Technology

As CES 2025 draws to a close, there are a few key takeaways in the world of TVs including brighter OLEDs, like the LG G5, bigger screens, like Hisense's mammoth 136-inch and 163-inch micro-LED TVs, as well as the introduction of new technologies like Samsung's 8K TV with an RGB micro-LED backlight.

One market, however, looks like it'll be just as competitive if not more so than it did in 2025; and that's mini-LED TVs. Some of the best TVs on the market are mini-LED TVs. Highlights from 2024 included the Samsung QN90D, Hisense U8N and the ground-breaking Sony Bravia 9, but there were so many more models that could count themselves among the best mini-LED TVs.

2025 looks set to be another big year for mini-LED TVs, with some exciting tech innovations introduced at CES. Mini-LED TVs from Samsung, Hisense, TCL and Panasonic have been confirmed – and Sony hasn't even announced its sets yet!

The state of mini-LED in 2025

The Samsung QN90F (pictured here at CES 2025) is likely to be one of the best mini-LED sets of 2025, if it's anything like its predecessor. (Image credit: Future)

Samsung revealed its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup and the most eye-catching news was the introduction of Glare Free tech to the Samsung QN90F and QN990F, its 2025 flagship 4K and 8K models. The reflection beating tech (which is a matte screen) was first introduced in 2024 on the Samsung S95D, one of the best OLED TVs on the planet.

We were blown away by the effectiveness of the Glare Free tech on the S95D, so adding it to the QN90F – which we expect to have high brightness levels and great motion processing like its predecessor the QN90D – is likely to make it one of the best TVs for sport. This is one for sports fans to keep an eye on.

One of the other major reveals at CES was the introduction of Hisense's RGB mini-LED backlit TV, the 116-inch UX. Hisense says the new tech will provide bolder, more vibrant colors and 10,000 nits of peak brightness, while also being 10% more energy efficient. We saw the 116UX in person and its as vibrant as promised.

This is likely to be a super-premium TV, with the 110-inch UXN with a standard mini-LED backlight retailing for a hefty $15,000 / £20,000 (roughly AU$24,000) so you can expect the 116UX to be even pricier, but its still an exciting new tech.

TCL's new and improved mini-LED backlight (pictured here at CES 2025) could improve picture quality for its TVs across the range. (Image credit: Future)

TCL also revealed a new type of mini-LED backlight, which demonstrated more precise backlight control and higher brightness of up to a mind-blowing 50% increase in its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, without compromising the image's darker areas.

Panasonic introduced the W95B in its 2025 TV lineup, while LG announced two mini-LED sets, the QNED99 and QNED92, into its 2025 QNED TV lineup. While these didn't quite have the same headline-grabbing innovations as the sets above, they are still set to be packing with excellent gaming features and upgraded processors promising higher brightness once again and better contrast.

These are just some of the mini-LED TV models we can expect in 2025. We're waiting to hear about Sony's 2025 lineup, which could include the successor to the brilliant Sony Bravia 9. The Bravia 9 is a mini-LED TV with OLED-rivaling contrast and black levels, so could Sony look to one-up it?

We're also still waiting to hear about Hisense's latest ULED lineup, which follows on from last year's Hisense U8N, U7N and U6N, and these along with TCL's other sets are sure to make up the backbone of the mid-range and budget mini-LED sets in 2025.

The battle rages on and we're spoilt for choice

Even 8K mini-LED TVs are getting innovations, as the Samsung QN990F (pictured here at CES 2025) has a wireless connection box and matte screen. (Image credit: Future)

While these brands will be looking for mini-LED supremacy, we're the real winners. These brands are looking to make their TVs faster, brighter, more colorful and detailed than ever before – and they'll be looking to offer the best prices they can to tempt us into choosing a mini-LED over an OLED.

Brands are starting to invest in bigger screens through their lineups too, with Hisense's 116-inch UX, Samsung's 115-inch QN90F and the TCL 98-inch QM6K just some of the larger mini-LED sets on offer. While these screens will exceed most people's budgets, does this mean we could see a price drop on smaller sizes? Hisense is most likely to offer this, but we'll be keeping an eye out on prices as they are revealed over the coming months. Plus, we can all still dream of a cinema sized screen and having the option is always going to get a thumbs-up from me.

It's also great to see so many tech innovations coming through for mini-LED TVs as well. A common problem for mini-LED TVs is backlight blooming (where light surrounds brighter objects on dark backgrounds, creating a halo effect) but if these new innovations can reduce this issue altogether, then that just means better TVs for us.

Higher brightness, both peak and fullscreen, is always a theme in new mini-LED TVs. While the numbers are reaching eye-watering heights of 10,000 nits plus, it means more eye-catching pictures and less reflections for those of us with bright rooms. Yet another positive thanks to the spirit of competition.

2025 is shaping up to be the most hotly contested year for mini-LED TVs in years and I can't wait to find out who's going to come out on top. Thankfully for us, it looks like we're going to be spoilt for choice.

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• The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be 5.5 mm thick
• It's expected to replace the iPhone 16 Plus
• Samsung is rumored to be launching a Galaxy S25 Slim too

If the rumors are right, we'll get a new iPhone model this year: the iPhone 17 Air. Courtesy of one well-known Apple analyst, we might now know just how thin this handset will be – and it's apparently going to beat the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim in terms of thinness.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Air is going to be a mere 5.5 mm, front to back, at its thinnest point. For comparison, the current iPhone 16 measures 7.8 mm front to back – so the new phone will be nearly 30% thinner.

From what we've heard about the Galaxy S25 Slim, it's going to be 6.x mm thick. If you've after the thinnest flagship phone you can buy in 2025, then it might well be the iPhone 17 Air – though these dimensions still need to be confirmed, of course.

The iPhone 17 Air may only offer eSIM support and do away with the physical SIM card slot in order to reduce thickness, according to Kuo. The handset is expected to replace the iPhone 16 Plus from the current range.

Slimming down

The iPhone 6 is the thinnest iPhone to date (Image credit: Future)

The Plus model has reportedly the least popular model in the iPhone range, and Apple will be hoping some extra sales can be sparked with a redesign and a new name – with the phone's thinness apparently the key selling point.

If the 5.5 mm prediction is correct, then the iPhone 17 Air would claim the honor of being the thinnest iPhone ever built. The current record holder in that regard is the iPhone 6 that launched in 2014 measured 6.9 mm front to back.

The phone has also been rumored to use a thinner and more efficient display technology, which will help in hitting that 5.5 mm target. As with the other iPhone 17 we can also look forward to a bump in performance as well.

It'll be Samsung that gets to show off its super-thin phone first though: the next Samsung Unpacked event is scheduled for January 22, and we think we'll see four different Samsung Galaxy S25 models, including the Galaxy S25 Slim.

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I’ve used and tried every Apple Watch since its launch in 2014. I was on the shop floor at Apple on day one of the Apple Watch launch, and for all of the last decade, I’ve been wearing, using, or writing about the Apple Watch.

But after years in Apple’s fold, 2024 heralded a new opportunity to try fitness tech from the other side of the iOS/Android divide. I’ve used the mightily impressive Mobvoi Ticwatch Atlas, and to close out the year I got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the undisputed best smartwatch out there, and one of my personal favorite pieces of tech, so I was keen to get a look at Samsung’s answer to the rugged, durable, adventure-going smartwatch.

But after barely 10 minutes with the Samsung Galaxy Ultra, I became flabbergasted by the absence of a feature I’d never even considered wasn’t ubiquitous on smartwatches of all shapes, sizes, and manufacture. I am, of course, talking about the digital crown.

My first Samsung

(Image credit: Future)

I didn’t notice the Galaxy Watch Ultra didn’t have a digital crown until I first put it on and used it. After successfully pairing it with my Samsung Galaxy Fold Z 6, I started to play around with the watch’s basic settings and features.

The first time I encountered a menu, I instinctively reached for the digital crown to scroll, and to my horror, felt nothing. I tried again, but still nothing. “What on earth is going on?” I thought to myself, peering down at the side of my Galaxy Watch Ultra in dismay. There, staring back at me was the Ultra’s array of Quick Button, Home Button, and a Back button, with no scrolling crown in sight.

The lack of a digital crown has made me question everything I thought I knew about smartwatches. In 10 years of covering and using Apple Watch, I’ve had little reason to stray beyond Apple’s walled garden, but I’d never stopped to consider that some Android smartwatch models didn’t have a digital crown.

How on earth do you scroll on a watch with a digital crown? A quick shop-around has reassured me that Google has adopted this indispensable tech with its Google Pixel Watch range, but I’m genuinely astonished that Samsung hasn’t got on board.

Defying convention

(Image credit: Future)

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is definitely an impressive timepiece, and one of the best Android smartwatches to boot. It certainly draws a bit too heavily on the design of the Apple Watch Ultra, from the squarer, blockish design, the rear sensor configuration, and the flashes of orange, which everyone seems to have decided is the color of adventure.

However, I love the band attachment mechanism, and the vibrant display really makes the colors pop. Yet this emulation of Apple’s hardware makes the lack of a digital crown all the more befuddling, how did Samsung take so much inspiration from the Apple Watch Ultra and skip over one of its most important and useful features?

An “ultra” smartwatch by definition is meant for tackling the great outdoors. A world of mud, dirt, sand, and water that makes a touch screen unreliable. Having a tactile input like a digital crown is vital to retaining more control and functionality over your timepiece in inclement weather. What’s more, it’s critical if you’re trying to use your smartwatch while wearing gloves, as I found out on a recent trip to the English Lake District.

I use the digital crown on my Apple Watch every single day. It’s there for scrolling through messages and emails, controlling the volume of music during a workout, or sifting quickly through the tiles on the smartstack.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I have used Samsung’s Touch Bezel on the Galaxy Watch Ultra. I hate it. Not only is it not conducive to use in the great outdoors for all the aforementioned reasons, but I actually think it harms the user experience because your finger often obscures what you’re trying to look at and scroll through on the screen.

Perhaps with time I’ll grow used to the Ultra’s Touch Bezel and its lack of a digital crown, but the revelation that not every smartwatch has a digital crown has ruined me. I’d defy anyone using a Galaxy Watch to try their hand at a digital crown on any Apple Watch or Android alternative and tell me that it’s not a better, more tactile, and more satisfying experience.

There’s a lot to like about the Galaxy Watch Ultra if you're an Android user. It’s the most rugged and exciting adventure watch on the smartwatch market right now. It has excellent battery life, and a tough titanium exterior, and it’s frequently discounted to the extreme, drastically increasing its value.

Rumors about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 are scant to non-existent, but I’d say a slam-dunk upgrade for the next iteration would be the introduction of a digital crown for scrolling that would drastically improve the user experience. It’s not a bad watch by any means, but a digital crown seems like an easy place to start when it comes to second-gen improvements.

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• McAfee's tool detects scams over email, text and deepfake attempts on social and elsewhere
• It claims victims on average lose nearly $1,500 to scammers
• You will need to be a paid McAfee customer to get the protection

Scammers are leveraging increasingly sophisticated AI technology to create convincing emails, text messages, and AI-generated deepfake videos.

A recent McAfee survey found nearly two-thirds (59%) of Americans have either fallen victim to scams or know someone who has, with average losses reaching nearly $1,500.

To address this trend, the antivirus software company has launched its AI-powered Scam Detector, a solution designed to shield users from falling prey to these digital traps.

McAfee Scam Detector

McAfee’s Scam Detector is powered by Smart AI, the same technology behind the company’s online protection tools.

This system identifies and flags suspicious emails and text messages before users engage with them. In addition, it flags AI-edited videos that might mimic trusted figures or promote fake endorsements.

It blocks potential threats and provides explanations to help users understand why a message or video is dangerous and learn about common scamming tactics.

The company revealed that this tool will soon be available in additional languages, including French, German, and Japanese, ensuring broader accessibility.

This tool integrates with popular platforms like Gmail, Outlook, Android and iOS. Users don’t need to manually analyze links or upload files for review; the tool works automatically. If a potential scam is detected, a notification will be sent to the user.

Beginning this spring, the Scam Detector will be included in McAfee+ and Total Protection plans at no additional cost.

Once activated, the tool provides real-time protection, working continuously across a user's smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

“Scammers are getting smarter every day, using technology like artificial intelligence to make their tricks more convincing and harder to spot,” said Steve Grobman, Chief Technology Officer at McAfee.

“They play on people’s emotions – like fear, urgency, or trust – to get what they want," he added.

"That’s why we created McAfee Scam Detector, powered by AI. It warns you about scams before they can cause harm, helps you stay in control of your personal information, and helps you build the skills needed to outsmart scammers for good."

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Here are some hints — and the answers — for Connections: Sports Edition No. 111 for Jan. 12.

Here are some hints -- and the answers -- for the Jan. 12 Strands puzzle, No. 315.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 12.

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #581) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COMETS
• INVENTION
• COIN TOSS
• DEFENDER
• COURT
• ASTEROIDS
• FAIRY TALE
• DRESS COAT
• FICTION
• ROMANCE
• SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
• CENTIPEDE
• CHARM
• FANTASY
• BREAKOUT
• PURSUE

NYT Connections today (game #581) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: All made up
• GREEN: Dating 
• BLUE: Video classics
• PURPLE: Flipside

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #581) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: FABRICATION 
• GREEN: WOO 
• BLUE: CLASSIC ATARI GAMES 
• PURPLE: THINGS FEATURING TAILS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #581) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #581, are…

• YELLOW: FABRICATION FAIRY TALE, FANTASY, FICTION, INVENTION
• GREEN: WOO CHARM, COURT, PURSUE, ROMANCE
• BLUE: CLASSIC ATARI GAMES ASTEROIDS, BREAKOUT, CENTIPEDE, DEFENDER
• PURPLE: THINGS FEATURING TAILS COIN TOSS, COMETS, DRESS COAT, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Fail

I started today’s Connections completely baffled and unable to see any links at all before writing every word down and noticing – after a brief thought that we were looking for book genres – the words that made up FABRICATION and WOO.

Blue and Purple defeated me. Games are a blindspot for me. If I enjoy a game I get locked into it for years – Tetris, Sim City, Balatro – playing absolutely nothing else until a new game takes over, or as was the case with a dinner party game called RSVP I played every day on my phone, accidentally delete and then find out it is no no longer available. I realize this is a bit odd and it’s left me completely ignorant of everything else. But even if I was aware of the video game canon of the late 20th century I would have definitely included SONIC THE HEDGEHOG as an Atari game (it’s Sega), instead of the THINGS FEATURING TAILS category.

After Googling “does Sonic The Hedgehog have a tail?” (I’m not the first to do this) I eventually discovered that Tails is the name of a character within the Sonic The Hedgehog universe – and yes Sonic does have a tail. Every day’s a school day.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 11 January, game #580)

• YELLOW: DISPLAY OF ROWS AND COLUMNS ARRAY, GRID, MATRIX, TABLE
• GREEN: THINGS TO DO AT A WORK EVENT CIRCULATE, CONVERSE, MINGLE, NETWORK
• BLUE: OLYMPIC EVENTS SINCE 2000 BREAKING, SURFING, TAEKWONDO, TRAMPOLINE
• PURPLE: -_COURT FOOD, KANGAROO, SUPREME, TENNIS

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #315) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Wait what?

NYT Strands today (game #315) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BALE
• RAIL
• SOLID
• BOOM
• NUTS
• BEAR

NYT Strands today (game #315) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Bewildered

NYT Strands today (game #315) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #315) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #315, are…

• STUN
• ASTONISH
• GOBSMACK
• SURPRISE
• FLABBERGAST
• SPANGRAM: MINDBLOWN

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

There’s a couple of brilliant words in today’s Strands that feel as if they belong in boy’s comics from the 1950s and have not been heard much since – GOBSMACK and FLABBERGAST.

I was pleased – although not particularly gobsmacked – to learn that Flabbergast originated in Sussex, which is the English county where I was born, although quite why that particular area popularized a word which originally meant “shocked tubby person” is uncertain.

Gobsmack is also interesting and again began as a portmanteau of two slang words – Gob (for mouth, coined in Ireland in the 16th century) and Smack, which describes the sound of a flat hand hitting something – so hitting your mouth in shock. Something I instantly imagine Stan Laurel doing.

Meanwhile, today’s big SURPRISE was that I completed Strands again without any hints.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 11 January, game #314)

• DAWN
• DUSK
• NOON
• EVENING
• MORNING
• DAYBREAK
• TWILIGHT
• SPANGRAM: TIMING

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

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

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

Quordle today (game #1084) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1084) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1084) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1084) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1084) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• P

• W

• F

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

Quordle today (game #1084) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1084, are…

• BRIEF
• PETAL
• WOMAN
• FELON

I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’m playing a lot of Quordle (and Wordle), but I’m reaching that stage where I’m kidding myself that I’m achieving synergy with the puzzle setters.

The reason for this is that today I landed two words, PETAL and FELON, without really thinking about it or looking at what letters I had left – they just landed in my head.

Of course, the other possibility is sheer luck, but it’s nice to kid myself for a little while.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #1084) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1084, are…

• THEIR
• GRIMY
• AGATE
• RIVER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1083, Saturday 11 January: ASCOT, FIBER, ROGUE, SMELL
• Quordle #1082, Friday 10 January: BIGOT, INLET, LEECH, TUNIC
• Quordle #1081, Thursday 9 January: RESET, HUMOR, TENOR, IMAGE
• Quordle #1080, Wednesday 8 January: MINCE, SADLY, RISEN, VOUCH
• Quordle #1079, Tuesday 7 January: CREED, FILET, ROUTE, TAPER
• Quordle #1078, Monday 6 January: PIVOT, WOOLY, GRUNT, GROOM
• Quordle #1077, Sunday 5 January: BORAX, JUDGE, CADET, SALON
• Quordle #1076, Saturday 4 January: CORER, CRATE, QUASI, EXIST
• Quordle #1075, Friday 3 January: PERKY, QUARK, NAVEL, SHEEN
• Quordle #1074, Thursday 2 January: UNIFY, SWORE, DEPOT, INTRO
• Quordle #1073, Wednesday 1 January: CLING, SUITE, WORRY, TONIC
• Quordle #1072, Tuesday 31 December: PLUMP, TUBER, IRATE, ICILY
• Quordle #1071, Monday 30 December: TODDY, GROIN, GROWN, VERVE
• Quordle #1070, Sunday 29 December: PURER, SPLAT, RABID, EMCEE
• Quordle #1069, Saturday 28 December: BUNCH, LABOR, TRIPE, BUNNY
• Quordle #1068, Friday 27 December: BRAWL, LYING, ORGAN, CRONY
• Quordle #1067, Thursday 26 December: TATTY, OVERT, FLOUR, SWEPT
• Quordle #1066, Wednesday 25 December: LIVER, CRIER, SHORE, MURKY
• Quordle #1065, Tuesday 24 December: TIPSY, SCALE, FLYER, VALVE
• Quordle #1064, Monday 23 December: SNAKE, SAVVY, ELBOW, TWEED

Looking for internet in Wilmington? Our broadband experts have found the fastest speeds and most affordable pricing available in the area.

• At CES 2025, Morse Micro presented a working demo of a HaLow router that can deliver data at up to 250Mbps in a 10-mile radius
• TechRadar first covered HaLow back in 2016, but the technology is only just maturing
• HaLow's long range without the need for a repeater could be attractive for commercial setups

The future of Wi-Fi technology may have taken a major leap forward at CES 2025 with the debut of Wi-Fi HaLow routers from Morse Micro.

Its new prototype (via Yanko Design) boasts a 10-mile range, potentially making a home Wi-Fi network available locally.

Unlike conventional routers which can struggle to penetrate walls when operating at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, HaLow’s sub-GHz frequency waves travel through obstacles, offering reliable connectivity across a distance.

HaLow’s roots: From concept to reality

Designed to operate on the 900MHz band, HaLow was created for low-power, long-range connectivity. Potential use-cases include industrial setups as well as connecting to Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart homes from afar.

TechRadar reported back in 2016 that HaLow’s initial speeds ranged from 150KBps to 18Mbps; decidedly unimpressive with hindsight - but nine years down the line, advancements showcased at CES 2025 have demonstrated speeds up to 250Mbps, a significant improvement which broadens its potential applications.

In February 2024, Morse Micro demonstrated the potential of Wi-Fi HaLow by setting a record for long-range connectivity using the 802.11ah standard. The company achieved a 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) video call at the time.

More impressive still, in a test at Joshua Tree National Park in September 2024, a rural area with vast open spaces and minimal RF interference, Morse Micro achieved a 16-kilometer (10-mile) range.

While HaLow’s 250Mbps speed isn’t as fast as 5GHz Wi-Fi, it’s more than sufficient for everyday tasks such as browsing, emails, and IoT communications.

Morse Micro says it envisions a future where HaLow routers coexist with current Wi-Fi bands, creating tri-band systems combining 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and sub-GHz frequencies.

Currently, common devices like smartphones and laptops aren’t yet equipped to support this technology, however, Morse Micro is working with engineers to integrate HaLow chipsets into future devices.

Nevertheless, HaLow's long-distance coverage holds notable commercial and industrial potential for environments like warehouses, where robots and IoT devices could communicate without hubs or repeaters.

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Here are some hints -- and the answers -- for Connections No. 581 for Sunday, Jan. 12.

Here are some hints and the answer for Wordle No. 1303 for Sunday, Jan. 12.

• Teamgroup's 8TB PCIe 5.0 SSD will be the first of its kind to hit the market
• The T-Force GE Pro won't top the best PCIe 5.0 SSD but should be fast enough for most use cases
• Samsung, XPG and Crucial have demoed 8TB PCIe 5.0 SSDs but none have gone on sale

TEAMGROUP has announced the T-FORCE GE PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD, which is on track to be the first of its kind to be commercially available.

Though Samsung, XPG, Micron and Crucial have all showcased 8TB PCIe 5.0 SSDs in the past, none have hit the market.

The device comes with read and write speeds of 13,500 MB/s and 11,000 MB/s respectively, while the company claims it is designed for gamers, content creators, and other professionals who need ultra-fast storage solutions.

Optimized cooling for sustained performance

The T-FORCE GE PRO tackles heat management with its patented graphene heatsink to enhances dissipation.

The company also adds the T-FORCE AirFlow1 SSD Cooler with active cooling, and this ensures sustained peak performance during demanding tasks.

Furthermore, the T-FORCE GE PRO supports advanced 4K LDPC (Low-Density Parity Check) to improve data transfer accuracy, reducing errors and extending the SSD's lifespan.

Users can also monitor the SSD's health and performance using TEAMGROUP’s proprietary S.M.A.R.T. monitoring software.

According to the company, the GE PRO's manufacturing process complies with RoHS environmental standards, with all packaging materials being recyclable.

Personally, I don't expect that the GE PRO will be too expensive, in part because it won't surpass the very best PCIe 5.0 SSDs in benchmarks while probably still being fit for purpose.

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• MSI is the latest vendor to jump on the AI PC bandwagon
• The Cubi NUC AI+ 2M is a mini PC with 11 ports and 1 card reader but no TB5
• It comes with a dedicated Copilot button as well as a fingerprint reader

MSI unveiled two new Cubi mini PC offerings at CES 2025, and it likely won’t come as any surprise these models include AI in their names. The Cubi NUC AI+ 2M and the Cubi NUC AI 1UM offer on-device AI capabilities and are designed to deliver powerful performance in a compact form factor suitable for any workspace.

The larger Cubi NUC AI+ 2M measures 0.826 liters and is powered by Intel's Core Ultra processors from the Lunar Lake platform, with configurations up to the Core Ultra 7 258V. It features Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics and up to 32GB of LPDDR5X on package memory. Storage is supported via a single M.2 2280 SSD slot. The device can deliver up to 115 TOPS of processing power through a dedicated Intel AI Boost NPU.

The Cubi NUC AI+ 2M offers a total of 11 ports. On the front, there are two 10Gbps USB Type-A ports and a microSD card reader, as well as a one-touch fingerprint power button for added security, and a Copilot button for instant access to AI tools such as CoCreator, Windows Studio Effects, Live Captions, and Live Translation. There’s also a built-in microphone and speaker for voice commands.

No Copilot button on the smaller model

The rear panel houses dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, one of which supports PD-in up to 100-watts (it’s a shame MSI hasn't yet embraced Thunderbolt 5 for even faster data transfer speeds), dual HDMI ports, and two 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports. The Cubi NUC AI+ 2M can drive up to three screens and supports WiFi 7 for high-speed wireless connectivity.

The Cubi NUC AI 1UM is a smaller and presumably more affordable alternative, with a 0.51-liter volume. It is powered by Intel Core Ultra 100 Meteor Lake processors, including options up to the Core Ultra 7 155H.

It supports dual SODIMM DDR5 memory slots and two M.2 SSD drives, and like its larger sibling, it includes dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI outputs, and 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports. It can drive four screens, but doesn't have a Copilot button.

Both models support MSI Power Link, allowing power control through select MSI monitors and reducing cable clutter, especially when mounted behind a monitor. Pricing details for both have yet to be announced.

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