Feed aggregator

Chomp into 20 hours of new specials.

Roborock Q7 M5: two-minute reviewProduct info

There are a few different M5 options – the robot is the same, but the dock is different:

Q7 M5: Charge-only dock
Q7 M5+: Auto-empty dock
Q7 M5 Max+: Auto empty and water refill dock

For this review, I tested the Q7 M5, with the charge-only dock.

The Roborock Q7 M5 is a relatively basic option from within the Roborock robot vacuum lineup, aimed at the more budget-conscious consumer. Despite the affordable pricing, it's still a capable bot, offering the kind of suction specs I'd expect from a much pricier model.

The design may lack the bells and whistles (and robotic arms) of the brand's newest offerings, but it's still effective in use. As well as sporting a robust build, it has a generously sized dust cup and water tank and bouncy suspension that enables it to clear relatively tall room thresholds with confidence. Navigation is also reliable and mapping accurate.

In my vacuuming tests, the Q7 M5 proved up to the task of clearing up debris, large and small, and sucked up an impressive volume of dog hair from my carpets, too. It did struggle a little with getting right into the edges of rooms, however – more advanced robot vacuums typically have a side brush that can extend outwards, whereas the one on the Q7 M5 is fixed.

The mop setup is rather basic, although the bot still managed to clean up a dried ketchup smear surprisingly effectively. Overall I felt mopping was rather wetter than expected, so it perhaps isn't the best choice if you have delicate wooden floors, for example. The Q7 M5 also lacks the capacity to lift its mop when traversing carpet (not surprising at this price point, though).

The model I tested comes with a compact, charge-only dock, and is perfect for those with small homes, or if you want a cleaner for a less-used floor of a multi-storey home. However, owners of larger homes and/or pets should seek out the "Plus" model where possible; it arrives with an auto-empty dock, which will save you from having to empty the onboard bin too frequently.

That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock Q7 M5 review.

The basic Q7 M5's compact dock means it can be tucked out of the way (Image credit: Future)Roborock Q7 M5 review: price & availability

• List price: $299.99 / £239.99
• Launched: April 2025
• Available: US and UK (AU alternatives available)

The Roborock Q7 M5 launched in April 2025, as an upgraded version of the previous Q7 Max. The brand has plenty of fancier, pricier bots (see the arm-equipped Saros Z70, for example) in its lineup, but the Q7 M5 is designed to appeal to a more budget-conscious consumer.

In the US, the Q7 M5 costs $299.99 direct from Roborock, but was discounted to £239.99 at time of writing. In the UK, the list price when purchased direct from Roborock is £239.99, but at time of writing it was reduced to £179.99. Even at full price, it falls into the budget bracket.

Having tested a few budget bots now, I'd say that even at full price this vacuum offers decent value for the features and performance it delivers, with the discounted prices making it more appealing still. My current favorite robot vacuum around this price level is the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2, which costs $299.99 / £219 at full price. However, the Roborock offers stronger suction specs and slightly more advanced mopping – in that you can switch off that functionality without having to remove the mop pad.

Upgrading to the Q7 M5+ with the auto-empty dock pushes the price up to $429.99, while the Q7 M5 Max+ – with a dock that not only empties dust but also refills the water tanks – is $599.99. Those upgraded options don't appear to be available in the UK, though. In both cases, the list prices are on the high side for what you're getting – although, at time of writing, both models were already available at generous discounts, bringing them more in line with the price I'd expect to pay.

The Q7 M5 doesn't seem to be available in Australia, but there is a Roborock Q7B for AU$399, which looks very similar but has slightly less suction. There's also a Q7T Plus for AU$799, which looks the same as the Q7 M5+ with its auto-empty dock.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Q7 M5 specs

Max suction:

10,000Pa

Robot diameter:

12.8in / 35.3cm

Robot height:

3.9in / 9.9cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

6.3 x 4 x 2.8in / 16 x 7 x 10.1cm

Dust bin volume (onboard):

Requested

Water tank volume:

Requested

Base type:

Charge only (more advanced docks available)

Roborock Q7 M5 review: design

• Robovac with raised LiDAR puck, chunky wheels and charge-only dock
• Fixed, D-shaped, removable mop
• Dust cup and water tank form one removable unit at side of bot

The Roborock Q7 M5 looks similar to other budget-friendly robot vacuums –except, perhaps, a little more robust. A chunky bumper encircles the perimeter, and there's a raised LiDAR turret for navigation (newer Roborock models such as the Saros 10R have done away with this, in favor of a different navigation method, thus offering a lower overall profile). The top surface is a mix of matte and very shiny black plastic, the latter of which attracts much dust – perhaps not the best choice for this type of gadget.

This shiny surface is a magnet for dust and fingerprints (Image credit: Future)

Flip the whole thing over and you'll find the brushroll, which has a "JawScrapers comb" to prevent hair from tangling around it – although it didn't prove very effective in practice. There's also a rotating side brush to catch dirt from around the edges of rooms. On more advanced bots this will kick out to the side as required, but the version on the Q7 M5 is fixed. Roborock has placed the brushes at an angle, so hair slips off rather than becoming tangled – and from my experience, it seems to work quite well in practice.

The wheels are thick with a deep tread, and sit on a spring-loaded hinge, presumably to allow the robot to bounce its way over tall thresholds. Other bots have more hi-tech solutions for this – the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete has little extending feet, for example – but Roborock's approach seems perfectly effective as a budget alternative.

The chunky wheels are set on a spring-loaded hinge, providing bouncy suspension (Image credit: Future)

Slotted into the side of the bot is a unit that holds the dust cup and water tank. The mop pad itself is a fixed, D-shaped style pad, and it can be clipped on and off the main robot. It doesn't feel enormously secure when clipped on, although it didn't fall off at any point in my tests. The pad part can be removed and popped into the washing machine for cleaning.

This unit houses a generous dust dup and water tank (Image credit: Future)

It's a very basic style of mop in that the pad is simply dragged along the floor, wiping as it goes. Fancier bots have mops that press on the floor or vibrate to dislodge dirt, or have dual-rotating discs.

With some budget bots, the mopping is automatically "on", whenever the mop pad is attached. That isn't the case here: you can switch the water off from within the app. However, the Q7 M5 isn't advanced enough to be able to lift up its mop pad when it encounters carpet, which means you might still end up with slightly damp carpets if the bot is making its way over them after a mopping session. (Some premium bots can even drop off their mop pads at their base station when they're not needed.)

Mopping is courtesy of a removable, D-shaped pad (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the base station, the one included here is very basic and pleasingly compact. It simply charges the robot. In some territories there are sister models available with more advanced docks. If you're dealing with larger amounts of dust, or have a pet, I'd definitely recommend opting for a version with an auto-empty dock.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q7 M5 review: performance

• Navigation accurate, but object avoidance is patchy
• Vacuuming is very good; mopping is fine but not amazing
• Sucks up hair (pet and human) well, but it does wrap around the roller

As ever with Roborock, mapping was smooth and navigation reliable. Initial setup simply involved sending it on its way on a "Quick mapping" run, where the bot scoots around – not cleaning, just looking – and builds a map of the space as it goes. On this run, it approached the edge of the top of the stairs repeatedly (and at speed), but stopped itself every time. Good cliff sensors should be a given for any robot vacuum, regardless of price, but I felt reassured nonetheless.

With the map compiled, I could name the rooms and make necessary adjustments. Note that some parts here were slightly buggy, but I'll get into that in the App section.

The bot approached the step edge at speed, but never once took a tumble (Image credit: Future)

To kick things off, I sent the bot out on a whole-floor vacuum, just to get an initial feel for performance. There's a maximum of 10,000Pa of suction here, which is decent, and more in line with what I'd expect from a mid-range robovac. Having checked the dustbin after the run, I could see it had done a stellar job of pulling dust and pet hair from the carpet – the latter of the two being particularly challenging. I'd rate its performance among the best robot vacuums for pet hair, if you're on a budget.

The robot vacuum picked up pet and human hair impressively well (Image credit: Future)

Then it was time for some more formal suction tests. For these, I scattered a teabag's worth of dry tea leaves and a handful of oats onto the carpet, and performed a zone clean of the area. There are five suction modes to choose from: Quiet, Balance, Turbo, Max and MAX+ (I can't help thinking Roborock has gone too hard, too soon, with the naming choices here).

A single pass in Turbo mode cleared most of the oats, but only the top layer of tea. Two more passes in MAX+ and the oats were history, and only a fine scattering of tea remained. That's a super solid result – the tea is purposefully a very tricky test, and it's rare for even expensive robovacs to clear it all.

Image 1 of 3

Tea and oats on a carpeted floor ready for the carpet suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

Results after a single pass in Turbo suction mode... (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

... and after two more passes in MAX+ mode (Image credit: Future)

Hard floors are far less challenging to vacuum, so I used the Balanced mode when repeating the test on the tiled bathroom floor. This time, almost all the oats were sucked up on a single pass, and the vast majority of the tea, too. The only real issue was with debris being pinged about; but, thankfully, the robot vacuum would catch any wayward remnants on a later run.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

Moving on to the mopping tests. For this, I smeared a tiny amount of tomato ketchup on the tiled bathroom floor and left it to dry. I then set the bot on a mopping run to see if it could clear it.

There are three options for water level, or you can set the bot to mop and vacuum simultaneously (I prefer to vacuum first, then mop, to minimize the amount of gunk that ends up stuck to the damp mechanisms.)

Image 1 of 4

Dried ketchup smeared on the floor ready for the mopping test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future)

Despite having a relatively basic mopping setup, the Q7 M5 actually did a pretty good job here. One pass in medium wetness mode was enough for the robovac to begin to lift the smear, and a couple more in max mode saw only a tiny bit remaining.

This is one of the wetter mopping mechanisms I've used, so it wouldn't be a great choice if you wanted something for hard floor that can only stand a little bit of water. Beware, too, that the mop pad doesn't lift, so if the route back from your hard floor to your dock is carpeted, said carpet will end up a bit damp. Overall, the mopping is fine here, but if that's your priority then there are better choices out there.

The fixed side brush couldn't get right into the edges of rooms (Image credit: Future)

Like most robot vacuums, the Roborock Q7 M5 has a spinning side brush designed to flick debris from the edges of rooms into the path of the suction. Here, it worked fairly well but not amazingly – perhaps because it's fixed rather than being able to extend. The bot shifted some of the tea sprinkled along the edge of the bathroom floor, but left more behind.

Roborock says this bot has anti-hair wrap features built into the brushroll. However, on test I found my long hair tangled around the roller. However, the anti-tangle design of the side brush was more effective on this front.

The main brushroll quickly got tangled with hair (Image credit: Future)

Finally, I ran some object avoidance tests. These involved laying out a series of objects – charge cable, socks, dog bowl – on the floor and seeing if the bot would avoid them. Unfortunately, it confidently ploughed into everything I put in front of it, so a bit of a fail on this front. (One useful hack is to activate a "Pet" mode to increase sensitivity to objects, but there was no such option I could find here.

That said, in my real-life tests the bot performed much better. For instance, it skirted the perimeters of chair legs and the base of the toilet cistern, for example, rather than bumping into them. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't recommend this bot to those who have a lot of clutter in their homes.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Q7 M5 review: app

• Encountered a few bugs that I assume will be fixed
• Otherwise well-designed and intuitive

I've used plenty of Roborock robot vacuums and the app has always been great. So I was surprised that things weren't entirely smooth when testing it with the Q7 M5. While there weren't any glaring issues, I did run into several glitches: I was unable to resize a zone properly; the app would forget room names; plus it failed to save a customized cleaning routine, for example.

Click to enlarge (Image credit: Roborock)

There was also a strange bug where the text wasn't resizing properly, so the ends of words would routinely be cut off – do you want to "Mo" or "Vacuu"? I assume most of these are temporary glitches and should be fixed before long.

Otherwise, it's the same well-designed app I'm used to. It's pretty intuitive, well-laid out and easy to figure out from scratch.

• App score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock Q7 M5?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Budget price bracket and deals are common. Not the most advanced, but performance is good for the price.

4 / 5

Design

Robust-looking robot with strong suction specs, raised LiDAR tower, bouncy wheels and a basic mop mechanism. Simple but solid design, lacking the advancements of pricier Roborock bots.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Accurate navigation and very good vacuuming, but mopping is a little wet and object avoidance patchy.

4 / 5

App

Unusually glitchy, but otherwise well designed and intuitive.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You're on a budget
It's not the most advanced robovac on the market, but it's very affordable and deals are common – and performance is solid for the price.

You're short on space for a dock
The dock here is very compact – small enough to comfortably pop under a bed, for example. It's the charge-only type, but if you're okay emptying your own dust bin, it's an ideal space-saving solution.

You mainly want to vacuum
The vacuuming here is excellent. There's an impressive 10,000Pa of suction and it performed very well in my real-world vacuuming tests, too.

Don't buy it if...

You want a really capable mop
Mopping functionality is basic, and quite wet – it's fine for occasional cleanups, but if you're going to be using this function more regularly, I'd suggest opting for a model with more advanced mopping capabilities.

You have a large house or lots of dust
The model on test here has a charge-only dock – if you're dealing with lots of dust or pet hair, you should opt for a model with an auto-empty dock (in some territories you can pick up a M5+, which has an auto-empty dock).

How I tested the Roborock Q7 M5 robot vacuum

I used the Q7 M5 as my main robot vacuum for a week, stationing it on a higher level of my house, which includes a carpeted hall and master bedroom (where a hairy spaniel also sleeps) and a tiled en-suite bathroom. As well as getting a feel for how well it performed in general, I ran specific mopping and vacuuming tests, which included sucking up oats and/or dry tea, and using the mop to clear a smear of dried ketchup off a tiled floor. I also tested obstacle avoidance by laying out common objects to see if the bot would spot and avoid them. I compared the performance, general usability and value for money to other robot vacuums I've tested in the past.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed July 2025

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, July 20 (game #1273).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• K

• S

• P

• F

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

Quordle today (game #1274) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1274, are…

• KNEED
• SNAIL
• PINTO
• FEAST

After an easy ride with my first three guesses I was undone by a silent letter.

Without an S and seeing no other letters that could precede the letter N, I had presumed that it would have to start with a vowel so opted for “ended” – but ended up regretting it due to my neglect of the letter K. Sneaky.

Daily Sequence today (game #1274) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1274, are…

• MINER
• CRUST
• GRAPE
• ROBIN

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY
• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER
• Quordle #1265, Saturday, 12 July: WREAK, NANNY, CLASP, STAIN
• Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
• Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
• Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
• Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, July 20 (game #770).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #771) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FREEZING
• FOOT
• EXTRA
• CONTRACTION
• ICING
• SHRINKAGE
• CONDENSATION
• MELTING
• POSSESSIVE
• YADA YADA
• BONUS
• REGIFTING
• FESTIVUS
• QUOTE
• GRAVY
• VAPORIZATION

NYT Connections today (game #771) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Something on top
• GREEN: States of water
• BLUE: Jerry and friends
• PURPLE: A punctuation mark in common

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #771) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ADDITIONAL PERK
• GREEN: PHASE TRANSITIONS FOR LIQUIDS
• BLUE: CONCEPTS FROM "SEINFELD" 
• PURPLE: WHAT ' CAN INDICATE

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

NYT Connections today (game #771) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #771, are…

• YELLOW: ADDITIONAL PERK BONUS, EXTRA, GRAVY, ICING
• GREEN: PHASE TRANSITIONS FOR LIQUIDS CONDENSATION, FREEZING, MELTING, VAPORIZATION
• BLUE: CONCEPTS FROM "SEINFELD" FESTIVUS, REGIFTING, SHRINKAGE, YADA YADA
• PURPLE: WHAT ' CAN INDICATE CONTRACTION, FOOT, POSSESSIVE, QUOTE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I interpret the idiom ‘it’s all GRAVY' as meaning that being alive and healthy is already fantastic and whatever else life brings you is a bonus. Other people may interpret it as an endless supply of free gravy or possibly that everything tastes like gravy, but either way it's a positive thing. Well, unless you don’t like gravy.

Anyway, I digress. Today’s gift from Connections was the wonderful CONCEPTS FROM “SEINFELD” including, in my opinion, its crowning achievement in creating a public holiday for “the rest of us”. An excuse for me to watch a couple of classic episodes in my lunch hour.

Fortunately, I had the other three groups quickly completed before I had to even contemplate the purple foursome.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, July 20, game #770)

• YELLOW: MOVE TO THE MUSIC BOP, BOUNCE, GROOVE, SWAY
• GREEN: INHALATION DRAG, DRAW, PUFF, PULL
• BLUE: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS DRY, GIN, SHAKEN, TWIST
• PURPLE: ___WORD BUZZ, CROSS, LOAN, PASS

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, July 20 (game #504).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #505) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… I fold!

NYT Strands today (game #505) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BANK
• BRINE
• FLOW
• SHIFT
• TURBO
• WHEY

NYT Strands today (game #505) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #505) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #505) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #505, are…

• KITE
• FROG
• FISH
• CRANE
• BUTTERFLY
• SPANGRAM: ORIGAMI

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 hints

It took me until my fourth word, which was CRANE, to understand the significance of “I fold!”. After that it was a case of finding a letter-O close to an edge and connecting ORIGAMI.

Despite this moment of revelation, today’s search didn’t get any easier – mainly because a crane is the most obvious shape you can make, but also because hundreds of items can be created by folding a square piece of thin paper.

Thankfully, FLOWER and BUTTERFLY were easy to spot, but even though there were only five letters left I still struggled to see HEART (trying “earth” first – maybe you just screw the paper up into a ball).

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, July 20, game #504)

• WRAP
• BIKINI
• SARONG
• TRUNKS
• SANDALS
• SWIMSUIT
• SPANGRAM: BEACH ATTIRE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Indian marathon runner Fauja Singh was 114 years old when he was killed in a hit-and-run.

(Image credit: Vincent Yu)

Taking photos of documents with your phone is an incredibly convenient thing to do. But you know what would be better? Being able to convert those photos into PDFs, recognise the letters on the page, turn them into selectable and editable text, and more.

Now most phones come with a document scanning app that allows you to do some of that, but why not try an app that does it all, like Adobe Scan can?

Adobe Scan: Pricing & plans

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• A free app is always enticing, but as expected, the best features are locked behind a paywall. The good news is if you already pay for Creative Cloud, those premium features will be unlocked immediately, otherwise, you’ll have to pay the Adobe Piper

Adobe Scan is free. You can download and install it with ease. You will need an Adobe ID though, which is free too, and you’ll have to log in before you can use Adobe Scan. If you already have another Adobe app on your device, you’ll be automatically logged into your Adobe account when you first launch Adobe Scan.

One thing worth mentioning, is as you’ll be using your phone’s camera through this app, you’ll need to grant it permission to do so first. If you’ve had to do this for other apps, the process is exactly the same: you’ll get a message asking you to ‘Allow’ the app access. Once you’ve done it once, you won’t need to do it again.

Adobe Scan will also ask you for permission to send you notifications messages. This one is less crucial, and you could easily use the app without ever having granted it that capability. Your mileage may vary of course, but don’t we already have far too many notifications on our phones as it is?

Now free Adobe Scan might be, but its more advanced features only come with a subscription. These features include being able to combine files, export to other formats, password protect your files, edit text in scanned documents, and high-speed scanning, among others. Yes, the coolest features are locked behind a paywall. Now if you already have a subscription to Creative Cloud, those features will be unlocked automatically. On its own, Adobe Scan’s premium side will cost you $10 a month (with a free 7-day trial available).

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Scan: Interface

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• A simple and well-organized interface with a ridiculously frustrating bug that lets the whole thing down

Adobe Scan’s main interface looks for all the world as a camera app, aside from the various options at the bottom of the screen, which aim to facilitate the type of information you wish to scan. Each is pretty self explanatory. You have Whiteboard, Book, Document, ID Card and Business Card. Each uses the tools in different ways, which we’ll look at further down.

Top left is a ‘Home’ button which takes you to your library of previously scanned documents. This is also where you get to edit the text contained within those documents, and share and export them.

Simple and straightforward enough, although bear in mind this app only works in portrait. Change the phone’s orientation and nothing happens to the interface. Although you can of course take photos in landscape, there is a puzzling and frustrating restriction when in ‘Book’ mode. That option allows you to take the facing pages of a book at the same time, lining up an overlay so you can be sure to capture the left page and the right page as best as possible based on its guides…

Except the overlay restricts you to holding your phone with the camera button on the right. Turn your phone so that button’s on the left and the result is a mess with upside down pages saved in the wrong order which you’ll have to fix manually later. An irritating bug - or is it a feature to primarily annoy left-handers?

• Score: 3/5

Adobe Scan: Tools

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• Lots of nice touches in the app’s various sections, like it being able to automatically scan a page for you, and the copying and editing of a scanned document’s text is unexpected and a great addition

Despite the flaw mentioned above, Adobe Scan is a well organised app, and separating the various functions makes sense when scanning a document. ‘Book’ works well (when your phone is forced in the right orientation) and the app cuts your image into two based on the vertical overlay line in the middle - so make sure your book’s spine is placed in that general area as well. ‘ID Card’ expects the card you’re scanning to have text on both sides, and then combines both shots into a single file for convenience. And ‘Business Card’ will create a new contact for you and place it in your address book, should you want it to.

By default, Adobe Scan will take a shot automatically for you once you’ve positioned your camera over the document correctly, which can help you scan multiple pages in quick succession (although we also ended up having shots of us turning a page if we weren’t quick enough - something we had to fix later). However, you can also override that and take a shot manually yourself.

When it comes to editing, Adobe Scan has a wealth of tools. From the basics, such as deleting unwanted pages, or reordering them, to more intricate features such as cleaning up an image, adjusting its brightness and contrast, and erasing unwanted parts of a photo with a ‘magic eraser’ which will attempt to fill the removed area with the same surrounding background.

You also have a markup tool for quick hand drawn annotations, but perhaps the app’s most impressive tools are its OCR capabilities. When you’re in the ‘Edit Text’ mode, Adobe Scan automatically detects the text on the page, and not only does it allow you to copy it, you can also alter the original content, even changing the font, colour and alignment. Being able to password protect your scanned document is also possible, as is the ability to fill in a scanned form and sign it.

All in all, Adobe Scan makes use of many of Acrobat’s premium features, but allows you to take advantage of them on the go, directly from your phone. It’s not perfect and has some frustrating interface decisions, but overall it’s darn good at what it does.

• Score: 4/5

Should I buy Adobe Scan?

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

Buy it if...

You take a lot of photos of documents, receipts, books, etc, love the idea of copying and editing text from a scanned image, and greatly appreciate how free most of the service is.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t like the tease of giving you some features for free but expect you to rent the best ones on a monthly basis, and you’re happy enough with the tools offered by default on your phone.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro: two-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

The GuliKit Elves 2 Pro is heavily inspired by the Sega Saturn gamepad, yet it’s embellished with enough modern-day features to make it playable with today’s games and platforms.

Its soft curves look good, as did the colorway I had, with its retro off-white base and multicolored accents. It’s also available in all-black, which lends it a more menacing appearance.

Its shape is more than just for show: it also helps with ergonomics. It fitted the contours of the hand very well, and I found the pronounced dips housing the face buttons and D-pad made it easy to use those inputs.

However, the small overall size of the Elves 2 Pro, coupled with the short length of handles, might deter those who prefer something more substantial. In this regard, the Elves 2 Pro falls short of the best PC controllers.

The build quality, on the other hand, is level with those gamepads. The chassis feels sturdy, and all the buttons are solid yet easy to press. The analog sticks are of a similarly high standard, although they’re shallower and have a smaller traveling circumference than many other modern controllers.

Despite the lack of customization software, there are a surprising number of tweaks you can make on the fly. There’s a settings button that’s used in conjunction with other buttons to adjust various parameters, such as stick sensitivity, D-pad modes, and the Motion Aim Assist.

In action, the Elves 2 Pro performs better than its looks might lead you to believe. The buttons are snappy and responsive, although they’re less damped than you might expect, but satisfying nonetheless. The D-pad is the real highlight, with its thick, circular design allowing for precise inputs and easy rolls without mis-presses – aspects that make it great for fighting games.

Despite their small size, the analog sticks are also a joy to use, with plenty of tactility and accuracy. When I tested the Elves 2 Pro on my Nintendo Switch, I also found the motion controls to be very accurate, although the tracking was worse when using the Motion Aim Assist mode in PC games.

Connectivity is good, and the Bluetooth seemed reliable. Switching between various devices on the fly can be a bother, though, requiring re-pairing at times. Battery life is admirable, lasting for several days in my experience.

The Elves 2 Pro sits somewhere in the middle of the third-party wireless controller market. However, it’s a little disappointing that it lacks certain common features, such as analog triggers, 2.4GHz connectivity, and companion software.

There are better value rivals that offer greater versatility, but if you want a good balance between retro design and modern performance, the Elves 2 Pro is a fine example in the space.

(Image credit: Future)GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: Price and availability

• $49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)
• Available now in two colorways
• Middling value compared to rivals

The GuliKit Elves 2 Pro costs $49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76) and is available now in two colorways: Retro and Black. It comes with a USB-C cable for charging.

This is a middling price for a wireless third-party controller. The multiplatform support is nice to have at this price point, but it’s a shame there are no analog triggers, no 2.4.GHz option, and no software.

You can find more controllers for the same price or less with more features. The GameSir Cyclone 2, for instance, has superior TMR sticks and Hall effect analog triggers, as well as both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity options. It also has a shape similar to the best Xbox controllers, which means it should accommodate more hand sizes.

If you want a gamepad with even more retro appeal, though, Retro-Bit’s Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is probably the better pick. This costs about the same as the Elves 2 Pro, but has the advantage of 2.4GHz connectivity, and it even works with the original Sega Saturn console.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: specs

Price

$49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)

Dimensions

5.8 x 3.4 x 1.8in / 147 x 87 x 45mm

Weight

6.7oz / 190g

Compatibility

PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C)

Battery life

About 20 hours

Software

None

(Image credit: Future)GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: design and features

• Retro looks
• Small with short handles
• Surprising number of on-board tweaks

The Elves 2 Pro leans heavily into the retro aesthetic, aping the Sega Saturn controller from 30 years ago. I liked the finish of my review unit, with its off-white base offset nicely by the red shoulder buttons and multicolored face buttons. An all-black colorway is also available, though, if you’d prefer something a bit more menacing.

It’s also just as small as an old controller, which might be a problem for larger hands. I found the handles too short to get a sufficient grip on them, which contrasts drastically with many modern controllers. The diminutive size does at least help with portability, and so does the lightweight construction.

Thankfully, the Elves 2 Pro has plenty of modern touches to redress the balance: the layout is fit for contemporary games, complete as it is with two analog sticks and two shoulder buttons. However, the triggers lack analog capability, which keeps the Elves 2 Pro somewhat rooted in the past – although Nintendo fans won’t be phased by this omission.

Overall build quality is impressive. Despite its light frame, the Elves 2 Pro feels sturdy, while the buttons are solid yet light to press. I also liked the craters on either side housing the face buttons and D-pad, which make for more comfortable thumb placement.

(Image credit: Future)

The analog sticks feel premium, and their soft coating helps with grip. They’re smaller and shallower than those on many other controllers, but I found them to be a good fit for my thumbs nonetheless.

There are a few buttons related to connectivity, which are clear and easy to use. There’s a pairing button on the front and a selector switch on the back to choose the appropriate platform for the Elves 2 Pro to work with.

There’s also a settings button on the front that works in combination with other buttons to give you access to an admirable number of tweaks. You can alter stick sensitivity and vibration modes, as well as swap the A and B buttons with X and Y, and toggle the D-pad between four- or eight-direction mode.

You can also adjust parameters for the Motion Aim Assist on PC and set up Continuous Fire mode. What’s more, there’s a dedicated button on the pad for the Auto Pilot Gaming (APG) mode, which is GuliKit’s name for its macro function. You can record 10 minutes-worth of inputs, which is quite astonishing, by holding this button for three seconds, and playback the sequence by pressing the same APG button. Double-tapping the button lets you play back the macro on a continuous loop.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: performance

• Snappy and responsive buttons
• Excellent D-pad
• Inconsistent device switching

The overall performance of the Elves 2 Pro is pretty good. The face buttons are responsive and satisfying to use, despite their lack of dampening relative to many other controllers.

The sticks also feel as smooth and as accurate as you would expect given their Hall effect technology, and I personally didn’t find their small size and confined travel an issue – but hardcore console FPS fans might feel differently.

However, it’s the D-pad that stands out most on the Elves 2 Pro. Personally, I usually prefer pronged hats rather than circular ones, as I tend to find them more accurate and less prone to unintended inputs.

But the Elves 2 Pro’s are an exception, as it allows for easy multi-directional rolls while maintaining high levels of accuracy, which I certainly welcomed when playing Tekken 8. It's also well-damped and has a light actuation, which makes it effortless to use.

I also found the motion controls to be excellent when playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Switch, matching the performance of the best Nintendo Switch controllers in this department. You can also turn on motion controls when playing PC games by activating the Motion Aim Assist mode.

(Image credit: Future)

This allows the gyroscope to replace right stick movements when either L or ZL is held (your typical aim-down-sights buttons). However, when I played Atomfall on PC, the motion controls failed to track with anything like the same levels of accuracy as when using motion controls on Switch.

The Elves 2 Pro’s lack of 2.4GHz connectivity might deter those after pro-level performance, since this standard generally provides better response times. However, I can’t say I experienced any notable lag over Bluetooth with this gamepad, on any platform.

Connecting to various systems is also easy. I had no issues pairing the Elves 2 Pro to my Nintendo Switch or PC. It also connected to my Android phone with the same ease as the best mobile controllers.

Hot-swapping between PC and Switch was also a cinch, requiring a mere flick of the underside selector switch. However, switching between my phone and Switch for some reason proved more onerous, as I had to re-pair the Elves 2 Pro with my Switch. Thankfully, due to the aforementioned pairing process, this isn’t too bothersome, but it’s an aspect worth pointing out all the same.

The battery life of the Elves 2 Pro is admirable, lasting several days according to my testing. GuliKit claims it can last up to 20 hours, and I’m inclined to believe this figure.

Should I buy the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro?Buy it if...

You’re feeling nostalgic
The retro charm of the Elves 2 Pro is appealing, but it’s still modern enough to cut it with today’s games.

You want a great D-pad
The floating, circular D-pad is a joy to use and offers precise and rapid inputs – vital when playing fighters.

Don't buy it if...

You have large hands
While the Elves 2 Pro is pleasingly ergonomic in some regards, the small size and short grips might be a problem for those who want more of a handful.

You want more features
With no 2.4GHz connectivity, no analog triggers, and no software, the Elves 2 Pro might not be enough for more serious gamers or those who play a diverse range of genres.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro Controller if it doesn't sound right for you:

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro

GameSir Cyclone 2

Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller

Price

$49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)

$49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79

$49.99 / £44.99 (around AU$78)

Dimensions

5.8 x 3.4 x 1.8in / 147 x 87 x 45mm

6.1 x 4.1 x 2.5in / 156 x 103 x 63mm

5.91 x 3.54 x 1.18in / 150 x 90 x 30mm

Weight

6.7oz / 190g

8.1oz / 229g

13.8oz / 390g

Compatibility

PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile

PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS

PC, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C)

Wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz), wired (USB-C)

Wireless (2.4GHz, V2 for Sega Saturn), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

20 hours

10 hours

15-20 hours

Software

None

GameSir Connect

None

GameSir Cyclone 2
For about the same price as the Elves 2 Pro (or even less in some territories), you could get the Cyclone 2 instead. This has TMR sticks, Hall effect analog triggers, a 2.4GHz option (in addition to Bluetooth), and software for customizing just about every parameter you can think of. Its D-pad might not be as sophisticated, but with all these features, it represents great value.

Read our full GameSir Cyclone 2 review

Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller
If you want to go full-retro, then the Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is the pad for you. Not only does it have the looks of its namesake, it also has the same layout, which includes no less than six face buttons. You do get two analog sticks as a concession to modernity, though, as well as 2.4GHz connectivity.

Read our full Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller review

How I tested the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro

• Tested for several days
• Played on multiple platforms
• Extensive controller experience

I tested the Elves 2 Pro for several days, during which time I used it to play multiple games on various platforms.

I played Tekken 8 on PC, which provides a stern test for D-pads and the overall responsiveness of inputs. On Nintendo Switch, I played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which I used to test the motion controls, among other inputs. I played Atomfall on PC to test the Motion Aim Assist mode, and I played Alien: Isolation on my Google Pixel 7a to test the Elves 2 Pro’s mobile gaming credentials.

I’ve been gaming for decades across all manner of platforms, from retro consoles to the modern PC. I have experienced a number of controllers during this time, and have reviewed a diverse selection of them, too.

• First reviewed July 2025
• Read more about how we test

• More folding iPhone details have leaked
• We have more hints about pricing and battery capacity
• The phone could launch next year

We're getting closer and closer to the foldable iPhone being a real rather than a rumored device, and new leaks suggest that the handset is going to set two records for Apple's smartphone series to date.

These leaks come from tipster Dingzhuo Digital and Mydrivers (via Wccftech). Bear in mind that we are relying on Google Translate here – and that nothing is certain until Apple makes the device official (which will probably be next year).

First up, the folding iPhone is apparently going to have the largest battery of any iPhone to date, with this leak putting the capacity at 5,000-5,500 mAh. For comparison, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max that launched last September packs in a 4,685 mAh battery.

We'll have to see how that works out in terms of actual battery life between charges. The foldable iPhone will of course have two screens that need powering, and a larger screen to light up when unopened (which could be 7.74 inches, corner to corner).

Paying the price

The latest Samsung foldable: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The second part of this leak is the pricing of this device, and it's no surprise that the foldable iPhone is set to be the most expensive iPhone in history – far exceeding the starting price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is set at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149.

This leak puts the price at more than 15,000 yuan in China. That works out as $2,090 / £1,560 / AU$3,205 with a rough currency conversion at today's rates, but those are unlikely to be the final figures Apple settles on internationally.

Previous rumors have put the price of the folding iPhone somewhere between $1,800 and $2,500, depending on which tipsters and analysts you want to believe. Whatever the final figure ends up being, you're certainly going to have to pay a lot for this phone.

Before we get the folding iPhone though, we're going to get the iPhone 17 series, which will include the iPhone 17 Air in place of the iPhone 16 Plus. If Apple sticks to its usual schedule, we should see those handsets in September.

You might also like

• Apple's iPhone Fold is tipped to be an annual release
• We're getting closer to a folding iPhone launch
• The Z Fold 8 could match the foldable iPhone in this way

• Hackers launched attacks just one day after the flaw’s full technical write-up was made public
• Many servers stayed vulnerable for weeks despite a fix being released long before the disclosure
• Null byte injection in the username field lets attackers bypass login and run Lua code

Security researchers have confirmed attackers are actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in Wing FTP Server, a widely used solution for managing file transfers.

Researchers at Huntress say the flaw identified as CVE-2025-47812 was disclosed publicly on June 30, and exploitation began almost immediately, just a day later.

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE), enabling attackers to run code as root or SYSTEM on vulnerable servers.

Wing FTP Server remains vulnerable in unpatched systems

Wing FTP Server is deployed across enterprise and SMB environments, and it is used by more than 10,000 organizations globally, including high-profile clients such as Airbus, Reuters, and the US Air Force.

The vulnerability exists in versions 7.4.3 and earlier and has been patched in version 7.4.4, which was released on May 14, 2025.

Despite the fix being available for over a month, many users remained unpatched when technical details were made public.

Security researcher Julien Ahrens, explained the issue stems from improper input sanitization and unsafe handling of null-terminated strings.

The weakness allows a null byte injected in the username field to bypass authentication and insert malicious Lua code into session files.

These files, when deserialized by the server, trigger code execution at the highest system level.

One attacker created malicious session files that used certutil and cmd.exe to fetch and execute remote payloads.

Although the attack was ultimately unsuccessful, thanks in part to Microsoft Defender, researchers noted that the intruders attempted to escalate privileges, perform reconnaissance, and create new users to maintain persistence.

Another attacker reportedly had to look up how to use curl mid-attack, and one even involved a second party during the operation.

This shows the persistence of attackers who are likely scanning for exposed Wing FTP instances, including those running outdated versions.

Even if attackers lacked sophistication, the vulnerability remains highly dangerous.

Researchers recommend upgrading to version 7.4.4 immediately, but where updates aren’t possible, disabling HTTP/S access, removing anonymous login options, and monitoring session file directories are essential mitigation steps.

Three additional vulnerabilities were reported: one enabling password exfiltration through JavaScript, another exposing system paths via an overlong cookie, and a third highlighting the server's lack of sandboxing.

While these pose serious risks, CVE-2025-47812 has received the highest severity rating due to its potential for complete system compromise.

Via The Register and BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Here's a list of the best firewalls around today
• These are the best endpoint security tools right now
• Data of all 6.5 million Co-op members stolen - CEO says she is 'incredibly sorry'

The WITHit Giga does the basics for a lot less, but at the expense of accuracy and attention to detail.

Marvel’s First Family is primed to light up the silver screen starting on July 25, 2025 in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the fifth attempt at a live-action Hollywood transformation for the comic book icons, this time as a retro-futuristic affair starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach and directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision).

Attempts at its adaptation as a Hollywood feature film since the unreleased Roger Corman-led movie in 1994 and the last version being director Josh Trank’s 2015 disaster have had a poor track record, with each successive effort failing miserably to capture the spirit, heart and style of The Fantastic Four. But one of the most satisfying ways to experience the gamma-ray’d metahuman gang is by engaging with one of the many fun Fantastic Four animation series presented over the years.

The antidote to live-action superhero fatigue or just a warm-up?

(Image credit: Marvel Entertainment Group)

By far the most overlooked example of these flashy cartoon shows is Fantastic Four: The Animated Series. It’s a natural way to gear up for Marvel Studios’ $200 million summer tentpole by absorbing its familial dynamics and splashy fun that skirt the dated humor, primitive character design and sterile backgrounds of Hanna-Barbera’s The Fantastic Four animated series that appeared on Saturday mornings from 1967-68. There was also The New Fantastic Four, a short-lived 1978 series which strangely had no Human Torch and swapped H.E.R.B.I.E. the Robot due to licensing rights and rumored fears that kids might light themselves on fire!

Airing for two “fantastic” seasons starting on September 24,1994 and ending on February 24, 1996, The Fantastic Four: The Animated Series lasted for two 13-episode outings and is currently streaming all 26 chapters on Disney+. It was originally produced by Genesis Entertainment and New World Entertainment, then broadcast in syndication as part of The Marvel Action Hour (aka Marvel Action Universe) with Iron Man taking flight for the first half of the program and The Fantastic Four jumping in to finish with its 22-24 minute episodes.

Who first created the Fantastic Four?

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Conceived by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, this close-knit superhero team dealing with inter-dimensional villains and everyday domestic responsibilities was the House of Idea’s biggest selling title of the decade and even sported the auspicious title of The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine on its cover.

The main lineup of scientific genius Reed Richard (Mister Fantastic), Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing) has been an ongoing roster since their experimental space flight first found themselves peppered with cosmic radiation that was the cause of their uncanny superpowers.

The timeless appeal of the animated classic

Dr. Victor von Doom as seen in Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (Image credit: Marvel Entertainment Group)

Any self-respecting ‘90s-era animated series need a seriously cheesy theme song and Fantastic Four: The Animated Series has that one locked down tight with a goofy anthem that’s even sillier than the tunes written for the original The Karate Kid, but that’s exactly why we love it! We forgive the show for its early campiness.

Written by Ron Friedman, Glen Leopold, Elwin Ransom and a handful of others, and executive produced by Avi Arad, Stan Lee, and Rick Ungar, it showcased everything essential about the Fantastic Four, their messy interpersonal affairs and thrilling crimefighting against notorious foes like Galactus, Doctor Doom, Ego-The Living Planet (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), Silver Surfer, Annihilus, Psycho-Man, Skrulls, Mole Man, Puppet Master, Blastaar and Sub-Mariner.

Fellow comic book heroes that were featured in multiple storylines and cameos throughout the two seasons included The Inhumans, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and many others. Season 2 improved greatly with the arrival of Philippine Animation Studios taking over for Wang Film Productions.

The premiere episode of the debut season is a hoot, with the Fantastic Four recalling their origin story before a studio audience during a taping of Dick Clark’s Scholarship Telethon TV show, with the real Dick Clark actually voicing himself. Subsequent installments all carry the authentic Fantastic Four flair.

Helping to usher in the last golden age of TV cartoons

Black Bolt and Mister Fantastic in Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (Image credit: Marvel Entertainment Group)

Often overshadowed by the quaint charm of the 1967 Hanna-Barbera series, Fantastic Four: The Animated Series often pulled stories from legacy story arcs written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack “King” Kirby with later illustrator John Buscema and other artists who picked up the pen.

In particular, the two-part segment, The Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus, was taken directly from the 1965 comic book event displayed in Fantastic Four #48-50, which was the inspiration for the screenwriters in crafting their own plot for this month's The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Remember that this renaissance of ‘90s animation also brought us X-Men: The Animated Series, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles, so it’s the ideal chance for fans to revisit this nostalgic, highly entertaining, and vastly under-appreciated Fantastic Four cartoon show that many of a certain generation hold dear to their hearts. With its solid vocal cast, smart writing, sharp animation, and vibrant colors, give Fantastic Four: The Animated Series a heroic spin on Disney+!

You might also like

• The Fantastic Four: First Steps is reportedly getting a sequel
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer confirms two of the worst-kept secrets
• Marvel announces The Fantastic Four: First Steps prequel story

LG S95AR soundbar: One minute review

The S95AR with its included accessories (Image credit: Future)

The LG S95AR is the successor to the already great LG S95TR soundbar system. There are a few good improvements, but at a couple of hundred dollars more, it can also seem redundant.

That said, if you don’t already own the LG S95TR, then I can enthusiastically recommend the LG S95AR, as it ranks among the best soundbars available, not to mention one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. This 9.1.5-channel system not only offers incredibly immersive surround sound and spatial audio, but it does so with plenty of power and clarity.

The LG S95AR’s feature set is about as impressive as on any soundbar I’ve tested, with AI Room Calibration that’s good enough to rival Sonos soundbars. On top of all of that, it’s very easy to set up.

I have some small nitpicks with the S95AR, such as its use of basic LED indicators to let you know when the volume or settings have changed instead of having a full LED display. And, of course, its price is going to be prohibitive for a lot of people. But if you can handle the high price, you’ll be impressed.

LG S95AR soundbar review: Price & release date

The S95AR soundbar with its included wireless subwoofer (dog not included) (Image credit: Future)

• Price: $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AU$2,610)
• Released in April 2025

While I wouldn’t call it a soft launch, the LG S95AR Soundbar is currently only available in the US. If you’re located in one of the fifty states (or Puerto Rico and Guam), getting the LG S95AR will set you back a hefty $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610).

The LG S95TR, this model’s predecessor, was also originally available only in the US, but has gone worldwide with a slightly better (but not by much) pricing of $1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$1,699.

Both models come with a large soundbar, two rear speakers with multiple drivers, and a powerful subwoofer. They’re almost exactly the same, except that the S95AR has a redesigned subwoofer and better integration between the soundbar system and LG TVs. Oh, and there’s a new app, but more on that later.

LG S95AR soundbar review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm); subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 in (200 x 406 x 404mm); rear speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 in (160 x 223.5 x 142mm)

Speaker channels

9.1.5

Connections:

2x HDMI (1 with eARC), optical, digital, Bluetooth, USB type-A

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

Features

4K @ 120Hz passthrough, Wi-Fi Streaming, Voice assistant support, AI room calibration, LG WOW Orchestra, LG WOW Interface, WOW Cast

LG S95AR soundbar review: Features

Ports include two HDMI (one with eARC/ARC) and optical digital (Image credit: Future)

• First-party features for LG TVs
• Wi-Fi Streaming and Alexa/Google Assistant support
• AI Room Calibration

There are several features of the S95AR that only owners of compatible LG TVs can access, which I wasn’t able to test with my non-LG TV. (You can tell which ones they are, because they start with the prefix “WOW.”) WOW Orchestra, for instance, combines an LG TV’s speakers with the LG S95AR for an even more immersive audio experience. And the WOW interface allows you to use one remote to control the soundbar’s functions as well as the TV’s via an onscreen interface. Lastly, WOW Cast lets you make a lossless wireless audio connection between the soundbar and specific LG TVs.

Luckily, there are plenty of features still accessible for non-LG TV owners. Wi-Fi streaming via Apple AirPlay 2 is available, as is Alexa and Google Assistant support. There are some gaming-related features as well, such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), as well as 4K, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support on the HDMI passthrough port.

Along with supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the LG S95AR can handle high-resolution audio, making this soundbar as capable of giving an immersive listening experience for music as it is for movies. There’s even what LG calls Smart Up-mixing that utilizes all the speakers for stereo audio playback.

What really puts the LG S95AR over the top in the feature department is its AI Room Calibration Pro, which I also appreciated when I reviewed the LG S95TR. Using LG’s app, you sit in the ideal listening spot (most likely your couch), and the soundbar will send out test tones. The app then measures the response and calibrates the soundbar’s audio output for your room. It’s pretty cool!

After calibration, the soundbar’s “AI Sound Pro Mode” will reflect the calibration. Speaking of sound modes, all the usual suspects are here, such as Cinema, Sports, etc., but the two I like to highlight are Night Mode and Clear Voice Mode. Both work very well, with Night mode compressing the audio to limit spikes without losing sound fidelity and Clear Voice mode pushing the dialogue level without distorting the frequency range, something that often happens with these types of modes.

Most of these features are only accessible through LG’s control app, which is fairly easy to navigate. You can even individually adjust the volume of the rear speakers, subwoofer, upward-firing speakers, and the center channel here. My only real gripe is that there’s only a three-band EQ for adjusting audio to taste.

• Features score: 5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Performance

The system's rear speakers feature left, right, and upward-firing drivers for Atmos height effects (Image credit: Future)

• Sound is a little mid-forward, but clear
• Incredibly immersive soundstage
• Stereo upmixing to all channels

The S95AR’s sound quality is very, very good – only the most nitpicky audiophiles will find some fault with it. I consider myself audiophile-adjacent, and the only issue I could hear is that its midrange was just a bit forward-sounding. Of course, there is a three-band EQ in the app to help with that.

That said, the midrange is generally well-balanced. This is particularly true with dialogue. You can enhance dialogue, either by turning up the center channel level or using the dialogue mode in the app, but I never really felt the need to. Whether it was when watching a scene from The Batman or Deadpool &Wolverine, or playing a game like Dead Rising 2 where the main character is often talking while a lot of various audio elements (well, zombies) are occupying sonic space, dialogue was consistently clear.

The S95AR’s bass is nice and present. At default settings, it has that “you can feel it before you can hear it” effect, so it blends in nicely with the rest of the frequency range. When watching a blockbuster like Deadpool & Wolverine, there’s a lot of low-end information since half of every set is exploding, but even without turning the subwoofer up and having the soundbar set at a modest volume, I could sense the impact of everything and anything that is supposed to go boom.

The high-end also resolves nicely so that I didn’t miss any details, whether watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a game.

As far as the S95AR’s soundstage goes, it was just as immersive as when I reviewed the S95TR. The surround sound works perfectly – I was a bit unnerved to hear zombies behind me when I booted up Dead Rising 2 – and the upward firing speakers give all the audio elements a sense of height along with the left to right and front to back directionality. It’s quite the experience.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Design

LG's sub has a 8-inch side-firing woofer that’s helped along with a forward-facing port, which helps with bass extension and output (Image credit: Future)

• Soundbar is fairly large
• Wireless connectivity
• Basic LED indicator display

The LG S95AR is not a small soundbar, and that’s without getting into the fact that this is a four-piece system. The main soundbar is almost fifty inches wide with ten drivers in it – three of them pointing up for Dolby Atmos height effects – and requires a fairly large entertainment console to properly hold it.

The rear speakers are sizable as well, but there’s a good reason for that. Unlike most rear speakers, these don’t have just one driver. They use three – one slightly angled to the right of the speaker, one to the left, and one out of the top for spatial audio or Dolby Atmos effects.

The subwoofer houses an 8-inch side-firing woofer that’s helped along with a forward-facing port, which helps with bass extension and output.

A nice design feature is that all units have recessed power ports with angled power cables so that everything looks flush when installed. Soundbar connections, meanwhile, include optical digital, two HDMI (one of which supports Dolby Vision HDR passthrough), and a USB port.

The soundbar does have a set of capacitive buttons so that everything looks clean, but you can still power on the soundbar, change the volume, change inputs, connect Bluetooth, or enable Wi-Fi (necessary for pairing to the app) without using the remote.

I also want to mention that, like the S95TR before it, there is no display other than three LED indicator lights on the right side of the soundbar that light up and change color depending on what you’re doing, whether it’s adjusting the volume or changing to Bluetooth connectivity.

Speaking of the remote, it has a good feel in the hand and comes with a decent set of controls, though it’s not as robust as the app. Since the soundbar itself just has the three indicator lights, cycling through certain settings via the remote, like different sound modes, is somewhat of a guessing game.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Setup & usability

The S95AR's remote lets you control basic functions, but more advanced ones are only available in LG's app (Image credit: Future)

• Removing the various pieces from the box takes the longest
• Physical setup is incredibly easy
• Mounting brackets included

The S95AR comes in a big box. It takes a minute to get all the pieces out as they’re very well packed, with the rear speakers and subwoofer bound in recyclable packing material. But getting all the pieces out of the box (and putting the box away) is the most time-consuming part of the whole setup process. I would estimate it probably took me about 10 minutes at most.

Connecting the soundbar to the TV via the included HDMI cable and power, and then connecting the various other speakers to power (remember, they’re all wireless) took half that time. And, since the rear speakers and subwoofers are paired out of the box, there was no other physical setup besides placing the included batteries into the remote.

I did have to go through one more step, which is connecting the app to the soundbar system. It does take an additional 5 to 10 minutes, but it is mostly just following instructions on a screen. This is a necessary step, however, as the remote can't access all the features and fine-tuning capabilities found in the app.

If you want to wall-mount the soundbar and rear speakers, LG has helpfully included brackets and screws for both without an extra charge.

• Setup & usability score: 5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Value

All speakers in the system feature recessed power ports for neat installation (Image credit: Future)

• Similar-specced soundbars come with similar price tags
• Building out a home theater sound system probably costs more
• Cheaper surround sound and Dolby Atmos systems available

With a price tag of $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610), the LG S95AR is expensive. However, that’s par for the course for a flagship soundbar system. The Samsung Q990D, for instance, retailed for $1,799 / £1,699 / AU$1,995 when first released and covers a lot of the same ground, being a feature-filled 11.1.4-channel system.

Of course, building out an actual home theater setup with individual speakers is probably going to cost even more if you get decent speakers. That said, there are cheaper options if you want surround sound and Dolby Atmos, such as the Hisense AX5125H. Being a 5.1.2-channel system, it is not as robust as the LG S95AR, but it goes for a much, much cheaper $299 / £349 (roughly AU$449). Of course, you’re giving up a lot in terms of features as well

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the LG S95AR soundbar?

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Even if you can’t use the features that only work with LG TVs, there’s a lot to take advantage of, including AI Room Calibration

5 / 5

Performance

The sound quality is immersive and clear, with plenty of low-end rumble

5 / 5

Design

Big, with lots of drivers, including upward-firing ones on the rear speakers. Unfortunately, the LED display is very limited

4.5 / 5

Setup & usability

Easy to set up and quick, too, though you’ll need to use an app to get at more sophisticated setup functions

.5 / 5

Value

Expensive, but priced in line with other flagship soundbar systems

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want immersive audio
With seventeen drivers pointing every which way, the sound on the LG S95AR is very immersive, even with stereo audio, thanks to stereo up-mixing.

You’re looking for lots of features
Just about every feature one could want is provided on this soundbar. The AI Room Calibration is great, but so are the various sound modes, Wi-Fi Streaming, and Alexa and Google Assistant support.

You need easy
As much as this soundbar is capable of, it’s also easy to set up and easy to use. You can probably get it fully set up in 20 minutes.

Don't buy it if...

You’re looking for value
I don’t necessarily think the LG S95AR is overpriced, but it’s not cheap, and it’s not really a value proposition. If you’re trying to stretch your cash, there are other options that are cheaper.

You’re not in the US
At the time of writing (June 2025), the S95AR is only available in the US. Luckily, the S95TR is very close in most aspects and is available in other territories.

LG S95AR soundbar review: Also consider

LG S95AR soundbar

Samsung HW-Q990D

Hisense AX5125H

Price

$1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610)

$1,799 / £1,699 / AU$1,995 

$299 / £349 (roughly AU$449)

Dimensions (w x h x d)

Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm); subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 in (200 x 406 x 404mm); rear speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 in (160 x 223.5 x 142mm)

Soundbar: 1309.0 x 595.0 x 277.0 mm (51.3 x 23.4 x 10.9 in), Subwoofer: 220.0 x 413.0 x 410.0 mm (8.6 x 16.2 x 16.1 in), Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5 x 7.9 x 5.5 in)

Soundbar: 36.2 x 18.8 x 3.5 in (920 x 478 x 90mm); Subwoofer: 8.5 x 12.3 x 11.9 in (210.5 x 310 x 300mm); Satellites: 3.6 x 5.7 x 4.3 in (90.1 x 140.5 x 110mm)

Speaker channels

9.1.5

11.1.4

5.1.2

Connections

2x HDMI (1 with eARC), optical digital audio, USB type-A

11.1.4

1x HDMI Out (eARC), 1x HDMI in, optical, USB, 3.5mm AUX

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Samsung HW-Q990D
If you want a powerful, all-encompassing surround sound and Dolby Atmos-equipped soundbar, the Samsung HW-Q990D has about as much going for it as the LG S95AR. Like the LG soundbar, it’s also a bit pricey and has an obscured LED display.

Read our full Samsung Q990D review

Hisense AX5125H
The Hisense AX5125H is a fraction of the price of the LG S95AR, and that is probably the main reason to consider this 5.1.2 system over something more robust. It’s still immersive with clear dialogue and punchy bass, but it is much more limited when it comes to features.

Read our full Hisense AX5125H review

How I tested the LG S95AR soundbar

The S95AR's indicator lights offer basic control feedback, but a front-panel alphanumeric display would have been a better option (Image credit: Future)

• I used the LG S95AR Soundbar for several weeks
• Tested with both TV, movies, and music

I used the LG S95AR Soundbar regularly for several weeks with TV, movies, and music. I listened to the different sound modes and I tested the various features.

As has been hopefully expressed in the review, this is a powerful, immersive soundbar that does a very good job of offering an immersive home theater experience and should work for anyone with the budget for it who wants the convenience of a soundbar.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: July 2025

A new report from the group Common Sense Media shows teens are experimenting with AI "companions" designed to provide deep conversations and advice.

The government of the tiny African kingdom of Lesotho has declared a two-year state of disaster, as its once-thriving garment industry unravels in the wake of Trump's tariffs threats.

(Image credit: Per-Anders Pettersson)

It’s been a long seven-ish years since Bethesda presented The Elder Scrolls 6 trailer in 2018 at what was then E3. Yet in the subsequent years, we’ve heard precious little about the next Elder Scrolls game. Of course, we’ve had Starfield to fill that gap, which no doubt ate into the resources Bethesda had to commit to The Elder Scrolls 6.

Yet despite a lot of work on the game, and the Shattered Space expansion, while our Starfield review put a decent amount of praise on the ambitious space exploration game, it failed to have the impact, both initial and lasting, as The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim; that game has been updated, expanded, tweaked, and relaunched on numerous platforms to the extent of being a meme.

And while Bethesda itself evolved more into a publisher, as well as still running its own studio, there’s an argument that we need a new Elder Scrolls game to really pull the developer back into the gaming narrative, rather than see it as a company that’s been absorbed into the behemoth that is Microsoft Gaming.

No sweetroll update

Like BioWare before it, changes in ownership have arguably seen Bethesda lose some of its hefty kudos in the gaming world. Now we have the likes of Larian, FromSoftware, CD Projekt Red, and indie outfits like Team Cherry, all garnering gamer galvanization.

While I feel that Bethesda, as a studio, needs to both revitalize and notably evolve its approach to open world games, there’s no doubt a new TES game would have an impact; The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered made a surprise splash, so there’s a lot of scope for TES 6 to do the same but bigger and better.

Yet we’ve not had any update regarding TES 6; we know it’s being worked on and is past the pre-production stage, going by the odd comment from Bethesda frontman Todd Howard. But we’ve got no idea how far into development TES 6 might be.

Maybe naively, I’d hoped for some TES 6 hints at the Xbox Games Showcase last month, but no such luck.

So my own speculation would put TES 6’s launch date somewhere in 2027.

I'd take an arrow to the knee for an update...

Working back from there, I’d say we could expect to see a trailer with game footage sometime in 2026, possibly during next year's summer showcase.

I feel Microsoft needs such a potential big hitter to enthuse potentially beleaguered Xbox fans; Fable might go some way to doing that, but outside of Halo, which has somewhat withered in the vine lately, and Gears of War, there’s arguably not a lot of heavy-hitting IP for Xbox to draw upon as this console generation matures. I don’t count Call of Duty as that’s more of a multiplatform proposition, and expected year-on-year.

Of course, you could suggest that Microsoft’s approach to making everything playable anywhere is a way to evolve beyond platform/service exclusives. And I’d not argue against that. But I still feel TES 6 has the scope to be one big hurrah for this console generation, even if it comes to PlayStation.

And for Bethesda, if it can innovate beyond the somewhat simplistic mission structure and exploration seen in Starfield, and borrow storytelling-wise from the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 and others, TES 6 could be an exciting return to form for the studio. Just when that return will happen, I have no idea.

You might also like...

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sold me on the PS5 Pro, but I'm still not sure I'd recommend the premium console to everyone just yet
• Me, myself, and I: Alex Jordan on the “mind-boggling” task of voicing every Jan Dolski in The Alters
• This is not a drill: one of the best strategy games ever is free right now – here's how to get it before it's gone

Soaring prices, lagging incomes and burdensome social security payments are the top issues for frustrated, cash-strapped voters. Stricter measures targeting foreign residents and visitors have also emerged as a key issue, with a surging right-wing populist party leading the campaign.

(Image credit: Eugene Hoshiko)

The Paper season 4: key information

- The first four episodes will be released on September 4
- Entirely new cast, except for Oscar Nuñez, who reprises his role
- The plot follows a declining Midwestern newspaper
- There's no official trailer yet

The Paper is Peacock's follow-up to the hit NBC series The Office, a beloved sitcom that is one of my firm favorites. This is our first time diving into this world since 2013, and I am intrigued to see how it will play out.

While set in the same universe as The Office, the creators have confirmed that The Paper is set in a new company, and we've moved out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to a new location.

The Office's Greg Daniels and Late Night with Conan O'Brien's Michael Koman are the ones behind the series, so it looks like it's in good hands.

With The Office being such a hit and a show I quote daily, it'll be interesting to see if The Paper can reach the same highs or, at the very least, be a highly entertaining entry into the mockumentary genre.

Here's everything we know about The Paper so far.

The Paper release date

A post shared by Rotten Tomatoes (@rottentomatoes)

A photo posted by on

The Paper will be exclusively on Peacock, with the first four episodes dropping on September 4. It will then have a weekly release schedule with two episodes arriving until the season finale on September 10.

So those wanting to binge-watch might be disappointed, but it's definitely nice having a double bill to enjoy each week after the show's four-episode premiere.

The Paper trailer speculation

Right now, we don't have an official trailer for The Paper, but we should expect to see it closer to the release date.

When it does drop, it's likely fans will be hopeful that it'll match the quality of its predecessor, so the pressure is on for the new Peacock show. Only time will tell, as we haven't seen any video footage from the show yet.

The Paper confirmed cast

While we don't have a trailer yet, we do know who will be in the cast, and we've got a very familiar face showing up for a new job.

Oscar Nuñez will reprise his role as The Office’s Oscar Martinez, and he's now working in the accounting department at The Truth Teller.

Speaking about his return at an NBCUniversal Upfront, Nuñez said: “I told Mr. Greg Daniels that if Oscar came back, he would probably be living in a more bustling, cosmopolitan city. Greg heard me, and he moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio, which has three times the population of Scranton. So, it was nice to be heard.”

Elsewhere, we've got a brand new cast, including Domhnall Gleeson as a new hire and Sabrina Impacciatore, who is described as the "no nonsense managing editor" of The Truth Teller.

The rest of the newsroom includes Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Ramona Young, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, and Tim Key.

The Paper story synopsis

Confirmed to be set in the same universe as The Office, the same fictional documentary crew that once filmed the lives of Dunder Mifflin employees will now be setting their sights on The Truth Teller.

With that in mind, the new series will follow the everyday chaos at this fictional small-town newspaper. There's big work to be done, though, as the paper's publisher begins recruiting volunteer reporters to try and keep the presses running. A plot has teased that we should expect "all the dysfunction, awkwardness, and heart" that we saw in The Office, which should reassure long-term fans.

Will The Paper return for season 2?

Right now, we don't have any details about a potential season 2 but if that changes we'll be sure to update you.

For now, it's up to season one to make a good first impression so this is likely where Peacock's focus lies.

• Hackers didn’t need Paddy Power and Betfair users’ passwords to start building targeted scams using personal betting activity
• Even without card details, stolen emails and IPs can power highly convincing fraud attempts
• Gamblers are now prime targets for phishing messages tailored to their habits

A major data breach affecting up to 800,000 users of two popular online betting platforms has raised concerns about phishing risks and the role of artificial intelligence in exploiting exposed personal data.

The incident, confirmed by Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of Paddy Power and Betfair, compromised user IP addresses, email addresses, and online activity linked to individual gambling accounts.

Although no passwords or payment details were exposed, cybersecurity experts caution the stolen data could still be used to mount highly targeted attacks.

Passwords are safe, but you need to remain vigilant

Flutter, which operates several major gambling brands including Sky Bet and Tombola, acknowledged the breach and described it as a "data incident" that has since been contained.

The company has told users there is, “nothing you need to do in response to this incident,” although they were advised to remain vigilant.

With 4.2 million average monthly players across its UK and Irish platforms, the exposure of even a fraction of its user base could be serious.

Harley Morlet, chief marketing officer at Storm Guidance, warned those who regularly spend large amounts of money on these sites could be at greater risk.

“With the advent of AI, I think it would actually be very easy to build out a large-scale automated attack,” he told the BBC's Today programme.

“Basically, focusing on crafting messages that look appealing to those gamblers.”

Tim Rawlins, director and senior adviser at the NCC Group, echoed those concerns, urging customers to be wary of emails that reflect their personal betting patterns.

“You might re-enter your credit card number, you might re-enter your bank account details, those are the sort of things people need to be on the lookout for and be conscious of that sort of threat.”

“If it's too good to be true, it probably is a fraudster who's coming after your money,” he added.

Rawlins also stated that AI is making phishing attempts harder to detect, noting a rise in the sophistication of fraudulent emails.

The risk is especially acute in spear phishing campaigns, where stolen data is used to tailor messages that closely mimic legitimate correspondence.

For users now wondering how to protect themselves, relying solely on a free antivirus or even a standard Android antivirus app might not be enough.

While an antivirus solution can block known malware, it’s less effective against cleverly written emails that coax victims into handing over sensitive information themselves.

Instead, a layered approach that includes caution, skepticism, and good cyber hygiene remains the best defense.

You might also like

• These are the best VPNs with antivirus you can use right now
• Take a look at our pick of the best internet security suites
• US Army soldier pleads guilty to hacking telcos, extortion, wire fraud, identity theft

Officials in a Texas hill country community pummeled by deadly flooding July 4 said Saturday that just three people remain missing, down from nearly 100, after people who had previously been reported missing have since been accounted for.

(Image credit: Eric Gay)