Technology

A fresh batch of skinny TV packages is here.

• MicroCenter's AMD Radeon RX 9070 GPU listing hints at potential $699 MSRP
• The listed prices could likely be placeholders
• AMD's full RDNA 4 GPU reveal will take place on February 28

AMD's Radeon RX 9000 GPU series launch is almost upon us, with the official reveal set for February 28. All eyes are set on the RX 9070 XT GPU's performance capabilities and price point - and now, we might have our answer on the latter, and it may not sit well with fans.

As reported by VideoCardz, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series has been listed on MicroCenter with the RX 9070 XT supposedly starting at $699, while its RX 9070 counterpart is listed at $649. This also includes some other overclocked models for both the RX 9070 XT and non-XT - which we won't post since it's been taken down - and these prices are similar to those listed for Nvidia's new Blackwell GPU lineup, which has seen drastic retailer inflation, with some of the new Radeon cards listed for as much as $1,099.

It's important to note these aren't official prices and AMD's official reveal tomorrow could be drastically different - but a previous leak suggested that Team Red is aiming for a sub-$700 price point, which would corroborate some of MicroCenter’s listings.

Considering the RX 9070 XT's potential position as a competitor to Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti ($749 / £729 / around AU$1509), if it clocks in at the purported $699 (based on MicroCenter's listings), it may not be cheaper enough to convince gamers looking for GPU alternatives amid Team Green's current Blackwell launch hiccups.

Although it could still end up being the ideal substitute for RTX 5000 series GPUs that are currently either out of stock or simply overpriced, there's no guarantee the same won't happen to Team Red's RDNA 4 GPUs. Scalpers could strike again, especially if the new GPUs are impressive - while this is always a threat regardless of retail prices, the suspected $699 price point isn't very appealing, especially at a time when AMD’s fiercest rival is already on the back foot.

(Image credit: Future / Nvidia / AMD) I really hope those prices are just placeholders and nothing more...

As I've stated on numerous occasions, the GPU market is in dire need of some serious competition as Nvidia continues to take it by storm. Team Green is in a vulnerable state right now, as RTX 5000 series GPUs are virtually impossible to attain at MSRP (along with a whole host of teething issues, including missing ROPs on some shipped cards), so AMD's RDNA 4 GPU launch is the perfect opportunity for Team Red to claw back some market share.

Frustratingly, it looks like Team Red could bow out of the battle before it even starts - if MicroCenter's listed prices end up being legitimate, I truly believe AMD stands no chance at competing with Nvidia this generation. The Radeon RX 7900 XTX, the current flagship GPU - which is still one of the closest to the RTX 4090 alongside the RTX 4080 Super - is supposedly going to remain AMD’s most powerful consumer GPU, and that card can be found at slightly higher prices than the RTX 5070 Ti's $729.

If the Radeon RX 9070 XT cannot beat either of those GPUs at a potential $699 MSRP, I fear that it will be dead on arrival. Plenty of fans already look toward Nvidia for the best performance, especially when using ray tracing - while RDNA 4 promises to improve on ray tracing performance, it’ll be a major challenge to match Team Green's successes in that region.

I'm hoping that by tomorrow, I can eat my words after AMD finally opens the lid on its new GPU offerings, but honestly? I'd be willing to bet that MicroCenter's leak is accurate...

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• Evidence mounts that RX 9070 XT GPU could equal Nvidia RTX 4080’s performance – I just hope AMD doesn’t mess up pricing
• Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti may be getting the competition it needs as the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT's performance leaks
• Watch out, Nvidia – AMD’s rumored to have a plan to unleash RX 9070 reviews to run interference with RTX 5070 GPU’s big launch day

• AMD is reportedly preparing AFMF 2.1 for launch alongside its new RDNA 4 GPUs
• This is a driver-level frame generation software, set to work on current RDNA 2 and 3 GPUs along with Ryzen AI 300 APUs
• It comes amid Nvidia's controversial RTX 5000 series launch

AMD may be in prime position to do battle with Nvidia in the GPU department with its Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs, since its fierce rivals' RTX 5000 series launch hasn't been the smoothest - now, Team Red could be introducing an improvement to its frame-generation software that may benefit both its current and new RDNA 4 GPUs.

According to VideoCardz, AMD is currently developing AFMF 2.1 (AMD Fluid Motion Frames) to launch alongside its upcoming RDNA 4 GPUs in early March - this is a driver-level frame-generation feature, which allows gamers to use it for a performance boost in games that don't have official FSR 3 frame-gen support.

VideoCardz suggests AFMF 2.1 won't require any AI cores, meaning it will support all of the same hardware that AFMF 2.0 could. It spells great news for current RDNA 2 and 3 GPU users, and handheld gaming PCs that utilize any of the shiny new Ryzen AI 300 series APUs - it could further improve the quality of generated frames, which is borderline essential for a handheld PC gaming experience.

All signs point toward FSR 4 being exclusive to RDNA 4 (at least for now). While AFMF 2.1 likely won't outdo FSR 4's new frame generation model with official implementation in games, it could end up being a great compromise for users on older hardware.

(Image credit: AMD) What does this mean for handheld gaming PCs and new RDNA 4 GPUs?

New handheld gaming PCs are on the horizon, and they’re going to need every bit of help they can get as games become more and more hardware-hungry. While new APUs can drastically improve performance in games (as we've seen with the MSI Claw 8 AI+), driver-level software like this will help older handhelds too.

Nvidia recently joined the party with its Smooth Motion feature (also driver-level frame generation), but Team Green isn't making any handheld APUs (at least from what we know), and Team Red's AFMF 2.1 could be more polished to match up with Smooth Motion. AFMF 1 and 2 were good for most handheld gaming PCs, but ghosting, stuttering, and input latency have still proved troublesome, which is something I'm hoping AFMF 2.1 will address.

With this in mind, AMD is looking like the dark horse of this GPU generation, especially if issues with supply and missing ROPs for Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs aren’t quickly resolved - if the recent benchmark leaks of the Radeon RX 9070 XT are legitimate, then all AMD needs to do is place its price below or around Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti to score an easy win.

It usually takes some time for official FSR frame generation support to be added in AAA games (one prime example was Cyberpunk 2077) so if AFMF 2.1 is a significant improvement, it could tide players over until developers can act on implementing proper in-game frame-gen.

We're on the verge of getting all the details on RDNA 4 GPUs on February 28, and I'm hoping Team Red comes out swinging, as there’s no better time than now for some stiff competition against Nvidia.

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• Xbox Game Studios lead Craig Duncan says there are more unannounced titles in development
• Duncan confirms he's spent time playing some of these games
• He also commented on the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, saying he's always "curious and excited" about what Nintendo does

According to Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan, there are a lot more unannounced games in development.

This comes from the latest episode of the Xbox Podcast where Duncan discussed the recent release of Avowed, while also providing updates on the lineup of Xbox games set to arrive in 2025 and beyond, including South of Midnight, Ninja Gaiden 4, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

When asked by Xbox's Tina Amini what he's been playing recently, Duncan teased that he's been trying out "a bunch" of Xbox Game Studios' games that have yet to be revealed to the public.

"I spend a lot of time playing our own games," Duncan said. "We've got a bunch of stuff we haven't announced, so I spend a bunch of time with that."

There's no official date just yet, but it's safe to say we can expect an Xbox showcase sometime this summer which could provide us with all-new game announcements.

The Xbox lead continued, saying he's looking forward to playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the turn-based role-playing game (RPG) that's arriving on April 24, and even commented on the recent Nintendo Switch 2 announcement.

Duncan said he's always "curious and excited" about what Nintendo does, but didn't offer any more hints about potential releases on the handheld following Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer's comments about bringing Xbox games to Switch 2.

In the same podcast, it was also confirmed that Playground Games' Fable has been delayed to 2026. Duncan explained that development is progressing well, but wanted to give the game "more time".

The game, which was scheduled to ship in 2025, also received some brand-new pre-alpha gameplay footage showcasing the playable character exploring the fantasy world and engaging in combat with a series of different monsters.

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• LG's 2025 OLED TVs get official European pricing
• Euro prices for the G5, C5 and B5 are the same as last year
• UK and US pricing hasn't been announced yet

LG has announced the European pricing for the LG B5, LG C5 and LG G5, and they've remained stable from last year's prices – so for example the LG C5 starts at €1,700, just like the LG C4 did last year.

It's a similar story with the B5 and G5, the latter of which is the flagship model (well, apart from the the more specialist wireless LG M5). Last year's 55-inch G4 cost €2,800, and this year's version is the same.

That doesn't mean UK and US prices won't go up, especially with all the talk of tariffs in the US right now. But it's a very encouraging sign for those looking for one of the best OLED TVs coming in 2025.

(Image credit: Future) How much are the LG B5, C5 and G5?

The cheapest of the TVs, the LG B5, will start at €1,700. That's for the 48-incher; the largest model, at 83 inches, is €6,000. (LG had originally told TechRadar at CES 2025 that there would only be two sizes of the LG B5, but that appears not to have been accurate.)

The LG C5 range starts at 42 inches for €1,700, rising to €7,200 for the 83-inch.

The flagship LG G5 is €2,100 for the 48-inch (a new size for this year), rising to €8,700 for the 83-inch and an eye-watering €30,000 for the massive 97-inch model. The G5 is the only TV of the three to come in such a large size. And it's the only one of the three to feature LG's four-stack panel, which delivers the highest brightness yet from an LG OLED TV – we're expecting 40% brighter fullscreen images, which is a major increase.

If those prices were matched in the US and UK, we'd expect the 55-inch B5 to come in at $1,700 / £1,700; the 42-inch LG C5 to be $1,500 / £1,400, and the 55-inch G5 to be $2,600 / £2,500.

We don't yet know when the US and UK pricing will be announced but in the meantime we're crossing everything that can conceivably be crossed – getting the superior brightness of the LG G5 in particular for the same kind of price as the LG G4 would be a nice bonus. And we will of course keep you posted as soon as the pricing is revealed for these sets that will land among the best LG TVs this year.

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Daily life at US-run Antarctic stations has already been disrupted. Scientists worry that the long-term impacts could upend not only important research but the continent’s delicate geopolitics.

• Tell Alexa the bit of the movie you'd like to see
• Requires an Alexa+ or Amazon Prime subscription
• US-only for the time being

Amazon's newly upgraded Alexa, Alexa+, has all kinds of new features that you can read about at that link. And if you're a Fire TV owner – whether that's an add-on stick or a Fire TV screen – you'll be able to take advantage of a new feature that seems perfect for avoiding parental embarrassment and boring-bit tedium.

The new feature enables you to jump to a specific part of the movie you're watching. Amazon demoed this yesterday, asking Alexa+ which movie Bradley Cooper sang a song in. It responded with A Star Is Born, the correct answer; when Alexa+ was then asked to jump to that part of the movie, it did exactly that.

How does Alexa+'s scene skipping work?

As Amazon explains, you'll be able to get to a specific scene using details such as the name of the actor or the character they're playing, a particular quote from the movie, or other key data.

It's an interesting idea that'll save a lot of fast-forwarding, especially if you've ever wanted to show someone a particular part of a movie such as a memorable action scene or a really funny visual gag, or if you want to rewatch a specific scene. This used to be easy on DVDs and Blu-rays, with chapters baked in, but streaming has left that convenience behind.

Aside from skipping to content, there are obvious benefits for skipping away from content too, such as when the whole family's in the room and the on-screen action gets a little too spicy for everybody's comfort – hopefully you can just say to 'skip this scene' and it'll know when to pick back up.

That's not the only new feature Alexa+ will bring to your Fire TV. It'll also enable you to ask your assistant for details of songs played during the credits, even if you don't know the song's name or the artist performing it. That should save you a few Shazams.

I haven't had the opportunity to test this feature but I'd expect it to be exclusive to content from Prime Video, at least at first, which will have the necessary metadata for Alexa+ to take advantage of – though may include anything you purchase as well as what's available in your subscription. And initially at least, it's going to be US-only, as Alexa+ is rolling out to the US before becoming more widely available.

Alexa+ will be available to US users on most Echo and Fire TV devices in the next few weeks, and it'll be free if you have a Prime subscription. If you don't, it's $19.99 per month – $5 a month more than the full Prime subscription. It's pretty clear which one Amazon expects you to buy.

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• New rumors suggest we could see the Galaxy S25 Edge on April 16
• The phone could apparently then go on sale in May
• A new era of super-slim phones is upon us

Back on January 22, we saw three Samsung Galaxy S25 phones launched in full, but only got the briefest of looks at the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge – and now we might know when that fourth model will finally be making its grand debut.

According to South Korean outlet Seoul Economic Daily (via @Jukanlosreve), we're going to see the grand unveiling of the Galaxy S25 Edge on Wednesday, April 16, before sales start in May. Mark your diaries, calendars, or AI-powered digital assistants accordingly.

We get some more information from the report too: apparently the phone will be available in light blue, black, and silver, and will have a thickness of around 6.4mm – not bad in comparison to the 7.2mm of the standard Galaxy S25.

The phone is set to get a mid-range price, according to this source. As previously rumored, there's also a mention of the same 200MP primary camera sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which will apparently be included in the Galaxy S25 Edge too.

Slim pickings

The ultra-slim Oppo Find N5 (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

It's unlikely to be a coincidence that we're also hearing rumors of an iPhone 17 Air set to make its debut later this year. Super-slim smartphones could mark a new era of gadget innovation, if other phone and tablet makers follow this trend.

Previous leaks have put the thickness of the iPhone 17 Air at 6.3mm front-to-back, which means it could be even more streamlined than the Galaxy S25 Edge. None of this is confirmed until we actually get to see the phones, of course.

The competition with Apple is specifically mentioned in this new Seoul Economic Daily report: Samsung understandably wants to get out ahead of its rival, and grab some market share before the 2025 iPhones have a chance to respond.

In recent days we've also seen the unveiling of the thinnest foldable phone to date, just 4.21mm thick: see our Oppo Find N5 review for details. Sadly, that handset isn't going to be on sale in many parts of the world, unlike the Samsung and Apple handsets.

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A WIRED investigation reveals that criminals who make billions from scam compounds in Myanmar—where tens of thousands of people are enslaved—are using Starlink to get online.

• Report warns vulnerabilities, data exposure, and API authentication weaknesses, are key issues
• Many firms were forced to slow down app rollouts due to API issues
• Businesses can mitigate API risks before they can be exploited, researchers are saying

Virtually all (99%) of organizations have experienced some API security issues over the last 12 months, and more than half (55%) were forced to slow down the rollout of new applications due to various API security concerns, new research has claimed.

A new research paper from Salt Security found businesses are essentially being plagued by API security risks.

Vulnerabilities that expose APIs to various exploits (for example, injection attacks and Broken Object-Level Authorization (BOLA)), accounted for more than a third of issues (37%), similar to sensitive data exposure (34%). API authentication weaknesses took the third spot with 29%.

Outdated practices

Salt added Generative Artificial Intelligence has “advanced” API security challenges, since almost half (47%) of the respondents expressed concerns about securing AI-generated code. Furthermore, for two in five (40%) potential risks introduced by AI-generated code is a top concern. Only 11% of respondents do not see the use of GenAI applications as a growing security.

The researchers also determined that traditional API security methods, in which authentication is the primary defense mechanism, can no longer suffice. Almost all (95%) of API attacks over the past 12 months came from authenticated sources, and what’s more, 98% of attack attempts targeted external-facing APIs.

To protect against “rampant” API attacks, Salt says businesses should make API posture governance strategies “essential”, and warned that the majority is far removed from that notion. It claims only 10% of organizations currently have an API posture governance strategy set up, similar to the previous year - but the good news is that 43% plan on implementing such a strategy soon.

Since threat actors are actively abusing security weaknesses, businesses need to implement a “robust, proactive API security strategy,” says Roey Eliyahu, co-founder and CEO, Salt Security.

“A strategy that should not only encompass timely threat detection and incident responses but also API governance. By implementing frameworks that ensure security policies are clearly defined, continuously enforced, and regularly assessed, organizations can mitigate API risks before they can be exploited.”

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• A purported benchmark has emerged for AMD’s RX 9070 XT
• It suggests that the incoming RDNA 4 GPU could match the RTX 4080
• This is another in a line of leaks indicating that this is the case

Another hint has been dropped that AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card is going to be more powerful than rumors previously indicated, and that it could be the equal of the RTX 4080.

Wccftech reports that a Gigabyte (Gaming OC) RX 9070 XT was highlighted in a benchmark by a user on the Anandtech forums (Gaav87). This was a FurMark score of 20,732 points (345 frames per second) in the OpenGL graphics stress test at 1080p resolution.

Now, take that with more than the usual skepticism reserved for any such purported leaks, but if correct, this score would mean that, as mentioned, the 9070 XT could offer a performance level similar to the RTX 4080 (actually, it’ll edge out the Nvidia GPU a smidge).

However, extra care is needed here because the benchmark was run on Linux, and those comparisons are drawn with the RTX 4080 on Windows, so that’s not an apples-to-apples affair.

That said, there’s another recent leak of the 9070 XT courtesy of FurMark which showed the GPU reaching roughly the same kind of performance (equivalent to the RX 7900 XTX, very much in the RTX 4080 ballpark, in other words). In that case, the graphics card wasn’t named, but it was easy enough to piece together the clues of what GPU it was.

On top of this, another piece of spillage – this time purportedly direct from AMD – also suggests that the 9070 XT is going to pitch in at around this same level, allowing it to be competitive against the RTX 5070 Ti, in theory.

This fresh leak brings with it some extra info, too, pertaining to thermals, with the 9070 XT seemingly coping very well considering that FurMark is a stress test, meaning it challenges the GPU with a very demanding workload that pushes the chip hard.

The 9070 XT apparently contains its heat levels to 55 degrees Celsius during this tough workout, which is commendably cool.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / DC Studio) Analysis: Looking strong, albeit with hints of 'hopium' on the pricing front

The upshot is that the RX 9070 XT is looking very promising here, both in terms of raw performance and its ability to stay cool under pressure. It’s worth noting that the Gaming OC graphics card featured in this latest leak is a mid-tier model from Gigabyte, so this isn’t its best cooling solution in action (though it’s not an entry-level one either, that’s WindForce).

These are exciting revelations, albeit coming with caveats, and the fact that FurMark is definitely not 3DMark (and moreover, synthetic benchmarks only go so far in estimating the performance of a GPU). Still, it’s a more telling metric than Geekbench graphics tests, and speaking of those, it handily dispels notions recently presented via Geekbench that RDNA 4 won’t be all that much to shout about, frame rate-wise.

Finally, it's worth bearing in mind that last month, a rumor was aired by YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead that during development, AMD was targeting the RX 9070 XT to be just a touch faster than Nvidia’s RTX 4080 Founders Edition – which is the assertion we see in all these leaks.

It feels to me that there’s more than a grain of truth here, with all these rumors aligning, but as ever, let’s not get carried away with speculation, even if it does all seem to be lining up in a reasonably compelling manner.

Besides, as I keep banging on about, whatever the performance level of the 9070 models, AMD’s pricing of these new GPUs will be essential – and we’ll see the full picture tomorrow, with pricing going to be revealed at AMD’s press event for RDNA 4.

I can’t wait, and remain hopeful that Team Red will do the right thing, and not just deliver a minor price cut relative to Nvidia’s pricing and overall value proposition, but a major blow (an uppercut, so to speak, from the desktop GPU underdog).

However, I’ve got to acknowledge that there are rumors suggesting that AMD might push MSRPs disappointingly towards making profits rather than taking on Nvidia at the mid-range. Hopefully, those are wrong, and yes, there’s a lot of hoping going on, I fully admit.

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• The Boys has added two more Supernatural stars to its cast for its fifth and final season
• Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins have officially signed on for undisclosed roles
• The Boys season 5 is currently midway through its filming schedule

The Boys season 5 will be a full-blown Supernatural reunion after Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins confirmed they've joined the former's cast.

In a video posted on The Boys' various social channels yesterday (February 26), Jensen Ackles, who plays Soldier Boy in the popular Prime Video series and its wider live-action franchise, is seen asking his Supernatural co-stars to join him for The Boys' final chapter, which was confirmed by Amazon in May 2024. Unsurprisingly, Padalecki and Collins answer the call, which confirms they've officially signed on to feature in Amazon's TV adaptation.

Season 5 just got a bit more supernatural. pic.twitter.com/sbK2ww2EPCFebruary 26, 2025

Padalecki's involvement in The Boys' fifth season isn't a great surprise. Eric Kripke, The Boys' showrunner/executive producer, previously revealed that he'd asked Padalecki to join the hit satirical superhero show's ensemble. Last June, Padalecki announced (per Deadline) that he'd accepted Kripke's invitation.

Collins' involvement wasn't a foregone conclusion. In fact, there's been little to suggest he'd join his fellow Supernatural acting alumni in appearing in one of the best Prime Video shows' last chapter. Clearly, though, he'll do just that.

The additions of Padalecki and Collins to The Boys 5's cast realizes Kripke's dream of re-teaming with the duo and Ackles for a post-Supernatural project. Indeed, Kripke served as showrunner during the latter's successful 15-season run. So, as I said, The Boys' final hurrah will be a fully fledged reunion between Supernatural's creator and main cast.

Who are Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins playing in The Boys season 5?

Don’t you worry, he’s still drivin’ a shitty car next season pic.twitter.com/0CvaCs91XkFebruary 22, 2025

Nobody knows. The Hollywood Reporter (THR) has claimed they'll feature in guest roles, but there's no indication as to how big or small those roles will be.

One thing is for certain, though: the trio will share scenes together. After reaching out to Amazon MGM Studios, THR reporter Rick Porter said that Ackles, Padalecki, and Collins will appear on the screen together at some point in season 5.

That doesn't mean Padalecki and Collins will join Ackles in suiting up as Supes, although it's certainly a possibility. The Boys season 4 included brand-new Supes, such as Firecracker and Sister Sage, who don't appear in Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's graphic novels of the same name. Padalecki and Collins might play wholly original, Compound V-powered individuals rather than characters – superpowered or otherwise – who have featured in the comics.

Until we find out more about who they'll portray, The Boys' fanbase is nevertheless having fun trying to determine which individuals they could play. A thread on The Boys' Reddit page is full of suggestions, with some commenting that Padalecki could play an older version of Ryan Butcher if there's a significant time jump between seasons 4 and 5, while others believe his and Collins' characters will be allies of the titular Supe-hating group.

It'll be a while before we learn more about the identities of their characters. Principal photography only started on season 5 in November 2024 and isn't expected to wrap until mid-2025. I doubt we'll be given any ideas about Padalecki and Collins' roles, then, until late 2025 or even early 2026. In the meantime, you can read more about the R-rated show's last installment via my dedicated The Boys season 5 guide. Alternatively, refresh your memory about what happened in its predecessor's finale in my The Boys season 4 ending explained piece.

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Welcome to our live coverage of CP+, the world’s largest camera and video show which takes place every year in the Pacifico, Yokohama, a suburb of Tokyo in Japan, since it debuted in 2010.

The show opened to the public today, Feb 27, and doors close on Mar 2, and we’re lucky enough to be attending to bring you all of the latest news, announcements and surprises from the camera world.

With the likes of Photokina in Cologne, Germany, no longer taking place, CP+ is the perfect opportunity for many camera and lens manufacturers to reveal their best cameras, lenses and accessories.

We’ve certainly heard no shortage of rumors and big announcements running up to this event. We'll be walking around the show floor to see what’s actually coming out and if any of the rumours came true. Buckle in as we visit Canon, Sony, Sigma and Panasonic stands and more.

Major products debuting at CP+ 2025

• Canon PowerShot V1: a compact vlogging camera that rivals Sony ZV-1 II
• Sigma BF: a full-frame mirrorless L-mount camera with 24MP sensor and bold, minimalist design
• Panasonic Lumix S1R II: flagship 44MP full-frame camera with new 8K video features
• Sony 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens: Sony's first ever lens with 800mm reach
• Sigma 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS: biggest optical zoom range of any mirrorless lens, for APS-C

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We're at CP+ 2025, psyched to see what new camera gear in store for us. For the general public, this is the first chance to get a look at new gear already announced this week, including the Canon PowerShot V1 vlogging compact, the radically minimalist Sigma BF, and Sony's monster 400-800mm super-telephoto zoom lens.

We've already had hands-on time with some of this gear, but it will be interesting to see which cameras and lenses draw the biggest crowds, and we're hoping to find some lesser-known treats.

This is the ideal place for the likes of third-party lens manufacturers to showcvase their latest optics, such as Cosina / Voigtlander. Without further ado, let's dive in!

A radically minimalist Sigma BF Image 1 of 5

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First stop, Sigma!

For camera enthusiasts, Sigma made waves this week with its new BF full-frame camera, plus two impressive new lenses, as well as a whole new look with a rebranded Sigma logo. The company doesn’t appear to be wasting any time either and is proudly displaying all three for the general public to see at the Sigma stand in this year’s CP+. Let's look at the Sigma BF first...

...starting with its rather quirky and unique design and feature set. We're told the metal body is made from a single aluminum ingot over 7 hours, while the user interface is properly stripped back – reminding us a little of the Leica CL. Sigma's compact 24MP full-frame camera has already caused quite a stir online in the past few days, and now guests at CP+ are seeing what all the fuss is about.

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While Sigma caught us off guard with the BF camera at Monday's unveiling, there were way more rumors about a new lens. Those rumors ultimately proved unfounded, with many people speculating a fixed 800mm lens – we got two lenses instead; the 300-600mm f/4 DG OS for full-frame cameras, and the 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS for APS-C, and they're here at Sigma's stand.

It's the super-telephoto zoom that's getting the most attention – it's monstrously big! It's a pricey lens for pros available for L-mount and Sony's E-mount cameras, and which is said to be the same size and weight as a 600mm f/4 lens, but with the advantage of having that wider reach. It also delivers up to 5.5 stops of optical image stabilization.

It's a heavy thing, mind – cue the show-offs touting the lens. This feels like being in the gym. Think we'll look for something smaller...

Sigma's travel lens with world's biggest optical zoom range

In the 300-600mm lens' shadow? A new 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS superzoom lens, which boasts an incredible zoom range, that should make it ideal for travel photography. Apparently it has the biggest optical zoom range of any mirrorless lens – a mega 18.8x zoom. It may not steal the headlines in the same way as the BF camera and 300-600mm lens, but this could just be our favourite of the three new Sigma products.

It’s available for L-mount, Sony E, Fujifilm X and also Canon RF - taking Sigma’s tally of APS-C lenses for Canon RF now to a total of seven. Sadly, there’s still no news on any third-party lenses for Canon's full-frame RF-mount cameras...yet.

All three of Sigma’s products are available to see and try at CP on stand 89.

Canon's compact vlogging camera, the PowerShot V1 Image 1 of 3

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Next up on our CP+ tour...it's Canon.

It's a week ago today that Canon put out a teaser trailer announcing its brand-new PowerShot V1 vlogging compact. Sadly for most of the world, it's only available in Japan... for now. Good news for the lucky few including us... it debuts here at CP+ where the general public can catch a first glimpse...and it's seemingly drawing the biggest crowd.

People that made a beeline for the Canon stand when the show doors opened are hogging the V1, so we're admiring it from a distance for now.

We've already written some news about the V1 – although we didn't have a full picture of what it can do yet. One thing's for sure, it's a dinky, pocketable vlogging camera that's getting plenty of interest here.

Set to rival the Sony ZV1-II?

From what we know so far, the PowerShot V1 is made for content creators. It can shoot 4K 10-bit video with Canon's Log 3 color profile, and features a tidy 16-50mm F2.8-4.5 lens. It's also compatible with external accessories such as a hotshoe microphones and flashes.

We're told it packs Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II for the best autofocus performance of any Canon compact, and there's a flip-out vars-angle screen for easy self-recording for selfies and vlogging.

In the flesh, it looks a little larger than the Canon's trending G7 X Mark III, which we believe will remain on sale, and it also appears to have ventilation holes around body, much like we’ve seen on Canon’s EOS R5 Mark II, so could this video-first camera have some cooling features for decent record times?

Our first impressions? The PowerShot V1 most obvious rival is Sony's ZV-1 II. We'll be sure to get a proper hands-on of the V1 as soon as we can after the show.

Unfortunately there’s no sign of the rumoured Canon EOS R6 Mark III here. It's the PowerShot V1 that's the star of the show here.

Time for us to move on again...

Panasonic's best-ever Lumix? Image 1 of 4

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If there was an award for the most capable camera debuting at CP+ 2025, it would go to the Panasonic Lumix S1R II.

The flagship mirrorless camera was unveiled just two days before the CP+ and largely kept under wraps in the show's lead up to CP+, and here it is at stand 88, home to an array of Panasonic gear for the next few days.

We already know the Lumix S1R II has a totally new 44MP full-frame sensor, and it will be the first full-frame camera with 8K 'open gate' video after a firmware update, plus 32-bit float audio recording via Panasonic's XLR adaptor.

Panasonic tells us that the Lumix S1R II's 8K video has 14EV of dynamic range when shooting 10-bit 8K movies at up to 30fps. This is a big upgrade from the Panasonic Lumix S1R if you major on video, but photographers might be happy to stick with the original S1R's 47MP stills and top LCD.

The form factor of the Lumix S1R II looks really tidy – it's evidently much smaller than the S1R and has more in common with the Lumix S5 II.

Lumix S1R II musings

We've actually been able to get hands-on with the Lumix S1R II ahead of the CP+ show, back in the UK, and you can find out more about Panasonic's flagship full-frame mirrorless camera in our hands-on Lumix S1R II review.

There's plenty to like about the Lumix S1R II; it's first-class for video and, depending where you are in the world, it is properly reasonable too – about half the price of the Sony A1 II (which we hope to get another play with later), 50% cheaper than the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, and roughly the same as a discounted Nikon Z8.

It might not be getting the same fanfare as Canon, but on capabilties alone, it deserves a proper look.

Two new lenses at Sony's stand Image 1 of 2

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(Image credit: TechRadar team)

Squeaking in a day before CP+ 2025, Sony made a global announcement for two new lenses, and we've got our eyes on both of these optics at Sony's stand. Both E-mount lenses are made for Sony's full-frame mirrorless, but they couldn’t be more different from each other...

...we have a compact and affordable Sony 16mm F1.8 G wide angle prime, and a hefty Sony 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS telephoto.

It's the latter that of the two that is particularly interesting – so much so that people who want to try the Sony 400-800mm at the show need to a ticket and join a digital queue before being beckoned up to the balcony to give it a road test.

So what gives? Well, it has Sony’s most impressive reach of any Sony E-mount optic to date – in fact, it's Sony first-ever lens to reach 800mm. We reckon it's best for wildlife and sports subjects you can't get close to, like birds and motorsports. There's a severe lack of those subjects in the CP+ halls, mind...

Hit the ground running with this Monster Hunter Wilds starting guide.

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There are several reasons why you might need to unpair your Apple Watch from an old iPhone, most of which are pretty obvious. Whether you're selling your Apple Watch or trading it in, you'll want to make sure your sensitive health data is removed from the device. Furthermore, unpairing it ensures that the next owner can use that watch with their own iPhone.

Unpairing your old Apple Watch is also an important step if you’ve just bought a new iPhone. While Apple’s iCloud setup in principle enables you to switch your Apple Watch from your old phone to your new one, you do sometimes need to unpair the device from your old iPhone before pairing it with a new one.

If your Apple Watch is being repaired by Apple at the Genius Bar, the company may also ask you to unpair the device, so it’s important that you know how to do it properly.

There are two basic methods for unpairing an Apple Watch. If you have your iPhone, the process is more straightforward, and will also remove the Activation Lock from the device so that it can be used by someone else. If you don’t have your iPhone, you can still erase the device, but the Activation Lock will persist. The latter will cause problems if you’re selling or giving the device away, so even connecting to a borrowed device temporarily might be preferable depending on your circumstances.

How to unpair your Apple Watch from an old iPhone

(Image credit: Future) You will need:

• Your iPhone
• Your Apple Watch

Before you start:

Keep your phone and watch close together, otherwise, the unpairing process may be interrupted

To unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone:

1. Open the Apple Watch app on iPhone
2. Select the My Watch tap and tap All watches
3. Tap the circled 'i' info button on the device you want to unpair
4. Scroll down and tap Unpair Apple Watch

Follow the prompts – you’ll need to enter your Apple Account password to disable the Activation lock, and if you have a cellular model you'll be asked whether you want to keep or remove your plan. If you’re keeping your watch and iPhone, select Keep, if you’re getting rid of it, choose Remove – just remember to contact your provider to cancel your subscription.

Unpairing your Apple Watch will automatically backup your device to the cloud, so when you re-pair it or set up a new device, you can restore your old settings.

How to unpair Apple Watch if you don’t have an iPhone

(Image credit: Future)

If you don’t have the iPhone you’re trying to unpair the Apple Watch from, follow these steps:

1. On your Watch, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
2. Enter your password
3. Tap Erase All

This will reset and erase the watch, unpairing it from any old devices in the process. However, it will not remove the Activation Lock on your device, which can only be turned off with your Apple Account and password. Remember, this is really important if you’re selling or giving the watch away, as the new owner won’t be able to use it otherwise.

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• I've spent 10 years with Apple Watch, and after 10 minutes with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, I can't believe Samsung skipped this feature

• Google moves to help users update outdated search results
• Results About You tool can track down your personal info on the internet
• You can then easily request its removal, or a search result update

You will now be able to remove certain search results and personal information from Google’s search results due thanks to an update to its redesigned Results About You tool.

Users can enter their personal information into the tool, such as phone numbers and addresses, and the tool will scrape search results that turn up your info, and help you remove them.

The Results About You tool will also help you to remove your information from people search finders, stopping snoops from looking up your data.

Remove your data from the web

Previously, if you wanted to remove your personal data, you would have to use a data removal service, or manually contact a search finder service to have your data taken down.

Now, however, the Results About You tool will bring up matches to your data and by clicking on the three dots next to a search result the tool will tell you what data you are able to remove in just a few clicks.

For example, if you are listed as an employee at a company you no longer work at and the page has been updated to remove your data but still shows up in search results, you can use the Results About You tool to request a page recrawl so that the changes are reflected in the search results.

If you need additional guidance on searching for and keeping your data off the internet, we have a dedicated guide on how to remove yourself from the internet.

You might also like

• These are the best free people search finder services
• Take a look at our guide to the best identity theft protection
• How to protect yourself and your data online by reducing visibility

In the market for a microcurrent device? After two months of testing popular brands like ZIIP, FOREO, NuFACE and Therabody, this is the one I recommend.