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• Venice CPU doubles bandwidth with up to 256 Zen 6 cores
• 2027 AI rack expected to deliver 144 GPUs with Verano chips
• AMD plans Verano and MI500 rollout with 36-rack infrastructure

At its recent Advancing AI event, AMD revealed some of the first technical details about its next-generation Zen 6-based processor, code-named "Venice.”

Built on a 2nm process and packing up to 256 Zen 6 cores - a 33% increase from the current generation EPYC 'Turin' processor - AMD is seeking to raise the bar for AI-optimized compute power.

It is expected to more than double memory bandwidth compared to current EPYC CPUs, hitting 1.6TB/s per socket. Venice also supports PCIe Gen6, offering faster communication between CPUs and GPUs.

Pushing the envelope

"Venice extends our leadership across every dimension that matters in the data center," said Lisa Su, AMD CEO. "More performance, better efficiency, and outstanding total cost of ownership."

"It delivers 70% more compute performance than our current generation leadership Turin CPUs," she added. "And to really keep feeding MI400 with data at full speed, at even at rack scale, we have doubled both the GPU and the memory bandwidth and optimized Venice to run at higher speeds. Now we just got Venice back in the labs and it is looking fantastic.”

While Venice headlines AMD's 2026 platform, Su also gave us a glimpse at what the chip giant is working on for 2027.

"We are already deep in the development of our 2027 rack that will push the envelope even further on performance, efficiency and scalability with our next generation Verano CPUs and Instinct MI500-series GPUs, so lots and lots of stuff to come from AMD," she revealed.

This new system builds on the "Helios" rack shown for 2026, which houses 72 MI400 GPUs across 18 racks. For 2027, AMD is planning an even more expansive setup with 36 racks.

Assuming a similar configuration, the next-gen AI rack could contain 144 GPUs. The Verano platform is expected to maintain the high bandwidth and performance efficiency established by Venice, likely with more memory and compute per rack.

AMD has not officially named its 2027 rack, but we hear it’s being informally referred to in industry circles as a larger-scale continuation of Helios.

Via Tom's Hardware

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I've been hoping for a long while that bad performing PC ports would become a thing of the past, but over the last few years, that hasn't panned out. The biggest examples of recent games are Rise of the Ronin (which I've covered previously), Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Monster Hunter Wilds, which all suffer from constant stuttering and rely on upscaling methods like DLSS for performance stability.

It's not just performance either; the lack of ultrawide compatibility in some games today is alarming, as there's no secret that ultrawide displays have become more mainstream than ever before.

Fortunately, Shift Up's Stellar Blade is one of the recent outliers, with fantastic performance and optimization, including ultrawide compatibility up to a 32:9 aspect ratio.

This also applies to cutscenes, as some titles that do have ultrawide introduce black bars during cutscenes – and yes, I know this is to prevent some strange glitches from happening where you're not supposed to see them. However, I want more titles to include the option to disable black bars (as some games do).

There are numerous popular games I've mentioned before that don't have ultrawide support whatsoever; I won't go into a full deep dive again, but Stellar Blade is another game coming from Sony's PlayStation 5 console that both runs well and adheres to multiple user configurations well – so this is another plea for other game developers to do better.

Stellar Blade is a dream for most desktop and handheld gaming PCs

(Image credit: Sony / Shift Up)

To give you an idea of how good performance is in Stellar Blade, I've been able to achieve over 60fps at 1080p on medium graphics settings on my Asus ROG Ally, sometimes even reaching low 80fps. Switching on AMD Frame Generation sees the frame rate shoot up to 112fps – and notably, it doesn't feel choppy or laggy, since frame generation tech works best when the base frame rate is up to a good standard (and 60fps is perfect for that).

With the Steam Deck, 60fps on lower settings is easily achieved, too, and this is perhaps one of the very few games that is Deck Verified, and lives up to it. It only gets better if you're using a device like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, which boasts more horsepower than its competitors.

On the side of desktop PCs, Stellar Blade easily runs at over 100fps consistently without the use of Nvidia's Frame Generation, on the highest graphics settings. It's possible thanks to an RTX 4080 Super and an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D, and it's a huge indication of just how powerful PC hardware can be when games are made to run optimally.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there aren't other games that don't impress with good optimization, but rather, there are too many bad apples among triple-A titles. Those bad PC ports leave a sour taste behind for those who spend on high-end hardware, because as good as those systems may be, there's only so much they can do to brute force things.

It's also worth noting that handheld gaming PCs are becoming mainstream (or arguably already have), and while a portion of them utilize very powerful hardware, it's not the case with others like the Steam Deck. So, ports like Stellar Blade on PC are great for fans to see, and I'm hoping game developers and publishers can look at this as a template going forward.

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• Purple and green said to be in contention for the iPhone 17
• Apple still hasn't made a decision about which to include
• The phones are expected to be launched in September

For a while now, we've been hearing rumors about how thin the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is going to be – and a newly leaked hands-on video, supposedly showing a dummy unit for the foldable, gives us more evidence of the foldable's svelteness.

This video comes from TheSinza on YouTube (via 9to5Google), and the dummy unit is compared directly to Samsung's current foldables in terms of its thickness and dimensions, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

These dummy units often appear ahead of phone launches, and are based on schematics and information leaked from the supply chain. They don't actually work as phones, but they can be useful for accessory makers getting their wares ready for launch day.

Based on the new video, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be 4.5 mm thick when unfolded, so it's going to be significantly slimmer than it's predecessor (5.6 mm), while not quite taking the honor of being the thinnest foldable phone away from the Oppo Find N5 (4.21 mm).

Long-running rumors

Rumors that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 would be super-slim have been swirling since last year, and while nothing is confirmed until this handset is official, it'd be a surprise if it didn't shed some millimeters compared to the 2024 model.

It was only yesterday that we saw freshly leaked renders of this foldable, which again showed off how thin the handset is going to be, front to back – and hinted that the camera bump might be rather large too.

Camera quality is always a concern when you've got a really thin phone, as is battery life. The rumor is that Samsung will introduce new and improved battery tech so that decent battery life can be maintained, even with less space to accommodate a battery.

We've had a leaked release date too: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is apparently going to see the light of day on Wednesday, July 9. At the same event we should also see the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and at least one Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 model.

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• TerraMaster D4 SSD packs massive storage and extreme data transfer speed up to 40Gbps
• Designed for silence, this SSD stays whisper-quiet even when under full creative workflow load
• With USB4 and NVMe support, it rivals internal storage in speed and reliability

TerraMaster has introduced the D4 SSD, a 4-bay direct-attached storage (DAS) device that promises to combine ultra-fast speeds with a portable design.

Built to accommodate up to four M.2 NVMe drives, the D4 supports a maximum capacity of 32TB, up to 40Gbps data transfer bandwidth, and read/write speeds up to 3224MB/s when configured as RAID 0 via macOS Disk Utility.

However, it achieves this only under ideal conditions with top-tier drives such as the Samsung 990 PRO. In single-disk operations, read speeds taper to about 1608MB/s, which is more in line with what many expect from high-end external drives.

Design priorities: small footprint, silent operation

The D4 SSD is barely larger than an Apple Mac Mini, yet it houses four high-performance SSDs.

Its compact design, along with an active convection cooling system featuring a second-generation temperature-controlled fan and four internal heat sensors, ensures stable performance during heavy workloads.

Noise levels drop to 19dB in idle mode, keeping it virtually silent, which is important for audio-sensitive environments like editing suites.

Its compatibility with 12–20V input adapters allows it to share power bricks with common laptops and monitors, reducing the need for extra accessories during travel.

TerraMaster’s decision to support USB 4 means broad compatibility across Thunderbolt and legacy USB protocols.

It says this device is optimized for media professionals and aims to match the performance of internal NVMe storage, whether in 8K footage editing or expanding a macOS boot drive.

It also supports automatic backup tools for Windows and mobile platforms and integrates seamlessly with macOS Time Machine.

This level of flexibility might give it an edge over the best portable hard drive options, but only for those needing such advanced throughput.

While the D4 SSD presents an appealing profile for its intended audience, it is not the only compact device with high storage potential.

The GMKtec NucBox G9 mini PC, for instance, functions as a full NAS system at a lower price.

Although it can't reach the nearly 40Gbps speeds of the D4, nor is it a DAS, it includes broader capabilities like networking, compute power, and a more integrated interface for home labs or small businesses.

The D4 SSD straddles the line between high-end convenience and niche overkill. It could be the best external SSD for professionals who need fast, reliable, and compact storage, but more casual users or those on tighter budgets might consider alternatives.

This device is available on the TerraMaster official website and Amazon for $299.99.

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• Spider-Man: Brand New Day will feature a major character from Daredevil: Born Again
• They aren't one of the two individuals that Marvel fans want to see in the movie
• Audiences have long clamored for a Spider-Man and Daredevil big-screen team up

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to include a major character from Daredevil: Born Again.

That's according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), who claims the forthcoming movie will feature a fan favorite who's appeared in Daredevil's first TV show on Netflix and its recently released sequel on Disney+.

So, who's the individual in question? Have Sony and Marvel finally answered fans' perennial prayer for a big-screen team-up between Tom Holland's webslinger and Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock? Or is Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk set to feature as Spider-Man 4's primary antagonist?

Sorry to disappoint you all, but it's neither of those actors. Instead, Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle/The Punisher is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) character who's reportedly set to turn up in Spider-Man's next solo flick. Now, a lot of people – myself included – are big fans of Bernthal and his take on Frank Castle. Nonetheless, I'm sure MCU devotees were hoping Cox or D'Onofrio was the individual who'd appear in Spider-Man 4.

If THR's sources are to be believed, Brand New Day would represent the second time that Holland and Bernthal have teamed up on a project. The duo were also part of the cast for Pilgrimage, an Irish medieval film that arrived in theaters in July 2017.

What role could The Punisher play in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

How will Frank Castle fit into Spider-Man 4's story? (Image credit: Netflix/Marvel Television)

Nobody outside of the Marvel Phase 6 movie's chief creative team knows, but we can certainly speculate on Frank Castle's involvement.

For one, his inclusion suggests that Brand New Day's plot might be more grounded than its predecessor. Indeed, 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, aka one of the best Marvel movies post-Avengers: Endgame, was a multiversal affair. If The Punisher is part of Brand New Day's growing ensemble, it would be bizarre to include him if Sony and Marvel haven't collaborated on a film with street-level story sensibilities.

It's possible that he may be drafted in to help tackle one of the original Avengers who's also slated to appear, too.

In late May, rumors emerged that Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner/The Hulk will have a major role in Spider-Man 4. Industry insiders indicate that The Hulk will, well, Hulk out at some point in Brand New Day. If he does, Spidey could use Castle's assistance in stopping the big, mean, green machine if he goes rogue and/or starts rampaging through New York City. Castle has worn the War Machine armored suit in Marvel Comics, too, so he could make use of James 'Rhodey' Rhodes' super-suit to help tackle The Hulk.

Of course, the biggest question of all concerns the level of violence Brand New Day will contain. Bernthal's Castle has only appeared in R-rated MCU projects – those being, Daredevil, Daredevil: Born Again, and The Punisher, all of which are among the best Disney+ shows around.

However, the wallcrawler's next film is nailed on to be a PG-13 film (in the US, anyway) when Brand New Day releases on July 31, 2026. Given how one of Bernthal's non-negotiables was the retention of the character's hyperviolent tendencies in Born Again season 1 and other projects he's set to appear in, such as The Punisher's standalone Disney+ special and Daredevil: Born Again season 2, it'll be interesting to see how an ultraviolent character like The Punisher is utilized in a more family-friendly Marvel production.

Do you think Bernthal will appear in Spider-Man 4? Is Frank Castle a good inclusion if he does? Let me know in the comments.

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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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, June 21 (game #741).

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 #742) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PORT
• PURSUIT
• PROGRESSIVE
• SUCCESSION
• HAPPINESS
• DEPARTED
• FLASH
• LIBERTY
• WIRE
• EUPHORIA
• REMAINING
• ENTOURAGE
• INSECURE
• BULLETIN
• LIFE
• REPORT

NYT Connections today (game #742) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Breaking!
• GREEN: We hold these truths to be self-evident
• BLUE: Box-set staples
• PURPLE: Not right

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 #742) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT
• GREEN: NOUNS FROM A FAMOUS LINE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
• BLUE: HBO SHOWS
• PURPLE: WHAT “LEFT” MIGHT MEAN

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

NYT Connections today (game #742) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #742, are…

• YELLOW: NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT BULLETIN, FLASH, REPORT, WIRE
• GREEN: NOUNS FROM A FAMOUS LINE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAPPINESS, LIBERTY, LIFE, PURSUIT
• BLUE: HBO SHOWS ENTOURAGE, EUPHORIA, INSECURE, SUCCESSION
• PURPLE: WHAT “LEFT” MIGHT MEAN DEPARTED, PORT, PROGRESSIVE, REMAINING

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

My first thought on seeing the word board today was that surely ENTOURAGE, EUPHORIA and SUCCESSION went together as examples of glossy US TV shows. But what to add to them? The WIRE, maybe, but it was missing the definitive at the start, so seemed unlikely. Was there a show called DEPARTED maybe – or was that The Departed? Or it could be LIFE, as that's definitely a TV show – but a British one.

In the end I got cold feet on that and looked elsewhere, spotting that LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS were all NOUNS FROM A FAMOUS LINE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

That gave me an easy green, so I decided to next search for the supposedly easier still yellow. Yellow groups are almost always just straight groups of words with no subterfuge or misdirection, so I looked at the board with a clear mind and spotted FLASH, REPORT, WIRE and BULLETIN as examples of a NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT.

With one more needed I looked again at the TV shows one, now shorn of LIFE and WIRE, and played those three with DEPARTED. That gave me 'one away', but I added INSECURE as another possible and got it right. Turns out they were all HBO shows.

That just left purple and WHAT “LEFT” MIGHT MEAN, a nice oblique group with DEPARTED, PORT, PROGRESSIVE and REMAINING.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 21, game #741)

• YELLOW: STOCKY SOLID, SQUAT, STOUT, THICK
• GREEN: COMPANY CONCERN, FIRM, HOUSE, OUTFIT
• BLUE: APPLE PRODUCTS BRANDY, BUTTER, CIDER, SAUCE
• PURPLE: STARTS OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES GERM, LUXE, MALT, PORT

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 21 (game #1244).

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 #1245) - 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 #1245) - 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 #1245) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1245) - 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 #1245) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• W

• C

• P

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1245) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1245, are…

• WREST
• CRAZE
• PAPAL
• SCION

Today's Quordle gave us a difficult selection of words, and I duly struggled to uncover them, needing all nine guesses to complete the set.

SCION was for sure a tricky one, although I got that first, helped by having all five letters in place. Likewise CRAZE, with its Z, was also difficult – and I lost a guess here playing CRAVE first.

When I messed up WREST, playing TRESS first, I was down to my final attempt and was relieved with PAPAL proved to be correct even though when I played it I had only one green and two yellow letters.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1245) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1245, are…

• DANDY
• OMBRE
• GROVE
• STILL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
• Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN
• Quordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINE
• Quordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGN
• Quordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVEN
• Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
• Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
• Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE
• Quordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOOD
• Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
• Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL
• Quordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUME
• Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP
• Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
• Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
• 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

Samsung S95F: Two minute review

The Samsung S95F is the brand’s 2025 flagship OLED TV, delivering a premium set of features with the performance to match, pushing brightness levels for this kind of TV to some new highs.

The Samsung S95F boasts an impressive list of features, including a number of AI-based enhancement tools for picture, such as 4K Upscaling Pro and Real Depth Enhancer, and sound, such as AI Sound and Active Voice Amplifier Pro, as well as an AI assistant for live TV show analysis and recommendations.

Picture quality on the S95F is excellent overall. Delivering staggering brightness levels that produce punchy vibrant colors, as well as rich contrast, black levels and extremely realistic textures, the S95F is a sight to behold even compared to the best OLED TVs.

One thing to note here is that I reviewed the 55-inch version, which uses a new-gen QD-OLED screen, as does the 65-inch and 77-inch version, though the 83-inch size uses the same W-OLED new-gen panel as the LG G5. The benchmark measurements in this review are from the 55-inch model – I have also measured an 83-inch version, and included some information about that in the Picture Quality section, but those tests weren't done in our usual testing areas, and the set was tested pre-release, so may not totally match what you'll buy today, but I've included them for reference.

Its OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen delivers the same impressive reflection-beating performance as its predecessor, the Samsung S95D, but improves on black crush issues I found with the S95D. There is still some black crush present, and motion does require some tweaking to get to your own tastes, but the S95F still delivers picture quality that’s up there with the best TVs.

Built-in sound is punchy, accurate and delivers plenty of solid bass for such a thin TV, while also delivering clear speech and effective virtual surround sound. Atmos effects are still a little lacking and the soundstage can feel narrow at times, but most will be pleased with the S95F’s sound quality. Cinephiles: I’d still recommend one of the best soundbars.

The S95F is a physically stunning TV with a razor-thin, sharp and sleek design that gives it a premium look. Its One Connect Box, its external box for cable management and housing of ports, keeps things neat and tidy: excellent for those looking to wall-mount. Its stand requires a two person installation due to its weighty, metal design but it just makes the S95F feel that much more premium.

Tizen 9.0 is used as the smart TV platform for the S95F and it’s an improvement over previous generations. It’s smooth, mostly stutter-free and has plenty of picture settings, including AI ones, to tweak the picture to your liking. Recommendations are very good and although the home page can look a little cluttered and some settings are buried in menus, it’s definitely an upgrade over previous generations of Tizen.

The S95F is easily among one of the best gaming TVs of 2025. It supports 4K, 165Hz, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming across four HDMI 2.1 ports, as well as boasting an ultra-low 9.5ms input lag time. Its Game Hub offers tons of cloud gaming options for those without a console and delivers razor-sharp performance and picture when gaming.

To get this premium performance, you have to pay a premium price. The S95F is similarly priced to its closest rivals, namely the LG G5, and while the price may be a bit lofty for some at launch, there will no doubt be discounts throughout its life cycle. For now though, it still mostly justifies its high price tag.

Should you buy this or the LG G5, which we also gave five stars to? I think the LG G5 just has the edge in most cases, thanks to its Dolby Vision support and the way it keeps black tones as dark and accurate as possible in more conditions. I think the Samsung is the better choice in really bright rooms where you know reflections are a challenge, or for aesthetes who love the idea of the One Connect box keeping cable clutter out of the way.

Samsung S95F review: Prices & release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Release date: May 2025
• 55-inch: $2,499 / £2,499 / N/A
• 65-inch: $3,399 / £3,399 / AU$5,295
• 77-inch: $4,499 / £4,299 / AU$7,995
• 83-inch: $6,499 / £6,799 / AU$9,995

The Samsung S95F is the brand’s 2025 flagship OLED TV, sitting above the mid-range Samsung S90F and the entry-level Samsung S85F in its OLED TV lineup. The 55-inch model I tested launched at a price of $2,499 / £2,499, with the popular 65-inch model available for $3,399 / £3,399 / AU$5,295.

Several weeks on from launch, prices remain largely unchanged, although we've seen a $200 / £200 discount on the 55-inch model and sometimes the 65-inch model. There's sure to be more price drops throughout the year, as is normal for TVs.

Samsung S95F review: Specs

Screen type

QD-OLED

Refresh rate

Up to 165Hz

HDR support

HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Audio support

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV

Tizen

HDMI ports

4 x HDMI 2.1

Built-in tuner

ATSC 3.0 (US)

Samsung S95F review: Benchmark resultsSamsung S95F review: Features

• Glare Free 2.0 matte screen
• NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor with AI tools
• One Connect box for external connections

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung S95F uses a QD-OLED panel in its 55, 65 and 77-inch models, but the largest 83-inch model uses the new Primary Tandem RGB, or ‘four-stack’, OLED panel: the same used in the LG G5.

The S95F comes with the OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen: an updated version of the anti-reflection, matte screen found in its predecessor, the Samsung S95D.

It’s equipped with the NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor, which offers AI based enhancements such as Real Depth Enhancer, 4K AI Upscaling Pro, Auto HDR Remastering Pro, Color Booster Pro and AI Motion Enhancer Pro. There are also AI Customization settings for both picture and sound which can be tweaked.

As always, the S95F supports HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG HDR formats, but there is no support for Dolby Vision. It also supports Dolby Atmos enhanced sound format, but there is no support for DTS.

For audio, the S95F comes with a built-in 4.2.2 channel speaker array, totaling 70W of power. It has the Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) system for more accurate sound mapping as well as AI Sound mode with voice enhancement. It also supports Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, where the TV can be used in tandem with compatible Samsung soundbars as an extra speaker.

The S95F is also a well equipped gaming TV, with four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K, 165Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included), ALLM and HDR10+ gaming. Its Game Hub is a useful portal for housing all things gaming, including cloud based gaming apps from Xbox, Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now and more.

In terms of physical features, the S95F’s most significant addition is the One Connect Box, an external box designed to house all connections such as HDMI and USB, connected to the TV by a single cable that carries power as well as video. For US viewers, the S95F carries an ATSC 3.0 tuner.

The S95F uses Samsung’s Tizen as its smart TV platform and has access to all major streaming apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus, as well as UK based apps such as ITVX and BBC iPlayer. Tizen has several hubs to house relevant apps including Home, the aforementioned Game, Ambient and Daily+.

• Features score: 5/5

Samsung S95F review: Picture quality Image 1 of 3

Movie mode (Image credit: Future)

Choosing the right picture mode for bright conditions can be important depending on the movie. The Batman is a particularly dim movie.

Image 2 of 3

Filmmaker Mode with Active Dynamic Tone Mapping (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

Filmmaker Mode with Static Dynamic Tone Mapping (Image credit: Future)

• Spectacular color and brightness
• Very effective anti-reflection screen
• Improved black levels over the S95D

Starting with my measurements of the 55-inch S95F’s performance using out-of-the-box settings, the TV hit 2,132 nits of HDR peak brightness (measured on a 10% HDR white window pattern) in Filmmaker Mode. When I measured a pre-release version of the 83-inch model at a Samsung event, which has a different type of OLED screen (the same as the LG G5), I measured 2,388 nits of peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode on that model, which is a good 10% step up over the smaller option.

The LG G5, for comparison, measured 2,268 nits in HDR peak brightness in Filmmaker Mode, so sits closer to the 83-inch version of the S95F, which makes sense.

The 55-inch S95F achieved 2,135 nits of peak HDR brightness in Standard mode, while the 83-inch version hit 2,102 nits in the same test. The LG G5 hit 1,850 nits in Standard Mode, so the S95F has a clear edge over its rival in that kind of mode.

I also measured the 55-inch S95F’s Movie mode brightness, as I found myself using this mode with some movies in brighter conditions, and it hit 2,109 nits of peak HDR brightness.

As for HDR fullscreen brightness, important for sports, daytime and bright room viewing, the 55-inch S95F clocked 390 nits in Filmmaker Mode (measured on a 100% white HDR window pattern), making it the brightest 55-inch OLED we’ve tested. It beat the previous champion, the LG G5, which clocked in 331 nits in its Filmmaker Mode.

However, the the 83-inch version of the S95F I tested crushed its smaller sibling, achieving 465 nits of fullscreen brightness in Filmmaker Mode – a figure you expect from the best mini-LED TVs.

With SDR fullscreen brightness however, the LG G5 still holds the crown, hitting 327 nits in Filmmaker Mode, whereas the S95F clocked in at 181 nits.

The S95F’s most unusual feature is its OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen, which like its predecessor, the S95D, eliminated mirror-like reflections even with bright overhead lights on in our testing room.

The issue with mirror-like reflections is that they're actually on a different focal plane to the TV, so when your eye catches them, you have to focus away from the rest of the screen. That's why they're so annoying, and are quite fatiguing to deal with. On the S95F they're reduced to just a haze at most.

I found when I tested the S95D that the matte screen caused black crush, particularly in Filmmaker Mode, so you lost detail in the dark areas OLED is supposed to excel in – and thankfully the S95F has improved this. There were still some instances of black crush in dark scenes in movies like The Batman and Nosferatu, but they were minimal in comparison.

I did find when watching dark movies in bright rooms, setting Dynamic Tone Mapping from the default Static to Active in Filmmaker Mode gave it a solid brightness boost without sacrificing black levels or contrast too much, and helped to reduce the black crush.

The S95F displays spectacular, vivid colors especially with HDR movies such as Wicked (Image credit: Future)

Where the S95F really shines with its picture is its colors. Watching a 4K stream of Elemental on Disney Plus, fire characters – as well as Ember’s glass and vase-making – deliver stunning, glistening reds and oranges with a real vivid punch in highlight areas of the screen.

A 4K Blu-ray of Wicked also demonstrated natural but vibrant colors, particularly in the Wizard & I scene where Elphaba stands among pink flowers. I preferred Filmmaker Mode’s accuracy, but those looking for a brighter dose of color can select Movie mode for something that's bold but still realistic.

It’s no surprise the 55-inch S95F delivered such spectacular HDR colors, because when I measured its HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded results of 100% and 89.3% in the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. These are not only phenomenal results, but it’s also the first time a TV has hit 100% DCI-P3 in my time testing TVs. I measured the 83-inch S95F at 94.9% of P3 color gamut coverage, however – this is surprisingly low, considering the LG G5 with the same panel achieved 99.6%, so it might be best to take it with a pinch of salt, since I tested it pre-release.

Black levels and contrast are still excellent on the S95F, particularly when viewed in dimmed or pitch black conditions. Watching The Batman, the subway fight and crime scene sequences showed deep black levels with brilliant contrast between dark areas and light areas from light sources such as lamps, torches and flashbulbs. Shadow detail was great as well, with objects on walls still visible even in dark sections.

The S95F was great for black and white movies, as scenes from Oppenheimer showed deep black tones, vibrant white tones and a full range of gray tones with fantastic depth and texture.

Textures and details are given a near 3D-like quality on the S95F (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of textures, the S95F showed a near 3D-like quality for every 4K movie I used. Clearly, the Real Depth Enhancer was hard at work, as every facial feature, skin tone and object looked accurate, lifelike and refined. I found the S95F’s upscaling was effective when viewing an HD stream of Fight Club. While not as successful with lower resolution TV shows, textures were definitely still upscaled.

Motion for the S95F was responsive, though I did find that Blur and Judder reduction needed to be set at 5 each, though this may require some adjusting for some. A panning shot of a cliffside in No Time To Die was smooth without the dreaded soap opera effect with these settings. For Sports, I opted for Standard Mode with these settings and found the action smooth without any ghosting of the ball during a stream of a soccer game.

The S95F is an overall fantastic TV, but I put it side-by-side with the LG G5 and while the S95F was better for bright room viewing, I couldn’t help but admire the G5’s richer, inkier black levels. It did make the S95F’s black levels look gray in bright conditions by comparison. The matte screen obviously is a compromise, but thankfully some tweaking of the S95F’s settings mentioned above can narrow the gap. It's even better if you can view in dimmed conditions.

• Picture quality score: 5/5

Samsung S95F: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• 4.2.2 channel, 70W speaker array
• Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) for accurate mapping
• Dolby Atmos, but no DTS support

The Samsung S95F comes equipped with a built-in 4.2.2 channel speaker array, with 70W of total power. It includes AI Sound mode options and supports Dolby Atmos soundtracks. There is no support for DTS soundtracks, however. There are two preset sound modes to choose from: Standard and Amplify.

With the S95F set to the Amplify sound mode, the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene in The Batman produced hefty, impactful bass and rumble from the Batmobile’s engine and explosions. The OTS+ system was effective at mapping effects such as screeching tyres and gunfire and keeping the action on screen and sound tightly connected and controlled.

Throughout Wicked, the S95F’s speakers also delivered clear vocals and speech as well as a very good balance between said vocals and the uplifting and powerful score, which was itself delivered with clarity and precision.

While its built-in sound is very good, I couldn’t help but find the soundstage narrow in places and that its volume needed to be pushed to get the full experience. When pushed too high however, there can be some buzz from the bass. For a proper cinematic experience, one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars remains recommended.

Samsung S95F review: Design

The Samsung S95F is a super-slim and sleek TV (Image credit: Future)

• Super slim, modern design
• One Connect Box for external connections
• Solid, sleek metal base

The S95F is a sight to behold. Razor-thin with a bezel-less screen, the S95F is incredibly sleek and has an appealing modern look. It comes with a weighty, black metal stand and while assembly requires two people, once attached it gives the TV a floating look and feels solid and sturdy.

The S95F comes with the brand’s One Connect Box, which houses the S95F’s many connections, including four HDMI 2.1 ports, three USB ports, an optical port, tuner ports for broadcast TV and an Ethernet port. This box is then connected to the S95F via a single cable and the box itself can be housed on the back of the stand. It’s ideal for those looking to wall-mount their TV with minimal cables.

For remotes, the S95F comes with the SolarCell remote, a small remote with volume control, app shortcuts and the new AI button, for AI assistant shortcuts. The remote can be charged via USB-C or the solar panel on the remote. UK users will also find an older-style remote with numbered buttons in the box as well as the SolarCell remote.

• Design score: 5/5

Samsung S95F review: Smart TV & menus

Tizen 9.0 is an improvement over previous generations of the Tizen smart TV system (Image credit: Future)

• Tizen smart TV platform
• Home, Game, Ambient and Daily+ hubs for apps
• Good number of picture settings

The S95F uses Samsung’s own Tizen smart TV platform, with this year’s version called Tizen 9.0. It has access to all the major streaming apps, but UK users should note it does not include Freeview Play for broadcast TV, instead using Samsung’s own Samsung TV Plus. UK based streaming apps are still available however.

Tizen 9.0’s home page is split into three sections: For You, which houses AI-tailored content recommendations (which are mostly accurate and effective based on my own experience) Live, for live TV and Apps, for a fuller apps page list. For You is the default and while there is a large banner at the top of the screen, a neat, customizable row of apps sits at the bottom of the screen and is easily accessible.

Aside from the Home page, there are three other main hubs: Game for gaming based applications; Ambient, for an ambient mode in place of standby; and Daily+ for lifestyle and workplace based apps.

Menu and settings navigation is made easier thanks to a quick menu, which I didn’t find as effective as LG’s but is still a welcome addition. Accessing the right menus and settings can be long-winded and navigation can stutter on occasion, but it was a mostly smooth experience.

As well as the usual picture and sound settings, of which there are a good amount for picture customization, there are a number of AI-based tools including AI picture and sound modes. There is an AI assistant as well. A press of the remote’s AI button on a TV show on Samsung TV Plus gave me a summary of the show and recommended similar shows.

• Smart TV & menus: 4.5/5

Samsung S95F review: GamingImage 1 of 2

The Samsung S95F is an exceptional gaming TV, with extensive features and performance Pictured: Game Hub (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Pictured: Battlefield V with Game Bar (Image credit: Future)

• 4K, 165Hz, VRR, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming
• Ultra-low 9.5ms input lag time
• Game Hub for cloud based gaming apps

The S95F is an extremely well featured TV for gaming. It features four HDMI ports that support 4K, 165Hz, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro supported, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming. Samsung’s Game Hub continues to be an excellent portal for everything gaming related including a healthy choice of cloud based gaming apps from the likes of Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now and Luna.

As with Samsung’s TVs, the S95F is no slouch with gaming performance either. An ultra-low 9.5ms input lag time delivers a smooth experience with no hint of screen tear or stutter in performance whatsoever. Playing Battlefield V, intense combat sequences were exciting to play and targeting was easy, snappy and extremely responsive.

The S95F also delivers superb picture quality for gaming, with several levels in Battlefield V given a truly bright, vibrant and dynamic look filled with color and detail. Again Real Depth Enhancer Pro gave the picture a hyper-realistic look with fantastic detail in every object on screen.

• Gaming score: 5/5

Samsung S95F review: ValueImage 1 of 2

Samsung's SolarCell remote adds a new AI button at the top middle. (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

UK users get both the SolarCell and older, button remote (pictured here) in box. (Image credit: Future)

• Performance and features justify price
• Closely priced with rivals
• Still a premium priced TV

Value is a tough area to judge for the Samsung S95F, as it carries most of the features you’d ever need while also delivering high-quality performance, but this all comes at a premium price.

The 55-inch model I tested costs $2,299.99 / £2,299 (roughly AU$3,554) at the time of writing. The S95F’s main rival, the LG G5, 55-inch model costs $2,199.99 / £2,199.99 / AU$3,495 at the time of writing, making the G5 the more tempting of the two. Expect prices to battle throughout the year, reducing over time.

I’d usually recommend the S95F’s step-down sibling – the S90F – as a cheaper alternative, because the 55-inch model there costs $1,799 / £1,899 / AU$3,299. However, there is no guarantee of getting a bright QD-OLED screen over a dimmer mid-tier W-OLED screen, which means I can’t recommend it for certain. At 65 inches, you are guaranteed a QD-OLED panel, though, so at that size the S90F is a great option – here's our full 65-inch Samsung S90F review.

The S95F is a premium priced TV, there’s no getting around it. While there are a number of cheaper options available, it does deliver an undoubtedly premium experience and does strongly justify its price.

• Value score: 4/5

Should you buy the Samsung S95F OLED TV?

The Samsung S95F showcases superb contrast between light and dark tones, shown here in The Batman (Image credit: Future)Samsung S95F 55-inch

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The Samsung S95F offers a stacked list of smart and gaming features, along with superb picture quality and solid audio quality. There is still no Dolby Vision HDR support though.

5/5

Picture quality

The S95F delivers a near-complete picture experience, especially when with colors. Black levels may not be as deep as some rivals, but they're rich enough.

5/5

Sound quality

Delivering clear, punchy and accurate sound, most people will be pleased with the S95F's sound. Bass could be better controlled and the soundstage could be wider, however.

4/5

Design

It's unbelievably thin, extremely modern looking and features the useful One Connect Box. the S95F is easily one of the best designed TVs available.

4.5/5

Smart TV and menus

Finding the right settings isn't always easy, but Tizen provides a very smooth experience with new AI tools should you want to use them.

4.5/5

Gaming

Ultra-responsive performance and a full list of features, the S95F is an excellent TV for gaming.

5/5

Value

The S95F is a premium priced TV, but offers great features and performance for the money.

4/5

Buy it if...

You want to watch in a bright room
The S95F's OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen eliminates reflections, making it ideal for viewing in bright rooms. View Deal

You want a bright, colorful picture
The S95F's color display is spectacular, especially with HDR sources. Paired with its high brightness, and you get a phenomenal picture experience.View Deal

You want an OLED TV for gaming
The S95F's gaming performance is smooth and responsive, it has a ton of features and its picture is sublime for gaming. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want Dolby Vision HDR
Like all Samsung TVs, the S95F doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR, instead featuring support for HDR10+. View Deal

You're on a budget
As it's a flagship OLED TV, it does come with a premium price tag. Even though it covers a lot of the bases, it will outstretch most budgets: at launch at least. View Deal

You want accurate, out-of-the-box Filmmaker Mode
A small complaint, but some tweaks need to be made to Filmmaker Mode when viewing in bright conditions, which isn't the case with the rival LG G5. View Deal

Also Consider

Samsung S95F

LG G5

Sony Bravia 8 II

Samsung QN90F

Price (55-inch)

$2,499 / £2,499 (roughly AU$4,199)

$2,499 / £2,399 / AU$4,199

$3,499 / £2,499 / AU$4,195

$1,799.99 / £1,699 (roughly AU$2,788)

Screen type

QD-OLED

OLED

QD-OLED

Neo QLED / mini-LED

Refresh rate

165Hz

144Hz

120Hz

144Hz

HDR support

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision

HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision

HDR10, HLG, HDR10+,

Smart TV

Tizen 9.0

webOS 25

Google TV

Tizen

HDMI ports

4x HDMI 2.1

4x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

4 x HDMI 2.1

LG G5 OLED TV
The S95F's main rival, the LG G5 delivers elite performance with a similar number of features to match. Its black levels are richer in most conditions, but the S95F is still better for viewing in bright rooms thanks to its Glare Free screen. This will come down to personal preference.

Read our full LG G5 reviewView Deal

Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV
Sony flagship OLED TV for 2025 is currently under review, but from what we've seen so far, its real strength lies in its sound. The S95F has it beat for brightness and gaming features. Watch this space for our full review.

Full review TBCView Deal

Samsung QN90F mini-LED TV
The Samsung QN90F offers higher fullscreen brightness and its own glare free screen, making it a solid TV for sports. Its the mini-LED equivalent of the S90F in Samsung's 2025 lineup, so if you're looking a feature-packed TV but with mini-LED, this is your best option.

Read our full Samsung QN90F reviewView Deal

How I tested the Samsung S95F OLED TVImage 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested over a week
• Tested in different lighting conditions in our testing lab
• Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software

Before my critical testing, I first spent time establishing the most accurate picture modes that I would use for both subjective testing and objective measurements. I landed on Filmmaker Mode and sometimes used Movie mode, depending on lighting conditions.

I tested the S95F's using reference scenes from both Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) sources, such as DVD, Blu-ray and broadcast/low-resolution TV, and High Dynamic Range (HDR) sources, such as 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming.

For 4K Blu-ray, I used a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, our pick for the best 4K Blu-ray player.

I used these sources to analyse the S95F's picture quality, focusing on color, contrast, black levels, textures, upscaling, as well as sound quality and motion for sports and movies.

I also watched the S95F with various different lighting conditions to test the effectiveness of its OLED Glare Free anti-reflection screen.

For objective measurements, I used a Klein K10A colorimeter, Murideo Six G 8K test pattern generator and recorded measurements using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software.

I focused on SDR and HDR brightness measurements, with a focus on peak (10%) and fullscreen (100%) brightness, color and grayscale accuray by taking the average of the Delta-E values (the margin for error between the source pattern signal and what's shown on screen) and HDR color gamut coverage, focusing on DCI-P3 (also called UHDA-P3) and BT.2020 color spaces.

I also analyzed the S95F's gaming performance using an Xbox Series X, and a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester to analyze its input lag in milliseconds.

For more on how we test TVs at TechRadar, check out the link.

• First reviewed: June 2025
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

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Garmin Descent Mk3i: Two-minute review

Sitting at the top of Garmin’s recreational dive watch family, and by extension the best swimming watch for divers, the Descent Mk3i’s AMOLED display – 43mm or 51mm – uses a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens – something that’s more important than you might realize in scuba diving, where you and your buddy can be exposed to a variety of hard materials like other watches, knives and the natural topography, such as rocks and wrecks.

I didn’t treat the Descent Mk3i any differently to how I dive with any of my own watches (slap it on and forget about it without being overly cautious), and so far, the display has proven to live up to its scratch-resistant claims. That titanium case has also held up well during testing, but be aware that the Mk3 without air integration is a stainless steel model.

Getting used to the five physical buttons can take some getting used to, but take the time to explore their functionalities, and you’ll be swimming. And on that, if you’re not swimming and are instead in a dry environment, you can use the touchscreen to navigate the Decent Mk3i.

Where this dive computer stands out against virtually all of its rivals is with its SubWave sonar technology, which enables diver-to-diver communication up to 30 meters. None of my buddies have one of these for me to try it with, but you can be sure that I’ve done my fair share of research on the feature and it comes highly recommended. However, I’ve just highlighted the biggest problem of SubWave-based communication – you need to be diving with like-minded Garmin fans.

(Image credit: Craig Hale)

If you are in that position, especially if you’re running a dive school, then you’ll also love being able to monitor the tank pressures of up to eight divers (who are within a tighter 10-meter range).

Compared with other recreational watches, the Garmin Descent Mk3i is much closer to the boundary of tech diving – apart from single gas mixes, you can also set it up for multi-gas dives and rebreathers, so if you plan on going deeper or staying for longer, then your requirement to use different equipment and gasses will be supported by this high-end watch.

It also works all the way down to 200 meters – that’s way below recreational diving limits, but is a welcome upgrade over most watches, which cut out at 40 meters (around 10-20 metres short of maximum recreational diving limits). Many rivals can withstand water pressures down to 100-200 meters, but they tend to stop tracking your diving activity way before this.

When you’re on land, the sensors take regular readings of your heart rate, respiration rate, pulse oximetry and more to estimate your in-the-moment health like the rest of the best Garmin watches, and these metrics feed the Dive Readiness score.

There’s even a Jet Lag Adviser to offer guidance on light exposure, sleep schedule and exercise – perfect for those action-packed dive holidays. Although the science behind preventing decompression sickness is still being developed, we do know that physical exertion can bring on the effects, so being advised of your dive readiness before you get in the water is a handy tool.

(Image credit: Craig Hale)

Unlike the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which lives on my left wrist 24/7 (apart from when it’s charging), the Descent Mk3i’s battery life promised 30 whole hours of diving, which was more than enough to cover my weekend of four dives. And on the weeks when I wasn’t diving, I made a habit of charging it on a Sunday evening – that 10-day battery life is a game-changer, even with all the sensors going every few seconds.

Besides being deep in the Apple ecosystem, the only reason I can think of stopping me from moving over to Garmin fully is the fact that it still has a relatively clunky UI, but that’s hard to solve given how unbeatably feature-ridden it is. It has features like Garmin Pay and a voice assistant, but it’s not quite as slick as native Apple or Google watches.

On the whole, though, if you can look past the high price point, I think the Garmin Descent Mk3i might just be the best all-in-one smartwatch for divers you can buy today, and even with its four-figure price tag, it still represents good value for money on the basis that you get one of the most comprehensive and reliable sports trackers in the business.

Garmin Descent Mk3i: Specifications

Component

Garmin Descent Mk3i (model tested: Carbon grey DLC titanium with black silicone band, 51mm)

Battery life

Up to 10 days (4 days always-on display, 30 hours diving mode)

Charging cable

Garmin proprietary clip charger with USB-C connection

Diving depth rating

200m

Sensors

GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite systems, heart rate, pulse oximeter, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light sensor, depth sensor

Gas mixes

Air, Nitrox and Trimix, up to 100% O2; 1 bottom gas and up to 11 deco and/or backup gases

Component

Garmin Descent Mk3i (43mm)

Price

Starts at $1,400 / £1,250 / AUD $2,500

Dimensions

43 x 43 x 14.13 mm

Weight

68.3g with bands

Case/bezel

Fiber-reinforced polymer / stainless steel

Gas mixes

Air, Nitrox and Trimix, up to 100% O2; 1 bottom gas and up to 11 deco and/or backup gases

GPS

GPS, Galileo, GLONASS

Battery life

Up to 10 days (30 hours diving mode)

Connection

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Water resistant

Yes, 200m depth

Garmin Descent Mk3i: Price and availability

(Image credit: Craig Hale)

• $1,400 / £1,250 / AUD $2,500 for 43mm
• $1,600 / £1,600 / AUD $3,200 for 51mm
• T2 tank pressure transmitter: $500 / £430 / AUD $900

The top-of-the-range Garmin Descent Mk3i (with transmitter) is a $2,000+ wearable, which puts it right at the top of its class, but it could still end up costing you less than buying a dedicated dive watch and a second fitness tracker for land.

To fully benefit from the Mk3i’s capabilities, you’ll need to pair it with the T2 tank pressure transmitter for a fair chunk more cash.

If you’re on a tighter budget, there’s also the Descent Mk3. The removal of the ‘i’ in its name means it won’t work with the tank pressure transmitter, but you can save yourself some cash and pick it up for $1,200 / £1,100 / AUD $1,250.

Garmin Descent Mk3i: Scorecard

(Image credit: Craig Hale)

Category

Comment

Score

Value

It’s loaded with more features than most rivals, but it’s still very expensive

4/5

Design

Rugged and durable design with high-end titanium finish on Mk3i models

5/5

Features

There’s no denying this is the ultimate watch for outdoor and diving enthusiasts

5/5

Performance

Responsive operating system and long-lasting battery life

5/5

Garmin Descent Mk3i: Should I buy?

(Image credit: Craig Hale)Buy it if...

You want something that can do it all

It’s expensive, but there’s not much that comes near to offering as much functionality as the Descent Mk3i.

You’re a tech-reational diver

You can push the limits of recreational diving with this watch, which offers tools to support tech diving.

You spend a lot of time outdoors

Superb GPS tracking, detailed body metrics and endless workout options help you to go wild.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

There are watches that offer similar metrics and tank pressure monitoring for less money.

You’re a novice diver

Chances are you don’t need everything the Descent Mk3i offers, so why not consider a Fenix 8?

Also consider...

Garmin Fenix 8

A high-quality all-in-one dive watch for true outdoor enthusiasts.

Read our Garmin Fenix 8 review

Suunto Ocean

A user-friendly, minimalist dive watch with support for wireless air pressure monitoring

Read our Suunto Ocean review

First reviewed: June 2025