Technology

Nothing in the Apple world has the impact of the annual iPhone launch, but the company’s yearly WWDC developer conference comes close.

Last year saw the launch of iOS 18, which brought with it a revamped Control Center, a new Passwords app, in-depth Home Screen customization, and much more. Yet iOS 18 also continued a worrying trend for Apple in terms of stability.

I’ve used the iPhone for over a decade, and while I love the direction Apple is taking with new features, the stability of iOS has me concerned. An increasing number of bugs and a more general feeling of complexity go against the reasons I fell in love with iOS in the first place, and ultimately make the iPhone far less competitive.

Apple is rumored to be launching a redesign of iOS 19 at WWDC 2025, possibly shifting its branding ahead to iOS 26 to partially align with the update's release year. Here’s why I hope the company's next software overhaul is far more than just a redesign, and that Apple rebuilds iOS with a focus on stability, not just aesthetics.

iOS no longer 'just works'

The redesigned Photos app in iOS 18 (Image credit: Apple)

The success of the iPhone over the past 18 years has undoubtedly been due to Apple’s approach to both hardware and software. Android phones are widely renowned for having better specifications, at least if one looks at the specs on paper, but Apple has proven that software optimization is just as important.

Legendary founder Steve Jobs famously described the Apple ecosystem as “it just works”, but the stability of iOS 18 has continued a worrying trend that bucks that phrase. Many of the new hero features were somewhat buggy at launch, and crucially, if you transferred from an old iPhone into the iPhone 16 series, these bugs impacted the overall experience.

My iPhone 16 often freezes and either needs a restart, or I have to wait for it to respond. This is not an isolated issue, since the same complaints are being made by hundreds of users in communities like Reddit. I've also noticed significant battery drain on my iPhone 16, and enabling battery saver has a detrimental impact on performance.

Then there’s Apple Photos and the universal dislike for its complete overhaul in iOS 18. It’s rare that Apple customers universally dislike an official Apple app, but the redesigned Photos app leaves a lot to be desired, especially when Google Photos is such a compelling alternative. Yes, there are ways to make Apple Photos more like the previous version, but this experience is yet more indicative of Apple’s software challenges.

Software and hardware are no longer in sync

Apple announced Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024 (Image credit: Apple)

The success of Apple’s products has been widely attributed to the company's remarkable ability to integrate software and hardware into a seamless experience.

Over the past few years, though, the company’s hardware ambitions have not been matched by the same level of success in software, which became apparent with the launch of Apple Intelligence.

The A18 Pro processor in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is incredibly powerful, and builds upon the success of Apple's M-series computing chips. The cameras used in the iPhone can capture great photos, and the Camera Control feature is surprisingly useful. But a year on from Apple’s big AI debut, many of the highlighted features that were noted as coming within a year have been significantly delayed.

The stability of iOS 18 has only partially improved a year later, despite being on the fifth major launch build. Conversely, the Action Button and Dynamic Island are two rare hardware features where the software completes the hardware experience, proving that Apple can still deliver a compelling package.

A look at history suggests iOS needs a rebuild

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 running TouchWiz

Apple’s current software challenges feel familiar, and that’s because we’ve seen this story before. To find the answer to its own problems, Apple needs to look no further than its chief rival, Samsung.

I’ve reviewed phones for nearly 20 years, and while Samsung’s One UI is one of the best user experiences on Android right now, this wasn’t always the case. Before the launch of One UI in 2018, Galaxy phones ran TouchWiz, and while I was a fan of Samsung’s software at the time, I recall being in the distinct minority.

The biggest challenge facing Samsung’s software team at the time is also a cautionary tale for Apple and other phone makers.

TouchWiz was launched just two years after iOS, and both platforms have undergone considerable changes as smartphone users evolved and new habits formed. Like Microsoft has faced with Windows, this usually leads to software that is continually being added to, and the experience will inevitably suffer.

The Vision Pro and Vision OS show that Apple can still build a phenomenal integrated experience.

The answer for Apple is the same approach that Samsung took back in 2018: a complete rebuild. One UI took years to develop, and it removed large portions of the legacy experience in favor of the features required for current and future smartphone form factors, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

For Apple to successfully launch new hardware and software form factors, such as the rumored iPhone Fold, the company needs to rebuild iOS from the ground up, not just redesign the existing codebase.

The Vision Pro and Vision OS show that Apple can still build a phenomenal integrated experience – now it just needs to do the same for the iPhone.

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• iOS 19: the 5 upgrades I'm really hoping for at WWDC 2025
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• A filing points to 25W charging for the Samsung tri-fold
• That matches the Galaxy S25 and Z Fold 6
• The foldable phone could be unveiled as early as July

We're very much looking forward to the full unveiling of the Samsung tri-fold phone at some point later this year, but the latest rumor around the handset suggests it's going to be somewhat disappointing in terms of its charging speed.

According to documentation filed with regulators in China (via SamMobile), the Samsung tri-fold is going to offer 25W wired charging. That's on a par with the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 phones.

While it's perhaps not surprising that Samsung is sticking to the same charging limits as those current flagships, the Oppo Find N5 charges up at 80W when plugged in, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hits the heights of 45W.

It's possible that Samsung is playing it safe with the charging technology to avoid having to charge too much for adding a new form factor to its lineup. We've seen estimates as high as $3,500 (about £2,585 / AU$5,390) for this handset.

Here's what else we think we know

The tri-fold Huawei Mate XT (Image credit: Huawei)

We've seen plenty of other unofficial leaks and rumors about this handset: the only bit of information that's official and confirmed by Samsung is that this tri-fold handset is definitely on the way to take on existing phones like the Huawei Mate XT.

One of the unconfirmed pieces of information we've come across is that this phone is going to be called the Galaxy G Fold. That would certainly put it in line with the current foldables Samsung sells, in terms of its naming.

Apparently, the folding handset is going to come with a 6.49-inch outer screen and a huge 9.96-inch display on the inside. If that turns out to be the case then we're going to be very much into tablet territory when the phone is opened out.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 thought to be breaking cover sometime in July, the Galaxy G Fold (if that turns out to be its name) could arrive at the same time – but some sources have said it'll actually be unveiled later in the year.

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• Thanko keyboard tries to do everything but ends up asking way too much money
• A 10-inch screen on a keyboard sounds cool until you check the resolution
• It’s foldable, space-saving, and touch-enabled, but only if you’re using Windows

Thanko has launched what might be one of the most unexpected entries in the increasingly niche world of peripherals: a mechanical keyboard integrated with a 10-inch touchscreen monitor.

The company says this full mechanical keyboard is designed for space-conscious users who still want both tactile input and an additional display.

“The combination of a customizable and highly durable mechanical keyboard with independent switches and a 10-inch monitor... saves space while improving work efficiency,” Thanko says.

Compact design, but with compromises

The keyboard integrates a 1,920 x 720 resolution TFT LCD touchscreen, which supports 10-point multi-touch and features a continuously adjustable angle. It occupies just 320 x 140 mm of space and can be folded when not in use.

The idea is to deliver a dual-purpose tool for coders or business users who need a second screen. However, the relatively low resolution and aspect ratio may limit how much useful content can actually be displayed.

The screen can function as a touch-enabled display if set as the main monitor, but Thanko quietly notes: “If it does not work properly even after changing the settings, it is a compatibility issue.”

Despite its promise of touch interaction, there’s no mention of macOS or Linux support, suggesting this device is designed solely for the Windows ecosystem. As a result, its usefulness outside that environment remains unknown.

While it could make for a decent business keyboard, or a keyboard for coding, it really needs broader compatibility.

The keyboard uses blue switches by default and allows full customization, including switch types and keycaps. It also includes an RGB LED backlight and ships with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 cable. Users can supplement power via an additional USB Type-C port if needed.

That said, it’s hard to determine whether the typing experience is truly premium or merely adequate with flair, as no typing latency or switch actuation specs are disclosed.

Designed for plug-and-play via USB 3.0, the keyboard weighs about 1.5 kg and is listed at 69,800 yen (around $445).

It certainly scores points for compactness and desk economy, but at nearly $450, buyers may wonder whether it’s worth the cost compared to purchasing a standalone mechanical keyboard and a separate secondary display.

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• Ballerina's final scene is a deliberate homage to John Wick: Chapter 2's ending, its director says
• Len Wiseman reveals it was Keanu Reeves' idea to create a near-identical ending
• Wiseman already has ideas for a follow-up film

Ballerina's director has revealed it was Keanu Reeves' idea to end the action-thriller in the same way as the second John Wick movie.

Speaking ahead of the film's global release on June 6, Len Wiseman told TechRadar that Reeves, who plays the franchise's titular hitman, suggested that Ballerina's final scene should mirror that of 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2.

Full spoilers immediately follow for From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, so turn back if you haven't watched it yet.

Eve Macarro, seen here in an earlier Ballerina scene, has had a hit put out on her (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Ballerina ends with Ana de Armas' Eve Macarro watching her close friend, who was also a Ruska Roma assassin-in-training before she was kicked out by The Director, achieve her dream of becoming a fully-fledged ballet dancer.

However, as Macarro watches her performance at a local theater, the footage is interspersed with someone putting out a contract hit on the titular character. Numerous phones – owned by other hitmen, no less – start pinging and buzzing in the theater, which Macarro quickly becomes aware of. Knowing she's in danger if she sticks around, she quietly leaves via one of the venue's fire exits.

The ending isn't dissimilar to John Wick: Chapter 2's final scene. That movie, which takes place years prior to Ballerina (find out more about this franchise's timeline in my John Wick movies in order guide), closes with the eponymous hitman being forced to go on the run.

Keanu Reeves' titular assassin is forced to go on the run at the end of John Wick: Chapter 2 (Image credit: Lionsgate)

That's because Wick executed a fellow assassin on the grounds of the New York branch of The Continental, a chain of hitman safehouses, which is a big no-no. Subsequently, a bounty is reluctantly placed on Wick's head by Winston Scott, The Continental New York manager and Wick's ally. As Wick flees the scene, the phones of assassins in his vicinity start ringing to notify them of the reward for whoever successfully takes down Wick.

"When Keanu and I were wrapping up [his on-screen involvement] in Ballerina, we talked about how this movie would end," Wiseman told me, "And that ending was all Keanu's idea. He wanted that last moment to be a riff on the second film's final moment, which speaks to the 'actions and consequences' theme that runs through these movies."

As obvious as it is to say, the open-ended nature of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina's final scene teases the possibility that Macarro's journey will continue in Lionsgate's multi-billion-dollar enterprise. So, does Wiseman have any thoughts on where this de Armas-led film series could go next in the Wick-Verse?

"In a fantasy kind of way, yeah, I have my ideas [of where a follow-up could go]," Wiseman replied when I asked about potential sequel plans. "But, I'd like to hear what people respond to in this movie first. I hope there's speculation from fans about who they think is coming after Eve, too, because we don't actually know who that is."

Norman Reedus hopes to return as Daniel in a future Wick-verse project (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Wiseman isn't the only cast and crew member who wants one of 2025's new movies to set up a future installment in The World of Wick.

In a separate chat, Norman Reedus, who plays the criminally underused Daniel (read more about why I think that's the case in my Ballerina review), said he believes there's plenty more to explore with his character. Indeed, the only things we really know about Daniel are that he is the son of Gabriel Byrne's now-deceased cult leader known as the Chancellor, has a daughter, and survived Ballerina's events thanks to Macarro.

"I'd love to do all of those things," Reedus said when I asked if he'd like to have his own spin-off film, appear in Ballerina 2, and/or show up in John Wick Chapter 5. "Let's put that out there into the universe. I mean, it's a no-brainer and, if this film does well, who knows what the future holds?"

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• John Wick Chapter 5 is still in very early development, but 'there are a lot of options' on the table about what its story could be, Ian McShane teases

• Ballerina's final scene is a deliberate homage to John Wick: Chapter 2's ending, its director says
• Len Wiseman reveals it was Keanu Reeves' idea to create a near-identical ending
• Wiseman already has ideas for a follow-up film

Ballerina's director has revealed it was Keanu Reeves' idea to end the action-thriller in the same way as the second John Wick movie.

Speaking ahead of the film's global release on June 6, Len Wiseman told TechRadar that Reeves, who plays the franchise's titular hitman, suggested that Ballerina's final scene should mirror that of 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2.

Full spoilers immediately follow for From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, so turn back if you haven't watched it yet.

Eve Macarro, seen here in an earlier Ballerina scene, has had a hit put out on her (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Ballerina ends with Ana de Armas' Eve Macarro watching her close friend, who was also a Ruska Roma assassin-in-training before she was kicked out by The Director, achieve her dream of becoming a fully-fledged ballet dancer.

However, as Macarro watches her performance at a local theater, the footage is interspersed with someone putting out a contract hit on the titular character. Numerous phones – owned by other hitmen, no less – start pinging and buzzing in the theater, which Macarro quickly becomes aware of. Knowing she's in danger if she sticks around, she quietly leaves via one of the venue's fire exits.

The ending isn't dissimilar to John Wick: Chapter 2's final scene. That movie, which takes place years prior to Ballerina (find out more about this franchise's timeline in my John Wick movies in order guide), closes with the eponymous hitman being forced to go on the run.

Keanu Reeves' titular assassin is forced to go on the run at the end of John Wick: Chapter 2 (Image credit: Lionsgate)

That's because Wick executed a fellow assassin on the grounds of the New York branch of The Continental, a chain of hitman safehouses, which is a big no-no. Subsequently, a bounty is reluctantly placed on Wick's head by Winston Scott, The Continental New York manager and Wick's ally. As Wick flees the scene, the phones of assassins in his vicinity start ringing to notify them of the reward for whoever successfully takes down Wick.

"When Keanu and I were wrapping up [his on-screen involvement] in Ballerina, we talked about how this movie would end," Wiseman told me, "And that ending was all Keanu's idea. He wanted that last moment to be a riff on the second film's final moment, which speaks to the 'actions and consequences' theme that runs through these movies."

As obvious as it is to say, the open-ended nature of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina's final scene teases the possibility that Macarro's journey will continue in Lionsgate's multi-billion-dollar enterprise. So, does Wiseman have any thoughts on where this de Armas-led film series could go next in the Wick-Verse?

"In a fantasy kind of way, yeah, I have my ideas [of where a follow-up could go]," Wiseman replied when I asked about potential sequel plans. "But, I'd like to hear what people respond to in this movie first. I hope there's speculation from fans about who they think is coming after Eve, too, because we don't actually know who that is."

Norman Reedus hopes to return as Daniel in a future Wick-verse project (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Wiseman isn't the only cast and crew member who wants one of 2025's new movies to set up a future installment in The World of Wick.

In a separate chat, Norman Reedus, who plays the criminally underused Daniel (read more about why I think that's the case in my Ballerina review), said he believes there's plenty more to explore with his character. Indeed, the only things we really know about Daniel are that he is the son of Gabriel Byrne's now-deceased cult leader known as the Chancellor, has a daughter, and survived Ballerina's events thanks to Macarro.

"I'd love to do all of those things," Reedus said when I asked if he'd like to have his own spin-off film, appear in Ballerina 2, and/or show up in John Wick Chapter 5. "Let's put that out there into the universe. I mean, it's a no-brainer and, if this film does well, who knows what the future holds?"

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• 'One of the hardest moments to film': Ballerina's most simple action sequence on paper ended up being the most challenging for a big reason, director says
• Ballerina star Norman Reedus didn't seek advice from Keanu Reeves about joining the John Wick universe for a pretty funny reason: 'I don't think he knew'
• John Wick Chapter 5 is still in very early development, but 'there are a lot of options' on the table about what its story could be, Ian McShane teases

New video from Boston Dynamics sheds light on how the company's Atlas humanoid robot sees and engages with the world around it.

• Panasonic’s Let’s Note SC weighs under a kilo, yet packs a removable battery and Gigabit LAN port
• Includes a 56Wh battery held by screws, lasting up to 34.6 hours idle
• Unusual round touchpad returns, now larger and borrowed from a 14-inch sibling model

Panasonic has introduced the Let’s Note SC, a 12.4-inch notebook designed for business users, with a focus on portability, long battery life, and usability enhancements.

According to MyNavi (originally reported in Japanese), the device features a 12.4-inch LCD display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels.

The screen opens to 180 degrees without touching the surface beneath it, aided by a hinge design that keeps it slightly elevated.

Weighs less than a kilo and still has Ethernet and HDMI

The chassis features a pressure-resistant bonnet structure and has been tested to meet MIL standards.

Panasonic emphasizes the notebook’s durability, including resistance to both impact and vibration.

Available in Calm Gray and Black, the SC is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 processors, either the Ultra 7 255H or Ultra 5 255U, depending on the configuration.

Panasonic claims the notebook weighs 919g, though an independently tested unit reportedly came in at 901g, placing the SC among the lightest laptops in its class.

The device includes a 56Wh removable battery, now fastened with screws rather than the tool-less sliding lock used in previous models. While this improves structural integrity, it may make field maintenance less convenient.

Battery performance is rated at up to 12.7 hours of video playback and approximately 34.6 hours of idle time, according to JEITA 3.0 standards. In real-world usage, a 50% charge remained after 90+ minutes of light use and a 30-minute video call.

The keyboard retains a Japanese layout but introduces a notable change: the Ctrl key is now on the far left, having swapped positions with the Fn key. Users can revert to the previous configuration via BIOS settings.

The power button, now located behind the keyboard, is less prone to accidental presses and also functions as a fingerprint sensor.

The SC also includes a round touchpad, larger than in earlier models and borrowed from the 14-inch FC line. While still unconventional, this circular design remains a distinguishing feature of the series.

Connectivity includes a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, a rare inclusion in modern laptops and potentially appealing to those seeking robust mobile workstation capabilities.

However, the D-Sub and SD card slots have been removed, reflecting user trends toward HDMI and enhanced data security standards.

Most ports, including USB Type-A, dual Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB Type-C, and HDMI, are now positioned on the left side, helping to reduce cable clutter when using a mouse.

The starting price is approximately 295,000 yen (approx $1,880), with general sales expected to begin on June 20.

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You're gonna need a bigger TV.

While the battle for EVs with the longest range may well have tapered off, a new arms race has begun in its place – and it's all about charging speeds.

In China, some of the world’s most recognizable automotive and tech brands are dueling it out to see who can force electrons into a battery pack at the most impressive rates.

After all, if said giants of industry can consistently bring charging times in line with fueling up an internal combustion engine vehicle, range anxiety is essentially banished to the history books and the extra weight, resources and financial penalties of larger battery packs are no longer an issue.

But while the so-called Megawatt ultra-fast charging (anything above 1,000kW) has tongues wagging with the sheer physics-bending nature of it all, some believe that the road towards two-minute top-ups won't be so smooth.

During a recent electric vehicle battery technology workshop at Porsche’s R&D facility in Weissach, the company spoke frankly and at length about its own road to electrification, marking the huge leaps it has made with the current generation Taycan and what the future holds.

(Image credit: BYD)

When asked about the current trend for Megawatt charging, Porsche’s development lead in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, Carlos Alberto Cordova Tineo, said that while it is impressive, he doesn’t think it is the future for everyone.

"It is relatively easy to demonstrate this sort of level of ultra-fast charging on a test bench, but making it work in the real world is a much more difficult task. There are just so many factors to consider when charging at these rates,” he told me.

One of the key issues for Porsche is battery longevity, as the company wants its cars to offer the same sort of driving thrills in 20 to 30 years time as they do when they roll off the production line.

Current residual values of Porsche's EVs aside, the company's cars generally remain hugely sought after items, with many going on to become collectable objects.

“All lithium-ion batteries suffer an initial 2-5% capacity drop in the first few years, but it is our job to manage battery health for the remainder of the vehicle’s life,” Cordova Tineo adds.

One of the factors that can lead to “sudden death” in a battery – or the point where its performance rapidly drops below what is deemed normal – is consistently charging at extreme rates, which Cordova Tineo says can lead to lithium plating and a massive reduction in battery performance.

“It is why we use stepped charging, where power is gradually ramped up as the battery reaches the optimum state of charge, tapering off as it hits the 70 or 80 per cent mark and then slowing right down towards the end,” he explains.

Real-world results

(Image credit: Porsche)

While Porsche wouldn’t rule out any new innovations in electric vehicle charging, it isn’t hastily jumping on the Megawatt bandwagon for now.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development and one of the longest-standing EV engineers at the company, says that the charging figures coming out of China are "good for PR but not always practical in the real world".

"The physics of it all is complex and this is before we even consider the infrastructure required to make it work," he added.

During one real-world demonstration in China, Inside EVs reported that BYD’s Han L, which is the first to use its Super e-platform with the latest Flash Battery, would draw 767kW of power until it reached a 40% State of Charge (SoC), holding steady at 633kW until it reached 50% and then dropping to 463 kW as it reached 60%.

Overall, the car gained 262 miles in around five minutes. Impressive stuff.

(Image credit: Porsche)

But despite BYD’s claims that fast-charging the battery doesn’t affect the warranty, the technology hasn’t been around long enough for us to know what state it will be in after five or ten years, long after the warranty has run out.

Plus, most of these next-generation, ultra-fast Chinese packs use a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) chemical make-up, rather than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) that is used by Porsche in its Taycan and Macan models.

Right now, Porsche is working to recover around 90% of the raw materials used in its NMC battery packs in order to drastically reduce the reliance on mining.

Recycling fast-charging LFP batteries, on the other hand, is widely considered a more complicated task and presents a weaker business case due to lower economic value of their content.

Driving dynamics matter

(Image credit: Porsche)

The other key factor for Porsche is driving dynamics, arguably one of the most important pillars of the brand.

Even its everyday electric SUV, the formidable Macan, is an absolute hoot to drive and will give many modern sports cars a run for their money on the race circuit.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development, says that there is a delicate balancing act to be had with overall weight, energy density and charging speeds, the perfect concoction of which will go into the marque’s long-awaited electric sports cars.

Both the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman are due to feature the next generation of Porsche’s EV powertrains, with Bitsche claiming that a range of around 370 miles on a single charge would be "enough" for most sports cars.

The company’s current 800V architecture allows for a max charging speed of 270kW, which is enough to brim the Taycan’s larger battery pack from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes.

Expect the Boxster and Cayman to feature smaller packs and new onboard charging tech, which in turn will likely see them charge even faster.

It is this notion of “being enough” for most users that Bitsche reiterates when confronted with the subject of Megawatt charging speeds, as he feels the additional technology and hardware required to make it work, not just from the manufacturer but the charging networks, has potential negative effects on the way a vehicle drives and a company’s bottom line.

An ultra-fast future

(Image credit: BYD)

Just this week, the Society of Automotive Engineers in the US just released a new SAE J3400/2 standard that defines the way a 1,000kW-capable North American Charging Standard connector and vehicle charge port will look like, proving its confidence in the technology.

However, as some critics have pointed out, even the Chinese real-world demonstrations only ever creep up to 1,000kW for a matter of seconds during charging sessions, before tapering off to a steady 600-odd kilowatts and then dropping back further.

As a result, some industry insiders believe it would be more beneficial (and cheaper) to build out a reliable network of 500kW chargers that can deliver those kind of speeds for a larger proportion of the charging session.

This would equate to 8 to 10-minute stops for many, which is the equivalent to the time spent at most gas stations, according to one white paper.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for a marque like Porsche, Megawatt charging is still a relative unknown, with little research available on the longevity of the battery technology after many years or the reliability of it in extreme weather conditions.

"Increasing the charging efficiency and decreasing charge times is one of our priorities," explains Dr. Matthias Goldsche, a physicist and battery expert at Porsche.

"But this isn't the only thing, as we think the next generation of cars can hit a sweet spot of acceptable daily range for the majority of our customers, fast charging speeds, driving dynamics and the ability to create long-lasting, reliable and recyclable batteries," he adds.

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While the battle for EVs with the longest range may well have tapered off, a new arms race has begun in its place – and it's all about charging speeds.

In China, some of the world’s most recognizable automotive and tech brands are dueling it out to see who can force electrons into a battery pack at the most impressive rates.

After all, if said giants of industry can consistently bring charging times in line with fueling up an internal combustion engine vehicle, range anxiety is essentially banished to the history books and the extra weight, resources and financial penalties of larger battery packs are no longer an issue.

But while the so-called Megawatt ultra-fast charging (anything above 1,000kW) has tongues wagging with the sheer physics-bending nature of it all, some believe that the road towards two-minute top-ups won't be so smooth.

During a recent electric vehicle battery technology workshop at Porsche’s R&D facility in Weissach, the company spoke frankly and at length about its own road to electrification, marking the huge leaps it has made with the current generation Taycan and what the future holds.

(Image credit: BYD)

When asked about the current trend for Megawatt charging, Porsche’s development lead in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, Carlos Alberto Cordova Tineo, said that while it is impressive, he doesn’t think it is the future for everyone.

"It is relatively easy to demonstrate this sort of level of ultra-fast charging on a test bench, but making it work in the real world is a much more difficult task. There are just so many factors to consider when charging at these rates,” he told me.

One of the key issues for Porsche is battery longevity, as the company wants its cars to offer the same sort of driving thrills in 20 to 30 years time as they do when they roll off the production line.

Current residual values of Porsche's EVs aside, the company's cars generally remain hugely sought after items, with many going on to become collectable objects.

“All lithium-ion batteries suffer an initial 2-5% capacity drop in the first few years, but it is our job to manage battery health for the remainder of the vehicle’s life,” Cordova Tineo adds.

One of the factors that can lead to “sudden death” in a battery – or the point where its performance rapidly drops below what is deemed normal – is consistently charging at extreme rates, which Cordova Tineo says can lead to lithium plating and a massive reduction in battery performance.

“It is why we use stepped charging, where power is gradually ramped up as the battery reaches the optimum state of charge, tapering off as it hits the 70 or 80 per cent mark and then slowing right down towards the end,” he explains.

Real-world results

(Image credit: Porsche)

While Porsche wouldn’t rule out any new innovations in electric vehicle charging, it isn’t hastily jumping on the Megawatt bandwagon for now.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development and one of the longest-standing EV engineers at the company, says that the charging figures coming out of China are "good for PR but not always practical in the real world".

"The physics of it all is complex and this is before we even consider the infrastructure required to make it work," he added.

During one real-world demonstration in China, Inside EVs reported that BYD’s Han L, which is the first to use its Super e-platform with the latest Flash Battery, would draw 767kW of power until it reached a 40% State of Charge (SoC), holding steady at 633kW until it reached 50% and then dropping to 463 kW as it reached 60%.

Overall, the car gained 262 miles in around five minutes. Impressive stuff.

(Image credit: Porsche)

But despite BYD’s claims that fast-charging the battery doesn’t affect the warranty, the technology hasn’t been around long enough for us to know what state it will be in after five or ten years, long after the warranty has run out.

Plus, most of these next-generation, ultra-fast Chinese packs use a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) chemical make-up, rather than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) that is used by Porsche in its Taycan and Macan models.

Right now, Porsche is working to recover around 90% of the raw materials used in its NMC battery packs in order to drastically reduce the reliance on mining.

Recycling fast-charging LFP batteries, on the other hand, is widely considered a more complicated task and presents a weaker business case due to lower economic value of their content.

Driving dynamics matter

(Image credit: Porsche)

The other key factor for Porsche is driving dynamics, arguably one of the most important pillars of the brand.

Even its everyday electric SUV, the formidable Macan, is an absolute hoot to drive and will give many modern sports cars a run for their money on the race circuit.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development, says that there is a delicate balancing act to be had with overall weight, energy density and charging speeds, the perfect concoction of which will go into the marque’s long-awaited electric sports cars.

Both the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman are due to feature the next generation of Porsche’s EV powertrains, with Bitsche claiming that a range of around 370 miles on a single charge would be "enough" for most sports cars.

The company’s current 800V architecture allows for a max charging speed of 270kW, which is enough to brim the Taycan’s larger battery pack from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes.

Expect the Boxster and Cayman to feature smaller packs and new onboard charging tech, which in turn will likely see them charge even faster.

It is this notion of “being enough” for most users that Bitsche reiterates when confronted with the subject of Megawatt charging speeds, as he feels the additional technology and hardware required to make it work, not just from the manufacturer but the charging networks, has potential negative effects on the way a vehicle drives and a company’s bottom line.

An ultra-fast future

(Image credit: BYD)

Just this week, the Society of Automotive Engineers in the US just released a new SAE J3400/2 standard that defines the way a 1,000kW-capable North American Charging Standard connector and vehicle charge port will look like, proving its confidence in the technology.

However, as some critics have pointed out, even the Chinese real-world demonstrations only ever creep up to 1,000kW for a matter of seconds during charging sessions, before tapering off to a steady 600-odd kilowatts and then dropping back further.

As a result, some industry insiders believe it would be more beneficial (and cheaper) to build out a reliable network of 500kW chargers that can deliver those kind of speeds for a larger proportion of the charging session.

This would equate to 8 to 10-minute stops for many, which is the equivalent to the time spent at most gas stations, according to one white paper.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for a marque like Porsche, Megawatt charging is still a relative unknown, with little research available on the longevity of the battery technology after many years or the reliability of it in extreme weather conditions.

"Increasing the charging efficiency and decreasing charge times is one of our priorities," explains Dr. Matthias Goldsche, a physicist and battery expert at Porsche.

"But this isn't the only thing, as we think the next generation of cars can hit a sweet spot of acceptable daily range for the majority of our customers, fast charging speeds, driving dynamics and the ability to create long-lasting, reliable and recyclable batteries," he adds.

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You've heard of Wi-Fi, but here's what Li-Fi's unique technology may offer you.

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• Beelink Mate adds ports and storage without changing your Mac mini’s footprint
• Choose between higher speed or maximum 16TB storage capacity option
• Quiet fan cooling and full port selection are offered in a sleek metal design

The Beelink Mate mini docking station offers Mac mini M4 users a sleek way to expand both connectivity and storage.

Designed to match Apple’s compact desktop, it attaches underneath the Mac mini, maintaining a tidy footprint while adding additional functionality.

At its core, the Mate mini supports Thunderbolt 5 with 80Gbps data transfer speeds, allowing for fast external SSD performance and seamless device connectivity.

Choice of models

There are two models on offer. Model A features dual PCIe x2 M.2 slots and supports up to 16TB of storage. Model B offers a single PCIe x4 slot that delivers higher speeds, up to 6228MB/s read, but with less total capacity.

That trade-off highlights the dock's main drawback. To reach the full 16TB, you need the version that uses PCIe x2, which is slightly less efficient than the x4 configuration. For most users, this is unlikely to create any real issues.

That said, professionals working with massive files or needing the fastest transfer speeds might feel the pinch.

Aside from storage, the Mate mini delivers a full range of ports. These include a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, USB-A 3.0 ports, an SD 4.0 card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

A Type-C PD port also allows power delivery for peripherals that exceed the Mac mini’s built-in 15W output. Two Thunderbolt 5 cables are included in the box.

A quiet fan and 360° cooling vents help keep the system cool and stable, even during heavy use. The all-aluminum design is finished in silver to match the Mac mini and weighs just 250g.

Priced at $279 (down from $339), the Mate mini targets users looking to extend their Mac mini’s capability without taking up extra space. It may not be perfect, but it does fill a useful role for those seeking extra ports and storage.

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• Nearly half of IT teams don’t fully know what their AI agents are accessing daily
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• AI tools now need governance, audit trails, and control just like human employees

Despite growing enthusiasm for agentic AI across businesses, new research suggests that the rapid expansion of these tools is outpacing efforts to secure them.

A SailPoint survey of 353 IT professionals with enterprise security responsibilities has revealed a complex mix of optimism and anxiety over AI agents.

The survey reports 98% of organizations intend to expand their use of AI agents within the coming year.

AI Agents adoption outpaces security readiness

AI agents are being integrated into operations that handle sensitive enterprise data, from customer records and financials to legal documents and supply chain transactions - however, 96% of respondents said they view these very agents as a growing security threat.

One core issue is visibility: only 54% of professionals claim to have full awareness of the data their agents can access - which leaves nearly half of enterprise environments in the dark about how AI agents interact with critical information.

Compounding the problem, 92% of those surveyed agreed that governing AI agents is crucial for security, but just 44% have an actual policy in place.

Furthermore, eight in ten companies say their AI agents have taken actions they weren’t meant to - this includes accessing unauthorized systems (39%), sharing inappropriate data (33%), and downloading sensitive content (32%).

Even more troubling, 23% of respondents admitted their AI agents have been tricked into revealing access credentials, a potential goldmine for malicious actors.

One notable insight is that 72% believe AI agents present greater risks than traditional machine identities.

Part of the reason is that AI agents often require multiple identities to function efficiently, especially when integrated with high-performance AI tools or systems used for development and writing.

Calls for a shift to an identity-first model are growing louder, but SailPoint and others argue that organizations need to treat AI agents like human users, complete with access controls, accountability mechanisms, and full audit trails.

AI agents are a relatively new addition to the business space, and it will take time for organizations to fully integrate them into their operations.

“Many organizations are still early in this journey, and growing concerns around data control highlight the need for stronger, more comprehensive identity security strategies,” SailPoint concluded.

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• watchOS 26 is expected to be announced on Monday
• It should run on every watchOS 11-compatible watch
• A major visual overhaul is among the rumored changes

A new software update for the best Apple Watches is on the way, and we just got word about which models are going to be compatible with the new watchOS 26 (which is apparently the new name for watchOS 12).

According to a source "with a proven track record" in contact with MacRumors, every watch that's able to run watchOS 11 is also going to be able to run watchOS 26, so there won't be any devices that are left behind this year.

That means Apple smartwatches as far back as the Apple Watch Series 6 (launched in 2020) and the Apple Watch SE 2 (launched in 2022) are going to be eligible for the new update, as well as all the watches launched since.

If you remember back to last year, after the announcement of watchOS 11, we heard from Apple that the Series 5, Series 4 and the original SE wouldn't be getting the 2024 update. This time around, all the currently supported devices are included.

What's on the way?

WWDC 2025 is almost here (Image credit: Apple)

Apple hasn't said anything officially yet about watchOS 26 – not even that it's on the way or that it's getting a rebranding – but we've heard plenty of rumors about what the upcoming software update might be bringing with it.

As is mentioned in the same MacRumors article, there's a prediction that watchOS 26 is going to offer support for third-party shortcuts on the watch Control Center for the first time, which should mean an improved experience for users.

A new and improved visual interface is apparently on the way too, which would follow the lead of visionOS, with plenty of transparency and frosted glass effects. In fact, the same redesign is said to be coming for all of Apple's software platforms.

We're also hoping we might get a smattering of Apple Intelligence on the Apple Watch. All of these new features are scheduled to be announced at WWDC 2025 on Monday, before watchOS 26 is released this September with the Apple Watch 11.

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