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Time was running out to find survivors, as rescuers continued to work in the Kumamoto area on Japan 's southern main island of Kyushu, where the magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Tuesday.

(Image credit: Koji Harada)

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 30, No. 675

CNET was given exclusive access to 11 short films created by Google Labs Flow Sessions resident artists.

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 879 for July 30.

Meta is continuing its push into agentic AI assistants.

• Verizon signs $1 billion dark fiber data center connectivity deal with Google
• The telecoms company plans to use its fiber assets to connect AI data centers across the US
• Fiber network growth is replacing copper lines and activating previously unused dark fiber lines

Verizon has completed a $1 billion deal with Google to provide data center connectivity using pre-existing dark fiber infrastructure. The move appears to be the first of several arrangements to leverage dark fiber and the desire for AI data centers to collaborate on compute tasks.

CEO Dan Schulman highlighted how copper is being ripped out of central offices to replace the outdated cabling with modern fiber to meet AI demand in workplaces. Verizon previously announced its AI Connect initiative, which aims to support AI infrastructure growth, and the Google deal appears to be the first step in that initiative.

Verizon expects its AI Connect deals to grow over the next decade.

Verizon’s renewed momentum

Verizon has made some strong moves in the past few months, completing the $20 billion purchase of Frontier Communications earlier in 2026, giving it an expanded fiber footprint across 31 states (up from 15), as well as Washington, DC.

Meanwhile, the company has also been experimenting with trials to support smaller AI-driven businesses, such as autonomous robotaxi fleets, where Schulman reported (during an earnings call) the company “sold out capability in 24 hours. So we’re seeing a large demand for that as well.”

Focusing on its existing dark fiber infrastructure, some of which was installed in the 1990s and early 2000s, allows Verizon to focus on deals with Google and other AI companies and reduce capital outlays.

Much of the dark fiber has remained largely untapped for years, ending up within Verizon’s portfolio as the result of acquisitions such as the MCI buyout in 2006.

Is a turnaround on the Verizon?

Verizon has undergone a transformation under Schulman, one that could put it in a strong position against T-Mobile and AT&T.

New Street Research’s David Barden observed that Verizon’s recent moves and Q2 results are “adding incremental pressure on T-Mobile and AT&T to defend share rather than take it. It also may suggest that cable's wireless push and cable's own broadband churn is where the next leg of competitive pressure is coming from.”

Beyond the churn of domestic and commercial mobile and broadband, Verizon’s strategy to support the growth of AI data centers seems to be a strong bet.

With more installations being approved and coming online with almost weekly regularity, the $1 billion Google deal would seem to be the first of many, with Verizon in a position to potentially dominate direct fiber links between AI data centers.

Wasn't streaming entertainment much easier when Netflix first pioneered the idea? It had a host of new and classic content to stream on demand, to any device, at any time. It felt like the future, and in many ways it was.

However, the 2026 streaming experience is much more frustrating. Movies and shows are now siloed across a multitude of platforms, run by the likes of Apple, Amazon, HBO, and Disney, as well as Netflix. The cost of keeping up keeps on rising, and even if you sign up to multiple subscriptions, there's no guarantee of finding everything you want.

I had a bit of an epiphany a few weeks ago, when I realized the number of streaming subscriptions I had was into double figures — and I still couldn't find anything I wanted to watch. The dishes the algorithms were serving up weren't particularly appealing, and I was wasting money on services I wasn't using.

With that in mind, I decided to hit cancel on a few of these streaming apps, and go back to Plex: while it does offer a streaming component, it also lets you stream local media across your devices, so you can put together your own Netflix — without necessarily having to pay for another subscription.

How Plex works

Plex runs on a freemium model (Image credit: Plex / Future)

Open the Plex website today, and the service looks a lot like other FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) services, such as Pluto TV or Tubi. You can tune into plenty of shows and movies for free, but if you look closely there's also a My Media section that you can use to build a library from your own files.

Plex can work with video, but also audio and photos. You set up a Windows or macOS computer as a server where all your media lives, and then the software takes care of streaming it to other laptops, desktops, tablets, consoles, and phones. There's a Plex app for just about every device out there, including Android phones and iPhones.

Streaming content around your home is free, and that's enough for me. If you want to watch something remotely while you're away, that's where the subscriptions come into play. They start at $2.99 / £2.99 / AU$4 a month for a single user streaming content over the internet, and go up from there if you need more features (like offline downloads).

Clearly this means you need to have your movies and TV shows in digital form — which is the case with me after years of buying DVDs and Blu-rays. There is some legal uncertainty around ripping these discs, but personally I've got no qualms about creating backups of movies and shows that I've paid good money for, so that I can watch them on my own on more devices more easily.

Getting back into Plex

Sometimes the old shows are the best (Image credit: Plex / Future)

I was a serious Plex user years ago, but haven't opened the app for quite some time: so I was faced with having to find my old media library again, remember my Plex username and password, and get everything set up properly as it was before. Thankfully, my movie and show files were still lurking on my main PC, ready to be used.

Google Password Manager remembered my Plex login details, so it was then a case of downloading the Windows server client and crossing my fingers. On Windows and macOS, the bulk of the app's operations are handled in a browser tab, and I was left waiting for several minutes before I was met with an authentication error. However, after a quick restart, I was back up and running.

(Image credit: Future)

Understandably, Plex hadn't remembered my media library library settings from my last login (which I think was on an entirely different PC), so I had to point it towards the relevant folders on my system again. However, once this was done, the scanning took less time than I expected, and my films and shows soon popped up, ready to be accessed.

There were plenty of old favorites that I haven't watched in years that I was keen to revisit, all free from adverts and subscription fees, and available to any device in any room — you can simply carry on watching where you left off as you jump between devices. Getting back up and running was thankfully very straightforward indeed.

Plex vs the rest

It's like Netflix — but you can customize everything (Image credit: Plex / Future)

I'm happier now with my more Plex-centric setup, but there are pros and cons to it. You need to have your own media, and buying a DVD or Blu-ray can cost as much as a month of Netflix — so it's not always going to save you money, depending on how much new stuff you want to watch. A lot of shows made for streaming won't be available on physical media either, though some are (including Severance and Stranger Things).

What Plex does protect you against is shows or movies suddenly disappearing from digital stores and streaming services. Once you've bought something, you've got it for good. All the big streaming platforms have a rotating library of content that changes month to month, but that's not something you need to worry about with Plex.

Another big advantage is how much customization you get. Whether you want to change the thumbnails used for library titles, or adjust the threshold beyond which a movie stays in your 'continue watching' row, Plex lets you personalize your viewing experience in a host of ways. It's a library that you've actually got control over.

It's fair to say it's not for everyone, and setting Plex up from scratch takes significantly more time and effort than I put in going back to it — you need to do a lot more in the way of media organizing and tagging when you first get started, to get everything just right. However, having mostly abandoned Plex, I'm now glad to have it back amidst the rising prices and changing catalogs that come with the big streaming apps.

KitchenAid KF3: Two-minute review

The KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is the middle child of the company’s 2026 release of a trio of compact bean-to-cup coffee machines, sitting below the KitchenAid KF4 and above the KF2. Because of its slim build, it’s a great option for smaller kitchens, but it can easily service a larger household thanks to four customizable user profiles and a solid selection of over 15 coffee-based drink recipes.

It benefits from KitchenAid’s IntelliGrind system — also featuring on the company’s larger machines like the KF8 and KF6 — that automatically determines the best grind size depending on the beans you pour into the top-mounted hopper. During my testing, I found it consistently delivered a well-extracted and tasty espresso.

The KF3’s automatic milk system uses a hose that you need to place into your own container (the KF4 uses a similar system but includes a container), letting you make a variety of drinks including lattes and cappuccinos. Despite not claiming to work with non-dairy milks, I found it delivered a good level of foam when using a barista-style oat milk.

KitchenAid has given the KF3 a couple of iced coffee recipes too. As with the KF4, and other machines I’ve tested such as the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series, you need to put some ice cubes in your glass or cup first, and KitchenAid claims that the machine will brew espresso at a lower temperature. However, when checking the temperature of a regular shot at 'medium' temperature and an iced-espresso shot with a food-grade thermometer, both registered at around 40ºC / 104ºF, meaning the iced espresso was still hot enough to melt the ice, resulting in a lukewarm and diluted drink.

The other slight niggle I have with the KF3 is that it goes through water quite quickly as it performs a rinse cycle on startup and shutdown. I can understand the latter process to clean out the internals, and the rinsing of the milk hose to keep everything hygienic, but the start-up rinse cycle seemed unnecessary. Fortunately the rear-mounted water tank is quite large at 1.8L, but if you have a larger household or you drink a lot of coffee each day, you'll be refilling it regularly.

Overall, however, the KitchenAid KF3 is a fantastic mid-range automatic espresso machine that’s well made, brews delicious drinks and is ultimately easy to maintain. In fact, I'd say that it does more than enough to compete with the best coffee makers.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)KitchenAid KF3: Specifications

Name

KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

Type

Bean-to-cup

Dimensions (H x W x D)

14.2 x 7.7 x 18.5 inches / 361 x 196 x 470mm

Weight

19.8lbs / 9kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

15

Noise level

72dB grinding, 60dB brewing

User profiles

4

KitchenAid KF3: Price and availability

• Launched in UK and US April 2026, Australia in July 2026
• List price $999.99 / £749 / AU$1,349

The KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine launched first in the UK and US in April 2026, and eventually made its way to Australia in July 2026. It has a list price of $999.99 / £749 / AU$1,349, meaning it’s one of the company’s more affordable machines, while being classified a mid-range option in the grand scheme of things.

Only the lower-spec KF2 is cheaper at $799.99 / £699 / AU$1,099 if you want an automatic machine, while the Semi Automatic Espresso Machine is cheaper still, although that naturally requires a bit more hands-on involvement.

The top-tier model in this latest series, the KF4 ($1,299.99 / £899 / AU$1,599) offers much of the same functionality as the KF3, albeit with a wider selection of recipes, a bigger touch display and ships with a milk carafe.

The similarly specced Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is also worth considering in this price range, with its list price of $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199.

• Value score: 4 / 5

KitchenAid KF3: Design

• Compact size makes it great for smaller spaces
• Milk system is simple to use and clean
• No dishwasher-safe components

At first glance, the KitchenAid KF3 looks very similar to other models in the company’s lineup, from the KF4 and up to the KF8 (there’s currently no KF5). It’s more compact than the KF6-8, but the same size as the KF4 and KF2, at 14.2 x 7.7 x 18.5 inches / 361 x 196 x 470mm (H x W x D), making it easy to slide onto a kitchen counter. And slide it you can, as there are two small wheels on the bottom at the rear, so you can lift from the front and move it forwards and backwards with ease.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Looks-wise, it adopts a similar aesthetic as the rest of its siblings. It’s boxy, with rounded corners, and is available in either Porcelain White or Matte Black. To cut manufacturing costs, KitchenAid has ditched the predominantly metal build of the larger models, replacing it with plastic. It still looks and feels very much a premium product though.

The clearest indicator that lets you know this is the KF3 is the small 2.4-inch / 6cm color display. The KF2 doesn’t have one at all, while the KF4’s color screen is larger and touch enabled. It’s a relatively low-resolution screen compared to the likes of the Philips Café Aromis, but is still bright and clear, and the use of color helps to identify the drink you want to make.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The KF3's display is flanked by 10 touch buttons: four that provide quick access to user profiles, drinks menu, rinsing cycles and machine settings; two to initiate and cancel brewing; and four to cycle forward and back through menu options, return and select.

The top-mounted hopper is large enough to accommodate 250g of coffee beans and, as with the other compact machines in the series, it features a removable opaque lid with a silicone seal. This means you can’t easily see the amount of leftover beans (there’s a clear audible indication if it doesn’t have any to grind) but, then again, the beans aren’t exposed to light and air, keeping them fresher for longer.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

Furthering its benefits for smaller kitchens, the lid is removable rather than hinged means it’s easy to fill the hopper if you have the KF3 positioned under a wall cabinet. There’s also a small chute for pre-ground coffee, and a scoop is included in the box.

The 1.8L water tank slides in and out the rear of the machine and has an integrated handle to make the process simple, although I personally prefer the side-mounted tank on the Philips LatteGo 4400 as it makes refilling a little bit easier. However, the KitchenAid’s tank features a hinged lid, so more often than not I would leave it in place and pour water in from a jug.

KitchenAid supplies a water filter with the KF3 that it says is good for around two months of use. It was initially a little fiddly to install, but the included coffee scoop doubles up as a tool that clips onto the filter, giving you the extra length needed to screw it into place.

The drip tray is deep and extends virtually the full depth of the KF3, and has a large spout at the back for easy emptying. Used coffee grounds are deposited into a removable bin in the center that can be tipped out when full — you'll see a notification on the display when it's time to do so.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The KF3’s milk system uses a silicone hose that connects to the side of the dispenser located on the front of the machine. You need to insert one end of the hose into a small socket, while the other end drops into a tall glass or bottle. KitchenAid offers a sealed container with a double-ended hose as an optional extra for $59.99 / £39 / AU$59, which is included with the KF4 by default.

The KF3 features a thorough rinsing cycle for the hose to ensure it’s kept clean, but note that none of the removable parts are dishwasher safe.

Lastly, the height of the coffee dispenser can be adjusted to suit a variety of cup sizes, including large mugs and tumbler glasses. I found I needed to use a little bit of force to move it, but this is a minor niggle.

• Design score 4.5 / 5

KitchenAid KF3: Performance

• Well-extracted espresso time after time
• Good, but not great, milk foaming
• ‘Iced’ drinks still hot
• Four customizable user profiles

The best thing about the KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is that you can confidently rely on it to deliver an excellent espresso with every use. The IntelliGrind system automatically determines the best grind size depending on your chosen beans to ensure it brews a tasty shot with good crema. I used medium-roast and dark-roast beans during my testing period and I was more than satisfied with the results in each case.

The fact that you don’t have to worry about grind size makes this a fantastic option for coffee novices who aren’t sure how to get the best results. If you're not entirely satisfied, then you'll find a lever hidden behind the side compartment (which provides access to the brewing unit) that you can use to adjust grind size to a finer or coarser level. I ultimately left it at the default setting in the middle.

That being said, the KF3 does give you the option to adjust the strength and body of the espresso. Strength is denoted on a scale of one to three, with the difference being the dose of coffee that’s ground into the brewing head — 7g being the lightest strength and 14g being the strongest.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

You can also select light, medium or strong body, which relates to the rate at which water flows during extraction. A strong-bodied coffee, for example, takes the longest, as the water flows through slowly to extract the most amount of flavor.

You’re also able to adjust the volume of coffee delivered for each drink and the water temperature.

Auto Milk is KitchenAid's milk-foaming system and it works well, although I’m of the opinion that a steam wand will always produce superior results. I was, however, pleased to find that it worked well with plant-based milks, despite not having a dedicated option. Coffee machines that cater specifically to plant-based options, such as the KitchenAid KF8, will heat it to a lower temperature compared to dairy for optimal results.

When I made a cafe latte using a barista-style oat milk, I found the KF3 produced a good level of foam with a silky texture, and at a drinkable temperature. I achieved similarly good results with full-fat dairy.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

There are four user profiles on the KF3 for you and your household to store their own drink preferences. While the KF4 lets you name them, they’re fixed at User Profile 1, 2, 3 and 4 here.

KitchenAid understands that iced drinks are popular, even at home, and has given the KF3 dedicated presets for cold coffees. In theory, the shot the machine dispenses is brewed at a lower temperature, although you do still need to put ice in your cup or glass, but that didn't seem to be the case in reality.

I used a thermometer to measure the temperature of both a regular espresso shot and an iced espresso shot and found them to be similar. The regular shot was around 50ºC when brewed at a medium temperature, while the iced shot was around 45ºC. I conducted this test twice, with the same results both times.

As such, the iced espresso shot was still too hot and melted the cubes in my cup relatively quickly, resulting in a diluted drink. If you like your cold coffees, you'd be better off considering other machines like the De’Longhi Dedica Duo and the Jura J10 that offer proper cold-extracted espresso.

The KF3, like other KitchenAid espresso machines, is QuietMark-certified, indicating it should be whisper-quiet in use. That’s something I can certainly attest to, as I recorded around 70dB while grinding and 60dB when brewing, using the decibelX app on my iPhone and standing next to the machine in a relatively quiet space. That puts it on par with the KF4, although we found the flagship KF8 to be quieter still with an average of 44dB during the entire coffee-making process.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

Keeping the KitchenAid KF3 clean is incredibly simple. Not only does it automatically complete a rinse cycle on startup and shutdown (which, as I mentioned does mean the water tank can empty relatively quickly), but it will also prompt you when it’s time to empty the ground container and drip tray. It will also ask you to rinse the milk system after every use. You can skip this process at first, but when you turn the machine off — or it automatically shuts down after a predetermined amount of time — it won’t do so until the hose has been flushed.

There are further and more thorough cleaning procedures within the settings menu for washing the brewing unit with special cleaners, and a couple of tablets are included in the box. You will need to buy descaler and a milk system cleaner separately.

There’s also an option to evaporate all the water from the system entirely, which my colleague Cat Ellis has previously expressed as being a feature she wishes all automatic espresso machines had. This is particularly useful if you know you’re not going to be using the machine for an extended period of time and keep it hygienically dry for the duration.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the KitchenAid KF3?KitchenAid KF3 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Well-priced considering the features and functionality.

4/5

Design

An attractive design that’s compact enough to suit all kitchens.

4.5/5

Performance

Excellent performance for hot coffee-based drinks, and milk foaming is good. Iced options aren’t quite up to scratch, however.

4/5

Buy it if...

You have a smaller kitchen

The KitchenAid KF3 is compact enough that it should fit into most homes, especially those that are short on space.

You want fuss-free coffee

The KF3 does virtually all of the work for you. All you need to do is select your preferred drink and it will be delivered perfectly each time.

You want value for money

The KitchenAid KF3 is well priced considering its features and the fact it’s from a premium, well-known brand.

Don't buy it if...

You want to really fine tune your coffee

The KF3 has options for adjusting various aspects of a coffee, but if you want to get really hands on, then you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want authentic cold brew

The KitchenAid KF3’s iced coffee options aren’t as cold as they should be, with brewed espresso being hot enough to quickly melt ice.

KitchenAid KF3: Also consider

If you're not sure whether the KitchenAid KF3 is the right espresso machine for you, here are three other options to keep in mind.

Philips Cafe Aromis

This machine is more expensive than the KF3, but the investment is worth it. It brews delicious espresso, has a more legible screen, can brew proper cold-extracted coffee and foam cold milk, and has a genuinely useful app. It’s not available in Australia, however.

Read our full Philips Cafe Aromis review

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

I’ve mentioned this Philips machine several times in this review for good reason. It performs similarly to the KF4 and is equally compact. It too falls short where iced coffee is concerned, and there are only two user profiles, but it can often be found at a cheaper price.

Read my full Philips LatteGo 4400 Series review

Ninja Luxe Café

This bean-to-cup espresso machine can not only make hot coffee drinks, but it can even do drip filter coffee and cold brew. It’s super easy to master and is regularly discounted.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Cafe review

KitchenAid KF3: How I tested

I used the KitchenAid KF3 for two weeks, and having already spent time with the KF4, I was well versed with what to expect from the slightly lesser-specced machine. I prepared a wide range of drinks with and without milk, and used two different styles of coffee beans to test the IntelliGrind feature on the KF3.

I used a barista-style oat milk and full-fat dairy milk to test the automatic milk-foaming system, and ran the machine’s recommended cleaning cycles.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2026

KitchenAid KF3: Two-minute review

The KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is the middle child of the company’s 2026 release of a trio of compact bean-to-cup coffee machines, sitting below the KitchenAid KF4 and above the KF2. Because of its slim build, it’s a great option for smaller kitchens, but it can easily service a larger household thanks to four customizable user profiles and a solid selection of over 15 coffee-based drink recipes.

It benefits from KitchenAid’s IntelliGrind system — also featuring on the company’s larger machines like the KF8 and KF6 — that automatically determines the best grind size depending on the beans you pour into the top-mounted hopper. During my testing, I found it consistently delivered a well-extracted and tasty espresso.

The KF3’s automatic milk system uses a hose that you need to place into your own container (the KF4 uses a similar system but includes a container), letting you make a variety of drinks including lattes and cappuccinos. Despite not claiming to work with non-dairy milks, I found it delivered a good level of foam when using a barista-style oat milk.

KitchenAid has given the KF3 a couple of iced coffee recipes too. As with the KF4, and other machines I’ve tested such as the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series, you need to put some ice cubes in your glass or cup first, and KitchenAid claims that the machine will brew espresso at a lower temperature. However, when checking the temperature of a regular shot at 'medium' temperature and an iced-espresso shot with a food-grade thermometer, both registered at around 40ºC / 104ºF, meaning the iced espresso was still hot enough to melt the ice, resulting in a lukewarm and diluted drink.

The other slight niggle I have with the KF3 is that it goes through water quite quickly as it performs a rinse cycle on startup and shutdown. I can understand the latter process to clean out the internals, and the rinsing of the milk hose to keep everything hygienic, but the start-up rinse cycle seemed unnecessary. Fortunately the rear-mounted water tank is quite large at 1.8L, but if you have a larger household or you drink a lot of coffee each day, you'll be refilling it regularly.

Overall, however, the KitchenAid KF3 is a fantastic mid-range automatic espresso machine that’s well made, brews delicious drinks and is ultimately easy to maintain. In fact, I'd say that it does more than enough to compete with the best coffee makers.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)KitchenAid KF3: Specifications

Name

KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

Type

Bean-to-cup

Dimensions (H x W x D)

14.2 x 7.7 x 18.5 inches / 361 x 196 x 470mm

Weight

19.8lbs / 9kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

15

Noise level

72dB grinding, 60dB brewing

User profiles

4

KitchenAid KF3: Price and availability

• Launched in UK and US April 2026, Australia in July 2026
• List price $999.99 / £749 / AU$1,349

The KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine launched first in the UK and US in April 2026, and eventually made its way to Australia in July 2026. It has a list price of $999.99 / £749 / AU$1,349, meaning it’s one of the company’s more affordable machines, while being classified a mid-range option in the grand scheme of things.

Only the lower-spec KF2 is cheaper at $799.99 / £699 / AU$1,099 if you want an automatic machine, while the Semi Automatic Espresso Machine is cheaper still, although that naturally requires a bit more hands-on involvement.

The top-tier model in this latest series, the KF4 ($1,299.99 / £899 / AU$1,599) offers much of the same functionality as the KF3, albeit with a wider selection of recipes, a bigger touch display and ships with a milk carafe.

The similarly specced Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is also worth considering in this price range, with its list price of $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199.

• Value score: 4 / 5

KitchenAid KF3: Design

• Compact size makes it great for smaller spaces
• Milk system is simple to use and clean
• No dishwasher-safe components

At first glance, the KitchenAid KF3 looks very similar to other models in the company’s lineup, from the KF4 and up to the KF8 (there’s currently no KF5). It’s more compact than the KF6-8, but the same size as the KF4 and KF2, at 14.2 x 7.7 x 18.5 inches / 361 x 196 x 470mm (H x W x D), making it easy to slide onto a kitchen counter. And slide it you can, as there are two small wheels on the bottom at the rear, so you can lift from the front and move it forwards and backwards with ease.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Looks-wise, it adopts a similar aesthetic as the rest of its siblings. It’s boxy, with rounded corners, and is available in either Porcelain White or Matte Black. To cut manufacturing costs, KitchenAid has ditched the predominantly metal build of the larger models, replacing it with plastic. It still looks and feels very much a premium product though.

The clearest indicator that lets you know this is the KF3 is the small 2.4-inch / 6cm color display. The KF2 doesn’t have one at all, while the KF4’s color screen is larger and touch enabled. It’s a relatively low-resolution screen compared to the likes of the Philips Café Aromis, but is still bright and clear, and the use of color helps to identify the drink you want to make.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The KF3's display is flanked by 10 touch buttons: four that provide quick access to user profiles, drinks menu, rinsing cycles and machine settings; two to initiate and cancel brewing; and four to cycle forward and back through menu options, return and select.

The top-mounted hopper is large enough to accommodate 250g of coffee beans and, as with the other compact machines in the series, it features a removable opaque lid with a silicone seal. This means you can’t easily see the amount of leftover beans (there’s a clear audible indication if it doesn’t have any to grind) but, then again, the beans aren’t exposed to light and air, keeping them fresher for longer.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

Furthering its benefits for smaller kitchens, the lid is removable rather than hinged means it’s easy to fill the hopper if you have the KF3 positioned under a wall cabinet. There’s also a small chute for pre-ground coffee, and a scoop is included in the box.

The 1.8L water tank slides in and out the rear of the machine and has an integrated handle to make the process simple, although I personally prefer the side-mounted tank on the Philips LatteGo 4400 as it makes refilling a little bit easier. However, the KitchenAid’s tank features a hinged lid, so more often than not I would leave it in place and pour water in from a jug.

KitchenAid supplies a water filter with the KF3 that it says is good for around two months of use. It was initially a little fiddly to install, but the included coffee scoop doubles up as a tool that clips onto the filter, giving you the extra length needed to screw it into place.

The drip tray is deep and extends virtually the full depth of the KF3, and has a large spout at the back for easy emptying. Used coffee grounds are deposited into a removable bin in the center that can be tipped out when full — you'll see a notification on the display when it's time to do so.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The KF3’s milk system uses a silicone hose that connects to the side of the dispenser located on the front of the machine. You need to insert one end of the hose into a small socket, while the other end drops into a tall glass or bottle. KitchenAid offers a sealed container with a double-ended hose as an optional extra for $59.99 / £39 / AU$59, which is included with the KF4 by default.

The KF3 features a thorough rinsing cycle for the hose to ensure it’s kept clean, but note that none of the removable parts are dishwasher safe.

Lastly, the height of the coffee dispenser can be adjusted to suit a variety of cup sizes, including large mugs and tumbler glasses. I found I needed to use a little bit of force to move it, but this is a minor niggle.

• Design score 4.5 / 5

KitchenAid KF3: Performance

• Well-extracted espresso time after time
• Good, but not great, milk foaming
• ‘Iced’ drinks still hot
• Four customizable user profiles

The best thing about the KitchenAid KF3 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is that you can confidently rely on it to deliver an excellent espresso with every use. The IntelliGrind system automatically determines the best grind size depending on your chosen beans to ensure it brews a tasty shot with good crema. I used medium-roast and dark-roast beans during my testing period and I was more than satisfied with the results in each case.

The fact that you don’t have to worry about grind size makes this a fantastic option for coffee novices who aren’t sure how to get the best results. If you're not entirely satisfied, then you'll find a lever hidden behind the side compartment (which provides access to the brewing unit) that you can use to adjust grind size to a finer or coarser level. I ultimately left it at the default setting in the middle.

That being said, the KF3 does give you the option to adjust the strength and body of the espresso. Strength is denoted on a scale of one to three, with the difference being the dose of coffee that’s ground into the brewing head — 7g being the lightest strength and 14g being the strongest.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

You can also select light, medium or strong body, which relates to the rate at which water flows during extraction. A strong-bodied coffee, for example, takes the longest, as the water flows through slowly to extract the most amount of flavor.

You’re also able to adjust the volume of coffee delivered for each drink and the water temperature.

Auto Milk is KitchenAid's milk-foaming system and it works well, although I’m of the opinion that a steam wand will always produce superior results. I was, however, pleased to find that it worked well with plant-based milks, despite not having a dedicated option. Coffee machines that cater specifically to plant-based options, such as the KitchenAid KF8, will heat it to a lower temperature compared to dairy for optimal results.

When I made a cafe latte using a barista-style oat milk, I found the KF3 produced a good level of foam with a silky texture, and at a drinkable temperature. I achieved similarly good results with full-fat dairy.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

There are four user profiles on the KF3 for you and your household to store their own drink preferences. While the KF4 lets you name them, they’re fixed at User Profile 1, 2, 3 and 4 here.

KitchenAid understands that iced drinks are popular, even at home, and has given the KF3 dedicated presets for cold coffees. In theory, the shot the machine dispenses is brewed at a lower temperature, although you do still need to put ice in your cup or glass, but that didn't seem to be the case in reality.

I used a thermometer to measure the temperature of both a regular espresso shot and an iced espresso shot and found them to be similar. The regular shot was around 50ºC when brewed at a medium temperature, while the iced shot was around 45ºC. I conducted this test twice, with the same results both times.

As such, the iced espresso shot was still too hot and melted the cubes in my cup relatively quickly, resulting in a diluted drink. If you like your cold coffees, you'd be better off considering other machines like the De’Longhi Dedica Duo and the Jura J10 that offer proper cold-extracted espresso.

The KF3, like other KitchenAid espresso machines, is QuietMark-certified, indicating it should be whisper-quiet in use. That’s something I can certainly attest to, as I recorded around 70dB while grinding and 60dB when brewing, using the decibelX app on my iPhone and standing next to the machine in a relatively quiet space. That puts it on par with the KF4, although we found the flagship KF8 to be quieter still with an average of 44dB during the entire coffee-making process.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

Keeping the KitchenAid KF3 clean is incredibly simple. Not only does it automatically complete a rinse cycle on startup and shutdown (which, as I mentioned does mean the water tank can empty relatively quickly), but it will also prompt you when it’s time to empty the ground container and drip tray. It will also ask you to rinse the milk system after every use. You can skip this process at first, but when you turn the machine off — or it automatically shuts down after a predetermined amount of time — it won’t do so until the hose has been flushed.

There are further and more thorough cleaning procedures within the settings menu for washing the brewing unit with special cleaners, and a couple of tablets are included in the box. You will need to buy descaler and a milk system cleaner separately.

There’s also an option to evaporate all the water from the system entirely, which my colleague Cat Ellis has previously expressed as being a feature she wishes all automatic espresso machines had. This is particularly useful if you know you’re not going to be using the machine for an extended period of time and keep it hygienically dry for the duration.

Future / Max LangridgeFuture / Max LangridgeFuture / Max Langridge

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the KitchenAid KF3?KitchenAid KF3 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Well-priced considering the features and functionality.

4/5

Design

An attractive design that’s compact enough to suit all kitchens.

4.5/5

Performance

Excellent performance for hot coffee-based drinks, and milk foaming is good. Iced options aren’t quite up to scratch, however.

4/5

Buy it if...

You have a smaller kitchen

The KitchenAid KF3 is compact enough that it should fit into most homes, especially those that are short on space.

You want fuss-free coffee

The KF3 does virtually all of the work for you. All you need to do is select your preferred drink and it will be delivered perfectly each time.

You want value for money

The KitchenAid KF3 is well priced considering its features and the fact it’s from a premium, well-known brand.

Don't buy it if...

You want to really fine tune your coffee

The KF3 has options for adjusting various aspects of a coffee, but if you want to get really hands on, then you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want authentic cold brew

The KitchenAid KF3’s iced coffee options aren’t as cold as they should be, with brewed espresso being hot enough to quickly melt ice.

KitchenAid KF3: Also consider

If you're not sure whether the KitchenAid KF3 is the right espresso machine for you, here are three other options to keep in mind.

Philips Cafe Aromis

This machine is more expensive than the KF3, but the investment is worth it. It brews delicious espresso, has a more legible screen, can brew proper cold-extracted coffee and foam cold milk, and has a genuinely useful app. It’s not available in Australia, however.

Read our full Philips Cafe Aromis review

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

I’ve mentioned this Philips machine several times in this review for good reason. It performs similarly to the KF4 and is equally compact. It too falls short where iced coffee is concerned, and there are only two user profiles, but it can often be found at a cheaper price.

Read my full Philips LatteGo 4400 Series review

Ninja Luxe Café

This bean-to-cup espresso machine can not only make hot coffee drinks, but it can even do drip filter coffee and cold brew. It’s super easy to master and is regularly discounted.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Cafe review

KitchenAid KF3: How I tested

I used the KitchenAid KF3 for two weeks, and having already spent time with the KF4, I was well versed with what to expect from the slightly lesser-specced machine. I prepared a wide range of drinks with and without milk, and used two different styles of coffee beans to test the IntelliGrind feature on the KF3.

I used a barista-style oat milk and full-fat dairy milk to test the automatic milk-foaming system, and ran the machine’s recommended cleaning cycles.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2026

GatherOne is one of Meta’s 11 advertising partners in China.

• Google Threat Intelligence Group is replacing its inherited Mandiant and TAG identifiers with two-word cryptonyms, starting with several dozen of its most-tracked groups
• The second word encodes attribution or motive, with CASTLE for China, ION for Iran, NEPTUNE for North Korea, RELIC for Russia, and COMET for criminal crews not visibly tied to a particular country
• The scheme standardizes naming inside Google but adds another convention to an industry that agreed on a shared alias mapping only last year

The Russian military intelligence crew that most of the security industry knows as Sandworm has picked up another name - it is Sandworm Relic, at least when Google is doing the talking.

Google Threat Intelligence Group has announced plans to retire the tangle of identifiers it inherited from two separate teams and replacing them with two-word cryptonyms, starting with several dozen of the groups it tracks most closely and continuing on a rolling basis.

Google has recently argued against its old approach of using sequential identifiers like APT1, on the grounds that a number tells a defender nothing about who they are dealing with. It has begun replacing them with a schema it says is more intuitive and makes it easier to determine where an attack comes from and what motivates it.

Rationalizing Google's need to change an already-established order

The mechanics are simple enough. Every tracked actor gets a pair of words. The first is meant to be distinctive and memorable, and where the security community has already settled on a moniker, Google says it will keep it. Where no such term exists, the word is generated at random to remove bias, then checked by analysts before it goes into use.

The second word does the categorizing, sorting clusters by motivation, attribution or activity type. The sample table Google published maps CASTLE to groups tied to the People's Republic of China, ION to Iran, NEPTUNE to North Korea, RELIC to Russia and COMET to financially motivated criminals.

The approach, as CyberScoop points out, closely echoes CrowdStrike's long-running practice of pairing a unique term with an animal keyed to country or motive: PANDA for China, BEAR for Russia, SPIDER for criminals, JACKAL for hacktivists. Google has simply swapped the animals for words like CASTLE and NEPTUNE.

The move is the latest step after Google announced its $5.4 billion acquisition of Mandiant in 2022, which it eventually combined with its in-house Threat Analysis Group to form GTIG.

The merger brought together two tracking systems that had evolved independently for years, meaning the same activity could appear under two different Google labels depending on which team wrote the report.

For now, Russia-linked Sandworm Relic is the only new name to have surfaced publicly, and Google is hardly the first to attempt this.

Microsoft has settled on weather, and countries such as China have publicly disputed the attributions sitting behind those labels. Google's move to "streamline" threat names could still make things simpler if it catches on with the rest of the world.

Alternatively, it could just add to the confusion in an industry where no standards are yet completely agreed upon. Google and Mandiant signed on to a Microsoft and CrowdStrike alias-mapping effort in June 2025, and The Register reported that sources at the time indicated both were keen to adopt the Microsoft-led scheme. Last week's announcement makes no mention of it. However good Google's intentions, defenders are still being handed one more system to learn.

The release of Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic diaries has rekindled the debate over the origins of SARS-CoV-2. Here's how scientists have weighed in.

(Image credit: Noel Celis/AFP)

Microsoft bet big on agentic AI, and it seems to be attracting users.

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, July 29 (game #1647).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 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 #1648) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* 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 #1648) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1648) — 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 #1648) — 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 #1648) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• M

• I

• C

• L

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

Quordle today (game #1648) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1648, are…

• MODAL
• IDLER
• CHUMP
• LUMPY

After a long run of easy games I am now on back to back days where I came very close to losing.

Today, I had to take the game very slowly in order to get three words in three guesses and fortunately it paid off with the letter M in MODAL unlocking the final two words.

Daily Sequence today (game #1648) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1648, are…

• KAYAK
• NERDY
• STINK
• LOFTY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1647, Wednesday, 29 July: GAWKY, ALLOY, AUDIT, LATCH
• Quordle #1646, Tuesday, 28 July: SMITE, ROACH, RUDDY, GLOBE
• Quordle #1645, Monday, 27 July: TAFFY, FIGHT, GUILD, WAGER
• Quordle #1644, Sunday, 26 July: STOMP, LIMIT, FUNKY, STEAD
• Quordle #1643, Saturday, 25 July: SALON, SHEEN, BURST, GOURD
• Quordle #1642, Friday, 24 July: DOLLY, EDIFY, LAGER, PRANK
• Quordle #1641, Thursday, 23 July: LADEN, EVICT, WOVEN, SHIRE
• Quordle #1640, Wednesday, 22 July: COYLY, SINGE, AWASH, AWOKE
• Quordle #1639, Tuesday, 21 July: TRUSS, AXIAL, SWINE, THING
• Quordle #1638, Monday, 20 July: ICING, SLICK, GAILY, RISEN
• Quordle #1637, Sunday, 19 July: SPURT, ACRID, THRUM, BLEEP
• Quordle #1636, Saturday, 18 July: KNAVE, TIGHT, BLEAT, CHAOS
• Quordle #1635, Friday, 17 July: CUMIN, PALER, GRASS, INBOX
• Quordle #1634, Thursday, 16 July: IGLOO, PLAIT, YEAST, AROMA
• Quordle #1633, Wednesday, 15 July: PROXY, BRICK, BROTH, SURGE
• Quordle #1632, Tuesday, 14 July: EBONY, AVOID, RODEO, CUTIE
• Quordle #1631, Monday, 13 July: VOICE, BISON, BURNT, BUILT
• Quordle #1630, Sunday, 12 July: STAIN, BINGO, LARVA, DICEY
• Quordle #1629, Saturday, 11 July: WORTH, PRONG, DINGO, DRUID
• Quordle #1628, Friday, 10 July: GREET, STEAK, DUSKY, HAUTE

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, July 29 (game #1144).

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 #1145) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• JUGGLING
• CARNIVAL
• DOT
• FAIR
• BINGO
• RIGHT
• POOL
• NOSE
• MONEY
• GOOD
• BEER PONG
• CELEBRITY
• VIKING
• MARK
• PRINCESS
• JUST

NYT Connections today (game #1145) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Doing the correct thing
• GREEN: Many spherical objects are involved
• BLUE: Big ship fleets
• PURPLE: Expressions meaning exact

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 #1145) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: VIRTUOUS
• GREEN: ACTIVITIES WITH MULTIPLE BALLS
• BLUE: CRUISE LINES
• PURPLE: ON THE __, TO MEAN "PRECISE"

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

NYT Connections today (game #1145) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1145, are…

• YELLOW: VIRTUOUS: FAIR, GOOD, JUST, RIGHT
• GREEN: ACTIVITIES WITH MULTIPLE BALLS: BEER PONG, BINGO, JUGGLING, POOL
• BLUE: CRUISE LINES: CARNIVAL, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, VIKING
• PURPLE: ON THE __, TO MEAN "PRECISE": DOT, MARK, MONEY, NOSE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

Apart from CRUISE LINES, which I saw immediately, this was a game where I sort of knew what the groups were about, but also sort of didn’t.

My mistake came in collecting VIRTUOUS and thinking that this was all about alignment and making something measure up correctly — so I had RIGHT, JUST, GOOD, and NOSE, as in “on the NOSE”, which I never considered could be a group.

Then I collected the four ACTIVITIES WITH MULTIPLE BALLS, but thought they were something about games that happen at parties; not that I have ever been to a party where a game of BINGO broke out.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, July 29, 2026, game #1144)

• YELLOW: FASTENERS: NAIL, RIVET, SCREW, STAPLE
• GREEN: NONDESCRIPT: BASIC, MID, PLAIN, VANILLA
• BLUE: UNITS OF WISDOM: GEM, NUGGET, PEARL, WORD
• PURPLE: ____BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM: BLACK, CHALK, CORK, WHITE

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, July 29 (game #878).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Trade names

NYT Strands today (game #879) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• WART
• RAVE
• MAST
• STOP
• TROOPER
• PASTE

NYT Strands today (game #879) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #879) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 1st row

• Last side: right, 1st row

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

NYT Strands today (game #879) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #879, are…

• SMITH
• MASON
• JOINER
• TANNER
• COOPER
• WEAVER
• SPANGRAM: ARTISANS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

As I was working around the board collecting “trade names” I could not help but wonder how many of today’s trades would be considered the work of ARTISANS in the future — programmer, writer, barista?

Many in the search are jobs that are now quite niche, yet we only need think of how many people are named SMITH or COOPER to realize how commonplace they once were.

Not so commonplace, however, to prevent me from needing a hint, although in my case it was laziness that prompted me to take the shortcut, thus demonstrating my inevitable replacement by a far more capable AI version.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, July 29, game #878)

• DOLL
• PUPPET
• DUMMY
• MANNEQUIN
• FIGURINE
• STATUE
• SPANGRAM: FABRICATED

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.

Dolby Atmos gets plaudits as the more popular immersive 3D sound format, but a lot of its love from home theater enthusiasts isn't about the spatial audio, but is more about the lossless audio quality you get on 4K Blu-ray. It's not the only game in town for this, however: there's also DTS-HD Master Audio (MA).

I’ve been testing new 4K Blu-rays as part of the Blu-ray Bounty, my monthly feature where I review the best new 4K releases for sound and visual quality, and tons of them use DTS-HD MA — especially older titles.

While DTS isn’t supported as widely in hardware as Dolby Atmos (new-release LG and Samsung TVs don't support DTS, for example), it’s an excellent sound format that can still deliver an immersive surround sound experience, especially in 5.1 surround systems.

While DTS-HD MA may not utilize height channels like Dolby Atmos does, there are a few 4K Blu-rays I’ve tested whose DTS-HD MA soundtracks sound so good, they had me asking who needs Dolby Atmos height effects anyway.

Below, I’ve picked seven of my favorite 4K discs that feature brilliant DTS soundtracks — most are 5.1 surround sound, but one is actually stereo (as the creator intended).

What do you think of Dolby Atmos vs DTS? Any other DTS 4K discs you think people should check out? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

Chungking Express

(Image credit: Criterion / Future)

Chungking Express follows the separate stories of two policemen in Hong Kong, both of whom are going through breakups and meet new strangers.

Where the DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack shines here is capturing the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. During one scene where Ah Wu (Cop 223) enters a night market, the sound of raised voices, goods being exchanged and the general chaos of a busy market sounds realistic and detailed.

The surround channels are used to full effect and sound is accurately mapped to them. The movement of sound had me double-checking the room, the sounds of the market are so convincing and tactile.

A later scene where Cop 663 visits a restaurant, the conversation of the patrons, clinking glasses and cutlery being used are given ample room to breathe, and the sound placement is precise. Again, the scene had that immersive feel that I’d found during the aforementioned night market scene. Throughout, the jazzy score is well balanced with other elements in the mix.

Tombstone

(Image credit: Disney / Future )

Tombstone follows the story of Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell), a retired lawman who moves to the titular town with his brothers Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton), and along with Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) they must defend the town from a group of outlaws.

As you’d expect from a Western, there’s plenty of gunfights that demonstrate excellent surround sound and dynamic range. The DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack here accurately maps ricocheting bullets to rear channels, while also following their trajectory. There’s good impact from said bullets too, showing some nice power from the front channels.

Elsewhere, other effects such as the clinking of spurs have a bright, clear sound and again sound realistic, with a clear connection between the sound and the action. Whenever horses gallop, there’s some meaty bass that delivers a solid rumble. The subwoofer of the system I use delivered plenty of oomph that even made our testing lab shake. Crucially though, despite bass volume, it’s well controlled and balanced within the mix.

Dunkirk

(Image credit: Warner Bros. / Future )

Dunkirk, directed by Christopher Nolan, follows the events of the Dunkirk evacuation in WWII, told from three different perspectives of people in the land, sea and air. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy.

Christopher Nolan notably never uses Dolby Atmos with his movies, and Dunkirk is no different. While any Nolan movie could make this list (and this isn’t the only one), Dunkirk is easily one of the most impressive.

In the opening scenes, as the British soldiers attempt to outrun the gunfire, the mapping and directionality of the bullets was pinpoint accurate, coming from behind my head and ramping up the anxiety. These bullets also had plenty of impact and punch, delivering some serious power with every hit.

This is another DTS mix that despite a lack of height channels, delivers enough immersion that it feels like there’s height. Anytime a plane flies overhead, there’s absolutely perceived height, and the drone of the plane's engines has a clear sense of direction. Throughout the movie, bass levels are powerful but well controlled and dynamic, really giving a subwoofer a workout.

Interstellar

(Image credit: Warner Bros. / Future )

Interstellar is the story of Coop (Matthew McConaughey), a NASA pilot who joins an expedition to find a new home for humans, as Earth succumbs to famine and crisis. The movie also stars Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine among its cast list.

Christopher Nolan’s second movie on the list, Interstellar delivers an impressive showcase for DTS-HD 5.1 MA. As the Endurance navigates the Gargantua wormhole, bass levels are strong, but there’s an added (intentional) sense of direction to the low frequencies as well, as the sound moves from the front to the rear speakers to create a fully immersive and engaging sense of reality bending around you. The roar of the ship’s engines delivers a seriously powerful rumble too, showing what your subwoofer can do.

There’s some fantastic detail within the sound mix too. During Coop’s daring docking sequence with the out-of-control Endurance, the sound of debris crunching into the ship and the directionality of the spinning ships are all intricate, audible and precise. There’s an excellent balance between every element, even with the powerful, organ-led score over the top of it — this is a really tough scene for speakers to drive, and is a great showcase for why Blu-ray is superior to streaming: it sounds so much weaker from any streaming source, but is brilliantly overwhelming here.

As Coop encouncters the black hole, the rattling sound of the dust again scrapes along the outside of the ship convincingly and sharply, really putting me inside the Ranger ship myself.

Minority Report

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future )

Minority Report, loosely based on Philip K Dick’s novella The Minority Report, stars Tom Cruise as John Anderton, the chief of the Precrime unit, which uses clairvoyant people to predict homicides before they happen. When the clairvoyant ‘precogs’ predict that Anderton will commit a homicide, he must go on the run.

Despite the lack of height channels in the DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack featured on the Minority Report 4K Blu-ray, there are plenty of scenes where a sense of height is created. During the jetpack fight scene, the movement of sound and the spatial elements within the scene are enough to create the feeling of height to the mix.

The same is true in another scene where John escapes along a magnetic car freeway. Cars over John’s head, as he scales up the automated lanes of traffic, sound like they’re coming overhead, even with the missing height channels in the mix.

The detail in this disc’s soundtrack is just excellent. Other elements such as punches during fight scenes deliver solid impact and heft, with some meaty bass as well.

Fight Club

(Image credit: Future / 20th Century Studios)

Fight Club is the story of an unnamed narrator (Edward Norton), who's an insurance agent who meets a mysterious soap salesman named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and starts an underground fight club for disillusioned people.

As you’d hope from a movie as gritty as this, there’s plenty to like about the 4K disc’s DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack. During fight scenes, punches and collisions have real impact, feeling every bit as gruelling as the scenes themselves. More visceral sounds, such as the bag of fat splitting open, are gruesome and realistic, sounding worryingly detailed. The narrator’s speech is crystal clear throughout most of the movie too, balancing well with the score and other effects.

Again, this is another mix with a real immersive feel in some scenes, delivering perceived height effects. During the opening, as the camera drops down through the building where the narrator is held at gunpoint, to the parking garage below, the sound of the breeze accurately follows the trajectory of the camera, creating that sense of height despite the lack of height channels.

Blow Out

(Image credit: Criterion Collection / Future )

Blow Out follows Jack Terry (John Travolta), a sound technician who is embroiled in a murder/assassination plot when he inadvertently captures evidence of the assassination while recording audio for a low-budget slasher film he’s involved in.

What makes this disc’s soundtrack so interesting is that rather than DTS-HD 5.1 MA surround, which the other entries in this list have been, this uses a DTS-HD 2.0 surround mix, preserving the original presentation, but in the best-quality mix we can deliver today.

While stereo may sound limited, some excellent sound design means the movie absolutely feels immersive. This is best demonstrated during a scene where Jack records audio in the park near the opening of the movie.

As he aims his microphone to capture audio, the sound of the wind and distant traffic fills the space with subtlety. When louder audio comes in, such as the hooting of an owl, the other effects don’t go away. As the car swerves off the bridge, the sound of the screeching tyres moves from side to side, again utilizing the surround channels well. There’s still some good impact as the car crashes through the fence into the river, too.

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• Hidden AI debts are attracting fresh scrutiny across America's biggest technology companies
• Massive data centre spending is testing investor confidence like never before
• Meta reportedly carries the largest off-balance-sheet obligations among the five companies

An investigation by Nikkei Asia has claimed five of America's largest tech companies are reportedly concealing huge debts outside their official financial statements.

Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle together account for roughly $1.65 trillion in liabilities missing from their public balance sheets.

That figure exceeds the $1.35 trillion these firms officially disclosed last quarter, with Meta alone holding roughly $420 billion off-balance-sheet.

Echoes of Enron

Analysts have begun drawing direct parallels to Enron, the energy trading company whose 2001 collapse remains a cautionary tale in corporate finance.

Like Enron once did, these tech giants rely on special purpose vehicles, essentially legally separate subsidiaries, to keep debt off their books.

Such arrangements can make a company's financial reporting appear far healthier than the underlying reality actually supports at any given moment.

This accounting structure remains legal when applied correctly, although critics argue it can complicate efforts by investors to measure overall financial exposure accurately.

“The accounting treatment itself is in fashion,” technical accounting consultant Tom Selling told Bloomberg.

“But what if one of these companies was a house of cards and was propping itself up with this accounting treatment? To me, that’s the risk.”

The warning has encouraged renewed scrutiny of corporate reporting practices across the technology sector, particularly among the companies named in the investigation.

This scrutiny comes as firms continue spending heavily to expand the computing capacity required for increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence systems.

Mounting financial pressure

To remain competitive in the AI race, these companies are committing enormous sums toward massive, long-term data center construction projects.

The scale of planned data center spending across the entire industry has reached levels rarely seen in corporate history.

Whether these massive infrastructure bets eventually pay off financially remains genuinely uncertain, given how quickly the technology and market keep shifting.

Nikkei Asia notes many of these firms are also issuing new shares to raise additional funds - but issuing new equity in this manner risks diluting existing shareholders and could gradually erode investor confidence over the coming months.

Such dilution could also leave these companies even more exposed should the broader AI bubble eventually deflate or burst suddenly.

Investor unease could deepen further if the industry fails to generate enough real demand to justify this data center spending spree.

Notably, four of the five companies named in the investigation are scheduled to report second quarter earnings within the coming weeks.

Given how much rides on these coming disclosures, markets and analysts alike will be watching each earnings report closely.

Whether these tech giants ultimately resemble Enron or simply pursue an aggressive yet financially sound growth strategy remains genuinely unclear for now.

The planet parade is happening around the same time as Perseids and the upcoming solar eclipse.

There’s no word yet about when or where the food delivery service will begin air operations.