Technology

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The new Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds are here to take on the AirPods Pro 2 – and they have a very Apple-esque feature that the AirPods lack: a touch bar. Where Apple limited its touch bar to laptops and has since stopped using it, Anker's version is on its earbuds' charging case and hopefully has more staying power.

Anker isn't the first firm to put a screen in its earbud charging case – as we've written previously, JBL has converted us from cynics to enthusiastic charge-case screen supporters on the JBL Live Beam 3 – but its approach is nice and elegant: the screen itself isn't a touchscreen (it's actually inside the case but visible on the outside) but it's designed to work in conjunction with a slim touch-sensitive bar on the front of the case. 

The screen is fun, but of course, the best earbuds are about more than fancy features. And the specs here look impressive. 

Anker Soundcore Liberty Pro 4: key features and pricing

The Liberty 4 Pro earbuds have active noise cancellation courtesy of six microphones and a barometric pressure sensor to capture and isolate audio. The algorithm for the ANC is the third generation of Anker's audio tech and promises to adapt to your audio environment three times per second. Switching between noise cancellation and transparency can be done on the case's touch bar.

There's Bluetooth 5.3 with Fast Pair, support for the higher-quality LDAC codec, and the buds also offer multi-mode spatial audio. 

Playtime is up from the previous version to 10 hours / 40 hours with ANC off; with ANC on the buds still deliver 7.5 hours solo and 30 via the charging case, which is very competitive against the best noise cancelling earbuds.

As before, the bulk of the configuration is handled in the Soundcore app, which offers a new version of HearID to tailor the sound to your ears and an 8-band customizable EQ with multiple presets. 

In our Anker Liberty 3 Pro review, we liked the battery life and the ANC but weren't so keen on the fit or the touch controls; the new case should address the latter and hopefully the fit has been improved too.

The new Liberty 4 Pro comes in Glossy Light Blue, Glossy Black and White and will be available starting today on Amazon.com, Soundcore.com, and from select retailers for $129.99 in the US and £129.99 in the UK. Additional availability throughout Europe will be announced at a later date, and we don't have confirmation of an Australian launch at this time.

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Good news if you own one of the best Samsung TVs and are eager to get even more generative AI into your life: Samsung has announced that a bunch of AI features, plus the ChatGPT bot, are heading to the company's televisions in the future.

This news comes out of the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) from SamMobile, and while details are a little thin on the ground at the moment – as you would expect from a developer conference – we do have some idea of what's coming.

At the show, Samsung emphasized an "AI for all" approach that involves getting AI just about everywhere. For TVs, that means more capabilities for the built-in Bixby assistant, in terms of searching for content and customizing on-board settings.

It sounds as though you'll be able to describe in more detail the sort of show or movie you're after, and Bixby will oblige. The smart AI-powered assistant is also getting more control over other smart-home devices too – as long as they're made by Samsung.

From phone to TV

Developers will get access to Samsung AI Cast first (Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung has also announced Samsung AI Cast, which makes it easier to get AI results from your Galaxy phone to your Samsung TV. Modern Samsung phones come packed with AI, and we can imagine generating text or images and then being able to quickly beam them across to a big screen.

We can also expect "an integration with ChatGPT" right from the Samsung TV home screen, as part of this Samsung AI Cast feature – so we're presuming that you'll be able to talk to ChatGPT on your phone and see the results on your TV.

Again, Samsung is a bit vague on the specifics – not least when these updates might start rolling out – but it gives you an idea of what's on the way in the next few months or so. You're certainly not going to be able to get away from AI anytime soon.

There was plenty of other news from SDC2024, including the announcement that One UI 7 – Samsung's take on Android 15 – would be making its way to users at the start of next year, most probably with the Samsung Galaxy S25. If you already own a Samsung phone, you might well be able to test the software before then.

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Nvidia’s preparing to put a halt to production of another high-end Lovelace graphics card ahead of a double helping of next-gen Blackwell GPU launches - if the grapevine is correct.

This time it’s the RTX 4080 Super which is rumored to be set for discontinuation by Team Green, following recent rumors that this was the case with the RTX 4090 (and its counterpart for the Chinese market, the RTX 4090D).

Wccftech reports that Harukaze5719 on X spotted this speculation which comes via the Board Channels forum over in China, a regular source of rumors that filter down from the hardware supply chain.

Supposedly Nvidia’s RTX 4080 Super will see limited supply in October, with production coming to an end this month, and the supply of chips to graphics card makers will run dry in November.

We’ve heard before about the RTX 4090’s timeline which is a month sooner than this – production is rumored to have already ended (that happened in September), and the supply of chips to board makers will dry up in October, later this month.

That means some graphics cards will still be put together by manufacturers, and arrive on the scene after those (rumored) final chip supply dates, but stock will start to run out.

This paves the way for the launch of the RTX 5080 and 5090, and this is another rumor that indicates Nvidia is planning a double launch for next-gen Blackwell GPUs. Indeed, the claim here is that the RTX 5080 and 5090 will be released together (though rumors in the past have suggested that the launch of these GPUs may be very slightly staggered).

(Image credit: Nvidia) Analysis: Keep watching those stock levels

Add a whole lot of seasoning here, of course, because all of this is merely chatter from the supply chain. Still, the rumor regarding Nvidia winding up the production of the RTX 4090 does appear to have some truth behind it, or at least the picture of stock levels and pricing for the Lovelace flagship suggests that possibility.

In Europe, and indeed in the US, we’ve seen the RTX 4090 starting to run low on inventory in some cases, and pricing is spiking upwards without a doubt (it’s generally 10%, or slightly more, over MSRP in the US currently – increases have been way more than that in Europe). That aligns with the idea of Nvidia having halted production, with the final chips for the RTX 4090 likely shipping right now, and maybe not for much longer.

In theory, the RTX 4080 Super will follow, then, but we haven’t seen any impact on the price of this GPU – yet. This graphics card is still at its MSRP (at least for some models). However, if what’s theorized here is true, we will likely start to see a similar state of affairs with the RTX 4080 Super later this month. For now, then, we can keep a close eye on this graphics card – and the RTX 4090 too, which may show further evidence of running low on stock (perhaps vanishing entirely).

All of this could represent fairly firm clues that the RTX 5080 and 5090 are indeed close at hand as many are predicting, with the current consensus generally converging on a CES 2025 reveal for those GPUs. It's our guess that a slightly staggered launch will then follow, though this rumor appears to indicate otherwise (pass the salt again).

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Online attackers are looking to capitalize on sloppy security. Here are easy ways to shore up your digital defenses.

After decades of relying on buttons, switches, and toggles, the Pentagon has embraced simple, ergonomic video-game-style controllers already familiar to millions of potential recruits.

Hisense is launching an entry level version of its C2 Ultra 4K short-throw projector. The new Hisense C2 lacks some of the more powerful bits of its Ultra sibling, but it comes in at a considerably lower price and includes many of the most important features. The C2 hasn't launched globally yet but the full specification has been published along with marketing materials by a German retailer, as spotted by Notebookcheck.

The C2 has a triple-laser light system just like its more expensive sibling, and the brightness is 2,000 ANSI lumens – impressive for a laser projector, although the C2 Ultra is even brighter. The contrast ratio is 1,700:1 and there's support for HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision.

Hisense C2 4K projector: key features and pricing

The C2 doesn't have the zoom lens of the Ultra, so it's got a fixed projection ratio of 1.2:1. That enables you to project an image from 65 inches to 300 inches, and there's motorized focus adjustment and automatic keystone correction to deliver images in the right proportions.

The quoted refresh rate is 60Hz at 4K, but you can double that to 120Hz for gaming if you drop down to 2K/1080p resolution; 4K is delivered using a technique called pixel shifting. Instead of projecting a true 4K image, pixel shifting outputs multiple 1920 x 1080 images that overlap to give the impression of 4K. It's been common as a technique among the best 4K projectors for a long time, although it's often known by different names: Epson calls it 4K Enhancement, BenQ prefers XPR and JVC calls it E-Shift. The big benefit here is simple: it makes 4K projection possible for a fraction of the expense, though purists far prefer 'native' 4K resolution – and also, this projector isn't that cheap.

There are two HDMI inputs here, one with ALLM for games consoles, and there are twin USB 3.0 plus ethernet and a headphone jack. There's also an integrated sound system by JBL with a total output of 20W. You can stream with the built-in apps for now and AirPlay support will be available soon via a software update.

We don't know global pricing yet but the German listing has a price tag of €1,999, which is roughly $2,200 / £1,700 / AU$3,200.

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The iPhone SE 4 is one of the most talked-about devices in the Apple ecosystem right now, and its impending release early next year could mark a major reboot of Apple’s most affordable phone. Fresh off the back of a report from journalist Mark Gurman spilling the beans on the device, news outlet 9to5Mac has chimed in with its own details on what we can expect, including an updated design and many feature improvements.

Citing its own “reliable sources,” 9to5Mac claims that the iPhone SE 4 will come with an A18 chip, better cameras, and Apple’s own 5G modem. In vouching for the sources’ trustworthiness, the website says that they “told us precise details about the iPhone 16 in advance.”

According to this source, the iPhone SE 4 will take on a much more modern design, specifically by using a similar chassis to the iPhone 14, with flat sides and a notched OLED display (although it will lack the Dynamic Island). The source used by 9to5Mac says it will have a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels, which is the same as the iPhone 14. It will also come with Face ID, they say, meaning an end to the Home button and Touch ID.

On the inside, there will apparently be an A18 chip with a 5-core GPU and 8GB of memory, which means the iPhone SE 4 will be compatible with Apple Intelligence. That will bring it in line with the iPhone 16 in terms of power.

(Image credit: Frederik Lipfert, Unsplash)

Aside from the design, other elements mentioned by 9to5Mac are taken from past Apple phones. It says the iPhone SE 4 will have the same 48MP main camera and 12MP front-facing camera as the iPhone 15 – that higher resolution of the rear camera could enable it to take 2x zoom images at 12MP resolution. However, the iPhone SE 4 will reportedly only have one rear camera, forgoing ultra-wide and telephoto lenses.

One of the most intriguing details in this report, however, is that the iPhone SE 4 could become the first iPhone to bear Apple’s own 5G modem, something that DigiTimes has also previously reported. Apple has supposedly been working on this component for years but has struggled to get it up to speed. Now, though, 9to5Mac claims the part is ready and will handle 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. It will also “drastically reduce battery consumption,” 9to5Mac says, especially in the iPhone’s Low Power Mode, and says that adding this component to the iPhone SE 4 before any of its flagship models is “a sort of experiment”.

When might we finally see the iPhone SE 4? That day will come in spring (March-May) 2025, 9to5Mac believes, which mirrors claims made by other outlets. Indeed, DigiTimes reported today that “Apple has begun sourcing OLED panels” for the device, indicating that Apple is gearing up to launch the iPhone SE 4 in the coming months. If that proves to be correct, it means there’s not long to wait until we see what could be the biggest overhaul in the iPhone SE’s history.

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Spruce up your multimedia experience with this sweet Prime Day deal on a TV LED backstrip.

Connected home tech company Aqara has launched a new smart lock that offers keyless entry for any smart home ecosystem, whether you use Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or Alexa.

You might recognize Aqara as the brand behind one of the best video doorbells currently available (the Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4, which we've been testing for the last few weeks), but its latest foray into home security – the Aqara Smart Lock U300 – looks particularly interesting.

As 9to5Mac explains, limited compatibility is not an issue with the Smart Lock U300, which supports Thread, Matter, Apple HomeKit, and even Apple Home Key so you can unlock your door using your iPhone or Apple Watch, even if the device is out of power.

Don't have an Apple device? You can also unlock the Aqara U300 using a fingerprint reader, custom PIN (including one-time codes for tradespeople and visitors), the Aqara mobile app, a voice assistant, an NFC card, or a physical key in case of an emergency or power outage.

The Aqara Smart Lock U300 supports Thread, Matter, Apple HomeKit, and Apple Home Key (Image credit: Aqara) How to get 20% off

The Aqara Smart Lock U300 is available to buy now from Amazon in the US, with a list price of $229.99 (about £170 / AU$340). Official pricing and availability for other territories has yet to be announced.

That's already a pretty competitive price, and it gets even better if you use the code PRNAU300 at the checkout to get 20% off, bringing it down to $183.99.

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This is new—but also very old.

Some of the top browser makers around have issued a letter to the European Commission (EC) alleging that Microsoft gives the Edge browser an unfair advantage and should be subject to EU tech rules.

A letter seen by Reuters, sent by Vivaldi, Waterfox, and Wavebox, and supported by a group of web developers, also supports Opera’s move to take the EC to court over its decision to exclude Microsoft Edge from being subject to the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Edge’s exclusion from the DMA means that it is not subjected to the same rules as other browsers, which includes restrictions aimed at making it easier for consumers to choose a service best suited to them.

Edging out the market

The letter, sent on September 17, stated, “It is paramount that the Commission reconsiders its position. Unfair practices are currently allowed to persist on the Windows' ecosystem with respect to Edge, unmitigated by the choice screens that exist on mobile.”

As Edge comes pre-installed by default on Windows machines, users must navigate the Microsoft offering in order to download their browser of choice. The letter states that, “No platform independent browser can aspire to match Edge's unparalleled distribution advantage on Windows. Edge is, moreover, the most important gateway for consumers to download an independent browser on Windows PCs.”

The authors also alleged that Edge, which accounts for just over 5% of the browser market share, mischaracterizes features of rival browsers in pop-up messages to users. However a EC decision in February deemed that Edge was not a “gatekeeper” and that Microsoft should ensure that users can uninstall Edge, alongside any other software.

TechRadar Pro has reached out to the European Commission and Microsoft for comment, but neither immediately responded.

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