Technology

• Intrusions have been detected in Guam's power infrastructure
• The moves have all the markers of a Volt Typhoon campaign
• However not everyone in Guam is convinced of the threat

New reports have claimed notorious Chinese hacking group Volt Typhoon is targeting the critical infrastructure of small island nation Guam, looking to disrupt and sabotage services in the region.

The findings from Bloomberg say hackers are reportedly targeting the GPA (Guam Power Authority) in particular, in order to wreak havoc.

Guam is a small island with a population under 200,00, but is also home to a large US military base. The base takes up just over a third of the island, and provides a strategically significant foothold in the region - with geographical proximity to China undoubtedly a factor in its operations and vulnerability.

Everything, everywhere, all at once

The report uncovered incredibly discreet infiltration, so much so that detection was only made through small anomalies like irregular login patterns, with Volt Typhoon the top suspect.

The GPA is the island's only power utility, but the US Navy is its biggest customer, consuming 20% of the power it generated in 2023.

Critical infrastructure on the island is mostly run by private companies, so investigating and dealing with intrusions isn't always straight forward.

Not everyone on the island is convinced of the threat either, with the Chief Technical Officer for around 40 of Guam's government agencies, Frank Lujan, denying having seen any evidence of compromise, calling it the 'illusion of Volt Typhoon'.

In early 2024, Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) told congress that Chinese hackers are evolving their attacks on US infrastructure - in order to enable ‘destructive attacks’ on US citizens in the event of a major conflict.

This is ‘not theoretical’, Easterly says, and Chinese threat actors such as Volt Typhoon are building the capacity to cut off telecommunications, disrupt pipelines, pollute water facilities, and cripple transportation - all to incite ‘societal chaos’ and endanger American lives. The aim of these attacks would be to take down ‘everything, everywhere, all at once.’

China has always vehemently denied these claims, calling them baseless, and even going so far as to accuse Volt Typhoon of being a CIA asset.

This isn’t the first campaign by Volt Typhoon uncovered recently, with reports early in 2024 confirming the group had compromised the networks of US critical infrastructure and had maintained access for at least five years, in a huge cyber espionage campaign.

You might also like

• Take a look at our pick of the best endpoint protection software
• Experts warn millions of email servers could be vulnerable to attack
• Check out our pick for best antivirus software

• Balanced armatures, dynamic drivers and AI translation
• $99.99, available in the US from May 2025
• USB-C Auracast transmitter for $19.99, also in May

EarFun has announced a new version of its Air Pro 4 earbuds: the EarFun Air Pro 4+. They're very slightly more expensive than the current model, but if their AI features are as good as EarFun says, they could be well worth the upgrade – and they're still considerably cheaper than some of their big-name rivals.

The Air Pro 4+ aren't the only new products EarFun are unveiling this CES. In addition to multiple new headphones there's also a brand new Auracast wireless transmitter that can stream to your headphones from pretty much anything.

(Image credit: EarFun) EarFun Air Pro 4+ and Auracast dongle: key features, price and availability

The Air Pro 4+ are based around a Qualcomm SoC with aptX Lossless and QuietSmart 3.0 active noise cancelling plus a six-microphone noise-cancelling system for phone calls.

The earbuds come with AI-powered language translation which EarFun says makes them "ideal for global travelers and professionals", although as we haven't used the feature yet, we'll have to take EarFun's word for that.

The earbuds boast balanced armatures with 10mm composite dynamic drivers. Battery life is a promised 54 hours of total play time with fast charging, and the Bluetooth has multipoint pairing and a low-latency mode for video and gaming.

The price is a bit higher than the Air Pro 4, but we're still in affordable-earbud territory: when the Air Pro 4+ launch in May 2025 they'll be available on Amazon for $99.99 (about £79 / AU$159).

When we reviewed the EarFun Air Pro 4 we liked their low price and battery life, but we felt they were a little overcomplicated and presented far too many configuration options. Hopefully the 4+ will be a little more focused.

EarFun's other really interesting announcement is the EarFun UD100, which is an Auracast USB dongle with a price tag of just $19.99 (about £16 / AU$32). It connects to USB-C to transmit your PC, tablet or phone's audio output via Auracast over Bluetooth 5.4 to as many compatible devices as you want. Other supported codecs include aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX LL, SBC and LC3, and it's capable of transmitting at up to 96kHz/24-bit with 20ms latency – a very useful little addition, potentially.

The UD100 will be available in the US in May 2025.

You might also like

• The best budget earbuds
• The best noise cancelling earbuds
• The best cheap headphones you can buy right now

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

• Philips has announced its first smart lock compatible with Matter
• It also revealed a smart lock with both palm recognition and video
• Both locks will be available to buy in the second half of 2025

CES 2025

We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

Philips has launched a pair of new smart locks at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, including one compatible with the Matter smart home standard, meaning it should work seamlessly with your existing smart home devices including hubs and lights.

There are lots of excellent smart locks already on the market but, at the moment, relatively few support Matter, which could be a problem if you want to mix and match devices from different brands. The Philips 4000 Series Matter-Compatible Smart Deadbolt avoids that problem and, according to Philips, it'll play nicely with Apple HomeKit, Google Nest, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings, to name just a few.

The company says it will also be particularly easy to set up and pair, which should make it more appealing if you've been intimidated by the prospect of replacing your lock until now.

Contactless entry

(Image credit: Philips)

Philips also took the opportunity to show off its new 5000 Series Video Palm Recognition Smart Lock, which can recognize the unique pattern of blood vessels in your hand (something that's virtually impossible to fake) and capture video footage of visitors so you don't need to buy an extra video doorbell.

The original 5000 Series lock launched last year - the company's first lock with contactless palm-scanning - but the new model also offers 1080p HD video, so you can decide whether or not to open the door when someone approaches.

Wi-Fi is built in so, unlike some smart locks, the new 5000 Series doesn't require an extra hub. Instead, everything can be operated through the Philips Home Access App and, just like the original 5000 Series, the new iteration accepts voice commands via Alexa or Google Assistant.

Prices are yet to be announced, but both locks will be available to buy in the second half of 2025. We're hoping to put them to the test to see whether they earn a place in our roundup of the best smart locks.

You might also like...

• Smart locks: everything you need to know about intelligent deadbolts
• How to secure your home with smart tech
• How to buy a smart lock

At CES 2025, chipmaker AMD reveals its all-new gaming processors, including the Ryzen 9 99950X3D. Watch a recap of the big event in 7 minutes.

Our early look at CES 2025's offerings has turned up new products that are worth your attention.

Lymow's new robot mower has tank wheels and aims to take one seriously arduous outdoor task off your plate.

AMD is helping to usher in the second generation of PC gaming handhelds in 2025 with the announcement of the AMD Ryzen Z2 series of processors, designed to provide more performance and better efficiency for PC gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go.

Coming in three different tiers, the AMD Ryzen Z2 processors will include the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, AMD Ryzen Z2, and AMD Ryzen Z2 Go. The Ryzen Z2 Extreme will feature eight cores and 16 threads, a 5.0GHz boost clock, 24MB cache, 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, and a 15W-35W power envelope.

The Ryzen Z2 will also feature eight cores and 16 threads, but with a slightly higher 5.1GHz boost clock, the same 24MB cache, but 12 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores rather than 16, and a slightly smaller 15W-30W power envelope.

The new Ryzen Z2 Go (which had no equivalent with the Ryzen Z1 series), will have four cores and eight threads, a 4.3GHz boost clock, and 10MB cache, but the same 12 GPU cores and 15W-30W power envelope as the Ryzen Z2.

As the chips won’t sell on their own, there’s no hard release date, as that’ll depend on the release dates for the individual handhelds, but handhelds featuring the new chips should be available starting in Q1 2025.

Adding fuel to an already red-hot PC gaming handheld market

Following the launch of the Steam Deck in 2022, the PC gaming handheld market has exploded over the past two years, with nearly every major gaming PC manufacturer producing their own PC gaming handheld.

With few exceptions, these have all run on the AMD Ryzen Z1 series processors, so it’s natural that about two years after the launch of the Asus ROG Ally, the second PC gaming handheld after the Steam Deck, the AMD Ryzen Z-series SoCs would get a refresh with some new architecture and design.

And while the Ryzen Z1 has essentially had the entire market to itself, Intel’s strong showing with the MSI Claw 8 AI+, the first handheld to feature an Intel Lunar Lake SoC, has definitely injected a good deal more competition into this space.

We haven’t been able to test the new chis yet, so we can’t say yet whether the new chips are worth an upgrade, but given the popularity of these handhelds, it’s good to see AMD not just commit itself to further Z-series development, but even expanding it into a lower ‘budget’ specced tier which will hopefully help bring the cost of future PC gaming handhelds down into a more affordable place.

You might also like...

• Steam Deck vs Asus ROG Ally X
• Lenovo Legion Go review
• The next-gen of gaming handhelds is upon us - AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU could feature 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores meaning greater performance and efficiency

The EliteBook Ultra G1i looks particularly compelling, and we also get our first glimpse at HP's new OmniDesk PCs.

The Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 show Acer's staying committed to the portable PC game space, and there's a new folding mobile game controller too.

Some familiar laptop models are being retired with new consumer and business lines taking their place.

The latest silicon from Intel and AMD will power Acer's laptops and desktops coming later in 2025, including the eco-friendly Aspire Vero 16.

• Acer launches the Nitro Blaze 11 starting at $1,099 (around £1,000 / AU$1,740)
• It will utilize AMD's Ryzen 8840HS Processor with 8 cores and 16 threads
• Uses a huge 10.95-inch 1600p 120Hz screen

Acer is set to breathe new life into the handheld gaming PC scene with the Nitro Blaze 11 - which will feature AMD's Ryzen 8840HS processor, using the Radeon 780M integrated GPU packed with 12 RDNA 3 cores, starting at $1,099 (around £1,000 / AU$1,740).

With a huge 10.95-inch 1600p 120Hz display, the Nitro Blaze 11 will compete with the likes of Asus' ROG Ally and more notably the Lenovo Legion Go. The Legion Go is well known for its 8.8-inch screen, a large display size for a handheld - now, the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 takes it a step further with a bigger screen and detachable controllers similar to the Legion Go or Nintendo Switch.

Thanks to the 8-core Ryzen AI Processor, players will be able to enjoy games at higher frame rates using AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (potentially FSR 4, once that gets revealed). Acer's new device also promises fast-charging capabilities, allowing you to dive back into action in no time via a USB 4 Type C port. This will come in handy considering the 55Wh battery - smaller than some competitors, and a potential point of concern given the comparatively massive display.

It doesn't stop there, as the Blaze 11 comes with up to 2TB of Gen 4 NVMe storage, alongside a front video camera for calls and streaming - this will be ideal for Discord users and content creators, also pushing the device's capabilities towards work usage.

Launching alongside the Nitro Blaze 11 is the Nitro Blaze 8, with the same processor, and a smaller 8.8-inch 144Hz screen starting at $899 / around £800 / AU$1,590.

That is one massive handheld indeed... (Image credit: Acer) Is an 11-inch screen too big for a handheld gaming PC? Is it too expensive?

Considering the Lenovo Legion Go's 8.8-inch 1600p display, the 10.95-inch screen (at the same resolution) from Acer's Nitro Blaze 11 is set to blow it out of the water. As I've stated previously, besides the Steam Deck OLED, the Lenovo Legion Go was the best handheld gaming PC looking purely at display quality and size.

While we wait for Lenovo's successor to the Legion Go (rumored to feature an OLED screen), I believe Acer has undoubtedly taken the lead in this department. Acknowledging this, an 11-inch display surely has to be the limit as far as handheld gaming PCs go. Any bigger and you're effectively breaking into the territory of laptop screen sizes. After all, 13-inch laptops are commonplace, and the Blaze 11 certainly looks a bit comically oversized in Acer's promo shots.

The only concern here is whether the Ryzen 8840HS processor will be able to handle the 1600p resolution - the same issue was present with the Legion Go, with downscaling to 1200p or lower a necessity for great performance in most games with the Z1 Extreme chip found in Lenovo's handheld.

While I might be happy to see such a massive display for a handheld device, the price is certainly not something to boast about - $1,099 for a handheld gaming PC will likely make many potential buyers wonder why they shouldn't just opt for a gaming laptop desktop PC instead. Personally, I'm just hoping the performance and battery life live up to the price tag.

You may also like...

• Best handheld games consoles in 2025: the top systems we've tried
• Handheld gaming PCs are here to stay: here's why I'd recommend the Asus ROG Ally over a gaming laptop any day of the week
• Move over Steam Deck and forget the Switch 2 - the next-generation of handheld gaming PCs is almost here

AMD announced its latest RDNA 4 graphics cards at CES 2025 this week, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and AMD Radeon RX 9070, both targeting the midrange graphics card segment, as was widely expected.

There isn’t much that we know about the two new cards yet, other than the new numbering scheme is intended to make it easier to compare AMD’s Radeon cards against the competition, namely Nvidia.

Under this new numbering scheme, the Radeon RX XX70 cards are now meant to compete against Nvidia’s XX70 cards, with the Radeon RX 9070 XT going up against the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the RX 9070 going up against the RTX 5070. AMD has also teased a later launch for Radeon RX 9060 cards, which would then go up against the Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060.

Things get a bit more complicated when comparing these new cards against their predecessors, with AMD indicating that the RX 9070 series is replacing everything from the AMD RX 7900 XT to the RX 7800 XT, while the RX 9060 series is roughly replacing the RX 7700 XT and RX 7600 XT (the RX 7600 would presumably be replaced by a lower tier than these two).

It hasn’t said whether or not there will be any RX 9080 or RX 9090 cards, but given all of the talk about AMD conceding the premium enthusiast segment to Nvidia this generation, the 9070 and 9060 series cards are likely to be the only cards we get this go around.

No price or firm release date has been given, only that we should expect the new Radeon cards in Q1 2025.

Is abandoning the enthusiast segment a smart move for AMD?

AMD’s apparent decision to cede the enthusiast segment to focus on the midrange and upper-budget segments has been telegraphed by AMD for a while now, and it appears that this is in fact what AMD has planned.

Personally, I think it’s a great move on AMD’s part. If you’ve got a grand to spend on a graphics card, you’re all but certain to go for an Nvidia GPU. But the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE currently sits atop our best graphics card list for a reason. The RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 are ideal for 4K gaming, but according to Valve’s Steam Hardware Survey, the vast, vast majority of gamers out there are gaming at 1080p, with 1440p gaming being the area with the most growth. 4K gamers, meanwhile, make up less than 5% of gamers out there.

Which makes a lot of sense. Gaming at 4K is extremely expensive for increasingly marginal benefit. As TechRadar’s components editor, believe me, I’ve extensively tested all of the best 4K graphics cards over and over again, and I can hardly tell the difference between 1440p and 4K in terms of visual sharpness, but I can sure tell the difference in terms of framerate, and unless you have a 120Hz or better gaming monitor, you’ll never get to see the much faster 1440p framerate that a 4K graphics card like the RTX 4080 (or AMD RX 7900 XTX, for that matter) can give you.

The only people who can really benefit from a 4K graphics card at this point are people with a hell of a lot of money to spend on building the best gaming PC possible with a high-end gaming monitor. That’s a very narrow market, and if you’re that kind of gamer, you’re just going to splurge on a premium Nvidia card.

AMD’s apparent acknowledgment of this gives it a great opportunity to market its otherwise fantastic graphics cards to the vast majority of gamers, especially those whose goodwill has been burned by Nvidia’s increasingly high prices.

You might also like...

• AMD vs Nvidia: who is the graphics card champion?
• These are the best AMD graphics cards of the year so far
• Latest performance rumor around AMD’s RDNA 4 GPUs could worry you – but we think there’s no need to panic

AMD announced its latest X3D chips at CES 2025, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D, further expanding its 3D V-Cache lineup in its Ryzen 9000-series processors.

The two new chips, which replace the current Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Ryzen 9 7900X3D processors released in early 2023, are a major step up from the only other Ryzen 9000-series X3D chip, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Unlike the 8-core/16-thread 9800X3D, the 9900X3D and 9950X3D chips will feature 12-core/24-threads and 16-cores/32-threads, respectively.

The flagship 9950X3D will feature a 5.7GHz Boost clock and a massive 144MB L3 cache on a 170W TDP. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D, meanwhile, will feature a 5.5GHz Boost clock and a 140MB L3 cache on a much lower 120W TDP.

While the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the current gaming processor champ, the two newer chips aren’t strictly targeted for gamers like the 9800X3D. The 9950X3D, especially, is being pushed as a creative processor on par with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and Intel Core i9-14900K.

Whether the new chips strike that balance properly remains to be seen, but given how much better the gaming performance of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D was than the higher tier Ryzen 9 7900X3D and Ryzen 9 7950X3D, it’s entirely possible that these latest chips will likewise fall short of the 9800X3D’s gaming prowess while succeeding in other areas like video editing.

A treat for gamers, or a boon for creators?

AMD’s latest chips were widely anticipated for a CES 2025 announcement, so today’s news isn’t much of a surprise, just as comparing these two chips against the current crop of processors is inevitable.

With Intel’s major stumbles with the Intel Core Ultra 200-series desktop processors as well as the lackluster reception of the AMD Ryzen 9000 non-X3D processors, AMD has managed to score the only real win for this processor generation with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Following up on that chip is going to be tough, and so expectations are naturally pretty high for these new processors. I personally wouldn’t bet on them being better gaming processors than the 9800X3D, but AMD is claiming a roughly 13% better performance over its predecessor for the 9950X3D, and a roughly 10% better performance in creative workloads for the 9950X3D versus the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.

It looks, then, like the 9950X3D chip will indeed be a more creative-focused chip, and it remains to be seen how much the additional 3D V-Cache helps differentiate the 9950X3D versus the Ryzen 9 9950X, and whether any improved performance is worth the ultimately higher price.

You might also like...

• These are the best AMD processors
• AMD vs Intel: which chipmaker does processors better?
• CES 2025: everything we expect to see

Dell jettisoned decades of product nomenclature this week at CES 2025 as it introduced a new portfolio of product lines: Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max branded PCs and laptops.

According to Dell, the rebrand intends to simplify what had become a hodgepodge of product lines with sometimes inscrutable names that tell the average consumer very little about the computer's intended audience.

This includes the XPS, Inspiron, Latitude, and Precision product lines, all of which have very different intended audiences and it isn't exactly clear at first glance who they're meant to appeal to.

With the new Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max lines, customers should be able to tell from a label at a local Best Buy or Currys whether the PC or laptop they're looking at is appropriate for their needs.

Beyond these 'base' names, you'll also have numbers for the size of a laptop, let's say, as well as additional Plus and Premium labels on top of that to signify where the products fall in terms of performance, quality, and price point.

So, for example, the Dell 14 Premium would be analogous to the previous-gen Dell XPS 14, while the Dell 16 2-in-1 would effectively replace the previous Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1, while the Dell 14 Plus would replace the Dell Inspiron Plus 14.

The Pro and Pro Max products will cater more toward enterprise users, similar to how the Latitude and Precision laptops and workstations have done for much of Dell's existence. The Dell Pro fills the niche the Latitude previously occupied while the Dell Pro Max effectively replaces the Dell Precision lineup.

While the new naming scheme doesn't exactly 'simplify' the number of products offered, Dell hopes that the new nomenclature helps customers find the right computer for their needs without as much guesswork as its previous products sometimes required, and there's good reason to think that Dell might be right.

Taking a page from Apple, with a bit more clarity—and controversy

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

There's no way to sugarcoat this, but there are a lot of tech enthusiasts who are not going to like any of this, not one bit.

Some of these product lines, like the Dell XPS, have storied history behind them as well as some very devoted fans. The first Dell XPS PCs were launched way back in 1993 (the Dell Dimension XPS 466V), and have been a Dell mainstay ever since, with many users owning multiple Dell XPS products over the years.

The Dell Latitude line, meanwhile, has been a business mainstay for just over 30 years, while the first Inspiron laptops meant for mainstream users went on sale in the late 1990s.

Needless to say, leaving these iconic brandings behind isn't something any company would (or should) take lightly.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

However, Dell's product portfolio is also showing its age, at least in marketing terms. When you look at a MacBook Pro 14-inch, you do kind of know what you're getting just from the name, and Dell is clearly taking a page from Apple in this instance (I mean, Pro and Pro Max? You can't really trademark these words, but the parallels can't be clearer to Apple's laptop line).

Things change. Once dominant brands rebrand themselves every generation or so (if not more frequently), so I'm not all that heartbroken about the end of the XPS name as some (like my boss, Matt Hanson) might be. And even though some might ridicule Dell's 'simplified' nomenclature which can become as unwieldy as a theoretical Dell Pro Max 14 Premium 2-in-1 (not confirmed, but possible under this new scheme, at least), Dell's new portfolio actually tells you more about the PC you're buying just in the name than a lot of other PC manufacturers.

Even Apple, known for its 'simple' product line hides a lot of complexity behind the product page, at least when it comes to what kind of PC you're actually getting. Getting a MacBook Pro 14-inch? Well, at least three different market segments are served by that one laptop, depending on what specs you choose (the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max cater to the power-casual users, prosumers, and true creative professionals, respectively, all in one laptop).

Sure, that kind of flexibility in a single product is in itself a selling point, but if you're buying a MacBook Pro 14-inch off the shelf, which one are you getting?

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Are you getting it with an M4 chip or an M4 Max? How many CPU cores? How many GPU cores? Well, for that, you'll have to dig into the specs a bit, and two MacBook Pro 14-inch laptops could be wildly different in terms of performance, which might not be apparent at first glance.

With Dell's new nomenclature, you might get some potentially complicated product names, but those names might end up being more meaningful for the people who will ultimately buy them in a way that many other PC manufacturers' products simply are not.

I might know the difference between a Lenovo IdeaPad and a Lenovo ThinkPad; or an HP OmniBook, HP Envy, HP Pavilion, HP ZBook, and HP Spectre, but does the average customer? Probably not, and it might make a material difference in the price they pay and the experience they receive from their new computer.

Transparency is always a good thing for customers

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Of course, anyone who is buying a desktop PC or laptop needs to do the appropriate research on the various options in front of them and shouldn't rely solely on a product's name to tell them all they need to know to make an informed purchase. After all, only a fool buys a car because of its make, model, and color options. Computers are no different.

But there's value in knowing where to start, and quite frankly, if you have to ask someone who knows about computers if a particular make and model of laptop is right for a specific use case, you're already in a bad place as a consumer. Dell's new naming scheme, for all its faults, makes it easier for the average customer to find the computer that they need, so nothing else should really matter.

Dell's new product portfolio is bound to have critics and even full-on haters (I was one of them, initially), but it's quickly growing on me.

Product transparency for the customer is always a good thing, especially for highly technical products like computers. If it doesn't have the sexiest or most storied branding on the market, so be it.

You might also like...

• Dell XPS 13 (2024) review: the best XPS 13 ever
• I bought this crappy laptop for college and it was the best decision I ever made
• Dell vs Lenovo: which laptop manufacturer is best?

• Much loved Dell Precision product line makes way for a more straightforward moniker
• 16 and 14-inch versions, both powered by Intel and Nvidia, available at launch
• Dell says extra Base, Plus and Premium tiers to appear over time

Dell first introduced its Precision mobile workstation brand back in 1997, with the aim of catering to professionals needing high-performance computing in a portable form. Designed for tasks like 3D rendering, engineering simulations, and video editing, the Precision series quickly became a popular choice among creatives and professionals requiring portable workstations for complex workloads.

Dell is now overhauling many of its product lines, retiring longstanding and recognizable brands like Precision and Latitude in favor of a simplified naming system.

This includes the Precision line, which is being replaced by the Dell Pro Max, while the Latitude name has been replaced by Dell Pro.

Dell Pro Max takes a bow

The first models in the new mobile workstation series are the Dell Pro Max 14 and Pro Max 16, designed for intensive workloads and multitasking. Both feature a redesigned 16:10 aspect ratio, a larger click-pad, and options for up to a QHD+ display with an 8MP IR camera, improving usability for video conferencing and creative tasks.

The Pro Max 14, weighing from 4.04lbs (1.83kg), can be configured with up to Intel Core Ultra 9 processors, Nvidia RTX 500-class graphics, 6400MT/s memory, and 2TB of storage. It includes a 72Whr 4-cell battery and supports up to Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and single-cable docking for streamlined connectivity.

The larger Pro Max 16 also runs on Intel Core Ultra 9 processors and 6400MT/s memory but steps things up with Nvidia RTX 2000-series graphic. It supports up to 4TB of storage and includes a 96Whr 6-cell battery for longer usage between charges. It has a starting weight of 4.86lbs (2.20kg).

Further details on pricing, availability, and additional models in the Pro Max range are expected to be announced in due course.

Dell also plans to expand the lineup over time with Base, Plus, and Premium configurations (as it is doing with the Pro line) to offer a range of performance options for different needs.

More from TechRadar Pro

• These are the best business laptops around
• And these are the best laptops for working from home you can buy right now
• Dell Pro Max 18 Plus set to have 'RTX 5000 class' GPU capabilities

• Meet the EliteBook X G1i, EliteBook X Flip G1i and the EliteBook Ultra G1i
• All three models are 14-inch laptops powered by Intel's latest mobile Core Ultra CPU
• They all still offer 256GB PCIe Gen4 as the default storage option

As the demand for AI tools in computing continues to grow, HP is looking to offer up a new trio of laptops in its EliteBook series, powered by Intel’s latest mobile Core Ultra CPUs.

The new EliteBook X G1i, EliteBook X Flip G1i, and EliteBook Ultra G1i models bring next-gen AI processing capabilities alongside eye-catching hardware specs.

Each new EliteBook is powered by Intel's Core Ultra processors, available in 5 and 7 configurations, complete with integrated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) capable of handling 40 to 60 TOPS for AI-based tasks.

HP EliteBook Ultra G1i

(Image credit: HP)

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i stands out with its ultra-slim and lightweight design; measuring just 9.10 mm at its thinnest point and 14.9 mm at the rear, with the non-touchscreen version weighing in at a mere 1.195 kg.

Its display supports 400 nits of brightness and DCI-P3 100% color gamut, and is also certified for low blue light, reducing eye strain during long hours of use.

The new range offers a 14-inch display (touchscreen optional) featuring HP's UWVA BrightView technology. and is equipped with 256GB PCIe Gen4 SSD storage by default.

The 9MP camera features IR functionality and AI ISP, making it compatible with Windows Studio Effects for video conferencing.

The laptop supports 16GB to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory, ensuring smooth multitasking and storage options go up to 2TB using PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 SSDs for ultra-fast data access.

The device offers a full-sized backlit keyboard with a haptic click pad with customizable feedback. On the right side, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports support DisplayPort 2.1, while the left side houses a combo headphone/microphone jack, a USB Type-A 10Gbps port, and an additional Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port.

For connectivity, the EliteBook Ultra G1i is equipped with Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and optional LTE/5G capabilities. The audio system is powered by Poly Studio, boasting four stereo speakers and dual microphones with AI-enhanced noise reduction.

HP EliteBook X G1i

(Image credit: HP)

Next up, the HP EliteBook X G1i is a premium clamshell laptop designed for professionals who need performance and style.

This model features an aluminum chassis available in Atmospheric Blue and Glacier Silver, with dimensions that slightly vary from the Ultra model, but it's still light, with weight starting at 1.18 kg.

The HP EliteBook X G1i has a dual display option which includes the WUXGA (1920 x 1200) and 2.5K (2560 x 1600), offering options for touch or anti-glare configurations. Depending on the configuration, brightness can range from 400 to 800 nits.

It supports memory configurations ranging from 16GB to 32GB of LPDDR5X and offers storage options of up to 2TB using PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSDs.

For input, users will find a backlit, spill-resistant keyboard and a Microsoft Precision Touchpad that allows for intuitive navigation and gesture support.

The X G1i also comes equipped with Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and optional LTE Advanced Pro and 5G capabilities for seamless connectivity. This device also features two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, one USB Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a headphone/microphone combo jack.

HP EliteBook X Flip G1i

(Image credit: HP)

Finally, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i introduces flexibility with its 360-degree hinge, enabling users to switch between four different usage modes: laptop, tablet, tent, and stand.

This model weighs slightly more at 1.39 kg, largely due to its convertible nature, but its display options are identical to the X G1i, with WUXGA and 2.5K resolutions, and the same brightness configurations ranging from 400 to 800 nits.

However, the touchscreen functionality makes the Flip G1i particularly useful for creative professionals and those who need an interactive display for note-taking or presentations.

The X Flip G1i supports 16GB to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory, and offers up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD storage.

Its connectivity options include Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and optional 5G support. Like the other models, it includes two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, one USB Type-A port, and an HDMI 2.1 port.

The X Flip G1i is powered by HP Long Life batteries available in 56Wh or 68Wh, with USB-C fast charging support for uninterrupted productivity.

It also includes a backlit keyboard with spill resistance and a multi-touch supported touchpad, along with an optional HP Rechargeable Active Pen for precision inking.

You might also like

• These are the best business laptops: top portable picks for all budgets
• HP EliteBook 845 G11 14in business laptop review
• Here are our top picks for the best HP laptops that we've personally tested

• Dell unveils new "Pro" laptop range to replace Latitude brand
• Base, Plus and Premium tiers all available at launch
• All models are powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 2 CPUs

Dell is launching a new range of AI-powered business laptops as it retires the iconic Latitude brand.

First introduced in 1994, Latitude is being replaced by a more straightforward 'Dell Pro' name. Launching in March 2025, the new models with sport a redesigned, modern design and come in Base, Plus, and Premium tiers.

The base Dell Pro 14 has a plastic chassis in Solid Magnetite or Platinum Silver with a 14-inch FHD+ display offering touch and non-touch options, up to 400 nits brightness, and ComfortView Plus for reduced blue light. It supports up to 64GB DDR5 memory, 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD storage, and 13th or 14th Gen Intel Core processors, including Ultra Series 2 models arriving in March.

New Dell Pro laptops

Weighing 2.39 kg (1.36 lbs), the base Dell Pro 14 offers a variety of ports, including 1x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4.0, 1x USB Type-C with Power Delivery 3.1 and DisplayPort 2.0, a 4.5mm barrel power delivery port, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (one with PowerShare), 1x HDMI 2.1, and 1x RJ-45 (1 Gigabit).

Modular USB-C ports improve durability and repairability, and connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, 6E, 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 or 5.4. Additional features include a Copilot button and an FHD IR camera with a manual shutter for privacy.

The Dell Pro 16 offers a larger 16-inch display with a slightly higher screen-to-body ratio of 89.2% versus 87.8%. It is also obviously heavier, weighing in at 1.94 kg (4.27 lbs).

The Dell Pro 13/14/16 Plus models have an aluminum chassis in Platinum Silver color. They come with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors with Intel graphics, up to 64GB of DDR5 memory (the 16 inch model is capped at 32GB LPDDR5x) and up to 2TB of storage. The 13-inch and 14-inch Plus models also support a 2-in-1 form factor for multiple usage modes, including laptop, tablet, tent, and stand.

The Dell Pro 13 Premium (PA13250) and Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) have a magnesium chassis in Magnetite color and come with up to Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, and Intel Arc graphics. They support with up to 32GB LPDDR5x memory, and 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

Both include dual USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4.0 ports, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, and a universal audio jack. The Pro 13 Premium with a 13.3-inch display is the smallest and lightest of the new laptops, weighing in 1.07 kg (2.36 lbs), while the Pro 14 is 1.14 kg (2.52 lbs). They are also Dell Pro’s quietest models thanks to a new dual-fan system that increases airflow by 20%.

You might also like

• These are the best mobile workstations around
• And these are the best laptops for working from home you can buy right now
• Dell Pro Max 18 Plus set to have 'RTX 5000 class' GPU capabilities

• Garmin's new system for motorbikes builds on cycling radar tech
• Audio and visual alerts are sent to headsets and sat-nav systems
• Handlebar-mounted lights alert riders to approaching vehicles 

Building on Garmin’s experience with its Varia bicycle radar systems, the company has just unveiled similar technology that it hopes will equip motorcyclists with improved situational awareness on the road.

As with its Varia bicycle-based system, which takes the form of a rear light that synchs up with a handful of the brand’s cycling computers and a smartphone app to deliver notifications about vehicles approaching from behind, the zūmo R1 radar takes things a step further with both audio and visual notifications.

Although Garmin is frustratingly scant on details, it appears that the zūmo R1 radar requires hard-wiring into a motorcycle’s onboard battery, with the unit discreetly mounted to the top or bottom of a motorcycle’s rear license plate.

You can then run several more wires up to the handlebar-mounted lighting system, should you want to make use of the visual indicators notifying of surrounding traffic.

When a vehicle approaches fast from the rear, these LEDs will light up red before turning amber on either the left or right hand side of the handlebar to indicate which side the car is passing on, helping riders banish the blind spot.

On top of this, riders can also receive audio prompts through compatible helmet-mounted headsets, as well as an additional radar display that appears on either the brand’s zūmo R1 Radar smartphone app or a compatible zūmo XT2 motorcycle sat-nav head unit.

Seeing as the water and dust-proof radar itself doesn’t feature any sort of display, users will have to download the smartphone app to access things like light brightness settings, as well as how near or far away approaching vehicles have to be before the system alerts the radar.

According to Garmin’s specs, the radar is able to detect vehicles up to 60 meters away, while a rear-facing LED attached to the zūmo R1 radar unit glows amber when the system is activated, but changes its hue to red as a vehicle gets closer to increase drivers' awareness of a rider ahead.

The system is on sale now, costing £519 /$599 / AU$1,099, with shipping slated to start in five to eight weeks.

Analysis: A lot of faff and money for a little extra safety

(Image credit: Garmin)

A number of motorcycle manufacturers, including Ducati, are already shipping models with both Adaptive Cruise Control and a similar Blind Spot Detection system built into their vehicles.

These play nicely with the bike’s head unit and don’t require any additional (and unsightly) cables or lights to spoil a motorcycles clean aesthetic.

As time moves on, it’s only natural that even more advanced safety technology, much of which will be borrowed from the four-wheeled world, will filter down to the more expensive motorcycle models on sale.

Garmin’s retrofit radar system works well on bicycles, which don’t tend to have mirrors and travel at a much slower pace compared to motorcycles, making fast-approaching traffic from the rear something to be very wary of.

But this additional kit feels like a lot of effort, faff and outlay for something that can as easily be achieved with a good old-fashioned mirror and shoulder check – something motorcycle instructors drill into you when navigating the learner stages.

What’s more, past experience with Garmin’s Varia system on a road bicycle proved that it worked fabulously well on quiet country lanes, where the traffic is generally much less dense, but it came rather unstuck in bustling cities like London or New York.

Although we haven't tested it yet, it’s likely to be a very similar story with the zūmo R1 radar and, considering motorcycles tend to thrive in the city, the system could actually end up being more of a nannying hindrance than a helping hand.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

You might also like

• I rode the world’s first fully electric adventure motorcycle – and it’s the future aside from one big drawback
• Royal Enfield has turned this classic WW2 bike into a next-gen EV range – and it might just take electric motorcycles mainstream
• The 6 best electric motorcycle concepts and launches from EICMA 2024

• Samsung says its latest QD-OLED panel will hit 4,000 nits
• Based on our previous testing, it is unlikely to hit this number
• LG announces its new panels will hit 3,700 nits too

Samsung Display, which manufactures the QD-OLED panels used by Samsung Electronics and Sony, has said that its latest QD-OLED panel can hit 4,000 nits peak brightness, which would make it the 'brightest OLED panel on the market', as reported by Sammobile.

The new panel, which could be part of Samsung's 2025 QD-OLED TVs such as the flagship Samsung S95F, is said to achieve 30% higher peak brightness than last year's QD-OLED panel, which Samsung Display said could hit 3,000 nits.

This announcement comes at a similar time to reports that LG's latest OLED panels can hit 3,700 nits. Whether these panels will be featured in its 2025 OLED TVs, such as the LG M5 or LG G5, remains to be seen.

While the 4,000 nits number sounds like a breakthrough for OLED TVs, these new QD-OLED panels are actually unlikely to hit 4,000 nits - at least when used in the latest batch of QD-OLED TVs.

Brightness that's too good to be true

We measured the Samsung S95D at 1,868 nits peak brightness - significantly less than the 3,000 nits initially claimed by Samsung Display. (Image credit: Future)

In my own testing of last year's Samsung S95D OLED TV, one of the best TVs released in 2024, we measured peak brightness at 1,868 nits and 1688 nits in Standard and Filmmaker picture modes on a 10% white HDR window pattern. This is a ways off the 3,000 nits that Samsung Display claimed this panel would hit.

It's also worth bearing in mind that when claimed peak brightness figures are given by brands, these are usually measured in the brightest picture modes, often called Vivid or Dynamic - a picture mode we here at TechRadar recommend avoiding - and on smaller HDR test pattern window sizes, likely between 2-5%, which won't have as large an effect on HDR highlights as a 10% window, the window size we use to measure peak brightness.

While it didn't hit 3,000 nits, this didn't stop the Samsung S95D winning the title of our TV of the Year and being one of the best OLED TVs ever released. Its peak brightness is still the highest I've tested on an OLED TV, but it'll be some time before an OLED TV can consistently hit 3,000 nits; that's a level usually reserved for the best mini-LED TVs.

So with this in mind, it's extremely unlikely that this year's batch of QD-OLEDs are going to take things a step further and hit 4,000 nits. While a brightness increase in this year's QD-OLED TVs is likely, just how much brighter they'll be remains to be seen.

We've actually seen the S95F in-person and while its new Glare Free 2.0 tech solves the S95D's biggest issue with black levels, we weren't able to test brightness at the time. However, when we can get our hands on one for testing, we'll be sure to give its brightness a thorough test.

TechRadar will be covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

You might also like

• Samsung introduces 2025 mini-LED TV lineup with ‘A new era of Samsung AI’ - including new 100-inch+ sizes and more Glare Free TVs
• LG’s new wireless QNED 4K TV takes a page from the LG OLED TV playbook
• LG and Samsung have put AI everywhere in their 2025 TVs – and Copilot's coming too