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Apple TV's adaptation of Cape Fear saw a chilling finale recently, and it was as grisly as we'd expected it to be. Over the past few weeks we've followed Javier Bardem's take on Max Cady, delivering a performance so scary it's left some of us sleeping with the lights on.

Cady was particularly unhinged in Cape Fear's finale, which saw him killing his own family and taking the Bowdens hostage in one final altercation.

It's an important moment in the series and allows Cady to have a do-over by setting up a mock trial, once again including attorney couple Tom and Anna who were responsible for sending him to prison in the first place.

But what went down, and should we be expecting a Cape Fear season 2? Here's everything you need to know.

Who died in the Cape Fear season finale?

(Image credit: Apple TV)

Max Cady kills his half-sister Crystal, his father Robert, and Crystal's apparent son Luke in the season finale. He wanted to eliminate the whole family after what happened to him, as it was revealed that Crystal killed Max's former wife Melissa, the crime that he was wrongfully sentenced for instead.

By killing the family he believes betrayed him, Cady hopes to achieve peace, but instead he ends up with just another tragedy when he finds out who Luke really was. As it happens, when Crystal murdered Melissa, she didn't kill her unborn baby and instead took him to raise as her own child.

So Luke is Cady's biological son, who he murdered in a rage thinking he was actually the son of his half-sister instead. This cruel twist is a shocking one, creating even more pain for Cady.

What happened to Max Cady?

(Image credit: Apple TV)

After Cady broke into the Bowden family home, they manage to get free and Anna stabs Cady. She's given the opportunity to kill him, but doesn't, saying that they should "let him die in a cage".

We don’t see Cady after this point, but it’s assumed he’s arrested and sent to back to prison. But Cady's fate could be explored in season 2, if one is greenlit by Apple TV. Right now, though, we assume he's gone.

His presence still lingers, however, because the final scene of Cape Fear shows that the Bowdens are still looking over their shoulder, assuming he's lurking somewhere in the shadows.

Who is Natalie's father?

(Image credit: Apple TV)

The family twists don't stop there, as Tom and Anna's daughter Natalie is also going through an identity crisis. Throughout the series it was always assumed that Natalie's father was Anna's ex Paul, and that Tom stepped up as a step-parent after he and Anna got together.

As it happens, Natalie's father could actually be Cady, as he and Anna have a history. Natalie's real father is not revealed to us, but she does receive an envelope at the end of the finale which includes DNA results. We don't get to see these, leaving her true roots a mystery for now.

It is likely we will never know the answer, but Natalie is seen walking over to join the family in the finale's barbecue scene, implying she has made peace with having Tom as a parental figure.

What might happen in Cape Fear season 2?

(Image credit: Apple TV)

Even though this story has been wrapped up, there are still loose ends that could well be explored if Cape Fear comes back for season 2. Cady's fate is one of them, of course, especially if he manages to escape once again.

Or, we could take a look at the Bowden family and how they recover from what happened to them. Especially Natalie, and the mystery around who her father is. But right now, nothing has been set in stone and this could be the end of Nick Antosca's take on Cape Fear.

I'm seeing lots of laptop deals at retailers and manufacturers right now, as many have launched back-to-school sales for the upcoming year. That's good news if you're searching for a new device for yourself or a loved one, with a variety of options available to suit several different budgets and needs. Using my deals hunting experience, I've picked out my six top picks in both the US and the UK.

Below, I've included everything from cheap Chromebooks to big discounts on modern and powerful laptops from the likes of Dell and Apple. I've not only considered price in these hand-picked deals, but also the views of TechRadar's expert computing team who have tested and reviewed several of the models below — and rated them highly.

For example, in the US, you can find the fantastic Dell XPS 13 for a shockingly low $599.99 when you apply for the student discount. That's very hard to beat if you want a capable and portable all-around laptop.

Meanwhile, in the UK, there is a handful of great laptop deals at Amazon, such as this modern and efficient Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for £429.99 (was £649.99). It boasts a Snapdragon X processor and 16GB of RAM to ensure speedy everyday performance and impressive all-day battery life. That's ideal to last you a full day at school or college, and beyond.

All of my top picks are below, with prices starting as low as $199 / £159. No doubt I'll be updating this page with more offers as sales start or expand throughout the rest of the month.

US back-to-school laptop deals

• Amazon: big savings on laptops
• Apple: up to $150 gift card
• Best Buy: up to $600 off laptops
• Dell: up to $900 off
• Lenovo: up to 33% off laptops & tablets
• Walmart: laptops from $199.99

Display: 14 inches
Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 540
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB

This super-cheap Lenovo Chromebook is a very basic device that's best suited to light use and schoolwork, but it's a bargain at this low price from Best Buy. The lean ChromeOS operating system gets more from low-end components, but it relies on you using more web-based applications such as Google Docs. And while it will struggle with anything beyond basic tasks, this also ensures exceptional all-day battery life, making it a strong portable option at a very affordable price.View Deal

Display - 15.3 inches
Processor - Intel Core 3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 128GB

This version of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus offers an impressive amount of power for the price. It includes 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core 3 processor, boosting performance, boot times and load times. Storage of 128GB is a bit miserly for the price, but battery life is solid at up to 10 hours on a single charge. That's more than enough to last a full working day. At a little under $400, it's a smart buy for school or college, or just as a home laptop for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

Display - 15.6 inches
Processor - AMD Ryzen 5
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB

If you want a cheap Windows laptop, then this configuration of the Dell 15 Laptop is an excellent buy and terrific value for money. You get an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a large 512GB SSD to ensure good overall performance and enough essential, speedy storage for the price. It's a top buy right now if you're on a budget and need a laptop for general everyday use, admin tasks, light work, or schoolwork.View Deal

Display: 13 inches
Processor: A18 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

The MacBook Neo just got a price bump, but students can get it cheaper again thanks to Apple's education discount. The latest MacBook packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life, all for under $600, which is fantastic value. Discounts have been better in the past, but I think these will be rarer to see over the coming months and this price likely won't be beaten over Black Friday.View Deal

Display - 15.6 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

If you have a good amount of cash to spend, I'd recommend picking up this version of the Dell 15 Laptop as it offers big improvements to key components by jumping up to an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of RAM and a decent 512GB SSD. That'll get you a lot more power and performance for your money, making this a solid all-around device for general use, work, video calls and multitasking, without the threat of significant slowdown.View Deal

Display - 13.4 inches
Processor - Intel Core 5
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB

The Dell XPS 13 has regularly been one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar, and this brand-new version continues that trend. With an Intel Core 5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, it has everything you need for solid all-around performance at work or college. Students can also save an extra $100, bringing the price down to a ridiculously low $599.99.View Deal

UK back-to-school laptop deals

• Amazon: from £159
• AO: save on HP, Lenovo and Acer
• Currys: up to £300 off laptops
• Dell: new XPS 13 from £699
• EE: save up to £1,000
• John Lewis: best deals on MacBooks
• Very: HP and Lenovo from £248

Display: 14 inches
Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 520
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB

I want to be clear: this is far from the best laptop you can buy, but I can't deny it's cheap. The spec is on the low end, with an entry-level processor, only 4GB of RAM, and a small 128GB hard drive. At least it's a Chromebook, which can get more from weaker components thanks to the lean ChromeOS and reliance on online apps such as Google Docs, but this is only a good buy if you want to spend very little money on a very basic machine for infrequent, light use.View Deal

Display - 15.6 inches
Processor - Intel Core 3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 256GB

This version of the Asus Chromebook Plus offers a solid amount of power for the price. It includes 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core 3 processor, boosting performance, boot times, and load times. There's also a standard 256GB of storage for the price, and battery life is solid at up to 12 hours on a single charge. That's more than enough to last a full working day. At a little under £250, it's a smart buy for school or college, or just as a home laptop for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

Display - 15.3 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

This is a great price for a relatively modern laptop that comes with a well-performing and efficient Snapdragon X CPU. On top of that, you get 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and excellent battery life that will easily last a full workday, and more, on a single charge. I think it represents good value for money overall if you need a capable, all-around, everyday machine.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - AMD Ryzen 5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

This is the standout laptop deal from the latest Dell sale. Featuring an AMD Ryzen 5, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for under £600, it has everything you would need for solid all-around performance at home, school, college, and less demanding work needs. I've seen similar or more powerful devices for around the same price during major sales events, but this is a good offer on a top laptop from one of our favourite and most trusted manufacturers.View Deal

Display: 13 inches
Processor: A18 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

The MacBook Neo just got a price bump, but Amazon has just brought it back down again. The latest MacBook packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life, all for under £700, which is fantastic value. Discounts have been better in the past, but I think these will be rarer to see over the coming months and this price won't be beaten until Black Friday.View Deal

Display - 16 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X Elite
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512TB

It's an older model now, but this Samsung Galaxy Book4 is great value for money following a £1,000 discount at EE. Even though it's a little dated, it's still powered by an impressive and efficient Snapdragon X Elite processor and 16GB of RAM. A 512GB SSD feels a little stingy at this price, but it's still enough for all of your essential files and applications. You also get the benefit of a 2-in-1 display that you can flip around to use in tablet mode.View Deal

One of the easiest ways to waste time with ChatGPT is to keep introducing yourself. You explain your project, your preferences, your goals and your writing style, get a useful answer, close the conversation and then repeat the whole process the next day.

There is a better approach. Rather than treating ChatGPT as a blank page every time you open it, think of it as a workspace that can be organized just like your computer. A few reusable prompts, a handful of reference documents and a little planning can dramatically reduce the amount of repetitive setup you do every week.

The best part is that none of these ideas require advanced prompt engineering or obscure features. They are simple habits that make ChatGPT spend less time learning about your task and more time actually helping you complete it.

1. Build a starter kit

(Image credit: Future)

Most people have a handful of requests they make over and over again. They ask ChatGPT to write in a particular tone, explain technical topics in plain English, or ensure everything has a citation. Instead of typing those instructions every time, save them as a reusable starter prompt.

Think about the jobs you repeat most often. If you regularly write certain kinds of emails, create one prompt that explains the tone, preferred length, and audience. If you frequently ask for meal ideas, save a prompt that includes your dietary preferences, budget, and the equipment you have in your kitchen. When you need help, paste the prompt into a new conversation before asking the real question.

The same approach works for hobbies. Someone learning French could create a starter prompt asking ChatGPT to correct mistakes gently while keeping the conversation moving. A keen gardener might save instructions explaining the local climate, soil type, and the plants already growing in the garden. Those details only need to be written once, but they improve every conversation that follows.

2. Build a reference library

(Image credit: Yoobure)

One of the most overlooked ChatGPT features is the ability to work from documents you provide. You can create a small collection of files that explain the things you work on most often. Upload the relevant document at the beginning of a conversation and let ChatGPT use it as the foundation.

Keep a document listing your family's favorite meals, allergies and disliked ingredients, then upload it whenever you ask for a weekly meal plan. Store another file containing your packing checklist, travel preferences, and loyalty memberships so ChatGPT can help plan trips without needing the same information every time.

3. Treat ongoing projects like ongoing conversations

Many people instinctively click New Chat whenever they have another question for ChatGPT. That makes sense if today's topic has nothing to do with yesterday's. For projects that stretch over days or weeks, though, continuing the same conversation saves an enormous amount of time because all of the earlier decisions remain available.

Imagine planning a home office makeover. The first conversation might focus on furniture, the second on paint colors, and the third on lighting. By keeping everything together, ChatGPT already knows the size of the room, the budget, the style you like, and the desk you eventually chose. It can build on those decisions instead of asking you to repeat them.

The same habit works beautifully for learning new skills. If you are studying guitar, keep one conversation dedicated to practice. One day you ask about chord changes, the next you work on rhythm. Over time, the conversation becomes a record of your progress rather than a collection of disconnected lessons.

4. Give ChatGPT an example worth copying

ChatGPT usually produces better work when you show it what a good answer looks like. Instead of describing a tone as “friendly but professional,” paste in a paragraph, email, or product description that already sounds right and ask it to match the pacing, level of detail, and structure. This works especially well for recurring tasks such as newsletters, social posts, client updates or article introductions, where a vague style request can lead to something polished but strangely generic.

The example does not have to cover the same subject. A restaurant review can help shape the tone of a travel piece, while a strong project update can become the model for future internal messages. Be specific about what ChatGPT should imitate and what it should ignore, such as keeping the sentence length and warmth while avoiding the original wording or subject matter.

5. Ask for a second pass with a different job

(Image credit: OpenAI, Apple)

A strong first draft often becomes much better when ChatGPT is given a new role for the revision. After it writes something, ask it to review the answer as an editor, skeptical reader, subject matter expert or member of the intended audience. Each perspective catches a different kind of weakness, from awkward phrasing to missing context or assumptions that only make sense to someone already familiar with the topic.

For example, after generating a travel itinerary, ask ChatGPT to review it as a parent traveling with a toddler and identify any unrealistic transitions. After drafting a business proposal, ask it to review the document as a cautious buyer who wants clearer costs and fewer vague promises. The second pass tends to be more useful when the reviewing role has a concrete reason to object.

None of these ideas make ChatGPT more intelligent. What they do is remove the unnecessary friction that creeps into everyday use. Instead of spending the first five minutes explaining who you are and what you need, you start much closer to the interesting part of the conversation. Once you stop rebuilding the same foundation every day, you can spend your time exploring better ideas instead of laying the same bricks over and over again.

Many small businesses already tap into AI for market research, image and video creation, copywriting, and idea exploration.

Although this single-prompt approach is helpful, it has its limits. Enter AI agents.

Unlike traditional AI, which typically operates within a silo, AI agents can make decisions and take multi-step actions to achieve a predefined goal.

I caught up with Sachin Puri, CEO of Bluehost, to get his thoughts on how AI agents are reshaping how small businesses operate, where the biggest opportunities are, and which risks small businesses should be aware of when using them.

Why has Bluehost decided that now is the time to roll out AI agents to its users?

While interest in AI is high, only 16% of SMBs are using AI agents today.

Sachin Puri, CEO of Bluehost

The technology has finally matured beyond generating content and answering questions. AI agents can now understand context, orchestrate workflows, interact with business systems, and complete real business tasks. That makes them practical for small businesses, not just large enterprises with dedicated AI teams.

At the same time, the internet itself is evolving toward an Agentic Web, where rather than just assist people, AI Agents increasingly discover businesses, evaluate products, complete transactions, and interact with other agents on behalf of customers. Small businesses want to participate in that future, but most don't know where to begin. Our research found that while interest in AI is high, only 16% of SMBs are using AI agents today, with complexity and the lack of SMB-focused solutions being the biggest barriers.

We believe that over time, participating in this new AI-driven economy won't simply be an advantage; it will become a competitive necessity.

Our role at Bluehost is to make that transition simple. We've taken what we've learned from deploying AI across our own business and packaged it into purpose-built AI agents that are practical, affordable, and designed specifically for entrepreneurs. Our goal is to help small businesses compete and thrive in the Agentic Era, without requiring them to become AI experts

Most website builders now offer AI tools such as page, image, and content creators; how are AI agents different from these?

We are moving from AI that helps entrepreneurs create things to AI that helps them run their business.

Sachin Puri, CEO of Bluehost

Most AI tools in website builders today are generative. You ask for a page, an image, or a piece of copy, and the tool creates that individual asset. Those capabilities are valuable, but they're largely point solutions. The business owner is still responsible for connecting the dots, coordinating multiple applications, and deciding what happens next.

That's the problem we're trying to solve.

Today, millions of entrepreneurs have become the integrators across dozens of applications and workflows. They spend their evenings, weekends, and early mornings moving information between systems, following up with customers, updating websites, managing inventory, booking appointments, and coordinating work that software still can't do on its own. That's time they could be spending with their families, serving customers, or creating value through their craft.

AI agents are fundamentally different. They don't just generate content; they work toward a business outcome. They understand the goal, use business context, orchestrate multiple steps across applications, interact with data, and complete work on the owner's behalf.

Take website creation as an example. Instead of generating one page at a time, an AI agent can understand the business, create a complete on-brand website, optimize it for search, publish it, and continue improving it over time. But the bigger opportunity begins after launch.

An AI Store Agent can monitor products, inventory, orders, and sales trends, then recommend or take actions to improve performance. An AI Front Desk Agent can answer customer questions using the business's own knowledge, qualify leads, check real-time calendar availability, and book appointments automatically.

That's the shift we believe matters. We are moving from AI that helps entrepreneurs create things to AI that helps them run their business.

We believe every small business will eventually have a digital workforce of AI agents working alongside its human workforce. The entrepreneur remains in control, but instead of acting as the integration layer between disconnected software, they become the conductor of a team—both human and digital—focused on growing the business.

You recently announced the launch of GatorClaw AI agent builder. What is this? Can small businesses use it? If so, how can they get the most out of it?

GatorClaw is our intuitive AI agent builder for businesses that want to go beyond using AI and start creating AI-powered workflows of their own.

While we'll offer purpose-built AI agents for common business needs, we also recognize that every business has unique processes. GatorClaw gives entrepreneurs the flexibility to build AI agents tailored to how they operate.

It's a visual platform built on the OpenClaw ecosystem that makes it incredibly simple to build, connect, deploy, and manage AI agents without assembling the underlying infrastructure or writing complex code, and without needing to be a developer or an AI expert. If you can build a website, you could build an AI agent. Running on Bluehost VPS, GatorClaw lets entrepreneurs automate sophisticated workflows through an intuitive visual experience.

For example, an agent could detect a new inquiry in Gmail, qualify the lead, summarize the customer's needs, update a CRM, and notify the right person, all automatically.

My advice is to start with one repetitive process that consumes meaningful time and has clear rules. Measure the outcome, build confidence, and then expand from there. Every business is unique, and over time we believe every business will have a digital workforce of AI agents tailored to its own needs.

Where do you think the biggest opportunities currently are for small businesses when it comes to using AI agents?

AI agents excel at repeatable tasks that follow a defined business workflow. They can orchestrate both simple and complex processes, interact with business applications and data, and complete work across multiple systems. That's where their real power lies. For small businesses, this means offloading repetitive administrative work so owners can focus on serving customers, growing their business, and doing what they do best.

When we asked small business owners where they would deploy AI agents first, repetitive marketing and sales tasks topped the list, including website and SEO updates, managing social media and digital advertising, and booking customer appointments.

Take the Bluehost AI Front Desk Agent as an example. The agent acts as a 24/7 receptionist and sales assistant, answering customer questions using the business's own website and knowledge base, qualifying leads, and booking appointments directly into the business's Google Calendar. The agent is trained on the business's own content and is connected to real-time systems; therefore, it behaves more like a knowledgeable team member than a generic chatbot.

For small businesses with limited staff, that's the real opportunity, not replacing people, but giving every entrepreneur a digital workforce that helps them accomplish more with the team they already have.

Most small businesses gain a competitive advantage by building real, human relationships with customers. How can they ensure that using AI agents doesn’t negatively impact that?

Small businesses don’t have to incorporate AI Agents into every workflow.

In fact, doing so would probably erode some of the customer trust they’ve built up. The trick is knowing where AI can streamline your work and where it’s likely to create complications. For example, using agentic AI to offload administrative marketing, sales, and operational work gives small businesses more time to spend with customers.

Use AI agents for efficiency, and not for relationship-building.

Are AI agents really like trusted employees? Can you set them a task and just let them get on with it unmonitored?

To some extent, you can treat AI agents like trusted employees, but inexperienced ones, at least early on.

Sachin Puri, CEO of Bluehost

To some extent, you can treat AI agents like trusted employees, but inexperienced ones, at least early on.

If you train them on a specific task and a clearly defined role, they will complete it and get the basics right. As your confidence in the technology grows, you can deploy them for more complex tasks.

They will learn from your data and workflows and be tuned to your business's voice and tone. Early on, this will require some handholding and monitoring, always with humans-in-the-loop on the escalation path.

There is also an important difference between a general-purpose agent and one purpose-built for a specific small-business job. With a general-purpose agent, the owner may need to define the workflow, write detailed instructions, connect tools, and establish guardrails.

At Bluehost, we do much of that upfront work. We identify common small-business processes and build specialized agents around them, so the owner is not starting from a blank page.

In Bluehost AI Store, for example, specialized agents monitor products, orders, inventory, customers, payments, and sales channels. A coordinating agent brings those signals together, identifies what needs attention, and presents the owner with a prioritized action plan. The owner can also manage the store through simple conversation rather than navigating complex eCommerce systems.

That does not mean owners should disengage completely.

AI can monitor activity, flag problems, recommend actions, and handle clearly defined tasks, but people should remain involved in decisions affecting customers, finances, or brand reputation. The goal is an appropriate level of trust versus blind trust. You start with a focused, lower-risk process, review the results, and give the agent more autonomy as it demonstrates reliability.

What happens if an AI customer service agent answers a question incorrectly, such as quoting at half the actual cost or booking an appointment at the wrong time? Who pays for that mistake – Bluehost or the business owner?

No AI system should be presented as incapable of making a mistake.

Sachin Puri, CEO of Bluehost

That is exactly why customer-facing AI needs more than a generic model and a chat interface. It should be trained on authoritative business information, connected to current systems, given clear boundaries, and monitored like any other customer-facing channel.

With Bluehost AI Front Desk Agent, our team helps configure and train the agent using the business’s own website, documents, policies, and brand guidelines. Its Google Calendar integration uses real-time availability, which helps reduce scheduling errors. Businesses can also review performance, update information, and retrain the agent as prices, policies, or availability change.

No AI system should be presented as incapable of making a mistake. Bluehost is responsible for providing a reliable platform and implementation support, while the business is responsible for keeping its source information accurate and deciding what the agent is authorized to communicate or do.

What other risks should small businesses be aware of when using AI agents?

The risks are manageable, but businesses should look at both the security of the technology and how the agent is configured.

Agents should run on reliable, secure infrastructure, but infrastructure is only one part of the equation. Businesses also need to understand what information the agent can access, where that data is processed, and what actions it is authorized to take. An agent should have only the access and permissions required for its specific job.

Accuracy matters as well. An agent relies on the business information and systems connected to it, so outdated pricing, policies, inventory, or availability can lead to incorrect results. The best approach is to start with a focused, lower-risk use case, keep sensitive or consequential actions behind appropriate approvals, and expand the agent’s responsibilities as it demonstrates reliability. Purpose-built agents can reduce risk because the workflows, integrations, and guardrails have already been designed around a defined business need.

Do you believe that AI agents are going to kill traditional drag-and-drop website builders?

AI agents probably won’t kill traditional website-building tools in general. In fact, drag-and-drop website builders that enable an AI management layer will see acceleration and continue to provide efficiency for small business owners.

In professional settings, though, replacing website builders is just one facet of what AI agents could accomplish. Our hope is that once small businesses realize that AI agents can make website creation more efficient, they’ll be curious about what else these tools can do.

Agentic technology can also automate marketing and sales tasks, scheduling, routine emails, vendor invoicing, employee onboarding, database management, and reports and analytics, among other tasks.

AI agents won’t “kill” the traditional methods, but small businesses might find that deploying agents is a better option in almost every case and frees up time to focus on essential tasks to grow the business.

With many business leaders rolling back on AI tools due to unforeseen costs, will AI tools like the ones you are rolling out remain available and affordable for small businesses in the coming years?

Bluehost is committed to keeping our tools as affordable as possible, both now and over the next few years. We are doing this following two paths:

• Pre-packaging AI Solutions with a fixed monthly price so that businesses know exactly what they will be paying without fear of overruns.  
• For customers who want to experiment more and with newer models and workflows, we are working on solutions that will deliver Tokens and Credits at very compelling economics.  

We understand the needs of SMB customers like very few in the industry and so this two-pronged approach is a design principle of our new Agentic offerings.

Can you tell us about any other AI agent tools you are working on at Bluehost?

We are working on quite a few AI and Agentic innovations focusing on the needs of SMBs.

We talk to small business owners every day and deeply understand their challenges, pain points, and needs. We are building Agents to help our SMB customers better run their business operations. Please stay tuned over the coming weeks and months as we unveil more purpose-built offerings for SMBs.

Customers report getting some compensation for the recent service outage, but it requires some work on your part.

The idea behind the Falcon T1 is inspired but not unique: essentially, one machine that can replace five, with swappable modules that enable it to engrave and cut wood, mark metal, and engrave crystal, all via a set of interchangeable laser modules sold separately.

Swap the module, and the machine becomes a different tool, much like many other workshop tools, so from that point of view the concept is far from unique.

This means that if you’re a business short on space, or even if it’s not, then a machine like this will be appealing. There are, of course, a few catches: the first is that the machine ships with one module, the 20W fibre laser, which I’m looking at in this review.

However, the key to this machine is that it’s a 5-in-1, so as a first look I’ll be using this module and then covering the others later. It's worth noting that each of those additional modules costs anything from £859 upwards, so the more you buy, the more cost effective this machine becomes, when compared with dedicated machines.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

There is another slight issue, which Creality has addressed to a point: this machine is designed for small products. In this review, the fibre laser is used on a small metal object, which is fine with the fibre laser and the 175 x 175mm work area.

However, as you switch to the diode modules, you may want a larger workspace, which is where the additional lenses and the conveyor for batch production come into play.

In this first-look review, I have based my use and findings on the 20W Fibre Laser module, and I’ll update with the additional modules when they arrive.

Creality Falcon T1: Price & availability

The Falcon T1 is listed on the official Creality website for $2249, and on the UK site for £1999.

That buys the machine with the 20W Fibre Laser module. Additional modules start from $809 / £859 each, so a full five-laser system quickly escalates the price.

Accessories add more again: the Rotary Kit Pro, a conveyor, smoke purifier, flexible fixture, knife bed, and UV riser all available separately, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for businesses.

Creality Falcon T1: DesignSpecs

Modules: 20W diode, 40W diode, 20W fibre, 60W MOPA, 5W UV (sold separately)
Wavelengths: 445nm diode, 1064nm fibre and MOPA, 355nm UV
Working area: 175 x 175mm (UV internal engraving 70 x 70mm)
Spot size: 0.12 x 0.14mm (20W diode), 0.05mm (fibre/MOPA), 0.014mm (UV)
Processing accuracy: 0.01mm or better; positioning accuracy +/-0.01mm
Maximum speed: 10,000mm/s
Cutting: 8mm basswood (20W diode), 12mm basswood (40W diode), 0.2mm anodised aluminium (fibre)
Camera: HD positioning, autofocus and monitoring
Display: 4.3in detachable touchscreen; USB, cloud and app control
Software: Falcon Design Space, LightBurn, GRBL; Windows and macOS
Safety: Class 1 enclosed, lid-open stop, emergency stop, key lock, temperature, smoke and flame detection
Dimensions: 464 x 312 x 509mm

Getting started with the T1 is a relatively quick process once the machine is unboxed. The machine is almost fully assembled, with only the build plate, screen, power, and module needing to be fitted.

Most of the few parts that need attention before you start just need to be plugged in, with the large laser module essentially slotting into the back of the machine. To access the slot, you need to rotate the machine's body. The T1 itself weighs in at 20 kg. I couldn’t find official figures, so this is the result from me putting the machine on the scales. The 20W module weighs 3.2kg, and you do need to leave yourself a little room for manoeuvre to access the module slot.

The module is a box of electronics with the laser lens, and each module is essentially of the same design, just utilising different technology for the beam. As this is a space-saving exercise, the module measures in at 22 x 95 x 175mm. The installation process to a working state takes a couple of minutes, with the actual tool swap, which is usually the time-consuming part, taking no more than a suggested 15 seconds.

To swap modules, you first need to switch on the machine. This should raise the centre section. If not, when the screen has finished the boot sequence, tap the tool change button; you’ll need to do this if you’ve been working with one of the modules and need to swap.

Then switch the machine off; there’s no hot swapping. Push the lock button on top, withdraw the installed module, then insert the next module, rotate the machine back into position, and power on. This is the simplest tool change I think I’ve come across for any machine, and while it may not take 15 seconds for the entire process, that takes closer to two minutes, I managed 5 seconds for the actual module change; it’s that simple.

Once everything is set up and in position, the T1, as a machine, is relatively tall and fully enclosed with a large tinted viewing panel, measuring 464 x 312 x 509mm. Compared with similar machines, the footprint is pretty standard, as is the height. The height, however, increases as the entire protective cover rises when you load and unload materials, and again when you change modules.

On the side of the machine is the detachable 4.3-inch touchscreen, which I liked more than I expected. It uses a magnet to attach to the right-hand side on an extendable cable, so it stores away neatly out of the way and pulls round to the front when you want it. The screen itself is extremely responsive and gives access to most of what you need without a computer, though the excellent desktop software gives you full control.

Before using the machine, the inserted module needs to be calibrated. The box includes a calibration chart and a few other items of material that can be used to do this. The process is relatively straightforward, and Creality has created several tutorial videos to guide you through the process.

As the lid is lifted, you can place it on the removable work bed, which offers height, and the design enables various positioning options, especially for awkward objects. With the setup that I was sent, I was only able to work with metal due to the fibre module, and as I went through the test materials, there was almost nothing to clean up afterwards.

From experience, I know that using a diode head generates far more dust and particles that need to be cleaned away. It’s also worth noting that the exhaust fan and dust guard both detach for cleaning.

I’ll also note that no air purifier was supplied with my machine, so I connected an existing filter from another manufacturer using a little ducting, and it worked perfectly, although with full manual control. If you already own a purifier, that is worth knowing; you will lose the integrated feedback and control, but you’ll save some cash.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Creality Falcon T1: Features

The module swap is the headline feature here, and although I only had a single module to work with, it seemed easy enough. However, swapping heads and recalibration are features that would set this apart from competitors. I was unable to check this, so it could be as simple as a quick swap or require far more time; again, I’ll update when further modules arrive.

An area that I am interested in seeing work is the calibration handling; it looks to be the clever part. Once you have calibrated each module with the supplied cards, swapping between modules doesn’t require recalibration, allowing you to move quickly between materials and processes.

If, however, you do move the machine around the workshop, as I did, a quick recalibration is sensible before starting again. Compared with the usual business of changing laser heads, the whole process seems quick.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Inside the machine is an HD camera that works through the desktop software and enables you to place designs onto material accurately; this is essential when you are engraving something where you only get one go, such as a phone, lens or laptop.

Everything is calibrated so positioning is precise rather than approximate, and the software will map designs onto curved surfaces such as bottles.

The AI tools are more useful than they sound and far better than the usual gimmicky template images you see. Instead, they can be used to generate relief images to create coins from images sourced from Salisbury Museum, engraving them into blank metal coins, and it worked remarkably well.

There is also automatic layout, batch filling, and colour-engraving assistance for metals, and the multicolour engraving produced by the fibre module through the software is impressive.

Creality Falcon T1: Performance

Setup took around 10 minutes, as the machine arrived pre-assembled and factory-calibrated. I just needed to attach the cables and install the 20W fibre module before running through the calibration process, following the online videos, and then started with the test files from the supplied USB stick.

Later, when connected to a MacBook Pro, the Falcon Design Space was equally easy to use, and from there I could lay out my own designs, access the live camera feed, and position artwork precisely over the material, eliminating the guesswork.

The software really deserves a big mention, and I’ve used it before on previous Falcon machines. It’s just well thought out and lets you get straight to work rather than faffing around with settings. Unlike fibre lasers that hand you off to third-party software, this is fully integrated with the hardware, and that integration pays off constantly in workflow.

Everything worked seamlessly and felt stable from the outset, one of the issues I often find with fibre lasers intended for the professional market. Being able to set a job running from another room or to position a design against a live camera feed, rather than by guesswork, turns what is often a fiddly process into something straightforward.

At the time of review, I’m only testing the one module, but will update on the ease of swapping and the software's recognition of each new option once installed. Using the Fibre laser gave me quite a bit of flexibility with materials, including engraving on metal. It was incredibly fast and accurate, with fine, crisp edges and detail.

Most designs engraved onto various types of metal were completed in a few seconds, with most complex designs completed within 30 seconds.

This is also one of the first machines that makes working in colour with metal engraving relatively easy, and it is a prime example of where AI comes into play. Essentially, load the image, and the AI converts it into what is needed.

Although the hit rate on this isn’t 100%, it does make things easier than almost all other solutions I’ve tried, with only the XTool option being on a par. You can then go in and adjust the colours, as needed. As ever, a little experimentation is needed, but it’s just about as smooth a process as I’ve yet come across in this type of work.

On average, these designs, at the maximum size I tried (160 x 160), took around an hour. There were a few glitches along the way, but I was pleased to see that the software lets you generate test charts to test the material before you start.

Using the module with metals and the engraving quality with the 20W fibre module is exceptional. Speed and resolution are among the best I have seen, on a par with the strongest dedicated fibre machines, although the weaker power does mean more passes when embossing.

To test this, I had a high-resolution image from Salisbury Museum of a coin, and once it was processed through the software, it was embossed onto one of the coin blanks. The effect of this coin, due to its age and relief, was subtle, but when a few other designs were transformed, and the results were pronounced.

This is an amazing process, although, whereas the other uses are relatively quick, the process of creating an embossed coin took 13 hours, so roughly 26 hours for the two sides if you want to go down that route. A 40W or the MOPA will make a big difference to this speed and will be one of the most exciting aspects of this engraver.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

With that modular design, the 20w will hopefully see an upgrade in the future. One thing worth knowing is that, with this machine, and for that matter, higher-quality fibre material is important: cheap metal items engrave, but they do not look great afterwards. In contrast, a quality stainless steel piece under the same laser looks superb. If you are producing items to sell, buy decent blanks.

The 175 x 175mm working area proved decent enough for the small metal objects, which is exactly what the fibre machines tend to suit: keyrings, coins, tags, and similar personalised items. For anything larger, it will feel restrictive.

Through the review, I also tested the conveyor, one of the few accessories supplied, and setting it up requires considerably more room; it also requires you to disengage the lid's safety feature, so protective glasses are required. I was surprised to see that none have been provided.

However, again, this is quite common for this level of machine, and the results and speed increase for batch production are impressive. What really stands out is how it can automatically recognise the objects placed on the surface and engrave without you needing to align each individually.

If you do a lot of batch work, the conveyor makes sense, and again it shows the potential for the machine, which I only feel like through the review I am touching on.

Creality Falcon T1: Final verdict

In this test, I gave the 20 fibre module a good run, and it instantly gives a good idea of its potential, once those other modules are purchased.

Add in the 20W and 40W diode modules, which handle wood and acrylic cutting; the 60W MOPA, which most professionals will be interested in for deep and colored metal work; and the 5W UV module for glass, ceramics and internal crystal engraving, this machine really makes sense.

Couple all that with the rotary kit and the smoke purifier, and you have a professional eco-system that starts to look extremely appealing.

If you regularly work with wood, leather, metal, and glass, the modular concept makes sense, and buying the modules you need rather than five separate machines will save both money and a great deal of space in the long run.

On reviewing the fibre module, the engineering and software quality do show potential, but if you’re only going to be using one module then this is an expensive option. However, add in at least one or two additional modules and it makes sense in both cost and size.

Alastair JenningsAlastair JenningsAlastair JenningsShould you buy the Creality Falcon T1 laser engraver

Value:

The concept saves money against five machines, but a single module makes it expensive

4

Design:

Enclosed, practical and genuinely well thought out for maintenance and workflow

4.5

Features

An exceptionally feature-packed machine, with excellent software and camera positioning

5

Performance

The 20W fibre module is exceptional; the rest remains untested

5

Total

An innovative machine with value dependent on the modules you select

4.5

Buy it if...

You work across several materials.

If you regularly customise wood, acrylic, metal, glass, and crystal, a single enclosure with interchangeable modules can replace several machines and save considerable workshop space.

You produce small batches commercially.

Fast repeated engraving, camera-assisted positioning and the optional conveyor suit personalised products and regular commercial orders on small items.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You only need one laser type.

With a single module fitted, this costs roughly double a comparable dedicated machine, and rivals bundle fibre and diode heads together for less. The concept only pays off across multiple modules.

Your work exceeds 175 x 175mm.

The fixed processing field suits keyrings, coins, tags and small personalised items. Anything larger will feel cramped, no matter which module is fitted.View Deal

For more crafting tech, I've tested and reviewed all the best 3D printers.

GoBirding Vision Master: One-minute review

Bird-spotting scopes have remained stubbornly analog for a very long time: you point some glass at a distant feathered friend, squint, and hope you remembered your spotter's guide. The GoBirding Vision Master Smart AI Spotting Scope, or the APL-ETF-M1 to give it its slightly snappier model name, wants to drag that experience kicking and screaming into the smartphone era.

It does so by squeezing a 4K camera, on-device AI bird identification and smartphone-friendly connectivity into a 30x optical zoom scope. It's certainly an ambitious concept; and after spending a few weeks testing it, I came away impressed in some ways and frustrated in others.

The build quality is a positive: the scope feels solid rather than plasticky, and the design manages to be fairly discreet too. At 932g with the tripod mount attached, it's not a lightweight in absolute terms, but it's manageable enough for a session in the field. The front and eyepiece caps, though, have an annoying habit of working themselves loose when the scope is packed away in a bag — worth knowing if you're the sort who likes to keep your gear spotless.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The headline feature — AI bird identification — works, but with caveats. GoBirding claims the M1 can ID over 1,500 species offline, and over 10,000 when connected to the internet via your smartphone, and in practice it correctly called out everything from common cormorants and herring gulls to species I hadn't heard of, like the water pipit. It's less confident with distant or backlit subjects, though, and it drew a blank on a peregrine falcon I spotted, likely because the bird was too well camouflaged against its perch for the system to extract enough detail; you need a clean, in-focus shot for reliable results, and that's not always easy to get.

Which brings me to the scope's chief weakness: autofocus. It's sluggish, and for fast or skittish birds, I found myself reaching for manual focus. It's a similar story with the image stabilization; GoBirding recommends a tripod over handheld use, and having tried both, I heartily agree. Mounted up, footage steadies out nicely; handheld, especially at higher magnifications, it completely fails to remain level.

Image quality itself is a mixed bag. 4K/30fps video looks reasonably sharp at native zoom, but push into the digital range beyond 30x and detail falls off fast. Colors also tend toward the oversaturated — skies in particular can look implausibly turquoise — and the bokeh has an odd, angular quality unlike anything I've seen from a superzoom camera, more chain-link fence than creamy blur.

The companion app is spotty too. Second-screening — letting someone else see what you're viewing through the scope on their phone — works well, and is genuinely useful for shared birding trips. But other features feel unfinished: the app never once managed to log my location correctly, defaulting instead to a spot on the equator, and it doesn't automatically record the time or place of AI-identified sightings, which feels like a missed opportunity given how central data-logging is to the scope's appeal.

Pricing, like a skittish sparrow, remains something of a moving target. GoBirding has confirmed an official retail price of $999, with Kickstarter backers able to secure an Early Bird unit for significantly less depending on tier; there will also be an as-yet-unspecified Super Early Bird VIP discount available too. The Kickstarter campaign is expected to arrive around August 20, with shipping to follow in batches after that — but I should caution that all of this remains subject to change.

GoBirding Vision Master: Price and availability

• Official retail price set to be $999 (about £750 / AU$1,450)
• Kickstarter Early Bird pricing from $649 (about £490 / AU$940)
• Kickstarter campaign expected to launch around August 20, 2026

The M1 isn't on sale yet. GoBirding's Kickstarter campaign is expected to launch around August 20, 2026, offering backers an Early Bird price from $649 to $699 depending on tier. That's well below the $999 official retail price, which will apply once the M1 reaches general sale. A further Super Early Bird VIP discount has also been promised, though GoBirding hasn't yet specified the terms.

GoBirding hasn't published official GBP or AUD pricing, so the conversions above are calculated at current exchange rates rather than confirmed figures. Production is reportedly already underway, with shipping to begin shortly after the Kickstarter campaign wraps and orders are confirmed. There's no word yet on wider retail availability beyond that, however.

At $999, the M1 sits close in price to premium bridge cameras like the Nikon Coolpix P1100, but well below high-end AI optics like the Swarovski AX Visio. My gut feeling is that it's a rather steep price to pay for a scope that doesn't feel completely finished in terms of features and has some image-quality issues, but given that there's not really anything else like it on the market, it's hard to say what something like this should cost.

GoBirding Vision Master: SpecsLeica SL3-P specs

Zoom:

30x optical, up to 120x hybrid

Sensor:

1/2.7-inch CMOS

Video:

Up to 4K/30fps; 1080p/120fps

Viewfinder:

1080p Micro OLED, 0.49-inch

Stabilization:

OIS (optical image stabilization)

Storage:

microSD, up to 512GB (not included)

Battery life:

Around 6 hours of continuous use

Waterproofing:

IP65

Dimensions:

11.7 x 3.22 x 4.3 inches / 297.6 x 82 x 110mm

Weight:

32.8oz / 932g (inc tripod mount)

GoBirding Vision Master: Design

• Solid, weatherproof IP65 build
• Tripod-ready straight out of the box
• Weighs around 32.8oz / 930g

Picking up the M1, the first thing I noticed was the heft-to-size ratio — it's a dense, reassuringly solid object, rather than something that feels hollow or plasticky. The forest-green and gunmetal-grey colorway feels like an appropriate choice for a birding tool, and should blend into foliage far better than a garish action-cam-orange scope would.

The controls are nicely tactile and have a rubbery finish, which suits outdoor use: there's a push-pull zoom joystick (which can be tilted left and right to manually focus), a dedicated AI recognition button, and separate stills/video capture controls, and they're all operable by feel alone, which is helpful when you're trying to keep your eyes on a parakeet rather than the top of the scope. The eyepiece itself houses a 1080p micro-OLED display, is angled nicely for extended viewing sessions, and can be twisted to adjust focus. As a glasses wearer, I found it comfortable and easy to get a nice sharp view.

Future | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam Kieldsen

A pull-out rubber flap protects the microSD slot and USB-C port. I found that I wasn't able to transfer videos and images over to my MacBook Air via USB (the scope didn't show up as an openable drive in Finder) so I had to pop out the card, put it in a card reader and do it that way. Also, my sample didn't come with a microSD card, so you may need to buy one if you don't already have one going spare.

A tripod mount is attached to the underside, and given how much GoBirding leans on tripod use for its stabilization claims (more on that in the Performance section below), it's good that they haven't made you buy one separately or hunt for a compatible adapter. The mount can be removed by loosening a nut if you want to slim things down a bit and shoot handheld, but I kept it attached the whole time I was testing.

In the box you get a drawstring storage bag, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and protective push-on rubber caps for both the front element and the eyepiece. The caps are a nice idea in theory, but in practice they had an irritating habit of working themselves loose while the scope was in my backpack.

GoBirding Vision Master: Performance

• AI recognition impresses more often than it disappoints
• Autofocus is the scope's biggest let-down
• Image quality is solid in good light, shakier elsewhere

The M1's AI bird identification is simple to use — you just tap the AI button to toggle on a red box indicator, then center the bird within the box until the name appears on-screen — and mostly delivers on its promise. GoBirding claims 1,500 species identifiable offline and over 10,000 via the companion app, and across my testing it correctly called out common species like cormorants, rock pigeons and herring gulls, alongside less familiar ones — the water pipit, Caspian gull and great black-backed gull all got flagged, the latter two of which I'd wrongly assumed were regular herring gulls. I also tested it on a batch of still photos, and it was accurate the vast majority of the time, with only the occasional misidentification.

It's not infallible, though. The system needs a clean, sharply-focused subject to work with, so extreme-range or backlit birds (reduced to little more than silhouettes) routinely trip it up. It also failed to recognize a peregrine falcon I spotted perched on a distant church tower, most likely due to both the range and because its plumage blended in too well with the stonework for the AI to extract meaningful detail.

Autofocus isn't a strong point. It's noticeably sluggish and inaccurate, and for anything fast-moving or skittish I found manual focus the faster and more reliable option. Combine that with image stabilization that GoBirding itself admits works best with a tripod, and handheld shooting at higher magnifications becomes frustrating. Mounted up, footage steadies out nicely, but when you're shooting freehand, especially at the long end of that zoom range, you'll struggle to keep it level. Even when using a tripod, I found it almost impossible to get steady footage at 120x zoom.

Future | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam Kieldsen

Image quality is a mixed bag, and here the small 1/2.7-inch CMOS sensor is a limiting factor throughout. In good light, 4K/30fps footage and 8MP stills at native zoom look reasonably crisp, but push into the digital zoom range beyond 30x and detail falls away quickly, as you'd expect from a sensor this size.

Colors also look oversaturated by default — skies in particular can be implausibly turquoise — and bokeh has an odd, angular character, more chain-link fence than the smooth, attractive background blur you'd get from a larger-sensor camera.

Should you buy the GoBirding Vision Master?Buy it if...

You want bird identification without a guide
The on-device recognition system works well enough to speed up confirming species in the field — arguably a handier trick than raw zoom power alone.

You mainly shoot from a tripod
Mount it up and the M1's stabilization and AI accuracy improve, and that ambitious zoom range becomes an asset instead of a challenge.

Don't buy it if...

You need it to work handheld
Stabilization struggles without a tripod, especially at higher magnifications — a real problem for a device that claims to offer grab-and-go convenience.

You're fussy about image quality
The small sensor, inaccurate color metering and unusual angular bokeh mean this won't satisfy anyone used to a proper superzoom camera or a dedicated wildlife lens.

Also consider

CoolPix P1100

If reach matters more than AI cleverness, the Coolpix P1100 goes further than the M1: its 125x optical zoom stretches to a 3000mm-equivalent focal length, more than double the M1's maximum. It's a conventional superzoom camera rather than a purpose-built birding tool, so you won't get on-device species recognition, and its small 1/2.3-inch sensor means image quality has its own well-documented limitations in anything but good light.

Read our Nikon P1000 reviewView Deal

Sony RX10 V

A very different proposition, the RX10 V pairs a much larger 1-inch sensor with a 24-600mm lens, and delivers image quality and autofocus performance that the M1 simply can't touch. Its 25x optical zoom falls well short of the M1's reach, and there's no AI bird identification here, but if outright photographic quality is your priority over specialized birding features, it's in a different league. It costs well over twice as much as the M1, though.

Read our Sony RX10 V reviewView Deal

How I tested the GoBirding Vision Master

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

• Tested over several weeks in several locations including a country park, the seafront, and a local churchyard
• Shot in a range of light conditions during the UK summer
• Tested handheld and tripod-mounted

I spent several weeks testing a review sample of the GoBirding Vision Master supplied to me by the manufacturers, across a range of locations near my home, aiming to put its birding-specific features through their paces in the kind of everyday settings a typical user would actually experience.

A local country park with a birding hide, and my town's seafront gave me a good mix of woodland, marshland and open-water species to test the AI recognition on. A nearby churchyard, home to a resident family of peregrine falcons, gave me the chance to test the M1 against a truly challenging subject: a stealthy bird of prey that spends much of its time perched high and partially obscured.

Across all locations, I tested both handheld and tripod-mounted use. I used the on-device AI identification extensively in the field, and separately tested it against a batch of still photos to assess accuracy outside of live conditions.

All shooting was carried out during a hot, dry summer spell, so while I can vouch for the M1's performance in strong sunlight, I wasn't able to test its weatherproofing in wet or cold weather.

First reviewed July 2026

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown says nearly half of the city's neighborhoods have either been evacuated or are at risk as the fires remain uncontained.

(Image credit: Young Kwak)

Pochettino came on in 2024 to right the ship ahead of this year's World Cup, in which he led the team to a record three wins and helped ignite enthusiasm in millions of fans before a round of 16 exit.

(Image credit: Martin Meissner)

As AI copilots, autonomous agents, and conversational companions continue their march into the mainstream, the teams tasked with evaluating them are no longer asking: Did the model produce the correct answer?

Increasingly, they are asking whether the system was engaging enough and created enough value for users to return tomorrow, next week or next month.

It is a shift that fundamentally changes what evaluation means.

In the age of AI, "good" is a moving target. What delights one user may frustrate another, and what offers value to one business could be deemed irrelevant by the next.

That’s why success can no longer be measured solely through generic, external benchmarks, telemetry dashboards, or "LLM-as-a-judge" scores.

Real-time signals

Models grow stronger today not by adhering to an external standard, but based on traces and real-time signals from inside the organization. Evaluation, in fact, is becoming a core part of how organizations build and protect their competitive advantage.

Companies are increasingly creating private evaluation systems in-house that measure progress against outcomes that matter to their business, using real workflows, institutional knowledge, and accumulated judgment as the standard.

The new goal is not simply to assess model performance, but to create a learning loop where human expertise continuously improves AI systems and AI systems amplify human expertise in return.

This feedback cycle turns organizational knowledge into a compounding asset. Every interaction generates new training signals, strengthens institutional memory and improves future performance.

In this new world, private evaluation is the mechanism through which firms build, retain and compound their unique intellectual capital.

Tools no longer fit for purpose

In agentic systems, the quality of the experience emerges over long sequences of interactions rather than individual outputs.

Many evaluation benchmarks still rely heavily on turn-level analysis, measuring isolated prompt-response pairs against predefined criteria. Those can identify a model's capabilities in theories – hallucinations, toxicity or syntax errors – but they can’t reliably determine whether a forgotten preference, a broken memory chain or a subtle degradation in user experience caused a user to disengage days or weeks later.

With the growing adoption of consumer AI, preference learning increasingly operates across the entire user journey instead of within isolated prompts. A dashboard can score an individual response, but it cannot fully understand why a user returned three days later, abandoned a workflow midway through a session or learned to fully trust one interaction versus another.

Those signals often live inside the product itself.

AI redefining evaluation: first-party takes the stage

This is why evaluation is moving from a support function on the sidelines to a core product capability.

Development teams are increasingly moving away from external dashboards and generalized scoring systems and building proprietary feedback loops directly into their products. These systems combine behavioral analytics, user retention data, preference learning, reinforcement signals and post-training pipelines tailored to their own applications.

Their reasoning is simple: staying close to the user is the only way to understand what "good" actually means.

The AI companies poised to win are those building closed-loop systems that connect user behavior, offline analysis, reward-model recalibration and online validation. The most advanced AI products already use live behavioral feedback to refine responses, personalize interactions and improve retention.

Static offline benchmarks are giving way to live preference learning. Isolated, single-turn tests are being replaced by trajectory-level behavioral analysis. Evaluation is moving from the support layer to the core operating system of AI products.

The fate of traditional eval vendors

So where does this leave well-known platforms such as LangSmith, Arize, and Weights & Biases as AI providers absorb more of the stack?

Interestingly, the biggest threat these companies face may not come from Anthropic or OpenAI, but from their own customers.

These vendors are not necessarily being displaced from above. They are increasingly being bypassed and disregarded from below as AI companies realize that evaluation is inseparable from the product itself.

Generic third-party platforms can determine whether an answer resembles benchmark data. External observability vendors can process telemetry and surface analytics. But they are not truly connected to the context that increasingly defines product quality.

Every serious AI company is now discovering the same thing: evaluation is the product. And companies cannot outsource their product.

Defining success is the new critical moat

This shift is accelerating because the rest of the AI stack is becoming increasingly commoditized.

Access to high-performing foundation models is rapidly expanding. Startups and enterprises alike can access powerful APIs with relatively low barriers to entry. Prompt engineering is unlikely to remain a durable differentiator. Basic orchestration layers are becoming standardized. Even generic "LLM-as-a-judge" scoring systems are increasingly available as built-in platform features.

As those layers become commodities, a company's internal understanding of user success becomes a more important differentiator.

The signals that matter for a coding assistant differ from those that matter for a healthcare agent, a tutoring system or an AI companion. Even within the same category, companies may optimize for entirely different outcomes, including engagement, trust, efficiency, emotional resonance or long-term retention.

In a world where models, infrastructure and tooling are increasingly rented, defining success is something that can and must be owned. In fact, it may become the most important piece of intellectual property a company owns.

We've reviewed, rated, and ranked the best business software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Geekom IT13 Max: 30-second review

The Geekom IT13 Max is an interesting machine, built in the style of the usual Mini PC, yet with a quality that is slightly more solid and industrial than I’d usually expect. The design also lacks anything inspirational; it’s purely functional even down to the metal pressed backplate.

The specifications are also interesting, with a high-powered Ultra 9 185H and Arc GPU and NPU all integrated, providing impressive computing power. However, it all feels slightly limited with just 24GB of RAM that's soldered and non upgradable, then there’s the storage at just 500GB meaning that if you’re looking to store files onboard then you’ll quickly run out of space. Exactly as I discovered with the 4K video edit test in Premiere Pro and the gaming test, where it was a strict one game installed at a time.

However, as I started to look deeper at the system, you see that there’s something else going on with the RS232 and RS485 headers that means this can be integrated with a larger industry systems, well beyond anything that I have access to.

This is a mini PC that has a market in industry or as a solid machine for office use; if you work in the creative industry or fancy a bit of gaming, then while it’s powerful enough to handle quite demanding tasks, it's not the best mini PC we've tested for that, and there are better options out there.

As a standalone mini PC, it’s understated and powerful, great as a solid machine for the office that will plough through Microsoft Office applications with ease, but in reality this is a machine with a focus as part of larger industry applications.

Geekom IT13 Max: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £749 / $749
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Geekom

The IT13 Max is available direct from Geekom US for $799 and Geekom UK for £749.

It's also on sale for the same price at both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

This buys you the 24GB RAM and 500GB SSD version that I have looked at in this review. There are, however, two present versions of this machine available. The other is what seems to be the lower-specified 16GB DDR5 with a 1TB SSD option; however, this machine offers two SO-DIMM slots accepting up to 96GB, which would be better suited for creatives, especially if used with an eGPU.

From now until August 15, TechRadar Pro readers can score an 8% discount when buying from either Geekom or Amazon when using the code TRT13MAX.

• Value: 4/5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Specs

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 16 cores / 22 threads
Cache: 1.6MB L1, 18MB L2, 24MB L3
Graphics: Intel Arc (integrated).
NPU: Intel AI Boost
Memory: 24GB LPDDR5, 6,400 MTS
Storage: 500GB PCIe Gen4 SSD. Two slots: M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen4 (to 4TB) and M.2 2242 SATA III (to 2TB), 6TB total
Display: 2 x USB4 40Gbps, 2 x HDMI 2.0, four 4K displays or 8K output
Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2 x 2.5GbE
Other: dTPM 2.0, Kensington lock, VESA mount, RS232/RS485 headers
OS: Windows 11
Dimensions: 132 x 132 x 50mm (Measured)
Weight: 840g (Weighed)

Geekom IT13 Max: Design

Lifting the machine from the packaging, the size and weight are in line with what I’ve come to expect from a standard Mini PC, coming in at 132 x 132 x 50mm and weighing in at 836g. One point about the build quality that instantly stands out is how solid this is, with its full metal build including the base plate, which is usually plastic.

The other point is that the design is about as understated as you can get; this is by no means a design piece, and it is clearly not trying to be. It feels industrial, solid and functional: something you would be happy to see bolted into a workshop or sitting as part of a production line, although that simplicity also helps it to blend into the scenery in most offices.

The port layout across the machine is also relatively well thought out, if a little dated in the approach with the four USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports across the front and the faster USB4 at the back. The front also sees a 3.5mm audio jack and the power button. On the back, alongside the two USB 4 are two HDMI 2.0, two 2.5GbE LAN RJ45, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 2.0 and DC in. On the side is an SD 4.0 card reader.

One of the feature that will be of real interest to some users are the RS232/RS485 headers; these are really features that will only appeal to those looking for a machine to use in an industrial situation, and there’s no direct accessibility to them from the exterior of the machine.

Opening the machine up by removing the metal baseplate, secured in place with four crosshead screws, you can see the two connectors along the back plate of the machine. These two internal four-pin RS‑232 and RS‑485 headers are positioned beside the rear HDMI ports, although breakout cables are not supplied.

Checking the baseplate, however, there is an extra plate that would enable you to slip the cables neatly into it, and then you’d probably need to machine an opening for the cables to exit the system.

Have never used this type of connector; I was unable to test this with the top-level 3D printers, Laser engravers and CNC machines that I look at, obviously under the threshold or where this connector type comes into play.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

These are essentially industrial-grade connections, beyond what I can test here. Still, if your CNC equipment or production machinery uses serial control, this could be an interesting solution, and there is very little else at this price offering it.

These industrial options may well be the reasoning for much of the port choices and layout, which I did find frustrating with modern kit and connectors in my office and workshop.

The two USB4 connections are great to see even if they’re hidden round the back, but there is a row of USB-A ports across the front, and these days I don’t have a single machine, device or accessory running on this type of connector.

The display support also seems like a feature to hit a headline; four 4K monitors sounds impressive, but most businesses have two or, at the most, three screens that will suffice, and rarely if ever do I see four in play.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Features

The Ultra 9 185H CPU is a headline feature, and with its 16 cores, 18MB L2 and 24MB L3 cache in a hybrid layout, and 22 logical processors, with a 2.50GHz base that boosts it to 4.64GHz and a 45W TDP, it all looks very impressive on paper.

That CPU is partnered with the Intel Arc graphics and an NPU Intel AI Boost that has impressed in past reviews and now has a proven track record for on-device AI work that the likes of Windows 11 and the Adobe Suite increasingly pull on.

The CPU is at the heart of the machine and is joined by 24GB of LPDDR5 memory in the review sample that I have taken a look at. As this memory is soldered to the motherboard, there’s no upgrade route.

However, there is another version of the same machine available with removable RAM and this ships with just 16GB but is upgradable to 96GB.

It’s worth noting that the hardware for this machine will all utilise that 24gb of RAM, which for many high-intensity applications does instantly look like a limitation in the hardware configuration for some uses.

While the RAM may be limited, the internal storage does offer a little more flexibility despite only arriving with 500GB. There are two slots: an M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen4 taking up to 4TB, and an M.2 2242 SATA III, so you do have the option of upgrading to a 6TB total.

Networking is well balanced considering the level of the hardware with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and two 2.5GbE ports.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4.5 / 5 (Will change once features are available)

Geekom IT13 Max: Performance

Getting started with the Geekom IT13 Max required the usual run-through of the Windows 11 Pro set-up, which takes between 10 and 20 minutes depending on integrations and your internet connection. Aside from the normal, there’s nothing too tricky about the process, so setting up one or multiple machines in a workplace should be quite straightforward.

The one thing to note is that this does feel like a good, robust machine, so if you are attaching this to a rig, van or other piece of equipment, the design and quality here do show that this is an ideal solution as part of larger systems and not just as something to sit on a desktop.

Once everything had loaded, I was interested to see just how fast this Ultra 9 185H machine would be, having been impressed with similar mini PCs in the past. What was apparent almost immediately was that while that CPU power was there, when it came to applications that put demand on the system, it felt as though something was holding it back.

Checking the R23 multi-core score and the 14,934 showed that the CPU was in line with other machines, and even with the slightly elevated ambient temperatures, the machine's cooling was doing its job.

Checking through the rest of the machines' settings and again Geekbench score of 13,150 for the multi-core and 2,402 single-core, PCMark7,526 overall, and a Time Spy CPU score of 10,613 against 3,508 for graphics showed once again just how good this processor is even with the integrated graphics.

However, as I started to run through the real-world tests, the performance was mixed, with Microsoft Office applications running as well as with any machine; likewise, Photoshop and Lightroom Classic ran well, with some slowing down when rendering thumbnails in libraries and in Adobe Bridge but otherwise handling images and adjustments with ease.

Opening Premiere Pro started to show the limitations, and while lite edits were fine, as soon as higher-bitrate 4K footage was loaded, the machine started to slow down. Firstly, the storage was limited, so an external drive needed to be connected and then as the timeline filled, render speeds quickly extended and the smoothness of the application faltered.

Switching over to gaming and similar traits started to show as I loaded up Hogwarts Legacy, and while the initial gameplay was fine, the graphic quality needed to be lowered, and even then the smoothness of playback was affected.

As I checked through the tests, I noted that the scores for CrystalDiskMark highlighted a decent 5,466MB/s read, but only 3,289MB/s write. This was far less than I expected for a Gen4 drive and was most likely caused by the 500GB capacity getting close to capacity.

Through the test, I was also at that point of needing to uninstall applications before installing the next, which was frustrating, so a new SSD for me would be an instant upgrade.

This lack of capacity of the SSD would also help explain the Windows Experience Index of 8.2, which for an Ultra 9 machine is low.

Looking back at the real-world tests and for office work, including writing this review and other standard light to midweight tasks using Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Suite, the machine performed well. It was only when more was demanded from the machine, such as Premiere Pro 4K edits, that it started to struggle, although it could still manage light editing without too much issue.

When I switched to gaming, those struggles followed a similar pattern. Hogwarts Legacy is playable, but a little less smooth than I would have expected for a CPU of this power, and again the memory and storage were an issue.

Benchmark results

CrystalDiskMark Read: 5,466.68 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 3,289.07 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 13,150
Geekbench CPU Single: 2,402
Geekbench GPU: 39,255
PCMark Overall: 7,526
Cinebench 2026 Multi: 3,686
Cinebench 2026 Single: 426
Cinebench R23 Multi: 14,934
Cinebench R23Single: 1,666
Fire Strike Overall: 7,830
Fire Strike Graphics: 8,362
Fire Strike Physics: 28,618
Fire Strike Combined: 3,052
Time Spy Overall: 3,899
Time Spy Graphics: 3,508
Time Spy CPU: 10,613
Wildlife Overall: 23,648
Steel Nomad Overall: 696
Windows Experience Overall: 8.2

At present, it is hot generally inside and out, and the noise generated by the machine when working under load is worth highlighting. What I liked was that the fans respond quickly as the intensity of the workload increased; during testing, the ambient temperatures were higher than usual at around 25°C in the office and 20°C in the workshop.

Regarding that noise fan, I measured ambient noise of 32.4 dB; then, with normal running, browsing the internet and using Word, the noise sits at 46.8dB, rising to 59.5dB under load.

This increase in noise essentially meant that when editing in Premiere Pro, the fan noise becomes audible, while Lightroom, Photoshop and Office work stay relatively quiet. Then when it comes to gaming, the system pushes the fans to the max as soon as the graphics load increases.

As a final note, the dual 2.5GbE networking is great to see for creative users, although I do like to see 5GbE or 10-GbE to make the most of my network. Still, 2.5GbE enables surprising transfer speeds and is a good balance between speed and cost. Two ports mean one can run to the network while the other connects directly to a NAS; this helps to speed up backups and just about makes network editing possible.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Geekom IT13 Max is an interesting machine; it is, as you’d expect from a Mini PC, compact, with plenty of connection options and perfectly suited to office work, browsing and light to medium creative tasks. It then takes the pace up a level with dual 2.5GbE networking, the ability to connect to four monitors and those two USB4 ports, but then it also has the build quality and slightly odd RAM and storage configurations.

The processor is powerful and AI-ready, which was shown in the benchmark tests; however, while 24Gb of soldered memory is fine for Office tasks and light multimedia editing, it struggles as soon as anything more graphically demanding is required. Then the 500GB drive means that you run out of space surprisingly quickly, and in the test I was only able to install one large game at any one time, although I do take into account that the storage is upgradable; still, these days 1TB is generally the minimal I would recommend.

Then there’s the build quality and those two RS232/RS485 headers which really highlight that while you can use this in the office and it will be a productive work machine, in reality its use is a little more niche and it would be better suited to demanding workflows and systems, which again explains the build and those two very focused internal connectors.

In this review I’ve looked at the fixed RAM model, and there is also the 16GB model with its SO-DIMM slots and 1TB drive which, if you do need a machine that’s robust and better for creative use, would seem like a far better buy, especially upgraded to 96GB if you need it.

Should I buy the Geekom IT13 Max?

Value

The price is high but does give you an impressive processor; however, the memory and storage limit could mean limits and further expense.

3.5/5

Design

One of the most understated Mini PCs on the market with industrial style and plenty of connections for focused use. 

4/5

Features

It’s great to see the dual USB4, Wi-Fi 7, dual 2.5GbE and the RS232/RS485 headers point to this machine being used in industrial locations. 

4/5

Performance

The CPU delivers as expected, but the rest of the configuration limits what it can do without further spend. 

3.5/5

Overall

A very capable machine, as long as you pick the right configuration for the work that you want to do.

4/5

Buy it if...

You need a machine for a workshop or production line.

The metal base plate, solid construction and RS232/RS485 headers highlight that this is a machine designed for industrial deployment, and in that setting the memory and storage are well balanced rather than limiting.

You work from a NAS

Two 2.5GbE ports let you run one connection to the network and another straight to a NAS, speeding up backups and making mid-weight 4K network editing workable.

Don't buy it if...

Your workload will grow.

The 24GB memory is soldered, so there is no upgrade path. The 16GB configuration takes up to 96GB and ships with a 1TB drive, which makes it the better buy.

You work somewhere quiet.

The fans reach 59.5dB under load against a 32.4dB ambient, and Premiere Pro or gaming will keep them there. For office and photo work, they stay quiet.

For more productivity machines, we've tested the best business computers.

Geekom IT13 Max: 30-second review

The Geekom IT13 Max is an interesting machine, built in the style of the usual Mini PC, yet with a quality that is slightly more solid and industrial than I’d usually expect. The design also lacks anything inspirational; it’s purely functional even down to the metal pressed backplate.

The specifications are also interesting, with a high-powered Ultra 9 185H and Arc GPU and NPU all integrated, providing impressive computing power. However, it all feels slightly limited with just 24GB of RAM that's soldered and non upgradable, then there’s the storage at just 500GB meaning that if you’re looking to store files onboard then you’ll quickly run out of space. Exactly as I discovered with the 4K video edit test in Premiere Pro and the gaming test, where it was a strict one game installed at a time.

However, as I started to look deeper at the system, you see that there’s something else going on with the RS232 and RS485 headers that means this can be integrated with a larger industry systems, well beyond anything that I have access to.

This is a mini PC that has a market in industry or as a solid machine for office use; if you work in the creative industry or fancy a bit of gaming, then while it’s powerful enough to handle quite demanding tasks, it's not the best mini PC we've tested for that, and there are better options out there.

As a standalone mini PC, it’s understated and powerful, great as a solid machine for the office that will plough through Microsoft Office applications with ease, but in reality this is a machine with a focus as part of larger industry applications.

Geekom IT13 Max: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £749 / $749
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Geekom

The IT13 Max is available direct from Geekom US for $799 and Geekom UK for £749.

It's also on sale for the same price at both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

This buys you the 24GB RAM and 500GB SSD version that I have looked at in this review. There are, however, two present versions of this machine available. The other is what seems to be the lower-specified 16GB DDR5 with a 1TB SSD option; however, this machine offers two SO-DIMM slots accepting up to 96GB, which would be better suited for creatives, especially if used with an eGPU.

From now until August 15, TechRadar Pro readers can score an 8% discount when buying from either Geekom or Amazon when using the code TRT13MAX.

• Value: 4/5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Specs

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 16 cores / 22 threads
Cache: 1.6MB L1, 18MB L2, 24MB L3
Graphics: Intel Arc (integrated).
NPU: Intel AI Boost
Memory: 24GB LPDDR5, 6,400 MTS
Storage: 500GB PCIe Gen4 SSD. Two slots: M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen4 (to 4TB) and M.2 2242 SATA III (to 2TB), 6TB total
Display: 2 x USB4 40Gbps, 2 x HDMI 2.0, four 4K displays or 8K output
Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2 x 2.5GbE
Other: dTPM 2.0, Kensington lock, VESA mount, RS232/RS485 headers
OS: Windows 11
Dimensions: 132 x 132 x 50mm (Measured)
Weight: 840g (Weighed)

Geekom IT13 Max: Design

Lifting the machine from the packaging, the size and weight are in line with what I’ve come to expect from a standard Mini PC, coming in at 132 x 132 x 50mm and weighing in at 836g. One point about the build quality that instantly stands out is how solid this is, with its full metal build including the base plate, which is usually plastic.

The other point is that the design is about as understated as you can get; this is by no means a design piece, and it is clearly not trying to be. It feels industrial, solid and functional: something you would be happy to see bolted into a workshop or sitting as part of a production line, although that simplicity also helps it to blend into the scenery in most offices.

The port layout across the machine is also relatively well thought out, if a little dated in the approach with the four USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports across the front and the faster USB4 at the back. The front also sees a 3.5mm audio jack and the power button. On the back, alongside the two USB 4 are two HDMI 2.0, two 2.5GbE LAN RJ45, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 2.0 and DC in. On the side is an SD 4.0 card reader.

One of the feature that will be of real interest to some users are the RS232/RS485 headers; these are really features that will only appeal to those looking for a machine to use in an industrial situation, and there’s no direct accessibility to them from the exterior of the machine.

Opening the machine up by removing the metal baseplate, secured in place with four crosshead screws, you can see the two connectors along the back plate of the machine. These two internal four-pin RS‑232 and RS‑485 headers are positioned beside the rear HDMI ports, although breakout cables are not supplied.

Checking the baseplate, however, there is an extra plate that would enable you to slip the cables neatly into it, and then you’d probably need to machine an opening for the cables to exit the system.

Have never used this type of connector; I was unable to test this with the top-level 3D printers, Laser engravers and CNC machines that I look at, obviously under the threshold or where this connector type comes into play.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

These are essentially industrial-grade connections, beyond what I can test here. Still, if your CNC equipment or production machinery uses serial control, this could be an interesting solution, and there is very little else at this price offering it.

These industrial options may well be the reasoning for much of the port choices and layout, which I did find frustrating with modern kit and connectors in my office and workshop.

The two USB4 connections are great to see even if they’re hidden round the back, but there is a row of USB-A ports across the front, and these days I don’t have a single machine, device or accessory running on this type of connector.

The display support also seems like a feature to hit a headline; four 4K monitors sounds impressive, but most businesses have two or, at the most, three screens that will suffice, and rarely if ever do I see four in play.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Features

The Ultra 9 185H CPU is a headline feature, and with its 16 cores, 18MB L2 and 24MB L3 cache in a hybrid layout, and 22 logical processors, with a 2.50GHz base that boosts it to 4.64GHz and a 45W TDP, it all looks very impressive on paper.

That CPU is partnered with the Intel Arc graphics and an NPU Intel AI Boost that has impressed in past reviews and now has a proven track record for on-device AI work that the likes of Windows 11 and the Adobe Suite increasingly pull on.

The CPU is at the heart of the machine and is joined by 24GB of LPDDR5 memory in the review sample that I have taken a look at. As this memory is soldered to the motherboard, there’s no upgrade route.

However, there is another version of the same machine available with removable RAM and this ships with just 16GB but is upgradable to 96GB.

It’s worth noting that the hardware for this machine will all utilise that 24gb of RAM, which for many high-intensity applications does instantly look like a limitation in the hardware configuration for some uses.

While the RAM may be limited, the internal storage does offer a little more flexibility despite only arriving with 500GB. There are two slots: an M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen4 taking up to 4TB, and an M.2 2242 SATA III, so you do have the option of upgrading to a 6TB total.

Networking is well balanced considering the level of the hardware with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and two 2.5GbE ports.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4.5 / 5 (Will change once features are available)

Geekom IT13 Max: Performance

Getting started with the Geekom IT13 Max required the usual run-through of the Windows 11 Pro set-up, which takes between 10 and 20 minutes depending on integrations and your internet connection. Aside from the normal, there’s nothing too tricky about the process, so setting up one or multiple machines in a workplace should be quite straightforward.

The one thing to note is that this does feel like a good, robust machine, so if you are attaching this to a rig, van or other piece of equipment, the design and quality here do show that this is an ideal solution as part of larger systems and not just as something to sit on a desktop.

Once everything had loaded, I was interested to see just how fast this Ultra 9 185H machine would be, having been impressed with similar mini PCs in the past. What was apparent almost immediately was that while that CPU power was there, when it came to applications that put demand on the system, it felt as though something was holding it back.

Checking the R23 multi-core score and the 14,934 showed that the CPU was in line with other machines, and even with the slightly elevated ambient temperatures, the machine's cooling was doing its job.

Checking through the rest of the machines' settings and again Geekbench score of 13,150 for the multi-core and 2,402 single-core, PCMark7,526 overall, and a Time Spy CPU score of 10,613 against 3,508 for graphics showed once again just how good this processor is even with the integrated graphics.

However, as I started to run through the real-world tests, the performance was mixed, with Microsoft Office applications running as well as with any machine; likewise, Photoshop and Lightroom Classic ran well, with some slowing down when rendering thumbnails in libraries and in Adobe Bridge but otherwise handling images and adjustments with ease.

Opening Premiere Pro started to show the limitations, and while lite edits were fine, as soon as higher-bitrate 4K footage was loaded, the machine started to slow down. Firstly, the storage was limited, so an external drive needed to be connected and then as the timeline filled, render speeds quickly extended and the smoothness of the application faltered.

Switching over to gaming and similar traits started to show as I loaded up Hogwarts Legacy, and while the initial gameplay was fine, the graphic quality needed to be lowered, and even then the smoothness of playback was affected.

As I checked through the tests, I noted that the scores for CrystalDiskMark highlighted a decent 5,466MB/s read, but only 3,289MB/s write. This was far less than I expected for a Gen4 drive and was most likely caused by the 500GB capacity getting close to capacity.

Through the test, I was also at that point of needing to uninstall applications before installing the next, which was frustrating, so a new SSD for me would be an instant upgrade.

This lack of capacity of the SSD would also help explain the Windows Experience Index of 8.2, which for an Ultra 9 machine is low.

Looking back at the real-world tests and for office work, including writing this review and other standard light to midweight tasks using Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Suite, the machine performed well. It was only when more was demanded from the machine, such as Premiere Pro 4K edits, that it started to struggle, although it could still manage light editing without too much issue.

When I switched to gaming, those struggles followed a similar pattern. Hogwarts Legacy is playable, but a little less smooth than I would have expected for a CPU of this power, and again the memory and storage were an issue.

Benchmark results

CrystalDiskMark Read: 5,466.68 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 3,289.07 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 13,150
Geekbench CPU Single: 2,402
Geekbench GPU: 39,255
PCMark Overall: 7,526
Cinebench 2026 Multi: 3,686
Cinebench 2026 Single: 426
Cinebench R23 Multi: 14,934
Cinebench R23Single: 1,666
Fire Strike Overall: 7,830
Fire Strike Graphics: 8,362
Fire Strike Physics: 28,618
Fire Strike Combined: 3,052
Time Spy Overall: 3,899
Time Spy Graphics: 3,508
Time Spy CPU: 10,613
Wildlife Overall: 23,648
Steel Nomad Overall: 696
Windows Experience Overall: 8.2

At present, it is hot generally inside and out, and the noise generated by the machine when working under load is worth highlighting. What I liked was that the fans respond quickly as the intensity of the workload increased; during testing, the ambient temperatures were higher than usual at around 25°C in the office and 20°C in the workshop.

Regarding that noise fan, I measured ambient noise of 32.4 dB; then, with normal running, browsing the internet and using Word, the noise sits at 46.8dB, rising to 59.5dB under load.

This increase in noise essentially meant that when editing in Premiere Pro, the fan noise becomes audible, while Lightroom, Photoshop and Office work stay relatively quiet. Then when it comes to gaming, the system pushes the fans to the max as soon as the graphics load increases.

As a final note, the dual 2.5GbE networking is great to see for creative users, although I do like to see 5GbE or 10-GbE to make the most of my network. Still, 2.5GbE enables surprising transfer speeds and is a good balance between speed and cost. Two ports mean one can run to the network while the other connects directly to a NAS; this helps to speed up backups and just about makes network editing possible.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Geekom IT13 Max is an interesting machine; it is, as you’d expect from a Mini PC, compact, with plenty of connection options and perfectly suited to office work, browsing and light to medium creative tasks. It then takes the pace up a level with dual 2.5GbE networking, the ability to connect to four monitors and those two USB4 ports, but then it also has the build quality and slightly odd RAM and storage configurations.

The processor is powerful and AI-ready, which was shown in the benchmark tests; however, while 24Gb of soldered memory is fine for Office tasks and light multimedia editing, it struggles as soon as anything more graphically demanding is required. Then the 500GB drive means that you run out of space surprisingly quickly, and in the test I was only able to install one large game at any one time, although I do take into account that the storage is upgradable; still, these days 1TB is generally the minimal I would recommend.

Then there’s the build quality and those two RS232/RS485 headers which really highlight that while you can use this in the office and it will be a productive work machine, in reality its use is a little more niche and it would be better suited to demanding workflows and systems, which again explains the build and those two very focused internal connectors.

In this review I’ve looked at the fixed RAM model, and there is also the 16GB model with its SO-DIMM slots and 1TB drive which, if you do need a machine that’s robust and better for creative use, would seem like a far better buy, especially upgraded to 96GB if you need it.

Should I buy the Geekom IT13 Max?

Value

The price is high but does give you an impressive processor; however, the memory and storage limit could mean limits and further expense.

3.5/5

Design

One of the most understated Mini PCs on the market with industrial style and plenty of connections for focused use. 

4/5

Features

It’s great to see the dual USB4, Wi-Fi 7, dual 2.5GbE and the RS232/RS485 headers point to this machine being used in industrial locations. 

4/5

Performance

The CPU delivers as expected, but the rest of the configuration limits what it can do without further spend. 

3.5/5

Overall

A very capable machine, as long as you pick the right configuration for the work that you want to do.

4/5

Buy it if...

You need a machine for a workshop or production line.

The metal base plate, solid construction and RS232/RS485 headers highlight that this is a machine designed for industrial deployment, and in that setting the memory and storage are well balanced rather than limiting.

You work from a NAS

Two 2.5GbE ports let you run one connection to the network and another straight to a NAS, speeding up backups and making mid-weight 4K network editing workable.

Don't buy it if...

Your workload will grow.

The 24GB memory is soldered, so there is no upgrade path. The 16GB configuration takes up to 96GB and ships with a 1TB drive, which makes it the better buy.

You work somewhere quiet.

The fans reach 59.5dB under load against a 32.4dB ambient, and Premiere Pro or gaming will keep them there. For office and photo work, they stay quiet.

For more productivity machines, we've tested the best business computers.

• The ongoing RAM crisis is projected to continue through 2028
• Samsung says memory shortages are expected to worsen in 2027
• Deloitte reports the big three RAM manufacturers are anticipated to have a combined capital expenditure that will nearly quadruple between 2024 and 2027

The RAM crisis isn't letting up, with shortages continuing to impact PC hardware manufacturers. Unfortunately, it looks like it may become the new normal.

As reported by TweakTown, Samsung says it expects ongoing memory shortages to worsen in 2027 and continue through 2028. This will directly impact consumers with increasingly high retail prices for RAM kits, game consoles, and pre-built PCs.

Samsung's memory chip executive vice president, Jaejune Kim, said to investors in the latest earnings call: "We believe it will be unlikely to see any increase in incremental supply through 2028. The supply constraints are expected to become even more severe in 2027."

Essentially, that means the price increases we've seen for Sony's PS5, Microsoft's Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and, frankly, next-generation consoles will likely face the same consequences of the price hike trend.

The same can be said for Valve's Steam Machine, where Valve previously stated the retail price isn't what it wanted, with suggestions of an initial $750 target. However, the RAM crisis effectively forced Valve's hand, where it couldn't subsidize the Steam Machine the same way it did with the Steam Deck.

(Image credit: Unsplash / Liam Briese)

Unfortunately, it's not just Samsung that forecasts the RAM crisis worsening. Gamesbeat highlights Deloitte's report, which anticipates an increase in the big three's (Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron) combined capital spending to nearly 340% from 2024 to 2027.

However, new supply from that increased spending isn't expected to arrive until 2029 or 2030, so the RAM crisis is seemingly only just getting started. It frankly means Samsung's estimation is rather optimistic, painting a smaller picture of just how bad the memory shortages are.

Manufacturers and consumers are perhaps now at a stage where the RAM crisis may be a new normal, completely shifting the PC hardware market into an unstable condition.

GPU prices have increased over the last few months, with Nvidia introducing older options via the RTX 3060, and AMD unveiling a new Radeon RX 9050 8GB GPU. Both cases are a strong indication that the market is in its worst state in decades, and there isn't much hope ahead as it stands.

Whether you're running out of storage, thinking of upgrading an ageing system, or building a new creative rig, fast NVMe SSDs remain one of the easiest ways to breathe new life into a desktop PC.

And right now, the 2TB Samsung 990 SSD is down to $370 (was $530) at Amazon - while the 1TB model also gets a discount to $230 on the same page.

It delivers sequential read speeds of up to 7,250 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,450 MB/s, alongside random performance of up to 850K read IOPS and 1,200K write IOPS for responsive everyday use.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Samsung 990 2TB SSD if...

You want a fast, spacious NVMe drive for creative work, or a new PC build. With sequential read/write speeds of up to 7,250/6,450 MB/s, a 2TB capacity, hardware encryption, and improved power efficiency, it's well suited to large libraries, high-resolution media, and demanding everyday workloads.

❌ Skip the Samsung 990 2TB SSD if...

Your PC doesn't support PCIe 4.0 speeds or you mainly browse the web, stream media, and work with documents. You'll pay a premium for performance that lighter workloads won't fully benefit from, and a cheaper PCIe 3.0 or entry-level NVMe SSD will still deliver a substantial upgrade over a hard drive or older SATA SSD.

Today's top SSD deal

Delivering up to 7,250 MB/s read and 6,450 MB/s write speeds, the Samsung 990 combines 2TB of storage, hardware encryption, improved power efficiency, and SSD management software.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Samsung's 990 SSD combines outstanding PCIe 4.0 performance with plenty of capacity for demanding workloads. Read speeds of up to 7,250 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,450 MB/s make everything from booting Windows to transferring large files noticeably faster.

The 2TB capacity is enough room for growing projects, while hardware encryption, improved power efficiency, and Samsung's SSD management software add extra long-term value.

Price Context & Historical Value

At $369.99, down from its usual price of $529.99, the 2TB Samsung 990 SSD is a serious, solid purchase and one we'd definitely recommend. It's not only the cheapest it's been in 30 days on Amazon, it's as cheap as it's ever been there, so we'd definitely recommend you snap it up now, and save yourself $160, before the price rises again.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

You'll need a desktop with an available M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot to get the most from this drive. While it works in older systems, you won't see its full performance. It's also more expensive than mainstream NVMe SSDs, so lighter workloads are often better served by a cheaper alternative.

Also consider this Samsung SSD deal

The Samsung 990 Pro SSD is still one of the best around - especially at an unbeatable price like this. In our review, we hailed it as "an absolutely stellar M.2 SSD for both professional users and gamers." View Deal

• Shop all internal SSDs at Amazon

• Proton VPN silently issued a major client-side rebuild of the existing WireGuard codebase
• Proton Protocols introduces automatic network conflict detection, quicker server connections, and an in-app connection rating system
• The upgrade is currently in beta on Windows, Android, and Linux

When choosing the best VPN to protect your digital life, the underlying architecture is just as important as the server count. Now, Proton VPN has quietly delivered a massive under-the-hood upgrade designed to turbocharge performance and bypass online restrictions more effectively.

Discovered in the version 5.1.5 release notes for its Windows application, the Swiss-based privacy giant has officially introduced Proton Protocols. Described as a complete client-side rebuild of the provider's existing WireGuard codebase, this new architecture entirely overhauls how the application communicates with Proton's global network of servers.

For everyday users, this translates to immediate, noticeable improvements in the app's responsiveness. The update promises quicker, more stable connections, alongside new smart tools designed to eliminate frustrating connection errors.

Notably, the update introduces automatic network conflict detection, which can identify when other software on your device — like a strict firewall or third-party antivirus — is interfering with your VPN tunnel.

The rebuild also serves a crucial purpose for users navigating restrictive digital environments. By overhauling the underlying code, Proton is actively boosting its anti-censorship capabilities, ensuring journalists, activists, and everyday citizens can maintain safe, unrestricted access to the open web.

3. Proton VPN – best for privacy
The popular privacy-first VPN continues to invest in delivering the best Linux VPN possible. Before adding support for its Stealth protocol, the provider has been upgrading its apps with features like split tunneling, better stability across the board, and broader distro compatibility. Subscriptions start from the equivalent of $2.99 per month and are all protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

Why Proton Protocols matters

The shift to the new Proton Protocols codebase isn't just a simple bug-fixing patch. It represents a foundational shift, originally teased in the provider's recent Spring/Summer 2026 roadmap, designed to unify performance and features across all operating systems.

A Proton spokesperson explained to TechRadar that the new codebase is easier to integrate with all the languages natively supported and can be deployed across platforms, while adapting to different environments and bringing improved feature parity.

"For example, it has allowed Proton VPN to bring the Stealth protocol to Linux, improve anti-censorship capabilities, and lay the groundwork for post-quantum encryption," said Proton's spokesperson.

In other words, by standardizing the codebase, the company can deploy complex features to operating systems that are traditionally left behind. And, beyond preparing the platform for next-generation security threats like quantum computing, the rebuild makes life significantly easier for the development team.

"Issues within our apps will be easier to diagnose and fix, and it unlocks the next generation of Proton VPN performance," the spokesperson added.

What else is new in version 5.1.5?

While the new architecture steals the spotlight, the 5.1.5 Windows release also packs in several important quality-of-life updates aimed at refining the user experience.

If you occasionally run into issues where a sudden app or device crash leaves your DNS rules active, potentially blocking your regular web browsing after disconnecting from the VPN, this update officially fixes that bug. It also patches a known reconnection flaw specifically impacting users with IPv6 connectivity.

Furthermore, Proton is leaning on its community to help fine-tune future updates by introducing a direct connection feedback tool. Users can now instantly rate their connection quality with a simple thumbs up or thumbs down directly within the interface.

While the 5.1.5 update brings these features to Windows users today, the wider deployment of the new architecture is still ongoing.

"The update is currently in beta on Windows, Android, and Linux, with Apple coming soon," the company confirmed to TechRadar.

If you're tired of juggling multiple chargers and tangled cables, a high-capacity desktop charging station can make a huge difference, and the price of the Anker Prime 200W 6-Port GaN dock and charging station has dropped to $56 (was $80) at Amazon.

The compact desktop charger delivers up to 200W of combined power through four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, allowing you to charge up to six devices from a single unit. In the UK, the charging station also gets a price cut to £55 (was £70) at Amazon.co.uk.

Two of the USB-C ports can each provide up to 100W when used together, making it suitable for power-hungry laptops as well as phones, tablets, earbuds, and other accessories. Despite the high output, the charger measures just 4.4 x 3.0 x 1.4 inches, includes a five-foot power cable, and comes backed by a 24-month warranty.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Anker Prime Charging Station if...

You regularly charge multiple devices throughout the day and want to replace a collection of separate chargers with one compact desktop unit. With a combined 200W output, four USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and dual 100W USB-C charging, it has enough power for laptops, phones, tablets, and accessories while taking up very little desk space.

❌ Skip the Anker Prime Charging Station if...

You only need to charge one or two devices at a time or want something to carry in a backpack. This charger is designed as a permanent desktop solution rather than a travel accessory, and its 200W output and six-port layout will be more than many people need.

Today's top Anker charging station deal

Power up to six devices simultaneously with this compact 200W GaN desktop charger featuring four USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, dual 100W USB-C charging, temperature monitoring, a 24-month warranty, and broad laptop and smartphone compatibility.

In the UK: now £55 (was £70)View Deal

Why we recommend it

One of the biggest strengths of the Anker Prime Charging Station is that it combines high power output with a practical desktop design that genuinely reduces cable clutter. In his review, senior writer Harry said: "Charging products really don’t get much better than the Anker Prime Charger."

He went on to add, "This charging station boasts high power output, multiple port types and quality design, all at a fantastic price-point. There’s no display here, as seen with some of the other Anker Prime products, but otherwise this is a near-perfect station that will fulfill all your charging needs."

Price Context & Historical Value

At $55.99 the Anker Prime Charging Station is at its lowest price in 30 days, and although it has been cheaper in the past, only by a couple of dollars. If you're thinking of buying this product, this is a great time to do so, and you definitely won't be disappointed at this price.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The Anker Prime is built for people charging multiple devices every day, so it's probably overkill if you only need to top up a phone or tablet. Plenty of cheaper single and dual-port chargers will handle those tasks for less.

It's also a fairly straightforward charging station, with no display or companion app for monitoring power delivery or customizing settings. This isn't the most feature-rich option available.

• US: Shop all docks and charging stations
• UK: See all docks and charging stations at Amazon.co.uk

• Researchers discover critical vulnerability in forensic software that allows the undetectable modification of DNA samples on crime-scene evidence
• The vulnerability allows much of the crime-scene evidence from the past 30 years to be modified
• A patch is in the works, and the company responsible for the software says that digital signatures have been implemented to monitor for modification attempts

A group of forensic and computer scientists have raised concerns about the security of software used by top US crime labs to analyze DNA evidence.

By using an AI model, the researchers were able to undetectably modify computerized scans of physical DNA evidence, exclusive Wall Street Journal reported. As the vulnerability relates to digital files made by crime labs since 1995, the vulnerability places 30 years of crime files at risk of being tampered with.

“Effectively, what we have are data files that are legitimately referred to as the gold standard of forensic science that lack the same level of tamper-evident markings that we require for a paper bag,” said Laura Gaydosh Combs, a University of New Haven professor and forensic scientist who contributed to the research.

No known instances of ‘undetectable’ exploitation

The researchers disclosed the vulnerability in May. Thermo Fisher Scientific, the company that builds the crime-lab equipment used across most US facilities, privately acknowledging the vulnerability in July 2026. The company said that a fix is currently in progress.

In a separate note to customers, Thermo Fisher Scientific said there were no known instances of the vulnerability being exploited.

But the researchers themselves have said that they could not find a way to detect if tampering had taken place. The vulnerability was tested by Nathan Adams, a systems engineer at Forensic Bioinformatics. In just 45 minutes, Adams managed to successfully exploit the vulnerability using Anthropic’s Claude, and modify a file.

Despite some of the files being sealed using a more advanced encryption algorithm, Adams was able to find and use a decryption key available on the internet to crack into these files.

The researchers highlighted that by using AI tools to gain the necessary skills and tools, a hacker could abuse the vulnerability to add or remove DNA profiles from crime-scene evidence. Therefore allowing a suspect’s DNA to be removed, or an innocent person’s DNA added.

“Lessons learned from other industries haven’t been imported into forensic science in a serious way,” said Sarah Chu, the director of policy and reform at the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice who worked on the research. “We’ve been behind the ball for so long. That kind of all rolls downhill into this incident.”

The lack of any centralized regulator on forensics has left over 200 labs with a patchwork of security measures, Chu added.

In a statement to the WSJ, Thermo Fisher Scientific said, “We have been working closely with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency since the software issue was raised. We appreciate the work of forensic researchers on this topic, and we have released a software update that implements the use of digital signatures to add an extra layer of protection that moving forward will help customers verify that data files have not been modified.”

It's nearly time to continue the AFC Richmond journey. Three years after we thought Ted Lasso had ended, the hugely popular Apple TV original is returning for its fourth season — and, this time, the titular soccer coach is set to manage the club's newly founded women's team.

So, will Ted be able to work his magic once more and make AFC Richmond Women a force to be reckoned with? And who among the show's supporting cast is back for Ted Lasso season 4?

I can't answer the former, but you'll want to read our Ted Lasso season 4 guide for more on the latter. Alternatively, you could just read on to find out when the series' next episode will air — so, if that's all you're here for, scroll on!

What time can I watch Ted Lasso season 4 episode 1?

Ted Lasso season 4 episode 1 is expected to make its Apple TV debut on Wednesday, August 5 at 12am PT / 3am ET.

'Expected' is the keyword here, too. You see, in recent times, the first episode of numerous other new and returning Apple TV series has actually come out in the US and Canada on Tuesday evenings. If Ted Lasso 4 follows suit, its first episode could drop on Tuesday, August 4 at 6pm PT / 9PM ET.

However, the Ted Lasso season 4 review embargo is scheduled to lift at 12am PT on August 5. It would be odd for this season's first chapter to air before critics have published their impressions of it. So, unless Apple unexpectedly changes the aforementioned embargo details, I'm going to play it safe and say that this season's opening number will come out on August 5.

If that is the case, here's when season 4 episode 1, titled 'Home', will premiere in other countries:

• US — August 5 at 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada — August 5 at 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK — August 5 at 8am BST
• India — August 5 at 12:30pm ISY
• Singapore — August 5 at 3pm SGT
• Australia — August 5 at 5pm AEST
• New Zealand — August 5 at 7pm NZST

If — and it's a big if — Ted Lasso season 4 is released in the US and Canada on Tuesday, August 4 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET, all non-North American readers will need to do is shave six hours off the above launch times. So, in the UK, it would arrive on August 5 at 2am BST, in India on August 5 at 6:30am IST, and so on.

Ted Lasso season 4 full release schedule

I hope you're ready for 10 weeks' worth of soccer comedy-drama coziness! (Image credit: Apple TV+)

You'll be pleased to know that there's plenty more Ted Lasso on the way after this week. Indeed, nine new episodes will be released after it, with one new entry expected to debut on one of the world's best streaming services every Wednesday.

Here's a breakdown of the all-important dates you need to know:

• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 1 — August 5
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 2 — August 12
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 3 — August 19
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 4 — August 26
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 5 — September 2
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 6 — September 9
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 7 — September 16
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 8 — September 23
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 9 — September 30
• Ted Lasso season 4 episode 10 — October 7

I still consider Lies of P to be the very best of the best soulslike games you can play today. Others have come close, like the tremendously underrated Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (I also have a soft spot for 2023's flawed-but-interesting Lords of the Fallen), but none have been able to match this macabre take on the tale of Pinocchio. And I'm happy to report the game really shines on Nintendo Switch 2 with the arrival of Lies of P: Complete Edition.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: August 6, 2026

It's very much the same game that fans have loved since its 2023 release. However, Lies of P: Complete Edition also bundles in the phenomenal Overture expansion and all previously released cosmetic downloadable content (DLC).

As a result, this review will broadly focus on the game's performance on Nintendo Switch 2 and its overall value for money of Lies of P: Complete Edition. Be sure to read our original Lies of P review for a more complete rundown of the game itself, as well as our Lies of P: Overture review if you're curious about the unmissable massive expansion that released last year.

If you own a Nintendo Switch 2 and you've been waiting for a chance to play Lies of P, then you'll be well-served with Lies of P: Complete Edition. Not only does it bundle the base game and the expansion at a reasonable asking price, but it's also a winner in the performance department with robust graphics options and speedy load times. I really can't recommend it enough, especially after completing my third playthrough of the game via this Complete Edition.

It's not a perfect package; the more quality-centric graphics options are perhaps a tad too ambitious, leading to a very noticeable performance compromise. Plus, the inability to disable motion blur means you'll probably get sick of the smeary image created whenever you adjust the in-game camera.

But if you stick to the performance- or balance-oriented graphics modes in either docked or handheld play, you'll find that Lies of P mostly plays like a dream on Nintendo Switch 2.

Arms' length

(Image credit: Fireshrine Games)

As a quick catch-up (though once again I'll direct you to the review links above if you want to really learn more about the game before making a purchasing decision), Lies of P is a soulslike action game in the vein of FromSoftware-developed titles like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls trilogy.

That means you can expect a high level of difficulty, with tough boss encounters and tricky enemies. You can also expect intricate level design with plenty to explore off the beaten path, and robust build variety that lets you craft a playstyle that suits your preferences.

Best bit

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

Lies of P: Complete Edition not only packs in the awesome Overture expansion with the base game, but it offers plenty of graphics options to help you play the way you prefer. While only the performance-centered option offers 60 frames per second (fps; in docked mode only; a day-one patch will add a similar graphics option for handheld play), I found the 'Balanced' option to offer the best compromise between graphics quality and game performance.

Where Lies of P sets itself apart is in its gameplay particulars. The player character, as a puppet, can equip a variety of Legion Arms, which offer effects like applying harmful status elements, pulling enemies toward you, or laying down proximity mines for crowd control.

You can also mix and match the blade and hilt of most of the game's weapons, with different combinations changing how you swing the weapon, as well as the special moves it has access to. Finally, exploring is greatly incentivized by Quartz - a rare item that lets you unlock strong passive abilities via your P-Organ setup at the homebase of Hotel Krat. Such passives include more healing item uses, more amulet slots for applying strong combat effects, and greater effectiveness of your dodge roll.

Lies of P can be an extremely tough game, but there are two easier difficulty options if you'd prefer a more casual experience. These can be changed at any time, so feel free to switch them around if you find you're having too hard (or too easy) of a time; the game does not punish you or lock away any content on those easier difficulties.

P for Performance

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

So let's break down how Lies of P: Complete Edition runs on Nintendo Switch 2, specifically. In docked mode, on TV, you have three settings. The performance-centered option lets you play at a full 60fps, and it's tremendously smooth with little in the way of hiccups. The downside here is you lose quite a bit of graphical detail, with greatly simplified environmental detail and particle effects.

The quality-centered option swings a bit too far in the opposite direction, and while it does offer some nice-looking ray-tracing, the Switch 2 isn't quite able to keep up the pace and performance really suffers as a result. This setting also makes the camera-based motion blur very apparent, creating a Vaseline-like smear whenever you shift the camera in-game. There's no option to turn off the motion blur, either, so I would recommend avoiding this setting in both docked and handheld modes.

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

I personally found that the 'Balanced' setting offered the best results. This had the best balance between frame rate (a stable 30fps) and graphical detail. If you're going to play on TV, this is the graphics option I would strongly recommend.

There are still some caveats that are apparent across all graphics modes, though. There's very noticeable object pop-in for distant objects, especially in the game's denser areas like the Lorenzini Arcade or Overture's Krat Zoo. It's not game-breaking by any means, but it shows that some compromises had to be made for more stable performance on Switch 2.

Another annoying thing about this Switch 2 version is that you can only change graphics options from the title screen menu. That means you'll have to back out from the game to the menu every single time you want to change things up. This is another reason why I recommend just setting the game to Balanced mode from the jump. It offers the best visual quality to performance balance, and I would only suggest swapping to the performance-centered mode if you're desperate for 60fps gameplay.

On that note, a 60fps graphics option is coming to handheld mode via a day-one patch, so I was unable to test that during the review period.

Should I play Lies of P: Complete Edition?Play it if...

You're checking Lies of P out for the first time
Lies of P: Complete Edition includes the base game, the Overture expansion, and all previously released cosmetic DLC and quality-of-life updates. It's the full package, so it's ideal if you're playing for the first time.

You want a chunky, satisfying adventure on the go
Your first playthrough of Lies of P will take roughly 40-50 hours with the Overture expansion. Pair that with the impressive handheld performance here, and Lies of P: Complete Edition makes for a lengthy and enjoyable game for those who regularly play portably.

Soulslikes typically intimidate you
Lies of P is hard, but its easier difficulty options provide a fantastic onboarding experience if you really want to get into games like it, but are maybe a bit unnerved by the high difficulty.

Don't play it if...

You want peak visual clarity
While it looks and runs great in most graphics modes, its quality-centered options are a letdown. I'd stick to the PC version if you really want to see Lies of P looking its best.

Accessibility features

Lies of P: Complete Edition has a basic set of accessibility options. There are three colorblind modes (protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia), as well as the option to adjust subtitle display and size. Full button rebinding is also supported, and as mentioned in the review, there are two easier difficulty options if the going gets a bit too tough.

How I reviewed Lies of P: Complete Edition

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

I played Lies of P: Complete Edition for 20 hours for this review. That playtime included most of the base game and the first handful of areas within the Overture DLC. I tested all graphics modes available during the review period, including quality, performance, and balanced options.

I played Lies of P: Complete Edition primarily in docked mode on an LG CX OLED TV with a Switch 2 Pro Controller, swapping over to handheld mode every so often to get a feel for overall performance there, too. I also hooked up my RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset for more immersive audio while playing in handheld mode.

First reviewed July-August 2026

I still consider Lies of P to be the very best of the best soulslike games you can play today. Others have come close, like the tremendously underrated Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (I also have a soft spot for 2023's flawed-but-interesting Lords of the Fallen), but none have been able to match this macabre take on the tale of Pinocchio. And I'm happy to report the game really shines on Nintendo Switch 2 with the arrival of Lies of P: Complete Edition.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: August 6, 2026

It's very much the same game that fans have loved since its 2023 release. However, Lies of P: Complete Edition also bundles in the phenomenal Overture expansion and all previously released cosmetic downloadable content (DLC).

As a result, this review will broadly focus on the game's performance on Nintendo Switch 2 and its overall value for money of Lies of P: Complete Edition. Be sure to read our original Lies of P review for a more complete rundown of the game itself, as well as our Lies of P: Overture review if you're curious about the unmissable massive expansion that released last year.

If you own a Nintendo Switch 2 and you've been waiting for a chance to play Lies of P, then you'll be well-served with Lies of P: Complete Edition. Not only does it bundle the base game and the expansion at a reasonable asking price, but it's also a winner in the performance department with robust graphics options and speedy load times. I really can't recommend it enough, especially after completing my third playthrough of the game via this Complete Edition.

It's not a perfect package; the more quality-centric graphics options are perhaps a tad too ambitious, leading to a very noticeable performance compromise. Plus, the inability to disable motion blur means you'll probably get sick of the smeary image created whenever you adjust the in-game camera.

But if you stick to the performance- or balance-oriented graphics modes in either docked or handheld play, you'll find that Lies of P mostly plays like a dream on Nintendo Switch 2.

Arms' length

(Image credit: Fireshrine Games)

As a quick catch-up (though once again I'll direct you to the review links above if you want to really learn more about the game before making a purchasing decision), Lies of P is a soulslike action game in the vein of FromSoftware-developed titles like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls trilogy.

That means you can expect a high level of difficulty, with tough boss encounters and tricky enemies. You can also expect intricate level design with plenty to explore off the beaten path, and robust build variety that lets you craft a playstyle that suits your preferences.

Best bit

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

Lies of P: Complete Edition not only packs in the awesome Overture expansion with the base game, but it offers plenty of graphics options to help you play the way you prefer. While only the performance-centered option offers 60 frames per second (fps; in docked mode only; a day-one patch will add a similar graphics option for handheld play), I found the 'Balanced' option to offer the best compromise between graphics quality and game performance.

Where Lies of P sets itself apart is in its gameplay particulars. The player character, as a puppet, can equip a variety of Legion Arms, which offer effects like applying harmful status elements, pulling enemies toward you, or laying down proximity mines for crowd control.

You can also mix and match the blade and hilt of most of the game's weapons, with different combinations changing how you swing the weapon, as well as the special moves it has access to. Finally, exploring is greatly incentivized by Quartz - a rare item that lets you unlock strong passive abilities via your P-Organ setup at the homebase of Hotel Krat. Such passives include more healing item uses, more amulet slots for applying strong combat effects, and greater effectiveness of your dodge roll.

Lies of P can be an extremely tough game, but there are two easier difficulty options if you'd prefer a more casual experience. These can be changed at any time, so feel free to switch them around if you find you're having too hard (or too easy) of a time; the game does not punish you or lock away any content on those easier difficulties.

P for Performance

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

So let's break down how Lies of P: Complete Edition runs on Nintendo Switch 2, specifically. In docked mode, on TV, you have three settings. The performance-centered option lets you play at a full 60fps, and it's tremendously smooth with little in the way of hiccups. The downside here is you lose quite a bit of graphical detail, with greatly simplified environmental detail and particle effects.

The quality-centered option swings a bit too far in the opposite direction, and while it does offer some nice-looking ray-tracing, the Switch 2 isn't quite able to keep up the pace and performance really suffers as a result. This setting also makes the camera-based motion blur very apparent, creating a Vaseline-like smear whenever you shift the camera in-game. There's no option to turn off the motion blur, either, so I would recommend avoiding this setting in both docked and handheld modes.

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

I personally found that the 'Balanced' setting offered the best results. This had the best balance between frame rate (a stable 30fps) and graphical detail. If you're going to play on TV, this is the graphics option I would strongly recommend.

There are still some caveats that are apparent across all graphics modes, though. There's very noticeable object pop-in for distant objects, especially in the game's denser areas like the Lorenzini Arcade or Overture's Krat Zoo. It's not game-breaking by any means, but it shows that some compromises had to be made for more stable performance on Switch 2.

Another annoying thing about this Switch 2 version is that you can only change graphics options from the title screen menu. That means you'll have to back out from the game to the menu every single time you want to change things up. This is another reason why I recommend just setting the game to Balanced mode from the jump. It offers the best visual quality to performance balance, and I would only suggest swapping to the performance-centered mode if you're desperate for 60fps gameplay.

On that note, a 60fps graphics option is coming to handheld mode via a day-one patch, so I was unable to test that during the review period.

Should I play Lies of P: Complete Edition?Play it if...

You're checking Lies of P out for the first time
Lies of P: Complete Edition includes the base game, the Overture expansion, and all previously released cosmetic DLC and quality-of-life updates. It's the full package, so it's ideal if you're playing for the first time.

You want a chunky, satisfying adventure on the go
Your first playthrough of Lies of P will take roughly 40-50 hours with the Overture expansion. Pair that with the impressive handheld performance here, and Lies of P: Complete Edition makes for a lengthy and enjoyable game for those who regularly play portably.

Soulslikes typically intimidate you
Lies of P is hard, but its easier difficulty options provide a fantastic onboarding experience if you really want to get into games like it, but are maybe a bit unnerved by the high difficulty.

Don't play it if...

You want peak visual clarity
While it looks and runs great in most graphics modes, its quality-centered options are a letdown. I'd stick to the PC version if you really want to see Lies of P looking its best.

Accessibility features

Lies of P: Complete Edition has a basic set of accessibility options. There are three colorblind modes (protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia), as well as the option to adjust subtitle display and size. Full button rebinding is also supported, and as mentioned in the review, there are two easier difficulty options if the going gets a bit too tough.

How I reviewed Lies of P: Complete Edition

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

I played Lies of P: Complete Edition for 20 hours for this review. That playtime included most of the base game and the first handful of areas within the Overture DLC. I tested all graphics modes available during the review period, including quality, performance, and balanced options.

I played Lies of P: Complete Edition primarily in docked mode on an LG CX OLED TV with a Switch 2 Pro Controller, swapping over to handheld mode every so often to get a feel for overall performance there, too. I also hooked up my RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset for more immersive audio while playing in handheld mode.

First reviewed July-August 2026