Technology

Keychron K8 Ultra 8K: One-minute review

The Keychron K8 Ultra 8K is a wireless mechanical keyboard with an impressive spec that hopes to compete with the more premium offerings in the space.

It exhibits the brand’s typical design language, with its sizable keycaps and retro looks. The whole unit is black, save for some grey and green keycaps. To liven things up, it features some bright backlighting with plenty of customization options, although the keycap legends aren’t transparent, so it doesn’t illuminate them. This makes them harder to see in dark environments, which somewhat defeats the backlight’s purpose.

The board base is very thick, which means you have to angle your wrists considerably to reach the tall keys. It’s in dire need of wrist support, which is an oversight since a lot of the best keyboards come with a rest. It’s also quite heavy, thanks to its metal construction. This does help to keep it planted, though, and it’s as solid as you would expect it to be.

(Image credit: Future)

To customize the inputs of the K8 Ultra 8K, you’ll have to use Keychron’s Web Launcher. Here you’ll find a reasonable selection of rebinding options, and there’s also a basic but functional SOCD function for altering key priority. It’s a relatively easy app to use, and despite being web-based, it’s quick and responsive; I didn’t encounter any disruptive loading times during my time with it.

In action, the K8 Ultra 8K performs well. The keys are sufficiently damped, although some clickiness remains, which can be a little harsh at times, but mostly they’re satisfying to use. They’re snappy and responsive, too, while being forgiving of accidental nudges. The indents and shape of the keycaps are comfortable and offer a secure hold.

However, the switches of my review unit didn’t have the smoothest of motions. The keys are also spaced quite far apart, which can make reaching certain inputs a stretch. What’s more, the aforementioned angle your wrists are forced to adopt can lead to strain after short periods. I had no issues with connecting the K8 Ultra 8K via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, and switching between them was quick and easy.

The K8 Ultra 8K is a reasonable price when you consider all that it offers. There are certainly much dearer mechanical keyboards, such as the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, but there are also cheaper ones, such as the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra. However, the K8 Ultra 8K remains a solid choice if you like a substantial board — just pair it with a wrist rest.

(Image credit: Future)Keychron K8 Ultra 8K review: Price & availability

• $119.99 (about £90 / AU$170)
• Available now in three switch types
• Good price for a wireless mechanical keyboard

The K8 Ultra 8K costs $119.99 (about £90 / AU$170) and is available now from Keychron’s website, with shipping rates varying according to region. It can be had with a choice of three switch types: Red, Brown, or Banana. It comes with a braided USB cable, several spare keycaps, and a keycap puller.

This is a good price for a wireless mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable switches. Similar models from bigger names can cost considerably more, such as the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%. However, the performance of that board is far superior, being perhaps the best mechanical keyboard I’ve ever tested. Its switches are a joy to press, while the companion software offers more customizations and tweaks.

If you’re after a more budget-friendly gaming keyboard, the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra is hard to beat for value. It has a surprisingly high-quality design, while its analog switches feel almost as good as mechanical ones, with added actuation adjustments.

Keychron K8 Ultra 8K review: Specs

Layout

TKL

Switch

Mechanical (Keychron Apex)

Programmable keys

Yes

Dimensions

14.1 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches (359 x 129 x 31mm)

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

(Image credit: Future)Keychron K8 Ultra 8K review: Design & features

• Retro look
• Solid, thick, and heavy
• Reasonable web app for customizations

The K8 Ultra 8K adopts Keychron's signature aesthetics, which is to say it has a thick base, tall keycaps, and a black colorway. However, there are a few grey peripheral keys, as well as a green Escape key, to add some contrast.

Allied to its thick chassis is a substantial weight. This helps the K8 Ultra 8K to stay planted, but makes it a chore to move around frequently. Build quality is also impressive, with its metal frame feeling as solid as you would expect it to feel, while the keycaps have only a hint of play.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s disappointing about them, though, is their opaque symbols. This means the vivid RGB backlighting doesn’t get a chance to shine through them; in fact, it can actively obscure them in dark environments, which defeats at least part of the backlighting’s purpose. Fortunately, it still shines through the spaces between the keys, and there are plenty of customizable patterns for it.

Like some other Keychron models, the K8 Ultra 8K’s USB port is located on the left side of the unit, rather than at the back. This is an interesting location and can help to reduce the cable interfering with deskspace, depending on your particular setup. The included cable’s jack protrudes slightly from the side, but since it’s L-shaped, it's actually quite discreet. This shape also helps the cable to naturally follow a path less intrusive to deskspace.

Keychron doesn’t offer a downloadable app for the K8 Ultra 8K; instead, you’ll have to use the Keychron Web Launcher via a browser. Quite often, such web apps can be slow and awkward, with frequent loading times and connectivity issues. However, I found Keychron’s fast and easy to use.

What’s more, it offers a reasonable amount of customization. Besides standard key assignments, there are quite a few shortcuts for various system commands and media controls. There’s also a SOCD feature with three different modes, as well as a section for altering the bounce (more commonly referred to as debounce) times of key presses and resets, with sliders for each ranging from 10ms to 50ms, with single millisecond increments selectable.

(Image credit: Future)Keychron K8 Ultra 8K review: Performance

• Tactile and damped switches
• Snappy yet forgiving
• Uncomfortable thickness

True to its mechanical nature, the K8 Ultra 8K is quite a satisfying board to use. The Brown Tactile switches in my review unit were sufficiently damped, though there was some clickiness to them. For the most part I liked this aspect, although hard presses can feel a little harsh. Worse is the roughness of their motion as they travel, which doesn’t feel particularly pleasant. Fortunately, this doesn't completely sap the joy out of presses, and it didn’t affect my performance in any significant way.

The switches are also quite snappy, requiring only a light touch to actuate. Better yet, they’re forgiving at the same time: whenever I accidentally grazed a key I didn’t intend to hit, often it wouldn’t register. This combination makes it ideal for fast typing.

(Image credit: Future)

The keycaps themselves are comfortable, thanks to their ergonomic indents, which also provide security. This comfort extends to the space bar, which I could easily hit flush when in the WASD position. That’s not something I can say about every space bar I’ve experienced.

Less comfortable, however, is the wide spacing of the keys. I often welcome this aspect, but I found it too great on the K8 Ultra 8K. Reaching certain keys was a stretch, especially when touch typing, or when trying to reach certain peripheral keys such as R and T when gaming in the WASD position.

The aforementioned thickness of the chassis also creates issues. Combined with the tall keycaps, this means you have to angle your wrists to a large degree, and what’s more I frequently caught my fingers on the edges of keys as I glided around them when typing. I’m not sure I’ve come across a keyboard in more desperate need of wrist support.

On the issue of connectivity, I had no qualms with the K8 Ultra 8K. It connected to my Windows PCs with ease via both Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz dongle. Hot-switching between these devices was also quick and easy, merely requiring the flick of switch on the side of the unit.

Should I buy the Keychron K8 Ultra 8K?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The K8 Ultra 8K is keenly priced for a hot-swappable wireless mechanical keyboard with an 8K polling rate.

4.5 / 5

Design and features

Thick, heavy, and solidly made. The web app is functional, but the opaque keycaps are a misstep.

4 / 5

Performance

The Brown switches in my review unit weren’t the smoothest, but they still performed well. You really need to use this board with a wrist rest to make it comfortable.

3.5 / 5

Overall

The K8 Ultra 8K is well-priced for a wireless mechanical keyboard. Its performance isn’t as smooth as I would’ve liked, and you really need to use it with a wrist rest, but it’s still one to consider given its customizable hardware.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

You’re on a budget
There aren’t many keyboards offering better value for money than this, thanks to its high spec and relatively low price point.

You want a solid build
This thick metal frame is certainly sturdy, as are the keycaps and switches.

Don't buy it if…

You have short fingers
Reaching certain keys can be a stretch, owing to the wide spacing between them.

You like a low profile
The tall keycaps and thick chassis can easily put strain upon your wrists, so ideally you need support.

Keychron K8 Ultra 8K review: Also consider

MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra
Another great value keyboard, the FUN60 Ultra is just as well put together as the K8 Ultra 8K. It uses magnetic analog switches rather than mechanical ones, but they feel just as tactile while offering adjustable actuation and other analog features. Read our full MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%
For the supreme mechanical experience, you can’t do much better than the BlackWidow. This is just about the best mechanical keyboard I’ve ever used, thanks to its excellent performance and build quality. There are also plenty of input customizations available via Razer’s Synapse software. Read our full Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% review.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Keychron K8 Ultra 8K

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

I tested the K8 Ultra 8K for a few days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.

One of the games I played was Counter-Strike 2, as it serves as the ideal test for peripherals, since it demands fast and precise inputs.

I’ve been using gaming keyboards for years, and reviewed a great number of them, including other Keychron models as well as those from well-known brands like Razer, SteelSeries, and Corsair.

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

Using an app lock on your phone adds a layer of security for sensitive data past your main lock screen.

• Chinese researchers built an AI targeting infrared traces from F-22 and F-35 engines
• Flare decoys reportedly fail to fool this heat-based recognition model
• Lab tests show recognition accuracy above 90 percent for simulated targets

Chinese researchers have claimed a lightweight AI system can identify heat signatures resembling those of F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters.

The F-22 and F-35 are designed to make enemy detection and tracking more difficult, particularly by reducing their visibility to radar and other sensors.

That makes any technology capable of recognizing their remaining infrared signatures potentially important for detecting aircraft built around stealth.

AI recognition focuses on aircraft heat

Unlike radar-based detection, infrared systems look for heat produced by an aircraft's engines, exhaust, and heated surfaces during flight.

The researchers claim that AI can analyze those patterns and distinguish simulated F-22 and F-35 signatures from other airborne objects.

Pilots often use flares to confuse conventional heat-seeking sensors during an engagement.

However, the researchers say that aircraft-generated heat differs from flare emissions, giving an AI system another basis for separating an aircraft from decoys.

The researchers tested their recognition model using simulated targets representing the thermal characteristics associated with F-22 and F-35 aircraft.

According to the study's lead author, the approach is intended to combine rapid processing with sufficient recognition capability for missile applications.

“Lightweight recognition models could become widely used in future air-to-air missiles because they can provide high-speed recognition while maintaining strong identification capabilities,” said An Jiangshan, first author of the study.

Laboratory testing reportedly produced recognition accuracy exceeding 90%, although operational performance against real aircraft remains unverified.

That distinction matters because real aircraft generate changing thermal patterns under different speeds, altitudes, maneuvering conditions, and environmental circumstances.

The researchers also describe the system as lightweight, suggesting that its computing requirements could be suitable for missile-mounted hardware with limited space and processing capacity.

Limits remain around real-world performance

Stealth aircraft are designed primarily to reduce radar visibility, but infrared emissions remain an important consideration for infrared-guided weapons.

Heat-seeking missiles already use infrared sensors, while machine-learning systems could potentially assist those sensors with identifying complex thermal patterns.

However, the reported research does not establish that the system can reliably track operational F-22 or F-35 aircraft under combat conditions.

Actual engagements would introduce atmospheric conditions, changing viewing angles, aircraft maneuvers, background temperatures, and electronic countermeasures that laboratory testing may not fully reproduce.

Even without proving the system can defeat operational aircraft, the research points toward a growing challenge for American stealth platforms.

The United States cannot assume that reducing radar visibility will remain sufficient as AI systems become better at recognizing infrared patterns.

Future F-22 and F-35 upgrades could therefore require greater attention to heat management, exhaust signatures and other infrared characteristics.

The same concern applies to future stealth bombers, which could face increasingly capable AI-assisted infrared sensors.

Stealth designs may need to consider how machine-learning systems interpret heat patterns rather than simply minimizing the strength of those emissions.

That could become increasingly important as lightweight AI processors become easier to integrate into missiles and other airborne weapons.

American defence planners have little reason to wait until such systems demonstrate their capabilities during actual combat.

Via SCMP

The electric SUV gets the 1,070-hp powertrain from Lucid’s Sapphire super sports sedan.

• Iran has destroyed dozens of Reapers, exposing America's costly drone vulnerability
• Forty-five Reapers lost represents roughly one-quarter of America's pre-war fleet
• Washington is buying replacement Reapers as battlefield losses continue mounting

The United States has lost roughly a quarter of its entire MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet during its war with Iran, new reports have claimed.

The Washington Post notes approximately 45 of these unmanned aircraft were destroyed in the conflict - which represents about 25% of the fleet, which numbered approximately 185 units before fighting began.

The report comes as the US slowly realizes how Iran's air defense network became the central challenge facing the Reaper throughout sustained operations near its territory.

Why Iran's defenses inflicted huge losses on the US

The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely operated aircraft built by General Atomics for surveillance and precision strike missions - it can remain airborne for approximately 24 hours and operate at altitudes reaching around 13,000 metres.

Its weapons include AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Mark 82 guided bombs, allowing one aircraft to conduct reconnaissance and strikes.

These drones fly at relatively low speeds and altitudes, leaving them exposed to ground-based interception systems.

Some aircraft were lost not in flight but while sitting on U.S. military bases during Iranian strikes.

Intensive Reaper use over Iran and near the Strait of Hormuz drove much of the attrition.

Replacing these losses quickly has proven difficult, since building new Reapers requires considerable time and resources.

A single MQ-9 Reaper system can cost up to $30 million, pushing total losses past $1.3 billion.

The US military must also continue supplying drones for other ongoing operations happening elsewhere simultaneously.

Because of this strain, Washington has already resorted to purchasing remaining Reapers from General Atomics' existing stockpiles.

The MQ-9 Reaper serves reconnaissance and strike roles for several allied nations.

Current operators include Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, India, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, France, and Japan.

Wider pressure on America's weapons stockpiles

These drone losses form part of a broader pattern affecting U.S. ammunition and interceptor stockpiles during the conflict.

Iran has used the 358 air-defense missiles, which have an estimated cost of $20,000 to $90,000 per missile.

Even if Iran fired 100 of these missiles at one MQ-9 Reaper, the total expenditure would reach only $2 million to $9 million.

With each Reaper costing tens of millions of dollars, such an exchange would still leave Iran with a substantial financial advantage.

Washington appears to have underestimated how quickly prolonged confrontation with Iran could consume its air-defense interceptors.

The Pentagon declined to comment specifically on Reaper losses and consistently denies that its stockpiles are running low.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disputed recent reports claiming military commanders had flagged critically low interceptor stockpiles.

Regardless of that dispute, the Pentagon has pressed defense contractors to accelerate production of critical weapons systems.

Amid mounting losses, the United States has also begun searching for cheaper drones deployable in far larger numbers.

Such alternatives could reduce the financial and strategic cost of losing individual, expensive aircraft during future engagements.

Whether these cheaper alternatives can match the Reaper's endurance and weapons capacity remains an open, unresolved question.

The ideas that we take for granted in today's computing landscape were once all original thoughts that somebody had to devise and implement out of nothing. Both Apple and Microsoft were pioneering companies in this space, but not all great ideas that stuck necessarily came from either company.

Best of frenemies

When word got out that Bill Gates had announced Windows for the first time at the Comdex trade show, Steve Jobs was furious and asked for a face-to-face meeting.

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.

According to an account from Apple's designer of Macintosh system software, Andy Hertzfeld, Jobs "went ballistic" upon learning that Microsoft's new mouse-based system had made its debut.

The two companies had agreed a staggered release – with Windows only allowed to launch in 1983, a year after Mac. Because Mac had been delayed, and that possibility was never defined in their 1981 agreement, Microsoft was still within its rights to launch Windows.

Jobs felt this was a stolen idea anyway and that it represented a betrayal of a fragile partnership. In this meeting, Hertzfeld wrote, Gates simply pointed out the fundamental idea wasn't either of theirs – and that the terms of a 1981 agreement still held up.

North star

Gates' witty quote underlines the frosty relationship that he shared with Jobs throughout their careers, until they buried the hatchet a couple of decades later.

This conflict originated when Jobs recruited Microsoft to be the first software developer for the Macintosh. Both companies, at this point, had exposure to the ideas being developed at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) – especially the mouse-based system the company's engineers had refined. For instance, Xerox Star was a highly influential predecessor operating system.

Microsoft didn't shift a working version of Windows until almost two years later, and, according to Hertzfeld, it was just as crude as Jobs had predicted. When Microsoft launched a version of Windows in 1988 that Jobs deemed good enough, he sued Microsoft for copyright infringement but lost on a technicality.

Heading back to school and decided this is the year you hit the ground running with your studies? You'll want to equip yourself with the right kit to set yourself up for success. I'm talking about the little extras that will help you focus and improve your efficiency, whether you're studying in your dorm or out and about. Below, I've rounded up nine gadgets designed for just that — and all of them come in under $50.

For studying on the go, a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones will help nix background sounds, and a good power bank will ensure your gadgets don't run out of juice at an annoying time. Staying physically healthy is essential to keep your brain running at its best, so I've included a smart band to help you keep an eye on your sleep and fitness habits. You'll also find remote working peripherals like a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, which can make a huge difference to your comfort and efficiency levels when working on a laptop.

Read on for my sub-$50 study essentials — hit the 'View details' button to find out more about that product. And if you haven't sorted out your big tech purchases yet, we also have a guide to the best laptops for students.

Productivity essentials

Loop Experience 2 ear plugs

Soundcore Q20i Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Logitech POP Mouse

Read our full review

Pros

• Satisfying clicks
• Good customizations
• Easy three-way switching

Cons

• No side buttons
• No wired or 2.4GHz wireless
• No rechargeable battery

Amazon Echo Dot (newest Model)

JBL Go 5 Bluetooth speaker

Read our full review

Pros

• Great sound for its size
• Attractive edge lighting
• Highly waterproof and durable

Cons

• Can be beaten for battery life
• Limited bass due to compact form
• Can't change color of the lights

Xiaomi Smart Band 10

Read our full review

Pros

• Lots of fitness modes
• Handy lifestyle features
• Still very cheap

Cons

• Weak clasp
• Price increase over predecessor
• Limited upgrades

UGREEN Uno 10000mAH Magnetic Power Bank

Soundpeats Clip1

Read our full review

Pros

• Fantastic listening test
• Comfortable build
• Competitive value

Cons

• Low max volume
• Cheap-feeling case
• Touch control issues

Logitech K380 pebble keys keyboard

Read our full review

Pros

• Comfortable to type on
• Thin and compact
• Great, useful shortcuts
• Arrow keys are great

Cons

• Surprisingly cheap
• Keys might be too small for some
• Not rechargeable

Bump up the budget...

Got a slightly higher budget? These are the back-to-school extras I'd recommend in the $60-$100 price bracket...

Samsung Galaxy Fit3

Read our full review

Pros

• One of the cheapest trackers
• Bright and responsive touchscreen
• Accurate heart rate readings

Cons

• Doesn't work with iPhone
• Deep stats only viewable on app
• Uncomfortable sensor

Nothing Ear (a)

Read our full review

Pros

• Fun, zealous, expansive sound
• Vastly improved active noise cancellation
• Smaller, more pocketable case

Cons

• No wireless charging support
• No flagship sound profile curation

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent performance
• Discreet aesthetic
• Small, comfortable size

Cons

• Small size isn’t for everyone
• High price
• Scroll wheel is a bit stiff

Anker 87W 20000mAh Power Bank

Read our full review

Pros

• Large power output
• Well-made
• Integrated USB-C cable

Cons

• Some rivals are smaller
• Unnecessarily powerful for many
• Display lacks detailed information

Instant Pot 4QT Vortex Plus 6-In-1 Mini Air Fryer

CMF Headphone Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent hearing tests; unexpected at the level
• Emotive, circumaural sound
• Exemplary battery life

Cons

• ANC isn't amazing
• Energy slider feels a tad gimmicky
• No hard carry case or USB-C charger in the box

Sony WH-CH720 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones

Read our full review

Pros

• Great sound balance
• Lots of detail in audio
• Effective noise cancellation
• Full of useful features

Cons

• Sound feels constrained
• Noise cancellation leaks in low sounds
• Plastic feels a little cheap

• A Florida company has moved from printing furniture to manufacturing military drone boats
• Haddy built its latest unmanned boat using giant robotic 3D printers
• The company completed an earlier autonomous vessel project in nine days

Haddy, a digital manufacturing company in St. Petersburg, Florida, has produced a military drone boat using large-format robotic 3D printing.

The company announced the vessel, called the TF-179 Drone Boat, but did not name the customer behind the project.

Haddy started in 2022 building custom furniture and architectural pieces before shifting much of its focus toward defense manufacturing.

A rapid build process

The St. Petersburg facility spans roughly 30,000 square feet (about 2,800 square meters) and houses eight large-format CEAD printing systems.

Seven of those machines run on rails, extending their reach to produce unusually large single-piece components without seams.

Haddy previously used this process to print a carbon-fiber-reinforced hull for HavocAI, delivering a testable vessel from design to sea trial within nine days.

"The maritime industry is redefining how vessels are designed and manufactured," Haddy said in a company statement announcing the TF-179 vessel.

Haddy released photographs of the finished TF-179 vessel alongside its statement but offered no details about the boat's intended mission.

Demand for small, expendable maritime drones has surged across the U.S. defense industry over roughly the past year, according to the company.

A shift in Naval strategy

Haddy has also partnered with Blue Ops, the maritime drone division of Red Cat Holdings, to help double production capacity for uncrewed surface vessels.

Blue Ops sells those drone boats to U.S. and allied militaries as smaller, cheaper alternatives to traditional crewed patrol vessels.

Haddy was founded by Jay Rogers, a former Marine and Princeton graduate who previously led a similar 3D-printing venture called Local Motors.

The company opened what it describes as the world's largest 3D printing facility, based on total throughput and machine count, in April 2025.

This trend toward faster, cheaper naval hardware follows direct lessons drawn from Ukraine's ongoing war against Russia in the Black Sea.

Inexpensive, remotely piloted drone boats have repeatedly damaged or destroyed far more expensive warships belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Even in Iran, swarms of very cheap Iranian drones have been used to track expensive aircraft, some of which were eventually brought down, including a $60 million U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and multiple $30 million MQ-9 Reaper drones.

These outcomes have pushed American and allied defense planners to prioritize speed and volume over the years-long timelines of traditional shipbuilding.

Small, disposable drone boats can be replaced and redesigned far more quickly than a single multimillion-dollar warship ever could.

Robotic additive manufacturing fits into that calculus because Haddy can adjust a vessel's design digitally and print a new version within days.

Conventional shipbuilding for crewed naval vessels can take years to complete, a pace defense planners increasingly view as too slow for today's threats.

Battlefield requirements have shifted quickly in recent naval conflicts stretching from the Black Sea to the Middle East, adding pressure on manufacturers.

Haddy has not said whether the TF-179 design will be adapted for other military customers beyond the still-unnamed client behind this particular order.

Whether this printed approach can match the durability and long-term reliability of conventionally built naval vessels remains to be seen.

Via Defence Blog

Choosing between Android and iOS? I’m here to help you decide between the $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max and the brand-new $1,299 Pixel 11 Pro XL.

If you have a dispute with the e-commerce giant, you’ll have to hash it out through an individual claim with a third-party arbitrator.

• Firefox’s iOS app comes with a new built-in ad blocker
• It stops all kinds of ads, but there are some exceptions
• The move could convince me to finally switch from Safari

I’ve been a loyal Firefox user for 20 years now, but that’s only been true for the desktop app. Despite Firefox being one of the best web browsers around, I’ve resolutely stuck with Safari on my iPhone — but a new Firefox feature could finally convince me to make the switch on mobile.

In a support document, Firefox developer Mozilla explains that its browser now comes with an “experimental” ad blocker that is based on the EasyList filter, allowing Firefox to “block many ads before they load.”

The ad blocker puts a stop to a variety of advertising types. That includes third-party advertising networks, ad-related trackers, third-party ads served on websites, and more intrusive formats such as pop-ups and overlays.

The feature is being rolled out gradually and is disabled by default, but you can enable it by opening Firefox, tapping the '…' button, then selecting Settings. From there, go to Browsing and enable the toggle next to Ad Blocker. Alternatively, you can enable it by opening the app menu when browsing a web page.

It’s worth noting that there are a couple of exceptions to what the feature blocks. For one thing, it won’t stop sponsored content on the Firefox Home or New Tab pages, nor will it block search engine ads, as these are both sources of income for Mozilla.

As well as that, Mozilla warns that some ads might slip through the net because “some websites serve ads in ways that are not covered by the current filter list".

Finally making the switch

(Image credit: Mozilla)

Although Safai on iOS can block website pop-ups, it doesn’t have a built-in ad blocker and requires you to use a third-party extension if you want to shut down annoying ads. With Firefox gaining this functionality natively, Mozilla has given its browser a leg up over the competition — and has given me a strong reason to switch.

And since I’m a strong believer in user privacy — its robust privacy stance is one reason why I’ve stuck with Firefox for so long — this is exactly the type of feature that appeals to me. Given how invasive ads and trackers are, blocking them is a priority for me.

I’ve long stuck with Safari due to inertia. I have a lot of tabs open on Apple’s browser and don’t want to lose most of them. But with my beloved Firefox adding a built-in ad blocker on iOS, tab hoarding feels like a bad reason to stick with Safari.

Now could be the time to finally kick that inertia and make the switch. If you hate website ads and want to look out for your privacy, Firefox just gave you a great reason to give it a try.

Oracle AI Database@AWS expands to 22 regions and adds a pay-per-use Exadata option, giving enterprises more flexibility for cloud database migrations.

The post Oracle and AWS Expand Database Partnership With Exadata Service and 22-Region Footprint appeared first on TechRepublic.

One trillion dollar bills could wrap around the Earth almost three times, which means the $1.4T in fines Meta could face if it loses the huge, multi-state lawsuit arguing that the company's social media and the technology behind it encouraged addictive use in teens is more than enough financial rope to potentially squeeze it into submission or worse.

Opening arguments in the case kick off tomorrow (August 18), with Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri expected to testify.

The suit[PDF], which is in some ways the culmination of numerous cases against Meta and its alleged practices, comes on the heels of multiple legal setbacks for Meta. In March, Meta lost a case in LA Superior Court and was, along with YouTube, found negligent in causing a 20-year-old's mental health issues. That ruling came a day after Meta lost a similar case in New Mexico. Just a few weeks ago, the company was ordered to pay almost half a billion dollars after Meta's platforms were found to be, at least according to New Mexico law, a public nuisance.

This latest case, though, might not only change the face of social media but also seriously hamper Meta's ability to function.

As in other cases, AGs across 32 US states argue that Meta has used its technology to hook teens (and younger), lock them into using the platforms, and then, it argues, ignored the potential harms.

Here's how the lawsuit puts it:

"Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens. Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains," and "it has ignored the sweeping damage these Platforms have caused to the mental and physical health of our nation’s youth. In doing so, Meta engaged in, and continues to engage in, deceptive and unlawful conduct in violation of state and federal law."

Meta, which has spent the last few years updating its parental controls across all its platforms and marketing those changes to the public, calls the AGs' claims "unsubstantiated" and the potential penalties "vastly disproportionate."

It then adds:

"The AGs offer no proof anyone in their states was misled, claim benign features like having an additional Instagram account somehow harmed their residents, and attempt to penalize Meta for industry-wide challenges like age verification. Rather than sticking to the facts or the law, the states have instead decided to chase an outlandish payout. We stand by our record of creating strong protections for teens, and look forward to making our case in court."

So there you have, in a nutshell, the two sides, but while Meta is putting on a strong front, I don't imagine Zuckerberg and Mosseri will enter the courtroom feeling particularly confident about their chances.

The changing social media landscape

Ever since prosecutors shifted their efforts from trying to prove that Meta and other social media companies were responsible for the online content that appears on their platforms to how each company built these systems and all the ways they engineered them to keep us swiping and engaged, they've been on a winning streak.

And that's probably because it's more provable.

During the golden age of social media, when it was Facebook versus YouTube, versus Twitter, versus Snap, there was no more important metric than monthly active users. Meta (formerly just called Facebook) often touted user numbers and how growth was spreading around the globe. When Facebook surpassed 1 billion global users, Zuckerberg said the milestone was "amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life.”

That scale also built Meta's value, since it could monetize those eyeballs through ads. It's no secret that, no matter your age, the more time you spend on the platform, the more ads you see and the more money Meta makes.

Even though Facebook's early format was more or less a meritocracy of content, it shifted in 2007 with visual updates organized by Edgerank, a basic algorithm that ranked content based on interactions, what you were likely to look at, and ongoing popularity.

More sophisticated algorithms followed, essentially feeding you more and more of what you'd most likely want to see or would like (to the exclusion of other content), helping further extend time on Facebook and Instagram. It's only in recent years that Meta has given users control of some of those algorithms so they could tailor the content of their feeds.

Of course, that's the current environment, and while these lawsuits want to force more changes, like the end of endless scrolls, their main contention is that Meta built its platforms to addict users and then, they claim, ignored warning signs (even within the company) that Instagram and Facebook might be harming youth and teens.

The intent wasn't harm but was it neglect?

I've never believed Meta intended to harm anyone, but I am convinced its top priority was growing the platform, and it used every tool at its disposal to do it.

It's also incontrovertible that some children and teens have been harmed by social media (Meta is not alone in this). Even Zuckerberg appears to agree with this in some form.

During a 2024 congressional hearing over social media's alleged harms, Zuckerberg (and other social media CEOs) stood up, turned to face parents in the gallery, and offered this apology:

"I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invest so much, and we are going to continue doing industry-wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer.”

It appeared to be an admission, if not of wrongdoing, that perhaps Meta and other social media companies had not done enough to protect young people on their platforms.

I don't expect an apology this time. Instead, Zuckerberg and Mosseri will offer a full-throated defense and, as noted, bring up all the ways these platforms have adjusted to give parents and teens more control.

Even so, Meta could lose, and if so, the AGs will see that $1.4T penalty, which, unsurprisingly, more or less matches the company's current market capitalization.

A loss could push Meta into a difficult financial situation that might result, if not in closure or bankruptcy, at least in a fundamental change in how it operates online. Imagine, for instance, having to pay a monthly subscription fee to use Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, or, at the least, Meta introducing an ad-free subscription tier. Prices of the VR hardware could go up.

Finally, Meta might abandon children and teens as a potential market and shift its marketing efforts to adults only.

That seems unlikely, but I promise you a loss will trigger some kind of change.

Meta will ultimately sense if and when the case is slipping away from it and get to work on an out-of-court settlement. It'll still pay, but instead of over a trillion dollars, it'll be, say, $2 billion or so, devoted to supporting mental health services for teens, and some money parceled out to Meta's billions of US-based users.

That should mark the end of this chapter...until the next lawsuit.

• Rheinmetall launched an armed drone from a truck while it was moving
• Each FV-014 drone carries a warhead weighing about six kilograms
• The launcher fits inside a standard 20-foot shipping container

Rheinmetall has carried out a test launch of its FV-014 loitering munition from a moving Rheinmetall HX truck fitted with its Containerized Missile Launcher.

The trial took place in July 2026 at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems, based at the German Aerospace Centre in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt.

The company claims a single 20-foot Containerized Missile Launcher can hold up to 18 of the drones, allowing coordinated strikes against several objectives at once during a single operation.

How the drone and launcher work together

Each FV-014 weighs around 22 kilograms at launch and carries a payload of roughly six kilograms, including an integrated High-Explosive Dual-Purpose warhead.

That warhead can penetrate more than 600 millimetres of solid armour steel, according to figures released by the company.

Once ejected from its container, the drone unfolds its wings and shifts into standard aerodynamic flight for the remainder of its mission.

Its electric propeller keeps the approach quiet, while a reduced radar and infrared signature is meant to lower the odds of early detection by enemy systems.

Operators keep control throughout the flight, which can last up to 70 minutes and cover a range of roughly 100 kilometres.

This gives time for reconnaissance and identification work before any strike decision is made.

The launcher itself is built around a standard ISO container, so it can be mounted on trucks, ships, or fixed positions without major structural changes.

It connects to command and communications networks either by radio or satellite link, giving operators flexibility over where and how it is deployed.

Rheinmetall states that the system also includes a long-range power supply and a dormant activation mode, meant to keep it functional in remote locations for extended stretches without maintenance.

What the test signals for future deployment

Beyond the container launcher, the company says the FV-014 is built specifically for fast-moving, unpredictable combat conditions rather than fixed defensive lines.

Its onboard sensors and network features are designed to resist GNSS jamming, a growing concern in modern electronic warfare environments.

The system can reportedly strike armoured vehicles as well as softer infrastructure and unarmoured assets, widening its potential battlefield role considerably.

Rheinmetall also plans to extend deployment of the FV-014 to mobile land platforms beyond trucks, along with seagoing vessels.

Whether these plans move from testing toward wider battlefield adoption will depend on customer procurement decisions still pending.

The mobile-launch trial in Cochstedt appears intended to demonstrate operational flexibility to potential buyers evaluating swarm-capable loitering munitions.

Given the secrecy typical of defense procurement, further details about actual customer interest are unlikely to surface publicly in the near term.

The test represents a proof of concept rather than a confirmed operational rollout, and independent verification of the stated specifications remains limited.

About Power On...

Nowadays, everyone has an opinion they want to share with the world — and TechRadar senior entertainment reporter Tom Power is no different. That's why he created Power On..., aka a collection of articles that allow him to give his verdict on the industry's biggest stories, things that grind his gears, and more besides. For more pieces like this, check out the full series here.

It took a while, but Marvel has officially unveiled the first cast members for its forthcoming X-Men movie — and it raises questions about the credibility of many so-called industry insiders.

Revealed last Friday (August 14), the announcement was one of six big Marvel and Star Wars stories to emerge from D23 Expo 2026. Thankfully, the reveal was worth the wait, too, because a wealth of acting talent has been assembled for the X-Men's latest big-screen reboot.

Indeed, joining the already confirmed Sadie Sink (Jean Grey) on the cast list are Christopher Abbott (Professor X), Kit Connor (Cyclops), Samara Weaving (Emma Frost), Inde Navarrette (Rogue), and Maya Boyd (Storm). They'll share the screen with none other than Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury — or, as comic book fans will know him, Nathaniel Essex/Mister Sinister.

It's a stacked cast that I'm incredibly excited to see breathe new life into characters we've seen in previous X-Men movies, as well as animated offerings like X-Men '97 on Disney+. More than that, though, I'm glad to see the back of what became a head-spinning cast rumor mill in the weeks leading up this reveal, while also taking some pleasure in witnessing those supposedly 'in the know' trying to save face over their incorrect scoops.

The X-Men are coming to the MCU:Sadie Sink is Jean GreyKit Connor is CyclopsChristopher Abbott is Professor Charles XavierSamara Weaving is Emma FrostInde Navarrette is RogueMaya Boyd is StormAdam Driver is Nathaniel MilburyOnly in theaters May 5, 2028. pic.twitter.com/ZCd4f7I1W7August 15, 2026

I'm going to preface the rest of this piece by saying I bare no ill will towards anyone who hears things on the grapevine. I also understand why they share their leaks online, because everyone wants to be the person to break a big story. Heck, I'm guilty of it myself — you get the scoop, write and/or post about it, everyone uses your story as the original source, and you become a trusted industry source.

Furthermore — and this is probably the most important point of all — things change. The entertainment business is a fast-paced beast at the best of times, so when someone hears that an actor is in talks to star in a film or TV show, posts about it, and then that star walks away from a project, it doesn't mean that insider's information was incorrect or that they were simply chasing clout by posting a fake rumor.

What isn't okay — to me, anyway — is when scoopers desperately try to backtrack on what they were told without saying sorry for being wrong, or claim Marvel gave their contacts false information to make these leakers look bad (go figure that one out). The same principle applies to insiders who jumps on the bandwagon when someone shares something that ends up being accurate, but their fellow leakers were too unsure/afraid/scared/delete as applicable to raise their head above the parapet and post that information first.

Now, I'm not going to name names because they don't need the additional exposure or a baying mob at their door. If you operate in spoiler-filled Reddit circles, you'll already which unreliable insiders I'm referring to, anyway.

Nonetheless, of those who claimed to have dirt on the Marvel Phase 7 movie's confirmed cast and/or who they'd be playing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) over the past month, I've only seen one apologize for getting things wrong. Ironically, that scooper is not only one of the most reliable around, but also got called out for owning up to their mistake. In an era where fake news is rampant and there are less trustworthy sources than ever before, it's bizarre that this individual was criticized for holding themselves accountable.

But, I digress. If this X-Men movie casting saga — and, lest we forget, the soap opera that surrounded who would play the MCU's Fantastic Four — has reminded me of anything, it's that age old adage of not believing everything you read on the internet. And, unless one of the established trades like The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, or Variety report on something, it's worth taking it with a giant helping of salt because, right now, leak culture is frankly broken.

For more on the forthcoming film, find out everything we know so far about Marvel's new X-Men movie.

• Japanese certificate authority GlobalSign revoked TLS certificates for thousands of Russian domains in June 2026 as it implemented US and EU sanctions
• As a result, seven major Russian banks now serve certificates from a state root that no mainstream browser trusts, forcing users to manually install them
• Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service says the losses turn Russian banking, email, and internal systems into easier targets

Russian companies are finding themselves in an extremely tricky situation as US OFAC and EU sanctions now affect international security certificates issued by third-party providers.

A statement issued by Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service on August 12 said the certificate withdrawals essentially left the country's internal systems, email, and banking exposed to attack because no internationally recognized certificates were issued for their domains.

It noted Russian state services, including the Federal Tax Service, increasingly fail to load in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, and estimated that roughly 90% of the Russian market still depends on foreign-issued certificates, and that wide implementation of these sanctions could make it harder for users to access affected sites.

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Web trust certificates sanctioned away?

The move began on June 13 2026 when Japanese certificate authority GlobalSign, which controls much of Russia's commercial foreign certificate market, force-revoked TLS certificates it had previously issued to Russian companies.

Its local arm said that it could not influence the parent company's decision, which came due to new CA/Browser Forum rules, starting May 4. The rules effectively made screening applicants against the US OFAC and BIS lists, and European sanctions lists, mandatory for certificate authorities rather than optional, essentially tying the certificate provider's hands.

The move was implemented in two waves; the first affected an estimated 15,000-20,000 domains, and the second affected a more specific 310 domains across 44 companies, including large domestic names such as Rosneft, Gazprombank, Alrosa, and Positive Technologies.

The Ukrainian side insists that Russian internal systems, messengers, email, and banking APIs have become "ideal targets for hacker attacks," and there is some truth to it, even if mitigation is already underway on the Russian end. It estimates that reconfiguring infrastructure could cost larger corporations as much as 10 to 50 million rubles and take up to six months, and it is an error-prone process.

The move saw Russian domain owners, including its banks and tax services, turn elsewhere, with some moving first to a Greek academic certificate authority, HARICA, before turning to China's TrustAsia, which currently provides its state entities with certificates.

A more complicated play from the Russian end is a homegrown alternative the government continues pushing: state-issued trust root certificates that users must install manually. While the Ministry of Digital Development describes manual installation of its root certificate as "safe" and as having no effect on device function, security researchers have previously warned in 2022 and again in 2026 that a state-controlled root could be abused for "HTTPS traffic interception and man-in-the-middle attacks".

Moscow's other recommendation is that users switch to Yandex Browser, which ships with the domestic root built in. Ukraine's narrative dismisses that as an alternative prone to freezing and cache failures and offering no meaningful data protection, an assessment it attributes to "experts inside Russia."

Whatever the short-term outcomes result in here for .RU domains, a move like this could further disconnect Russia from the rest of the world, with Russian services working smoothly only for users running Russian software with a state root installed.

This might already be the trajectory for a Russia reeling from cyberattacks and sanctions, but one can assume the certificate revocations will only compress the timeline to that point, whether by design or an unintended consequence.

The low-slung sports car concept’s A-shaped light signature will be the face of future Acura models, starting with the upcoming RDX Hybrid.

As someone who writes about tech deals for a living, I was amazed to see a deal on TikTok that claimed you could get a MacBook Neo for only $119.99. That's a shocking discount, so much so that I thought there had to be strings attached, or maybe it was just too good to be true. And it was.

The $119 MacBook Neo offer, claimed as a "back-to-school deal," was a scam. Advertised on TikTok and Instagram as a real deal at Target, but the retailer has no such discount or promotion.

When you click on the offer, it takes you to a third-party website that promises up to $750 in Target gift cards if you complete 3 to 5 partner deals that include offers, trials, and sign-ups. Generally, if you have to jump through those hoops, it's a good sign it's a scam.

(Image credit: TikTok)

This scam has become viral because who wouldn't want Apple's shiny new MacBook Neo for only $119? Ever since the price hike on Apple's MacBooks in July, you couldn't find Apple's budget MacBook for under $699.

The 13-inch Neo is Apple's cheapest MacBook on the market, yet it's packed with premium features, including a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple's powerful A18 Pro chip for speedy performance, and AI capabilities. In our MacBook Neo review, we called it 'the best budget laptop you can buy right now', praising its design, build quality, and performance for the price.

While direct discounts are sparse, I've listed today's best deals on the MacBook Neo, including a trade-in offer and a free Starbucks gift card at Best Buy, a $10 price cut from Amazon, and Apple's popular $100 education discount for students and teachers.

Today's best discounts on Apple's MacBook Neo

The MacBook Neo is in stock in all colors at Amazon, with a small $10 price cut. While we've seen the budget MacBook drop to $589.99, this is the best deal we've seen since the price hike in July. It's also an incredible price for a feature-packed MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

Apple MacBook Neo at Best Buy: save when you trade-in and get a free $25 Starbucks gift card
If you're looking to upgrade and trade in your current laptop, this is a fantastic deal at Best Buy. Depending on your trade-in value, you can save big on Apple's MacBook Neo and get close to that Target scam price of $119. The retailer is also throwing in a free $25 Starbucks gift card with your purchase - no strings attached.View Deal

The MacBook Neo is currently $100 off thanks to Apple's education discount. This applies to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers. You must verify with UNiDAYS, and the discount will be applied at checkout.View Deal

Apple issued a fix for the vulnerability. But it’s best to disable screen sharing when not actively using it.

The popular language learning app is also running back-to-school discounts on subscriptions now through Sept. 11.