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Leaders from around the world will be in attendance, including Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.

(Image credit: Gregorio Borgia)

The U.N. refugee agency said it helped repatriate 360 Rwandan refugees, mostly women and children, as part of a broader plan to return about 2,000 people home.

(Image credit: Moses Sawasawa)

• Liquid cooling isn't optional anymore, it's the only way to survive AI's thermal onslaught
• The jump to 400VDC borrows heavily from electric vehicle supply chains and design logic
• Google’s TPU supercomputers now run at gigawatt scale with 99.999% uptime

As demand for artificial intelligence workloads intensifies, the physical infrastructure of data centers is undergoing rapid and radical transformation.

The likes of Google, Microsoft, and Meta are now drawing on technologies initially developed for electric vehicles (EVs), particularly 400VDC systems, to address the dual challenges of high-density power delivery and thermal management.

The emerging vision is of data center racks capable of delivering up to 1 megawatt of power, paired with liquid cooling systems engineered to manage the resulting heat.

Borrowing EV technology for data center evolution

The shift to 400VDC power distribution marks a decisive break from legacy systems. Google previously championed the industry's move from 12VDC to 48VDC, but the current transition to +/-400VDC is being enabled by EV supply chains and propelled by necessity.

The Mt. Diablo initiative, supported by Meta, Microsoft, and the Open Compute Project (OCP), aims to standardize interfaces at this voltage level.

Google says this architecture is a pragmatic move that frees up valuable rack space for compute resources by decoupling power delivery from IT racks via AC-to-DC sidecar units. It also improves efficiency by approximately 3%.

Cooling, however, has become an equally pressing issue. With next-generation chips consuming upwards of 1,000 watts each, traditional air cooling is rapidly becoming obsolete.

Liquid cooling has emerged as the only scalable solution for managing heat in high-density compute environments.

Google has embraced this approach with full-scale deployments; its liquid-cooled TPU pods now operate at gigawatt scale and have delivered 99.999% uptime over the past seven years.

These systems have replaced large heatsinks with compact cold plates, effectively halving the physical footprint of server hardware and quadrupling compute density compared to previous generations.

Yet, despite these technical achievements, skepticism is warranted. The push toward 1MW racks is based on the assumption of continuously rising demand, a trend that may not materialize as expected.

While Google's roadmap highlights AI's growing power needs - projecting more than 500 kW per rack by 2030 - it remains uncertain whether these projections will hold across the broader market.

It’s also worth noting that the integration of EV-related technologies into data centers brings not only efficiency gains but also new complexities, particularly concerning safety and serviceability at high voltages.

Nonetheless, the collaboration between hyperscalers and the open hardware community signals a shared recognition that existing paradigms are no longer sufficient.

Via Storagereview

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• Built-in Google TV turns this monitor into a streaming hub without needing a separate device
• HDR10 sounds nice, but 300 nits brightness limits any real visual punch
• Great resolution, but the 60Hz refresh rate won’t impress serious gamers or creatives

Most portable monitors focus solely on display quality, but the Kinhank K18 Pro takes a different approach by integrating Google TV 12, and transforming it into a standalone entertainment hub with access to Netflix, YouTube, and other apps, without the need for a separate device.

The Kinhank K18 Pro is DRM-certified, meaning it supports high-quality playback from paid streaming services. It also includes a Bluetooth remote and a microphone to enable voice control.

However, the product listing lacks information about the processor, RAM, and storage, suggesting that it may simply function as an output device for a connected computer rather than a fully independent smart display.

Display falls short in some aspects

This device features an 18.4-inch 4K UHD display with a 60 Hz refresh rate, which may not satisfy users seeking smoother motion, especially in gaming scenarios.

The monitor uses an IPS panel with 8-bit + FRC technology, simulating 10.7 billion colors. It covers 85% of the NTSC color gamut and claims 120% sRGB coverage, adequate for everyday tasks but insufficient for professional color-critical work that demands AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 accuracy.

The screen has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 300 cd/m², which limits the effectiveness of its HDR10 support, particularly in brightly lit environments.

In terms of connectivity, the monitor includes two USB Type-C ports, a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, and both HDMI input and output, making it suitable for devices like the Mac mini.

Additionally, the monitor features a swivel bracket that allows tilt adjustments up to 165 degrees, along with integrated stereo speakers. However, it lacks both a built-in battery and touchscreen functionality, requiring constant power and offering no touch input.

It is also bulkier and heavier than most portable monitors, weighing 5.5 pounds and measuring 2 x 18 x 16 inches.

On Amazon, the K18 Pro has received a single customer rating of just 1.0 out of 5, which raises concerns about potential issues with build quality and software stability, so buyer beware.

For budget-conscious buyers, the Kinhank K18G Pro offers entry-level display capabilities, retailing for $329.03 on AliExpress and $429.99 on Amazon.

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• And here are the best monitors for programming we've found

Viral thirst traps on social media are raising eyebrows... and alarm bells about budget cuts.

Over 20 people have died since severe storms and tornadoes hit Kentucky and Missouri overnight. Meteorologists are beginning to survey the damage.

(Image credit: Timothy D. Easley)

Fossils of the underwater predator shed new light on biodiversity from the Cambrian period.

(Image credit: Danielle Dufault)

The explosion occurred at the site of a fertility clinic. A doctor there said the office space was damaged but the IVF lab and its stored embryos were unharmed.

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• Vietnam sets Guinness world record with 10,518 drones in stunning synchronized display
• Chinese firm DAMODA supplied the tech for Vietnam Liberation Day celebration
• April 28 rehearsal certified as record despite later event cancellations

Vietnam has set a new Guinness World Record with a drone light show involving 10,518 synchronized drones.

The display, which took place in Ho Chi Minh City on April 28, 2025, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

The certified record, officially recognized by Guinness as the “largest drone light show by number of drones flying simultaneously.” appears to have come from a rehearsal ahead of an official public event planned for April 30, which was later cancelled.

Celebrating Vietnam’s history

AV Magazine reports Reddit users speculated that the cancellation followed public criticism over advertising placements by digital payments firm VNPay during a national holiday.

According to reports, removing the ads may have caused issues with the drone choreography, resulting in collisions and the eventual cancellation of another scheduled show on May 1.

espite the setback, the April 28 rehearsal included detailed formations celebrating Vietnam’s history and development. The drones formed a number of images such as national emblems, historical scenes, and city skylines.

The drone performance was powered by DAMODA - a Chinese company that has become known globally for its large-scale aerial displays - and designed in close conjunction with the show's Vietnamese organizers.

This isn't DAMODA's first Guinness World Record. It previously set a 10,000-drone record at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 2024 and has supplied drone systems for a number of other major events, including Expo 2020 Dubai.

DAMODA said its drones performed reliably during the performance, despite heat and signal interference, and the company claims over 10,000 performances to date with no accidents and a 99.999% reliability rate.

You can watch highlights from the drone light show below.

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Dell 14 Plus: One-minute review

The Dell 14 Plus is one of the first rebranded Dell laptops to go on sale this year, and despite some growing pains, it’s an auspicious start thanks to its solid performance, great portability and style, and an accessible price point.

The new 14 Plus is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298 and features both Intel Lunar Lake and AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors. This makes it one of the best laptops for budget-conscious Windows users on the market right now without having to make too much of a compromise on style, portability, and features.

What you won’t get with the 14 Plus, however, is a professional workstation or the best gaming laptop, as the integrated graphics and processor options don’t have the kind of horsepower to churn through complex workloads like video editing or intense gaming at high settings.

But for those in the market for a new laptop for general productivity or school work, everyday computing tasks, video calls, or video streaming with good responsiveness, battery life, and portability, the Dell 14 Plus delivers pretty much exactly what you need to get the job done, and it even looks pretty decent while doing it.

It’s not perfect (I’ll get to its faults soon enough), but for the price and the performance on offer, the 14 Plus is easily one of the best Windows laptops going and should be at the top of the list for students, remote workers, and just about anyone else who needs a solid notebook PC without breaking the bank.

Dell 14 Plus: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• How much does it cost? Starting at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298
• When is it available? It is available now
• Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s website and other retailers.

The Dell 14 Plus is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $799.99 / £999 / AU$1,298 for its base configuration, the specs of which vary depending on your region, and maxes out at $1,479.99 / £1,299 / AU$1,498.20.

Compared to something like the Acer Swift 14 AI or the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4), the Dell 14 Plus almost always comes in cheaper when similarly specced, and in a couple of instances, you get better specs with the 14 Plus for a lower price than competing devices like the Asus Zenbook A14, making it an attractive option for value shoppers who don’t want to sacrifice too much in the way of performance.

• Value: 5 / 5

Dell 14 Plus: Specs

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Configurations vary considerably between the US, UK, and Australia
• Options for both Intel Core Ultra 200V and AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors
• No discrete graphics options

The starting configurations for the Dell 14 Plus vary slightly depending on your region, with the US and Australia sharing the same specs—AMD Ryzen AI 340 CPU with Radeon 849M graphics, 16GB LPDDR5X memory, and a 14-inch FHD+, 300 nit, non-touch display—while the starting setup in the UK uses an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V with second gen Intel Arc graphics, 16GB of slightly faster LPDDR5X-8533 memory, and a 14-inch 2.5K (2560x1600p) 300 nit, non-touch IPS display. All starting configs come with 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

Dell 14 Plus Base Specs

Region

US

UK

Australia

Price:

$799.99 at Dell.com

£999 at Dell.com

AU$1,298 at Dell.com

CPU:

AMD Ryzen AI 5 340

Intel Core Ultra 7 256V

AMD Ryzen AI 5 340

GPU:

AMD Radeon 840M Graphics

Intel Arc Xe2 (140V)

AMD Radeon 840M Graphics

Memory:

16GB LPDDR5X-7500

16GB LPDDR5X-8533

16GB LPDDR5X-7500

Storage:

512GB SSD

512GB SSD

512GB SSD

Screen:

14-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1200p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS

14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS

14-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1200p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS

Ports:

2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x combo jack

1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack

2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x combo jack

Battery (WHr):

64 WHr

64 WHr

64 WHr

Wireless:

WiFi 7, BT 5.4

WiFi 7, BT 5.4

WiFi 7, BT 5.4

Camera:

1080p@30fps

1080p@30fps

1080p@30fps

Weight:

3.35 lb (1.52 kg)

3.42 lbs (1.55kg)

3.35 lbs (1.52kg)

Dimensions:

12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm)

12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm)

12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm)

The max spec for the Dell 14 Plus in the US and UK are identical, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V with Intel Arc graphics, 32GB LPDDR5X memory, 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, and a 14-inch 2.5K (2560x1600p) display with 90Hz refresh and 300 nits max brightness. In Australia, the max spec comes with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with Radeon 840M graphics, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD storage, and a 14-inch FHD+ (1920x1200p) display with a max brightness of 300 nits.

Dell 14 Plus Top Specs

Region

US

UK

Australia

Price:

$1,479.99 at Dell.com

£1,299 at Dell.com

AU$1,498.20 at Dell.com

CPU:

Intel Core Ultra 9 288V

Intel Core Ultra 9 288V

AMD Ryzen AI 7 350

GPU:

Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) Graphics

Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) Graphics

AMD Radeon 840M Graphics

Memory:

32GB LPDDR5X-8533

32GB LPDDR5X-8533

16GB LPDDR5X-7500

Storage:

1TB NVMe SSD

1TB NVMe SSD

1TB NVMe SSD

Screen:

14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS

14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS

14-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1200p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS

Ports:

1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack

1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack

2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 w/ DP and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x combo jack

Battery (WHr):

64 WHr

64 WHr

64 WHr

Wireless:

WiFi 7, BT 5.4

WiFi 7, BT 5.4

WiFi 7, BT 5.4

Camera:

1080p@30fps

1080p@30fps

1080p@30fps

Weight:

3.42 lbs (1.55kg)

3.42 lbs (1.55kg)

3.35 lb (1.52 kg)

Dimensions:

12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm)

12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm)

12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm)

The configuration I tested for this review is only available in the US, but the UK has a very similar spec, just with a 512GB SSD rather than the 1TB in my review unit, while Australia doesn't yet have Intel-based coinfigurations for the 14 Plus at all.

Dell 14 Plus Review Unit Specs

Price:

$1,179.99 / £999 / (about AU$1,830, but Intel systems not yet available in Australia)

CPU:

Intel Core Ultra 7 256V

GPU:

Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) Graphics

Memory:

16GB LPDDR5X-8533

Storage:

1TB NVMe SSD (512GB NVMe SSD in UK)

Screen:

14-inch 16:10 2.5K (1600p), 300 nit, non-touch IPS

Ports:

1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DP 1.4 and Power Delivery, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP 2.1 and Power Delivery, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x combo jack

Battery (WHr):

64 WHr

Wireless:

WiFi 7, BT 5.4

Camera:

1080p@30fps

Weight:

3.42 lbs (1.55kg)

Dimensions:

12.36 x 8.9 x 0.67 ins | (314 x 226.15 x 16.95mm)

Generally, there aren’t a whole lot of configuration options available for the Dell 14 Plus right now, but the specs you do get—even with the base configurations—are all solid hardware for general computing and productivity work, and some can even do some modest PC gaming and creative work.

• Specs: 4 / 5

Dell 14 Plus: Design

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Thin and light form factor
• Trackpad can be tricky at times
• Display isn’t stellar, especially in daylight

The Dell 14 Plus takes a number of design influences from earlier Inspiron laptops and merges them somewhat with the former Dell XPS laptop series, and the end result is a fairly attractive ultrabook for the price.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

It doesn’t have the same kind of premium materials that more expensive laptops use, but the 14 Plus doesn’t necessarily feel like a cheap laptop either. Where its design does let me down, though, is its keyboard, trackpad, and display.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The keys on the keyboard aren’t bad, but they’re not really great either and can sometimes feel stiffer than they should. This problem is compounded by the trackpad that isn’t the smoothest, and I’ve found my fingers catching at times from even the light friction of swiping across its surface.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The more ‘premium’ 2.5K display on my review unit works fine in an office environment or when sitting on the couch at home, but its 300 nits peak brightness means that its hard to use if you’re outside, so if you like to work at an outdoor cafe or sitting in the grass of a university quad, the display is going to be difficult to see clearly in daylight.

Image 1 of 4

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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

You get a decent selection of ports for a laptop this thin and a physical privacy shutter for the webcam, which I love to see. The webcam is 1080p @ 30 fps, which is good enough for most needs, as you can see from my selfie taken with the webcam.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The down-firing speakers aren’t very good, especially if the laptop is sitting on a fabric like a bed comforter. They work, though, and conference calls and general audio is fine in most cases. For music and movies, however, I recommend using headphones or one of the best Bluetooth speakers.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Dell 14 Plus: Performance

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Very good productivity and general computing performance
• Hardware isn’t suited for intensive workloads like heavy gaming or video editing
• Lags well behind similarly specced MacBook Air models

The Dell 14 Plus is targeted toward office workers, students, and others who need a responsive everyday device for web browsing, video streaming, and the like. In that regard, this laptop does exactly what it should and does it well.

That’s not to say it's the best, though, as you can see when comparing its benchmark results against something like the MacBook Air 13 (M4), which considerably outperforms the 14 Plus at pretty much every task.

But the 14 Plus consistently comes in second or third place against several other competing laptops on the market, including the Acer Swift 14 AI, Asus Zenbook A14, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, while also coming in at a lower price point, making it my top pick for the best student laptop of 2025 so far.

Overall, only the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 offers a better value for your money than the 14 Plus, which is something I really wasn’t expecting when I started working with the 14 Plus earlier this month, but it's a very welcome surprise.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Dell 14 Plus: Battery Life

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• How long does it last on a single charge? 13 hours, 24 minutes
• How long to full charge it to 100%? 2 hours, 30 minutes with the included 65W adapter (1 hour, 4 minutes to charge it to 50%)

If there’s one area in my testing where the Dell 14 Plus came in dead last, it’s battery life, but it’s not as bad as it might sound. While some laptops like the Zenbook A14 can run for just over 18 hours in our Web Surfing Battery Test, the Dell 14 Plus’s nearly 13 and a half hours isn’t terrible, especially given how we were praising laptops like the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 from 2022 for making it longer than eight hours on a single charge.

As for charging time, the 64WHr battery takes a little over an hour to get from fully depleted to 50% using the included 65W USB-C power adapter, but with its Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports capable of higher power delivery, a higher wattage adapter will speed things up.

• Battery Life: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Dell 14 Plus?

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Dell 14 Plus Scorecard

Category

Notes

Rating

Value

The Dell 14 Plus offers possibly the best value of any Windows laptop at this price.

5 / 5

Specs

The available specs are generally excellent, especially for the price

4 / 5

Design

Aesthetically, the 14 Plus looks more premium than it is, but its keyboard, trackpad, speakers, and display could be better.

3.5 / 5

Performance

General computing and productivity performance are very good, but it falters under medium intensity workloads, much less heavy-duty ones like gaming.

4 / 5

Battery Life

Not the longest-lasting battery life on the market, but still capable of many hours of use before needing to recharge.

4 / 5

Final Score

The Dell 14 Plus is a solid general-use and productivity notebook that’s great for work or school, but it makes some compromises to keep its price affordable. The trade-off is generally worth it, in the end.

4.1 / 5

Buy the Dell 14 Plus if...

You want solid productivity and general computing performance
For everyday use, school work, and productivity, the 14 Plus is very good, especially for its price.

You want a laptop that doesn’t look too cheap
Aesthetically, the 14 Plus is a pretty great-looking device for the price, though if you look closely, you can spot its shortcomings.

Don't buy it if...

You need a high-performance laptop
If you’re looking to game or do resource-intensive work like video editing, this laptop won’t get the job done.

You want a really good-looking laptop
While the 14 Plus doesn’t look bad, it can't hold a candle to the most recent MacBook Air or Surface Laptop models.

Also consider

If my Dell 14 Plus review has you looking at other options, here are three other laptops you should consider instead...

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
The most recent Apple MacBook Air 13-inch offers much better performance, battery life, and aesthetics than the 14 Plus, though you’ll pay more for it.

Read our full Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review

Acer Swift 14 AI
For roughly the same price as the 14 Plus, the Acer Swift 14 AI with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip offers similar performance as the 14 Plus with better battery life, but still has Windows app compatibility struggles.

Read our full Acer Swift 14 AI review

Asus Zenbook A14
While its performance lags behind the Dell 14 Plus, the battery life on this thing is unreal, making it a great pick for those who need laptops that can go the distance.

Read the full Asus Zenbook A14 review

How I tested the Dell 14 Plus

• I spent about two weeks with the Dell 14 Plus
• I used it mostly for general computing and work tasks
• I used our standard laptop benchmark suite for testing along with other productivity and creative apps

I used the Dell 14 Plus for about two weeks as an everyday laptop, as well as a dedicated work device. This involved a lot of writing, general productivity work (like Google Sheets), and some light creative work like photo editing in Adobe Photoshop.

I also put it through our standard benchmark testing suite, including industry-standard tools like Geekbench 6, 3DMark, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider's built-in gaming benchmark.

I’ve been testing laptops for TechRadar for more than five years with dozens of laptop reviews under my belt, so I know what a laptop should be capable of at this price point. As a media professional and former student, I’m also the target audience for this kind of laptop, so I’m very well positioned to assess the quality of this device.

• First reviewed May 2025

I've had a special place in my heart for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon series for a while now. I have personally reviewed Gen 11, Gen 12, and now Gen 13.

The Gen 12 was a nice upgrade from the Gen 11, and that trend continues with the Gen 13. So much so, that if I ever needed to move my primary machine away from Mac (stuck in Mac Ecosystem for many reasons for my primary machine), I would strongly consider this laptop as a business every-day machine.

It's got everything that a busy business professional could want or need. It has great ports, power, a good battery, excellent performance, and is lightweight and easy to carry. What more could you want from one of the best business laptops around?

I keep specifically saying that a business professional laptop is needed for a reason- that's what it is. With that being said, I will review this laptop. It's not meant to be a creative powerhouse, it's not meant for the developers who need maxed-out machines to process large warehouses and scripts, and it's not meant for the casual browser who might check their email and Google a few things.

This computer is intended for the business professional whose day-to-day work depends on their needs. Still, one thing is for sure: they need something reliable, able to jump in and out of work, portable enough to go from place to place, has a great port selection for what may come and whatever they may need, and the ease of use that comes with a ThinkPad. It might be one of the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops around - and it's definitely my favorite yet.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future ) Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: Unboxing & first impressions

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 came in compact and secure packaging, much like all Lenovo devices I have reviewed. It came with a 65W USB-C charger, the proper documentation, and nothing else. It's pretty straightforward.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

After my first look at this machine, I noticed that it reminds me of the other Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptops I tested. They are all clearly in the same family. Beyond the comparison, it looks very sleek and professional, it's lightweight, portable, and built from clearly high-quality materials that I don't have to worry about breaking every day I take it out of the house.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: Design & Build Quality Specs

Display: 14" 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 120Hz
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics 140V
Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x-8533 (soldered)
Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD
Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery: 57Wh
Weight: 2.2 lbs (0.99 kg)

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is built from, as the name implies, carbon fiber and magnesium alloy, making a durable yet lightweight chassis while still allowing for a professional and premium feel as well.

The keyboard has the touchpoint in the middle as Lenovo Laptops do, and on top of that, it has a great backlit keyboard with excellent tactile feedback on every press, making it comfortable to use all day long. The ThinkPad's touchpad has integrated buttons on the top of the square, making it super easy to click, click and drag, right click, and so on from the touchpad or the touchpoint.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future ) Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: In use

I could go on and on about using this machine for the last 137 days. During this time, I have had the X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura in a rotation with my other workhorse machines, and even so, this one has stood out among the rest. It's been a favorite to grab quick for a day working out and about, using when working from home, or taking on a short trip due to it's compact size yet blazing performance.

So far, it has handled multitasking and productivity for business tasks with ease. I have thrown my plethora of Chrome tabs with project management tools and large documents at it without a problem. I've run basic prompts through Postman, done some light photo editing, a lot of writing, emails, and some fun benchmarks, and so far this machine has not skipped a beat.

One thing that makes this machine special with that Aura edition is the inclusion of security parameters like how it will blur the screen, suggest a VPN, and prompt me if someone is looking over my shoulder while I am working out at a coffee shop or in a co-working space.

I love the 14-inch platform for laptops. I have had 12-inch laptops, 13-inch laptops, 15-inch laptops, 11 iPads, and so on, but the 14-inch is my absolute favorite. It's just the right size, the sweet spot even, between easy to carry and still having plenty of room on the screen for all your tasks, project management, virtual meetings, writing, and so on.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Simple, compact, beautiful

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Right for most people

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Understandably higher price

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: Final verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is a powerful option for professional individuals in need of a laptop that is not just lightweight but also durable and loaded with all manner of features. This computer is a fantastic component helping me do what I do.

Get ready for glitter, gimmicks and a sauna-themed song with the 69th edition of the international song competition.

• A new Nothing Phone 3 leak has emerged
• It points to a well-specced flagship phone
• The handset could launch in July

We're expecting the Nothing Phone 3 to break cover sometime in the next couple of months, and now some major specs have just leaked, giving us a better idea of what to expect from the handset's chipset, camera setup, and battery.

According to Smartprix, the phone is going to come with a "flagship Snapdragon chipset" from Qualcomm, though it doesn't say which specific chipset. It could be the Snapdragon 8 Elite, or the more recently announced Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

As for the camera system, it sounds like we're getting a "significantly reworked camera system" with a triple-lens module around the back of the phone. It'll have a "large primary sensor" and a periscope telephoto lens that's potentially even bigger.

Lastly, the battery capacity will "possibly" exceed the 5,000 mAh mark according to Smartprix's sources. The Nothing Phone 2, which made its debut back in July 2023, came with a 4,700 mAh-capacity battery packed inside.

A "premium" handset

We've already seen the Nothing Phone 3a this year (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

Only a few days ago, we got an official video from Nothing CEO Carl Pei, telling us that the upcoming flagship phone would have "premium materials, major performance upgrades, and software that really levels things up".

Remember that the phone was delayed from 2024 so that Nothing could get the software right. We're expecting a lot of AI assistance to be involved, and it looks set to rival offerings such as Galaxy AI and Apple Intelligence from its competitors.

We haven't heard too much in the way of leaks, rumors, or official announcements around the Nothing Phone 3 yet, other than it's on the way. Given the specs mentioned in this leak, it looks likely to be one of the best Android phones of the year.

Nothing has already launched two phones this year of course, the Nothing Phone 3a and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro mid-rangers. As soon as the next handset from the company is made official, we'll let you know.

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Back in April, De'Longhi launched a new smart bean-to-cup espresso machine that can learn your drink preferences throughout the day: the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic . I've been using it for about a week now, and it basically feels like a super-attentive barista who remembers your order every day and whips it up with a smile – and who happens to live in your kitchen.

At first glance, the Primadonna Aromatic looks very similar to the excellent De'Longhi Eletta Explore. The most obvious difference is the extra-large touchscreen, which lets you flick through a vast menu of hot and cold drinks and provides super-simple instructions to help you set up your new machine and make your first espresso.

In fact, the screen is so crisp and clear that De'Longhi has been able to replace the usual dry step-by-step lessons with a slick little video that demonstrates how easy it is to select and make your chosen drink. And that's just the start…

User profiles are a central part of the experience, not just an add-on, and the machine will address you by name throughout (Image credit: Future)

The whole package is very beginner-friendly, and doesn't assume any prior knowledge of coffee-making terminology. Things as simple as referring to the hopper as a 'bean container' are a thoughtful touch, and the tone of the interface is refreshingly conversational.

For example, rather than just displaying the word 'heating' when switched on (or rumbling away without telling you what's happening at all), the Primadonna Aromatic cheerily tells you “I’ll use some hot water to heat everything up” (it communicates via on-screen text; sadly one of the few things this machine can't do is talk). Instead of telling you to attach the milk container before making a cappuccino, it asks you nicely.

De'Longhi's handy Bean Adapt system, which adjusts brew settings to suit your chosen beans, is present and accessible with a quick button tap, but using it is entirely optional, and the machine doesn't risk overwhelming new users by introducing it first thing. If you just want to get on with making an espresso as quickly as possible, just flick through the menu, choose a drink, and away you go.

Morning! The usual?

This virtual barista even knows your name. Most of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines let you make user profiles, and store favorites for each person in your household, but it's usually a rather impersonal process, and is sometimes buried in a list of menus.

Not so with the Primadonna Aromatic. During setup the machine will ask how many people will be using it, then create profiles for each one automatically. You can pick an avatar for each one and enter a name, but there's nothing more complicated than that.

What's particularly nice is that the profile information you enter isn't just used to differentiate between user profiles. The machine will also refer to you by name. There's something nice about turning on the Primadonna Aromatic to see a friendly 'Hello Cat' in the morning. The only thing it won't do is write it on your cup.

Even before I delved into De'Longhi's Bean Adapt settings, the Primadonna Aromatic produced nicely balanced, well-extracted espresso (Image credit: Future)

I've yet to test all of the machine's settings (the menu has over 30 hot and cold options) but my first impressions of the coffee are very positive too. Even without delving into the Bean Adapt settings, the default brewing options produced a well-balanced espresso that poured in around 35 seconds (ideal for a double shot).

I've been impressed by both the hot and cold foamed milk, too. There are two carafes (understandable since cold foam doesn't use steam), which you can keep in the fridge until you need them. Each one has three texture settings, and the machine will tell you which to select when you pick a drink from the menu.

The Primadonna Aromatic can foam hot and cold milk, with three different textures for each (Image credit: Future)

The thick foam setting creates froth ideal for a cappuccino or cortado, while the middle option makes a creamier texture for lattes and macchiatos (my personal favorite).

You can use any type of milk for hot drinks, but De'Longhi recommends that you only use skimmed dairy or plant milk for cold foam. I've made several iced drinks using oat milk, and the results have been excellent; the froth is creamy and sits nicely on top of the drink without dissolving.

The only drawback I can see so far is the price. At £1,549.99 (about $2,000 / AU$3,200) this is pricier than most of the machines in our roundup of the best coffee makers, but so far it's working hard to justify the expense.

I'll continue to test the Primadonna Aromatic for a few more weeks, and I'll bring you a full review very soon.

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, May 17 (game #440).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #441) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Riding the wind

NYT Strands today (game #441) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STING
• HAIL
• DUET
• MILE
• TALL
• BLOG

NYT Strands today (game #441) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #441) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #441) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #441, are…

• HELM
• MAST
• RIGGING
• KEEL
• TILLER
• HULL
• RUDDER
• STERN
• SPANGRAM: SAILBOAT

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

Top marks, NYT, for giving us a Strands spangram that looks like a bright yellow SAILBOAT against a clear blue sky. Well, it does if you squint a bit.

Although today’s edition was, indeed, plain sailing, once I’d gotten going, it took me a while to find my sea legs.

I’d found six unrelated words without a clue what today’s theme meant, so I opted for a hint word. HELM left me in little doubt, so I went about exhausting every boaty word I could think of.

Sailing is another one of those hobbies I like the sound of, but the reality is very different. For starters, it’s way above my pay grade – and then there’s my chronic motion sickness, which probably wouldn’t go down well with the salty sea dogs down at the boatyard. I’ll stick to laptops and word searches.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 17, game #441)

• LYNX
• WINGS
• STORM
• LIBERTY
• DREAM
• FEVER
• MERCURY
• SPANGRAM: BASKETBALL

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, May 17 (game #1209).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1210) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1210) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1210) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1210 - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1210) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• Q

• R

• P

• D

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

Quordle today (game #1210) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1210, are…

• QUACK
• ROACH
• PURGE
• DOWNY

I was anticipating a third animal plural today after the word GEESE appeared yesterday and SHEEP the day before, but instead we got an animal sound.

QUACK, of course, has several meanings – so we could be thinking about someone falsely claiming to have medical skills, rather than a duck.

Despite the rare letter, getting QUACK was quite straightforward if you had already solved ROACH with its AC combination, and even easier if you’d also correctly guessed PURGE.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1210) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1210, are…

• SHINY
• TRAMP
• BLISS
• KEBAB

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE
• Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK
• Quordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKE
• Quordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKER
• Quordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARN
• Quordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READY
• Quordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUE
• Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATIN
• Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN
• Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE
• Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE
• Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH
• Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE
• Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY
• Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO
• Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT
• Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE
• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, May 17 (game #706).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #707) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ALMOST
• ATHLETIC
• OPEN
• CLOSE
• WARM
• FLEXIBLE
• EXCELLENT
• EXERCISE
• AREA
• DRILL
• ONE
• GAME
• EASY
• ASSIGNMENT
• NOT QUITE
• LESSON

NYT Connections today (game #707) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Testing times 
• GREEN:Hide and seek
• BLUE: Relaxed and not easily upset
• PURPLE: First letter of the alphabet

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #707) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: TASKS FOR A STUDENT 
• GREEN: ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME 
• BLUE: UP FOR ANYTHING 
• PURPLE: WHAT "A" MIGHT MEAN 

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

NYT Connections today (game #707) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #707, are…

• YELLOW: TASKS FOR A STUDENT ASSIGNMENT, DRILL, EXERCISE, LESSON
• GREEN: ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME ALMOST, CLOSE, NOT QUITE, WARM
• BLUE: UP FOR ANYTHING EASY, FLEXIBLE, GAME, OPEN
• PURPLE: WHAT "A" MIGHT MEAN AREA, ATHLETIC, EXCELLENT, ONE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

A rare day for me without mysteries, getting things right by getting them wrong (as in, right words no idea why) or nit picking over annoyingly named categories.

My only doubt was with TASKS FOR A STUDENT, which I momentarily thought were about physical training and included GAME instead of ASSIGNMENT. 

Meanwhile, I would have guessed ALMOST, CLOSE, NOT QUITE and WARM were describing being near to something, rather than ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME, having forgotten all about the childhood games to which they applied.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 17, game #706)

• YELLOW: MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY ANIMAL, BACTERIA, FUNGUS, PLANT
• GREEN: GRADUATED INSTRUMENTS BEAKER, PROTRACTOR, RULER, SYRINGE
• BLUE: KINDS OF PENGUINS CHINSTRAP, EMPEROR, KING, MACARONI
• PURPLE: "E" THINGS COMMERCE, MAIL, SCOOTER, SIGNATURE

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.