TechRadar News

• LongCat-2.0 contains 1.6 trillion parameters and a million-token context
• Meituan trained the model using over 50,000 domestic AI accelerators
• The model completed pre-training entirely without any Nvidia hardware involved

Meituan has released LongCat-2.0, an open source large language model containing 1.6 trillion parameters and supporting a 1 million-token context window.

This scale places the model roughly on par with DeepSeek's flagship V4-pro, which launched back in April this year.

Meituan says LongCat-2.0 completed full process training on a computing cluster containing more than 50,000 domestic AI accelerators, making it the first trillion-parameter model to achieve that scale.

Domestic hardware reaches a new training milestone

The announcement comes as China continues expanding domestic computing capabilities amid export restrictions limiting access to advanced United States graphics processors.

Unlike DeepSeek V4-pro, which relied on Chinese chips only during inference, LongCat-2.0 also completed the far more demanding pre-training stage using domestic hardware.

This means that the company has entirely avoided the use of foreign AI hardware such as those from Nvidia.

The company said the system was built entirely on large AI ASIC superpods while using Huawei's Collective Communication Library to improve communication stability across processors.

China’s home-grown AI chips have been widely adopted for model inference amid Beijing’s push for technology self-reliance, although pre-training has remained significantly more difficult.

Meituan claims that LongCat-2.0 showed strong performance in coding and agent-based tasks while exceeding Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro across several benchmarks, including Terminal-Bench 2.1 and SWE-Bench Pro.

Nevertheless, it acknowledged that its latest model still trails OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 and Anthropic’s Claude 4.8 Opus on broader frontier capability assessments.

“This put to rest any concerns of Atlas-950 SuperPoDs [being] unable to train large LLMs for [Zhipu AI] and DeepSeek,” said tech analyst TP Huang.

Technical hurdles remain despite larger ambitions

Despite the successes recorded by Meituan, this does not come without the significant hurdle of replacing Nvidia hardware.

The company faced major engineering difficulties throughout development despite completing training without relying on restricted foreign graphics processors.

Meituan said memory became the primary bottleneck because each domestic accelerator offered substantially less capacity than Nvidia’s H800 chip, which remains unavailable for export to China under United States rules.

Engineers therefore built additional optimisation systems intended to maintain stable, secure, and scalable training across the cluster despite its considerable size and complexity.

Hanchi Sun, a computer science PhD researcher, described the achievement by writing, “Near frontier performance, trained on 50k Chinese domestic accelerators,” before adding, “The first ever to achieve this!”

LongCat-2.0 has not yet appeared on major independent evaluations including Artificial Analysis, Arena, Agents’ Last Exam, or CyberGym, leaving external verification of several reported capabilities outstanding.

However, the release suggests Chinese developers are attempting to reduce Nvidia dependence by expanding domestic hardware beyond inference into large-scale training.

Broader benchmark results across AI tools will ultimately determine how competitive this approach becomes going forward.

Via SCMP

• Disney is paying a share of $50 million to YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers
• This is part of a settlement it has reached with a class action lawsuit claiming it leveraged its control over channels like ESPN to force higher prices on users
• FuboTV users are also part of this class action, but they are not part of this settlement, meaning their portion of the case is ongoing

If you were subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream at any point between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, you could be owed a share of $50 million as part of a class action lawsuit.

The class action alleged that Disney violated federal and various state antitrust and consumer protection laws by raising the prices of streaming packages. It claims it did this by forcing ESPN and other premium Disney-owned channels into basic packages offered by YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream, making these bundles pricier for end users and leaving them without more affordable alternatives that include premium sports channels.

Disney has strongly denied the allegations laid out in the lawsuit, and this settlement doesn’t determine whether it was right or wrong. Still, it does mean that subscribers — even folks who are no longer subscribed but were at some point during April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026 will get a cut of the $50 million payout.

FuboTV was also involved in this suit, but its plaintiffs have not settled with Disney. This means its segment of the class action is still ongoing, and you’ll need to wait and see how it resolves if you were/are a subscriber to this service.

Beyond the $50 million, Disney has also agreed to entertain proposals for channel packages that exclude ESPN or contain fewer Disney-owned channels overall. This would create more package flexibility and potentially offer non-sports fans more affordable, sports-free groupings that better fit their needs and budgets.

How do I make a claim?

(Image credit: OpturaDesign/Shutterstock)

The easiest way to submit a claim is to visit https://onlinetvsettlement.com.

From here, head to the Submit a Claim tab, which will ask you for the Unique ID printed on the notice that you received in the mail or email — this is a document that has been sent out to eligible plaintiffs in this case.

If you haven’t received this information, you can email info@OnlineTVSettlement.com for help, or send a written claim form (along with any required documentation) to Biddle v. Disney, Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4720, Portland, OR 97208-4720.

Any claims must be submitted before September 8, 2026, with mailed forms requiring a postmark of that date or earlier.

If you do nothing, you will not get your share of the settlement.

Am I eligible?

(Image credit: DIRECTV)

You should have received a notice if you are eligible to make a claim, but if you haven’t and think you should, you can check the full eligibility criteria by visiting https://onlinetvsettlement.com.

As the front page explains, “The Settlement Classes consist of the YouTube TV Settlement Class and the DirecTV Stream Settlement Class."

“The “YouTube TV Settlement Class” includes all Persons who purchased a YouTube TV subscription from the period beginning April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026.

“The “DirecTV Stream Settlement Class” includes all Persons who purchased a DirecTV streaming live pay TV subscription (including DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now, and AT&T TV Now) from the period beginning April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026.”

How much will I get?

(Image credit: ESPN)

You won’t get $50 million, instead, you’ll just get a share of the money determined by how many people claim their stake and how long you were subscribed for — someone who signed up for a couple of months won’t get as much as someone who was subscribed to either of these services for the full seven-year period between the cutoff dates.

The state you live in can determine what share you get as well.

Finally, on January 14, 2027, the court will hold its final approval meeting. On this date, it could decide to object to the settlement, meaning you wouldn’t get anything, at least not until a new verdict or settlement is reached. We can’t say how likely it is that this case specifically will fail the approval process, as we aren’t legal experts; however, it’s rare that they do.

I started using an ergonomic mouse – along with an ergonomic keyboard – back in late 2021 to help me reduce the damage I was doing to my body by sitting at my desk all day, typing. At the time, the ergonomic mouse I was using was the Logitech MX Vertical, but that proved to be too big for my small mitts.

When the Logitech Lift was announced, I promptly swapped and I have not looked back since! I love this mouse and it's currently available at its lowest price yet of just AU$58.34 for the black variant. That's a very generous 55% off the listed price and it will ship to New Zealand for NZ$74.39 with no additional shipping fees.

The other two colour options are also discounted but nowhere as well as the black model, so if you aren't too fussed about that, this offer won't last long — not likely till the end of Prime Day on Tuesday, July 13.

• Follow my live coverage of the best Prime Day 2026 deals, many of which ship to New Zealand as well

A comfortable and very ergonomic mouse, the Logitech Lift is a nice-looking wireless mouse with adjustable sensitivity settings between 400 and 4,000 DPI. So while it won't be the best option for gamers, it's perfect for everyday use for work or study. It works very well via Bluetooth, but you can also connect via 2.4GHz wireless, and set it up to work with three different devices.View Deal

I currently have the white Logitech Lift, but that has started to look a little grubby now. To be fair to my mouse, though, I carry it with me between home and office, and my bag can't be doing it any favours. With that in mind, I think the black colourway would be best for long-term and everyday use and I am very tempted to buy this one at this price.

I'm not the only one who likes this mouse. It scored high in our Logitech Lift review, with our tester saying it makes "toiling away on the computer for hours on end just a little easier – and much less painful". It's also our pick of the best mouse for ergonomics, thanks to the 57º twist to the vertical 'sail'.

Admittedly the Lift is best suited to small and medium-sized hands, but it might be quite comfortable for people with large hands as well. There's a rubber grip on the rear that keeps your palm from slipping, plus the buttons and the scroll wheel has been placed exactly where your fore, middle and ring finger will sit naturally when you wrap your hand around it.

The clicks are whisper quiet, so you'll never disturb anyone working beside you.

Importantly, its performance is excellent. You can use the Logitech Options app to make some adjustments, like saving two DPI presets, but don’t expect high-speed tracking resolution comparable to gaming mice. It glides smoothly and is accurate for more everyday needs. And while our reviewer had issues with its sensor while testing, I have had no such problems myself.

My only complaint with the Logitech Lift is that it requires a single AA battery, while the MX Vertical I had previously could be recharged via USB-C. Sure, the battery goes on for up to 24 months (depending on use), but it would have been nice if this too was a rechargeable option.

• ByteDance aims to finalize its new CPU design by early 2027
• Mass production and deployment are targeted for the second half of 2027
• An early chip version has been used internally since late 2025

TikTok parent company ByteDance is reportedly racing to finalize the design of a next-generation in-house CPU by early 2027.

According to SCMP, the company aims to reach mass production and wider deployment during the second half of 2027, with an early version of this proprietary processor being deployed internally since late 2025.

Internal computing demand at ByteDance has accelerated sharply, driven largely by products like the Doubao chatbot and Seedance video model, which have significantly increased infrastructure requirements across the company's expanding AI tools lineup.

Urgency driven by rapid AI growth

As agentic AI workloads grow more complex, computing needs are shifting away from pure matrix calculations toward broader task orchestration duties.

These newer AI systems require more coordination, decision-making, memory management, and software operations.

It therefore creates greater demand for general-purpose processors working alongside GPUs rather than relying only on accelerator clusters.

This shift is influencing how companies like ByteDance plan future computing infrastructure.

According to reports, tape-out, the final engineering milestone before physical chip fabrication begins, could be moved earlier than originally planned.

ByteDance has never publicly commented on its chip development activities, despite what reports describe as rapid expansion across several in-house silicon designs.

To help accelerate development and secure foundry manufacturing capacity, the company is reportedly collaborating with US chipmaker Qualcomm on this initiative.

Export controls change the competitive landscape

Washington's export controls have progressively restricted Chinese companies' access to advanced semiconductors, including Nvidia's H100 and H20 accelerators specifically.

This tightening regulatory environment has pushed China's largest technology firms toward building their own in-house chip programs at scale.

ByteDance's CPU initiative fits within that broader pattern, aiming to reduce dependence on suppliers it cannot fully control.

Publicly traded chipmakers including Arm Holdings, Intel Corporation, and Advanced Micro Devices could face reduced demand as ByteDance's in-house capabilities mature further.

Nvidia, already limited in selling advanced AI accelerators to Chinese buyers, faces an added long-term headwind as ByteDance builds internal alternatives.

This strategy mirrors moves already made by major global hyperscalers investing heavily in custom silicon infrastructure.

Google's TPU chips, Amazon's Trainium and Graviton processors, and Microsoft's Maia accelerator all reflect a similar underlying thesis.

At sufficient scale, proprietary hardware can offer meaningful cost and performance advantages over hardware purchased from outside vendors.

But the confirmation of an official tape-out date would give markets a clearer signal of how seriously to value ByteDance's growing semiconductor ambitions.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, July 7 (game #1625).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• G

• T

• E

• A

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1626) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1626, are…

• GHOST
• TREND
• EXALT
• ALONG

Even though I could see no other possibility other than EXALT, whenever a rare letter comes to mind there is always a moment of pause.

Fortunately I got my first three words easily, so I had plenty of space left if it didn’t work out.

Daily Sequence today (game #1626) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1626, are…

• PREEN
• BLARE
• RUPEE
• WHICH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1625, Tuesday, 7 July: ARRAY, SUITE, KIOSK, BOULE
• Quordle #1624, Monday, 6 July: TRAWL, SPICE, PIANO, SHARK
• Quordle #1623, Sunday, 5 July: PINEY, SWOON, TITLE, PINTO
• Quordle #1622, Saturday, 4 July: ARGUE, MOTEL, OPERA, TRUCE
• Quordle #1621, Friday, 3 July: AVERT, MOTOR, MANIC, WORDY
• Quordle #1620, Thursday, 2 July: BULKY, PARSE, BELOW, MOVIE
• Quordle #1619, Wednesday, 1 July: EASEL, OTTER, LYRIC, SHACK
• Quordle #1618, Tuesday, 30 June: HALVE, DRYER, THERE, MINTY
• Quordle #1617, Monday, 29 June: SLURP, CRACK, CRANK, PHONY
• Quordle #1616, Sunday, 28 June: RUPEE, TOPAZ, FULLY, BEING
• Quordle #1615, Saturday, 27 June: PRINT, MARRY, SADLY, BICEP
• Quordle #1614, Friday, 26 June: JUICE, ARRAY, BONEY, SKIFF
• Quordle #1613, Thursday, 25 June: SHELF, TAWNY, HYPER, SOLVE
• Quordle #1612, Wednesday, 24 June: SOBER, ECLAT, GOOSE, NINNY
• Quordle #1611, Tuesday, 23 June: ARDOR, DADDY, SERVE, SHEAR
• Quordle #1610, Monday, 22 June: WAXEN, APNEA, CHIME, WAVER
• Quordle #1609, Sunday, 21 June: ABBOT, NOTCH, DREAD, LURID
• Quordle #1608, Saturday, 20 June: SLAIN, TAMER, VIPER, FALSE
• Quordle #1607, Friday, 19 June: ALOUD, POINT, GLOBE, GROIN
• Quordle #1606, Thursday, 18 June: LATCH, BRAWL, STEEL, CRUSH

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, July 7 (game #1122).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1123) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DRIFT
• PLANE
• WAX
• PLOT
• PLUCK
• CARDS
• SHAVE
• THREAD
• GRATE
• PICK
• WORSHIP
• TAP
• LORDS
• STRUM
• THEME
• SLIVER

NYT Connections today (game #1123) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Tiny slices
• GREEN: Describe the big picture
• BLUE: Axe styles
• PURPLE: Things with solid homes

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1123) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: CUT INTO THIN PIECES
• GREEN: MOTIF
• BLUE: GUITAR-PLAYING TECHNIQUES
• PURPLE: HOUSE OF ____

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1123) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1123, are…

• YELLOW: CUT INTO THIN PIECES: GRATE, PLANE, SHAVE, SLIVER
• GREEN: MOTIF: DRIFT, PLOT, THEME, THREAD
• BLUE: GUITAR-PLAYING TECHNIQUES: PICK, PLUCK, STRUM, TAP
• PURPLE: HOUSE OF ____: CARDS, LORDS, WAX, WORSHIP

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

I am sure I was not the only one making a mistake by connecting THREAD, SHAVE, WAX, and PLUCK, thinking they were all ways to eliminate body hair. Anyone who has ever been to a Turkish barber will know that there’s another way, too!

Alas, it turned out to be a dastardly red herring.

After my error I was able to get the other groups easily enough, although I did hesitate over TAP in the GUITAR-PLAYING TECHNIQUES group.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, July 7, 2026, game #1122)

• YELLOW: ROOMS IN CLUE: CONSERVATORY, HALL, KITCHEN, STUDY
• GREEN: STUDENT-ATHLETE DESIGNATIONS: ALL-AMERICAN, JOCK, LETTERMAN, TEAM CAPTAIN
• BLUE: ___ TWIST: FRENCH, LEMON, OLIVER, PLOT
• PURPLE: ENDING IN "SESAME STREET" CHARACTERS: BERNIE, COLBERT, DISCOUNT, SAN ANSELMO

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, July 7 (game #856).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #857) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Here come trouble

NYT Strands today (game #857) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• HIVE
• CREED
• SPARE
• VICE
• SALE
• CRAPS

NYT Strands today (game #857) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #857) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 4th row

• Last side: right, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #857) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #857, are…

• SCAMP
• HELLION
• RAPSCALLION
• WHIPPERSNAPPER
• SPANGRAM: LITTLEDEVIL

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

There were a few different ways to connect LITTLE and DEVIL and I think I tried them all before finally getting a rare, for me at least, spangram first.

The rest of the board was far trickier. After getting SCAMP I used a hint but even with it I struggled to see HELLION — not a word I’ve ever heard before.

Next the non-game word “scallion” helped me see RAPSCALLION before my misery was ended with the brilliantly old-fashioned WHIPPERSNAPPER — a great word, but possibly not one you use when reporting “trouble” to the police.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, July 7, game #856)

• CART
• BUGGY
• WAGON
• CARRIAGE
• STAGECOACH
• SLEIGH
• SPANGRAM: IGETAROUND

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• The next Galaxy Unpacked is set for July 22, 2026
• Samsung teases "A New Shape Is Unfolding"
• A new foldable form factor could debut alongside the existing Fold and Flip phones

A week after wiping its social media accounts and replacing them with cryptic teasers — and following months of rumors — Samsung has officially set the date for its second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026.

Everything will be revealed, unpacked, or perhaps more fittingly, unfolded, on July 22, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. BST (11 p.m. AEDT). Samsung will livestream the Galaxy Unpacked keynote from an in-person event in London, UK, and yes, TechRadar will be on the ground at the unveil.

The invitation itself is already dropping hints, as Samsung tries to build anticipation. Alongside the tagline, "A New Shape Unfolds," the animated invite shows what appears to be a ticket printing before its top edge is torn away, revealing a noticeably wider, shorter silhouette than Samsung's current Galaxy Z Fold devices.

Samsung hasn't confirmed exactly what it will be announcing come July 22, but between the tagline and the animation, it's hard not to see them as clues pointing toward an all-new foldable design. It's also already accepting pre-reservations for whatever it will formally unveil at the July 22 event.

(Image credit: Samsung)

Specifically, you can sign up with your email on Samsung's main site at no cost to score a $30 Samsung Credit that can be applied to your pre-order and unlock up to $1,230 off with an eligible device trade-in.

So, if you're considering one of the next Galaxy devices, it's worth getting in line now ... and there's no cost involved.

You can sign up to reserve the next Galaxy at Samsung directly at no cost and unlock $30 Samsung Credit towards the preorder of the next device and up to $1,230 off with an eligible device trade-in.View Deal

Samsung's summer Galaxy Unpacked events have traditionally been the stage for its newest foldable smartphones and fresh wearables such as Galaxy Watches and Galaxy Buds. This year, though, the spotlight looks set to extend beyond the usual annual refreshes.

While we're expecting successors to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung has already hinted that something different is on the way. When it began teasing the event last week, the tech giant said that "after seven generations of pushing the boundaries of foldables, Samsung is taking a different approach to how it builds anticipation this year."

That statement, combined with months of leaks pointing to a wider foldable form factor, has fueled speculation that Samsung is finally ready to unveil an entirely new kind of foldable phone.

Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold lineup's familiar book-style design, this rumored device is expected to feature a much wider form factor. Based on the leaks we've seen so far, it resembles the now-discontinued Microsoft Surface Duo, Apple's long-rumored foldable that's widely expected to arrive later this year, or even a classic Moleskine notebook when folded shut. If the rumors prove accurate, Samsung could once again be first to market with a new foldable form factor.

Galaxy AI is also expected to be front and center throughout the keynote, with Samsung likely showcasing new AI-powered features across its latest folding phones and potentially teasing its forthcoming Android XR Glasses.

TechRadar will be on the ground in London for Galaxy Unpacked, bringing you live coverage of every announcement as it happens, along with hands-on impressions of Samsung's newest devices. We'll also be running a live blog throughout the keynote, so be sure to follow along as Samsung unveils what's next come July 22.

In the meantime, let us know what you're most excited to see Samsung reveal at Galaxy Unpacked in the comments below.

• Reflect10 solar panel geometry increases daily energy production by 20%
• Cells capture more sunlight during low-angle hours and cloud conditions
• Silicon panel efficiency limits are nearing – this is big news

Canadian startup Reflect10 has introduced a new photovoltaic (PV) module architecture that could significantly boost how much energy solar panels could produce, and it’s nothing to do with the maximum wattage.

Instead, the upgrade embeds a light-reflecting geometry directly into the solar panel to reflect incoming sunlight multiple times, giving photons additional opportunities to hit the PV cells. By enabling additional reflections and angles, it means solar panels can convert even more sunlight into electricity as the sun sets into lower angles.

Though the concept as a whole already existed, it previously required external mirrors or motors, making the installation more expensive. Various studies pointed at energy production improvements of between 11% and 57%.

The same panel, with the same wattage, could produce 20% more capacity

According to the company, it could lead to 20% higher average daily energy production compared with standard solar panels, with low-angle times like early morning and late afternoon generating up to 2.66x more power. The technology also promises to increase efficiency during conditions of diffused light, like cloudy weather.

This upgrade also comes at an important time, because conventional silicon solar cells are quickly approaching their theoretical efficiency ceiling, making it nearly impossible to produce more electricity.

“These results represent a significant and immediate step forward at a time when the industry has faced a fundamental physical ceiling for decades,” founder Louis Massicotte said (via pv magazine).

According to the company, the global solar industry has grown by an average of +0.18 percentage points of efficiency per year under real field conditions since 1954, marking very slow progress.

Ultimately, Reflect10 boosts panel efficiency not by boosting the cell efficiency itself, but rather by enabling more light to hit the cells. Ultimately, it means that a 500W panel, for example, could produce 500W of electricity more of the time, rather than being restricted to a lesser wattage due to unfavorable conditions, leading to a higher total capacity (measured in kWh).

Proven efficiency-boosting PV tech could tackle current restrictions

Though testing data primarily comes from optical simulations by Canada’s National Optics Institute, the company has also conducted proof-of-concept field trials to prove it works across both Morocco and Canada.

An independent scientific review carried out by the Île-de-France Photovoltaic Institute (IPVF) also notes the technology’s potential to scale and plug gaps in grid shortfalls across a broader range of times – not just during peak sunlight hours.

“By increasing production at the beginning and end of the day, the technology could help better match periods of peak electricity demand while reducing the concentration of generation around the midday solar peak,” IPVF research director Pere Roca i Cabarrocas commented.

The company is now pursuing three international Patent Cooperation Treaty applications ahead of its public presentation in Paris.

Reflect10 itself doesn’t plan to manufacture panels with the new light-reflecting geometry – instead, the Canadian company is offering 50 non-exclusive licenses for its intellectual property to module manufacturers.

There are two main Kindle ranges: Colorsoft and Paperwhite. If you're in the market for a new Amazon ereader but aren't sure which one to buy, this article is here to help. I've put together a cheatsheet of what you need to know to make your decision, starting with the key differences between the two lines, the current Paperwhite options and Colorsoft options, a specs comparison table, and a summary of which to buy. I've also included a section on your other options in the Kindle range.

Ready to choose your new ereader? Let's get started...

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs Paperwhite: similarities & differences

In this section, I'll be discussing the standard Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft models, as well as the Signature editions, but not the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.

Let's start with the similarities. Regardless of whether you buy a Colorsoft or Paperwhite, you'll be getting a seven-inch, glare-free screen, IPX8 waterproofing, and an option of either 16 or 32GB of storage. All offer 300ppi resolution when used in black and white.

The big difference to know is that the Paperwhite models only display in black-and-white, whereas the Colorsoft Kindles can also display in color (at 150ppi, which is standard for a color ereader). This has a knock-on effect on battery life: Amazon says the Colorsoft models will last eight weeks on a single charge, whereas the Paperwhite can go up to 12 weeks. That's based on half an hour of reading per day, on a brightness level of 13, which is just below halfway.

It also has an effect on price — regardless of if you opt for a Signature or standard model, at list price the Paperwhite Kindles are cheaper than the Colorsoft models.

Kindle Paperwhite models

There are two main Paperwhite models: the regular Paperwhite and the Paperwhite Signature. The only difference is that the Signature has double the storage (32GB compared to 16GB for the standard model).

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Read our full review

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Read our full review

Kindle Colorsoft models

There are three main Kindle Colorsoft options: the standard model, the Signature edition, and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. The first two are basically the same, except the Signature packs twice as much storage (16GB compared to 32GB). The Scribe Colorsoft offers writing capabilities alongside color reading, and it's different enough that I've relegated it to the 'Other options' section of this article.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs Paperwhite: which should I buy?

The only real reason to choose a Colorsoft over a Paperwhite is for its color display potential. Aside from that, the specs are either the same or better on the Paperwhite, and Paperwhite models are cheaper, too.

So how good is the color? Our tester was extremely impressed. You can get the full low-down in the Display section of our Kindle Colorsoft review, but the short version is that panning and zooming is smooth and speedy, with no ghosts or artifacts popping up, and refresh is "nearly undetectable".

On the subject of picture quality, our tester had this to say: "The Kindle Colorsoft lights the color and black pixels evenly, and color pages look fantastic. They look like paper, as they should... Get an iPad if you want bright and saturated." You can get a taster of what to expect in the carousel of images below.

Philip Berne / FuturePhilip Berne / FuturePhilip Berne / FuturePhilip Berne / FutureFuture / Lance Ulanoff

You can use color to highlight text in different hues, which could be useful to students, for example. However, the obvious market for a device like this is graphic novel fans. On this point, be aware that because the Kindle Colorsoft can't run third-party apps, you'll be limited to the titles available via Amazon's own ComiXology platform. This offers a decent selection of comic books, but is more limited than the likes of Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite.

Note that you can read graphic novels on a Paperwhite, but they'll just be in black and white. Just like on the Colorsoft, there's a Panel view feature that expands each individual frame on the page — see it in action on a Paperwhite below.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

If that has convinced you that color is something you'll want to make use of, buy a Colorsoft model. If not, pick up a Paperwhite and enjoy the cheaper cost and longer battery life.

Other Kindle options

If you're in the market for a black-and-white ereader, you also have the option of a standard Kindle, which has a smaller screen than the standard Paperwhite and Colorsoft ereaders, is cheaper and lighter in weight too. There are a few concessions you'll need to make, though: the battery life is on the shorter side, and it's not waterproof.

There's also the Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which you can use for writing as well as reading. Both have larger (11-inch) screens, and neither are waterproof. Note that if you go for a Scribe Colorsoft, you can't use the two parts in tandem — so you can't take notes on a color page — which weakens the proposition somewhat.

Amazon Kindle

Read our full review

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Read our full review

Pros

• Still the best big ereader, with better writing tools
• Subtle improvements add up in a big way
• AI tools that are [gasp] useful?!

Cons

• It’s more expensive without new hardware
• It’s got AI, like everything – you can’t escape

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

Specs compared

Eric Schmidt has enjoyed a long career in the technology industry, including a decade at the helm of Google. Since then, he's been heavily involved in the realm of defense – and has had a thing or two to say about the new reality of conflicts around the globe.

Modern warfare

Schmidt was speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia about the rise of drone-based warfare, contrasting this with the historic prevalence of tanks and armored vehicles.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.

The cost-to-damage ratio is incredibly favorable, as he urged the US and Western allies to transition away from legacy tech in favor of drones and other related technologies at the heart of a new kind of warfare.

His expertise in this realm comes primarily from his role advising the US government and military on technology, with the former Google CEO chairing the Defense Innovation Board from March 2016. This organization primarily connects the tech sector with the Pentagon.

Between 2019 and 2021, Schmidt also co-chaired the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which had a mission to make recommendations to the US president and Congress on the role of AI in the future of defense.

Look to the skies

Schmidt's comments came two-and-a-half years following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, a war that's been defined by next-generation technologies including robotics and drones.

Ukraine has, for example, used AI drones to strike vital Russian supply lines, while in recent weeks, news emerged that Russia has also stepped up use of jet-powered drones that can hit speeds of up to 500 km/h against its adversary.

Drones are incredibly cheap compared with technologies used in the past – and they're also incredibly effective. We also see examples of the way drones have been used in the conflict between the US-Israeli forces and Iran.

While the heatwave is over for some, this past week's extreme weather has really highlighted that a good fan is worth its weight in gold. What do you get with so many options on the market, however?

Well, one of the best options this week has to be the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool for $689.99 (was $849.99) at the official Dyson Store. It's a pricey buy, yes, but this innovative fan seriously impressed us when we reviewed it last month, so it's an easy recommendation if you've got deep pockets.

Despite the price, this is no ordinary fan. The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool combines an in-built HEPA filter with unique person tracking technology. Put simply, it's able to follow you around the room, while allergy sufferers will appreciate its ability to keep the air free of pollen, dust, or other allergens.

Today's price at Dyson is likely a record low, considering this fan has just come out. Although it's still a pricey buy for a fan (or any appliance, for that matter), this deal definitely makes this excellent fan a more compelling option overall.

Today's best Dyson Find+Follow deal

The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool is a pricey buy, but a great deal at the official Dyson Store this week makes this the premium fan to get right now. Combining an in-built HEPA H13-grade and K-Carbon filter with an innovative tracking motion that follows you around the room, the Dyson Find+Follow is an impressive all-in-one solution if you want to stay cool this summer — especially if you suffer from allergies.View Deal

Is the Dyson Find+Follow worth it?

(Image credit: Future)

It really depends on your use case, but we were definitely impressed by the Dyson Find+Flow when we reviewed it. For us, the main selling points here are the whisper-quiet operation, excellent air filtering, and lovely premium design.

The air purification in particular is very effective, as it not only cleans the air of allergens and bacteria, but it can also filter smells due to the K-carbon filter. In operation, the Find+Follow is very unobtrusive, with a more natural breeze-like airflow rather than a harsh buffeting.

In terms of tracking, we found the Find+Follow to be relatively accurate and effective with clear sight lines. It's quite a neat trick, but it's also one that you can easily switch on and off remotely. When you're not in the room, the fan will also either revert to a dormant mode or a typical fan-like 360 operation, so it's an efficient setup indeed.

• Wild Hornets expanding use of 3D printing to meet demand
• In-house manufacturing reduces reliance on third-party suppliers
• The company is focusing on software as drone swarm threats evolve

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets believes 3D printing could be the answer to modern warfare, helping companies like it to reduce costs and boost production.

DOU reports the company is now growing its 3D printing footprint using large numbers of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) desktop printers, like Bambu Lab and Elegoo devices, rather than using expensive industrial systems.

This allows the company to churn out plastic drone components at high volume, but it also improves the speed of manufacturing allowing the company to iterate design more quickly as enemy tactics evolve.

3D printing’s role in modern warfare

Recent reporting on the company by industry experts at 3D Printing Industry, highlights how desktop 3D printers offer several advantages for quickly evolving digital and aerial warfare, like lower capital costs for manufacturing, quick prototyping support and easier scaling via new printers, rather than having to build new tools and moulds.

This comes as Ukraine continues to face enemy threats – the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) continues to report rising attacks from Russia as the country doubles down on Iranian Shahed-type drones.

In-house, affordable manufacturing also covers battery packs, flight controllers and other electronics and components, all helping to reduce costs and support Ukraine’s efforts. It also reduces reliance on third parties and external supply chains.

Since its inception, Wild Hornets has grown from a volunteer initiative into a manufacturer capable of producing around 100 drones per day – deepening its 3D printing strategy will only help.

Speaking about artificial intelligence, an anonymous spokesperson from Wild Hornets told DOU AI’s use in drone-based warfare is limited but is starting to expand, primarily spanning recognition and navigation. However, Wild Hornets estimates that adding AI functionality currently raises costs by $150 to $500 per drone, making it a costly consideration.

Drones are becoming much more than hardware

Looking ahead, Wild Hornets is seeing defense partner interest moving beyond the drone itself to the entire Hornet Vision package, which includes digital video transmission, remote control, AI and more.

The system itself was originally designed because Chinese digital control systems became unavailable amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts, but with the company recently demonstrating successful remote operation of its Sting interceptor from 2,000km away, from a country outside of Ukraine, partners are increasingly interested in the full hardware and software package.

However, even while aerial, autonomous threats continue to rise, the company’s unnamed speaker told DOU that drone swarms don’t exist in the way they’re made out to exist, describing them as ‘a cool legend and a mechanism for a scam to get money from naive investors.’

The company promises to add drone swarm technology as and when it emerges and evolves, but for now it’s neither an option nor a realistic threat.

“We would like the war to end,” they added. “Then, instead of increasing production volumes, we would focus on technologies, R&D, design solutions and cooperation with foreign partners.”

• Samsung Messages has been killed off to make room for Google Messages
• Right now it's just affecting US users, but a wider shutdown is likely to happen
• We recommend making Google Messages your default SMS service

After months of waiting, the dreaded day for Android users arrived: Samsung Messages has finally been shut down for good as of July 6.

The Korean tech company announced its decision to axe its messaging service for Galaxy Phones and tablets in April, with Google Messages taking over as the new default communication platform for devices released in 2022 and onwards.

Samsung stopped installing its flagship messaging platform on devices in 2024, so if you’re using the Galaxy S26 Ultra, for example, Google Messages will already be installed.

So what happens now?

At the moment, Samsung Messages’ demise is only impacting users in the US, according to recent reports. According to SamMobile, it may still work outside the US on devices the app was pre-installed on, but it’s likely that a wider shutdown will follow suit in other countries later — it’s been removed from the Galaxy Store and Google Play Store, and UK users on Reddit are reporting its replacement with Google Messages.

That said, if your device is running Android 11 or lower, the shutdown won’t affect you, according to Forbes. However, the outlet notes that those on a more recent version should switch to Google Messages.

Samsung Messages’ shutdown has been a long process, and though users have been anticipating the move for some time, it doesn’t mean that they’re ready to bid farewell to the app just yet.

Comment from r/S24Ultra

Across the board of reactions on Reddit, the general consensus is that Samsung Messages will be missed. “If I wanted to use Google’s POS services I would’ve bought a pixel,” one user explains, but from Samsung’s perspective, it’s all about giving users a messaging experience enriched with handy features.

The company says that the switch to Google Messages will help bring features to Samsung Galaxy devices to align with modern messaging tools used in third-party apps such as WhatsApp. This includes end-to-end encryption, AI tools, and RCS messages, which Google Messages now allows to be sent between iOS and Android devices.

Still haven’t made the switch to Google Messages? We’d recommend doing this sooner rather than later, and it’s quite a straightforward process.

Once you’ve uninstalled Samsung Messages and downloaded the Google Messages app, launch it and a pop-up reading ‘Set default SMS app’ will appear on your device. Tap this, select Google Messages from the options, then tap ‘Set as default’. You can add Google Messages to your Home screen by tapping and holding the app and selecting ‘Add to Home’.

• A striking design for a potential Nothing book has emerged
• The design appears inspired by notable design elements from Apple and Nintendo
• While attractive, it is unlikely we will see a Nothing book any time soon

A striking concept design for a potential Nothing laptop (commonly referred to as the “Nothing book”) has emerged,

Conceived by designer Nikita Bukoros (@bukoros.design), the notebook form factor computer would sport both a secondary, low-fidelity display and a partially translucent chassis, which evokes memories of a great laptop from the past, but the approach is very different.

The design has been met with wide support among Nothing aficionados, many of whom have been waiting for a laptop from the UK-based smartphone and audio company since the possibility of a laptop was floated in 2024.

The Nothing book concept is giving iBook G3 Clamshell

A glance at the underside of Bukoros’ Nothing book render demonstrates a key callback to one of the most notable laptop designs of all time. Apple’s low-priced iBook series initially ran from 1999 to 2001 (succeeded by the G3 Snow), with Blueberry, Tangerine, Graphite, Indigo, and Key Lime options, the colors decorating both the outside of the Clamshell.

Portions of the iBook G3 Clamshell computers were translucent, offering a hint of the internals, but the Nothing book concept also resembles a translucent game console variant like the Game Boy Color “Atomic Purple” edition, and a modern gaming PC.

However, it is arguably the low-fidelity secondary display that makes this concept really stand out. While the Nothing phones initially launched with a collection of differently-shaped lights on the reverse – provided to relay various information, such as alerts, or charging status, to avoid you unlocking your device – this Glyph Interface has more recently been evolved into the Glyph Matrix.

Appearing on the Nothing Phone (3) is a disc-shaped matrix of 489 mini LEDs, while the Nothing Phone (4) is planned to sport a Glyph Bar of nine LEDs in a row. Reflecting these “instant information” displays, Nikita Bukoros has added an LED display on the top of his Nothing book concept, and envisages it as a configurable display for alerts and custom messages alike.

The Nothing Book concepts lean into the striking pastel colors of the Nothing Phone 4 series. (Image credit: Nothing)Will this encourage development of a genuine Nothing book?

While the idea of a Nothing book has been around for a while – with wish lists demanding everything from mechanical keyboards and minimal ports (which are included in Bukoros’ concept) – it appears to be wishful thinking.

Nothing appears to be fully focused on smartphones and the Nothing Ear and Nothing Headphone audio devices, and in 2025 spun its budget phone brand, CMF, into a standalone company. This does not suggest the business is considering expanding beyond its core market any time soon.

But if it does, Nikita Bukoros’ design is an excellent starting point.

A compact workstation from one of our favorite mini PC makers is currently on sale at Newegg for a limited time. The barebone version of the Minisforum MS-01, which delivers desktop-class performance, is currently available to buy for just $655 (was $1199).

Designed for developers, engineers, content creators, and IT professionals, it packs high-end hardware into a surprisingly small chassis while offering top notch expandability.

The MS-01 combines an Intel Core i9-13900H processor with a highly flexible design, allowing you to add your own memory and storage to suit your workload. Featuring 14 cores, 20 threads, and boost speeds of up to 5.4GHz, the chip provides more than enough performance for virtualization, software development, AI workloads, media production, and demanding productivity tasks.

Today's top Minisforum MS-01 deal

Powered by an Intel Core i9-13900H processor, this compact workstation supports triple-display output, ultra-fast 10Gb networking, expandable DDR5 memory and storage, plus optional RTX graphics, making it ideal for demanding professional workloads and virtualization.View Deal

The MS-01 features two USB4 ports capable of driving displays at up to 8K resolution, alongside an HDMI output that drive up to three displays.

Dual 10Gb SFP+ ports support blazing-fast wired transfers and link aggregation, making the system particularly attractive for professional networking, NAS deployments, and enterprise environments.

Two additional 2.5Gb Ethernet ports provide even more flexibility for advanced networking configurations.

The system supports DDR5-5200 memory alongside PCIe 4.0 M.2 storage, with compatibility for larger U.2 enterprise SSDs that can provide enormous storage capacities.

RAID 0 and RAID 1 support also gives you the choice between maximum performance or additional data protection.

The MS-01 also offers future upgrade potential, including support for RTX 3050 graphics cards, allowing you to add dedicated GPU acceleration for creative applications or AI workloads if your requirements grow over time.

With its powerful Intel Core i9 processor, enterprise-grade networking, extensive storage options, and exceptional expandability, the Minisforum MS-01 is a fantastic choice for professionals.

In our review, we said the MS-01 “offers unprecedented flexibility and expansion options. Perfect for a development or media server, ready for 10GbE out of the box and easy to enhance with extra internal storage and a PCIe slot. A small form factor dream solution.”

For more top-performing picks, check out our round up of the best mini PCs we've tested, as well as the best mobile workstations.

Also consider: More mini PC deals at Newegg

Powered by an Intel N150 processor with 16GB LPDDR5 memory, this compact mini PC doubles as a NAS, offering up to 24TB of expandable storage, dual 2.5Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and efficient cooling for home or office use.View Deal

Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 processor with Radeon 780M graphics, this compact mini PC includes 32GB DDR5 memory, a 512GB SSD, triple M.2 expansion, Oculink eGPU support, and quad-display connectivity for demanding creative workloads.View Deal

Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor with Radeon 780M graphics, this compact mini PC features 32GB DDR5 memory, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, triple-display support, and extensive expansion for demanding productivity and creative workloads.View Deal

Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, this compact desktop features 32GB DDR5 memory, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, Wi-Fi 7, and support for up to four displays.View Deal

• See all mini PCs at Newegg

• The Blood of Dawnwalker director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, wants the game to feel like a "pen-and-paper RPG"
• He says the game's big choices and consequences will deepen players' immersion
• He adds, "My biggest goal is to create a game that you will still remember in the next 10 or 20 years"

The Blood of Dawnwalker game director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, thinks the game's big choices and consequences will offer players a more immersive experience that he hopes will be remembered for years to come.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at an event where we went hands-on with the upcoming dark fantasy role-playing game (RPG), Tomaszkiewicz discussed its narrative choices and explained why he believes player freedom within the sandbox world Rebel Wolves has created will provide a deeper, immersive experience.

"We believe that as much freedom and different choices will add to the game and different playthroughs, so that we deliver for the players," he said. "It will be better because it will boost immersion, and it will show people that our goal is creating a narrative sandbox. We want an experience that is close to a pen-and-paper RPG, where the game master adjusts for what you are doing. That was our goal to show it from the very beginning in the prologue."

Tomaszkiewicz recalls playing Warhammer as a game master when he was 12-years-old and how, after hours of play, he couldn't remember the details of the room around him because the experience was so "intense." This is the feeling the director wants to mimic with The Blood of the Dawnwalker and believes the RPG's freedom can achieve.

"This is my holy grail: to create a video game with this kind of immersion," he said. "One that allows you to forget where you are sitting, gives you the feeling that you just lived through an adventure in a different world, with different skills, different people, and with real emotions.

"First of all, it's to give you freedom, because I believe that the freedom in the game is one of the big parts of the immersion. If we give you the freedom in your choices in the story, in your choices in the combat, because you can shape the combat as you want, and in different places, the immersion will be bigger and you will remember the game for a long time.

"My biggest goal is to create a game that you will still remember in the next 10 or 20 years."

The Blood of Dawnwalker arrives on September 3 for PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and PC.

• Fairphone has poked fun at the Nothing Phone (4b)'s visible screws
• The company highlighted in an Instagram story that they're just 'for show' rather than being accessible
• The Fairphone 6, on the other hand, has visible screws that users can access

The Nothing Phone (4b) was unveiled earlier today, and it sounds like a reasonable budget handset, with a 6.77-inch 120Hz screen, a 5,200mAh battery with 33W charging, a 50MP wide camera, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM. But despite having visible screws on the back, it might not be very easy to repair or to replace its components.

We won’t know for sure until someone has done a teardown of the (4b), but Fairphone has shared an Instagram story pointing out that while quite a few screws are visible on the rear of the device, you can’t actually get to them without breaking into the glued-on cover.

The Instagram story — an image of which can be seen below — shows the Fairphone 6, complete with its own visible screws, overlaid with text reading “every screw is functional on Fairphones. Nothing is for show.” Then, at the bottom, directed at the Nothing Phone (4b), it says, “next time, maybe the screws can be… outside?”

A fair criticism

(Image credit: Fairphone)

And it’s a fair point. The Fairphone 6 is a reasonably stylish handset itself, with the visible screws helping it stand out, much like on the Nothing Phone (4b).

But the difference is that the Fairphone’s screws are accessible, making for a modular design where you can easily swap out components, rather than having to replace the whole phone.

So, if you want a handset that’s designed to last, you might want to consider a Fairphone instead of the Nothing Phone (4b) — though Fairphone’s CEO recently teased that two new products are on the way, so you might want to wait for those first, since one of them is likely to be the Fairphone 7.

And, of course, we'll be testing the Nothing Phone (4b) for ourselves in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for our real, experience-backed verdict on that device.

• Website maps open source accident data onto an interactive map
• Users can see the most dangerous roads around them
• Collisions are graded in severity

Cyclists, pedestrians and careful drivers could find the data offered by interactive online mapping service RoadRisk invaluable when attempting to plan the safest routes for getting from A to B.

The online tool, which uses OpenStreetMap at its core and STATS19 accident reports from police forces in England, Scotland or Wales, handily plots all collision data from the year 2000 to 2025 onto an easy-to-navigate map.

Simply punch in a post code and the website will reveal all accident data from some 350 local authorities over the past 25 years, colour-coding each based on the severity of the collision: slight, serious and fatal.

Not only can you see the most dangerous routes in your area, or in a proposed location, you can also delve into the data to see date, time, location, road and junction details, weather and surface conditions, as well as full records for each vehicle and casualty involved.

The STATS19 data does not contain names, addresses, phone numbers or vehicle registration details, with only age, sex and an area-level deprivation score given.

Interestingly, the site’s homepage also lists the worst roads for fatal crashes (that will be the A38) and the worst local authorities for collisions, which is Birmingham.

RoadRisk says the UK’s Department for Transport typically publishes each year's accident data around September of the following year, with the maps updated shortly after each release.

Analysis: A handy tool for parents and cyclists

(Image credit: RoadRisk)

RoadRisk is an interesting proposition and, while you can’t plan a route using the software and navigate via the ‘safest’ roads, it is a great tool for scoping out accident hotpsots in the local area.

As a parent with children old enough to walk to school alone, it was interesting to explore the roads near me with the highest accident rates. More interestingly, many of those involved individuals aged between 11 and 15.

Those shocking results backed up my decision to walk them across some of the most perilous routes before waving them off in the mornings.

Similarly, there are a number of roads in my local area that appear to be hotspots for collisions involving cyclists, which could well inform the next route I take into town.

What’s more, RoadRisk says anyone can use the data to quote statistics, take screenshots, and use the information for any purpose — a boon for anyone lobbying the local authority for safer roads.

• New Zealand's Education Minister denies any plans to restrict or ban VPNs
• Reports previously alleged it was part of the teen social media ban package
• Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also confirmed "no plan to ban VPNs"

The New Zealand government has officially denied any plans to restrict or ban VPN apps as part of its upcoming under-16 social media ban, putting an end to intense speculation and a rapid backlash from digital privacy advocates.

The saga began following a report from The Post that Education Minister Erica Stanford said the government was considering any restrictions on VPNs as part of the country's under-16 social media ban.

Because a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can easily spoof a user's location and bypass local network blocks, the technology was viewed by some officials as a potential roadblock to enforcing age verification mandates.

New Zealand VPN ban's privacy backlash

The notion of banning vital encryption software sparked immediate political and public pushback. Coalition partners quickly distanced themselves from the idea, with the ACT party reportedly marking any anti-encryption measures as a strict red line — The Post reported.

The Free Speech Union also lambasted the concept. Critics warned that a VPN ban would undermine digital free speech and put New Zealand in the same category as oppressive regimes that strictly control internet access.

“The Government wants the power to prohibit technologies New Zealanders use every day, because those technologies make it harder for the state to control what we see and say online. That is not child protection, it is censorship infrastructure," the organisation said in a statement.

Following the uproar, the government changed its tune.

In a recent media stand-up, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon put the rumors firmly to rest. "I can reject that outright. There's no plan to ban VPNs at all," Luxon said. "I don't know where that reporting or where that story came from, but I can reassure you that's not the case".

Shortly after the Prime Minister's remarks, Stanford’s office officially clarified its position, stating that the Government is "not looking at restricting or banning VPNs". For anyone relying on the best VPN to secure their personal data, the rapid reversal is a significant victory.

Circumvention tool or essential security?

(Image credit: BlackJack3D/via Getty Images)

The brief controversy in New Zealand highlights a growing global debate surrounding age verification laws and privacy tools. As governments worldwide attempt to regulate how minors interact with the internet, VPNs have increasingly found themselves in the crosshairs of lawmakers seeking foolproof ways to enforce their legislation.

Because a VPN encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address, it is commonly used to bypass geo-blocks and content filters. This makes it an obvious workaround for teenagers looking to dodge age gates.

However, treating VPNs purely as circumvention software fundamentally misrepresents what they do. They are essential security tools used by millions of businesses, journalists, and everyday citizens to protect sensitive data from hackers, intrusive ISPs, and mass surveillance.

New Zealand’s flirtation with anti-VPN measures mirrors the shifting role of VPNs in the UK. This friction is also visible in Europe. The EU recently signaled that VPNs could be targeted next to prevent users from bypassing local rules.

The reality is that age verification has changed the internet, and authorities are desperately searching for ways to enforce digital borders. Yet, as Australia's social media ban shows, heavy-handed child safety measures are incredibly difficult to implement — with or without a VPN.

Ultimately, lawmakers must strike a delicate balance. Enforcing a social media ban should never come at the cost of weakening the cybersecurity infrastructure that protects the wider population.

The question remains: could the UK’s social media ban, or New Zealand's, lead to real VPN restrictions? For now, at least in New Zealand, the answer is a resounding no.