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Loewe, the German speaker and TV maker, has just announced that it's launching a new venture called Loewe Systems. According to the company, this is "a new Berlin-based company focused on developing fully integrated high-end audio and audiovisual solutions for automotive manufacturers, luxury residences, superyachts, recreational vehicles, and other premium mobility applications."

The new team consists of Managing Director Alexander Meisen, Director of Acoustics Ajan Hannemann, and Director of Automotive Engineering Robert Schletze. The team comes from a background of working on the Burmester audio systems in Mercedes-Benz cars, so has a strong in-car audio heritage.

To find out more about the goal of this new team, I spoke with the three members of the Loewe System crew, as well as Loewe's CEO Aslan Khabliev.

TechRadar: What's the goal for you guys of pushing into the integrated installation systems market?

Alexander Meisen: We did projects in residential and one-off projects, and this is really where we see people smiling. This is really where we can create stories. With the new setup with Loewe, creating those kind of experiences this is clearly where we see lots of potential.

TechRadar: What what will success look like for you going into this market?

Alexander Meisen: Clearly more than just adding a brand to projects to speaker grilles in automotive. Really going deep, really creating a special sound signature, really creating outstanding experiences with future partners.

TechRadar: You mentioned the sound profile. Is that one of the main things that will make Loewe's offering unique, or what else do you think will make will make people want to see that brand on the design?

Robert Schletze: I think it's a lots of things, but starting in an automotive project, it's specific knowledge of how to specify the speakers, how to integrate the speakers in the car, partner up with the right partners, having our own sound signature, knowing how to tune a car with 37 speakers like an orchestra [when you're] sitting in the middle, knowing what to do with delays, gains, filters… all that stuff comes together [in our] knowledge.

TechRadar: What are other companies doing wrong that you think you can do differently to win over the the car makers?

Alexander Meisen: There are massive changes and shifts in in-car audio. That's especially where we see lots of potential, because in this field it became quite common to just add a logo to speaker grilles, make it look fancy and try to tell stories — I mean, there's no real USP, there's no real story. So we really go into what Robert just explained, and then in addition, we know that in the hi-fi market or in audio market in general we see a certain lack of really activating partnerships, really communicating and kicking off marketing campaigns together.

This is clearly one of the reasons why we decided to set this up under the Loewe and also Cabasse brand, because Loewe is already doing this — Loewe can offer that to potential partners. And Loewe also has a long heritage, and the feedback we're getting right now from potential partners we're talking to is 'Hey guys, we don't just want to put the name somewhere from a certain brand which is maybe famous or recognized in a certain area. We really want to create those experiences together' — and this is where we're very confident we can offer those [companies] the full package with all the different aspects

TechRadar: Is in-car audio the primary area of the Loewe Systems project? Loewe has history in this area with BMW, so it makes sense.

Alexander Meisen: There is this history, and yes, automotive is clearly the priority to us. This is where our team has lots of expertise. This is where the network is established. This is where… we haven't released the news officially, but we are in talks. There are certain lead times when it comes to establishing new partnerships, but yes, clearly and absolutely [in-car audio is the priority].

Still we're also talking to potential partners in the field of residential building on integrated systems, because the great thing for for us as a team right now is also we have full access to all the expertise and products of Loewe Group. We're not only talking about audio, we're talking about the full experience, which is also the visual element.

TechRadar: What do you see as the ultimate in-car offering from Loewe? Does it stretch to the displays as well as the audio and the DSP?

Robert Schletze: It's an overall experience in the car. You look at the market, there are video screens already integrated lots of them [regardless of the] brand that they're coming from. You have the audio part, you have smell in the car — you can connect all together, so it's an overall experience. Why not add this visual area from Loewe if it works and we can partner up? Anything is possible there. Currently we're figuring it out — we know where our expertise is, and we as we said we're not just just adding elements to a car. We're working together hand in hand [with manufacturers] for the full experience.

TechRadar: Are we talking about Dolby Atmos in cars, or what kind of premium experience are you aiming for?

Robert Schletze: I think Dolby Atmos is a standard now in the automotive area anyway. Yeah, of course. 3D sound, 4D sound, 2D sound.

Alexander Meisen: We've worked with the teams of Dolby before. We know them pretty well. So, this is one aspect, but it's not new anymore. It's not outstanding. It's more like a given to us.

TechRadar: Is there something else new that you guys have in mind that you can bring?

Alexander Meisen: The manufacturers are asking for new features, especially when you compare the markets. You have a look on the European market and then you check the Chinese market and there are there are different demands and requests. We know that we will come up with features that are not [widely available] yet, but we cannot communicate them right now because we're at a very early stage.

Robert Schletze: We have some past experience with what's missing in the market. We've got some ideas there, and partners that we can develop them with. But overall I think you have to go back from adding feature over feature over feature — you have to go back to not adding another speaker in the car, but developing a proper speaker that can reproduce the sound as we want. The basics; go back to the basics. That's missing a lot today.

TechRadar: You talked earlier about working with speaker partners on developing the right speaker for this situation. How involved do you expect to be in like the actual driver design?

Ajan Hannemann: We want to dive into this topic, and we will specify this — we actually already did in the past as well, for Mercedes Group. So we aim to improve those elements, but [the] really important thing for us, like Robert already mentioned, is the packaging of where the speaker is placed — there's room for improvement if you can make it clear to the manufacturer of the car what kind of benefits we get when when we place the speakers in more optimized positions. You can gain a lot of improvement regarding the sound performance.

TechRadar: Can you give us any examples of issues that you see with a lot of in-car systems now that you want to aim to improve?

Robert Schletze: Definitely the design wins over the functionality, which is quite normal today and that shouldn't be the case. So most of the time you have a midspeaker next to your knee, so you don't have a proper staging. It belongs higher up. It's all because the designers have the power.

TechRadar: So you want to work with partners where you can put the acoustic design earlier into the overall car design, and get the speakers where you need them to be. Is that the idea?

Robert Schletze: That should be the target, yeah. To be in early from the beginning stage of every project.

TechRadar: And the partners you're working with now are on board with that?

Robert Schletze: They are on board and they provide the direct access, yes.

TechRadar: Can you say any of the car partners you'll be working with at this point?

Aslan Khabliev: Let's put it this way, they will be German.

TechRadar: What's your goal in the luxury property development market? Are you are you looking at home theater installations, or is it more like convenient built-in sound for kitchens and bathrooms?

Alexander Meisen: Yeah, we're focusing on to B2B [business to business] partnerships, so we're not looking at individual home cinema here. We're more looking to work with developers, architects, interior designers, etc. We're also looking at concepts that we can scale, so not only the one unit, but maybe the whole building. Our main priority is clearly not the bathroom or the ambient sound in the elevator or somewhere, but clearly defined listening situations.

Ajan Hannemann: And here also, the target is to achieve a high-quality sound reproduction from those systems integrated in the environment, that are part of the architecture. From the very first steps, we [want to] define not only materials surrounding our system, but only also the perfect positioning of the system to make the best out of those sometimes-challenging spaces. New architecture is often with a lot of flat surfaces, so you get flatter echoes, you get high reverberation times, and we want to specify exactly the parameters we need to achieve a high-quality sound.

So that's why, in the past, we worked at early stages together with the architects and the engineering and simulation companies to try to achieve the best possible room acoustic parameters. So this is the goal in architectural audio as well, not only home cinema. So this we want to do this in a scaled way, [multiple apartments] in one building. And we will individually tune every apartment, so that you get the transporting sound signature from the car, [bringing] the tuning expertise we have there into real-estate projects.

TechRadar: The yacht market is an interesting one because it seems to have its own genre of audio brands that specialize in, it like JL Audio from Garmin. So what kind of systems are you talking about building in that market and what do you want to do differently?

Ajan Hannemann: In that market, we have to rely on marine partners, because in the portfolio from Cabasse and Loewe there are no marine-certified systems available. So we have to choose strong partners in that market and adapt our skills, our expertise, the human touch we bring regarding sound signature, into the marine sector.

TechRadar: So in that area, are you talking about becoming more like an integrator and not so much offering your own speakers?

Aslan Khabliev: Never say never. This might be the next project for the guys from Cabasse, for example. By the way, you asked a question about drivers: we have our own drivers in Cabasse, with a lot of expertise and IP and patents. I'm very happy that we have acquired Cabasse, I think we bought a real diamond. So there is no project which we cannot do, let's put it this way.

Right now, [Loewe Systems] is only a three-man show. It's a very tiny team, but we have a lot of ambition and knowledge, and it's never going to happen with these three guys by them by themselves. We [Loewe] are a big team now, we have 200 people now in Kronach, and we have 40 people in France, and we all want to help these guys to become successful. So whenever they need some hardware, software, this can all be done in-house.

What we need to do to help them is to basically realize their dreams. And those things which were not possible in their previous experience, to make them possible with our skilled people — and in my opinion, there is nothing that is impossible. It has to make sense financially, because you don't want to spend millions on one project and just sell one or two pieces. It has to make sense, but otherwise I think everything is possible. We've got the right resources for that.

Alexander Meisen: It's amazing for us to see what kind of resources, expertise and and infrastructure we can access now as a team. All three of us are coming from Burmester. So Ajan responsible for overall acoustics at Burmester, Robert was the lead engineer for automotive and responsible for Mercedes. This is well known in the industry and this is also what we're adding here. So a full network but with all the power and direct access within the Loewe group — this makes us really confident.

TechRadar: One of the areas mentioned in the press release was premium mobility brands. Can you say what that means outside of the areas we've already talked about.

Alexander Meisen: Yeah, so we would also call it, like, future mobility concepts. Automotive is is very clear, yacht is very clear, and residential as well. But for instance think about an RV. This is also interesting for us, but it's not the main priority.

TechRadar: Things like tour buses for for bands?

Alexander Meisen: Exactly. But most of the time these are not projects you're allowed to communicate [to other people] in the first place.

TechRadar: A lot of the times they might be private custom designs?

Alexander Meisen: They prefer that, yes. Same for yachts, but it's still it's very interesting for us.

The Supreme Court is expected to make a long-awaited ruling on birthright citizenship today, on the high court's last day of its term. And, the U.S. murder rate approaches a record low.

(Image credit: Tom Brenner)

Finding, accessing and deleting the biggest files on an iPhone isn't the easiest. Thankfully, there's a workaround to simplify things.

• A new 4K restoration of Hammer's Dracula is coming to theaters and Blu-ray in October 2026
• Uncensored and with new footage believed to have been lost forever
• Pieced together from 'the best original archival materials sourced from around the world'

Here's a tale to really sink your teeth into: Hammer Films has "painstakingly restored" (pun intended, I assume) the original 1958 Dracula, adding "long-lost" footage and delivering an uncensored cut in full 4K. It'll be coming to movie theaters and home entertainment in October 2026.

This isn't a remaster. It's a resurrection. It features footage that was believed to be lost for over six decades, and which was only ever seen by Japanese cinemagoers in the 1950s. The recovered material is "from the best original archival materials sourced from around the world" and has never been released in the US or UK, nor available for home viewing in either country.

Dracula was the second on-screen pairing of Peter Cushing, who plays Dr Van Helsing, and Christopher Lee, who plays… I'm just checking my notes here… Dracula.

Hammer FilmsHammer FilmsHammer FilmsHammer FilmsHammer FilmsFangs for the memories

There have been many Dracula movies, but the 1958 one delivered the definitive Drac: as Hammer Films says, Lee's portrayal introduced "the bloodshot eyes, predatory fangs and visceral physicality that became the blueprint for modern vampire mythology and whose influence can still be seen across horror cinema today."

It's hard to overstate Dracula's influence. Everything you'd expect from a Dracula movie — the fangs, the heaving bosoms, the wooden stakes, the suggestion that some women might actually enjoy having their necks bitten by a charismatic count — features here, and the film has frequently been included in rankings of the best films and horror films of all time.

As director Terence Fisher explained to our friends at SFX Magazine, this was the movie that made vampires sexy. "My greatest contribution to the Dracula myth was to bring out the underlying sexual element in the story… At the moment he bites it is the culmination of a sexual experience."

As you can see from the still images above, the restored version looks absolutely spectacular. And the film itself is a masterpiece. As Empire wrote in its retrospective review, "It was garish, it was sexy and it was never afraid to be gory. And with its spectacular ending — in which The Count's flesh peels away and crumbles to dust when caught in the first rays of the morning sun — Dracula created one of the classic images of horror cinema."

According to the wonderfully named John Gore, CEO of Hammer Films and executive chairman of John Gore Studios, “Bringing Dracula back to audiences in 4K goes far beyond a piece of film restoration work. This is the recovery of a piece of British film history that audiences believed had been lost forever. Seeing Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing together again in such extraordinary detail is a reminder of just how powerful this film remains nearly seventy years after its original release.”

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• Box finds 2 in 3 ITDMs expect headcount to grow over the next three years as AI evolves
• New roles – like agent operators and automation specialists – will emerge
• Nearly all ITDMs admit stronger governance would help

New research from Box has claimed two in three (65%) UK IT decision-makers expect overall headcount to grow over the next three years, not shrink.

In fact, only 14% believe headcount will decrease, with the consensus generally pointing toward AI creating new jobs, not replacing human workers.

This shift in narrative comes at an important point for AI, as it evolves from experimentation to actual deployment.

AI is creating new roles, not eliminating them altogether

Box now believes we're entering the era of the 'agentic enterprise' where AI agents are embedded into everyday workflows and have organizion-wide knowledge and context, but even as they become more sophisticated and capable, the impacts on human workers are expected to be positive.

Of all the companies using or testing AI agents, only 8% say they've led to job losses today.

Among the roles more likely to be created are AI agent operators within IT teams – nearly half (48%) of all organizations are hiring for this role. Workflow automation specialists (32%), security, risk and compliance professionals (31%), change management and AI enablement roles (31%) and AI ethics and governance specialists (26%) are also crucial opportunities for human workers.

"As organisations embrace the next phase of AI, the focus is increasingly shifting from individual productivity gains to transforming how work gets done," EMEA President Samantha Wessels commented.

Though only around one in three companies are hiring for security professionals, the opportunities could grow further as nearly one in two (45%) experience an AI-related data exposure incident.

Rather than framing the opportunities as being capped, with either humans or AI helping to meet goals, Box proposes a higher ceiling where AI and humans can work together to push goals even further. Most ITDMs (94%) now believe better governance would help them adopt agentic AI faster.

The companies have teamed up on the new offering, but don't expect a bundle.

• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced will have three graphics modes on PS5 and PS5 Pro
• Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced modes will run at 60FPS, 30FPS, and 40FPS, respectively
• The PS5 Pro will offer extended ray tracing thanks to PSSR 2.0

Ubisoft has unveiled the PlayStation features for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which is set to have three graphics modes across PS5 and PS5 Pro.

As detailed in a new PlayStation Blog post, Black Flag Resynced, which was rebuilt from the ground up and described as "an experience tailored for modern PlayStation hardware," will offer 60FPS performance options, HDR support, Dolby Atmos, and DualSense haptic feedback.

On PS5 and PS5 Pro, the game will have Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced modes, which will run at 60FPS, 30FPS, and 40FPS, respectively, with an upscaled 2160p resolution.

The game will also utilize the PS5 Pro's upgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) upscaling technology, improving image quality and reconstruction, reducing the visual gap between performance and fidelity modes, and offering an "extended ray tracing support" including both Ray-Traced Global Illumination and Ray-Traced Specular Reflections

"This enables richer lighting and reflection quality while maintaining higher performance targets across Performance, Balanced, and Fidelity modes," Ubisoft said.

Fidelity and Balanced modes on PS5 will also offer extended ray tracing, but it will be "standard" in Performance mode.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

The developer has also expanded strand-based hair technology on PS5 Pro and it will be available for Edward Kenway across all modes. In Fidelity mode, nearby crowd characters will also benefit from strand technology during gameplay, while cinematics use strand-based hair for all characters regardless of mode.

"Rather than relying solely on traditional hair cards, the engine can simulate and render individual strands for more natural motion and response to wind. All of this allows us to get a very realistic hair render for our characters," Ubisoft explained.

Thanks to Ubisoft's upgraded Anvil engine, Black Flag Resynced also simulates weather in real time through Atmos, the systemic weather simulation framework, which continuously simulates variables such as temperature, humidity, wind, and vapor density, instead of treating weather as an isolated effect.

"These systems evolve over time and influence one another, producing more coherent and dynamic weather," the studio explained, adding that the same simulation extends into gameplay and environmental interaction.

The game's water system has also been modernized using a new tessellation technique, volumetric foam generation, and dynamic bubbles, allowing the sea to respond more naturally to wind conditions, weather, and ship movement.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is set to launch on July 9, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

I recently visited Audeze’s HQ in California for a revealing behind-the-scenes look at how one of the most premium audio brands goes about its business, from the science and developments behind the tech to the philosophy, people, and culture driving it.

As someone who covers gaming hardware and tech, one of my most pressing lines of inquiry during my visit was to really nail down why Audeze believes that planar magnetic drivers are superior for gaming audio and in gaming headsets like the Audeze Maxwell 2.

And I got my answer: it’s the driver’s innate ability and technical functionality, but also what it allows a user to do afterwards.

All things transient

“Planar magnetic drivers have several fundamental performance advantages that benefit gaming,” Audeze marketing director Peter James tells me.

“One of those is better transient response … The driver is lighter, moves faster, reacts quicker to the changes in the signal, which means better precision and more realism.”

This can then equate to enhanced “immersion in a single-player game” or a “competitive advantage in a multiplayer game, where you're hearing more precisely and more quickly what's going on around you”, he says.

This is supported by the weighty opinion of Dragoslav Colich (or ‘Dr C’ for short), co-founder and chief technical officer of Audeze: “Transient response is much higher, so bass is much cleaner.”

If you’ve ever compared the likes of an Audeze Maxwell 2 to a competing dynamic driver gaming headset, then this is something you already know. I have had plenty of experience with overly muddy and thumping bass on many leading brands’ gaming sets, which are nowhere near as clean and detailed as the Maxwell 2’s.

Enhanced immersion and precision, regardless of whatever genre of game you're playing

The second major benefit of the drivers’ ability to offer lower distortion and the knock-on effects of that.

“Lower distortion, again, means versions of all those things you're hearing, [with] enhanced immersion and precision, regardless of whatever genre of game you're playing. But additionally, the low distortion enables better customization of the sound,” James argues.

This means planar magnetic drivers might not only sound better by default but can also allow you to tweak the sound profile more effectively than other sets.

“Because these drivers are so flexible and so low in distortion, they take EQ very easily and readily without creating even more distortion the way dynamic drivers often do, particularly when you boost bass,” he goes on. “This allows our headphones to be more customizable to people's individual tastes.”

So, better transient response for higher levels of precision and realism, lower distortion, and great flexibility in taking on EQs — and that’s on top of a level of audio quality that is, at least for me, incredible.

These hidden gems buried in your wireless headphones' settings can supercharge your listening experience.

We’ve covered the ThinkPad T16 line extensively, and our verdict on the series has been consistent: it’s “a phenomenal laptop for productivity, traveling, and general business use.” Our hardware editor has sworn by the line for decades now.

So, I was excited to see the ThinkPad T16 Gen 5 has just dropped to $1935 (was $2149) at Lenovo. This business machine features Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 processor and Copilot+ certification. And, of course, the best keyboard you can get on any laptop, period.

For a business laptop with this spec sheet and Lenovo’s enterprise support infrastructure behind it, that’s a meaningful discount on a machine designed to last. The ThinkPad T series has always been Lenovo’s most uncompromising business line, and the T16 Gen 5 continues that tradition.

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The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 is an Arrow Lake chip with P-cores boosting to 4.70GHz, and it’s the right processor for a machine in this category. More importantly for the ThinkPad T16’s target audience — IT departments, road warriors, and enterprise buyers — the Core Ultra 7 includes Intel’s NPU, qualifying it as a Copilot+ PC with full on-device AI acceleration for Windows 11’s latest features. That’s increasingly a practical requirement for enterprise software compatibility and future Windows feature sets, and it’s baked in here without needing to step up to a more expensive configuration.

The port selection is where the T16 Gen 5 sets itself apart from thinner business ultrabooks that compromise on connectivity. Two USB4 40Gbps ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a full-size HDMI output, RJ-45 Ethernet, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a dedicated docking station port means you can connect to essentially any enterprise peripheral or docking infrastructure without adapters. Wi-Fi 7 covers wireless connectivity at the latest standard. For an IT manager spec’ing laptops that need to work at any desk in the building, this is a port list that doesn’t require asterisks.

The 16:10 aspect ratio on the 16-inch WUXGA display gives you meaningfully more vertical screen space than a 16:9 panel of the same size — the equivalent of another inch of content when scrolling through documents or reading emails. In our review of the Gen 1 T16 we specifically noted this made “content on the screen feel much larger due to having more space vertically.” For productivity work, it’s a genuine day-to-day advantage. One honest note from NotebookCheck’s Gen 5 review: they found the standard IPS panel underwhelming in brightness and color gamut and strongly recommend upgrading to the better display option if that matters for your work. The standard panel is adequate for office productivity, but creative professionals should consider the OLED upgrade tier.

Durability is a core part of the ThinkPad T series value proposition, and the T16 Gen 5 maintains it. MIL-STD-810H certification across 12 test categories means it’s been validated against temperature extremes, humidity, vibration, dust, and drop scenarios that go well beyond what consumer laptops are tested for. For a laptop that will travel, live in bags, and cycle through multiple environments over several years of use, that level of real-world durability testing matters in a way that spec sheet comparisons don’t capture.

The ThinkShield security platform covers hardware-level security, including a built-in fingerprint reader, IR camera for face-based Windows Hello login, and BIOS-level protections. For organizations with security compliance requirements, the T series’ enterprise security credentials are part of why IT departments keep buying them generation after generation.

NotebookCheck noted that the Gen 5 runs very quietly — fan noise maxes out at around 34 dB(A) under full load, which is quieter than many competing business laptops. The one behavioral quirk they flagged is the fan occasionally spinning up briefly during idle in plugged-in performance mode, which is audible but not loud. Battery life on the T16 line has always been a strength: in our Gen 1 review, we had 30% remaining at the end of a full working day, including two video calls and light photo editing, a figure that reflects real-world use rather than lab conditions.

For professionals who need a reliable, well-supported 16-inch business laptop that won’t compromise on connectivity, security, or durability, the ThinkPad T16 Gen 5 at $1,934.10 is one of the cleaner choices in the enterprise tier right now.

Also consider: More Lenovo laptop deals

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• See all laptop deals at Lenovo.

So-called "shadow AI" can do more than cause headaches for your friends in IT.

• SVP at Samsung says the Galaxy Ring 2 is officially in development
• It could come with a slew of design upgrades as well as deeper integration with other Samsung devices
• The biggest improvement is support for iOS, a first for Samsung wearables

When Samsung released the Galaxy Ring in 2024 it shot to the top of our list of best smart rings, but the Korean tech company has been rather silent on plans for the next-gen wearable — until now.

Speaking with Forbes, Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team at Samsung, Hon Pak, shared that the company’s next smart ring (presumably named the Galaxy Ring 2) is officially in development; “We are working on the next generation. I can tell you that,” he shared.

The announcement arrives just after the new Oura Ring 5 hit the shelves which, compared to its predecessor, is roughly 40% smaller with an even longer battery life, although does come with a higher price tag. It’s about time Samsung returned to the smart ring world given how fierce the competition has grown over the last two years — so how will the Galaxy Ring 2 stand against its rivals?

When Samsung released the first Galaxy Ring, Pak described it as “a comprehensive and simplified approach” to health and sleep, and it seems that he wants to build on this across both hardware and software.

For starters, if we look at the Oura Ring 5’s slimmer redesign, it wouldn’t come as a complete surprise if Samsung replicated a similar ‘smaller but tougher’ approach to its own smart ring for added comfort improvements.

Additionally, Samsung could take a page out of Oura’s book and remove skin contact bumps from the inside of the ring, all while extending its battery life — we also predicted that it will come with a solid state battery.

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

Though design upgrades are likely, Pak hinted that this won’t be the biggest difference with the Galaxy Ring 2. “If you look at the comparison of other rings, regardless of the competitor, the sensors are not that different right now,” he said, adding “It’s really about what services you create on the top layer. It’s really the software differentiation that you see.”

With these remarks in mind, the Galaxy Ring 2’s main focus will be on developing deeper software integration rather than reupholstering the hardware. Pak also shared that Samsung has plans to build on its connected ecosystem to help users receive more accurate metrics and get a better sense of their health habits.

Instead of using just the Galaxy Ring 2's collection of metrics to present the full picture of your well-being, Samsung takes your data from the smart ring and blends it with other devices in its network via the Samsung Health app. This could include Galaxy Watches and smartphones, and even its range of SmartThings home appliances to give you more detailed context into your daily activity and overall well-being.

For users who are deep into Samsung’s ecosystem of devices already, it’s a huge win, but one of the biggest setbacks with the first-gen Galaxy Ring is its lack of support for iOS. While Samsung has the overall edge over the likes of Oura, the latter supports iOS, giving users more reason to opt for its wearables over Samsung’s — but this could change with the Galaxy Ring 2.

In addition to software upgrades, Pak heavily teased that iOS support will finally be coming to the Galaxy Ring; “I’m smiling but I can’t say anything,” he hinted. Out of all the new upgrades, iOS support would throw the biggest curveball into the competition, giving non-Android users even more reason to make the switch to Galaxy Ring over rival wearables.

While it’s not exactly a formal announcement, it’s certainly a promising affirmation of what to expect from the long-awaited wearable. Despite not giving any details on an official launch date, Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is just around the corner where we’re expecting the announcement of the S26 lineup — could Samsung also throw the Galaxy Ring 2 into the mix?

The Millennium is a behemoth with great fundamentals, but it benefits from some judicious configuring before you buy.

• FiiO unveils EH13 over-ear headphones
• 40mm drivers, LDAC compatible, ANC and 75 hours of battery
• All that for $49 / £49 (about AU$100)

Audiophiles will know the name FiiO; between the likes of the M27 digital audio player or KA15 DAC-amp, it's beloved by audiophiles looking for portable hi-fi kit (the firm also does non-portable kit, but that's not relevant for this story).

The company's devices generally fall into the 'reasonable' rather than 'cheap' head-fi category, but every rule has an exception, and the new FiiO EH13 are today's exception. These wireless headphones cost just $49 / £49 (about AU$100), so the brand is making a surprise play for top spot in our best cheap headphones list.

Now, FiiO is no stranger to headphones — we gave five stars to its FT5 planar magnetic cans two years ago, and four to its FT13 last year — but these models were distinctly aimed at audiophiles and cost around ten times as much as the EH13. At the $49 (or equivalent) mark, the new EH13 are targeted distinctly at the average cash-savvy consumer.

Team TechRadar has put its best heads together, and can't quite work out why the FiiO EH13 are so cheap. LDAC, 75-hour battery, 40mm drivers, EQ and ANC for $49? How?! Sure, the design is a little quotidian, but beyond that... what's the catch?

We didn't start the FiiO...

(Image credit: FiiO)

Like basically every pair of wireless headphones at this price, the FiiO EH13 have 40mm dynamic drivers and while it's hard to gauge from the specs list just how they'll sound, the company takes pride in maintaining its known-to-audiophiles nod of approval. Mention of a "sapphire-coated composite diaphragm" sounds pretty bougie though, especially for this price.

Thanks to Bluetooth 6.0, you get support for LDAC transmission (as well as AAC and SBC) and the brand's EQ control app to customize your sound.

You're getting a battery life of 75 hours, which drops to 45 hours if you turn ANC on. That's right, a FiiO product with noise cancellation!

The EH13 offer a 3.5mm jack, with a signal processor designed to keep sound consistent regardless of how you listen. And there are other connection tools, like multi-point pairing.

I don't particularly associate FiiO with entry-level tech, so am quite curious to discover how the EH13 sound. But judging by what the brand's shared so far, they could be a great entry-level piece of FiiO tech, before you find yourself buying a new M33 R2R, and sliding further and further down the slippery slope...

What's the best VPN to use in Australia? Discover the pricing, features, pros and cons of our recommended VPNs for Australia.

The post 6 Best VPNs for Australia in 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Getting ready to head off to college later this year? A decent laptop is essential if you want a reliable, stress-free tool to help you study. Thankfully, many retailers have already started their big 'back to school' sales this week, so there are plenty of options on the market currently.

As TechRadar's retail editor, I've been scanning well-known retailers like Best Buy, Dell, and Amazon today to find the best picks for prospective students. Just below, you can see 9 options for all budgets, including some gaming laptops if you also want something that can double up as a machine for gaming.

Highlights include this excellent value Dell 14 Laptop for $699 (was $1,229) at the official Dell Store, which is one of the best bang-for-the-buck Windows 11 options I've seen in recent weeks. If you're feeling flush, there's also the Dell XPS 13 for $999 (was $1,499), which is a fantastic (albeit expensive) option if you want something a little more portable.

Best Buy's 4th of July sale also includes some great options for cheap Chromebooks right now if you're really on a budget. While these lightweight laptops aren't intended for gaming or intensive applications, they're good if you just want to browse, type out work, or answer emails. For the basics, they're a great value for sure.

Back to School laptop sales - quick links

• Amazon: cheap laptops from $269
• Best Buy: up to $650 off laptops and Chromebooks
• Dell: up to $900 off on back to school deals
• Lenovo: up to 42% off cheap laptops
• HP: up to 71% off Chromebooks and laptops

9 best laptop deals this week

Processor: Intel Core N150
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 64GB

A Chromebook is a fantastic option for budget-conscious students since these lightweight laptops don't require much power to run smoothly. This 2-in-1 14-inch HP Chromebook features a decent Intel chipset and 8GB of RAM, which should be great for all the various browser-based tasks that Chromebooks are intended for, such as streaming content, writing, or emails.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i5-1335U
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB

HP's 4th of July sale has some great low-cost Windows 11 options this week, such as this heavily discounted Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i. Inside, this machine features a Core i5 chipset and 16GB of RAM, which should provide smooth performance on even relatively demanding Windows 11 applications. Annoyingly, this machine only features a 256GB SSD, so storage is a little on the short side.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core 7 150U
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

Dell's standard laptop series don't tend to be the flashiest machines, but they do offer great bang for the buck. This Dell 14-inch laptop in particular manages to feature a really up-to-date chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a spacious 1TB SSD for a great price thanks to the official Dell Store's back-to-school sale this week.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

The Dell 14 Plus is one of our favorite models from Dell in the past few years. It really surprised us when we reviewed it because it offers great performance and a well-thought-out design at an excellent price. Today's best deal is on this Ryzen 7-equipped configuration, which offers plenty of power in this machine's portable 14-inch form factor. View Deal

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

MacBooks are getting pricier and pricier now, which makes this deal on the rival Dell XPS 13 at the official Dell Store even more compelling this week. The standout feature for the Dell XPS 13 is its stunning lightweight premium design, which is perfect if you need something portable. This is a great price on the Intel-based variant, which provides great battery life, excellent app support, and plenty of power.View Deal

Processor: Snapdragon X Elite 
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 512GB

One of the best deals on the entire Dell site is undoubtedly this discount on the latest Snapdragon-equipped Dell XPS 13. This stylish and lightweight machine is perfect for those who want battery life and performance in a premium package. This particular configuration also includes 32GB of RAM, which is a very rare thing indeed these days at this price. Note, this is a Snapdragon chipset model, however, so make sure all your obscure apps are supported.View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: Intel Core 7 Series 2
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

The above Acer Nitro V Slim 16 also comes in an Intel-based configuration, which is also a decent buy today. It's a little pricier, but you get an Intel Core 7 Series 2 chipset and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. These should, on paper at least, give you a decent boost in performance.View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

The price cut on this HP Omen 16 at Best Buy isn't huge, but it's still one of the best value RTX 5070 gaming laptops you'll find on the market this week. Pairing up your RTX 5070 with a powerful Intel Ultra 9 chipset means plenty of headroom for all the latest titles. Annoyingly, this machine only comes with 16GB of RAM, but you do get a spacious 1TB SSD as a bonus.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core 7 (Series 2) 240H
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

A number of Alienware gaming laptops are on sale today, but my favorite deal has to be this listing on the brand-new Alienware 15. While a little pricey for a machine with an RTX 5060 graphics card, you get 32GB of RAM and an Intel Core 7 chipset here for great out-of-the-box performance. Considering this machine features a 1200p display, you've got everything you need here for smooth performance in-game.View Deal

• Another Batman villain-led DC Universe movie is said to be in the works
• It could be the next film to arrive after James Gunn's Superman sequel
• There's bewilderment among fans over which projects are being prioritized by DC Studios

DC fans have expressed confusion and concern over the wider plan for the DC Universe (DCU) amid reports that another Batman villain-led film is being prioritized over one starring The Dark Knight.

With Supergirl enduring a calamitous debut in theaters, pulling in a measly $68 million worldwide, all eyes are on DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran to see if they'll make any sweeping changes to their DCU Chapter One lineup.

Anyone hoping to see or hear that a Batman and/or Wonder Woman movie will be fast-tracked, though, should temper their expectations. That's because, according to The Wrap, the next film set to enter production after Man of Tomorrow, aka the sequel to last year's Superman film, will be... one starring Batman foes Bane and Deathstroke. Yes, really.

Comment from r/DCULeaks

The Wrap's sources aren't the only ones who've heard that this movie could soon be a reality. Indeed, X/Twitter user and reliable industry insider Apocalyptic Horseman has also indicated that a Bane-and-Deathstroke flick is shaping up to be the next big-screen project from the Warner Bros. subsidiary.

This isn't the first time that rumors of such a movie have circulated online. In May, Deadline claimed that the project was not only in early development, but that Greg Mottola (Superbad, Peacemaker) had been tapped to direct it.

Should Messrs Gunn and Safran officially greenlight a Bane and Deathstroke movie, it'll be the third one to feature characters associated with Batman before the Caped Crusader even gets a standalone film.

A project starring shapeshifting Batman enemy Clayface, which lands in theaters this October, is the first of that trio. Meanwhile, a puppet animated flick currently titled Dynamic Duo will introduce the DCU's versions of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, aka individuals who assume the mantle of iconic Batman sidekick Robin in DC Comics.

Why Supergirl's calamitous debut has put serious pressure on DC Studios' co-chiefsComment from r/DCULeaks

Amid the discourse maelstrom that's enveloped DC Studios and Supergirl since the latter's disastrous launch, fans have wondered if Gunn and Safran will go back to the drawing board and rework their entire release strategy.

It appears, though, that they're remaining steadfast in their current approach to their nascent cinematic franchise — and that's certainly riled up some sections of the fanbase.

Indeed, in numerous threads on r/DCULeaks and r/DC_Cinematic, people have expressed their confusion and frustration about the duo focusing their efforts on developing projects that won't star DC Comics' most famous and popular characters.

Comment from r/DC_Cinematic

Some believe that it's now more important than ever to introduce and establish Batman and Wonder Woman in the DCU, and that if it doesn't, DC Studios will face a uphill battle in attracting newcomers to its fledgling universe. Meanwhile, others say that DC Studios should learn from Sony's on-hiatus Spider-Man Universe (SSU), which prioritized stories centered on members of the titular webslinger's rogues gallery and, despite initially doing well, eventually paid the price amid increasingly negative reviews and diminishing box-office returns.

Then there's the small matter of Paramount Skydance's potential buyout of Warner Bros. Pictures. Should it go ahead, some think that the DCU could be axed before it's truly become estabilshed, especially if Clayface underperforms later this year and Lanterns, which comes to HBO Max in August, similarly doesn't do as well as predicted. The pressure would then certainly be on Man of Tomorrow to save the day and ensure the DCU's survival, for however long that might be.

For more DCU coverage, check out the latest casting rumor for the DCU's Batman, and read my Supergirl review to see if I think it's as bad as everyone's making it out to be.

• Digital Foundry predicts that GTA 6 won't support 60FPS on console
• It's suggested that the game will launch at 30FPS, including on PS5 Pro
• A 40FPS mode could be on the table for PS5 Pro if 60FPS is absent

Grand Theft Auto 6 may not support 60FPS on current-gen consoles, including PlayStation 5 Pro, at launch, meaning 30FPS will be the baseline.

That's according to tech experts at Digital Foundry, who suggest that after the recent information drop on the game, pre-order screenshots, and other footage, they're still not convinced that GTA 6 will allow for a 60FPS mode.

The main concern is the game's CPU demand on current-gen consoles, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Series S, which will likely be extensive.

"In RPGs, dense city locations are the most likely to drop frame rates, and the GTA 6 world looks another level of magnitude more challenging than the likes of Dragon's Dogma 2 or Baldur's Gate 3," Digital Foundry said.

There's also the matter of traversal, whether it be by ground, sea, or air, and vehicles will "require their own computationally expensive physics, of the kind that normally forces console simulation games to 30FPS." For this reason, "60FPS feels like a bridge too far."

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Digital Foundry also suggested that the PS5 Pro wouldn't be able to output GTA 6 at 60FPS, because "the console only offers a fractional CPU performance bump over base PS5, with most of its advantage deriving from better GPU horsepower, improved RT acceleration and support for PSSR upscaling."

The CPU limitations would mean that GTA 6 will launch at 30FPS on PS5 Pro; however, it notes that a 40FPS mode could be possible if 60FPS is off the table.

It's worth noting that GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 also launched at 30FPS on last-gen consoles, but Rockstar later released 60FPS updates for current-gen consoles, including PS5, Xbox Series X, and Series S.

If GTA 6 launches at 30FPS, a 60FPS mode post-launch update could be in the cards.

Rockstar has yet to reveal the finer details, but GTA 6 pre-orders have officially begun.

The game will launch on November 19 and will cost $79.99 / AU$129.95 / £69.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 / AU$159.95 / £89.99 for the Ultimate Edition. Pre-loads begin on November 12.

As a realtor-focused customer relationship management (CRM) platform, Chime, now known as Lofty, aims to streamline the entire lead-to-deal process. Its intuitive interface and all-in-one feature set make it a compelling option for realty businesses looking to grow their pipelines and close more sales.

Lofty's key capabilities span lead generation, contact management, and deal tracking. The platform offers an IDX website builder, AI-powered marketing automation, and a mobile app for on-the-go access. While these comprehensive features may come with a learning curve, they enable realtors to qualify leads, prioritize follow-ups, and gain visibility into team performance metrics.

During my review, I found it to be a robust CRM platform for realty teams wanting to consolidate their tech stack. Regular product updates, good user feedback, and a niche focus provide strong evidence of Lofty's customer-centric approach. For growing realtor businesses, Lofty warrants strong consideration.

Lofty CRM core capabilities You can easily navigate across Chime CRM’s extensive feature list from desktop and mobile.Chime CRMChime CRM’s ad targeting tool works across many major platforms, including Google and Facebook.Chime CRMTo increase your close rate, let Chime CRM’s Smart Suggestions recommend the next best step.Chime CRMConveniently, your IDX website builder is in the same place as your customer data.Chime CRM

Lofty's core CRM capabilities strike me as quite robust, well-suited for the needs of most real estate businesses. It covers all the essential features you'd expect in a comprehensive CRM system.

For contact management, Lofty offers solid lead generation and capture tools. The AI Assistant can automatically match new leads to appropriate listings and set up customized property alerts based on their behavior. This intelligent lead nurturing helps keep prospects engaged.

I was impressed by Lofty's pipeline tracking capabilities as well. The platform provides a good overview of your sales pipeline, with visual reports on the status of deals. You can create customizable "Smart Plans" to automate workflows and keep transactions moving smoothly.

Another standout is Lofty's forecasting algorithm, which uses agent performance data and historical trends to predict future sales. As an analyst, I always appreciate a CRM that offers strong reporting and analytics. Lofty lets you monitor key metrics like volume, closings, and revenue in real-time.

For agents frequently in the field, Lofty's mobile app is indispensable. It provides access to critical CRM features on the go, including the ability to contact leads and use the built-in Power Dialer.

If I had to critique Lofty, I'd say the depth of its sales analytics could be stronger compared to some enterprise-grade CRMs. But for most real estate teams, it likely provides ample insights to optimize performance.

Overall, Lofty appears to be a well-rounded CRM platform. By combining essential contact management, deal tracking, and reporting capabilities with industry-specific features, Lofty positions itself as a solid contender in the real estate CRM space. While it may have some room for improvement, Lofty's core functionality is more than enough for most agencies.

How easy is Lofty CRM to use?

Having the property market at your fingertips with the IDX website builder can help win deals more quickly. (Image credit: Chime CRM)

Lofty CRM shines with its clean and intuitive UI that even CRM novices can navigate with little training. The well-organized layout and ample white space make it simple to find the tools and data you need. Performing essential tasks like updating contacts or placing a call only requires a few clicks.

Lofty's mobile app brings the desktop version's core functionality to your smartphone, enabling agents to work efficiently on the go. This accessibility is a huge plus for busy real estate professionals constantly juggling client meetings and property showings.

The CRM offers a solid range of customization options, letting you tailor dashboards, reports, and workflows to match your unique business processes. However, it may take some time to fully explore and configure these features to optimize your setup.

To smooth the onboarding process, Lofty provides helpful training videos that walk new users through the basics of the platform. These resources can significantly reduce the learning curve and help your team hit the ground running.

That said, given its extensive capabilities, it's realistic to expect an adjustment period as you get acquainted with all the bells and whistles. Mastering advanced features and fine-tuning automated sequences will likely require some trial and error.

In my experience, most users can become comfortable with Lofty's core functions within a couple of weeks. But reaching peak proficiency and fully customizing the system to your needs may take a month or two of consistent use.

While not without a learning curve, Lofty CRM's thoughtful design and educational resources make it an accessible, user-friendly choice for real estate teams. With a bit of practice and exploration, you'll be leveraging this powerful tool like a pro in no time.

Integrations

Lofty offers several pre-built integrations out of the box with popular real estate tools and services. This includes lead capture and parsing integrations with Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, email integrations with Gmail and Exchange, calendar sync with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook, and transaction management tie-ins with Brokermint, Dotloop, and Skyslope.

The CRM also integrates with marketing automation and video tools like BombBomb, MailChimp, Cloud CMA, and Dubb. Based on my experience, most of the key applications real estate teams would need seem to be supported natively.

For more custom integrations, Lofty does offer an API. However, documentation on its full capabilities is limited. The main use case highlighted is accessing queue and agent availability data from the Lofty support desk. While useful, this is a fairly narrow integration scenario.

Where Lofty really shines is its support for iPaaS tools like Zapier. Using Zapier, you can connect Lofty with 1000s of other web apps and automate data syncing and workflow steps between them. I found several examples of real estate teams using Zapier to integrate Lofty with tools like ClickFunnels for lead capture and Roomvu for lead qualification.

So while Lofty's custom API is lacking, the combination of pre-built integrations with key industry tools and extensive Zapier support makes it a very extensible platform overall. It should meet the integration needs of most real estate businesses without heavy technical lifting.

How good is Lofty CRM support?

Lofty CRM provides several live support channels, including phone and email, but it seems to lack a live chat option based on my research. While they do offer a knowledge base with articles and tutorials, there doesn't appear to be an active user forum or community for peer-to-peer support.

Where it really struggles is in the quality and responsiveness of the customer service. Many user reviews mention slow response times, with support agents often just reading from scripts rather than providing personalized assistance. Some customers report waiting weeks to get critical account issues resolved.

Lofty touts a 96% customer satisfaction rate on its website, but that figure seems suspect given the numerous complaints I came across on sites like TrustRadius and G2. On TrustRadius, Lofty's support is ranked poorly compared to other major CRM brands. One reviewer called their service "awful" and said it made the platform nearly impossible to use.

Reddit contains several threads with users venting frustrations about Lofty's "atrocious" and "joke" of a support experience. Agents apparently say anything to get people off the phone without actually resolving problems. Tax issues and account lockouts are cited as common issues that linger unaddressed.

I think Lofty has built a powerful CRM product, but they have seriously dropped the ball when it comes to backing it up with quality customer service. For a tool that is so critical to a business's operations, I would have major concerns about relying on Lofty based on these support shortcomings.

Response and resolution times are clearly well below industry standards, and the lack of live chat and community forum options is disappointing for a modern SaaS company. Until Lofty makes major investments in expanding and upleveling their customer service, I would be hesitant to recommend them over competing CRM platforms with better reputations for support.

Lofty CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Core

Premier

Business

Price

$449/month

$700/month

$1500/month

Best For

Individual agents starting with CRM tools

Small teams needing enhanced collaboration

Larger teams requiring comprehensive features

Features

Basic lead management

Email marketing

Mobile app access

API access

Advanced reporting

Team collaboration tools

Dedicated customer support

AI-driven insights

Custom integrations

Limitations

Basic features only, limited support

Limited advanced features, higher cost

Complex setup, requires training

Lofty offers three main pricing plans to suit different types and sizes of real estate teams. The pricing model is subscription-based, with a monthly fee that varies depending on the plan and number of users.

The starter "Core" plan is priced at $449 per month (plus a $500 one-time setup fee) and is designed for solo agents and small teams just getting started with a CRM. It includes core CRM features like lead management, marketing automation, and an MLS-connected IDX website.

The most popular "Premier" plan starts at $700 per month for up to 15 users (with a $1,000 onboarding fee). Additional users can be added for $25 each per month. This plan unlocks advanced capabilities like custom dashboards, API access, and dedicated support.

For larger teams, the "Enterprise" plan starts at $1500 per month for up to 100 users, with each additional user costing $12/month. It offers the full suite of Lofty features plus extras like white-labeling and a dedicated success manager. The Enterprise plan also has a one-time $2000 setup fee.

On top of the base subscription fees, there can be additional charges for certain premium add-ons and integrations, like advanced analytics or third-party data enrichment services. The costs for these extras are not openly published. In addition, mandatory onboarding fees can add up significant;y. For instance, the Core plan is typically accompanied by a $500 upfront fee, while the Premier setup fee is usually $1,000 upfront.

Lofty does not offer a free plan or a self-service free trial, primarily because setting up the platform requires linking real-time local MLS data feeds and configuring custom website builds. Instead, potential customers must book a personalized tour with a solutions advisor to receive a custom quote and negotiate contracts. Discounts are typically available if you opt for annual billing upfront, which generally shaves about 10% off the total cost.

Overall, while not the cheapest option on the market, Lofty's pricing seems reasonable given the comprehensive feature set and strong track record with real estate professionals. The tiered plans provide flexibility to accommodate different team sizes and budgets. But the lack of transparent pricing for enterprise-grade features and add-ons is a bit disappointing.

Potential buyers will definitely want to take advantage of the free trial and get a custom quote to determine the true long-term costs for their specific needs before signing up. For smaller teams and solo agents, there may be more affordable alternatives to evaluate as well.

How we tested Lofty

Evaluating Lofty (formerly Chime) utilizes our a distinct CRM testing framework compared to standard, standalone SaaS solutions. Because Lofty unifies contact management, front-end client-facing websites, and active AI into a single ecosystem, I made sure to put the platform through a stringent testing protocol designed to push its functionalities to the limit.

My hands-on evaluation took into account Lofty's native Content Management System (CMS), where I tested the front-end user experience by executing mock property searches. I also looked at Lofty's tech stack integration and audited its onboarding architecture - all taking into account the full cost of ownership.

Lofty CRM review: Final verdict

Lofty, formerly called Chime, is a robust real estate CRM platform that combines essential contact and deal management features with advanced marketing automation and analytics tailored for the industry. In reviewing it firsthand, I was impressed by the breadth and depth of its feature set.

That said, Lofty is best suited for growth-focused real estate teams and brokerages seeking a fully-featured industry-specific CRM to manage their businesses. Budget-conscious solo agents may find it a bit overkill.

Any new technology tool is a double-edged sword for a startup founder.

It can be a powerful force multiplier, accelerating processes, cutting back on costs, streamlining communication, and empowering time-saving automations.

But it can also become an attention trap that shifts a founder’s focus away from business goals and towards tool management.

Claude Code is a tech tool that fits that description.

As a platform that can help you do more with less, Claude Code can be a godsend for a startup founder. But its amazing capabilities can also trigger addictive behavior that ultimately leads to startup burnout.

As startup founders seek to harness the power of Claude Code, it’s important to keep the proper perspective. While there is a lot the technology can do for a startup, it can also very easily distract you from the work needed to build a solid and scalable business.

Claude Code can be empowering for founders, but also exhausting

My journey with Claude Code addiction was driven by a desire for efficiency, cost savings, and independence. When kept in balance, those three elements can be extremely beneficial for a startup founder. But Claude Code led me to a place where I lost that balance.

It started when I was introduced to OpenClaw. I knew my tech team was using vibe coding tools for their work, but I had never considered how it might help me with the tasks I was facing as a founder. My research revealed it could be very helpful, simplifying my day through task management. I started using it and was hooked by the way it increased my efficiency.

But there was a problem: OpenClaw was expensive. In the world of startups, cash flow is often an issue in the early phases of development, which is a key reason tech tools are so valuable. A Vibe coding platform can help a startup make progress without hiring a CTO or principal engineer, but it needs to be affordable to make sense.

When I started getting concerned about the expense of OpenClaw, I began looking for alternatives and found Claude Code. At that point, the platform had become more agentic, providing almost all of the same capabilities as OpenClaw. When I learned it was more affordable, I shifted from paying on the go with OpenClaw to a monthly Claude Code subscription.

With Claude Code, I had an efficient and cost-effective tech tool that unlocked a lot of tasks I had previously depended on others for. I could run my own sales outreach campaigns by just connecting Claude to my Google Workspace. I could draft email copies and update the marketing website. I could even code any software project I wanted to without getting programmers involved.

Claude Code was empowering, helping me carry out tasks that opened new doors. But it soon became exhausting.

Claude Code gives founders independence, but also gets them off track

Delegating is a critical skill for startup founders, giving them the bandwidth they need to focus on big-picture work. Without staying committed to delegating, founders can get caught up in day-to-day tasks, which not only slows growth but also leads to founder burnout.

Claude Code made it easier for me to do things myself, so I stopped delegating. For example, with Claude Code, I could manage changes to my website, aligning certain aspects to match the course I was plotting in other areas. While it was great to have the capability, leveraging it required me to invest a lot of time going back and forth with an AI agent to get the site exactly the way I wanted it to be.

As I saw myself spending hours at my desk using Claude Code to adjust the website, I realized I was losing the time I needed to accomplish much bigger tasks. That was when I knew I needed to limit my time with Claude Code and get back to delegating.

A dream come true - or not as the case may be

Getting hooked on the independence you can gain from Claude Code is completely understandable. For startup founders trying to bootstrap their way to success, the platform is a dream come true. Using it means you don’t need to make your budget even tighter by hiring a programmer or outsourcing a project to an expensive tech expert, and there’s no limit to the number of agents it can unleash.

The reality, however, is that Claude Code will never be an experienced senior programmer who understands your context, anticipates issues, and positions you to scale successfully. At best, it is a junior programmer, which means it will need a lot of help from you to get it right. For a busy startup founder, the extra attention Claude Code needs could be the very thing that pushes you into burnout.

Claude Code has triggered a generational moment in the business world, giving startups the capacity to gain valuable skills on a tighter budget. I see it changing entrepreneurship for the better, leading to an increase in business launches.

But founders who want to see long-term success need to know Claude Code isn’t a long-term solution. Using it to get off the ground will give you a beneficial boost. Using it indefinitely will rob you of the time and energy you need to take your startup from launch to growth and beyond.

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