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A search is underway for one or two suspects, according to Berlin police.

(Image credit: Andreas Rabenstein)

At least one person has died in a fire in Spain, according to officials.

(Image credit: Emma Da Silva)

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked took place earlier in the week, and amongst the key launches we the got a look at a brand new compact foldable: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8. This clamshell phone is Samsung's slimmest and lightest Flip yet, measuring just 6.1mm thick when folded, and weighing in at 180g.

Preorders are open now, and if you've decided this is the phone for you, now's a great time to get a case sorted. Below, I've rounded up a selection of my favorites in the US and in the UK. I've focused on reputable brands like Otterbox, Spigen and Casetify, alongside Samsung's official offerings, but I've also mixed in a handful of Amazon options for those seeking something cheaper. As a relatively niche launch, there isn't the usual glut of cases to choose from, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a decent range available.

When making your selection, keep in mind what you need from a case. Do you want the toughest case, with reinforced corners, to keep your foldable safe from bumps and scratches? Are you seeking a fun design that lets you express some personality? Or do you need something minimalist that lets the phone itself take center stage? I've also included a number of MagSafe options.

Scroll down to browse my favorite Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 cases and covers, to keep your new clamshell safe and looking great.

US cases for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

Spigen Galaxy Z Flip 8 Series — Ultra Hybrid Pro (mag Fit)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Mirror Magnet Case(kakao Friends)

Spigen Galaxy Z Flip 8 Series - Nano Pop (mag Fit)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Silicone Ring Magnet Case, Pink

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Clear Magnet Case, Transparent

CASETiFY Stamp Collection

CASETiFY Black Kingsnake

OtterBox Folding Galaxy Z Flip8 Case — Thin Flex Series

Pepmune Magnetic Case Matte Clear Bumper, Pink

RMOCR Galaxy Z Flip 8 Case With Lanyard, blue

WRJ Shockproof Magnetic Phone Case for Z Flip8 — Black

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Flipsuit Case, Silver

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Clear Case, Transparent

CASETiFY Dragon Pang

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Mirror Magnet Case(esther Bunny)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Hybrid Shield Magnet Case, Black

Spigen Galaxy Z Flip 8 Series - Ultra Hybrid Pro Neo One (mag Fit)

Spigen Galaxy Z Flip 8 Series - Core Armor (mag Fit)

UK cases for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

CASETiFY Bridgerton Blooming Flowers Case

CASETiFY Strawberry Print

OWKEY Magnetic Case With Built-In Screen Protector, Blue

Natbok Galaxy Z Flip 8 Case with 2 Screen Protectors, black

SIXBOX Flip 8 Case With Stand, Compatible With Magsafe, Dark purple

WFTE Split Case with 2x Tempered Glass Screen Protectors

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Flipsuit Case

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Clear Case

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Silicone Ring Magnet Case

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Clear Magnet Case

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Hybrid Shield Magnet Case

• Nearly 400 4K Blu-ray users shared info about player problems
• There's a huge gap between the best and worst in the poll
• Panasonic will be happy; Sony not so much

One of the things I like best about Reddit is the way people share their experiences of particular products: whether it's a kitchen knife, a portable AC or a Gibson guitar I know I'll be able to find sage advice on what to buy and what to watch out for. And now the good people of r/hometheater have come together to talk about the best 4K Blu-ray players and their reliability.

The poll was carried out by r/hometheater poster "requieminadream" and generated nearly 400 responses — almost double the number of previous poll respondents — from r/4KBluray, r/Bluray, r/PhysicalMediaMatters, the AVS Forums, and the Blu-ray.com forums. And there are some very clear differences between different firms' Blu-ray devices.

Requieminadream very kindly summarized the results in a sentence: "The Sony UBP-X700 is still the problem child, the Panasonic DP-UB820 is still champ, and the pricey UB-9000 posted the cleanest numbers (small sample though)."

But there were some interesting discoveries in the detail too, so it's definitely worth looking at if you're considering a pre-owned 4K Blu-ray player purchase, or just which one seems to make people the happiest long-term.

The 4K Blu-ray Standalone Player Reliability Poll numbers ARE IN! from r/hometheaterWhich 4K Blu-ray players are the best?

One of the reasons I like Reddit wisdom is because with few exceptions, reviewers can't spend years with the products they test — so the reviews of my car don't know about the software issues that drive me wild and sometimes require a reboot at traffic lights, and the reviews of my router don't know about its tendency to misbehave every few weeks.

It's the same with Blu-ray players: even the most in-depth review won't be able to tell you if a player's likely to pack up in year two or three. (Though one exception is our Panasonic DP-UB820 review, written by our TV Hardware senior writer James Davidson, because he wrote us a fresh review based on combining using it in our test room and having used it daily for several years beforehand.)

But in general, polls like this are a brilliant resource.

By a large margin, the Panasonic DP-UB820 is the community's favored player: 43.4% of respondents have one, and its problem rate was around half that of the Sony UBP-X700. The rate of serious issues was very low, at just 8% — backing up what James had said, when he called it "the workhorse of the 4K Blu-ray player world".

The "problem child" that emerged from this latest poll is the Sony UBP-X700. Of the 103 Sony users, some 77.7% reported some issues over time; recurring and/or serious issues were 23%. The number one complaint is freezing during triple-layer transitions, which is something that has long been discussed on Blu-ray forums.

The poll shows another interesting pattern, which is problems over time. For the Sony, issues became more common over time — but for the Panasonic the pattern was of any failures showing up early, but better long-term reliability.

The other players in the survey came in between the two extremes, but some of the best results were from "other" players including games consoles and more niche Blu-ray products.

Satisfaction with those products was exceptionally high, with the PS5 getting a significantly higher rating than the Xbox. That's all the more striking given the Sony X700's performance: the PS5 is a more premium product and that seems to be reflected in its reliability — alas, we shouldn't expect any more PlayStations to arrive with a disc player.

I should make clear, as the original Redditor did, that in some cases the sample sizes for ownership in these polls is pretty low, so we should take the results with a pinch of salt. However, the Panasonic UB820 and the Sony X700 were the best-represented, and are the two most popular players, so their data is arguably the most useful anyway.

• Ukraine Central Research Institute has unveiled Marichka, a closed neural network intended to cut brigade-level planning decisions from six to 12 hours down to minutes
• The system calculates force ratios, estimates losses, and models courses of action on an interactive map, but has so far only been trialed on test data, with classified document integration still pending
• Marichka adds another layer to Ukraine's tech stack for battlefield planning: the country already fields Delta for situational awareness and works with Palantir at multiple levels

Ukraine's Central Research Institute of the Armed Forces has presented Marichka, a closed neural network designed to compress the operational planning cycle at brigade level and above from hours to minutes.

The system, still in testing, is built to collect and verify battlefield information, then calculate force ratios and estimate required resources and likely losses, presenting commanders with modeled options on an interactive map. Military standards currently allow a regiment or brigade commander six to 12 hours and roughly 20 documents to reach the same point.

It can also alert command posts to changes in the operational situation as new information arrives. Colonel Yurii Kliat, who heads the institute, was explicit about where authority stops, telling the briefing that the final decision remains with the commander.

A battlefield-layer replacement for Palantir

Palantir has been embedded in Ukrainian operations since shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, and it remains a mainstay in that theater, with a scope that dwarfs what Marichka is attempting.

Marichka is still an important step. If it works as described, it would give Ukraine sovereign control over part of the reasoning layer that currently sits with a foreign vendor, even as Palantir's pipeline remains the more established presence in the country's software-driven war effort.

According to Colonel Yurii Kliat, head of Ukraine's Central Research Institute of the Armed Forces, Marichka centrally gathers battlefield information, automatically calculates the balance of forces and combat potentials, and estimates required resources and likely losses.

The intent is to let brigade and regiment commanders reach an informed decision in minutes, measured against a doctrinal standard that currently allows six to 12 hours and roughly 20 documents.

Ukraine already fields the system that most closely answers to the description of a homegrown Palantir: Delta, which has provided situational awareness across the defense forces since 2022. Marichka is a new layer proposed on top of a stack that already includes Delta, Palantir's platforms for fusion and analysis, and, as of this year, a dedicated Defense AI Center. Whether it will integrate with Delta or run separately has not been disclosed, and that is arguably the most important open question about the program.

Brigadier General Andrii Lebedenko told the Drone Autonomy 2026 conference in May that the Armed Forces had already begun integrating AI agents into command-and-control systems, which places Marichka within an existing effort rather than presenting it as a departure.

This is not Ukraine's first attempt at an operational-level command system for headquarters. Dzvin was ordered from a contractor in 2016 and frozen in 2021 after the prototypes encountered disputes over cost, timelines, and product ownership.

Delta, developed in parallel rather than as a replacement, succeeded partly because it grew out of a volunteer reconnaissance unit solving an immediate battlefield problem, rather than from a procurement process.

Marichka comes from a research institute, which is a different pedigree again, and the harder test will not be the neural network but the bureaucracy around accreditation for classified data. That hurdle may be reinforced by the argument for the incumbent: Palantir has a proven record in theaters of war, and its early work in Ukraine, much of it provided free, secured a first-mover advantage that a domestic prototype will have to overcome.

Via United24Media

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband: One-minute review

The Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband is a small gaming keyboard with a few surprises in store.

True to its name, it certainly doesn’t take up much room on your desk. It’s also pleasingly light, which means it’s easy to move around. Despite this and the plastic construction, the build quality seems high.

There are some unique features to the design of the K63W Pro. One is the prominent springiness of the gasket-mounted layout, which is a little strange at first, but ultimately it’s not an issue and the keys still feel just as solid as those in the best gaming keyboards.

Another is the arrow keys. Not only are they much larger than most, but each of the four directions has a second binding to include right control, right shift, menu, and Fn inputs. There’s a shortcut for toggling between the two sets of bindings, as well as activating both at the same time, with the input triggered determined by whether a key is pressed or held.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s also an option to select these modes in Cherry’s companion software. This software has other customizations, but not many. The remapping options are especially disappointing, thanks to their very awkward setup and limited options. There’s barely any performance tweaks here, either.

Thankfully, the K63W Pro is a capable performer as it is. The keys travel further than you might expect given their low profile, but they’re still just about snappy enough for fast gaming and typing. The ergonomic slant of the keycaps, as well as the generous spacing between them, make them easy to use, while the aforementioned thinness of the chassis makes for a comfortable experience, even without a wrist rest.

Cherry makes much of the K63W Pro’s Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless technology, which is designed to prevent potential interference. However, I can’t say I noticed an improvement over other wireless keyboards, and the tech isn’t worth the impracticality that comes with the incongruously large wireless puck. It’s also a shame there’s no Bluetooth support.

The K63W Pro is reasonably expensive for a compact keyboard, although the quality and interesting layout help its case in this regard. The performance is good and it's comfortable to use, but I’m not sure every gamer is going to get along with its unique features.

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $169.99 (about £150 / AU$240)
• Available now
• Expensive for a small board

The Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband costs $169.99 (about £150 / AU$240) and is available now. It comes with a USB cable and the UWB USB receiver.

This is a reasonably high price for a 70% keyboard, especially one that lacks Bluetooth support and input customizations. However, there are certainly more expensive mechanical boards out there, such as the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75. I loved the performance of that board when I reviewed it, and it has a much better selection of input customizations than the K63W Pro.

If you want something more budget-friendly, consider the Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra. This keyboard has analog switches with a heap of performance-related features and tweaks at their disposal. They also feel just as good as mechanical switches in my view.

• Value score: 3.5

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Specs

Layout

70%

Switch

Mechanical (Cherry MX Low Profile 2.0)

Programmable keys

Yes

Dimensions

12.1 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches (307 x 135 x 30 mm)

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Design and features

(Image credit: Future)

• Thin and light
• Springboard-like
• Limited input customizations

There's nothing particularly exciting about the way the K63W Pro looks. It keeps things basic, although the rounded edges are a nice touch, helping to relieve its austerity a little.

True to its name, the K63W Pro is indeed compact. In addition to its truncated width, it’s also quite thin, making it comfortable to use even without a wrist rest — which is just as well, since it doesn’t come with one.

Despite its plastic construction, the K63W Pro feels sturdy and built to a high standard. Rather unique is the prominent flex of the keyboard plate. This can be pushed down quite a way when pressing a key, which is a little disconcerting at first, but it still feels perfectly stable and it rebounds fully. I wasn’t concerned about its durability, either.

(Image credit: Future)

The keycaps feel premium, too. They’re pleasingly textured and solid with little play. On top of this, the bright RGB backlighting shines through them very well, and the main legends are large and clear, although those for the Fn shortcuts on the function keys are a little too small.

You get more keys on the K63W Pro than you might think, including some navigation ones such as delete and insert. However, it’s odd there’s a blank key in the top-right corner; a missed opportunity to squeeze in another, perhaps, such as a Home key.

There are quite a few useful Fn shortcuts on the function row, including those for adjusting volume and one for opening your default browser, which are all welcome. However, a few remained a mystery to me. Two look like they adjust some sort of performance-related parameter, but I didn’t notice any action when I pressed them. There’s also one on F9 with Cherry’s logo on it that opens the Windows Run box and enters some kind of address, but again nothing happened when I pressed it. The text was too long and disappeared too quickly for me to read it, but my only guess is that it’s supposed to open some kind of Cherry software.

(Image credit: Future)

The most interesting aspect of the K63W Pro’s layout is the Mod Tap arrow keys. These are larger than your typical set since they have secondary bindings, with control, shift, menu, and Fn inputs mapped to each direction. Pressing Fn+M (there’s another Fn key mapped to the insert key) will cycle between three different modes: one enables the usual arrow key inputs, one enables the secondary bindings, and one enables both sets at the same time, with taps triggering arrow directions and holds triggering the secondary functions. The M key lights up a different color depending on which mode is active.

You can also switch between these modes using the Cherry Utility. This desktop app also features other customizations, although their dearth is disappointing. It has perhaps the worst rebinding mode I've ever seen in peripheral software, requiring you to click a ‘create’ button for every key you want to rebind, in order to bring up the option to rebind it. The layout graph doesn’t display your remapped bindings, which is another baffling oversight, and you can’t alter the Fn layer of shortcuts. There aren’t many performance-related settings here, either; you can adjust the polling rate for both wired and wireless modes, and there’s a SOCD mode with three basic settings, but that’s all you get.

Rather than your typical USB dongle, the K63W Pro comes with a block-shaped puck that requires a USB cable (also included) to connect to your device. This is what facilitates the UWB connectivity, which Cherry claims reduces interference compared to standard wireless connections. It looks sleek, but it’s quite large and takes up more space than I’m happy with, especially when you factor in the trailing cable.

• Design & features score: 3.5 / 5

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Relatively heavy keys
• Great space bar
• Unnecessary Ultra-Wideband connectivity

I mostly enjoyed my time using the K63W Pro. The keys feel well lubed and reasonably damped, although it still verges on the side of clicky than thocky, which, depending on your preferences, is either a good thing or a bad thing. Personally, I liked the feedback they provided.

I was also fond of the low-profile keycaps, which seem to slant slightly towards the user. This helped me hit keys flush, making up for the somewhat limiting tilt angle of the board, even with the two-stage feet out. This was especially noticeable with the space bar, a key I often hit on its edge but not here. It also feels slightly more damped than the other keys, while still being easy to press, a combination that makes it very satisfying to hammer away at.

The switches themselves are also low profile (specifically, they’re Cherry’s MX Low Profile 2.0). However, they have surprisingly deep travel, which makes them more satisfying than they otherwise would be. Despite this, their actuation point is relatively shallow, which meant I could still type with a reasonably light touch. They strike just the right balance between being snappy and forgiving of minor mispresses.

(Image credit: Future)

Tying accuracy is also aided by the large size of the keycaps, as well as their wide spacing. While this made reaching certain keys a little difficult when touch typing, it made gaming in the WASD position quite comfortable and secure. I could also reach the peripheral keys easily from here, including the space bar, thanks to its aforementioned slant and low profile.

In my experience, the Mod Tap feature works reasonably well, achieving Cherry’s aim of reducing side bulk without sacrificing inputs. However, you have to hold an arrow key for a long time to activate its secondary binding. I found this particularly frustrating when typing, as I required quick and regular access to the right shift key, but I often didn’t hold the Up arrow key long enough to access it. It’s also disappointing that you can’t alter the hold time.

Although Cherry makes bold claims about the UWB wireless connectivity, I can't say I noticed any performance gains over other wireless keyboards I’ve tested. Such models have greatly improved in recent years, to the point where regular-sized USB dongles perform pretty much flawlessly. And if you are an elite player concerned about lags and dropouts, you’ll probably opt for a wired connection anyway. All this is to say that the UWB tech and the outsized puck are ultimately overkill for many. What’s more, the K63W Pro doesn’t have Bluetooth support, as lots of other premium wireless keyboards feature.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Expensive for a compact board, but the quality and spec is there at least.

3.5 / 5

Design and features

Thin and light, with a solid build and a unique layout. The software is disappointing, though.

3.5 / 5

Performance

The K63W Pro is comfortable for gaming and typing for the most part, but the Mod Tap feature will take some getting used to.

4 / 5

Overall

The K63W Pro is a solid mechanical keyboard that does a few things differently, but not entirely successfully. Still, it’s a reliable and comfortable unit for most gamers.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a compact board
The K63W Pro cleverly includes keys usually omitted from such a small layout, although it does take some getting used to.

You want a comfortable board
The thin chassis and ergonomic keycaps makes the K63W Pro a board you can use all day long, although touch typing will test your dexterity at times.

Don't buy it if…

You want the snappiest experience
Despite the low profile keycaps, they have a greater travel than you might expect, which might deter those after lighting-quick taps.

You want the best input customizations
The companion software’s rebinding functionality is quite woeful; there are barely any performance-related tweaks.

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Also consider

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75
If it’s superb mechanical performance you’re after, you can’t do much better than the Razer BlackWidow. I love how tactile and satisfying key presses are, and the number of customizations on offer via Razer’s Synapse software is impressive for a mechanical keyboard, greatly eclipsing the K63W Pro on this front. However, the BlackWidow is an incredibly expensive board, so those wanting to save money should look elsewhere. Read our full Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75 review.

Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra
For something decidedly more budget-friendly, the FUN60 Ultra offers all the thrills of a great gaming keyboard without the expense. Its analog switches almost feel as good as mechanical ones, and there are plenty of adjustments you can make to alter their performance. Its construction is surprisingly solid for the price, too. Read our full Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra review.

How I tested the Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for a few days
• Used for a variety of tasks
• Plentiful gaming keyboard experience

I used the K63W Pro for a few days, during which time I used it for working, general browsing, and of course, gaming. I used it in both wired and wireless modes.

I played games such as 007 First Light and Counter-Strike 2, which are good tests for the speed and accuracy of key inputs.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used numerous keyboards in that time. I’ve also reviewed a large number of them, ranging widely in their form factors, switches types, feature sets, and price points.

• First reviewed: July 2026
• Read more about how we test

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband: One-minute review

The Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband is a small gaming keyboard with a few surprises in store.

True to its name, it certainly doesn’t take up much room on your desk. It’s also pleasingly light, which means it’s easy to move around. Despite this and the plastic construction, the build quality seems high.

There are some unique features to the design of the K63W Pro. One is the prominent springiness of the gasket-mounted layout, which is a little strange at first, but ultimately it’s not an issue and the keys still feel just as solid as those in the best gaming keyboards.

Another is the arrow keys. Not only are they much larger than most, but each of the four directions has a second binding to include right control, right shift, menu, and Fn inputs. There’s a shortcut for toggling between the two sets of bindings, as well as activating both at the same time, with the input triggered determined by whether a key is pressed or held.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s also an option to select these modes in Cherry’s companion software. This software has other customizations, but not many. The remapping options are especially disappointing, thanks to their very awkward setup and limited options. There’s barely any performance tweaks here, either.

Thankfully, the K63W Pro is a capable performer as it is. The keys travel further than you might expect given their low profile, but they’re still just about snappy enough for fast gaming and typing. The ergonomic slant of the keycaps, as well as the generous spacing between them, make them easy to use, while the aforementioned thinness of the chassis makes for a comfortable experience, even without a wrist rest.

Cherry makes much of the K63W Pro’s Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless technology, which is designed to prevent potential interference. However, I can’t say I noticed an improvement over other wireless keyboards, and the tech isn’t worth the impracticality that comes with the incongruously large wireless puck. It’s also a shame there’s no Bluetooth support.

The K63W Pro is reasonably expensive for a compact keyboard, although the quality and interesting layout help its case in this regard. The performance is good and it's comfortable to use, but I’m not sure every gamer is going to get along with its unique features.

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $169.99 (about £150 / AU$240)
• Available now
• Expensive for a small board

The Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband costs $169.99 (about £150 / AU$240) and is available now. It comes with a USB cable and the UWB USB receiver.

This is a reasonably high price for a 70% keyboard, especially one that lacks Bluetooth support and input customizations. However, there are certainly more expensive mechanical boards out there, such as the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75. I loved the performance of that board when I reviewed it, and it has a much better selection of input customizations than the K63W Pro.

If you want something more budget-friendly, consider the Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra. This keyboard has analog switches with a heap of performance-related features and tweaks at their disposal. They also feel just as good as mechanical switches in my view.

• Value score: 3.5

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Specs

Layout

70%

Switch

Mechanical (Cherry MX Low Profile 2.0)

Programmable keys

Yes

Dimensions

12.1 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches (307 x 135 x 30 mm)

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Design and features

(Image credit: Future)

• Thin and light
• Springboard-like
• Limited input customizations

There's nothing particularly exciting about the way the K63W Pro looks. It keeps things basic, although the rounded edges are a nice touch, helping to relieve its austerity a little.

True to its name, the K63W Pro is indeed compact. In addition to its truncated width, it’s also quite thin, making it comfortable to use even without a wrist rest — which is just as well, since it doesn’t come with one.

Despite its plastic construction, the K63W Pro feels sturdy and built to a high standard. Rather unique is the prominent flex of the keyboard plate. This can be pushed down quite a way when pressing a key, which is a little disconcerting at first, but it still feels perfectly stable and it rebounds fully. I wasn’t concerned about its durability, either.

(Image credit: Future)

The keycaps feel premium, too. They’re pleasingly textured and solid with little play. On top of this, the bright RGB backlighting shines through them very well, and the main legends are large and clear, although those for the Fn shortcuts on the function keys are a little too small.

You get more keys on the K63W Pro than you might think, including some navigation ones such as delete and insert. However, it’s odd there’s a blank key in the top-right corner; a missed opportunity to squeeze in another, perhaps, such as a Home key.

There are quite a few useful Fn shortcuts on the function row, including those for adjusting volume and one for opening your default browser, which are all welcome. However, a few remained a mystery to me. Two look like they adjust some sort of performance-related parameter, but I didn’t notice any action when I pressed them. There’s also one on F9 with Cherry’s logo on it that opens the Windows Run box and enters some kind of address, but again nothing happened when I pressed it. The text was too long and disappeared too quickly for me to read it, but my only guess is that it’s supposed to open some kind of Cherry software.

(Image credit: Future)

The most interesting aspect of the K63W Pro’s layout is the Mod Tap arrow keys. These are larger than your typical set since they have secondary bindings, with control, shift, menu, and Fn inputs mapped to each direction. Pressing Fn+M (there’s another Fn key mapped to the insert key) will cycle between three different modes: one enables the usual arrow key inputs, one enables the secondary bindings, and one enables both sets at the same time, with taps triggering arrow directions and holds triggering the secondary functions. The M key lights up a different color depending on which mode is active.

You can also switch between these modes using the Cherry Utility. This desktop app also features other customizations, although their dearth is disappointing. It has perhaps the worst rebinding mode I've ever seen in peripheral software, requiring you to click a ‘create’ button for every key you want to rebind, in order to bring up the option to rebind it. The layout graph doesn’t display your remapped bindings, which is another baffling oversight, and you can’t alter the Fn layer of shortcuts. There aren’t many performance-related settings here, either; you can adjust the polling rate for both wired and wireless modes, and there’s a SOCD mode with three basic settings, but that’s all you get.

Rather than your typical USB dongle, the K63W Pro comes with a block-shaped puck that requires a USB cable (also included) to connect to your device. This is what facilitates the UWB connectivity, which Cherry claims reduces interference compared to standard wireless connections. It looks sleek, but it’s quite large and takes up more space than I’m happy with, especially when you factor in the trailing cable.

• Design & features score: 3.5 / 5

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Relatively heavy keys
• Great space bar
• Unnecessary Ultra-Wideband connectivity

I mostly enjoyed my time using the K63W Pro. The keys feel well lubed and reasonably damped, although it still verges on the side of clicky than thocky, which, depending on your preferences, is either a good thing or a bad thing. Personally, I liked the feedback they provided.

I was also fond of the low-profile keycaps, which seem to slant slightly towards the user. This helped me hit keys flush, making up for the somewhat limiting tilt angle of the board, even with the two-stage feet out. This was especially noticeable with the space bar, a key I often hit on its edge but not here. It also feels slightly more damped than the other keys, while still being easy to press, a combination that makes it very satisfying to hammer away at.

The switches themselves are also low profile (specifically, they’re Cherry’s MX Low Profile 2.0). However, they have surprisingly deep travel, which makes them more satisfying than they otherwise would be. Despite this, their actuation point is relatively shallow, which meant I could still type with a reasonably light touch. They strike just the right balance between being snappy and forgiving of minor mispresses.

(Image credit: Future)

Tying accuracy is also aided by the large size of the keycaps, as well as their wide spacing. While this made reaching certain keys a little difficult when touch typing, it made gaming in the WASD position quite comfortable and secure. I could also reach the peripheral keys easily from here, including the space bar, thanks to its aforementioned slant and low profile.

In my experience, the Mod Tap feature works reasonably well, achieving Cherry’s aim of reducing side bulk without sacrificing inputs. However, you have to hold an arrow key for a long time to activate its secondary binding. I found this particularly frustrating when typing, as I required quick and regular access to the right shift key, but I often didn’t hold the Up arrow key long enough to access it. It’s also disappointing that you can’t alter the hold time.

Although Cherry makes bold claims about the UWB wireless connectivity, I can't say I noticed any performance gains over other wireless keyboards I’ve tested. Such models have greatly improved in recent years, to the point where regular-sized USB dongles perform pretty much flawlessly. And if you are an elite player concerned about lags and dropouts, you’ll probably opt for a wired connection anyway. All this is to say that the UWB tech and the outsized puck are ultimately overkill for many. What’s more, the K63W Pro doesn’t have Bluetooth support, as lots of other premium wireless keyboards feature.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Expensive for a compact board, but the quality and spec is there at least.

3.5 / 5

Design and features

Thin and light, with a solid build and a unique layout. The software is disappointing, though.

3.5 / 5

Performance

The K63W Pro is comfortable for gaming and typing for the most part, but the Mod Tap feature will take some getting used to.

4 / 5

Overall

The K63W Pro is a solid mechanical keyboard that does a few things differently, but not entirely successfully. Still, it’s a reliable and comfortable unit for most gamers.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a compact board
The K63W Pro cleverly includes keys usually omitted from such a small layout, although it does take some getting used to.

You want a comfortable board
The thin chassis and ergonomic keycaps makes the K63W Pro a board you can use all day long, although touch typing will test your dexterity at times.

Don't buy it if…

You want the snappiest experience
Despite the low profile keycaps, they have a greater travel than you might expect, which might deter those after lighting-quick taps.

You want the best input customizations
The companion software’s rebinding functionality is quite woeful; there are barely any performance-related tweaks.

Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband review: Also consider

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75
If it’s superb mechanical performance you’re after, you can’t do much better than the Razer BlackWidow. I love how tactile and satisfying key presses are, and the number of customizations on offer via Razer’s Synapse software is impressive for a mechanical keyboard, greatly eclipsing the K63W Pro on this front. However, the BlackWidow is an incredibly expensive board, so those wanting to save money should look elsewhere. Read our full Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75 review.

Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra
For something decidedly more budget-friendly, the FUN60 Ultra offers all the thrills of a great gaming keyboard without the expense. Its analog switches almost feel as good as mechanical ones, and there are plenty of adjustments you can make to alter their performance. Its construction is surprisingly solid for the price, too. Read our full Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra review.

How I tested the Cherry XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Ultra-Wideband

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for a few days
• Used for a variety of tasks
• Plentiful gaming keyboard experience

I used the K63W Pro for a few days, during which time I used it for working, general browsing, and of course, gaming. I used it in both wired and wireless modes.

I played games such as 007 First Light and Counter-Strike 2, which are good tests for the speed and accuracy of key inputs.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used numerous keyboards in that time. I’ve also reviewed a large number of them, ranging widely in their form factors, switches types, feature sets, and price points.

• First reviewed: July 2026
• Read more about how we test

• Raspberry Pi's new 10.1-inch Touch Display 2 lands at $80 with a 1200 × 1920 IPS panel and ten-finger touch, sitting above the $40 5-inch and $60 7-inch models
• The upgrade breaks backward compatibility, extending compatibility with the Raspberry Pi 5 and Compute Modules only, ruling out Pi 4 and earlier as well as the entire Zero lineup
• The 10.1-inch Touch 2 also offers an IPS display that offers viewing angles of 85 degrees, matched by the 7-inch variant, even as the 5-inch variant clocks in a bit lower at 80 degrees

The Raspberry Pi 5 is a surprisingly capable device, and it finally has an "official" 10-inch display that can hold a candle to its capabilities.

While the new Touch Display 2 has already had 5-inch and 7-inch offerings, the 10-inch variant is new, offering a slew of upgrades under the hood even as it cuts down on peak brightness to go with the larger display.

It is also the first Touch Display that leaves most of the Raspberry Pi installed base behind, essentially scrapping support for older Raspberry Pi options as well as its current Zero lineup.

The 10.1-inch Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 (Image credit: Raspberry Pi Foundation)A new display with compromises for a limited user base

While the 10-inch Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2's announcement is direct about the incompatibility, explaining that the higher resolution needs four DSI lanes and the newer connector is found only on Raspberry Pi 5 and Compute Module IO boards, it says nothing about what that means in practice.

The restriction effectively cuts off a large segment of the user base that runs older Raspberry Pi models, as well as anyone building on the Zero line.

At $80, the display is relatively affordable for its size, and there are real upgrades under the hood.

Resolution rises to 1200 × 1920 in native portrait, the touch controller returns to 10 points after the 5-inch and 7-inch models were limited to 5, and the switch to an IPS panel tightens the worst-case touch response from 40 ms to 35 ms. The 85-degree viewing angle is worth qualifying, though: it beats the 5-inch panel's 80 degrees but matches the 7-inch exactly, despite the announcement presenting it as a step up across the board. Those variants are listed at $40 and $60, respectively.

The math might be a bit ugly for some, considering that a Compute Module with an I/O board isn't how most people buy their Raspberry Pis, and that the pair generally costs more than a board with I/O onboard bought outright.

That matters more than usual right now. The cheapest compliant path is real enough: a 1GB Raspberry Pi 5 at $45 plus the $80 display comes to $125. But anyone wanting memory headroom is buying into a market that has moved sharply against them.

The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 has climbed from $120 in November 2025 to $305 by April 2026 as Raspberry Pi passed on what it describes as a seven-fold rise in LPDDR4 pricing. The irony is pointed. The company has protected pricing on the Zero series and Pi 3 by drawing down existing LPDDR2 inventory, and those are precisely the boards this display locks out.

(Image credit: Raspberry Pi)

The one thing Raspberry Pi does gloss over is peak brightness, which drops to 400 nits from the 500 nits of its older 5- and 7-inch siblings, a difference that will show in the brightly lit rooms where kiosks and signage actually live.

While the panel offers a decent 225 ppi pixel density, slightly outdoing the 7-inch at 210, it does not hold a candle to the much sharper 5-inch display, which shares the 7-inch's resolution across a smaller area for 294 ppi. That makes the 10-inch a middle-of-the-road offering at best in terms of sharpness.

On raw value, the largest panel is the strongest in the family. Its 135.4 × 216.6 mm active area works out to roughly 366 square millimeters of screen per dollar, against about 224 on the 7-inch and 171 on the 5-inch.

The most telling detail about the launch, however, may be the production commitment: Raspberry Pi guarantees availability until at least January 2030, a promise it extends to the smaller Touch Display 2 variants as well.

Coupled with an operating range of −20°C to +70°C and the Compute Module compatibility, that reads less like a hobbyist accessory than a panel intended for embedded integrators building point-of-sale terminals, industrial HMIs, and signage on a decade-long design cycle.

For makers, the 10-inch is a straightforward, if slightly dimmer, upgrade that costs backward compatibility and, at current board prices, rather more than the sticker suggests. For the industry customers Raspberry Pi has courted since listing publicly, it is something harder to buy than a screen: a component with a guaranteed support horizon, available only to those already standardized on the company's newest boards.

Following the launch of Dyson's first ever compact hair dryer, the Supersonic Travel, I spent four weeks putting it through its paces, including during a trip to San Francisco — you can read about this in depth in my Dyson Supersonic Travel review.

What I kept coming back to was how similar it seemed to Dyson's Supersonic Nural, despite there being a $150 / £150 / AU$300 gap between the two. Both use the same motor and the same intelligent heat control technology. Both use the same magnetic attachment system, meaning any nozzle or diffuser from either machine works on both. And both deliver the same smooth, frizz-free finish that Dyson has become known for.

I've tested many of the best hair dryers on the market, and Dyson consistently sits near the top. So if the technology is this similar, what exactly are you paying the extra cash for — and is the Nural worth it? I tested the two side by side. Here's what you need to know.

Dyson Supersonic Travel vs Supersonic Nural dryer: efficiency

On sheer drying power, the Nural wins. It's a full-size dryer with full airflow, and on my fine, mid-length hair it dried in around two and a half minutes on high heat. The Travel took around four minutes in the same conditions.

Four minutes is fast for a travel dryer — faster than every hotel dryer I've used and faster than some standard home dryers too. The finish was smooth and shiny every time, which is the more important result. But the gap is significant, and if you have thick or long hair that already takes 15 or 20 minutes at home, you'll feel it a lot more than I did.

Both have a 110,000 RPM motor, and both use a built-in thermistor sensor that continuously monitors air temperature to prevent heat damage and protect your hair's shine.

Interestingly, the cheaper Travel measures temperature more frequently than the pricier Nural — over 100 times per second versus 40. However, where the Travel uses it as a protective measure, the Nural uses it in more advanced ways for its Scalp Protect Mode. This mode uses a network of Nural sensors and an infrared beam to measure the distance between the dryer and your scalp in real time, automatically reducing heat and airflow as it gets closer to maintain a consistent 131 F / 55 C at the roots.

Winner: Dyson Supersonic Nural

Dyson Supersonic Travel vs Supersonic Nural dryer: design & comfort

The size difference is obvious, with the Travel (right) designed to take up much less luggage space than the Nural (left) (Image credit: Future)

Both the Nural and Travel look unmistakably like Dyson products. They have the same cylindrical head, narrow handle, and magnetic barrel as the entire Supersonic range. I tested the Travel in Ceramic Pink/Rose Gold and the Nural in Red Velvet/Gold, and both have a stylish soft matte finish.

The biggest and most obvious design difference is in size.

The Nural weighs 1.5lbs / 684g and measures 3.8 x 3 x 11.3 inches / 9.8 x 7.7 x 28 cm. The Travel is 32% smaller — at 2.7 x 2.8 x 8.7 inches / 6.8 x 7.1 x 22.2 cm — and almost half the weight. This makes it small and light enough to drop into a handbag without rearranging everything around it and I carried the Travel to San Francisco in a tote bag alongside my laptop and it barely registered.

Both models put airflow and temperature buttons on the rear of the barrel (pictured on the Travel) with LEDs above each button showing your current setting. Unlike the Nural through, the Travel model doesn’t include rear scalp protection sensors (Image credit: Future)

Both put airflow and temperature buttons on the rear of the barrel, with LEDs above each button showing your current setting. On the Nural, these LEDs change color as you cycle through settings to make it easier to see, at a glance, what setting you're on. The Travel's stay white, making it harder.

Beyond this, the Nural offers four heat settings plus three airflow speeds. The Travel has three heat settings and two airflow speeds. On the Travel, its cool shot requires sliding the power button upward past its 'on' position. This will be familiar if you own a Dyson Airwrap i.d but if you don't, this feature won't feel obvious the first time you use the Travel.

The Nural offers four heat settings plus three airflow speeds. The Travel has three heat settings and two airflow speeds (Image credit: Future)

The Nural gives you meaningfully more control over both heat and airflow, which matters if you have multiple hair types or needs in your household, or if you regularly switch between drying and styling with different attachments.

Cord length is 9.2ft / 2.8m on the Nural and 6.6ft / 2m on the Travel, and neither folds. The Travel's cord is longer than I'd like for a machine sold primarily on portability but this longer length does make it easier to use in a hotel room when the plug socket aren't always in the most useful places.

Winner: Draw – even though the Nural has some standout design benefits compared to the Travel, they fit different needs: the Nural is better designed for home, while the Travel is better for everywhere else.

Dyson Supersonic Travel vs Supersonic Nural dryer: special features

The Travel's standout feature is auto-voltage. It adapts automatically to any supply between 100V and 240V without the need for a converter or a switch. I used it in San Francisco with a standard plug adapter and there was no drop in power, change in noise or overheating.

The Nural counters with Scalp Protect Mode, which uses proprietary sensors to detect proximity to your scalp and automatically drops the air temperature. When you pull the dryer away, it returns to your selected setting. This setting works in the background, and over months of daily use I haven't once scorched my roots on a high heat setting. For anyone with a sensitive scalp, fine hair, or hair growth concerns, it's a functional benefit rather than a convenience feature.

For the higher price, the Nural ships with multiple attachments (pictured) compared to the Travel's single nozzle. The specifics of these attachments vary slightly depending on which model you buy (Image credit: Future)

The Nural also has Attachment Learning, which recognises which nozzle is fitted via RFID chips and remembers your preferred settings.

For example, if you swap to the diffuser, the Nural will automatically drop to your usual diffuser heat and speed. The Pause Detect feature then cuts the airflow when the dryer is put down and resumes when you pick it back up.

The Travel has neither of those features but it is compatible with the entire Supersonic and Supersonic Nural attachment range. If you already own the Nural, you can pack your existing nozzles and diffuser and use them on the Travel.

Winner: Dyson Nural – the Travel's auto-voltage is the most widely practical feature across the two dryers but the Nural is a much more advanced choice.

The Travel is compatible with the entire Supersonic and Supersonic Nural attachment range. If you already own the Nural, you can pack your existing nozzles and diffuser and use them on the Travel (pictured) (Image credit: Future)Dyson Supersonic Travel vs Supersonic Nural dryer: specs

Model:

Dyson Supersonic Travel

Dyson Supersonic Nural

Wattage:

1,000–1,220W

1,600W

Weight (without cord, appox):

0.7lbs / 330g

1.5lbs / 684g

Size (H x W x L, approx):

2.7 x 2.8 x 8.7 inches / 6.8 x 7.1 x 22.2cm

3.0 x 3.8 x 11.3 inches / 7.7 x 9.8 x 28.8cm

Airflow settings:

2

3

Temperature settings:

3

4

Extra modes:

Cool shot

Cool shot, Scalp Protect Mode, Pause Detect, Attachment Learning

Cord length:

6.6ft / 2m

8.6ft / 2.6m

Should I buy the Dyson Supersonic Travel or Supersonic Nural dryer?Buy the Dyson Supersonic Travel if...

✅ You travel frequently and your hair matters to you: Hotel dryers are a lottery. The Travel gives you consistent Dyson-quality results wherever you are.

✅ You already own a Dyson Supersonic or Nural: The attachment compatibility means you're not buying a second set of nozzles – just a travel body for your existing routine.

✅ You have fine or mid-length hair: The reduced airflow won't be an issue for finer hair types. Four minutes is still fast, and the intelligent heat control means the finish is just as good as you'd get from a full-size dryer.

Buy the Dyson Supersonic Nural if...

✅ You want the best Dyson for home use: Full airflow, smarter controls, color-coded LEDs and five attachments make this the more complete package for everyday drying.

✅ You have a sensitive scalp or fine hair at the roots: Scalp Protect Mode works in the background and over months of daily use, the difference in root and hair health is noticeable.

✅ You dry your hair every day: The Nural's Attachment Learning and Pause Detect are small features that add up to an easier daily routine.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 875 for July 26.

These overlooked Apple Watch features can make training smarter and race day a little less stressful.

Former President Joe Biden is declining to appeal a court ruling that allows the Justice Department to publicize recordings of conversations between him and a writer collaborating on his memoir.

(Image credit: Scott Olson)

• GenStorAIGE AI90 shifts AI memory beyond traditional GPU HBM limitations using SSDs
• PT200Z SSD supports constant cache updates during demanding inference workloads efficiently
• Eight RTX 5090 GPUs gain dramatically larger effective inference memory capacity

GenStorAIGE has introduced its AI90 inference acceleration platform at WAIC 2026, taking a storage-centric approach to expanding effective AI memory capacity.

Rather than depending solely on GPU high-bandwidth memory, the platform incorporates PCIe Gen5 solid-state drives directly into the memory hierarchy itself.

This allows portions of the Key-Value Cache used by large language models to sit outside GPU memory entirely.

A three-tier memory architecture built around SSD offloading

AI90 combines HBM, system DRAM, and SSD into a unified three-tier memory structure for handling inference workloads.

By transparently offloading KV Cache data onto SSDs, the platform reduces pressure on GPU memory while supporting significantly larger workloads and longer context windows.

According to GenStorAIGE, this architecture cuts first-token latency from several seconds down to sub-second response times in supported configurations.

That represents up to a 50x improvement, alongside throughput gains reaching 5.1x and a roughly 39% reduction in GPU memory usage.

Combined with intelligent peer-to-peer GPU communication, the company states AI90 can accelerate inference by up to 5.8x on systems running eight Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 cards.

That multiplier effectively allows an eight-card setup to behave closer to a 46-GPU cluster during sustained inference tasks.

The architecture also supports context windows exceeding 128,000 tokens, enabling far larger document processing and conversation handling without exhausting available memory.

The PT200Z SSD handles the intensive write demands behind the system

To support continuous write workloads generated by constant KV Cache updates, GenStorAIGE paired AI90 with its new PT200Z AI SSD.

Built using pSLC NAND flash and connected through a PCIe Gen5 x4 interface, the drive delivers sequential read speeds reaching 14.8 GB/s.

Random read performance hits approximately 3.1 million IOPS, while read latency sits at just 54 microseconds.

Write latency drops even further to 10 microseconds, supporting the rapid cache updates AI90's architecture depends on constantly.

Endurance ratings reach up to 100 drive writes per day, a figure suited for sustained enterprise AI workloads with constantly shifting cache data.

This design reflects a broader shift across AI infrastructure toward memory tiering, as LLMs increasingly outgrow the practical limits of GPU HBM alone.

Integrating extremely fast SSD storage into inference pipelines offers one method for scaling context length without requiring additional GPUs or larger HBM configurations.

Whether the performance claims hold outside controlled testing conditions remains genuinely unverified at this stage.

As with most vendor announcements, these performance figures come directly from GenStorAIGE and still require independent benchmarking across varied real-world AI workloads.

Via The Guru of 3D

There’s nothing I like more than playing a game that lets me switch off entirely. Mundane tasks that require minimal brain power are my greatest escape (apart from a good book) and it’s even better when I’m able to gain a deep sense of achievement from completing them.

Under the Radar

Under the Radar is our way of highlighting great games that might have passed you by. Through a regular mix of news stories and features, we'll cover great experiences that we feel haven't found the audience they deserve. Read the full series here.

I’ve played countless hours of The Sims 4 and Stardew Valley over the years, or more recently Starsand Island. These titles earn their impressive ratings and big sales for providing exactly what cozy gamers like me want – a place to unwind, relax and tick boxes. But, I’m always on the hunt more. Little did I know that an evening scroll on TikTok was about to kick up my next cozy obsession that almost went Under the Radar.

As if by magic, videos were appearing on my feed of a library littered with thousands of books, all out of place. The players gaze over the chaotic collection with a visual aesthetic akin to Harry Potter saying things like: “You’re seriously telling me I have to put all these back away where they’re supposed to go” and “Oh my god, there’s a second floor.” And that’s when I got really intrigued.

Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library! is exactly as the name suggests, a game where you become the librarian and must tidy everything up.

Serenely sorting shelves

(Image credit: ArtRising / Future)

It’s a big, big mess. Huge. There are books strewn everywhere, piled on tables, disordered in corners like some massive puzzle you need to solve. The task is simple, really, even if it does require you to sort out over 3,000 books. But, with a cozy vibe and a lot of time on my hands, I was so utterly ready to get stuck in.

What Tidy Up the Arcane Library! wants you to do is place all the books on the correct shelves, in the correct order, before you’re allowed to leave. There’s a couple of maps on the walls explaining which category of book belongs on which shelf and to start, you just need to, well, get going.

Don’t get me wrong, I was a little worried that the sheer mess would unsettle any promise of coziness. It’s not quite the same as tending to your crops or gathering resources, but it was the kind of task I get a kick out of – and I’m hopeful comfort gamers will agree.

(Image credit: ArtRising / Future)

It reminds me of silly little tasks I’ve always loved to do like sorting out coins or writing addresses on a tower of envelopes, but no-one ever threw all those coins or envelopes haphazardly across a room and asked me to tidy them up. Fortunately, my worries were quickly cast aside when the game began, offering me the chance to play a specifically-made cozy mode with no time restraints, just chilled out sorting.

Every time you put a book on the shelf in the right place, it glitters gold and I almost felt like I was shimmering with satisfaction. The dopamine rush in games like these are hard to beat, especially when it’s so simply gained.

But, if you put a book in the wrong place, there’s no glimmering reward, only a desperation to figure out where it goes instead. But, no bother, I told myself, there are always more books to sort.

List-slaying

(Image credit: ArtRising / Future)

Now, it’s worth mentioning here that book-sorting isn’t something you have to take on alone. No, you can also harness a little bit of magic. As you begin to fill up shelves correctly, you level up, unlocking points that can be spent on different magical abilities.

From illuminating the correct shelf for the top book you’re holding to placing the book onto said shelf without you having to lift a finger, it’s entirely up to you if you want to tackle Tidy Up the Arcane Library! without using any magic. But, if you want to protect your peace, I strongly recommend you do.

It’s also entirely up to you whether you spent your points on all the abilities. I didn’t. While Sort automatically arranges the books in your possession in numerical order, I actually quite liked just taking my time over it, rifling through my books like a proper librarian. But, I did lean heavily on the other abilities to make sure I didn’t go crazy.

I even ended up using those TikTok videos that led me here in the first place to teach me about the hidden keys that transformed me into a much more efficient librarian – carrying more books, moving faster and even jumping.

I’ve worked in a library, I’ve also worked in a bookshop, but I can safely say that the calmness and magic of Tidy Up the Arcane Library! makes it a far cozier experience than real life, especially with absolutely no customers.

I’m still clocking up hours in the game taking my sweet, sweet time because I know once it’s over, I’ll miss it. If you're interested in playing too, you can pick it up on Steam.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has better camera specs and a higher-capacity battery than its smaller sibling, but its dimensions aren't as well-suited to video streaming, and it costs more.

Pros

• Includes a telephoto camera
• High-capacity 5,000mAh battery
• Big screens

Cons

• Very expensive
• Large size won't suit everyone

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is smaller than its Ultra counterpart and lacks a telephoto camera, but it also costs less, has just as much power, and boasts a compact display that may suit some users better.

Pros

• Lower price than the Z Fold 8 Ultra
• Top-end power
• More pocket-friendly than the Ultra

Cons

• No telephoto camera
• Smaller battery than the Ultra

Samsung has unveiled three new foldable phones — the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8. And while the last of that trio falls into its own category, the former two phones have a lot in common.

Aside from having similar names, they’re both book-style foldables, and they also share plenty of specs. But between very different form factors and differences in their respective camera setups, there's lots to differentiate them, too.

So, below, we’ve compared the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, so you can easily understand how they stack up. We haven't reviewed either model just yet, but we have been hands-on with both, and so have been able to draw some early conclusions as to who they're best suited to.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: specs comparison

Before we look closer at the key features of these two phones, we've detailed their core specs below, so you can see their major similarities and differences at a glance.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Dimensions (unfolded):

158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1mm

161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5mm

Dimensions (folded):

158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9mm

81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7mm

Weight:

215g

201g

Foldable display:

8.0-inch 2256 x 2504 AMOLED, 120Hz

7.6-inch 1828 x 2448 AMOLED, 120Hz

Cover screen:

6.5-inch 1080 x 2520 AMOLED, 120Hz

5.5-inch 1248 x 1972 AMOLED, 120Hz

Chipset:

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

RAM:

12GB / 16GB

12GB / 16GB

Rear cameras:

200MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto

50MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide

Front camera:

10MP and 10MP

10MP and 10MP

Battery:

5,000mAh

4,800mAh

Charging:

45W wired, 20W wireless

45W wired, 20W wireless

Storage:

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: price and availabilityThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 UltraLance Ulanoff / FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Future

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 were both announced on July 22, with pre-orders opening the same day.

General availability for both phones starts on August 7, though if you pre-order, you might get them earlier — at the time of writing, we’re seeing an August 3 delivery date in the UK, for example.

As for pricing, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,699. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is more expensive, with a starting price of $2,099.99 / £1,899 / AU$2,999. In both cases, that’s with 256GB of storage, though you can pick either model up in 512GB and 1TB configurations.

So, in other words, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $200 / £200 / AU$300 more than the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra pricing

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$2,099.99

£1,899

AU$2,999

512GB

$2,299.99

£2,069

AU$3,299

1TB

$2,699.99

£2,409

AU$3,899

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 pricing

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,899.99

£1,699

AU$2,699

512GB

$2,099.99

£1,869

AU$2,999

1TB

$2,499.99

£2,209

AU$3,599

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: designThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)Future

In some ways, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 have similar designs — after all, they’re both foldable phones that fold and unfold horizontally like a book. However, their shapes and dimensions differ a lot.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, with a tall, narrow design, leading to dimensions of 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1mm when unfolded, 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9mm when folded, and a weight of 215g.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, on the other hand, is shorter and wider, looking more like a passport than a book, with dimensions of 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5mm when unfolded, 81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7mm when folded, and a weight of 201g.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right) (Image credit: Future)

Both phones, though, have an IP48 rating, meaning they’re water-resistant to depths of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes, and also resistant to dust and other objects greater than 1mm in size.

They also both have aluminum frames, and share Samsung's Flex Titanium technology, meaning their hinges are similarly invisible (you will notice their respective hinges at certain angles, but Samsung has come a long way in this department since the days of the original Galaxy Fold).

As for colors, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is sold in Graphite, Cream, Green Shadow, and Violet Shadow, the Z Fold 8 can be bought in Graphite, Cream, Lavender, and Pistachio shades.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: displayThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 UltraLance Ulanoff / FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Future

Now we get to the biggest difference between these two phones: their displays. Or rather, the shape and purpose of those displays.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has an 8.0-inch 2256 x 2504 foldable AMOLED screen and a 6.5-inch 1080 x 2520 AMOLED cover screen, both with a 120Hz refresh rate and around 422 pixels per inch.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 7.6-inch 1828 x 2448 foldable AMOLED screen with around 403 pixels per inch and a 5.5-inch 1248 x 1972 AMOLED cover screen with roughly 428 pixels per inch.

So, both screens on the standard Z Fold 8 are noticeably smaller, but the aspect ratios arguably make a bigger difference, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra having an almost square 1.11:1 foldable screen and a narrow 21:9 cover screen.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)Future

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, on the other hand, has a 4:3 foldable screen, which is ideal for widescreen content, and a 10:16 cover screen, which is a bit more square than a typical phone and can be easily covered with one hand from top to bottom.

The taller, narrower Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra does have size benefits of its own, mind. It's harder to stretch your thumb to the top of this phone's display, but it's more easily covered with one hand from left to right. And when open, the Ultra is better suited to productivity apps that display square-shaped content like spreadsheets.

For video streaming, you'll want to go for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, since most video content is displayed in 16:9 (you'll see smaller black bars on a 4:3 screen), and it's arguably the better-shaped phone for gaming, too.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: camerasThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 UltraLance Ulanoff / FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Blue Pixl Media

There are big differences between the cameras on these two phones, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra coming out on top. This device has a 200MP f/1.7 wide camera, a 50MP f/1.9 ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto with 3x optical zoom. It also has a 10MP selfie camera on each screen.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has one fewer camera and fewer megapixels in its wide one. Specifically, you’re getting a 50MP f/1.8 wide camera, a 50MP f/1.9 ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view, and two 10MP selfie cameras. So, it lacks the telephoto snapper found on the Ultra.

Both phones, though, are capable of recording video in up to 8K quality at 30fps, or in 4K at up to 120fps.

We haven't had a chance to test both phones' cameras just yet, but we'll update this article with images when we have. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will, for obvious reasons, be the superior zoom shooter, but there isn't likely to be too much to choose between the phones' 200MP and 50MP wide cameras, since both will default to smaller photo sizes anyway, as is standard practice for modern smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: performance and softwareThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 UltraLance Ulanoff / FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Blue Pixl Media

There’s nothing to choose here, with both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Z Fold 8 having a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset and 12GB of RAM — unless you get a 1TB model, in which case you’ll get 16GB of RAM.

This combination of specs will ensure top-end performance regardless of what you're doing on your phone, and in our short time with both devices, they're equally capable gaming phones and productivity powerhouses (notwithstanding their respective display sizes, which makes each better suited to different tasks).

Both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 also run Android 17 overlaid with One UI 9, and come with the promise of seven major Android upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: batteryFuture

Samsung has finally started putting silicon-carbon batteries in its phones, allowing for higher-capacity batteries in the same footprint. As a result, it's managed to pack a 5,000mAh battery into the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (up from 4,400mAh in the Z Fold 7).

Unsurprisingly, the smaller Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a lower-capacity battery (4,800mAh), which should allow the Ultra to last slightly longer — but not by much.

Samsung claims you'll get 27 hours of video playback from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, while the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is rated for 26 hours. In our early anecdotal testing, we've managed to use both phones for multiple days without needing to charge them, so those playback estimates are likely accurate.

Both phones also support up to 45W wired charging and 20W wireless, so you won't be losing out on charging speed by picking one phone over the other.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: early verdict

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has bigger, more productivity-friendly screens than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, along with an extra camera, more megapixels in its wide camera, and a slightly higher-capacity battery. However, it also costs $200 / £200 / AU$300 more, and offers identical power.

Its larger screens also won’t be desirable for everyone — indeed, the Galaxy Z Fold 8's screens are much more video-friendly, and may soon become the norm for foldables — so the only indisputable advantages of the pricier model are its cameras and larger battery (though on the latter, we're talking fine margins).

Whether those extra features are significant enough to justify the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's higher price will, of course, be subjective, but you might want to wait for our full reviews to see how these two phones compare in practice.

• Ukraine develops a naval platform dedicated to launching FPV strike drones
• Omega engineers introduce a maritime carrier supporting frontline drone operations
• FPV drones gain greater operational reach through sea-based launch platforms

Ukraine has unveiled a small unmanned surface vehicle designed to act as a mobile launch platform for FPV drones during combat operations.

The maritime system was developed by engineers from the diving unit of the Omega Special Purpose Center of the National Guard alongside a Ukrainian technology company.

Its arrival adds another unmanned capability to Ukraine's expanding effort to combine different robotic systems across the battlefield.

A small naval drone carrying a larger mission

According to the Omega unit commander, the maritime platform transports FPV drones closer to combat areas before operators launch them against enemy positions.

He said the system works as a floating carrier, extending the reach of smaller aerial drones without requiring them to cover the entire distance independently.

Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the development through its official social media channels after engineers completed work on the unmanned platform.

Images released with the announcement show the vehicle powered by a Japanese-made Suzuki engine and equipped with a satellite communications terminal.

The communications equipment allows operators to retain contact with the platform while it travels across maritime areas during operational missions.

Developers also intend to adapt the system for intercepting aerial threats, expanding its role beyond carrying FPV drones during combat operations.

The development follows other Ukrainian experiments involving multiple unmanned platforms working together during military operations across different operational environments.

Earlier reports described heavy bomber UAVs transporting one-way attack unmanned ground vehicles before releasing them closer to Russian positions for follow-on missions.

Naval drones continue gaining new battlefield functions

Ukrainian forces have increasingly leaned on a layered approach across land, sea, and air platforms throughout the war.

It has already tested similar concepts during operations involving Barracuda unmanned surface vessels near occupied Zaliznyi Port in the Kherson region.

The 40th Separate Marine Brigade said Barracuda platforms carried FPV drones before operators launched strikes against Russian logistics, military equipment, and concealed positions.

The brigade reported that Russian forces destroyed one unmanned surface vessel after launching four Lancet loitering munitions during the operation.

Despite that loss, Ukrainian forces claim the remaining platforms reached their assigned launch areas before releasing reconnaissance and FPV drones.

Ukraine has also outlined broader ambitions for maritime drones beyond direct strike missions involving explosive payloads or aerial drone launches.

A commander from Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate said future systems could intercept, escort, and detain sanctioned vessels in the Black Sea.

He told Business Insider, "If they comply with the request, they will be escorted to a designated port where the vessel and cargo can be confiscated."

Whether the same carrier concept eventually extends to submarine-launched drones remains unclear, but the Omega complex for now represents a fairly narrow step which may or may not be functional.

Via Kyiv Post

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: One-minute review

The Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 is far from being one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, but it gets a lot right, and in my testing I found it to be a solid—if unremarkable—stand-in for the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.

After I reviewed the frankly terrible Horipad for Steam, I didn't have high hopes for the Wireless Horipad Turbo. I've been rendered pleasantly surprised, as there is plenty to like about the brand's latest Nintendo-facing controller. There are a decent number of features for the price, and build quality is generally solid. It's just a shame that a few limitations and design quirks stop it short of an outright recommendation.

(Image credit: Future)

Let's frontload the review with the good, though. Hori has opted for anti-drift thumbsticks that feel great and ensure longevity. That's something the Wireless Horipad Turbo has over the Switch 2 Pro Controller, which utilizes traditional analog sticks and is thus more likely to develop stick drift over time.

Build quality is generally nice, too. While larger than the Pro Controller (and thus better suited to big adult hands), it feels solid enough, and a selection of colorways is always really nice to see.

I'm a fan of the feature set, too, with the Wireless Horipad Turbo offering a robust Turbo button option, as well as two remappable rear buttons and a button lock switch that disables utility buttons like Start, Select, Home, and Capture (for taking screenshots). There's even a GameChat button for quick access to social gaming sessions.

It's a shame, then, that the Wireless Horipad Turbo doesn't quite stick the landing in a few key areas. Battery life is paltry, falling well short of the Switch 2 Pro Controller's 40- to 50-hour gold standard. The d-pad and triggers, specifically, aren't the best—feeling incredibly mushy during play, which really isn't something you want for digital triggers in particular.

Lastly, a lack of PC compatibility means this is strictly a Nintendo Switch 2 controller. That's not necessarily a bad thing if that's solely what you're after (and it's likely a result of this being an officially licensed Nintendo product). But it does make it a less versatile controller than the likes of the 8BitDo Pro 3.

(Image credit: Future)Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Price and availability

• Costs $64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93)
• Available to buy now at Hori's store page, Amazon, or local retailers
• Cheaper than the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and offers several colorways

The Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 is available to buy now, and you've got options as to where you purchase it from. You can get it directly from Hori, Amazon, or local retailers based on your region, such as Best Buy in the US and Argos in the UK.

It'll run you $64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93), which is a good deal cheaper than the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller ($89.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95). You'll also find a healthy amount of colorways to choose from. Hori sent me the standard Black and Frost variants for review, but there's also an Aqua model, as well as special liveries based on Nintendo properties like Kirby and Super Mario.

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Specs

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2

Price

$64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93)

Weight

8.3oz / 235g

Dimensions

5.7 x 4.5 x 2.2in / 145 x 114 x 57mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth)

Battery life

10 hours

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Design and features

• Eye-catching translucent design
• Handy Turbo and button lock features
• Generally solid build quality

One way for a controller to win me over is if it sports a translucent design. It's a style I'm happy to see come in vogue again over the last few years, at least when it comes to controllers, and it helps the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 really stand out. I'm a huge fan of the crystal-clear Frost colorway, especially.

It doesn't just win out in the looks department, though. Build quality is really solid here; a huge step up from the listless Horipad for Steam, which I reviewed prior to this. It's not as premium as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, but the Wireless Horipad Turbo feels really solid and secure in the hands, with just the right amount of weight to it.

(Image credit: Future)

The titular 'Turbo' feature is niche; not everyone will find a use for it, but it's a nice-to-have for retro games or ones that require frequent, rapid button presses. Holding down the central Hori logo button in tandem with 'A' will then let you assign a button for the Turbo input. You can also press the Start and Select buttons to adjust the speed of the Turbo setting by three increments, too.

Another feature I quite like (but again, it is probably quite niche) is the button lock switch. It's off by default, but one setting completely disables the Hori, Home, and Capture buttons, while another turns those off in addition to Start and Select.

I know I've accidentally hit the Home button instead of Start more times than I care to admit on the Pro Controller, so this is a thoughtful addition. The button lock switch doesn't extend to the pair of remappable buttons on the rear, but you can just leave these unassigned if you prefer.

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Performance

• Performant TMR thumbsticks
• Poor battery life
• Weak-feeling triggers and mushy d-pad

Controllers that make use of TMR (that's tunneling magnetoresistance) thumbsticks are a dime a dozen in today's gaming hardware marketplace. It's more common to find them than not now, but this is the first time I've tested a Hori controller with TMR. And I'm glad the brand has opted for them with the Wireless Horipad Turbo. They feel fantastically smooth during play, and as it's a form of Hall effect technology, it should ensure the pad's longevity for years to come.

Otherwise, this is a fairly unremarkable but inoffensive controller purely from a play standpoint. It lacks things like HD Rumble, an NFC touchpoint for amiibo scanning, and 'press to wake' functionality for the console itself. However, as these are niceties reserved for Nintendo's own hardware, it's hard to leverage this as a complaint at Hori. The lack of a 3.5mm port for wired headphones does irk me, though, because wireless audio via Bluetooth on Switch 2 is shoddy at best.

I'm also not a big fan of the controller's d-pad. It feels rather mushy to press, which at worst can often lead to inputs very occasionally not registering. Much the same is true of the triggers, which are supposed to be digital, but kind of feel like they're made of sponge.

Thankfully, connectivity isn't an issue. The controller paired immediately to my Switch 2 console, and I never experienced dropouts or noticeable input delay. And that's for the best, as this is a wireless-first controller.

You can still plug in the controller via the included USB-C for charging purposes and carry on playing. And you might be doing that frequently, as the Wireless Horipad Turbo tops out at just 10 hours of charge. That's not much better than PlayStation's DualSense Wireless Controller, and falls well short of the Switch 2 Pro Controller's monster 40-hour battery life.

Lastly, it is unfortunate that the Wireless Horipad Turbo can't be used for PC gaming. The Switch 2 Pro Controller can't either, so I suspect this is a Nintendo-issued requirement, as the Turbo bears the company's seal of approval. It just means that it's not as versatile as third-party pads from the likes of 8BitDo and GameSir.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2?Buy it if…

You want a performant Switch 2 controller that's built to last
TMR sticks will ensure this controller's longevity, and as a result, it shouldn't fall victim to stick drift even after months or years of usage.

You don't have the budget for a Switch 2 Pro Controller
The Wireless Horipad Turbo is significantly cheaper than the console's official gamepad option. And with nice colorways and some neat features, it's really not a bad fallback option.

Don’t buy it if…

You want beefier battery life
At just 10 hours of charge, you'll be topping this thing up very frequently if you regularly play your Switch or Switch 2 in docked mode.

You want something multiplatform
If you like to game on multiple devices away from your Switch or Switch 2 (like PC or mobile), you might want to look elsewhere as this is strictly a Nintendo-facing pad.

Also consider...

If the Wireless Horipad Turbo has a few too many issues for your liking, consider the following alternatives.

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

8BitDo Pro 3

Price

$64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93)

$89.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95

$59.99 / £40 (around AU$84)

Weight

8.3oz / 235g

8.3oz / 235g

8.5oz / 242g

Dimensions

5.7 x 4.5 x 2.2in / 145 x 114 x 57mm

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

6.1 x 3.9 x 2.6in / 154 x 101 x 65mm

Compatibility

Switch 2, Switch

Switch 2

Switch, Switch 2, PC, iOS, Android

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth)

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

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

Battery life

10 hours

Around 40 hours

15-20 hours

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Still the premium standard on Switch 2 more than a year on from release. And it's little wonder; Nintendo's official pad has a luxurious feel, and is stuffed with features including HD Rumble, NFC, remappable buttons, and enviable battery life.

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review

8BitDo Pro 3
My favorite Nintendo Switch 2 controller, and one that's very hard to argue with at its budget-friendly price point. Honestly, it does everything the Wireless Horipad Turbo does, but better, and more besides.

Read our full 8BitDo Pro 3 review

How I tested the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2

• Tested for one week
• Tested on Nintendo Switch 2 with a variety of modern and retro titles
• Used features like the Turbo functionality and button lock switch

For this review, I tested the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 on the console of the same name for about a week. I played a good mix of modern and old-school titles with the controller, including Star Fox, Street Fighter 6, Rhythm Heaven Groove, as well as Ridge Racer 64 and Super Mario 64 via Nintendo Switch Online's N64 library.

During testing, I made use of the Turbo functionality to enable easier, rapid button presses in classic titles like Metal Slug 3. Meanwhile, I went back and forth with the button lock switch, and I can confidently say it stopped me from accidentally backing out to the Home dashboard on a few occasions. I'd love to see this feature make a comeback for future Hori products.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2026

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: One-minute review

The Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 is far from being one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, but it gets a lot right, and in my testing I found it to be a solid—if unremarkable—stand-in for the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.

After I reviewed the frankly terrible Horipad for Steam, I didn't have high hopes for the Wireless Horipad Turbo. I've been rendered pleasantly surprised, as there is plenty to like about the brand's latest Nintendo-facing controller. There are a decent number of features for the price, and build quality is generally solid. It's just a shame that a few limitations and design quirks stop it short of an outright recommendation.

(Image credit: Future)

Let's frontload the review with the good, though. Hori has opted for anti-drift thumbsticks that feel great and ensure longevity. That's something the Wireless Horipad Turbo has over the Switch 2 Pro Controller, which utilizes traditional analog sticks and is thus more likely to develop stick drift over time.

Build quality is generally nice, too. While larger than the Pro Controller (and thus better suited to big adult hands), it feels solid enough, and a selection of colorways is always really nice to see.

I'm a fan of the feature set, too, with the Wireless Horipad Turbo offering a robust Turbo button option, as well as two remappable rear buttons and a button lock switch that disables utility buttons like Start, Select, Home, and Capture (for taking screenshots). There's even a GameChat button for quick access to social gaming sessions.

It's a shame, then, that the Wireless Horipad Turbo doesn't quite stick the landing in a few key areas. Battery life is paltry, falling well short of the Switch 2 Pro Controller's 40- to 50-hour gold standard. The d-pad and triggers, specifically, aren't the best—feeling incredibly mushy during play, which really isn't something you want for digital triggers in particular.

Lastly, a lack of PC compatibility means this is strictly a Nintendo Switch 2 controller. That's not necessarily a bad thing if that's solely what you're after (and it's likely a result of this being an officially licensed Nintendo product). But it does make it a less versatile controller than the likes of the 8BitDo Pro 3.

(Image credit: Future)Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Price and availability

• Costs $64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93)
• Available to buy now at Hori's store page, Amazon, or local retailers
• Cheaper than the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and offers several colorways

The Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 is available to buy now, and you've got options as to where you purchase it from. You can get it directly from Hori, Amazon, or local retailers based on your region, such as Best Buy in the US and Argos in the UK.

It'll run you $64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93), which is a good deal cheaper than the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller ($89.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95). You'll also find a healthy amount of colorways to choose from. Hori sent me the standard Black and Frost variants for review, but there's also an Aqua model, as well as special liveries based on Nintendo properties like Kirby and Super Mario.

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Specs

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2

Price

$64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93)

Weight

8.3oz / 235g

Dimensions

5.7 x 4.5 x 2.2in / 145 x 114 x 57mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth)

Battery life

10 hours

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Design and features

• Eye-catching translucent design
• Handy Turbo and button lock features
• Generally solid build quality

One way for a controller to win me over is if it sports a translucent design. It's a style I'm happy to see come in vogue again over the last few years, at least when it comes to controllers, and it helps the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 really stand out. I'm a huge fan of the crystal-clear Frost colorway, especially.

It doesn't just win out in the looks department, though. Build quality is really solid here; a huge step up from the listless Horipad for Steam, which I reviewed prior to this. It's not as premium as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, but the Wireless Horipad Turbo feels really solid and secure in the hands, with just the right amount of weight to it.

(Image credit: Future)

The titular 'Turbo' feature is niche; not everyone will find a use for it, but it's a nice-to-have for retro games or ones that require frequent, rapid button presses. Holding down the central Hori logo button in tandem with 'A' will then let you assign a button for the Turbo input. You can also press the Start and Select buttons to adjust the speed of the Turbo setting by three increments, too.

Another feature I quite like (but again, it is probably quite niche) is the button lock switch. It's off by default, but one setting completely disables the Hori, Home, and Capture buttons, while another turns those off in addition to Start and Select.

I know I've accidentally hit the Home button instead of Start more times than I care to admit on the Pro Controller, so this is a thoughtful addition. The button lock switch doesn't extend to the pair of remappable buttons on the rear, but you can just leave these unassigned if you prefer.

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2: Performance

• Performant TMR thumbsticks
• Poor battery life
• Weak-feeling triggers and mushy d-pad

Controllers that make use of TMR (that's tunneling magnetoresistance) thumbsticks are a dime a dozen in today's gaming hardware marketplace. It's more common to find them than not now, but this is the first time I've tested a Hori controller with TMR. And I'm glad the brand has opted for them with the Wireless Horipad Turbo. They feel fantastically smooth during play, and as it's a form of Hall effect technology, it should ensure the pad's longevity for years to come.

Otherwise, this is a fairly unremarkable but inoffensive controller purely from a play standpoint. It lacks things like HD Rumble, an NFC touchpoint for amiibo scanning, and 'press to wake' functionality for the console itself. However, as these are niceties reserved for Nintendo's own hardware, it's hard to leverage this as a complaint at Hori. The lack of a 3.5mm port for wired headphones does irk me, though, because wireless audio via Bluetooth on Switch 2 is shoddy at best.

I'm also not a big fan of the controller's d-pad. It feels rather mushy to press, which at worst can often lead to inputs very occasionally not registering. Much the same is true of the triggers, which are supposed to be digital, but kind of feel like they're made of sponge.

Thankfully, connectivity isn't an issue. The controller paired immediately to my Switch 2 console, and I never experienced dropouts or noticeable input delay. And that's for the best, as this is a wireless-first controller.

You can still plug in the controller via the included USB-C for charging purposes and carry on playing. And you might be doing that frequently, as the Wireless Horipad Turbo tops out at just 10 hours of charge. That's not much better than PlayStation's DualSense Wireless Controller, and falls well short of the Switch 2 Pro Controller's monster 40-hour battery life.

Lastly, it is unfortunate that the Wireless Horipad Turbo can't be used for PC gaming. The Switch 2 Pro Controller can't either, so I suspect this is a Nintendo-issued requirement, as the Turbo bears the company's seal of approval. It just means that it's not as versatile as third-party pads from the likes of 8BitDo and GameSir.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2?Buy it if…

You want a performant Switch 2 controller that's built to last
TMR sticks will ensure this controller's longevity, and as a result, it shouldn't fall victim to stick drift even after months or years of usage.

You don't have the budget for a Switch 2 Pro Controller
The Wireless Horipad Turbo is significantly cheaper than the console's official gamepad option. And with nice colorways and some neat features, it's really not a bad fallback option.

Don’t buy it if…

You want beefier battery life
At just 10 hours of charge, you'll be topping this thing up very frequently if you regularly play your Switch or Switch 2 in docked mode.

You want something multiplatform
If you like to game on multiple devices away from your Switch or Switch 2 (like PC or mobile), you might want to look elsewhere as this is strictly a Nintendo-facing pad.

Also consider...

If the Wireless Horipad Turbo has a few too many issues for your liking, consider the following alternatives.

Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

8BitDo Pro 3

Price

$64.99 / £54.99 (around AU$93)

$89.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95

$59.99 / £40 (around AU$84)

Weight

8.3oz / 235g

8.3oz / 235g

8.5oz / 242g

Dimensions

5.7 x 4.5 x 2.2in / 145 x 114 x 57mm

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

6.1 x 3.9 x 2.6in / 154 x 101 x 65mm

Compatibility

Switch 2, Switch

Switch 2

Switch, Switch 2, PC, iOS, Android

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth)

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

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

Battery life

10 hours

Around 40 hours

15-20 hours

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Still the premium standard on Switch 2 more than a year on from release. And it's little wonder; Nintendo's official pad has a luxurious feel, and is stuffed with features including HD Rumble, NFC, remappable buttons, and enviable battery life.

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review

8BitDo Pro 3
My favorite Nintendo Switch 2 controller, and one that's very hard to argue with at its budget-friendly price point. Honestly, it does everything the Wireless Horipad Turbo does, but better, and more besides.

Read our full 8BitDo Pro 3 review

How I tested the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2

• Tested for one week
• Tested on Nintendo Switch 2 with a variety of modern and retro titles
• Used features like the Turbo functionality and button lock switch

For this review, I tested the Wireless Horipad Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 on the console of the same name for about a week. I played a good mix of modern and old-school titles with the controller, including Star Fox, Street Fighter 6, Rhythm Heaven Groove, as well as Ridge Racer 64 and Super Mario 64 via Nintendo Switch Online's N64 library.

During testing, I made use of the Turbo functionality to enable easier, rapid button presses in classic titles like Metal Slug 3. Meanwhile, I went back and forth with the button lock switch, and I can confidently say it stopped me from accidentally backing out to the Home dashboard on a few occasions. I'd love to see this feature make a comeback for future Hori products.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2026

Led by Gen-Z youth across India, the movement has become perhaps the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 12 years in office

(Image credit: Ashish Vaishnav)

• Researchers show Gatekeeper can be bypassed by replacing a previously run legitimate macOS app with malware
• Attack requires prior user‑level code execution, then swaps in a malicious app that Gatekeeper won’t re‑verify
• Apple dismissed the issue, saying locally rebuilt bundles fall outside Gatekeeper’s scope, leaving risk to social engineering

A pair of researchers claims to have found a way around Gatekeeper, a built-in macOS security feature that helps protect users from running malicious or untrusted software. However Apple doesn’t really see it that way and has seemingly decided not to pursue the issue further.

Gatekeeper’s modus operandi is rather simple - when a user downloads an app from outside the App Store, it verifies the product comes from an identified developer and is notarized by Apple. If it can’t verify it - it won’t allow it to run on the machine.

Now, security researchers Talal Haj Barky and Tommy Mysk claim that, as long as a legitimate app was run at least once on a macOS device, it can be replaced with a malicious version, and Gatekeeper won’t even blink its virtual eye.

Locally built

That also means the attack is not that straightforward to pull off. The threat actor needs to have a way to execute user-level code (for example, a malicious app, a compromised software package installed through a package manager, or a prompt injection attack that tricks an AI agent).

Once that is obtained, they can archive a legitimate app, remove the original, then replace it with malware, and Gatekeeper will not try to re-authorize it. That malicious version can then trick the victim into compromising the device even further, since a certain level of trust was already established.

After reporting the issue to Apple, the company apparently just closed it.

"Apple doesn't consider this attack to be 'modifying' the signed executable," Mysk said. "Instead, Apple says that by archiving/restoring the app bundle, the proof-of-concept code overwrites the entire app bundle, making it locally built. Locally built app bundles are not covered by macOS guards. And this is why access to Keychain or TCC protected directories require system authorization prompts. And for users to accept those is a matter of social engineering attacks that Apple considers out of scope."

Via The Register