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EZVIZ EP4: one-minute review

Fitting a video doorbell or security camera is often a non-starter if you rent or live in an apartment where drilling into the walls isn’t allowed. That’s where the EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer comes in — by fitting through your front door’s existing peephole, it brings almost everything you’d get from a full video doorbell, without any damage that could upset your landlord.

The physical setup is incredibly easy and took me just 10 minutes to complete. After you’ve unscrewed the old peephole, the EP4 securely clamps onto the door without a power tool in sight.

Once it’s running, the footage captured is very clear, giving you a detailed look at anyone outside. The companion app is simple to use and intuitively designed, making it effortless to check live feeds, use the two-way talk feature, or adjust security settings.

When it comes to saving video footage, EZVIZ doesn’t lock you into a subscription plan like some rivals. While the company includes a free trial of its cloud subscription service, you aren’t forced to pay for it afterwards. If you want to skip the recurring fees, you can opt to install a local microSD card (up to 512GB) to store clips locally.

However, the EP4’s AI facial recognition has a notable quirk. Although it's smart enough to identify who is at your door, there’s currently no way to stop the app from sending you notifications when it spots someone you know — including you. Because you can’t tell the camera to ignore certain individuals, you’ll be alerted every time you walk through your own front door.

EZVIZ EP4: price and availability

• List price £229.99 (about $300 / AU$440)
• Available in the UK, but not the US or Australia
• No subscription necessary if you use a microSD card

The EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer is available in the UK for £229.99 (about $300 / AU$440), but I’ve seen it discounted to as little as £159.99 during sales events. It’s not yet available in the US and Australia at the time of writing, but older models are, so hopefully the EP4 will launch more widely soon.

If you want to store your videos at home subscription-free, you’ll also need a microSD card (up to 512GB), so factor this into the cost. If you’d prefer to store footage in the cloud, you’ll want an EZVIZ CloudPlay subscription. After a 30-day free trial, there are three plans to choose from:

Plan Type

Cameras supported

Unlimited cloud storage

7-day event-based video history

30-day event-based video history

Individual plan

1

Yes

Monthly: $3.99 (about £3, AU$6)

Yearly: $39.99 (about £30, AU$58)

Monthly: $6.99 (about £5.30, AU$10)

Yearly: $69.99 (about £53, AU$100)

Home plan

4

Yes

Monthly: $5.99 (about £4.60, AU$8.70)

Yearly: $59.99 (about £46, AU$87)

Monthly: $10.99 (about £8.40, AU$16)

Yearly: $109.99 (about £84, AU$160)

Business plan

10

Yes

Monthly: $12.99 (about £9.90, AU$19)

Yearly: $129.99 (about £99, AU$190)

Monthly: $27.99 (about £21, AU$41)

Yearly: $279.99 (about £210, AU$410)

• Value score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP4: design

• Discreet external camera
• Very simple to fit without damaging door
• Internal screen projects an inch into the room
• Visitors might not spot the doorbell button

The EP4 has two main parts: the camera, which has a cable that threads through the peephole in your door, and a screen that sits on the inside. The camera has a doorbell button below the lens (though visitors might not notice it because it's at an unusual level), a motion sensor at the top, and a speaker and microphone on the side.

It’s compatible with doors between 1.4 x 4.1 inches / 35 x 105mm thick, with a peephole diameter between 0.6 inches and 2 inches / 14mm and 50mm. That’s a wide range, and should be fine for the vast majority of internal and external doors, but it’s worth measuring yours first just to be sure. You can remove the peephole from your door by simply unscrewing it, though if it’s particularly tight, you might need to use a pair of pliers to get it started.

The camera unit threads through an existing peephole and is compatible with most doorsFutureI recommend using a spirit level to get the camera straight before securing it in placeFutureThe screws connect the backplate to the camera, clamping them to your door without damaging itFuture

To fit the EP4, start by measuring the thickness of your door using the card template provided, and choose the appropriate pair of screws, indicated by the instruction manual. These will be used to clamp the EP4 onto your door. Peel the paper off the 3M tape on the back of the camera unit, position it on the outside of your door (I recommend using a spirit level to get it straight), thread the screws and data cable through the peephole (you can roll a piece of paper around them to avoid snagging), and press down to secure it.

Then tighten the screws a little, slide the mounting plate for the screen into place, tighten the screws the rest of the way, plug in the data cable, and slide the screen into place. The whole process takes no longer than 10 minutes, and when you want to remove it, there’ll be no damage to your door.

The external camera is unobtrusive, and visitors might not realize it's also a doorbellFutureThe internal display gives a clear view of the area beyond your front door, but you'll get a better picture in the appFutureThe screen stands about an inch proud of your doorFutureWhen you move, just unscrew the EP4 and screw the original peephole back in placeFuture

It’s a clever design, and the exterior camera is discreet (it comes with stickers to put on your door if you want to warn visitors they are being recorded), but it’s worth being aware that the interior screen stands about an inch proud of the door, so you’ll need to be very careful if it opens opposite a wall.

You can detach the screen unit to charge it via a microUSB cable (supplied with the EP4) and insert a memory card. It’s a shame there’s no hot-swappable battery — you can’t use the camera and doorbell while the unit is charging — but battery life is quite respectable. EZVIZ suggests up to 120 days, though this will depend on how many times the camera is triggered and how often you use the internal screen to see what’s happening outside.

• Design score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP4: performance

The EP4 is an ingenious home security device that provides many of the advantages of a video doorbell or home security camera without needing to make permanent changes to your property. It’s a great pick for an apartment, with excellent picture quality and smart notifications, though it’s worth being aware of a few drawbacks — particularly when it comes to person recognition.

The resolution of the internal screen is fine, and you’ll immediately benefit from a field of view that’s much wider than your original peephole, but it doesn’t do justice to the EP4’s 4K camera. To see footage in its full 4K glory, you’ll need to use the Ezvizlife app, which also gives you access to all the EP4’s settings, as well as event history, saved recordings, call logs, two-way talk, and static photos.

The app's welcome screen gives you quick access to video logs and live viewFutureThe camera records 10-second clips when triggered, which are kept in your video logsFutureYou can browse recordings at any time, scrub through video, capture stills, and export video filesFuture

Footage in the Ezvizlife app is incredibly sharp, and there’s very little lag between events happening outside and the camera starting to record. You’ll notice a delay when using two-way talk, but it’s only a couple of seconds, and no worse than some much higher-end video doorbells we’ve tested here at TechRadar.

When a visitor uses the doorbell, you'll receive an incoming-call-style notification that you can choose to reject or answer to start two-way talk. It's also possible to start two-way talk at any time through the app if you can see someone at the door.

Want to keep your identity private? The app gives you two options: ‘Uncle Tone’, which deepens your voice, and ‘Clown Tone’, which makes it high and squeaky, both of which work well and will effectively disguise your voice if you don’t want to be recognized. Personally, I would prefer an option that doesn’t sound quite so cartoonish, but they’re a welcome feature nonetheless.

I found the fisheye-correction option particularly useful during my testing, along with the AI person-shape recognition, which correctly identifies subjects even when they’re wheeling a bike or carrying a large object that might obscure their body shape.

When a person is detected, the camera will send a notification to the EZVIZ app, and start recording a 10-second video clip, which will be saved on an SD card or in the cloud, depending on which storage option you’ve chosen. You can also choose to watch through the camera live at any time, trigger a recording, or capture a still image.

Person identification works even when an individual's outline is obscured by large objectsFutureYou can see a live view through the app or internal screen any timeFutureCheck your video logs in the app, export videos, and capture still imagesFuture

You can also export videos from your logs at any time, which is very useful if you're unfortunate enough to need them as evidence for the police.

EZVIZ is a Chinese company, and although the app has been localized quite well, some parts are still confusing. For example, if you attempt to toggle a feature that’s still in beta, you will see a notification reading: “The current status of this detection is closed. Please enable the corresponding algorithm in the intelligent detection before enabling this function”.

For me, the biggest drawback — and the one that holds the EP4 back from a better score — is the implementation of facial recognition. In an ideal world, you wouldn’t receive a notification when your own face is detected, and you could disable alerts for other members of your household as well, so you’re only alerted when a stranger arrives. Unfortunately, that’s not an option with the EP4, which notified me that “Cat appeared” each time I arrived home from work.

You can add a person to 'Familiar Faces' using an existing photo, or take a new oneFuturePhotos should be well-lit and taken from the frontFutureAdding yourself to 'Familiar faces' doesn't mean that the app will 'ignore' you Future

Facial recognition works very well, and even identifies a person wearing a cycle helmet and sunglasses, but at the moment, the implementation seems back-to-front. In fairness, though, the feature is still in beta, so perhaps the developers at EZVIZ will make that change before its full launch. For now, it's a real problem.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the EZVIZ EP4?EZVIZ EP4 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Very reasonably priced, particularly during sales, though you'll need an SD card too.

4.5/5

Design

Ingenious design that's great for renters, though screen projects quite far into the room and isn't very high-res.

4/5

Performance

Key functions are great, but you'll receive notifications whenever it detects your own face.

3.5/5

Buy it if

You rent your home

There’s no need to drill or make any permanent changes to your door, which will keep your landlord happy. When it’s time to move, the EP4 comes right off, and you can screw the old peephole back into place.

You’re on a budget

The EP4 is a great value doorbell and camera combo, and is frequently discounted on Amazon.

Security is a real concern

The 4K footage will make it easy to identify anyone who’s up to no good, if you’re unfortunate enough to need it as evidence.

Don't buy it if

You particularly want to watch for packages

Although the EP4 has a good horizontal field of view, it doesn’t cover your doorstep, so you won’t be able to see parcels left there.

You have notification fatigue

At the moment, there’s no way to avoid receiving a message when you approach your own front door.

EZVIZ EP4: also consider

If you're not sure whether the EZVIZ EP4 is the right security camera/doorbell for your home, here are two other wireless alternatives to consider.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell

This excellent subscription-free doorbell earned our seal of approval due to its sharp 2K recordings, ease of use, and great battery life.

Read our full Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell review

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual

Another solid subscription-free option, with dual cameras so you can keep an eye out for deliveries.

Read our full Eufy Video Doorbell Dual review

How I tested the EZVIZ EP4

I installed the EZVIZ EP4 on the door to my apartment, having first unscrewed the original peephole. I used it for two weeks, adding myself and my husband as 'familiar faces' halfway through. I used the two-way talk function to speak to him when I received a notification that he had arrived, and we used the doorbell function to speak to one another. I kept recordings on a microSD card once the seven-day cloud storage trial expired, and used the app to review recordings, export videos, and capture still images.

At the end of the test period, I removed the EP4 and replaced my door's original peephole. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed July 2026.

EZVIZ EP4: one-minute review

Fitting a video doorbell or security camera is often a non-starter if you rent or live in an apartment where drilling into the walls isn’t allowed. That’s where the EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer comes in — by fitting through your front door’s existing peephole, it brings almost everything you’d get from a full video doorbell, without any damage that could upset your landlord.

The physical setup is incredibly easy and took me just 10 minutes to complete. After you’ve unscrewed the old peephole, the EP4 securely clamps onto the door without a power tool in sight.

Once it’s running, the footage captured is very clear, giving you a detailed look at anyone outside. The companion app is simple to use and intuitively designed, making it effortless to check live feeds, use the two-way talk feature, or adjust security settings.

When it comes to saving video footage, EZVIZ doesn’t lock you into a subscription plan like some rivals. While the company includes a free trial of its cloud subscription service, you aren’t forced to pay for it afterwards. If you want to skip the recurring fees, you can opt to install a local microSD card (up to 512GB) to store clips locally.

However, the EP4’s AI facial recognition has a notable quirk. Although it's smart enough to identify who is at your door, there’s currently no way to stop the app from sending you notifications when it spots someone you know — including you. Because you can’t tell the camera to ignore certain individuals, you’ll be alerted every time you walk through your own front door.

EZVIZ EP4: price and availability

• List price £229.99 (about $300 / AU$440)
• Available in the UK, but not the US or Australia
• No subscription necessary if you use a microSD card

The EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer is available in the UK for £229.99 (about $300 / AU$440), but I’ve seen it discounted to as little as £159.99 during sales events. It’s not yet available in the US and Australia at the time of writing, but older models are, so hopefully the EP4 will launch more widely soon.

If you want to store your videos at home subscription-free, you’ll also need a microSD card (up to 512GB), so factor this into the cost. If you’d prefer to store footage in the cloud, you’ll want an EZVIZ CloudPlay subscription. After a 30-day free trial, there are three plans to choose from:

Plan Type

Cameras supported

Unlimited cloud storage

7-day event-based video history

30-day event-based video history

Individual plan

1

Yes

Monthly: $3.99 (about £3, AU$6)

Yearly: $39.99 (about £30, AU$58)

Monthly: $6.99 (about £5.30, AU$10)

Yearly: $69.99 (about £53, AU$100)

Home plan

4

Yes

Monthly: $5.99 (about £4.60, AU$8.70)

Yearly: $59.99 (about £46, AU$87)

Monthly: $10.99 (about £8.40, AU$16)

Yearly: $109.99 (about £84, AU$160)

Business plan

10

Yes

Monthly: $12.99 (about £9.90, AU$19)

Yearly: $129.99 (about £99, AU$190)

Monthly: $27.99 (about £21, AU$41)

Yearly: $279.99 (about £210, AU$410)

• Value score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP4: design

• Discreet external camera
• Very simple to fit without damaging door
• Internal screen projects an inch into the room
• Visitors might not spot the doorbell button

The EP4 has two main parts: the camera, which has a cable that threads through the peephole in your door, and a screen that sits on the inside. The camera has a doorbell button below the lens (though visitors might not notice it because it's at an unusual level), a motion sensor at the top, and a speaker and microphone on the side.

It’s compatible with doors between 1.4 x 4.1 inches / 35 x 105mm thick, with a peephole diameter between 0.6 inches and 2 inches / 14mm and 50mm. That’s a wide range, and should be fine for the vast majority of internal and external doors, but it’s worth measuring yours first just to be sure. You can remove the peephole from your door by simply unscrewing it, though if it’s particularly tight, you might need to use a pair of pliers to get it started.

The camera unit threads through an existing peephole and is compatible with most doorsFutureI recommend using a spirit level to get the camera straight before securing it in placeFutureThe screws connect the backplate to the camera, clamping them to your door without damaging itFuture

To fit the EP4, start by measuring the thickness of your door using the card template provided, and choose the appropriate pair of screws, indicated by the instruction manual. These will be used to clamp the EP4 onto your door. Peel the paper off the 3M tape on the back of the camera unit, position it on the outside of your door (I recommend using a spirit level to get it straight), thread the screws and data cable through the peephole (you can roll a piece of paper around them to avoid snagging), and press down to secure it.

Then tighten the screws a little, slide the mounting plate for the screen into place, tighten the screws the rest of the way, plug in the data cable, and slide the screen into place. The whole process takes no longer than 10 minutes, and when you want to remove it, there’ll be no damage to your door.

The external camera is unobtrusive, and visitors might not realize it's also a doorbellFutureThe internal display gives a clear view of the area beyond your front door, but you'll get a better picture in the appFutureThe screen stands about an inch proud of your doorFutureWhen you move, just unscrew the EP4 and screw the original peephole back in placeFuture

It’s a clever design, and the exterior camera is discreet (it comes with stickers to put on your door if you want to warn visitors they are being recorded), but it’s worth being aware that the interior screen stands about an inch proud of the door, so you’ll need to be very careful if it opens opposite a wall.

You can detach the screen unit to charge it via a microUSB cable (supplied with the EP4) and insert a memory card. It’s a shame there’s no hot-swappable battery — you can’t use the camera and doorbell while the unit is charging — but battery life is quite respectable. EZVIZ suggests up to 120 days, though this will depend on how many times the camera is triggered and how often you use the internal screen to see what’s happening outside.

• Design score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP4: performance

The EP4 is an ingenious home security device that provides many of the advantages of a video doorbell or home security camera without needing to make permanent changes to your property. It’s a great pick for an apartment, with excellent picture quality and smart notifications, though it’s worth being aware of a few drawbacks — particularly when it comes to person recognition.

The resolution of the internal screen is fine, and you’ll immediately benefit from a field of view that’s much wider than your original peephole, but it doesn’t do justice to the EP4’s 4K camera. To see footage in its full 4K glory, you’ll need to use the Ezvizlife app, which also gives you access to all the EP4’s settings, as well as event history, saved recordings, call logs, two-way talk, and static photos.

The app's welcome screen gives you quick access to video logs and live viewFutureThe camera records 10-second clips when triggered, which are kept in your video logsFutureYou can browse recordings at any time, scrub through video, capture stills, and export video filesFuture

Footage in the Ezvizlife app is incredibly sharp, and there’s very little lag between events happening outside and the camera starting to record. You’ll notice a delay when using two-way talk, but it’s only a couple of seconds, and no worse than some much higher-end video doorbells we’ve tested here at TechRadar.

When a visitor uses the doorbell, you'll receive an incoming-call-style notification that you can choose to reject or answer to start two-way talk. It's also possible to start two-way talk at any time through the app if you can see someone at the door.

Want to keep your identity private? The app gives you two options: ‘Uncle Tone’, which deepens your voice, and ‘Clown Tone’, which makes it high and squeaky, both of which work well and will effectively disguise your voice if you don’t want to be recognized. Personally, I would prefer an option that doesn’t sound quite so cartoonish, but they’re a welcome feature nonetheless.

I found the fisheye-correction option particularly useful during my testing, along with the AI person-shape recognition, which correctly identifies subjects even when they’re wheeling a bike or carrying a large object that might obscure their body shape.

When a person is detected, the camera will send a notification to the EZVIZ app, and start recording a 10-second video clip, which will be saved on an SD card or in the cloud, depending on which storage option you’ve chosen. You can also choose to watch through the camera live at any time, trigger a recording, or capture a still image.

Person identification works even when an individual's outline is obscured by large objectsFutureYou can see a live view through the app or internal screen any timeFutureCheck your video logs in the app, export videos, and capture still imagesFuture

You can also export videos from your logs at any time, which is very useful if you're unfortunate enough to need them as evidence for the police.

EZVIZ is a Chinese company, and although the app has been localized quite well, some parts are still confusing. For example, if you attempt to toggle a feature that’s still in beta, you will see a notification reading: “The current status of this detection is closed. Please enable the corresponding algorithm in the intelligent detection before enabling this function”.

For me, the biggest drawback — and the one that holds the EP4 back from a better score — is the implementation of facial recognition. In an ideal world, you wouldn’t receive a notification when your own face is detected, and you could disable alerts for other members of your household as well, so you’re only alerted when a stranger arrives. Unfortunately, that’s not an option with the EP4, which notified me that “Cat appeared” each time I arrived home from work.

You can add a person to 'Familiar Faces' using an existing photo, or take a new oneFuturePhotos should be well-lit and taken from the frontFutureAdding yourself to 'Familiar faces' doesn't mean that the app will 'ignore' you Future

Facial recognition works very well, and even identifies a person wearing a cycle helmet and sunglasses, but at the moment, the implementation seems back-to-front. In fairness, though, the feature is still in beta, so perhaps the developers at EZVIZ will make that change before its full launch. For now, it's a real problem.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the EZVIZ EP4?EZVIZ EP4 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Very reasonably priced, particularly during sales, though you'll need an SD card too.

4.5/5

Design

Ingenious design that's great for renters, though screen projects quite far into the room and isn't very high-res.

4/5

Performance

Key functions are great, but you'll receive notifications whenever it detects your own face.

3.5/5

Buy it if

You rent your home

There’s no need to drill or make any permanent changes to your door, which will keep your landlord happy. When it’s time to move, the EP4 comes right off, and you can screw the old peephole back into place.

You’re on a budget

The EP4 is a great value doorbell and camera combo, and is frequently discounted on Amazon.

Security is a real concern

The 4K footage will make it easy to identify anyone who’s up to no good, if you’re unfortunate enough to need it as evidence.

Don't buy it if

You particularly want to watch for packages

Although the EP4 has a good horizontal field of view, it doesn’t cover your doorstep, so you won’t be able to see parcels left there.

You have notification fatigue

At the moment, there’s no way to avoid receiving a message when you approach your own front door.

EZVIZ EP4: also consider

If you're not sure whether the EZVIZ EP4 is the right security camera/doorbell for your home, here are two other wireless alternatives to consider.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell

This excellent subscription-free doorbell earned our seal of approval due to its sharp 2K recordings, ease of use, and great battery life.

Read our full Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell review

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual

Another solid subscription-free option, with dual cameras so you can keep an eye out for deliveries.

Read our full Eufy Video Doorbell Dual review

How I tested the EZVIZ EP4

I installed the EZVIZ EP4 on the door to my apartment, having first unscrewed the original peephole. I used it for two weeks, adding myself and my husband as 'familiar faces' halfway through. I used the two-way talk function to speak to him when I received a notification that he had arrived, and we used the doorbell function to speak to one another. I kept recordings on a microSD card once the seven-day cloud storage trial expired, and used the app to review recordings, export videos, and capture still images.

At the end of the test period, I removed the EP4 and replaced my door's original peephole. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed July 2026.

D-Link G572: 30-second review

Living in the south of England, you’d expect the internet speeds to be pretty decent, and at one time, not long ago, in the New Forest, they were. But then, as the area started to develop, connection speeds dropped and became increasingly unstable, meaning that if you run a business, fallbacks are needed if you want to keep running.

However, even then, the cellular networks can be hit and miss, aim for the high ground, and ordinarily, you can get a signal, so when my fibre network at home keeled over completely, I reached for my usual choice of mobile network router to get me back online.

However, this time the fibre connection has not been short and tipping over for over a week with no connection and intermittent service for the last few months, I’ve had to look for a more permanent solution. Thankfully, the G572 was in for review and has now been delivering impressive connection speeds to the 4G network from its high point in the house and office.

Unlike my high-end portable 5G router, this box requires AC power, but then it provides wireless coverage that essentially matches that of the Eero 6 routers we usually use at home. In an area where connection speeds are usually lacking, the powerful antennas do the job.

While I still can’t connect to a 5G network, the 4G connection speeds are impressive, with the speed test nearly reaching 80 Mbps and upload speeds of around 6 Mbps. Still some way off the fibre connection, but a lifesaver when you rely on that connection for work and, of course, entertainment.

But this router has not only stepped in where the fibre connection fails, in the office, but another once-sweet spot for bad fibre connection, which, on last checking, has now dropped below 10Mbps and the cellular network is close to non-existent. Using this router, the cellular network connection speeds have improved enough to enable some email, web browsing, and music streaming; video streaming might be wishful thinking. Then there’s also the ability to just plug it directly into the 10G network, fully integrating it with the office network.

The other point at home is that multiple devices can be easily connected with surprising efficiency. Most days when working at home, I’d have two to three machines, three robot vacuums, which I discovered only work when there’s an internet connection, the Alexa, and a couple of mobile phones.

In the evening, that volume of connection uplifts with my partner’s phone and laptop and the use of the Fire Stick. Ordinarily, this volume of connections would cause a slowdown of the connection speeds, especially as the usual mobile router would need to be placed in relative proximity to where the devices were being used, but here, placed on another floor, the connection speeds are still impressive, with a floor between the router and the devices used.

I looked at the previous iteration of this router, the D-Link G530, last year, and was impressed with the Wi-Fi 6 performance. This new model boosts the wireless connection speed to Wi-Fi 7 and adds three more network ports to the back. The uplift in performance is significant to the point that, for most people, with a dedicated network SIM, you can seriously move away from a wired broadband connection, even if you’re limited to the 4G connection.

In my household, while this unit came in for review, the real-world testing has been a little more real-world than I would have liked. While I’m impressed with the download speeds, the upload is a little more limited.

However, if you need a fast and reliable connection in a workshop, studio, office, or at home where you don’t have a fibre connection, or you have a good 5G connection and are happy to rely on a cellular network, then this is a great option. Most importantly, while this box is expensive and the data-only SIM also doesn’t come cheap, the impact of no internet at all makes this fallback a valuable addition to your business costs.

D-Link G572: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £350
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Online at major retailers

At present, the D-Link G572 will set you back around £350 for the base unit. On top of that cost, you will also need a mobile SIM contract.

In this test, I used the Unlimited plan from Vodafone, which is uncapped on both usage and speed through the business plans, and this set me back around £250 for the year.

There are cheaper data plans out there, but if you rely on the internet and a clean connection, then this plan, even when limited to the 4G speeds due to local network coverage, will ensure you can keep your business going.

• Value: 4/5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)D-Link G572: Specs

Antenna: 10 x Wi-Fi internal antennas, 4 x LTE/5G NR internal antennas, two of which can be substituted with external TS-9 antennas
Interfaces: 4 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, 1 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x SIM card slot
Wireless speed: 7200Mbps (5GHz up to 5764Mbps / 2.4GHz up to 1376Mbps)
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11be/ax/ac/n/g/b/a, IEEE 802.3u/ab
Size: 137 × 146 × 205mm; 660g
OS installed: Router firmware with Web UI and D-Link Falcon app management
Accessories: Power adapter
Wi-Fi standard: IEEE 802.11be/ax/ac/n/g/b/a
Wi-Fi speed: BE7200, up to 5764Mbps on 5GHz and 1376Mbps on 2.4GHz
Ethernet: 4 × Gigabit LAN, 1 × 2.5GbE WAN
SIM: 1 × Nano SIM card slot
Antennas: 10 internal Wi-Fi antennas; 4 internal LTE/5G NR antennas, with two substitutable via external TS-9 antennas
Security: WPA/WPA2/WPA3, WPS, SPI firewall, anti-spoofing, IP filtering, and DMZ support

D-Link G572 Review: Design

Like the excellent G530 I looked at last year, the G572 uses an almost identical upright white tower design that sits neatly on a shelf or windowsill. Throughout the test, I moved the router around to find the strongest connection in the home, and, just like with your mobile phone, it’s worth checking the signal strength.

As there’s no screen or readout on the router itself, you need to rely on the companion app, which, while simple, highlights basic information, including that all-important signal strength. While mine was still only three bars, flickering onto four on occasion, the performance was maximised for the area.

The relatively small footprint of 137 x 146mm enables easy positioning. However, you do need to make sure that the positioning is near an AC plug. In the house, that wasn’t an issue, with the prime location directly next to a socket.

Likewise, in the studio, a plug was easily located; however, in the office, the prime location was some distance from the nearest AC socket, so rather than using an extension cable, I used a Jackery 1000 V2 power station, which kept the router running happily throughout the day with a minimal impact on the capacity.

While the unit has a relatively small footprint, the height of 205mm means that you do need a decent-sized shelf height to position the router, and as I moved from one location to another, I actually found that this height was pretty average for most of the shelving units that I use across all locations, so the router fitted without issue.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

On the back of the router is a 2.5GbE WAN and four gigabit Ethernet ports, which I was able to plug directly into the network, then there’s the all-important slot of the Nano SIM and AC power socket and the option to connect the TS-9 antenna if you need a connection signal strength boost. Locally, for me, this might have been an idea, but those were not provided for this review.

Getting started with the router is straightforward: install the Nano SIM, then plug the box into the mains. Once done, you install and connect the app, update passwords, and create or log in to your D-Link account, and then you’re pretty much set to go.

For wireless, like any router, you need the username and password; for the wired network connection, it just needs to be plugged in. I installed the DXP4800 GT and the IDX6011 Pro as part of my usual video setup.

As a cellular router, the ease of use and integration into my existing network while I wait for the fibre to be fixed was surprisingly smooth and easy.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)D-Link G572: Features

The G572 is quite an upgrade from the already impressive G530, with the main focus being the switch to Wi-Fi 7 and the inclusion of four network ports on the back. The cellular connection also offers 5G NR support, with theoretical download speeds of up to 7.01Gbps in SA mode for pure 5G potential and up to 5.67Gbps in NSA mode, where the 4G/LTE network is still the base infrastructure, which is the system by which I tested the unit.

Wi-Fi 7 BE7200 supports multi-link operation and dual-band speeds of up to 7200 Mbps, which really makes a difference as more devices are connected. It lets multiple devices connect to the same router using different bands, freeing up bandwidth and improving speeds.

On the back of the router are five network ports, with one WAN 2.5GbE set apart from the four Gigabit LAN ports that enable you to connect to your computer, NAS devices and other office equipment.

The main feature that sets this apart from a standard router is the slot for a Nano SIM. This is essentially the same type that you find in most phones, and you can get a data-only SIM package from most mobile providers.

Once inserted into the slot, it can connect to the cellular network to provide a fast internet connection. While a cellular network connection option is what differentiates this from the standard router, you can also plug directly into your standard wired fibre network connection with automatic failover.

The incoming network cable plugs directly into the 2.5GbE port; if your wired network fails, then it will automatically switch to the mobile connection, so you don’t have any downtime.

Through the test, I tried several locations, in the studio where it stood alone with the cellular network connection. In the home, the fibre internet had failed, so the box was positioned on the second story for the best hebest cellular network signal.

Finally testing in the office, where the wired connection is extremely slow and has dropouts, I put the router between the wired connection and used it as my Wi-Fi network so that when the fibre connection dropped, it automatically switches to the cellular network.

Alongside the hardware is also the D-Link Falcon app and the web UI, which enable you to set up and manage the box. The app, which is how most people will access and communicate with the router, is relatively simple and easy to navigate with access to all the settings you want. If you want a little bit more in-depth control, then you can use the web view that can be accessed directly from your browser window.

When it comes to security, the usual boxes are ticked: WPA/WPA2/WPA3 security, SPI firewall, anti-spoofing, IP filtering, DMZ, and WPS. I was also pleased to see that it offers parental controls, as well as a switch that basically turns everything off at night, so if you’re in the office and you want to switch it off completely when you leave, then you can just access the app, and it’s a simple one-touch button to switch it off.

If you’re in the home, using separate parental controls on the access, essentially saying that after 6 o’clock in the evening, all internet connections are off. The great thing here is that D-Link has really sorted this out, so it’s probably one of the quickest and easiest options I’ve come across in a long time.

The other big feature here, especially for office use, is that you can connect plenty of devices, so within the studio, I had one PC, two Macs, and two mobile phones connected. I also had two NAS systems, and the box handled everything with ease, providing fast internet and network access over the cellular and wired networks.

Even though the LAN ports only offer a Gigabit connection, as my network is isolated at 10GbE through the switch, this wasn’t too much of an issue and only limits the speed at which the wired devices to the router will connect to the internet, which, with the 4G connection, didn’t really pose an issue.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4.5 / 5

D-Link G572 Review: PerformanceTest Scores

Download speed: 79.3Mbps (4G network)
Upload speed: 5.97Mbps (4G network)

The G572 sounds like a great idea on paper and can be used in several ways. Firstly, if you’re in an office, outhouse, studio or other location where there is no wired internet connection, then you can use this router to connect to the cellular network, and then all of the devices can connect to it in exactly the same way as you usually have with a wireless router.

Alternatively, if the internet connection is absolutely critical and slightly unstable, as it often is here in the New Forest, you can place it between your wired connection and use it as a wireless router in exactly the same way as all other routers of this type. However, if that wired connection falls over at any point, then the cellular connection kicks in, meaning that you have no break in network connectivity. If you plug it into your existing wireless network, as I have in this review, you'll notice very little difference in the connection, even if there is a slight drop in speed, unless it’s uploads where there will a significant slow down.

Unlike portable cellular routers that you can take anywhere, this one is designed to be plugged into mains power, so you can use it in your office, home, or anywhere else with mains power. In this review, I also had to plug it into a Jackery 1000 V2 power station because the place with our best cellular connectivity in the office was too far from a plug to connect without an extension lead. Used in this way, it actually provided a sound solution.

Getting set up and started with it was all easy enough, and once the unit was taken out of the box, it was simply a case of plugging my Nano SIM into the slot on the back and then plugging it into the mains. In the studio, this was as far as it went. I was able to connect using the app and get the rest of the unit set up; it was all quick and really straightforward.

Once connected, whilst I could only find a 4G connection, the transfer rates were almost at 80 Mbps, which was impressive on the download, although the upload speed, closer to 5 and 6 Mbps, was less impressive than my usual wired connection, but in line with what I’ve experienced in the past.

Once everything was set up, I could connect to whichever device I wanted to the router, select that network name, enter the password, wait a couple of seconds, and it would connect. What was impressive here was that every device I connected to delivered similar performance: newer Wi-Fi 7 devices were limited only by the cellular network speed, while older devices that only featured Wi-Fi 6 still produced very fast speeds. Unfortunately, there is no 5G coverage in this area.

Used off-site with no wired connection, I had the router running for around six weeks, and it provided a solid, stable connection throughout, even during the heatwave, when the wired connection at home decided to come to a grinding halt and has since failed to come back online.

While the first month of the test proved just how good this router was in the office and studio, where it provided decent internet connection for download and moderate for upload, the real test came where I had to package up the router and take it home, find a location around the house where I could actually get a mobile phone signal for that data connectivity, and then plug it in.

I’m used to network speeds of around 150 Mbps and upload speeds that are equally impressive; however, while we used to have very decent cellular connectivity, that connectivity has recently dropped out this year. In searching around the house for a decent location for the router, I finally settled on the second floor and the rear of the house, which must have had the clearest line of sight to whichever mast it’s picking up.

Once it was switched on and connected, the 4G connectivity showed at three to four bars, and testing out the transfer rates, I was again surprised to see that I was getting around 80 Mbps, not at all bad.

Now, in my second week of using it as my main internet connection, I can confirm it works incredibly well. I might not be able to test out the 5G speed, but even at 4G, with the slightly ropey connectivity of the area, I’m still getting those fast download rates, although uploads are slightly slower at about 5 to 6Mb per second, and you do have to pick your time of day, with that signal dropping to about 20Mb per second at the height of what seems to be mobile phone use in the area.

Despite that, in the evenings, we’d have at least one Alexa going, two laptops, possibly two mobile phones, and the Fire Stick playing whichever streaming channel we’d settled on for the evening. The D-Link G572 was able to supply all devices without issue, and whilst you could tell, especially with the streaming services, that I wasn’t having the usual speed of connection that I’m used to with the wired fibre connectivity, it was still incredibly impressive.

When the unit first arrived, and after I’d initially set it up, I tested it with the wall connection, installing it as the main router for the house and connecting it to the 2.5GbE WAN port at the back. I was again really surprised by the coverage it provided in the house, surpassing the Eero 6 wireless router I presently use. I also noted that those devices that utilise Wi-Fi 7, primarily a couple of mini PCs that I have for a review, saw the transfer rates vastly increased, still limited somewhat by the 2.5GbE input, but still significantly more than the other router.

Back in the office, and with it just connected to the mobile network and with one of the worst fibre connections going, I connected to the back of the D-Link G572 again, although this time it was more to see whether it could improve the connectivity I usually have in the office.

Here, I was really impressed: every time the wired connection cut out and switched to the mobile network, it was still not great and was far slower than when I was using it at home, but a definite improvement on what I’m used to.

To get a fast connection in my office, I need to cross the car park and go into the next building. There’s obviously a connection somewhere within the old building. However, having this router in between meant that when my wired connection was actually feeling like working well, I’d have a relatively decent connection, and then when it would drop out, it switched over to the cellular network, and for the first time, I was able to work nonstop using the internet connection without worrying about it dropping out partway through a call or upload.

What I really like about the router, although its speed was slightly limited, was the fact that it had those four Gigabit LAN ports, which means I can plug in my NAS boxes for archive and working, along with the network printer, which made them more easily accessible on the network, both wired and wireless. While my actual network in the office runs at 10GbE, this downgraded it to just one. For most office work, this is absolutely fine, and when I actually need faster connectivity, I can go through the switch and plug directly into the faster NAS.

As I’m used to working in an environment where the internet connection can be variable, from very good to absolutely non-existent, always having some sort of wireless router with me is an essential part of my working kit, and I usually rely on the Netgear Nighthawk M7, as it’s just a very powerful and portable solution, although even that struggles at the moment in the office.

The D-Link G572 is a far cheaper solution, which is good, especially considering the cost of a 5G unlimited data package, which can also see costs rise rapidly. With this AC-powered router, I was impressed from the outset. It is a bit of a shame that those LAN ports are limited to a Gigabit, but when it comes to one of these devices, it’s just simple. It does what it does, and you don’t need to really think about it. It’s exceptionally good, and for someone like me, who works in an older building in a town with very little internet, this makes a lot of sense.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)D-Link G572: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

When I tried out the predecessor to the D-Link G572 last year, I was impressed by just how versatile it was and by the fact that it could serve as a backup to my internet connection. At that time, my wired and cellular network connections around the New Forest were exceptional, but in the intervening year, the cellular network dropped out entirely, and even the wired network that had always been so reliable became especially unreliable, meaning I had to look for alternative solutions.

Having now burnt through EE, O2, Vodafone and a few other providers, it turns out there's been an issue with our mast for almost a year, so a device with a good antenna to pick up whatever signal you can get is essential.

What I found with the D-Link G572 was that, even without the optional antenna, it still picked up a pretty decent signal as long as it was positioned correctly. That place in the house took quite some time to locate, but once I did, I was seeing speeds in excess of 80 Mbpsd, far faster than I would have thought possible and over 20 Mbps faster than the comparable rate on my iPhone 15 Pro using the same network.

I also like that I could plug it in between my wired fibre connection and use it as my wireless router, with it switching to cellular when the wired connection drops out. Even though many of my devices around the house couldn’t fully use that Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, it was fully backwards compatible and still provided all devices with a strong signal, enabling me to continue working despite cellular and wired connection issues.

As a solution for anyone working off-grid or in a location where a wired or even cellular data network can be an issue, this D-Link G572 is certainly worth the money. Whilst it might seem that it is a premium option, especially when you consider you’re also going to need a data SIM contract, actually, just the fact that it keeps you working online and able to do business makes it a valuable asset for any business.

Should I buy the D-Link G572?

Value

Initially, it seems expensive, especially when you put the cost of a cellular network package on top, but then, if it keeps you working, it more than pays for itself.

4.5/5

Design

Very neat, with a tower design that sits easily on a shelf or window ledge, as long as you have power nearby to keep it running.

4/5

Features

5G and Wi-Fi 7 are leading features, and it’s also good to see that it’s fully backwards compatible with your older gear.

4.5/5

Performance

Only really limited by your cellular network connection, and when it works, plugging it into your wired connection improves usability.

4/5

Overall

A great choice as a fallback if you have an internet connection that is temperamental and unreliable, and more than worth the money to keep you working.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

Fibre connection unavailable
If you’re in a new office, location or studio where there just isn’t any fibre connection, then this cellular network router can be an absolute lifesaver, providing you with ultra-fast internet, as long as the network is available and comes close to fibre in speed.

Backup matters most
If you’re working in an area with an unreliable copper or fibre connection to your home or office and are regularly cut off from the internet, this is a perfect solution.

Don't buy it if...

The signal is weak
If your area doesn’t have 5G coverage, you'll be limited in the speeds you’ll get from this wireless cellular network router; however, even with 4G speeds, those transfer rates are impressive.

You need 6GHz
This is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router, so tri-band 6GHz isn’t available. If you want a 6GHz option, you’ll be looking at a lot more money.

For more connectivity solutions, we've tested the best Wi-Fi routers.

D-Link G572: 30-second review

Living in the south of England, you’d expect the internet speeds to be pretty decent, and at one time, not long ago, in the New Forest, they were. But then, as the area started to develop, connection speeds dropped and became increasingly unstable, meaning that if you run a business, fallbacks are needed if you want to keep running.

However, even then, the cellular networks can be hit and miss, aim for the high ground, and ordinarily, you can get a signal, so when my fibre network at home keeled over completely, I reached for my usual choice of mobile network router to get me back online.

However, this time the fibre connection has not been short and tipping over for over a week with no connection and intermittent service for the last few months, I’ve had to look for a more permanent solution. Thankfully, the G572 was in for review and has now been delivering impressive connection speeds to the 4G network from its high point in the house and office.

Unlike my high-end portable 5G router, this box requires AC power, but then it provides wireless coverage that essentially matches that of the Eero 6 routers we usually use at home. In an area where connection speeds are usually lacking, the powerful antennas do the job.

While I still can’t connect to a 5G network, the 4G connection speeds are impressive, with the speed test nearly reaching 80 Mbps and upload speeds of around 6 Mbps. Still some way off the fibre connection, but a lifesaver when you rely on that connection for work and, of course, entertainment.

But this router has not only stepped in where the fibre connection fails, in the office, but another once-sweet spot for bad fibre connection, which, on last checking, has now dropped below 10Mbps and the cellular network is close to non-existent. Using this router, the cellular network connection speeds have improved enough to enable some email, web browsing, and music streaming; video streaming might be wishful thinking. Then there’s also the ability to just plug it directly into the 10G network, fully integrating it with the office network.

The other point at home is that multiple devices can be easily connected with surprising efficiency. Most days when working at home, I’d have two to three machines, three robot vacuums, which I discovered only work when there’s an internet connection, the Alexa, and a couple of mobile phones.

In the evening, that volume of connection uplifts with my partner’s phone and laptop and the use of the Fire Stick. Ordinarily, this volume of connections would cause a slowdown of the connection speeds, especially as the usual mobile router would need to be placed in relative proximity to where the devices were being used, but here, placed on another floor, the connection speeds are still impressive, with a floor between the router and the devices used.

I looked at the previous iteration of this router, the D-Link G530, last year, and was impressed with the Wi-Fi 6 performance. This new model boosts the wireless connection speed to Wi-Fi 7 and adds three more network ports to the back. The uplift in performance is significant to the point that, for most people, with a dedicated network SIM, you can seriously move away from a wired broadband connection, even if you’re limited to the 4G connection.

In my household, while this unit came in for review, the real-world testing has been a little more real-world than I would have liked. While I’m impressed with the download speeds, the upload is a little more limited.

However, if you need a fast and reliable connection in a workshop, studio, office, or at home where you don’t have a fibre connection, or you have a good 5G connection and are happy to rely on a cellular network, then this is a great option. Most importantly, while this box is expensive and the data-only SIM also doesn’t come cheap, the impact of no internet at all makes this fallback a valuable addition to your business costs.

D-Link G572: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £350
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Online at major retailers

At present, the D-Link G572 will set you back around £350 for the base unit. On top of that cost, you will also need a mobile SIM contract.

In this test, I used the Unlimited plan from Vodafone, which is uncapped on both usage and speed through the business plans, and this set me back around £250 for the year.

There are cheaper data plans out there, but if you rely on the internet and a clean connection, then this plan, even when limited to the 4G speeds due to local network coverage, will ensure you can keep your business going.

• Value: 4/5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)D-Link G572: Specs

Antenna: 10 x Wi-Fi internal antennas, 4 x LTE/5G NR internal antennas, two of which can be substituted with external TS-9 antennas
Interfaces: 4 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, 1 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x SIM card slot
Wireless speed: 7200Mbps (5GHz up to 5764Mbps / 2.4GHz up to 1376Mbps)
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11be/ax/ac/n/g/b/a, IEEE 802.3u/ab
Size: 137 × 146 × 205mm; 660g
OS installed: Router firmware with Web UI and D-Link Falcon app management
Accessories: Power adapter
Wi-Fi standard: IEEE 802.11be/ax/ac/n/g/b/a
Wi-Fi speed: BE7200, up to 5764Mbps on 5GHz and 1376Mbps on 2.4GHz
Ethernet: 4 × Gigabit LAN, 1 × 2.5GbE WAN
SIM: 1 × Nano SIM card slot
Antennas: 10 internal Wi-Fi antennas; 4 internal LTE/5G NR antennas, with two substitutable via external TS-9 antennas
Security: WPA/WPA2/WPA3, WPS, SPI firewall, anti-spoofing, IP filtering, and DMZ support

D-Link G572 Review: Design

Like the excellent G530 I looked at last year, the G572 uses an almost identical upright white tower design that sits neatly on a shelf or windowsill. Throughout the test, I moved the router around to find the strongest connection in the home, and, just like with your mobile phone, it’s worth checking the signal strength.

As there’s no screen or readout on the router itself, you need to rely on the companion app, which, while simple, highlights basic information, including that all-important signal strength. While mine was still only three bars, flickering onto four on occasion, the performance was maximised for the area.

The relatively small footprint of 137 x 146mm enables easy positioning. However, you do need to make sure that the positioning is near an AC plug. In the house, that wasn’t an issue, with the prime location directly next to a socket.

Likewise, in the studio, a plug was easily located; however, in the office, the prime location was some distance from the nearest AC socket, so rather than using an extension cable, I used a Jackery 1000 V2 power station, which kept the router running happily throughout the day with a minimal impact on the capacity.

While the unit has a relatively small footprint, the height of 205mm means that you do need a decent-sized shelf height to position the router, and as I moved from one location to another, I actually found that this height was pretty average for most of the shelving units that I use across all locations, so the router fitted without issue.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

On the back of the router is a 2.5GbE WAN and four gigabit Ethernet ports, which I was able to plug directly into the network, then there’s the all-important slot of the Nano SIM and AC power socket and the option to connect the TS-9 antenna if you need a connection signal strength boost. Locally, for me, this might have been an idea, but those were not provided for this review.

Getting started with the router is straightforward: install the Nano SIM, then plug the box into the mains. Once done, you install and connect the app, update passwords, and create or log in to your D-Link account, and then you’re pretty much set to go.

For wireless, like any router, you need the username and password; for the wired network connection, it just needs to be plugged in. I installed the DXP4800 GT and the IDX6011 Pro as part of my usual video setup.

As a cellular router, the ease of use and integration into my existing network while I wait for the fibre to be fixed was surprisingly smooth and easy.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)D-Link G572: Features

The G572 is quite an upgrade from the already impressive G530, with the main focus being the switch to Wi-Fi 7 and the inclusion of four network ports on the back. The cellular connection also offers 5G NR support, with theoretical download speeds of up to 7.01Gbps in SA mode for pure 5G potential and up to 5.67Gbps in NSA mode, where the 4G/LTE network is still the base infrastructure, which is the system by which I tested the unit.

Wi-Fi 7 BE7200 supports multi-link operation and dual-band speeds of up to 7200 Mbps, which really makes a difference as more devices are connected. It lets multiple devices connect to the same router using different bands, freeing up bandwidth and improving speeds.

On the back of the router are five network ports, with one WAN 2.5GbE set apart from the four Gigabit LAN ports that enable you to connect to your computer, NAS devices and other office equipment.

The main feature that sets this apart from a standard router is the slot for a Nano SIM. This is essentially the same type that you find in most phones, and you can get a data-only SIM package from most mobile providers.

Once inserted into the slot, it can connect to the cellular network to provide a fast internet connection. While a cellular network connection option is what differentiates this from the standard router, you can also plug directly into your standard wired fibre network connection with automatic failover.

The incoming network cable plugs directly into the 2.5GbE port; if your wired network fails, then it will automatically switch to the mobile connection, so you don’t have any downtime.

Through the test, I tried several locations, in the studio where it stood alone with the cellular network connection. In the home, the fibre internet had failed, so the box was positioned on the second story for the best hebest cellular network signal.

Finally testing in the office, where the wired connection is extremely slow and has dropouts, I put the router between the wired connection and used it as my Wi-Fi network so that when the fibre connection dropped, it automatically switches to the cellular network.

Alongside the hardware is also the D-Link Falcon app and the web UI, which enable you to set up and manage the box. The app, which is how most people will access and communicate with the router, is relatively simple and easy to navigate with access to all the settings you want. If you want a little bit more in-depth control, then you can use the web view that can be accessed directly from your browser window.

When it comes to security, the usual boxes are ticked: WPA/WPA2/WPA3 security, SPI firewall, anti-spoofing, IP filtering, DMZ, and WPS. I was also pleased to see that it offers parental controls, as well as a switch that basically turns everything off at night, so if you’re in the office and you want to switch it off completely when you leave, then you can just access the app, and it’s a simple one-touch button to switch it off.

If you’re in the home, using separate parental controls on the access, essentially saying that after 6 o’clock in the evening, all internet connections are off. The great thing here is that D-Link has really sorted this out, so it’s probably one of the quickest and easiest options I’ve come across in a long time.

The other big feature here, especially for office use, is that you can connect plenty of devices, so within the studio, I had one PC, two Macs, and two mobile phones connected. I also had two NAS systems, and the box handled everything with ease, providing fast internet and network access over the cellular and wired networks.

Even though the LAN ports only offer a Gigabit connection, as my network is isolated at 10GbE through the switch, this wasn’t too much of an issue and only limits the speed at which the wired devices to the router will connect to the internet, which, with the 4G connection, didn’t really pose an issue.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4.5 / 5

D-Link G572 Review: PerformanceTest Scores

Download speed: 79.3Mbps (4G network)
Upload speed: 5.97Mbps (4G network)

The G572 sounds like a great idea on paper and can be used in several ways. Firstly, if you’re in an office, outhouse, studio or other location where there is no wired internet connection, then you can use this router to connect to the cellular network, and then all of the devices can connect to it in exactly the same way as you usually have with a wireless router.

Alternatively, if the internet connection is absolutely critical and slightly unstable, as it often is here in the New Forest, you can place it between your wired connection and use it as a wireless router in exactly the same way as all other routers of this type. However, if that wired connection falls over at any point, then the cellular connection kicks in, meaning that you have no break in network connectivity. If you plug it into your existing wireless network, as I have in this review, you'll notice very little difference in the connection, even if there is a slight drop in speed, unless it’s uploads where there will a significant slow down.

Unlike portable cellular routers that you can take anywhere, this one is designed to be plugged into mains power, so you can use it in your office, home, or anywhere else with mains power. In this review, I also had to plug it into a Jackery 1000 V2 power station because the place with our best cellular connectivity in the office was too far from a plug to connect without an extension lead. Used in this way, it actually provided a sound solution.

Getting set up and started with it was all easy enough, and once the unit was taken out of the box, it was simply a case of plugging my Nano SIM into the slot on the back and then plugging it into the mains. In the studio, this was as far as it went. I was able to connect using the app and get the rest of the unit set up; it was all quick and really straightforward.

Once connected, whilst I could only find a 4G connection, the transfer rates were almost at 80 Mbps, which was impressive on the download, although the upload speed, closer to 5 and 6 Mbps, was less impressive than my usual wired connection, but in line with what I’ve experienced in the past.

Once everything was set up, I could connect to whichever device I wanted to the router, select that network name, enter the password, wait a couple of seconds, and it would connect. What was impressive here was that every device I connected to delivered similar performance: newer Wi-Fi 7 devices were limited only by the cellular network speed, while older devices that only featured Wi-Fi 6 still produced very fast speeds. Unfortunately, there is no 5G coverage in this area.

Used off-site with no wired connection, I had the router running for around six weeks, and it provided a solid, stable connection throughout, even during the heatwave, when the wired connection at home decided to come to a grinding halt and has since failed to come back online.

While the first month of the test proved just how good this router was in the office and studio, where it provided decent internet connection for download and moderate for upload, the real test came where I had to package up the router and take it home, find a location around the house where I could actually get a mobile phone signal for that data connectivity, and then plug it in.

I’m used to network speeds of around 150 Mbps and upload speeds that are equally impressive; however, while we used to have very decent cellular connectivity, that connectivity has recently dropped out this year. In searching around the house for a decent location for the router, I finally settled on the second floor and the rear of the house, which must have had the clearest line of sight to whichever mast it’s picking up.

Once it was switched on and connected, the 4G connectivity showed at three to four bars, and testing out the transfer rates, I was again surprised to see that I was getting around 80 Mbps, not at all bad.

Now, in my second week of using it as my main internet connection, I can confirm it works incredibly well. I might not be able to test out the 5G speed, but even at 4G, with the slightly ropey connectivity of the area, I’m still getting those fast download rates, although uploads are slightly slower at about 5 to 6Mb per second, and you do have to pick your time of day, with that signal dropping to about 20Mb per second at the height of what seems to be mobile phone use in the area.

Despite that, in the evenings, we’d have at least one Alexa going, two laptops, possibly two mobile phones, and the Fire Stick playing whichever streaming channel we’d settled on for the evening. The D-Link G572 was able to supply all devices without issue, and whilst you could tell, especially with the streaming services, that I wasn’t having the usual speed of connection that I’m used to with the wired fibre connectivity, it was still incredibly impressive.

When the unit first arrived, and after I’d initially set it up, I tested it with the wall connection, installing it as the main router for the house and connecting it to the 2.5GbE WAN port at the back. I was again really surprised by the coverage it provided in the house, surpassing the Eero 6 wireless router I presently use. I also noted that those devices that utilise Wi-Fi 7, primarily a couple of mini PCs that I have for a review, saw the transfer rates vastly increased, still limited somewhat by the 2.5GbE input, but still significantly more than the other router.

Back in the office, and with it just connected to the mobile network and with one of the worst fibre connections going, I connected to the back of the D-Link G572 again, although this time it was more to see whether it could improve the connectivity I usually have in the office.

Here, I was really impressed: every time the wired connection cut out and switched to the mobile network, it was still not great and was far slower than when I was using it at home, but a definite improvement on what I’m used to.

To get a fast connection in my office, I need to cross the car park and go into the next building. There’s obviously a connection somewhere within the old building. However, having this router in between meant that when my wired connection was actually feeling like working well, I’d have a relatively decent connection, and then when it would drop out, it switched over to the cellular network, and for the first time, I was able to work nonstop using the internet connection without worrying about it dropping out partway through a call or upload.

What I really like about the router, although its speed was slightly limited, was the fact that it had those four Gigabit LAN ports, which means I can plug in my NAS boxes for archive and working, along with the network printer, which made them more easily accessible on the network, both wired and wireless. While my actual network in the office runs at 10GbE, this downgraded it to just one. For most office work, this is absolutely fine, and when I actually need faster connectivity, I can go through the switch and plug directly into the faster NAS.

As I’m used to working in an environment where the internet connection can be variable, from very good to absolutely non-existent, always having some sort of wireless router with me is an essential part of my working kit, and I usually rely on the Netgear Nighthawk M7, as it’s just a very powerful and portable solution, although even that struggles at the moment in the office.

The D-Link G572 is a far cheaper solution, which is good, especially considering the cost of a 5G unlimited data package, which can also see costs rise rapidly. With this AC-powered router, I was impressed from the outset. It is a bit of a shame that those LAN ports are limited to a Gigabit, but when it comes to one of these devices, it’s just simple. It does what it does, and you don’t need to really think about it. It’s exceptionally good, and for someone like me, who works in an older building in a town with very little internet, this makes a lot of sense.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)D-Link G572: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

When I tried out the predecessor to the D-Link G572 last year, I was impressed by just how versatile it was and by the fact that it could serve as a backup to my internet connection. At that time, my wired and cellular network connections around the New Forest were exceptional, but in the intervening year, the cellular network dropped out entirely, and even the wired network that had always been so reliable became especially unreliable, meaning I had to look for alternative solutions.

Having now burnt through EE, O2, Vodafone and a few other providers, it turns out there's been an issue with our mast for almost a year, so a device with a good antenna to pick up whatever signal you can get is essential.

What I found with the D-Link G572 was that, even without the optional antenna, it still picked up a pretty decent signal as long as it was positioned correctly. That place in the house took quite some time to locate, but once I did, I was seeing speeds in excess of 80 Mbpsd, far faster than I would have thought possible and over 20 Mbps faster than the comparable rate on my iPhone 15 Pro using the same network.

I also like that I could plug it in between my wired fibre connection and use it as my wireless router, with it switching to cellular when the wired connection drops out. Even though many of my devices around the house couldn’t fully use that Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, it was fully backwards compatible and still provided all devices with a strong signal, enabling me to continue working despite cellular and wired connection issues.

As a solution for anyone working off-grid or in a location where a wired or even cellular data network can be an issue, this D-Link G572 is certainly worth the money. Whilst it might seem that it is a premium option, especially when you consider you’re also going to need a data SIM contract, actually, just the fact that it keeps you working online and able to do business makes it a valuable asset for any business.

Should I buy the D-Link G572?

Value

Initially, it seems expensive, especially when you put the cost of a cellular network package on top, but then, if it keeps you working, it more than pays for itself.

4.5/5

Design

Very neat, with a tower design that sits easily on a shelf or window ledge, as long as you have power nearby to keep it running.

4/5

Features

5G and Wi-Fi 7 are leading features, and it’s also good to see that it’s fully backwards compatible with your older gear.

4.5/5

Performance

Only really limited by your cellular network connection, and when it works, plugging it into your wired connection improves usability.

4/5

Overall

A great choice as a fallback if you have an internet connection that is temperamental and unreliable, and more than worth the money to keep you working.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

Fibre connection unavailable
If you’re in a new office, location or studio where there just isn’t any fibre connection, then this cellular network router can be an absolute lifesaver, providing you with ultra-fast internet, as long as the network is available and comes close to fibre in speed.

Backup matters most
If you’re working in an area with an unreliable copper or fibre connection to your home or office and are regularly cut off from the internet, this is a perfect solution.

Don't buy it if...

The signal is weak
If your area doesn’t have 5G coverage, you'll be limited in the speeds you’ll get from this wireless cellular network router; however, even with 4G speeds, those transfer rates are impressive.

You need 6GHz
This is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router, so tri-band 6GHz isn’t available. If you want a 6GHz option, you’ll be looking at a lot more money.

For more connectivity solutions, we've tested the best Wi-Fi routers.

AirPods Max 2

Thanks to their new H2 chip, the AirPods Max 2 offer punchier sound, stronger ANC, and a more compelling feature-set than their predecessor, and iOS users will get an especially top-level overall user experience. Yes, we would’ve liked to see some higher-res wireless codecs on board, and the underwhelming 20-hour battery life is still here, but their expansive and emotive sound and beautiful design ensures they’re still a hit.

Pros

• Incredibly expansive soundstage
• Eye-catching metallic design
• Vast swathe of iOS-friendly features

Cons

• Less versatile for Android users
• Way heavier than the XM6
• 20-hour battery life is weak

Sony WH-1000XM6

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones that combine the best design elements of their predecessors, while leveling up the sonic and ANC capabilities of what came before. With super-clean touch controls, an ultra-comfy fit and a ton of features at your disposal, there’s a lot to love about these headphones.

Pros

• Punchy and tight yet well-balanced sound
• Foldability makes them ultra-compact
• Cheaper than the AirPods Max 2

Cons

• Lack the visual flair of the AirPods Max 2
• Earcups are on the bulky side
• AirPods Max 2 have a more spacious sound signature

Having tested countless pairs of ANC headphones, it takes something special to truly wow me. But today, we’re going to compare two sets of premium cans that did exactly that: Apple’s AirPods Max 2, and Sony’s WH-1000XM6.

If you’re considering which pair of headphones are for you, I’ve got you covered. I’ve spent hours testing both sets side by side, assessing each model on their feature-sets, performance, design, and most importantly, value for money.

The AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 are both wonderful headphones, and each earned a 4.5 star review and hearty recommendation from us here at TechRadar. They’re different in more ways than you may expect, offering a pretty unique listening and user experience, but ultimately, there’s one set I’d pick over the other. Curious to hear my verdict? The scroll on down to see this clash for the ages to unfurl.

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: price & specs

AirPods Max 2

Sony WH-1000XM6

Price

$549 / £499 / AU$999

$449 / £399 / AU$699

Drivers

40mm custom

30mm dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Battery life

20 hours

30 hours

Weight

13.6 oz / 386g

8.96 oz / 254g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm

AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: features

Both the AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 are rammed with features, but there’s one major point of differentiation — Apple’s cans are heavily tailored towards iOS users.

That’s right, the AirPods Max 2 have a lot of features that Android users won’t get access to. Stuff like Spatial Audio, auto-device switching, Siri, and Apple Intelligence integrations. This is understandable, although it’s a shame that Android users have no way to directly alter the headphones’ EQ. Apple users get a fantastic range of options to choose from, though, with stuff like Live Translation and the head-tracked Spatial Audio really standing out.

Sony’s headphones are undeniably more versatile, with myriad features available to both iOS and Android users. They have no end of options, with a 10-band EQ, scene-based listening, a Cinema upmix mode, speak to chat, and mic-mute. This is all controlled by Sony’s Sound Connect app, which is easy to use, although some settings do feel a little hidden in sub-menus.

(Image credit: Future)

But how about the main event: ANC? This is a much closer fight than I expected, actually. See, the XM6 offer class-leading noise canceling capabilities, and even when I’ve used them on flights they’ve silenced the sound of the deep jet engines firing or conversations happening around me. But the AirPods Max 2 are genuinely very competitive, even against the XM6. In my office, the sounds of keyboards clacking, colleagues talking, and cars passing by outside were totally crushed. Both headphones are top-tier when it comes to noise cancelling, and I’d argue they even rival Bose.

Another crucial area to explore is battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM6 keep things pretty standard with 30 hours of battery life with ANC on. This is the typical figure you’ll see for headphones in this kind of price range — nothing special, but enough to get you through a fair few days of listening. The AirPods Max 2, however, only supply 20 hours with ANC on. That’s just not good enough, and falls well short of the competition. If you don’t want to charge your cans all too often, then the XM6 are a better pick.

There are a few other areas where the XM6 prevail over the AirPods Max 2 as well, such as their superior call quality and background noise supression, inclusion of intuitive and precise touch controls over Apple’s digital crown, and use of DSEE Extreme for upscaling lower-quality audio files.

So, if you’re an iOS user, the AirPods Max 2 definitely have some snazzy features up their sleeves — including some smart options that the XM6 leave out. Each are great when it comes to ANC, and are on relatively even footing there. But Sony’s cans offer superior compatibility, battery life, and call quality, making them the overall winner in this category.

(Image credit: Future)AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: sound quality

This is what you really came here for, right? But before I get into my sound comparison, let’s take a look at a few technical differences.

Like their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5, the Sony WH-1000XM6 use 30mm dynamic drivers, except they’ve been redesigned with high-rigidity carbon fiber for better performance across the frequency range. They also feature Sony’s QN3 processor featuring a noise-shaper, which pre-empts sudden sound changes for a more controlled listening experience.

On the other hand, the AirPods Max 2 use custom 40mm drivers — just as the original AirPods Max did. However, the sequel added a new amplifier alongside Apple’s H2 processor, which is intended to supply more detailed, cleaner sound. Unlike the LDAC-equipped XM6, the AirPods Max 2 have no higher-res Bluetooth codec support, although you can access lossless playback via the headphones’ USB-C port.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into my listening comparison. In Journey by Ruze, the differences between the two pairs of headphones were clear. With the AirPods Max 2, I was treated to a spacious, immersive interpretation, with expansive vocals and dreamy synths showing off the headphones’ nuanced soundstage.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 went for a different approach, with a tighter and punchier take. Bass came through with the kind of impact that instantly demanded my attention. Vocals and synths were also really clear and well separated in the mix, but didn’t have quite as much of an expansive quality.

(Image credit: Future)

Moving over to something softer with Sakamichi by Yuta Orisaka and it was a similar story again. Vocals were emotive and tonally accurate, and were elegantly separated from strumming guitars. Percussion was also rhythmic and well-defined in the mix, and the broad soundstage exposed the track’s layers with finesse.

The XM6 excelled too, and vocals had excellent clarity in the mix, warped electric guitars sounded brilliantly separated — almost as if they were operating in a separate pocket. Meanwhile, the warmth of the track’s bass came through beautifully, and subtle percussive elements were weighted nicely too. Despite this, there was still a tightness to the sound — the direct and cohesive sound of the XM6 is simply very striking.

So, which headphones sound better? I think it’s a question that’s harder to answer than you may expect. On a strictly technical level, I’d argue that the AirPods Max 2 offer a bit more nuance, thanks to their wider soundstage, which opens up a more revealing and insightful listen. But I really do think there’s a case to be made for the XM6. Their punchier, tighter approach sounds spectacular, and adds a lot of vim and excitement — especially to more energetic tracks.

Ultimately, this one’s down to personal preference. If you want a more intimate sound with the joys of LDAC, then the Sony WH-1000XM6 are for you. But if you’re looking for an ultra-spacious, meticulous soundstage with clean all-round sound, then the AirPods Max 2 get the nod for me. Let’s call this one a tie.

(Image credit: Future)AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: design

The AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 have shown themselves to be very different propositions so far. And that’s reflected in their design as well.

In my view, the AirPods Max 2 are some of the best-looking wireless headphones on the market today, with a super-striking metallic look, an elegant fabric headband, and a selection of eye-catching colors. Sure, they look just about identical to the original AirPods Max, but if it ain’t broke…

The Sony WH-1000XM6 look pretty good themselves, though. They have a sleek, cohesive, and textured appearance, which resembles the XM5 pretty closely. The XM6 have more of an understated selection of colors than the AirPods Max 2 — personally I prefer what Apple’s headphones have to offer, but it’s totally down to personal preference.

(Image credit: Future)

I’d argue that the AirPods Max 2 have a more premium look and feel — as you’d hope considering the price difference — I just think they’re more striking. In addition, I prefer the flatter appearance of the earcups on Apple’s headphones to the semi-bulky look of the XM6’s.

But hang on. The XM6 aren’t down and out just yet. Because if we’re talking about pure practicality, they have the AirPods Max 2 beat. The XM6 are totally foldable, making them phenomenally compact if you want to toss them into a small bag, whereas Apple’s headphones are a bit more rigid. On top of that, the XM6 come with a fantastic magnet-lock case that's far better than the bizarre smart case of the AirPods Max 2, which doesn’t even protect the headband.

Overall, though, I’m gonna hand this one to Apple. I do like the case and foldability of the XM6 for sure, but the attention-grabbing, luxurious look of the AirPods Max 2 is undeniable. Yes, they’re also a fair bit heavier than the XM6 too, but I still found Apple’s cans very comfortable in use, meaning they just about edge it for me.

(Image credit: Future)AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: value

There’s no hiding the fact that the AirPods Max 2 are significantly pricier than the Sony WH-1000XM6. Apple’s latest headphones typically come in at $549 / £499 / AU$999, while Sony’s have a list price of $449 / £399 / AU$699. But which one actually offers better value for money?

As I noted above, these headphones are very different, so the answer will vary depending on a few factors. The AirPods Max 2 offer more expansive sound than the XM6, paired with an excellent set of features for Apple device users and a luxurious look to boot. They are definitely on the expensive side, though, and although we’ve seen them pop up on sale with a few retailers (even as low as $399 in the US over Amazon Prime Day), they do have some notable flaws for the price.

The battery life instantly comes to mind — 20 hours isn’t very competitive. They also lack higher-res Bluetooth codecs, and their compatibility with Android devices is limited. Still, they’re a great pair of headphones overall, with fantastic sound quality, looks, and iOS functionality.

(Image credit: Future)

At $449 / £399 / AU$699, the Sony WH-1000XM6 feel like an easier sell. They offer ANC that’s easily on par with the AirPods Max 2, a more practical design, they sound spectacular, with a punchy yet well-balanced signature, and their broad compatibility is a big win — especially if you own a Windows laptop or Android phone.

These are also on sale fairly regularly, and I’ve seen them drop as low as $380 / £300 in recent times in the US and UK respectively. Sure, if you only have Apple devices, these may not offer the same convenience as the AirPods Max 2, and Sony’s headphones also leave out USB-C audio passthrough and have a slightly less premium look.

It’s closer than I initially thought, but I do think the Sony WH-1000XM6 are better value when all’s said and done. For less money, you get super-engaging sound, top-tier ANC, better battery life, and a more versatile software setup.

(Image credit: Future)AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: verdict

So, if I could only choose one pair of these excellent headphones, which would I recommend? In this instance, I’m going to hand it to the Sony WH-1000XM6. Apple’s headphones are undoubtedly fantastic performers, and if you want the most spacious sound and features tailored for iOS, they’ll undoubtedly serve you very well. But for less money, the XM6 are just the slightly better value pick for me. Their combination of S-tier ANC, balanced, yet tight and punchy sound, and more versatile compatibility make them the ideal all-rounders.

OpenAI has begun discussions about giving the US government a 5% stake in the company, according to an FT report, with CEO Sam Altman supposedly raising the idea as a method for smoothing relations with the Trump administration.

Of course, right now there is no agreement or deal, and no guarantee the idea will ever move beyond conversations. Any arrangement would almost certainly require political support and significant legal work before it could become reality. Still, the fact that OpenAI is even entertaining the conversation tells us something about how seriously artificial intelligence is now being treated, both in Silicon Valley and in Washington.

The first reaction many people had was understandable. If the government owns part of OpenAI, does that mean ordinary Americans somehow get a share too? It's an appealing thought when AI companies are attracting eye-watering valuations while promising to reshape the economy. Unfortunately, that's not exactly a likely outcome, no matter what the intentions.

AI economy access

The reports suggest Sam Altman has discussed a model inspired by Alaska's Permanent Fund, which invests state oil revenues and distributes annual payments to residents. It's an odd framing of AI as a natural resource instead of a software business. Bullish AI fans insisting it will be economically transformative might see it that way, and if they're right, perhaps some of that value should eventually flow back to the public, many of whom have helped incrementally train the models through use.

But the government owning shares in OpenAI wouldn't automatically translate into everyone getting a check. Financial benefits would depend on lots of little details, including whether profits were distributed at all, and if they'd go to public services or even the national debt over your own bank account.

Despite being just a hint of a rumor of a conversation, the questions are worth taking seriously. AI companies are asking society to embrace changes that could alter workplaces, education, healthcare, and entire industries. It is not unreasonable for people to wonder whether they should share in the wealth created by those changes.

Power at stake

There is another reason these discussions matter, and it may prove even more significant than the financial side. OpenAI has become part of a broader conversation about national economics and technological leadership. Governments around the world increasingly see advanced AI as strategic infrastructure rather than another consumer technology.

That helps explain why OpenAI might want a closer relationship with Washington. AI companies already rely on government decisions. Those connections are likely to become even more important as AI models grow larger and more expensive to build.

But governments are expected to regulate powerful companies fairly and independently. Becoming a shareholder in one of those companies could make that relationship look unethical, even with the best will in the world. Public trust often depends as much on appearances as on legal structures. Especially since there's even less sense that OpenAI's competitors like Google, Anthropic, or Meta will follow suit.

A government stake does not automatically mean the public owns part of OpenAI in any meaningful way, and it certainly does not guarantee anyone will personally benefit. So even if the proposal starts to become more real, skepticism and a close eye on any actual agreements is a healthy approach.

• Supercritical CO₂ could eliminate some of rocketry's most expensive infrastructure requirements
• Cold launches avoid exposing launch pads to destructive exhaust temperatures exceeding 3,000°C
• Engine ignition occurs only after the rocket clears the launch platform safely

Chinese aerospace startup Z-Trak Space is exploring an unusual launch system using carbon dioxide (CO₂) commonly associated with fizzy drinks rather than rocket exhaust.

The proposal centres on supercritical CO₂, a state achieved when the gas remains above specific temperature and pressure thresholds simultaneously.

Developers believe the approach could lower infrastructure requirements while supporting faster launch schedules for China's expanding commercial space sector.

A cold launch system could reduce dependence on expensive ground facilities

The technology ejects rockets using rapidly expanding high-pressure gas before igniting engines only after reaching a predetermined altitude overhead.

That sequence differs sharply from conventional hot launches where engines ignite directly on launch pads before the vehicle begins climbing skyward.

Because combustion occurs later in flight, scorching exhaust gases never strike the launch platform or surrounding support infrastructure below.

Traditional launch facilities require extensive protection systems because exhaust streams exceeding 3,000°C can damage structures rapidly during operations.

Launch towers and deep flame trenches therefore require substantial repairs and maintenance after missions involving repeated exposure to extreme temperatures.

According to the company, those requirements increase costs and slow launch frequencies whenever operators pursue swift response commercial missions.

“In commercial space launch scenarios requiring high frequency and rapid response, this incurs high time and financial costs, directly affecting launch pacing and response speed,” the company said.

Z-Trak Space believes eliminating those burdens could increase launch pacing while reducing dependence upon permanent launch infrastructure considerably over time.

China's commercial sector sees cold launch technology as a possible advantage

The initiative combines efforts from Hunan based Zhiyu Aerospace Technology and Chiyang Space Power Technology Company through a recent collaboration agreement.

Z-Trak Space founder Zhang Zihan, who studied aerospace engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, described the concept as potentially transformative.

Zhang said the method would "fundamentally change the model for small liquid-fuel launch vehicles" if implemented successfully at commercial scale.

The company also argued that supercritical CO₂ launches could reduce fuel use during lower altitude portions of flight operations.

Because supercritical CO₂ is non-toxic, developers also claim launches would avoid generating harmful emissions near ground facilities locally.

Z-Trak described the system as offering "high safety, low costs, clean environmental performance and low ablation" during launch procedures.

China's commercial space industry recorded 50 launches during the previous year, representing more than half of national missions completed overall.

Whether CO₂ launches become commercially practical remains uncertain, although the proposal reflects experimentation occurring throughout China's rapidly changing space industry.

Via SCMP

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, July 4 (game #1622).

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 #1623) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1623) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1623) — 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 #1623) — 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 2.

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 #1623) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• S

• T

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1623) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1623, are…

• PINEY
• SWOON
• TITLE
• PINTO

Today felt like a Greatest Hits of Quordle game, with two very familiar words in PINTO and PINEY making their third appearances of 2026.

Meanwhile, it was nice to see SWOON. It’s one of my favorite words — the sound is nice, the meaning is great, and for a bonus it’s also the title of an excellent album by Prefab Sprout.

Daily Sequence today (game #1623) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1623, are…

• REBEL
• LEANT
• DEBUT
• BRASS

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1622, Saturday, 4 July: ARGUE, MOTEL, OPERA, TRUCE
• Quordle #1621, Friday, 3 July: AVERT, MOTOR, MANIC, WORDY
• Quordle #1620, Thursday, 2 July: BULKY, PARSE, BELOW, MOVIE
• Quordle #1619, Wednesday, 1 July: EASEL, OTTER, LYRIC, SHACK
• Quordle #1618, Tuesday, 30 June: HALVE, DRYER, THERE, MINTY
• Quordle #1617, Monday, 29 June: SLURP, CRACK, CRANK, PHONY
• Quordle #1616, Sunday, 28 June: RUPEE, TOPAZ, FULLY, BEING
• Quordle #1615, Saturday, 27 June: PRINT, MARRY, SADLY, BICEP
• Quordle #1614, Friday, 26 June: JUICE, ARRAY, BONEY, SKIFF
• Quordle #1613, Thursday, 25 June: SHELF, TAWNY, HYPER, SOLVE
• Quordle #1612, Wednesday, 24 June: SOBER, ECLAT, GOOSE, NINNY
• Quordle #1611, Tuesday, 23 June: ARDOR, DADDY, SERVE, SHEAR
• Quordle #1610, Monday, 22 June: WAXEN, APNEA, CHIME, WAVER
• Quordle #1609, Sunday, 21 June: ABBOT, NOTCH, DREAD, LURID
• Quordle #1608, Saturday, 20 June: SLAIN, TAMER, VIPER, FALSE
• Quordle #1607, Friday, 19 June: ALOUD, POINT, GLOBE, GROIN
• Quordle #1606, Thursday, 18 June: LATCH, BRAWL, STEEL, CRUSH
• Quordle #1605, Wednesday, 17 June: HOIST, PLUSH, GROUP, LEMUR
• Quordle #1604, Tuesday, 16 June: SLAIN, PLUCK, PINTO, SLICE
• Quordle #1603, Monday, 15 June: GAUNT, SNEAK, ROUTE, POKER

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, July 4 (game #1119).

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 #1120) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• WIN
• OATS
• GREEN
• WIRE
• WEST
• CARD
• WITH
• HONEY
• GOLD
• TUNGSTEN
• CHECK
• SEEDS
• CASH
• PLATINUM
• NUTS
• CENTURION

NYT Connections today (game #1120) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Healthy breakfast components
• GREEN: Ways to pay
• BLUE: A brand’s various levels
• PURPLE: A letter before X in common

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #1120) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: GRANOLA INGREDIENTS
• GREEN: PAYMENT METHODS
• BLUE: AMEX CARD TYPES
• PURPLE: WHAT "W" MIGHT STAND FOR

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

NYT Connections today (game #1120) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1120, are…

• YELLOW: GRANOLA INGREDIENTS HONEY, NUTS, OATS, SEEDS
• GREEN: PAYMENT METHODS CARD, CASH, CHECK, WIRE
• BLUE: AMEX CARD TYPES CENTURION, GOLD, GREEN, PLATINUM
• PURPLE: WHAT "W" MIGHT STAND FOR TUNGSTEN, WEST, WIN, WITH

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I used to work for American Express at their UK headquarters back in the day doing what is no doubt a fully automated task of authorising payments. It was the easiest and most boring job I’ve ever done, but the downside was I was on the night shift — which led to all manner of downsides, not least a poor diet.

That said, this is not why I got AMEX CARD TYPES; that would be a guess. With eight tiles left, it wasn't too much of a stretch.

GRANOLA INGREDIENTS should have been my first foursome, seeing as that’s my regular breakfast, but instead the easy win of CARD, CASH, CHECK and WIRE was hard to resist.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, July 4, 2026, game #1119)

• YELLOW: PERSIST CONTINUE, LAST, LINGER, STAY
• GREEN: KINDS OF POEMS BALLAD, EPIC, ODE, VILLANELLE
• BLUE: TROPICAL DRINKS HURRICANE, PAINKILLER, SCORPION, ZOMBIE
• PURPLE: SWEET __ DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, SPOT

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, July 4 (game #853).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Barking up the right tree

NYT Strands today (game #854) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• POLITE
• SPRITE
• LIVER
• HUNGER
• TINGE
• SPEEDING

NYT Strands today (game #854) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #854) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: bottom, 1st column

• Last side: top, 6th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #854) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #854, are…

• POINTER
• SPANIEL
• TERRIER
• HOUND
• RETREIVER
• SPANGRAM: HUNTINGBREEDS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

My immediate thought was that the theme had to have something to do with dogs, but I was wary, of course, of falling into a trap and barking up the wrong tree.

After spotting POINTER it seemed clear that we were looking for dog breeds, but my canine knowledge was not good enough to know that we were searching out HUNTINGBREEDS until after I had connected SPANIEL and TERRIER and then the spangram.

Beyond the game itself there was also an interesting crop of lengthy non-game words. It’s rare that I’ll find many over five-letters long but today the board was loaded with them.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, July 4, game #853)

• BRIGHT
• COLORFUL
• DAZZLING
• EXCITING
• SPARKLING
• SPANGRAM: FIREWORKS

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.

President Trump ushered in America's 250th anniversary with a darkly political speech that swerved from the typically apolitical, unifying speeches past presidents have given to mark Independence Day.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 5 No. 1,120.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 5 No. 854.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 5, No. 1,842.

Titan 2 Elite: 30-second review

Touchscreens have changed the way we enter text on our mobile devices, with swipes used to interact with apps rather than typing on a traditional keyboard; long gone are the days of BlackBerry.

This means that the way apps are designed has changed greatly since the advent of smartphones. However, there is still a place for physical QWERTY keyboards, especially if you do a lot of typing. Whilst a touchscreen is great for straightforward input, when it comes to shortcuts, they can be a little bit convoluted, and that’s where this type of QWERTY keyboard really starts to make sense, especially when you can customise and add your own shortcut systems into the keyboard layout.

As a smartphone, the Titan Elite 2 runs Android 16, into which you install the latest apps, and the screen itself, while small at 4.03 inches, is an AMOLED display with 1080 x 1200 resolution and a very decent 120Hz refresh rate. This means it is actually pretty good for watching back TV shows or catching up on social media, but it really comes into its own for quickly typing in messages. Actually, after I got used to the small keys, I found it much easier to respond to messages, WhatsApp, and emails on this keyboard than on the standard touchscreen.

Through the test, I found the battery life was pretty decent, and because you are generally not using it the same way you would, say, a standard touchscreen smartphone, the battery still had a decent 60% remaining when I got back home. I then just found myself using the phone less because of the design, and again, that was something that really endeared me to the design.

The other point about the design, aside from the bright orange colour, is just how small and compact it is. It fits neatly into a trouser pocket, and while it’s as wide as a smartphone, it’s shorter, making it feel slim and lightweight.

Whilst there were many aspects of this phone that I really liked, there were a few minor issues. When it came to quickly editing a photo or two, the small screen was just a little bit too small. There’s not a great deal of real estate for anything other than typing or watching back videos, and even when you come to play games, because the screen is that much smaller and with that keyboard in place, it’s not great. Then there is the issue that there is no 3.5mm jack or wireless charging, which is a little bit of a shame. However, it does feature Bluetooth and the USB-C port.

The Unihertz Titan 2 Elite is a really nicely considered phone. It won’t appeal to everyone, but for those who like the slightly retro approach to smartphone use, it is a great option.

Titan 2 Elite: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $489
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Online at unihertz.com

At present, the phone is only available for pre-order, with a full release in August. The US price is at present set at $489.99.

You can pre-order now by clicking here, and the item will start shipping soon.

• Value: 4/5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Titan 2 Elite: Specs

CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 7400, octa-core, 2.0–2.6GHz
Graphics: Mali-G615 MC2
RAM: 12GB LPDDR5
Storage: 256GB UFS 3.1, microSD support up to 2TB via hybrid slot
Ports: USB-C
Connectivity: 5G, 4G LTE, dual Nano SIM, eSIM, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo, IR blaster
Audio: Loudspeaker, FM radio, no 3.5mm headphone jack
Camera: 50MP main + 50MP telephoto rear cameras; 32MP front camera
Size: 117.8 × 75 × 10.4mm; 163g
OS Installed: Android 16

Titan 2 Elite: Design

The Unihertz Titan 2 Elite instantly differentiates itself from most smartphones, first with its colour options, my review sample was the bright orange, though it’s also available in a subdued black. Then more strikingly, with its physical QWERTY keyboard below the touch screen.

The phone itself is compact, measuring 117.8 x 75 x 10.4mm and weighing just 163g, significantly lighter than the latest intake of smartphones. Whilst that screen is smaller, as the review went on, I found that having a physical keyboard always there, partnered with an on-screen keyboard for special characters, actually made it a quick way to input text and write emails, something I always find extremely tricky on my iPhone.

The phone's build quality is also surprisingly good. Made of aerospace-grade CNC aluminium and with that anodised finish, it gives a good, high-quality premium feel.

The keyboard is well designed, with a slight bevel on each key. They just make it a little easier to find each key than if they were flat. It does take a little bit of time to convert from using a touchscreen mobile to one with a physical keyboard, and there is no doubt that those keys are really small. But even with my hands, I was able to adapt to those keys relatively easily, and I did find typing just a little bit easier. I was far less likely to mistype on this phone than I am when using the touchscreen keyboard on the iPhone.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The screen is smaller and has a slightly different aspect ratio than I am used to, and at 4.03 inches, it features an AMOLED display that is nice, bright, and easy to view in most conditions. It also has a decent resolution of 1080 x 1200 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, so whilst it is not really designed for a bit of gaming, if you do decide to opt for a few moments playing Asphalt Legends, the gameplay is actually relatively smooth.

That screen size can leave things feeling a little cramped at times, but it is quite nice to have a square screen. What really strikes you about the phone in your hand is just how comfortable it is to use. It looks a little bit wider than the standard smartphone when you take it out of your pocket, but it’s actually much the same.

It’s just the height that is much reduced, meaning that, firstly, it’s more comfortable in a pocket, and, secondly, when you have it to your ear, it’s in a really nice position for the earpiece and the microphone. I just found it much nicer to handle than my larger phone.

Design-wise, this looks like a business phone, and there is no getting around it. It also looks very retro with a modern twist. I love the bright orange color, and I really like the look of the QWERTY keyboard. It’s supported by the touchscreen, and as designs go, it all seems well balanced. Of course, like all decent smartphones these days, there is also a selection of cameras on the back and a very decent forward-facing selfie camera for conferencing.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Titan 2 Elite: Features

There is no escaping the main feature here, which is that physical QWERTY keyboard with touch-sensitive functions, both on the screen and the keyboard itself, which is quite remarkable when you start to scroll through pages, especially online, and you can do that by just swiping up and down on the keyboard itself and not the touchscreen.

This function is not available from the outset. You need to delve into the settings to activate it, but once you have, the scroll assistant and cursor assistant open up a wealth of controls I have not seen on a smartphone of this style before. It just becomes quick and intuitive to use.

Then, as you delve into the settings and you go to shortcut keys, you then have a series of function keys that you can also assign, so if you want a quick key to open up one of your apps or to copy and paste, then you can do all of that through the shortcut key menu. This is something that I always find especially tricky on a touchscreen-only device.

The point about the keyboard is that it is a decent-quality, and once you figure out that you need to push the “symb” button in order to bring up symbols and numerics, everything from that point on becomes pretty much smooth sailing.

Inside, there’s a relatively decent MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chipset, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. As you use the phone for various apps, you realise it is more than capable of work-related tasks, including the full Google suite, where it seems especially tuned and smooth in use.

What I also like is that there is dual Nano SIM support, eSIM support, and a hybrid microSD expansion option, so you can have one Nano SIM alongside a microSD for storage expansion.

The CPU is joined by a decent GPU, the Mali-G615 MC2, which we often see in this style of mid-range smartphone. During the test, I found that this was more than enough for most productivity apps in the Google suite and handled Lightroom and gaming without too many issues, although the screen size was the main limitation. So, for the intended use, if you are mainly typing, then this GPU is probably going to keep up with everything that you need.

The cameras are not cutting-edge, but they are well-balanced, with a 50-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera, which should just about cover you in most situations. They are great for site pics and taking a few snaps, but they are not cutting-edge camera quality. Likewise, the 32-megapixel selfie camera is perfect for video conferencing and video calls, and for capturing a quick picture of yourself in front of a few locations, but the quality is mediocre rather than outstanding.

What I do like is that it has the latest version of Android 16, and Unihertz has said that this will come with five years of update support and OS upgrades to Android 20, along with all security patches until 2031, meaning that your investment in this phone will be supported for a good few years.

The other point here is that whilst it might lack a 3.5mm headphone jack, which I would have liked to have seen on something slightly retro-styled like this, there is NFC, an IR blaster, fingerprint unlock, USB OTG, FM radio, Google Pay support and a programmable red side button that you can assign to something such as the camera.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4.5 / 5

Titan 2 Elite: PerformanceTest Scores

Geekbench CPU Multi: 3292
Geekbench CPU Single: 1061
Geekbench GPU: 3038
Wild Life Overall: 3971
Sling Shot: 7709

The design of this phone is quite striking, and actually, whilst it has a decent CPU, when it comes to the main focus of this smartphone, it’s all about productivity and being able to type quickly, with the big feature being that full QWERTY keyboard.

An initial look at the phone as it’s lifted from the box shows it is exceptionally high quality. That CNC-machined aluminium just gives it a real nice finish, and with that anodised orange coating, it just looks great. It’s kind of in the same colour profile as the new iPhone 17 Pro, but if you are not into these bright, vivid colours, you will be glad to know you can also order a black version, which is a lot more sedate.

Getting started with the phone was quick and easy enough, and after a full charge, I loaded the interface, signed in to Google, and instantly, all my Google apps and everything else were available. It just shows how the Dimensity 7400, 12GB of RAM and the ultra-fast UFS 3.1 storage could be when used on a phone that’s primarily designed for productivity rather than multimedia, and for messaging, browsing, email, as well as updating a couple of Google Docs, it was able to handle everything without too many issues.

The one thing that I did note from the outset was the size of the screen. There is no getting away from the fact that it is a lot smaller than your average smartphone. However using Google Docs, because you have the keyboard underneath rather than covering half of the screen being taken up by a keyboard, it feels perfectly workable despite being smaller.

As I got into using the keyboard and my thumbs started to get the muscle memory for the positioning of all the keys, I found my typing speed actually increased, or at least the number of mistakes I was making rapidly reduced. When smartphones first arrived, I used a BlackBerry for a long time, and there is still a bit of that muscle memory left, which helps me navigate this phone relatively quickly.

Obviously, with technological advancement, it’s much better than those older phones, and what I like most is that the keys are not only physical but also touch-sensitive. By activating the cursor and scroll controls in the settings, I could then use my finger to swipe left or right on the keyboard or navigate on the screen with the small cursor.

This ability to essentially use the keyboard as a trackpad just made typing and correcting what I was typing on screen so much easier than on my iPhone, which when trying to place the cursor on the iPhone will inevitably pick a spot two lines below what I want.

Trying to navigate anywhere on my iPhone screen with the cursor is near impossible, to the point where I rarely bother, often just deleting a line or two in order to correct something. Here, with the Android 16 interface within Google Docs, it just worked. It was easy to place the cursor where I wanted, then correct the text and move on without getting frustrated.

During the test period with the phone, its limitations became obvious, and if you do decide to download Lightroom, for instance, to update and edit some photos, the small screen size really starts to feel like a limitation, although the interface is incredibly well designed for small screen phones.

It’s still possible to work on an image, but your eyesight has to be pretty good, and it is obviously not designed for this sort of thing. Likewise, playing games just gets you a small screen rather than the large screens that we are used to with the latest smartphones.

However, when it came to viewing video, and this might be because I was used to an old iPod video years ago, I actually quite enjoyed watching a couple of episodes of a TV show on the small screen. Whilst yes, it is considerably smaller than the iPhone's, the screen and picture quality are still pretty good.

Through the test, I utilised the phone in and out of the office and also on a trip up to London. Because I was so impressed by its use, I used it as my main phone for about a week to see if I could really get on with a keyboard smartphone rather than a touchscreen option, and over time if that keyboard was a touch larger then yes I might have actually made the switch.

One of the things this highlighted through the use was battery life, which lasted a full day without issue, even with making a few calls, answering emails, updating Word docs, and listening to music. I wouldn’t say that the battery life is outstanding at the end of the day. It did need a good charge, but for a phone of this size, it’s certainly more than enough for a day-to-day phone that will always be charged at night.

To finish the test, I took a quick look at the camera, and there are two options. You have your wide-angle to capture large vistas and your telephoto, which lets you zoom in and, as I found, is also pretty good for portraits. Whilst the camera is not a major feature of the phone, the fact that both are set at 50 megapixels means that they are well balanced.

Whilst the cameras are not headline features, they can still capture a pretty decent image as long as the lighting conditions are right and you are not expecting too much. If you are just taking holiday snaps, or, more than likely, a few images on business trips, then this will be perfectly adequate for what you need.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Titan 2 Elite: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

There is no doubt that the Titan 2 Elite is a niche phone with that QWERTY keyboard, and it’s not trying to take on touchscreen smartphones. It’s more of an alternative to use, and it also changes how you use your smartphone because you have a physical way to interact with it, rather than that touchscreen swipe.

Through the test, I found that it’s much better suited to typing, so it’s good for writing emails, replying to social media messages, and standard messages. I found it a lot easier on this phone than on my iPhone, mainly because I am always mis-typing on that touchscreen, whereas here each press, because of that small bevel on the keys, was a little more precise despite the keys’ small size, which was surprising.

I also like that the keyboard, which features a decent backlight, could be set to be touch-sensitive, essentially using it as a trackpad or for left- and right-scroll, which again just made things easier. The fact that you can also assign some of the buttons to custom settings and applications really does help with workflow, especially if you do a lot of typing on your phone.

When it came to battery life, it was well-balanced and able to handle all of Google’s productivity apps without issue and lasted easily all day. For me, at least, I found that the touchscreen and keyboard combo was a really great way of working. I also love the retro look of the phone. It is kind of a mix of retro and modern, but I do miss a 3.5mm headphone jack. It would just have set it off nicely.

So whilst this phone is not really a competitor to the latest touchscreen mobiles, it does offer something different, and if you like the more physical way of interacting with your phone and you want something that is just a little bit smaller and lighter than what is on offer in the mainstream, then the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite is a great alternative, with a design focused on productivity rather than social, gaming and creative use.

Should I buy the Titan 2 Elite?

Value

Keyboard smartphone with unique features with mid-range performance

3.5/5

Design

The compact design is distinctive, and with a physical keyboard, it gives a different slant on smartphones

4/5

Features

The keyboard is the main feature, but the fact that it is touchscreen and has a more square-style screen means there are plenty of features that help promote productivity

4/5

Performance

Mid-range performance from the CPU and GPU, but that is more than enough for its intended use for productivity

4/5

Overall

A retro take on the modern smartphone that works and gives you an alternative to the standard touchscreen approach

4/5

Buy it if...

You primarily type
If you use your smartphone to answer emails, write notes, and send messages, a physical keyboard might actually be a faster way to work.

You miss BlackBerry
Back in the day, everyone had a BlackBerry, but then the touchscreen revolution happened, and we all left for the new technology. However, when it comes to productivity, nothing quite beats the secure layout.

Don't buy it if...

You play games and watch videos.
The compact screen is really nice, but if you play games, stream video, or watch other content on your smartphone, the small screen will be a limitation.

Your touchscreen focused
If you use a lot of apps that require touch gestures, then the smaller size of the touchscreen on the Elite is going to have its limitations, and you might find that many apps, including those that are creative, all feel a little bit too cramped.

For more professional picks, we've tested the best rugged phones for field-work.

• Quantum readiness is moving from research projects into deployment schedules
• The 2029 deadline signals growing urgency across enterprise security planning
• Crypto agility could become as important as encryption strength itself

Quantum computing timelines, once treated as distant concerns, are increasingly influencing security planning across major technology companies worldwide.

Microsoft has revealed it is now accelerating its Quantum Safe Program, arguing that preparations for post-quantum cryptography can no longer wait indefinitely.

The company says organizations should begin preparations immediately because the migration process could require several years across large infrastructures.

Microsoft moves quantum preparations into its wider security strategy

The company plans to complete the transition of critical offerings to post-quantum cryptography technologies before the end of 2029.

Microsoft also confirmed that quantum readiness metrics will become part of its broader Secure Future Initiative security programme moving forward.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on replacing cryptographic algorithms, the company believes infrastructure modernization should receive greater attention from organizations globally.

Microsoft argued that improving flexibility within existing systems could reduce the complexity associated with future cryptographic transitions considerably over time.

One priority involves upgrading network cryptography through newer standards such as TLS 1.3 and hybrid key exchange technology adoption.

Another objective involves developing crypto agility capabilities allowing cryptographic mechanisms to change without requiring extensive application redesign work later.

The company also intends to modernize trust chains supporting certificate issuance, software updates, code signing, and hardware-backed protections.

Microsoft has not identified a single scientific breakthrough responsible for changing its timeline regarding quantum-resistant security implementation activities worldwide.

Instead, executives described the decision as a precautionary exercise intended to reduce exposure to future developments within quantum computing research.

Microsoft warns preparation could take longer than expected

"Shifting to quantum-resistant security takes years. This is a proactive, risk-informed decision to help customers stay ahead of potential future threats," Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich said.

He added that the initiative covers the entire Microsoft portfolio rather than a narrow collection of selected enterprise services only.

The company also referenced growing concerns surrounding harvest now, decrypt later scenarios involving sensitive information collected and retained today.

Under that model, encrypted information stolen presently could remain inaccessible until future quantum systems become capable of decoding archives successfully.

Several technology companies, including Apple, Google, and Signal, have already incorporated elements of post-quantum cryptography into products recently.

Microsoft believes the amount of work required before deployment at scale remains substantial regardless of when capable machines eventually emerge.

The company stated that advances in research and development have already altered previous assumptions surrounding the acceptable preparation timetable significantly.

For years, planning for post-quantum cryptography was widely treated as important and inevitable while remaining comfortably distant for organizations.

Microsoft now argues that perspective is changing as technology advances and preparations begin reflecting the scale of the transition ahead.

The company believes cryptographically relevant quantum computers could arrive sooner than many previous forecasts had anticipated across the technology sector.

Whether these expectations ultimately prove accurate, organizations appear increasingly unwilling to rely on the assumption that they remain decades away.

Via BleepingComputer

Last month in June 2026 proved to be yet another packed month for 4K Blu-ray releases and July is looking just as busy. Despite the long list of discs on my radar, I’ve narrowed it down to my top four I’m most looking forward to, hopefully, testing.

I’ll be looking to test these discs as part of the Blu-ray Bounty, our monthly column where we test the latest 4K releases on their picture and sound quality, to see whether they’re worth adding to the bursting shelves of a 4K blu-ray collection.

4K Blu-ray is my bread-and-butter source for testing the best TVs and best soundbars, as it offers the best bitrate for picture and uncompressed audio for sound. I’m also a collector myself, so I’m always looking for new discs I can add to my collection!

In my June 2026 most anticipated article, my picks were Speed Racer, Bullet In The Head, EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert and Hoppers. Three out of the four featured in the June 2026 Blu-ray Bounty (Hoppers sadly didn’t arrive, but I’ll hopefully feature that another time) and while they were all great, the real highlight was Speed Racer, which was an audio showcase and an outstanding looking disc (check out the Blu-ray Bounty for my full thoughts).

Hard Boiled (Arrow Video)

Hard Boiled stars Chow Yun-fat as Inspector “Tequila” Yeun, a detective in pursuit of a Triad syndicate who gets involved in an operation involving an undercover officer. This is arguably director John Woo’s (Bullet In The Head, The Killer, Mission Impossible 2) most iconic movie.

Having recently reviewed Arrow’s recent restoration of Bullet In The Head, I’m excited to see what it can do with Hard Boiled. Where I’m hoping this disc’s strengths will lie is in its Dolby Atmos mix. Hard Boiled is a gritty, action-thriller with plenty of gunfights and a good Atmos mix should deliver plenty of impact, bass and a real sense of immersion, with ricocheting bullets covering the latter.

The Bullet In The Head restoration had rich colors, crisp textures and strong contrast, so I’m hoping for more of the same here. While I’m expecting it to have the haze that I’ve now clocked in a few early-90s Hong Kong cinema movies, I still think Hard Boiled has the potential to look great, especially as it supports Dolby Vision, which should work wonders for textures, detail and contrast.

• US release date - N/A: (Hong Kong Cinema Classics version released November 4, 2025)
• UK release date - 27th July

Alice in Wonderland (1951) (Disney)

Alice in Wonderland, based on Lewis Carroll’s novels Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass, tells the story of a young girl called Alice who ends up in a strange, fantastical world where meets odd characters such as the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and the evil Queen of Hearts. (This is a cheeky addition as this disc was actually released on 29th June, but I’m going to hopefully test it as part of the July Blu-ray Bounty!)

4K can do wonders for animation, especially when it comes to detail and colors. Alice in Wonderland has plenty of seriously bright colors and I expect Wonderland to look truly brilliant in 4K. The disc comes with Dolby Vision HDR support, which is only going to make colors pop even more. The 4K restoration will hopefully add more depth and texture to the picture as well.

As for audio, there’s no support for Dolby Atmos which is a bit of a shame as it would’ve been nice to get the full immersive experience as Alice falls down the rabbit hole. Thankfully, there is a DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack included and in recent discs I’ve tested this has proved to be just as good. There’s plenty of moments throughout the weird and wonderful Wonderland that should sound fantastic on 4K.

• US release date - May 6, 2025
• UK release date - 29th June, 2026

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The sequel to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros Movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows Mario and his crew — Luigi, Yoshi, Peach and Toad — head to space to save Princess Rosalina from the clutches of Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr.

I’m expecting crisp, slick animation and of course boat-loads of fantastical colors from this disc on 4K. With Dolby Vision support included, I’m anticipating some seriously impressive color reproduction, whether it’s the red of Mario’s iconic suit or the green skin of Bowser and Yoshi, this disc could be a new reference disc for TV testing. As the movie takes the gang to space, there’s also a chance for some strong contrast between the deep blackness of space and any bright stars along the way.

Equipped with a Dolby Atmos track, I’m expecting an immersive soundtrack that will provide some excellent detail during the movie’s more action-packed sequences. Plus, with several flight sequences, as the character’s fly through space, I’m hoping for some real utilization of the height channels to give a wide, full sound. I can imagine this disc is going to deliver an impressive audio experience that I’m looking forward to trying out through our Samsung Dolby Atmos soundbar.

• US release date - June 16, 2026
• UK release date - 20th July, 2026

Hairspray (1988) (Criterion Collection)

Directed by John Waters, Hairspray (the original, 1988 movie) tells the story of teenager Tracy Turnbald, as she aims for fame as a dancer on a local TV show. Set in the 1960s, Tracy also rallies against racial segregation, which gets in her trouble with adults and authority figures.

As this is a release from Criterion, I’m expecting an excellent restoration job. I’ve tested a ton of Criterion’s 4K releases and all of them have looked fantastic. As Hairspray is set in the 1960s, there’s a potential here for some truly bold visuals, especially with color. Decor and outfits should really pop on screen, capturing the sometimes-garish, saturated aesthetic of the time period.

There are two soundtrack options on the 4K disc of Hairspray: DTS-HD 2.0 and 5.1 MA. This isn’t the remake from 2007, which is based on the 2002 stage musical, so I’m not anticipating many showcase audio moments. However, as the movie does involve music and dancing, there could be some nice, clean sound mixes, especially with DTS-HD 5.1 MA supported.

• US release date - June 23, 2026
• UK release date - July 20, 2026

July 2026 highlighted releases

Below, I’ve picked some highlight releases for July 2026. Both US and UK releases are featured here, with release dates noted. These release dates may vary by region, with some titles already available or yet to be released until later this year depending on where you are. 4K Blu-ray is region-free, so you should be able to order from wherever.

July 6/7

• To Live and Die in LA
• The Protector
• Double Impact
• The Magic Faraway Tree (2026)
• The Drama (US - UK July 13)

July 13/14

• Obsession
• Hud
• The Usual Suspects
• Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (US - UK July 27)
• Michael
• The Mummy (2026)
• Red Sun
• The Crying Game
• Full Contact

July 20/21

• Falling Down
• The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
• Pleasantville
• Anyone But You
• Hairspray (UK)
• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (UK)
• Excalibur (UK)
• Mortal Kombat II (UK - US July 28)

July 27/28

• Hard Boiled (UK)
• Strictly Ballroom (UK)
• Soylent Green
• Stranger Things: Complete Series
• X: The Unknown (UK)
• Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

Organizers called off the Independence Day Parade late Friday, citing an extreme heat warning with temperatures expected to reach up to 115 degrees. The evening fireworks display remains scheduled.

(Image credit: Rahmat Gul)

• Claude Science is a new “workbench” to consolidate fragmented research workflows
• Everything from literature review to publication is handled on private infrastructure
• Anthropic continues to roll out industry-specific AI tools for real-world use cases

Anthropic has introduced Claude Science – a new, beta AI workbench it says will let scientists consolidate fragmented research workflows into one unified environment.

With model capabilities no longer holding back AI adoption, the Claude-maker’s solution is to respond to today’s challenges, including limited use cases, struggles deploying AI in real-world environments and difficulties integrating multiple tools.

Claude Science represents this response, packaging existing capabilities into a purpose-built application for life sciences and scientific computing, following earlier work on MCPs, skills and other partnerships. An FAQ on Claude Science’s web page reiterates this: “Claude Science is a public beta app, not a model.”

Scientific ‘workbench’

Anthropic’s clearest message in the announcement is that scientific research is largely held back by workflow fragmentation, not model intelligence, with scientists already juggling tools like PubMed, Jupyter, R, a cluster terminal and more.

“Claude Science brings these fragmented tools into a single research environment where scientists can conduct all stages of their work,” the company summarized.

The platform should help scientists handle everything, from literature review and hypothesis exploration to analysis, figure generation, manuscript drafting and publication.

“Scientific research is inherently visual,” Anthropic wrote, acknowledging that many researchers are being held back in quickly and accurately producing visuals, which could need multiple revisions and finetunes before reaching production.

For full auditability, Claude Science also includes underlying source code, message history and plain-language explanations within AI-generated outputs for scientists to review and audit progress.

“It runs on your lab’s own infrastructure,” Anthropic added, referencing enterprise-grade laptops, Linux boxes or HPC login nodes, “so large or sensitive datasets never have to leave the systems they’re already on, and only the context needed for each step of the analysis is sent to Claude

Science is a growing focus for AI developers

Anthropic says early testers have already used Claude Science for single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, CRISPR screen design, protein structure prediction and cheminformatics, by the likes of Manifold Bio, Allen Institute neuroscientist Jérôme Lecoq, and ​​UCSF Brain Tumor Center associate professor and epidemiologist Stephen Francis.

The new tool represents a growing area of interest for AI developers, who are now targeting sectors with industry-specific tools rather than continually upgrading model capabilities without offering clear use cases. Until now, finance and legal have been a major focus for the likes of Anthropic and OpenAI, and this new science-focused initiative could mark the next stage.

It follows rival company OpenAI’s introduction of Prism earlier this year, described as an “AI-native workspace for scientists to write and collaborate on research” that launched with GPT-5.2 – the then-current model.

Claude Science is a separate app that’s available in beta for macOS and Linux installations to Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise subscribers.

The company has also committed up to $30,000 in credits for 50 lucky projects.