Feed aggregator

Veed has quickly carved a name for itself in the AI video and image generation industry. Used by giants like Netflix, Google, P&G, and the BBC, Veed has grown into a full-fledged AI-powered video platform serving over 10 million monthly active users worldwide.

In our Veed review, we put the platform to the test and evaluate its top AI-powered creative features. We evaluate it first-hand, analyzing even its user interface, pricing, as well as how it compares to the best AI video editors available today. Read on to find out if it's the right choice for you.

Veed: Plans and pricing

Veed offers a handy free plan, which comes with around 120 credits, 2 GB of storage, and an upload file size limit of 1 GB. You can export videos up to 10 minutes in length in 720p, with limited AI video generation within the available credits.

Additionally, AI video editing features such as filler removal, background removal, and auto-edits are all available on a try-once basis.

We found the free video editing package to be fairly limited and ideal only for testing out what Veed offers, rather than using the platform long term.

To get the most out of Veed, you'll need one of its paid plans, starting with the Creator plan, priced at $12 per user per month. Here, you can export videos in 1080p quality with 5 GB of storage.

You can check it out by clicking here.

(Image credit: Veed)

A good thing is that there is no upload file size limit, along with unlimited access to auto subtitles and various subtitle styles. AI image generation limits are also increased to 300 images per month, compared to 100 images with the free plan.

Along with this, you get access to all AI video editing features except Text Behind Person, which is still available only on a try-once basis. Subtitle translation and AI dubbing are also limited to a try-once basis. This is also the first plan where you get limited access to Brand Kits and unlimited access to stock templates.

The Pro plan, priced at $22 per user per month, comes with 30,000 credits, enough for creating 6,000 AI videos. Here, you can export videos in 4K quality, along with unlimited AI image generation and access to all AI video editing features. Subtitle translation and AI dubbing also come with higher limits of six hours per year.

Then there's the Studio plan, offering 180,000 credits for $39 per user per month. This plan comes with unlimited storage, along with 12 hours per year of subtitle translation and AI dubbing. You can invite up to five editors, compared to three in all previous plans, along with one reviewer. All other features are limited within the credit allowance that comes with this plan.

Lastly, there's the Enterprise plan for large organizations, where you can customize your credit allowances with unlimited access to almost all features that Veed has to offer. This is the only plan where you get priority support from Veed, along with a dedicated Customer Success Manager, onboarding, and training.

Veed: Features

Veed offers a good mix of both AI generation and video editing features. For starters, you can generate AI videos with simple prompts in up to 4K quality, depending on your plan. You get access to some of the best AI models, including Veo 3.1, Seedance, Halo, Luma Ray, PixVerse 4.5, and MiniMax.

Besides this, there are features like text-to-video, image-to-video, and the ability to create AI avatars. You get more than 60 diverse avatar options, along with support for more than 120 languages. However, unlike Kapwing, most of Veed's avatars are rooted in real-life people and appear more authentic. Besides AI avatars, you can also create custom social media characters, which can be used consistently across future content you create.

The best thing about Veed is the wide range of subtitle options you get. From manual subtitles available in all plans to auto subtitles, there are unlimited subtitle styles to choose from, along with dynamic subtitles that animate with speech. These subtitle options are perfect for modern social media content.

(Image credit: Veed)

Editing features are also plentiful, with options such as Clean Audio, which removes background noise, removing filler words like "uh" and "um," removing awkward silences from videos, fixing eye contact so that your character looks directly into the camera, background removal, and auto-editing.

Another impressive Veed feature is its collaboration and brand management. Depending on your plan, you can use custom Brand Kits to maintain brand consistency across all your videos. Plus, you can invite editors to any project to facilitate real-time collaboration.

Besides this, you also get access to custom templates, which help you get started with pre-built ideas, as well as custom watermarks. The Enterprise plan also allows you to create separate private workspaces, which come in handy for large organizations with multiple teams.

Veed: Interface and in use

Getting started with Veed is pretty easy. Once you create your account, you are taken to the dashboard, where you'll need to enter your first prompt to generate an image or video.

In the workspace, you can see your recent videos in the central pane, along with Brand Kits and the Asset Library on the left. To create a new image or video, you'll need to click New Project from the toolbar at the top.

(Image credit: Future)

Once you're on the edit screen, you'll see all the editing options on the left-hand side, such as Audio, Images, Subtitles, Text, and more. There are plenty of stock videos and images to help you get started with any new project.

There is a horizontal editing bar at the bottom of the edit screen. However, many editing features, such as effects, detaching audio, opacity, and filters, are hidden – you'll need to click the three dots in the center of your dashboard to access them.

(Image credit: Future)

A lot of the edits need to be made after the initial AI video has already been created, such as editing the script, choosing between voice-only and character-driven videos, or adding subtitles or music.

We would have liked to see these options before generating the video, as that would have resulted in more accurate output.

Overall, editing in Veed is pretty smooth, although it takes a bit of time to get the hang of the platform.

Veed: How we tested

To test out Veed's capabilities, we used its free plan, which allows up to 120 credits. We then gave it the following prompt:

"A woman in a red coat walks across a rain-soaked city street at night, neon lights reflecting in the puddles, camera slowly tracking alongside her."

(Image credit: Future)

Veed took a bit of time to interpret the prompt and generate the results, longer than Kapwing and Fliki. That said, the results were pretty satisfactory, and Veed stuck to the prompt word for word.

Another peculiarity of Veed is that it can create both character-driven and voice-only videos. This means it can convert the same script into a story narrated by one of its many characters or create an AI video with only voiceovers.

That said, exporting a single AI-generated video around five seconds in length can take anywhere between 40 and 50 credits. This means the free plan lets you export only around one AI video, which is certainly not enough for everyday use.

After this, we tried creating an AI image with Veed. One thing we liked is that it lets you choose the AI model before generating the content. For instance, the image we generated cost around 20 credits with Google Nano Banana Pro, whereas the same image cost only five credits with the FLUX.2 Pro model.

(Image credit: Future)

We used the following prompt for image generation:

"A weathered sea captain with a salt-and-pepper beard, wearing a vintage naval coat, painted in the style of a classical oil portrait."

You can also choose the image orientation – landscape or portrait – and the number of image variations you want (one, two, three, or four). There's also a pretty handy option to enhance your prompt, which comes in handy when you're short on creativity but need accurate results.

(Image credit: Future)

Veed created four images as requested. Each image has a built-in option to edit, download, or add to an existing project on the platform.

Veed: Final verdict

Veed is one of the most complete AI image and video generation and editing platforms you can opt for. You get a wide range of features, such as text-to-image, text-to-video, script generation, auto subtitles, dynamic editing, and more.

Using Veed is also pretty easy, making it ideal for beginner video editors, especially compared to a more complex platform like Filmora. Besides this, if you want to generate social media content, Veed offers one of the best ranges of subtitle styles available. It also offers one of the most culturally and geographically diverse selections of real-life AI characters.

That said, its free plan is pretty limited, allowing you to create only one or two AI videos, which isn't enough for regular use. However, its paid plans are in line with the industry standard and are comparable to Invideo or Kapwing.

Veed: Alternatives

Veed is certainly very good, but depending on your needs, there are a few alternatives you can consider.

The first is Fliki, which gives you a lot of control over the kind of content you want to generate. For instance, you can choose from various templates and video formats, along with the type of character you want in the video. Additionally, there's the option to add captions, choose an AI avatar, or add a voiceover before you generate the video.

Many of these editing options are also available with Veed, but only after the video has been generated, which can be a bit time-consuming. However, Fliki can export videos only up to 1080p quality, whereas Veed supports up to 4K quality.

If you're looking for something more affordable than Veed, you can consider Adobe Firefly, which starts at just $8.49 per month. It has one of the most generous free plans, with daily image and video generation limits that allow you to use it for a longer period.

Firefly also comes with infinite-canvas mood boards, which come in handy for teams looking to generate new content ideas. There's also a professional range of stock assets, such as images, videos, and templates.

That said, many of its features, such as AI avatar generation and video editing, are still in beta, leaving plenty of room for improvement.

We've tested a range of video makers and editors, including the best video editing software, the best video editing apps and the best free video editing software.

For years, identity security has been designed to secure an organization's human users. But as agentic enterprises take shape, the identity equation is shifting. Artificial intelligence (AI) agents and AI-powered builders – software tools used to develop websites and applications without coding – are increasingly participating in how access is configured, governed and used.

AI agents are effectively new digital employees, so organizations need a way to know they exist and control what they do throughout their lifecycle. They are becoming operators, helping to administer and secure identity environments through machine-native interfaces.

To add another layer of complexity, desktop agents and AI assistants are also beginning to interact with enterprise applications and resources on behalf of users.

For an agentic enterprise to succeed, these agents need trusted access to do useful work but should not be given direct exposure to secrets they have no meaningful reason to access. To achieve this, organizations need a unified, AI-first identity model, centered on end-to-end visibility, governance and controls which strike a balance between security and appropriate access.

AI agents are reshaping identity

AI has created a new category of digital identity. Like human employees, autonomous agents must be discoverable and managed and governed so organizations can understand what systems and data they can access and who is responsible for their actions.

Traditional identity and access management (IAM) systems relied on static, one-time verification methods in response to access requests made by humans. But in the agentic enterprise, requests also come from autonomous software acting on behalf of human users. Organizations therefore need to know exactly who or what is accessing a system continuously, and if they have the correct permissions to access given information.

At the same time, AI is increasingly managing identities and access. Machine-native interfaces allow agents to help manage human users’ access, troubleshoot issues and support security workflows. While these capabilities can help organizations cut costs and improve efficiency, they are only successful when strong access guardrails are put in place.

AI has created a new category of digital identity. Like human employees, autonomous agents must be discoverable and managed and governed so organizations can understand what systems and data they can access and who is responsible for their actions.

Traditional identity and access management (IAM) systems relied on static, one-time verification methods in response to access requests made by humans. But in the agentic enterprise, requests also come from autonomous software acting on behalf of human users. Organizations therefore need to know exactly who or what is accessing a system continuously, and if they have the correct permissions to access given information.

At the same time, AI is increasingly managing identities and access. Machine-native interfaces allow agents to help manage human users’ access, troubleshoot issues and support security workflows. While these capabilities can help organizations cut costs and improve efficiency, they are only successful when strong access guardrails are put in place.

Building a unified identity model for AI

Mechanisms for securing AI cannot simply be bolted onto identity systems designed for humans. It requires a complete rethink of the identity management model, where human and machine identities are governed through a single framework to prevent tool sprawl and unintentional security blind spots.

As organizations adopt AI tools throughout multiple operational layers, enterprise identity needs to evolve and become easier to manage and automate. Identity can no longer rely solely on human administration.

Tools designed specifically for autonomous agents, such as AI-first headless interfaces, allow builders and AI alike to perform identity-related tasks. Autonomous operators must also be trained to configure access, troubleshoot workflows and apply governance controls within approved policies and guardrails.

Visibility and governance across the entire AI agent lifecycle are also critical. As more agents are deployed, businesses must have complete visibility into their agents and actions.

Every AI should be treated as a first-class identity, with a designated human owner, as well as clear policies and full auditability throughout its entire lifecycle. As these agents operate across the enterprise, their actions should be traceable to a human user responsible.

Finally, AI agents need trusted ways to interact with enterprise resources without being given direct access to the credentials or secrets that enable them. Coding and desktop agents increasingly interact with systems on behalf of users, but exposing them to credentials or long-lived secrets creates unnecessary risk. Instead, access to enterprise resources should be brokered through just-in-time privileged controls.

This allows enterprises to maintain oversight of how permissions are granted, governed and audited without exposing the underlying secrets behind that access. Together, these capabilities create a unified identity model which extends governance across human and AI identities without creating a parallel identity stack.

The future of the agentic enterprise

AI agents cannot operate as intended and deliver meaningful value without access to enterprise systems. But granting unrestricted access or exposing sensitive information creates an entirely new risk to organizations.

The future of the agentic enterprise depends on maintaining governance, visibility and control across both human and digital identities. This means identity must become programmable, AI agents should be governed throughout their lifecycle and agent access needs to be given without unnecessary exposure to sensitive data.

A unified identity strategy provides the means to operate AI agents more safely and efficiently while maintaining centralized governance, accountability and control.

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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

Complex computer systems that decide whether people get Medicaid benefits have a history of errors. Now changes to comply with Trump's tax and domestic policy law are inundating those systems.

(Image credit: Kate Wells for KFF Health News)

Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions, and Relationships.'/>

A clinical psychologist shares effective strategies to quickly de-escalate stress and anxiety. That includes dunking your head into a bowl of ice water to trigger your mammalian dive reflex.

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Recent evidence shows that energy cost pressures and a power grid capacity crunch risk becoming a bottleneck on the growth of the UK’s digital economy.

A report by Oxford Economics for the Nuclear Industry Association warns that growing grid capacity constraints and uncompetitive industrial electricity prices could drive data center developers overseas.

This comes as data center energy demands could increase fivefold by 2035 and data center operators face growing pressure for more sustainable energy in line with climate targets.

This is driving many data center developers to explore alternative supply sources such as flexible contracts and Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) which offer affordable, secure long-term power.

Yet many data center developers lack the resources to navigate these complex contracts or meet the high credit requirements.

There is an urgent need for creative new solutions to provide affordable sustainable power for our digital economy.

The energy chokepoint for the AI economy

The Government aims to make Britain the fastest AI-adopting country in the G7 and this will require accelerated data center expansion with AI data centers being prioritized for new demand connections to the grid. While this is welcome, demand-side connections will not alleviate the supply-side challenges from rising electricity costs to network capacity constraints.

Data centers have build times of 12-14 months yet large new renewable energy projects can face waits of 12-14 years to come online at a time when Britain faces rising non-commodity electricity costs such as Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) and Nuclear Regulated Asset Base (RAB) charges to fund new electric grid and nuclear energy infrastructure.

Ofgem has warned that data center power consumption could significantly exceed Britain’s current peak electricity consumption, risking rising energy costs.

The move towards flexible contracts

Flexible electricity contracts that allow companies to buy energy in chunks offer a potential solution to this by allowing data centers to tailor energy costs to their consumption.

Crucially, flexible contracts can be adjusted to hedge against fluctuating energy consumption for facilities such as AI data centers which have more variable patterns of energy use. This would also help avoid penalties for ramping up energy use to take on major new customers.

While fixed-price contracts can lock in long-term energy costs to offer certainty, flexible contracts enable data centers to take advantage of price fluctuations to secure cheaper power.

For example, we have a dedicated pricing team monitoring market movements round the clock. This could help facilities partially hedge against the risk of rising prices, setting a price for a portion of their consumption, while buying the rest when required to take advantage of favorable prices on the spot market.

For example, we implemented a flexible contract for an energy-intensive industrial chemicals company which included a cash-out arrangement, enabling them to lock in prices when costs are low and buy power in batches days or even months ahead as needed.

There are various kinds of flexible contract options based on the degree to which companies can forecast their energy consumption. For example, ‘tolerance banding’ which guarantees a set price within a certain range or ‘band’ of electricity consumption, can provide certainty amidst unpredictable, fluctuating costs.

As data center operators become more confident in forecasting energy consumption, this can create even cheaper options such as contracts that enable them to buy every kilowatt-hour above or below expected demand.

The CPPA model

Other contracts such as CPPAs could offer data centers a secure, sustainable, affordable power supply directly from suppliers at stable cost. Private-wire PPAs involving onsite generation could enable data centers to sell surplus power back to the grid, transforming energy from a cost into a revenue stream. On site generation could also help avoid the non-commodity costs for grid electricity such as TNUoS charges that comprise 60% of electricity bills and are set to increase to fund new infrastructure.

With targets to reduce operational emissions from buildings by 76%, CPPAs also help facilities meet climate targets by providing traceable green power. As large consumers with a relatively stable long-term demand, data centers are perfectly placed to tap into this market. Amidst growing energy price volatility and security risks, fixed-price CPPAs offer the chance to lock in power prices and supplies, providing certainty and security.

The barriers to alternative contracts

Yet there are many barriers to flexible contracts and CPPAs market for smaller entities such as data centers. These contracts can be highly complex, contain stringent credit requirements and often require 10-15 year agreements. The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which gives renewable developers a government-backed route to market through fixed long-term price support, can also act as a competing route to market for generators.

In some cases, this can make long-term corporate offtake agreements less attractive, particularly where developers can secure greater certainty through the CfD mechanism. For smaller customers seeking greener electricity, however, this route can offer an alternative when a direct CPPA may be harder to access.

Many data center projects are run by startups or smaller entities that lack the resources for such long-term commitments or credit requirements. Data centers also present a slightly higher credit risk than other facilities because their revenue streams are not based on a few large, long-term customers but split among many customers across the digital economy.

Opening the market to data centers

There is an urgent need for creative solutions to lower barriers to entry to the flexible contract market for smaller entities such as data centers. Security deposits or bank guarantees can help some firms meet the stringent credit requirements.

Other potential solutions include parent-company guarantees where a parent company makes a commitment to cover the cost in the event of a default or intercompany guarantees where large data center customers such as Amazon offer guarantees.

There are also solutions to simplify adoption and help CPPAs slot into existing energy use. For example, PPA import sleeving contracts, where energy is pre-purchased from a generator or utility and supplied directly to a facility through the grid, can help alleviate energy costs and security risks.

Tailoring contracts to specific energy needs

Independent partners can also help data centers optimize contracts for their specific energy needs and financial situation. Independent brokers can consolidate the process of negotiating with generators, suppliers and investors, speeding up and de-risking adoption.

Brokers can also help negotiate and monitor contracts suited to the precise profile of each data center. For example, cloud computing data centers with relatively steady, predictable demand may prefer fixed contracts whereas AI data centers processing huge amounts of data for many clients have a more variable, ‘peaky’ pattern of consumption and require flexible contracts.

Data centers can also work with partners to get live market intelligence on changing regulations or market movements. For example, we offered one client an early warning service so that they were able to minimize costs during the winter triads, half-hour periods of peak demand during the winter season.

Towards a new model of data center energy

Britain’s ability to compete in the accelerating AI race increasingly hinges on the ability to mitigate the risk of rising energy costs.

Energy security will also be critical to building truly sovereign AI capabilities for the UK. Lowering the barriers to the flexible contract market could create new opportunities at both ends, providing secure, sustainable and affordable power to unlock data center growth while unlocking vital investment in new renewable energy capacity.

Yet this will require tailored, adaptable contractual models from bespoke flexible contracts to PPAs and new ways of lowering barriers to entry including reducing complexity and stringent credit requirements. This could help provide secure, sustainable and affordable long-term power to fuel our digital economy.

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

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The U.S. carries out a wave of strikes against Iran, as fighting between the two escalates, Congress faces long to-do list as August recess approaches, Andy Burnham becomes U.K.'s 7th prime minister.

In a transition of power presided over by King Charles, Andy Burnham has replaced Keir Starmer as the United Kingdom's prime minister. Both are from the center-left Labour Party.

(Image credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Improve your brand’s visibility and overall GEO with a lifetime subscription to BeeSeen for almost $400 less.

The post Know How AI Platforms See Your Brand with BeeSeen for Life for $99.99 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 20, No. 1,135.

Qualcomm's been at the heart of chipmaking for smartphones and mobile devices for years, with its line of Snapdragon chips powering Android smartphones throughout the 4G and 5G era. With 6G set to roll out in the 2030s, the jury's still out on its potential impact. Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon, however, has painted a curious vision.

Every step you take

Amon, who's been in charge of the American semiconductor manufacturer since he was promoted in 2021, outlined how he sees 6G shaping future hardware in an interview on Fox Business.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.

The CEO is bullish on smart glasses hitting the mainstream, suggesting that the cameras built into these devices will be continuously streaming video and capture data in real-time (including audio) to feed a user's personal AI.

Where does 6G come into the picture? The technology permits far faster top speeds compared with today's 5G networks. Theoretically, future mobile networks can reach 1Tbps by taking advantage of the sub-terahertz spectrum. This comes alongside minimal latency.

Through the looking glass

Smart glasses have been out of vogue for many years – especially since Google's clunky Google Glass debut. Recently, however, they've found a new lease of life thanks to improving display technology as well as more intuitive and ergonomic form factors.

One of the best examples of this is the longstanding collaboration between Meta and Ray-Ban. Although these glasses look the part, the camera functionality has received plenty of backlash, with some owners even refraining from wearing them in public.

Although the technology might be there with 6G mobile networks, there are still plenty of obstacles in the way of the number of people happy to wear smart glasses for the new form factor to really take off.

To celebrate Evil Dead Burn coming out in theaters this month, I've put together the ultimate quiz to test fans of the popular horror franchise.

Ever since The Evil Dead was released in 1981, the series has been a favorite among genre fans and is widely recognizable, but have you been paying attention to it? I bet you won't be able to get a perfect score on my quiz, so now's your chance to prove me wrong!

Don't worry if you haven't seen Evil Dead Burn yet, because this quiz only covers the previous movies, meaning you won't find any spoilers for the new movie lurking in here.

But there's plenty of trivia about the rest of the franchise, from the original release to the 2013 remake. These horror movies are among the most fascinating, from the scripts all the way to what happened on set.

Feeling brave? Scroll down to try out the quiz now, and see if you can survive to the very end.

How did you do? Let me know your score in the comments below, and if you're hungry for more horror trivia, why not check out my Resident Evil movie quiz ahead of Zach Cregger's adaptation, which arrives later this year.

Or we've got an ultimate Walking Dead quiz for fans of the hit zombie series. If you think you're a superfan, join other quizzers and prove your knowledge.

For more horror streaming recommendations, I've got you covered too. Take a look at the best horror movies streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Shudder, and more in July 2026 to find something good to watch.

With President Trump in attendance, an all-superstar lineup that included Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy felt a little more political than it might have otherwise.

(Image credit: Mauro Pimentel)

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 20, No. 1,135.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 20, No. 1,857.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 20 No. 869.

Up until fairly recently, laptop design followed a similar pattern, no matter whether you were picking a new Windows laptop or a MacBook.

Machines became thinner, many premium models shed ports, keyboards lost travel, and more components were soldered or glued into place.

Some companies presented these updates couched in the language of progress, even if they made computers less useful, less comfortable to use, and harder to keep alive over multiple years.

In 2026, the mood seems to be beginning to shift. HDMI and card slots have returned to premium laptops, and many manufacturers are paying closer attention to keyboards, batteries, and repair access.

Leading the way, Framework has turned replaceable hardware into its defining idea, and even Apple is showing signs that a modern laptop does not need to be an entirely sealed unit.

None of this is glamorous, which is part of the appeal: the next meaningful improvement in computing may be a machine that works well, connects to what you own, and can survive long enough to become boring.

(Image credit: Future)The laptop industry spent years mistaking subtraction for progress

Over the past 10 years, laptop design has been moving steadily towards the central tenets of thinner, lighter, and cleaner, while ports, removable batteries, and replaceable components disappeared.

The trade-offs were often presented as unavoidable – the price of owning something modern, sleek, portable.

Of course, some of these changes brought real benefits; today’s laptops are faster, quieter, and easier to carry than the bulky machines they replaced, and improvements in chip design mean they are more powerful than ever.

Problems arose though when minimalism became the goal rather than a means to an end. Removing an HDMI port saved a little space but left users carrying dongles; soldered storage reduced flexibility long after the initial purchase. The list goes on.

Several of those decisions have since been quietly reversed.

Apple returned to a more conventional keyboard after long-standing durability issues, then restored HDMI, MagSafe, and an SD card slot to the MacBook Pro.

Other manufacturers have also followed a similar path, adding ports and improving repair access without turning their laptops back into bulky desktop replacements.

Recent Surface devices have made batteries, displays, SSDs, and keyboards replaceable, while Dell and Lenovo now use modular USB-C ports in selected laptops so a damaged socket can be changed without replacing the motherboard.

These are still exceptions focusing on a few components, but they make this welcome comeback broader than a Framework-only experiment.

(Image credit: Framework)Framework designs laptops for their next owner – and their existing one

For anyone dispirited by the state of the modern laptop industry, Framework came to the rescue, building its laptops around many of the features the wider industry had abandoned.

Owners can replace the memory, storage, battery, keyboard, display, ports, and even the mainboard, while expansion cards make it possible to swap connections such as USB-C, HDMI, and an SD card reader.

Someone who bought a Framework Laptop 13 several years ago can install a newer mainboard or display without replacing the rest of the machine. A new generation does not automatically make the old one obsolete – owners can upgrade the part that matters and leave everything else alone.

It should also make buying second-hand less of a gamble, since a later owner can replace a tired battery or upgrade the mainboard rather than inheriting a sealed snapshot of the original specification.

Even the familiar design serves a purpose: Framework’s laptops may not look dramatically different with each release, but keeping the same basic chassis allows components made years apart to work together.

If we're being honest, that is far more useful than another cosmetic redesign.

Not everything is perfect with this strategy, of course. Framework machines can cost more than sealed rivals with similar specifications, and earlier models have not always matched the best laptops for battery life or overall polish.

Their long-term value also depends on a relatively small company continuing to support the platform. Even so, Framework has shown that repairability does not need to mean owning an awkward experiment rather than a normal laptop.

(Image credit: Apple)The MacBook Neo is Apple's concession, rather than a revolution

Apple’s new MacBook Neo takes a more cautious step in the same direction.

To start with, its battery is screwed into place and several ports sit on replaceable boards. Parts such as the display, speakers, and trackpad can also be removed without the level of adhesive found in many recent MacBooks.

Apple also published a repair manual from launch, a somewhat surprising move from the company, while iFixit awarded it 6 out of 10 – the best score for a MacBook in around 14 years.

The caveat – and sadly there is one – is that this makes the Neo more repairable, but not especially upgradeable.

Its memory and storage are soldered in place, so the specification chosen at checkout is the one owners will keep for the life of the machine. Given the crazy price hikes due to the AI memory boom, this can make things quite expensive.

One of its two USB-C ports is also limited to USB 2 speeds, and it lacks a backlit keyboard.

The result is that it's easier to restore or fix the original machine when something breaks, a small but meaningful achievement on an entry-level laptop, where a large repair bill can quickly make replacement look like the more economical option.

Perhaps the bigger win is that Apple has shown that a slim, polished MacBook does not need to be completely sealed shut.

(Image credit: iFixit)Repairability is useful even when you never hold a screwdriver

Most people will never replace a laptop battery or swap out a damaged port themselves, but they still benefit from a machine designed to make those jobs possible.

Accessible parts give places like independent repair shops, school technicians, and company IT teams a better chance of fixing a fault without replacing an entire assembly.

A commonplace issue like a worn battery becomes a simple routine repair, while a damaged charging socket is a small parts replacement rather than a motherboard-scale repair.

The same principle applies to ports and keyboards. These are among the most heavily used parts of any laptop, yet manufacturers have often treated them as secondary to thinness or appearance.

A useful selection of connections saves years of adapter clutter, while a comfortable, replaceable keyboard matters far more in daily use than a slightly slimmer lid.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The right to forget about your computer

The most mature technologies tend to disappear into the background. We do not want to admire a laptop’s design "courage" every time we connect a monitor, replace a battery, or type for several hours.

Fundamentally, we want it to work without creating new problems – and work for as many years as possible.

Framework has pushed that idea further than anyone else, while the MacBook Neo shows that parts of it can survive inside a mainstream product.

Neither will reverse years of sealed design overnight. What they do is suggest a different measure of progress: not how quickly a computer looks old, but how long it remains useful enough to ignore.

On Monday, former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer as the United Kingdom's prime minister. Burnham's politics have been shaped by England's north-south class divide.

(Image credit: Carl Court)

I tried the new Knockoff extension to filter out all the cheaply made junk I don’t want to buy.

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed: two-minute review

The first thing I thought when I pulled the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds out of their box was “Wow, these are ugly.”

Not exactly the strongest first impression, but it’s unavoidable when each bud has a weird, bulbous design that gives them an appearance like a pair of obese AirPods. The shiny black plastic material looks cheap, as does the printed Razer logo on the outside, which (despite all the Razer Chroma branding on the box) is just a decal that doesn't illuminate.

They’re thankfully not uncomfortable to wear, but even in your ears they’re nowhere near as stylish as similarly priced competitors like the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.

With much flatter sound, they’re significantly less versatile (especially if you’re after a pair of gaming earbuds that you can also use to listen to music) and offer fewer features than that model to boot, with inferior active noise cancellation (ANC) that fails to block out most background noise when you’re out and about.

(Image credit: Future)

The Razer buds’ biggest benefit is the use of the latest Bluetooth 6.0 standard, which allows for ultra-low-latency connectivity with compatible devices and is ideal if you’re a serious mobile gamer looking for something to use with the latest phones. The included 2.4GHz Razer HyperSpeed Wireless dongle is also impressively compact and offers similar low-latency performance on PC, PlayStation 5, and handhelds like the Nintendo Switch 2.

This alone might be worth the compromises elsewhere if you’re a really serious mobile gamer, though there are a few more things worthy of praise. The included case is well-designed and feels pretty high quality, with an attractive RGB strip that is illuminated to denote pairing or charging status. I also really like how you don’t have to take the dongle if you want to use it: simply plug the case into your machine, and you’re ready to go, which makes it basically impossible to leave behind.

Find the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds at the right price - and they could be a good pick.

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: price & availability

• Costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95
• Available via Razer right now
• Availability at other retailers seems spotty

The Razer Hammer V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds cost $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95 if you buy them directly from Razer, which is where I would recommend getting them, as stock at other retailers seems spotty.

If you do choose to buy from the likes of Amazon, be mindful not to accidentally purchase the cheaper Razer Hammerhead V3 X or older Razer Hammerhead True Wireless X model, as they look very similar.

At this price, the earbuds are going head to head with the likes of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, which originally launched at $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359 but are now regularly discounted to around $130 / £100 in the US and UK.

Even factoring in the added $30 / £30 at full price, I think the Arctis GameBuds are much better value. They offer a much more stylish design, versatile sound that you can easily customize with hundreds of selectable EQ profiles, in addition to slightly better overall battery life.

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: specs

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless X

Price

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95

Weight

0.19oz / 5.6g (each bud); 2.22oz / 63g (case)

Compatibility

PC, PS5, mobile, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Connection type

2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless / Bluetooth 6.0

Battery life

~40 hours

Features

THX Spatial Audio license included

Software

Razer Audio (mobile) / Razer Synapse (PC)

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: design and features

• Look bulky and dated
• THX Spatial Audio support
• Case is good

You should know by now that I’m not a big fan of how these earbuds look. They have a basic stemmed in-ear design with quite a bulbous body constructed from shiny black plastic and a cheap-looking green Razer decal on the back. They honestly look like something you’d buy on Amazon for under 50 bucks rather than a product from a premium gaming brand.

The case is much better, at least. It’s large, but still easily pocketable, and has a pleasant matte texture to its exterior and a very robust hinge with satisfyingly strong magnets. There’s a subtle strip of LED lighting on it as well, which lights up in an attractive rainbow pattern when the case is opened. It also illuminates different colors to denote charging or pairing status, battery level, and so on, which makes it surprisingly practical as well.

Inside the case, there’s plenty of space for the two earbuds and a little slot for the compact HyperSpeed Wireless dongle. When in the case, the dongle is nestled inside a Type-C port with passthrough connectivity. This means you can plug the entire case directly into your PC or console in order to pair the buds, which is pretty handy and helps keep everything in one place.

Aside from this, the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds don’t have a particularly expansive feature set compared to the offerings of other brands. The earbuds support ANC and a transparency mode, in addition to automatic pausing when removed from your ears. The compatible software offers three default EQ profiles (for gaming, music, and movies, respectively) plus the ability to create your own.

On PC, the buds come with a license key for THX Spatial Audio, which simulates 360-degree sound decently well and is a solid bonus.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: performance

• Sound is okay
• ANC is poor
• Decent battery life

Although it is impressively low-latency and thus suited for competitive gaming, I found the sound of the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed to be so-so compared to similarly priced alternatives. In the default gaming preset, the bass is plenty punchy, but they lack clarity and sounds quite muffled in the high end. It’s good enough for the likes of PUBG: Battlegrounds or Counter-Strike 2, but would be an incredibly poor fit for more story-driven titles.

The music-listening experience is bad, and no amount of EQ tweaking could remedy the uninspiring sound. I would recommend swerving the default music EQ as well, as it’s absolutely rancid and tanks not only the bass but also the low mids, leading to sound that’s not dissimilar to that produced by the free earbuds you get on an airplane.

Alternating between the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed and the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, there is simply no contest: the SteelSeries pair sounds better no matter what you throw at it, and the fact that it can handle music too means that you don’t need to buy a second pair to use with your phone.

The ANC also underperforms compared to alternatives, be they the GameBuds or others such as the Sony Inzone Buds. It fails to block out much background sound and even struggles to drown out the consistent, low noise from a desk fan. If you want to take these on a plane, just forget about it.

The microphones are okay, but not particularly reliable. With any kind of background noise, they can begin to struggle to pick up your voice - which had me relying on my desktop mic instead. Touch controls are quite awkward as well. They feel unresponsive and struggle to pick up inputs, leading to frequent accidental pauses or skips if you’re trying to use them for your tunes.

The battery life is at least one area where the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed doesn't disappoint. I easily managed 7-8 hours per charge with the buds, and the case holds enough to fully top them up about four times when you're on the go.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed?Buy it if…

You’re after low latency at all costs
These are some of the few gaming earbuds with Bluetooth 6.0 support, which might be a compelling reason to buy if that’s what you’re after.

Don’t buy it if…

You crave premium sound
The Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds deliver unexceptional sound for the price. You can easily find alternatives that sound better for the same money.

You want more features
The Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds also have fewer features than the competition, particularly the likes of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds with its many software options.View Deal

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: also consider

Here are two more compelling options to weigh up.

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds

Price

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95

$159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359

$199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329

Weight

0.19oz / 5.6g (each bud); 2.22oz / 63g (case)

0.19oz / 5.3g (each bud); 1.7oz / 48.7g (case)

0.2oz / 6.5g (one earbud with medium tip)

Compatibility

PC, PS5, mobile, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC

PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC, mobile

Connection type

2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless / Bluetooth 6.0

2.4Ghz (via USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3 (mobile)

PlayStation Link wireless, Bluetooth (mobile)

Battery life

~40 hours

Up to 40 hours (buds 10 hours; case 30 hours)

5 hours with 10 hours from the charging case

Features

THX Spatial Audio license included

360° Spatial Audio, Qi Wireless Charging Case, 6mm neodymium drivers, four-mic ANC, transparency mode, in-ear detection/sensor, IP55 rating, fast charge, companion app with more than 100 presets

Planar Magnetic Drivers, AI-enhanced noise rejection, Dual Device connectivity, 3 sets of ear tips

Software

Razer Audio (mobile) / Razer Synapse (PC)

Arctis Companion App (mobile), SteelSeries Sonar (PC)

N/A

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the wireless gaming earbuds to beat right now. They offer great sound out of the box, plus hundreds of customizable EQ presets that make them perfect no matter what you are playing.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review

PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds
If you’re shopping for earbuds to use with a PS5, then the official PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds are a decent pick. They sound far better than the Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed pair thanks to their planar magnetic drivers.

For more information, check out our full PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds review

How I tested the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed

• Tested for multiple weeks
• Used with PC and mobile
• Compared to other gaming earbuds

I tested the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds for multiple weeks across both PC and mobile, playing a range of different games.

This included plenty of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Battlefield 6, Forza Horizon 6, Grand Theft Auto 5, and more, in addition to mobile titles like Neverness to Everness, and Call of Duty Mobile.

Throughout my time with the buds, I compared the experience to my hands-on testing of other gaming earbuds, including the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and other products featured on our best gaming earbuds guide.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2026

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed: two-minute review

The first thing I thought when I pulled the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds out of their box was “Wow, these are ugly.”

Not exactly the strongest first impression, but it’s unavoidable when each bud has a weird, bulbous design that gives them an appearance like a pair of obese AirPods. The shiny black plastic material looks cheap, as does the printed Razer logo on the outside, which (despite all the Razer Chroma branding on the box) is just a decal that doesn't illuminate.

They’re thankfully not uncomfortable to wear, but even in your ears they’re nowhere near as stylish as similarly priced competitors like the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.

With much flatter sound, they’re significantly less versatile (especially if you’re after a pair of gaming earbuds that you can also use to listen to music) and offer fewer features than that model to boot, with inferior active noise cancellation (ANC) that fails to block out most background noise when you’re out and about.

(Image credit: Future)

The Razer buds’ biggest benefit is the use of the latest Bluetooth 6.0 standard, which allows for ultra-low-latency connectivity with compatible devices and is ideal if you’re a serious mobile gamer looking for something to use with the latest phones. The included 2.4GHz Razer HyperSpeed Wireless dongle is also impressively compact and offers similar low-latency performance on PC, PlayStation 5, and handhelds like the Nintendo Switch 2.

This alone might be worth the compromises elsewhere if you’re a really serious mobile gamer, though there are a few more things worthy of praise. The included case is well-designed and feels pretty high quality, with an attractive RGB strip that is illuminated to denote pairing or charging status. I also really like how you don’t have to take the dongle if you want to use it: simply plug the case into your machine, and you’re ready to go, which makes it basically impossible to leave behind.

Find the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds at the right price - and they could be a good pick.

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: price & availability

• Costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95
• Available via Razer right now
• Availability at other retailers seems spotty

The Razer Hammer V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds cost $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95 if you buy them directly from Razer, which is where I would recommend getting them, as stock at other retailers seems spotty.

If you do choose to buy from the likes of Amazon, be mindful not to accidentally purchase the cheaper Razer Hammerhead V3 X or older Razer Hammerhead True Wireless X model, as they look very similar.

At this price, the earbuds are going head to head with the likes of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, which originally launched at $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359 but are now regularly discounted to around $130 / £100 in the US and UK.

Even factoring in the added $30 / £30 at full price, I think the Arctis GameBuds are much better value. They offer a much more stylish design, versatile sound that you can easily customize with hundreds of selectable EQ profiles, in addition to slightly better overall battery life.

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: specs

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless X

Price

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95

Weight

0.19oz / 5.6g (each bud); 2.22oz / 63g (case)

Compatibility

PC, PS5, mobile, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Connection type

2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless / Bluetooth 6.0

Battery life

~40 hours

Features

THX Spatial Audio license included

Software

Razer Audio (mobile) / Razer Synapse (PC)

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: design and features

• Look bulky and dated
• THX Spatial Audio support
• Case is good

You should know by now that I’m not a big fan of how these earbuds look. They have a basic stemmed in-ear design with quite a bulbous body constructed from shiny black plastic and a cheap-looking green Razer decal on the back. They honestly look like something you’d buy on Amazon for under 50 bucks rather than a product from a premium gaming brand.

The case is much better, at least. It’s large, but still easily pocketable, and has a pleasant matte texture to its exterior and a very robust hinge with satisfyingly strong magnets. There’s a subtle strip of LED lighting on it as well, which lights up in an attractive rainbow pattern when the case is opened. It also illuminates different colors to denote charging or pairing status, battery level, and so on, which makes it surprisingly practical as well.

Inside the case, there’s plenty of space for the two earbuds and a little slot for the compact HyperSpeed Wireless dongle. When in the case, the dongle is nestled inside a Type-C port with passthrough connectivity. This means you can plug the entire case directly into your PC or console in order to pair the buds, which is pretty handy and helps keep everything in one place.

Aside from this, the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds don’t have a particularly expansive feature set compared to the offerings of other brands. The earbuds support ANC and a transparency mode, in addition to automatic pausing when removed from your ears. The compatible software offers three default EQ profiles (for gaming, music, and movies, respectively) plus the ability to create your own.

On PC, the buds come with a license key for THX Spatial Audio, which simulates 360-degree sound decently well and is a solid bonus.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: performance

• Sound is okay
• ANC is poor
• Decent battery life

Although it is impressively low-latency and thus suited for competitive gaming, I found the sound of the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed to be so-so compared to similarly priced alternatives. In the default gaming preset, the bass is plenty punchy, but they lack clarity and sounds quite muffled in the high end. It’s good enough for the likes of PUBG: Battlegrounds or Counter-Strike 2, but would be an incredibly poor fit for more story-driven titles.

The music-listening experience is bad, and no amount of EQ tweaking could remedy the uninspiring sound. I would recommend swerving the default music EQ as well, as it’s absolutely rancid and tanks not only the bass but also the low mids, leading to sound that’s not dissimilar to that produced by the free earbuds you get on an airplane.

Alternating between the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed and the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, there is simply no contest: the SteelSeries pair sounds better no matter what you throw at it, and the fact that it can handle music too means that you don’t need to buy a second pair to use with your phone.

The ANC also underperforms compared to alternatives, be they the GameBuds or others such as the Sony Inzone Buds. It fails to block out much background sound and even struggles to drown out the consistent, low noise from a desk fan. If you want to take these on a plane, just forget about it.

The microphones are okay, but not particularly reliable. With any kind of background noise, they can begin to struggle to pick up your voice - which had me relying on my desktop mic instead. Touch controls are quite awkward as well. They feel unresponsive and struggle to pick up inputs, leading to frequent accidental pauses or skips if you’re trying to use them for your tunes.

The battery life is at least one area where the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed doesn't disappoint. I easily managed 7-8 hours per charge with the buds, and the case holds enough to fully top them up about four times when you're on the go.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed?Buy it if…

You’re after low latency at all costs
These are some of the few gaming earbuds with Bluetooth 6.0 support, which might be a compelling reason to buy if that’s what you’re after.

Don’t buy it if…

You crave premium sound
The Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds deliver unexceptional sound for the price. You can easily find alternatives that sound better for the same money.

You want more features
The Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds also have fewer features than the competition, particularly the likes of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds with its many software options.View Deal

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed review: also consider

Here are two more compelling options to weigh up.

Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds

Price

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95

$159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359

$199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329

Weight

0.19oz / 5.6g (each bud); 2.22oz / 63g (case)

0.19oz / 5.3g (each bud); 1.7oz / 48.7g (case)

0.2oz / 6.5g (one earbud with medium tip)

Compatibility

PC, PS5, mobile, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC

PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC, mobile

Connection type

2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless / Bluetooth 6.0

2.4Ghz (via USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3 (mobile)

PlayStation Link wireless, Bluetooth (mobile)

Battery life

~40 hours

Up to 40 hours (buds 10 hours; case 30 hours)

5 hours with 10 hours from the charging case

Features

THX Spatial Audio license included

360° Spatial Audio, Qi Wireless Charging Case, 6mm neodymium drivers, four-mic ANC, transparency mode, in-ear detection/sensor, IP55 rating, fast charge, companion app with more than 100 presets

Planar Magnetic Drivers, AI-enhanced noise rejection, Dual Device connectivity, 3 sets of ear tips

Software

Razer Audio (mobile) / Razer Synapse (PC)

Arctis Companion App (mobile), SteelSeries Sonar (PC)

N/A

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the wireless gaming earbuds to beat right now. They offer great sound out of the box, plus hundreds of customizable EQ presets that make them perfect no matter what you are playing.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review

PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds
If you’re shopping for earbuds to use with a PS5, then the official PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds are a decent pick. They sound far better than the Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed pair thanks to their planar magnetic drivers.

For more information, check out our full PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds review

How I tested the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed

• Tested for multiple weeks
• Used with PC and mobile
• Compared to other gaming earbuds

I tested the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds for multiple weeks across both PC and mobile, playing a range of different games.

This included plenty of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Battlefield 6, Forza Horizon 6, Grand Theft Auto 5, and more, in addition to mobile titles like Neverness to Everness, and Call of Duty Mobile.

Throughout my time with the buds, I compared the experience to my hands-on testing of other gaming earbuds, including the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and other products featured on our best gaming earbuds guide.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2026