Technology

We've tested plenty in the Anker Solix line of portable power stations, and they've continually impressed us. And as part of the Labor Day sales, the Anker Solix S2000 has dropped to $650 (was $1199) at Amazon.

The 2,010Wh power station is smaller and lighter than other units in its capacity class, aimed squarely at everyday home backup. It's capable of keeping a fridge, router, or medical device like a CPAP machine running through an outage rather than powering a whole house.

Solix S2000: was $1199 now $649.99
2010Wh | 1500W

This 2,010Wh portable power station features 1,500W continuous output with 3,000W peak. We especially like the compact 35.7lb design that's smaller and lighter than typical 2kWh power stations. Rated for 10,000 charge cycles and built for quiet, UPS-style home backup.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Most 2kWh power stations in this category are large enough that finding a permanent spot for one becomes part of the decision. Anker built the S2000 to be around 30% smaller and 25% lighter than the typical unit at this capacity, at 35.7lbs, which makes it easier to tuck into a closet, under a desk, or beside a fridge without it dominating the room.

The battery itself is the bigger story. Anker rates the S2000's LiFePO4 cells for 10,000 charge cycles, roughly two to three times the 3,000 to 4,000 cycle rating common on rival units in this class, with a stated 15-year lifespan. For a device meant to sit ready for years between outages, that longevity matters more than most spec sheets suggest.

Idle power draw is another area where the S2000 stands out. Anker's OptiSave feature keeps standby consumption down to around 6W with outputs enabled, which means less of the stored capacity is wasted just keeping the unit ready. Combined with a 10-millisecond UPS switchover, it's built to keep a fridge or router running through a power cut without a noticeable interruption.

At 1,500W continuous output across five AC outlets, it covers the large majority of everyday household devices, and Anker's SurgePad feature can support compatible appliances needing up to 2,600W in short bursts.

For more top-performers we've tested, see our guide to the best portable power stations.

Also consider

Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2: was $599 now $499.98
1024Wh | 2000W

A complete portable power setup in one purchase. The C1000X Gen 2 packs 1024Wh capacity with a 2000W continuous output (3000W peak with SurgePad). And it charges from flat to full in 49 minutes via wall outlet — the fastest recharge in its class, certified by Guinness World Records. View Deal

Explorer 1000 V2: was $559 now $499
1070Wh | 1500W

We recommend this one for camping this summer - it's practically built for the job. In our review, it also earned top marks, making it one of the best of its class. View Deal

Price Context & Historical Value

A $550 drop from the $1,199.99 MSRP is a steep discount on paper, around 46 percent off, though it's worth knowing the S2000 has rarely sold at full price since launch. It's generally traded between $600 and $700 over the summer, with a low of around $600 during a Prime Day promotion. At $649.99, this is a solid, near-best price rather than a one-off record low, so it's a good time to buy without being a once-ever deal.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Anker Solix S2000 if... you want dependable home backup power in a compact, lightweight 2kWh unit, you need UPS-style protection for a fridge or a medical device like a CPAP machine, or you value a long-lasting LiFePO4 battery over raw output.

❌ Skip the Anker Solix S2000 if... you need to run high-draw appliances like a microwave or window AC unit, you want a system that's expandable with add-on battery packs, or you would rather wait for more independent hands-on testing before buying.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 1,500W continuous output also trails some higher-wattage rivals in this capacity class, and the S2000 isn't expandable with additional battery packs the way some competing systems are, so it's worth checking your intended appliance loads before buying if you're planning on anything beyond basic home backup.

• Shop the full Labor Day sale at Amazon

The iPhone 18 Pro could be upstaged by Apple’s first foldable this year, though the iPhone Ultra might be hard to get at launch.

Microsoft’s Project Zenith brings a ready-to-code Windows experience to developer PCs, with local AI support and preconfigured tools.

The post Microsoft Project Zenith: Windows Developer PCs Will Come Ready to Code appeared first on TechRepublic.

While the Labor Day sales are usually a bigger event for appliances, furniture, and outdoor goods to prep for fall, there are actually dozens of tech deals out there as well. And one big category is laptops, where savings of up to $900 are available at Best Buy, Amazon, Dell, HP, and more. I've searched through all of these sales and picked out the 9 best Labor Day laptop deals that are worth buying.

Best Buy is actually one of the strongest retailers when it comes to sales this week, with discounts of up to $900 off a wide selection of Chromebooks, laptops, and gaming laptops.

One of its top offers is this Acer Aspire Go 15 for $499.99 (was $699.99). It may have some older components, but you get a solid AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB of RAM, and a respectable 512GB SSD for storage. That's a set of components you don't always see for under $500, and is powerful enough to keep up with work, college, and just everyday use.

Elsewhere, Dell might not have the biggest sale, but it's going to be tough for anyone else to beat this Dell XPS 13 for $699.99 (was $899.99). Even better still, eligible students can get another $100 off on top, bringing this fantastic all-around device to a frankly ridiculous $599. It's near-unbeatable for a fast, powerful, and stylish machine.

Be sure to check out all of the best laptop deals I've found below, as well as the highlights from the Labor Day sales at various other retailers and manufacturers.

All the best Labor Day laptop sales

• Amazon: big savings on laptops
• Apple: up to $150 gift card
• Best Buy: up to $900 off laptops
• Dell: up to $700 off
• HP: up to 65% off
• Lenovo: laptops & tablets from $599.99
• Walmart: laptops from $219

9 best Labor Day laptop deals

XPS 13 Laptop: was $999.99 now $699.99
Display - 13.4 inches
Processor - Intel Core 5
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB

The Dell XPS 13 has regularly been one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar, and this brand-new version continues that trend. With an Intel Core 5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, it has everything you need for solid all-around performance at work or college. Students can also save an extra $100, bringing the price down to a ridiculously low $599.View Deal

Aspire Go 15: was $699.99 now $499.99
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

The Acer Aspire Go is undoubtedly one of the best budget Windows 11 laptops you can buy right now, as attested in our review of this very model. This configuration in particular features a powerful chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a spacious storage drive for a really compelling price at Best Buy. If you just want a great value laptop that can handle working from home or basic tasks, then this is one of the top options available at this week's sales. View Deal

Display: 13 inches
Processor: A18 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

The MacBook Neo just got a price bump, but students can get it cheaper again thanks to Apple's education discount. The latest MacBook packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life, all for under $600, which is fantastic value. Discounts have been better in the past, but I think these will be rarer to see over the coming months and this price likely won't be beaten over Black Friday.View Deal

Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 540
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB

You don't always find a laptop with 8GB of memory for under $300, so this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook really stands out in Best Buy's Labor Day sale. Other components are good for light use, but that bump to 8GB of RAM will really help with everyday performance and load times. It's still a fairly basic laptop, but with enough extra power to avoid dramatic slowdown when multitasking.View Deal

IdeaPad Slim 3x: was $849.99 now $599.99
Display - 15.3 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 256GB

This is a solid discount on a modern laptop powered by one of the efficient Snapdragon X CPUs. As well as excellent levels of all-around performance, this device boasts a huge all-day battery life, so you won't need to worry about being attached to a charger at all times. I think the storage is a little stingy at 256GB, but if you can cope with that and make use of cloud storage for everything else, this is an impressive laptop for the price.View Deal

15 Laptop: was $849.99 now $479.99
Processor: Intel Core Core i5
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

Dell's entry-level 15-inch laptops are always a solid option if you're looking for a good value machine for everyday use. This particular configuration features a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD — that's more than enough for the basics like web browsing or shopping. While not a high-end machine by any stretch, this is a sensible buy with plenty of storage space for essential files and applications.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

This OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 is a top pick if you want a mid-to-high-end laptop in the HP Labor Day sale. Not only do you get 16GB of RAM and a decent-sized 512GB SSD, but you also get one of the latest Intel Ultra 7 chipsets for plenty of power under the hood. This particular model also features a handy 2-in-1 form factor as well as a high-end 3K OLED display for added flexibility and sharp visuals.View Deal

Swift Go 16: was $1499.99 now $999.99
Display - 16 inches
Processor - AMD Ryzen AI 9
RAM - 32GB
Storage - 1TB

There's a massive $500 price cut on this powerful high-end laptop, which boasts an AMD Ryzen AI 9, a performance-boosting 32GB of RAM and a large 1TB SSD. This is a great pick for business and productivity needs, with enough power to multitask with ease and battery life that lasts a full day.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel Celeron N4500
RAM - 4GB
Storage - 64GB

This HP Chromebook 14 is a basic device, but it's cheap, making it a great buy for light use such as general browsing and schoolwork. It also boasts full-day battery life thanks to the lean but perfectly functional Chrome OS from Google, meaning it's best suited for students or those always on the move. If you have around $200 to spend and need a cheap laptop, then it's one of the best options right now.View Deal

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is examining whether the self-driving vehicle meets federal safety standards.

The BeamO thermometer has a new AI feature that analyzes the device’s heart and lung recordings.

Compare 12 Ray-Ban Meta alternatives for AI, privacy, sports and displays, including their key features, prices and trade-offs, to find the right pair.

The post 12 Best Ray-Ban Meta Alternatives to Buy in 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Nvidia's NVHBM moves the memory controller off the accelerator die and into the HBM stack's base die, allowing it to claim a potential 30% more bandwidth, 15% lower HBM power, and 25% more compute area versus standard HBM4E
• Nvidia's NVHBM performance comparisons are linked to HBM4E, which is still in the sampling stage, with a launch expected sometime in 2027
• Access to the custom solution is gated behind NVLink Fusion; Amazon's Annapurna Labs is the only named partner so far and has not said which GPU uses that memory

On August 26, Nvidia extended its NVLink Fusion program with NVHBM, a custom high-bandwidth memory architecture that the company says delivers up to 30% more memory bandwidth per stack, 15% lower HBM power consumption, and up to 25% more usable area on the accelerator die.

The performance was measured against standard HBM4E samples even as the memory is expected to ship in volume some time in 2027.

Amazon's Annapurna Labs is the first named partner for Nvidia's memory advance which aims to address growing performance limitations for frontier-level AI models centering around limited bandwidth.

What makes NVHBM tick?

Nvidia's approach doesn't reinvent how memory is handled; it reimagines where it is managed. Conventional HBM approaches split this between two companies: the memory vendor supplies the DRAM stack and its base die, and the accelerator designer puts the memory controller and physical interface on its own compute die.

JEDEC standardizes the connection between the two at the cost of a very wide, comparatively slow parallel bus. NVHBM dissolves the seam altogether by moving Nvidia's memory controller into the base die of the 3D stack, replacing the standard bus with a narrower, serialized die-to-die link that Nvidia designs and memory makers can build.

Nvidia's technical blog puts the resulting reduction in interface and support area at up to 67% against the JEDEC HBM4E standard, even as it improves key power consumption, memory bandwidth, and usable area.

The underlying tech is not completely new, however: Marvell announced the same basic idea in December 2024, naming Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix as collaborators while claiming up to 25% more compute area, 33% greater memory capacity, and a 70% reduction in memory interface power, figures that come close to what Nvidia is currently projecting. Counterpoint Research analyst Neil Shah put it plainly: "The technology is not new. The distribution is."

Even as HBM4E remains elusive, as it is not in mass production just yet, with Samsung shipping the first HBM4E samples in late May 2026 and SK hynix pulling its own sampling forward to around June, NVHBM is even more elusive. It is a building block gated behind NVLink Fusion, Nvidia's program for connecting third-party accelerators to its rack-scale platform, and access runs through that program's partner list.

Amazon's Annapurna Labs is the first named participant, with Nvidia's blog saying Annapurna will support NVLink Fusion with Trainium4 without explicitly mentioning NVHBM.

For now, NVHBM might be the future, but it may arrive well after HBM4E is already being deployed en masse. Nvidia's own technical blog describes NVHBM as built on the same technology the company will use for future GPUs, without specifying the first generation that would support it natively.

• Google released Chrome 152.0.7977.82/.83 for Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Patch fixes 12 flaws, including zero‑day CVE‑2026‑85046 (type confusion in V8)
• Sixth Chrome zero‑day this year; Chromium browsers also affected, update urged immediately

Google has released a new version of its Chrome browser for Windows, Mac, and Linux, fixing a dozen of vulnerabilities. Among them is a high-severity flaw that is being actively exploited in the wild.

In a security advisory published on the Google blog on September 3, the search engine company said Chrome’s newest version is now 152.0.7977.82/.83 for Windows and Mac, and 152.0.7977.82 for Linux.

Rollout is expected to be gradual, so make sure to check if you already received it. Most of the time the update is automatic and instant and if you’re not certain, tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the browser and choose Help. Navigate to About Google Chrome and there you will find the version number.

Running malicious code remotely

This patch fixes a total of 12 vulnerabilities, most of which are graded as high severity. Among them is a “type confusion in V8” bug, discovered by security researcher Salvatore Gulizia.

For his effort, Gulizia was awarded $1,000. Apparently, this bug is being actively leveraged in real-life attacks, although Google (as usual) decided not to share the juicy details until the majority of browsers are protected.

The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-85046. On the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), it is described as a “type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome [that allows] a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page.”

V8 is Chrome’s JavaScript engine which allows web apps and interactive websites to run in the browser. Those interested in the technical breakdown of the vulnerability can find it on Guzlia’s blog.

You can find the full list of fixed vulnerabilities on this link.

This is the sixth zero-day Google fixed in Chrome since the start of the year. It also affects other browsers built on Chromium, so if you’re running Edge, Brave, Opera, or Vivaldi, make sure to update to the latest version as soon as possible.

Via The Hacker News

Indian tech brand Noise has teamed up with Bose for a brand new pair of open earbuds, the Noise Master Buds Open.

These clip-on buds are a first for Noise in the open ear segment, but join its existing Master series lineup, that includes over-ear headphones and in-ear buds — which were also built alongside Bose.

And lucky me — I’ve already tried the Master Buds Open for myself. I got hands on with the brand new open earbuds at IFA Berlin 2026, and spoke with Noise about its collaboration with Bose and the fancy features crammed into its latest creation.

Bose sound at an affordable price… kinda

(Image credit: Future)

Allow me to start with something of a disclaimer. The Master Buds Open aren’t a fully fledged Bose product, they simply feature ‘Sound by Bose’ technology. This means that the audio giant helped to tune the sound on the Master Buds Open, and there’s a specific Sound by Bose EQ option for the model.

We’ve seen other brands use Sound by Bose tech in the last year or so, with Baseus making use of a partnership in its Inspire line (including the XH1 headphones), and Skullcandy teaming up with the ANC giant for products including the Method 360 ANC (which we rated very highly).

However, Noise has a closer relationship with Bose than most, as the latter has invested in the Indian company across recent years, and the pair have already developed a number of audio products together, including the Noise Master Buds 2 and Master Buds Max.

Although the new Master Buds Open don’t quite offer the exceptional build and sound quality we’ve come to expect from products like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2, this collaboration certainly heightens the perceived value of Noise’s affordable audio gear, and helps it to stand out as a relatively recent entrant in competitive markets like the US, UK, and EU.

Getting hands on

(Image credit: Future)

Anyway, let’s talk about my time getting hands-on with the Noise Master Buds Open.

I have to say, when the buds were brought over to me, they made an excellent first impression. They come in a beautiful case with appealing metallic details, and the buds themselves look incredibly sleek and almost futuristic — especially in the slick Silver colorway.

In use, the Master Buds Open also felt supremely comfortable. I find that some clip-on earbuds have the tendency to either feel a bit tight, or almost too loose, but in my short time with the Master Buds Open they seemed to master the clip-on feel, with a secure yet comfortable fit and almost weightless on-ear sensation.

Sonically, the Master Buds Open performed about as well as I expected, although I should preface my thoughts by noting that the unit I tried was a prototype, and so the Master Buds Open may sound a little different at launch.

Naturally, I made use of the Sound by Bose EQ option, and I’d say the earbuds performed decently overall. A representative played me a bit of I’m Alive by Céline Dion, and I was treated to clear vocals, with fairly prominent bass (as far as open ears go), and well-separated guitars in the mid-range.

I also had the chance to play some songs of my choosing, and switched over to Can’t Resist by Jamback. In this house track, I realized that treble was pretty forward, meaning that drums higher in the frequency range were particularly prominent. Bass was also decently weighted, although you won’t get the pounding low-end that some of the best wireless earbuds can provide.

Was I blown away by the audio on offer from the Master Buds Open? Perhaps not — at least not at this stage. But they did perform pretty well overall, especially when you consider their price. I was told that the Master Buds Open will release for about €119 (around $140 / £100), which is relatively affordable — especially when you consider that Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds have a list price of $299 / £299 / AU$449.95.

A surprising highlight

(Image credit: Future / Noise)

While the Master Buds Open will undoubtedly face stiff competition from similarly priced rivals like the Anker Soundcore AeroClip, they did impress me with their comfort and looks.

But one thing struck me more than any other: their surprisingly feature-rich companion app. Not only did I find Noise’s app to be incredibly easy to use and navigate, but I also couldn’t believe how much functionality it had to offer.

There’s a spatial audio setting, designed to offer “dynamic and realistic” audio, as well as a Gaming Mode if you need low-latency audio — a nice touch for keen mobile gamers.

On top of this, the Master Buds Open have customizable touch controls, multi-point, Find My Device capabilities, and a Focus Mode, which locks the buds’ controls when you just want to zone in on your tunes and avoid accidental touch commands. Of course, there are also EQ settings, including a fully customizable equalizer, and mics built in for taking calls on the go.

Noise was also keen to show me that the Master Buds have a built-in AI assistant. This enables you to ask questions with your voice, read chat history, and transcribe meetings or discussions. That’s quite a lot of functionality for buds in this price-range.

While there’s no specific launch date for the Master Buds Open just yet, Noise has said that they’re set to launch on their website and with some major online retailers from late September 2026.

Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and now John Ternus: those are the three Apple CEOs of the 21st century, and I've seen them all in action. From keynotes to deep product dives during WWDC, each had his own presentation style, but what Jobs and, eventually, Cook shared was an uncanny ability to focus attention through the force of their personalities. Now it's Ternus'...er...turn. He's far from untested in these situations but has never led a major Apple keynote. That changes on Wednesday, September 9, when Ternus leads Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.

In many ways, this should be a predictable event; the product lineup is widely rumored. Here are the anticipated highlights:

• Apple's first folding iPhone, the iPhone Ultra with two rear cameras and a truly creaseless design
• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max (while they hold back the iPhone 18)
• AirPods 5 with ANC
• Apple Watch Series 12 with continuous heart rate tracking
• Apple Watch Ultra 4 with a new S Chip and blood pressure monitoring
• Apple 4K TV box with an A18 Chip and more RAM to support AI
• HomePod mini 2 with deeply integrated Siri AI
• A possible HomePad combo device with some robotic elements

Things get interesting, though, when we try to assess what kind of Apple Event keynote Ternus will run. The new CEO could take a page from the Tim Cook playbook and appear briefly on the Steve Jobs Theater stage before handing it over to a series of canned product-launch videos.

I find that hard to believe. First of all, Apple has had since April to plan for a keynote built around John Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran who is, unlike Cook, a true technologist. Ternus might relish staying on stage to explain, in depth, some of Apple's most exciting new products.

Alternatively, Ternus could let the videos handle all the product launch walkthroughs except for the folding iPhone Ultra. Sure, it's the world's worst-kept secret, but imagine if Ternus officially launched his time as CEO with a memorable "One more thing."

TechRadar Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff (left) with John Ternus shortly after he was announced as Apple's incoming CEO. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Ternus has some charisma, and it would make sense for Apple to lean into showcasing that on stage, live.

Maybe he'll spend some time talking about the official launch of Siri AI and how it ties together all of Apple's new products. Siri will be in evidence on the new HomePod, AirPods, Apple Watch, Apple TV 4K, iPhone 18, and Apple Watch models. Not to mention the entire recently updated Mac, MacBook, and iPad lineup. Ternus could do one of Steve Jobs' classic live demos that weaves an exciting story of life at home with Apple products and Siri AI. Maybe he'll even joke and ask everyone in the theater to turn off their WiFi (if you know, you know).

Ternus also faces a critical test in how he reassures Apple fans and detractors that it will be more careful than others with the expansion of AI across almost every part of Apple's business without breaking privacy promises or adding to the growing outrage over resource use and data centers.

People will be looking to these moments to understand who Ternus really is and compare him to Cook and even Jobs (yes, inevitably, all roads lead back to Steve Jobs).

Many people have asked me if I expect Ternus to put his own stamp on the event, and I think the answer is yes. It's a massive opportunity for him (and Apple), and one I think that he is fully aware of. All eyes will be tuned in to learn about Apple's latest iPhone lineup and to confirm that folding phone, but also, and maybe even mostly, to see Ternus in action on Apple's biggest stage. It is, in truth, his moment to shine.

If you're building a new PC or upgrading an aging boot drive, you'll definitely want to check out the Kingston NV3 1TB internal SSD, now $157 (was $216) at Newegg.

An established name in the storage arena, Kingston built the NV3 as the successor to its popular NV2 line, and the jump to a Gen 4x4 controller brings a meaningful speed increase - it can hit read speeds up to 6,000MB/s.

But it keeps the single-sided, compact M.2 2280 form factor that fits easily into laptops and small-form-factor builds.

NV3 M.2 2280 1TB PCIe: was $215.99 now $156.99
PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD rated for read/write speeds up to 6,000/4,000MB/s, with lower power consumption and reduced heat versus the previous NV2 generation.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The headline number is up to 6,000MB/s of sequential read performance, and independent testing has generally found the NV3 hits close to its rated speeds, putting it in the same territory as several established TLC-based drives despite using cheaper QLC NAND.

Kingston keeps costs down with a DRAM-less design that relies on Host Memory Buffer, borrowing a slice of system RAM instead of including a dedicated cache chip. For typical use, booting, loading applications, and gaming, that trade-off is barely noticeable, and it's part of how Kingston is able to price the NV3 competitively.

The single-sided M.2 2280 layout keeps the drive slim enough for thin laptops and small-form-factor desktops, and Kingston's reputation for reliable, mainstream storage gives some reassurance on a component you don't want to think about after installing it.

Price Context & Historical Value

A $59 drop from $215.99 to $156.99 is a substantial discount, around 27 percent off, on a capacity and speed class that typically runs cheaper than this. It's worth double-checking Newegg's price at checkout since SSD pricing shifts often, but this discount looks like a genuine markdown rather than an inflated list price.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Kingston NV3 1TB if... you want a fast, affordable PCIe 4.0 boot drive for a new build or upgrade, you need a compact single-sided M.2 2280 drive with low power draw, or you're a mainstream user whose workloads are mostly reads rather than sustained large writes.

❌ Skip the Kingston NV3 1TB if... you regularly write very large files such as video footage and need consistent sustained write speeds, you want a drive with a dedicated DRAM cache rather than Host Memory Buffer, or you need more than 1TB in a single drive.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This is a QLC, DRAM-less drive, so sustained write performance drops noticeably once its SLC cache fills, which matters most for large, continuous file transfers rather than everyday use.

• See all Labor Day deals at Newegg

Circular Ring 3 Slim and Pro add non-invasive glucose insights, contactless payments, haptic alerts, and up to 12 days of claimed battery life per charge.

The post Circular Ring 3 Adds Glucose Insights: Which Model Fits Your Needs appeared first on TechRepublic.

Xiaomi showcased CyberOne at IFA after reporting a 98% success rate in an EV factory trial, highlighting the promise and limits of humanoid robots.

The post Xiaomi Says CyberOne Hit 98% in Factory Trial Before IFA Demo appeared first on TechRepublic.

Apple may launch a 13.8-inch OLED MacBook with touch support and an under-display camera between the MacBook Air and Pro in late 2028 or early 2029.

The post Apple Reportedly Plans 13.8-Inch Notch-Free OLED MacBook appeared first on TechRepublic.

Vara has received CE certification allowing its AI to clear some mammograms as normal without radiologist review, marking a step toward autonomous medical AI.

The post AI Can Now Clear Some Mammograms Without a Radiologist’s Review appeared first on TechRepublic.

Learn how to add emergency contacts and medical information to iPhone and Android so important details can be accessed from the lock screen.

The post Your iPhone or Android Can Help in an Emergency: Here’s How to Set It Up appeared first on TechRepublic.

• OpenAI rolled out GPT‑6 Astra, its most advanced AI, with “critical” cyber capabilities
• Astra can autonomously find and exploit unknown flaws; release limited to vetted Daybreak participants
• Staggered rollout sparked user frustration; Altman apologized, promising broader access soon

OpenAI has begun rolling out GPT-6 Astra, its latest and most capable artificial intelligence model.

In an announcement published on its website, OpenAI said Astra represents a “significant step up in cyber capabilities”, meeting the company’s “Critical” threshold.

This threshold, the company explained, means that under the right circumstances, the tool can find “previously unknown security flaws and develop new ways to exploit them across many well-protected systems without a person guiding each step.”

Apologies for a messy rollout

OpenAI also said Astra improves on functions such as computer use, software engineering, and science, and that it should be better at staying oriented, compared to previous versions.

Just like many of the previous models, Astra’s release has been marred with controversy. Roughly a month ago, OpenAI said the model’s “critical” cybersecurity capabilities prompted it to pause some internal development and trigger safety protocols.

In response to early findings, the company scaled up certain security controls and even paused activities that do not meet its newly established security requirements.

It now decided it was time to release the model, but still not to the general public. Instead, it opted for a staggered release, giving it first to a limited group of companies participating in the Daybreak program, a cybersecurity initiative that gives vetted organizations (cybersecurity and otherwise) specialized AI tools for vulnerability research and threat detection.

This did not sit well with many ChatGPT users, especially those paying a monthly subscription. As The Verge reported, CEO Sam Altman was apologizing, mere hours after launch, for the “messy rollout” of Astra.

Initially, all Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users were supposed to gain access to Astra, as well as those accessing through OpenAI API, Microsoft Azure, and AWS Bedrock.

“We are working towards getting Astra in everyone’s hands as quickly as we can,” Altman said on X. “I know it is frustrating and I appreciate the patience. It should be quick.”

Via CNBC

Meta launched Muse Spark 1.3 with stronger coding performance and efficiency claims, but independent tests show higher task costs and mixed benchmark results.

The post Meta Says Muse Spark 1.3 Beats GPT-5.6 Sol at Coding — Independent Tests Are More Mixed appeared first on TechRepublic.

It’s been a tough 12 months for the smartphone industry. Memory prices are up, unit sales are down, and a generally poor outlook for the future has not only forced the cancellation of specific models (the Nothing CMF Phone 3 Pro), but also entire brands (RIP OnePlus).

On paper, then, it doesn’t seem like a particularly great time for any mobile company to be expanding into new markets, but that hasn’t stopped Indian brand Lava International from doing just that: today (September 4), it’s launching its first product in the UK, the Lava Agni 4N 5G.

Intended to compete with the Google Pixel 10a, Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, and more of the best cheap phones, the Agni 4N costs just £499 and is available via Amazon. It boasts decent specs and a competitive price — but is that enough to lure prospective customers away from the brands they’ve known for years?

Ahead of the Agni 4N’s UK launch, I spoke with Devneet Bohidar, Head of Product, Smartphones, at Lava, to find out more about the company, the phone, and why Lava believes now is the right time to take on Samsung and Google in a “highly informed” market.

TechRadar: What should unfamiliar UK consumers know about the Lava Brand, and what are the key selling points of the Agni 4N?

Devneet Bohidar: Lava has been part of India's mobile phone industry for 17 years, with its own hardware and software design capabilities, R&D centres and an annual manufacturing capacity of over 42 million handsets. Over the years, we have built our strength around product, quality and the consumer experience, with a clear focus on delivering value to consumers.

The Agni 4N boasts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display (Image credit: Lava)

We are now bringing Agni, Lava’s flagship smartphone series, to the UK for the first time, with the aim of delivering a premium smartphone experience at an accessible price point. Positioned in the £400–£600 segment [the phone costs £499], the Agni 4N brings a combination of flagship-grade performance, premium design, and a clean, user-first software experience to the UK mid-tier segment. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 5G processor and is paired with 8GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage.

The device combines this with an aluminium alloy metal frame and premium glass back, giving consumers a more flagship-like design and build at a mid-tier price point. We have also paid close attention to the camera experience. The smartphone has a 50MP OIS main camera and a 50MP front camera, with both supporting 4K 60FPS video recording.

On the software side, our in-house AI platform, Vayu AI, is a major part of the Agni 4N experience. Rather than treating AI simply as another application, we have integrated it into the phone as an intelligent AI companion. It provides access to Expert AI Agents and features including AI Text Assistant, AI Call Summary, AI Photo Editor, AI Image Generator, and document and image analysis. The idea is to make AI more approachable and useful for everyday tasks, learning, creativity, and productivity.

Finally, we believe the clean software experience is an important part of what differentiates Lava. The Agni 4N comes with stock Android 16 and zero bloatware. This reflects our philosophy of giving consumers a clean, user-first device experience without unnecessary pre-installed applications.

The broader proposition is therefore simple: the Agni 4N brings premium design, strong performance, capable cameras, powerful AI, and a clean software experience to consumers, without compromising on the areas that matter most to the everyday smartphone experience.

The Lava Agni 4N is available in Phantom Black (above) and Lunar Mist (Image credit: Lava)

TR: Recent studies suggest battery life and price are the top drivers of purchasing decisions in the US. Does Lava’s own research reveal the same trends for the UK market, and, if so, is the Agni 4N also competitive on these fronts?

DB: While our UK entry is still at an early stage, what we have consistently seen is that consumers are becoming more conscious of the overall value and experience they receive from a smartphone, rather than looking at brand name alone. That is particularly relevant in the mid-tier segment, where we believe consumers are looking for strong hardware and software offerings without having to move into flagship pricing.

On battery and charging, the Agni 4N is equipped with a 5,000mAh high-density battery with intelligent power optimization. It also supports 66W fast charging, taking the device from 0 to 50% in under 19 minutes. Together, this is designed to give consumers dependable battery performance while ensuring they can quickly top up the device when needed.

So, while we would not want to claim that our UK research has established battery life and price as the definitive top two purchase drivers without sufficient UK-specific data, the Agni 4N is designed to be competitive on both dimensions.

TR: Why is now the right time for Lava to enter the UK market? It’s mature and competitive, production costs are going up, and consumers have less money to spend — it doesn’t seem like an obvious moment for a new challenger brand to enter the scene.

DB: The UK is one of the most tech-aware markets in the world. Consumers here understand technology beyond just brand names and are increasingly looking at the overall experience and value a product delivers. That is exactly the kind of consumer we have built the Agni 4N for.

The UK is also an important technology market globally. The architecture that underpins virtually every smartphone chipset comes from ARM, which is based in Cambridge. For us, establishing credibility in such a technologically aware and demanding market is significant. If we can build trust and acceptance here, it gives us confidence in our ability to take an India-designed and engineered smartphone proposition to other global markets as well.

It is about giving consumers another choice and allowing the product to earn consideration on its own merits.

Devneet Bohidar, Lava

What we have observed is a degree of repetitiveness in product launches in the £400–600 segment. Consumers are becoming more aware of specifications, software, and the overall experience, but we believe the value being offered at these price points can be stronger. That is where we see an opening for Lava.

The Agni 4N is our response to that opportunity. [...] For us, it is about entering a market where consumers are highly informed, competition is strong, and the product has to justify itself on its merits. Our approach is deliberately measured: start with one product, launch online through Amazon, learn from the market, and build from there.

TR: Lava’s Managing Director, Sunil Raina, recently told The Hindu that “being a Chinese-averse market worked as an opportunity for Lava. People in the UK are seeking higher quality products at a lesser price.” What makes you confident that you can lure budget-conscious consumers away from mainstay brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google, all of which offer sub-£600 smartphones?

DB: As our MD, Mr. Sunil Raina, has said, we see an opportunity in the UK to offer consumers a different proposition, one that combines quality, performance and value. But for us, the opportunity is not simply about moving consumers from one brand to another. It is about giving consumers another choice and allowing the product to earn consideration on its own merits.

We have tried to approach the product without making compromises on the areas that matter to consumers. [...] And for after-sales support in the UK, Lava has partnered with SBE Ltd, an established UK electronics repair and after-sales service provider. The smartphone comes with a 24-month handset warranty, including a two-year replacement warranty for hardware defects, giving customers added assurance after purchase.

We are also realistic that Lava is a new brand for many UK consumers. We are not expecting brand awareness to change overnight. Our approach is to launch with the Agni 4N, initially through Amazon, put the product in the hands of consumers, learn from their feedback, and build credibility through the experience we deliver.

As for how the UK version of the Agni 4N differs from the Indian version of the same phone, it features Near Field Communication (NFC) payment support, but otherwise, it’s a largely identical device.

“The core product proposition remains the same,” Bohidar told me. “Rather than creating a completely different UK product, our approach has been to take a product developed and proven in India and adapt it where necessary for the requirements and usage patterns of UK consumers.”

Whether UK customers embrace the Angni 4N is a different question entirely, but whatever happens, it’s good to see a new player with the confidence to take a risk in an unfamiliar market. Apple, Samsung, and Google might be the brands of choice in the UK right now, but it doesn’t have to be that way forever.