or the action-thriller genre have got something to enjoy after Reacher season 4 and Neagley season 1 both came to an end.

Based on the second novel — that being 'True Believer' — in Jack Carr's book series of the same name, this season sees Reece looking for a sense of purpose after he finished his list in the Amazon TV Original's debut season. And, when the US government come calling with the promise of giving him a presidential pardon if he completes a tough assignment for them, Reece embarks on a globetrotting mission that may have ties to his own family history. — TP

• Watch The Terminal List season 2 on Prime Video

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 (Netflix)

It seems nigh-on impossible to avoid anything cyberpunk-based these days. And, if Netflix continues to pump out acclaimed follow-ups to one of the best anime of recent times — that being Cyberpunk: Edgerunners — it'll be even harder to ignore as the months and years go by.

So, what is the aforementioned series' sophomore outing, which is a standalone sequel to season 1 and CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk 2077 videogame, about? For one, it isn't a continuation of David Martinez's story, Instead, it follows two new protagonists Weak and D, who get entangled in a four plotline-strong narrative in Night City.

Saying anything else will spoil your viewing experience, so my advice is to stick it on ASAP and immerse yourself in yet another absorbing tale from Netflix, CDPR, and animation studio partner Studio Trigger. — TP

• Watch Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 on Netflix

The Invite (HBO Max)

The third film directed by Olivia Wilde, The Invite has dropped on HBO Max. It follows Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Wilde), whose marriage is on thin ice. When their upstairs neighbors Pina and Hawk (Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton) visit for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places.

When Pina and Hawk reveal they regularly host sex parties, they proposition Joe and Angela to swap partners for the night. After some hesitation, they go through with it, and what follows is an interesting (and awkwardly hilarious) case study about human relationships.

Critics have praised the script and the ensemble cast, so why not give it a whirl (the film, that is, not its subject matter...)? — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch The Invite on HBO Max

Nobody Wants This season 3 (Netflix)

Kristen Bell and Adam Brody return for a third helping of Nobody Wants This, which is ironic given the title of Netflix's romantic comedy series.

This season sees Joanne (Bell) and Noah (Brody) move in together, which is a huge step for the pair. Unsurprisingly, it's not smooth sailing, either, because Joanne was evicted from her last place and Noah is wary because she still hasn't decided whether or not she'll convert to Judaism for him.

Considering Noah chose Joanne over the head rabbi position at Temple Chai, a big career change, tensions are high. Will it all work out? You'll have to watch and see. — LB

• Watch Nobody Wants This season 3 on Netflix

A Course Called Ireland (Paramount+)

Author Tom Coyne teams up with actor Bill Murray for this six-part Paramount+ docuseries, which is inspired by Coyne's book of the same name.

The pair takes a road trip around the Emerald Isle as Murray attempts to connect with his Irish roots whilst playing on some of the country's famous golf courses. They're not alone, either, with celebrity guests including Chris O'Dowd and Jason Kelce joining them.

If you're a golf enthusiast or a fan of Murray (or perhaps both!), this is a light-hearted watch that's perfect for a lazy Sunday in front of the TV. Sounds like a great bit of escapism to me. — LB

• Watch A Course Called Ireland on Paramount+

Phony (Hulu)

In Hulu's new comedy-mystery show, high school student Sonny Cooke (Sam Nivola) gets into a car accident and ends up in a week-long coma. That would be traumatic enough but, when he wakes up, he's convinced his mother Ellen has been replaced by an imposter.

I'm very intrigued by this concept. Is Ellen (Connie Britton) really masquerading as his mom, or is Sonny losing his mind? Across the series, he recruits his friends to try and get to the bottom of this mystery.

Despite the pretty bleak synopsis, there are comedy elements, too. Hopefully, we'll be as laughing as much as we're asking questions. — LB

• Watch Phony on Hulu

TechRadar Crossword

Missed a previous puzzle? You can browse the archive and play all TechRadar Crosswords right here.

It's been a while, hasn't it? Due to various factors, our regular weekly crossword went on a bit of a brief hiatus over the last month, but I'm happy to say I'm bringing it back today!

Hopefully both my puzzle setting and your puzzle-solving abilities haven't dulled too much in that time, so why not test yourself on the latest jumble of tech-related clues below? There's a mix of general tech trivia and current tech news below, so if you've been reading the site over the past week, you should have a bit of an upper hand.

So, as the nights draw in sooner and the cold weather becomes more common, what better way is there to pass a few minutes than giving this week's puzzle a try? Let me know how you get on in the comments — and let's see where you finish on the leaderboard. Good luck!

You could be forgiven for having reservations going into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. After all, both last year’s instalment, the much-derided Black Ops 7, and this game’s direct predecessor, Modern Warfare III, were clearly rushed and displayed a level of sloppiness that suggested the first-person shooter franchise had reached its breaking point.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: October 23, 2026

Thankfully, it’s now apparent that these were merely temporary hiccups, and Modern Warfare 4 sees developer Infinity Ward successfully bring Call of Duty back from the brink with a fresh and exciting instalment that represents the absolute pinnacle of what the series has to offer.

The brilliant single-player story campaign delivers blockbuster thrills, there’s a stellar extraction shooter component filled with tense encounters in DMZ, and the core multiplayer experience is wonderfully crafted. It’s a package that you shouldn’t miss, and if it represents the trajectory of future installments, I’m confident that we’re in good hands.

Boots on the groundActivisionActivisionActivisionActivision

The Modern Warfare 4 campaign is simply superb and sets a new benchmark for the series’ cinematic storytelling. It truly feels like the culmination of the last decade of the Call of Duty series – and not just the Modern Warfare games.

It all kicks off in the fictional city of Hajin, South Korea, where you play as the lowly Private Park. An unwilling conscript in the country’s mandatory service program, he and his squadmates are suddenly thrust onto the front lines when a routine patrol is interrupted by the start of a full-scale invasion by North Korea. There are some genuinely shocking scenes in the opening as your team pushes through a rapidly crumbling city, dodging artillery strikes and witnessing widespread civilian casualties.

The early death of a squadmate hammers home the high stakes, and the decision to focus on newcomers rather than the established Modern Warfare cast makes it clear that there’s no plot armor here. You genuinely start to care about these new arrivals, with each member bringing a distinct and memorable personality to the squad’s dynamic. Dunn, a US Marine embedded in the local unit, is a particular highlight. His cultural cluelessness and overconfident swagger are frequently played for laughs, stopping the otherwise bleak tone from becoming too unrelentingly miserable.

It’s a big departure from the almost Marvel-movie-like silliness of the recent Call of Duty games (I’m looking at you, giant Harper mission from Black Ops 7), and the focus on a ground invasion makes for a grittier story that’s more in line with the events of the original Modern Warfare trilogy. Despite this more constrained focus, there are still plenty of memorable set-piece moments, such as an invigorating sequence that has you rapidly switching between different team members spread out across an air base, working together to fend off waves of North Korean troops.

ActivisionActivisionActivisionActivision

There’s even one massive, open-world mission that unfolds similarly to a Far Cry game. It’s far more in-depth than the disappointing open-zone levels of 2023’s Modern Warfare III, with resources to scavenge, outposts to clear, and even a few puzzles to crack. It took me a few hours to clear, and since I didn’t see everything, I really appreciate being able to return to it later from the mission select screen and pick up where I left off.

Park’s story plays out mostly linearly, but it's interspersed with missions that detail the exploits of the fan-favorite Captain Price in the lead-up to the invasion. Set a few years after the events of the previous game, which, spoiler alert, ends with Price executing his long-term adversary, General Shepherd, in the middle of the Pentagon, the former SAS soldier is now on the run and travels between global locations hunting the members of a sinister cabal.

Price’s segments offer all the bombastic Mission: Impossible action that made the recent Black Ops 6 campaign so great. One minute you're infiltrating a New York nightclub, and the next you’re speeding through Paris, hanging out the side of a car chased by legions of heavily armed gangsters. Vladimir Makarov, a terrorist Price pursued throughout the previous game, is unceremoniously killed off in just the second mission, paving the way for the introduction of Archer, a new foe portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen. Unlike Makarov, he’s a compelling villain with coherent motivations and, importantly, enough screen time to appear like more than an afterthought, as his predecessor unfortunately did.

While Park’s journey sees the recruit come face to face with the horrors of war but emerge victorious thanks to camaraderie and teamwork, Price’s is all about the dangers of abandoning your morals and sacrificing those close to you in pursuit of revenge. They contrast excellently and, while the messaging certainly isn’t subtle, the way both gradually converge for a unified conclusion is nevertheless highly satisfying.

Off the books

(Image credit: Activision)

The events of the campaign lead directly into the new DMZ extraction shooter mode, which sees mercenaries returning to the crumbling ruins of Hajin to find and extract abandoned military tech left over from the war. It plays like a simplified version of titles such as Arena Breakout: Infinite or Escape from Tarkov, with your chosen operator dropping in to the map from an upgradable field base.

This serves as a little hub world that you return to in between runs, offering limited storage for your scavenged gear, a 3D printer to forge new equipment with collected resources, a vendor for spending extracted cash, and intelligence detailing the non-player character (NPC) foes and most dangerous players active in the zone. While most extraction shooter games include base-building elements, it’s rare to see your home as a physical 3D space you can actually explore, and it makes the experience feel much more immersive.

You have three options when deploying into Hajin: Story Missions, Dynamic Ops, and Free Roam. Free Roam is the most basic: it drops you into the massive map with a few other players to pursue your own goals, whether that means finding good weapons to extract or trying to complete DMZ Orders, little challenges that guide your experience. Dynamic Ops is more guided, feeding you a stream of multi-stage objectives with increasing rewards for each that you manage to complete.

(Image credit: Activision)

They’re assigned at random, with a good variety of options in the mission pool that range from taking out key NPC targets to taking over military camps and collecting stashed bombs to destroy marked vehicles. Story Missions, meanwhile, offer a more linear experience that feels much closer to the campaign.

One early highlight had my team of three taking on guards at an abandoned hospital, pushing our way up to the intensive care unit and wheeling a sedated enemy general to a rooftop extraction point under heavy fire. It was genuinely exhilarating, and became even more exciting when a squad of enemy players turned up to disrupt our mission.

Other players can appear regardless of your chosen mode, leading to tense PvP situations where one wrong move can mean the difference between a successful escape and losing your current operator and all of their equipment. Not every encounter has to end in a fight, though, as you can work together with enemy teams (and even opt to join them) if they’re willing to cooperate, leading to some fun emergent play.

Best bit

(Image credit: Activision)

Diving into DMZ with friends is a delight. The mode works fantastically as a duo, chatting with each other as you explore the huge map, complete objectives, and evade (or attack) rival squads.

I entered one story mission and quickly discovered that my team of randoms was absolutely terrible, with no apparent interest in actually completing our tasks, so I beelined to a nearby enemy squad shouting “friendly” until they sent me the invite to join them. I quickly led my new friends right back to my useless former teammates, and took great pleasure in helping mow them down to steal all their gear.

No two games feel the same, and if that wasn’t reason enough to keep coming back, Hajin itself is a treat to explore. It’s big, beautiful, and filled with a variety of aesthetically distinct zones ranging from freezing cold, abandoned North Korean villages to the rusty ruins of the South Korean city and even some of the barren outskirts of Russia. Even when you’ve seen it all, the dynamic weather effects can still take you by surprise, introducing challenging conditions like dense fog or heavy rainstorms that make it more difficult to navigate and spot foes.

DMZ would be a strong offering as a standalone extraction shooter game, so it represents incredible value when bundled in alongside the rest of the Modern Warfare 4 package. This is a mode that I’m going to be coming back to time and time again in the weeks and months ahead.

A fresh start

(Image credit: Activision)

Of course, no Call of Duty game is complete without a robust suite of core multiplayer modes, and Modern Warfare 4 delivers a truly superb experience across the board in this regard. The pacing of matches is perfect: noticeably snappier than the comparatively pedestrian battles of Modern Warfare II but not as overwhelmingly rapid as the wall-jumping, hip-firing action of Black Ops 7.

Fast movement helps you navigate the smaller maps of classic modes like Team Deathmatch or Kill Confirmed quickly so you’re always encountering new enemies to fight, keeping the excitement high. Focusing on tactical positioning is still rewarded, thanks to a finely tuned TTK (time to kill) that gives the player who lands the first hit an advantage, but not a guaranteed victory against particularly skilled opponents. New traversal mechanics like a ledge grab that lets you hang off the side of buildings and objects are seamlessly implemented too, opening up new exciting opportunities on every battlefield.

As I noted in my impressions of the Modern Warfare 4 beta, the overhauled ballistic system is far more than a marketing bullet point and genuinely impacts how you engage with weapons by accurately simulating the trajectory of bullets based on the position of your muzzle. In practical terms, it means being able to reliably hit shots when quickly shooting from the hip, which gives you a chance against players that slide around corners with SMGs at breakneck speeds to try and catch you off guard.

(Image credit: Activision)

The guns themselves are all fantastic to use, with best-in-class model fidelity, impactful sound effects, and slick animations. There’s a great variety in the arsenal to boot, which spans from modern assault rifles to the antique WWII gear used by the real-world North Korean military. GUNNY, a new automated helper smartly built into the gunsmith system, makes it easier than ever to tweak your attachments for that perfect build. While I will always prefer poring over the detailed stats, giving newcomers the ability to automatically create good attachment setups based on their specific playstyles helps keep the playing field even.

As for the maps, they’re some of the best that we’ve had in recent years. They’re definitely on the smaller side unless you dive into the massive Ground War: Combat Outpost mode (which plays almost like a Battlefield match), though none of them stand out as suffering from poorly balanced spawn points or unfair sightlines. They’re visually stunning. Those taking place in South Korea, such as Silkworm, stand out particularly with their lavishly detailed streets, while little animated intros grant each arena a distinct visual identity.

Wrap all of this up in a slick UI that finally doesn’t look like the Netflix home screen, and it’s hard not to come to the conclusion that Modern Warfare 4 is going to reshape the direction of the long-running series going forward. If I had to truly nitpick, I would fault the lack of faction divisions in the operator lineup – being able to tell at a glance which team a player is on without having to rely on the red enemy indicator would help readability.

For something this insignificant to be my only complaint is a testament to how strong the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 package is

Should I play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?Play it if…

You’ve been waiting for a triumphant return
If you’ve skipped the last few Call of Duty titles in order to wait for the franchise’s next big hit, then Modern Warfare 4 is it. There’s never been a better time to dive back in.

You want an unbeatable package
Thanks to a strong single-player mode and excellent core multiplayer experience, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 represents excellence across the board. You even get an entire, engaging extraction shooter thrown in with the included DMZ mode.

You love the Modern Warfare story
Modern Warfare 4 brings the latest Modern Warfare narrative to a satisfying and definitive conclusion that’s well worth experiencing if you’ve played the previous entries.

Don’t play it if…

You prefer the faster pace of Black Ops 7
Modern Warfare 4 is a fast-paced game as far as Call of Duty goes, but engagements are still not as rapid as in Black Ops 7. Stick with last year's instalment if you prefer that style of play.

Accessibility features

As with most modern Call of Duty games, there is an expansive selection of accessibility settings. This includes a wide selection of visual presets designed to enhance readability, as well as an assortment of subtitle options for the campaign.

The controls are also highly customizable, with full remapping supported whether you’re using a keyboard and mouse or a controller. You can also tweak aim assist settings and enable presets designed to reduce motor strain.

How I reviewed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

I played more than 25 hours of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for the purpose of this review. This included a full playthrough of the campaign, multiple DMZ sessions both solo and with a friend, and plenty of multiplayer. I also drew on my experience playing more than ten hours of the game’s beta, and some extra hands-on time in a studio visit earlier this year.

I tested everything on PC using a 5070 Ti-powered model by retailer Sca with a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus. This setup lets me play smoothly on custom graphics settings at 1080p with most options set to High.

For peripherals, I used the new Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid keyboard and Logitech G Pro X3 SuperStrike mouse throughout my time with the game.

First reviewed October 2026

• Nacon reveals its officially licensed Xbox controller, the Revolution Pro X – Special Edition
• The controller design is inspired by Hell Is Us and is now available for £109.99 / $129.90 / €129.99
• It combines mechanical fine-tuning for all playstyles and tournament-grade precision

Nacon has announced the Revolution Pro X – Special Edition, its new officially licensed Xbox wireless controller inspired by Rogue Factor's action-adventure game, Hell Is Us.

Revolution Pro X – Special Edition is designed for competitive gaming and combines mechanical tuning and tournament-grade precision, allowing players on PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Smart TVs to customize controls to suit their playstyle.

Available now at NaconGaming for £109.99 / $129.90 / €129.99, the jet-black controller features a minimalist whorl design inspired by Hell Is Us and features contactless Hall Effect joysticks and instant triggers equipped with micro-switches "without mechanical wear," plus two programmable shortcut buttons on the back.

It also offers four vibration motors, two programmable rear buttons, a 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, and a 3 m detachable braided USB-C cable.

"Its control ring lets you adjust the mechanical tension of the joysticks with a single gesture to prioritize either fast movements or precise aiming, depending on the situation," Nacon said.

When connected to a PC, it offers a wired mode with a 1,000 Hz polling rate and matches a claimed latency of 1 ms, prioritizing responsiveness in fast-paced games like first-person shooters.

"With the Revolution Pro X – SE, we wanted to offer a full-featured precision controller at a competitive price,” says Yannick Allaert, director of Nacon's accessories division.

"Its joystick tension adjustment, Hall Effect sensors, and micro-switch combine technologies designed to allow every player to tailor their controls to their playing style."

Want to become a hardy, all-season runner? The cold, dark, wet winter evenings sure don't feel like the most natural time to head out on a run, but the right kit can make a major difference.

There are two key elements here: comfort and safety. Specifically, you want gear that'll keep you warm and relatively dry in cold, damp weather, and that'll ensure you're visible to others and aware of your own location and surroundings if you're running in the dark.

(On the latter point — there are obviously many situations where it's not safe to run after dark. Make sure you're taking into account the specifics of your situation before deciding to head out. An indoor workout is sometimes just the only option, and that's fine!)

For warmth, layering is key. I'd also be wary of fully waterproof apparel — it often inhibits breathability, and being stuck with all that extra cold sweat next to your body is not going to help matters. However, there are some waterproof or water-resistant pieces that are designed specifically for running. Keep your extremities covered, and opt for touchscreen-compatible gloves to avoid frustration with your phone or fitness tracker.

If you must run with music, opt for bone conduction-style headphones that let you stay aware of your surroundings. And knowing where you're going will be doubly important, so it's worth investing in a good GPS running watch that'll keep you on track.

Cool runnings

Petzl Swift RL

New Balance Lightweight Skull Cap

Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction Headphones

Read our full review

Pros

• Great sound quality for bone conduction headphones
• Very light, comfortable, and stable
• Good battery life with fast charging

Cons

• On the expensive side
• Slightly strange controls layout

Inov8 Race Elite Gloves

Garmin Forerunner 70 GPS Watch

Read our full review

Pros

• Still a solid performer without Garmin’s latest sensors
• Lots of new training and smartwatch features added
• Sharp, vibrant AMOLED display

Cons

• More expensive than the Forerunner 55
• Doesn’t get all of Garmin’s latest smartwatch features
• No open water or triathlon modes

Sealskinz Holverstone Waterproof Running Sock

Ronhill Recharge Light Armband

Reflect360 Men's Fully Reflective Running Jacket 2.0

Reflect360 Women's Fully Reflective Running Jacket 2.0

Black Diamond Sprinter 500 Headlamp

Sealskinz Cley Waterproof Cold Weather Beanie Hat

Coros Pace 3

Read our full review

Pros

• Outstanding value for road and light trails
• Lots of metrics
• Battery lasts for some time

Cons

• Feels slightly cheap
• Touchscreen is a little slow
• Stripped-back smart features

JLab Go Air Sport Running Headphones

Read our full review

Pros

• Secure, comfortable fit
• Great sound quality for the price
• Impressive battery life
• Volume control (Hallelujah!)

Cons

• No ANC
• Mic is its weak link