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A months-long recall effort to oust lawmakers considered pro-Chinese has failed in the self-governing island's legislature.

(Image credit: Jan Camenzind Broomby for NPR)

This pre-season friendly match sees the Red Devils take on the Hammers at MetLife Stadium.

The U.S. president is spending a long weekend in his late mother's birth country of Scotland. There, he's been confronted by protesters waving photos of Jeffrey Epstein.

(Image credit: Jacquelyn Martin)

• Dell’s $250 laptop beats its own entry-level desktop and rivals more expensive models
• The cheapest Dell desktop lacks Windows, while next options start at $599.99
• At under half the price, Dell's laptop offers full PC experience with modern specs

Desktops used to be the default for affordable computing, offering more power, easier upgrades, and better value.

Components can be swapped out, memory increased, and parts repaired when needed - which is much harder to do with laptops, which typically have elements like memory soldered in place.

But if you’re in the market for a budget PC, then you might not want to be considering a desktop -case in point, Dell is now offering a 15-inch laptop for just $250.

Far cheaper than a desktop

The Dell 15 laptop is currently $130 cheaper than its usual $379.99 asking price. That’s nearly half the price of Dell’s least expensive desktop, the $439 OptiPlex 3000 Thin Client. It’s not just about cost either.

The default laptop configuration comes with Windows 11 Home, an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD. It also includes a 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz screen, Wi-Fi, and ports for basic connectivity, including one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, one USB 2.0 port, and a universal audio jack.

The OptiPlex desktop doesn’t run Windows, rather it uses Dell’s ThinOS, only has 64GB of onboard storage, and lacks Wi-Fi entirely.

It’s meant for narrow business environments, not general use, so for the average buyer, it’s hard to recommend unless they’re locked into a specific setup.

Looking beyond that, Dell’s next Windows-ready desktops start at $599.99. The Dell Slim Desktop includes a Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD. It does offer more power but also costs more than twice as much as the laptop.

The Dell Tower Desktop at $749.99 bumps things up with a Core Ultra 7 chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. But again, that’s triple the price.

For most users, especially students, small business owners or casual users, those upgrades may not be needed anyway.

The $250 Dell 15 Laptop delivers a full experience that covers everything from web browsing to light productivity.

Desktops still make sense for users who need expansion or maximum performance of course, but on the low end, the gap is closing fast. In some cases, it may already be gone.

You might also like

• These are the best business laptops you can buy right now
• And these are the best Dell laptops on the market
• Dell will have a laptop with 256GB RAM later this year thanks to CAMM2

The Southwest Boeing 737 dropped almost 500 feet to avoid another aircraft.

(Image credit: Mario Tama)

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 27, No. 307.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 27, #777.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 27 No. 511.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 27, No. 1,499.

Confused about which 3D printer filament to buy? CNET's experts have found the best ones for all experience levels.

• Bitdefender Security for Creators now monitors Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for unauthorized account changes or mass deletions
• Over 184 million login credentials are exposed, many tied to creator social media accounts
• Financial losses from online scams have crossed $1 trillion, with creators becoming prime targets

Influencers and digital creatives are increasingly targeted by phishing scams and account hijacking, and Bitdefender has revealed a new platform in order to address this threat.

The company says it is expanding its reach into the online creator economy with new updates to its Security for Creators suite, now offering coverage for Facebook and Instagram.

Bitdefender claims its new product offers creators a more focused and proactive form of protection, covering not only their content accounts but also their devices.

Rising threats underline the need for creator-focused security

Online scams and credential leaks are reportedly accelerating, with Bitdefender claiming over 184 million sets of login credentials were recently found exposed online, many linked to Instagram and Facebook.

At the same time, scam-driven financial losses have topped $1 trillion globally, according to recent data.

“Online creators are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals who weaponize trust to take over accounts and scam followers out of money or into downloading malware,” stated Ciprian Istrate, senior vice president of operations, Consumer Solutions Group at Bitdefender.

“Bitdefender Security for Creators offers the first end-to-end service to help safeguard creators’ accounts, content, and devices across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, delivering continuous, always-on security as online threats evolve.”

The continuous monitoring feature across the different social media platforms looks for signs of unauthorized activity, such as mass deletion of content or unapproved changes to profile settings.

Bitdefender says these signs can point to possible account takeovers, and that alerts are sent immediately if anomalies are detected.

Creators are also offered the ability to manage their account security, malware scans, and threat alerts from a unified control panel.

Regular antivirus scans mostly protects the device, and this all-in-one design could appeal to influencers juggling multiple platforms.

From a single dashboard, users can track device scans across different operating systems, with support for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Bitdefender places particular emphasis on its AI-based anti-phishing features, claiming they can detect scams disguised as partnership requests and even spot phishing content generated using large language models.

The company also introduces support for collaborative protection, allowing creators to extend coverage to team members like editors or social media managers.

In the event of a compromise, users are given a recovery playbook to restore account access and manage communications with their audience.

For Bitdefender, the expansion reflects an attempt to capture a market it describes as underserved.

Yet whether digital creators will adopt a dedicated service in place of existing Android antivirus apps or broader social media management tools remains the big question.

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• These are the best VPNs with antivirus you can use right now
• Take a look at our pick of the best internet security suites
• Cheap eGPU docking station uses TB5, but you'll need an external power supply

Fortnite OG is running its first ever live event later today (July 26, 2025). It's a recreation of the rocket launch that happened all the way back in 2018, which culminated in the first appearance of the crack in the sky that has now become a mainstay of the game.

Fortnite OG Blast Off live event - key info on the rocket launch

Fortnite OG Blast Off live event start time
Fortnite OG Blast Off event duration
What to expect from the Blast Off live event
How to watch the Fortnite OG rocket launch event
Live coverage as it happens

Now that Fortnite OG is a permanent mode, we can look forward to a new Fortnite OG season launching in early August. Before then, there's the Blast Off event, as well as regular updates that add new weapons into the loot pool. So far, this season has really switched things up, and it's been a real treat to revisit Risky Reels and Dusty Divot. It's changes like these that have kept Fortnite well and truly cemented as one of the best free games to play in 2025.

Here's TechRadar Gaming's live coverage of the Fortnite OG rocket launch live event. I'll be detailing everything you need to know in the hours leading up to the event, as well as some details on what to expect. Once the rocket launch is live, I'll be giving my impressions as it unfolds. Stay tuned to see how this one compares to the 2018 original.

Fortnite OG Blast Off live event start time

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG's Blast Off live event will start on July 26 at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm BST. You'll likely want to load into the game half an hour prior to the start, just to make sure you've secured a spot in the queue.

Fortnite OG Blast Off event duration

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The original rocket launch event in Fortnite only lasted a few minutes, but I'm betting things will be a bit different this time around.

We'll have to wait and see what tricks Epic has planned, but given that this is the first major live event for Fortnite OG, we could see a remix on the original event's pacing. If it's just the exact same sequence again, expect the live event to last around 5 minutes at most.

What to expect from the Blast Off live event

(Image credit: Epic Games)

So far, we don't know all that much about the upcoming Blast Off live event that'll take place on Saturday (July 26). If it ends up just being a repeat of the same event that aired back in 2018, then we'll see the rocket launch, before it's intercepted and steered through multiple rifts. The event will culminate in voice lines from The Visitor, and a huge rift crack will be left in the skies above the Fortnite OG island.

I'm hoping that Epic Games finds a way to remix the original event, adding a bit more player interaction and spectacle to proceedings. Fortnite events have gotten quite a bit more complex since 2018, so it'd be great to see a modern take on the classic rocket launch event.

Personally, I'd love to be a little closer to the action than before, perhaps following the rocket as it makes its way into space.

How to watch the Fortnite OG rocket launch event

From the darkest depths of space… pic.twitter.com/u6ygBDy8HuJuly 15, 2025

To watch the Fortnite OG rocket launch event, make sure to load into the game 30 minutes before the specified start time. Select Fortnite OG and wait for the event to start.

It's possible that there may be a separate playlist, which will go live prior to the event. Then, you just need to sit back and find a place to watch.

With the rocket launch, you'll be able to look up into the skies to see the rocket get intercepted. Last time, you were given a sort of floating drone view of things, so shouldn't have to worry about missing anything.

Live coverage as it happensLet's launch a rocket!

Mystery is on a collision course with danger.Strap in, the OG Rocket Launch Event is live today at 2 PM ET! pic.twitter.com/Hje3UD3DQkJuly 26, 2025

Hello and welcome to my live coverage of Fortnite OG's Blast Off event. I'll be giving my impressions as the event happens, detailing the event that starts in just over an hour.

Here's the key info

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG will air its first ever live event at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm BST. It's a recreation of the rocket launch that happened back in 2018, and we should see the spacefaring craft get intercepted and thrown through multiple rifts.

How to watch the rocket launch

You'll be able to jump into Fortnite OG and watch the rocket launch live. Make sure you get in a little early, I'd recommend half an hour, just to make sure you get your place in the queue.

Blast Off event - Live Soon

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If you head into Fortnite OG now, you'll see a pop up message indicating that the Blast Off event will soon go live. We'll have to wait and see whether there's a separate playlist, or if the event will just naturally trigger during matches.

You can still play Fortnite OG while you wait

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG won't be experiencing any downtime around the rocket launch, so you can still hop in and play. We're currently on Season 4

Just 45 minutes to go!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The Fortnite OG Blast Off event will begin in just 45 minutes. Make sure your game is updated to the latest version, and select a Fortnite OG playlist to get entry into a match once the show starts.

Fortnite original rocket launch

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The original rocket launch happened in Fortnite during Season 4. This was the season that ran in 2018, so it's been a while since players were able to witness the now iconic event.

Last time, the rocket launched, and players could watch it climb up high into the skies above the island. Then, a transmission from The Visitor played out, and the rocket was intercepted. The rocket travelled through multiple rift portals before leaving a huge crack in the sky.

20 minutes to go!

Rocket launch tailgate this weekend @ where? pic.twitter.com/2mLDQ3ippsJuly 23, 2025

Fortnite OG's Blast Off rocket launch will start in 20 minutes. I'll be jumping into a match 15 minutes beforehand to see if there's a safe zone of any kind. Stay tuned!

Matchmaking Error (#1)

(Image credit: Epic Games)

It seems Fortnite OG servers are currently overloaded, as players are being greeted with a Matchmaking Error (#1) message. Keep trying to load in, hopefully servers will be opened up closer to the event. I had the error previously, but got in eventually, so keep trying!

Damage has been turned off

It seems as if the storm circle and player damage have been turned off for the event. You won't have to worry about surviving long enough to see the rocket launch then.

Just 1 minute to go!

Get yourself a good view of the rocket launch. Sit back, and enjoy the show!

We have liftoff!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The rocket has launched, and is now soaring up towards space. The Visitor can now be heard too.

The final rift is red this time around!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

It appears that the Blast Off event played out precisely as before, except for one key detail. The crack that appeared in the sky at the end is red this time, rather than blue. We'll have to see what this means, but it's clear that Epic Games has some tricks up its sleeves.

A red butterfly

Just before the rocket launch, I saw a red butterfly appear and circle around my character. This matches the color of the rift crack that appeared at the end of the event.

So, what's next?

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG Season 4 still lasts until August 8, 2025. If things follow the pattern of the original run, we'll start to see rifts appearing around the island, in the aftermath of the Blast Off event. These rifts will pull objects out of the island and replace them with objects from other worlds. This all leads into Season 5, which will have the theme of "Worlds Collide".

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is the portable version of Dell's new line of Pro Plus monitors, following their recent name change.

The Pro 14 Plus features a 14-inch display, making it one of the smaller portable monitors I have tested, and it's probably the simplest in all respects. It's highly portable, easy to use, with no frills and no extra mess. It's sturdy, well-built, and offers a respectable price. It's a clear market for those who need more screen space on the go, without needing anything fancy or power-hungry.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: Pricing and Availability

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is typically available for just over $300, and it's currently listed on Dell's site for $323.74. For this price, you get a standard 3-year warranty on a WUXGA 1920 x 1200, 14-inch display with two USB-C ports, a built-in multi-functional stand, and an easy-to-use package.

Dell ships these products worldwide, so they are available anywhere. Better yet, due to its compact size, you can also take it almost anywhere. It can slip into a backpack, briefcase, suitcase, or even just along in your arms without adding much bulk.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: Unboxing & first impressions

At this point, I've tested several portable monitors. This one functions much like the others, except it feels simpler. The other portable monitors I have tested have cooler features or nicer displays, but what they cannot top is this one in terms of simplicity and ease of use. The Dell Pro 14 Plus comes with only two USB-C cables and a fold-out stand, so you're good to go. You plug in, and it works. Nothing fancy, no setup time, no wondering which port to plug into - nothing like that. It's plug-and-play in the best way.

Amidst all the other portable displays, what makes this one so interesting is that it provides more screen real estate when needed. You don't need 4K, you don't need OLED, or a fancy stand; you don't need something with ports, speakers, or any other features. This display checks those boxes of simplicity very easily.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Display: 14″ IPS
Resolution: 1920×1200
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Brightness: 400 nits
Contrast: 1500:1
Ports: 2× USB‑C (DP Alt + PD 65 W pass-through)
Weight: 0.57 kg, 0.62 kg with built-in stand

There isn't a whole lot to say about design -- and that's a good thing. This is a simple panel with a fold-out stand. It features two USB-C ports, one on either side of the stand, for easy use. The shell is constructed from slim aluminum with a plastic casing and rubber edges for enhanced grip and protection against scratches.

The bottom of the monitor, when used in landscape mode, features a slight chin with minimal branding, nothing too elaborate or complicated. The top of that same orientation view has a smaller chin, but still retains a slight bezel.

Due to its design, this monitor can be easily rotated to a vertical or portrait orientation, making it a more functional stand by far. This also explains why they placed one USB-C port on either side, allowing for a spot to plug the monitor into your computer from any angle.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: In use

This has been a fantastic little display to keep in a lightweight backpack for a trip, to use when working away from my desk, or even to add just a bit more screen space to my main desk. One thing to note right off the bat is that yes, this is only a 1080p display. It's nothing brilliant, and it's not overly impressive, but that's also what makes it great for certain things. I think of it like why I love my iPad Mini 7. It's not the best by any means, but the size and simplicity help me realize that it's not supposed to replace my primary machine. This display is unapologetically secondary; it's meant to enhance, not replace or become primary. Some of these other portable displays have become my primary workspace when I use them, for better and for worse. But the Pro 14 Plus stays secondary in every situation.

With that in mind, it's fine that it's not the best in terms of graphics, colors, or size. The ergonomics with the fold-out kickstand make it easy to set up, the anti-glare screen helps reduce distractions, the easy USB-C port means that I won't try to use it as a dock too, or try to run anything through it, I'll remember that all this is used for is expanding my workspace just a tad. There are no speakers, no high refresh rate, no mics, and no cameras. No frills, just a simple 14-inch addition to my screen.

The simplicity of this screen is what makes it special, just like the iPad mini. I can throw this in my bag and forget it's there, except when I want to be able to throw Notion, Slack, Spotify, Jira, Basecamp, Asana, metrics, or my email up on a dedicated screen to keep an eye on it while I knock out my work on my laptop. It's great for that, and for some, that's exactly what they want.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Sleek and minimal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Very easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for many

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Understandably priced

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Final verdict

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is simple, easy to use, easy to move, and easy to remember its purpose. It's got okay specs, but what makes it great is that it knows what it is and isn't. And that's a lot more than what some tech these days can say.

For more screen options, we've tested and reviewed the best business monitors.

• LTO tape sets new capacity record with 176.5 exabytes shipped
• Compression inflates numbers masking real 70.6EB uncompressed data capacity
• LTO-10 costs rise threatening tape’s long-standing affordability advantage

The LTO Program, backed by HPE, IBM, and Quantum, has reported a new high in tape capacity shipments, with 176.5 Exabytes of LTO media shipped in 2024.

The announcement says this marks the fourth straight year of growth for the tape format, driven by expanding hybrid cloud strategies and the demands of AI and machine learning infrastructure.

The figure, though, comes with an asterisk. The 176.5EB is a compressed capacity total, not the raw figure. Based on the LTO program’s standard 2.5:1 compression ratio, the uncompressed total is closer to 70.6EB. That’s the actual amount of real data the tapes could hold if compression doesn’t apply.

Pricing hurdles

Since compression depends on data type - some files compress well, others like video or encrypted data barely at all - these numbers can be misleading in terms of practical storage delivered.

“Setting a new growth record for the fourth year in a row, LTO tape technology continues to prove its longevity as a leading enterprise storage solution,” said Bruno Hald, General Manager, Secondary Storage, Quantum.

“Organizations navigating their way through the AI/ML era need to reconfigure their storage architectures to keep up, and LTO tape technology is an essential piece of the puzzle for those seeking a cost-friendly, sustainable, and secure solution to support modern technology implementation and the resulting data growth. We look forward to introducing the next iteration of LTO tape technology this year to bring enhanced storage capabilities to the enterprise,” he added.

Those “cost-friendly” advantages are coming under pressure, however.

LTO-10, the latest generation of tape, carries a high price tag, with cartridges selling for between $275 and $315. That puts it just over 2x the cost per (native) terabyte compared to earlier versions, and while the capacity of LTO-10 is higher, the speed remains the same as LTO-9.

Phil Goodwin of IDC sees LTO as part of a broader strategy. “Tape’s unique combination of scalability, cost-efficiency, and cyber resilience makes it a valuable component for enterprises,” he said.

While tape still offers long-term value, especially as part of a tiered storage model, the price of LTO-10 may slow adoption.

For many businesses, spending hundreds per cartridge could be difficult to justify when lower-cost options like cloud cold storage continue to expand.

The LTO Program emphasizes tape’s offline resilience and low energy draw, but its strongest selling point has always been price.

At $315 for 30TB native storage, that’s a tougher story to tell.

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That's how the head of the World Health Organization paid tribute to Nabarro's lifelong public health leadership. A physician, Nabarro was a leading voice in the effort to quash the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Image credit: Victoria Jones via Pool)

The Toffees and the Cherries kick off stateside pre-season friendly tournament at MetLife Stadium.

• Exascend 30.72TB PE4 SSD claims to avoid thermal throttling even at 70°C
• Uses predictive thermal algorithms to keep performance stable in hot, compact deployments
• Consumes just 7 watts when active and below 1.5 watts when idle

In a market dominated by Kioxia and Samsung, Exascend has introduced what it calls the industry's first 30.72TB SSD in a 7mm U.2 form factor.

The company appears to be targeting thermal-challenged deployments, such as edge servers and compact AI systems, where airflow is constrained and power budgets are tight.

Exasecnd says its new PE4 series maintains consistent throughput in ambient temperatures up to 70°C without suffering performance-hindering thermal throttling, an issue that typically plagues high-density storage solutions.

Specs positioned for the enterprise edge

This heat control is achieved through its proprietary Adaptive Thermal Control technology, which is supported by a mix of predictive algorithms, optimized controller layouts, and a casing designed for improved heat dissipation.

While the underlying approach seems to borrow from known principles of passive heat management, how well it performs in real-world data center deployments remains to be seen.

The PE4 drives use 3D TLC NAND and a PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, delivering up to 1 DWPD endurance and a 2-million-hour MTBF.

This rating is typical for enterprise drives of this class, but the long-term viability of such high-capacity SSDs in continuous-write environments will need verification.

On the security front, the drive offers AES-256 hardware encryption and TCG OPAL 2.0 compliance.

It also supports end-to-end data protection via LDPC and RAID-level parity.

The SSD uses hardware-based power-loss protection and support for field-upgradeable firmware, which makes it useful for edge deployments where physical access is limited.

“The PE4 30.72TB isn’t just an incremental step forward. It’s a paradigm shift for edge and on-premises storage,” said Frank Chen, CEO at Exascend.

“By delivering 30.72TB of storage in a 7mm slim form factor while cutting power consumption by 50%, we enable customers to scale storage density without overhauling existing thermal design or server layout.”

The PE4 power consumption is 7 watts when active and less than 1.5 watts when idle.

This is claimed to be 70 percent lower than what most other drives use.

It is not clear if this level of efficiency stays the same under mixed workloads, but if it does, it could help reduce cooling needs and make systems more energy efficient.

In addition to the 30.72TB model, Exascend also launched a 23.04TB version that retains the same 7mm form factor, thermal control features, and power efficiency, making it a more affordable option for deployments that don’t require maximum density.

“For customers that need a sweet spot between 15.36TB and 30.72TB, our new 23.04TB model delivers extra storage headroom at a more budget-friendly price point,” Chen added.

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Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: two-minute review

The Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is a compact fully automatic espresso machine that's a solid choice for couples and individuals. It has a relatively small water tank and bean hopper that's perfect for making a couple of cups, so you won't have large quantities of coffee and water going stale.

The built-in ceramic grinder offers some super-fine grind settings, and with just a little adjustment you should be able to brew consistently well-extracted espresso, which you can enjoy alone or as the foundation of over 15 different drinks. The most popular options (such as cappuccino and americano) are accessible via buttons beside the color display, while others can be found by tapping "other drinks" and selecting either hot or iced beverages.

It's worth noting that the LatteGo 5500 Series doesn't offer cold coffee extraction. Instead, you're prompted to add six to eight ice cubes to your cup, and the machine pours over a shot of hot espresso (followed by cold-foamed milk, if appropriate for your chosen drink). The results are OK, but you don't get the same mellow flavor you do from coffee infused using cold water, and the melting of the ice means drinks usually made without water can taste weak.

The LatteGo milk system works well, producing a thick and creamy foam from plant or dairy milk (Image credit: Future)

For me, the most interesting feature is the LatteGo's automatic milk-foaming system. Unlike most other coffee makers I've tested, the 5500 Series has a milk carafe that clips onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine, and is designed to be filled while attached.

This might seem odd at first, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Not carrying containers of milk across the kitchen means less risk of spillage, and this carafe isn't intended for storing milk in the fridge between brews. Instead, it has markers on the side that show you exactly how much to add for different drinks, meaning there won't be any left at the end, and the carafe can be washed out, ready for next time (either by hand or in a dishwasher). It's a smart system for making just one or two drinks.

You do have to be very careful with how you position your cup, though. There's no way to adjust the LatteGo system's spout, and your cup needs to be further forward on the drip tray than you'd expect. Move it over the red water-level indicator, then a bit further still to avoid your milk spilling over the edge.

Overall, this is a well-made bean-to-cup machine for small households (or ones with just one coffee-drinker), and it does the basics very well. It wouldn't be my top choice if you want to make cold drinks regularly, however. For that, you'd be better opting for a machine that can handle cold extraction, so your drink isn't watered down. Take a look at my list of the best cold-brew coffee machines for some suggestions.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: price and availability

• List price $1,099.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,194
• Available globally
• Often discounted in the UK

The Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is available globally, and has a list price of $1,099.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,194 (although it’s often reduced to £549.99 in the UK). It’s the top-tier model in the LatteGo series, with 20 hot and cold drink options compared to 12 drinks for the less expensive 4400 Series. You’ll find all today’s best deals on the LatteGo 5500 Series listed below.

That price is about standard for a compact bean-to-cup espresso machine, and is roughly the same as the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch. However, the La Specialista Touch offers greater control over brewing options, along with both manual and automatic milk-foaming.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: Specifications

Name

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

9.7 x 14.6 x 17in / 24.6 x 37.1 x 43.3cm

Weight

17.6lbs / 8kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9qt / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

15

User profiles

4 (plus guest)

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: Design

• Well suited to individuals or couples
• LatteGo system is easy to use and clean
• Simple button-based interface

At just 9.7 inches / 24.6cm wide, the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is one of the narrowest espresso machines I’ve tested to date. It's ideal for tucking into small spaces – particularly because the water tank slides out of the front, so you only need to access the side of the machine when it’s time to clean the brewing group.

Although it has four user profiles (plus a guest option for visitors), this machine is best suited to individuals or couples who only want to make one or two drinks at once. Its 1.9qt / 1.8-liter water tank is quite small, and the optional (but recommended) water filter supplied with the machine takes up quite a lot of space, effectively making it smaller still.

Image 1 of 2

The LatteGo 5500 Series has quite a small water tank, which is fine for single people and couples (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The water filter supplied is quite large, and uses a considerable amount of the tank's capacity (Image credit: Future)

At first that sounds like it could be a problem, but when you’re only making a couple of drinks at once it’s fine, and refilling the tank regularly is always a good idea. Most of your coffee is made of water, so you want to keep it fresh.

As the name suggests, one of the LatteGo 5500 Series’ key features is its milk system, which comprises a small carafe that pushes onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine. Unlike every other automatic espresso machine I’ve tested, you fill this container while it’s attached to the machine. This feels odd at first, but it actually makes sense; no carrying containers of milk across the kitchen means no potential for spillage.

Image 1 of 2

The LatteGo system has just two removeable parts, and is easy to keep clean between uses (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The milk carafe is filled while attached to the machine, which is quite unusual (Image credit: Future)

Markings on the side of the carafe show how far to fill it for different drinks, whether you’re preparing one or two cups. The idea is that you’ll use all the milk in one go. Unlike most other machines (such as the Jura J10, for example), the LatteGo’s carafe isn’t airtight. Nor is it intended to be stored in the fridge with milk inside between uses. Instead, you add just the amount of milk you need, then wash it out for next time (either by hand or in the top drawer of the dishwasher) to keep everything fresh.

The bean hopper doesn’t have a huge capacity either. Again, this is no bad thing for a machine intended for just one or two people, because it means you won’t have unused beans hanging around for too long.

The hopper has a tinted plastic lid to help stop light degrading the flavor compounds in the beans, and an airtight seal to keep them fresh. The seal also helps muffle the noise of the machine’s ceramic grinder. Indeed, this espresso machine is one of the quietest I’ve tested, with both the grinder and milk system making very little noise.

Image 1 of 2

The LatteGo 5500 Series has a fairly small bean hopper, which means individuals and couples won't have to worry about lots of beans going stale (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The grind size is adjusted using a small dial in the hopper (Image credit: Future)

The grind size is adjusted using a small dial inside the hopper. I would have preferred this to be on the outside for accessibility, but that’s a minor quibble. For me, the bigger issue was the height of the hopper, which made it tricky to open and refill when the machine was under a cabinet. The machine is quite light, but if you don’t have much headroom, you’ll have to shimmy it out when it’s time to refill.

Just in front of the hopper, you’ll find a chute for adding a scoop of pre-ground coffee if you’d like to switch to something different, such as decaf for after lunch.

The drip tray is nice and deep, which again helps to avoid spillage, with a pouring spout at the back for easy emptying, plus a level indicator so you can see at a glance when it’s time to empty it. There’s also a deep detachable container for used coffee grounds, and the LatteGo 5500 Series will alert you when it needs emptying.

The drip tray has high sides to prevent spillage, and there's a generously-sized container for used coffee grounds (Image credit: Future)

This alert will appear on the machine’s TFT display, which is surrounded by a set of buttons that provide quick access to the most popular drink options. The rest are accessed by pressing the "More drinks" button, which presents you with a choice of two lists: one for hot beverages, and one for iced.

Selecting the "Setting"' button will reveal more comprehensive brewing options, including the ability to change the temperature, plus various energy-saving settings such as toggling the lights above your cup, and determining how long the machine should wait before powering off.

It was refreshing to see that the machine’s packaging was mostly cardboard, with only a few plastic bags for components. Even the best coffee makers are often packaged in large pieces of polystyrene

• Design score: 4/5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: performance

• Brews well-balanced espresso once grinder is dialled in
• Iced coffee isn't cold-extracted
• LatteGo milk spout is somewhat awkward

The LatteGo is very simple to use, and the buttons around the display will be all most users need on an everyday basis. Select a beverage, and you’ll be able to tweak a few options to determine the strength and volume of your drink, then the machine will handle the rest.

There’s no equivalent of De’Longhi’s BeanAdapt system for configuring the brew settings to suit your chosen coffee, but adjusting the grinder and tweaking the options when preparing your coffee should allow you to create consistently well-extracted espresso.

Each time you change the brew settings for a drink, your adjustments will be saved to the currently selected profile (red, blue, yellow or green). You can switch between profiles by tapping a button on the left of the screen, and there’s an extra guest profile, so visitors don’t accidentally override your custom cappuccino settings.

There are four colored profiles to store custom drink preferences, plus a guest profile so visitors don't override your favorites (Image credit: Future)

You can use the LatteGo system with any type of milk you choose. During my tests, whole and full-fat dairy milk foamed well, as did oat milk – although the results were less impressive when using one of the iced drink options, which dispense cold milk. An iced cappuccino had some foam on top, but not very much compared to the same drink brewed hot.

I particularly like that the LatteGo system is so easy to keep clean. The carafe comes in two parts, which are easy to unclip, and there are no awkward tubes to clean. Milk never enters the body of the coffee machine either, so you don’t need to worry about bacteria breeding inside.

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It's easy to adjust the volume of drinks to suit different-sized cups (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The machine works well with both plant-based and dairy milk (Image credit: Future)

My biggest complaint about the LatteGo 5500 Series (and it’s one that’s easily avoided) is that you can’t change the angle of the milk spout, so you have to position your cup just right to avoid milk spilling down the side. The perfect position is much further forward than you might expect, and your cup needs to be completely covering the red level indicator on the drip tray.

It helps to use quite a wide cup for your milky beverages; otherwise, you may not be able to position it just right for both the coffee dispenser and the milk spout, causing one or the other to miss.

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You can't adjust the angle of the milk spout, so it's essential to position your cup just right (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The correct position for your cup is further forward than you might expect (Image credit: Future)

Iced coffee is one of the biggest trends in home espresso machines right now, so it’s no surprise that the top-tier LatteGo comes with plenty of options for chilled beverages. Select one and the machine will tell you how many ice cubes to add to your glass or cup, then pour coffee and milk on top.

However, it’s worth noting that the espresso used in the LatteGo 5500 Series’ iced drinks isn’t actually brewed cold. It’s hot, and relies on the ice to bring the temperature down. This means it doesn’t have the same mellow flavor profile as true cold-extracted coffee, and you may find that your drinks taste watered-down due to the melted ice. You can get around this problem by increasing the strength of the shot, but it’s something to be aware of.

The machine doesn't make cold-extracted espresso, instead dispensing hot-brewed espresso onto ice cubes to make chilled drinks (Image credit: Future)

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Typical price for a fully automatic espresso machine, but there are other great options available more cheaply if you shop around.

3.5/5

Design

Very compact and well suited to small households. Milk nozzle position can't be adjusted,.

4/5

Performance

Easy to use and maintain and brews excellent espresso. Hot drinks are very good, but iced options are diluted by hot espresso melting ice cubes.

4/5

Buy it if

You're brewing coffee for one (or two)

If you're only brewing in small quantities, a large bean hopper and water tank will just allow the beans and water to go stale. This compact machine is a smarter choice, and the LatteGo system helps you measure out only the milk you need.

You have a small kitchen

This is a particularly narrow machine, and you don't need to access the sides to remove the water tank, so you can push it up against a cabinet without any issues.

Don't buy it if

You want cold-brewed coffee

The LatteGo 5500 Series makes perfectly acceptable iced drinks, but the espresso is extracted using hot water and cooled by pouring it over ice. For mellow coffee extracted using cold water, take a look at my list of the top three coffee machines for cold-brew.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: also consider

If you're not sure that the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options for your consideration.

De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic

If you're serious about iced coffee, the Primadonna Aromatic offers true cold extraction that creates a similar flavor profile to coffee steeped overnight in the fridge. It also has two milk carafes (one for foaming hot milk and one for cold) – and you can adjust the angle of their spouts. No puddles of milk here.

Read our full De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic review

KitchenAid KF6

Looking for something more stylish? The KF6 is a great-looking bean-to-cup machine with a sleek, streamlined chassis and simple touch controls. It brews sublime espresso too, but it's a pricier proposition than the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series.

Read our full KitchenAid KF6 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

I used the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series with my favorite espresso blend from a local coffee roaster, bought fresh that week. I tested the water hardness using the strip supplied in the box, and fitted the water filter in the tank following the instructions provided. I used fresh water each time I began using the machine.

I tested the LatteGo system using fridge-cold whole and semi-skimmed dairy milk, as well as barista oat milk.

I tested the machine's various hot and cold drinks, using the amount of ice specified by the machine for chilled recipes.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

It's fairly well known now that the source behind the success of handheld gaming PCs in the past few years is Valve's Steam Deck. After launching in 2022, it went on to become a huge success, stemming from its affordability, making it the easiest and one of the most inexpensive ways to play PC games.

SteamOS is a huge factor in its success, with a simple console-like UI that allows gamers to jump straight into games without tweaks or configurations. At $399 / £349 / AU$649, it is arguably the best handheld gaming device on the market, keeping gaming experiences fun with reasonable performance at a price that a large majority of gamers can afford.

While it would be naive of me to expect much more powerful hardware to release at the same price range as the Steam Deck, it doesn't change this one matter: handheld gaming PCs are becoming far too expensive, specifically from mainstream manufacturers like MSI, Asus, and Lenovo.

It's not like expensive handhelds are suddenly a new thing; handhelds before the Steam Deck were more niche and up in the $1,000 department. However, the reason handhelds have suddenly become popular again is because of the Steam Deck's pricing, while still being able to deliver good performance in multiple Steam games.

You could argue that the jump in pricing is justified, since new handhelds wield more powerful hardware. That's true. Still, the difference in performance capabilities between something like the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme versus the MSI Claw 8 AI+ isn't enough to warrant such a huge retail price for the latter device.

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ and MSI Claw A8 are prime examples of steep pricing

(Image credit: MSI)

Don't get me wrong, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the best handheld I've used so far, as you'll eventually see in an upcoming review. The performance boosts coming from an Asus ROG Ally are very noticeable, and the battery life gave me a sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, that's not enough to go from a device like the Asus ROG Ally that has a $649 / £599 / AU$1,299 retail price (which often has significant discounts now), to one that's just under $1,000, at $899 / £899 / AU$1,799 (and the price has now increased to $999 for US consumers). It's also worth noting that the Claw A8, using AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, is around the same price based on listings at European retailers, and early benchmarks suggest it may be on the same level as the Claw 8 AI+ or slightly worse in performance.

It makes matters worse when you realize that there's little to no availability for these handhelds in many regions – and in all fairness, this is likely due to the recent issues with tariffs, but frankly, consumers won't care about that.

Perhaps, an easy solution would be to ensure that expensive handhelds have much cheaper counterparts; MSI (and others) have done this with its Claw 7 AI+ that uses the same Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor as the Claw 8 AI+, but just has a smaller 7-inch screen and a 54.5 WHr battery.

Its retail price is $799.99 / around £700, which is still a hefty sum, but far more reasonable compared to $899. The problem is I've yet to come across a single listing of this device at any retailer in the UK – and if you're in the US, its price has jumped up to $899 on Best Buy, the same retail price the MSI Claw 8 AI+ was at before it saw an increase.

(Image credit: Future)

It's not just the MSI Claw either, as rumors about the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally suggest we could see similar price patterns of between $800 and $1,000, depending on the configuration.

The Asus ROG Ally X is also a culprit, priced at $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,599, and it's another device that has seen a $100 price increase, available at Best Buy for $899.

The same also applies to the Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme model, which has seemingly almost disappeared off the face of the earth, with one of the only listings I've seen available at Best Buy. That's available for $829.99. Do you see what I mean now?

We're fast approaching a stage where Valve's template of keeping its Steam Deck models affordable is forgotten, and instead, taking handheld PC gaming back to its old niche status. I understand that some will be willing to bite the bullet and pay these prices for stronger gaming performance, but the longevity of the handhelds will likely suffer, as a large majority of gamers won't be able to afford them.

You might also like...

• The Steam Deck 2 and a home console are reportedly in the works – and Sony may be helping to turn the handheld into the portable PlayStation game device I really want
• Help us, Lenovo, you're our only hope – Legion Go 2's prototype and OLED screen should worry Nintendo, MSI, and other handheld makers
• Sorry MSI, but you blew it – the Claw A8 is overpriced and could struggle to compete against cheaper rivals like the Steam Deck

The Hbada E3 Pro is designed with the bigger and taller community in mind. It's not as well-known a brand, but they are doing a great job filling the place of a budget-conscious chair that provides it all, while still fitting those of all sizes.

While I may not be familiar with the Hbada brand itself yet, the armrests remind me a lot of Sihoo. The legrest is something I've seen a lot in recent chairs, especially those that aim to do it all, like Hbada. The lumbar support is solid. It might not be the best office chair I've tested, but overall, the chair is quite promising.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hbada E3 Pro: Pricing and Availability

The Hbada E3 Pro is currently on sale for $549.99 at the time of writing, down $160 from its regular price of $709.99.

You can grab one from Hbada's website, and a few other retailers, including Amazon.com (click here) and Amazon.co.uk (click here).

The chair comes in three colorways and offers the option to set up with or without a leg-rest. I chose the lighter gray colorway, though the black and even pink look nice too (for the right person). The pink is more of a grey seat with a pink backing.

From what I can see on the website, the default option is to add the footrest, which is unique, as I usually see this as a priced add-on. However, the leg-rest is a fun feature that many are enjoying.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hbada E3 Pro: Unboxing & first impressions

The Hbada E3 Pro Ergonomic Office Chair was easy to assemble, nothing too crazy there. The instructions were clear, and it wasn't too hard to assemble with just one person. Right away, as we removed the chair from the box, we noticed that it felt sturdy, heavy-duty, and supportive.

After assembly, we checked out the chair, and it felt sturdy, yet not too rigid, especially with the mesh. It felt breathable, easy to get comfortable in, and enjoyable to sit in for extended periods.

There is a slight quirk with our model; the footrest moves a little too freely, but that may be an inherent characteristic of our model.

Hbada E3 Pro: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Material: Breathable mesh seat/back, padded headrest
Weight Capacity: ~300 lbs
Adjustments: Recline w/ lock, seat height, headrest tilt, lumbar shift, arm rotation
Footrest: Retractable, padded
Colors: Black/Grey
Dimensions: Designed to fit most users—but may run short for users 6’5”+

The Hbada frame is sturdy. With these chair companies that I'm unfamiliar with, I'm always wary of plopping down and relying on a chair to provide both stability and comfort. But, from the first sit until now, 114 days later, this chair hasn't given me any reason to doubt its stability. The mesh is comfortable, cool in both temperature and design, and it's supportive.

The armrests take a minute to get used to, as do any armrests that are different than what you are used to using now. I have a love-hate relationship with hyper-mobile armrests. 90% of the time, I will appreciate them, but then I'll stand up and push off of them, or I'll lean on them the wrong way, and I'll hate them for a few minutes, then forget about it again - but maybe that's just me.

The headrest adjusts more than most I have seen, allowing me to make it fit my head and neck just right, and then easily adjust it to another individual's preferences. It's the right balance of support and ease of use.

The legrest is okay in my book. It feels like an afterthought, though ironically, this is possibly the first chair I have seen that comes shipped with the chair and not as an accessory add-on. It seems like it's missing something, but I'm not sure what, as it technically works fine and is comfortable.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hbada E3 Pro: In use

Hbada is very keen to promote its 3-zone elastic lumbar support, the 4D bi-axial headrest, the 6D adjustable armrests, and so on. What that translates to in real-world applications is that this chair is hyper-adjustable. While that's mostly great, there are a few areas where this poses an issue.

When I go to grab this chair in the morning to sit down, I feel like just about anywhere I hold is an adjustable piece, so I grab multiple areas to move the chair around, ensuring I don't make unwanted adjustments. Outside of that, though, the adjustment features allow for customized seating, unique to your body type and preferences, and then I can go in and do the same for me, and just about anyone.

So, if you are sharing this chair, get ready to fiddle with it for a few minutes at the start of every use. If it's yours, though, take an hour to enjoy tweaking every feature until you have it dialed in just right.

The lumbar support gently caresses your midsection, love handles, lower back, whatever you want to call it. Hbada does a good job with the H3 Pro, providing comfortable support that is less intrusive and bothersome. They extend further than most chairs, wrapping more closely around your front, but for those who want more lower back support, that might be the perfect solution you've been looking for.

The headrest is also interesting; it does an excellent job of caressing my neck without pushing my head forward at all, and provides support when I need it without making me feel like my neck is excessively far forward.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Simple and clean

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for many

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Understandably priced

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hbada E3 Pro: Final verdict

So far, this chair has exceeded my expectations. For $700+ regular price, I was hoping it would be, but it has been an excellent chair for the last 114 days. My team has loved using it; it's been a fantastic option for both taller and smaller individuals, thanks to all the adjustments, and it's held up quite nicely. If you find this one on sale, it's a great option to consider for your home office, dedicated office, or even a co-working space, as it allows for adjustable seating for multiple users.

To help make your workspace more productive, we've also tested and reviewed the best standing desks.