Technology

• Microsoft is working to speed up boot times
• Over at IFA 2026 a Microsoft executive said that 'we've made significant gains' with startup speeds and more
• The exec also underlined Microsoft's commitment to get Windows 11 running more smoothly on 8GB PCs

Microsoft is readying a major boost to the performance of Windows 11 that should speed up boot times.

Windows Latest reports that at IFA 2026 last week a Microsoft exec confirmed improvements to boot speeds are inbound.

This was Mark Linton, who is VP of Windows & Devices at Microsoft, who told the tech site: "We've made significant gains on things like boot time, Windows Hello responsiveness."

Windows Hello is the secure login that's offered with Windows 11 – often facilitated via an infrared-supporting webcam and facial recognition – and that happening more swiftly, alongside a faster boot time, should mean you arrive at the desktop in a far more timely manner.

This work isn't in testing just yet, we're told, but Microsoft is still tinkering with ramping up boot performance in internal builds.

Analysis: performance promises are underlined

(Image credit: Windows/Unsplash)

The use of the word 'significant' is promising, and Windows Latest talks about getting to the lock screen 'almost immediately'. In fairness, Windows 11 already boots nippily (on my PC certainly), so we could be looking at effectively booting in the blink of an eye – fingers crossed.

As noted, this isn't even in preview builds of Windows 11 yet, but it should be here before too long. It's part of a larger effort and Microsoft's broad promise to make Windows 11 faster in general, ensuring that menus perform more responsively, and that apps load more swiftly (the latter is already rolling out in the form of a CPU boosting feature known as 'Low Latency Profile').

This performance boosting work is all the more important considering that 8GB laptops are making a resurgence – thanks to the RAM crisis pushing up notebook prices – and so Microsoft is also working to ensure that Windows 11 is more performant with that lesser memory configuration. Speaking of which, Windows Latest said that Microsoft also underlined its commitment to make sure that the desktop OS will run better on 8GB over at IFA 2026.

Linton said of Windows 11 that: "We're continuing to improve on the fundamentals," adding that: "We're optimizing so that 8 gig of RAM runs great on machines as well."

However, the exec didn't provide any estimates of what kind of performance jump might be expected – although that's hardly surprising at this early stage of the game.

When I receive an Earfun product to check out, I can usually count on it being way better quality than its price would suggest. And with the brand's gadgets seeing some solid discounts in the Labor Day deals, you can get an opportunity to enjoy them too.

In particular two of the brand's devices, both of which I've reviewed, have seen some discounts that you can't miss. And they're both pairs I'd consider buying if I were looking for something in the sales.

If you want a pair of over-ear headphones, then the Earfun Wave Pro is calling out for you. It's now available from Amazon for $59.99, down from $79.99, and we gave these cans an almost-perfect 4.5/5 review back when they launched in 2024. A new model called the Wave Pro X just launched, but they're pricier, so these older headphones are still easy to recommend.

People who'd rather use in-ear earbuds should look to the Earfun Air Pro 4, as you can get the white model for $68.37 at Amazon, which is 24% off from their $89.99 asking price. These earbuds were feature-packed (perhaps too much, as I said in my review), but they're great value for money. The newer Air Pro 4 Plus are better, but they haven't seen a discount, so I'd be happy settling for the non-Plus models.

If you see something else from Earfun discounted, we can recommend the brand; I've used them plenty beyond the standard review process. Just check out to see if we've reviewed it, because some of the brand's products are fantastic, and others are just 'good'.

• See every Labor Day deal live now at Amazon

Today's best Earfun deals

Wave Pro: was $79.99 now $59.99
It doesn't seem that Amazon's ever sold these over-ears for cheaper than $59.99 before, making this a great sale. You have to be an Amazon Prime member to enjoy the discount, though.View Deal

Air Pro 4: was $89.99 now $68.37
If you're interested in picking up these earbuds, bear in mind that only the white model are fully discounted. The black versions are available for $10 off, but the blue pair aren't discounted at all.View Deal

Not quite the cans or buds for you? We've got a roundup of the 9 best headphones/earbuds we've seen in the Labor Day sales that's broader.

Also, don't forget to check our more general Labor Day tech deals roundup with 70+ deals on appliances, TVs, laptops, fall must-haves, and more.

And above all, have a lovely day — and enjoy the music!

Shop more of today's best Labor Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Appliances: up to $1,200 at Samsung
• Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $349
• Saatva: up to $625 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off 4K, QLED & OLED TVs
• Target: 45% off clothing, tech & furniture
• Walmart: 58% off back-to-school, furniture, & clothing

• Microsoft reports phishing campaign using ASCII smuggling to bypass spam filters
• Attackers insert invisible characters into keywords, tricking filters and AI agents
• Defenders should normalize Unicode tags and flag unexpected invisible code points as suspicious

Cybercriminals are using the “ASCII smuggling” technique to make sure phishing emails pass security filters and land in people’s inboxes, experts have warned.

ASCII is a character encoding standard that turns characters and words humans can read into numeric values that computers can understand. It can also be used to create characters that aren’t even displayed on the screen (essentially “invisible” ones) but can still be read by the machine.

In a new report, security researchers from Microsoft found crooks are abusing this fact to distribute phishing emails. Most email providers offer solutions that filter out spam emails. These filters look for certain keywords and phrases, such as “funding”, “credit”, “loan”, and similar, and automatically send such emails to the spam folder.

Ongoing campaign

By adding a set of invisible characters in the middle of these keywords, the attackers can break them apart and thus “confuse” the filters.

While the human sees the word “funding” in their email, the security solution is seeing something like “fun[a long string of characters]ding”. This technique has been adopted from prompt injection attacks, where crooks would use ASCII smuggling to deliver malicious and invisible prompts in the emails.

Therefore, when a victim asks their AI agent to summarize the email, it ends up working on a prompt that could be anything from extracting sensitive data, to deploying malware.

Microsoft is saying the campaign has been ongoing for months, and while it peaked in February 2026 with more than 2.3 million emails every day, and has been in decline ever since, it remains active to this day. In early February, Microsoft observed a cluster of almost 150 sender domains, all themed around finance. These domains accounted for almost all (96%) of all the spam emails Defender for Office 365 flagged under ASCII smuggling.

Defending sounds relatively simple, though. IT teams should normalize Unicode tag characters and other invisible code points before applying any keyword detection. They should also consider all unexpected tag-block characters as suspicious.

Via BleepingComputer

You probably have tens, if not hundreds of passwords floating around across all the online accounts you use every week. In fact, the average person has over 150 passwords. It's not easy to remember them all, making it more attractive to keep them simple and similar - but that can lead to a serious chain of account theft.

That's why password managers like Keeper exist. They generate strong passwords and store them passwords in a secured vault to keep them safe from hackers and prying eyes. They even autofill your credentials to make logging in to your account faster and easier.

Keeper has cut prices on its personal, family, and business starter plans by up to 50%. Keeper regularly scores highly in our reviews, and includes great features across Personal, Family, and Business plans.

Get up to 50% off Keeper plans

Keeper is offering 50% off its Personal and Family plans, making it even more affordable to secure both personal and household accounts. The Family plan covers multiple users with five secured vaults, making it perfect for shared accounts without the hassle of mixing browsers and reusing passwords.

Keeper Business Starter is discounted by 30%, and is an excellent choice for small teams looking for a credentials control platform without the complexity and hassle of enduring an enterprise rollout. It includes centralized management, secure password sharing, and role-based access, cleanly organizing your passwords without unnecessary complications.

The full terms and pricing are available on the Keeper site.View Deal

Why we recommend Keeper

Our Keeper review highlights the platform's zero knowledge architecture and device level encryption that helps keep your password vault secured against unwanted intrusions.

Where Keeper really shone was in our usability and convenience testing. We loved how Keeper uses biometric security to access your vault, rather than requiring a master password with each log in. By using a facial scan or fingerprint to verify that its actually you accessing your vault, it adds a fast but secure method of verification to ensure its you, and not a nefarious actor.

For households, the Family Plan includes five private vaults, allowing you to quickly share Wi-Fi or streaming passwords using Keeper's shared vaults.

The Business Starter plan covers 5 users, covering an unlimited devices, shared team folders, user activity reporting for IT admins, and a free Family Plan for every team member.

These discounts apply to the first year only, so the value is highest for new customers or anyone switching from a monthly plan. After that, pricing goes back to standard rates.

This wearable-cum-desktop robot is one of the most unique AI devices I saw at IFA in Berlin.

• Invoke Studios head Dominic Guay says Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons has "deep-cut" inspirations from the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG)
• He adds that the game will still have a mystery for new and experienced Dungeons & Dragons players
• Guay says, "We wanted players coming fresh, with no knowledge of D&D, to kind of figure things out as they play"

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons draws much inspiration from the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), but Invoke Studios head Dominic Guay says the game will still offer mystery for even experienced D&D players.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom, Guay discussed the many "deep-cut" D&D elements Invoke applied to Warlock, such as monsters, items, and spells; he also touched on the game's setting, Darkon, a realm within Ravenloft's Domains of Dread.

Players can explore Darkon's open world and uncover its secrets in the classic D&D way, which will take "tens of hours," confirming Warlock isn't a 100-hour campaign.

"There have been books written about it. Some of it is deep cuts, but it's still really good material we tapped into," Guay said, but explained that it didn't want to create a D&D game whose world experienced fans are already familiar with.

"We don't want to create a game where if you know D&D, you're like, 'Oh, I know everything,'" he said. "We want players to live that mystery of figuring out, what's that place, what are the rules of that place? So a lot of players are familiar with Ravenloft, which is another Domain of Dread, and that'll give them some insight into some of the things happening.

"But we wanted players coming fresh, with no knowledge of D&D, to kind of figure things out as they play."

Guay also confirmed Warlock has many D&D tropes, whether that's finding a secret door or dodging a trap, suggesting the game will be authentic to the TTRPG.

"We're doing these things in a way that's trying to replicate the feeling, but in real time without rolling down dice or doing these kinds of things," he said.

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is slated to launch in 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Kodak PixPro AZ653: two-Minute Review

If you thought bridge cameras (aka superzoom cameras) were a thing of the past, you’re probably not alone. This area of the photography market hasn’t received too much attention over the past few years, especially now that the lower end of the mirrorless camera arena has some solid options, providing decent specs at a reasonable price.

However, the main selling point of bridges camera has always been the expansive zoom range, something the Kodak PixPro AZ653 has in absolute abundance. The 24-1560mm equivalent zoom lens will cover just about every subject you could possibly hope to encounter, from everyday street scenes to distant wildlife. My favorite lens is my 70-200mm f/2.8 'trinity' zoom, but after having such a long zoom range at my fingertips, it has been tough to go back to a mere 2.8x zoom, even if that lens' wider aperture and quality are streets above for quality.

If you’re after a lightweight camera to take with you on your travels, and you don’t know exactly what photographic opportunities you’re likely to come across, the AZ653 is a petite option that will cover every base.

Autofocus is smooth, if not the fastest you can find on a camera at this price point. It certainly won’t be able to keep up with the fastest animal subjects, so if you’re looking for a wildlife camera, you might be better off with an interchangeable lens model that uses high-end phase detection AF. For slower animals at a distance, however, the massive focal range positions the AZ653 as a good, budget-friendly safari camera.

The huge 65x zoom is compact and lightweight – much more so than a mirrorless APS-C or full-frame zoom of lower magnification. (Image credit: Peter Fenech)

Image quality, meanwhile, is impressive for a bridge camera, especially one with such a small sensor. The limited area of the chip does place limitations on what the camera can achieve, because of the tiny photo sites, but in good light at least, images are sharp and detailed, even if they do suffer from extreme color noise.

Handling, meanwhile, is decidedly DSLR-like, which is a good thing if you’re used to a larger camera body. It’s comfortable to hold and to operate single-handed, while all of the controls are logically placed. Having a manual control ring on the lens is a huge bonus too, giving the AZ653 a premium edge and a professional look to boot.

It might not be an image quality match for a pro-level mirrorless camera, nor is it going to outgun even the entry-level interchangeable lens offerings from Canon or Nikon, but the Kodak AZ653 is a powerful bridge camera that goes easy on the shoulder and on the bank balance.

Kodak PixPro AZ653: Price and release date

• $449 / £349 / AU$ 750.99
• Available worldwide now
• Limited availability/ backorder lists current in the UK

The AZ653 is designed largely for entry-level users who aren’t ready to invest in an interchangeable lens system, or photographers looking to minimize their kit. The camera is available globally, priced affordably at $449 / £349 / AU$ 750.99.

This makes it significantly cheaper than buying a mirrorless camera with a comparable specification and adding a super telephoto lens. For example, a Canon EOS R100 and RF800mm F11 STM telephoto prime lens would set you back a combined price of approximately $1228 / £1359 / AU$ 2000.

It also costs around 7x less than the Sony RX10 V — a premium bridge camera launched this year, which is superior in most regards except for its lesser zoom range.

• Price score: 4/5

Kodak AZ653: Specs

Type:

Bridge camera

Sensor:

20.68MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS

Lens mount:

N/A, Integrated 65x (24-1560mm f/2.9-6.7 equiv) power zoom

Displays:

Main LCD - fixed 3.0-inch LCD (460k dots)

Memory:

SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards up to 1.5 TB (Class 10 or faster recommended)

Video:

Full HD 1080p recording at up to 30 fps

ISO range:

100-3200

Burst shooting

5fps

Processor:

Not specified

Connectivity:

BlueTooth, USB-C, Wi-Fi

Dimensions:

126.0 x 89.0 x 111.4 mm

Weight:

20.7oz/588g

Kodak PixPro AZ653: design

• Small and lightweight body made possible by the small sensor format
• Reasonable build quality, though mostly plastic
• Fixed 3-inch LCD makes composing shots difficult

Bridge cameras are, by definition, designed to bring together the size and weight benefits of a compact camera with the superior handling characteristics of a DSLR or mirrorless model. By bridging this gap, cameras like the AZ653 are able to offer a generally unrivalled balance of portability and versatility. At least, that’s the objective.

Of course, this was far more of an obvious benefit before the advent of the mirrorless revolution. The difference in size and weight between a Bridge camera and a DSLR such as the Nikon D850 was far more pronounced than between the AZ653 and an entry-level mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R100 or Nikon Z30. Even higher-end cameras like the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Nikon Z50 II, Sony a7C II, or Fujifilm X-T5 with a standard zoom lens have a comparable footprint.

That last part is important, though. The lens on the AZ653 is anything but standard. As soon as you take the vast zoom range into account, the projected weight differences diverge dramatically. I say projected since the exact dimensions of a mirrorless equivalent to the 65x zoom can only be estimated – no such lens exists.

The EFL (Effective Focal Length) 24-1560mm F2.9-6.7 optic is only possible because of the smaller 1/2.3in sensor at the heart of the camera, and if you were to try and build a similar lens with an image circle big enough to cover an APS-C or full-frame sensor, it would be more like a telescope than a photography optic.

The Kodak AZ653 is well-proportioned and very comfortable to hold. The deep handgrip is reassuring and allowed a firm grip even with my large-ish hands. Despite the body’s small size, there is ample room for around three fingers on the lower part of the grip at one time, while the forefinger sits precisely over the shutter button.

(Image credit: Peter Fenech)

The zoom control surrounds the shutter release and operates with minimal travel, allowing rapid activation of the power zoom. A nice touch is the ability to zoom using the control ring on the lens instead, which is a far more intuitive action for photographers who have committed two-handed camera work to muscle memory. The downside is an artificially long zoom travel; it takes multiple twists of the ring to zoom from the widest focal length to the longest.

The feel of the zoom indicates it's an electronic fly-by-wire system, where the ring isn’t physically connected to anything mechanical, but merely acts as a switch that drives a motor to move the lens elements.

With an optical system this long, the operation is slow and at times, a little stuttery – the zoom stops halfway through its journey and there’s an obvious pause while the onboard computer recalculates where it should be placing the elements. This proved frustrating during my testing, and resulted in multiple missed shots.

Manual focus was a little more successful when using the ring, and I could make relatively precise adjustments. You can access this by moving the position of a switch on the lens barrel, which is another nod to the DSLR influence and adds to the professional experience. The magnified preview image is low-resolution, however, and isn’t especially useful.

The camera features a PASM mode (exposure) dial on the top plate, next to the power button. This provides access to the usual array of control modes, including full Manual and Auto, along with several creative shooting positions, including Scene modes, a Wireless mode for remote operation and file sharing, Movie Mode, Face Beautifier mode for in-camera retouching, and a Custom setting position.

The dial itself is too easily moved in my opinion. In several cases, I’d switched mode without realising, either because I’d nudged the dial with my finger or while getting the camera in and out of my bag, which again meant some missed shots.

The build quality is actually quite good. It is largely made from plastic, but this feels reinforced and not significantly inferior to many recent mid-range mirrorless cameras. I wouldn’t necessarily trust its resistance to rain and dust as such, but the outer shell doesn’t give the impression of cheapness, while the rubberised grip and viewfinder surround lend a more premium edge.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Kodak PixPro AZ653: performance

• The power zoom system is slow, especially when using the lens control ring
• The camera is not as quick to boot up and shut down as comparably priced mirrorless models
• Focus speed itself is quite snappy

With such a long zoom range, there’s always a risk of sluggish autofocus performance. This is often purely because of the additional glass elements needed to provide such a great magnification, making it a more demanding task for the autofocus motors. That being said, the actual dimensions of the optical system are much smaller than the effective image results – the lens is a physical 4.3mm to 279.5mm unit.

As such, the elements are quickly moved into position once the camera has found the correct focus distance, with minimal delay. It’s not quite as smooth as the stepper motors or ultrasonic drives found in many top-level mirrorless optics, nor is it as quiet, but it puts in a respectable performance for the price.

The limiting factor is going to be the autofocus system in the camera itself. Unlike the majority of mirrorless cameras, which use phase-detection AF, the AZ653 shares the slower contrast detection system found in many compact cameras, smartphones and older interchangeable lens bodies.

(Image credit: Peter Fenech)

Without dwelling for too long on the technical specifics, phase-detection autofocus uses specialized sensors to measure the focus position of the lens by looking at how front- or back-focused the light projected through it is. Meanwhile, the AZ653’s contrast-detection AF merely looks for edges of objects in the frame to estimate how far it has to move the lens to get the maximum contrast.

As such, contrast detection has a tendency to hunt, moving the lens elements back and forth to test the correct placement. As expected, this slows down reaction times and isn’t suitable for rapid sports and animal subjects.

The EVF is small but fairly detailed. All of the relevant camera settings are displayed, and it is sharp enough to judge focus with ease. The LCD, on the other hand, is underwhelming. It makes use of only 460K dots, which isn’t enough to accurately assess the quality of captured images.

All files look smudged, not helped by the matte texture of the screen itself. The non-glossy surface makes it easier to preview images in bright light, but critical sharpness is almost impossible to check with any sense of confidence.

Peter FenechPeter FenechPeter Fenech

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Kodak PixPro AZ653: Image quality

• Surprising quality in good lighting
• Mushy JPEGs even at low ISO settings
• Limited to Full HD (1080p) video - no 4K or greater

Image quality is quite surprising. In good light, RAW format files from the AZ653 are rich in detail, and the lens is able to deliver crisp results. Having the RAW capability is a huge bonus and can honestly be considered a staple feature of an enthusiast camera now that many smartphones come equipped with their own RAW mode.

Kodak has been smart not to overstretch the sensor with resolution. The 20 million pixels are more than enough for everyday uses, and by keeping pixel count lower than most APS-C and Micro 4/3 cameras, the AZ653 is able to maintain a workable level of noise control and a reasonable dynamic range.

Sure, highlights clip more easily than when shooting the same scene on both the AZ653 and an APS-C model like the 26MP Fujifilm X100VI, but the performance is better than many larger-sensor cameras of last decade.

In-camera JPEG shooting is a different matter, and the quality is far less impressive. Default noise reduction is too aggressive and fine detail is rapidly obliterated, creating a smudged look common to compact cameras. Color noise reduction itself isn’t especially effective either, leaving behind too many colored blotches.

When shooting RAW, I was able to increase the ISO to about 800 before grain became a major problem which is, once again, impressive. My advice would be to increase the sensitivity of the AZ653 rather than to brighten underexposed RAW files — unlike many of the more ISO-invariant cameras we see today — this should produce a better balance of image texture and noise pattern.

Regarding lens quality, sharpness does drop off towards the long end of the zoom range. The slightly blurred results reminded me of shots taken with a budget Tamron 70-300mm DSLR lens I used to own back in the day – fine detail just isn’t present, almost as if your shots were taken through a greasy window. Files are usable on Instagram, but won’t be suitable for prints.

Peter FenechPeter FenechPeter FenechPeter FenechPeter FenechPeter FenechPeter Fenech

(Image credit: Peter Fenech)

(Image credit: Peter Fenech)

• Image quality score: 3/5

Testing Scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Price

Many smartphones will give you better quality, but not a 1560mm lens for less than $500.

4/5

Design

I love the deep handgrip and tactile control ring – both premium flourishes. The poor LCD is disappointing though.

3.5/5

Performance

The processing power is limited and startup/ shutdown and operation is slow

3.5/5

Image quality

It's passible in good even light, but the small photosites can't keep up after dark

3/5

Should I buy the Kodak PixPro AZ653?Buy it if…

You need a huge zoom range without the cost
Let's be honest, you aren't going to find this kind of magnifying power for a DSLR or mirrorless camera for less than five to ten times the price. If you're heading off on safari, this might be the best option for your budget.

You need a portable camera with decent handling
The deep handgrip and button positions give the AZ653 a distinctly DSLR-like feel, and it's all the better for it. If you like the convenience of a compact but the handling of a bigger camera, this will serve you right.

You mainly shoot for social media
If you mostly just upload your images to Instagram or shoot reels for TikTok, the quality you can get from the AZ653 will be more than adequate

Don’t buy it if…

You shoot a lot of portraits
The small sensor provides great magnification, but the downside is heavily reduced depth-of-field control. Even at the max aperture backgrounds are hard to blur, making environmental portraits unappealing.

You need absolute image quality
There are smartphones with much bigger sensors out there, such as the iPhone 17 Pro, and you might have that with you for everyday tasks anyway. The AZ653 struggles above ISO800 and out-of-camera JPEGs are sometimes terrible View Deal

You want to expand a camera system
The Kodak AZ653 is a great first camera, but you can pick up an entry-level mirrorless camera for similar money, especially second-hand. Yes, you'll lose the 65x zoom, but if you don't routinely shoot cheetahs from afar, you won't miss this. A mirrorless system will allow you build a lens collection from the start.

Also consider

Nikon Coolpix P1100
It's a bit pricier, at around $900 - $1000, but this buys you an even greater 125 x zoom up to 3000mm EFL, an f/2.8 maximum aperture, 4K UHD video, and a 3in articulating, 921k-dot LCD screen. You still have to make do with a 1/2.3in sensor though, and an even lower 16 megapixel resolution.

Read our Nikon P1000 review

Sony RX10 V
Considered the best bridge camera ever made, this is a serious piece of kit. Featuring a 1-inch stacked sensor and a 24-600mm lens, it still gives you a good focal range, while also offering bigger pixels for better light-gathering and signal-to-noise ratio. It's anything but cheap though; expect to pay about the same as for an entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera.

Read our Sony RX10 V review

How I tested the Kodak PixPro AZ653

• I spent around two and a half weeks with the AZ653
• Images were taken in both good light and low-light conditions, shooting in JPEG mode and RAW
• Most images were shot handheld to test the usability at longer focal lengths

(Image credit: Peter Fenech)

I spent several weeks shooting with the PixPro AZ653, taking in multiple different lighting conditions. I shot in both JPEG and RAW formats to see how differently the built-in processing algorithms might process the images to my own RAW workflow.

Since one of the reasons to buy a bridge camera is for weight saving, I decided to shoot mainly handheld, as this would be how many users would experience the camera. I wanted to thoroughly check the ease with which someone might capture sharp images at the longer focal lengths.

I mainly used Aperture Priority (A) and Manual (M) modes for both creative freedom and to test the auto exposure systems.

To explore the noise performance, I shot with the camera at each ISO setting, from 100 through to 3200, using a tripod to ensure any drop in sharpness was not due to camera shake at the lower sensitivities. I also worked through the focal range, capturing the same scenes from the widest to the longest zoom settings.

First reviewed: September 2026

Labor Day sales aren't just about clothing, furniture, and appliances. Retailers are offering impressive discounts on tech devices, and Amazon has some of our top-rated gadgets on sale.

• Shop Amazon's full Labor Day sale

You can save up to 60% on OLED TVs, iPads, smart home gadgets, smartwatches, and headphones from brands like LG, Sony, Apple, Garmin, and more. As TechRadar's deals editor with nine years of experience covering Labor Day sales, I've gone through today's offers from Amazon and curated a list of the best tech deals.

Most of the products below have been tested and reviewed here at TechRadar, and they're on the list because of the value they offer. A few of my favorite deals include the uber-popular Fire TV Stick 4K Select for just $17.99, Sony's excellent WH-1000XM5 Headphones on sale for $198 (a 50% discount!), and our best-rated TV, LG's 55-inch C5 OLED on sale for a record-low price of $1,299.99.

Shop more of my top tech deals below, and keep in mind that Amazon's Labor Day sale ends at midnight. This might be your last chance to grab a bargain before the next big holiday sale: Black Friday.

Amazon's Labor Day sale – quick links

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Back-to-school: backpacks, tech & supples from $5
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Grills: Weber & Ninja from $179
• Halloween: decor, costumes & books from $8
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

Amazon's top 10 Labor Day tech deals

Fire TV Stick 4K Select: was $49.99 now $19.99
Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is down to just $19.99 for Labor Day. Since it's only a few bucks more than the cheaper HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade and get higher-resolution streaming—as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but that is more than enough for everyday use.View Deal

The Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones offer fantastic sound for the price, thanks to a precision-engineered driver unit and support for High-Resolution audio. There’s also a long battery life of up to 30 hours, while the headphones feel super comfy to wear.View Deal

Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED 4K TV: was $499.99 now $329.99
The latest Amazon Omni QLED is a brilliant budget TV that delivers solid picture quality and strong gaming features, including 4K 60Hz, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, at an affordable price. This Labor Day discount brings the 55-inch model to $329.99, which is an incredible price for a QLED display of this size.View Deal

AirTag 4 Pack (2nd generation): was $99 now $79.99
You can get the best-selling Apple AirTag 4 Pack for $79.99, which is the lowest price we've ever seen. A great way to track a child's backpack or luggage, the AirTag can be attached to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone can locate it.View Deal

It's not every day that we see a discount on a top-rated Garmin smartwatch — especially one that's our number one pick from all of the manufacturer's wearables. The Venu 4 is the perfect all-rounder, excelling in usability, performance, and design.View Deal

65-inch U7 Mini-LED QLED TV: was $1499.99 now $897.99
This Hisense U7 Series delivers top TV tech for the money in a reasonably sized display, including a bright, vibrant QLED panel with excellent contrast and a high 165Hz refresh rate for smooth images. It will excel as a TV for watching sports, streaming all your favorite shows and movies, and playing the latest games.View Deal

The AirPods 4 are Apple's cheapest AirPods, and you can find them on sale for $99, which is the lowest price we've seen this year and just $30 shy of the record-low. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and feature Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You also get a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and support for wireless charging via USB-C.

Read our full Apple AirPods 4 reviewView Deal

Mini 2K+: was $39.99 now $21.99
Don’t underestimate its size (and price point, for that matter), because this tiny security camera boasts a hi-res 2K camera and a spotlight for nighttime visibility. Thanks to Amazon's Labor Day sale, you can get the latest version of the security camera for under $22.View Deal

55-inch C6 OLED TV: was $1599.99 now $1299.99
The LG C6 is the successor to our best-rated TV, LG's C5 OLED, and the 55-inch model is on sale for $1,499.99. The 2026 OLED TV delivers more accurate, brighter colors than the C5 with powerful contrast thanks to its new Alpha 11 AI processor. The C6 also includes impressive gaming features and LG's intuitive smart TV platform.

Read our full LG C6 reviewView Deal

EarPods Headphones with Lightning Connector: was $19 now $14.88
If you haven't heard, wired headphones are all the rage, which is why Apple's EarPods for $14.88 are an excellent early Prime Day deal. A slim, quality-looking design, clear sound, and comfortable fit are just a few of their best qualities. This model works with all devices that have a Lightning connector – which is iPhone 14 and before – so if you've got a newer iPhone, you'll instead want the USB-C version ($16.99 at Amazon).View Deal

Amazon Labor Day Apple deals

AirTag 4 Pack (2nd generation): was $99 now $79.99
You can get the best-selling Apple AirTag 4 Pack for $79.99, which is the lowest price we've ever seen. A great way to track a child's backpack or luggage, the AirTag can be attached to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone can locate it.View Deal

EarPods Headphones with Lightning Connector: was $19 now $14.88
If you haven't heard, wired headphones are all the rage, which is why Apple's EarPods for $14.88 are an excellent early Prime Day deal. A slim, quality-looking design, clear sound, and comfortable fit are just a few of their best qualities. This model works with all devices that have a Lightning connector – which is iPhone 14 and before – so if you've got a newer iPhone, you'll instead want the USB-C version ($16.99 at Amazon).View Deal

The AirPods 4 are Apple's cheapest AirPods, and you can find them on sale for $99, which is the lowest price we've seen this year and just $30 shy of the record-low. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and feature Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You also get a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and support for wireless charging via USB-C.

Read our full Apple AirPods 4 reviewView Deal

Amazon has the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation on sale for $148.99, which is the best deal you can find right now. The AirPods 4 feature a new comfortable design, handy controls, and Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation.

Read our full AirPods 4 with ANC reviewView Deal

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $199.99
Apple's premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds deliver true flagship audio, and the noise-canceling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods.View Deal

This is another fantastic Apple deal, just in time for the new school season. Amazon has the Apple Watch Series 11 on sale for $299, just $20 more than the record-low price. The thinnest Apple Watch yet, with a wraparound LTPO3 OLED display, it looks great and packs Apple Intelligence-powered smarts and a boosted battery, clocking in at 24 hours of average use.

Read our full Apple Watch 11 reviewView Deal

iPad 11-inch (A16, 2025): was $449 now $399.99
Apple's latest base iPad is $50 off at Amazon, bringing the price to $ 399.99. The biggest upgrade over the previous generation is the newer A16 chip for faster performance, and you'll also get double the standard storage (128GB instead of 64GB). Other features include a sharp 11-inch Liquid Retina display and solid 12MP front- and rear-facing cameras, making this iPad the best for casual streamers and scrollers.

Read our full 11-inch iPad A16 reviewView Deal

11-inch iPad Air M4,: was $749 now $649
The 2026 iPad Air M4 is now on sale at Amazon for $649 - that's the lowest price we've seen since Apple's price hikes in June. The 11-inch iPad Air delivers laptop-like speed and power thanks to Apple's M4 processor, plus you're getting 12GB of RAM, Bluetooth 6 support, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

Read our full 11-inch iPad Air M4 reviewView Deal

The MacBook Neo is in stock in all colors at Amazon, with a small $10 price cut. While we've seen the budget MacBook drop to $589.99, this is the best deal we've seen since the price hike in July. It's also an incredible price for a feature-packed MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

MacBook Pro 14.2-inch (M5): was $1999 now $1849.99
Apple's M5 chip (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) is paired with 16GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD, in a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 24 hours of battery life. Amazon's Labor Day discount is the best price you can find right now.View Deal

Amazon Labor Day TV deals

24-inch Select Series HD Smart TV: was $121.67 now $99.99
Amazon's Labor Day sale has Roku's best-selling 24-inch HD smart TV for just $99.99. For that price, you get HD resolution, an enhanced voice remote, and Roku's excellent smart TV interface.View Deal

32-inch 2-Series HD Fire TV: was $159.99 now $143.99
If you're looking for a cheap set for an extra bedroom, Amazon's best-selling 32-inch 2-Series HD smart TV is $143.99. While the Amazon 2-Series TV lacks 4K resolution, it offers smart capabilities through the Fire TV experience and Amazon Alexa, providing hands-free control.View Deal

43-inch F50 Series HD 4K Smart Fire TV: was $199.99 now $139.99
If you're looking for a small budget TV, this 43-inch Insignia display is an incredible deal at just $139.99. The Insignia F50 Series TV features 4K HD resolution, DTS Studio Sound, smart capabilities with the Fire TV operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV.View Deal

Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED 4K TV: was $499.99 now $329.99
The latest Amazon Omni QLED is a brilliant budget TV that delivers solid picture quality and strong gaming features, including 4K 60Hz, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, at an affordable price. This Labor Day discount brings the 55-inch model to $329.99, which is an incredible price for a QLED display of this size.View Deal

55-inch C6 OLED TV: was $1599.99 now $1499.99
The LG C6 is the successor to our best-rated TV, LG's C5 OLED, and the 55-inch model is on sale for $1,499.99. The 2026 OLED TV delivers more accurate, brighter colors than the C5 with powerful contrast thanks to its new Alpha 11 AI processor. The C6 also includes impressive gaming features and LG's intuitive smart TV platform.

Read our full LG C6 reviewView Deal

65-inch U7 Mini-LED QLED TV: was $1499.99 now $897.99
This Hisense U7 Series delivers top TV tech for the money in a reasonably sized display, including a bright, vibrant QLED panel with excellent contrast and a high 165Hz refresh rate for smooth images. It will excel as a TV for watching sports, streaming all your favorite shows and movies, and playing the latest games.View Deal

65-Inch C5 OLED TV: was $2699.99 now $1396.99
The LG C5 OLED is TechRadar's best-rated TV, and Amazon has the 65-inch model on sale for $1,396.99 thanks to a whopping $1,300 discount. Awarded five out of five stars in our review, the OLED display delivers an outstanding picture thanks to LG's Alpha 9 AI processor Gen8, impressive gaming features, and a comprehensive smart platform featuring all-new AI capabilities.View Deal

85-inch QM6K Series Mini LED QLED TV: was $1197.99 now $1056.68
Here is an Amazon exclusive deal on a massive display. You can get TCL's 85-inch QM6K Series for $1,056.68, which is an incredible price for a TV of this size. A truly great budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality and solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank.View Deal

Amazon Labor Day Amazon device deals

Fire TV Stick 4K Select: was $49.99 now $19.99
Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is down to just $19.99 for Labor Day. Since it's only a few bucks more than the cheaper HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade and get higher-resolution streaming—as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but that is more than enough for everyday use.View Deal

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max streams the same content at the same quality as the standard 4K version, but the extra power inside delivers faster app navigation. Plus, it uses Wi-Fi 6E technology to deliver a more stable, consistent streaming experience.View Deal

Battery Doorbell 2K (newest model): was $99.99 now $69.99
I already own the best-selling Ring Video Doorbell and can't imagine living without it. The smart doorbell features a built-in battery and lets you see, hear, and speak to anyone from your phone or computer. You also get 2K video resolution, so your videos are crisp and clear. View Deal

Mini 2K+: was $39.99 now $21.99
Don’t underestimate its size (and price point, for that matter), because this tiny security camera boasts a hi-res 2K camera and a spotlight for nighttime visibility. Thanks to Amazon's Labor Day sale, you can get the latest version of the security camera for under $22.View Deal

Battery Doorbell 2K+: was $69.99 now $41.99
You can get the all-new Blink Video Doorbell 2K+ for only $41.99. The Blink doorbell alerts you when it detects motion and features infrared night vision, two-way audio, a two-year battery life, and an expanded field of view.View Deal

If you're looking for a robust smart speaker, Amazon has the Echo Dot on sale for $54.99. Amazon's best-selling smart speaker offers an improved audio experience, plus a new temperature sensor and all the handy features from Alexa, like playing music, answering questions, and checking the weather, completely hands-free.View Deal

Amazon's Echo Spot is a solid smart alarm clock that pairs a 2.83-inch touchscreen with a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker. With Alexa onboard, you can ask the assistant for the weather, play music, or, of course, schedule alarms. This Labor Day deal brings the price down to $69.99.View Deal

Whether you want advanced features like Lossless High-Definition audio and Automatic Room Adaptation, or you just love the idea of a more premium-looking speaker with faster Alexa responses, the Echo Dot Max is a great choice.View Deal

Amazon's best-selling Echo Show 5 is down to $69.99. The latest version of the Echo Show 5 features a compact 5.5-inch display but packs impressive sound with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Voice controls are enabled through Amazon Alexa, while you can use the smart screen to listen to podcasts, watch movies, stream videos, play music, and more.View Deal

Amazon's larger smart display is $60 off at Amazon's Labor Day sale. The Echo Show 11 boasts a vibrant 11-inch Full HD screen and spatial audio support for room-filling sound when you listen to music or watch videos. With Alexa+ support, too, you get access to all of its advanced AI features and an easy way to connect and control other smart devices around your home.View Deal

The latest Echo Show 15 got a big refresh when it launched, bringing its specs up to speed and offering a better Alexa experience. These were the first smart displays from Amazon to see the Alexa+ treatment and, naturally, offer one of the better user experiences with Amazon's gen AI-boosted subscription service.View Deal

Amazon Labor Day headphone deals

EarPods Headphones with Lightning Connector: was $19 now $14.88
If you haven't heard, wired headphones are all the rage, which is why Apple's EarPods for $14.88 are an excellent early Prime Day deal. A slim, quality-looking design, clear sound, and comfortable fit are just a few of their best qualities. This model works with all devices that have a Lightning connector – which is iPhone 14 and before – so if you've got a newer iPhone, you'll instead want the USB-C version ($16.99 at Amazon).View Deal

The AirPods 4 are Apple's cheapest AirPods, and you can find them on sale for $99, which is the lowest price we've seen this year and just $30 shy of the record-low. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and feature Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You also get a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and support for wireless charging via USB-C.

Read our full Apple AirPods 4 reviewView Deal

Amazon has the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation on sale for $148.99, which is the best deal you can find right now. The AirPods 4 feature a new comfortable design, handy controls, and Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation.

Read our full AirPods 4 with ANC reviewView Deal

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $199.99
Apple's premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds deliver true flagship audio, and the noise-canceling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods.View Deal

With class-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and all-day battery life, you'll love listening to your favorite music for hours on end. Even though we've seen the Bose QuietComfort Headphones for slightly cheaper in the past, this is still the next best deal for these four-star headphones.View Deal

The Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones offer fantastic sound for the price, thanks to a precision-engineered driver unit and support for High-Resolution audio. There’s also a long battery life of up to 30 hours, while the headphones feel super comfy to wear.View Deal

Right now, you can grab the incredible Sony WH-1000XM6 for $60 less during Amazon's Labor Day sale, bringing them to their lowest price yet. These headphones offer beautifully balanced audio output, top-tier touch controls, a comfortable fit, and noise-crushing ANC to block out unwanted sounds.View Deal

Amazon Labor Day smartwatch deals

This is another fantastic Apple deal, just in time for the new school season. Amazon has the Apple Watch Series 11 on sale for $299, just $20 more than the record-low price. The thinnest Apple Watch yet, with a wraparound LTPO3 OLED display, it looks great and packs Apple Intelligence-powered smarts and a boosted battery, clocking in at 24 hours of average use.

Read our full Apple Watch 11 reviewView Deal

It's not every day that we see a discount on a top-rated Garmin smartwatch — especially one that's our number one pick from all of the manufacturer's wearables. The Venu 4 is the perfect all-rounder, excelling in usability, performance, and design.View Deal

Fenix 8 (43mm): was $999.99 now $749.99
Save an impressive $250 off the listing price of the Garmin Fenix 8. You can normally find them discounted to around $850 during sales events, but this is the cheapest Fenix 8 model we've ever seen. The 43mm size discount is only available in Silver and Whitestone, with black models costing more.

Garmin Fenix 8 (47mm): was $999.99 now $838.99

Read our full Garmin Fenix 8 reviewView Deal

Fenix 8 Pro (47mm, AMOLED): was $1199.99 now $949.99
Save another $250 off the top-end Garmin Fenix 8 Pro. An unbelievable watch, as well as all the cool stuff in the Garmin Fenix 8, you get two-way satellite connectivity, allowing you to send emergency messages for free (and two-way messaging with a Garmin inReach subscription) along with LTE connectivity to make it a true smartwatch.

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (51mm): was $1,299.99 now $1,049.99

Read our full Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (MicroLED) reviewView Deal

• More mods are out for DLSS 5
• They allow for the tech to be easily used with many more PC games
• One of these mods also alters the way in which DLSS 5 is applied to improve performance considerably — at a cost

As you've no doubt seen, modders have been having a field day messing about with Nvidia's DLSS 5, and the latest experiments include a trick to boost performance in a big way, and a method of easily running the tech in a lot more games.

Let's start with the latter, which as TweakTown reports is the DLSS 5 Swapper app which appeared on GitHub courtesy of developer Rakan Alkhaldi.

This takes the pain out of having to manually fudge DLSS 5 to work in unsupported games by automating the process, adding all the required files in the blink of an eye. You just drag and drop the game folder into the app, and it takes care of everything from there.

Swapper can even detect games on the PC it's installed on which can have DLSS 5 modded in. Not every game is supported, of course, but plenty are — and any given title doesn't necessarily have to have DLSS support at all, in any form (this is achieved via another community mod called DLSS 5 Feeder which is included with Swapper).

A similar tool, DLSS 5 Autopilot, published by 'Kizzuwatnaa' and also on Github, offers one-click DLSS 5 setup (via Feeder) along with an additional trick in the form of the 'neural upstream' add-on (from 'matiasLombo'). This runs the neural rendering (AI) process before the DLSS upscaling happens.

Normally, the AI polishing that DLSS 5 applies is performed as the last step of the rendering process to the upscaled final frame, but if you choose this option with Autopilot, it's happening earlier in the chain of events.

Based on experiments detailed on Reddit (posted by ToxicFatee), this makes a major difference to performance. The Redditor has an RTX 4080, and ran Assassin's Creed Shadows at 4K which went from 63 frames per second (fps) to 31fps with DLSS 5, but it was around 50fps with the neural upstream take on DLSS 5. That's a 20% loss, and a far more palatable hit on the frame rate rather than it being cut in half.

Others have aired similar results on Reddit, and there's plenty of excitement about what's being achieved with this mod (and the automated implementation of DLSS 5 across all manner of games). As one Redditor put it: "Absolutely amazing time to be a PC gamer."

Analysis: tread carefully with unofficial mods

(Image credit: Rakan Alkhaldi)

All these latest developments with modding are great to see, but for me, it ends at just seeing this progress. By which I mean I wouldn't advise jumping in and installing these kinds of mods – as wonderful as they seem – and I'm content to merely observe, and see the frame rates and visual results, that others are getting. And we aren't short of these observations of late.

Why do I take that view? Well, for starters, I'm not keen on installing third-party software from unknown sources as a rule, because of the concerns around security that this involves. Granted, these are open-source tools (so can be checked over), and I'm sure they're on the proverbial level; but nevertheless, I'd still rather be careful around the risks of viruses and the like.

The second note of caution here pertains to the idea of messing with the rendering pipeline in terms of having DLSS 5 applied earlier in the process (with the Autopilot mod). This will likely involve image degradation or artifacts to some extent — or generally messing with the graphics more than Team Green intended — and I'm sure if this really was a genuinely better way of doing things, Nvidia would've used this route itself. As per observations on Reddit, there does appear to be a quality trade-off for the improved performance here.

All that said, perhaps there will be some kind of official option along these 'performance or quality' lines in the future, as some gamers are already hoping. However, DLSS 5 is, for now, officially designed to work with just one supported title, NBA 2K27, and it does an excellent job with that basketball game.

Apple promised improved durability for the iPhone 17 Pro, and its Ceramic Shield 2 protection might be the biggest durability upgrade in years.

The Shards episode 9 is streaming on Hulu for US viewers and Disney+ internationally soon, and it's time to get ready for the nail-biting season finale.

With two blackmail plots and a secret ballot last episode, you'll know doubt be on the edge of your seat waiting to see how it all ends. If you've read the book, you'll know the original conclusion, but will the series deviate from that?

In a couple of days, we'll have the answer. But when can you watch the upcoming season finale? Read on to find out everything you need to know.

What time can I watch The Shards episode 9 on Hulu?

For US viewers, The Shards episode 9 will drop on Wednesday, September 9 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET.

Here's when you can stream the new episodes in other countries. Make sure you don't miss the finale!

• US – Wednesday, September 9 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – Wednesday, September 9 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK – Thursday, September 9 at 2am BST
• India – Thursday, September 9 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Thursday, September 10 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Thursday, September 10 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Thursday, September 10 at 12pm NZDT

When do new episodes of The Shards come out?

(Image credit: Hulu)

We've reached the end of The Shards as the season finale looms ahead. For air dates as well as all the episode titles for the upcoming The Shards releases, take a look below.

• The Shards Episode 1 “Pilot”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 2 “Don’t You Want Me”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 3 “Help Me! Rhonda!”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 4 “Robert’s Party”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 5 “Murder on the Dancefloor”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 6 “Homecoming Part One”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 7 “Homecoming Part Two”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 8 “Hamlet”:  Out now
• The Shards Episode 9 “Stairway to Heaven”: Wednesday, September 9

• The Boox Picco has been shown off at IFA 2026
• It doesn't run Android or have magnets
• However, it does at least have a USB-C port

Boox is perhaps the most well-known alternative to Kindle and Kobo, and notably, its Android-powered ereaders don’t lock you into a specific ecosystem. Now, Boox looks set to rival Xteink too, with a new ereader that’s truly tiny.

We’re talking about the Boox Picco, an ereader first teased around six weeks ago that has now been shown off at IFA 2026, complete with far more details than had previously been revealed.

The Boox Picco has a 3.97-inch e-paper touchscreen, physical page-turn buttons (which can be customized to do something else if you prefer), a front light, a microSD card slot, and a USB-C port.

What it doesn’t have, though, is Android, as unlike Boox’s larger ereaders, this device runs a Linux-based operating system, meaning you presumably won’t have access to major apps like the Kindle and Kobo apps.

(Image credit: Android Police)

That means — as with rival devices like the Xteink X4 Pro — you’ll likely have to sideload books and may struggle to get some books running on the device if they have DRM.

Still, Android Police went hands-on with the device and claims the software is promising, complete with a reading stats page, a Pomodoro timer, and a handful of other built-in apps. It also provides several ways to get books onto the Picco, including via a microSD card, USB-C, the cloud, or a local LAN network.

And there are upsides to the Boox Picco skipping Android — its software will be simpler in some ways, and the device could have better battery life than Android-powered alternatives. Still, I’ve really been hoping for a tiny ereader with Android included, so while the lack of Android still leaves this device in line with its main competition, it’s a disappointment to me.

'No' to magnets but 'yes' to USB-C

The Boox Picco also lacks something that the Xteink line has — magnets. This won’t matter to everyone, but if you’re hoping for an ereader you can magnetically attach to the back of your phone, this isn’t it.

But the inclusion of a USB-C port is appreciated, considering the Xteink X4 Pro uses a proprietary charging port.

So this could give the Xteink line a run for its money — at least among people who don’t care about magnets. But a lot will come down to price, which remains unclear. Good Ereader reports that the Picco will cost around $100 (roughly £75 / AU$140), but various sites that went hands-on with the device say the price hasn’t been revealed yet, and instead, some speculate that it will hopefully be priced at around that, so Good Ereader may just have misread their reporting.

The Xteink X4 Pro itself is priced at around that level though, so it would certainly make sense for Boox to aim for something similar. We should find out by November at the latest, as that’s when the Boox Picco is set to begin shipping.

• Dyson has launched three new fan-purifiers, all with star-shaped nozzles
• The nozzle is designed to be both powerful and very quiet
• I saw them in action, and they're super-effective... but the styling will be divisive

Dyson's loop fans are instantly recognizable. In the home appliance world, their sleek, bladeless design has gained somewhat iconic status. But now we are about to enter a new Dyson fan era — and the design could not be more different to those sleek loops. With their chunky, curving bodies topped with a gaping, star-shaped opening, the new Dyson HushJet fan-purifiers remind me of nothing more than the giant sandworms in the new Dune films.

I perhaps should have seen it coming. Dyson debuted the new look with the HushJet Purifier Compact in September 2025, and it's also used for the HushJet Mini Cool personal fan. But when I saw the new, full-sized range on show in Berlin last week (at Dyson's IFA 2026-adjacent event) I was momentarily stunned.

Both of the previous HushJet fans were compact gadgets, and there was something about seeing the design scaled up — to quite gigantic proportions, in the case of the largest options — that made it feel significantly more unsettling.

(Image credit: Future)

The star nozzle draws inspiration from aviation engineering. I spoke to a Dyson engineer about it last year, and she explained the shape was especially good at minimizing the turbulence in the airflow, to create a quiet yet powerful jet of air.

I got to try the new fans out, and I was blown away — pun intended — by how powerful they were. When it came to blasting air, they felt significantly more effective than the loop-style Dyson fans I've used. So while I wasn't immediately sold on the styling, I had no complaints about the effectiveness of the airflow. I'd very happily have one of these in my bedroom over the summer, regardless of the fact it wouldn't blend in at all.

Double-duty

Like most of Dyson's fan models, the HushJets are pulling double- or even triple-duty. They operate as air purifiers, too, and one can also be used as a heater. At the top of the range is the Dyson HushJet Big+Quiet Cool Pure+ Formaldehyde air purifier (and kudos to the Dyson engineer I spoke to, who managed to remember that name without having to check his notes).

The purification capabilities are the most advanced of any of the new models, with the ability to capture a huge range of pollutants, including formaldehyde, and shift a massive amount of air, very quickly. It's around the same diameter as the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet — ie really very chunky. It's designed for use in large spaces like offices, but it can also be used to clean multiple rooms in a home.

There are also a couple of medium-sized options, built for at-home use. These are the HushJet Pure Cool+ Formaldehyde, and the HushJet Hot Cool Pure+ air purifier, which loses the formaldehyde-capturing capabilities but can be used as a heater over the colder months.

(Image credit: Future)

I have no doubt the new-look design will end up being divisive — I think the quirky styling might fit more naturally in an office or commercial setup than it would in a living room, where it'd surely stick out like a sore thumb in many cases. When I asked the Dyson rep if the plan was for the HushJet range to eventually replace the loops, he suggested perhaps not, given how instantly recognizable the loops are as Dyson appliances. I'll be watching with interest.

Pricing and availability

Pricing is as follows: the medium-sized HushJet Pure Cool+ Formaldehyde will cost $599 / £549.99 / AU$999, and the medium-sized HushJet Hot Cool Pure+ air purifier will be $599 / £549.99 / AU TBC. The large HushJet Big+Quiet Cool Pure+ Formaldehyde will come in at $1,099 / £899.99 / AU TBC.

In the US, all three will go on sale in fall 2026. In the UK, the large and medium Formaldehyde options will launch in October and the heater option will arrive in December. In Australia, it's October 2026 for the Cool Pure+ Formaldehyde and "early 2027" for the other two.

Most governments still talk about artificial intelligence as something to regulate or subsidize. South Korea is trying something considerably bolder. It wants to make advanced AI available free to every citizen, treating access less like a premium software subscription and more like a basic piece of national infrastructure.

The country's Ministry of Science and ICT has selected three consortiums, led by SK Telecom, KT and Kakao, for its "AI for All" program. The plan is to give Koreans free, unlimited access to general-purpose AI services built primarily on domestic models, with beta testing before a full launch expected by the end of 2026. The government is supplying a combined 512 Nvidia B200 GPUs this year and plans to subsidize nationwide operating costs from 2027.

That already sounds like a government-backed ChatGPT competitor, but South Korea's ambitions go considerably further. The services are supposed to develop into agents capable of helping citizens find government programs, submit applications, make reservations and payments, and carry out other tasks. The government's longer-term ambition is effectively one AI agent for every citizen.

Plenty here could attract international attention, but the project’s real value may have little to do with giving everyone a free chatbot.

Far more than a chatbot

South Korea has a strong argument for intervening. Its science ministry says roughly two-thirds of Koreans have used AI services, and around 23 million people have used generative AI. ChatGPT alone had an estimated 23.45 million monthly active users, with Gemini and Claude having far lower but still notable monthly users of 8.45 million and 2.41 million, respectively.

Those figures are impressive until you consider the people missing from them. If AI really does become as important as its advocates believe, the ability to pay $20 or $30 every month for the best models starts to matter. Free tiers help, but their limits, features, and even continued existence are decisions made by private companies.

South Korea's government has explicitly identified that dependence as a problem. It argues that citizens relying on free versions of foreign AI services remain vulnerable to usage restrictions and price hikes. Its answer is a publicly supported alternative built largely around Korean models, with domestic models required to account for at least half of the service. Plus, South Korea gets to widen AI access while supporting domestic model developers and reducing its reliance on foreign platforms.

“South Korea’s ‘AI for Everyone’ project rests on a principle worth defending: access to AI should not depend on what you can afford, and a country is stronger for having its own capability. The ambition is not in question. How it works in practice is,” said Nik Kairinos, CEO & Co-founder of RAIDS AI, which provides testing and detection of threats to AI services.

“When a publicly provided model or agent goes rogue, gives someone wrong information, or causes harm, who answers for it? The government that commissioned the service, the company that built it, or both? Citizens will not have chosen their provider, and many will not know which one they are using.”

Seoul City at night, South Korea. (Image credit: Shutterstock / Kampon)Combining AI with public services

I am skeptical about the idea of governments offering general-purpose AI subscriptions for basic technical reasons, as well. AI models improve at an absurd pace, and taxpayers would effectively be underwriting an endless technological race against OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and whatever comes next.

“I think it is not rational to spend money on an unlimited general chatbot striving to compete with ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, since the commercial world of artificial intelligence changes very quickly,” said John Park, a founding membеr of technical staff at agentic AI startup AGI, Inc.

“Instead of that, a more appropriate strategy will be to combine AI with public services that people are already using, for instance, with the government’s call center, benefit applications, tax assistance, appointment booking, and document creation. That way, AI becomes part of the cost of providing public services, just like a website or a call center.”

That, to me, is the real blueprint hidden inside South Korea's experiment. Governments don't need to build the world's best chatbot. They need to make dealing with government better. An AI that knows which parental benefit you qualify for, finds the correct form, and explains any baffling sections before helping you submit it is useful in a way that justifies public spending. A do-anything chatbot lacks that justification

That's the strategy in South Korea. Kakao plans to put its service inside KakaoTalk. While KT has presented an agent spanning public services, education, finance and shopping, and SK Telecom plans phone- and text-based agents for those reluctant to engage with apps or websites.

You can see hints of similar ideas in other countries. The UK launched GOV.UK Chat in its government app in May, allowing people to ask natural-language questions about government information. Singapore's VICA conversational AI platform is used across more than 60 government agencies, and France announced plans for a public health chatbot and a conversational assistant. AI as a public utility probably makes sense when the "utility" is access to government itself.

Crowds at the Gangnam district. Nightlife in Seoul (Image credit: Shutterstock / f11photo)Privacy policy for freedom

The difficulty begins when an assistant stops pointing citizens toward services and starts acting on their behalf. A chatbot incorrectly describing a benefit is bad. An agent incorrectly applying for one, canceling something, making a payment, or supplying inaccurate information under your identity is an entirely different class of failure.

“Once an agent is transacting for a citizen inside public services, the bar for knowing what it did, and why, is far higher than for a system that only answers questions,” Kairinos pointed out. “Other governments will be watching this closely, because most of them will face the same choice within a few years. Widening access to AI is worth doing. It just cannot come at the expense of accountability, evidence and public trust.”

That warning becomes particularly important when considering what people actually tell AI assistants. We already happily type things into commercial chatbots that we might hesitate to tell acquaintances. Put an AI assistant between a citizen and the welfare system, tax authority, or health service, and the information becomes far more sensitive.

“Citizens utilizing AI for benefit applications and other services could disclose very personal details about themselves: health, income, family, and finances. Such information needs to be kept separate from other aspects like advertising, commercial profiling, and training of models,” Park said. “Citizens need to have access to such essential services without having to consent to the use of their data elsewhere. Otherwise, the free service may cost the citizenry nothing in monetary terms, but at the cost of their personal information.”

There is an uncomfortable detail in South Korea's own description of "AI for All" here. The science ministry has said participating companies will be expected to develop revenue models, giving the example of using prompt data collected while providing the services. That may help make free AI financially sustainable, but it also makes the boundaries around data use enormously important.

Citizens should not have to wonder whether describing their unemployment, disability, debt or family circumstances to obtain public assistance is also enriching a commercial profile or future training set. If AI becomes part of the machinery of government, privacy protections need to resemble those surrounding public records more than the terms and conditions of a consumer app.

Panoramic view of Gogunsan Islands from Daejangbong peak in Gunsan, Korea (Image credit: Shutterstock / Sanga Park)Public utility, not public ChatGPT

South Korea may simultaneously prove that universal AI access is a good idea and that "free ChatGPT for everyone" is the wrong interpretation of it.

“South Korea is a successful example of how a nation can increase AI adoption, help local firms, provide better language-specific solutions, and decrease reliance on international websites. The U.S. would most likely develop a more fragmented system of AI services with different programs dedicated to tax, benefits, healthcare, education, and library applications,” Park said.

“Basic capabilities of AI, like search, translation, summarization, form filling, and help with public services, could turn out to be free or almost free. The main task of the government will be to ensure accessibility, privacy protection, transparency, and the right to human review, while private companies continue competing on more advanced services.”

That fragmented version is ultimately more convincing than the grander vision. There is an extremely strong argument for ensuring nobody is denied access to healthcare, benefits, or tax assistance because they cannot afford the AI tools increasingly used to navigate them.

Governments can guarantee a baseline of useful capabilities tied to citizenship and public services. Private companies can continue fighting ferociously over the frontier, selling better models, enormous context windows, creative tools, and more.

South Korea is attempting something much larger. It wants broad AI access, domestic technological sovereignty and eventually personal agents that can conduct parts of citizens' economic and social lives. That makes the country a very expensive live experiment rather than a blueprint. AI is becoming part of how the country thinks about economic infrastructure and public administration.

Other governments should copy the principle before they copy the product. Access to basic AI capabilities is likely to become important enough that leaving it entirely to monthly subscriptions will create another digital divide. Governments can ensure everyone benefits from the real value of AI tools, which will probably be the most boring examples and come with strict data rules.

If South Korea's plans work out, countries around the world will have a template for making AI a basic digital service. Any failure will prove just as valuable as a lesson.

DDR5 might be the obvious choice for a new PC, but DDR4 remains a great, affordable upgrade. And I've found a fantastic deal on the 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 kit for $180 (was $350) at Newegg when you use code LDSF224.

You get two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules with CL16 latency, 16-20-20 timings, Intel XMP 2.0 support and low-profile heat spreaders. That's absolutely on the money for most everyday workloads, and even gaming on the huge number of systems that still support DDR4 memory.

32GB Fury Beast DDR4-3200 RAM: was $349.99 now $179.99
Kingston's Fury Beast kit provides 32GB across two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules, with CL16 latency, 16-20-20 timings, 1.35V operation, Intel XMP 2.0 support, dual-channel operation and black heat spreaders. For the full discount, use code LDSF224View Deal

Why we recommend it

32GB provides plenty of memory for everyday tasks, and the two 16GB modules let you take advantage of a motherboard's dual-channel memory configuration.

DDR4-3200 with CL16 timings also offers a good combination of speed and latency for compatible DDR4 systems. Intel XMP 2.0 support makes it easy to apply the advertised 3200MT/s profile on a supported motherboard rather than manually configuring the timings.

The modules run at 1.35V and include aluminum heat spreaders. The understated black design should fit easily into builds where you don't want or need RGB lighting.

Price context & historical value

Newegg has already slashed the price of the Kingston Fury Beast kit from $349.99 to $249.99, saving you $100, but applying code LDSF224 reduces the price by another $70 to $179.99.

That means you're paying $170 less than the usual $349.99, which is nearly half price, and a great deal at a time when memory prices are typically sky high.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 kit if...

Your desktop uses DDR4 and you're currently struggling with 8GB or 16GB of memory. Moving to 32GB gives you considerably more headroom for running demanding applications without replacing the rest of your system.

❌ Skip the 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 kit if...

You're building a completely new PC around a modern platform that supports DDR5. DDR4 and DDR5 aren't interchangeable, so buying this kit will restrict your motherboard and processor choices rather than providing an upgrade path for the future.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

You'll need to enter the coupon code at checkout to get the RAM for just $179.99. You should also check your motherboard's memory specifications and compatibility. The kit supports Intel XMP 2.0 and is listed for AMD and Intel systems, but achieving its top DDR4-3200 speed depends on the capabilities and configuration of your system.

• Shop all RAM at Newegg

• Chinese companies have reportedly hidden their ownership to operate in Taiwan
• They're also poaching Taiwanese workers, paying them up to 10x more
• China is fighting back against US restrictions, but Taiwan wants to protect its own industry

Taiwan has reportedly increased the pressure on Chinese technology companies that are hiding their Chinese ownership as it tried to protect its own semiconductor business.

The country's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) has reportedly investigated 166 cases involving suspected illegal Chinese ownership since 2020, resulting in 36 convictions – 33 of which involved in semiconductor research, development or design.

While Taiwanese law doesn't prohibit Chinese companies from operating in Taiwan, they must seek government approval under the Cross-Strait Act, but by obscuring their Chinese ownership they've been looking to circumvent those restrictions.

Chinese companies targeted for operating illegally in Taiwan

Rest of World reports many of the Chinese firms in question established shell companies in third countries or used non-Chinese nationals to register their businesses, making them appear either Taiwanese or generally non-Chinese.

The news comes against a backdrop of heightened geopolitics – China has been investing heavily in growing its semiconductor self-sufficiency amid ongoing US restrictions, and have reportedly been poaching Taiwanese engineers with salaries up to 10x higher than average.

Taiwan itself is said to account for more than 60% of global semiconductor production, producing around nine in 10 of the world's most advanced processors, so alleged Chinese poaching is especially noteworthy. "Taiwan’s high-tech talent has become a key target for recruitment by Chinese enterprises," the MJIB wrote.

In a separate case, the MJIB has also investigated 67 cases involving Chinese companies suspected of stealing Taiwanese trade secrets.

Interestingly, the cases don't just relate to smaller start-ups – Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) were all named in the report.

Fines reported in the cases ranged from around $3,800 to $800,000, with penalties of up to three years' imprisonment also cited.

6K monitors give creative professionals an enormous amount of detail and working space, but they've traditionally been prohibitively expensive. I've found the LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S for $1,099 at Amazon.

That's not just its lowest ever price - it's the cheapest 6K monitor I've ever seen. For your money, you get a 32-inch Nano IPS Black display with a 6144 x 3456 resolution, DisplayHDR 600, Thunderbolt 5, 96W power delivery and extensive Mac and Windows connectivity.

It's aimed squarely at creative professionals, with the resolution, color accuracy and connectivity needed for photo editing, video production, design and other demanding visual work.

32-Inch 32U990A-S Ultrafine 6K Thunderbolt 5 Professional Monitor: $1099
This screen combines a 32-inch 6144 x 3456 Nano IPS Black panel, 224 PPI, DisplayHDR 600, Thunderbolt 5, 96W power delivery, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1 and speakers.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The 6K resolution packs more than 21 million pixels into the 32-inch panel and delivers a 224 PPI density. It offers up to 99.5% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3 coverage, real 10-bit color and a 2000:1 contrast ratio. That combination is ideal for photography, video editing, color grading, design and other work where image accuracy matters.

In his review, our expert Jeremy said: "Thanks to its native 6K resolution, the LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A cranks out an astonishingly sharp image. It has great connectivity, too, including Thunderbolt 5."

He went on to explain: "If you think more pixels makes for a better PC monitor, you're going to love the new LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A. This 6K monster of a monitor has over 21 million of them. For context, a 4K display has just eight million. It's a massive step up."

Price context & historical value

6K tends to sit at the top end of the professional monitor market, but at $1,099, the LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S is at the lowest price I've seen. It's also the cheapest 6K monitor I've found to date.

That said, you can buy excellent 4K monitors, including OLED models with better contrast and responsiveness, for similar or less money, so the value here really depends on how much you'll benefit from the additional resolution.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A if...

You work with high-resolution photos, 6K video, detailed graphics or other visual content and can make practical use of the monitor's enormous resolution. Its combination of 224 PPI, wide color coverage and Thunderbolt 5 makes good sense as the centerpiece of a high-end creative workstation.

❌ Skip the LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A if...

You'd rather have the superior contrast, black levels and responsiveness of an OLED display. Our reviewer found the LG's IPS Black panel looked somewhat washed out alongside modern OLED monitors, while its 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time are relatively slow for such a top-end display.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 6K resolution is exceptional, but the rest of the display technology isn't quite as impressive. DisplayHDR 600 relies on edge-lit backlighting rather than full-array local dimming, and our reviewer found its HDR performance and black levels couldn't compete with OLED.

There are some physical compromises as well. The mix of plastic and metal doesn't have the premium build quality you might expect at this level, while the large external power brick makes for a less tidy setup. The matte anti-glare coating can also introduce a slight visible sparkle.

• Shop all monitors at Amazon

• Brazilian regulatory filings might have just leaked the Garmin Cirqa
• Ten variants of the smart ring were included in the documents
• It suggests the device might be close to launching

In recent months, we’ve seen quite a few tidbits consisting of news and leaks surrounding Garmin’s unannounced Cirqa Smart Ring, and it’s starting to feel increasingly likely that the company is about to launch a new product to take on the likes of Samsung and Oura.

As spotted by Gadgets & Wearables, a new certification listing on the website of the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency has revealed a spate of mysterious product codes, all of which were filed by Garmin on the same day.

The codes all sit underneath the same certification listing, which implies that they could be different models of the same product – perhaps different colors or sizes, for example. Probably different sizes, as many other smart rings cover sizes ranging from 3-5 or 13-15, and that might be the key clue that points towards this product’s true identity.

If it is indeed the Cirqa Smart Ring, it would be Garmin’s first attempt at a device like this and the second in the Cirqa line. It would follow the Cirqa band, which thoroughly impressed us when we reviewed it earlier this year, and would be designed to take on Oura and Samsung, which are currently responsible for some of the best smart rings on the market.

Not long to go

(Image credit: Circular)

Couldn’t the devices in the Brazilian certification documents be Garmin watches rather than smart rings? After all, Garmin has never acknowledged that it’s even making a smart ring, so how do we know this listing points to that seemingly top-secret device?

While we can’t be sure, the fact that there are ten separate models appears to point towards a smart ring. A watch wouldn’t need so many different variants, as you’d normally only have a couple of different sizing options. A smart ring, though? They tend to come with far more variations to account for the different finger sizes users will have.

One of the model numbers in the Brazilian listing was AA5124. This number also surfaced in a leak in August, whereby a Garmin product explicitly named the Cirqa Smart Ring appeared in Indonesian regulatory filings. Also included in that filing was an unknown device with the AA5124 model number, suggesting it was part of the same family. With AA5124 appearing among the ten variants in the latest leak, the links to the Cirqa are strengthened.

There’s no solid estimation of when the Cirqa might finally be released, so we’ll have to keep waiting for now. But with the strong suggestion that the Cirqa has just appeared in another official certification process, we might not have long to go.

The Labor Day sales can sometimes feel like an awkward time to buy a phone. Not only are the sales traditionally more associated with grills and appliances, but Apple also usually debuts its next generation of devices in early to mid-September. Surprisingly, however, several retailers have some of the best deals I've seen in recent months today.

For example, if you've been thinking about picking up one of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 devices, then you can currently get an impressive upfront discount of up to $300 at the official Samsung Store on these excellent foldable devices. That's actually $100 better than the initial deal offered when these devices were available for preorder a few months ago.

Another really fantastic discount is on the new Google Pixel 11 series. Right now, you can get $450 off across the range when you pick up a device with a new plan at Mint Mobile. Unlike similar discounts at major carriers, you don't need to trade in to be eligible for this discount. You also get a full year of unlimited data for just $180 (half the usual price).

Just below, you can see a few more Labor Day phone deals that I've picked out as especially good value. Take note that I've focused on Android devices here, as new iPhones are just around the corner. In fact, we could see preorders for the iPhone 18 (or a similar device) later this week, so stay tuned.

The best Labor Day phone deals today

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8 / Fold 8 Ultra: up to $800 off with a trade-in or $300 off without
Samsung's offer on its new Flip and Fold range include trade-in rebates of up to $800 for the Fold 8 and up to $400 for the Flip 8. Don't have a phone to hand over? You can get a flat $300 in Samsung credit when buying the Fold 8 Ultra, $200 on the Fold 8, or $150 with the Flip 8. There are also bundle discounts of up to 15% when buying other accessories, if you're looking for a new smartwatch or a pair of decent earbuds. View Deal

The highlight deal from Amazon's Labor Day sale is undoubtedly this listing on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. With an impressive 27% discount, you're just $20 away from the lowest-ever price on the brand's latest flagship. Aside from a very brief moment when this device was listed for $933 back in June, it hasn't been this cheap on Amazon, so this particular deal is well worth considering. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: $300 off upfront, or up to $720 off with a trade-in at Samsung
The outstanding Galaxy S26 Ultra currently has a fantastic promotion at the official Samsung store — with either the option for a trade rebate or upfront discount. Available across all storage variants and colors, this deal can get you a device for as little as $1,049 upfront. Trade-in rebates of up to $720 are also available, but we've seen slightly better offerings in the past for trades.View Deal

Google Pixel 11 series: $450 off, plus a half-price unlimited plan at Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile's latest deal on the Pixel 11 series is the perfect pairing with Google's new flagships. Right now, you don't even need to trade-in to get an excellent $450 discount on these new devices. On top of that, you can also get a full year of unlimited data for just $180 — that's half the usual price. Put together, this is a great deal, although it's exclusive to new Mint customers. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S26 series: $500 off, plus up to $400 off with a trade-in at Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile's latest deal on the Galaxy S26 series is one of the best I've ever seen from the well-known prepaid carrier. Not only can you get a record-breaking $500 upfront discount on a brand new device, but you'll also get a full year of unlimited data at half price for just $180. On top of that, you can also trade in for an additional discount of up to $400 off, which is enough to cover the entire cost of the standard Galaxy S26. View Deal

• Free-to-play open-world adventure Ananta will feature two massive maps
• The second, Chongxiao, was revealed in a trailer at Gamescom 2026
• It's inspired by the real-world cities Shanghai and Hangzhou, home of the game's developers

Upcoming free-to-play Grand Theft Auto 6 competitor Ananta got a new trailer at Gamescom 2026, revealing a second massive open-world map.

Players will be able to venture from the coastal Nova City to the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Chongxiao, with producer Ash Qi promising "dozens of hours of story content and a huge range of urban gameplay" in a new interview with TechRadar Gaming.

"Our goal is to create the biggest open-world game in the free-to-play space," added Qi.

"Nova City was the first map we created," they continued. "Chongxiao is something we knew we had to make about a year into developing Nova City. In terms of scale, Chongxiao is quite a bit bigger than Nova City, but each map has its own identity, with different stories and a distinct atmosphere.

"Nova City leans more into a modern, entertainment-driven vibe, with a livelier, occasionally chaotic energy. Chongxiao, on the other hand, has more advanced technology, richer cultural content, and large-scale tourist attractions for players to experience and explore."

As well as conveying distinct atmospheres, both cities are also dramatically different from an aesthetic perspective. Nova City looks almost like a blend of Tokyo and Los Angeles, while Chongxiao is decidedly more Chinese in its influences.

"Right now we’re building Lingyun, a city within Chongxiao. The inspiration behind Lingyun actually comes from Shanghai and Hangzhou, where our team lives and works. Both cities have very striking everyday scenery and iconic modern landmarks," explained Qi. "Our goal was to have the real cities as a foundation and layer Ananta's setting on top of it."

Plenty of real-world features from both those places were on show in the latest trailer, including a skyscraper that's almost identical to Shanghai's iconic Oriental Pearl Tower. Chongxiao is also built around a huge ancient body of water known as the Weilan Lake, modelled closely on the famous West Lake in Hangzhou — a UNESCO World Heritage Site featured on the back of China's one-yuan banknote.

The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (three small stone pagodas) are one of the most recognizable Hangzhou landmarks in the latest trailer.Netease GamesDashiell Wood

"Of course, we’re not just recreating these places one-to-one," added Qi. "We’re giving them new settings and memorable adventures shaped by our IP and story needs."

Ananta has already made headlines with its dizzying range of mechanics, with trailers showing off driving, melee combat, third-person shooting, flying wingsuits, and even Spider-Man-like web-slinging. But the cities themselves will also offer a broad selection of unique activities.

"Anything you’d want to do in a modern city: shopping, grabbing a bite at a restaurant, catching a live music show, or dancing the night away, it’s all there," said Qi. "You can even invite your favorite character to do these things with you. Each city also offers its own distinct activities based on what makes it unique. In Chongxiao, for example, you can go boating to experience Weilan Lake."

It sounds like players will have no shortage of things to do when Ananta launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile on January 15, 2027.