Technology

The iCloud storage that comes with your Apple account can be useful for offloading large files on your iPhone, but even the cloud can get full. Here are some techniques to ease the cloud pressure.

If an elder in your life needs help with their computer, phone, email inbox, or smart thermostat, they can bug you for help—or they can call on a dedicated IT professional trained to help seniors.

Boost your browsing privacy on the go with the best iPhone VPNs we've tested.

US dairy farms are disappearing, down 95 percent in terms of numbers since the 1970s—milk price rules are one reason why.

The latest iOS version improves on functions you know and love without forcing you to relearn how to use them.

Broadband doesn't need to be complicated. Here's the basics of what you should know about home internet.

A new study finds that the state should replenish groundwater aquifers to sustain agriculture.

Plus: The FBI dismantles the largest-ever China-backed botnet, the DOJ charges two men with a $243 million crypto theft, Apple’s MacOS Sequoia breaks cybersecurity tools, and more.

Lenovo has unveiled its lightest-ever ThinkPad model as it looks to prioritizes design, weight, and environmental concerns.

Weighing in at just 980g and measuring only 8.08mm at its thinnest point, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition stands as the lightest ThinkPad X1 Carbon notebook ever. Despite its size, Lenovo has incorporated two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an audio combo jack.

The materials used in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition include 90% recycled magnesium for the C cover, and the 100% plastic-free packaging is made from bamboo and sugarcane.

Lightest ThinkPad X1 Carbon notebook ever

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor with Intel Arc Xe2 graphics and an integrated NPU offering up to 48 TOPS, meaning that although it is not designed for heavy gaming or high-end 3D rendering, it should be enough for most multimedia and creative applications.

The laptop's premium Haptic TouchPad option integrates the classic three-button TrackPoint, and also includes Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.4, and an optional 5G sub-6GHz. For power, this device has a 57Whr customer-replaceable unit (CRU) battery that Lenovo says delivers more than 18 hours of battery life.

To complement the processor, this device supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM running at 8533 MT/s. In terms of storage, the X1 Carbon Gen 13 offers up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage. This next-gen storage solution provides incredibly fast read and write speeds, drastically reducing boot times and enabling rapid file access.

The 14-inch 2.8K OLED display offers 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and Dolby Vision support. It also supports 400 nits brightness, HDR True Black 500 technology, and a 120Hz refresh rate which provides smooth animations and scrolling. The inbuilt Eyesafe technology reduces blue light exposure, ensuring that users can work comfortably for extended periods without experiencing eye strain.

The device also offers intuitive Smart Modes for personalized performance, security, collaboration, and wellness, along with AI-powered Smart Share for seamless photo transfer and Smart Care for enhanced support.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition emphasizes security with features like the dTPM 2.0 chip for data encryption, a fingerprint reader, and an IR camera for facial recognition. It also includes a Nano Kensington lock slot for physical security, making it ideal for business professionals focused on data protection.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is set to be available in November 2024, starting at $1,999.

More from TechRadar Pro

• These are the best laptops for programming
• Microsoft unveils a plethora of next-generation Surface laptops with support for 5G and Copilot+
• Take your pick of the best office chairs

It didn't really occur to me until now, but Apple has been selling AirPods with the same design as the original launch, back in December 2016, continuously for the eight years since then.

When AirPods 2nd Gen came out, they upgraded the internals and sound, as well as added new features, but they kept essentially the same exact design for the buds and case.

It's only now, with the arrival of AirPods 4, that this design is finally heading off for a well-earned retirement, having massively influenced and kickstarted the world of the best true wireless earbuds.

I never got on with this design at all, so I'm not exactly sorry to see it go – but it does feel like the end of an era, and I have to acknowledge that some of the best earbuds on the planet, including the ones I actually do use every day, owe a design debt to them.

AirPods were not the first Bluetooth true wireless earbuds by any means. The Bragi Dash and Earin earbuds basically fight for that honor around 2015 (it appears Bragi announced first, but Earin released first, so take your pick for the winner). I should also mention the Sennheiser MX W1 as an early pioneer in this area from back in 2008 (but those used a custom transmitter, and each earbud was the size of a gerbil).

Throughout 2016, it was clear to those around the tech world that true wireless earbuds could be a big deal. Good ol' Apple rival Samsung had beat AirPods to the punch, releasing the Samsung Gear Icon X several months before AirPods arrived.

But none of these early earbuds really mattered to the public at large. Bluetooth's standard hadn't been updated for this kind of dual transmission, so companies were using fudges to make it work. (One technique, for example, used hearing-aid transmission tech to beam from one earbud to the other, which was latency-free but was prone to interference.) Connection reliability and battery life were poor, and people weren't into the rounded bud design that was common with the early models.

AirPods were both a step forward and a step backward compared to them, and in both cases, that was an advantage.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The step forward was that they offered rock-solid connectivity compared to the competition, practical battery life, and Apple's use of its ecosystem to avoid any hassle around pairing. They were as easy to use as Apple's famous EarPods (introduced in 2012), but without the cable tangle.

And speaking of EarPods, perhaps Apple's masterstroke was using nearly the same design for the AirPods as its wired earbuds. Other companies were designing something that looked new, which can be intimidating and concerning to people. How can you be sure they'll be comfortable? Or that they'll stay in reliably? It would be a gamble to buy them as an early adopter.

So, Apple took a step backward compared to those earbuds. It made them look like older tech – like the earbuds people already owned, but with the cable cut off. You could infer how well they would fit if you'd already tried its earbuds, so no gambling was required. It enabled Apple to create a long, thin case for them that had a familiar vibe – with their white stick-like design, it was like sliding a cigarette out from a packet. You could be the audio equivalent to James Dean pulling out a smoke and slouching against a wall.

(Image credit: Future)

As I mentioned above, I didn't actually like using this design. It rubbed my ears pretty quickly and became uncomfortable. At the time, I also felt that the stick design looked silly – it was only in retrospect that I saw how smart it was. I wanted something with the cool, new, rounded designs we saw elsewhere; my first true wireless earbuds were the Bang & Olufsen E8, released in 2017.

But AirPods delivered a massive boost to the whole world of true wireless earbuds. They became the best-selling model of headphones in the world, and their visibility normalized the idea of going true wireless. The standardized technology available to other earbuds evolved rapidly in order to beat what AirPods could do and turn wireless earbuds into the dominant form of headphones. We got competition from the likes of Samsung and Sony, but also from hi-fi specialists such as Master & Dynamic and Bowers & Wilkins who simply couldn't be left behind.

And the stick design… uh, stuck around. AirPods Pro were a great improvement on the design, and a huge number of competitors took inspiration. Even in 2024, we've just had Samsung actually adopt the stick design in its Pro buds for the first time in the Samsung Buds 3 Pro, and it's being used in the fantastic Nothing Ear (a), among loads of other buds.

Samsung's latest earbuds aren't exactly un-AirPods-y, are they? (Image credit: Future)

The oddest thing about this original AirPods design is how popular it remained right up until the end, considering how far other earbuds have surpassed the AirPods 2nd Gen for value and comfort. The best cheap earbuds provide way better sound, more features, better battery life and a more comfortable fit than AirPods 2nd Gen did, for a lower price – the Nothing Ear (a) being the prime example of that.

And yet, every time we covered a sale event on TechRadar where AirPods dropped under $90, we'd discover that they were usually the most popular product we'd feature or in the top three at the least. We'd give specific examples of other earbuds we think are a better buy, but AirPods would remain the hot thing.

Maybe it's that safety and reliability I talked about before. Eight years is an incredibly long time for one design to stick around in the tech world, but you knew exactly what you were getting with them, and people at large liked them. Sure, I won't miss the design, but there's no doubt we're saying goodbye to a true modern tech icon.

Lotus has unveiled its latest concept car, which hints at what we can expect from the company's high-performance future – including a pared-back interior that relies on robotic textiles instead of physical buttons.

As with many concept cars, there’s a lot of hypothetical thinking here, with much of the technology and performance figures providing a suggestion of what could come, rather than a true statement of intent.

Theoretically, a rather modest 70kW battery would send power to all four wheels, producing 968bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of under 2.5 seconds. It all sounds very 'modern hyper EV' to us, but it is the tech inside the vehicle that is the most interesting.

Both designers and engineers have stripped everything back, which (much to the derision of pure Lotus fans) is not something the company has chosen to do with its current production cars, such as the large Eletre SUV and the Emeya four-door GT.

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

Peel back the reverse opening wrap-over doors of Theory 1 and you’ll find swathes of recycled carbon fibre, with the driver’s seat positioned dead centre and two small seats for flanking passengers, very much in the Gordon Murray vein of sports car design.

Adorning these seats, as well as the yoke-style steering wheel, is what the company calls LotusWear, which consists of a soft, adaptive textile that covers key sections and touch points.

Working alongside MotorSkins, which developed the technology to create dynamic clothing that can provide on-the-fly compression, thermoregulation and haptic feedback for athletes, Lotus has seen fit to use it as an innovative human machine interface.

When driving, both driver and passengers will receive notifications through the inflatable robotic textiles during the journey. This could be through a light pulsing on the left shoulder to indicate an upcoming left-hand turn, or a tap on the lower back to indicate an incoming smartphone message.

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

Similarly, inflatable pods on the steering wheel could indicate a blindspot hazard, or provide added grip as the pace quickens. The use-cases are vast, but the overall mission remains the same: to simplify the cockpit by ridding it of physical buttons.

As well as transparent screens, head-up displays and multi-use paddle switches, Lotus has also teamed up with technology company Carbon to produce 3D printed lattice structure headrests that can serve multiple purposes. 

The soft, supportive structures are there for comfort and safety, but they also house a binaural audio system from KEF.

The ability to fire sound directly to the occupant of each seat means Lotus can add to the sensation of speed with a bespoke soundtrack, act as a noise-cancelling system on more mundane journeys, or to simply allow each passenger to experience individual media without sound clash.

Analysis: This is Lotus is riffing on its core values

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

A lot of the criticism leveled at Lotus since its takeover by Chinese owners Geely is that it has strayed far from Colin and Hazel Chapman’s dream of a lightweight, affordable and purely fun sports car.

The model line-up is now large, heavy and choc full of superfluous technology that fans of the original cars seemingly detest. But sales of the Elise and Evora tanked to the point that the company almost went bust, proving that there just isn’t enough demand for a 'proper' Lotus anymore. 

Instead, the company has had to do what Porsche, Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini have in the past, and that’s create product that doesn’t traditionally fit in the line-up but sells exceedingly well (Lotus broke sales records in 2023) to ensure we are still treated to the fun stuff. Shout out to Cayenne, Bentayga, Purosangue and Urus.

However, Theory 1 appears to be hinting that Lotus is looking to go back to its roots, while not shunning future technology. 

Stripping everything back is the very ethos upon which the company is built, but it's doing so in a way that still incorporates Lidar, camera systems, in-car entertainment and even high levels of autonomous driving capabilities.

Granted, Theory 1 isn’t going to be a simple, lightweight two-seater, but like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, it looks like it is tackling what it means to be a performance car in the electric age.

You might also like

• Lotus Emeya sets new EV record by fast-charging faster than an iPhone
• Lotus aims to beat Tesla at its Supercharger game with water-cooled EV chargers
• The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first genuinely fun EV – and I've driven it

Our best dash cam guide could well need a refresh in the near future: Garmin has launched four new models to give you even more choice when it comes to picking up a camera that'll record everything that happens to you and your vehicle.

Heading up the new quartet of cams is the Garmin Dash Cam X310, which offers a 2.4-inch LCD screen, 4K Ultra HD video quality, built-in GPS and advanced driver awareness alerts – warning you about speed cameras in the vicinity, for example, or telling you when there's a risk of a forward collision.

For a little less money you can get hold of the Dash Cam X110 or the Dash Cam X210: they're the same as the Dash Cam X310 model, but the maximum resolution video quality only goes up to 1080p or 1440p respectively.

The final dash cam in the new series is the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3. This ditches the screen to offer a smaller form factor – around the size of a car key – that's easier to fit into place and less of a distraction while driving. This model offers 1080p video recording.

Voice command support

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is the cheapest of the new models (Image credit: Garmin)

One of the clever features Garmin has included here is voice command support, which means you can control various functions on the cameras (like starting and stopping video recordings) without taking your eyes off the road.

There's also what Garmin is calling a Clarity polariser lens enhancement, which apparently reduces interference from windshield glare – giving you the best chance of capturing the evidence you need in the event of an accident or criminal damage.

For more features, you can get the Garmin Drive app installed on your smartphone: this lets you sync up feeds from up to four Garmin dash cams, if you've really splashed out on the surveillance tech for your vehicle.

You can pick up all four models now from the Garmin website: pricing is $149.99/£149.99 for the Dash Cam Mini 3, $199.99/£199.99 for the X110, $299.99/£259.99 for the X210, and $399.99/£349.99 for the X310.

You might also like

• These are the best dash cams you can buy right now
• Garmin drops new features for its watches and cycling computers
• Our pick for the best Garmin smartwatches available

It’s time to pour one out for the iPhone 13, as with the launch of the iPhone 16 series, Apple has consigned its 2021 iPhone to the tech bone orchard. But I’m here to tell you to buy one while you still can. 

That’s because the iPhone 13 was, until Apple officially retired it, our pick for the best cheap iPhone. And for good reason. 

Despite now being three generations old, the iPhone 13 is still a very capable smartphone, and a good entry point into the walled garden of iOS and the Apple ecosystem. It blends a rather sleek design with the best display for size for phones – that’s 6.1 inches – and has a pair of very capable cameras, and a chipset that I doubt you’d be able to make sweat even today unless you threw the most demanding of apps or near-console-quality games at it. 

As such, it previously prompted me to write about why it’s a phone that anyone looking to move from Android to iPhone should consider, as it’s a capable but not overly expensive first Apple handset. And for people with older iPhones, say an iPhone X or iPhone 11, it’s a perfectly good phone to get if you want to avoid the hefty prices the latest iPhones command; such is the benefit of Apple cutting the prices of its older iPhones each time a new generation comes out. 

Sure there are caveats to the iPhone 13, namely its 60Hz display, which felt dated back in 2021 for a phone of its class (and feels even more dated on the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus), and a now-defunct Lightning port. But otherwise, I think it’s a fantastic phone, with the endurance to last another generation or two if you’re not fussed about Apple Intelligence – and I'd caution against rushing to jump in this Cupertino-tinged AI train, as I’m not wholly convinced that artificial intelligence tools, even in the best AI phones, are as up to snuff as I’d like them to be. 

So I still feel the iPhone 13 is worth it, even if you perhaps just want a spare Apple phone. 

Let the hunt begin Image 1 of 7

(Image credit: TechRadar)Image 2 of 7

(Image credit: TechRadar)Image 3 of 7

(Image credit: TechRadar)Image 4 of 7

(Image credit: TechRadar)Image 5 of 7

(Image credit: TechRadar)Image 6 of 7

(Image credit: TechRadar)Image 7 of 7

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Of course, you'll need to move quickly before the iPhone 13 disappears altogether. I’d suggest checking out retailers like Best Buy and Currys in the US and UK respectively. Equally, you could go on the hunt for a refurbished iPhone 13 – the likes of Amazon tend to offer fairly robust refurbishments. And do check out our iPhone deals page to see if any iPhone 13 models pop up there.

I’d also suggest keeping an eye out for iPhone 13 units getting decent discounts as we approach the Amazon Big Deals Days in October and enter what I’m now calling Black Friday season – basically some six-ish weeks of deals. It's during these sales events that I suspect retailers will be looking to shift old Apple stock, and the iPhone 13 will surely feature.

If you end up missing the iPhone 13 boat, then I suspect your next-best hope for an affordable but capable iPhone will come in the form of a next-generation SE model. We’ve been referring to that as the iPhone SE 4, and while the rumors are sketchy as to its potential existence, if it does eventually appear – likely next year – we could see a phone that’s not dissimilar to the iPhone 13, and which could even channel the iPhone 14 in terms of design. Watch this space.

You might also like

• Thinking about upgrading to iPhone 16 Pro? Your top questions answered
• This iOS 18 Messages bug could cause you to lose an entire conversation
• How to download iOS 18 on your iPhone – and what to do if it won't install

The FBI received 69,000 cryptocurrency scam complaints in 2023 -- about half were related to investment fraud.

For as long as I can remember, Batman has been a pivotal part of my creative life. 

Since sporting a baggy ‘Batman For President’ sweatshirt as a little kid riding on my Uncle Bruce’s Honda motorcycle, watching Adam West’s campy rendition in reruns of the vintage Batman TV show, buying the debut issue of Frank Miller and Klaus Jansons’s pioneering The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel, or attending the opening of director Tim Burton’s Batman at the Westwood Theater in Los Angeles, this pop culture treasure has remained relevant to me.

My love for the character extends to late-night gaming sessions caffeinated on gallons of Diet Coke playing Batman: Arkham Asylum, interviewing Batman: The Animated Series’ creator Bruce Timm, or sitting beside the legendary Batman artist Neal Adams for hours at comic cons, Batman’s shadowy influence, cool demeanor, and psychological complexity seem as alluring and ever-watchful as ever. 

Whether he’s known as the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader or the main component of the Dynamic Duo with his trusty sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder, this fearless vigilante and champion of justice who first appeared in the pages of Detective Comics #27 back in May of 1939 – one of the best Dark Knight stories – is perhaps the greatest fictional character ever created. Imbued with equal parts of Zorro, Sherlock Holmes, and the pulp icon called The Shadow, Batman is the embodiment of someone who has channeled their inner pain to become a beacon of hope and righteousness.

Batman through the ages

 I've collected all the Batman comics since the 80s. (Image credit: Jeff Spry)

Cloaked in gothic black and equipped with an arsenal of 'wonderful toys', Batman is an intimidating hero for the ages, one that, due to his absence of any true superhuman powers, relies on his keen intellect, lightning reflexes, physical prowess, and preternatural powers of deduction.

Created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, Batman was born in pre-World War II America during the Golden Age of comics when there were clear distinctions between good and evil. The billionaire playboy industrialist Bruce Wayne became a nocturnal crusader after his parents were shot dead in Crime Alley after a showing of The Mark of Zorro in Gotham City. He took up the emblem of a bat to instill fear in criminals and honed his mind and body to sheer perfection.

Over the decades the character would be reinvented in myriad media, appearing in the ‘40s in matinee Batman serials at the local movie house after receiving his own Batman solo comic and remaining a fixture in DC’s Detective Comics line – if you're wondering where these fit in a timeline, here's how to watch the Batman movies in order. 

Batman becomes a breakout hit in the ‘60s as a cultural sensation beside James Bond and The Beatles with his own hit TV series, plastered on lunchboxes, buttons, posters, t-shirts, toys, and bedsheets, then debuting in cartoon form as part of the 1970s Super Friends show on Saturday morning, and finally struck the limelight of Tinsel Town in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. 

Michael Keaton as Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 adaptation.  (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Today, Batman is DC Comics’ most popular character of all-time, currently being featured in a half-dozen different titles and graphic novels. We’ve got a new Batman feature film coming out in 2026 titled The Batman Part 2, which is a sequel to The Batman, Batman theme park rollercoasters, Batman videogames, and a fresh Batman animated series created by Bruce Timm called Batman: The Caped Crusader.

Directors Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan and Matt Reeves have all had their time in the Bat Cave with their own interpretive visions and fans have differing opinions of which portrayal is the truest Batman to them. Myself, I’m rather partial to Robert Pattinson’s laconic 'Year Two' embodiment of the unrelenting protector of Gotham City, with Christian Bale coming in a close second. With his rogues gallery of formidable foes like The Joker, The Penguin (which has a new Max spinoff show called The Penguin), Scarecrow, Catwoman, The Riddler, Harley Quinn, Bane, Poison Ivy, Two Face, Mister Freeze, Ra’s al Ghul, and Killer Croc, Batman is one seriously busy dude keeping streets safe.

Directed by Matt Reeves, The Batman was released in March 2022.  (Image credit: Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros.)

So on this most auspicious of occasions known as Batman Day, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the origins and evolution of this mysterious crimefighter and discover the multitude of ways to watch the best Batman movies on the best streaming services as well as all immediate Bat-needs in films, animated series, and TV shows. 

To sink your soul into the bounty of Batman fare, there are boundless opportunities to figuratively (or literally if you desire) don the cowl and cape to honor him. So let’s discover where you can secure your fix of the Dark Knight during this heroic day of remembrance.

Batman, on demand

Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is one of the best around.  (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

A great place to start is Batman’s official streaming home on Max, the platform owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent corporation of DC Comics. As a respectable sampler for those in the US, Max is currently offering five seasons of Gotham (those in the UK can find it on Prime Video) featuring younger proto-versions of Bat-universe heroes and villains. 

Moving on, you’ll find a bonanza of Hollywood’s flagship Batman feature films including 1989’s Batman, 1992’s Batman Returns, 1995’s Batman Forever, 1997’s Batman & Robin, 2005’s Batman Begins, 2008’s The Dark Knight, 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, and 2022’s grim and gritty The Batman showcasing a standout performance by Robert Pattinson – read our picks of the 10 best performances from the Batman movies. 

Also on Max, animation aficionados can gravitate to creator Bruce Timm’s ‘90s classic Batman: The Animated Series and the futuristic Batman Beyond, as well as The Batman, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. More adventurous types should consider 2017’s The Lego Batman Movie or the Ultimate Edition of Zack Snyder’s operatic Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and the intriguing black-and-white cut, Justice League: Justice is Gray.

Batman: The Caped Crusader quickly became an instant hit on Prime Video.  (Image credit: HBO)

And if you’re eager for a solid recommendation from the dozens of excellent DC Animated Universe feature films Max is presenting, you cannot go wrong with the horror-tinged Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, which is adapted from a 2000-2001 Elseworlds comic book miniseries written by Hellboy’s Mike Mignola and Richard Price.

Over on Netflix, Batman is predictably absent except for the atrocious mess called The Flash and two decent kids animated series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which don't feature among our pick of the best superhero movies. 

Finally, Amazon’s Prime Video scored a huge prize when they landed Bruce Timm’s new 1940s-set noirish animated series, Batman: The Caped Crusader, which quickly became one of the best Prime Video shows. Plus Prime Video is also the exclusive destination for a pair of Technicolored Batman gems from the 1960s: all 120 episodes of the Batman TV series that aired from 1966-1968 and 1966’s super fun Batman: The Movie.

However and wherever you dance the Batusi today, a Happy Batman Day to all!

You might also like

• The Penguin episode 1 includes a fascinating Batman Easter egg
• Batman: Arkham Shadow looks like a dark return to the Arkhamverse's heyday
• The Batman Part 2's release has been delayed, and that could pose problems

This week we published all of our reviews of the new Apple tech so you can find out precisely what we think of it, were disappointed by the Apple Intelligence-less iOS 18 launch, and downloaded 40 free games for our Steam Deck through our Amazon Prime membership.

All of that and more is covered in our ICYMI round-up below.

Next week you can look forward to Meta Connect 2024 which we expect will be full of XR (a catchall for VR, AR and MR) and AI goodies. We'll be sure to catch you up to speed on everything you need to know from the event.

6. iOS 18 launched without Apple Intelligence

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

With the arrival of this year’s new iPhones, we’ve also got a new version of iOS to play around with – iOS 18. It’s coming to every iPhone launched after the iPhone XS – including the 2nd-gen SE – and introduces several new features.

There’s improved home screen customization, so you can finally move apps around to reveal more of your wallpaper. Messages has been overhauled to add text effects and RCS support, and smaller changes like your Photos app and the Control Center are getting a redesign.

Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence – iOS 18’s headline tool – isn’t quite here yet. It’ll start to roll out with US English support in update 18.1 in October. Still, other English variants aren’t coming until December, and major tools like Genmoji, Image Playground, and Siri’s on-screen awareness aren't expected to arrive until much later in iOS 18’s lifespan. A scattered introduction that has certainly put a dampener on things.

• Read more: The Apple Intelligence launch is a mess

5. We reviewed the new Apple tech

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

It’s Apple availability week, and TechRadar is the place to be for our in-depth reviews, encompassing our full thoughts on all the kits from the Cupertino-based company. Starting off, our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff handled the iPhone 16 Pro Max and called it a “beautiful, intelligent beast.” Read his full review to learn more about the impact of a bigger screen – 6.5 inches to 6.7 inches – a faster processor and new cameras that make a difference.

Of course, there’s also the standard iPhone 16, which got a significant glow-up, and TechRadar’s Jacob Krol tackled the review on it, noting that it’s more Pro than ever before thanks to a zippy-quick A18 chip, the arrival of two buttons, and vibrant colors. He also reviewed the Apple Watch Series 10, noting it's “more than meets the eye from every angle,” alluding to the larger displays on both models and improved viewing angles all housed in a smaller build.

TechRadar also has full thoughts on the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.

• iPhone 16 review
• iPhone 16 Plus review
• iPhone 16 Pro review
• iPhone 16 Pro Max review
• Apple Watch Series 10 review
• AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review

4. Anker felt the heat as it recalled three of its power banks

(Image credit: Anker)

It wasn’t a great week to be the owner of an Anker power bank – or at least, one of the three models the company had to recall this week due to the discovery of a potential fire risk.

If you own an Anker 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K), Anker Power Bank or Anker MagGo Power Bank, you should stop using it now and fill out Anker's recall form to get a replacement.

The cause is apparently a manufacturing defect in some models that causes overheating. Anker says it’s now changed suppliers and that owners of its other batteries have nothing to worry about. But the news was an unwelcome addition to the ‘to do’ lists of those unfortunate enough to buy one of those three batteries.

• Read more: Stop using these three Anker batteries – they’ve just been recalled due to a fire risk

3. ChatGPT started messaging first… But OpenAI fixed it

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Sir David)

For a few days, it looked like ChatGPT had been upgraded in a way no one had expected – it was messaging users first. Apparently, it could do this because it was following up on a conversation it had previously had with users who had mentioned they were starting school in a few days or were trying to discuss medical symptoms.

Some were skeptical about the situation, even suggesting ways it could have been faked, but OpenAI had the last word. It revealed that ChatGPT messaging first was a bug, not a new feature, adding that it had been fixed.

Given the level of excitement generated by the possibility of ChatGPT following up on its own, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the tool launch at some point for real.

• Read more: OpenAI says ChatGPT messaging first was a bug, not a new feature

2. DJI introduced us to the Osmo Action 5 Pro

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

DJI announced its first action camera with the 'Pro' monicker, which delivers a raft of impressive new features, including an industry-first 4nm chip, four-hour battery life – that's double that of the GoPro Hero 13 Black – 20 m waterproofing (which is again double that of its rivals), and bigger and punchier twin OLED screens.

We've already reviewed the flagship action camera, and there are many areas where it steals GoPro's crown, but it's not a one-sided battle. While the Osmo Action 5 Pro has industry-leading 4K image quality and low-light performance, it can't shoot 5.3K video like the Hero 13 Black or 8K video like the Insta 360 Ace Pro, nor does it have GoPro-style lens accessories for different looks.

However, there's plenty going for DJI's unique take on action cams that will aptly satisfy content creators with an eye for detail, and it appears that DJI is making the most headway in this space.

• Read more: DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro review

1. Amazon gave away 40 of the best Steam Deck games

(Image credit: Future / Valve)

Listen up if you’re an Amazon Prime member and a Steam Deck user. As long as you have an active membership, you can enjoy over 40 free of the best Steam Deck games – though act fast, as some are already starting to leave.

There is a caveat to note – these versions of the games aren’t directly available on Steam. Instead, you’ll need to acquire them through Epic Game Store, Amazon Games Store, or GOG. Though, you can rely on the Heroic Games Launcher and shortcuts to help you simplify the process of playing them on Steam Deck.

• Read more: Hurry and download these 40+ free games on your Steam Deck

Donating to political campaigns is a great way to get involved with candidates you like, but the barrage of messages pressing you for more can be a major nuisance.

Here are some hints — and the answers — for Connections No. 468 for Sept. 21.

Here are some hints and the answer for Wordle No. 1190 for Sept. 21.

Here are some hints, and the answers, for the Sept. 21 Strands puzzle, No. 202.