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I wrote earlier this year about Claude’s decision to comply with the EU AI Act, which requires all AI-generated text to be identifiable as AI, and start to insert a watermark into its text. Rather than limit this to EU customers, however, Anthropic decided to roll the feature out globally, which seemed a bit of an overreaction at the time.

OpenAI has now announced that it is following suit, but limiting the geographical areas of impact to the EU only. It is going to start inserting watermarks into generated text, but only for ChatGPT customers who live in the EU. That means that US and UK users won’t be affected at all.

OpenAI announced the change on October 5 saying: “Over the coming weeks, we will add an invisible watermark to eligible ChatGPT and Codex text output in the European Union.”

Inserting the watermark

To insert the watermark, which involves subtly changing the word choice for generated text, OpenAI is using a system of its own called textGrain. A note on the OpenAI website says: “Our text watermarking technology, textGrain, adds an invisible statistical signal to the model’s word choices. Our detector looks for that signal to assess whether a passage contains an OpenAI watermark. More details about how textGrain works can be found in our technical report⁠, which will be updated with additional details in the coming weeks.”

Like many people, I find that idea that the word choice of the AI that I’m paying to use is now being influenced by a watermarking algorithm, not by what’s optimal for me the customer, to be deplorable. I’m not saying that the resulting text will automatically be worse because of the watermark, but it certainly won’t be optimal.

It also sounds like it’s an easily broken solution that is full of holes. To detect AI text that’s produced using textGrain's watermarking a special AI detection tool needs to be used, which it’s currently unavailable to the public. OpenAI says it is providing detector access to researchers and expert organizations and that approved researchers and expert organizations can apply starting today.

“The tool will report whether it detects an OpenAI watermark”, continues the OpenAI article “without identifying the user or revealing their prompts or conversations. Given the risk of missed watermarks and false positives, we are not making it publicly available at launch.”

So if the detector tool isn’t being made public it begs the question, what is this supposed to accomplish?

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Daniel Chetroni)A box-ticking act?

The OpenAI article specifically says that detectors are prone to errors. That “shorter or more constrained text is harder to detect”, and that “editing can weaken the watermark”. It already sounds flawed, but what happens if you try and circumvent it completely by asking ChatGPT not to write in a way that can be detected, or to not use textGrain. Will it do it?

All of which leads me to conclude that the move by OpenAI looks a lot like a box ticking exercise to comply with the EU AI Act, which it is forced to do, since it requires generative AI providers to make generated text identifiable in a “machine-readable way”

It’s reassuring to hear that the changes are only going to be implemented inside the EU and that the text will remain private when the detector is used, but I suspect most ChatGPT users would rather OpenAI concentrated on producing the best possible answers rather than making those answers easily identify as AI-generated.

There’s also something fundamentally strange about a system that deliberately changes the words an AI chooses, without telling you which ones, to insert a watermark that can potentially be removed simply by editing the text. If the goal is to make AI-generated content more transparent, then surely the answer should be something that actually works, rather than an invisible signal that nobody outside a select group can even check for themselves.

• A new app called RemoveMacAI can delete Apple Intelligence files
• Doing so can reclaim up to 12GB of storage space
• But it comes with some scary warnings that shouldn’t be ignored

Apple promises that its new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence tools can help improve your daily experience through the magic of AI. Many people aren’t convinced, though, and a new Mac app has been doing the rounds that promises to delete Apple’s AI for good — so I decided to take it for a spin to see what all the fuss was about.

Dubbed RemoveMacAI, the app originally gained popularity in late September. At that time, though, it was just a simple Terminal command, which — given the obvious security risks of entering unknown code into a utility as powerful as the Terminal — turned some people off.

Now, the same developer is back with a Mac app that is essentially a wrapper for the command. This makes it a lot easier to understand what you’re deleting and what you’re enabling when you use the app, with a built-in tutorial and clear toggles spread across several different tabs and categories.

Apple makes it pretty difficult to eliminate every aspect of Apple Intelligence from your machine, which is why something like RemoveMacAI has gained a foothold. Its developer says Apple’s System Integrity Protection layer — which stops unauthorized code from running on your Mac — is never disabled, and that the app doesn’t make any network requests and doesn’t collect telemetric data.

That said, I loaded RemoveMacAI onto my Mac and was immediately met with a concerning warning: macOS did not trust the app and wouldn’t let me run it. The developer said this is due to the app being unsigned, and you’ve got to manually let it through Apple’s gates. I’ve occasionally encountered apps that do this, and it’s never a pleasant experience.

(Image credit: Future)

Foolishly or not, I pushed on. You can either choose the app’s recommended settings, which delete Apple Intelligence and turn off some privacy-invading settings, go “maximum privacy” and also disable Game Center and some Safari settings, or choose what to do yourself.

I opted to just delete Apple Intelligence and nothing else. RemoveMacAI breaks your options down into sections — you can switch off Siri AI, ChatGPT’s extension, Writing Tools, Image Playground, and much more, all with modular toggles.

Once that’s done, there’s another jarring moment: RemoveMacAI wants you to install a custom profile that it uses to enact your changes. Fortunately, you can read through every change it includes, so there’s visibility over what’s being done.

I accepted that and let RemoveMacAI get to work deleting Apple Intelligence. In the end, it freed up 11.7GB, which is nothing to sniff at and is in line with the developer’s claims. If you’re running low, it could be a good way to claw back precious disk space.

Although RemoveMacAI comes with some scary settings, it attempts to ease your fears by letting you read through everything that’s going to be changed, including the macOS profile. You can undo your decisions too, and doing so will revert your settings changes and redownload the Apple Intelligence models when they’re needed next.

Ultimately, I found RemoveMacAI to be a handy utility, especially if you want one resource for not only deleting Apple Intelligence, but also for restricting some of macOS’s more privacy-invading practices. The lack of notarization and the subsequent alarming warnings will likely put some people off, though, and they stop me from wholeheartedly recommending the app as a result.

In Google's most recent closed press briefing, in which Google's top brass revealed the new Fitbit Edge fitness tracker to a video call full of international journalists, it also revealed Google was entering into a "multi-year partnership" with an app called Flo.

Flo is a women's health app that can track your period, ovulation windows, and pregnancy stages, and it's widely used across the world.

Google said the new partnership was going to involve creating "personalized experiences for women". This includes building new products, and incorporating Flo into the AI-forward Google Health app.

Google says it's "working hard to sync Google Health with Flo for deeper insights", using trackers such as the Fitbit Air to collect data and Google Health to organize and surface that data, possibly with the AI chatbot Google Health Coach premium service.

During the presentation, Google stated that "Flo has spent more than a decade earning the trust of women". But a high-profile lawsuit against Google and Flo — and Google’s fellow big tech giant Meta — ended with Google and Flo paying a settlement of $56 million.

What happened?

In a consolidated lawsuit against defendants Flo, Google and Meta, representatives of Flo app users between 2016 and 2019 alleged that sensitive period tracking information was shared by Flo to Google and Meta without their knowledge or consent, through Flo's in-app software development kits.

According to Reuters, Google and Flo chose to settle out of court to the tune of $56 million combined, with an addition $3.5 million from a now-defunct mobile company Flurry.

Meta, which chose not to settle, was found liable for having 'violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act' according to court documents, and its attempts to overturn the motions were denied.

Google's new stance

(Image credit: Google / Flo)

It's big tech's MO to collect an enormous amount of information from across the web, but sometimes we don't quite realize the extent or personal nature of the information these companies collect.

I asked Google the following:

"The announcement of the multi-year partnership between Google Health and Flo comes after the high-profile $56 million class-action settlement by Flo and Google. Meta chose not to settle, and was found liable. Given the nature of the case, what additional privacy assurances can Google make to ensure the health data of Flo users remains safe?"

Google responded, stating that "Google Health Coach onboarding incorporates explicit consent informing users that shared third-party app data is utilized specifically to deliver personalized coaching."

Google also added that "Google Health Coach algorithms are designed not to log or store sensitive women’s health-related events and ongoing monitoring ensures AI responses remain aligned with sensitive communication standards."

Google also reiterated in the press briefing I attended that it will not use Google Health information for Google Ads. Google's blog post on the subject also says that 'no data will move between the apps without your explicit permission — given separately for each type of data and each purpose — and you have the control to withdraw permission at any time. Flo data shared with Google Health will never be used for advertising, never be sold, and will not be made available to other apps or developers through Google's health platforms.'

What this means for your data

Google says its algorithms aren't logging or storing anything, and therefore Google's AI isn't being trained on your sensitive health data. The lack of usage for Google Ads means Google says it won't use information from Flo to personalize and tailor ads to your interest and profile. Your data won't be sold or moved between parties without consent. All of this is good.

However, Google and Flo's controversial partnership history may mean that some users are put off from using the platforms' women's health tracking features. As Flo users found out prior to the lawsuit, data processing can be an opaque process.

As users, we can withdraw consent if we're concerned about the treatment of our data. You can view which third parties have access to your health information through your Google account by visiting Google's Privacy Checkup page, and you can also use this page to remove any third parties' access to your data.

• Malware infection at a third-party contractor may have exposed data of 8.7 million customers and employees
• Exposed records included personal details, though no payment data or confirmed misuse was reported
• Incident highlights supply-chain risks, with Daiichi Kosho investigating and reviewing contractor security

Even the entertainment industry is not safe from data-stealing cybercriminals - Daiichi Kosho, one of the biggest entertainment system makers in Japan, has disclosed a malware infection in its supply chain that may have resulted in the compromise of 8.7 million of both customer and employee information.

“Daiichi Kosho has received a report from Nippon Columbia Group (NCG), to which the Company outsources the handling of personal information, that a device used by an NCG employee was infected with malware and that the company’s customer information may have been leaked,” a machine-translated data breach notification letter reads.

“At this time, we have not confirmed that personal information was actually leaked externally or that it was misused as a result of this incident. However, as we cannot rule out the possibility that personal information was leaked, we are providing the information currently available and the actions we will take, as follows. We have also confirmed that the company’s systems were not affected.”

Supply chain attack

The wording is intentionally ambiguous - as this is obviously a supply chain attack, since Daiichi Kosho was not directly compromised.

Instead, it was Nippon Columbia Group, a group formed in 2025 after a restructuring of Faith. Nippon’s roots date back to 1910, when its predecessor became Japan’s first record company. Today, Faith established Nippon Columbia Group as a new organization focused on AI-powered entertainment and content distribution.

Daiichi Kosho, on the other hand, is one of Japan’s leading karaoke and entertainment companies. It was founded in 1973 and is today best known for its DAM karaoke systems and Big Echo karaoke venues. In fact, the company today runs more than 400 karaoke venues across Japan, including more than 100 in Tokyo alone.

The company both sells and rents karaoke gear, runs establishments and restaurants, and produces music and videos. Daiichi Kosho is a substantial business, generating roughly ¥163 billion (around $1.06 billion) in annual revenue a year.

Malware infection

According to BleepingComputer, Daiichi Kosho outsources the handling of its customers’ personal information to NCG. On October 5 2026, that company notified Daiichi Kosho that it found a malware infection and isolated the affected systems the day after. We don’t know exactly how the company ended up infected, or what kind of infection it was. What we do know is that it suspects records on 93,000 employees and 8,631,000 customers may have been exposed.

These records contain people’s full names, genders, dates of birth, email addresses, and telephone numbers. Customers of BIG ECHO, MEGA BIG, Karaoke CLUB DAM, Banana Club, B-GARAGE, and DK Dining, are among those affected by the attack. Passwords, loyalty points, or payment data, were not disclosed, the notice reads. Furthermore, there is no evidence of the data being misused on the dark web.

However, Daiichi Kosho did warn employees and customers to be wary of incoming email messages, especially unsolicited ones claiming to come from the company itself.

Personally identifiable information holds value on the black market because threat actors can use it to launch personalized, highly tailored phishing attacks.

Through these attacks, they can steal login credentials for corporate environments, or deploy infostealers to grab the passwords. That allows them to pivot to corporate IT infrastructure, steal business secrets and other data, and establish persistence. Ultimately, all of this allows the attackers to threaten to release the files to competitors and the public and thus pressure the victims into paying a ransom.

Daiichi Kosho said it will “continue to monitor the situation and take the necessary measures if we detect any signs of unauthorized use.”

It also said that, out of an abundance of caution, it was now inspecting other systems and was examining how it manages its contractors to see if there is room for improvement.

“If further investigation reveals any new facts, we will promptly provide an update, including the customers affected and the measures to be taken,” the machine-translated notice reads.

The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 is one of our favorite off-grid power units. Combining a 1070Wh battery, 1500W output, and fast charging, we called it "one of the best portable power stations around, a solid choice and one of the most robust and reliable options available," after testing this one out.

That 1070Wh capacity means it can run a range of everyday electronics, while the unit delivers 1500W of continuous AC output, with a 3000W surge rating for devices that require more power when starting.

• Best for: Homeowners preparing for power outages, campers, RV owners, and anyone needing portable electricity for laptops, phones, small appliances, and other compatible devices.

• The deal: The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station in Dune White is now $519 (was $589) at Jackery. Don't want white? The black model is also on sale at $499 (was $559).

Today's top Jackery portable power station deal

Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 V2 - Dune White: was $589 now $519
This Dune White version of the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 features a 1070Wh LiFePO4 battery, 1500W AC output, three AC outlets, dual USB-C ports, USB-A charging, optional solar input, and a five-year warranty for buyers.

Black model: now $499 (was $559).View Deal

Why we recommend it

In his 4.5-star review, our expert Alastair said the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2's "feature set makes it an ideal choice for anyone needing mains-style power away from the home or office and will run most domestic appliances up to 1500W without issue. What's more, the added features make it a durable choice when working off-site, as well as packing in features that make it a great choice for home power backup with UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) technology."

There are three AC outlets, two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and a 12V car outlet. One USB-C port supports up to 100W output, the second offers up to 30W, and the USB-A port provides up to 18W.

Emergency Super Charge mode can top up the battery from 0% to 100% in an hour, and the power station uses LiFePO4 battery chemistry, with the cells rated for 4000 charging cycles before capacity falls to 70% of the original level. Its ChargeShield 2.0 protection system is designed to manage charging and battery safety, and you get a five-year warranty.

You can recharge the power station using compatible solar panels, including Jackery's bifacial 200W panels, making it useful for longer outdoor trips.

Price context & historical value

The Dune White Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 has dropped from $589 to $519, giving you a $70 saving (approximately 12%). There's also a Black version of the power station with the same features. This sells for $559 and is currently priced at $499, a $60 saving.

This isn't an all-time low though, as the Explorer 1000 v2 was available for $449 last year. For more options, take a look at our roundup of the best portable power stations we've tested.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dune White Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 if...

You want a portable backup power source for essential electronics during outages, camping trips, or other situations where mains electricity isn't guaranteed. The 1070Wh battery and 1500W output can power a wide range of compatible devices.

❌ Skip the Dune White Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 if...

You need to run high-power appliances such as large electric heaters that exceed the 1500W continuous output limit. For occasional smartphone or laptop charging, a smaller and less expensive portable power station would be better.

More Jackery portable power stations deals

Homepower 3600 Plus: was $1899 now $1709
Delivers 3584Wh capacity, expandable to 21kWh, with 3600W output, LiFePO4 battery technology, 6000 charging cycles, quiet 30dB operation, portable wheeled design, and support for 120V and 240V home appliances.View Deal

Solar Generator 5000 Plus: was $5159 now $4234
Delivers 7200W rated power and 14,400W surge output, supporting 120V and 240V appliances, including air conditioners and water heaters. Provides up to 13 days of backup power for home emergencies.View Deal

• Shop all portable power supplies on sale at Jackery

• The new Apple TV 4K is official and starts at $299 / £299 / AU$449
• It has microphones built-in for hands-free Siri control and supports HomePod surrounds
• The updated Siri Remote can chirp to help you find it, supports Precision Finding, and works with older Apple TV models

I fondly remember when Apple brought the price down on the Apple TV 4K box, and then I also remember the unfortunate price hikes from earlier in 2026. That pushed the Apple TV 4K without Ethernet to $199 / £199 / AU$299 and the one with Ethernet to $249 / £249 / AU$399.

Now, alongside the HomeView and the second-generation HomePod mini, Apple is ushering in the new Apple TV 4K and sunsetting the previous models. It keeps a similar shape — it's still a black square with curved edges and a logo up top — but there are some new tricks here.

It also carries a new price point: the Apple TV 4K (2026) comes in one version and costs $299 / £299 / AU$449. That’s a big jump, especially when compared with competing Roku players and Fire TV Sticks. It’s actually the same price as the new Apple HomeView, which includes a screen and speakers. Still, it's up for preorder now — beginning October 13, 2026 — and ships on November 13, 2026.

I’ve spent a bit of time with the refreshed Apple TV 4K, seeing it work through some Siri AI tasks and hearing its new audio capabilities, which include the ability to work with up to four HomePod speakers in a surround setup.

That could mean two second-generation HomePods up front and two HomePod mini second-generation as rear speakers, four full-sized HomePod 2 units, or four HomePod mini 2 units.

Your phone can point you precisely towards the lost Apple TV remote (Image credit: Apple TV 4K (2026))

By far the most meaningful upgrade, and the one that shows Apple’s listening to customers, is the new Siri Remote. Now in its fourth generation, it can finally chirp and emit a sound when you can’t find it. So you can ask, “Hey Siri, where’s my remote?” to no one in particular (the Apple TV 4K box's microphones will hear you) and the remote will emit a sound.

It’s pretty loud, though Apple isn’t sharing the exact decibel level, and it should be very audible even if the remote is stuck deep between couch cushions, in a pile on the floor, or somewhere else entirely.

If you also have an iPhone 17 or newer, iPhone Air, or iPhone Duo, you can open Find My, tap Devices, and then use Precision Finding to help you locate the remote. These are both super-helpful features, and you don’t need the new Apple TV 4K to take advantage of them, as this remote is backwards compatible with the Apple TV HD and previous Apple TV 4K models. I’m still waiting for price confirmation, but for reference, the current Siri Remote is $59 / £59 / AU$89.

(Image credit: Apple TV 4K (2026))

As someone who’s bought into the sound quality of the HomePods since the first generation, which sadly isn’t supported here, this is a welcome upgrade. But you do need a lot of new hardware.

Theoretically, that’s $895 / £895 / AU$1,365 for an Apple TV 4K and four HomePod mini 2 units, or $1,695 / £1,695 / AU$2,645 for four second-generation HomePods and the Apple TV 4K, or $1,295 / £1,295 / AU$2,005 for two HomePod mini 2s, two second-generation HomePods, and an Apple TV 4K.

I heard a brief snippet of Widow’s Bay, which streams on Apple TV, with the latter setup: two full-sized HomePods next to a TV and two HomePod mini 2s a bit farther back behind a couch. It sounded really good, and compared with just two HomePods, the full setup offered a much wider experience that excelled at showing off both the low and high ends, from a quieter scene that ramped into a more vibrant one. This combo packs a punch.

There's no doubt that $299 / £299 / AU$449 for a streaming box, even with that audio capability, is a lot. But the Apple TV 4K does pack in a few other bells and whistles. Under the hood, it should be speedier, with quicker app launches and more runway into the future thanks to the A19 processor.

The new Apple TV 4K also supports Siri AI at launch in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Singapore, and South Africa.

This lets you ask questions with personal context, like, “Hey Siri, what was the episode of Star Wars Rebels I was talking about with Max?” or “What was that show that Benjie recommended a few months back in the group chat?”

Leaning on personal context from a connected iPhone, it can deliver those results, and it worked quickly in a demo, pulling up an episode of Ted Lasso in short order.

(Image credit: Apple TV 4K (2026))

That about wraps up the new Apple TV 4K — it replaces the previous-generation models, though if those get discounted, they’re definitely worth a look. It’s available to order now ahead of its November 13, 2026 launch.

It’s a sizable price increase, and I wish Apple still offered the previous generation as a more affordable option, something like an entry-level iPad equivalent or an “e” option, similar to the iPhone 17e.

It’s clear that this is a higher-end, premium streaming box, but we’ll need to spend some time with it to see how it compares and whether the $299 / £299 / AU$449 price point is worth it. Let me know what you think in the comments below, particularly your thoughts on that higher price and feature set.

• Apple's HomePod mini 2 freshens the smart speaker with new colors and a few new tricks
• The top LED glow can now mirror the colors of album artwork
• The smart speaker will get Siri AI in a future software update

Techtober is marching on in a pretty big way, and this week it's Apple leading the pack. Alongside its first-ever smart display, the HomeView, Apple is also upgrading the speaker that serves as the entry point to its smart-home lineup.

The HomePod mini 2 is a refresh of the smart speaker that’s been a workhorse in Apple's lineup since it launched in 2020. For this second generation, Apple isn’t changing much: there are new colors, a better processor under the hood, and a new trick with the glowing LED on the top, though Siri AI is coming… but only via a future software update.

It also comes with a notable price hike. In the US, the first-gen HomePod mini jumped from $99 to $129 in June, and now the HomePod mini 2 costs $149.99 — so that's a 50% upgrade over the price the original cost just five months ago. It’s up for preorder now, and will begin shipping on October 30. It's priced at £149 in the UK, and AU$229 in Australia.

(Image credit: Apple)

Looks-wise, the HomePod mini 2 is still about the size and shape of an tennis ball, but with a flat top and bottom. Alongside White, Blue, and Midnight, new arrivals Green and Pink aim to offer a fresh pop of color. Fans of Yellow and Orange, which were options for the first HomePod mini, will likely be missing those — myself included.

Still, I’m a fan of the fresh Pink here. I saw it demoed in a stereo pair alongside the pink iMac, and there’s definitely some Cupertino synergy here. Beyond the fresh paint jobs, the HomePod mini 2 will still ship with a color-matched cord and USB-C power plug.

AppleApple

Under the hood, Apple has made the jump from an S5 chip to the S10 chip, which premiered inside the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and third-generation SE.

The new chip will be faster for processing, and will also improve connectivity, allowing for improved latency when the HomePod mini 2 is used as a dedicated speaker for a Mac — a new capability for this model. It can also be grouped with other HomePods as a surround sound setup for the new Apple TV 4K.

(Image credit: Apple)

The S10 chip will also power a forthcoming free update to bring Siri AI to the speaker. When it does arrive, you can opt into the new, more personalized Siri through the Home app on your iPhone. The update will apply to your account, and if you’re in a shared household, other users will be able to make the jump too.

As with the Apple HomeView, you’ll need an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence and the new Siri, and that has recently connected to your Wi-Fi network. Once enabled, you can ask for more personal information from Siri, whether that’s finding a song your friend texted you, pulling information from your calendar, or handling any number of other tasks. There will be a bit of a wait for these Siri features, though, with no confirmed date.

The other big change is a fun one. The HomePod mini 2’s top is still a circular touch surface with LEDs underneath, but it's been updated. No, it’s not a full Liquid Retina display as on the HomeView, but the LEDs are more precise, and can now color-match the album art of whatever you’re listening to.

Think of the colorful glow in the iPhone’s Dynamic Island when a Now Playing widget is active. Whether you’re listening to Apple Music or Spotify, that color-matching effect can now translate to the top of the HomePod mini 2.

It’s a neat update, though the lights don’t get all that bright. In a demo, they matched the blues, whites, and violets of Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album while it was playing.

Potentially more interesting is that it works with soundscapes, too. I currently have two original HomePod minis on my nightstands, and use rain sounds to fall asleep, so the idea that the new model can visually reflect the pitter-patter of raindrops is intriguing. In a dark room, that gentle glow could be a soothing touch.

(Image credit: Apple)

Aside from that, the HomePod mini 2 still offers the same rich, vibrant, and surprisingly loud playback experience for audio, podcasts, and other content. It’s again powered by a full-range driver, and dual passive radiators.

It sounded pretty great in the demos, and I’m especially pleased that two of these can be combined with a pair of second-generation HomePods for a full surround sound experience with the Apple TV 4K. You can of course also pair this HomePod with any other AirPlay speakers or the HomeView, too.

Apple is taking preorders for the HomePod mini 2 now, with shipping from October 30. That’s right before Halloween, and while Orange isn’t in the lineup anymore for a pumpkin look, you'll be able to ask Siri to serve up some spooky tunes.

• The Apple Home Collection is a new set of smart-home devices made by LG Electronics and Schneider Electric
• The new devices have been designed in partnership with Apple
• The smart locks, video doorbell, and sensors, among other devices, are designed to work seamlessly with Apple Home

While there are lots of smart-home of gadgets that work with Apple Home — or HomeKit, as it was once called — Apple has never really taken the next step of designing and building its own devices, like doorbells, sensors, thermostats, and locks. That’s still the case, but alongside unveiling the Apple HomeView smart display, with features that clearly make it a smart home hub, the tech giant is also moving into the smart-home device space, in collaboration with partner brands.

Rather than simply certifying devices for Apple Home — and those options aren’t going away — Apple has been working with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric to design and build several devices that will serve as a new flagship standard for gadgets in Apple's ecosystem. They'll start shipping in December.

The new doorbell, indoor and outdoor cameras, thermostats, and various sensors represent a set of gadgets that not only work seamlessly with Apple’s home hubs — Apple TV 4K, HomePod, HomePod mini, and the new HomeView — but also integrate with the broader Apple Home ecosystem, allowing Siri to be central to controlling them.

All these new devices look and feel modern and well-made. Take LG Electronics’ Video Doorbell, for example: it’s a wired option priced at $249 in the US and £229 in the UK. It’s a sleek, matte-silver cylinder with a classic doorbell button, microphones, a speaker, and two cameras. One camera faces outward to give you a view of who’s at your door or what’s happening on the street, while the other faces downward, so that you can see whether a package has been dropped off.

There's also an LG Door Lock, which will work in the United States and Canada, and conforms to the deadbolt lock standard in North America. This is priced at $199. Like the recently launched Ring Smart Lock, it supports UWB — ultra-wideband — and Apple Home Key, so as you approach the door with your iPhone or Apple Watch, it can sense your arrival and automatically unlock the door. You can also enter a code using the keypad, or slide the panel to the side to use a physical key.

(Image credit: Apple)

Another potentially over-engineered, but pretty sleek, option is LG’s Indoor Camera. This cylindrical camera sits in a mini drum connected to an arm, and when you set it not to be in use — such as when you arrive home, or according to a schedule — it swivels downward so the lens faces the floor. There’s no physical shutter here, but it’s a unique and visible approach to privacy, and you can also activate it on demand with a button on the top. It’s priced at $199 in the US and £179.95 in the UK.

(Image credit: Apple)

These are just three of the devices in the collection. LG is also making an Outdoor Camera, with or without a floodlight, while both LG and Schneider Electric offer smart thermostat s, and Schneider Electric is making a variety of sensors. It’s likely that these are just the start of a much larger range, but they cover some of the basic building blocks of a smart home.

(Image credit: Apple)

While these new devices aren’t made directly by Apple, this partnership arrangement is similar to how Apple worked with LG on the original UltraFine 2K and 4K monitors for MacBook Pro users, or how Belkin has become a featured partner for accessories such as the MagSafe mount that lets you use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac.

I think it’s also a tell about exactly where Apple wants to play within the smart home. For instance, there are no smart lights here, likely because a handful of lighting brands already support Apple Home, from Nanoleaf to Philips Hue.

As mentioned, these new devices won’t launch until December, with exact availability still to be confirmed, but I’ll be curious to see how they perform.

(Image credit: Apple)

One unique aspect of these devices is that you'll be able to set up and pair them much like AirPods or an Apple Watch. You’ll see a splash screen appear on your iPhone when you bring it close to the device, whether that’s a doorbell, camera, thermostat, sensor, or smart lock.

That’s a slicker approach than the sometimes-arduous process of setting up other smart-home devices. It’s also clear that Apple is building on the foundations of the Matter standard, and making that experiences feel more seamless within its own ecosystem.

Having largely stayed out of the smart-home space until now, Apple today jumped in with both feet, unveiling the Apple HomeView, its first smart display — introduced alongside the Apple HomePod mini 2, a new Apple TV 4K, and a range of smart-home devices — including a video doorbell — produced by partner brands LG and Schneider Electric.

The Apple HomeView is a modern, cute 7-inch Liquid Retina display and smart-home hub that enables you to use the touchscreen or Siri AI voice commands, to control connected devices, play music, check the weather and more.

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There are two models: a version with the display sitting atop a speaker unit (shown at the top of the page), to which it's attached by an adjustable arm that enables you to tilt and rotate the display; and a screen-only model that's designed to be wall-mounted.

(Image credit: Apple)

The HomeView starts at $299 in the US, £299 in the UK, and AU$449 in Australia, with preorders opening today (October 13) ahead of a November 13 on-sale date.

It comes in familiar Apple colors: Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray. That price is actually more competitive than I expected, given that rumors had pointed to a price around $350.

While $299 is still $100 more than the Echo Show 8, Apple is clearly pitching the HomeView as its alternative to Amazon's devices — and if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, there are some compelling reasons to consider it.

As for the hardware, you get a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, a 12MP Ultra Wide Center Stage camera, a four-microphone array, and a multi-driver speaker system in the model with the speaker unit.

Apple’s A18 processor powers the HomeView, though the platform is not iPadOS, tvOS, or iOS — it’s all-new HomeView Software.

The HomeView has features that can rival the likes of the Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub. And when it comes to the former, it might have the edge for two key reasons: privacy, and integration with the Apple devices you already use every day.

As the rumors and reports suggested, HomeView is reminiscent of the iMac G4 of yesteryear, but feels more refined. It starts with a face you can set to a variety of clocks — think an Apple Watch face or the screensaver interface on an Apple TV 4K — and some will feel familiar if you’ve used an Apple Watch, though with distinct differences.

(Image credit: Apple)

Snoopy is back with fresh adventures, and the Flow face is reimagined here so that, rather than simply grooving like a lava lamp, its colorful shapes respond to what the camera up top sees. You can add complications such as your calendar, to-do lists, and weather, with information adjusting from a general view to more specific details as you approach.

The HomeView can recognize up to six family members using its integrated camera, which helps it personalize the experience for whoever is interacting with it. Each family member can customize their own face, apps, and widgets, and here the interface resembles iOS, even to the degree that you can tint the icons.

The similarities extend to privacy, too. Apple says personal information stays personal, meaning another family member shouldn’t be able to walk up to HomeView and access your messages or see who you’re texting.

Siri requests aren’t recorded, according to Apple, and personal data isn’t stored directly on HomeView itself. It also has no ads, unlike the Echo Show, which makes it feel more like part of your home than a billboard on your kitchen counter.

You'll need an iPhone or iPad to set it up, and doing so unlocks much of the HomeView’s personal context.

(Image credit: Apple)

You won’t find an App Store on the HomeView. Instead, Apple curates the experience around the apps and features it thinks make sense on a shared home display. Those include Apple’s own apps and services, such as Messages, Music, Weather, Reminders, Calendar, Safari, Find My, FaceTime, Apple TV, Podcasts, News, and the Home app.

Apple also shared that select third-party media apps that already work with CarPlay will be supported, potentially bringing more of your favorite audio services, such as Spotify, into the experience.

You can’t just download whatever you want, but Apple has clearly thought about how people will use HomeView throughout the day, whether that’s for checking the weather, catching up on messages, playing music, or controlling connected devices.

(Image credit: Apple)

Siri is central to HomeView, and the integration with Apple’s broader ecosystem is where the experience starts to feel more ambitious than a typical smart display.

HomeView can draw on personal context to help with requests that go beyond simple commands. During a demonstration, I saw how it could help find a recipe a friend had recommended, or one your mom had sent, or pull up a song a friend had texted you about.

It can also handle more involved requests. For example, you could ask when your dad’s flight lands, work out how long it will take him to get from the airport to your apartment, and then look for brunch recommendations. Rather than treating each question as a separate task, HomeView can use context to help connect the dots.

It’s not just about asking Siri to turn on a light or set a timer; Siri AI on HomeView seems purpose-built for personalized, multi-step assistance — much like what Apple promised with the next-generation personal assistant.

(Image credit: Apple)

The HomeView isn’t just a screen with a speaker attached. Apple has built a more considered audio setup into the device, with two custom drivers for high notes in the screen, alongside a down-firing woofer and two other force-canceling woofers in the base of the speaker-mounted version.

During a kitchen demonstration, I heard a Bad Bunny track playing on Apple Music, and HomeView got impressively loud without distorting. Lyrics appeared on the screen, too, making it feel like a natural fit for a kitchen island or another shared space where music is part of the routine.

The speaker-mounted version feels especially suited to the kitchen, where you might angle the screen toward yourself while cooking, then turn it toward someone else when they walk in. As mentioned, there’s also a wall-mounted option, with audio tuned specifically for that placement, though I didn’t get to demo music on that model.

(Image credit: Apple)

One of the more practical features is how HomeView works with your iPhone. If you’re looking at a recipe on your phone, you can tap or bring the phone close to HomeView to hand it off to the larger screen. You can also switch a FaceTime call or music in the same way.

With a recipe, Safari can show the important details, including ingredients and step-by-step instructions. You can work through the recipe as you go, with timers available along the way.

Siri AI adds another layer. You could ask it to add ingredients to a shopping list, set a reminder, or help find a nearby grocery store for something you need. It’s the kind of connected workflow that makes sense on a display designed to live in a shared space, rather than one that’s just a smaller tablet sitting on a counter.

The HomeView also feels like a natural extension of Apple’s smart-home ambitions. The Home app enables you to control compatible lights, thermostats, door locks, and cameras, while smart home widgets put your most-used controls closer at hand.

You can receive doorbell alerts and view live camera feeds, with support for up to nine camera views at once. Existing Apple Home-compatible and Matter-compatible devices will work with it, naturally, giving HomeView a clear role as a central smart home hub.

The HomeView will arrive ahead of Apple’s new Home Collection, a range of smart home products made in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, that are expected to arrive in December. These will include a video doorbell, a smart lock, and various security cameras and sensors.

(Image credit: Apple)

As mentioned, you can choose between speaker-mounted or wall-mounted versions of the HomeView. The wall-mounted option feels like a replacement for touch controls for an automated home system — the feel will be similar to a smart thermostat, too.

The speaker-mounted version feels much more like a communal, catch-all device. Both versions have their appeals, but you will need to give this some thought before you buy.

The HomeView has fewer features than some rivals, and as mentioned it’s not an entirely open software experience. I think that’s a two-fold decision: it enables Apple to deliver a compelling, well-thought-out experience built around what HomeView is designed to do at launch, and to put privacy front and center.

The HomeView will be central to controlling your smart home, but it also ventures closer to being a personal assistant around the house, thanks to its integration with Apple’s broader ecosystem. The HomeView isn’t a standalone device in the traditional sense given that it requires you to have and iPhone or iPad, but if you’re already invested in Apple’s ecosystem it could also mean that you're reaching for your iPhone a little less.

It’s taken Apple a long time to enter the smart-display category, but after seeing HomeView in action, I think the wait has been worth it. This feels like one of Apple’s strongest new category entries in quite some time. Apple has used its ecosystem strengths to give HomeView a clear purpose: a shared display that still feels personal, a smart-home hub that doesn’t require you to reach for your phone, and a genuinely useful extension of the Apple devices you already own.

The Echo Show has been a familiar fixture in the smart home for years. But now Apple has finally arrived on the scene, with a product that feels distinctly Apple — and if you already have an iPhone at the center of your life, I can see the HomeView making a lot of sense.

• UK annual data center growth anticipated to be less than half seen in Ireland, Finland and Norway
• Nordic sites are costing €600k per MW, Western European sites are costing €2.25m/MW
• UK needs to tackle energy prices, land prices and grid connection speeds

Consultancy firm Kearney has branded the UK as one of Europe's slowest-growing data center markets, despite the government's positive narrative, and it could all be down to regulation.

At present, the UK is said to be Europe's second-largest data center market, however demand is only expected to grow by 17.6% annually between now and 2030, putting it second-last only to Germany (16.2%).

On the flip side, Ireland is slated to see an annual growth rate of 36% – around double the UK's.

UK data center market could be on the decline

Kearney doesn't blame a lack of demand for the slower-than-average growth, but rather its poor ability to accommodate new infrastructure efficiently and affordably.

The consultancy firm sees energy availability as a major blocker across Europe as a whole, with forecasts of 236 Two by 2035 just for data center consumption – up from 96 TWh in 2024.

But beyond energy constraints, which are pretty widespread, the research also reveals that high land prices could be making UK data centers less competitive.

Typical costs for British and other Western European sites are around €2.25 million per megawatt, but Nordic markets are able to hit a low average of €600,000 per megawatt. It puts Finland and Norway's anticipated annual demand growth at 37.6% and 36.8% respectively between now and 2030.

"What has changed is that power and land are scarce enough that the next wave of capacity must match the workloads that genuinely need to be close to users, customers, and national jurisdictions," European Data Center Lead Christoph Neunkirchen explained. "Everything else will go where it is easier to build."

For the UK in particular, whose government says at least 6GW of AI data center capacity will be needed by 2030, Kearney emphasises the need for lower electricity prices, cheaper land and faster grid connections.

Like many others this year, I've been watching gaming laptop prices spiral upwards with a feeling of exasperation. Every now and again, however, I spot a listing that bucks that trend, somewhat.

Right now, the best deal on the market is this Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro with an RTX 5070 Ti for $1,449 (was $2149.99). This is quite possibly the best RTX 5070 Ti deal I've seen for a few months now and one that I would be surprised if it got any cheaper over Black Friday.

I've seen one or two sub-$1,500 RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptops, but they've usually had 16GB of RAM, an older chipset, or some other kind of glaring compromise for the price. In comparison, this machine has 32GB of RAM, an Ultra 7 chipset, and a 1TB SSD, which isn't bad considering the price.

A year ago, we'd see machines like this getting price cuts every week, but it's obviously quite rare these days with laptops being so ridiculously priced. In short, if you are looking for a decent laptop in this budget range, this particular machine should offer a decent value - and last a few years down the line, too.

Today's best gaming laptop deal at Walmart

Gaming A16 Pro: was $2149.99 now $1449
Graphics card: RTX 5070 Ti
Processor: Intel Core 7 240H
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

If you're looking for a high-end laptop without breaking the bank, you can do a lot worse than this Gigabyte A16 Pro at Walmart. Not only are you getting a powerful RTX 5070 Ti graphics card and an Ultra Core 7 chipset, but it also features 32GB of RAM right out of the box. While still a little on the pricey end, a massive $700 discount at Walmart makes this one much more affordable this week.View Deal

• See more: check out all of today's gaming laptop deals at Walmart

We were impressed when we reviewed this model

(Image credit: Future)

We reviewed the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro last year and found it a decent performer for the price - so much so that we awarded it a respectable four stars out of five.

It features a 115W TGP limit on the power delivery side, so it's not as performant as some higher-end RTX 5070 Ti options, but it's still very good for the price. You'll have no issues running any of the latest games here - or with any form of creative work.

Other features include a decent array of ports (HDMI 2.1, headphone jack), a 1600p IPS display, and a lay-flat design that could be useful depending on your setup. It's also relatively light for an RTX 5070 Ti laptop, at just 2.3 kg.

• Rumors point to a 'Nikon Z70' reveal before 2026 is out
• It's supposedly a mirrorless successor to the crop-sensor Nikon D500 DSLR flagship
• As such, expect a rugged design and high-speed photography to feature

One DSLR that Nikon is yet to give to give the mirrorless camera treatment to is the decade-old D500 — but rumors over the last few months suggest that the wait could be over soon through what's being dubbed the Nikon Z70.

The D500 was Nikon's flagship crop-sensor DSLR (APS-C, known as 'DX' for Nikon cameras), with a rugged body, dual card slots and high-speed burst shooting. In other words, it's a mini, crop-sensor version of Nikon's D6 full-frame camera that's used by professional sports, wildlife and news photographers.

We already have the Nikon Z9 as the mirrorless spiritual successor of the D6, and next there could be the crop-sensor equivalent, a rumored Nikon Z70, which sounds like a dream camera for enthusiast wildlife and sports photographers.

The long-time Z70 rumor mill still lacks firm details, and largely lists out educated guesses. The New Camera, however, spotted a Z70 listing on Apple's official ProRes and ProRes RAW Authorized Products page in August, and believes the Z70 will land in November this year.

A flagship Nikon crop-sensor camera would naturally sit above the Nikon Z50 II with a tougher pro-grade body, and likely a faster sensor (perhaps the stacked type like the Fujifilm X-H2S), in-body image stabilization, and shooting speeds we haven't seen from a Nikon camera before. New Camera also suggests video specs will be strong, and include internal ProRes Raw recording (based on the Apple listing).

These kind of features put the would-be Z70 in direct competition with the Canon EOS R7 — which could get a powerful successor soon — the Fujifilm X-H2S, and the Sony A6700, and I wouldn't be surprised if Nikon's tops the lot. Where it would currently come up short, however, is lens selection. On that front, there was concrete, promising news last week.

Will the D500 finally get a spiritual Z-mount successor? (Image credit: Future)More good news for Nikon 'DX' shooters

While we don't know a lot about the rumored Z70, we do know that a new Z-mount lens for APS-C cameras was announced last week; the Sigma 16-300mm do-it-all travel zoom.

The lens has been around for over a year in Sony, L-mount and Canon RF versions, but it becomes the first Sigma zoom lens for Nikon's Z-mount, which is a promising sign for Nikon shooters.

Nikon has poured a lot of resources into its full-frame mirrorless camera system, but its APS-C cameras haven't received the same love. As such, it's slim pickings for any enthusiast sports/wildlife photographer wanting a high-quality Z-mount super-telephoto zoom native to its crop sensor cameras.

Sigma's 16-300mm lens, which has a 24-450mm equivalent focal length, isn't quite the bright aperture lens for demanding sports/wildlife photographers. But with the door seemingly open to Sigma, we could start to see more crop-sensor Z-mount lenses that might just scratch that itch.

And for photographers with a deep pocket (and a strong back), the Nikon Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S (with built-in 1.4x teleconverter) for full-frame cameras (which would work with crop-sensor cameras like the rumored Z70) is en route. Nikon announced its development earlier this year, and recent rumors suggest it will land soon.

If you're looking for a powerful laptop that can handle demanding AI workloads without relying entirely on cloud services, Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra is available to pre-order now. Aiming to be a MacBook Pro killer, it combines Nvidia RTX Spark processing, Blackwell graphics, and a high-resolution touchscreen in a portable design.

The Surface Laptop Ultra is designed to handle demanding AI applications locally, with Nvidia Blackwell graphics and unified memory options reaching 128GB. That could make it an alternative to cloud processing or a dedicated desktop workstation for certain workloads.

• Best for: AI developers, researchers, creative professionals, and businesses looking for a powerful laptop capable of running compatible AI models locally.

• The deal: The base configuration Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra is available to pre-order from $2,599.99 at Microsoft. In the UK, the pre-order is priced at £2,599.99.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra features Nvidia RTX Spark N1X processing, Blackwell graphics, up to 128GB unified memory, a 15-inch PixelSense Ultra touchscreen, Wi-Fi 7, USB4 connectivity, and removable SSD storage.

In the UK: now £2,599.99View Deal

Why we recommend it

Microsoft describes the Surface Laptop Ultra as its most powerful Surface Laptop yet thanks to the inclusion of Nvidia's RTX Spark N1X processor. The entry-level model combines an 18-core CPU with a 5120-core Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU. A higher-end version increases that to a 20-core CPU and 6144-core GPU.

The platform can deliver up to one petaflop of AI compute and run models containing as many as 120 billion parameters locally. The size of the models you can realistically run will depend on the configuration and software.

The laptop uses LPDDR5x unified memory shared between the processor and graphics hardware, with consumer configurations offering 24GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB. The Ultra features a 15-inch PixelSense Ultra touchscreen with a 3270 x 2180 resolution and a dynamic refresh rate reaching 120Hz. It supports 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, Dolby Vision IQ, and peak HDR brightness of 2,000 nits.

Connectivity includes three USB4-capable USB-C ports, HDMI 2.1b, USB-A 3.1, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. You also get Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, a 1080p webcam, and a precision haptic touchpad.

Microsoft quotes battery life of up to 15 hours for local video playback or 12 hours for active web browsing, although intensive AI processing will obviously place heavier demands on the battery.

Price context & historical value

The Surface Laptop Ultra, with Windows 11 Home, starts at $2,599.99, with the 18-core Nvidia RTX Spark N1X processor, 5120-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and a 512GB Gen 4 SSD. Models with a 1TB SSD start at $2,999.99, while the higher-end Nvidia RTX Spark N1X processor, featuring a 20-core CPU and 6144-core GPU, starts at $3,699.99.

Consumer models with 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB memory include Windows 11 Pro and storage options include removable 512GB Gen 4 and 1TB or 2TB Gen 5 SSDs.

Microsoft also offers a Surface Laptop Ultra for Business, with commercial support and service options. Its available configurations and included accessories may differ from the consumer models.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Microsoft Ultra RTX Spark if...

You're an AI developer, researcher, or business professional who needs powerful local processing capabilities and access to substantial amounts of unified memory. Its high-resolution touchscreen, wide connectivity, and Windows 11 Pro options also make it well suited for demanding professional environments.

❌ Skip the Microsoft Ultra RTX Spark if...

You mainly use Microsoft 365, web applications, email, and video conferencing. A conventional business laptop would be considerably more affordable and more than capable of handling those tasks.

• Google is rolling out improved automatic detection for over 100 new workouts
• Compatible devices will use an upgraded LLM to create a more reliable and accurate wellness tracking experience
• Health Guardian is also coming to Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge, but this requires a Google Health Premium subscription

Google's screenless Fitbit Air wearable and Garmin Cirqa rival is set for a fresh dose of updates following user feedback.

The most notable upgrade is Fitbit’s improved automatic workout tracker, which will use a new LLM foundation to boost its activity detection abilities. Google hasn’t given an exact date, but we know it’s coming to the Fitbit Air, Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, as well as the recently announced Fitbit Edge later this month.

Since screenless wearables don’t have an interactive bezel like the rest of the best fitness trackers, users put their faith into automatic detection tools to record workouts and log activity. The fact that the Fitbit Air can read your body movement to detect what you’re doing is beyond smart, however false tracking is always a possibility — so this upgrade is highly welcome.

Furthermore, activity that meets your minimum duration threshold with a sustained elevated heart rate will automatically be picked up by your Fitbit/ Pixel Watch, with a summary sent to your mobile app within 30 minutes.

The update is not only designed to make the experience more reliable, but it’s also much broader with what it can track. Now, your wearable can pick up on more than 100 new workouts as opposed to the mere 10 that were available before, which includes strength training, swimming, and more.

Fitbit’s upgraded workout detection is also powered by Google Health’s critical context readings, a tool that takes data such as your exercise routines, history, and location (with your permission) to detect activity with 2x more accuracy. It also cuts missed workouts by more than half. ‘This marks a huge advancement for automatic tracking, and we will keep working to make it even better,’ the company shared in its release notes.

Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge get the Health Guardian treatment

(Image credit: Google)

On top of workout tracking improvements, you’ll also be getting access to Google’s roster of Health Guardian features, which use background health-monitoring tools to track shifts in your health over time. As exciting as this sounds, it requires a Google Health Premium subscription ($9.99 / £7.99 / AU$14.99 a month).

With Health Guardian, you can set up and keep tabs on trends in the app including blood pressure and insulin resistance and, as per Google’s release notes, ‘if you meet the monthly wear requirements, you'll get a report at the beginning of each month to help you make lifestyle adjustments early’.

As well as this, Health Coach is also handy for contextualizing changes in your patterns, and giving you informed guidance on your personal lifestyle and wellness. However, Google iterates that this feature isn’t designed to diagnose or treat any health issues that may occur, and encourages you to seek professional medical advice if you have any concerns.

Garmin has dropped the third-generation Garmin Marq series, a range of six of the best Garmin watches that are as much about luxury and style as they are about performance.

If you're already a Garmin user, there's a good chance you’re most familiar with its adventure and activity smartwatches like the Fenix, Instinct and Forerunner series’. They’re renowned for their practicality and a big well of features. However, the Garmin Marq series is its ultra-premium, style-forward luxury range that lets the company flex some different muscles, while still retaining the same featureset and software that people love.

The six models include the classy Aviator model, designed with complications for pilots; the debonair Adventurer; the serious military Commander; the Athlete with its energy drink colour accents; the ‘maritime blue’ Diver (new for this generation, replacing the seafaring Captain); and the exceptionally green Golfer.

The titanium price

(Image credit: Future / Andrew Williams)

The price of these watches varies a little between models, but you're looking at $2,500 / £2,199 / around AU$3,500 and up, double that of the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro. A higher budget lets Garmin indulge in the kind of watch manufacturing touches that just can’t be justified in its sport and outdoors models, like polished ceramic bezel inlays, micro-knurled buttons and a full grade-5 titanium casing, with no significant plastic elements on show.

This alone requires feats of engineering to ensure the antennas have enough room to figuratively breathe — metal blocks their signal, and a fitness watch without reliable GPS or Bluetooth is not going to be much use at all.

The solution is slim strips of plastic polymer in the frame that you probably wouldn’t even notice unless you look close, and know they are there. These polymer strips are fused to the titanium metal of the casing ‘at nano scale’ using a process called nano-moulding technology. In effect it’s similar to the little non-metal strips in an iPhone’s casing, applied with what sounds like a pretty expensive procedure.

Built to last, just not forever

(Image credit: Future / Andrew Williams)

Garmin COO Brad Trenkle explained to me the company isn’t fooling itself into thinking it’s making a direct alternative to a Patek Philippe, Rolex or Audemars Piguet here.

“We didn't set out to build a mechanical watch that was designed to be passed down from from generation to generation,” says Trenkle. Smartwatches inevitably have a shelf life due to being a sealed unit with lithium batteries. But the way people use their Garmin watches means they have more longevity than some other kinds of consumer gadgets, according to Garmin’s own user data.

“Most users actually tend to use their Garmin watches longer than they they use their smartphone,” says Trenkle.

Making an ultra-premium smartwatch is different to making an heirloom analog watch. Case in point: the buttons, and how you add them to a watch designed to dive over 40 meters deep. Over the last few years Garmin has played around with button tech, a move forced by dive-ready water resistance becoming a common feature in high-end sport watches.

When the Garmin Fenix 8 arrived in 2024 there was a lot of talk about how watch’s inductive buttons made the series’s 40m dive-ready water resistance possible. It’s a design that means there’s no hole made in the casing to house the buttons.

“We have this wall of polymer that makes a complete seal between the watch case. There's no gasket, and it's just one piece,” explains Trenkle of the new Marq.

The style is ideal for hardcore water resistance, but not so great for the feel of the buttons. A Garmin Fenix 8’s buttons feel pretty spongy compared with other models. But in a classic Garmin Marq exercise of low-to-no compromise design, these watches have a mechanical clicker purely for the feel, combined with an inductive button for actual function. The result is perhaps what I noticed most clearly about the Marq Adventurer while wearing it: it has exceptionally bright but substantive button feedback.

Garmin Marq’s leveled-up tech

(Image credit: Future / Andrew Williams)

The tactical Commander and scuba-friendly Diver relate to features like aircraft outboard systems and interfacing with dive equipment, but all six watches share some common upgrades. For example, while the Garmin Fenix 9 and Enduro 4 have shown 64GB storage is now the standard for higher-end Garmin models, the Marq Generation 3 has 128GB.

These watches don’t offer massively exciting ways to use that space beyond adding more maps, music, podcasts and audiobooks. But it’s an upgrade such a luxury watch surely deserves.

Similarly, when the second Marq arrived in 2022 I was half confident its unique magnetic charge interface would inevitably dip down to prestige series like Fenix. Years later, that still hasn’t happened, and now the Marq generation 3 has its own tweaked version of that standard — a four-pin magnet interface. Not more jamming in that classic Garmin charger bung, which would hardly befit a luxury watch.

(Image credit: Future / Andrew Williams)

A lot of the Garmin Marq’s design touches aren’t shouty, but they do add up to make the physical presence of these watches feel distinctly different to, for example, the Forerunner 970. I wore the 970 alongside the Marq Adventurer on a test hike, and could really feel the difference between the two watches.

Once you get deeper into watch specs, the Garmin Marq series starts to sound very familiar. These watches have 1.4-inch AMOLED screens with peak brightness of 3000 nits. There is no micro LED option, or any MIP display models.

All that changes in the display is a “borderless” design than lets the metal of the bezel reach right up to the start of the display panel. It’s a sleek look, but not an improvement I would necessarily have clocked without being pointed towards it.

All Marq models have a mid-table diameter of 47mm, and the same kind of Elevate V5 heart rate array used in other top Gamins (accurate as tested against a heart rate monitor and the Apple Watch Ultra 4). There’s a flashlight, support for ECG readings and battery life is rated at 18 days, or seven days with the always-on display mode engaged. Like the Fenix 9 Pro, the Garmin Marq also supports not just communication over 4G/LTE, but satellite too, when used with an InReach subscription.

Should you buy?

Is a Garmin Marq “worth it” for the average Garmin shopper? Absolutely not.

These watches are here for the person who wouldn’t baulk at the price tag, let alone the rising costs of the Fenix family. It nets you that series’ best bits in a more stylish chassis, plus even more storage and model-specific features if you pick one of the specialised Marqs like the Aviator.

Which of the six is your favourite? Let us know in the poll below.

Garmin Marq AdventurerFutureGarmin Marq AthleteFutureGarmin Marq AviatorFutureGarmin Marq CommanderFutureGarmin Marq DiverFutureGarmin Marq GolferFuture

The Big Red Sale has been running at Argos for almost a week, but the event is due to end tonight, so there are only a few hours left to score savings of up to 50% off tech, furniture, toys, and more. I'm here with one final search through the sale to bring you 22 of the best deals that are worth checking out before it ends.

• Browse the full Argos Big Red sale

As with previous Big Red sales, you need to enter a voucher code at the checkout to receive the discount. Banners at the top of the page will display on eligible products, showing the code and discount value that can be applied.

For example, there's 30% off this Dyson V10 Cyclone when you enter the code 'RED30' at checkout. Other vouchers include 'RED10' for 10% off, 'RED20' for 20% off, and 'RED50' for 50% off.

Other standout deals I've spotted in the sale include 15% off the latest Apple AirPods Pro, 20% off a best-selling Ninja air fryer, and up to 50% off several popular Lego sets. All those offers, plus my highlights from the biggest sale categories, are below, so take a look and see if you'd like to pick anything up before the latest Argos sale ends at midnight.

Argos Big Red sale — quick links

• Appliances: up to 30% off Beko & Hotpoint
• DIY: up to 30% off tools & outdoor goods
• Furniture: up to 50% off
• Gaming: up to 20% off chairs & accessories
• Headphones: up to 30% off Beats & Shokz
• Health & Beauty: up to 50% off Dyson & Oral-B
• Kitchen: up to 20% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Laptops: from £149
• Phones: up to 20% off Samsung & Motorola
• Smart Home: up to 50% off Blink cameras
• Toys: up to 50% off
• TVs: from £149
• Vacuums: up to 50% off Vax & Shark

22 best deals from the Argos Big Red sale

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Samsung Galaxy A17 (5G)

Brita Aluna Water Filter Jug

Dyson V10 Cyclone

Amazon Fire HD 8

Canon Pixma TS3750i Wireless Inkjet Printer

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

Lenovo Slim 3 Laptop

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope

Oral-B iO3

Ninja Stay Sharp 13 Piece Knife Block

Shokz OpenRun Headphones

Philips L'OR Barista Absolu

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If you're looking to improve your home office without spending a fortune, I've always found Dell business monitors to have the right balance of features for work - and they've always performed well in our tests.

The Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM is a prime example that's currently on sale. The 27-inch IPS panel has a 2560 x 1440 resolution, and the IPS technology provides wide 178-degree viewing angles. The matte screen helps reduce distracting reflections from nearby windows and overhead lighting.

• Best for: Home office workers, students, and anyone wanting a larger, sharper display for everyday computing, multitasking, and entertainment.

• The deal: The Dell 27 Plus QHD Monitor is now $170 (was $220) at Amazon, saving you $50.

Today's best Dell business monitor deal

27 Plus QHD Monitor: was $219.99 now $169.99
The Dell 27 Plus (S2725DSM) features a 27-inch QHD IPS display, 144Hz refresh rate, dual 3W speakers, AMD FreeSync, HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity, and adjustable height, tilt, pivot, and swivel.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Although we haven't reviewed this particular model, in his four-star review of the Dell 27 Plus S2725HSM — which is essentially the same monitor but with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution — our expert Collin said: "For me, it does everything a remote worker or general office staff needs it to do, and does it well."

The 27-inch QHD resolution provides more desktop space than Full HD, while dual 3W speakers eliminate the need for separate audio equipment. Height, tilt, pivot, and swivel adjustments let you position the screen to suit your needs.

Dell specifies a 1500:1 contrast ratio, 350 nits of brightness, a 144Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync support. The monitor also includes two built-in 3W speakers and an adjustable stand.

Dell also includes ComfortView Plus technology and TÜV Rheinland 4-star eye comfort certification, with reduced blue light emissions.

Price context & historical value

Amazon has reduced the Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM from $219.99 to $169.99, saving you $50. This isn't its lowest recorded price however. The monitor has previously sold for $161.49, making the current deal a tad more expensive than that earlier low.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM if...

You want an affordable 27-inch monitor for everyday use. The QHD resolution gives you more room for applications than a 1080p display, and the built-in speakers and fully adjustable stand are very useful.

❌ Skip the Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM if...

You need 4K resolution, USB-C connectivity, or a monitor that can charge your laptop through a single cable. Its 1440p resolution is suitable for most everyday tasks, but a 4K model will offer sharper text and more detail.

• Shop all the best monitors Amazon

We test a lot of laptops every year at TechRadar, and I've rounded up every Windows 11 laptop we've reviewed this year so far, and which truly impressed us.

Each of the laptops below, many of them prime candidates for our best Windows laptop guide, has been through our vigorous testing, and earned four or more stars out of five. You can tap the View Details button on the product card to see a summary of the main pros and cons of that model, along with a link to read the full, in-depth review.

There are options for a range of priorities and budgets. For example, we declared the moderately priced HP OmniBook 7 Aero "ideal for those who work on the go", thanks to robust performance paired with a svelte build that's kitted out with plenty of ports. For those with heavier demands and deeper pockets, the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is well worth a look — our tester called it "a gorgeously designed thin and light laptop with a stunning screen and some of the most powerful components you can buy right now", and pegged it as a potential MacBook-killer.

So, read on for my roundup of our favorite Windows 11 laptops we've tested so far in 2026. If you're in the market to upgrade your machine — perhaps during the not-too-distant Black Friday sales? — this is a great place to start. Note: you'll only be able to see product cards for the laptops available in your region.

Windows winners

ASUS Zenbook A16

Read our full review

Pros

• Impressively light and thin
• Bright and sharp display
• Satisfying keyboard and touchpad
• Excellent battery life

Cons

• Poor graphical performance
• Some fan noise
• Worse value than some key rivals

HP Pavilion x360 14

Read our full review

Pros

• Strong and premium build
• Sharp and bright display
• Satisfying keyboard

Cons

• Integrated graphics only
• Disappointing portability and agility
• Some better-value rivals

HP OmniBook 7 14" AI Laptop

Read our full review

Pros

• Solid and sleek design
• Great all-round performance
• Great display

Cons

• Expensive in some regions
• Impractical port locations
• Keyboard feels a little harsh

Dell XPS 16 (2026)

Read our full review

Pros

• Outstanding hardware and performance
• Exceptional clean design all round
• Phenomenal battery life for an Intel chip
• Beautiful, almost bezel-less 3K OLED screen

Cons

• Three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and that's it
• Pricey, pricey, pricey

Asus Zenbook A14

Read our full review

Pros

• Fabulously thin and light
• Impressive performance
• Satisfying keyboard

Cons

• Display slightly lacking in brightness
• Noisy under load
• Not exactly cheap

HP OmniBook 7 Aero

Read our full review

Pros

• Surprisingly strong performance
• Good port selection for such a small computer
• Good webcam with physical privacy shutter

Cons

• USB-C port placement could be better
• Keyboard has pretty short travel
• Battery life is a little disappointing

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+

Read our full review

Pros

• Ultra-thin design
• Strong, premium build
• Good touchscreen and stylus
• Great all-round performance
• Useful touchpad functionality

Cons

• Frustrating touchpad misfires
• Hot and loud under even moderate loads
• No dedicated GPU
• Display too dim and reflective

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro (16-inch)

Read our full review

Pros

• Exquisite design
• Glorious large display
• Respectable graphical performance

Cons

• Not the lightest
• Lacks ports
• Heavy keys

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11)

Read our full review

Pros

• Brilliant build quality
• Ultra thin
• Long battery life

Cons

• Heats up under stress
• Key strokes are a little heavy
• Fewer ports than some rivals

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra

Read our full review

Pros

• Premium design
• Fantastic performance
• Long battery life

Cons

• Very expensive
• Only available in 16-inch size
• Can get hot under load

Dell XPS 14 (2026)

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent redesign
• Very good performance
• OLED version looks fantastic

Cons

• Only three USB-C ports
• Windows 11 feels bloated
• Still no AI killer app

• VisionQuest's creator Terry Matalas has revealed its MCU timeline position
• Paul Bettany had suggested the Marvel TV show took place in 2024
• The series' lead actor previously said it was set around a year after WandaVision

VisionQuest showrunner Terry Matalas has revealed where it sits on the Marvel timeline — and his answer will surprise you.

In an exclusive chat prior to the show's October 13/14 debut, Matalas told me that the Paul Bettany-starring program takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) present day.

Furthermore, Matalas stated that the Disney+ show occurs around the same time as Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The latest Marvel movie to hit theaters is also set in the modern day, which some fans believe to be the year 2028.

However, Matalas appeared to throw a spanner in the works of our MCU timeline understanding. Without getting too deep into spoiler territory, there's a moment in VisionQuest that practically states it's set in 2027 — and Matalas essentially reconfirmed that's when the Marvel project takes place.

"It's somewhere around the last Spider-Man movie," Matalas said when I asked him to clarify when VisionQuest is set. When I followed up with "Okay, so around 2027?", Matalas replied: "Yeah, the present day of the MCU."

The MCU timeline has become an increasingly tricky beast to follow ever since Avengers: Endgame premiered in theaters. Originally set in 2018, the most recent Avengers film skipped ahead five years to 2023 once its opening sequence was done and dusted. From that moment on, we've been playing catch up with Marvel's cinematic juggernaut, which has been operating a few years ahead of us. It's only now, then, that we've almost caught up to it.

Even so, ahead of VisionQuest's release, there was further confusion about when it would be set. Indeed, chatting to Rotten Tomatoes last October, Bettany said that the Marvel Phase 6 show picks up Vision's story "around a year or so" after WandaVision's finale.

The latter took place in 2023 and, given Bettany's involvement in both productions, it seemed that he'd confirmed VisionQuest would begin in 2024. However, Matalas also told me "it feels like it's been longer than a year [between WandaVision and VisionQuest]", so it appears Bettany misspoke, or was talking about potential flashbacks that are shown as part of the latter's story.

For more before it's released, read my VisionQuest review to see what I made of all eight episodes (don't worry, it doesn't contain any major spoilers). Once you're done, find out when each chapter will air via my VisionQuest release schedule guide.

• Mozilla wants security-conscious companies to use Firefox Enterprise
• "Choice is a lie," Mozilla CEO says, referring to browser engines
• Thunderbird Enterprise is also in the works

Mozilla has introduced Firefox Enterprise, a brand-new version of its browser designed specifically for organizations that need extra security, governance and compliance controls.

The company argues businesses have become increasingly dependent on a small number of tech companies, handing over certain levels of control to third parties, however it believes that tech consolidation comes with its own risks.

It also acknowledges that these deep dependencies have made it harder for companies to switch providers, and all of this has been factored into its Firefox Enterprise browser.

Firefox Enterprise

"We see [the browser] as a key, but under-governed, layer," Mozilla said in an announcement, slating other browsers' dependencies largely on Google (Chromium) and Apple (WebKit). For reference Firefox runs on Gecko, a free and open-source browser engine developed by Mozilla itself.

"If all your options are built with the same technology underneath, ‘choice’ is a lie," CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo explained.

Firefox Enterprise's biggest selling point is control – customers can choose where data is stored and how it's governed, and it's designed to work with existing systems.

"Keep your identity provider. Keep your SIEM. Keep your MDM. Just add a browser whose management infrastructure you operate," Mozilla said.

Firefox claims to have 200 million monthly users, but per Statcounter data, it only accounts for 6% of desktop browsing sessions globally compared with 65% for Chrome.

France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be the first countries to get access to Firefox Enterprise, with other countries added later on. And as for emails, Thunderbird Enterprise "is also in development," so we can expect to hear more about that soon.