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• JCB’s rugged phone trio enters a saturated market with a price that raises eyebrows
• JCB Toughphone P20's thermal camera is unique, but won’t matter much to everyday users
• Midrange specs and premium pricing put the JCB M20 and E10 in a tight spot

JCB has introduced three Android rugged smartphones, targeting field professionals in industries such as construction and logistics.

The most advanced of the trio, the Toughphone P20, arrives with Android 14, a 6.6-inch 120Hz Full HD+ display, and a MediaTek MT6877 chipset coupled with 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB.

But with a launch price of £649 (€649), it lands in a territory already contested by better-known and, in some cases, more affordable rivals.

Niche features may not justify a premium price

On paper, the Toughphone P20 appears to be built to last. Its 10,000mAh battery supports up to 40 hours of talk time and 50 days of standby, while also offering powerbank functionality.

JCB claims it “combines robust hardware with advanced features,” and the device meets IP69K and MIL-STD 810H durability standards.

The drop resistance of up to 1.8 metres and water resistance make it a credible option, but it must contend with phones like the Ulefone Armor 28 Ultra, which boasts similar ruggedness, an even larger battery, and support for Android 15 at a slightly higher cost.

JCB's inclusion of a thermal imaging camera is a niche but welcome feature, using an “uncooled VOx microbolometer” capable of capturing temperatures from -15°C to 550°C with a resolution of 256 x 192 pixels.

The triple rear camera system, 64MP main, 8MP wide-angle, and 20MP night vision, adds versatility, and the 20MP front camera is well above the standard for rugged phones.

However, in the area of software assurance and update longevity, mainstream rivals like the Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 still offer more confidence, especially for enterprise users who value a mature ecosystem.

The Toughphone M20 and E10, which come in at £449 and £249 respectively, cater to mid- and entry-level rugged users, but again, they're priced within reach of alternative options.

The Doogee S200 provides similar specs to the M20 with a huge battery and 5G support, but may come in cheaper, especially from resellers.

Meanwhile, for buyers interested in large screens and aggressive aesthetics, the 8849 Shark 3 competes with its striking design and gaming-inspired rugged build.

JCB markets the P20 as a field-ready tool but it faces stiff competition even among lesser-known brands. The Oukitel WP200 Pro, for instance, blends durability, strong specs, and an average price point, challenging JCB’s efforts to stand out.

Unless JCB can negotiate volume deals to bring the price down significantly, its debut trio may struggle to attract attention beyond niche buyers who already know exactly what they're looking for.

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• New research shows AI tools are being used and abused by cybercriminals
• Hackers are creating tools that exploit legitimate LLMs
• Criminals are also training their own LLMs

It’s undeniable that AI is being used by both cybersecurity teams and cybercriminals, but new research from Cisco Talos reveals that criminals are getting creative. The latest development in the AI/cybersecurity landscape is that ‘uncensored’ LLMs, jailbroken LLMs, and cybercriminal-designed LLMs are being leveraged against targets.

It was recently revealed that both Grok and Mistral AI models were powering WormGPT variants that were generating malicious code, social engineering attacks, and even providing hacking tutorials - so it's clearly becoming a popular tactic.

LLMs are built with security features and guardrails, ensuring minimal bias and outputs that consist with human values and ethics, as well as making sure the chatbots don’t engage in harmful behaviour, such as creating malware or phishing emails - but there are work arounds.

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Jailbroken and uncensored

The so-called uncensored LLMs observed in this research are versions of the AI models that operate outside of the normal constraints. This means that they are able to carry out tasks for criminals and create harmful content. These are quite easy to find, the research shows, and are simple to run - with only relatively simple prompts required.

Some criminals have gone one step further, creating their own LLMs, such as WormGPT, FraudGPT, and DarkGPT. These are marketed to bad actors and have a whole host of nefarious features. For example, FraudGPT claims to be able to create automatic scripts for replicating logs/cookies, write scam pages/letters, find leaks and vulnerabilities, and even learn to code/hack.

Others navigate around the safety features of legitimate AI models through ‘jailbreaking’ chatbots. This can be done using ‘obfuscation techniques,’ which include Base64/Rot-13 encoding, using different languages, “L33t sp34k”, emojis, and even morse code.

“As AI technology continues to develop, Cisco Talos expects cybercriminals to continue adopting LLMs to help streamline their processes, write tools/scripts that can be used to compromise users and generate content that can more easily bypass defenses. This new technology doesn’t necessarily arm cybercriminals with completely novel cyber weapons, but it does act as a force multiplier, enhancing and improving familiar attacks,” the report confirms.

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• 96% of workers have filled skills gaps with AI
• Daily users trust AI more – and get more out of it, too
• Workers want AI for brainstorming, research and presentations

According to new research form Salesforce, AI is showing signs of shifting from basic applications like task automation to more powerful outcomes, such as enabling creative and strategic work.

With global use of AI for creative and strategic tasks up 154%, artificial intelligence is now unlocking the full potential of the workforce – almost all (96%) workers have used AI for tasks they lacked the skills for.

Not only has AI usage risen, but the number of people using the tech day in, day out has also surged by 233% in the space of six months, with three in five desktop workers using artificial intelligence.

Workers are seeing the benefits of AI

According to the report, daily AI users report high productivity (+64%), focus (+58%) and job satisfaction (+81%). Those who use artificial intelligence daily are also twice as likely to trust it, with many workers relying on the tech to eliminate research efforts, get help with writing and communication, and support brainstorming.

Nevertheless, some workers remain more open to emerging technologies than others. For example, 30% of Millennials claim strong understanding of AI agents compared with 22% of Gen Z. In fact, more than two-thirds (68%) of Millennials now use AI for strategic tasks like drafting and summarizing.

"As workers actually use and experiment with AI agents, their trust and enthusiasm in this technology grows – and we see them leveraging agents to unlock new skills and opportunities in their everyday work," Research VP Lucas Puente explained.

Salesforce also reports that the higher up the organizational tree you are, the more likely you are to become a user – 43% of execs use AI daily, compared with 35% of senior managers and 23% of middle managers.

Looking ahead, the most requested use cases for AI are brainstorming automation and augmentation (72%), research assistance (80%) and presentation generation (82%).

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• New Sony over-ear Bluetooth headphones appear in an official database
• Possibly a successor to the Sony WH-CH520 or WH-C720N
• This is a very early leak so a launch may not be imminent

There's no doubt that Sony's WH-1000XM6 over-ears are a truly excellent pair of headphones. But at $449 / £399 / AU$699 they're also a pretty expensive pair of headphones. If you're looking for an audio upgrade but would prefer something a bit more affordable, Sony appears to be preparing exactly that.

A new pair of Sony headphones have leaked, and they appear to be over-ears. And that means they're most likely the successor to the Sony WH-CH520 or WH-C720N – although we can't rule out a brand new model that we haven't seen before.

The first of those had a launch price of $60 / £60 / AU$99, and the latter were $129 / £99 / AU$259. And both are getting on a bit: two years, which is a long time in the headphone market.

The WH-CH520 may also be in line for a replacement later this year (Image credit: Sony)Sony's new over-ear headphones: what we know so far

As is often the case with Sony leaks, the news comes via The Walkman Blog and its access to Sony's shipping manifests.

Those manifests include a new model number, YY2998, which they describe as "Bluetooth headphones with over-head cover, 2.4GHz band, Brand: Sony... Black, Silver". 2.4GHz is where Bluetooth lives.

Previous leaks for a different set of headphones had the model number YY2985, which is believed to be the WF-1000XM6 earbuds that are expected to launch later this year.

The headphones detailed in the manifests appear to be test samples, which means that this is a very early leak: the big leaks tend to be when headphones are submitted to the various certification bodies, a process that tends to happen in the very final stages before product launches.

That suggests that whatever these headphones are, we probably won't see them until the end of this year. So if you're hankering after a set of Sonys but don't want to wait that long, check our our guide to the best Sony headphones for all budgets.

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Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: one-minute review

The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller launched alongside the console itself, and I’ve been using it as my go-to Switch 2 gamepad since launch day. While I was already impressed with it at a Switch 2 hands-on preview event a few months back, actually having it at home has solidified it as perhaps my favorite controller of the year.

The mission statement is a simple one: provide an updated version of the excellent Nintendo Switch Pro Controller - easily one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers for that original console - while keeping the things players loved about that original model intact. I feel this has mostly been achieved with the Switch 2 Pro Controller.

It’s incredibly comfortable in the hands, sporting simply lovely build quality from chassis to buttons. The thumbsticks are ultra-smooth and responsive, and additions like two remappable buttons on the rear, as well as a headphone jack, are extremely welcome.

Furthermore, the original Pro Controller is remembered fondly for its frankly absurd battery life, lasting around 40 hours on a single charge. I’m happy to report that’s also the case with the Switch 2 Pro Controller; after three weeks of testing for a few hours most days, I’ve only just seen the low battery warning flash up on my screen.

So what’s holding it back from truly being the greatest of all time? Well, unlike the original Pro Controller, this new model isn’t currently compatible with PC. It’s likely we’ll need to wait for a Steam compatibility update, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this happens in the near future. I also would’ve loved a trigger lock feature, allowing players to switch between digital and analog sensitivities to suit a wider range of genres (analog triggers naturally work better for racing games, for example).

Lastly, Nintendo seemingly remains committed to not having Hall effect thumbsticks, which is a massive shame. What this means is that, eventually, I expect the Switch 2 Pro Controller to develop stick drift. Perhaps not as quickly as the Joy-Con 2 - of which there are already reports of users experiencing drift - but for a controller that costs as much as it does, the lack of sturdier Hall effect thumbsticks hurts. Doubly so, considering the sticks themselves feel fantastic during play.

(Image credit: Future)Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: price and availability

• $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95
• Cheaper on average than a set of Joy-Con 2 ($94.99 / £74.99 / AU$139.95)
• A price increase in the US bumped it up from the originally planned $79.99

If there’s one potential criticism I can levy at the Switch 2 Pro Controller, it’s that it certainly isn’t cheap.

It’s available to purchase now from Nintendo’s own website as well as stocking retailers for $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95. US folks have it slightly worse here due to a price increase that’s seen the controller’s RRP pushed up from the original $79.99.

Overall, though, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is cheaper in the US than a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers ($94.99), while being priced the same as those in the UK (£74.99).

That said, cheaper alternatives do exist in controllers like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 ($69.99 / £59.99 - around AU$90). This is an exceptional controller that’s well worth looking into, especially as it’s recently received a firmware update to allow for Switch 2 connectivity.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: Specs

Price

$84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95

Weight

8.3oz / 235g

Dimensions

5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 148 x 105 x 60mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth), Wired (USB Type-C)

Battery life

Around 40 hours

(Image credit: Future)Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: design and features

• Pleasing light gray-on-black aesthetic design
• Adds GameChat and GL/GR buttons, as well as a headphone jack
• Otherwise, very similar to the original Pro Controller

Put the Switch 2 Pro Controller side by side with the original model, and you’ll notice a lot of similarities. Its large face buttons are about the same size here, the d-pad is very similar, and the controller still uses digital triggers. I think an option for quicker triggers would’ve been nice here, via trigger locks, for genres like racing games. But there are some other upgrades here that I’m very happy about.

The Switch 2 Pro Controller adds some very welcome features. There’s a dedicated GameChat button like we see on the Joy-Con 2 for accessing the console’s bespoke voice chat system. Additionally, you’re getting a 3.5mm headphone jack, which - alarmingly - wasn’t present on the original Pro Controller. Lastly, a pair of GL/GR buttons on the rear of the pad can be remapped on a per-game basis, though I’ll touch more on those in the following performance section.

In terms of looks, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is simple, but pretty eye-catching. The semi-translucent look of the original has been replaced with a matte black shell. Meanwhile, the top that houses the bumpers and triggers - as well as the thumbstick shafts - have taken on a light gray coating that I think looks nice juxtaposed against the otherwise all-black gamepad. I wouldn’t say it’s winning any awards in the aesthetics department, but it’s a simple and elegant design that doesn’t look out of place.

Otherwise, there isn’t much to report on the design front beyond the fact that this is an incredibly comfortable asymmetrical controller that sits firmly in the hands. I find that the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s grips are of a perfect size, and the pad fits snugly in my hands with my index fingers set firmly on the triggers. I felt this way about the original Pro Controller, too, but its successor does feel ever so slightly more refined in this regard.

(Image credit: Future)Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: Performance

• Thumbsticks feel excellent during gameplay
• A frankly absurd amount of battery life
• GL/GR buttons are actually a godsend

Right away, let’s talk about the thing that most people fondly remember the original Pro Controller for - its seemingly endless battery life. While there have been no noticeable improvements here with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, I can’t exactly say that’s a bad thing.

Yep, you can expect this new model to go the distance with around 40-45 hours of battery life. Since launch, on average, I’ve played my Switch 2 with the Pro Controller for around 1-3 hours daily.

Three weeks later, I have only just seen the low battery warning flash up on my screen. This is absolutely best-in-class battery life that leaves even the best Nintendo Switch controllers in the dust. It is worth noting that such a hefty battery does take some time to charge up again - around 3-4 hours to be exact - but do this overnight via USB-C and you’ll never need to worry about running out of juice.

Otherwise, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is just a joy to play games with. The thumbsticks are the real heroes here, feeling almost impossibly smooth and incredibly responsive during play.

This makes precise platformers like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury or white knuckle racers like F-Zero GX feel fantastic to play (even if the latter still benefits more from the wireless GameCube controller’s button layout).

(Image credit: Future)

My one gripe here would be that the thumbsticks are not Hall effect, with Nintendo seemingly opting once again for more traditional potentiometers. It’s a frustrating commitment that we also see from Sony and Microsoft in their first-party pads, and as a result, it’s currently hard to gauge just how long the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s sticks will last before developing drift. That said, the thumbsticks here do feel decidedly sturdier than those on the Joy-Con 2, so I do expect them to last a good deal longer.

However, I think my favorite addition to the Switch 2 Pro Controller has to be the rear GL/GR buttons. We’ve seen remappable buttons like these on countless third-party controllers, but I really like how Nintendo has implemented them. By holding down the Home button while in-game, you’ll bring up a quick menu that lets you assign GL and GR as secondary inputs.

This works on a per-game basis, too, meaning you don’t need to constantly reassign them while you’re hopping from game to game. They can be an absolute lifesaver, too. In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for example, I bound the sprint and jump actions to these buttons, letting me still have access to camera controls.

Similarly, in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, binding the left and right d-pad inputs to GL/GR let me cycle through my inventory of items without having to stop moving or adopt an awkward claw grip instead.

Otherwise, you can expect a controller that performs just as well as the original where it counts. Gyro aiming is still incredibly solid and accurate for games like Splatoon 3, and you still have near-field communication (NFC) support for scanning amiibo figures in your favorite games.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller?Buy it if...

You want a cheaper (and better) Joy-Con 2 alternative
Sure, you’re not getting the Joy-Con 2’s fancy directional rumble or their aptitude for co-op play. But given the lower US price point, higher comfort factor, and sublime thumbsticks and GL/GR buttons, the Pro Controller wins out for me.

You prefer wireless play
You’re absolutely laughing here, as the Switch 2 Pro Controller seriously goes the distance in terms of battery life, putting in an impressive 40+ hours on an average full charge.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
While I wholeheartedly recommend the Switch 2 Pro Controller at its price point, I can’t say it’s exactly cheap. There are more affordable options around $10-$20 cheaper that do a similar job, such as the excellent 8BitDo Ultimate 2, or indeed the original Pro Controller.

You’ve had bad luck with stick drift
Without drift-resistant Hall effect sticks, I can’t say for sure just how long the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s thumbsticks will last before developing drift. If you’ve fallen foul of stick drift in the past, you may want to consider some alternatives.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: Also consider

If the Switch 2 Pro Controller isn’t exactly what you’re after, there are a couple of great alternatives for you to consider.

Switch 2 Pro Controller

8BitDo Ultimate 2

Switch Pro Controller

Price

$84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95

$69.99 / £59.99 / AU$90 (or $59.99 / £49.99 for PC-only model)

$69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95

Weight

8.3oz / 235g

8.7oz / 246g

8.7oz / 246g

Dimensions

5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 148 x 105 x 60mm

5.7 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 103 x 61mm

5.9 x 4.2 x 2.4in / 152 x 106 x 60mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2

PC, Android (Switch/Switch 2 version sold separately)

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC

Connection type

Bluetooth, USB Type-C

2.4GHz, Bluetooth, USB Type-C

Bluetooth, USB Type-C

Battery life

Around 40 hours

10-15 hours

Around 40 hours

8BitDo Ultimate 2
A fantastic follow-up to my favorite Nintendo Switch controller, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 takes everything that made the original so good - Hall effect sticks, superb build quality, included charging dock - and upgrades it. Battery life is sadly worse overall, but you honestly can’t go wrong with either this or the original model.

Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
The original Pro Controller is still a worthy purchase and compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. You may want to opt for this one if you’re looking to save some cash, especially as it’s still a top contender in the field of Switch accessories.

Read our full Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review

How I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

• Tested for three weeks, on average 1-3 hours per day
• Compared to the original Pro Controller and similar third-party gamepads
• Played a wide variety of games, both modern and retro

I tested the Switch 2 Pro Controller from launch until now - a period of around three weeks. On average, I played with the controller for around one to three hours a day, largely opting for docked mode play on my LG CX OLED TV.

In my time with the controller, I put it through its paces with games across a wide variety of genres. This includes The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Mario Kart World, Street Fighter 6, F-Zero GX, Deltarune, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.

I compared the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s feature set to that of the original Pro Controller and third-party gamepads, including the GameSir Tarantula Pro and the original 8BitDo Ultimate. While I do wish Nintendo’s pad brought Hall effect sticks to the table, its overall feature set and comfortable play experience still make it well worth considering in a crowded controller market.

First reviewed June 2025

Read more about how we test

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