Technology

• UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has brought new subscription cancellation laws forward
• Originally scheduled for Spring 2027, they'll be in place by January 2027
• The government is also tackling 'phoney bargains' that promise bigger discounts than you're really getting

The UK’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced consumer protection plans which aim to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up, and crack down on pretend deals, will be brought forward.

Originally set to land next spring, Burnham says they’ll be introduced by January 2027, “In time for when people often start new subscriptions, or cancel the ones they have, for the year ahead,” he explained in a Guardian article.

Once introduced the rules will require businesses to provide reminders before a free or discounted trial ends, and before a 12-month or longer contract automatically renews. Additionally UK subscribers will have a 14-day cooling off period once a free or discounted trial ends, or a 12-month or longer contract renews, to back out of the arrangement with a “full or proportionate refund.”

On top of this the government is mandating “straightforward cancellations,” such as requiring online exits for online sign ups.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

According to government statistics, there are 155m active subscriptions in the UK — and nearly 10 million are believed to be unwanted, costing members of the public an estimated £1.6 billion a year. Burnham adds, “The changes we are introducing will save an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription.”

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride described the announcement as “reheated,” as the new subscription rules were already announced under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in April.

Fake bargains be gone

In addition to the fast-tracked subscription changes, the new rules will now also tackle “phoney bargains” as Burnham describes them — which can trick shoppers into believing they’ve snagged a better deal than they really have.

Essentially, if a deal is described as being half-off it has to actually be half-off. This would prevent a shop from drastically raising prices right before a sale to make discounts look stepper, or from pointing out how much a product is discounted based on a misleading recommended retail price (RRP) that the item hasn’t been sold at price for some time.

Similar rules were included in 2024’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act , however this change strengthens those protections and adds advertising false ‘was’ prices for on sale products to the Competition and Markets Authority list of banned practices.

This will make dishonest sales pricing illegal by default without the need to prove direct harm to consumers in each instance.

To hash out the exact rulings the government has said it will be launching a consultation this autumn.

Admittedly none of the changes are groundbreaking, nor will they entirely solve the cost of living squeeze we’ve been feeling, but I’m hoping they’ll make shopping online feel like less of a minefield — especially the new rules around sale prices.

I’ve covered half a dozen Black Fridays with TechRadar, rooting out the best tech deals I can find, and experienced first-hand how companies will try to obscure bad deals with bold discount promises — comparing sale prices to a long-forgotten RRP is one I’ve seen plenty of.

When it comes to subscriptions I think we can all conjure up memories of a free trial causing hurt when we forget to cancel, or setting up a recurring yearly subscription that gets lost to time, but continues to chip away at our finances.

Nothing will change right away, unfortunately. None of the new rules are set to land until January, though take this article as a reminder to look over your subscriptions today and maybe cancel the ones you don’t need any more.

SK hynix approved about $38.1 billion for two memory fabs, but new HBM and NAND capacity may not ease AI-driven supply pressure until 2029.

The post SK hynix Approves $38 Billion Memory Expansion as AI Demand Strains Supply appeared first on TechRepublic.

We've tested several generations of the Lenovo Legion 5i, and always found it to be a well-rounded creative, work, and gaming laptop. So, this deal on the Lenovo Legion 5i for $1499 (was $2200) at Walmart caught my eye.

The powerhouse combines an Intel Core i7-14700HX processor with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The 15.1-inch WQXGA OLED display pairs a 165Hz refresh rate with Lenovo's PureSight technology and anti-burn-in measures.

Legion Coldfront cooling helps manage temperatures under heavy loads, and you get TrueStrike keyboard and AI Engine+, plus three months of Microsoft 365 Personal.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo Legion 5i if...

You want a creative laptop with enough power to handle most tasks you throw at it. The RTX 5060 and Core i7-14700HX make for a capable combination, while the 165Hz OLED panel provides the fast refresh rate gamers look for alongside the contrast and image quality associated with OLED.

❌ Skip the Lenovo Legion 5i if...

Portability and long unplugged runtimes often matter more than performance. Powerful HX-series processors, discrete graphics, and high-refresh OLED displays aren't designed primarily around maximizing battery life. You may also want more than 16GB of RAM if you're planning on running particularly demanding workloads.

Intel Core i7-14700HX | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB SSD

The Legion 5i combines a Core i7-14700HX processor, RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and 15.1-inch WQXGA 165Hz OLED display with Coldfront cooling and a TrueStrike keyboard.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Legion 5i packs several features we'd want from a modern laptop into one machine. You're getting RTX 5060 graphics rather than an older-generation GPU, a powerful 20-core Core i7-14700HX processor, and a fast OLED display instead of the more ordinary IPS panels found on many notebooks.

The 1TB SSD also provides a reasonable starting amount of storage for all your main files and applications.

Price context & historical value

Deals on high-powered creative laptops with graphics cards can sometimes be a bit underwhelming, but this one

The current $1,499 price is particularly interesting because we saw this laptop discounted to $1,621 just last week. That's another $122 knocked off in a matter of days, and Walmart lists the standard price at $2,199.99.

Compared with that price, you're saving $700.99, or almost 32%. Anyone who considered buying it during last week's deal will obviously be getting a substantially better offer now.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 16GB of RAM is adequate for most basic tasks today, but it's relatively modest alongside the powerful CPU and GPU, particularly if you also plan to use the laptop for heavy creative work.

There's a student bundle, and this has eligibility requirements, requires post-purchase redemption, and includes subscriptions that automatically renew.

While it's nice to get three months of Microsoft 365 Personal with it for free, that time will fly by and you'll need to think about what you'll do when the trial expires.

Also consider

AMD Ryzen 7 250 | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB

Packing serious hardware, this laptop combines RTX 5060 graphics with a Ryzen 7 processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB storage, and a sharp 15.3-inch WQXGA OLED display running at 165Hz.View Deal

We've tested several generations of the Lenovo Legion 5i, and always found it to be a well-rounded creative, work, and gaming laptop. So, this deal on the Lenovo Legion 5i for $1499 (was $2200) at Walmart caught my eye.

The powerhouse combines an Intel Core i7-14700HX processor with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The 15.1-inch WQXGA OLED display pairs a 165Hz refresh rate with Lenovo's PureSight technology and anti-burn-in measures.

Legion Coldfront cooling helps manage temperatures under heavy loads, and you get TrueStrike keyboard and AI Engine+, plus three months of Microsoft 365 Personal.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo Legion 5i if...

You want a creative laptop with enough power to handle most tasks you throw at it. The RTX 5060 and Core i7-14700HX make for a capable combination, while the 165Hz OLED panel provides the fast refresh rate gamers look for alongside the contrast and image quality associated with OLED.

❌ Skip the Lenovo Legion 5i if...

Portability and long unplugged runtimes often matter more than performance. Powerful HX-series processors, discrete graphics, and high-refresh OLED displays aren't designed primarily around maximizing battery life. You may also want more than 16GB of RAM if you're planning on running particularly demanding workloads.

Intel Core i7-14700HX | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB SSD

The Legion 5i combines a Core i7-14700HX processor, RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and 15.1-inch WQXGA 165Hz OLED display with Coldfront cooling and a TrueStrike keyboard.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Legion 5i packs several features we'd want from a modern laptop into one machine. You're getting RTX 5060 graphics rather than an older-generation GPU, a powerful 20-core Core i7-14700HX processor, and a fast OLED display instead of the more ordinary IPS panels found on many notebooks.

The 1TB SSD also provides a reasonable starting amount of storage for all your main files and applications.

Price context & historical value

Deals on high-powered creative laptops with graphics cards can sometimes be a bit underwhelming, but this one

The current $1,499 price is particularly interesting because we saw this laptop discounted to $1,621 just last week. That's another $122 knocked off in a matter of days, and Walmart lists the standard price at $2,199.99.

Compared with that price, you're saving $700.99, or almost 32%. Anyone who considered buying it during last week's deal will obviously be getting a substantially better offer now.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 16GB of RAM is adequate for most basic tasks today, but it's relatively modest alongside the powerful CPU and GPU, particularly if you also plan to use the laptop for heavy creative work.

There's a student bundle, and this has eligibility requirements, requires post-purchase redemption, and includes subscriptions that automatically renew.

While it's nice to get three months of Microsoft 365 Personal with it for free, that time will fly by and you'll need to think about what you'll do when the trial expires.

Also consider

AMD Ryzen 7 250 | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB

Packing serious hardware, this laptop combines RTX 5060 graphics with a Ryzen 7 processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB storage, and a sharp 15.3-inch WQXGA OLED display running at 165Hz.View Deal

The iPhone Ultra probably won’t launch for around another month, but we already have a fair idea of what to expect — and that’s not just thanks to leaks and rumors, but also because Samsung has launched what we think is a very similar phone.

That phone, of course, is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, a foldable device with a passport-like form factor, which is very much in line with what we’re hearing Apple is planning for its first foldable, reportedly called the iPhone Ultra.

That form factor, and particularly the screen sizes and shapes it results in, are arguably the most interesting things about these phones, since they’re different to the book-style and clamshell-style foldables we’re used to seeing.

But just how similar will the screens on these two phones be? Well, while we won’t be certain of anything until Apple unveils the iPhone Ultra, we’ve taken some educated guesses below, based on leaks and rumors about that phone, coupled with the confirmed specs of the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

iPhone Ultra (rumored)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Display (unfolded):

7.7-7.8 inches, 4:3

7.6 inches, 4:3

Display (folded):

5.3-5.49 inches, 16:10

5.5 inches, 16:10

Dimensions (unfolded):

120.6 x 167.6 x 4.5-4.8mm

161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5mm

Dimensions (folded):

120.6 x 83.8 x 9.0-9.6mm

81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7mm

How will their foldable screens compare?The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Richard Priday / TechRadarAn iPhone Ultra dummy unitSonny Dickson

Much like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 folds open like a book, but unlike the tall and narrow Z Fold 8 Ultra, it has a slightly smaller and more passport-like display, and we’re expecting something similar from the iPhone Ultra.

To be more specific, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 7.6-inch 1828 x 2448 AMOLED screen with around 403 pixels per inch, a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and an aspect ratio of 4:3.

That aspect ratio makes it more suited to watching widescreen video than typical book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, as our content viewing comparison shows, and speaking of books, it’s arguably also a better shape for reading, too.

So, what of the iPhone Ultra? Well, going by leaks, this device will probably have a foldable display of between 7.7 and 7.8 inches. Different sources point to slightly different numbers, but all the recent leaks put it in roughly that range.

So that would make it ever so slightly bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s screen — though still smaller than the 8-inch Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The silhouette of the rumored iPhone Ultra atop the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Image credit: Samsung / Future)

We’re less sure of what the resolution will be, but leaker Digital Chat Station (via MacRumors) claimed last year that it would be 1920 x 2713 and that it would have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Though it’s worth noting that this resolution wouldn’t actually yield a 4:3 aspect ratio, so at least one of these numbers must be at least slightly wrong.

In any case, 4:3 would make for the same aspect ratio as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and while this rumored resolution would be slightly higher, the marginally bigger display size should mean it still offers a similar number of pixels per inch.

We’re inclined to believe the aspect ratio here more than the resolution, as leaked renders of the iPhone Ultra show a very similar screen shape to that of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

We also fully expect the iPhone Ultra to have an AMOLED screen, just like Samsung’s phone, since other iPhones use that too.

We haven’t heard much about the iPhone Ultra’s screen brightness, but the iPhone 17 Pro, for example, has a 3,000-nit peak brightness, so the iPhone Ultra might well match that — and match the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s brightness in the process.

In which case, there may be no significant difference between their foldable screens, with the iPhone’s probably just being slightly larger — though it may also have a less visible crease, if rumors are to be believed. The iPhone Ultra’s corners are also likely to be curvier than the Z Fold 8’s, based both on leaks — such as the dummy unit above shared by Sonny Dickson — and Apple’s typical design practices.

How will their cover displays compare?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (left) and an iPhone Ultra dummy unit (right) (Image credit: TechRadar / Sonny Dickson)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch 1248 x 1972 AMOLED cover screen with around 428 pixels per inch, and with an aspect ratio of 16:10. This leaves it a bit more of a square shape than the screens on most phones.

As for the iPhone Ultra, that could either have a 5.49-inch cover display with a 1422 x 2088 resolution (according to the source detailed in the section above), or a 5.3-inch cover screen (according to a paywalled report on The Information). So, in other words, it might either be slightly smaller than the Z Fold 8’s cover display or roughly the same size. It will also most likely use AMOLED tech, since other iPhones do.

Not much has been said about the iPhone Ultra's outer aspect ratio, but this again is likely to be similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s 16:10 one — both because it looks similar in leaked renders and dummy units, and because that would make sense if its internal aspect ratio is the same, as has been rumored.

So, as with their foldable screens, the main difference between the cover screen on the iPhone Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 might just be their size, with Apple’s possibly being slightly smaller in this case — though some leaks suggest there will be no real difference there either. In which case, it could just be the iPhone’s potentially curvier corners that set it apart.

How will their dimensions compare?The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Lance Ulanoff / FutureAn iPhone Ultra dummy unitSonny Dickson

Screen sizes have a major impact on dimensions, but they’re not the only factor, with bezels and internal components also playing a role, so how will the iPhone Ultra compare to Samsung’s passport-style foldable there?

Well, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5mm when unfolded and 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm when folded shut.

Sources aren’t in total agreement about the iPhone Ultra’s dimensions, but going by various leaks, it seems likely to come in at 120.6 x 167.6 x 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded and 120.6 x 83.8 x 9.0-9.6mm when folded, so it’s mostly just the thickness that there’s disagreement on.

That, in any case, would make the iPhone slightly shorter than Samsung’s phone but also marginally wider. When unfolded, it could be either the same thickness or slightly thicker, and when folded shut, it would seemingly be marginally slimmer.

Based on these rumored screen sizes and dimensions, which foldable phone would you rather buy? Let us know in the poll or comments section below.

The iPhone Ultra probably won’t launch for around another month, but we already have a fair idea of what to expect — and that’s not just thanks to leaks and rumors, but also because Samsung has launched what we think is a very similar phone.

That phone, of course, is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, a foldable device with a passport-like form factor, which is very much in line with what we’re hearing Apple is planning for its first foldable, reportedly called the iPhone Ultra.

That form factor, and particularly the screen sizes and shapes it results in, are arguably the most interesting things about these phones, since they’re different to the book-style and clamshell-style foldables we’re used to seeing.

But just how similar will the screens on these two phones be? Well, while we won’t be certain of anything until Apple unveils the iPhone Ultra, we’ve taken some educated guesses below, based on leaks and rumors about that phone, coupled with the confirmed specs of the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

iPhone Ultra (rumored)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Display (unfolded):

7.7-7.8 inches, 4:3

7.6 inches, 4:3

Display (folded):

5.3-5.49 inches, 16:10

5.5 inches, 16:10

Dimensions (unfolded):

120.6 x 167.6 x 4.5-4.8mm

161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5mm

Dimensions (folded):

120.6 x 83.8 x 9.0-9.6mm

81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7mm

How will their foldable screens compare?The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Richard Priday / TechRadarAn iPhone Ultra dummy unitSonny Dickson

Much like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 folds open like a book, but unlike the tall and narrow Z Fold 8 Ultra, it has a slightly smaller and more passport-like display, and we’re expecting something similar from the iPhone Ultra.

To be more specific, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 7.6-inch 1828 x 2448 AMOLED screen with around 403 pixels per inch, a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and an aspect ratio of 4:3.

That aspect ratio makes it more suited to watching widescreen video than typical book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, as our content viewing comparison shows, and speaking of books, it’s arguably also a better shape for reading, too.

So, what of the iPhone Ultra? Well, going by leaks, this device will probably have a foldable display of between 7.7 and 7.8 inches. Different sources point to slightly different numbers, but all the recent leaks put it in roughly that range.

So that would make it ever so slightly bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s screen — though still smaller than the 8-inch Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The silhouette of the rumored iPhone Ultra atop the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Image credit: Samsung / Future)

We’re less sure of what the resolution will be, but leaker Digital Chat Station (via MacRumors) claimed last year that it would be 1920 x 2713 and that it would have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Though it’s worth noting that this resolution wouldn’t actually yield a 4:3 aspect ratio, so at least one of these numbers must be at least slightly wrong.

In any case, 4:3 would make for the same aspect ratio as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and while this rumored resolution would be slightly higher, the marginally bigger display size should mean it still offers a similar number of pixels per inch.

We’re inclined to believe the aspect ratio here more than the resolution, as leaked renders of the iPhone Ultra show a very similar screen shape to that of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

We also fully expect the iPhone Ultra to have an AMOLED screen, just like Samsung’s phone, since other iPhones use that too.

We haven’t heard much about the iPhone Ultra’s screen brightness, but the iPhone 17 Pro, for example, has a 3,000-nit peak brightness, so the iPhone Ultra might well match that — and match the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s brightness in the process.

In which case, there may be no significant difference between their foldable screens, with the iPhone’s probably just being slightly larger — though it may also have a less visible crease, if rumors are to be believed. The iPhone Ultra’s corners are also likely to be curvier than the Z Fold 8’s, based both on leaks — such as the dummy unit above shared by Sonny Dickson — and Apple’s typical design practices.

How will their cover displays compare?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (left) and an iPhone Ultra dummy unit (right) (Image credit: TechRadar / Sonny Dickson)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch 1248 x 1972 AMOLED cover screen with around 428 pixels per inch, and with an aspect ratio of 16:10. This leaves it a bit more of a square shape than the screens on most phones.

As for the iPhone Ultra, that could either have a 5.49-inch cover display with a 1422 x 2088 resolution (according to the source detailed in the section above), or a 5.3-inch cover screen (according to a paywalled report on The Information). So, in other words, it might either be slightly smaller than the Z Fold 8’s cover display or roughly the same size. It will also most likely use AMOLED tech, since other iPhones do.

Not much has been said about the iPhone Ultra's outer aspect ratio, but this again is likely to be similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s 16:10 one — both because it looks similar in leaked renders and dummy units, and because that would make sense if its internal aspect ratio is the same, as has been rumored.

So, as with their foldable screens, the main difference between the cover screen on the iPhone Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 might just be their size, with Apple’s possibly being slightly smaller in this case — though some leaks suggest there will be no real difference there either. In which case, it could just be the iPhone’s potentially curvier corners that set it apart.

How will their dimensions compare?The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8Lance Ulanoff / FutureAn iPhone Ultra dummy unitSonny Dickson

Screen sizes have a major impact on dimensions, but they’re not the only factor, with bezels and internal components also playing a role, so how will the iPhone Ultra compare to Samsung’s passport-style foldable there?

Well, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5mm when unfolded and 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm when folded shut.

Sources aren’t in total agreement about the iPhone Ultra’s dimensions, but going by various leaks, it seems likely to come in at 120.6 x 167.6 x 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded and 120.6 x 83.8 x 9.0-9.6mm when folded, so it’s mostly just the thickness that there’s disagreement on.

That, in any case, would make the iPhone slightly shorter than Samsung’s phone but also marginally wider. When unfolded, it could be either the same thickness or slightly thicker, and when folded shut, it would seemingly be marginally slimmer.

Based on these rumored screen sizes and dimensions, which foldable phone would you rather buy? Let us know in the poll or comments section below.

Jump to...

DDR5 RAM deals
DDR4 RAM deals

Memory prices are sky-rocketing, doubling and tripling in price. And while we can't stop the RAMpocalypse price hikes, we're keeping a close eye on the best DDR4 and DDR5 deals we can find from the likes of Corsair, G.Skill, Kingston, and more.

Upgrading your RAM is a clear-cut way to boost your PC’s performance, without the complexity of getting an advanced graphics card or switching its processor altogether.

We've tested and reviewed the best DDR5 RAM, but there's no doubt upgrading memory can be a daunting choice. So, which ones are indeed the best? I’ve taken the burden of testing many RAM kits so that you don’t have to, curating the ones that offered the best performance boosts and value for money.

Best RAM deals: Editor's picks

One of the lowest prices I can find for a 32GB DDR5 memory kit, delivering 5200MT/s performance.View Deal

This is one of the lowest-priced 16GB DDR5 deals I've come across from a well-respected brand like G.SKILL.View Deal

If you don't need DDR5, this DDR4 RAM deal from Corsair is worth checking out for content creation and multitasking.View Deal

Best RAM deals: Quick links

• Amazon: Save on DDR4 and DDR5 memory from Corsair, G.Skill, and more
• Best Buy: Discount computer RAM
• Newegg: Regular RAM deals across DDR4 and DDR5

Best DDR5 RAM deals

This kit delivers 64GB of fast DDR5 memory, giving plenty of headroom for heavy multitasking, large creative projects, and demanding workloads. Support for AMD EXPO and Intel XMP profiles keeps setup simple, while the aluminum heat spreader helps maintain stable performance.

For the full discount, use code BTSF2946View Deal

32GB of DDR5 memory gives your desktop plenty of headroom for gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Corsair Vengeance kit delivers reliable 5200MT/s performance in a matched pair of 16GB modules.

Save $98 off the price with coupon code BTSF2938View Deal

32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory running at 6000MT/s helps boost gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Kingston Fury Beast kit combines low CL30 latency, RGB lighting, and a matched pair of 16GB modules.View Deal

Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 memory delivers fast performance and eye-catching lighting for modern desktops. This 32GB kit includes two 16GB modules running at 6000MT/s with CAS latency 38 and 1.35V operating voltage. The speed helps keep demanding applications and multitasking responsive, while customizable RGB lighting adds vibrant style to any build. View Deal

Boost your desktop with 32GB of DDR5 memory running at 6000MHz, featuring low CL30 latency, customizable RGB lighting, and AMD EXPO support for responsive gaming, multitasking, and demanding creative workloads.

Save $30 off the price with coupon code BTSF2927.View Deal

Upgrade your PC with 32GB of DDR5 memory running at 6000MHz, featuring low CL30 latency, customizable RGB lighting, Intel XMP 3.0, AMD EXPO support, and SK Hynix memory chips for reliable performance.

Save $20 off the standard price with coupon code BTSF2929.View Deal

The G.SKILL Flare X5 DDR5-6000 16GB kit delivers fast, stable performance with CL36 timings and AMD EXPO support. 16GB capacity, low-profile heat spreaders, and proven reliability make it an easy upgrade today for builders facing today’s volatile memory market.View Deal

This TeamGroup 16GB kit includes two 8GB DDR5-6000 modules rated at PC5 48000. It runs at CL38 with 38-38-38-78 timings and 1.25V, offering fast bandwidth for modern systems. With AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 support, it’s easy to enable full performance in compatible builds. View Deal

Best DDR4 RAM deals

Featuring two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules with customizable RGB lighting, CL16 timings, XMP 2.0 support, and optimized performance for Intel and AMD systems, this kit is ideal for content creation, and multitasking.View Deal

Jump to...

DDR5 RAM deals
DDR4 RAM deals

Memory prices are sky-rocketing, doubling and tripling in price. And while we can't stop the RAMpocalypse price hikes, we're keeping a close eye on the best DDR4 and DDR5 deals we can find from the likes of Corsair, G.Skill, Kingston, and more.

Upgrading your RAM is a clear-cut way to boost your PC’s performance, without the complexity of getting an advanced graphics card or switching its processor altogether.

We've tested and reviewed the best DDR5 RAM, but there's no doubt upgrading memory can be a daunting choice. So, which ones are indeed the best? I’ve taken the burden of testing many RAM kits so that you don’t have to, curating the ones that offered the best performance boosts and value for money.

Best RAM deals: Editor's picks

One of the lowest prices I can find for a 32GB DDR5 memory kit, delivering 5200MT/s performance.View Deal

This is one of the lowest-priced 16GB DDR5 deals I've come across from a well-respected brand like G.SKILL.View Deal

If you don't need DDR5, this DDR4 RAM deal from Corsair is worth checking out for content creation and multitasking.View Deal

Best RAM deals: Quick links

• Amazon: Save on DDR4 and DDR5 memory from Corsair, G.Skill, and more
• Best Buy: Discount computer RAM
• Newegg: Regular RAM deals across DDR4 and DDR5

Best DDR5 RAM deals

This kit delivers 64GB of fast DDR5 memory, giving plenty of headroom for heavy multitasking, large creative projects, and demanding workloads. Support for AMD EXPO and Intel XMP profiles keeps setup simple, while the aluminum heat spreader helps maintain stable performance.

For the full discount, use code BTSF2946View Deal

32GB of DDR5 memory gives your desktop plenty of headroom for gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Corsair Vengeance kit delivers reliable 5200MT/s performance in a matched pair of 16GB modules.

Save $98 off the price with coupon code BTSF2938View Deal

32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory running at 6000MT/s helps boost gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Kingston Fury Beast kit combines low CL30 latency, RGB lighting, and a matched pair of 16GB modules.View Deal

Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 memory delivers fast performance and eye-catching lighting for modern desktops. This 32GB kit includes two 16GB modules running at 6000MT/s with CAS latency 38 and 1.35V operating voltage. The speed helps keep demanding applications and multitasking responsive, while customizable RGB lighting adds vibrant style to any build. View Deal

Boost your desktop with 32GB of DDR5 memory running at 6000MHz, featuring low CL30 latency, customizable RGB lighting, and AMD EXPO support for responsive gaming, multitasking, and demanding creative workloads.

Save $30 off the price with coupon code BTSF2927.View Deal

Upgrade your PC with 32GB of DDR5 memory running at 6000MHz, featuring low CL30 latency, customizable RGB lighting, Intel XMP 3.0, AMD EXPO support, and SK Hynix memory chips for reliable performance.

Save $20 off the standard price with coupon code BTSF2929.View Deal

The G.SKILL Flare X5 DDR5-6000 16GB kit delivers fast, stable performance with CL36 timings and AMD EXPO support. 16GB capacity, low-profile heat spreaders, and proven reliability make it an easy upgrade today for builders facing today’s volatile memory market.View Deal

This TeamGroup 16GB kit includes two 8GB DDR5-6000 modules rated at PC5 48000. It runs at CL38 with 38-38-38-78 timings and 1.25V, offering fast bandwidth for modern systems. With AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 support, it’s easy to enable full performance in compatible builds. View Deal

Best DDR4 RAM deals

Featuring two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules with customizable RGB lighting, CL16 timings, XMP 2.0 support, and optimized performance for Intel and AMD systems, this kit is ideal for content creation, and multitasking.View Deal

• Attackers stole IEH employee credentials via a fake Microsoft login page
• Inbox access exposed sensitive defense‑related communications and technical documentation
• Malicious mailbox rules were removed as IEH contained the unauthorized access

Criminals have broken into the email inboxes of IEH Corporation, a significant supplier for the US military and companies in the commercial aerospace and space industry.

In an 8-K report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), IEH said that unidentified threat actors reached out to one of its employees, pretending to be a “prospective business contact”.

The atatckers shared a link to what appeared to be a Microsoft document, prompting the victim to log in. Obviously, the login page was bogus, and the login credentials were relayed to the attackers instead.

Malicious mailbox rules

“The threat actor gained access to mailbox contents, including email messages, attachments, customer communications, purchase orders, engineering-related documentation, and potentially export-controlled technical information,” the 8-K reads.

The culprits, however, were not named and no threat actors have yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

IEH said it found no evidence that data had been exfiltrated from the compromised inbox. However, its defenders did discover and remove “malicious mailbox rules”. Usually, crooks set up such rules to automatically forward incoming emails to an inbox under their control, while deleting traces of the activity. This would allow them to continue receiving sensitive emails even after the initial compromise was remediated.

The company also said it completed a full audit of the inbox and done “corrective actions to contain any impact of the unauthorized access.”

IEH Corporation produces “specialized products used in military satellites, missiles and fighter jets,” meaning the information found in the inbox could be quite valuable, especially for nation-states such as Russia, China, North Korea, or Iran.

IEH does not publicly name its clients but it does say that its defense applications include Apache AH-64, V-280 Valor and SH-60 Seahawk programs, as well as Patriot, THAAD, AMRAAM and APKWS missile programs. It reported a revenue of almost $30 million for the 2026 fiscal year.

Via The Record

• Attackers stole IEH employee credentials via a fake Microsoft login page
• Inbox access exposed sensitive defense‑related communications and technical documentation
• Malicious mailbox rules were removed as IEH contained the unauthorized access

Criminals have broken into the email inboxes of IEH Corporation, a significant supplier for the US military and companies in the commercial aerospace and space industry.

In an 8-K report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), IEH said that unidentified threat actors reached out to one of its employees, pretending to be a “prospective business contact”.

The atatckers shared a link to what appeared to be a Microsoft document, prompting the victim to log in. Obviously, the login page was bogus, and the login credentials were relayed to the attackers instead.

Malicious mailbox rules

“The threat actor gained access to mailbox contents, including email messages, attachments, customer communications, purchase orders, engineering-related documentation, and potentially export-controlled technical information,” the 8-K reads.

The culprits, however, were not named and no threat actors have yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

IEH said it found no evidence that data had been exfiltrated from the compromised inbox. However, its defenders did discover and remove “malicious mailbox rules”. Usually, crooks set up such rules to automatically forward incoming emails to an inbox under their control, while deleting traces of the activity. This would allow them to continue receiving sensitive emails even after the initial compromise was remediated.

The company also said it completed a full audit of the inbox and done “corrective actions to contain any impact of the unauthorized access.”

IEH Corporation produces “specialized products used in military satellites, missiles and fighter jets,” meaning the information found in the inbox could be quite valuable, especially for nation-states such as Russia, China, North Korea, or Iran.

IEH does not publicly name its clients but it does say that its defense applications include Apache AH-64, V-280 Valor and SH-60 Seahawk programs, as well as Patriot, THAAD, AMRAAM and APKWS missile programs. It reported a revenue of almost $30 million for the 2026 fiscal year.

Via The Record

Security researchers found 150 lookalike Open VSX extensions published under trusted names, highlighting how extension marketplaces can expose developer credentials, source code, and CI/CD systems to supply-chain risk.

The post 77 Counterfeit Open VSX Extensions Collected Developer and CI/CD Data appeared first on TechRepublic.

You may have heard a lot about quantum in the past few months, from your newsfeed to your competitors’ strategies. Last year was proclaimed the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology” by the United Nations to celebrate the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics.

While quantum belonged to the writings of the brightest scientists a century ago, it now animates conversations in both academic and business circles.

But what should you do about it as a business leader?

Quantum technologies use the principles of quantum mechanics to unlock new possibilities and can be split into three distinct categories. Quantum computing uses quantum bits instead of classical 0 or 1 bits to perform calculations.

Quantum sensing uses the same underlying physics to take very precise measurements, like an extraordinarily precise compass. And quantum communication enables the ultra-secure exchange of sensitive information.

Each of these technologies is on a different maturity curve.

One theory, three subfields

Quantum computing gets the most attention for a reason: it represents the largest estimated market size; and will unlock a completely new set of possibilities. Unlike classical bits, quantum bits can exist in a superposition of 0 and 1 simultaneously, enabling the exploration of many possibilities at once.

This capability is especially valuable for optimization problems, for example, finding the optimal route between two points. However, quantum bits, or qubits, are fragile and error-prone, today’s machines are still what we call “Noisy Intermediate-Scale” systems, and hold limited practical usefulness.

The industry is developing Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers (FTQC) by using error correction methods to unlock reliable calculations. Given that these systems are not commercially available, waiting might seem like the best way forward; but it is exactly the opposite.

Businesses must prepare now for the advent of FTQCs. Because quantum computers operate on fundamentally different principles from classical machines, algorithms must be tailored to them, often to the point of redesign.

Building these capabilities is critical for businesses to secure a competitive advantage, but it will take time, so companies must start now if they have not yet explored this field. While quantum computers mature, another branch is already delivering value: quantum sensing.

Quantum sensors are one of the most underrated segments of the industry. Far more mature than quantum computers, some technologies are already being deployed in real-world settings. Applications have been developed in many sectors such as non-invasive cardiac diagnosis, non-destructive testing in manufacturing or GPS-free navigation.

This subfield is dual-use: sensors can passively detect concealed objects or track ground vehicles, which is why this technology is considered a strategic asset rather than a purely commercial one in many countries.

Quantum communications use the principles of quantum mechanics to create secure data transmission networks in which leaks or espionage can be physically detected. The EuroQCI joint initiative between the European Commission and ESA aims to develop this infrastructure across the continent, while China has constructed a secure link spanning more than two thousand kilometers between Beijing and Shanghai.

Quantum as a strategic asset

The advent of FTQCs will not only unlock new opportunities for businesses but also pose significant security threats for our systems. Indeed, they are expected to break the most widely used cryptographic schemes, creating a cybersecurity nightmare situation.

Although quantum computers do not yet have this capability, highly sensitive information like health or financial data can be collected now and decrypted later. Post-quantum cryptography, which uses classical methods, has been developed to resist quantum attacks. A June 2026 US executive order set a 2031 deadline for high-value, high-impact systems to migrate to post-quantum cryptography, and France's cybersecurity agency will certify only quantum-safe products starting in 2027.

Governments have also begun treating quantum as a controlled and sovereign technology. The US restricted exports of quantum computers in late 2024, and the EU added quantum to its dual-use control list in 2025. This pattern mirrors what’s happening with AI, with the US government briefly imposing export controls on Anthropic’s Fable 5 model.

These regulatory efforts are happening while AI and quantum are already converging and accelerating each other’s development, despite being fundamentally different technologies. Artificial intelligence is now widely used in the computing community for programming, notably to accelerate the creation of quantum algorithms.

Quantum sensors already rely on to machine learning methods to differentiate target signatures against noise, notably enabling more sensitive detection. Quantum computing, in turn, could open new hardware possibilities for artificial intelligence. Recent research also shows that quantum algorithms can pre-select features to accelerate processes before handling them to AI models.

Start small, but start now

From cancer drug discovery and delivery scheduling optimization to GPS-free navigation and risk simulation, quantum technologies hold the promise of revolutionizing various use cases across industries. Investors spent more than $12B on quantum technology startups in 2025, and around 30 countries have developed specific policies or a national strategy.

No one expects business leaders to become quantum physicists; however, ignoring the quantum opportunities and threats could put your business at risk. Developing expertise, notably by hiring or upskilling a “Chief Quantum Officer” who will lead quantum strategy and prepare for the opportunities and risks ahead, will secure a competitive advantage in the long run.

In order to grasp this potential, start by identifying at least one business challenge you are currently facing and explore whether quantum can solve it.

We list the best business laptops.

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

You may have heard a lot about quantum in the past few months, from your newsfeed to your competitors’ strategies. Last year was proclaimed the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology” by the United Nations to celebrate the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics.

While quantum belonged to the writings of the brightest scientists a century ago, it now animates conversations in both academic and business circles.

But what should you do about it as a business leader?

Quantum technologies use the principles of quantum mechanics to unlock new possibilities and can be split into three distinct categories. Quantum computing uses quantum bits instead of classical 0 or 1 bits to perform calculations.

Quantum sensing uses the same underlying physics to take very precise measurements, like an extraordinarily precise compass. And quantum communication enables the ultra-secure exchange of sensitive information.

Each of these technologies is on a different maturity curve.

One theory, three subfields

Quantum computing gets the most attention for a reason: it represents the largest estimated market size; and will unlock a completely new set of possibilities. Unlike classical bits, quantum bits can exist in a superposition of 0 and 1 simultaneously, enabling the exploration of many possibilities at once.

This capability is especially valuable for optimization problems, for example, finding the optimal route between two points. However, quantum bits, or qubits, are fragile and error-prone, today’s machines are still what we call “Noisy Intermediate-Scale” systems, and hold limited practical usefulness.

The industry is developing Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers (FTQC) by using error correction methods to unlock reliable calculations. Given that these systems are not commercially available, waiting might seem like the best way forward; but it is exactly the opposite.

Businesses must prepare now for the advent of FTQCs. Because quantum computers operate on fundamentally different principles from classical machines, algorithms must be tailored to them, often to the point of redesign.

Building these capabilities is critical for businesses to secure a competitive advantage, but it will take time, so companies must start now if they have not yet explored this field. While quantum computers mature, another branch is already delivering value: quantum sensing.

Quantum sensors are one of the most underrated segments of the industry. Far more mature than quantum computers, some technologies are already being deployed in real-world settings. Applications have been developed in many sectors such as non-invasive cardiac diagnosis, non-destructive testing in manufacturing or GPS-free navigation.

This subfield is dual-use: sensors can passively detect concealed objects or track ground vehicles, which is why this technology is considered a strategic asset rather than a purely commercial one in many countries.

Quantum communications use the principles of quantum mechanics to create secure data transmission networks in which leaks or espionage can be physically detected. The EuroQCI joint initiative between the European Commission and ESA aims to develop this infrastructure across the continent, while China has constructed a secure link spanning more than two thousand kilometers between Beijing and Shanghai.

Quantum as a strategic asset

The advent of FTQCs will not only unlock new opportunities for businesses but also pose significant security threats for our systems. Indeed, they are expected to break the most widely used cryptographic schemes, creating a cybersecurity nightmare situation.

Although quantum computers do not yet have this capability, highly sensitive information like health or financial data can be collected now and decrypted later. Post-quantum cryptography, which uses classical methods, has been developed to resist quantum attacks. A June 2026 US executive order set a 2031 deadline for high-value, high-impact systems to migrate to post-quantum cryptography, and France's cybersecurity agency will certify only quantum-safe products starting in 2027.

Governments have also begun treating quantum as a controlled and sovereign technology. The US restricted exports of quantum computers in late 2024, and the EU added quantum to its dual-use control list in 2025. This pattern mirrors what’s happening with AI, with the US government briefly imposing export controls on Anthropic’s Fable 5 model.

These regulatory efforts are happening while AI and quantum are already converging and accelerating each other’s development, despite being fundamentally different technologies. Artificial intelligence is now widely used in the computing community for programming, notably to accelerate the creation of quantum algorithms.

Quantum sensors already rely on to machine learning methods to differentiate target signatures against noise, notably enabling more sensitive detection. Quantum computing, in turn, could open new hardware possibilities for artificial intelligence. Recent research also shows that quantum algorithms can pre-select features to accelerate processes before handling them to AI models.

Start small, but start now

From cancer drug discovery and delivery scheduling optimization to GPS-free navigation and risk simulation, quantum technologies hold the promise of revolutionizing various use cases across industries. Investors spent more than $12B on quantum technology startups in 2025, and around 30 countries have developed specific policies or a national strategy.

No one expects business leaders to become quantum physicists; however, ignoring the quantum opportunities and threats could put your business at risk. Developing expertise, notably by hiring or upskilling a “Chief Quantum Officer” who will lead quantum strategy and prepare for the opportunities and risks ahead, will secure a competitive advantage in the long run.

In order to grasp this potential, start by identifying at least one business challenge you are currently facing and explore whether quantum can solve it.

We list the best business laptops.

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

AI agents seem to be getting a little out of control lately. Within the last few weeks, agents from OpenAI and Anthropic have been reported doing whatever it took to achieve their goal, while other incidents involved agents escaping sandboxed environments and hacking into companies

Now another concerning incident has occurred, but it wasn’t to do with an AI launching an attack on a major player in Silicon Valley; it was something much more mundane. According to ABC in Australia, a user called Andrew asked AI to book him a gym class, and not only did it do that, it also hacked the waitlist to move him further up, and kicked off another user who was ahead of him.

Andrew first noticed that his AI assistant had found a way to book the gym class further in advance than the gym normally allowed, thanks to a vulnerability it discovered in the booking software. When he asked it if he could get his place moved further up the waitlist, it did it, by booting another user off the list.

(Image credit: OpenClaw/Edited with Gemini)Claude and OpenClaw

Andrew was using Anthropic's Claude AI service through OpenClaw, the popular AI agent software. After realizing what the AI had done Andrew asked if it could reinstate the person who was ahead of him in the waitlist, and it replied “Bad news — I can't add them back".

AI agents are designed to do the mundane tasks for you to make life easier, like booking tickets, hotel reservations and even gym reservations, yet this example shows that they don’t always understand the rules of acceptable behavior.

Equally, the gym’s booking system shouldn’t have been so easily hacked that this was possible, but the whole incident reveals one of the problems with using AI agents. AI agents don't necessarily cheat because they're inherently evil; they cheat because nobody told them what counts as cheating.

Reliable safeguards

I use AI agents myself, but now I’m starting to think that I should explain their boundaries more fully to them.

Here’s the line I’m adding to my prompts from now on:

“Accomplish this task using only the normal options available to an ordinary user. Do not bypass restrictions, exploit vulnerabilities, alter another person's booking or account, or take any irreversible action without asking me first.”

Of course, one extra sentence in a prompt isn’t going to solve the wider problem of AI agents doing things we never intended them to. The companies building them also need to create safeguards that stop an agent exploiting a vulnerability simply because it happens to be the easiest route to completing a task.

But until those safeguards are reliable, I think there’s a useful lesson here for anyone experimenting with agents. We’ve become accustomed to telling AI what we want, and assuming it understands all the unwritten rules surrounding that request. Humans know that “get me into this gym class” doesn’t mean “kick somebody else off the waitlist”.

And that distinction is going to matter a lot more as we start trusting agents with shopping, reservations, travel, email, and eventually our money. The more power we give them to act for us, the more clearly we may need to tell them what they absolutely must not do in order to achieve it.

AI agents seem to be getting a little out of control lately. Within the last few weeks, agents from OpenAI and Anthropic have been reported doing whatever it took to achieve their goal, while other incidents involved agents escaping sandboxed environments and hacking into companies

Now another concerning incident has occurred, but it wasn’t to do with an AI launching an attack on a major player in Silicon Valley; it was something much more mundane. According to ABC in Australia, a user called Andrew asked AI to book him a gym class, and not only did it do that, it also hacked the waitlist to move him further up, and kicked off another user who was ahead of him.

Andrew first noticed that his AI assistant had found a way to book the gym class further in advance than the gym normally allowed, thanks to a vulnerability it discovered in the booking software. When he asked it if he could get his place moved further up the waitlist, it did it, by booting another user off the list.

(Image credit: OpenClaw/Edited with Gemini)Claude and OpenClaw

Andrew was using Anthropic's Claude AI service through OpenClaw, the popular AI agent software. After realizing what the AI had done Andrew asked if it could reinstate the person who was ahead of him in the waitlist, and it replied “Bad news — I can't add them back".

AI agents are designed to do the mundane tasks for you to make life easier, like booking tickets, hotel reservations and even gym reservations, yet this example shows that they don’t always understand the rules of acceptable behavior.

Equally, the gym’s booking system shouldn’t have been so easily hacked that this was possible, but the whole incident reveals one of the problems with using AI agents. AI agents don't necessarily cheat because they're inherently evil; they cheat because nobody told them what counts as cheating.

Reliable safeguards

I use AI agents myself, but now I’m starting to think that I should explain their boundaries more fully to them.

Here’s the line I’m adding to my prompts from now on:

“Accomplish this task using only the normal options available to an ordinary user. Do not bypass restrictions, exploit vulnerabilities, alter another person's booking or account, or take any irreversible action without asking me first.”

Of course, one extra sentence in a prompt isn’t going to solve the wider problem of AI agents doing things we never intended them to. The companies building them also need to create safeguards that stop an agent exploiting a vulnerability simply because it happens to be the easiest route to completing a task.

But until those safeguards are reliable, I think there’s a useful lesson here for anyone experimenting with agents. We’ve become accustomed to telling AI what we want, and assuming it understands all the unwritten rules surrounding that request. Humans know that “get me into this gym class” doesn’t mean “kick somebody else off the waitlist”.

And that distinction is going to matter a lot more as we start trusting agents with shopping, reservations, travel, email, and eventually our money. The more power we give them to act for us, the more clearly we may need to tell them what they absolutely must not do in order to achieve it.

The RAMpocalypse continues to make PC upgrades considerably more expensive than they used to be just a year ago, particularly if you're shopping for fast DDR5. SO, I've been keeping a close eye on any discounts like this one: the 32GB V-Color Manta XSky DDR5-6000 kit for $398 (was $430) at Newegg with the coupon code BTSF2927.

This 32GB kit consists of two 16GB modules using SK Hynix ICs, with DDR5-6000 speeds and tight CL30-38-38-96 timings at 1.35V. It's designed specifically around AMD EXPO, allowing compatible AMD systems to apply its advertised overclocked settings via the appropriate memory profile. You also get cool RGB lighting.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the V-Color Manta XSky 32GB if...

You're building or upgrading a compatible AMD desktop and specifically want fast DDR5-6000 with tight CL30 timings. The two-module 32GB configuration provides plenty of capacity for modern gaming and demanding everyday workloads, while AMD EXPO makes accessing the rated settings simpler than manually configuring memory timings.

❌ Skip the V-Color Manta XSky 32GB if...

You're running an older DDR4 platform or don't need premium memory speeds and timings. DDR5 isn't backward compatible with DDR4 motherboards, and even with the coupon this remains an expensive 32GB upgrade. Anyone primarily interested in adding capacity rather than maximizing memory performance should consider cheaper alternatives.

This 32GB DDR5 kit combines two 16GB SK Hynix-based modules with 6000MHz speeds, CL30-38-38-96 timings, 1.35V operation, AMD EXPO support, RGB lighting, and a DDR5-4800 base speed.View Deal

Why we recommend it

DDR5-6000 CL30 is an attractive combination for compatible AMD PCs, and the use of SK Hynix ICs will make it appealing for buyers focused on performance. You get 32GB across two modules, AMD EXPO support, and RGB lighting in a kit designed specifically for AMD systems rather than paying for features aimed at multiple platforms.

Price context & historical value

The headline $419.99 price only saves $10 from the listed $429.99 price, so the coupon is crucial. Applying code BTSF2927 removes another $22, taking the total saving to $32 and the final price to $397.99.

That's still expensive for 32GB of RAM by historical standards, but current DDR5 pricing means every meaningful reduction helps if you need memory now rather than waiting for the market to finally improve.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This is an AMD EXPO-focused kit, so check your motherboard's memory compatibility before buying, particularly if you're considering it for an Intel system.

You'll also need to enable the appropriate profile in the BIOS to reach DDR5-6000; otherwise, the memory operates at its lower base speed.

Also consider

This 32GB DDR5-6000 kit pairs two 16GB modules with RGB lighting and a performance-focused design for gaming desktops, with promo code BTSF2939 knocking $100 off the price.View Deal

32GB of DDR5 memory gives your desktop plenty of headroom for gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Corsair Vengeance kit delivers reliable 5200MT/s performance in a matched pair of 16GB modules.

Save $98 off the price with coupon code BTSF2938View Deal

32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory running at 6000MT/s helps boost gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Kingston Fury Beast kit combines low CL30 latency, RGB lighting, and a matched pair of 16GB modules.View Deal

The RAMpocalypse continues to make PC upgrades considerably more expensive than they used to be just a year ago, particularly if you're shopping for fast DDR5. SO, I've been keeping a close eye on any discounts like this one: the 32GB V-Color Manta XSky DDR5-6000 kit for $398 (was $430) at Newegg with the coupon code BTSF2927.

This 32GB kit consists of two 16GB modules using SK Hynix ICs, with DDR5-6000 speeds and tight CL30-38-38-96 timings at 1.35V. It's designed specifically around AMD EXPO, allowing compatible AMD systems to apply its advertised overclocked settings via the appropriate memory profile. You also get cool RGB lighting.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the V-Color Manta XSky 32GB if...

You're building or upgrading a compatible AMD desktop and specifically want fast DDR5-6000 with tight CL30 timings. The two-module 32GB configuration provides plenty of capacity for modern gaming and demanding everyday workloads, while AMD EXPO makes accessing the rated settings simpler than manually configuring memory timings.

❌ Skip the V-Color Manta XSky 32GB if...

You're running an older DDR4 platform or don't need premium memory speeds and timings. DDR5 isn't backward compatible with DDR4 motherboards, and even with the coupon this remains an expensive 32GB upgrade. Anyone primarily interested in adding capacity rather than maximizing memory performance should consider cheaper alternatives.

This 32GB DDR5 kit combines two 16GB SK Hynix-based modules with 6000MHz speeds, CL30-38-38-96 timings, 1.35V operation, AMD EXPO support, RGB lighting, and a DDR5-4800 base speed.View Deal

Why we recommend it

DDR5-6000 CL30 is an attractive combination for compatible AMD PCs, and the use of SK Hynix ICs will make it appealing for buyers focused on performance. You get 32GB across two modules, AMD EXPO support, and RGB lighting in a kit designed specifically for AMD systems rather than paying for features aimed at multiple platforms.

Price context & historical value

The headline $419.99 price only saves $10 from the listed $429.99 price, so the coupon is crucial. Applying code BTSF2927 removes another $22, taking the total saving to $32 and the final price to $397.99.

That's still expensive for 32GB of RAM by historical standards, but current DDR5 pricing means every meaningful reduction helps if you need memory now rather than waiting for the market to finally improve.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This is an AMD EXPO-focused kit, so check your motherboard's memory compatibility before buying, particularly if you're considering it for an Intel system.

You'll also need to enable the appropriate profile in the BIOS to reach DDR5-6000; otherwise, the memory operates at its lower base speed.

Also consider

This 32GB DDR5-6000 kit pairs two 16GB modules with RGB lighting and a performance-focused design for gaming desktops, with promo code BTSF2939 knocking $100 off the price.View Deal

32GB of DDR5 memory gives your desktop plenty of headroom for gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Corsair Vengeance kit delivers reliable 5200MT/s performance in a matched pair of 16GB modules.

Save $98 off the price with coupon code BTSF2938View Deal

32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory running at 6000MT/s helps boost gaming, content creation, and multitasking. This Kingston Fury Beast kit combines low CL30 latency, RGB lighting, and a matched pair of 16GB modules.View Deal

Verb has launched a marketplace that lets consumers sell selected personal data, testing whether users will trade privacy for direct payment.

The post Verb Launches Marketplace That Lets Consumers Sell Their Personal Data appeared first on TechRepublic.

Governments are beginning to look beyond age verification itself and toward the tools people use to bypass it. In Australia, recently released Freedom of Information documents revealed the eSafety Commissioner wants technology companies to actively detect and block VPNs used to circumvent age checks. In the UK, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has also suggested the government could revisit restrictions on VPNs.

Viewed individually, these proposals may seem limited. Taken together, they illustrate how VPNs are increasingly being treated as part of the enforcement problem, when in reality, they are part of the security infrastructure that businesses, journalists, remote employees and millions of ordinary users rely on every day. In the United States alone, half of the country’s remote workers use a VPN.

Age verification laws were introduced with the objective of making it harder for minors to access harmful content, but it produced an unintended consequence. Across multiple markets, growing numbers of users are turning to VPNs because they don't want to upload government IDs or facial scans to websites they neither trust nor expect to visit regularly.

Folding VPNs into the regulatory framework confuses the symptom with the problem. Banning or restricting VPNs rarely stops the underlying behavior. Instead, it pushes users toward less regulated workarounds while handing governments a new lever to tighten control over what citizens can access online. Having spent years building a privacy-first browser, I’ve learned that internet users adapt far faster than regulation.

You can't regulate intent

Every proposal to restrict VPN use runs into the same technical problem. A VPN connection doesn't explain why someone is using it. A journalist protecting sources, a remote employee on a hotel network, and someone dodging an age check look identical from the network's side, and enforcement can't tell them apart.

Any enforcement mechanism built to catch age-check bypass has to sit on top of that same traffic, and it has no way to separate a teenager evading harmful content from an accountant filing a report over a hotel connection.

Stigmatizing VPNs further won't change the underlying demand either. People don't stop wanting privacy because a tool becomes less socially acceptable. They find another way to get both, often through channels with far less transparency than the ones being restricted.

The precedent is important

The concern here is sharper because of where these laws tend to originate. Rules written in a few high-profile markets often become templates, and other governments treat them as proven models regardless of how well they work. If privacy tools must identify users to function, that expectation can eventually reach encrypted messaging, cloud storage, and other technologies businesses depend on daily.

A company that accepts identity checks on its VPN traffic today has little basis to object when the same logic gets applied to its encrypted messaging platform or its cloud storage provider tomorrow. The infrastructure being debated under the banner of child safety is the same infrastructure that keeps corporate communications and data secure.

Privacy tools are not the problem

An estimated 1.7 billion people worldwide use VPNs, a scale that should give policymakers pause before treating them primarily as a way to bypass age verification. For most users, VPNs are part of everyday internet security, protecting communications and safeguarding public Wi-Fi connections.

The spikes in VPN usage tell a consistent story. The largest surges follow political unrest, as seen during Myanmar's turmoil, or when a popular platform is suddenly blocked, as happened when Turkey restricted Wikipedia for several years.

Laws tied to age verification drive new sign-ups too, albeit on a smaller scale, mostly from people who don't want to upload an ID or a face scan to reach a site they'd rather not be seen visiting, adult sites being the clearest case.

Not all verification is equal

It's worth separating two different situations.

Verifying age on a social network, where someone already has an identity and a reason to be recognized, differs from verifying age on an adult site, where the point is precisely not to be identified.

The first one is reasonable. On the other hand, I don't think anyone should hand over an ID or a facial scan for the second, given the risk of that data leaking and being used for blackmail.

The technology already exists, with limits

Privacy-preserving age verification is real, and working versions already exist, though it's worth being precise about what they can and can't guarantee. Proving something with zero trace anywhere in the system is extremely hard to achieve, and trust must always sit somewhere.

A workable model separates the party confirming someone's age from the party they're visiting. A trusted intermediary checks eligibility once and issues a token in return. That token isn't a currency and isn't tied to a wallet or an account, it's simply cryptographic proof that can't be traced back to the person it was issued to. No one can identify who is presenting the token later.

It works like an ID card with the photo, name and number stripped out, leaving only a yes or no answer to one question. That token lives on the person's own device. The service confirming eligibility never holds it, the user does.

Privacy and verification can coexist

Protecting minors is a legitimate policy objective, and rejecting today's approach isn't the same as rejecting age verification altogether. The question is how to achieve it without asking millions of adults to surrender more personal information than necessary. Parents are best placed to decide what their children can access using tools that already exist. Public policy should support that role.

Governments should encourage age verification systems that collect the minimum information needed to confirm eligibility, while letting privacy tools do the job they were built for. The real work is building age verification people can trust without asking them to surrender their privacy. Regulating VPNs won't get us there.

We've featured the best secure VPN provider.

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

Governments are beginning to look beyond age verification itself and toward the tools people use to bypass it. In Australia, recently released Freedom of Information documents revealed the eSafety Commissioner wants technology companies to actively detect and block VPNs used to circumvent age checks. In the UK, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has also suggested the government could revisit restrictions on VPNs.

Viewed individually, these proposals may seem limited. Taken together, they illustrate how VPNs are increasingly being treated as part of the enforcement problem, when in reality, they are part of the security infrastructure that businesses, journalists, remote employees and millions of ordinary users rely on every day. In the United States alone, half of the country’s remote workers use a VPN.

Age verification laws were introduced with the objective of making it harder for minors to access harmful content, but it produced an unintended consequence. Across multiple markets, growing numbers of users are turning to VPNs because they don't want to upload government IDs or facial scans to websites they neither trust nor expect to visit regularly.

Folding VPNs into the regulatory framework confuses the symptom with the problem. Banning or restricting VPNs rarely stops the underlying behavior. Instead, it pushes users toward less regulated workarounds while handing governments a new lever to tighten control over what citizens can access online. Having spent years building a privacy-first browser, I’ve learned that internet users adapt far faster than regulation.

You can't regulate intent

Every proposal to restrict VPN use runs into the same technical problem. A VPN connection doesn't explain why someone is using it. A journalist protecting sources, a remote employee on a hotel network, and someone dodging an age check look identical from the network's side, and enforcement can't tell them apart.

Any enforcement mechanism built to catch age-check bypass has to sit on top of that same traffic, and it has no way to separate a teenager evading harmful content from an accountant filing a report over a hotel connection.

Stigmatizing VPNs further won't change the underlying demand either. People don't stop wanting privacy because a tool becomes less socially acceptable. They find another way to get both, often through channels with far less transparency than the ones being restricted.

The precedent is important

The concern here is sharper because of where these laws tend to originate. Rules written in a few high-profile markets often become templates, and other governments treat them as proven models regardless of how well they work. If privacy tools must identify users to function, that expectation can eventually reach encrypted messaging, cloud storage, and other technologies businesses depend on daily.

A company that accepts identity checks on its VPN traffic today has little basis to object when the same logic gets applied to its encrypted messaging platform or its cloud storage provider tomorrow. The infrastructure being debated under the banner of child safety is the same infrastructure that keeps corporate communications and data secure.

Privacy tools are not the problem

An estimated 1.7 billion people worldwide use VPNs, a scale that should give policymakers pause before treating them primarily as a way to bypass age verification. For most users, VPNs are part of everyday internet security, protecting communications and safeguarding public Wi-Fi connections.

The spikes in VPN usage tell a consistent story. The largest surges follow political unrest, as seen during Myanmar's turmoil, or when a popular platform is suddenly blocked, as happened when Turkey restricted Wikipedia for several years.

Laws tied to age verification drive new sign-ups too, albeit on a smaller scale, mostly from people who don't want to upload an ID or a face scan to reach a site they'd rather not be seen visiting, adult sites being the clearest case.

Not all verification is equal

It's worth separating two different situations.

Verifying age on a social network, where someone already has an identity and a reason to be recognized, differs from verifying age on an adult site, where the point is precisely not to be identified.

The first one is reasonable. On the other hand, I don't think anyone should hand over an ID or a facial scan for the second, given the risk of that data leaking and being used for blackmail.

The technology already exists, with limits

Privacy-preserving age verification is real, and working versions already exist, though it's worth being precise about what they can and can't guarantee. Proving something with zero trace anywhere in the system is extremely hard to achieve, and trust must always sit somewhere.

A workable model separates the party confirming someone's age from the party they're visiting. A trusted intermediary checks eligibility once and issues a token in return. That token isn't a currency and isn't tied to a wallet or an account, it's simply cryptographic proof that can't be traced back to the person it was issued to. No one can identify who is presenting the token later.

It works like an ID card with the photo, name and number stripped out, leaving only a yes or no answer to one question. That token lives on the person's own device. The service confirming eligibility never holds it, the user does.

Privacy and verification can coexist

Protecting minors is a legitimate policy objective, and rejecting today's approach isn't the same as rejecting age verification altogether. The question is how to achieve it without asking millions of adults to surrender more personal information than necessary. Parents are best placed to decide what their children can access using tools that already exist. Public policy should support that role.

Governments should encourage age verification systems that collect the minimum information needed to confirm eligibility, while letting privacy tools do the job they were built for. The real work is building age verification people can trust without asking them to surrender their privacy. Regulating VPNs won't get us there.

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