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The live-action film made just over $205 million at the box office.

• Nvidia has released yet another driver hotfix amid frequent updates in recent months
• The hotfix comes after Game Ready Driver 576.52
• Users are still reporting black screen issues, months after the bug's initial revelation

Nvidia has been at the center of controversy since its RTX 5000 series Blackwell GPU launch, with issues regarding missing specs and driver issues widespread – and unfortunately, the latter is still a trend after multiple updates.

As reported by VideoCardz, Nvidia released a new GeForce Hotfix 576.66 driver, which comes after the Game Ready Driver 576.52, to fix and address several game crashes and bugs. It's another addition to the frequent Nvidia Game Ready Drivers and hotfix updates in recent months, most of which have seemingly failed to address some of the long-lasting issues.

While it doesn't appear to affect all users, RTX 4000 and some RTX 5000 GPU series owners have voiced frustrations regarding the infamous black screen problem, which now mostly appears to occur on reboot (even without driver installation). It seems slightly different from prior complaints, which had a majority of users annoyed with black screens during new driver installations.

However, the Game Ready Driver 576.52 Reddit discussion suggests otherwise, as users highlight the same installation bug, either forcing a restart or wiping drivers completely using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller). It's not exactly clear what is causing the issue, but some users state that disabling G-Sync is one of the solutions.

Installing any of Team Green's new GPU drivers is essential, as they often come with new game or GPU support, but running into game or system-breaking bugs is a big gamble. Fortunately, rolling back to previous drivers doesn't require too much effort, but the same can't be said for Blackwell GPU users who can't go back to stable and older drivers before the lineup's launch.

Comment from r/nvidiaComment from r/nvidiaComment from r/nvidiaAnalysis: Are new driver updates even worth installing at this point?

Luckily, my RTX 4080 Super doesn't require driver updates for functionality, unlike the new Blackwell GPUs. The problem is I'm missing out on important support updates for games; is it worth it to avoid any annoying bugs, though? The simple answer is yes.

I'm still using Game Ready Driver 572.47 from February, which has been the most stable for me. It came after I ran into the notorious black screen issue when installing a new GPU driver and attempting to reboot my system, ultimately pushing me to roll back to 572.47.

You could say I'm paranoid or overreacting, but I don't think I'm wrong in saying that caution is warranted with recent Team Green updates – and I know I'll have to take the risk eventually, but I don't think I'll do so until it's absolutely necessary...

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is less than two months from release – and, to celebrate, Marvel has released a new trailer for its final movie of 2025.

Unveiled today (June 4), the teaser contains plenty of footage we've seen in First Steps' other trailers. However, there are a couple of references – one visual and one audio – that confirm two of the worst-kept secrets about the Marvel Phase 6 film's plot. Potentially big spoilers immediately follow the embedded trailer below, so turn back now if you don't want to know anything!

The trailer's first big reveal occurs at the 0:17 mark and, as if further confirmation was needed, reveals that Franklin Richards will appear in The Fantastic Four's next big-screen outing.

The son (and first-born child!) of Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Franklin is one of the most powerful superhumans in Marvel comic book history. You can read more about him in a previous article of mine that covered a CinemaCon 2025 teaser that confirmed a big fan theory about Sue Storm. The fan theory in question? That Franklin would make his live-action debut in this film.

Meanwhile, the other big reference that the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie's trailer contains concerns Ben Grimm/The Thing.

Jump to the 0:47 mark of said teaser, and you'll hear Johnny Storm/The Human Torch ask The Thing "Is it Clobberin' Time?", which The Thing replies "Hell yeah!".

Marvel devotees will immediately recognize this catchphrase but, for those who don't know, "It's Clobberin' Time!" is The Thing's most famous saying in Marvel literature. Until now, the cast and crew of one of 2025's most exciting new movies wouldn't confirm if Grimm – or anyone, for that matter – would say it in First Steps. Well, now we have our answer.

As a family, they're unstoppable. Tickets for #TheFantasticFour: First Steps in IMAX are on sale now! https://t.co/liJpJh2idi #FilmedForIMAX pic.twitter.com/QIASNW3mB7June 4, 2025

As Marvel ramps up its promotional campaign for the iconic quartet's arrival in the MCU, we've learned plenty more about what to expect from The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Most recently, First Steps' runtime and a bunch of major story spoilers appeared online. Before then, Marvel confirmed a First Steps prequel comic would be released ahead of the movie's arrival. Oh, and a leaked Lego set gave us our first proper look at Galactus, aka the superhero flick's Big Bad.

Throw in The Fantastic Four: First Steps' official trailer revealing our first look at Julia Garner's Silver Surfer and Mister Fantastic's stretchy powers, the superteam being announced as part of the initial 27-strong cast for Avengers: Doomsday, and – spoiler – the group appearing in Thunderbolts' post-credits scene, and things have been looking pretty *ahem* fantastic for fans of Marvel's First Family. Roll on July 25, ie the date that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released in theaters worldwide.

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• Security researchers Wiz find four major DevOps tools being abused
• The misconfigurations allow threat actors to deploy cryptocurrency miners
• A quarter of all instances are at risk, so users should be on their guard

Cybercriminals have been spotted abusing misconfigurations in popular public DevOps tools to deploy cryptocurrency miners - generating valuable tokens, while raking up huge electricity and computing bills for their victims.

Security researchers from Wiz Threat Research spotted the campaign and attributed it to a threat actor named JINX-0132.

Apparently, the crooks target many DevOps tools, but four stood out: Nomad, Consul, Docker Engine API, and Gitea.

Mitigation measures

The first two are built by HashiCorp: Nomad is a workload orchestrator that schedules and manages the deployment of containers, virtual machines, and standalone applications across clusters, while Consul is a service networking solution that provides service discovery, health checking, configuration, and segmentation for distributed applications.

Docker Engine API is a RESTful API that allows developers and automation tools to interact with the Docker daemon to manage containers, images, networks, and volumes, and Gitea is a self-hosted Git service that provides source code hosting, issue tracking, code review, and collaborative development tools through a web interface.

“Misconfiguration abuse by threat actors can often go under defenders’ radar, especially if the affected application isn’t well known as an attack vector,” the researchers explained.

“A key characteristic of JINX-0132's methodology is the seemingly deliberate avoidance of any unique, traditional identifiers that could be used by defenders as Indicators of Compromise. Instead of utilizing attacker-controlled servers for payload delivery, they download tools directly from public GitHub repositories.”

The problem seems to be quite widespread, too, as up to a quarter of all cloud users could be exposed. In the report, the researchers said that 25% of all cloud environments are running at least one of the four technologies listed above. What’s more, at least 20% are running HashiCorp Consul.

"Of those environments using these DevOps tools, five percent expose them directly to the Internet, and among those exposed deployments, 30 percent are misconfigured," the team concluded.

To mitigate the risks, companies should implement strict access controls, conduct regular security audits, and perform frequent vulnerability assessments. Furthermore, they should not stall on applying patches, and should monitor their systems for abnormal resource usage.

Finally, they should secure DevOps environments against misconfigurations, restrict unauthorized command execution, and strengthen their authentication measures.

Via The Register

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Commerce Department employees who were fired, reinstated, and fired again learned belatedly that their health insurance has been cut off. Some had already racked up thousands in medical bills.

(Image credit: Samuel Corum)

The race is on for Apple Watch owners to celebrate Global Running Day, but earning this badge won't come easy.

• News report claims White House executive order banning Chinese drone sales is imminent
• DJI claims its products are fully secure and that it welcomes scrutiny
• DJI has already postponed the launch of the Mavic 4 Pro in the US

According to reports in the US, the Trump administration may be about to issue a total ban on US sales of Chinese-made drones. While that might sound like disastrous news for the likes of DJI, it may in fact provide it with an excellent opportunity to finally clear up any lingering doubts over security risks.

The Washington Post claims that, as early as this week, the White House will issue multiple executive orders that could lead to companies like DJI being effectively barred from selling any new models in the US.

Assuming the reports are true (and bearing in mind that Trump has U-turned on some proposed tariff and trade policies) this would be the latest development in an ongoing cold war between the US government and Chinese drone companies.

It’s one that precedes the current administration, too. In December of last year, one of Joe Biden’s last actions as president was to sign the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 1709 of which mandates that “within one year of enactment, a designated national security agency must evaluate whether communications and video surveillance equipment from [Chinese drone] manufacturers pose ‘an unacceptable risk’ to U.S. national security or the safety of American citizens.”

US politicians have often made sweeping, somewhat vague statements suggesting that data collected by Chinese-made drones could be used for purposes counter to American security or commercial interests. And the aforementioned act tasks the US’s security apparatus to definitively find out if this is the case.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro, which hasn't even been launched in the US due to the current uncertainty surrounding tariffs. (Image credit: James Abbott)“We welcome this scrutiny.”

Thus far, the Trump administration has yet to assign any of the five national security agencies to take up this task. DJI, however, seems keen for the process to begin as soon as possible. Back in March, DJI Head of Global Policy Adam Welsh wrote an open letter to the agency heads requesting that “any or all of your agencies” begins the evaluation right away.

“We welcome this scrutiny,” Welsh wrote. The letter went on: “DJI is confident that its products can withstand your strictest scrutiny. We are confident not only because we have nothing to hide, but because independent firms and other U.S. government agencies have repeatedly validated and confirmed that DJI’s products are secure.”

Welsh outlined that the company had implemented a number of measures to ensure that its drones keep user data secure. For instance, flight logs, photos and videos are not synced with DJI servers unless a user chooses to do so, and US-based users cannot sync flight records with DJI servers at all.

DJI drones also feature Local Data Mode, which cuts any connection between the flight app and the internet, while the app allows users to manage their data, use third-party software and easily delete information on the drone.

US-based drone company Skydio, which produces the Skydio 2 pictured here, may benefit from the banning of Chinese-made drones. (Image credit: Skydio)

Welsh goes on to point out the financial knock-on effect that restricting the sale of DJI drones could have on the US economy, claiming that DJI enables more than $116 billion in economic activity across the country, while supporting almost half a million jobs.

If the Trump administration were to implement a blanket ban, it could be as a means of boosting the domestic US drone industry which, at present, appears to represent a tiny share of US drone sales compared to the likes of DJI and Autel. While it’s clear the US drone industry could use some help, would US residents really be happy to be forced into buying far pricier drone hardware, just because it wasn’t made in China?

DJI, like many non-US companies, is already experiencing trouble due to the Trump administration’s blanket tariffs – or, more accurately, the confusion surrounding if they’re actually going to be introduced or not. Citing this uncertainty, the company has postponed the launch of its excellent new flagship camera drone, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, in the US.

Let us know what you think of the rumored drone ban in the comments below.

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Samsung threw us a curveball this week, or rather a ball that flies straight before making a spectacular 90-degree turn, a fold, if you will: The company plans to unveil a folding Galaxy Ultra.

Now, some might see this as a simple rebranding of the anticipated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (or maybe they were just jealous over Apple's rumored rebranding of all platforms to year format), but I do believe it's more than that. Without a doubt, it means very good things for the Z Fold...er...Z Fold 7 Ultra's camera array, which has always lagged behind the flagship Ultra line. As with previous top-tier Galaxy S phones, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 200MP main camera and 50MP 5X optical zoom. By contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has just a 50MP main camera and a 10MP 3X optical zoom lens.

Most people now expect that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra (or just Galaxy Z Fold Ultra) will match the S25 Ultra camera specs.

But, to my mind, that still doesn't make this new foldable a true Ultra. To do that, it needs to incorporate the S Pen. I'm aware that the Galaxy S Ultra line didn't always feature a stylus. This happened when, in a similar fashion to what Samsung is announcing here, the Samsung Galaxy Note line disappeared and core features, like the S Pen, became part of the S21 Ultra line.

It's been four years since Samsung made that choice and, as I see it, the S Pen is now integral to the S25 Ultra's identity. It makes the phone far more versatile than flagship competitors like my beloved iPhone 16 Pro Max and many other Android rivals. It's a powerful tool when paired with Galaxy AI features like Sketch to Image, as well as note taking, and one of my favorites, drawing.

S Pens are not foreign to the Galaxy Z Fold line. You can buy a one or a special case that incorporates one. It isn't the same S Pen that slips into the S25 Ultra. You would damage the Z Fold's flexible screen if you used the traditional S Pen on it. There has never been, though, an S Pen incorporated into the Z Fold body.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's Pen. Let's make it thinner and slip it into the Z Fold Ultra. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

There are likely good reasons for this. Chief among them is the current Z Fold 6's incredible svelte frame. Unfolded, the Z Fold 6 is 5.6mm thick. That's 0.2mm thinner than the new Galaxy S25 Edge and a few millimeters thinner than the S25 Ultra.

Still, if Samsung insists on calling this new phone an Ultra, simple "S Pen support" won't be enough. I want to see it innovate and make a special S Pen thin enough to slide inside one side of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra. It seems almost possible – after all, Samsung already removed Bluetooth support from the current S Pens. That likely means fewer components and more space, or at least the option to slim down a little bit.

It's not that I can't live with a decent S Pen Z Fold case but, considering what we're paying for the fold, and the Z Fold Ultra is unlikely to be any cheaper, why should I pay another $100 or $150 for a case and accessory? Also, the convenience of having the S Pen just a press away – it pops out of the Z Fold Ultra body – is so alluring.

So, that's my pitch. I'm all for a little strategic rebranding but, if you want me to get excited about it, it should bring some reinvention, too. A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Ultra with an integrated S Pen would be the absolute bomb.

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• Spotify held its annual Open House event in Stockholm where it addressed user feedback for Wrapped 2024
• The platform shared that the amount of negative user feedback it received was more than previous years, amounting to inaccurate streaming data on Spotify's part
• While we still have over 6 months until Wrapped 2025, Spotify shed light on its plans to improve this year's music recap

If you’re a Spotify user like myself, then you’ll definitely remember the flop that was Spotify Wrapped 2024, which received the most negative feedback than any of the platform’s music recaps in previous years – and I stayed far from quiet.

Packed with inaccurate listening data paired with a lack of creativity in its graphics, Spotify Wrapped 2024 was an epic fail, and now, Spotify itself is admitting that it got it all wrong.

Last week Spotify hosted its annual Open House event in Stockholm, inviting journalists to ask questions about its platform growth plans. In between questions about AI features and Spotify HiFi, the platform was asked about how it plans to step up its game with its annual Wrapped music recap – and CPO Gustav Söderström took the reins.

Last year, users reported inaccurate data from Spotify Wrapped which showed them artists they hadn't streamed that year. (Image credit: Future)

“If you look at the numbers, it was the biggest Wrapped we’ve ever had” Söderström responded, adding “but there was more negative feedback than we’ve seen before”. This negative feedback from users was largely in response to Wrapped’s false listening data: users reported that Wrapped showed them artists they hadn’t streamed at all in 2024.

Now that we’re almost halfway through 2025, this year’s Wrapped is already on a lot of music fans’ minds who, like me, are wondering which artists and songs will appear and if the data will be accurate this time around. It may seem far away from now, but Spotify is already “working hard on making (Wrapped) the best that it’s ever been”.

What’s in store for Spotify Wrapped 2025?

At its Open House event, Spotify’s representatives didn’t go into detail about what new measures Spotify would be adapting to improve this year’s music recap, but judging by its acknowledgement of users’ negative feedback we can assume that there will be a change in how Spotify presents your streaming data.

Söderström also addressed user feedback that compared Wrapped 2024 to the successes of previous years, sharing “I think people just wanted something newer, something that wasn’t there the year before. There was also some feedback that some of the things people loved from years before were not there”.

This leads me to think that Spotify Wrapped 2025 will most likely get a new look with some (hopefully) more innovative graphics, but the possibility that features from Wrapped’s past could return is also on the table. I’m praying for the return of the Sound Town feature from 2023, which grouped listeners into "towns" based on their own listening habits.

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The last few years have seen many consumer brands embracing AI to drive growth, using it to enhance customer experience and create more tailored platforms. While B2B sellers have also begun to implement AI, they’re still a few steps behind.

According to a recent McKinsey report, only 19% of respondents are using generative AI in B2B buying and selling, with as little as 23% actively developing or experimenting with these technologies. By looking at their B2C counterparts, B2B ecommerce businesses can identify valuable examples of how AI can be implemented effectively and at scale.

At a time when traditional sales methods need to become more efficient and customers expect greater personalization and a more seamless experience, B2B sales must continue to evolve and modernize.

To stay ahead while still addressing the unique complexities of B2B, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and other businesses must evaluate where AI fits within their sales strategies and how to navigate any initial implementation challenges. Once these factors are addressed, B2B ecommerce brands have a strong opportunity to achieve significant return on investment from AI adoption, while also meeting buyers’ expectations.

Why is AI essential for B2B growth?

A new standard of personalization and efficiency is being set in B2B ecommerce, shaping a future where both sellers and buyers benefit from deeply tailored, data-driven experiences.

As digital transformation accelerates, the future of B2B is being redefined. Every touchpoint in the buyer's journey can now be seamlessly powered by AI, delivering hyper personalized content, intelligent product recommendations, and dynamic pricing, all in real-time. The era of static personas and a one-size-fits-all-marketing approach is undeniably behind us. With AI, B2B companies can create adaptive strategies that respond to customers' unique and evolving needs.

Using vast amounts of customer data, AI has the ability to identify a customer's past purchases, browsing behavior, and engagement with content, encouraging businesses to deliver hyper-personalized recommendations which specifically speak to the buyer and ultimately foster loyalty. Beyond suggesting products, AI can enhance capabilities by presenting the right products at the right time based on buyer intent, preferences, and even contextual data.

The latter can include seasons, location, or growing trends, meaning every interaction can be an opportunity to increase sales by delivering exactly what the customer needs, often before they realise it themselves.

From an operational perspective, AI is a transformative technology for B2B sellers to foster increased efficiency and productivity. AI tools can automate routine tasks like lead qualification, inventory tracking, and even customer support, freeing up valuable time for sales and service teams to focus on business strategy.

Driving efficiency with AI through smart inventory and supply chain optimization

Another key area where AI is delivering significant value is inventory and supply chain optimization. Through the use of advanced machine learning models, AI is helping businesses predict demand with unparalleled precision, ensuring they have the right products available at the right time without overstocking or running into shortages.

Having these capabilities that can predict future stock levels means that AI has the ability to analyze vast amounts of historical data, from past sales behaviors to seasonal trends and market dynamics. This works to create highly accurate forecasts.

Whether it's a sudden supply chain disruption or a shift in market conditions, AI keeps businesses one step ahead by factoring in external delays, making businesses more adaptive and resilient to unexpected changes and able to mitigate the cost impact of stockouts or surplus.

Redefining sales engagement through AI empowerment

AI is also revolutionizing B2B sales by streamlining how sales teams engage with prospects and close deals. AI-powered tools such as Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) solutions are transforming the quoting process, allowing sales reps to generate accurate, customised quotes in real-time based on complex pricing rules, customer history, and product configurations.

Additionally, AI-driven CPQ also helps identify cross-sell and upsell opportunities by analyzing purchasing patterns and suggesting additional products that align with the customer’s needs, increasing revenue potential.

By analyzing customer data, AI enables hyper-personalized outreach at scale. Sales teams can craft messages based on behavior like website visits, previous purchases, or even sentiment analysis from emails. These personalized communications will massively boost sales operations, leading to better engagement, stronger relationships, and opening doors for further sales opportunities.

Initial implementation challenges

For businesses looking to innovate in the age of digital transformation and maximize ROI, it’s essential that they approach AI implementation strategically, starting with lower-risk tasks and gradually expanding its use and involvement.

In sectors like manufacturing and distribution, where complex system integrations are the norm, implementing AI can be technically demanding.

The intricate web of legacy systems, ERPs, CRMs, and other business tools often act as barriers to successful AI adoption. However, businesses can overcome these challenges by implementing AI gradually.

They should start with smaller, lower-risk tasks such as automating routine processes or enhancing data analytics, allowing businesses to build confidence and gradually phase AI into their existing ecosystem without overwhelming their systems.

The road ahead to digital transformation

To successfully integrate AI, businesses must grasp that AI is a tool to augment human capabilities in sales and not replace them. The combination of human insight and AI’s power will position B2B companies at the forefront of this technological revolution, resulting in growth, operational improvements, and increased revenue.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The AI boom continues to shake up the world as we know it and fuel the rapid development of new technologies. Whilst this wave of innovation is exciting, it also comes with an unprecedented level of cyber risk exposure.

Like with anything cutting edge, regulation and compliance is playing catch-up when it comes to stopping malicious hackers. But there is another growing problem on the horizon. The scale and complexity of hacking has outpaced human capacity to respond, leading to an increase in flaw remediation time and, in turn, a greater exposure to exploitation and cyber threat.

Finding the flaws is the easy part, but companies are drowning in security debt as they struggle to compete with a growing attack surface and increasingly sophisticated cyber intrusions. This not only creates capacity issues for teams fixing the flaws but also exposes businesses to critical cyber threat.

Why time is of the essence when it comes to cyber security

The process of fixing flaws often begins in earnest but tapers off over time, with other priorities taking precedence. Unfortunately, the longer a flaw survives, the less likely it is to be resolved. Research has found the time it takes to fix flaws has skyrocketed, up 47% in five years and 327% in 15, now averaging 252 days. At this rate, businesses could be waiting more than 400 days to fix vulnerabilities by 2030, plunging them into a cycle of whack-a-mole with growing security debt.

But why is this happening?

Along with the evolution of sophisticated AI tools, cyber flaws have become increasingly complex and difficult to fix. As applications become bigger and incorporate more third-party components, the scope for potential flaws increases, making it more time consuming to remediate issues. Even if an in-house team is writing flawless code, the rest of the supply chain isn’t – 70% of applications have flaws in third-party code due to the use of open-source libraries.

Another developing problem is that many teams are under immense pressure to rapidly roll out new features, thus deprioritizing security fixes unless they are absolutely critical. Severity is no longer a major driver of flaw remediation, and more companies are sleepwalking into the red of security debt.

Left unresolved, organizations become more exposed to security breaches as fix times stretch and the software ecosystem grows in complexity. The exposure to breaches is set to increase as more teams adopt AI for code generation, and with almost three quarters of organizations having accrued some level of security debt, the issue is only going to worsen without action.

The knock-on effect of the digital skills gap

While it’s all too easy to point fingers at various teams for not prioritizing cyber risk fixes, the cause of delay isn’t only down to the complexity of the flaws. The developer shortage has been bubbling away for some time, and it is no surprise it is having a knock-on effect on security debt.

The combination of the increase in pressure to tackle cyber risks and the global skills shortage means developers are at breaking point. Finding developers or security specialists with both domain knowledge and security expertise is challenging. Until we find a way to close the digital skills gap, this limited capacity will delay fix timelines further.

Fixing flaws faster

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ways organizations can tackle the problem of security debt and get their cyber resilience back on track. By having visibility and proper integration across the whole Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), companies are now able to prevent net new flaws through automation and feedback loops. This can be achieved at scale with AI, using existing AI capabilities to boost fix capacity and speed.

The upcoming cyber policy measures set to be introduced later this year will, in turn, be critical for the automation of flaw remediation. Legislation like the UK’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be a long-term solution to help direct the entire supply chain on what needs to be fixed, whilst holding bad actors accountable.

Perhaps one of the most immediate solutions is for organizations to overhaul the ways in which they approach the black hole of security debt. With third-party flaws being one of the biggest contributors to security debt, it’s time companies properly evaluated the third parties with which they engage.

Avoiding those riddled with flaws by using software composition analysis (SCA) can slash major issues across applications. True prioritization is also essential - if everything is a priority, then nothing is. Working on the flaws that are most severe as quickly as possible is a quick win for time-poor developers.

Modern software security is all about remediating real risk with context and having visibility across the board, climbing out of the weeds of security debt specifics and using available technologies to act fast. With the software ecosystem ever-growing in complexity, it’s never been more important for organizations to tap into AI solutions and re-examine how they take on these cyber-attacks.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• From the World of John Wick: Ballerina doesn't set up events to come in John Wick Chapter 5
• Ballerina's position on the John Wick timeline made that impossible, its director admits
• John Wick icon Ian McShane says discussions are ongoing about the titular hitman's next story

There were never any discussions about how From the World of John Wick: Ballerina could set up John Wick Chapter 5.

That's according to Ballerina director Len Wiseman, who told TechRadar such a scenario was due to Ballerina's position on the John Wick timeline.

For those who might not be aware: Ballerina is set between John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum and John Wick Chapter 4. Chronologically, that means it's the fourth film that fans should watch as part of any Wick-Verse movie marathon. For more information on that front, check out my guide on how to watch the John Wick movies in order.

But I digress. With Ballerina's story wrapping up before John Wick Chapter 4 begins, it wouldn't make sense for the Ana de Armas-led installment to pave the way for Keanu Reeves' next outing as the titular assassin.

Keanu Reeves' popular assassin will return, but we don't know how or when that'll be (Image credit: Lionsgate)

When I asked if there were ever any plans to set up John Wick Chapter 5's plot within Ballerina's story or via a post-credits scene, Wiseman replied: "With this, we were solely focused on what Ballerina's story was.

"Because it straddles the third and fourth John Wick films, there weren't any conversations about what this necessarily does for John Wick Chapter 5. So, no, we just focused on this story and how to bring the character of Eve into this world."

That isn't to say that internal talks have taken place about what John Wick 5's story could be. In a separate interview, I asked Ian McShane, who's played The Continental New York manager Winston Scott in the franchise's five movies so far, if he'd heard anything about the next Reeves-fronted installment, which is still in the very early stages of development.

A post shared by Ballerina (@ballerinamovie)

A photo posted by on

"There are a lot of options," McShane teased. "But nobody seems to know what's going on with it at the moment.

"Of course, they [John Wick's chief creative team] want it to go on for as long as possible. There's an anime movie that'll be great, and there's a possible TV series called Under the High Table, which I believe they're delivering the scripts for right about now.

"I don't think anybody thought the John Wick universe would become as big as it is," McShane added, "And now it's about keeping the monster under control while expanding it in new directions. That's why we've got this film Ballerina, which I think Len [Wiseman] did a very good job with, and Ana [de Armas] is fantastic in. You have to have fresh blood coming into franchises like this to help it grow."

In short, we'll just have to wait for more details from the 'gun-fu' series' creators about what John Wick Chapter 5 will entail. In the meantime, get ready to watch From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, aka one of 2025's most exciting new movies, which will make its worldwide theatrical debut on Friday, June 6.

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Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025): Two-minute review

The new Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025) comes at an interesting time for the Surface family of devices. Once upon a time, Surface products were pitched as flagship devices that were showcases for the latest and greatest Windows features, while also allowing Microsoft to directly compete with its arch nemesis Apple and its MacBook and iPad devices.

Surface devices were also often quite innovative, with unusual form factors that would again be used to showcase various Windows features, and they were championed by Panos Paney, an enthusiastic spokesperson for Surface devices. This meant that despite Surface devices never gaining the kind of mainstream success that Apple’s devices enjoyed, it was always interesting to see what new products the Surface team were working on.

But times change. Panay left for Amazon, and a lot of the enthusiasm and excitement about Surface devices seemed to leave Microsoft with him. The company simplified the Surface lineup, dropping some of the more experimental models, and focused more on commercial customers. The Surface Pro 12 (2025) is seemingly out to prove that Microsoft hasn’t abandoned its consumers, nor has it forgotten about its Surface lineup – I just worry if it’s a case of too little, too late.

(Image credit: Future)

The trimming down of the Surface product line means there’s going to be no more Surface Go devices (I asked Microsoft about this directly), which were affordable versions of the usual premium Surface devices. While I appreciated the aim of Surface Go devices – it’s always nice to see a company make more affordable versions of its expensive devices – they never quite hit the mark in my view, with a few too many compromises being made to lower the price at the expense of performance.

Thankfully, that doesn’t mean that people on a budget won’t be able to afford a Surface device, as the base model of the new Surface Pro 12-inch (2025) is now considered the entry level model. Starting at $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499, it is now the cheapest Surface Pro model, and is a fair bit less expensive than last year’s Surface Pro 11, which started at $999.99 /£1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99.

It’s also a lot less expensive than its biggest competitor, the iPad Pro 13-inch (2024), which launched at a rather staggering $1,299 / £1,299 / $2,199.

While at first glance this seems like a great deal – a newer model for a lot less than the previous model – there are a number of differences between the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Pro 11 that show that Microsoft has still made certain sacrifices to lower the price of the new model. I certainly wouldn’t think of it as an upgrade, rather a more affordable alternative to last year’s model. That’s not a bad thing, of course, but it’s worth pointing out so you know what you’re getting if you buy the new Surface Pro 12 (2025).

Let’s start with the screen: rather confusingly, the number in the Surface Pro 11’s name refers to the fact that it is the 11th edition of the Surface Pro.

Meanwhile, the Surface Pro 12 is named after its screen-size. So, the Surface Pro 11 actually has a larger screen – and a higher resolution as well.

The Surface Pro 12 comes with a 12-inch screen with a 2196 x 1464 resolution and refresh rate of up to 90Hz. The Surface Pro 11, meanwhile, comes with a 13-inch screen with a 2880 x 1920 resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate. It can also be configured to come with an OLED panel.

Other changes are that the Surface Pro 12 comes with just one memory configuration: 16GB, whereas last year’s model can be configured up to 32GB. The Surface Pro 12 comes with a single processor choice – the Arm-based, eight-core Snapdragon X Plus, a more affordable, yet less powerful, version of the 10-core X Plus that comes in the Surface Pro 11. That model can also be configured with the even more powerful 12-core Snapdragon X Elite chip.

The Surface Pro 12 also drops support for 5G data connections (though it still features cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 technology), and the two USB-C ports in this model are USB 3.2, rather than the faster USB4 connections in last year's model.

These are quite substantial differences, and while some people might consider them a downgrade compared to the Surface Pro 11, it’s important to note that Microsoft continues to sell that model alongside the Surface Pro 12, so if you’re looking for a flagship experience, you’ll want the (slightly) older model. This could, of course, confuse people who assume the latest model is also the most powerful, or that the only difference between them are the screen sizes. But, you know: Microsoft and confusing product names – name a more iconic duo.

As with previous Surface Pro devices, the Surface Pro 12 is a Windows 11 tablet, and Microsoft is one of the few companies continuing to release them. The dominance of iPads running iPadOS and Android tablets has seemingly turned off many manufacturers from making Windows tablets.

In a way that’s a shame, as while Windows 11 isn’t an operating system primarily designed for touchscreen devices, unlike iPadOS or Android, the touchscreen experience has come a long way, and you can comfortably find your way around Windows 11 and run most tasks and actions via the touchscreen thanks to large, easy-to-hit, icons and buttons. However, there are still times when Windows 11’s origins as an operating system designed for desktop PCs are apparent, such as when a menu or dialogue box appears that feels clumsy when prodded by a finger and requires a mouse and keyboard for the best experience.

(Image credit: Future)

On the other hand, by running Windows 11, you can install full desktop versions of applications, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop, rather than the more limited tablet apps. This is the one area I feel Microsoft has the advantage over Apple’s iPad Pro, which, despite featuring the powerful M4 chip found in the best MacBooks and Macs, still uses iPadOS, which means it’s limited to the same basic apps that the iPad mini and iPad Air can run. This makes it feel like a lot of that power is wasted, and it’s something that the Surface Pro 12 avoids by being able to run almost any full desktop program. Plus, the Surface Pro 12 (2025) is nowhere near as powerful, or as expensive, as the iPad Pro, meaning you won’t be quite as concerned about paying for performance you’re not using.

I say ‘almost’ every Windows 11 app because it’s important to note that the Surface Pro 12 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, which is based on Arm architecture. Without getting too caught up in the weeds of tech mumbo-jumbo, in the past most consumer laptops and PCs used x86-based chips, primarily from Intel and AMD, and that meant that the majority of Windows applications were coded for x86 hardware, so Windows devices using Arm hardware couldn’t run them – instead you had to hope that the app makers would take the time to make an Arm-compatible version, and because sales of Windows on Arm hardware was so small compared to x86, very few developers thought it was worth doing.

Thankfully that’s changed a lot, mainly because the recent generation of Windows 11 laptops using Arm hardware (specifically the Snapdragon X), pushed by Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC branding, have been very popular (and deservedly so, just check out our Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review and Dell XPS 13 (2024) review for two recent examples of why Snapdragon X laptops are so good).

Microsoft has also released its Prism tool, which is essentially an emulator that allows x86 apps to run on Arm hardware with minimal impact to performance. This, combined with a growing library of native Arm apps for Windows 11 means that most of your favorite apps will run on the Surface Pro 12 – though there might still be cases where an app you often use can’t run.

The Surface Pro 12 (2025) can also be fitted with the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard, which offers a tactile, comfortable-to-use, full-size keyboard and trackpad, while also doubling as a protective cover for the screen. This turns the Surface Pro 12 into a 2-in-1 device that can be used as both a tablet and a keyboard, and for pretty much any task where you need to write reams of text, it’s an essential add-on.

Sadly, you have to buy it separately, which adds a further $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$274.95 – a not insubstantial extra expense that I feel most people will need to pay for to get the most out of the Surface Pro 12.

The Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard snaps on easily thanks to a proprietary magnetic connection, but because of the new screen size, it means you can’t use keyboards from older Surface devices. You can, at least, use a standard Bluetooth or wired keyboard, but that means you miss out on the portability.

Surface Pro 12 (2025): Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• How much does it cost? Starts at of $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499
• When is it available? On sale now
• Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia

With the affordable Surface Go lineup seemingly chucked in the trash, the Surface Pro 12 (2025) is now the most affordable way to get a new Surface Pro, with a starting price of $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499, which is a fair bit cheaper than 2024’s Surface Pro 11 which starts at $999.99 /£1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99. Microsoft is continuing to sell the Surface Pro 11 alongside the Surface Pro 12, pitching the older model as the premium, flagship device, while the Surface Pro 12 takes the place of the Surface Go as the entry-level.

For that starting price, you get a Snapdragon X Plus 8-core CPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB of storage. You can also configure it to come with 512GB of SSD storage for an extra $100 / £100 / AU$200. Apart from that, you’re unable to configure any other aspect of the hardware, though you can choose different colors (more of that in a moment).

The starting price is certainly competitive, especially considering the iPad Pro 13-inch starts at $1,299 / £1,299 / $2,199. Meanwhile, the latest iPad Air 13-inch starts at a similar $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 price, but comes with less storage and memory, and lacks Wi-Fi 7 support.

As a reasonably powerful tablet, then, the price is very good, though there are budget Android tablets out there for a lot less.

What’s not included in the price is a wall charger. The Surface Pro 12 no longer uses the proprietary Surface Connect port to charge – instead, any USB-C charger will work, so the lack of an included charger probably won’t be a huge deal for a lot of people, and at least helps keep the price down and reduce waste. If you need a charger, then you can buy an official one for $69.99 / £49.99 / AU$89.95, but because any USB-C power supply above 27W will work, there are plenty of cheaper options.

However, to get the most out of the Surface Pro 12 (and Windows 11, the operating system it runs), you’ll need the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard, which turns it into a 2-in-1 device that can be used as either a tablet or a laptop.

The Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard is sold separately and will set you back $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$274.95, so unless you just want to use the Surface Pro 12 as a tablet, you should factor that into the price.

You can also get the 12-inch Keyboard with the Slim Pen stylus in a bundle for $249.99 / £249.99 / $454.95.

In the US and Australia, you can also buy the Surface Slim Pen on its own for $129.99 / AU$229.5. While the stylus is less essential to the overall experience, this does show that from the reasonable starting price, the Surface Pro 12 can quickly jump in cost when you start configuring it.

• Value: 4 / 5

Microsoft Surface Pro 12: Specs

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (base model)

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (highest specs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Price

$799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499

$899.99 / £899.99 / AU$1,699

Starting at $999.99 /£1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99

CPU

8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

10-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

GPU

Qualcomm Adreno

Qualcomm Adreno

Qualcomm Adreno

NPU

Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)

Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)

Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)

RAM

16GB

16GB

16GB

Storage

256GB

512GB

256GB, 512GB

Display

12 inches LCD (2196 x 1464)

12 inches LCD (2196 x 1464)

13 inches LCD (2880 x 1920)

Ports

2x USB-C (3.2)

2x USB-C (3.2)

2x Thunderbolt 4

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Size

10.8 x 7.47 x 0.30 ins | 274 x 190 x 7.8mm

10.8 x 7.47 x 0.30 ins | 274 x 190 x 7.8mm

11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 ins | 287 x 209 x 9.3mm

Weight

1.5 lbs | 686g

1.5 lbs | 686g

1.97 lbs | 895g

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025): Design

(Image credit: Future)

• New screen size
• Thinnest Copilot+ PC
• New color options

If you’ve ever seen a Surface Pro device in the wild, then you’ll pretty much know what to expect with the Surface Pro 12 (2025). On its own it looks like a pretty standard tablet, though I have to say that the thick bezels around the screen does make it feel a little outdated compared to some of its rivals (and even the older Surface Pro 11 has thinner bezels on two of the sides of the screen).

As with previous models, the back has an embossed Windows logo, and the bottom half can be pulled out to make a kick stand, a nice feature that the likes of the iPad don’t have. In the center of the bottom side, there’s also a magnetic port that you use to affix the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard to – though if you have an existing Surface Keyboard or Type Cover it won’t work due to the new size.

There are some subtle – and mostly welcome – changes introduced to the design of the Surface Pro 12, however. The proprietary Surface Connect port has been ditched – thankfully – and instead you charge the Surface Pro 12 (2025) via one of the two USB-C ports. While this change has been mainly introduced to comply with a European Union (EU) directive that states that all new electronic devices sold in the EU must support USB-C charging, it’s a positive one for consumers I feel, and does mean that for many of us that already have plenty of USB-C chargers we’re not getting yet another charger that will just be wasted.

(Image credit: Future)

Because of the new, smaller, screen, the Surface Pro 12 feels more comfortable to hold in the hand than the larger 13-inch Surface Pro from 2024 (I have both). The Surface Pro 12’s dimensions of 10.8 x 7.47 x 0.30 inches (274mm x 190mm x 7.8mm) are noticeably more compact than the Surface Pro 11’s dimensions of 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches (287mm x 208.6mm x 9.3mm), and the weight difference (1.5 pounds (686g) for the Surface Pro 12 vs 1.97 pounds (0.89kg) for the Pro 11) means if portability is a priority for you (and if you’re planning on using it as a tablet, then it should be), the Surface Pro 12 could, on paper, be the device to get.

However, it’s not just the screensize that’s different, and you should be aware of some of the changes Microsoft has made to keep the price of the Surface Pro 12 down.

For a start, there’s no OLED model, and the refresh rate is capped at 90Hz (rather than 120Hz of the Surface Pro 11).

The Surface Pro 12 also has a lower resolution of 2196 x 1464 vs 2880 x 1920 of the Pro 11, and that also means a lower pixel density of 220 PPI (pixels per inch) compared to the 267 PPI of the Pro 11. This means the image quality isn’t as sharp on the Pro 12.

The Surface Pro 12 also lacks the easily accessed NVMe port of the Surface Pro 11, which was located on the older model behind the kickstand, and was a nice addition that allowed you to quickly upgrade the storage space of the Pro 11.

(Image credit: Future)

On the back of the Surface Pro 12 is a new indent which is where you magnetically attach the Slim Pen stylus (sold separately). Microsoft sent me one to review along with the Surface Pro 12, and I was impressed with how secure the Slim Pen felt when it was magnetically attached – I certainly didn’t worry that the stylus would drop off the tablet.

The Slim Pen also wirelessly charges when attached, which is a nice touch. Despite the indent, however, having the Slim Pen attached does mean that the Surface Pro 12 doesn’t sit flush when placed back-down on a table or desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Connecting the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard (also sold separately, and supplied by Microsoft for this review) is also quick and easy thanks to a magnetic connection. It adds a bit more weight and bulk, but when closed will protect the screen. It also allows you to use the Surface Pro 12 as a laptop-like device, and I think it’s worth getting. You’ll need to use the kickstand to support the Surface Pro 12 when it’s used as a screen, which isn’t the most comfortable if you’re using it on your lap, but it does work. However, you can’t really adjust the angle of the screen, unlike Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro.

The Surface Pro 12’s USB-C ports are also limited to USB 3.2, rather than USB4, which is supported by the Surface Pro 11. You’ll still be able to plug in the same peripherals, but data transfer will be slower.

(Image credit: Future)

A more positive design tweak are the two new color schemes, Violet and Ocean, along with the same Platinum color that previous Surface Pros came in. I’ve seen the new Surface Laptop in Violet, and it looks lovely. However, the base model of the new Surface Pro, which I have, only comes in Platinum – you’ll need to pay extra for more storage if you want the Surface Pro 12 in either Violet or Ocean.

Overall, the design of the Surface Pro 12 is solid, though not that excited, especially if you get it in Platinum. Compared to the iPad Air (2025), which has a weight of 460g and dimensions of 247.6mm x 178.5mm x 6.1mm for the 11-inch model, it feels chunkier and cheaper than Apple’s tablet. If you’re used to iPad tablets, you will likely much prefer Appe’s design. The compromises to screen quality and USB speeds with the Surface Pro 12 are also a shame.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025): Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Good for general use
• 16GB RAM helps with multitasking
• AI features remain pointless

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025):

3DMark Solar Bay: 5,921
3DMark Wildlife Extreme: 3,179
Geekbench 6.4 Single-core: 2,263
Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core: 9,913
Crossmark Overall: 1,103
Crossmark Responsiveness: 1,003
PugetBench Photoshop: 4,043
Battery (TechRadar test): 17 hours, 49 minutes

Microsoft might argue that the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip within the Surface Pro 12 is the most exciting component, and I’d agree, but likely not for the same reason.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus is an Arm-based chip (similar to the M4 chip in the MacBook), with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) of 45 Trillion Operations per Second (TOPS) – an essential specification for it to be called a ‘Copilot+ PC’, which is Microsoft’s catch-all term for Windows 11 laptops that come with NPUs that can handle on-device AI tasks.

You might have noticed that a lot of companies are shoving AI into their products, and Microsoft is arguably one of the most ambitious. Like it or not, AI tools are now tightly integrated into Windows 11, and there’s no sign of that slowing down, with Microsoft’s Copilot AI tool becoming a fundamental part of the operating system, even getting its own dedicated key on the keyboard.

Of course, if you don’t have a Copilot+ PC you can still use Copilot – the key difference is that thanks to the NPU, you can use Copilot and other AI tools locally on the Surface Pro 12 itself, rather than relying on an internet connection and cloud-based AI tools.

The benefits are that you can work offline with these tools, and as all the data you provide the AI with is stored locally, there should be no danger of your data being shared with third parties or used to train AI models. This is good if you’re using AI tools with personal and private information, but less so if you’re just messing around with turning scribbles into AI-generated images in Paint.

Speaking of which, doing that is OK on the Surface Pro 12. Asking Paint to generate an image based on a photo I loaded took about 20 seconds, and the results were… well, what you’d expect from AI-generated art these days. Fine, and initially impressive, but not much more than a brief diversion, as the ‘art’ it produces comes with familiar tell-tale signs that it’s been made by AI. It’s likely a tool you’ll try once and then forget about it.

(Image credit: Future)

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus’ NPU also gives you access to some exclusive Windows 11 features, namely Click To Do. This feature, which is still in ‘preview’, so not the finished article, is pitched by Microsoft as a way to do things more quickly and easily in Windows 11 with the help of AI.

By holding down the Windows key on the keyboard, you’ll see the mouse cursor turn into a white dot. Clicking on something (or tapping using the Surface Pro 12 screen) will give the screen a blue tint to show that Click To Do is enabled. If you only have the Surface Pro 12 and no keyboard, you can also bring this up quickly by swiping from the right-hand side of the screen.

Click To Do should then intelligently offer up some quick actions supposedly based on what it sees on your screen, such as opening an image in the Photos app and removing the background.

In theory, this could save some time, though to be honest, right-clicking a document and choosing what app to open it in covers a lot of that, is much faster, and doesn’t require a Copilot+ PC.

In practice, however, the feature seems pretty useless. I used Click To Do with my Pictures folder open, then clicked on a photo, then selected Remove background with Paint, thinking that this would open the photo in Paint and remove the background. Instead, it opened the thumbnail preview of the image (which is tiny and pixellated) and removed the background.

Thinking maybe it was Paint’s fault, I did it again, but this time selected Blur background with Photos. This opened up the Photos app, but again, it was just the thumbnail; it didn’t actually open the file.

So what Click To Do is really doing is taking a screenshot of whatever is open, and all you can really do is interact with the screenshot, not the actual files. Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick, but it felt like Click To Do was promising something quite complex, but in reality, it was just basic and of no use.

I tried it with a web browser open and some Bing (of course) search results. Click To Do offered to copy text to Notepad. A bit pointless, but I gave it a go, and it pasted a single line of unintelligible nonsense. Sure, Click To Do is supposedly still in ‘preview’, but it’s in no fit state at the moment, and as a key selling point of Copilot+ PCs like the Surface Pro 12, it’s embarrassing.

(Image credit: Future)

Recall, another feature touted as a key selling point for Copilot+ PCs, is in a similar preview state. I’ve gone over the controversies of this plenty of times before but the general thrust of this feature is that it runs in the background and takes constant screenshots that you can then scroll back through and search for things.

Recall was supposed to launch with the initial wave of Copilot+ PCs, but a big backlash amidst privacy and security concerns kept Microsoft from rolling it out. Now it’s here (albeit in preview form), and most of my privacy concerns have been alleviated. First, unusually for Microsoft, you have to turn on this feature yourself; it’s not turned on by default (as it was initially). All the images and data are stored locally, and thanks to the NPU, all AI tasks are done on the Surface Pro 12 itself.

Recall, and the data it collects, can also only be accessed by the user when logged in, and needs to have advanced Windows Hello biometric security enabled.

While the security aspect seems improved, if not completely perfect, my other big concern about just how useful Recall will prove to be remains. On the Surface Pro 12, it can feel a bit sluggish, and it even crashed once, and the results were mixed. It did find screenshots containing search results I’d asked for reasonably well, but once it brings up the screenshots, you’re a bit limited to what you can do – a lot like Click To Do, you can’t click on a file or folder to open it up, though to be fair it does allow you to open the folder location in Windows Explorer.

But it just doesn’t seem that useful, and because you now have to turn it on yourself, and considering the performance and storage impact Recall has when taking all these screenshots, Microsoft needs to really make Recall worth using – and so far it hasn’t.

(Image credit: Future)

On a (much) more positive note, the general performance of the Surface Pro 12 (2025) is good. Even demanding apps like Photoshop installed and launched without issue, and because you’re able to run Windows 11 applications, it makes the Surface Pro 12 (2025) a much better tool, in my mind, than the iPad Pro, which despite all its power is limited to iPadOS apps, which are more basic.

Having multiple desktop apps open at once and switching between them was fine, though if you are going to be mainly using standard Windows 11 apps, you’ll need to invest in the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard, frankly, as these apps can be fiddly if you’re just using the touchscreen to control them. I did notice, however, that trying to perform too many tasks at once can make the performance of the Surface Pro 12-inch lag, with the occasional app crash. Nothing too out of the ordinary if you’re used to Windows 11, but it means there’s not the slick experience you might expect from an iPad.

Logging into the Surface Pro 12 is handled by the Windows Hello biometric tool, which uses the built-in webcams of the tablet to recognise your face. I found it worked reliably in a range of different lighting conditions, and meant logging in was both quick and secure. If Windows Hello can’t detect you, you can use a PIN or password to log in.

The front-facing webcam does a decent job, though at 1080p, it’s not as sharp or detailed as the 1440p webcam on last year’s model. As the Surface Pro 12 is a Copilot+ PC, you can use the Windows Studio effects tool to tweak the webcam’s footage live. Using AI and the NPU of the Snapdragon chip, you can blur the background, or add creative filters that make you look like a cell-shaded animation, watercolor painting, and automatically center yourself in frame.

(Image credit: Future)

These work fine, but they are nothing we haven’t seen before, and the background blur feature seemed less effective as other background blurring features I’ve tried, such as when using Google Meet, with noticeable gaps in the blur where the clear background could be seen.

One feature I did like was Eye Contact, which uses AI to make it seem like you’re looking directly at the screen. As with a lot of devices, the webcam of the Surface Pro 12 is either at the top, bottom or side of the screen, depending on the orientation, and this can result in video calls where it appears like you’re looking away (as you’re usually focusing on the screen). With this feature, it does a good job of adjusting your eyes so they are looking directly at the person you’re talking to.

It sounds a bit creepy, but it does make video calls (or just taking selfies) feel more natural, and the feature does a good job of matching your eye color. When I first tried this feature a while ago, it felt fake, with a definite element of ‘uncanny valley’ where you can tell something isn’t quite right, but it seems the feature has been improved a lot.

The rear camera is Ultra HD, though the photos I took with it weren’t particularly impressive, with quite a bit of noticeable noise in darker conditions. While taking photos, the Camera app became unresponsive, which means I could not adjust the focus; instead, I had to wait a few seconds. This also means that some photos I thought I had taken hadn’t actually been saved, so I wouldn’t recommend depending on the Surface Pro 12 to take once-in-a-lifetime photos – you’d be much safer sticking to your smartphone.

Throughout my time with the Surface Pro 12, I appreciated how silent it was. Like Apple’s M-series chips in modern MacBook Air laptops, the Snapdragon X Plus is efficient enough that the Surface Pro 12 it powers doesn’t need internal fans to keep it cool, so you don’t get any distracting and annoying fan noise when the tablet is working hard. However, with the occasional hangs that I experienced using Windows 11 on the Surface Pro 12, trading silence for a more reliable experience (as cooling the components could improve performance) might have been one compromise I’d have liked.

• Performance: 3 / 5

Microsoft Surface Pro 12: Battery life

• Microsoft promises 16 hours of local video playback
• Lower refresh rate of screen helps give battery life a boost
• Almost 18 hours in our battery tests

A common frustration I have with Copilot+ PC devices running on Arm hardware is that the marketing material often focuses solely on AI features and capabilities, but they are the least interesting thing about products like the Surface Pro 12.

Thanks to the power efficiency of the latest Snapdragon X chips, battery lives of these Copilot+ PC devices are impressively long, and considering that battery life is one of the most important considerations people have when buying a new laptop (it is for me, anyway), it's a shame that this aspect is often glossed over.

The Surface Pro 12 continues this theme, with a battery that lasted an excellent 17 hours and 49 minutes in my battery life benchmark test, which involved playing a looped HD video until the battery died.

While this isn't the longest battery life I've seen with a Copilot+ PC, it's great that we seem to be in an era where battery lives for Windows 11 devices that are near 20 hours are increasingly common (though even the best gaming laptops won't get anywhere near that). You'll certainly be able to bring it on long international flights to work and watch films on, and have plenty of battery left.

Most importantly, it means you can go several work days on a single charge in most cases, since you likely won't be using it for 18 hours straight, making it a great choice for people looking for a thin and light device to work on.

(Image credit: Future)

• Battery Life: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025)?Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025) report card

Remarks

Score

Value

The starting price of the Surface Pro 12 is excellent, though you'll need to pay extra for the keyboard cover.

4 / 5

Design

A slick, if uninspiring, design that's thin and light. Shame about the thick bezels around the screen, though.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Windows 11 runs well for most tasks, and Arm support is improving. It does struggle with intensive use, however.

3 / 5

Battery Life

Almost 18 hours of battery on a single charge is excellent, and testament to the efficiency of the Arm chip powering this tablet.

5 / 5

Buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 if...

You want an easily portable Windows 11 device
This 2-in-1 can seriously challenge the iPad Pro's claim to the title of best tablet computer.

You’re after a 2-in-1 device
The Surface Pro 12 works well as a tablet, and with the addition of the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard (sold separately), it becomes a decent laptop-like device for more complex tasks.

You hate fan noise
It’s a rare joy to use a Windows 11 device and not have the fans kicking in when you’re being too ambitious with your multitasking, but the Surface Pro 12’s fanless design shows it can be done.

Don't buy it if...

You feel like you’re missing out on AI features
Given the hype, it’s understandable if you already have a Windows 11 laptop, but want a Copilot+ PC like the Surface Pro 12 for the extra AI features – but trust me, they aren’t worth upgrading for… yet.

You want a slick experience
While running the full Windows 11 operating system is a big plus for productivity, it does mean the user experience, especially when the Surface Pro 12 is used exclusively as a tablet, is lacking.

You want the very best Surface Pro
The Surface Pro 12 (2025) is the latest Surface Pro, but it’s not the most powerful one – that’ll be last year’s Surface Pro 11. Microsoft has made a lot of compromises to get the price of the new Surface Pro down, which is commendable, but it does limit the device’s potential.

Also consider

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025)
The latest iPad Air impressed us with its M3-powered performance and overall slickness, and it's priced around the same as the Surface Pro 12 (2025). You're limited to mobile apps with the iPad Air, unlike the Surface Pro 12, but this does mean that the overall experience of using the iPad Air as a tablet is much smoother, thanks to the iPadOS operating system that's been built from the ground-up to support touchscreen controls.

Read our full Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025) review

Microsoft Surface Pro 11
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is slightly older than the Surface Pro 12, but comes with a larger, and nicer screen, faster USB ports and better webcam - though it does cost more. However, you should find it on sale more often, which could make it better value.

Read the full Microsoft Surface Pro 11 review

How I tested the Microsoft Surface Pro 12

• I spent about a week with the Surface Pro 12
• I used it for everyday productivity
• I ran our standard suite of Windows laptop benchmarks

I've been using the Surface Pro 11 daily to write articles (including some of this review), browse the web and make video calls. I switched between using it in tablet mode, and with the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard attached, turning it into a laptop-like device.

As well as using it for real-world tasks, I also ran TechRadar's standard suite of benchmark results. I've reviewed numerous iterations of Surface Pro devices, as well as competing tablets like the iPad Pro and some of the best laptops money can buy.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed June 2025

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international correspondents share snapshots of moments from their lives and work around the world.

We've put together this guide to explain the key differences, costs and practicalities of a queen-size bed compared to a king-size bed.

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, June 4 (game #724).

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 #725) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PIPE
• EVE
• SUMMER
• APPLE
• SNAKE
• RIM
• CROW
• VERGE
• BUMPER
• TURNER
• PLUNGER
• SPOILER
• BRINK
• WRENCH
• GRILLE
• CUSP

NYT Connections today (game #725) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: On the edge
• GREEN: Waterworks
• BLUE: Pimp my ride
• PURPLE: Award winning singers

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 #725) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PRECIPICE 
• GREEN: PLUMBING EQUIPMENT
• BLUE: WAYS TO MODIFY A CAR'S EXTERIOR 
• PURPLE: BEST FEMALE ROCK PERFORMANCE GRAMMY WINNERS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #725) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #725, are…

• YELLOW: PRECIPICE BRINK, CUSP, EVE, VERGE
• GREEN: PLUMBING EQUIPMENT PIPE, PLUNGER, SNAKE, WRENCH
• BLUE: WAYS TO MODIFY A CAR'S EXTERIOR BUMPER, GRILLE, RIM, SPOILER
• PURPLE: BEST FEMALE ROCK PERFORMANCE GRAMMY WINNERS APPLE, CROW, SUMMER, TURNER

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

PIPE and APPLE made a return after featuring in yesterday’s Connections, but today it wasn't things featured in Magritte paintings we were searching for.

Instead, the answers were BEST FEMALE ROCK GRAMMY WINNERS, of which Fiona Apple is one, and PLUMBING EQUIPMENT – of which pipes play an integral part.

I’m thrilled that I got WAYS TO MODIFY A CAR’S EXTERIOR first, as this is an area that I know completely nothing about and generally glaze over if anyone ever mentions anything to do with cars or roads or zzzzzzz – in fact I’m glazing over typing this.

The biggest surprise today is that Donna SUMMER won a Rock Performance Grammy in 1980 for Hot Stuff, as I associate her with being the queen of disco and saucy dance classics I Feel Love and Love to Love You Baby. 

I am ashamed that I seem to know more about car exteriors than I do about Donna Summer.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, June 4, game #724)

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A SONG BRIDGE, CHORUS, HOOK, REFRAIN
• GREEN: SUPPORT AUDIBLY CHEER, CLAP, ROOT, WHISTLE
• BLUE: THINGS IN AN ENTRYWAY BENCH, COAT RACK, CONSOLE, RUNNER
• PURPLE: IMAGERY IN MAGRITTE PAINTINGS APPLE, BOWLER, CLOUD, PIPE

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 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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, June 4 (game #1227).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 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 #1228) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1228) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1228) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1228) - 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 #1228) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• R

• G

• L

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

Quordle today (game #1228) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1228, are…

• CHIDE
• RABBI
• GUSTY
• LANCE

A nice day today, with three words that were easy to get after my starter words provided plenty of correct letters.

The final word was the most challenging and put the brakes on a speedy exit. I had the R and A in the correct spots and an I, but for some reason RABBI eluded me.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1228) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1228, are…

• ROOST
• LIPID
• WHARF
• COYLY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
• Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
• Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
• Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
• Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
• Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
• Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP
• Quordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEAN
• Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLAR
• Quordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPER
• Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
• Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
• Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
• Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE
• Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNY
• Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE
• Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, June 4 (game #458).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Mary, Mary, quite …

NYT Strands today (game #459) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• NEED
• SAME
• GRAY
• COKE
• SNORE
• HELL

NYT Strands today (game #459) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #459) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 3rd 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 #459) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #459, are…

• COCKLESHELLS
• PRETTY
• MAIDS
• SILVER
• BELLS
• CONTRARY
• SPANGRAM: GARDEN

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Knowing the words we were looking for certainly made today’s Strands an easier task. But despite it being the most obvious and easiest of words to discover, I still found CONTRARY last.

I’m sure we all had the nursery rhyme (or as some people may know it, Roud Folk Song Index number 19626) going round in our heads as we searched for the various things Contrary Mary liked lining up in her GARDEN – namely SILVER BELLS, and COCKLESHELLS, and PRETTY MAIDS all in a row.

Like many nursery rhymes this is one with macabre origins; although disputed, many scholars think the words refer to Mary Queen of Scots, with the garden representing a graveyard filled with all the people who dared to upset her.

Then again, it could just as easily be about a woman called Mary who liked sticking shells in her garden.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, June 4, game #458)

• YETI
• BIGFOOT
• KRAKEN
• CRAWLER
• MOTHMAN
• JACKALOPE
• SPANGRAM: CRYPTIDS

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.

Struggling to have a second child, astronaut Kellie Gerardi uses her social media presence to let others know they're not alone.

(Image credit: Roy Rochlin)