Technology

TP-Link's Archer 8 Ultra brings Wi-Fi 8 to select markets, but high prices, limited client support, and unfinished features make Wi-Fi 7 the better buy for most users.

The post Wi-Fi 8 vs Wi-Fi 7: Is TP-Link’s Archer 8 Ultra Worth It? appeared first on TechRepublic.

This could be a game changer for AI note-taking and transcription.

Modern laptops have largely abandoned optical drives, which can be frustrating when you need to access an old DVD, install software from a disc, or back up important files. The Asus ZenDrive external DVD burner offers a straightforward solution without requiring you to replace your computer or install additional hardware.

Best for: Anyone with a Windows laptop, Mac, or desktop PC that needs an external DVD drive for reading discs, burning backups, or accessing older software and media.

The deal: The Asus ZenDrive external DVD burner is $38 (was $45) at Amazon.

Why it matters: Many newer computers no longer include optical drives, but this inexpensive accessory lets you continue using your existing CDs and DVDs, and creating brand new backups.

Zendrive Black External DVD Burner: was $44.99 now $37.88
This 13mm external DVD writer supports 8x DVD and 24x CD speeds, M-DISC archival media, USB-A and USB-C connections, Windows and Mac compatibility, Disc Encryption II, and Nero BackItUp software.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Asus ZenDrive is essential for anyone who still has a collection of physical discs. It supports DVD reading and writing at up to 8x speed, and CDs at up to 24x. It also offers M-DISC support which is designed for long-term data preservation of things like photographs, family videos, and important documents.

It also includes Disc Encryption II, which provides password protection and hidden-file functionality for supported disc-writing tasks.

Both USB 2.0 and USB Type-C cables are included, allowing you to connect the drive to compatible Windows PCs and Macs without the need for a separate adapter.

Price context & historical value

The Asus ZenDrive was listed at $44.99 before Amazon reduced it to $37.88, saving buyers $7.11. It's not an enormous discount in dollar terms, but it brings the cost below $40. That's not the lowest it has been however. Back in 2021 it was $30, but it's unlikely to ever reach that price again. So, a good price for what I'd consider an essential for physical media fans like me.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Asus ZenDrive if...

You have CDs or DVDs that you still want to access, or you need a simple way to create physical backups. Its compact design makes it convenient to keep for occasional use.

❌ Skip the Asus ZenDrive if...

You no longer use physical discs or you need to read Blu-ray media, which this doesn't support. A USB flash drive or external SSD will generally be more practical for everyday file transfers.

• Shop all CD and DVD drives at Amazon

The company is expected to release a new HomePod and Apple TV next week.

Could they be the next “eye” phone? I spoke with the founders of Xpanceo to find out.

• Attackers hijacked three country-code domains to obtain fraudulent HTTPS certificates for major websites
• Fake certificates could enable convincing traffic interception and phishing against affected domains
• Google revoked the certificates, protected Chrome users, and warned impacted organizations

Cybercriminals recently managed to hijack three country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and used the access to generate HTTPS certificates covering several Google domains, as well as those belonging to other organizations. Google said the attack placed thousands of websites at risk, but stressed that the certificates have since been revoked.

According to Google, the domains that were hijacked are .gh (Ghana), .sl (Sierra Leone), and .as (American Samoa). During the attacks, the threat actors modified authoritative DNS records, obtaining HTTPS certificates covering not just Google, but other organizations, too.

In other words, any website operating on these domains was at risk, as well as all of the visitors. By manipulating authoritative DNS records, threat actors could redirect traffic away from legitimate websites and towards malicious ones under their control, all the while telling users they were visiting the legitimate one by showing the padlock icon. Visitors entering login credentials, payment information, or other data, would easily lose them to the attackers, and depending on the circumstances, they could also end up installing malware.

“Due to the nature of the attacks, we have no reason to believe the Certification Authorities (CAs) that issued the impacted certificates did anything wrong,” Google said.

Affecting major brands

Although Google blocked the unauthorized certificates in Chrome and worked to have them revoked, it warned that its interventions might not have identified every affected domain or protected users of other browsers.

“As part of our usual incident response process, we immediately acted to protect users by blocking the use of unauthorized certificates for Google properties in Chrome via CRLSets,” Google added. “We also worked with the issuing CAs to ensure the certificates were revoked to protect users in clients other than Chrome.”

The risk for websites wasn’t theoretical. Google said “several leading global brands and widely used online services” were impacted by these attacks, and stressed that all of the certificates used in these attacks were blocked.

“Where possible, we reached out to impacted organizations to alert them to our findings and actions,” Google concluded. The company did not say which of its own domains were affected, and did not want to name the victim companies. We also don’t know how many organizations were impacted.

Chrome users don’t need to take any action to be protected, it was said, but domain owners do have a thing or two to do. That includes performing ongoing monitoring of Certificate Transparency for all of the domains, and publishing restrictive CAA records with ACME account bindings.

Not the first rodeo

Attacks like this have happened before - in 2011, cybercriminals compromised Dutch Certificate Authority DigiNotar, generating 531 fraudulent certificates for domains belonging to Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, Skype, and more. Some of these certificates were allegedly used to intercept encrypted communications of Iranian internet users, and the incident ultimately forced major browser vendors to withdraw their trust in DigiNotar, putting the company out of business.

Earlier that year, threat actors stole an account belonging to a registration authority partnered with Comodo, obtaining nine fraudulent certificates for domains operated by Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and others. Something similar happened in 2015, when Google discovered that Symantec's Thawte-branded Certificate Authority had improperly issued an unauthorized certificate during internal testing, covering Google's domains.

This incident, however, was more of an internal failure and less of an attack. Subsequent investigations uncovered numerous additional misissued certificates.

“In parallel with domain-owner defenses, we will continue to work alongside the broader community to limit the impact of transient routing and DNS compromises on the safety of the web,” Google concluded. “To keep our users safe, we are committed to long-term HTTPS ecosystem improvements, such as reducing certificate validity and DCV reuse, through the Chrome Root Program and the new Chrome Quantum-resistant Root Program.”

Via Ars Technica

Spooky season has arrived, and Le Creuset is treating us to a full range of themed cookware. Officially, it's the Harvest Collection in the US, and the Autumn Collection in the UK, and it offers pumpkins in every configuration you could imagine — plus some you'd never have thought of. For instance, I didn't think you could turn a gravy boat or a butter dish into a pumpkin, but both are present and correct here. There are also plenty of bats sprinkled in, for good measure.

Le Creuset is known as a top-quality brand, and that's reflected here — this cookware is predominantly cast iron and stoneware, so it's built to last. The colorways are classy, too; the brand's signature volcanic orange is a perfect fit, and moody greens, mustard yellow and inky black help round out a sophisticated autumnal color palette. And there are thoughtful touches throughout, like the twisty, metal stem/handle on the large cast-iron dishes.

Of course, the price points are fairly lofty. But there are a handful of more budget-friendly options in the mix that'll let you get the look without breaking the bank — I'll be working towards a mini cocotte in every color. Scroll down to check out the full range in both the US and the UK.

US: Spook-tastic cookware

Hop down to the UK range

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte, Persimmon

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte, Forêt

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte, Licorice

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte, White

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Cocotte, Nectar

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Braiser, Persimmon

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Braiser, Nectar

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Braiser, Foret

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Braiser, Licorice

Le Creuset Signature Pumpkin Braiser, White

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Gravy Jug, White

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Gravy Jug, Persimmon

Le Creuset Signature Spatula with Bat Appliqué

Le Creuset Pumpkin Mini Cocotte, White

Le Creuset Pumpkin Mini Cocotte, Nectar

Le Creuset Pumpkin Mini Cocotte, Persimmon

Le Creuset Pumpkin Mini Cocotte, Persimmon, Forêt

Le Creuset Pumpkin Mini Cocotte, Persimmon, Black

Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Halloween Dishes, Set of 4, Multi

Le Creuset Mini French Oak Leaf Bowls, Set of 4

Le Creuset Bat Stockpot

Le Creuset Bat Mini Cocotte

Le Creuset Stoneware Bat Mug, Black

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, Nectar

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, Persimmon

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, White

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, Black

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Bowl, 3L, Persimmon

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Bowl, 3L, white

UK: Spook-tastic cookware

Le Creuset Cast Iron Pumpkin Casserole, 24cm, Volcanic

Le Creuset Cast Iron Pumpkin Casserole, 24cm, Forêt

Le Creuset Cast Iron Pumpkin Casserole, 24cm, White

Le Creuset Cast Iron Pumpkin Casserole, 24cm, Nectar

Le Creuset Cast Iron Pumpkin Casserole, 24cm, Sea Salt

Le Creuset Cast Iron Pumpkin Shallow Casserole, 24cm, Volcanic

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Gravy Jug

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mini Casserole, 16cm, Volcanic

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mini Casserole, 16cm, Forêt

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mini Casserole, 16cm, Satin Black

Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Halloween Dishes, Set of 4, Multi

Le Creuset Stoneware Set of 4 Leaf Small Dishes

Le Creuset Stoneware Bat Petite Casserole

Le Creuset Cast Iron Wicked Elphaba Embossed Round Casserole, 24cm, Artichut

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Butter Dish, Volcanic

Le Creuset Stoneware Bat Mug, 400ml, Satin Black

Le Creuset Stoneware Bat Mug, 400ml, Volcanic

Le Creuset Stoneware 25cm Pumpkin Serving Plate, Volcanic

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Plate

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, Foret

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, Volcano

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, Black

Stoneware Pumpkin Mug, Garnet

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Bowl, 3L, volcanic

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Bowl, 16cm, Volcanic

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Bowl, 14cm, Forêt

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Bowl, 14cm, Satin black

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Bowl, 14cm, White

Le Creuset Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Bowl, 3L, white

• License costs are a worry for 90% of VMware customers
• Multi-vendor and security complexities are limiting migration for many
• Some customers are staying with VMware but sourcing their own support

A new study has claimed a staggering 90% of decision-makers are considering VMware alternatives purely based on licensing costs.

But following other changes made to the virtualization stack under its not-so-new Broadcom ownership, two in three (66%) of those surveyed by Rimini Street are also considering third-party support.

That said, there's a big step between considering leaving VMware and actually migrating away, and many face the reality of not being able to without incurring high costs or encountering technical difficulties.

VMware customers aren't happy, but they're not switching away

Broadcom's licensing changes are the biggest offender, the study shows, with 90% of those considering an alternative impacted by higher licensing costs and 54% unhappy with the end of support for perpetual licenses.

Despite very clear dissatisfaction, half (48%) of existing perpetual licence customers don't actually have any plans to move away from VMware Cloud Foundation.

Still, the wheels are in motion with three in five surveyed businesses considering multi-hypervisor strategies, potentially as the first stage in a multi-step process to move away from VMware. The journey ahead isn't so simple, though, with operational complexity (40%), managing multiple vendors (38%), handling security with an expanded attack surface (37%) and ups killing workers (37%) all cited as challenges.

"The shift for current VMware users is not simply about replacing one vendor with another. It reflects a broader effort by enterprises to reduce dependency on a single provider," Unisphere lead analyst Joe McKendrick explained.

What we're seeing more of, though, is the adoption of third-party support for existing VMware packages instead of total migrations away from the company. One in five (18%) are already using third-party support.

"For many organizations, that means balancing support for existing environments with new investments designed to improve resilience, security and scalability over time," McKendrick added.

Amazon’s Fire tablets have historically been seen as low-cost, low-spec alternatives to the best Android tablets and best iPads, but now the mega-retailer has finally entered the premium tablet market with the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro.

Yes, the ‘Fire’ nomenclature is gone — and, mercifully, Fire OS along with it. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is the first Amazon tablet to support full Android, meaning users will be able to access the Google Play Store and its millions of streaming, gaming, and productivity apps, including Google Maps, YouTube, and Gmail.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro — which is joined by the smaller Alexa Tablet 11 and Alexa Tablet 8 in a three-product lineup — is also the first Amazon tablet to feature baked-in Alexa+ integration, so it’s got AI chops to rival Apple’s Apple Intelligence-compatible iPads and Samsung’s premium Galaxy tablets.

In other words, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is about as far away from the Amazon Fire Max 11 as the Kindle-maker could have gotten — and Amazon acknowledges that this distinctly premium product marks a dramatic change in strategy for the company.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with the Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard and Alexa Tablet Pro PenFutureThe Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with the Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard and Alexa Tablet Pro PenFuture

“Without a doubt, this is the biggest leap we've ever made in developing tablets in our history,” Eric Saarnio, Vice President of Amazon Devices International, told me in a briefing for the new Alexa Tablet range. “And I'm incredibly excited about what the team has built.”

Despite their shortcomings, Amazon’s existing Fire tablets have been a hit for the company — “we've sold a ton of tablets over the years, and that’s something we're very proud of,” Saarnio says — but they’re loss-leader products designed to usher customers into Amazon’s digital ecosystem, rather than market-leading tablets in their own right.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, by contrast, is a full-blown premium slate with specs to rival the Apple iPad Air (2026). It features a 12-inch, 120Hz display, up to 16GB of RAM, and 3x more CPU power than any previous Amazon tablet.

The Amazon Alexa Tablet comes in three sizes: 12, 11, and 8.7 inches (Image credit: Future)

Buyers can also choose to equip their Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with Amazon’s anti-glare Nanomatte technology, which improves visibility outdoors and makes on-screen text look as if it’s sitting on top of the display (I’ve seen it in person, and it’s not a million miles away from the nano‑texture finish on the iPhone Duo’s inner display).

Why has Amazon pumped such impressive specs (and, presumably, millions of dollars in development costs) into the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro? Because it recognizes that consumer habits are changing, and it wants to offer a one-stop-shop device for streamers, gamers, and productivity-focused users alike.

More than just an entertainment device

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro can be configured with an anti-glare Nanomatte display (Image credit: Amazon)

“The truth is, what people are using tablets for is really starting to evolve — and it’s the power of the cloud that’s changing things,” Saarnio told me.

“The ability to build and code is really powerful, and you can do that [now] from your tablets. And for sure, tablets are there for entertainment, and that's where it all starts. But I do think there’s this evolution starting to happen, where [people are] using tablets just to get things done.

Without a doubt, this is the biggest leap we've ever made in developing tablets in our history.

Eric Saarnio, VP of Amazon Devices International

“When we think about tablets going forward, I don't necessarily think they’re going to be a replacement for a laptop. But I do think they're going to be very powerful tools to both entertain and to help you be productive. And so, as we think about our next era in tablets, we wanted to bake all of that [into one device]. And we really landed on three big things [in the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro].

“First: performant, premium hardware, with exceptional screens that deliver for customers. Second: we're moving to full Android, and [granting] access to the Google Play Store, which will give customers the ability to access millions of apps that they enjoy today. And last but not least: we wanted to give them access to an assistant. So we’ve embedded Alexa+ into the tablet, along with access to everything they love about Amazon. To be clear, this isn't an app that we've added to the tablet: it’s actually baking the Alexa+ experience into it.”

The Dynamic Tab on the Amazon Alexa Tab 8FutureThe Alexa Smart Home interface on the Amazon Alexa Tab 8Future

Now available in the US, UK, and Australia, Alexa+ is Amazon’s cloud-based virtual assistant. It can respond to queries in natural language, control your smart home devices, and, of course, seamlessly interact with all other Amazon services. Notably, on the Alexa Tablet range, Alexa+ can look at what's on your screen (when given explicit permission to do so) and provide real-time, in-context assistance, similar to Gemini Live’s screen sharing functionality.

On the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Tablet 11, and Tablet 8, Alexa+ lives in a dedicated Dynamic Tab in the top left corner of the screen, and can be expanded into a full-screen For You tab for more comprehensive interaction.

Alexa+ costs $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$29.99 per month, but is free for Prime members. It’s not yet clear how the service’s deep integration into the Alexa Tablet will function if you’re not subscribed to it.

Interestingly, the Alexa Tablet can also transform into a Kindle for a completely distraction-free experience. When activated, Kindle mode silences notifications, reduces blue light, and extends battery life. It’s particularly effective on the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro when paired with Amazon’s Nanomatte finish.

Kindle mode on the Amazon Alexa Tab 12 ProFutureKindle mode on the Amazon Alexa Tab 12 ProFuture

“What we think we've invented here is a tablet that doesn't, in any way, force you to compromise,” Saarnio concluded. “It's great for entertainment; it’s intelligent; it's great for productivity and helping you get things done. All in one package. And you get all of this starting at £500.”

That price reveal triggered an audible gasp in my briefing session. $549.99 / £499.99 is an extremely competitive price for a 12-inch tablet with a 120Hz display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of starting storage. Even the top-end version of the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro (which comes with 16GB of RAM) costs just £599.99 (we’re awaiting confirmation of US and Australia pricing).

The iPad Air, for reference, starts at $749 / £749 / AU$1,249 following Apple’s June price increases. That device features a more powerful M4 chipset than the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, which runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8400, but it’s smaller, at 11 inches, and has a static 60Hz display.

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As you'll see in the price section, the Alexa Tablet’s specs do get worse as you move down the price ladder (the Alexa Tablet 8, for instance, has a 60Hz refresh rate, 4GB of RAM, and no Nanomatte display option). But the value of the top-end bundles looks, on paper at least, exceptional — £729 for the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with Nanomatte display (256GB), Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard, and Alexa Tablet Pro Pen is still cheaper than Apple’s entry-level 11-inch iPad Air with 128GB of storage.

The big question, of course, is whether Amazon’s new tablets are any good. I’ve only been hands-on with the top-end Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, and my first impressions are positive — the Nanomatte screen looks great, the tablet’s aluminum construction is thin and light, and its access to the Google Play Store is going to please a lot of people. But we’ll need to put all three new devices through their paces before passing a full verdict on their value for money.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Alexa Tablet 11, and Alexa Tablet 8 — as well as new Amazon Kids Tablets — are available to pre-order now and will begin shipping October 19.

Pricing

The full Amazon Alexa Tablet range (Image credit: Amazon / Future)

Here's the full pricing information for the Amazon Alexa Tablet range (we'll update the below tables with US and Australia pricing when we have it):

Device

Configuration

Price

Amazon Alexa Tablet 8

4GB / 64GB

$229.99 / £199.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 8

4GB / 128GB

TBC / £239.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 11

8GB / 64GB

$329.99 / £289.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 11

8GB / 128GB

TBC / £329.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro

8GB / 128GB

$499.99 / £449.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with Nanomatte display

8GB / 128GB

$549.99 / £499.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with Nanomatte display

16GB / 256GB

TBC / £599.99

Accessories

Price

Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard

$149.99 / £129.99

Alexa Tablet Pro Pen

$89.99 / £79.99

Bundles

Price

Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard and Alexa Tablet Pro Pen

TBC / £589.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with Nanomatte display (128GB), Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard and Alexa Tablet Pro Pen

TBC / £639.99

Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with Nanomatte display (256GB), Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard and Alexa Tablet Pro Pen

TBC / £729

The new tablets tie together the Amazon media ecosystem so you can pick up where you left off from just about anywhere.

• AI has replaced entry-level work, so graduates are being hired to manage AI
• Goldman worries about its impacts on existing middle managers
• "We don’t quite know what’s going to happen to that group"

Goldman Sachs exec Kevin Sneader has shared (via Bloomberg) how he believes AI could change jobs in banking, and it doesn't necessarily mean that junior workers will be at a loss for jobs.

Instead, Sneader believes that new employees will take on management responsibility immediately, rather than waiting years for promotions.

Previously, young workers would have spent the first few years performing administrative work before progressing into management positions, but rather than progressing into managing humans, junior workers will now start off managing AI.

Junior bankers set to manage AI from day one

With agentic AI now capable of carrying out the routine, administrative tasks that junior workers used to do, entry-level roles will no longer be available. But that doesn't mean there's no room for new graduates – it just means that they'll need to oversee the AI doing those jobs.

"When our young folks now start work, they’re managing agents," he said. "They have to make the most of this virtual army that they’ve now got."

However, there is potentially one group of workers at risk from AI's impacts, and it could be middle management. In short, graduates being employed to manage AI could threaten the job security of middle managers, who would previously have looked after those graduates.

"We don’t quite know what’s going to happen to that group," Sneader added.

More broadly, it could mean that AI challenges the pyramid-like ladder that sectors like banking have previously worked to. If businesses no longer need large numbers of entry-level workers thanks to AI, it means they need fewer middle managers and fewer leaders, which could indeed have adverse impacts on jobs – just not for graduates.

The takeaway from this particular message isn't one of graduate unemployment, but rather a broader shift away from traditional working patterns and how it could impact the more experienced workers.

Argos has launched its Big Red Sale. Now, I've seen loads of 8GB laptop deals there, but as always, I'm begging you to avoid them. The low cost isn't worth the frustratingly sluggish performance. 16GB memory is plenty for day-to-day office multi-tasking without breaking the bank. And of all the ones in the Argos sale, I've 100% choose the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3.

• Best for: Remote workers and students who want good general performance for productivity tasks like running office software, browsing, and streaming.

• The deal: The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is now £664 (was £829) at Argos with code RED20, so 20% off or just shy of £166.

• Why we like it: This laptop comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. When we tested this machine, we found it "fairly portable for its size, is attractive enough, and has enough performance for most people’s day-to-day needs. With its low price, it’s a great value for those that just need a Windows computer."

IdeaPad Slim 3: was £829 now £663.2
This 16-inch Windows 11 Home laptop comes equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 322 processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD. Ideal specs for working from home and my pick of the bunch on the Argos tech sale. Use code RED20 for the full discount.View Deal

Why we recommend it

We scored the attractively designed IdeaPad Slim 3 4 stars in our review.

This isn't a juggernaut workstation for 3D rendering, gaming, video editing and running a zillion LLMs all at once. And it's not meant to be.

As we found during our tests: "What it needs to do and does well enough is handle day-to-day tasks such as browsing, streaming, emails, word processing, and the like.

It's a reliable 16-inch laptop that in our tests delivered good overall performance for those who just need a decent Windows laptop for work. "good performance for day-to-day use."

Price context & historical value

There are plenty of 16GB laptop deals at Argos (you can check them out here), but this IdeaPad Slim 3 is the pick of the bunch thanks to the decent specs and real-world performance tests we've put it through. For comparison, it's just £24 more than the same model with 256GB SSD storage. That's half what you're paying for here.

The closest cheaper alternative in the sale is this Ryzen 5-powered 15.6-inch HP laptop, priced at £569 (was £579). But having owned several HP and Lenovo laptops over the years, I prefer Lenovo's overall build quality and performance. Personally, I'd choose the IdeaPad over it every time, but the specs are good enough too.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 if...

You work from home and need a laptop that's well-specced for general daily business tasks.

❌ Skip the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 if...

You want a powerhouse machine for demanding workloads. It's not built for it.

• See all deals in the Argos Big Red Sale

This was supposed to make me happier. I felt more isolated instead.

• Dyson Total Restore is a door-to-door cleaning and restoration service
• It's available for Dyson's cordless and wet floor cleaners
• It costs £99.99 and is now available in mainland Britain

If your vacuum cleaner or floor cleaner needs some love, Dyson has just launched a new refresh and restoration service that will get it working like new (or as close as possible). Dyson Total Restore, now available in the mainland Britain, is a door-to-door service that aims to improve your cleaner's performance and extend its lifespan

For £99.99 (plus the cost of any repairs not covered by your warranty), the cleaner will be collected from your home and delivered to Dyson's service and repair centre in Chippenham, where engineers will carry out an engineering assessment, which covers areas such as airflow, battery health, and motor performance.

Engineers will then complete an industrial-standard deep clean to improve the performance of your machine, fix repairable faults, and replace damaged or worn components with genuine Dyson parts..

Once the service is finished, your floor cleaner will be returned along with a label showing the last service date, and any replacement filters or wet rollers required. You will also received digital photos, a digital health check report, and a digital certificate of service.

"It's offering to consumers a better service and allowing our machines to be looked after and giving them a second wind," Dyson's Chief Engineer, Jake Dyson, told my colleague Ruth Hamilton in a recent interview. "So, if they come in for a spa day, they go back in the same condition they were when they were new. So, you always start again on the reliability curve and the abuse curve."

Is your cleaner supported?

Dyson Total Restore is available for cordless vacuums (from the Dyson V7 through to the V16 Piston Animal), as well as wet cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 and PencilWash. To find out whether your cleaner is supported, log in to your account on Dyson's website and select the ‘My Products’ page. Eligible machines will be clearly labelled.

If yours isn't included, or you're thinking of buying your first Dyson cleaner, take a look at our complete list of the best Dyson vacuums.

Dyson Total Restore is currently only available in Great Britain, but is expected to roll out internationally in the future.

• Windows 11 search is getting a major overhaul
• It'll be made faster, more efficient with RAM usage, and be tweaked to better understand what you're searching for
• Microsoft is also adding 'actions' to allow users to directly adjust Windows 11 options in the search box, a nifty and convenient touch

Microsoft has announced that it's forging onwards with making Windows 11's search function a faster and more streamlined experience.

In a blog post, Microsoft said it's rolling out this redesigned search experience to Windows 11 testers in the Experimental channel now (likely in a very limited fashion to begin with).

This new search is built on WinUI 3 (the contemporary interface framework for Windows 11), and as a result it'll be faster and will have less impact on your system resources. Microsoft boasts that: "Early testing shows substantial improvements in performance and memory usage, so [search] feels faster and more efficient from the moment you open it."

The search panel itself has been pared back to a single list, as opposed to the current implementation with the list on the left and the preview pane on the right. The interface therefore looks less cluttered, and it's easier to see what you're, well, searching for.

Microsoft also promises it'll work on ensuring that search more readily grasps what you're trying to find, with better handling of typos and guessing what you might mean if you're, say, attempting to find a system option and have entered the name incorrectly. This is work that the company already started in Windows 11, and the post notes that Microsoft will continue to fine-tune all this over the coming weeks.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This is what's happening initially; then, later this year, Microsoft is going to bring more features into testing. That includes inline previews and details that give you all kinds of extra info on the file you're searching (like a thumbnail for an image along with its resolution and size).

Search queries like "weather in London" will bring up an in-line card (powered by Bing) with the relevant at-a-glance details, including the likes of temperature highs and lows for the day.

The other big step is to introduce 'actions' to Windows 11 search, meaning you can simply type a command to change settings in the OS directly from the search box. Microsoft shows an example of typing 'change to dark theme' which pops up the option, then you simply click apply and you're done.

You can type 'mute' to turn off sound, or 'dim my screen' to adjust the brightness level automatically, and issue a similar range of instructions via search.

Analysis: some polarized reactions

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Prostock-studio)

These are clearly useful changes, although as with much of the work to fix Windows 11 this year, one of the main questions is: why wasn't this done before? It's long been known that Windows 11 search is clunky and sluggish, with too much clutter in the panel — so why has it taken Microsoft so long to address these points?

A typical barb on Reddit runs like this: "It only took decades for Microsoft to sort this abysmal search out." Someone adds that: "The only time search was decent in Windows was in Windows 98 SE."

Okay, so this kind of flak isn't fair, as other Redditors point out, but you can certainly say that it's not acceptable that Windows 11's search has been in bad shape since the launch of the OS half a decade ago.

It's good to see meaningful movement towards a slicker search is happening, and I'll definitely take this. The actions are a nifty idea, too, for quickly changing options there and then (rather than simply locating the option, and having to use extra clicks to go into Settings and adjust what you want).

As others on Reddit note, this is sort of drafting some ideas over from PowerToys (the Run tool), and something I've previously argued is that Microsoft should port over some of the functionality in that suite of utilities so it's in Windows 11 by default. Maybe that's starting to happen.

Even so, there are folks on Reddit who don't want search to be anything but an ultra-streamlined search (rather than offering the likes of actions). This Windows 11 user complains: "Why isn't the search bar just for searching? Why does it do a million other things on top of it?"

Of course, everyone's entitled to their own take, but I don't agree, and there is a lot of streamlining work going on here which Microsoft should be commended for, with the additions on top being useful in my opinion. Still, it just goes to show that the level of Microsoft hate out there is still palpable, and whatever the software giant does, it'll have its critics.

One of the most important moves with search that's just gone live in the most recent Windows 11 update is the introduction of the ability to turn off web results clutter. Again, that was a long time coming, but at least Microsoft is getting there… finally.

The Anycubic Photon P1 Max 3D printer has a massive 18.3L build volume, giving you room for large resin creations models, and it's on sale at Amazon right now.

• Best for: Experienced makers, designers, engineering teams, and small businesses that need a large-format resin 3D printer for bigger models or batch production.

• The deal: The Anycubic Photon P1 Max is now $850 (was $900) at Amazon, saving you $50.

• Why it matters: Its combination of automated calibration, resin heating, and intelligent monitoring is designed to reduce the need for manual intervention during demanding printing projects.

Photon P1 Max Large Resin 3D Printer: was $899.99 now $849.99
This large-format resin 3D printer features an 18.3L build volume, 14-inch 12K LCD, LighTurbo 3.0 light engine, automatic leveling, AI inspection, 1.9L heated resin tank, and ±0.01mm repeatable accuracy.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Photon P1 Max has an enormous 11.24 x 8.43 x 11.81-inch build area, providing 18.3L of printing capacity. A 14-inch 12K LCD works with Anycubic's LighTurbo 3.0 light engine to reproduce fine details, and the printer also offers a claimed repeatable accuracy of ±0.01mm.

Its Auto-Leveling 3.0 system automatically calibrates before printing and checks all four corners. The 1.9L heated resin tank can maintain temperatures up to 35°C, helping keep resin at a suitable working temperature.

In his 4.5-star review of the Photon P1, a smaller resin printer, our expert Alastair said it had "been designed for makers and engineers looking for the next step-up." He added that "Focused around a 14K LCD, the machine features a ball screw Z-axis, heated resin vat, and Wave Release Technology, all in a relatively compact machine. But it’s the option for the dual-material printing with the optional kit that many will find of the most interest."

He explained that "Through the test, I managed a near unheard of 100% success rate on 20+ prints, and the quality from the 14K screen was exceptional, even with a low workshop temperature; the heated vat kept everything running at optimum temperatures."

While the P1 Max has a lower-resolution 12K screen, it offers almost three times the build volume of the P1, so is better suited to larger models and batch printing.

Price context & historical value

Amazon has reduced the Anycubic Photon P1 Max from $899.99 to $849.99, knocking $50 off its listed price. While that's not a massive saving, this is the cheapest price we've seen this printer model selling for on Amazon.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Anycubic Photon P1 Max if...

You regularly work on large resin prints or need to produce multiple components in a single batch. Its generous printing area and automated features make it particularly attractive for more demanding projects.

❌ Skip the Anycubic Photon P1 Max if...

You're new to resin printing or mainly create small miniatures and occasional decorative models. A smaller resin printer, like the P1, will cost less and take up less desk space.

Also consider

Photon P1: was $789.99 now $521.99
If the P1 Max is too large for your needs, the standard P1 is a smaller resin 3D printer well-suited to accurate models and prototypes. It scored 4.5 stars in our tests, and we found it ideal for engineers and makers. View Deal

• Shop all 3D printers at Amazon

• Sigma completes its trinity of f/2.8 zoom lenses for APS-C cameras
• The 50-120mm lens (75-180mm equivalent) comes to Sony, Canon and Fujifilm from October 22
• It weighs just 13.4oz / 380g and costs $799 / £699 (about AU$1,300)

Sigma has completed a trinity of f/2.8 zooms with the 50-120mm F2.8 DC OS Contemporary — and it proves that you don't need shoot full-frame to have access to exciting lenses.

Designed for APS-C cameras, the telephoto zoom has an equivalent focal length of 75-180mm, and sits alongside Sigma's 10-18mm F2.8 and 18-50mm F2.8.

What's particularly compelling about Sigma's latest f/2.8 zoom is just how compact, lightweight and affordable it is. It measures just 10cm / 4 inches long, weighs 13.4oz / 380g, and costs $799 / £699 (about AU$1,300).

I already own an incredible full-frame 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom, and it's my most-used lens for professional work. Portraiture, events, sports, even landscape photography — you name it, it can do it all.

That lens is a beast by comparison, however, weighing around 35oz / 1kg. For context, all three of Sigma's f/2.8 zooms for APS-C cameras combined weigh less and cost less — my full-frame lens cost me north of $2,000 / £2,000, which is around three times the 50-120mm's price.

With this new lens alone, Sigma has made APS-C cameras more compelling than before — but it's not good news for all photographers.

The 50-120mm F2.8 completes a trio of Sigma f/2.8 zooms for APS-C cameras, alongside the 10-18mm and 18-50mm lensesSigmaSigmaSigmaSigmaSigmaSigmaThe f/2.8 zoom that Sony, Canon and Fujifilm cameras needed — but Nikon misses out

The Sigma 50-120mm F2.8 DC OS Contemporary goes on sale from October 22 in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Canon RF versions. Sony and Canon offer no such lens for their APS-C mirrorless cameras, while Fujifilm has the twice-as-hefty (and pricier) XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR in its range. Nikon photographers, meanwhile, miss out entirely.

There was some consolation for Nikon photographers — Sigma simultaneously announced that its 16-300mm travel zoom is coming to Nikon Z mount. However, we don't know if the new 50-120mm will make it to the Nikon Z mount.

I haven't personally tested Sigma's 50-120mm F2.8 lens, but I have high hopes for it having already tested the ultra-wide 10-18mm F2.8 zoom for Sony and being thoroughly impressed — the new telephoto zoom is seemingly built to the same standard.

Yes, it misses out out that extra reach at the telephoto end, maxing out at 180mm rather than 200mm (and sadly it won't work with teleconverters to extend the reach), but presumably the thinking behind the focal length range was to make the particularly compact design possible — and that I can get behind.

Telephoto zooms are workhorse lenses, often used on long shoot days. A f/2.8 telephoto zoom that practically fits in the hand and weighs just a third of what I'm used to makes a strong case for APS-C cameras, and it seems that APS-C fans agree — one Reddit thread is already dubbing the lens "an APS-C legend in the making".

SigmaSigmaSigmaSigmaSigma

Cyber resilience isn't measured in firewalls. It's measured in minutes.

Time has quietly become the biggest driver of cyber costs. For years, we've measured cyber security success by what organizations could stop. How many attacks were blocked? Which vulnerabilities were patched? How much was invested in the latest security tools?

They're no longer the questions that matter most.

It isn't a groundbreaking observation to say the threat landscape has changed. Attackers are moving faster, AI is accelerating both offensive and defensive capabilities, and businesses are becoming more digitally connected than ever before. If we accept that no organization can eliminate cyber risk entirely, then our definition of resilience has to evolve too.

The organizations that emerge strongest aren't necessarily the ones that avoid being breached. They're the ones that detect, respond and recover fastest.

Our latest Grant Thornton Finance Leaders Barometer found the average financial impact of cyber incidents now stands at £488,000 over a two-year period, with 82% of CFOs reporting they've experienced a cyber incident with direct financial consequences. Crucially, the cost of an incident is increasingly determined not by the breach itself, but by how quickly leadership teams understand what's happened, make decisions and restore operations.

Every hour spent identifying the issue, establishing ownership or waiting for decisions and ensuring notifications are made to meet regulations, compounds operational disruption, financial loss and reputational damage. Increasingly, organizations aren't judged on whether they experience a cyber-attack. They're judged on the quality and speed of the decisions made in the aftermath.

Every cyber incident eventually becomes a board meeting

In the immediate aftermath of an incident, the conversation shifts away from compromised systems and malicious code towards operational disruption, financial impact and business continuity. Boards aren't asking which vulnerability was exploited or whether identity controls failed. They're asking how much it's going to cost, how long operations will be affected, whether customers, supply chain and regulators need to be informed, and what happens next.

This creates an uncomfortable tension for many organizations. Cybersecurity is fundamentally about risk management, spanning people, processes and technology. While many of the security controls used to mitigate cyber risks are technology-led, they are underpinned by organization-wide processes, policies and decision-making.

Accountability therefore extends well beyond technology teams, with finance leaders and boards increasingly expected to understand and make high-stakes decisions around cyber risk. Yet our research found that 79% of CFOs say ownership of key business risks remains unclear across their organization – a particularly significant gap when speed is critical and decisions can carry financial, operational and reputational consequences.

The organizations that respond best are those that have already decided who owns risk, who makes decisions, how issues escalate and what level of risk the business is prepared to accept. In other words, resilience isn't just about having the right controls in place – it's about ensuring the right conversations have happened long before an incident occurs.

Cyber language doesn’t translate to the boardroom

If organizations are going to make better decisions about cyber resilience, they first need to change the conversation. One of the biggest barriers isn't a lack of investment, it's a lack of translation. Cyber teams naturally talk about identity management, endpoint detection or upgrading legacy infrastructure. All important priorities, but they're not the language boards and CFOs use to make investment decisions.

Finance leaders are asking different questions. How does this protect revenue? What operational disruption could it prevent? What's our potential financial exposure?

How does this reduce regulatory or reputational risk?

The organizations making the most progress are those that can bridge that gap. Rather than presenting cyber as a technology upgrade, they frame it as a resilience investment – protecting business continuity, customer trust and shareholder value. That shift in language changes the conversation from "How much does this cost?" to "What would it cost us if we didn't do it?"

Ultimately, cyber investment shouldn't be justified by the sophistication of the controls being deployed. It should be measured by the business outcomes it enables; reducing downtime, improving recovery, protecting critical operations and giving leadership teams confidence they can respond decisively when disruption occurs.

With the cyber landscape evolving rapidly, it can be difficult to predict exactly where investment will be needed one or two years ahead. Organizations therefore need enough flexibility within budget cycles to adapt investment and controls as new threats emerge, rather than being constrained by priorities set at the start of the budgeting period.

AI is shrinking the time frame for good decisions

Artificial intelligence is changing cyber security in two directions at once. Attackers are already using AI to identify vulnerabilities, automate reconnaissance and increase the speed of attacks. At the same time, recent advances in frontier AI models have demonstrated just how quickly AI tools can uncover software vulnerabilities at a scale previously impossible for human teams alone.

The result isn't simply a more sophisticated threat landscape – it's a faster one.

Leadership teams have less time to understand what's happened, assess the commercial impact and make informed decisions. The organizations that respond well won't necessarily be those with the most advanced AI capabilities. They'll be the ones that have already agreed who makes decisions, how incidents escalate and what business priorities take precedence before an attack occurs.

The real measure of cyber security

Organizations need to rethink what good looks like. The goal is no longer to create the illusion that cyber risk can be eliminated; it's to build confidence that the business can make good risk based decisions when disruption inevitably occurs.

That requires more than better technology. It requires clearer ownership, stronger governance and a shared understanding of risk across the organization. In many ways, cyber has become the clearest test of organizational resilience, not because attacks are inevitable, but because they reveal how well leadership teams perform when certainty disappears.

Ultimately, the organizations that come through incidents strongest won't necessarily be those with the best security tools. They'll be the ones whose leaders have already had the difficult conversations, made the key decisions and built the confidence to act when it matters most.

We've featured the best antivirus software.

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

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Look out for current fuel prices in Google Maps and Waze in the UK
• They'll show up in searches and in listings for garages
• The new feature taps into the government's Fuel Finder service

With the price of diesel topping £2 for the first time, and the price of petrol heading in the same direction, Google has announced that UK drivers can now check current fuel prices at petrol stations from inside Google Maps and Waze.

As per Google (via the BBC), the data will be pulled directly from the government's Fuel Finder service, which was launched back in March 2026 and already reports petrol and diesel prices to a range of online portals.

It's now a legal requirement for garage forecourts in the UK to add their latest prices to the Fuel Finder database within 30 minutes of changing them. Google says that if the prices aren't up-to-date, they won't be displayed.

"Accuracy is very important, so we will still show the petrol station and where it is, but you'll only see a price if we have high confidence that it's the right price," Sarah-Jayne Williams, director of product partnerships for Google Maps and Waze, told the BBC.

Saving you £40 a year... maybe

Look out for petrol prices inside Google Maps (Image credit: Future)

Using the new feature inside Google Maps or Waze couldn't be any easier: just search for 'petrol' or 'fuel' to see a list of nearby stations, together with current pricing. The same prices are also shown on individual forecourt listings pages.

According to the government, Fuel Finder has the potential to save car owners an average of £40 a year. The thinking is that competition between petrol stations, when they know that divers can now easily shop around, will drive down the cost of fuel.

However, with the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, the pressure on oil prices remains high, which is making it difficult for garages to do anything about increasing costs at the pump — and there's no sign of a slowing down or reversal yet.

As yet there's no similar feature available in Apple Maps, though of course you can get Google Maps and Waze on iOS. Some of the other resources you can use to check up on the latest fuel prices, no app required, are PetrolPrices.com and Confused.com.

Amazon's second Prime Day event (officially named the 'Prime Big Day Deals' sale) finally drew to a close last night. It looks like the retailer isn't completely finished with promotions, however, as many of our favorite deals from the event are still live today.

• Check out all of today's deals at Amazon

I've been checking the retailer's listings this morning, and I've actually found 60 cases where our product recommendations are still on sale. In some cases, the prices are slightly higher, but in most examples, these are still record-low prices or pretty close.

Highlights include the Apple AirPods Pro 3, the Sony WH-1000XM6, and the Google Pixel 11 — all very highly rated models here at TechRadar. I sincerely doubt these products will get any cheaper over the upcoming Black Friday period, so this could be a good chance to snag an early bargain before things get really busy.

Speaking of which, I imagine many of these listings will reappear over Black Friday in November, but that's still over a month away as of writing. If you spot a deal to your liking, then it could be worth picking it up sooner rather than later, as many of these deals are likely to expire over the next few days.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days — quick links

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Appliances: Ninja, Keurig, Dyson, and more
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Gaming: controllers, gifts, PS5, Xbox, Switch 2
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• LEGO: Star Wars, Botanical, and more
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

Editor's picks — top 5 deals today

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $179.00
Apple's premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds deliver true flagship audio, and the noise-canceling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods.View Deal

WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones: was $459.99 now $378.00
The sensational Sony WH-1000XM6 are down to a record-low price for Amazon Prime Day, and I couldn't recommend them highly enough. With beautiful all-round sound, outstanding ANC, and a foldable design, they're the best all-rounders on the market in my opinion.View Deal

We've been waiting for a decent price cut on the Google Pixel 11 - and here it is, finally. Available right now is a healthy $150 price cut across all color variations, which is a fantastic discount on this expensive device. The higher price was one of our main complaints about the Pixel 11, so this makes it an easy recommendation, considering you get the very latest chipset in this device, plus the interesting new HiLight feature. View Deal

Watch Series 12 GPS, 42mm: was $399 now $349.99
Amazon has a rare $50 discount on the all-new Apple Watch Series 12, bringing the price down to a record-low $349.99. The Apple Watch 12 features new Apple silicon and health sensors, which offer advanced heart rate, workout, and sleep tracking. Keep in mind this discount only applies to the model with the Light Gold Aluminum Case with Sand Sport Band,View Deal

65-inch QM6K Series Mini LED QLED TV: was $799.99 now $647.99
Here is an Amazon exclusive deal on a massive display. You can get TCL's 85-inch QM6K Series for $1,056.68, which is an incredible price for a TV of this size. A truly great budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality and solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank.View Deal

This is the Google Pixel Watch 5's first ever price cut, and honestly? It's a pretty damn good deal overall. We think the Pixel Watch 5 is an iterative upgrade over the previous model, but it is a fantastic smartwatch for sure, We love the repairable teardrop design, and the top-tier health features like Loss of Pulse detection are great, too. Overall, a very strong contender if you want a do-it-all smartwatch.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - Appliances

Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Deep Cleaner: was $99.99 now $79.99
Bissell portable carpet cleaners are breakout stars at holiday sales like Prime Day, and Amazon has the top-rated Little Green Mini model for $79.99. Perfect for pet owners and parents, the portable carpet cleaner can magically erase spills and stains from carpets, couches, auto interiors, and more.View Deal

Blast Max Portable Blender: was $99.99 now $69.95
The Ninja Blast Max was already on my Prime Day wish list, and Amazon's early sale already has an impressive $30 discount on the portable blender. The large 530ml container features a leakproof lid and a detachable base so you can blend, twist, and take your smoothie on the go. The Blast can blend ice and frozen fruit, as well as liquids and powders, so you're covered for all kinds of smoothies and shakes.View Deal

XL Air Fryer: was $129.99 now $89.98
An air fryer allows you to enjoy your favorite fried foods with less oil, and this Ninja XL model is perfect for families. The 5.5-quart capacity drawer is enough to make meals for the whole family, and preset functions make air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating easy.View Deal

K-Express Pod Coffee Maker: was $109.99 now $69.99
The Keurig K-Express is a cheap, convenient coffee maker that can quickly brew coffee using your favorite K-Cup Pods. It can brew 8, 10, and 12oz cups depending on your preference. The 42oz reservoir holds enough water to brew up to 5 8oz cups per refill. View Deal

Barista Express: was $689.99 now $499.95
Amazon has knocked 28% off this semi-automatic coffee maker for Prime Day, making it another excellent mid-price pick. This more affordable model lacks the smart tamping and dosing system of the version above, so you have to do more of the work manually.View Deal

Ninja Luxe Café Premier 3-In-1 Espresso Machine: was $599.99 now $499.99
The Ninja Luxe Cafe is another high-end home coffee machine that not only looks stunning, but also provides excellent results no matter if you're a pro barista or a beginner. It's easy to use, features an automatic milk frother, and a helpful grind-size suggestion system that can really help you perfect that morning espresso. View Deal

Barista Express Impress: was $799.95 now $649.95
This excellent mid-range espresso machine has received a huge $150 price cut for Prime Day, making it excellent value if you're starting to get serious about coffee. It's pleasingly tactile to use — particularly the 'Impress' system, with a manual lever to tamp coffee grounds. View Deal

I want to replace my current air fryer with this Ninja Crispi model, thanks to its glass container. It comes with two removable glass containers and lids, so it’s great for meal prep. The larger one is 3.8L, providing enough space to feed up to six people while also allowing simultaneous cooking of a whole 1.2kg chicken and vegetables. This early Prime Day deal is $20 shy of the record-low price we saw during Black Friday.View Deal

I want to replace my current air fryer with this Ninja Crispi model, thanks to its glass container. It comes with two removable glass containers and lids, so it’s great for meal prep. The larger one is 3.8L, providing enough space to feed up to six people while also allowing simultaneous cooking of a whole 1.2kg chicken and vegetables. This early Prime Day deal is $20 shy of the record-low price we saw during Black Friday.View Deal

K-Duo Hot and Iced Coffee Maker: was $219.99 now $129.99
There's $70 off this smart hot-and-cold Keurig coffee maker right now. It automatically adjusts its brew temperature when you make iced coffee for a mellower flavor and to avoid diluting your drink with melted ice - a perfect appliance addition this summer.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - Under $50

Charger 5 Outlet Extender with 4 USB Charging Ports: was $9.99 now $8.99
This convenient wall charger is a must-buy for all your gadgets, and it's on sale for just $8.99 at Amazon's Black Friday sale. The three-sided charger features five outlets, four USB charging ports, a fireproof shell, and surge protection.View Deal

AirTag second-generation: was $29 now $24
Apple's second-generation AirTag with louder sound, a 50% improvmenet in range for Precision Finding, and the rest of the features that made the first-gen such a great item tracker are at the lowest price ever ahead of Prime Day 2026. Right now, Amazon has a single AirTag for just $24. View Deal

Video Doorbell 2K+: was $69.99 now $35
Another top deal from Amazon's early Prime Day sale is the all-new Blink Video Doorbell for only $35.99. The Blink doorbell alerts you when it detects motion and features infrared night vision, two-way audio, a two-year battery life, and an expanded field of view.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - Apple

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $179.00
Apple's premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds deliver true flagship audio, and the noise-canceling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods.View Deal

Watch Series 12 GPS, 42mm: was $399 now $349.99
Amazon has a rare $50 discount on the all-new Apple Watch Series 12, bringing the price down to a record-low $349.99. The Apple Watch 12 features new Apple silicon and health sensors, which offer advanced heart rate, workout, and sleep tracking. Keep in mind this discount only applies to the model with the Light Gold Aluminum Case with Sand Sport Band,View Deal

Watch SE 3 GPS, 40mm: was $249.00 now $199.99
Amazon has a $50 discount on the new Apple Watch SE 3, making it an excellent bargain. The Apple Watch SE 2 currently holds the position as the best budget smartwatch, but the SE 3 more than matches it – and it's a smarter buy while it's on sale this week at Amazon.View Deal

MacBook Air 13 (M5, 512GB): was $1299 now $1099
With an impressive $150 discount, this early Prime Day deal addresses our main complaint about the M5 Air: it's pricier than the previous model. Now, you're getting the latest chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a bigger 512GB SSD for much less, with a price that arguably challenges even the budget MacBook Neo when it comes to outright value.View Deal

iPad 11-inch (A16, 2025): was $449 now $399
Apple's latest base iPad is $50 off at Amazon, bringing the price to $ 399.99. The biggest upgrade over the previous generation is the newer A16 chip for faster performance, and you'll also get double the standard storage (128GB instead of 64GB). Other features include a sharp 11-inch Liquid Retina display and solid 12MP front- and rear-facing cameras, making this iPad the best for casual streamers and scrollers.View Deal

11-inch iPad Air M4,: was $749 now $649
The 2026 iPad Air M4 is now on sale at Amazon for $649 - that's the lowest price we've seen since Apple's price hikes in June. The 11-inch iPad Air delivers laptop-like speed and power thanks to Apple's M4 processor, plus you're getting 12GB of RAM, Bluetooth 6 support, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - TVs

50-inch F50 Series HD 4K Smart Fire TV: was $179.99 now $159.99
If you're looking for a budget TV, this 50-inch Insignia display is an incredible deal at just $159.99. The Insignia F50 Series TV features 4K HD resolution, DTS Studio Sound, smart capabilities with the Fire TV operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV.View Deal

50-inch E6SR Series Hi-QLED 4K Roku TV: was $349.99 now $249.99
This is the first discount we've seen for Hisense's 2026 E6SR QLED Roku TV. The Hisense set features stunning brightness, gorgeous colors, rich contrast, and great gaming features, making this an all-around winner.View Deal

55-inch Select Series 4K QLED Smart TV: was $499.99 now $349.99
Amazon has Roku's best-selling 55-inch 4K QLED smart TV for $378. For that price, you get an impressive picture thanks to its 4K resolution and QLED display, plus an enhanced voice remote and Roku's excellent smart TV interface.View Deal

55-inch S90H OLED TV: was $1597.99 now $1297.99
The S90H is Samsung's mid-range OLED TV in its 2026 lineup. It supports 165Hz and features advanced AI upscaling, but it uses a slightly lower-end WRGB OLED panel. During our hands-on testing, we praised this model's anti-glare technology and overall picture quality. If you're looking for a strong alternative to the LG C6, this is a solid competitor. View Deal

65-inch C6 OLED TV: was $1699.99 now $1499
The LG C6 is the successor to our best-rated TV, LG's C5 OLED, and the 65-inch model is on sale for $1,599.99, thanks to a whopping $1,100 discount. The 2026 OLED TV delivers more accurate, brighter colors than the C5 with powerful contrast thanks to its new Alpha 11 AI processor. The C6 also includes impressive gaming features and LG's intuitive smart TV platform.View Deal

65-inch U7 Mini-LED QLED TV: was $1499.99 now $827.99
This Hisense U7 Series delivers top TV tech for the money in a reasonably sized display, including a bright, vibrant QLED panel with excellent contrast and a high 165Hz refresh rate for smooth images. It will excel as a TV for watching sports, streaming all your favorite shows and movies, and playing the latest games.View Deal

65-inch QM6K Series Mini LED QLED TV: was $799.99 now $647.99
Here is an Amazon exclusive deal on a massive display. You can get TCL's 85-inch QM6K Series for $1,056.68, which is an incredible price for a TV of this size. A truly great budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality and solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - Laptops

Dell 15.6 Laptop: was $728.99 now $689.99
If you're just looking for a solid, dependable, reliable laptop for work or other uses, then you can do a lot worse than this Dell 15 laptop today. It's not a fancy machine, but the combination of an Ultra 7 chipset and 16GB of RAM is going to be excellent for everyday use. This machine can even take on pretty demanding workloads, although I'd recommend updating to an Ultra 7 or equivalent if you really need something high-end.View Deal

MacBook Air 13 (M5, 512GB): was $1299 now $1099
With an impressive $150 discount, this early Prime Day deal addresses our main complaint about the M5 Air: it's pricier than the previous model. Now, you're getting the latest chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a bigger 512GB SSD for much less, with a price that arguably challenges even the budget MacBook Neo when it comes to outright value.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - Phones

Here we go, folks. A serious deal on one of our favorite phones here at TechRadar. The stunning Galaxy S26 Ultra pairs a high-end chipset, excellent cameras, and an expansive display to provide one of the best premium phones money can buy. In fact, it is the best Android phone on the market right now - if you have deep pockets. Today's deal at Amazon is $20 more than yesterday, but it's still a very strong deal indeed.View Deal

We've been waiting for a decent price cut on the Google Pixel 11 - and here it is, finally. Available right now is a healthy $150 price cut across all color variations, which is a fantastic discount on this expensive device. The higher price was one of our main complaints about the Pixel 11, so this makes it an easy recommendation, considering you get the very latest chipset in this device, plus the interesting new HiLight feature. View Deal

Looking for something a little different? Amazon currently has the excellent Nothing Phone (4a) Pro listed at its lowest price yet. Awarded an almost perfect score in our review, we think the Phone (4a) Pro is a great mid-range option for most people. Not only do you get a fantastic 144Hz AMOLED display, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset also provides great bang for the buck. Of course, the main selling point is the device's stunning modern (and unique) design. View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - headphones & audio

JBL's latest small speaker was released in summer 2026 and instantly became our new favorite cheap option. It comes in loads of colors, and is pretty much perfectly designed. The Go 5 is a small, tough, waterproof Bluetooth speaker. In our full JBL Go 5 review, we gave it five stars for simply being as good as Bluetooth speakers get when they're this small. View Deal

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $179.00
Apple's premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds deliver true flagship audio, and the noise-canceling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods.View Deal

QuietComfort noise cancelling headphones: was $359.00 now $169
One of the best headphone deals in the Amazon Prime Day sale is undoubtably this listing on the Bose QuietComfort. These are not only great value, but they're also incredibly comfortable with a decent level of noise cancellation. They aren't as high-end as the QuietComfort Ultra, but these are great all-rounders for the price. View Deal

WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones: was $459.99 now $378.00
The sensational Sony WH-1000XM6 are down to a record-low price for Amazon Prime Day, and I couldn't recommend them highly enough. With beautiful all-round sound, outstanding ANC, and a foldable design, they're the best all-rounders on the market in my opinion.View Deal

Ear (a): was $79 now $59
We highly recommend these excellent buds if you're looking for a lively pair of earbuds that don't break the bank. We think they're the best you can buy for under $100, with excellent sound, noise cancellation, and a rather fetching design. Although they aren't the fanciest, these are exceptional value so don't miss them.View Deal

QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): was $449 now $369
We awarded these excellent premium headphones a full five stars in our review, thanks to the brilliant noise cancellation, excellent audio quality, and extremely comfortable design. We had nothing more to say except that they are the 'best active noise-canceling cans for the money.'View Deal

Tune 530BT On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones: was $59.95 now $39.95
The JBL Tune 530BT are a value-packed pair of headphones, on sale for just $39.95. They last up to 76 hours on a full charge and add up to five hours of playback in just five minutes with USB-C charging. The foldable body, one-size-fits-all headband, and earcup controls make them even more convenient. It's an excellent buy if you're looking for long-lasting wireless headphones to take with you on the go.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - devices

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB: was $249.99 now $169.99
Today's best Kindle deal is easily this listing on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. This is an upgraded version of the mid-range model that features a 7-inch 300 ppi glare-free display, 32 GB of storage, wireless Qi charging, and an auto-adjusting front light. It's a little pricey for a Kindle (in my opinion), but if you're serious about your ebooks, then this is a superior option that will last you a few good years down the line. Just note, this isn't a color display - you'll need the Colorsoft version for that (not on sale, annoyingly). View Deal

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 64GB: was $679.99 now $519.99
The Scribe Colorsoft is more of a niche recommendation, but this price cut is the first major discount we've seen on Amazon's high-end e-reader. The main selling point for this device, aside from its huge color screen, is the included Pen that lets you handwrite notes, annotate documents, and create notebooks directly on the screen. Aside from that, you also get 64GB of storage, an adjustable front light, USB-C charging, and useful integrations with services such as Google Drive. View Deal

Video Doorbell 2K+: was $69.99 now $35
Another top deal from Amazon's early Prime Day sale is the all-new Blink Video Doorbell for only $35.99. The Blink doorbell alerts you when it detects motion and features infrared night vision, two-way audio, a two-year battery life, and an expanded field of view.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - Gaming

Perhaps my favorite wired gaming headset ever, this price on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is a brilliant one to upgrade to now, ahead of GTA 6. For anyone wanting to immerse themselves more deeply in Vice City, this is a tethered headset to really consider.View Deal

Thrustmaster eSwap S Pro: was $149.99 now $104.64
The more-streamlined version of the eSwap controller that Thrustmaster offers is perfect for those looking for a premium pad without spending top dollar, and this is a welcome discount too.View Deal

Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black: was $64.99 now $49.49
However, sometimes simplicity is best, and if you just want a new or extra standard pad for GTA 6 on Xbox to make sure you're fully covered, then this is a pretty good price.View Deal

Lexar NM790 SSD - 1TB: was $209.99 now $188.49
Not a massive discount again, but this is one of the best prices I can currently see on a 1TB PS5 SSD with heatsink right now. And it's one we've reviewed and liked!View Deal

Samsung Odyssey G7 37" 4K curved monitor: was $899.99 now $479.99
Samsung's screens are some of the best in the business, and if you're looking for a big, curved beauty to immerse yourself in GAT 6 with, then this G7 is a great shout. Great price too — only ten dollars off its lowest ever.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - Freebies

If you're a Prime member, you're automatically entitled to a free Grubhub+ membership. That's a saving of $120 per year on memberships, and if Amazon's marketing is to be believed, an average saving of $300 for most people on deliveries and such. Alongside free delivery and access to exclusive promotions, Prime members can also get $20 off their first order over $30 with the code DEALS20.View Deal

Amazon Music Unlimited: free 4-month trial
Get access to high-quality audio streaming and 100 million songs completely free for three months with this limited-time offer. Ad-free streaming, unlimited skips, curated playlists, and Alexa device support make this a great way to get music streaming ahead of Prime Day this year. Note that this promotion is available for new subscribers only.

In the UK: free 4-month trial at Amazon UKView Deal

Audible membership: free for three months at Audible
Audible is Amazon's premier storefront for audiobooks, with a vast library of over 1 million titles. Right now, as part of an early Amazon Prime Day promotion, Prime members can get a full three months of membership on the house! Normally costing $8.99 / £5.99, the standard membership includes unlimited access to the non-Plus library and one free book token per month.

In the UK: free for three months at Audible UKView Deal

Amazon Kindle Unlimited: free for three months
Save $30 / £24 and get yourself unlimited access to over a million books, magazines, and audiobooks for three months with this exclusive deal for Prime members ahead of Amazon Prime Day. Read and download books onto any Kindle, iOS, Android, PC or Mac and enjoy offline reading anywhere with this rare extended free trial.

In the UK: free for three months at Amazon UKView Deal

Amazon Prime Visa: get a $150 gift card on approval
Amazon's been offering its Prime Visa for a few years now, but the retailer is currently offering a particularly good introductory tie-in deal for Prime Day. Right now, if you're approved, you'll get a very handy $150 gift card to spend over Prime Day (or, on anything at Amazon for that matter). If you tend to order a lot on Amazon, this could be worth picking up regardless since you'll get 5% back on all purchases if you're a Prime member, as well as other excellent additional perks.View Deal

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days - LEGO

Whether you want a smaller Lego flower build or want to expand your Botanicals collection, you can't go wrong with this set of Lego Botanicals Daisies for just under $10 on Amazon.View Deal

These Roses will look great with any Lego Flowers set, even though these aren't part of the Botanical theme! Right now, this duo is down to $11.99.View Deal

Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter: was $69.99 now $55.95
Now, this is the cheapest an all-in-one Lego Smart Play set has ever been. Lego's Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter is 20% off at just $55.95 and includes everything you need to build and play, most notably a Smart Brick is in the box.View Deal

Star Wars Brick-Built Star Wars Logo: was $59.99 now $49.99
The opening crawl of any Star Wars film might be one of the most iconic openings in any film franchise. And now, you can finally build the iconic Star Wars logo out of Lego bricks, and the design team hid some fun details in there. This fantastic set is down to $49.99 at Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.View Deal

Star Wars Grogu with Hover Pram: was $99.99 now $79.99
A Lego deal roundup wouldn't be complete without a set that lets you build Grogu, right? Well, right now you can build Grogu and the iconic Hover Pram for just $79.99 – a 20% discount.View Deal

Botanicals Happy Plants: was $22.99 now $18.39
With over 7,000 sold on Amazon in the past month, it's clear Lego has a hit on its hands with the most joyful set in the Botanicals theme. Happy Plants are exactly what the name says – two plants with smiley faces in cute pots, one blue, one yellow. This set is already 20% off at $18.39 on Amazon right now.View Deal

Technic Bush Plane Toy: was $27.99 now $22.49
With this Lego Technic set, you'll get 333 pieces to build a Bush Plane complete with a propeller up front and three wheels. It even features adjustable ailerons. View Deal

Disney Moana Hei Hei: was $39.99 now $25
Hei Hei is probably one of the most iconic Disney characters, and I'd bet Moana fans agree. Right now, ahead of Prime Big Deal Days you can build Hei Hei out of 566 Lego pieces for just $25 – a 37% discount.View Deal