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Roku Streaming Stick: Two-minute review

The Roku TV interface is easy to navigate, but we experienced some lag when making selections during our testing of the Roku Streaming Stick (Image credit: Future)

The Roku Streaming Stick is cheap, compact, and easy to use. As the cheaper of Roku’s two newest streaming sticks, the other being the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, it has its limitations – specifically, no 4K or HDR support – but the value proposition here is very good. If you’re trying to save money, it might be among the best streaming devices out there.

As far as competition goes at this price point, there’s really only the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, which is slightly more expensive. Of course, if you care about getting the best performance and features and are willing to pay for it, I suggest going for the Roku Ultra (2024) instead.

The Roku Streaming Stick is literally just a stick with an HDMI port on the end, and is small even by streaming stick standards. When I reviewed the Amazon Fire TV Sticks that came out in 2023 ( still current models), I had trouble fitting their bulky bodies into the HDMI slots behind my TV, so the svelte design of the Roku Streaming Stick is welcome.

The only visual difference between this and the Streaming Stick Plus version is that the Roku logo is purple as opposed to an etched design, making it look just a bit cheaper than its big brother. Otherwise, it’s identical, with the same somewhat convex case, with the HDMI male jack on one end, and the USB-C charging port on the other. There’s also a reset button, and that’s it.

It’s worth noting that Roku only provides a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging – there’s no power supply or adapter. When I first saw this on the Roku Streaming Stick Plus (again, they’re identical in this regard), I was a little upset that I was expected to pay extra for an adapter. But then I realized there was a good reason for the lack of an adapter, since you’re expected to use the USB port on your TV to power the streaming stick.

Because you’re powering the stick from the TV’s USB port, which is usually just a few slots over from the HDMI connections, there are no hanging cables from the device. This means you’ll end up with a cleaner-looking setup using the Roku Streaming Stick.

The Roku Streaming Stick comes with a USB cable and a remote with a voice control option (Image credit: Future)

The included remote control is Roku’s voice remote. It has a slightly bulky body with a little bit of weight that makes it nice to handle while still being fairly compact. The buttons include dedicated play/pause buttons – a feature I appreciate over the navigation wheel layout that most remotes have. And there’s also a voice assistant button, which lets you make voice commands when holding it down. It’s not Roku’s best remote – that would be the one included with the Roku Ultra – but it’s good enough and about what one would expect at this price point.

The Roku Streaming Stick is intended to be an entry-level HD device, so there’s no 4K or HDR support. I tested it on a 65-inch TV, and the picture quality was still pretty good. If you’re getting this for a guestroom TV, it’s probably worth saving the few extra bucks.

The Roku Streaming Stick’s biggest sticking point is its performance. Given the stick’s low price, you shouldn’t expect the world, but it’s still worth noting. The actual streaming experience is fine and without interruption, but the Roku Streaming Stick has a slight delay when interacting with it, with the onscreen cursor moving just a fraction of a second after a button press, so you feel like it’s catching up.

It’s worth noting that the Roku Streaming Stick uses the old 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi standard, which is even slower than the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) one used by the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. You probably don’t need the latest Wi-Fi standard for a streaming device, but the Streaming Stick’s slower and older WiFi standard is a potential reason why it runs a little slower.

The Streaming Stick’s interface is the usual intuitive one I expect from Roku. There are a few watch suggestions at the top, but the home screen is otherwise just a series of tiles for different apps. I appreciate its simplicity compared to the more congested interfaces used by Google TV, Fire TV, and other smart TV platforms. If you prefer that type of layout, Roku has a similar setup when you click on the “What To Watch” tab on the homescreen.

There’s a good amount of free content available to stream directly through the Roku interface. There’s also a Sports tab, but you still need a subscription to whichever service has the rights to your favorite sport. Otherwise, Roku’s interface here is its usual rock-solid self.

Roku Streaming Stick: Price and release date

The super-compact Roku Streaming Stick is powered by your TV's USB port (Image credit: Future)

• $29.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50)
• Released April 2025

Thirty bucks or quid for a streaming device is impossible to beat. The closest to that is probably the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD that I mentioned earlier at $34.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.

The question you need to ask yourself is whether it’s worth saving ten bucks for this version over the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, which goes for $39.99 / £39.99 (about AU$70). The design of both sticks is the same, and so are the limitations in performance. If you’re trying to just get the cheapest streaming stick with 4K and HDR support (but not Dolby Vision), the Plus version is the one you’ll want. But if you have an older TV that doesn’t support those features, the basic Roku Streaming Stick will be ideal.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is also a good streamer to look at as it’s regularly discounted to the same price as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. And unlike Roku products, that model is available for purchase in Australia.

Roku's remote control sits nicely in the hand and features a mic button for voice search commands (Image credit: Future)Should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick?Roku Streaming Stick

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

HD streaming with Dolby Atmos but no 4K or HDR support

3/ 5

Performance

It’s fine when streaming, but it lags when interacting with the interface and menus, possibly due to using an older Wi-Fi standard

3.5 / 5

Design

It’s slim and is designed to get power from the TV it’s connected to, helping provide a cleaner, more tangle-free look

4.5 / 5

Value

Streaming doesn’t get cheaper than this. You just have to decide if you can forgo 4K and HDR support

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You’re on a strict budget
Getting the Roku Streaming Stick is on par, pricewise, with dinner for two from a fast food chain. You can’t really get cheaper than this

You want to hide the cables
The ability to draw power from a TV’s USB port is a nice touch that allows for a cleaner-looking setup, especially if you plan on wall-mounting your TV.

You want a Roku device
There are other almost as cheap options. But if you like the Roku smart interface, then this is the perfect entry-level device for it.

Don't buy it if...

You want top performance
The slight lag while navigating is a performance-related concern, as it can be frustrating to feel like you’re always a quarter step behind.

You want 4K and HDR
The Roku Streaming Stick does have features like Dolby Atmos, but you’re missing out on the 4K resolution and HDR support that pricier models have.

Roku Streaming Stick review: Also consider

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)

If you’re an Amazon Prime Video subscriber and/or own Alexa smart home products, then the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is the way to go. It has faster Wi-Fi6 support, not to mention 16GB of onboard storage and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. It is very Prime-centric, however, and shows ads for Prime content every time it’s idle.

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) review

Roku Ultra (2024)

If you want both speedy performance and the Roku ecosystem, The Roku Ultra (2024) is your best bet. Sure, it can’t tuck behind the TV discreetly like the Streaming Stick or Streaming Stick Plus, but the Ultra is the company’s best and most robust streaming device. It supports just about every feature, including 4K and Dolby Vision HDR, and it comes with Roku’s best remote.

Read more about the Roku Ultra (2024)

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Roku Streaming Stick

• Used regularly for a week
• Tested with various apps
• Tested the remote

I used the Roku Streaming Stick regularly for a few days to evaluate everything it can do. I used it to stream Roku content and movies and shows from apps like Max. I also spent time using the remote and testing its various functions.

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

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2025

• Edifier reveals 3 speakers, from tabletop to super-portable
• 6W, 34W and 60W speaker models
• New ANC headphones with 92-hour battery life

I'm a big fan of modern tech in retro clothes: give me a hi-res audio player that looks like an old AM radio and you can take my money. And I'm also a fan of corporate PR nonsense. So the launch of the new Edifier ES Series of speakers and headphones has put me in my happy place.

Corporate PR nonsense first: The letters ES carry "layered meaning", because the E means "Elegant", the S stands for "Superb (or Luxurious)", and if you put those two letters together they stand for "Edifier Sound".

Nonsense aside, I love the look of the speakers: there are three models of increasing elongation, beginning with the super-cute square of the ES20, stretching into the rectangular ES60 and then the bigger box of the ES300. And the specs are impressive for all three.

It's not just speakers: there are new 92-hour ANC headphones too (Image credit: Edifier)Edifier ES20, ES60, and ES300: key features and pricing

The flagship here is the ES300, a 60W, handcrafted wooden speaker with leather-look accents, a braided grille and a metallic control panel. Behind the grille there's a 4-inch long-throw mid/bass driver and dual 1.25-inch silk dome tweeters.

The ES300 has hi-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz, and it has dual-band WiFi and AirPlay 2. Wired ports are USB-A and Aux, and there's a built-in ambient light system with three effects and two colors.

The ES300 is $399.99 in the US, £299.99 in the UK* and AU$399 in Australia.

The portable ES60 is smaller but still punchy, with 34W of power through its dual 22mm tweeters, oval mid/bass driver with neodymium magnets and passive bass radiator. It has Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint and stereo pairing, USB-C for audio input and charging, and promises 9 hours of playback. Like its bigger sibling it too has ambient lighting built-in.

The ES60 is $199.99 / £119.99 / AU$199.00.

Last but not least there's the teeny ES20, a 6W portable Bluetooth speaker with a 43mm full-range neodymium magnet driver and a 55mm passive bass radiator and a class D amp. It's IP67 rated, has Bluetooth 5.4 and includes a high sensitivity microphone for calling; once again there's built-in ambient lighting.

The ES20 is $89.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.

Edifier has also launched a set of headphones, the ES850NB. They're wireless over-ears with wired and wireless Hi-Res Audio certification, 40mm dynamic drivers and support for LDAC as well as the usual AAC and SBC. There's active noise cancellation, AI call clarity, and up to 92 hours of battery life.

The ES850NB headphones are $169.99 / £119.99 / AU$179.

All four models from the Edifier ES Series are available now.

* US prices are from Edifier's press release; UK and Australian prices are from retailers' websites.

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I'll also be playing Baldur's Gate and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine on Xbox Game Pass.

It’s been a hectic week for Apple with an entirely new look dubbed Liquid Glass arriving for all its platforms, true multitasking on the iPad, some Apple Intelligence changes, a new naming scheme, and a workout buddy for the Apple Watch, among so much else. We’ve been breaking it all down at TechRadar, and you can find a nice roundup of the 15 things we learned at WWDC 2025 here.

But, in true TechRadar fashion, shortly after the nearly two-hour keynote, we sat down with two special guests in an ultra-sleek podcast studio inside the ring at Apple Park for a special edition of the TechRadar Podcast.

Tom’s Guide Managing Editor for Video and TikTok star Kate Kozuch, KLTA Tech Reporter and @RichOnTech radio host Rich DeMuro, and TechRadar’s Editor At Large Lance Ulanoff, joined me for a wide-ranging discussion on nearly everything that Apple announced.

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re curious about Liquid Glass – Apple’s new look for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS – you won’t have to wait long as we kick off our discussion there. We also quickly dive into the significant changes arriving with iPadOS 26, the super-charged Spotlight within macOS 26, and the shorter section of the keynote around Apple Intelligence and the update on Siri.

We even discuss what the significant changes on iPad – the arrival of multitasking, a dock, proper file support, and a menu bar – could mean for the future of the Mac. Does this mean a MacBook with a touchscreen is on the horizon, or is the iPad a true laptop replacement for anyone now?

And if you had thoughts about Apple’s updated naming schemes for its platforms – they’re all lined up to 26 now – we provide analysis on that and even some speculation on what this could mean for future hardware from Apple.

You can watch the video version of our special edition podcast below, or listen to the audio version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. While you’re there, or on YouTube, why not follow us to stay up-to-date with everything happening in tech?

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• Experts warns of fake Booking.com sites circulating the web
• The sites come with a fake "Accept Cookie" prompt that downloads a RAT
• Shoppers should be on their guard when searching for deals

Hackers have been found targeting holidaymakers around the world with remote access trojans (RAT) distributed through fake Booking.com websites, experts have warned.

Researchers from HP Wolf Security found cybercriminals have been making websites that, on first glance, look just like booking.com - they carry the same branding, the same color scheme, and same formatting. However, the content of the website is blurred, and over it, a deceptive cookie banner is displayed.

If victims press “Accept cookies”, they’ll trigger a download of a malicious JavaScript file. This, in turn, installs XWorm, a powerful RAT that grants the attackers full control over the compromised device, including access to files, webcams, and microphone. They can also use the access to disable security tools, deploy additional malware, and exfiltrate passwords and other data.

Peak booking period

HP Wolf Security says it first spotted the campaign in Q1 2025, which is “peak summer holiday booking period”, and a time when “click fatigue” sets in, as prospective holidaymakers are reckless and don’t pay attention to the sites they’re visiting, ending in disaster.

"Since the introduction of privacy regulations such as GDPR, cookie prompts have become so normalized that most users have fallen into a habit of ‘click-first, think later,’” commented Patrick Schläpfer, Principal Threat Researcher in the HP Security Lab.

“By mimicking the look and feel of a booking site at a time when holiday-goers are rushing to make travel plans, attackers don’t need advanced techniques - just a well-timed prompt and the user’s instinct to click.”

There are a few things users can do to stay safe, and the first one is - to slow down when browsing.

Users should also make sure not to click on links in emails or social media messages, especially for well-established sites such as Booking. Instead, type in the address in the browser’s navigation bar manually.

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Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro: one-minute review

The Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro is a wireless mechanical keyboard with numerous connectivity options for great flexibility. It has a rather restrained aesthetic, although the vibrant RGB lighting and various colorways help make it stand out. It lacks the pomp of many gaming keyboards, and it’s all the better for it in my view.

In terms of build quality, the Rainy 75 Pro is dense and very heavy, while the aluminum casing makes it near impossible to dent or damage. The double-shot PBT keycaps also feel premium, with their smooth texture and subtle indentations.

The board is also quite thick, especially at the back, and there are no adjustable feet. Thankfully, the stock angle allows for a good typing position, although I still would’ve welcomed some form of wrist support, since I did find the Rainy 75 Pro uncomfortable after long periods.

Customizations are available courtesy of the VIA web app. Here you’ll find a macro creator and RGB lighting adjustments, with plenty of effects to choose from. There are also myriad shortcuts available for remapping, rivaling many of the best keyboard options around, although the interface doesn’t do a great job of presenting them in the cleanest manner.

There are other issues with this web app: it requires you to download JSON files to work, while profiles have to be saved as files on your PC, both of which feel outdated and clunky. What’s more, there aren’t any performance-related tweaks, and sometimes it would lose connection to the keyboard altogether.

Thankfully, in action, the Rainy 75 Pro provides a mostly enjoyable experience. The linear Cocoa switches in my unit were snappy and responsive, with a light actuation and a very satisfying feel, which made for fast typing. However, beware that they are quite loud.

Connectivity is mostly great, and switching between Bluetooth and 2.4.GHz devices is easy. However, I did experience momentary lagging in one particular instance when connected via the latter method to my PC, which is obviously disappointing, but thankfully only occurred once.

Despite how solid and pleasurable it is to use, the Rainy 75 Pro is still an expensive keyboard and it faces some stiff competition, such as the Razer Pro Type Ultra and the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra, the latter of which is cheaper but performs equally well. If you’re looking for the sturdiest board around with effortless typing, the Rainy 75 Pro is hard to beat on these fronts. But all things considered, it's hard to justify its expense in a market full of great value alternatives.

(Image credit: Future)Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: price and availability

• $139 / £159 / AU$239
• Available now in multiple variants
• High-end of the market

The Rainy 75 Pro costs $139 / £159 / AU$239 and is available in multiple colorways and switch types. Wired and non-RGB versions are also available with lower prices. It comes with a keycap puller, USB cable, 2.4GHz USB dongle, and three spare switches.

This places it at the premium end of the space, although when you consider its high build quality, mechanical switches and multiple connectivity modes, it makes a little more sense. It’s close to the same price as the Razer Pro Type Ultra, although that board is full-size, making it a better choice for productivity purposes.

However, the Rainy 75 Pro is more expensive than the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra. That board has analog switches, which allow for various actuation adjustments to be made, an aspect shared by some of the best gaming keyboard options. It also features multiple wireless modes, although it has a 60% layout, which means it lacks quite a few useful keys present on the Rainy 75 Pro.

Value: 3 / 5

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: specs

Layout

75%

Switch

Mechanical

Programmable keys

Yes

Dimensions

12.6 x 5.4 x 1.8 inches (32 x 13.7 x 4.6cm)

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

(Image credit: Future)Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: design and features

• Exceptionally heavy
• Well made
• Not the most convenient software

The Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro has a somewhat muted appearance, especially in the white colorway I had on my review unit. It looks modern enough, and the lack of gamer touches is something I welcome, while the RGB lighting does enough to add vibrancy.

It’s also one of the heaviest keyboards I’ve ever used. It feels extremely dense and sturdy as a result, and if you’re prone to gamer rage, be careful of venting your frustrations out on this one. The aluminum casing feels very premium and hard wearing too.

The Rainy 75 Pro is also quite thick, although mercifully it has a fairly steep tilt angle, so the front end is lower to the ground than the back. This makes getting a comfortable position easier, although I found that my wrists still had to bend noticeably to reach the keys.

The double-shot PBT keycaps have a smooth texture and feel high quality, as you would expect. They also have minimal indentation, but it’s enough to secure your finger tips in place.

There are some useful default shortcuts on the Rainy 75 Pro, including the ability to hot-switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz devices using the Fn and Tab keys. However, it’s a shame that none of the keys have their Fn shortcuts labelled on them.

(Image credit: Future)

However, what’s more inconvenient is the switch for activating the wireless capability, since it’s located underneath the Caps Lock key, meaning you have to remove it to access it – a baffling design choice and one I’ve seen before on the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra.

Thankfully, it’s rarely needed as it can be left in the on position, even when using the board with a wired connection. The only time I needed to switch it to the off position was when installing a firmware update.

The Rainy 75 Pro makes use of the VIA web app for its customization abilities. This provides the usual tinkering options, with macro creation, RGB settings, and plenty of remapping options.

However, the web app isn’t the most user-friendly interface, requiring you to download and then upload JSON files manually to get working. You also have to save your custom settings as files to your computer, which is also inconvenient and outdated.

I encountered other usability issues, too. There were occasions where the key remapping function wouldn't work, and sometimes the board lost connection to the web app, requiring me to refresh the page to remedy.

The layout of this web app also leaves a lot to be desired, as the scattergun approach to listing all the remaps isn’t the best presented, making it hard at times to find the shortcuts you need.

Design & features: 3.5 / 5

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: performance

• Light and snappy
• Great for typing
• Can get uncomfortable

The performance of the Rainy 75 Pro is excellent, whether you’re gaming or typing. The linear Cocoa switches in my unit had a very light and snappy actuation, with plenty of rebound and a relatively short travel, all of which made for quick taps and fast typing. Their lubed yet clicky feel also provided plenty of feedback, resulting in a tactile feel to match the best mechanical keyboards.

However, typing is quite loud, and while the Rainy 75 Pro is comfortable to use for the most part, that aforementioned thickness and the wrist bend required to access the keys did cause me some discomfort after a while. This is yet another keyboard where I would’ve appreciated a wrist pad.

Connectivity is seamless in the main, and I found switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz quick and easy. Battery life also seems reasonable, if not exceptional, dropping to 80% after several days of varied use between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz.

However, I did experience some serious lag on one occasion when playing a game, causing a severe delay to my inputs. My mouse inputs were unaffected, so I don’t believe it was an issue with the game.

This is obviously concerning, but I should stress this only happened once during my several days with the Rainy 75 Pro, and what’s more, it was fleeting. Still, it’s worth mentioning all the same.

(Image credit: Future)

Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro?Gamakay TK75HE V2 Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Rainy 75 Pro is quite expensive, and although it offers a lot, there are plenty of competitors at this price point – and below.

3 / 5

Design and features

The Rainy 75 Pro is exceptionally solid and heavy, and it uses double-shot PBT keycaps. The customization web app isn’t the best, though, and it’s a little too thick for long-term comfort.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Light and snappy, the Rainy 75 Pro is great for typing and gaming, with a satisfying feel. I did experience a brief connection issue on one occasion, though.

4 / 5

Overall

The Rainy 75 Pro is very enjoyable to use, and the build quality is very impressive. However, the lack of wrist support, awkward software, and high price hold it back somewhat.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want easy typing
The snappy actuation and fast rebound make this a very tactile and easy board to type fast on.

You a sturdy unit
The sheer weight of the Rainy 75 Pro alone is testament enough to its build quality, but the aluminum material further consolidates this.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the best software
The VIA web app isn’t the easiest or most convenient to use, and there are no performance-based tweaks available for hardcore gamers.

You want to save money
The Rainy 75 Pro isn’t exactly cheap, and there are plenty of keen competitors around at this price.

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: also consider

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro

MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra

Razer Pro Type Ultra

Layout

75%

60%

Full size

Switch

Mechanical

Analog (TMR magnetic)

Mechanical

Programmable keys

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dimensions

12.6 x 5.4 x 1.8 inches (320 x 137 x 46mm)

Not stated

17.28 x 5.16 x 1.57 inches (439 x 131 x 40mm)

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

Yes (customizable)

Yes (customizable)

Razer Pro Type Ultra
If you’re looking for a similarly premium experience, the Razer Pro Type Ultra is a great alternative, especially if you plan on doing a lot of typing. It’s about the same price as the Rainy 75 Pro, but has a full-size layout. However, like the Rainy 75 Pro, we found its angle a little steep for optimum comfort levels, but in all other regards, it’s an excellent keyboard for work and play. Read our full Razer Pro Type Ultra review.

MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra
Another formidable slab of a keyboard, the FUN60 Ultra has a 60% layout, so it lacks some keys useful for productivity and certain games. However, it’s great for typing with, and its TMR analog switches make it a boon for gamers. What’s more, it’s remarkably cheap considering its premium feel and performance, so it’s certainly a board worth considering if you can live with the compromised layout. Read our full MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review.

How I tested the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and typing
• Plentiful keyboard experience

I tested the Rainy 75 Pro for several days, during which time I used it for gaming and typing. I used all of its connectivity modes on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. I played Counter-Strike 2, a good test for keyboards since it requires fast and accurate inputs.

I have been PC gaming for over a decade and have plenty of experience with keyboards of all kinds. I have also reviewed a large number of them, with different connectivity methods, switch types, layouts, and price points.

• First reviewed: May 2025
• Read more about how we test

If you want to save your battery and make your games look even better, you should check out these settings.

• Microsoft compared Liquid Glass to Windows Vista on its Instagram account
• It’s rather late to the party in drawing this kind of comparison
• Mind you, if anyone has a right to do so, it’s Microsoft, which brought in transparency with the Aero effect on the desktop of Vista

Microsoft has joined the throng of those who’ve been making fun of Apple’s new Liquid Glass interface for macOS Tahoe 26 (and iOS 26 or indeed other platforms such as iPadOS 26).

On its Instagram account yesterday, as flagged up by Windows Latest, Microsoft posted a collection of screenshots of Windows Vista. This arrived complete with nostalgic sound effects (the chime of booting to the desktop) from back in the day (2007), with a single, simple sentence: “Just gonna leave this here.”

A post shared by Windows (@windows)

A photo posted by on

In case you missed it, Apple has caught quite a volley of criticism for what’s perceived as making it seem like Liquid Glass has reinvented the idea of transparency – a glassy, see-through interface – when this was actually done by Microsoft in… yes, you guessed it: Windows Vista.

In Windows Vista, this effect was called Aero (and later, Aero also came to Windows 7), and as you can see in the Instagram montage above, it’s all about translucent windows, allowing you to see the background through them.

Microsoft is late to the party here, really, and in that respect, the company looks a tad silly. Everybody’s done their take on how Liquid Glass is Vista (or Windows 7), how Apple are copycats, etcetera – and so Microsoft is running the risk of inducing some yawns here.

But still, Microsoft did invent Aero with these venerable desktop operating systems many translucent moons ago, so in a way, more than anyone, the software giant has a right to poke some fun at macOS Tahoe 26 here.

Analysis: Fun but not fair?

(Image credit: Apple)

So, given the hail of critical bullets trying to shatter Apple’s Liquid Glass – Microsoft’s latest potshot included – it’s worth considering a key question. Is it really fair to level accusations at the Mac and iDevice maker for being so unoriginal and dated with its UI innovation here?

I don’t think it is. Still, Apple must’ve known it was going to face this kind of backlash, even if it’s a rather tongue-in-cheek affair (mostly). And for Microsoft, it’s an obvious opportunity to take a rival down a peg or two, which, let’s face it, is not to be missed. However, I'm not sure why Microsoft was slow to move with its post.

Whatever the case, one thing is obvious: Liquid Glass does not equal Vista’s Aero effect (and I hardly think Microsoft is suggesting that, of course). Yes, there are clear visual parallels, but what macOS Tahoe 26 is doing is very different from Windows Vista or 7.

For starters, the reason nobody liked Aero much in Windows Vista was because it caused the OS environment to run slower – nobody wanted lag when dragging windows around the desktop, unsurprisingly. (Windows 7 did better here, of course).

Not only is contemporary hardware ripe for a much better implementation of transparent interface elements now, so it’ll all be suitably responsive, but Apple’s Liquid Glass appears to be far more sophisticated in nature. It looks like there’s a lot of careful crafting here, with nuances in the way light passes through the ‘glass’ and interacts with the interface behind.

Granted, it’s still too early to say exactly how this will pan out, but Aero it ain’t, that’s for sure. I’ve been told by others on the TechRadar team who’ve seen the interface in action that it looks much better in real-world use than screenshots can convey.

Even so, worries remain, without a doubt. The most obvious potential thorn is the diminished accessibility and the potential lack of clarity that these fancy, see-through effects might cause. What we don’t want is a muddied look where the user may struggle to read basic text or make out icons in the foreground.

Time will tell regarding those concerns, but Apple appears to have thought this whole plan and overarching philosophy through quite fully, given that this is not just a mere interface revamp, but a wholesale cross-platform unification for macOS, iOS, and all the rest of the company’s operating systems.

Thus far, Liquid Glass looks pretty slick, it looks like function is as important as form, and yes, it looks like Windows Vista a bit, too. But hey, what did you expect Apple to do with all eyes on its big WWDC 25 interface reveal? Acknowledge Microsoft as the forerunner of glassy transparency in the realm of desktop operating systems?

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• Utran’s PCIe 5.0 card holds 28 M.2 SSDs, reaching a total 224TB capacity
• Delivers 109GB/s read speed using Broadcom switch and advanced cooling
• Ideal for AI workloads, but overkill for most enterprise storage needs

Utran Technology has introduced a new PCIe 5.0 add-in card which feels more like a GPU than a storage solution.

Unveiled at Computex 2025, the device can host up to 28 NVMe Gen5 M.2 8TB SSDs in a single slot, delivering 109GB/s sequential read speed and a total storage capacity of 224TB.

Two versions of the 28x M.2 Host Card: HM-5281A and HM-5282A will be available - both use the Broadcom AtlasII PEX89144 switch to handle internal bandwidth and connectivity. The HM-5281A uses a single PCIe Gen5 x16 upstream link, while the HM-5282A doubles that with two x16 links, bringing total bandwidth up to 1024 GT/s.

Surprise hot plug support

Cooling comes via a high-pressure fan and radiator combo. Although it has a dense footprint, the layout is built for rack-scale deployment. In theory, eight cards could deliver nearly 1.8PB of flash inside a single server.

Both models run on an EPS 8-pin connector and support surprise hot plug, meaning the system can detect and manage the 28 M.2 drives even if they’re swapped in unexpectedly. This is particularly useful for testing or dynamic environments. You'd need to take care doing so in real-world deployments though, especially as the card itself isn't hot-swappable.

28x M.2 Host Card also lacks card-level power loss protection, so you’d need to rely on SSDs that include their own safeguards.

The card does, however, support USB terminal control for firmware updates and system monitoring.

Supported operating systems include Windows, Windows Server, and Linux, making it relatively flexible at the software level.

It's hard to argue with the raw numbers - 109GB/s read speed and sub-millisecond latency are unquestionably impressive - but outside of certain HPC or AI use cases, it's frankly difficult to see a wide audience. Even in dense environments, this level of performance might outpace most storage needs.

Utran says it plans to begin shipping its 28x M.2 Host Card in summer 2025.

Via Tom's Hardware

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• Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is getting an online multiplayer mode called Fox Hunt
• Fox Hunt is a "completely original online battle mode"
• Director Yu Sahara said the mode is set in the same world as the main game, but "gameplay is completely different"

Konami has announced that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will have an online multiplayer mode called Fox Hunt.

Revealed during the Konami Press Start livestream today, the publisher said that Fox Hunt is a "completely original online battle mode" that will play differently from 2008's Metal Gear Online.

Fox Hunt, which is being directed by series veteran Yu Sahara, takes place in the same world as the main game and will offer "hide and seek" mechanics, mixed with stealth and survival elements.

Sahara explained that although the multiplayer shares the same world with the main campaign, "the gameplay is completely different".

"When we say Metal Gear multiplayer, many fans will probably think of Metal Gear Online, but Fox Hunt will be its own new type of mode. We very much appreciate all the long-time fans of MGO who have always wanted to see it make a comeback, but the landscape of multiplayer games has changed a lot since MGO.

"It took a lot of careful consideration to think about what a new online mode should look like. Based on the iconic stealth and survival elements of the Metal Gear series, we are taking camouflage and hide and seek to the next level.

"We challenged ourselves to make something unique that is more than just a shootout. We’ve used that back-and-forth tension of staying hidden or searching out the enemy to create an online experience unique to Metal Gear."

Sahara confirmed that more information about Fox Hunt will be revealed soon.

Alongside Fox Hunt's reveal, Konami also shared a new gameplay trailer for the main game, the PC and PS5-exclusive Ape Escape mode, as well as the first look at the Bomb Snake battle. This Snake vs Bomberman mode is exclusive to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

Secret Theatre is also returning, but this version will task players with locating Secret Theatre videos as collectibles, which are carried by soldiers.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater arrives on August 28 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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• The first iOS 26 developer is out now ahead of its public beta launch in July
• One of its upgrades is a new option called 'Keep Audio in Headphones'
• This should reduce auto-switching problems for wireless headphones

If you're tired of your iPhone automatically switching to every other Bluetooth device other than your headphones, then iOS 26 has a treat for you – a new option to make the audio stay connected to your wireless headphones.

As spotted by MacRumors, the new iOS 26 developer beta has a long-awaited new option called "Keep Audio in Headphones" in the iPhone's Settings. The new option will seemingly live in the Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity section and is specifically designed to stop headphones from making unwanted connections to nearby devices.

Apple's description of the feature says "when using AirPods or other connected headphones, keep audio in your headphones when other playback devices like cars and speakers connect to iPhone."

This happens to me all the time, whether it's my audio automatically switching to in-car speakers or to my iPad when it's being used by someone else. Clearly, I'm not alone in finding this annoyance frustrating, so Apple's thankfully including this new option in iOS 26, and it'll hopefully make it to the software's final release in September.

A bit old in the Bluetooth

There are currently workarounds (like the option above) for controlling AirPods auto-switching, but this new iOS 26 one should work across a broad range of Bluetooth devices. (Image credit: Apple / Future)

Bluetooth is now over 25 years old, so in some ways it's miraculous that the short-range wireless tech works as well as it does – yet it's also frequently frustrating.

Without the option of prioritizing the order of your preferred Bluetooth devices, it can often feel like auto-switching has a mind of its own. So, this setting, while not exactly one of the biggest iOS 26 features, it's definitely a welcome quality-of-life tweak.

Not that it's the only frustrating Bluetooth-related issue we have to grapple with. As our colleagues at What Hi Fi? recently noted, it's high time audio manufacturers started standardizing their Bluetooth pairing processes, too.

Of course, these are very much first-world problems, but at least Bluetooth 6.0 is now rolling out to bring more refinements to the now-ancient tech. These include improved filtering and efficiency, which should bring battery life benefits, along with a feature called Channel Sounding to help improve the accuracy of 'find my device' services from the likes of Apple, Google and Samsung.

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• Security researchers Aim Labs discovered an LLM Scope Violation flaw in Microsoft 365 Copilot
• The critical-severity bug allows threat actors to exfiltrate sensitive corporate data by sending an email
• Microsoft says it has fixed the issue server-side, but users should be on guard

Microsoft has fixed a dangerous zero-click attack in its Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) model which could have allowed threat actors to silently exfiltrate sensitive corporate data without (almost) any user interaction.

Cybersecurity researchers Aim Labs, who found the flaw, known as an “LLM Scope Violation”, and dubbed it EchoLeak.

Here is how it works: A threat actor sends a seemingly innocuous email message to the target, which contains a hidden prompt that instructs Copilot to exfiltrate sensitive data to an attacker-controlled server. Since Copilot is integrated into Microsoft 365, that data can include anything from intellectual property files, to business contracts and legal documents, or from internal communications, to financial data.

Critical vulnerability

The researchers note the prompt needs to be phrased like speaking to a human, so that it bypasses Microsoft’s XPIA (cross-prompt injection attack) defenses.

Later, when the victim interacts with Copilot and asks a business-related question, the LLM will pull all of the relevant data (including the attackers’ email message) and will end up executing it. The files are stored in a crafted link or an image.

The bug was assigned the CVE-2025-32711 identifier, and was given a severity score of 9.3/10 (critical). It was fixed server-side in May, meaning users don’t need to do anything. Microsoft also said that there is no evidence that the flaw had been exploited in the past, and none of its customers were impacted.

Microsoft 365 is one of the most popular cloud-based communications and online collaboration tools, combining office apps (Word, Excel, and others), cloud storage (OneDrive and SharePoint), email and calendar (Outlook, Exchange), and communications tools (Teams).

Recently, Microsoft integrated its Generative AI model, Copilot, into Microsoft 365, allowing users to draft and summarize emails, generate and edit documents, create data visualizations and analyze trends, and more.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Figma unveils new AI tools for developers and designers
• Figma Make finally rolls out to all users with Full Seat
• Code layers comes to Figma Sites

Over the past week, Figma has made good on its many promises revealed at its Config 2025 event.

After announcing the release of four new products - Figma Make, Figma Sites, Figma Buzz, and Figma Draw - the company has now launched a few new updates for developers and designers, alongside the full rollout of its big content ideation tool Figma Make.

According to Figma, these updates are all about “bridging the gap between design and code” with the help of new AI tools. So, what can users expect now?

What’s new in Figma?

For me, the most exciting new release is Figma Make. Finally out of beta, it’s available now to those with a Full Seat.

Figma Make is effectively an overarching design tool that spans the entire platform, and a massive leap for content ideation, where users can start with a blank canvas or copy and paste from Figma Designs, collaborate on new ideas, and then bring those designs over to other Figma tools like Sites to refine the concepts.

According to the company, Figma Make is fully capable of helping users create “an agentic AI interface, a business newsletter, and even games.”

When I attended a press briefing at Config London, I was struck by how Yuhki Yamashita, Figma’s Chief Product Officer, repeatedly mentioned how the premise here is being able to quickly conjure up ideas, throw them out if they don’t work, then start anew.

At the time, he said, “Our thought experiment was, how can we make it so easy for you to go from the idea into your head to something that is actually you can put in front of users and validate really quickly. And if it doesn't work, that's great. You can then move on to the next idea, or you can keep iterating from there.”

But it’s not the only big rollout users can now try. Figma has also released a new Dev Mode MCP Server, which is currently in beta.

Eagle-eyed Figma-watchers will have clocked an early demo of this during Microsoft Build’s opening keynote.

The company describes the MCP Server as a way to deliver design context from Figma - think variables and styles, that sort of thing - into their preferred LLM, IDE, or agentic coding tool, making sure that AI-generated code aligns with the users’ codebase.

And finally, code layers are now rolling out across Figma Sites, the AI-powered website builder. Here, users with pretty much any technical ability can customize websites and build site interactions and animations using AI prompts, presets, or raw code.

I was pretty impressed when I saw Figma Sites in action at Config, where AI prompts were used to transform static text into animated text that reacted to cursor movements. It’s designed in such a way that even a non-designer can easily edit content.

At Config, Yamashita promised bigger things were afoot, saying, “we wanted to make sure that we could support scaled use cases, too. With these kinds of content, it's much easier if we have a CMS, so that a non-designer can come in and comfortably edit that content in a way that's familiar to them. And this is something that's coming soon.” Looks like it’s finally arrived.

You can check out the newest tools from Figma by clicking here and navigating to the Products section.

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• Get ChatGPT Plus for 3 months at a discounted 50% off rate
• This easy trick is accessible via ChatGPT's official website
• ChatGPT Plus gives you access to OpenAI's best models and all the latest features such as Sora

ChatGPT is free to use, but if you want access to OpenAI's latest AI models and tools like the video generation platform Sora, you'll need a ChatGPT Plus account.

Normally, ChatGPT Plus costs $20 (£20 / AU$30 a month), but one Reddit user (u/PrettyRevolution1842) has shared an excellent and easy trick to get 3 months of the service for half price.

With this quick trick, you'll get ChatGPT Plus for $10 (£10 / AU$15 a month) for 3 months, although in order to be able to get this discounted rate, you'll need to be subscribed already to ChatGPT Plus.

That said, even if you subscribe to ChatGPT Plus at the full price rate for 1 month before following the steps below, you'd still be getting four months of Plus for $50 (£50 / AU$75) instead of $80 (£80 / AU$120).

How to get 3 months of ChatGPT Plus for half price

1. On desktop, go to ChatGPT Settings
2. Click Manage My Subscriptions
3. Select Cancel Plan
4. Accept the 50% off for the next 3 months offer

It's as easy as that, you'll now have a discounted rate of ChatGPT Plus for the next three months. Just remember to cancel auto-renewal so you aren't caught with some hefty fees after the promotional period ends.

ChatGPT Plus offers extended limits on messaging, access to OpenAI's best research and reasoning models like OpenAI o3, OpenAI o4-mini, and OpenAI o4-mini-high, access to new features before free users, and more.

If you're still unsure, read our guide: Is ChatGPT Plus actually worth it?

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• The HiBy R3Pro II is certified for wired and wireless Hi-Res Audio
• The music player has double DACs and quad amplification
• Amazingly affordable at just $199

If like me you miss the days of cute portable music players like the iPod mini, HiBy has just the thing: a super-cute and very small double-DAC audio player called the R3Pro II.

The R3Pro II comes in a choice of orange, silver, black or green; the orange one really reminds me of my much-missed Sony Ericsson Walkman phone with its orange highlights, while the others conjure up memories of multiple iPods.

Don't let the cute design fool you, though: the specs here are serious. According to HiBy you're looking at a "quality pocket cannon, performance monster". And the specs back that up.

Inside there are dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs and quad OPA1622 headphone amps capable of driving high-impedance headphones through either the 4.4mm balanced or 3.5mm stereo jacks.

The green and orange models come with an Ultrasuede fabric back; other colors have a matte finish (Image credit: HiBy)HiBy R3ProII: key features and pricing

Those amps and DACs are powered by a 4,000mAh battery with PD2.0 fast charging, and put out up to 480mW of power.

You're not limited to listening on the best wired headphones, though. The player is certified for both wired and wireless Hi-Res Audio and supports DSD256, PCM at up to 32-bit/384kHz and MQA 8X. Bluetooth is 5.1 and there's Wi-Fi too; you can have up to 2TB of storage via microSD.

You've got aptX and LDAC to beam high-quality sound to the best wireless headphones, and the R3Pro II also works with AirPlay and DLNA for Wi-Fi streaming. It has USB-C audio, USB to S/PDIF, and line outputs for connections to other audio equipment.

There are slightly different materials depending on your color choice: the green and orange ones have an Ultrasuede back, while silver and black are matte.

The specs suggest a fairly expensive device, but no: the R3Pro II is just $199. I'd expect it to cost around £199 or just under if it comes to the UK, and the US price converts to around AU$300 in Australia – though we don't have confirmation of an international release yet. Hopefully it'll come, because we could be looking at a new budget winner for our list of the best hi-res audio players.

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