Technology

In the midst of hype for Apple’s new A20 Pro chipset and slick foldable software, the company’s durability department is quietly having a moment.

Its Ceramic Shield 2 display glass — first introduced on the iPhone 17 line and returning this year on the iPhone 18 Pro — is earning plaudits for delivering on the promise of 3x better scratch resistance 12 months on from its release, while the iPhone Duo is set to arrive next month with a host of impressive durability credentials (including, notably, a Galaxy Z Fold 8-beating IP68 resistance rating).

But while features like ingress protection and corrosion resistance aren’t the sexiest topics of discussion at Apple Park, they are some of the most important for ensuring Apple’s products stand the test of time — and Tom Marieb, the company’s new Vice President of Hardware Engineering (a role formerly occupied by CEO John Ternus), knows that better than most.

I had the chance to quiz Marieb on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo in a group interview at Apple’s London HQ, and he lifted the lid on how Ceramic Shield 2 — which we described as “the first iPhone glass we fully trust” earlier this year — managed to deliver such a noticeable jump in quality versus the original Ceramic Shield, and why he’s “especially proud” of the iPhone Duo’s hinge durability.

Both the iPhone 18 Pro (above) and iPhone Duo feature Ceramic Shield 2 on their respective front displays (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

“Personally, when I see someone put a screen protector on their iPhone, it makes my skin crawl, because we work so hard to make beautiful front screens,” Marieb told me. “So we very much wanted to develop new coatings that could withstand [scratches], but also make sure that these coatings were wear-resistant as well. We worry about scratching, which is obviously very dependent on having [material that can withstand] very sharp things going into the screen. But we also worry about wear over time; as people use the screen, whether they’ll wear away that surface. And it turns out that those things are a little counterindicated in a lot of materials.

“So we had to try to optimize both of those [qualities] simultaneously [...] And I think we finally hit on a nice balance between the two [in Ceramic Shield 2]. We could have made it more scratch-resistant, but it would have been a little less wear-resistant. It’s the long life we’re looking for against both of those loads over time.”

We try to say, ‘How are customers actually using this? What exactly are they exposing it to in the real world?’ And we make tests that mimic those things.

Tom Marieb, VP of Hardware Engineering, Apple

Marieb added that, in testing Ceramic Shield 2, Apple accounted for half a decade’s worth of use in a comparatively minuscule testing period: “We very much try to meet the customer where they live, and so we don't design tests that measure old military specs or old standards; we try to say, ‘How are customers actually using this? What exactly are they exposing it to in the real world?’ And we make tests that mimic those things.

“And as you said, people waiting a year or two to actually see the benefits of [Ceramic Shield 2] means we've correctly predicted how people would use it. We accelerate time to try to compress those things into the engineering cycle, so that we can feed back as we try one thing after another, and can represent five years of life — or even more — within a couple of weeks of testing.”

It all hinges on the hinge

The iPhone Duo in ‘Seated’ mode (Image credit: Getty Images / Karl Mondon)

The display is the most important part of any iPhone, but the foldable iPhone Duo saw Apple tasked with protecting a new, equally crucial component: the hinge.

Like any foldable, the Duo can be used open or closed, and Apple has also developed dedicated ‘Seated’ or ‘Standing’ modes that will see the Duo bent at various angles for extended periods. The former displays visual content on the top half of the screen and viewing controls on the bottom (picture a Game Boy Advance), while the latter turns the Duo into a bedside clock, photo gallery, or weather screen via StandBy.

Whichever orientation you choose, the Duo remains fixed in place — but the work to make that happen wasn’t easy.

“I'm glad you hit on this, because this is something I'm especially proud of, and it took us a long time [to crack],” Marieb explained. “What we worry about with this device is that people see how thin it is and they think it's fragile. People seem to be worried about the Air, too, but it's honestly one of the most reliable phones we’ve ever made. And so we thought, ‘How do we design a hinge that feels very solid when you close it, but also really solid when you open it?’

The iPhone Duo in a half-folded orientation (Image credit: Getty Images / Benjamin Fanjoy / Stringer)

“We really worked on the torque profile very heavily, and that means changing a lot of the mechanical properties of the hinge to have it feel solid, like a high-end automobile's car door, when you shut it. That was design intent, so people would have a feeling like, ‘Oh, it's okay. This is well crafted, and it's safe for me to use and not worry about it.’

And then, as you said, we have a lot of use cases where the Duo is [in a half-folded state]. And so we also had to think, ‘Can people interact with this [device] and not have it feel floppy?’ So getting those torque profiles right at both those ends, as well as in the middle — not having it feel like you're pulling something open, and not feeling as if it's floppy — we spent a lot of time optimizing that. So thank you for noticing, because a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into that.”

The dual benefits of nano texture

The iPhone Duo features a custom nano-texture display (Image credit: Getty Images / Benjamin Fanjoy / Stringer)

On top (literally) of the iPhone Duo’s hinge, Apple has equipped its first foldable phone with a 7.6‑inch nano‑texture display. This new material isn’t a million miles away from the anti-reflective nano-texture glass that can be added to the best MacBooks, though, of course, the Duo version of said glass needs to bend in half.

Another journalist in my group interview with Marieb noted that foldable creases typically appear minimal out of the box, but become more prominent mere months after being used extensively. In response, the Apple executive was bullish on the longevity of the Duo’s hinge and explained that the nano‑texture display should help maintain its obscurity:

“Hold us accountable to that, please […] The choice of a matte finish — apart from it being beautiful — is part of that equation. When you look at glossy displays, their specularity makes it very easy to pick up topology differences. That’s part of the reason we picked the matte finish — it’s not only beautiful in terms of preventing glare, but it’s also more forgiving of [topology] changes over time.”

Apple, then, is supremely confident in the durability credentials of its first foldable phone — and we look forward to putting the iPhone Duo through its paces ahead of its official launch on October 23. For our full verdict on Apple's latest candybar handsets, check out our iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max review.

• Wharfedale launches four new subwoofers: 8, 10, 12 and 15 inches
• New long-throw drivers and up to 360W output
• From £799 (about $1,068 / AU$1,499)

Legendary speaker maker Wharfedale has created four new boom boxes in the form of the new Nova subwoofers. Ranging in size from an apartment-friendly 8-inches to an enormous 15 inches, all four models feature newly developed drivers, passive radiators and refined cabinet architecture.

These aren't thuggish bass monsters; they're designed for the more discerning listener who wants to hear as well as feel the low end. Wharfedale says that "rather than chasing chest-thumping, window-rattling exaggeration, the Nova Series is built around balance, texture and precision."

There are four subwoofers in the range: the Nova 8, the Nova 10, the Nova 12 and the Nova 15. The Nova 8 is designed for smaller setups and stereo installations, with the Nova 10 upping the power for medium-sized rooms. The Nova 12 is for more immersive home theater setups, and the flagship Nova 15 is made for larger spaces and the most demanding setups.

Rear view of the Nova 15 subwoofer showing its connections and controls (Image credit: Wharfedale)Wharfedale Nova 8, 10, 12 and 15: key features and pricing

All four models feature Wharfedale's newly engineered long-throw driver, which is made from rigid but lightweight speaker cones that have been treated with a proprietary coating to make them stiffer and better at self-damping without also increasing their mass.

Those cones are teamed with a heavy duty die-cast chassis, an oversized high-roll surround, and a high-excursion motor system to deliver high output while maintaining stability. A large diameter voice coil and aluminum shorting ring minimize distortion and improve transient response, according to Wharfedale.

The second key feature here is the Auxiliary Bass Radiator, which is downward firing with a dual suspension design. It's made to work alongside the new driver by extending low-frequency output without the need for a conventional reflex port.

Wharfedale says that enables it to avoid issues such as unwanted resonance, turbulence, chuffing and compression, and each Nova is optimized according to its cabinet volume, driver size, amplifier configuration and intended operating range. The goal, Wharfedale says, is the speed of a sealed enclosure with the scale of a larger reflex design.

Depending on which model you choose, you get between 200W and 360W of built-in Class D amplification with up to 80V peak output and "substantial" dynamic headroom.

The amplifier, driver, cabinet loading and DSP have been designed as an integrated system rather than separately in order to maximize power and precision. And there is an adjustable crossover, phase alignment and level calibration to fine-tune the sound to suit your space.

One of the interesting features here is the way the DSP adjusts the dynamic EQ. When you're listening at lower volumes it focuses on perceived weight and range, but at higher levels it manages the driver's excursion to keep the audio clean without overdriving, enabling the Nova to punch above its size.

All four models will be available in late September 2026 and the prices are:

• Nova 8: £799 (about $1,068 / AU$1,499)
• Nova 10: £899 (about $1,202 / AU$1,686)
• Nova 12: £1,099 (about $1,469 / AU$2,061)
• Nova 15: £1,299 (about $1,737 / AU$2,437)

"Feel the vibe here, that's what I love," said Harry Sung as he stood in the middle of a buzzing Apple Fifth Ave flagship store. Moments earlier, Sung picked up the first burgundy iPhone 18 Pro Max of the day after being ushered into the glass edifice by none other than new Apple CEO John Ternus.

It was a big day for Sung, who scored his second year in a row as the first Apple customer on iPhone launch day, and an even bigger day for Ternus, who was hosting his first iPhone launch store event as CEO.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

It's been a whirlwind few weeks for Ternus, who officially took over for former CEO Tim Cook (new Executive Chairman) on September 1 and, a week later, was on stage unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro line, new AirPods, new Apple Watches, and the exciting foldable iPhone Duo.

On this day, that flexi-phone was nowhere in sight. Even so, the atmosphere was electric, and it felt, to those of us who've been attending iPhone store launch events for almost 20 years, like the old days.

When I caught up with Ternus inside the store, he told me the day was "exciting," and I could tell he was still a little amped up from the store opening ceremony.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

At precisely 8am ET, Ternus appeared behind the frosted glass doors of Apple's Fifth Avenue flagship store and then swung open the doors. He stood for a time, waving to a cheering crowd, behind which was a small cluster of protesters shouting about, among other things, iPhone manufacturing working conditions. As the groundswell of excitement grew around Ternus, the protesters seemed to lose steam.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Ternus then turned to the long line of iPhone customers waiting outside the store, many of whom had pre-ordered the phone last week, and started greeting them. First up was Sung.

In his arm was a binder full of cards denoting the 120 Apple Stores he'd visited around the world. Sung later told me he had met Ternus once before at another product launch at Apple's "100th store" where he'd had Ternus sign the book. The inside cover also featured more than half a dozen other Apple executives' signatures (This is not surprising. In another part of the store, I witnessed Apple head of Retail Deirdre O'Brien signing someone's MacBook.)

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

Ternus posed with Sung outside the store and then turned his attention to the next customer.

After collecting his iPhone 18 Pro Max, Sung briefly appeared outside the store again and held his purchase aloft. The crowd cheered again.

Later, when I asked Sung, 21, how he secured his pole position, he told me that first he pre-ordered his burgundy 256GB iPhone 18 Pro Max online (he never leases and always buys), and then he arrived at the store yesterday at 8:30pm ET — and waited.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I asked Sung, who is a native of China but is currently living in New Jersey and attending university, if he's ever owned an Android. He shook his head and then told me his first iPhone was the iPhone 15.

Why, though, does Sung visit all these stores, and why was he here right now? Sung looked at me like I had lobsters dancing on my head. "I love Apple," he told me, as if nothing could be more obvious.

• A new report has warned that efforts to install Chinese AI within Venezuela's surveillance network could still go ahead
• The plans were drawn up before former-President Nicolás Maduro was ousted by the US
• Report warns there has been no shift in policy, and calls on the US to take action

When the United States decided to oust and capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a daring nighttime operation, the capital of Caracas was turned to complete darkness as the United States Cyber Command allegedly knocked power generation offline.

But this goes beyond giving US troops favorable conditions to infiltrate Maduro's compound. Since coming to power in 2013, Maduro had been building a huge surveillance network to help keep an eye on and - if necessary - quell opposition. A surveillance network that could capture the whole operation on tape.

But as a President at odds with the US, Maduro sourced much of the surveillance tech from China with future plans to integrate banned Chinese AI systems into the network. While Venezuela may have changed allegiances, a new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has warned that the implementation of Chinese AI could still go ahead.

Venezuela looks to integrate Chinese AI into surveillance infrastructure

ASPI’s latest report, titled ‘Warning signals: Venezuela and the risk of Chinese AI-enabled digital authoritarianism’ [PDF], warns that before the ousting of Maduro, then Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez sought to sign “an agreement to adopt Chinese-built AI systems … to use Chinese AI to enhance existing state-sponsored surveillance.”

Following the operation to remove Maduro, Rodríguez was installed as the Venezuelan President just two days after. But since then ASPI warns that there has been nothing to signal a change in direction from Rodríguez’s plans, meaning that the US could be heading a nation filled with Chinese AI-assisted surveillance tech.

“Venezuela will become one of the first countries outside China to import China’s new generation of LLM-based AI systems for surveillance and control, and the most advanced adopter in the Western Hemisphere,” the report states.

In the immediate aftermath of the likely fixed 2024 Venezuelan presidential elections, protesters and dissidents were identified online and subsequently monitored using video and drone surveillance. Numerous protest leaders disappeared, likely captured by the authorities for their activities.

Plans to adopt Chinese AI technologies as part of Venezuela’s surveillance network would likely enable the state to continue repressing opposition. “Chinese or other AI tools could strengthen a domestically directed apparatus already used to manage dissent, restrict information and preserve political power,” the report says.

One of the companies looking to provide its technology for use in Venezuela is iFlytek. The US held iFlytek as a responsible party during China’s attempts to round up and detain the Uyghur Muslim in the Xinjiang region, and banned the sale of the company’s products in the US in 2019.

Moving Venezuela away from China

The ASPI report calls upon US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to spearhead efforts to dismantle the surveillance network and prevent the import of Chinese AI systems into Venezuela’s apparatus.

“China’s leaders appear to understand that assets and investments of its national champions are at risk in Venezuela. Beijing’s approach seems to be, in part, strengthening oversight of state-owned assets abroad to assist in risk protection and management,” the report states.

The report states that dismantling Venezuela’s surveillance infrastructure would align efforts to combat Chinese surveillance tech, and encourage others to dismantle mass-surveillance systems. The dismantling of Venezuela’s surveillance infrastructure would also help position the US’s image as a liberator, rather than just a new face of an old regime.

But the slight irony therein is juxtaposed with the US’s own current surveillance woes, especially in the wake of opposition to Flock camera systems, and AI companies refusing to provide government access to their models for domestic surveillance purposes.

September has been an absolutely mega month for games, and we're barely past the halfway mark!

With the weekend just hours away, you're probably wondering which new games are actually worth your money and attention. That's exactly why I've put together this little personality quiz, which is designed to match you with a recent release that you are almost certain to enjoy!

Of course, this isn't an exhaustive list of all the latest games, and there are sure to be some big releases that I've missed. Still, I've tried to include a wide range of genres from platformers to horror games and open-world adventures so that many different tastes are catered to.

What result did you get? Do you agree with my recommendation? You can let me know in the comments and share what you'll be playing this weekend.

Lanterns' endgame is fast approaching. Indeed, only three episodes remain of the increasingly popular sci-fi crime show's debut season, so it won't be long until it no longer lights up our screens.

Right now, though, you just want to know when the DC Universe (DCU) TV series' next chapter, which will pick up the story 10 years after the devastating Rushville-based events we saw in last week's entry, will air. So, read on to find out when HBO's Green Lantern TV show will return for its sixth episode.

When does episode 6 of Lanterns come out?

Titled 'Bad Optics', Lanterns episode 6 will arrive in the US and Canada on Sunday, September 20 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Don't live in those nations? You'll have to wait until Monday, September 21 to catch the DCU Chapter One TV series' sixth chapter. I can point you in the right direction of its launch time where you're based, too, so check out the list below for more details:

• US — Sunday, September 20 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, September 20 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, September 21 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, September 21 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, September 21 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, September 21 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, September 21 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch Lanterns episode 6?

Lanterns will finally start to look into the person(s) behind Hal Jordan's demise (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO Max)

I sound like a broken record at this point, but every episode of Lanterns — including this week's entry — will drop on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, in countries that it's launched in.

Live somewhere that the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned platform hasn't come to yet? There are other TV networks and streamers that the DC comic book show is available on. Read on to see where you can see it in your neck of the woods:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

Lanterns full release schedule: when do new episodes come out?

As I mentioned above, there are only three more episodes of the Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler-fronted TV program to enjoy before it'll go off air.

Read my Lanterns coverage

- Lanterns episode 1 ending explained
- Sinestro in Lanterns explained
- Lanterns' Manhunters explained
- Lanterns' Guardians of the Universe explained
- Lanterns episode 4 ending explained
- Lanterns episode 5 ending explained

So, when will that final trio arrive? If you've been watching from the start, you'll already be aware that new installments premiere every Sunday in North America, and on Mondays in other territories.

Even so, regardless of whether you're a long-time reader or new around these parts, you'll want to know the exact date that every remaining chapter will come out on. For more details, scroll on:

• Lanterns episode 1 — out now
• Lanterns episode 2 — out now
• Lanterns episode 3 — out now
• Lanterns episode 4 — out now
• Lanterns episode 5 — out now
• Lanterns episode 6 — September 20/21
• Lanterns episode 7 — September 27/28
• Lanterns episode 8 — October 4/5

For more on the hit series' ahead of its next episode, read about the five big questions I need Lanterns episode 6 to answer. Then, see what Lanterns' midseason trailer tells us about its final three chapters. Lastly, find out why I'm fearing the worst for Lanterns season 2.

A few days ago, I wrote about how upgrading to iOS 27 doesn’t automatically give you the new Siri AI. To get Apple’s upgraded assistant, you have to jump through an additional hoop: go into Settings, find Siri and apply to join the waitlist for the Siri AI beta.

The good news is that I didn’t have to wait long. Yesterday, my application was approved and Siri AI quietly installed itself on my iPhone.

It feels like years since Apple first talked about giving Siri a much-needed intelligence upgrade, and I almost can’t believe it’s finally here. Well, almost here — it remains a beta — but the important thing is that it does what it says on the tin.

Before Siri AI, “Would you like me to use ChatGPT to answer that?” had become Siri’s standard response to almost anything interesting I asked it to do beyond setting a timer. Now Siri can produce proper answers of its own.

You can still activate Siri AI in the familiar way by saying “Hey Siri,” but there’s also a new Siri app on the Home Screen. Inside the app, you can either type to Siri or talk using your voice, much as you can with ChatGPT.

Things look different, too. A new floating globe animation appears when Siri AI is listening. There are so many things it should now be capable of that I almost didn’t know where to start.

So I kept it simple. I picked five things I regularly use ChatGPT Voice for and tested whether Siri AI could now handle them.

This isn’t a comparison of everything ChatGPT can do. Outside Voice mode, ChatGPT is capable of far more. I wanted to compare the two assistants as I would actually use them on my iPhone: by talking to them.

Siri AI is still technically in beta, but Apple has decided it’s ready enough for people to use, so I’m going to test it.

Test 1: Can it actually have a conversation?

(Image credit: Apple)

The first test involved finding information and, more importantly, explaining it clearly. I asked Siri AI about something I’d written about a few days earlier: AI voice-cloning scams.

“Why are people worried about AI voice-cloning scams, and what should I actually do to protect myself?” I asked.

In response, Siri AI produced a massive slab of text about voice scams, displayed it on screen and read it aloud in a slightly stilted voice. The information was accurate and factual, but the response was long and boring, and Siri’s voice had no real personality.

I interrupted it with my next question: “What is the single most important thing I should actually do?” To its credit, it stopped and answered the new question.

ChatGPT Voice, by comparison, talked to me like a human who was interested in the subject. It sounded conversational rather than as though it was reading from a block of text. It didn’t waffle and gave me the information I needed neatly and succinctly.

Verdict: Siri AI can now deliver useful information on its own, but it still doesn’t feel like a proper conversation, and its voice needs work before it sounds natural.

Score: 3/5

Test 2: Does Siri know what’s happening in my life?

(Image credit: Apple)

For the second test, I asked Siri to retrieve something I vaguely remembered from my Gmail inbox, which I access through Apple’s Mail app, rather than giving it precise keywords.

“Find the email with my tickets for Hubris in October and tell me what date it’s on.”

Siri AI checked Mail but initially couldn’t find anything, so I followed up with: “They’re at the Griffin.” Sure enough, it then found the tickets in my inbox and gave me the information I needed.

Next, I asked: “What do I need to bring?”

Siri AI told me I would need to have my tickets downloaded to my phone or printed out. Once again, its answer was functional and cold — and focused entirely on the tickets. There was no consideration of anything else I might need for a concert.

I fired up ChatGPT Voice to compare the answers, and this is where Siri AI had a major advantage. While text-based ChatGPT can connect to my Gmail and search my inbox, ChatGPT Voice can’t currently do that. It therefore failed to retrieve the information I wanted, although it performed a web search and found the date of the concert.

ChatGPT shone when I asked, “What do I need to bring?” Its answer was like night and day compared with Siri’s because it offered genuinely useful advice:

“For a night like that, comfy clothes plus good shoes are key. Maybe a light jacket. Bring the ticket on your phone with a backup screenshot. Photo ID, card for the bar and maybe earplugs. And if you’re meeting anyone, set a rough time and place outside, just in case.”

Verdict: Siri AI beat ChatGPT Voice at the practical part of the test because it could search the Gmail account connected to Apple Mail. However, ChatGPT was much better at understanding the wider context and anticipating what I might actually need for the concert.

Score: 3/5

Test 3: Can Siri see what I’m seeing?

Siri AI is supposed to be able to “see” what’s on your screen and answer questions about it. This is potentially one of its most useful new features, so I gave it a thorough test.

I opened a range of things on my screen—a document, an email, a graph, a photo and a webpage—and asked: “What’s the important thing I need to know here?” Each time, Siri AI successfully picked out the relevant information.

While browsing Crunchyroll, the popular anime streaming service, it gave me a decent explanation of each anime featured on the screen. Siri talks to you while simultaneously displaying its answer over whatever you’re viewing. For example, this is how it looked when describing the anime Black Torch, which happened to be featured on screen:

(Image credit: Apple / Crunchyroll)

When I opened an Amazon product page for an unavailable item, Siri AI correctly identified that the most important detail was that it was out of stock. When I viewed an invoice from my accountant, it correctly identified the amount and the payment deadline.

Siri AI could also see through the camera and identify objects very well. Being able to invoke it with “Hey Siri”—or simply move the slider from Photo to Siri while the Camera app is open—is genuinely convenient. It involves much less messing around than entering Live mode in Gemini or opening the camera through ChatGPT Voice.

Verdict: I’ve got to say, Siri AI smashed this test. I’m going to use this feature all the time.

Score: 5/5

Test 4: Can it think with you?

(Image credit: Apple)

Next, I gave Siri an open-ended problem that I would normally bring to ChatGPT:

“I’ve got 30 minutes tonight, don’t want to go to the gym, but want some exercise that’ll actually raise my heart rate. What should I do?”

I then changed the rules:

“Actually, I’ve only got 15 minutes and I don’t want to leave the house.”

This is the kind of test that reveals whether Siri has become useful for open-ended judgment rather than simply following commands.

Siri recommended a 30-minute high-intensity interval training workout. It presented me with a simple plan and then asked whether I would like to start a timer so I could begin. When I said I had only 15 minutes, it adapted the workout accordingly. Not bad.

ChatGPT Voice took a different approach. It didn’t give me a workout plan in advance; instead, it immediately launched into a session that it wanted me to follow along with.

That was quick and direct, but I preferred Siri AI’s approach of showing me the workout before asking me to begin. Siri can combine text and voice in a way that ChatGPT currently doesn’t in Voice mode, and that worked particularly well here.

Verdict: Siri AI and ChatGPT Voice approached the task differently, but I preferred Siri’s ability to present the plan visually before helping me get started.

Score: 4/5

Test 5: Can it actually do something ChatGPT can’t?

(Image credit: Apple)

One home-field advantage Siri AI should have is the ability to perform multistage tasks involving real iPhone apps, so I asked it:

“Find the details of the next concert I have tickets for, add it to my calendar and remind me the evening before.”

Siri AI worked like a dream:

“The next concert you have tickets for is The HU on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 19:00. I’ve added this to your calendar and set a reminder for the evening before.”

The HU are a Mongolian folk-metal band — so no, Siri hadn’t misheard The Who — and that was a perfect execution of the task.

ChatGPT Voice couldn’t search my Gmail, so it had to rely on previous conversations and web searches. It got close, but it needed more details from me to complete the request. It also told me: “I can’t add it to your iPhone calendar from here.”

Verdict: Siri AI’s system-level integration allowed it to behave like a true virtual assistant, completing a useful multistage task that ChatGPT Voice simply couldn’t perform.

Score: 5/5

Will I keep using Siri AI?

What became clear during these tests is that Siri AI’s greatest strength is its position inside the iPhone.

It can see what I’m doing, access information held inside my apps and turn a spoken request into an action without making me copy details between different services. That gives Siri an immediate advantage over ChatGPT Voice on iOS.

Siri AI still has a long way to go before it sounds as natural as ChatGPT Voice. ChatGPT remains the assistant I would choose when I want to explore an idea, work through a problem or simply have a convincing conversation. Outside Voice mode, ChatGPT is also much more capable and can even complete bookings or code apps to solve problems.

But when I want something done on my iPhone, Siri is suddenly the more useful option.

Apple has done enough to make me start using Siri again, and after years of disappointment, that might be the most surprising result of all.

• Creative Assembly says Alien: Isolation 2's exterior setting will force players to adapt to their surroundings
• The game's Xenomorph will also adapt at the same time to both player and environment
• Things like the weather system will impact the cat-and-mouse experience, forcing players to "improvise"

Alien: Isolation 2's exterior setting will increase both tension and danger, according to Creative Assembly, because as the player adapts to the new environment, so will the Xenomorph.

Unlike the first game, where players were isolated in a space station and actively hunted by the Xenomorph, the sequel will have an expanded setting, spanning an outdoor colony world and the confines of the Weyland-Yutani outpost.

Players will once again be caught up in a cat-and-mouse experience as they navigate their new environment, but the alien's intelligence will raise the stakes.

"I think the contrast between claustrophobia and pressure versus vulnerability and exposedness, it will make the player have to think on their feet," said principal UI artist Laura Mouther.

The game's weather system will also affect how players approach the outdoors, since storms will impact the sound of the approaching alien, and players will need to "improvise."

"The alien is the perfect hunter," Mouther added. "It will adapt to those situations, to those environments. And you will have to adapt to our environment."

She added that it will feel like a "new experience," but the game will give players the time to understand the mechanics of the game and the world, even if they didn't play the first game.

"It's not unfair," Mouther said. "This alien is also not cheating. If it can't see you, it can't see you, right? If it can't hear you, it can't hear you. We will give players enough time to get to grips with it. But it is an intense experience and a tough game, and that is what the community loved about [the first game]. And we will stick through to that."

Alien: Isolation 2 is now in development and will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

• This new Act, with overwhelming, bipartisan support, could soon be enforced on a per-state basis
• 100MW+ data centers would have to pay for new power generation and grid infrastructure
• Public Citizen says the bill doesn't address other "consumer and community impacts"

With energy consumption now one of the most hotly debated topics surrounding new data center development, new rules could be set to come into play to force developers to pay for grid upgrades without pushing the impact onto local citizens.

The Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed on September 16 with 417 votes (and just three against it) would apply to medium and large campuses with peak demands of 100MW+.

Impacted developments could end up having to foot the bill for new electricity generation capacity as well as the transmission and distribution infrastructure that goes along with it.

US data centers could soon be required to pay for grid upgrades

We also know that new projects can be years in the making, from initial ideation all the way through to construction and a go-live date, but under the proposed bill, operators would have to pay for the upgrades regardless of whether they pull out or stop buying grid power.

However crucially, it's unlikely to be a blanket action that affects every region equally, because state regulators would need to consider adopting the rules on a more local basis.

What this overwhelming, bipartisan support also confirms is that data centers have become a major political discussion, with US midterm elections just around the corner and citizens increasingly worried about rising utility bills.

The Ratepayer Protection Act comes after the White House announced the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which set out similar plans. President Trump called on major hyperscalers to "build, bring, or buy the new generation resources and electricity needed."

The difference is that the Pledge would be a voluntary move by data center operators, whereas an enforced Bill would make it a legal requirement.

Still, consumer rights org Public Citizen has criticized the Act for not going far enough. "While a federal mandate forcing states to consider such a step provides opportunities for advocates to press for consumer protections, there are a myriad of other ⁠consumer and community impacts from data centers unaddressed in this bill," Energy Program director Tyson Slocum wrote (via Reuters).

The Apple Watch Series 12 is officially available, and Best Buy offers an excellent trade-in deal that lets you get the smartwatch for as little as $199.

The feature-packed Apple Watch 12 is $399 for the 42mm GPS-only model, but if you have an older smartwatch to trade in, Best Buy can shave up to $200 off the retail price. Discounts on new Apple devices are extremely rare, and this is the best deal we've spotted.

The Apple Watch Series 12 features new Apple silicon and advanced health sensors, which Apple claims are the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable. Apple's newest Health Sensing System, along with its S11 chip, offers a suite of health and fitness features including a new readiness score. The Series 12 also includes advanced workout and sleep tracking and offers up to 24 hours of battery life and up to 10 hours during an outdoor workout, a 25% improvement over the previous model.

Get the new Apple Watch 12 for as little as $199

Apple Watch Series 12 at Best Buy: starting at $199 with qualifying trade-in
The Apple Watch 12 is officially available to buy at Best Buy, and you can get the smartwatch for as little as $199 with a qualifying trade-in. The Apple Watch 12 features new Apple silicon and advanced health sensors, which offer advanced heart rate, workout, and sleep tracking.View Deal

To find out how much you can save, you'll click on 'Check your trade-in value' on the Apple Watch 12 product page. You'll then answer questions about your trade-in device, and Best Buy will show you the value. The retailer will email you shipping instructions for your trade-in device, and once it's received, Best Buy will refund the amount to your original payment method.

Keep in mind this is a limited-time offer and an excellent deal if you have an older smartwatch and want to upgrade to Apple's latest and greatest.

A new Samsung patent reveals how wearable glucose measurement could work as the company continues researching noninvasive blood sugar monitoring.

The post Samsung’s New Patent Reveals How a Galaxy Watch Could Measure Blood Sugar appeared first on TechRepublic.

We're big fans of docking stations for adding extra ports and practicality to a work setup. Now, this Wavlink triple-monitor dock has got a discount with plenty of connectivity. Better still, it's compatible with USB-C, Thunderbolt 3/4, and USB4 laptops.

• Best for: Remote workers and office professionals who work from a laptop and need a more capable setup without constantly connecting and disconnecting peripherals.

• The deal: The Wavlink Triple Monitor Docking Station is $120 (was $160) at Newegg
• Why it matters: You can drive up to three external monitors and connect six 10Gbps USB devices, plus there's Gigabit Ethernet and audio. The included 130W adapter can also deliver up to 100W power delivery to a compatible laptop.

USB-C Triple Monitor Docking station: was $159.99 now $119.99
This USB-C dock supports three external monitors, 100W laptop charging, six 10Gbps USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet and audio, with DisplayLink support for compatible Windows and Mac computers and other devices.View Deal

Why we recommend it

This single dock comes with three HDMI and two DisplayPort connections, with the HDMI Alt Mode output supporting up to 4K at 60Hz and the other display outputs supporting resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 at 60Hz.

DisplayLink support is especially useful for Mac owners because it allows compatible Macs to extend their desktops across multiple external monitors even when their native display support is more restrictive. It also works with Windows systems.

Price context & historical value

Newegg has reduced the Wavlink dock from $159.99 to $119.99, which is a $40 saving of 25%. You're also getting the 130W power adapter and USB-C cable in the box, so you don't need to budget for a separate power supply to take advantage of its laptop-charging capability.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Wavlink USB-C dock if...

You want to connect several monitors and peripherals to a laptop while keeping your desk setup relatively simple. Six 10Gbps USB ports also give you plenty of high-speed connections for external SSDs and other accessories.

❌ Skip the Wavlink USB-C dock if...

You only need a couple of extra USB ports or a single external monitor. A much simpler USB-C hub will do the job for considerably less money.

• Shop all docking stations at Newegg

A 4TB SSD gives you plenty of storage, but high-capacity drives can be expensive. SanDisk's WD_BLACK SN7100 is a compact M.2 2280 drive that combines PCIe 4.0 connectivity with TLC 3D NAND and a DRAM-less HMB design.

• Best for: Professionals, PC builders, and gamers who needs a high-capacity SSD for a laptop or desktop and wants a lot of room for applications, media and large files.

• The deal: The 4TB WD_BLACK SN7100 is now $560 (was $580) at Newegg when you use promo code SSF73634

• Why it matters: The SSD delivers sequential read speeds up to 7,000MB/s and writes up to 6,700MB/s, alongside a solid 2,400TBW endurance rating.

4TB WD_BLACK SN7100 M.2 2280 SSD: was $580 now $559.99
This SSD uses PCIe 4.0 x4, TLC 3D NAND and HMB, delivering up to 7,000MB/s reads, 6,700MB/s writes, 1.35 million IOPS and 2,400TBW endurance for gaming systems. Use coupon code SSF73634 for the biggest saving.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The SN7100 delivers plenty of storage and performance suited to creative laptops and desktop PCs. Its maximum operating power is rated at 4.5W, and it offers up to 100% better power efficiency than the previous generation. The 4TB model also has an endurance rating of 2,400TBW.

For more options, look at our roundups of the best SSDs and the fastest SSDs.

Price context & historical value

The saving from $580 to $579.99 is obviously minuscule on its own, but promo code SSF73634 brings the price down to $559.99. It's not a huge discount, but with storage prices so high right now, any reduction is welcome.

That said, this is nowhere near its historical low. The 4TB WD_BLACK SN7100 was available to buy for $209.99 in 2025, illustrating just how dramatically SSD prices have risen since then. Not so long ago, it was priced at $1,379.99 at Amazon, where it is currently $579.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the 4TB WD_BLACK SN7100 if...

You want to increase your storage without compromising on speed. With 4TB available, there's plenty of room for large files, applications and media without constantly managing free space.

❌ Skip the 4TB WD_BLACK SN7100 if...

You regularly handle sustained, storage heavy workloads, as it's a DRAM-less SSD (dedicated DRAM is better). It also comes without a heatsink, so check the cooling arrangements and available space in the device where you plan to install it.

• Shop all internal SSDs at Newegg

Portable monitors give your laptop a second screen wherever you work. The Asus ZenScreen MB166C has a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate and anti-glare finish, with a single USB-C connection handling DisplayPort video.

• Best for: Professionals and travellers who want a second laptop screen they can easily carry between home, the office or trips away.

• The deal: The Asus ZenScreen MB166C is £73 (was £94) at Amazon.

• Why it matters: At just 780g, it's easy to carry in a laptop bag, while automatic orientation, a foldable sleeve and built-in tripod socket give you plenty of flexibility when setting it up.

ZenScreen MB166C Portable USB Monitor: was £93.98 now £72.68
ZenScreen MB166C has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, 60Hz refresh rate, anti-glare finish, USB-C connectivity, automatic screen orientation, Eye Care technology, tripod socket and foldable protective sleeve.View Deal

Why we recommend it

We've had good experiences testing out previous Asus portable monitors in the ZenScreen line, but this is one of the more practical models. This ZenScreen is light enough to carry alongside a laptop. Its 15.6-inch panel gives you a lot more working space and it can automatically switch between landscape and portrait orientations. There's a tripod socket on the back if you don't want to use the included foldable sleeve. The 178-degree viewing angles should also make positioning it easier when you're working in a cramped space.

For more options, take a look at our roundup of the best portable monitors.

Price context & historical value

Amazon has reduced the price from £93.98 to £72.64, giving you a £21.34 saving of approximately 23%. This is not the cheapest we've seen this screen however. It has been as low as £69 in the past, but that's only £4 less than the current deal price.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the ZenScreen MB166C if...

You regularly work away from a permanent desk and miss having the additional screen space of a desktop setup. It's particularly useful for keeping email, documents or reference material on a second display while working on your laptop.

❌ Skip the ZenScreen MB166C if...

Your laptop doesn't support USB-C connectivity, or you're a creative professional, as the 60Hz refresh rate and 250-nit brightness are geared more toward productivity and general use.

• Shop all monitors at Amazon.co.uk

See what you missed in Daily Tech Insider from Sept. 14–18.

The post AI Expansion, Robot Factories, and Escalating Security Threats Define This Week in Tech appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Google and Nvidia are just two of the tech giants behind the new AI Energy Management Alliance
• The group is focused on building future data centers that coordinate power usage with the grid
• Moving training to off-peak hours and balancing on-site energy are some of the solutions

Emerald AI, Google and Nvidia have come together to form the AI Energy Management Alliance (AEMA), and it could be exactly what we need to tackle rising energy consumption within the data center field.

Together, the group hopes to deploy flexible AI data centers that can dynamically adjust how much electricity they consume from the grid based on a number of different conditions.

This important development comes in response to rising power availability pressures, which are leading to years-long delays for many new projects.

Future data centers could adapt how much power they use

In an announcement, Nvidia Head of Sustainability Josh Parker explained how these future campuses could shift compute workloads, discharge storage, use paired generation or respond to other system contingencies to dynamically change how much electricity they're drawing from the grid at any given time.

The concept involves shifting high-compute tasks like training to off-peak times, using on-site batteries or generation in conjunction with the grid and exporting excess stored energy back to the grid during times of stress.

Crucially, the AEMA must now set out technical specifications, performance metrics and open standards to allow this to happen at scale.

And while only Emerald AI, Google and Nvidia are behind the alliance from launch, a number of additional partners are set to join the scheme. SiliconANGLE reports that Anthropic will be one of them.

The concept itself isn't new – Google also announced earlier this year that it had over 1GW of demand-response capacity – but doing so at scale would likely make a considerable impact across the board.

Both Nvidia and Emerald AI have already developed software to handle power consumption in relation to the grid.

"By creating a common framework for performance, reliability and collaboration, AEMA aims to help the US build the infrastructure of intelligence at the speed and sustainability the moment demands," Parker wrote.

All of this, of course, comes against a backdrop of mounting energy pressures. Recent Bloomberg data suggests that US data centers alone could use as much natural gas as the entire of Germany and Japan combined by 2035, with a similar Moody's study projecting that total US data center energy consumption could top 426 TWh by 2030.

Spoilers for MobLand season 2 episode 1 ahead.

Unsurprisingly, Guy Ritchie has wasted no time getting stuck into absolute madness in MobLand season 2.

Helpfully, he's included a season 1 recap montage before any of the new action gets underway. Conrad's (Pierce Brosnan) feud with Kevin (Paddy Considine) has reached civil war levels, with Jan (Joanne Froggatt) accidentally stabbing Harry (Tom Hardy) in the stomach while daughter Gina (Teddie Allen) made a run for it.

They've all made it through to a new season unscathed, but for how long? With MobLand season 2 episode 1 now on Paramount+, let's dig a little deeper into what's actually happened.

Conrad and Maeve open fire on the dog track after Kevin goes behind their back

As episode 1 picks up, we're down the dog track. Conrad, Maeve (Helen Mirren) and a handful of their cronies have arrived for a 'sit down' with Turkish gangster Gakbu, who we understand has entered into a drug partnership with the family.

However, Gakbu himself hasn't shown up to meet Conrad. Instead, he's approached Kevin to strike a deal, having considered Conrad to be "old news." In the heat of the moment, Kevin's only too happy to betray his dad, leaving Gakbu's brother Luca to attend the dog track face-to-face.

Within the first 10 minutes of the episode, Gakbu's henchmen are all dead, with Conrad and Maeve opening fire on the group as if they're "a real-life Bonnie and Clyde." Staff cower behind the bar in fear, while Conrad screams "We are the Harrigans! Don't know the name? Then f**king Google us."

Harry and Jan start divorce proceedings as the Harrigans hit a 'death spiral'

(Image credit: Paramount+)

We then cut to Jan and Harry, who are sitting in a therapist's office. Jan discusses their "rough patch," explaining that they've struggled to make quality time for each other thanks to Harry's work, including the admission that Jan stabbed him in the stomach.

Jan reveals that Gina left a note before she left, reading "Mum, you saw a way out. There's another one… it's called a door. Gina. P.S. I wish you'd killed the c***."

Their session is interrupted when Harry gets a call from Paul (Emmett J. Scanlan) who briefs him on what's happened at Green Park Dogs. Harry, surprisingly, didn't have a clue that a meeting with Gakbu was taking place.

As DCI Kavanagh (Ophelia Lovibond) arrives at the scene, Harry tells police mole Finch (Warren Brown) to clean up the mess from the inside. Bella (Lara Pulvey) is across town meeting with a prospective team of lawyers, but Kevin pulls her out of the meeting — he's heard too, and it's no longer safe for Bella to leave in a known car.

Harry arrives at Conrad and Maeve's house, as Paul tells him that they've gone into a "death spiral." He believes that the chain of command has gone completely out of the window, and everyone is terrified of what's to come.

Harry questions Conrad about why he didn't know about the Gakbu meeting, but Maeve admits that it was her idea. She believes that his closeness with Kevin means that sensitive plans must be on a "need-to-know basis." Harry tells them at the family is now "surrounded by sharks, ripe for the picking," and theorizes that Gakbu was being controlled by Kat McAllister (Janet McTeer).

In Harry's eyes, the opposition is capitalizing on the fractures between Kevin and Conrad, meaning that a war on the family has already begun.

A witness comes forward while Maeve secretly meets with Eddie to try and get rid of Gina

(Image credit: Paramount+)

As Harry leaves the house, one of the dog track waiters arrives at the police station. Finch clocks him and alerts Harry, as the waiter tells Kavanagh exactly what Conrad did.

As Maeve leaves for London, Conrad insists that new recruit Fergus (Jack Archer) goes with her. Maeve drives down the road before ordering Fergus out of the car, who chooses to spend the afternoon hiding in the bushes so he doesn't get in trouble with either of them. Harry asks Zosia (Jasmine Jobson) to follow her from a distance.

Jan officially asks Harry for a divorce, telling him "I know you love me. I know you love Gina. But it's not enough." Harry leaves once Dean, the waiter who went to the police, is found trying to return to his flat. Harry packs him into a van and drives him to an empty warehouse unit.

Dean is told to return to the police station to retract his statement, and instead claim that he was coerced into making it by Gakbu. If not, he "won't be needing his bicycle anymore."

We then see Maeve meeting Eddie (Anson Boone) in a Greasy spoon, with Zosia watching on outside. Eddie gives her a bag with £30,000 inside, claiming that it's "her cut." Eddie explains that he and Gina have been shaking down prolific YouTubers with cash to spare, offering them security in exchange for a hefty fee.

Maeve, however, isn't happy with this. She claims that she has "big plans in store," for Eddie, and they involve Gina being in the "f**king rear view mirror." Next time they meet, Maeve wants Gina taken care of... and another £50,000.

Seraphina tries to make her move on Kat McAllister as Kevin admits all to Harry

(Image credit: Paramount+)

Harry pays a visit to Kevin, who explains what happened with Gakbu. He explains his theory that Gakbu is being controlled by Kat, though Kevin doesn't seem phased by this.

"She's gonna eat us piece by piece," Harry explains. "Her mob has eight trillion in cash and the world's biggest nuclear arsenal." Kevin remains convinced that "he can look after himself," despite everyone else thinking that he's the weakest link in the family.

We cut to Kat, who is giving a speech at the London Imperial College. Two notable people are in the audience: Seraphina (Mandeep Dhillon) and Colin (Toby Jones).

Seraphina gets to her first, who tells Kat that it's time for Conrad to move on. She's convinced that Harry feels the same way after saving her life at Antwerp. Kat tells Seraphina that she'd want half of all Harrigan revenue for the next five years, if she's to be trusted as a business partner.

Seraphina tries to barter this down to four, convinced that Kat is out of other options after her attempts to corrupt Harry proved futile. Kat gives her a number and tells her to call it whenever she has a conversation with another family member, and to repeat it word for word. "You wanna play in the f**king big league? Honey, you're here... and you're up to bat."

Colin offers Kat her own Harry Da Souza as Gakbu meets his maker

(Image credit: Paramount+)

As Seraphina leaves, Colin arrives. Through one of his infamously long-winded historical references, Colin offers her "a brave knight to ride into battle for you," allowing Kat to keep her nose, and reputation, clean.

Describing himself as a "lowly middleman," he wants a fee to find the right person to act in Kat's interest... much like Harry does for the Harrigans. "In five years time, this man will run London with your help, and as such, you will own him. The Harrigans will be consigned to the dustbin of history" he claims.

Kat doesn't give an answer as Colin leaves, but she's clearly mulling it over. Harry, meanwhile, has gone to pay Gakbu a visit, taking every last remaining family member — and the main man — out. Zosia rings, telling Harry that he's found Gina.

Colin arrives at a house full of young men, approaching a man called Frankie (Johnny Flynn) while he uses a barbecue. "Start talking, copper," Frankie says as the scene closes out.

How do you approach a sequel? Do you refine the predecessor’s mechanics and stick with the main character? Well, Control Resonant chucks those out the window.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: September 24, 2026

Instead of an open-zone map like the first game, Resonant goes full open-world. You play as Dylan Faden, old protagonist Jesse’s brother, who was (mostly) freed from the Hiss’s evil influence towards the end of the last adventure.

Now, Jesse has disappeared somewhere in an otherworldly Manhattan, and it’s his job to find her.

Like brother, like sister

(Image credit: Remedy)

Control Resonant’s story is markedly improved over its predecessor. The sibling bond between Dylan and Jesse provides an emotional anchor to latch onto. Learning about their childhoods through the main missions was engaging enough and made it much easier to follow this time around. It kept my attention in ways that Control didn’t.

The small cast of support characters also smartly keeps the character development focused mainly on Dylan. Zoe De Vera is assigned as Dylan’s handler, and I like how their relationship starts off rocky with her viewing him as just a tool to fight the Hiss. But as the story progresses, Zoe starts considering Dylan as more than that, asking him personal questions about his favorite music.

Emily Pope returns from the first game and acts as an important linchpin for Dylan to discuss Jesse. As Emily helped Jesse throughout the entirety of Control, Dylan can confide in Emily, giving him hope he’ll eventually find his sister. These powerful relationships make Resonant a less lonely trip.

As someone who’s fascinated with sci-fi and the occult, Resonant plays around with common tropes to great effect. In one particularly memorable main quest, Dylan is tasked with figuring out what happened to a missing crew, and its implementation of time dilation and alternate timelines really had a grip on my attention. It’s moments like these that make Resonant’s story emotionally satisfying, but narratively absorbing too.

Go big or go home

(Image credit: Remedy)

Going from Control to Control Resonant feels similar to how Final Fantasy 7 Remake transitioned to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. It’s a high-risk endeavor, as creating an open world can add a lot of unnecessary bloat compared to a more streamlined experience.

Thankfully, Resonant’s exemplary art direction and traversal mechanics make its distorted version of Manhattan a treat to run around in. Rather than the brutalist architecture of the first game that took place entirely indoors within the Oldest House, Resonant doubles down on the more kaleidoscopic and parallactic aspects in the open world.

As part of the main quests, you’ll also be given objectives to find “Faults,” which are areas where remnants of Jesse could be residing. While they’re not very combat-heavy, they offer a lot of story exposition exploring Dylan and Jesse’s background. At the very end, you’ll be awarded a new way for Dylan to move around.

These include being able to shift his gravitational orientation around so the wall next to him becomes the floor, or the intriguing take on the traditional grappling hook, which looks more like an invisible magnet pulling Dylan by the waist.

Best bit

(Image credit: Remedy)

Like the first game's massive brutalist skyscraper, the weird, twisted version of Manhattan in Control Resonant is an absolute joy to explore full of striking views.

Control Resonant is also reminiscent of Elden Ring, in that you’re able to tackle tough side bosses called Resonants all across the Big Apple. By defeating them, Dylan is able to unlock more of his offensive move kit. You’re incentivized to go for it, as it’ll give you more options to fight against the Hiss and other enemies.

You only need to take out a few to advance the story, but afterwards you can actually complete it without taking the rest of them on if you want. This open-endedness comes in handy if you get stuck on a certain story boss. You can explore more, get stronger, and return later.

There are also plenty of other interesting activities to tackle, and these often bring a more down-to-earth tone to Resonant’s paranormal twists. In a multi-part side quest, Dylan is trying to help a girl find her way home from an alternate dimension. And he has to play “spot the difference” with different taxi cabs to take the right one back. There’s another side quest where Dylan helps a colleague find their invisible cat, which ends up in the cat actually helping out against a mini-boss fight in a humorous conclusion.

These side quests reflect Dylan’s altruism and the guilt he harbors for his actions from the first game, allowing him to redeem himself in small, yet meaningful ways. They also reward massive amounts of EXP and useful ingredients to unlock new skills and abilities.

Close quarters combat

(Image credit: Remedy)

As opposed to the first game’s third-person shooter gameplay, Control Resonant is a melee-focused action game. It’s an interesting switch-up that certainly helps this sequel differentiate itself.

The basic gameplay loop you’re going for is to stagger enemies and then perform an execution. Doing that causes Dylan to temporarily enter Dominance, which astronomically ups his attack power and allows him to kill enemies quicker. It’s a gratifying process that’s just as exciting as it looks cool.

The big issue here is that it’s incredibly difficult to falter enemies when you first start out. Dylan’s weapon, the Aberrant, can morph into different forms for both his light and heavy attacks. At the beginning, you can pick one form, and the rest you can create later on with the proper drops and materials.

(Image credit: Remedy)

If you’re like me and picked a heavy weapon choice that didn’t fit your particular playstyle, then you’re going to have a tough time. You can use limited reset points to rechoose your points and abilities, but the fact that it’s not free feels like it’s discouraging experimentation, especially at the start before eventually unlocking everything.

After initially selecting the spear as my heavy weapon and being disappointed, I reset my build and opted for the slow but powerful hammer instead. I found that it fit my approach much better, and suddenly I was enjoying it more. Beforehand, combat felt like a slog as enemies seemed to just be damage sponges, as it took forever to falter them.

A little later on, after defeating the giant fire Resonant, I unlocked the ability to cloak my weapons in flame, increasing both the damage and falter output. Now even my light weapon attacks with the multi-target scythe-like glaive inflicted a decent amount of stagger. I was able to enter Dominance faster, and the combat became more frenetic, explosive, and most importantly, fun.

It just takes a while to get to.

Should I play Control Resonant?Play it if...

You like action-adventure games
If you’re a fan of games like Devil May Cry, this might be up your alley. Just don’t expect to be graded on your work, though.

You enjoyed the first Control
Control Resonant is a direct sequel, so if you enjoyed the first game, then you should play this one too. It’s surprisingly loose with the events of the predecessor, so you don’t actually need to play it before jumping in here, but it helps.

You like open-world games
Control Resonant has one of the more interesting open-world games in recent memory, and the traversal mechanics are a joy to toy around with.

Don't play it if...

You like shooters
While the first Control was a third-person shooter, Control Resonant is not. This could be a sticking point for those coming from the first game.

You want a more streamlined experience
The first Control was much more confined, with open-zone environments rather than the open world that Control Resonant has.

Accessibility features

Control Resonant has an impressive suite of accessibility features. These options include text, subtitles, colorblindness adjustments, and toggles.

It also has an Assist mode, which lets you change gameplay parameters to your liking. For example, you can change how fast Dylan’s Power meter replenishes, which lets him fire off special abilities. You can also make him invincible.

There’s even an option to OHKO enemies with just one attack, and it works on bosses too. None of the options disable Achievements either.

How I reviewed Control Resonant

I played 25 hours of Control Resonant on Xbox Series X with the standard Xbox Wireless Controller on my 1080p LG Sharp TV, finishing up the main campaign while completing some side quests.

After witnessing the ending, you can go back into the open world once again to mop up any remaining collectibles and quests.

First reviewed September 2026

• Diablo 4 game director Brent Gibson tells fans not to worry about support for the game ending because of Diablo 5
• He says that even though the team is excited for Diablo 5, "we're going to be making content for a long time"
• Gibson says, "The end is not nigh"

Not to worry, Diablo 4 fans! Despite the announcement of Diablo 5, Blizzard swears it will continue supporting the popular action-RPG "for a long time."

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at BlizzCon, game director Brent Gibson quickly put concerns to rest and stated outright that players don't need to worry about the game's future, even though the studio is already working on the sequel.

"If you're wearing the sign in the middle of Times Square that says 'The End is Nigh', the end is not nigh," Gibson said. "We have a lot coming," he added before acknowledging the Amazon class pack, coming to Diablo 4 in 2027.

"The train isn't stopping," he continued. "One of the things that I love about our world is we're not a series of games. We are a universe. We are even adding to Diablo 2 with that of the Warlock. It's one of the few franchises where we have the luxury to continue to play, and we know our communities are there multiple communities that make us a whole."

Gibson reiterated that if you're a fan and you're worried, "don't sweat it," because even though the team is excited about Diablo 5, "we're going to be making content for a long time" and "we've got a lot of things coming," including the Netflix adaptation.

"The train is not stopping," he said. "Hold on tight. Gone are the years of waiting 10 years for more content, right? So it's a great place to be at."

Diablo 5 is slated to launch in 2029, so there are few years to wait. In the meantime, Diablo 4 fans can sink their teeth into Season of Hell's Legacy, the game's 15th season, which arrived on September 15.

Vietnam's NATIF is offering businesses up to about $114,000 for AI projects, with applications open through Oct. 10, 2026.

The post Vietnam Offers Businesses About $114K for AI Projects — Who Qualifies? appeared first on TechRepublic.