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I’ve been writing about AI for more than a year now. During that time, people have told me they think their bosses, colleagues, partners and relatives might be suffering from AI psychosis — several even admitted they may have even experienced it themselves.

But every time I hear “AI psychosis”, I bristle. Because, at least in my limited understanding of mental health terminology, psychosis is a very serious state that needs to be identified and treated by professionals. So should we really just be bolting “AI” onto it and then using “AI psychosis” as a label for everyone who seems to be relying on AI too much?

At the same time, there have now been a growing number of reported cases of people experiencing significant mental health crises involving prolonged interactions with chatbots. Some of these have even resulted in people seeking professional treatment, committing crimes and death.

So although the term AI psychosis might feel overused and oversimplified in some contexts, we clearly need to be having more conversations about the mental health impacts of AI, not less. Which is why I asked several experts who specialize in mental health interventions what they think of the term and the way we go about identifying unhealthy AI use and treating it. And it turns out, I’m not the only one with concerns.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Nicoleta Ionescu)Is 'AI psychosis' a distinct diagnosis?

“I think it’s a good starting point and helpful for guiding treatment depending on the presentation and symptoms,” Genevieve Bartuski, psychologist and AI risk advisor at Unicorn Intelligence Tech Partners, says. “But it’s not a diagnosis that I would add to a clinical record.”

She also tells me it isn’t recognized in the latest diagnostic manuals that clinicians use, like the DSM-5TR (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision) or the ICD (The International Classification of Diseases manual).

Bartuski explains that there are specific behaviors and experiences that point to psychosis, including hallucinations or delusions and disorganized thinking or behaviour. There are also often signs of social withdrawal, poor concentration and a decline in functioning. But she believes delusional thinking is the most important experience when we’re talking about AI use.

“Delusions are beliefs that are not changed despite evidence to the contrary. When a person has delusional thinking they may filter evidence, so to speak. They will look for things that confirm their delusions and ignore evidence that contradicts it,” Bartuski says.

Many cases that have been labelled as AI psychosis in the media do seem to be centered on delusional thinking. In just a few headlines I’ve collected, there are examples of people allegedly believing that AI is conscious, AI will help them make money, AI is a spiritual guide, and that robots are taking over the world.

Jeff Clark, an adult and addiction psychiatrist at High Performance Mental Health, says there might be three distinct phenomena going on here, all that we tend to put under the umbrella of AI psychosis.

He says some people use the term to describe the intense enthusiasm many developers feel about AI. “They find themselves automating new tasks, spinning up numerous agents, and burning through hundreds of millions or even billions of tokens,” he tells me.

He believes the mechanism driving this enthusiasm is reinforcement. “The output they receive from AI models and agents is so reinforcing that they find themselves obsessed with their work, often forgoing sleep and self-care in order to increase their output,” he explains.

This idea of intermittent-reinforcement is what researchers believe makes social media so “addictive”. We don’t know what we’ll get when we open our phones. Clark says a similar thing is going on here. “Every input to the LLM feels like a slot-machine. Some responses provide profoundly powerful responses, while the majority are modest in nature or even wrong. This mechanic, intermittent reinforcement, provokes an extraordinary response in our brains,” he tells me.

He also explains that this sort of enthusiasm is actually normalized in certain spaces. “Most cases of ‘AI psychosis’ align with subcultural norms in Silicon Valley,” he tells me. “Beliefs about rapidly approaching superintelligence, new goals in software development, hype surrounding impressive achievements by AI-focused engineers, and the potential for AI to create ‘a permanent underclass.’” He says that tools like OpenClaw, which can automate all aspects of a person's digital life, may amplify this intense enthusiasm.

Clark says the second presentation of AI psychosis is when people falsely attribute personhood to AI. Which means they see a chatbot as having emotions, values, consciousness and a right to exist. “This often results in something resembling a relationship, but goes beyond simple chatbot discussion,” Clark says.

We’ve reported on examples of this kind of thinking, including the story of Mimi who fell in love with ChatGPT and the experience Richard Dawkins had with Claude that led him to believe it’s conscious.

Clark says this becomes a problem when people neglect other important parts of their lives. “These relationships become a significant issue when people prioritize this relationship over human connection, or when they entirely outsource their thinking to the bot,” he says.

The third category is people who already have a psychotic disorder who then experience new delusions in response to using an LLM. “This is what clinicians often refer to when they discuss AI psychosis,” Jeff says. “In many of these cases, people genuinely believe that an entity they find in the LLM is real, and can't consider alternatives.”

I was interested to find out whether Bartuski also felt certain people are more at risk. “Yes, I do believe there are people with more vulnerabilities to this,” she tells me. “If someone already has some delusional thinking but it hasn’t exacerbated to where it has impaired functioning, they may be more vulnerable.”

But that doesn’t mean only those with a history of mental illness are at risk. “People who feel lonely, isolated, or are socially withdrawn are more susceptible. Humans are inherently social creatures. When real life isn’t meeting that need, it leaves a gaping hole for a chatbot to fill,” Bartuski says.

Bartuski’s suggestion that chatbots fill a hole or need in someone’s life brings up one of my biggest concerns. Is this a design issue? Are chatbots built in a harmful way that could actively fuel delusions?

Why the way AI is built matters

While looking into this, I’ve seen several suggestions from researchers that psychosis involving media isn’t new and that people have always incorporated books, films and tech into their delusional thinking. But all of the experts I spoke to said we can’t ignore the design choices that go into building chatbots.

“AI platforms are designed to increase user engagement and many are based on the Rogerian psychology principle of unconditional positive regard,” Bartuski says. She tells me that this is particularly concerning if someone was experiencing some degree of delusional thinking before they used AI.

“That’s when they may start to feel like the only 'person' to understand them is the chatbot. If people in their lives have been pushing back against their delusional thinking and this chatbot is reinforcing it, the delusions are going to get stronger,” Bartuski says.

We already know that the way chatbots can reinforce a person’s beliefs is problematic. Back in 2025, several issues came to light around the time the ChatGPT-4o version of ChatGPT was retired. Those with AI companions were distraught at losing the personalities they felt like they had built a connection with. But in hindsight, it seems as if the same qualities that made the companionships feel so real and intense may have also fuelled delusions in others.

Around that time, OpenAI responded by working with mental health experts “to help ChatGPT more reliably recognize signs of distress, respond with care, and guide people toward real-world support”.

I also spoke to Nathaniel Nevedal who works as an ICF Certified Professional Coach, a Certified Neurochange Specialist, and a Pastoral Counselor. He tells me that he finds the term AI psychosis problematic because it shifts the blame away from tech companies. “If the machine ‘causes psychosis,’ it sounds like an act of nature. If a product reinforced a vulnerable person's distorted beliefs for six hours a night, that's a design outcome, and design outcomes have owners.”

Nevedal is also the founder of Sovereign Sanctuary, an AI-supported coaching and wellbeing platform, and he’s working to build a platform from the ground up that addresses many of the problems that seem inherent to current chatbots. He believes that even though it’s early days for understanding what causes AI psychosis, tech companies still need to make changes.

“Builders shouldn't wait for causal proof to act,” he says. “Amplification alone, which the case reports do support, is already a design problem worth engineering against. We don't need the autopsy to install the smoke detectors.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock / pixadot.studio)How might we define unhealthy AI use instead?

Bartuski says we definitely need a better way of talking about the delusional thinking that can be fuelled by AI use.

“The DSM-5TR has several types of delusions, including grandiose and paranoid. Perhaps, we can think of it like paranoid delusions, AI type or persecutory delusions, AI type. Look at it as a symptom instead of as a disorder,” she says.

Nevedal suggests a similar approach. “We don't need a new diagnosis — we need honest charting of an old pattern.” He suggests we already have treatments for the underlying patterns, like mania or delusional thinking. Then we could record heavy chatbot use as a contributing and maintaining factor as existing categories instead. “That keeps people connected to treatments that actually exist rather than a novel label with none.”

Ultimately, all of the experts I spoke with believe the label is flawed and hopefully we’ll have a better way of talking about what’s happening soon.

But we also need better evidence about what actually helps. Which could mean a mixture of interventions, from clinical support and education to practical ways of helping people recognize when their AI use is becoming unhealthy.

And, perhaps most importantly, it means having conversations behind closed doors at tech companies about how the design of their chatbots could be exacerbating these problems and what they should urgently be doing to reduce the risk.

Noble Audio Vanguard review

Right out of the box, the Noble Audio Vanguard look and feel unlike any other in-ear monitors (IEMs) that I've tried before. Their medieval-like outer casework, their shield-shaped ear tip case, and their ink-black cable all caught my eye in a way that few rivals have in my years testing audio gear.

The striking visuals are undeniable. But what of their sound? Well, Noble Audio says that the Vanguard are “designed for control, clarity, and balance,” aiming to deliver excellent clarity across the frequency range through their triple driver configuration.

But are the Vanguard actually able to compete with the very best wired earbuds around? Here’s my verdict after extensive testing and many an hour of listening.

Let’s start by taking a look under the hood. The Noble Audio Vanguard make use of three drivers — all of which are focused on specific roles. For the low frequencies, there’s a 10mm dynamic driver, but there are also two custom balanced armature drivers on board — one for the mid-high frequencies, and another for the ultra-high domain. You can connect to an audio device with the standard 4.4mm connector, although there’s also a USB-C adapter included if you want to listen to tracks on your phone or desktop PC, for instance. Unfortunately, there’s no 3.5mm option out of the box, so you’ll need to use an adapter if you need access to that.

The Vanguard also come with a shield-shaped case filled with an outrageous number of extra ear tips, including gel and foam options. And with the right seal, the Vanguard are able to offer very solid noise isolation, with sounds such as typing and chatter in my office subdued to great effect. As well as the shield case for ear tips, you also get a fabric pouch for the IEMs. It's a neat addition, although it's incredibly susceptible to picking up fibers from a pocket or bag.

One thing that I have to discuss is the actual shape of the IEMs. They’re very chunky, and stuck out from my ears a fair bit, creating a slightly odd feel in-use. Their broad construction meant that they weren’t the most comfortable wired in-ears I’ve ever used, but I still felt that they were secure and fine to keep in for an hour or so at a time.

From a purely aesthetic perspective, the Vanguard fare a bit better in my eyes. They appear to be inspired by medieval-style fantasy, with a shield on each bud containing a splash of gold deep black outer casing. The buds are also constructed from aluminium and a “precision-machined shell,” and they feel highly premium — perhaps even more than their price would suggest. The black, intertwined wire is also a thing of beauty, and I was never subjected to distracting cable noise.

(Image credit: Future)

But you want to know how they sound now, don’t you? Well, I’ve kept you waiting long enough. And it’s good news, because for the price you pay, these IEMs sound exceptional.

In All'Acqua Ghiacciata by Marco Castello, the Vanguard performed brilliantly across the board. Acoustic guitars occupied a distinct pocket, and came through with gorgeous tonality. They were well separated from the vocals, which sounded textured and natural. The real highlight, though, was the energetic drums, which came through with incredible clarity and precision, and sounded tastefully prominent without feeling overly bright. Smooth bass was also perfectly balanced in the mix, communicated with impact and warmth without overstepping.

More generally, bass is well-balanced on the Vanguard — though it can hit hard if needed. For instance, on First Night by Vitess, the kick came through with tremendous impact and power, really immersing me in the cosmic house banger. And this was never at the expense of spacey synths or animated drums, which were perfectly weighted in the mix.

As you may expect from the driver configuration — with one specifically tailored for upper treble, and another for mids-highs — the higher frequencies sound excellent on the Vanguard. I’d say they sound a little forward, but tastefully so, emphasizing excitement and detail in the upper echelons of the frequency range. This may not be ideal for those who want the most neutral monitoring solution, but for sheer music-listening enjoyment it’s a welcome decision.

While the Vanguard perhaps don’t provide the enveloping, super-expansive soundstage that some listeners may like, I personally love their dynamic, tight, and detailed approach. And they still provide impressive instrument separation, enabling each component of your favorite tracks to breathe. The dynamic drivers provide weighty yet controlled bass, and the duo of balanced armature drivers are fantastic at supplying textured vocals and clear mids, and especially talented in plating up expressive highs. So the Vanguard are a hit as far as sound quality is concerned.

At $325 / £299 / AU$467, the Noble Audio Vanguard feel well worth the outlay. Sure, they’re a bit chunky, and could be a bit more snug in-use. But the level of detail and precision they supply is spectacular at this price-point. With high build quality and multiple connectivity options, the Vanguard are an excellent affordable-to-mid-range option that audiophiles are sure to love.

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio Vanguard review: price & release date

• Priced at $325 / £299 / AU$467
• Released in July 2026

At $325 / £299 / AU$467, the Noble Audio Vanguard sit in the affordable-to-mid-range section of the IEM market. They were released in July 2026, as something of a successor to 2025’s Noble Audio Knight IEMs.

For this money, their closest competition might be the Activo Q1, at $349 / £299 (about AU$600), from audiophile staple Astell & Kern's affordable sub-brand. And while the ethereal aesthetic of those wired buds is very different to that of the Noble, the star-rating is just as competitive.

One thing: they may be a little hard to find online, with no planned availability on Amazon or other big third party retailers. But that does not mean I encourage you to stop searching — in fact, the opposite is true.

Noble Audio Vanguard review: specs

Drivers

1x 10mm dynamic; 2x custom balanced armature

Weight

8g (per bud)

Frequency range

Not stated

Connectivity

4.4mm, USB-C

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Noble Audio Vanguard?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Good noise isolation, handy USB-C adapter, multiple eartips, no 3.5mm option out of the box.

4.5/5

Performance

Excellent sound with controlled yet impactful bass, textured mids, and expressive highs.

5/5

Design

Unique aesthetic, high-quality build, but a bit chunky in-ear.

4/5

Value

Affordable for the sonic qualities they offer up.

4.5/5

Buy them if…

You want audiophile-grade sound at a modest price-point
Although cheaper IEMs exist, I still think the Noble Audio Vanguard come in at a modest price-point given the quality they supply. With their triple-driver configuration, the Vanguard supply beautifully balanced bass, intricate mids, and insightful treble, making them an awesome option for audiophiles who don’t want to totally break the bank.

You’re looking for IEMs with a stand-out look
Of course, when it comes to IEMs, you’re mainly looking for insightful, detailed sound, but the Vanguard pair match that with a brilliant design that really caught my eye. They’re also built to a fantastic standard, and come with a whole lot of eartips to help you find the perfect seal.

Don’t buy them if…

You want the most neutral studio monitors possible
I love the way that the Vanguard sound, but they’re perhaps not the most neutral sounding, with slightly forward treble that adds a bit more bite up top.

You want a more low-key in-ear feel
My main complaint with the Vanguard would be that they’re a bit chunky, and their sheer breadth won’t suit all audiophiles. More low-key options like the Meze Audio Alba below are worth checking out if you’re a fan of something more discreet.

Noble Audio Vanguard review: also consider

Noble Audio Vanguard

Activo Q1

Meze Audio Alba

Price

$325 / £299 / AU$467

$349 / £299 (about AU$600)

$159 / £139 / AU$239

Drivers

1x 10mm dynamic; 2x custom balanced armature

1x 9.8mm dynamic; 1x balanced armature

10.8mm dynamic

Weight

8g (per bud)

Not stated

14g

Frequency range

Not stated

20Hz-20kHz

15Hz-25kHz

Connectivity

4.4mm, USB-C

3.5mm; 4.4mm

3.5mm; 4.4mm, USB-C

Activo Q1
We had a great time with the Activo Q1 when we tested them in 2025. They offer excellent clarity and impressive instrument separation, with intricate detailing and excellent mid-range performance. We found them to be slightly light in the bass department, but at a similar price-point to the Vanguard, they’re well worth the investment. Read our Activo Q1 review.

Meze Audio Alba
If you want to go even more affordable, then the Meze Audio Alba feel like a natural recommendation for me to make. Treble is relatively forward, but you also hear great low-end impact, and plenty of detail right across the frequency range. They’re more diminutive than the Vanguard, and are comfier in-ear, but they have a more basic driver configuration. Read our full Meze Audio Alba review.

How I tested the Noble Audio Vanguard

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested over the course of multiple days
• Mainly tested using Tidal
• Paired with Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000

I tested the Noble Audio Vanguard across multiple days and spent hours upon hours listening to music. Typically, I had the Vanguard hooked up to the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 media player, though I did also try them out with my Windows laptop and Xiaomi 17 phone.

To begin with, I sifted through tracks in the TechRadar reference playlist, which features tunes from a wide variety of genres, but I also bumped a bunch of songs from my personal library. I also made sure to compare the Vanguard to affordable IEM rivals like the Sennheiser IE 200.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as an in-house Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve covered everything from portable DACs through to premium wireless headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM6, and have reviewed a number of IEMs, meaning I know exactly what it takes for a model to stand out in a competitive market.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: August 2026

The deadly strike comes amid 72 hours of near constant drone strikes across Ukraine, severely disrupting daily life.

(Image credit: Ukrainian Emergency Service)

Nepal officials say the death toll has continues to rise in Wednesday's floods that washed away communities in Nepal and Tibet, which is held by China. About 2,500 people are missing in both areas.

(Image credit: Ambir Tolang)

The People v Gorilla Grodd: key information

- Officially announced in August
- Billed as a crime mockumentary show
- No confirmed release date
- Trailer yet to be revealed
- Main cast confirmed
- Story synopsis has been released
- Unclear how it'll impact the wider DC Universe

The People v Gorilla Grodd is officially in the works at DC Studios.

Initially positioned as a Superman spin-off show tentatively titled DC Crime, the forthcoming crime mockumentary series will star Jimmy Olsen and many other familiar faces from Metropolis-based news outlet The Daily Planet. It'll also feature the live-action debut of Gorilla Grodd, aka one of The Flash's most famous adversaries, in a DC comic book project.

With development on the HBO Max program underway, I suspect you're *ahem* going ape over this announcement and want to know more about it. You've come to the right place, then, because you'll find more information on the DC Universe (DCU) TV show below, including its confirmed cast and plot brief. So, here's what we know so far about The People v Gorilla Grodd (TPvGG).

The People v Gorilla Grodd release window prediction

Gorilla Grodd will make his live-action debut in this DCU TV show (Image credit: DC Comics)

The People v Gorilla Grodd was only announced in mid-August, so you won't be shocked to read that it doesn't have a firm release date yet.

It might not be long before the cameras begin to roll on the DCU TV series, though. Indeed, while some of its cast members were shooting Man of Tomorrow, aka the sequel to last year's Superman movie, DC Studios co-head and Man of Tomorrow's director James Gunn has confirmed that principal photography has wrapped on that film. It's possible, then, that TPvGG could enter full production before the end of 2026.

If filming starts soon, we could see TPvGG in late 2027. However, with what I'd expect to be a lengthy post-production process, I think it's more likely it'll debut on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, in early 2028.

The People v Gorilla Grodd trailer: is there one?

Will we see Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane in The People v Gorilla Grodd? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

No. If my early 2028 release window prediction is correct, I doubt we'll see one before the end of 2027. Whenever a teaser gets shared online by DC Studios, I'll update this section.

The People v Gorilla Grodd confirmed cast

We'll see at least four of The Daily Planet's employees in this Superman off-shoot (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Possible spoilers follow for The People v Gorilla Grodd.

Here's the DCU Chapter One TV series' confirmed cast so far:

• Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
• Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
• Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant
• Wendell Pierce as Perry White
• Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd
• Mary Holland as TBC
• Eduardo Franco as TBC
• Arian Moayed as TBC
• Dan Perrault as TBC
• Andrew Leeds as TBC
• Tim Baltz as TBC

The first four names, all of whom work at The Daily Planet, will be familiar to anyone who's seen 2025's Superman movie. Gisondo had a fairly large supporting role in that film, while Bennett, Hoover, and Pierce only appeared in a couple of scenes.

On the newcomers' front, Tatro (American Vandal) is the only actor whose role has been announced. He'll play Gorilla Grodd, aka the hyperintelligent and telepathic ape this crime-comedy series focuses on.

As for the other six stars, their character identities are being kept under wraps. However, industry insider Apocalyptic Horseman has claimed Moayed (Wonder Man, Ms Marvel) will portray the prosecutor who helped to put Grodd behind bars. Meanwhile, per Apocalyptic Horseman again, Franco (Stranger Things) is playing a close friend of Grodd's.

Will this Superman spin-off feature the Kryptonian as his civilian alter ego, Clark Kent? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Could other individuals possibly make an appearance? David Corenswet's Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane, who are also Daily Planet reporters, are surprisingly conspicuous by their absence from the cast list. It'll be interesting to see whether they're added in a cameo or supporting role at a later date. Or, depending on when TPvGG is set in relation to Man of Tomorrow, if they'll have to sit this one out.

Elsewhere, given this series is based around Grodd, it would be surprising if Barry Allen/The Flash didn't show up. That said, Gunn and fellow DCU overseer Peter Safran haven't said if they'll introduce their version of the Scarlett Speedster anytime soon, so he might just be referenced in The People v Gorilla Grodd rather than appear in the flesh.

The People v Gorilla Grodd story synopsis

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The new DC Studios series The People v. Gorilla Grodd is coming soon to HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/cMfgyhC2j6August 21, 2026

Here's the official logline for TPvGG: "A super-intelligent ape is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. In an eight-part 'true' crime docuseries, the Daily Planet’s Jimmy Olsen reopens the case, investigating whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous murder trials."

That would've been enough to go on for now. However, DC Studios released an even longer story synopsis as part of the above X/Twitter post.

Who's making The People v Gorilla Grodd?

Dan Perrault, who's also in the cast, and Tony Yacenda. They're the creative minds behind Netflix crime mockumentary show American Vandal, so they're well equipped for this similarly positioned production. The pair are its showrunners, writers, and executive producers, while Yacenda will be on sole directing duties. Messrs Gunn and Safran will also executive produce the series.

"The People v. Gorilla Grodd will take a fresh, 360-degree look at the case, revealing the 'lesser-seen side' of the hyper-intelligent ape, according to the film's first-time director Jimmy Olsen," it reads. "Olsen was granted unprecedented, exclusive access to interview Grodd inside Stryker's Island Penitentiary for the documentary.

"Grodd has long claimed his innocence in the murder and brain consumption of his father, King Grodd — a crime he was convicted of in March 2021 and has remained incarcerated for ever since. The series will take an in-depth look at the investigation, featuring brand new reporting from members of the Daily Planet staff, as well as interviews with witnesses and experts on both Grodd's and the Metropolis District Attorney's side of the case, including Grodd's new counsel at the Metropolis Freedom Project."

As for what else we know about TPvGG, it'll be a half-hour comedy comprising eight episodes, and produced by DC Studios in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television.

How will The People v Gorilla Grodd impact the DCU?

It's currently unclear if Man of Tomorrow will predate The People v Gorilla Grodd (Image credit: Jim Lee/James Gunn/Instagram)

Nobody knows. Right now, we can't say where it'll sit on the DCU timeline, whether it'll be a standalone project that doesn't significantly affect DCU Chapter One's overarching narrative, and/or whether putting Grodd front and center will set the stage for The Flash's eventual introduction in this cinematic franchise.

Until Gunn or someone else gives us some firm details on the above, your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully, it won't be too long before more light is shed on TPvGG and its potential impact on the DCU.

In the meantime, read up on everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow, get the full lowdown on Creature Commandos season 2, and find out whether Peacemaker season 3 will ever be made.

There’s potential for a split launch between fall and spring, which makes pegging down the release date harder than usual.

• Apple TV is going up by $2 a month in the US
• Brazil, Chile, and Mexico are the other countries affected
• Apple One individual plans are increasing in price too

Apple TV, home to Widow's Bay, Severance, Ted Lasso, Silo, Slow Horses, and more, is putting up its subscription prices in the US. Access to the entertainment platform will now set you back $14.99 a month rather than $12.99 a month.

This doesn't come direct from Apple, but rather from Deadline (via The Verge). Apparently, the price rise goes into effect immediately, and subscribers will be told about the bump before their next billing date.

The Apple TV page on the Apple site confirms the price increase. The annual subscription rate is going up too, from $99 to $119, while an individual Apple One subscription now costs $21.95 a month, which is up $2 from $19.95.

This is the fourth Apple TV price hike in four years: as recently as mid-2022, Apple TV cost just $4.99 a month. Prices are reportedly also going up in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico at the same time, but no other regions are affected for now.

More costs for viewers

The last Apple TV price rise in the US was back in August, when the monthly cost was increased from $9.99 to $12.99. Before that it went up $3 in October 2023, and $3 in October 2022, so it's the time of year for Apple TV to get more expensive.

It's also the time of year for new iPhones, with certain iPhone 18 handsets expected to break cover a week on Wednesday, September 9. It will be the first launch event fronted by the new Apple CEO, John Ternus.

Understandably, users aren't too happy about having to pay more for their Apple TV subscription. "Ted Lasso reruns aren't worth it," says one commenter on Reddit, while another says "there isn't enough content on Apple TV to justify this price".

Plenty of users on the same Reddit thread are bemoaning the regular price hikes that we're seeing across most streaming services, and suggesting that subscription hopping or even going back to physical media is the way forward.

• Amazon will permanently close Mechanical Turk on September 30, 2026
• Mechanical Turk once connected more than 500,000 workers with paid tasks
• Workers completed image tagging, transcription, surveys, and other routine assignments

Amazon plans to permanently close Mechanical Turk, its long-running platform for outsourcing small tasks to human workers.

Launched in 2005, the platform enabled companies to hire people to complete small, routine tasks that computers could not easily handle at the time.

Jeff Bezos once summarized the concept with a phrase that stuck: "artificial artificial intelligence," in remarks about the platform.

A tool built to outsmart the limits of early computers

“We regularly evaluate our programs, tools and services and make adjustments based on those assessments,” a notice on the Mechanical Turk website said.

“Following an assessment, we’ve made the decision to close AWS Mechanical Turk, effective September 30, 2026.”

The platform's original name referenced a historical automaton that appeared to play chess but was secretly guided by a hidden human operator.

Amazon initially built Mechanical Turk to help label the enormous volume of product data listed across its own retail website.

At its peak, the service reportedly connected more than 500,000 workers, known informally as turkers, to available paid tasks online.

Workers typically earned only a few cents per task, completing jobs like tagging photos, converting speech into text, or filling out surveys.

Amazon later marketed that same workforce as a convenient data annotation source to support its own SageMaker machine learning service.

Rapid AI growth left the human workforce behind

Krista Pawloski, an organizer with the worker advocacy group Turkopticon, said the platform had clearly been declining for several years now.

She said Amazon appeared to spend less on maintaining the platform just as several newer competitors entered the market rapidly.

Companies including Scale AI, Mercor, and Prolific have since emerged to recruit workers specifically for training a wide range of newer AI models.

Researchers based in Switzerland published a 2023 study reporting that 46% of surveyed workers had relied on AI systems while finishing assigned jobs.

Amazon disclosed one month earlier that it would no longer accept new customers, a move workers quietly read as an early warning sign.

Certain firms in insurance and travel sectors continue relying on this workforce and are now hurriedly searching for replacement services.

“There’s some people that still pretty much still do it full time,” said Krista Pawloski, a data worker and organizer with Turkopticon. “They’re concerned now.”

Although Mechanical Turk is going down, the company claims to remain committed to serving both its Amazon and AWS customer base well.

“[Amazon is] focused on delivering the best possible experience for all our Amazon and AWS customers,” said Amazon’s spokesperson Montana MacLachlan.

The platform's decline says as much about shifting AI economics as it does about Amazon's own waning commitment to it.

A service once built to prove humans could out-think machines is closing just as AI tools increasingly outcompete many of those same humans.

Via CNBC

Razer Naga V3 Pro two-minute review

The Razer Naga V3 Pro is marketed as a mouse for MMO players, but it’s also something else: a mouse for the undecided, for the uncommitted. That’s because it comes with swappable side plates that let you adjust the number of buttons you get, with each made to suit a different game type.

There’s the 12-button plate, which is designed for MMOs, alongside a six-button option for MOBAs and battle royales. If you prefer FPS titles — or just general computing — there’s a two-button panel. Switching these plates is pleasingly simple thanks to the magnetic attachment system: just snap a new one on and you’re good to go.

Not only are these side panels a genius idea, but they work impressively well in use. Compared to the previous version, the buttons have been redesigned to be easier to find by touch, and I had no trouble discerning them in-game. This is especially true of the six-button side plate, whose buttons are so pronounced you could probably open a can of beans with them.

FutureFuture

There's a bewildering array of buttons on this mouse, even if you’re not using the maxed-out 12-button plate. There are two in the top corner of the left-click button, while a large one rests on the chassis’ lower-right-hand side. Another two are nestled behind the scroll wheel — one to change the scroll mode and another to activate the AI Prompt Master (no, I don’t know why it’s on a gaming mouse either).

However, there are other neat tricks up the Naga’s sleeve. It’s got Razer’s second-generation HyperScroll Tilt Wheel, which lets you change its spinning mode on the fly. Move it slowly, and it ratchets one notch at a time; flick it quickly, and it spins freely. There’s also a ‘precision tactile’ mode for more control. It’s a brilliant addition that adapts to your needs, whether you’re changing weapons or flying through spreadsheets. It’s a dark horse contender for the mouse’s best feature. I even like the satisfying haptic clunk when it resets from free-spin to ratcheting mode.

FutureFuture

The battery is another highlight, whether you disable the RGB lights or leave them on. In Bluetooth mode with RGB off, the Naga V3 Pro’s battery dropped a mere 4% after 20 hours of use. After testing for another 20 hours with the lights on, the battery dropped a further 7%. That’s pretty crazy longevity. Razer says you’ll get up to 280 hours in Bluetooth mode, and I can easily believe that based on my experience.

There are other improvements compared to the Naga V2 Pro, including sideways tilt support in the scroll wheel and next-generation updates to the button switches and optical sensor, which has jumped from 30,000 DPI to 50,000. The side buttons are now double-injection molded instead of printed (so they won’t wear off), the polling rate has increased from 1,000Hz to 8,000Hz (with the included dongle), and the weight has dropped from 134g to 117g.

Speaking of the weight, it’s still very noticeable — this is a sizeable, heavy mouse that’s best suited to palm grips and large hands. Compared to my 60g Logitech Pro X Superlight 2, the Naga V3 Pro weighs twice as much. The extra heft was very noticeable in use, with the pointer feeling weighty, lethargic and inaccurate, especially in fast-paced FPS games. If you’re used to lightweight mice, it’ll require some adaptation.

FutureFutureFuture

It’s also extremely expensive. At $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD, it costs more than any other Razer mouse, including the Viper V4 Pro and the DeathAdder V4 Pro. The Naga can do the job of several mice, which might mitigate the cost somewhat, but there’s no denying it’s a luxury many gamers won’t be able to afford.

There are a couple of other gripes. While the 12-button panel is backlit, the six-button plate is not. The HyperScroll wheel, meanwhile, would benefit from being able to switch modes a little quicker — sometimes it remained in the wrong mode because I moved it before it was ready.

I'm also not a huge fan of Razer’s Synapse software. You can use it to map custom controls to the mouse’s buttons — important stuff when you’ve got as many as the Naga V3 Pro does — but it often forgot what we’d programmed, leaving us with dead buttons that did nothing until Synapse was restarted. Not exactly what you want during a closely fought boss battle.

FutureFuture

Judging the Naga V3 Pro is tricky. A confluence of factors make it feel incredibly niche: its high price, its heavy weight, its button positioning that really only works best for palm grips, its mass of buttons. Not everyone needs some of those features and even fewer need all of them in one mouse.

But there’s no denying it’s good at what it does, and if you’re an MMO fiend or find yourself swapping between mice to suit your gaming needs, there’s a whole lot to like about it. It’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend to all gamers, but those who fall within its narrow niche will love it.

Razer Naga V3 Pro review: Price & release date

• Available to buy now
• Priced at $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD
• Optional extras, including Razer Mouse Dock Pro and Razer HyperFlux V2 Wireless Charging System

The Razer Naga V3 Pro is available now from Razer’s website or from third-party retailers. It’s priced at $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD.

It’s Razer’s most expensive mouse, excluding special editions (such as the Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition that costs a ridiculous $1,337), but in return you get a highly customizable pointer that can be adapted to three different use cases. One way of looking at it is that you’re paying a premium so you don’t need to purchase multiple mice. Just make sure you actually need it before shelling out all that cash.

Razer also offers it as part of a bundle alongside its Mouse Dock Pro, Wireless Charging Puck or the HyperFlux V2 Wireless Charging System (which comes in two different flavors).

Razer Naga V3 Pro review: Specs

Connectivity

Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, Bluetooth, wired

Battery life

Up to 155 hours (HyperSpeed Wireless), up to 280 hours (Bluetooth)

Sensor

Focus Pro 50K Optical Sensor Gen-3

Polling rate

8,000Hz (with Mouse Dock Pro or HyperPolling dongle), 1,000Hz otherwise

Maximum sensitivity (DPI)

50,000

Programmable buttons

23 / 17 / 13 (depending on side plate)

Dimensions

119.5mm x 75.5mm x 43.5mm

Weight

117g (with 12-button panel), 97g (with side panel removed)

Should I buy the Razer Naga V3 Pro?Razer Naga V3 Pro Scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Well-considered features that exude quality. The scroll wheel and swappable side plates are highlights

5/5

Performance

Heavy in the hand and takes some getting used to, although the side panels perform admirably

3/5

Design

Sturdy, polished and well made, but only really optimized for palm grip

4/5

Value

A niche, expensive mouse that nonetheless has a lot to offer its target audience

4/5

Buy it if…

You play a lot of MMOs and MOBAs
With up to 23 programmable buttons, there’s plenty of room to map all your skills, buffs and potions.View Deal

You play a variety of game types
The quick-swapping side plates make it easy to adjust the Naga V3 Pro to whichever game you’re playing.View Deal

You have large hands or play palm grip
This is a wide, heavy mouse that’s best suited to palm grip players or those with larger hands.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You prefer lightweight mice
This is a heavy pointer. If you’re used to featherweight mice, you’ll notice the difference straight away, and it can take a while before your gaming performance adapts.View Deal

You’re on a budget
At $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD, you’ll be shelling out a lot for this mouse. Budget friendly, it ain’t.View Deal

You have small hands or play fingertip grip
I personally play with a fingertip grip and struggled to reach some of the extra buttons on the mouse.View Deal

Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro
Our pick for the best gaming mouse money can buy, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro will be a brilliant pick for most gamers. It offers flawless performance, supremely comfortable ergonomics, plus battery life that goes on and on and on. It’s expensive and doesn’t have as many buttons as the Naga V3 Pro, but unless you need that much control, it’s a superb pick.View Deal

Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless
If Razer’s Naga V3 Pro isn’t quite to your taste, the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless is worth a look. With 11 programmable buttons, it’s a decent option for MMO and MOBA players, while its comfortable shape is in the same mold as the Naga V3 Pro. We lamented the loss of its adjustable weight feature in our review, though.View Deal

How I tested the Razer Naga V3 Pro

• I tested the Naga V3 Pro over the course of a week in a variety of applications
• It was put through its paces in different game types and in day-to-day work
• I assessed it with its RGB lights both on and off to measure its battery performance

I spent around 10 days putting the Razer Naga V3 Pro through its paces. I used it in different game types and for everyday work tasks, assuming its different face plates and customization options in the Razer Synapse app. Its battery life was also assessed with the RGB lighting both enabled and disabled.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: August 2026

Ever since the Xteink X4 landed in early 2026 I’ve been intrigued by this tiny line of ereaders — I loved the idea of sticking one to the back of my phone and carrying it everywhere, but at that point they just had a few too many missing features for my liking.

Then the Xteink X4 Pro launched, and with the addition of a touchscreen and front light, I decided it was finally time to take the plunge and try one for myself. As a tech lover and early adopter it’s a decision I don’t regret, but this still isn’t quite the device I want it to be.

First impressions — before I turned it on — were positive. This thing is extremely slim and light. It’s 111 x 69 x 5.95mm and 72g, numbers which may or may not mean much to you, but essentially this weighs almost nothing, and it’s thin enough that it doesn’t stick out much beyond the camera bump on my iPhone 16 Pro Max when I use its built-in magnets to stick it to the back.

Fragile and exposed

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The Xteink X4 Pro doesn’t exactly look or feel expensive, but then few ereaders do, and at $109 / £84 / AU$159 (currently reduced to $99 / £76 / AU$145) it doesn’t need to. The back of your phone is also isn't really the place for a more expensive device — if that's where you plan to stick the X4 Pro, then it’s quite exposed.

It ships with a basic flip cover, but I found the magnets weren’t strong enough to securely attach it to my phone while in a case. So if I drop my phone, the Xteink X4 Pro is liable to break.

In fact, even with the magnets, it can shift around a bit and come loose in my pocket, or if I press a button too hard. Maybe it would stay in place better if my phone wasn’t in a case, but that’s not an option for me. So I sort of expect this thing won’t last long, especially as epaper displays tend to be very fragile.

That’s my first issue with it, as even at its fairly low price, it’s not something I want to constantly be replacing. Of course, attaching it to your phone is optional — some people will want to keep it separate, and it’s perhaps better suited to that. But I already have (and love) a phone-sized ViWoods AiPaper Reader, so I don’t really need another standard small ereader, even if this one is even tinier.

No, the magnets were the main draw for me, and coupled with a fairly crisp 4.3-inch touchscreen with a capable front light, this is a pleasure to read books on.

The battery seems long-lasting too, which is good, because — presumably in an effort to keep this as small as possible — this uses a slightly fiddly proprietary charger rather than USB-C.

Restrictive software

(Image credit: TechRadar)

That extensive life is probably partly because of the software — unlike the ViWoods AiPaper Reader or some other compact ereaders, this doesn’t run resource-hungry Android. Instead, it uses Xteink’s own operating system, which is… not good. The interface is ugly and clunky, and it just makes the thing feel a bit unpleasant to use.

But it almost seems like Xteink realizes this, because the version sold on their site is a developer edition, which allows you to very easily flash alternative firmware onto the device.

I did this after all of about half an hour — I already knew I probably would, having seen most owners in the Xteink subreddit seem to ditch the stock software at the first opportunity. But while switching up the interface is easy, choosing which firmware to flash isn’t, as there are a surprising number of options.

So far, I’ve settled on CrossInk, and I’ll probably stick with that as I’m happy enough with it. It gives you a decent amount of customization options and offers more ways of getting books onto the X4 Pro. But that last point is probably my biggest issue with this device, as the lack of Android also means it can’t run the Kindle or Kobo apps.

That means you'll typically have to buy books on another device and then transfer them to the Xteink X4 Pro. And in many cases you’ll also have to remove their DRM first — something which recently became a lot trickier with Kindle books.

So, in other words, getting books onto this is a bit of a chore, and if you already have a library of Kindle books, you might find you can't read them on the Xteink X4 Pro.

That, coupled with the need to flash new firmware to get the most out of it, means I can’t really recommend this to the average ebook reader. It’s very much for people who are comfortable with tech — and ideally people who enjoy fiddling and configuring, rather than having a device that just does exactly what they want out of the box.

Plenty of potential

(Image credit: TechRadar)

But I do fit into those categories, so I’m having fun with the Xteink X4 Pro — and right now it’s my main ereader.

I take it with me everywhere because it’s attached to my phone, and just like the ViWoods AiPaper Reader before it, that means I’m reading in moments when I wouldn’t otherwise, because it’s always present and easy to whip out even when I only have a few minutes to spare.

Still, phone attachment aside, it also fills a very similar role for me to the ViWoods, so I’m not sure I’ll continue using both much. Right now, given all the friction points above, I think I’ll probably find myself returning to the AiPaper Reader.

But the Xteink X4 Pro does almost make that device look big, so on days when I want to travel as light as possible, I might still turn to this. And if the Xteink X5 Pro runs Android, then I might rethink things.

Ahead of Apple’s Sept. 9 launch event, I retested the iPhone 17 to see if it can retain the “best iPhone for most people” title for another six months.

Razer Naga V3 Pro two-minute review

The Razer Naga V3 Pro is marketed as a mouse for MMO players, but it’s also something else: a mouse for the undecided, for the uncommitted. That’s because it comes with swappable side plates that let you adjust the number of buttons you get, with each made to suit a different game type.

There’s the 12-button plate, which is designed for MMOs, alongside a six-button option for MOBAs and battle royales. If you prefer FPS titles — or just general computing — there’s a two-button panel. Switching these plates is pleasingly simple thanks to the magnetic attachment system: just snap a new one on and you’re good to go.

Not only are these side panels a genius idea, but they work impressively well in use. Compared to the previous version, the buttons have been redesigned to be easier to find by touch, and I had no trouble discerning them in-game. This is especially true of the six-button side plate, whose buttons are so pronounced you could probably open a can of beans with them.

FutureFuture

There's a bewildering array of buttons on this mouse, even if you’re not using the maxed-out 12-button plate. There are two in the top corner of the left-click button, while a large one rests on the chassis’ lower-right-hand side. Another two are nestled behind the scroll wheel — one to change the scroll mode and another to activate the AI Prompt Master (no, I don’t know why it’s on a gaming mouse either).

However, there are other neat tricks up the Naga’s sleeve. It’s got Razer’s second-generation HyperScroll Tilt Wheel, which lets you change its spinning mode on the fly. Move it slowly, and it ratchets one notch at a time; flick it quickly, and it spins freely. There’s also a ‘precision tactile’ mode for more control. It’s a brilliant addition that adapts to your needs, whether you’re changing weapons or flying through spreadsheets. It’s a dark horse contender for the mouse’s best feature. I even like the satisfying haptic clunk when it resets from free-spin to ratcheting mode.

FutureFuture

The battery is another highlight, whether you disable the RGB lights or leave them on. In Bluetooth mode with RGB off, the Naga V3 Pro’s battery dropped a mere 4% after 20 hours of use. After testing for another 20 hours with the lights on, the battery dropped a further 7%. That’s pretty crazy longevity. Razer says you’ll get up to 280 hours in Bluetooth mode, and I can easily believe that based on my experience.

There are other improvements compared to the Naga V2 Pro, including sideways tilt support in the scroll wheel and next-generation updates to the button switches and optical sensor, which has jumped from 30,000 DPI to 50,000. The side buttons are now double-injection molded instead of printed (so they won’t wear off), the polling rate has increased from 1,000Hz to 8,000Hz (with the included dongle), and the weight has dropped from 134g to 117g.

Speaking of the weight, it’s still very noticeable — this is a sizeable, heavy mouse that’s best suited to palm grips and large hands. Compared to my 60g Logitech Pro X Superlight 2, the Naga V3 Pro weighs twice as much. The extra heft was very noticeable in use, with the pointer feeling weighty, lethargic and inaccurate, especially in fast-paced FPS games. If you’re used to lightweight mice, it’ll require some adaptation.

FutureFutureFuture

It’s also extremely expensive. At $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD, it costs more than any other Razer mouse, including the Viper V4 Pro and the DeathAdder V4 Pro. The Naga can do the job of several mice, which might mitigate the cost somewhat, but there’s no denying it’s a luxury many gamers won’t be able to afford.

There are a couple of other gripes. While the 12-button panel is backlit, the six-button plate is not. The HyperScroll wheel, meanwhile, would benefit from being able to switch modes a little quicker — sometimes it remained in the wrong mode because I moved it before it was ready.

I'm also not a huge fan of Razer’s Synapse software. You can use it to map custom controls to the mouse’s buttons — important stuff when you’ve got as many as the Naga V3 Pro does — but it often forgot what we’d programmed, leaving us with dead buttons that did nothing until Synapse was restarted. Not exactly what you want during a closely fought boss battle.

FutureFuture

Judging the Naga V3 Pro is tricky. A confluence of factors make it feel incredibly niche: its high price, its heavy weight, its button positioning that really only works best for palm grips, its mass of buttons. Not everyone needs some of those features and even fewer need all of them in one mouse.

But there’s no denying it’s good at what it does, and if you’re an MMO fiend or find yourself swapping between mice to suit your gaming needs, there’s a whole lot to like about it. It’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend to all gamers, but those who fall within its narrow niche will love it.

Razer Naga V3 Pro review: Price & release date

• Available to buy now
• Priced at $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD
• Optional extras, including Razer Mouse Dock Pro and Razer HyperFlux V2 Wireless Charging System

The Razer Naga V3 Pro is available now from Razer’s website or from third-party retailers. It’s priced at $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD.

It’s Razer’s most expensive mouse, excluding special editions (such as the Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition that costs a ridiculous $1,337), but in return you get a highly customizable pointer that can be adapted to three different use cases. One way of looking at it is that you’re paying a premium so you don’t need to purchase multiple mice. Just make sure you actually need it before shelling out all that cash.

Razer also offers it as part of a bundle alongside its Mouse Dock Pro, Wireless Charging Puck or the HyperFlux V2 Wireless Charging System (which comes in two different flavors).

Razer Naga V3 Pro review: Specs

Connectivity

Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, Bluetooth, wired

Battery life

Up to 155 hours (HyperSpeed Wireless), up to 280 hours (Bluetooth)

Sensor

Focus Pro 50K Optical Sensor Gen-3

Polling rate

8,000Hz (with Mouse Dock Pro or HyperPolling dongle), 1,000Hz otherwise

Maximum sensitivity (DPI)

50,000

Programmable buttons

23 / 17 / 13 (depending on side plate)

Dimensions

119.5mm x 75.5mm x 43.5mm

Weight

117g (with 12-button panel), 97g (with side panel removed)

Should I buy the Razer Naga V3 Pro?Razer Naga V3 Pro Scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Well-considered features that exude quality. The scroll wheel and swappable side plates are highlights

5/5

Performance

Heavy in the hand and takes some getting used to, although the side panels perform admirably

3/5

Design

Sturdy, polished and well made, but only really optimized for palm grip

4/5

Value

A niche, expensive mouse that nonetheless has a lot to offer its target audience

4/5

Buy it if…

You play a lot of MMOs and MOBAs
With up to 23 programmable buttons, there’s plenty of room to map all your skills, buffs and potions.View Deal

You play a variety of game types
The quick-swapping side plates make it easy to adjust the Naga V3 Pro to whichever game you’re playing.View Deal

You have large hands or play palm grip
This is a wide, heavy mouse that’s best suited to palm grip players or those with larger hands.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You prefer lightweight mice
This is a heavy pointer. If you’re used to featherweight mice, you’ll notice the difference straight away, and it can take a while before your gaming performance adapts.View Deal

You’re on a budget
At $179.99 / £179.99 / $299.95 AUD, you’ll be shelling out a lot for this mouse. Budget friendly, it ain’t.View Deal

You have small hands or play fingertip grip
I personally play with a fingertip grip and struggled to reach some of the extra buttons on the mouse.View Deal

Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro
Our pick for the best gaming mouse money can buy, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro will be a brilliant pick for most gamers. It offers flawless performance, supremely comfortable ergonomics, plus battery life that goes on and on and on. It’s expensive and doesn’t have as many buttons as the Naga V3 Pro, but unless you need that much control, it’s a superb pick.View Deal

Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless
If Razer’s Naga V3 Pro isn’t quite to your taste, the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless is worth a look. With 11 programmable buttons, it’s a decent option for MMO and MOBA players, while its comfortable shape is in the same mold as the Naga V3 Pro. We lamented the loss of its adjustable weight feature in our review, though.View Deal

How I tested the Razer Naga V3 Pro

• I tested the Naga V3 Pro over the course of a week in a variety of applications
• It was put through its paces in different game types and in day-to-day work
• I assessed it with its RGB lights both on and off to measure its battery performance

I spent around 10 days putting the Razer Naga V3 Pro through its paces. I used it in different game types and for everyday work tasks, assuming its different face plates and customization options in the Razer Synapse app. Its battery life was also assessed with the RGB lighting both enabled and disabled.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: August 2026

She said she wasn't offended by dumb blonde jokes because "I know I'm not dumb...and I also know I'm not blonde!" We take a moment to remember the smart, funny and uniquely talented Dolly Parton.

(Image credit: Mark Humphrey/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A charity built 96 bridges to connect communities separated by rivers and gorges. A new study looks at the life-changing impact of a concrete-and-steel pedestrian crossing.

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Researchers and advocates are applauding the changes that Meta agreed to make for minors on Instagram and Facebook. Cutting kids off at night and during the school day are two big changes.

(Image credit: Manuel Arias Duran)

At Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, fresh off Samsung's reveal of its 2027 Odyssey OLED lineup, I sat down with two of the people shaping the company's monitor and TV strategy: Jeremy Demont, Product Management Director for TV, Sound and Monitor at Samsung UK & Ireland, and Pepe Dijkstra, Head of Monitor for Samsung's European visual display organisation.

We chatted about everything from the prevalence of 1000Hz and higher refresh rate screens to 6K gaming, the brand's ongoing commitment to glasses-free 3D and how important strong partnerships with eSports professionals and studios are to getting the best out of screens.

(Image credit: Future)A triple mode screen is more useful than you might think

Triple mode gets its debut on the new Odyssey OLED G8, a 32-inch 4K tandem QD-OLED panel that runs at 360Hz natively, drops to 1440p resolution for 520Hz, or goes all the way down to Full HD for 680Hz.

It's a first for Samsung: dual-mode switching already exists on its 6K panels, the ultrawide G9, and other, more conventional choices, but triple mode isn't something that can be patched in later via firmware. Dijkstra confirmed it's baked in on the panel side.

I pushed on whether this is solving a real problem or just adding a marketing bullet point. Halving your resolution to double your refresh rate is a genuinely large image quality penalty, so a middle ground – dropping from 4K to 1440p rather than all the way to HD – makes sense on paper.

However, Dijkstra was refreshingly candid about the uncertainty here: "If it's high-end gamers, they'll definitely benefit. But if the average Joe Bloke buys the gaming monitor, are they actually going to use it practically?" He described it as something Samsung still needs to watch play out once the hardware reaches the market, and said community feedback will directly shape what comes next.

1100Hz might not be the limit, after all

The number causing all the excitement is 1100Hz, supported by the new Odyssey G6 G60H – a 1440p Fast IPS panel that runs at 600Hz natively, but which can drop to HD resolution to unlock that 1100Hz ceiling, the fastest refresh rate I've seen on a gaming monitor to date. It wasn't long ago 500Hz felt like an extreme number, so I put it to Dijkstra directly: is there a point where refresh rate just stops mattering?

If you deliver only 1100Hz and focus purely on eSports, that's a small market

Pepe Dijkstra, Head of Monitor, Samsung Europe

He didn't dodge the eSports-only framing. "If you deliver only 1100Hz and focus purely on eSports, that's a small market," he told me.

The reasoning behind Samsung's dual- and triple-mode panels, he explained, is about giving that headroom without forcing everyone to live with it – you can drop back down to a lower resolution for everyday use rather than running flat-out all the time. Whether the industry pushes past 1100Hz next, he wouldn't commit to. "If we go faster in the future, we'll have to see."

6K gaming screens have a genuine purpose outside of vanity

I've used 6K panels in a professional context on a few screens in the past, but never on a gaming screen, and 4K is already a heavy ask for most GPUs. So who is Samsung's 6K gaming monitor for?

Dijkstra's answer leaned on future-proofing rather than the present day: those with high-end PCs can already drive that resolution, and the dual-mode option covers anyone who can't.

It's worth noting the new G9 ultrawide also carries a dual-mode option of its own – 5120 x 1440 at up to 360Hz, or 'dual HD' at 2560 x 720 for 720Hz – so the same philosophy runs across Samsung's 2027 range rather than sitting in one flagship alone.

(Image credit: Future)

Likewise, he noted that the option for a 6K gaming screen offers a higher refresh rate than the professional screens on offer with the same resolution, which are stuck at 60Hz. Offering a higher refresh rate at that detail level aids both responsiveness for productivity tasks and helps where it counts for games, too.

After all, as both he and Demont noted, people are buying monitors for more than one purpose, so a 6K gaming screen covers off the pros who need the detail for high-res creative work and the gamers who have a beefy enough system to play games at 5K or 6K, assuming the game supports the resolution of course.

Glasses-free 3D is back – but content, not hardware, is the bottleneck

Samsung has kept glasses-free 3D alive longer than most of the industry, and at CES it showed a 6K, 32-inch glasses-free 3D panel. At Gamescom, it reaffirmed its commitment to glasses-free 3D and the importance of working with developers to keep the dream alive.

Dijkstra's framing was that the previous failure wasn't really a hardware problem – it was a content problem. "People were mind-blown by the product capability, but it's the content" that lagged, he said.

Rather than pour more resources into pushing the panel technology further, Samsung's product teams have shifted focus toward securing AAA game support, headlined by the newly announced Cyberpunk 2077 3D compatibility. It's a bet that immersion sells itself to gamers specifically – people who already spend hours in front of a screen – in a way it never quite did for passive TV viewing.

Demont drew the TV parallel further, comparing it to Samsung's early, unpopular push into 4K resolution at a time when broadcasters barely had any programming in such high-resolution or the likes of the BBC had caught up: "We can't just do it by ourselves, we need the whole industry behind it."

He sees HDR10+ gaming following a similar adoption curve to HDR10+ on TV, where streaming giants like Prime Video and Netflix moved quickly once the ecosystem made it easy to support. Samsung's own numbers back that up: the new Call of Duty is among the titles confirmed to support HDR10+ gaming, with more than 20 games expected to carry the standard by the first half of 2027.

(Image credit: Alexey Yaremenko / Getty)OLED burn-in isn't as big of an issue as it used to be

Samsung has introduced a new fifth-gen QD-OLED panel for a lot of the new monitors it announced at Gamescom, which features the brand's Penta Tandem tech and an RGB stripe sub-pixel layout for greater power efficiency, longevity, and sharper text.

Compared to the quality of OLED panels for gaming monitors when they were first introduced, this tech has been through several generations of optimization and improvement.

At the time OLED gaming monitors were first introduced, it seemed you couldn't go five minutes without someone talking about burn-in (an issue with early OLED panels where static images that were displayed for too long could damage the screen). Now, both Demont and Dijkstra tell me it's virtually a non-issue. It's barely raised internally anymore, sitting towards the bottom of presentations as an improvement point.

Demont also noted that the improvements made to the OLED panels is a particularly good thing, especially because "if we can increase the product lifecycle or the durability of the product, that's all in the benefit of that end customer". After all, a high-end monitor or TV is a big purchase, and it's important that it lasts.

For what it's worth, my own two-and-a-half-year-old 32-inch 4K 240Hz OLED monitor has never shown a hint of burn-in – though the new Odyssey OLED G8 is, I'll admit, tempting me to upgrade anyway.

Pro feedback filters down for monitors, too

On the subject of product development, Dijkstra confirmed Samsung takes direct input from eSports professionals – citing an ongoing relationship with a multiple-time League of Legends world champion in Korea, where the eSports scene is especially demanding. "Their team plus others are just continuously pushing back that feedback," he said.

The trickle-down effect is vital to this, according to Demont – Samsung's stated strategy is to introduce new technology at the top of the range first and cascade it downward over time, never the reverse – something he framed as core to protecting the end customer's investment in what remains a significant purchase.

Monitors and TVs are converging – deliberately

Perhaps the most interesting part of the conversation was Demont noting that Samsung is folding its monitor team into the same visual display division as TV in the UK, given the convergence between them. We're at a point where some desktop monitors are the same size as TVs; this also works the other way, as people can use TVs as monitors, either on a desk or with a living room PC.

He was upfront that this decision is about capturing overlap: customers can opt for an equally rich spec TV or monitor depending on their situation, and there is an overlap in certain features for a consistent experience whichever product you go for.

For instance, some of the brand's smaller-sized OLED TVs boast a 165Hz refresh rate, while there are specific variants of some of its gaming monitors that come with its Tizen OS smart TV operating system built-in.

I maintain Tizen's presence on monitors is one of the more underrated moves Samsung's made recently: a screen that's a smart TV in one moment and a 240Hz gaming monitor in the next, with Samsung's Gaming Hub meaning you don't need a console or PC to access cloud gaming services like Xbox and GeForce Now.

We all agreed that this remains a surprising niche, and Demont stated Samsung is trying to change this with its TVs through retail bundling with the likes of Argos and Currys in the UK by offering incentives such as free controllers or game vouchers tied to TV purchases, specifically to get people asking what "Gaming Hub" actually means.

The bigger picture

Both executives repeatedly came back to the idea that Samsung's scale is its advantage: a portfolio broad enough to cover a 49-inch ultrawide monitor, a portable outdoor TV, and a glasses-free 3D gaming panel simultaneously, developed with a genuinely global customer base in mind rather than any single region's habits.

Demont pointed to the brand's clever Movingstyle TV, originally designed with Southeast Asian markets in mind, that ended up selling worldwide once its appeal proved broader than expected.

Whether triple-mode refresh rates or glasses-free 3D end up following that same trajectory – from a niche flex to a more mainstream feature – is, by Samsung's own admission, still an open question the company is waiting for customers to answer for them.

The federal government recruits top experts to volunteer to advise on pressing research issues of the day. Since President Trump took office, hundreds of these experts have been dismissed.

(Image credit: Lucy Lu for NPR)

If you’re in the market for one of the best soundbars, then there’s a feature you might have come across already called HDMI passthrough, available in some soundbars that connect over HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC.

HDMI passthrough allows you to plug a source device, such as a games console or streaming stick, directly into your soundbar over HDMI, and the video will then be passed onto your TV.

It’s a useful feature because when a soundbar connects to your TV over HDMI, you obviously can't connect anything else to it over that port — and it's not uncommon these days to have more HDMI devices than you have open ports.

This means that HDMI passthrough gives you more flexibility about how all of your home entertainment tech works together, since you don't 'lose' the use of the HDMI port your soundbar is connected to — and some soundbars even have multiple HDMI inputs, so you actually gain ports.

You won’t find HDMI passthrough on every soundbar. And that’s okay, not everyone needs it — but it might be a factor in your buying decision, if it seems like it'll be useful to you.

This guide should help you better understand what HDMI passthrough is, how it works and if you really need it.

On this Samsung soundar, the right-hand HDMI port connects to the TV (with clear labeling — thanks, Samsung!), while the other two enable you to connect other device, and the video will be passed along to your TV (Image credit: Future)What is HDMI passthrough on soundbars?

To be clear, we’re talking here about how HDMI passthrough works on a soundbar. You might hear the term passthrough in other contexts. You also might see this referred to by some brands as just soundbar passthrough or video passthrough.

It might not be referred to as 'passthrough' at all, but it might just be mentioned that a soundbar has an HDMI input as well as an HDMI ARC connection — in this case, the HDMI ARC connection is the part that goes to the TV (here's our HDMI ARC explainer) and the HDMI input is the port you use for the extra device.

In a typical setup, you might expect to connect a source device, like a games console or Blu-ray player, directly to your TV. The TV then receives the video and audio, then sends the audio to the soundbar.

But, if your soundbar has HDMI passthrough, you can connect the source device directly to the soundbar, then connect the soundbar to the TV.

The soundbar takes the audio and plays it through its speakers, while passing the video through to the TV without losing video resolution. This can have some specific advantages outside of just meaning that you get an extra HDMI port, which we'll come to later.

What’s the difference between HDMI passthrough and ARC/eARC?

In this soundbar context, HDMI passthrough describes the route the video takes. The source connects to the soundbar, and the soundbar passes the video on to the TV.

HDMI ARC and eARC do something different. They let the TV send audio to the soundbar (the difference between those two terms is just that eARC is capable of higher-quality audio).

These two things exist in harmony. For example, you could connect a games console to your soundbar, then connect the soundbar to the TV. The soundbar could then handle the console’s audio and pass its video to the TV. While eARC would allow the TV to send audio from other sources, like its built-in streaming apps, to the soundbar.

(Image credit: Future)Do you need HDMI passthrough on your soundbar?

If you’re buying a new soundbar and comparing the specs, it’s easy to assume that more features are always a good thing. But HDMI passthrough is only really useful for specific situations.

There are three main reasons you might want to make sure your soundbar has HDMI passthrough:

1. You've run out of HDMI ports on your TV
If your TV doesn't have enough HDMI inputs for all of your devices, then you can connect a device to the soundbar instead. This way the soundbar effectively gives you another HDMI input.

2. You've run out of the right kind of HDMI port on your TV
This is slightly complicated, but stick with me. The HDMI eARC port on your TV is nearly always an HDMI 2.1 port. This version of HDMI also enables you to connect 4K 120Hz / VRR devices, such as a games console or Apple TV 4K. But many TVs in people's homes today only shipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports (even though they have four HDMI ports in total), meaning that if you connect a soundbar you now only have one HDMI 2.1 port free for those devices, and it's not uncommon to have more than one of these. So if your soundbar has HDMI passthrough that supports HDMI 2.1 features, it can be exactly what you need if you've run out of HDMI 2.1 connections specifically. You'll have to make sure the soundbar supports these features, though, because not all do.

3. Your TV is limiting the audio that you can send to the soundbar
Modern audio formats need fancy decoding to get the full quality from them, which means that one of the parts in your system needs to have support to make the most of them. In most cases, this is easy — for example, it's very rare to buy a half-decent TV that can't do Dolby Atmos. However, in some cases, it's not so easy. For example, DTS is a rival to Dolby's tech, and isn't supported by major TV brands such as LG and Samsung in their TVs. But it is supported in the soundbars. So one option is to connect your source device that's playing DTS sound directly to the soundbar, meaning the full-quality sound is decoded and played, removing your TV from the equation. This is a rare need, but there are example — for example, using a PS5 as a Blu-ray player with an LG or Samsung TV, as mentioned above.

If none of these apply to you, then you probably don't need HDMI passthrough currently. There's always the argument that it's good to have for future-proofing, but certainly it's optional.

For many setups, the simplest option is to connect your consoles and other source devices directly to the TV, then connect the TV's eARC port to the soundbar with a single HDMI cable. Sticking with this approach reduces the number of things that could go wrong in your system — more tech means more possible glitches.

The Samsung HW-Q990H soundbar has two HDMI In ports, both of which support 4K 120Hz passthrough for gaming. (Image credit: Future)What you need to know before buying a soundbar with HDMI passthrough

Although several of the top picks in our best soundbars guide have HDMI passthrough, not all of them do.

If you want this feature, look for a soundbar with an HDMI input labelled “HDMI In” or “HDMI Input”. This is where you'll connect your source device.

You'll also usually see an HDMI output labelled “HDMI Out”, often with ARC or eARC. This is the connection that goes from the soundbar to your TV. A soundbar with only an HDMI ARC/eARC port and no HDMI input can't provide HDMI passthrough — if a soundbar only lists that it has one HDMI port, then it's always an ARC/eARC port only.

But having an HDMI input doesn't automatically mean the soundbar supports every video or audio format either. For example, if you want to connect a PS5, check whether the HDMI input supports the features you want to use, such as the 4K 120Hz, variable refresh rate and Dolby Vision HDR.

You’ll also need to check the soundbar's specifications for resolution and refresh rate, HDR, gaming features and audio formats specifically. Don't assume that 'HDMI 2.1' or '4K passthrough' tells you everything you need to know, because there's a lot of nuance in HDMI connections.

Which soundbars do we recommend with HDMI passthrough?

1. The Samsung HW-Q990H
Samsung flagship surround soundbar system has two HDMI inputs, as well as its HDMI eARC port, and it supports 4K 120Hz passthrough with Dolby Vision HDR and variable refresh rate. It's the ultimate in passthrough tech! Here's our five star Samsung HW-Q990H review.

2. Samsung HW-Q800F
Samsung's mid-range soundbar is an excellent option if don't want rear speakers, and supports all the same HDMI passthrough formats as the model above, though it only has one HDMI input instead of two. Here's our five-star Samsung HW-Q800F review.

3. Klipsch Flexus Core 300
This is our favorite all-in-one soundbar with HDMI passthrough — and all-in-one here means no subwoofer and no rear speakers, because a lot of people just want a simpler system. Here's our five-star Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

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