TechRadar News

The iPhone 17 will likely launch in a few months, but what if you need a new phone right now? Should you wait for the next iPhone? Definitely not. I can help you pick a phone that you'll love for years, and won't regret buying when you see what Apple has next.

To buy a new phone, you need to answer three questions for me. Are you willing to sign a contract? Would you consider a pre-owned iPhone? Are you sure about getting an iPhone versus an Android? Here’s the best iPhone for you.

Get an iPhone 16 Pro for free with a new contract on a wireless carrier

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If you don't have $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,800 to spend on a new iPhone 16 Pro, you might consider signing up for a new contract with a wireless carrier. If you’re not entirely happy with your old carrier, most carriers will give you a free phone if you switch.

With three months to go until a new iPhone arrives, I’m seeing wireless carriers clearing out inventory. In the US right now, all three major wireless carriers will give you a free iPhone 16 Pro for switching.

You'll need to stay with them for two years (T-Mobile) or three years (AT&T and Verizon), depending on the carrier, and you’ll need to subscribe to an unlimited data plan, but it’s a good deal if those conditions fit your needs.

Get an iPhone 13 Pro Max refurbished from Amazon or Best Buy

(Image credit: Future)

If you need to save money and don't want to sign up with a wireless carrier, you can also shop for renewed or refurbished devices. I've had a great experience buying used devices on Swappa.com in the US, but Best Buy, Amazon, and other major retailers sell refreshed products at a discount.

I would recommend an iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max as the oldest refreshed iPhone you should consider. Those phones have a great reputation for battery life and performance. Also, Apple gave the iPhone 13 Pro a major camera upgrade over the iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone cameras haven't improved dramatically since.

The iPhone 15 Pro is still available new, just not from Apple

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If you want a new iPhone, I'd recommend the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro (including the Plus and Max models). Compared to the new iPhone 16 family, the only feature that you'll lose is the Camera Control button, and frankly… I think you're better off without it.

In my experience, the Camera Control has been buggy and inconsistent. I prefer using the Action Button – first launched on the iPhone 15 Pro – to open the camera instead.

I wouldn't buy a new iPhone older than an iPhone 15, because older iPhone models use Lightning for charging and cables, and you don't want to be stuck with an old connector on its way to the connector's graveyard.

The iPhone 15 and newer iPhones use USB-C. This universal connector makes a huge difference when shopping for accessories or just borrowing a charger.

Here's why I would avoid the iPhone 16e

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The iPhone I would avoid is the new iPhone 16e. While it looks good on a spec sheet, in practice, the iPhone 16e compromises too much to make it a better choice than buying a slightly older iPhone 15.

A new iPhone 15 is only $100 / £100 / AU$300 more than the iPhone 16e, but it offers a more iPhone-like experience. First of all, you get much better cameras – two sensors instead of one, including an ultra-wide lens.

Second, you get MagSafe, which is a huge part of Apple's accessory ecosystem. MagSafe accessories include batteries, wallets, grips, cases, wireless chargers, and much more. I pop my iPhone sideways onto a wireless stand every night, and it becomes my Standby bedside clock. You can't do that without MagSafe.

The OnePlus 13 will exceed your expectations, iPhone switchers

The OnePlus 13 can use MagSafe accessories thanks to this case (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What if you want to venture outside Apple's walled garden? Have you been admiring the green grass on the Android lawn? Assuming you are coming from an iPhone, I have a suggestion that will be an easy transition to enjoy.

These phones are a great choice today and will be fun to own for years

The OnePlus 13 is the best Android phone for iPhone switchers. OnePlus has an elegant interface that will be somewhat familiar and easy to pick up. The phone itself is polished and well-built, and it is impressively durable. I watched a OnePlus representative wash the phone in a dishwasher with plates and cups.

The OnePlus 13 has incredibly fast charging and amazing battery life that will last you more than a full day. It performs as fast as any phone I've tested. Its cameras are excellent and produce photos that are stylish and unique, thanks to OnePlus's partnership with Hasselblad cameras.

If you need a new phone right now, don’t wait until September. I don't expect any groundbreaking innovation from Apple this year, and these phones are a great choice today and will be fun to own for years. The iPhone 17 will arrive with a totally new look, and you can just shake it off and read the news from your brand new phone.

You might also like...

• iPhone 17 Pro: latest rumors, tips and everything we’ve heard so far
• The iPhone 17 could come with a nasty price hike – here's how
• Ready for an iPhone upgrade? Here's why you (probably) don't need to buy a Pro

• French startup IXI is working on glasses with autofocus lenses
• Built-in sensors track eye movements
• Liquid crystal lenses adjust focus to match what you’re looking at

Squinting to see a sign, tilting your head to look at someone, peering down your nose to read a menu: for millions of far-sighted people, glasses are a constant compromise. But a new kind of smart eyewear is aiming to clear things up, with the help of autofocus lenses.

Finnish startup IXI is one company developing frames with adaptive optics. Its glasses uses tiny sensors to track what you’re looking at, then liquid crystal lenses to adjust your view to suit. So you can go from checking your phone to watching a game in a blink.

What’s more, no-one should see any difference. IXI’s goal is to make them look and feel just like your normal glasses, with electronics tiny enough to fit into the frames. So while they might not let you ditch your specs entirely, autofocus glasses won’t require you to wear a bulky headset either.

Take a look aroundImage 1 of 2

(Image credit: IXI)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: IXI)

When it comes to far-sightedness, the standard fix is currently bifocals. These lenses are divided into two zones: one for distant objects, the other for near detail. When a user wants to read something up close, they have to look through the latter. It’s a solution with a learning curve – and one that can involve unnatural head tilts and limited viewing angles.

Progressive lenses offer a bit of a refinement, smoothing the transition between near and far, but they still have focal sweet spots. Fundamentally, you can’t look anywhere in the frame at anything you want. That’s the problem IXI plans to solve.

At the heart of its design is a powerful pairing: eye-tracking sensors and a fast-shifting lens system. The sensors monitor eye movements, firing harmless light pulses to measure the distance between you and what you’re looking at. This data is then fed back to liquid crystal lenses, which can rapidly change their curvature to give perfect focus.

According to IXI, the lenses adjust in just 0.2 seconds. The human eye focuses in around 0.4 seconds, which should mean there’s no discernible lag between looking and seeing. That’s particularly true for older users: our eyes get slower to focus as we age, because the eye’s natural lenses become less flexible. This is called presbyopia and it’s the same condition that causes long-sightedness.

This kind of optical tech has been talked about before, but mainly in a research setting. IXI is one of the first labs attempting to miniaturize the concept into a product for daily wear. It helps that the startup has secured some $36 million (around £27m / AU$56m) in funding to accelerate development.

That said, IXI isn’t the only company working on autofocus glasses. Laclarée and Elcyo are rival ventures developing similar solutions. None of the three has yet brought a commercial solution to market, which is perhaps indicative of the obstacles that remain before the frames land on public faces.

Prescription-grade optics are subject to strict medical regulation, which means the autofocus lenses will need to pass muster. There’s also a question of durability whenever it comes to moving parts. Other factors include how to incorporate batteries to power the glasses, while keeping the frames lightweight and comfortable.

Still, the promise is compelling: a single, adaptive pair of glasses that can replace reading specs, distance lenses and bifocals. It’s a step towards truly intelligent eyewear. If IXI can pull it off, the days of peering over rims might be behind us.

You might also like...

• The best smart glasses 2025: the top AI and AR glasses you can find
• Microsoft is developing tech that would let users write with their eyes
• These smart contact lens prototypes could convince future me to ditch my glasses

This week, Oakley and Meta finally revealed their smart glasses (and they look kinda awesome), we published our Nintendo Switch 2 review (it's great, but not perfect), and Donald Trump launched a mobile phone (yes, really, and it's stranger than it sounds).

To catch up on all this and more, we have this quick recap of the seven biggest tech news stories of the week, as well as links to the full story so you can dive into the topic more deeply.

Once you're finished, be sure to also check out our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (June 20).

7. Garmin launched something other than a watch

(Image credit: Garmin)

Garmin's latest in a veritable barrage of new releases, the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor, is something other than a watch for once – designed to be worn on the upper arm, it's a dedicated sleep tracker. With a battery life of up to a week and a more accurate signal than wrist-based trackers, the idea seems to be to swap your Garmin watch for the sleep tracker overnight, as many people find chunky running watches uncomfortable to wear to bed.

We've known this was coming for a while, and are excited to get to grips with it – and it's the latest in the trend of screenless wellness trackers. Polar is also getting in on the act with a screenless, subscription-free Whoop alternative, although that's not launching until September. If you're tired of the idea of yet another flashing display in your life, you can check out this week's discreet fitness tracker guide here.

• Read more: Garmin just launched the Index Sleep Monitor

6. Xreal launched new smart glasses

(Image credit: Future / Hamish Hector)

Xreal’s new One Pro AR smart glasses are easily the best we’ve ever seen, in large part due to their new optical setup, which offers a larger image and clearer picture (due to reduced reflections) than any of its competition.

This feels like a true precursor to the Android XR specs it’s working on, and if Project Aura can boast these features and more, Xreal could be onto a killer machine.

The only downside of the Xreal One Pro’s impressive nature is, as you might expect, its price. Currently a pair costs $649 / £579, and if you factor in ‘optional’ add-ons like the Xreal Beam Pro (at $199 / £189) it can start to add up. Though as a portable entertainment and productivity companion, Xreal’s glasses won’t let you down if you decide to pick them up.

• Read more: Xreal has changed the game with its One Pro AR smart glasses

5. Trump tried to make phones great again… we aren’t convinced

(Image credit: Trump Mobile)

Trump Mobile priced its mobile service at $45.47 a month, a not-too-subtle nod to Trump’s two terms as President of the United States. Beyond that, though, the service, and especially the new, gold T1 phone, aren’t offering too many direct references to the sitting president.

We focused on the head-scratching device, which offers a mix of older and new technologies (some are thrilled about the 3.5mm headphone jack) and makes a hard-to-believe claim that it’ll be made in the USA.

The $499 Android 15 phone is set to arrive in September, just in time for the next iPhone. We can’t wait to see that matchup.

• Read more: The Trump Mobile T1 Phone is official and strange

4. Apple Music’s new AI DJ impressed many

(Image credit: Apple)

At Apple’s recent WWDC event, the company unveiled its exciting new AutoMix feature for Apple Music. Unlike the crossfade function, which simply crosses from one song to another to avoid gaps of silence, AutoMix creates a seamless playback experience using beat matching and time stretching to connect each song in a queue.

Though we have a few months to go until AutoMix rolls out with the wider iOS 26 release, it’s currently in developer beta, and those with early access are already revealing its capabilities online, marking one of the first viral Apple Music trends.

It’s a big step towards improving Apple Music’s sense of community, even if it’s still behind Spotify on the social front. But from what we’re seeing so far, AutoMix is a fun and engaging new feature that will win over many users, and as a Spotify fan, I hope it’s taking some notes.

• Read more: As a Spotify fan, I'm feeling very jealous of Apple Music

3. We spent a week with Alexa+

(Image credit: Amazon)

It’s been months since Amazon unveiled Alexa+, its AI-infused reimagining of its popular voice assistant, but we’ve been waiting ever since for a full public release and a chance to try out the platform, until now.

We spent a week with the Alexa+ early access and found that while it’s not fully baked (and sometimes buggy), the new platform shows tremendous promise.

It’s the first LLM that seems smart home aware, and that means it can help you set up, adjust, and improve your smart home, provided all the gadgets work with Alexa and can be discovered by the new Alexa+.

It’s also proving to be a great conversationalist, and it’s very likely that your relationship with Alexa+ will be far different from the one you had with the timer-friendly and weather-knowledgeable OG Alexa.

• Read more: This could be the AI that finally changes your home

2. Meta teamed up with Oakley

(Image credit: Oakley / Meta)

Meta has expanded its smart glasses partnership with EssilorLuxottica by introducing a pair of Oakley smart glasses based on the brand’s HSTN design.

This writer thinks it’s beautiful, but our office Slack chat is less than appreciative of the distinctive look. Aesthetics aside, the glasses are packed with hardware and software upgrades.

We’re talking double the battery life of the Meta Ray-Bans (it’s now eight hours instead of four), improved cameras (3K quality video capture), and improved AI assistance, which includes things like asking about surf conditions and golfing technique.

They’re due to launch later this summer, starting at $399 / £399, but a limited edition pair will go up for preorder sooner on July 11, for $499 / £499.

• Read more: These new Oakley smart glasses are making me jealous

1. We reviewed the Nintendo Switch 2

(Image credit: Future)

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and we've thoroughly tested the all-new console for review over the past couple of weeks. In short, it's a phenomenal upgrade over the original Switch system. While it certainly lacks that hallmark Nintendo innovation, what we have here is a powerful hybrid handheld gaming device.

We now have a crisp 1080p display, capable of refresh rates of up to 120Hz. Furthermore, the handheld also features HDR and variable refresh rate tech for smoother performance while out on the go. Players who prefer docked mode aren't left out in the cold, though, as those playing on a TV or monitor can benefit from 4K and 1440p resolution settings.

While battery life definitely leaves a lot to be desired, the Switch 2 is nonetheless an accomplished handheld games console, and we can't wait to see what kinds of games Nintendo has in store in the years to come.

• Read more: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s least ambitious console to date

• We asked our readers about their thoughts on switching to a new OS
• Most of our readers are feeling pretty prepared
• Some think that the upgrade is just a way for Microsoft to make money

Installing a new Operating System (OS) isn’t as easy as it may sound, and often requires specific device features or knowledge - so we asked TechRadar readers how confident they were about upgrading, and found even our tech-savvy fans have some reservations.

We previously found a shocking number of people don’t even know what version of Windows they have, and many have unfounded confidence about meeting the requirements for upgrades. More exclusive research shows that many of our readers are still confident about upgrading their OS, but some might need a bit of guidance.

Almost two thirds of our readers are up for the challenge, with over a third (38%) saying; ‘bring it on - I’m pretty tech savvy’. Slightly more (41%) think it could be done, but they could ‘probably figure it out with some guidance’.

Money maker

Around 15% said they found the idea of a switch daunting, and a further 6% say they’d ‘rather not break things’ - which is all well and good, but as Windows 10 End of Life (which will come on October 14, 2025) creeps closer, those few that are unprepared may need a little push.

Despite this, the overall sentiment is pretty positive, with 37% looking forward to the new features and improvements, although 9% do express frustrations with the endless updates to keep up with - and many content with the system they have right now.

The OS transition does represent an opportunity to buy or sell hardware though, with 37% having already upgraded to a new laptop/computer, and 21% admitting to having a look at new devices on offer.

That might be just what Microsoft is counting on though, with one respondent saying they believe the OS end of life “is just a way for Microsoft to try and make money, since they know that previous OSes work just fine and that it is planned obsolescence.”

Overwhelmingly though, respondents said they would stay with Windows (72%), and only 3% reporting that they would switch to another like Mac, Linux, or Chrome - so even those who think the upgrade is a hassle seem to be loyal to Windows.

You might also like

• Can’t upgrade to Windows 11? This Linux project wants to save your old PC from the scrapheap when Windows 10 support ends
• Check out our choice for best workstation around
• Windows 11 user has 30 years of 'irreplaceable photos and work' locked away in OneDrive

• Google’s new Search Live feature lets users hold real-time voice conversations with an AI-powered version of Search
• The Gemini-powered AI attempts to simulate a friendly and knowledgeable human.
• Google is keen to have all roads lead to Gemini, and Search Live could help entice people to try the AI companion without realizing it

Google's quest to incorporate its Gemini into everything has a new outlet linked to its most central product. The new Google Search Live essentially gives Google Search's AI Mode a Gemini-powered voice.

It’s currently available to users in the U.S. via the Google app on iOS and Android, and it invites you to literally talk to your search bar. You speak, and it speaks back; unlike the half-hearted AI assistants of yesteryear, this one doesn’t stop listening after just one question. It’s a full dialogue partner, unlike the non-verbal AI Mode.

It also works in the background, which means I could leave the app during the chat to do something else on my phone, and the audio didn’t pause or glitch. It just kept going, as if I were on the phone with someone.

Google refers to this system as “query fan-out,” which means that instead of just answering your question, it also quietly considers related queries, drawing in more diverse sources and perspectives. You feel it, too. The answers don’t feel boxed into a single form of response, even on relatively straightforward queries like the one about linen dresses in Google's demo.

AI Search Live

To test Search Live out, I tapped the “Live” icon and asked for speculative fiction books I should read this summer. The genial voice offered a few classic and a few more recent options. I then opened Pandora's box by asking it about its own favorites. Surprisingly, it had a few. I then decided to push it a bit and tell it it was wrong about the best fantasy books and listed a few of my own. Suddenly, I found myself in a debate not only about the best examples of the genre, but also about how to define it.

We segued from there to philosophical and historical opinions about elvish empathy and whether AI should be compared to genies or the mythical brownies that do housework in exchange for cream. Were it not for the smooth, synthetic voice and its relentless good cheer, I might have thought I was actually having an idle argument with an acquaintance over nothing important.

It's obviously very different from the classic Google Search and its wall of links. If you look at the screen, you still see the links, but the focus is on the talk. Google isn't unique with a vocal version of its AI, as ChatGPT and others proffer similar features. Google Search Live does come off as smoother, and I didn't have to rephrase my questions or repeat myself once in 10 minutes. Being integrated with Google’s actual search systems might help keep things grounded. It’s like talking to someone who always has a stack of citations in their back pocket.

I don't think Search Live is what people will use to replace their usual online search methods, but here’s a real accessibility benefit to it. For people who can’t comfortably type or see, voice-first tools like this open new doors. Same goes for kids asking homework questions, or for someone cooking dinner who has a random question but doesn't want to pause to wipe flour off their screen.

There’s a tradeoff, of course, in terms of how people browse the web. If this kind of conversational AI becomes the dominant interface for search on Google, what happens to web traffic? Publishers already feel like they’re shouting into the void when their content is skimmed by AI and hiring lawyers to fight it. What will the AI search if its sources shrink or vanish? It's a complicated question, worthy of debate. I'll have to see how Search Live lays out the arguments.

You might also like

• I've been using Google's new AI mode for Search – here's how to master it
• Here’s why you should be excited about Audio Overviews coming to Google Search
• Google’s AI Mode can explain what you’re seeing even if you can’t

• MiniMax’s new Hailuo 02 AI video model has sparked a viral trend of cats performing Olympic dives
• The videos blend advanced physics-based animation with internet absurdity
• Though not the quality of Google Veo 3, Hailuo 2 is rapidly gaining in popularity among casual AI users

Watching the cat walk onto the diving board, I could imagine calls to the fire department or a huge crowd rushing to save it, causing a catastrophe, while the feline simply blinked at the tragedy. Instead, the cat executed an Olympic-caliber triple somersault into the pool. If it weren't for the impossible feat and my awareness that it was an AI-generated video, I'd be checking to see if there was a Freaky Friday situation with the U.S. swim team.

Instead, it's a hugely viral video produced using Chinese AI video developer MiniMax's Hailuo 02 model. The millions of people watching the video of cats diving may not be real, but it's real enough to elbow its way into the competition for AI video dominance, alongside Google Veo 3 and OpenAI's Sora, among many others.

MiniMax debuted Hailuo 02 earlier this summer, but the virality of the faux Olympics video suggests it's going to become a very popular tool for making still images or text prompts into videos. The model only makes five- to ten-second clips for now, but its motion customization, camera effects, and impressive imitation of real-world physics, like the movement of fur or splashing of water, make it more intriguing.

Testing Hailuo 02 on cats diving came about seemingly organically when X user R.B Keeper (presumably not their real name) tried a prompt they'd seen tested on Veo 3. The idea spread from there to a version that garnered millions of views in a matter of hours and appeared on TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram, with numerous variations.

A post shared by Pablo Prompt (@pabloprompt)

A photo posted by on

AI video battles

Hailuo 02 uses frame-by-frame physics simulation, attention-mapped motion prompts, and multimodal input parsing. In other words, if you type a strange idea, the model will do its best to make it look and behave like it would in an approximation of the real world.

Notably, Hailuo 02 is reportedly far cheaper and faster than Veo 3, though perhaps without quite the high-end gloss. Still, it's more accessible, not being limited to enterprise services and beta programs like Veo 3.

The cat diving videos are the apex of a very specific Venn diagram of internet trends, accessible tools, and low-stakes fun. You don’t need to be a professional editor or own a supercomputer to try it. And more upgrades are on the horizon. MiniMax has outlined plans to integrate synchronized audio, lighting, and texture control, as well as longer clips.

As for Google Veo 3 and other major players, they have their professional niche for now. But if they want to widen their appeal to the masses, they might look to what MiniMax and smaller developers like Midjourney, with its V1 video model, are doing. Hailuo 02 is the kind of tool that will get people, like the cats, to dive in.

You might also like

• Midjourney just dropped its first AI video model and Sora and Veo 3 should be worried
• I watched some of the viral ASMR videos made with AI and I feel more confused than soothed
• Google can now generate your AI videos more quickly than ever

• Tuxedo InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 sets a new bar for Linux power
• Cheaper Windows laptops can offer Linux dual boot without the Tuxedo price
• Ryzen AI 300 chips bring serious speed but also drive up the cost

Do you want the fastest Linux machine out there, or something more affordable that still runs open source software smoothly?

Tuxedo’s new InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 could well be one of the fastest Linux laptops available today, but it comes at a price that’s frankly tough to justify unless raw power is your number one priority.

The laptop features AMD’s new Ryzen AI 300 series processors. Buyers can choose between the Ryzen AI 7 350 with 8 cores and 16 threads, the Ryzen AI 9 365 with 10 cores and 20 threads, or the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with 12 cores and 24 threads.

Performance, portability, and polish

The AI 9 365 delivers around 10 percent better multicore performance compared to the AI 7 350. The AI 9 HX 370 goes further, with up to 20 percent more performance and around 40 percent faster than last year’s InfinityBook Pro Gen9.

The new model comes with a 3K display that reaches 500 nits of brightness. The aluminum body keeps the weight at just 1.45kg.

It's packed with options, like dual upgradeable RAM and SSD slots, and a rare full port selection including USB4, HDMI 2.1, and even Ethernet.

Battery life is decent, too, with an 80Wh unit promising around 9 hours of web use.

On paper, it's everything Linux power users want: performance, portability, and polish.

But at over €1,000 ($1,152) for the entry-level version (Ryzen AI 350, 2x 8 GB 5600MHz DDR5 RAM, a 500 GB Samsung 980 SSD) for users outside of Europe, and more than €1,200 for users in Europe, the price pushes this machine out of reach for many typical users.

While some high-end Linux laptops carry similar price tags, users can often find better value by purchasing a comparable Windows machine at a lower cost.

There's nothing stopping you from wiping the drive and installing Linux yourself, or setting up a dual-boot system to keep both operating systems available.

Where Tuxedo does excel is its deep Linux integration. Tuxedo OS is pre-installed, and their hardware ships with everything tested and configured.

The InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 is certainly sleek, powerful, and thoughtfully built for Linux, but unless you truly need the performance or the flexibility, there are cheaper options that still do the job well.

You might also like

• These are the best Linux laptops you can buy right now
• And these are the lightest laptops on the market
• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges from a brand you've probably never heard of

I’ve finally gotten my hands on a Nintendo Switch 2, and having come from a Switch OLED (and an original Switch before that) and being a player that almost exclusively uses it in handheld mode, I was also keen to find the right accessories.

Sure, Nintendo has its own official case for the Switch 2, and there are dozens of other options available on the web – see Amazon – but Belkin’s entry into the accessory market for the popular console had me intrigued. And quite simply, I think there’s a lesson here for other accessory makers in the form of Belkin’s two cases for the Switch 2.

There’s the Charging Case for Nintendo Switch 2 and the Travel Case for the Switch 2 – both come in three shades. Although I wish Belkin would add some vibrant options, I also appreciate total protection for the console, along with plenty of storage. However, where both of these truly succeed is that they aren't bulky, and the design doesn’t get in the way of utility.

Let’s start with the Travel Case – it’s priced very affordably at just $29.99 / £17.99 / AU$39.95 and comes in three shades: charcoal, sand, or green. I’d love a little more variety here, especially as Nintendo hasn’t dropped the Switch 2 in any fun shades, but it’s not the end of the world.

The case is also available on Amazon in the US here and from Belkin directly in the UK here for £17.99, or from Belkin directly in Australia here for AU$ 39.95.View Deal

It’s constructed from a pretty durable polyester outer shell with a softer, velvet-like interior and opens and closes seamlessly with a zipper all around. It’s also about the size of the Switch 2 and is purpose-built to hold it. When you open it up, the main bed where the Switch 2 lies screen up, has indentations in the top corners for the rear triggers of the Joy-Con 2s.

I can easily store the Switch 2 with zero concerns, toss this in a backpack, or carry the case on its own. The interior top of the case is a mesh, sponge netting for easy storing of other accessories like cables, batteries, cleaning cloths, and really anything else. There’s also a dedicated spot for an Apple AirTag. As someone who has dealt with an airline losing my luggage that thankfully had an AirTag inside, this is a brilliant addition.

Even better, though, there’s a fold-down slot for 12 game cartridges for the Nintendo Switch 2. I'm aware of the controversy surrounding virtual game cards, but whether you’re bringing an extensive collection of games from the Nintendo Switch for the new generation or have pre-ordered a bunch, this Travel Case lets you bring your core 12 with you.

All in all, a very functional design, but the Travel Case also doesn’t add much weight or thickness. With a Switch 2 inside, the entire pack is under two pounds at 1.81 lbs, and with some accessories, it doesn’t stretch much more than that. I especially love that it has an adjustable handle, making it easy to carry.

Belkin’s Travel Case is all about seamlessly carrying your Switch 2, and it doesn’t add bulk or extra flair – in fact, from the outside, it’s hard to tell what is inside. Belkin generally takes this minimalistic, simple approach with its design, and I really like it here. Just take a look at Apple’s official Vision Pro case versus Belkin’s; the latter is less marshmallow and a lot smaller.

Now, I’ve also quickly learned that the Switch 2’s battery life isn’t great, and Belkin’s Charging Case offers a solution, which is a slightly larger travel case with a dedicated spot for charging via a battery pack. Luckily, the higher price of $69.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95 includes a 10K Power Bank and charging cable. That stores right under the bottom of your Switch 2 – once inside – and gets strapped in with a purposeful cable that can plug right into your console when it’s inside.

The case is also available on Amazon in the US here and from Belkin directly in the UK here for £49.99, or from Belkin directly in Australia here for AU$ 99.95.View Deal

The main tray still fits the Switch 2 like a glove, and the interior of the top is nearly identical to the Travel Case. That means twelve spots for game cards, an AirTag slot, and mesh netting that can hold quite a bit of stuff. This is really a purpose-built option with a battery integrated, though I know it does add a bit more heft.

It also has a handle, but lacks the extra embellishments – it’s a bit more subtle. I do wish this had pass-through charging, but that’s not the case here.

Either way, though, I love these cases because they really stand out from the rest. Both are simple additions that make it a breeze to travel with the Switch 2 – both near and far – and the Travel Case is an affordable option that doesn’t skimp on protection.

I think your Switch 2 – if you’ve managed to get one – will be right at home. Both are backed by a two-year warranty as well.

And if you’re debating whether it’s worth it, you can read TechRadar’s full review of the Nintendo Switch 2 here.

You might also like

• 5 Nintendo Switch 2 settings I recommend changing as soon as you boot your new console up
• Mario Kart World just about makes the podium, but some strange design decisions have left me scratching my head
• Everything announced at the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct

• ChatGPT now leads AI referral traffic worldwide, leaving Google’s Gemini far behind in usage
• DeepSeek’s domination in China reveals how tight control can forge domestic AI superpowers fast
• StatCounter confirms ChatGPT is now the default gateway to websites in most global markets

New research claims ChatGPT is dominating AI chatbot referral traffic globally, with a commanding 79.8% share.

Figures from Statcounter says OpenAI's platform leads in all G20 nations except China, where Deepseek has emerged as the unexpected frontrunner.

Despite ChatGPT’s widespread influence, it has struggled to make inroads into China’s tightly regulated digital ecosystem, which now stands as a rare blind spot in its global push.

DeepSeek rules China - while ChatGPT takes the rest of the world

ChatGPT's global influence is evident in its significant lead over competitors like Perplexity (11.8%), Microsoft Copilot (5.2%), and Google Gemini (2%).

This dominance suggests users are increasingly turning to AI chatbots not just for answers, but as gateways to the wider web, effectively reshaping the traffic model long dominated by traditional search engines.

“We are already moving into a new era from SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO),” said Aodhan Cullen, CEO of Statcounter.

This shift could pose a substantial threat to traditional search models, particularly for Google, whose AI-based search tools lag in referrals.

While ChatGPT continues to function as a leading driver of traffic and arguably the best SEO tool in most of the world, its inability to penetrate China reveals a distinct limitation.

There, Deepseek holds a staggering 89.3% market share. Although globally it commands only 0.8% of referrals, Deepseek has effectively capitalized on its domestic environment to exclude foreign competitors.

When it launched, Deepseek garnered significant attention, becoming the world’s most popular AI term for a day.

It surpassed ChatGPT by becoming the most downloaded free app in the US and UK and recorded 12 million downloads in 2 days, even faster than OpenAI.

In China, it is an indigenous alternative to OpenAI's tools, partly due to its early alignment with government AI policy, and was banned or investigated by several nations.

Google, meanwhile, finds itself in an awkward position. Despite developing much of the foundational AI technology, it is now trailing in adoption and impact.

Cullen likens Google’s current struggle to that of “traditional on-premise software providers at the birth of cloud computing.”

There are now rumors about Apple potentially introducing AI search capabilities in Safari, which would further intensify the pressure on Google’s search business.

Statcounter’s findings are based on over 3.8 billion monthly page views, and it offers a real-time look at the shifting balance of power.

Still, the picture is not fully complete. Grok, another major chatbot, was excluded from the rankings due to its lack of header referral data, leaving a small blind spot in the broader market analysis.

You might also like

• Take a look at our guide to the best endpoint protection
• These are the best business VPNs you can get right now
• AI firms from China skirt around US chip restrictions by moving petabytes of data on good ol' hard drives

• TP-Link’s EAP772-Outdoor survives immersion, but the signal won’t follow it into the water
• Built to endure harsh elements, but not the hype surrounding underwater wireless capabilities
• Enterprise users might love it, but it feels like overkill for your average Wi-Fi needs

TP-Link has announced a new Wi-Fi 7 access point that not only supports the latest wireless standard, but also boasts an IP68 rating which allows it to withstand full water immersion.

On paper, this rugged Wi-Fi 7 access point looks great, with tri-band wireless speeds up to 9.3Gbps, support for over 380 connected devices, and 2.5Gbps Power over Ethernet (PoE) for streamlined setup.

However, the decision to highlight full immersion capabilities invites a more skeptical look, especially considering the known limitations of wireless communication in water.

How relevant is the IP68 rating?

The device is equipped with two 4 dBi antennas for the 2.4GHz band and two 6dBi antennas each for the 5GHz and 6GHz bands.

It operates across the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands, offering maximum theoretical speeds of up to 688Mbps, 2.88Gbps, and 5.76Gbps, respectively, and supports a coverage area of around 300 square meters and a five-year warranty by the company.

So, while the router might physically survive immersion, the idea of underwater Wi-Fi remains questionable.

Standard Wi-Fi is inherently ineffective underwater. Radio frequencies, especially at 2.4GHz and above, are quickly absorbed by water, leaving little room for practical transmission beyond a few feet.

Water blocks the very signals the device is designed to emit, raising doubts about how the LAN port would even be protected from moisture once submerged.

If we momentarily entertain the concept of underwater wireless use, the practical applications are narrow and not well served by conventional Wi-Fi.

Divers, for instance, would benefit from the ability to send data or communicate without relying on hand signals or physical boards.

Real-time image sharing or sensor readings from underwater drones to surface computers could be useful in scientific or military operations.

However, these needs are already being addressed by emerging technologies like Aqua-Fi, which uses LED, laser, or acoustic waves for underwater data transmission, none of which involve standard Wi-Fi frequencies.

TP-Link has not suggested any integration with such systems, nor has it indicated that the EAP772-Outdoor is intended for submerged deployment beyond mere survivability.

That raises the question of why the waterproof feature is being emphasized at all. For outdoor venues, where rain, dust, and heat are threats, weatherproofing makes sense.

But full immersion? Unless the router is accidentally dropped in a pond or installed in a highly flood-prone area, it’s difficult to see the value.

For users seeking the best Wi-Fi router, the EAP772-Outdoor may excel in terms of outdoor reliability.

Enterprise clients needing tough gear for open-air deployment might also make sense out of this device, but for anyone shopping for a mobile hotspot or switch for home or office use, this might seem more like overengineering.

The TP-Link EAP772 is expected to retail around $565 when it launches in June 2025.

Via Guru3d

You might also like

• These are the best firewalls at the moment
• Take a look at the best antivirus for your protection
• Smartwatches could potentially be used to steal data from or launch attacks on air-gapped systems

• An act passed by Congress requires security review by December
• DJI says it's willing to co-operate, but no agency has started the process
• If the audit is not completed, a ban on DJI drones will come into force

DJI drones are the most popular flying cameras in the US. Both its consumer and professional quadcopters sell in huge numbers, and they also rank among the best drones you can buy. Yet a huge question mark still looms over their immediate future. By the end of 2025, DJI drones could be banned in the US – and that's prompted the Chinese giant to raise the alarm bells about the obstacles it's flying into.

We have reached out to the relevant agencies to fulfill this obligation set out by Congress. However, more than six months have passed, and that process still hasn’t begun.

DJI spokesperson

Talk of a ban on DJI drones has been circulating for more than year, as the Countering CCP Drones Act made its way through the halls of US Congress. It’s motivated by national security concerns and specifically targets drones made by Chinese companies, including DJI.

The risk of a ban came closer to reality late last year, when Congress passed an act which legally mandated a review of DJI drones. If that fails to happen by December 2025, customers in the US might no longer be able to buy the best DJI drones. How likely is that? We’ve unpacked DJI's latest statement on the subject and all of the details below.

What the law says

At the center of the issue is the FY25 National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), passed by Congress in December 2024. Section 1709 requires an “appropriate national security agency” to assess whether drones manufactured in China – which includes drones made by DJI – pose an “unacceptable risk” to US national security. This must be completed within a year.

Crucially, the legislation doesn’t specify which agency must undertake the required assessment. If no agency takes up the mantle and completes that audit by the end of 2025, DJI drones could be added to the FCC’s “Covered List”. This would automatically restrict future DJI product approvals in the US.

In practical terms, that could mean:

• No new DJI drones sold in the US
• No FCC certification for updated models
• Potential disruption to support for existing customers.

And so far, more than six months since the act was passed, no agency has started the review.

What DJI says

(Image credit: James Abbott)

DJI has become increasingly vocal on the issue, warning that the clock is ticking to avoid a US ban on DJI drones.

In an official statement shared with TechRadar, the company said: “DJI has repeatedly said publicly that we welcome and embrace the opportunity to demonstrate our privacy controls and security features. We stand ready to cooperate with any rulemaking processes or investigations.”

The statement continues, “We have also reached out to the relevant agencies to fulfill this obligation set out by Congress. However, more than six months have passed, and that process still hasn’t begun.”

On 13 June 2025, six months until the NDAA deadline, DJI published a blog post calling for action on the “overdue security review”. The post states that “America’s drone community deserves due process” and called on DJI operators to speak up.

It issued a rallying cry to the “thousands of businesses, public safety officials, farmers, entrepreneurs, and others” who “use DJI technology to serve your community, protect lives, grow your business, or deliver essential services.”

The post echoed an earlier article shared in December 2024, when the NDAA was first approved, which emphasized the risk that “DJI would be prevented from launching new products in the U.S. market through no fault of its own, but simply because no agency chose to take on the work of studying our products.”

Verdict: no ban yet – but the countdown is on

(Image credit: DJI)

For the time being, DJI drones are still legal to buy and fly in the US. But if no national security agency initiates and completes the audit required by law, expect to see a ban on new models in late 2025. Existing owners might still be able to use their drones, but support and future updates could be cut off.

The impact of that would be huge, both for DJI and its customers. Speaking to Rest Of World, Elsa Kania, a researcher at the Center for a New American Security, said “Among the downsides of a ban are the near-term impacts on a range of users and consumers, considering DJI’s comparative advantage relative to most competitors in price and performance.”

So the threat isn’t imaginary. Whether it comes to pass depends entirely on bureaucratic follow-through. With no guarantee of that happening, US drone users may need to advocate for action if they want to continue buying and flying DJI drones.

That’s exactly why DJI is asking its users to petition their elected representatives, via coalitions like the Drone Advocacy Alliance. But clock's ticking is now getting louder and time is running out ahead of DJI's potential US ban.

You might also like...

• Worried about the DJI drone ban? Fear not – here are the four best DJI alternatives
• DJI says it ‘welcomes’ imminent US drone ban review – here’s why
• Best DJI drone 2025: the finest flying cameras from its impressive range

• Cybersecurity experts recommend we rethink the way we name attackers
• Names like Salt Typhoon and Fuzzy Bear are misleading, they argue
• Microsoft and CrowdStrike have agreed to align their naming conventions

A co-written article from former heads of the UK and USA cybersecurity agencies, Jen Easterly (CISA) and Ciaran Martin (NCSC), has called for the naming conventions of threat actors to be reconsidered, calling the current names ‘misleading’.

“These names aren’t just confusing—they’re misleading. They obscure attribution, mystify the public, and often glamorize dangerous adversaries,” the Just Security article urges.

“That’s why we welcome the news that cybersecurity leaders Microsoft and CrowdStrike are teaming up to better align how they name and categorize cyber threat actors.”

The latter sentence refers to a new strategic collaboration in which Microsoft and CrowdStrike will align in their threat actor taxonomies, which it hopes will help improve confidence in threat actor identification, ‘streamline correlation’ between reports, as well as ‘accelerate defender action in the face of active cyberthreats.’

Objectively ridiculous

Easterly and Martin believe while this collaboration will help, it won’t ‘fundamentally reform’ the naming convention in the way that’s needed.

“Here’s the problem: we still lack a shared, vendor-neutral, public taxonomy that enables global alignment and interoperability," they added.

“In the meantime, we’re still using names that sound more like comic book characters than what they really are: nation-state hackers and cybercriminals actively trying to disrupt hospitals, paralyze governments, and hold businesses hostage.”

The security experts believe that giving cybercriminals names like 'Scattered Spider' or 'Volt Typhoon' contribute to a sort of brand identity for the groups, running de-facto marketing campaigns for them and misleading the public on the severity of the threats.

The article calls for security experts to stop naming groups in ways that ‘mystify, glamorize, or sanitize their nefarious activities’, and even goes as far as to call it an ‘objectively ridiculous way to inform the public’ about dangerous organized crime gangs.

Organizations like Scattered Spider have done serious damage and have disrupted public life in a measurable way, as it did with the alleged ransomware attack targeting British retailers - and their name should reflect the danger they pose.

“These actors don’t deserve clever names," the article notes. "Calling them dirtbags would frankly be more appropriate, or if creative branding is aimed at making them more memorable, we’d suggest names like Scrawny Nuisance, Weak Weasel, Feeble Ferret, or Doofus Dingo.”

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around
• Check out our choice for antivirus software out there
• Worrying attack sees 10,000 records allegedly belonging to VirtualMacOSX leaked

• US text message scam claims that unpaid toll fees are owed
• Messages include a malicious link to steal payment information
• FBI warns users to delete and report messages from unknown senders

The FBI has warned of a new phishing scam sweeping smartphones in the US. The con is targeting drivers with convincing fake texts which claim to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It’s part of a growing trend of SMS toll scams designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and handing over their credit card information.

As reported by local Memphis TV station WREG and later picked up by Men’s Journal, the FBI has issued a warning to anyone who receives a suspicious SMS. The bureau has urged smartphone users not to click on links from unknown sources and to delete these text messages immediately.

Speaking to WREG, FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Palmer described the scam as a “copycat” of the widespread toll scams which surfaced earlier this year. Those attacks also used fake unpaid toll notices to lure victims into handing over sensitive personal details.

What makes these toll scams so dangerous is the ease with which they can be distributed, as well as what they can gather. “It costs next to nothing for them to…send these messages and calls out,” Palmer told WREG. “In return, they can…go in and steal information from your device, or collect your payment information.”

How the scam works – and how to spot it

(Image credit: Guardio)How to spot a fake text

While some scam text messages are surprisingly polished, there are several common signs to watch out for:

• Generic greetings with no personal details

• Urgent or threatening language such as “your account will be suspended”

• Unusual links or email addresses, often ending in strange domains or unrelated names

• Obvious mistakes including typos or formatting errors

• Unknown senders, such as random numbers or clearly fake email handles

Most toll scam texts follow a similar format. The message usually claims that you have outstanding toll charges and urges you to follow a link to settle the balance. The link typically leads to a fake payment site designed to steal your information. This will be a convincing replica of a real government website, using similar fonts, colors and logos, all of which appear to be official.

Most messages include the threat of late fees or legal action if you don’t act quickly. This is intended to create a sense of urgency and panic, triggering an emotional response which may cause the recipient to overlook inconsistencies and act without verifying whether the message is legitimate.

Palmer reportedly received one of the fake texts himself – and quickly spotted several red flags. “A couple of things that I noticed immediately…the text message I received said it was from the North Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles,” he said. “Obviously, there is no North or South Tennessee.”

Inconsistencies like these are a clear hallmark of a message which is trying to dupe you. So are sender details which don’t add up. Agent Palmer gave an example: “The message I received was from email address @catlover.com, obviously that is not a government address.”

Other signs to watch out for include spelling and grammatical errors, as well as generic greetings that don’t reference your name or license plate. If you’re uncertain, don’t engage with the message. Instead, contact the relevant agency directly for clarification. Or as Palmer put it: “If you don’t know who it’s from, don’t click the link.”

Suspicious messages should be deleted immediately. You can also report them to the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

You might also like...

• A massive SMS toll fee scam is sweeping the US – here’s how to stay safe, according to the FBI
• Text spammers are getting creative and trying to play on your emotional needs – don't fall for it
• ‘Smishing’: the new SMS fraud

• Tesla says it begins limited launch of its robotaxi service later this month
• But VW’s ID Buzz AD offers a turnkey autonomous solution to fleet operators
• Large scale deployment is due next year

While Tesla’s share price remains intrinsically linked to the promise of a fully self-driving future, Volkswagen has been quietly but busily working on its own autonomous driving solution.

Through its MOIA mobility company, Volkswagen has developed its first fully-autonomous production vehicle in the ID Buzz AD, which is designed to offer the complete package to those looking to launch autonomous services “quickly, safely, and at scale”, according to the marque.

It comes at a time when Tesla is poised to launch its long-awaited and long-promised Model Y robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. However, critics have been quick to point out that the ride-hailing service will consist of only 10 cars, all of which will be geo-fenced and monitored by a remote teleoperator.

A recent report by Bloomberg has caused further controversy among a number of Tesla commentators, as it claimed that Tesla is “closer to vehicle autonomy than its peers”, including Waymo.

As a reminder, Waymo is operational in four major US cities, with a fully autonomous fleet that now consists of over 1,500 vehicles.

(Image credit: Volkswagen/MOIA)

Arguments aside, it looks like both Tesla and Waymo will have some stiff competition from one of Germany’s largest automakers, as it will unleash its own fleet of stylish ID Buzz models onto the roads of Hamburg in 2026, with further European and US cities soon to follow.

The vehicle is unique in that it's part of a “fully connected 360-degree package”, according to VW CEO Oliver Blume. It features Mobileye’s self-driving system, complete with 27 sensors, including 13 cameras, nine LiDARs, and five radars.

MOIA’s turnkey solution also includes AI-driven software that can manage fleets in real time, assist passengers automatically, ensure safety, and integrate seamlessly into existing booking apps.

Better still, the entire package meets key regulatory requirements for SAE Level 4 automated vehicles and MOIA also offers solutions for training and deployment of live operators, enabling remote control over large-scale fleets.

Essentially, if you wanted to roll out an autonomous fleet of robot taxis in your local vicinity tomorrow, Volkswagen’s mobility-as-a-service company could provide all the tools you need – and that's exciting news for punters looking for a driverless ride, too.

Analysis: The robotaxis are taking over

(Image credit: Tesla)

There may still be some question marks over Elon Musk’s claims that his entire Tesla fleet could one day operate as an autonomous ride-hailing service, but there is no getting away from the fact that the technology is moving on at a pace.

Waymo is still clearly leading the pack, with popular services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin already running. The company is also poised to take delivery of Hyundai’s first mass-produced autonomous Ioniq 5 model, which will speed up deployment further.

In the UK, Uber recently announced that it will bring forward trials of its own self-driving fleet in London next year and Nissan is also ploughing ahead with its driverless services that it says could connect remote rural communities with larger towns.

I have personally experienced Nissan’s most recent autonomous innovations and was blown away by the speed and confidence in which it tackled some very challenging, broken British roads.

Despite all of the bluster, Tesla’s robotaxi technology still feels some way off, with the roll-out slated for later this month already looking like it will be delayed while Texas lawmakers pass some new legislation.

What’s more, the “fleet” of 10 cars feels very much like the company is still in its very early testing phase, where key rivals already have more technologically-accomplished solutions ready to roll.

You might also like

• I’ve tried Nissan’s latest advanced driverless technology – and it handles 60mph on rural roads better than most humans
• Inside Hyundai’s new sci-fi smart factory – where you can order a car with your smartphone and drive it away in hours
• Tesla is secretly testing new versions of its Model S Plaid and Model Y Performance – here’s what to expect

As a dabbler in the digital arts, I rely on a decent drawing tablet. A mouse and poorly calibrated laptop screen really is no substitute for the accurate color and precision illustration a tablet can offer.

Having tested a broad chunk of mid-range drawing tablets in recent months, there’s been one that’s impressed me more than any other and kept me coming back whenever I fancy a sketch. And no… it’s not a Wacom.

Given it’s the doyen of the drawing tablet market, it is understandable why Wacom’s products are often the first artists think of when looking for a quality sketching slate.

XPPen and Huion are alternate brands worthy of consideration – they’ve absolutely earned their place in our rankings of the best drawing tablets. But, for me, the real unsung hero in this space right now is the Xencelabs Pen Display 16.

Bridging the gap between Wacom’s pro-level artist slates and the mid-market competition, Xencelabs’ products have definitely impressed me with their competitive specs and excellent user experience.

And while I’ve tried out a bunch of rivals over the last six months, it’s always the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 I find myself reaching for when the mood strikes me.

Counting down, here are the five biggest reasons I’m convinced you’ll feel the same way I do about Xencelabs’ creative drawing slate.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)5. It offers a staggering range of accessories

The first thing that really impressed me about the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is the sheer quantity of attachments and extras it comes with. Its standard package is pretty decent, offering two styluses, a stylus case and a carrying case. But it’s the expanded Pen Display 16 Bundle that really ups the ante: it adds the Mobile Easel stand, a wireless Quick Keys shortcut remote, and a USB hub, together with all the cabling to enable you to connect it to HDMI, Display Port and mains power.

There’s really very little you could need that isn’t provided here. And in an era when many gadget brands are becoming increasingly stingy with the accessories they offer, it is nice to know that you can have everything you need to get sketching right from the off.

4. It can always handle the pressure

In terms of sheer numbers, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 offers fewer pressure levels than some its nearest rivals, topping out at 8,192 compared to the 16,384 offered by the XPPen Artist Pro 19 Gen 2 and Huion Kamvas Pro 19.

Conventional logic would tell you that the higher sensitivity is, the better. But this isn’t necessarily the case: while 16K sounds mighty impressive, in use it’s incredibly hard to tell the difference between it and 8K.

In fact, I would argue that the way the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 handles pressure is actually right on the money. During the months I’ve been using it, I’ve always found that its styluses feel super responsive and the weight of lines always seems to perfectly mirror the force of my hand.

By contrast, I’ve occasionally found some of the displays with 16K pressure levels harder to control – that increased sensitivity can mean even slight wobbles in your hand have more of a pronounced effect, making it harder to maintain consistent pressure for fine lines.

And, like all of the best drawing tablets, the Pen Display 16 offers plenty of ways for you to customize the pressure curves of its styluses. Not only does it offer five preset pressure curves that mimic everything from hard to soft strokes, you can also dial in your own pressure curve, making it far easier for you to precisely control the thickness of lines as you sketch and paint.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)3. It makes light work of drawing

Compared to many of the drawing tablets I’ve tested, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is a dream to use in a range of contexts. If you want to set it up on your desk, its straightforward configuration means you can connect it to your laptop with just a single cable.

Meanwhile, its ergonomic build makes it comfortable to use for long stretches, while its chunky 1.57 inch / 40mm bezel gives you plenty of space to rest your wrist on while sketching.

However, my favorite thing about the Xencelabs’ build is how easy it is to use it in more casual situations or take it on the go with you. Weighing just 2.67 lbs /1.21kg, it’s staggeringly light and it’s just 0.47 inches / 12mm thick – that’s significantly trimmer than some of the other drawing tablets I’ve tested. As a result, I was often comfortable just sketching with it sat on my lap while on the sofa, making it far more suitable for casual use.

And there’s an added benefit to its light, slight build: it's much easier to take on the move. Packed away in the aforementioned carrying case, it was simple for me to carry it to and from the office – or even on longer journeys. While I’d never consider taking something like the colossal 16.1 lbs (7.3kg) XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K out and about with me, I didn’t think twice about taking the Pen Display 16 on cross country train journeys. That makes it incredibly versatile.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)2. It’s seriously bright and vibrant

At 170 nits, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 offers decent typical brightness when using its most minimal cable setup. But plug it into the mains using the provided USB hub and it blazes much brighter, hitting an impressive 300 nits. While this isn’t quite as high as the 400 cd/m2 the professional grade Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 averages at, it’s still seriously impressive for a mid-market tablet.

The Xencelabs is luminous in other ways as well. Colors pack a real punch, thanks to its true 10-bit color and High Color Gamut that covers 1.07 billion colors, 98% Adobe RGB, 98% P3-D65 and 99% sRGB. As a result, you can breathe easy knowing the colors you see are an accurate representation of how your finished artwork will look on other screens.

Speaking of accuracy, the Xencelabs also has a fantastic resolution that makes whatever you’re sketching look deliciously crisp. Not only does it have a spectacularly detailed 4K resolution but this is crammed into a 16-inch screen, giving it an overall pixel density of 275ppi. On top of rendering your artwork at near print quality, this pixel density is significantly higher than many of its best drawing tablet rivals, such as the 226ppi iPad Pro 13-inch, 166pp Wacom Movink and the 163ppi Wacom Cintiq Pro 27.

1. It’s an absolute bargain

Above all, it's the astounding value that sets the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 apart. Its list price is $999 / £969 – that’s significantly cheaper than many Wacom drawing tablets, despite its super competitive specs.

Better still, it’s often available for an even lower price: at the time of writing, Xencelabs has dropped its price to $949.05 / £872.10. That new price basically reduces it down to a similar price as the $899.99 / £899.99 XPPen Artist Pro 19 (Gen 2) 4K and the $939 / £879 Huion Kamvas Pro 19, which it comfortably outclasses, thanks to its light build and incredible pixel density.

However, while anyone would be tempted by this bargain price, I’m actually going to argue that you should spend more. The reason? The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Bundle. At $1,249 / £1,199, it certainly costs a decent chunk more but it also represents enormous value: on top of the Essential edition’s twin styluses, stylus case and carrying case, you’ll get all of the additional accessories mentioned above. Given the amount of use I get out of the Quick Keys shortcut remote and Mobile Easel stand, I personally wouldn’t hesitate to invest that extra spend, as you’ll really appreciate it long term.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a drawing tablet in this kind of price range, I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Xencelabs Pen Display 16. But we all have priorities and preferences when it comes to our creative equipment. Whether you’re a diehard Wacom adherent, prefer XPPen’s products or are a Huion devotee, each brand has its own flagship products that are worthy of consideration. So make sure you check out our guide to the best drawing tablets if you want to weigh up which is best for your needs.

For me, the Pen Display 16 is an impressive product and definitely merits a place on your shortlist. I’ve never regretted powering it up and I think you’ll similarly find it a powerful, flexible drawing tablet that can happily compete with any other mid-range drawing tablet out there.

You might also like

• Want further advice on picking your perfect slate? Read our guide on how to choose a drawing tablet for graphic design
• If you're wanting to pick up great apps to use on your new drawing tablet, check out our guide to the best digital art and drawing software

Philips Hue is unquestionably one of the best-known smart lighting brands, and for good reason; after all, it makes some of the best smart lights around. Its quality products and overall market presence have made it immensely popular, so it’s not all that surprising that its prices are at the premium end of the scale

While brands like Nanoleaf may be the first to come to mind for many when considering a Philips Hue alternative, I’m here to sing the praises of another low-cost manufacturer of smart lighting loveliness – Govee.

Founded in 2017, Govee offers a huge range of both fun and functional smart lighting products, and regularly releases exciting new products that leave me wanting to rearrange my lighting setup so that I can incorporate newer pieces without looking like my home belongs in Cyberpunk 2077 (not saying I wouldn’t enjoy that, mind you). Aside from all the pretty lights, Govee produces some other great smart home essentials, including sensors, air purifiers, and fans, too.

I could waffle on for hours about my favorite Govee features, but to save us all some time, I’ve summarised my top three reasons why Govee makes a perfect lower-cost alternative to Philips Hue.

1. There’s something for everyone

Whether you want to go big and bold with vivid and colorful displays or want practical lighting solutions that you can automate to suit your schedule, their impressive range of products means that Govee will likely have something that ticks your boxes.

(Image credit: Future)

One product that’s equal parts fun and functional is the highly rated Govee Table Lamp 2. This RGBICWW lamp boasts over 60 scene presets, a load of customizable settings, and is Matter compatible, too. I have two of these lamps at home, and I love how easily I can switch up the mood with this little light, moving from a brighter, cooler white light for working hours, to mood-brightening colorful scenes for the evening, before finishing the night on a warm-toned white.

Even the reasonably priced Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light has a satisfying amount of customizable features. These include brightness adjustment, AI scene creation, and color palettes that can be applied across the entire strip or fine-tuned segment by segment.

2. The companion app is reliable and user-friendly

It’s all well and good having a fancy bit of kit capable of impressive lighting effects, but if the companion app is overly complex, clunky, or lacks features, it’d quickly dull any sparkle. Fortunately, the Govee Home app isn’t guilty of any of these; instead, it provides a delightfully straightforward and engaging user experience. It’s simple to navigate between different features, and I really liked that I could streamline the layout by arranging the modes for easy access. Another customizable element I appreciated was the quick action button that sits at the top of the page, giving me easy access to a choice of functions, including color and effect sections, auto-play, and a timer, amongst others.

(Image credit: Future)3. Their prices are more palatable than Philips Hue

I think I’ve made it clear already that there are savings to be made when opting for Govee over Philips Hue, but to demonstrate my point, I’m going to lay out a couple of examples of the cost difference between similar products from both brands.

Say you’re thinking of upgrading your ceiling lights, a two-pack of 800 lumen RGBWW smart bulbs from Govee costs around $24.99 / £18.99, whereas the same from Philips Hue could set you back around $89.99 / £84.99. The price difference is pretty vast straight off the bat, and the chasm widens further when you factor in an additional $59.99 / $49.99 for a Philips Hue Bridge, which you’ll need if you want to use the full suite of features, such as controlling your lights away from home, something which Govee offers for free via the Govee Home app.

So, if you’re keen to get started on your smart lighting setup, but have been put off by the cost of building a Philips Hue system, then Govee is well worth considering, not just because their products are more affordable, but because they’re feature-packed and efficient, too.

Steeped in old-school horror tropes, Grammy-winning musician, rapper, producer and filmmaker Flying Lotus’ (V/H/S/99) new-to-streaming phantasmagoria, Ash, is primed and pumped to provide all the high-octane cosmic nightmare fuel you might ever want to tank up on.

With its first-person shooter video game pedigree and obvious homages to films like John Carpenter’s The Thing and Paul W.S. Anderson’s Event Horizon, with a sprinkling of H.P. Lovecraft’s Great Old Ones tossed in, Ash got a theatrical release on March 21, 2025 by XYZ Films and now it’s come to the horror-centric platform Shudder starting on Friday, June 20.

Director Flying Louts' Ash is currently streaming on Shudder. (Image credit: Shudder)

Trust me when I say that you’ve never seen such disturbing, imaginative imagery like this and it’s a must-watch revelation for any card-carrying horror hound or diehard sci-fi aficionado. You might even want to keep all the house lights on and huddle up with braver souls than your own.

The storyline employed is relatively simple and it’s a well-worn plot device in survival horror gaming and sci-fi territory where an astronaut awakens aboard a spaceship with little or no memory of what tragedy has occurred and a mysterious lethal antagonist lurking on the dark.

Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, Need For Speed) and Eiza González (Baby Driver) star in this extraordinarily frightening project helmed by Flying Lotus from a clever screenplay penned by native Swiss actor Jonni Remmler. Ash carries with it the confident attitude and flair of raw ‘90s-era grindhouse science fiction horror movies such as indie director Richard Stanley's Hardware or Vincenzo Natali's chilling Cube. Match that with video game DNA from franchises like Doom, Dead Space, and Silent Hill and you’ve got an idea of what's in store.

Here’s the official synopsis: "On the mysterious planet of Ash, Riya (González) awakens to find her crew slaughtered. When a man named Brion (Paul) arrives to rescue her, an ordeal of psychological and physical terror ensues while Riya and Brion must decide if they can trust one another to survive."

The cast also includes Iko Uwais, Kate Elliott, Beulah Koale, and Flying Lotus, who wrote the insanely addictive original synthwave score that acts as a perfect complement to the visionary frights. This atmospheric music was written in off-grid fashion while FlyLo was in New Zealand using only a MIDI controller and his personal laptop computer and the results are astounding.

Punctuate with intense pools of saturated color, monstrous alien entities, and jump scares that might leave you breathless, this a truly something to savor and we’re thrilled to introduce this stellar work by Flying Lotus, one of our best and brightest hyphenate talents on the planet.

Ash has invaded the Shudder streaming platform starting June 20. (Image credit: Shudder)

There’s also a jaw-dropping unintentional homage to the Palmer Monster scene in Carpenter’s The Thing that ratchets up the blood and gore to ridiculous dimensions that you won’t want to miss.

Now streaming on Shudder, Ash is produced by XYZ Films' Nate Bolotin and GFC Films' Mathew Metcalf and executive produced by Nick Spicer, Maxime Cottray, Aram Tertzakian, Maile Daughtery, Flying Lotus, Neill Blomkamp, Dave Brown, and Adam Riback.

You might also like

• 8 new horror movies on Netflix, Shudder, HBO Max, and more in June 2025
• 3 new horror movies are coming to Prime Video in June
• You can totally tell that 28 Years Later was shot on an iPhone

• Etsy's new rules redefine what "handmade" means
• Sellers surprised as Etsy quietly updates its 3D printing policy
• Popular 3D prints may no longer meet Etsy’s originality test

Etsy has updated its Creativity Standards policy, tightening the rules around what qualifies as handmade or original on its popular marketplace.

The most talked-about change affects 3D printed goods, as only items based on a seller’s own designs will now meet the criteria. This seems to exclude many popular products, including flexi dragons (articulated dragon figures like the one above, with or without eggs), which are often made from designs licensed from third-party creators.

The change slipped under the radar at first since Etsy made no public announcement, instead quietly tucking the news into a community newsletter about keeping the marketplace safe.

Must be based on the seller’s original design

Sellers discovered the shift while reading through the legal fine print under “Our House Rules.” Word spread quickly, and 3D print forums lit up with concern and confusion.

As Tom’s Hardware reports, when Etsy launched in 2005, it was all about handmade items and vintage finds. Over time, dropshippers and mass-produced products have flooded the platform.

Etsy began responding to this problem in 2024 with new Creativity Standards that emphasize originality and a human touch.

Everything on the site is now supposed to fall into four loose categories: made, designed, handpicked, or sourced by the seller.

Most 3D print sellers believed they were covered under “made by seller,” since they print items themselves. Etsy has now clarified that these products must also be based on the seller’s original designs.

That detail now places thousands of current listings in violation of policy, but it has been suggested that makers could get around the change by adding customization to their creations and offering unique photos and descriptions to their listings.

Etsy hasn’t banned 3D printing outright, and there is no suggestion that it ever plans to do so. Sellers can still create and sell their own designs on the site, as well as make use of alternative platforms, like eBay and TikTok.

You might also like

• These are the best 3D printers available to buy right now
• We also rounded up the best hobby 3D printers on the market
• Massive data leak exposes 1.6 million Etsy customer details

• DuckDuckGo is offering enhanced, in-browser scam protections
• Online scams are on the rise, so it wants to keep users safe
• It says Scam Blocker doesn't send tracking information to third-parties

Online scams are on the rise, AI is enabling cybercriminals to send out more frequent scams that are more sophisticated than ever, and financial losses are growing ever more common, with online fraud costing Americans $12.5bn in 2024.

DuckDuckGo is looking to change this, revealing a new edition of its browser with a built-in Scam Blocker tool which helps to guard users against phishing websites, malware, and other online scams.

This now includes fake crypto-currency exchanges sites, fraudulent shopping sites, and ‘scareware’ - a type of malicious software that tries to convince victims that their device has a virus to urge them to buy unnecessary antivirus software.

Save up to 68% on identity theft protection for TechRadar readers!

TechRadar editors praise Aura's upfront pricing and simplicity. Aura also includes a password manager, VPN, and antivirus to make its security solution an even more compelling deal.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Devastating losses

The Scam Blocker is available for free on DuckDuckGo for mobile and for desktop, and Privacy Pro users can enjoy full-device coverage even when using other browsers, as long as they’re logged into the DuckDuckGo VPN.

The tool works by stopping scammy pages from loading if a user accidentally follows a malicious link. A warning message will then allow the user to safely navigate away from the page.

The Scam Blocker also blocks tracker-powered ads before they load, so users are safe from ‘malvertising’ ads that may compromise their systems.

Scam Blocker never tracks searches, and it stops other companies from harvesting data too, with browser protections designed to keep your information private. It protects your anonymity by keeping a ‘dangerous site list’ locally on your device, meaning your browsing data is not sent elsewhere.

“Most browsers use Google tools for phishing and malware blocking, sending browsing data to Google in real time" says Brit Edwards, Senior Communications Manager, DuckDuckGo.

”We don’t. We designed Scam Blocker ourselves, with data from independent cybersecurity company Netcraft. Our scam protections don’t require an account, and we don’t share your browsing data with third parties.”

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around
• Check out our choice for the best ransomware protection tools
• Identity fraud attacks using AI are fooling biometric security systems

• A battery company says it has made a breakthrough in “ionic conductivity”
• Innovative new electrolyte performs in extreme cold conditions, too
• Ultra-fast charging wouldn’t require MegaWatt infrastructure

You probably haven’t heard of 24M Technologies, but that’s okay because all of the breakthrough battery tech that eventually works its way into production EVs is usually developed by some poor lab-dwellers that never receive the recognition they deserve.

However, the company is willing to actively shout about its latest Eternalyte electrolyte technology, because it claims that it has the potential to charge up to four times faster than today’s EV batteries, perform in extreme cold conditions, and pave the way for next-gen lithium metal EV batteries that offer over 1,000-miles of driving range.

These are bold claims indeed, but 24M Technologies says its top-secret electrolyte recipe (good luck finding out the precise details) delivers a step change in ionic conductivity – or the rate at which ions flow between the anode and cathode of a battery pack.

Currently, a number of brands are pushing ahead with solid-state battery technology, which effectively achieves a similar result by ridding a battery pack of the liquid electrolytes that can slow down proceedings.

But the high ionic conductivity and broad working temperature window of 24M’s next-gen electrolyte brings with it a much higher charge rate (up to four times that of today’s batteries), without the need for an expensive and difficult to install MegaWatt charging infrastructure.

Tests have also shown that the company’s innovation retains essentially all battery capacity at 0°C and more than 80% capacity at -40°C, which addresses the key issue of EV range dipping during the colder winter months.

The company claims that Eternalyte is designed for lithium metal batteries, but also works perfectly well for silicon and graphite-based batteries, which covers the majority of the electric vehicle battery market today and further ahead.

Battery producers can also integrate the technology into existing manufacturing processes, without the need for costly machinery or disruption to supply chains.

Analysis: A future-proofed solution

(Image credit: 24M Technologies)

Of course, without knowing the exact details of Eternalyte – or seeing it working in practice – we have to take 24M’s word on the headline-grabbing figures, but it all looks promising.

The company is producing solutions for the sort of battery packs that we see in vehicles today, as well as future-proofing it for the EV technology we will see arriving over the next ten years.

With an ionic conductivity rate that is three-to-five times faster than today’s lithium-ion batteries, any consumer technology product fitted with Eternalyte technology could theoretically charge at much faster rates than we see today, all without the need to drastically change the charging infrastructure.

What’s more, the improved operational window means EVs wouldn’t suddenly see a 25% drop in battery capacity when ice starts forming on the windscreens and performance could be maintained in those parts of the world that suffer from extreme heat.

Automotive manufacturers are often cagey about revealing details of their suppliers, but if we suddenly see a rapid reduction in EV charging times, improved range and better performance in extreme conditions, we might have 24M Technologies to thank.

You might also like

• Tesla is secretly testing new versions of its Model S Plaid and Model Y Performance – here’s what to expect
• Huawei and Xpeng just turned an entire EV windshield into a head-up display – and it could be a glimpse of your distracting driving future
• The myth of Megawatt charging – and why Porsche doesn't think it's the answer to smoother EV journeys