Technology

• Alienware introduces two new monitors to expand its QD-OLED lineup
• The AW3226Q is a new 4K tandem OLED RGB stripe gaming monitor available this fall
• Alienware also has a new esports QD-OLED monitor with a 560Hz refresh rate

The gaming monitor market is heating up with new competition from Alienware, specifically via the new AW3926QW 5K2K ultrawide. However, it's not resting on its laurels.

As reported by Wccftech, Alienware has announced two new gaming monitors, further expanding its QD-OLED lineup: the AW3226Q is a new 32-inch 4K RGB stripe tandem OLED monitor that uses the same technology found in Alienware's flagship 5K2K display. For esports players, the AW2527HX is a 560Hz QD-OLED with great motion clarity and response time.

The highlight among both is clearly the AW3226Q 4K display, which is effectively the closest gamers can get to Alienware's flagship display. The new 4K display also uses the same RGB stripe layout, significantly improving text readability. The only major difference is 5K2K resolution on the AW3926QW, with 33% more pixels than 4K due to its ultrawide aspect ratio.

The AW3226Q will also feature 1,000 nits of peak brightness, alongside DisplayHDR True Black 400 and Dolby Vision. Having used the latter on the Alienware AW3426DW I reviewed, it's one of the standout benefits for consistent brightness levels and minimizing the brightness dimming issues that occur on OLED displays (which is also addressed by the tandem OLED layers).

It's increasingly clear that tandem OLED is quickly becoming the new standard for high-quality OLED displays, and using a four-stack tandem OLED layer should help boost and maintain high brightness levels.

Will it have an affordable price point?

Alienware surprised most consumers by announcing that its flagship 5K2K AW3926QW monitor would retail at $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,999.80. The competition from LG — two 5K2K displays — is significantly pricier, leaving many turning their attention to Alienware to experience higher-quality gaming via sharper images.

If Alienware's flagship monitor is anything to go by, the newly announced AW3226Q should be another affordable option for OLED hunters, and that's great news since OLED is arguably still the best display type for gaming.

There's no release date for the AW3226Q just yet — it's worth noting that Alienware's flagship monitor hasn't launched in all regions. However, gamers can expect this to hit the market in the coming months, with availability scheduled for this fall.

The AW2527HX QD-OLED, designed for esports, is set to launch in the first quarter of 2027, but there is no price confirmation.

• GPT-6 Astra just scored 92.7% on understanding how to interact with your apps, up from 5.6's 76.9%
• New recurrent depth reasoning also allows Astra to think about your problem in a new way
• OpenAI admits there are some safety concerns about how GPT-6 reasons

OpenAI has lifted the wraps off its next-generation model, GPT-6 Astra, and it's being positioned as much more than a conventional chatbot. With this new generation, OpenAI wants us to see its models as being much more suited to computer use.

Being able to fill out forms, update CRM records and organize calendars are among the examples cited by OpenAI, which is especially noteworthy for business customers because it positions Astra as an overarching model that's platform agnostic.

In other words, businesses won't necessarily need bespoke AI APIs or connectors to automate parts of their workflows, because Astra's computer use skill should be able to handle many tasks natively.

GPT-6 Astra could be OpenAI's best business model yet

With its new model, OpenAI is claiming a substantial speed improvement. On the OSWorld 2.0 benchmark, GPT-6 scored 72.6% compared with GPT-5.6's 65.7% and Claude Opus 5's 70.2%. The company's latency simulations put the average task at roughly 40 minutes instead of 75 minutes, marking a near-50% reduction in time.

Astra also scored an impressive 92.7% on ScreenSpot-Pro, which tests a model's ability to understand where to interact with interfaces. GPT-5.6 Sol scored 76.9%, and Claude Fable 5 scored 87.3%.

Among the headline use cases cited by OpenAI in its release information included Astra being able to fully interact with and manipulate Excel spreadsheets, rather than just generating formulas and dumb CSVs, as well as working directly within Power BI to build and refine dashboards, significantly cutting the time a worker could have to spend turning raw data into a presentable format.

GPT-6 also introduces a new reasoning architecture called recurrent depth which allows it to think about a problem repeatedly before producing an answer, which could improve accuracy in high-stakes situations for enterprises.

However, OpenAI admits that monitoring Astra's reasoning has been harder than monitoring Sol's conventional chain-of-thought reasoning, raising some safety concerns, so it's only being rolled out gradually and monitored for now.

Astra is rolling out to Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise users now, with a Pro variant available to Pro and above. For now, it looks like Free and Go subscribers aren't getting access to the flagship model.

The annual Labor Day sales tend to be associated with grills and appliances rather than the latest tech, but it's actually a great time to shop. For example, right now you can get a number of record-low prices on Samsung's latest 2026 TVs.

Released earlier this year, most of these displays have had relatively minor price cuts until now. This week, however, you can currently get up to $1,100 off premium models like the S90H, S95H, and R85H - some of the best TVs you can buy right now.

Just below, you can see six of the best deals I've spotted in Samsung's Labor Day sale, alongside some information on each TV. I've picked out the various sizes that I think will be popular, but note that you can get similar price cuts across a range of sizes (55-inch, 65, 75, and so on).

In terms of highlights, it's hard to look past the stunning 75-inch R85H for $1,999 (was $2,799) at Samsung today. This is the brand's latest Micro RGB flagship, and it combines microscopic red, green, and blue LEDs to generate incredibly lifelike and vivid images. We particularly like it for sports, although any content will look great on the R85H.

Another great choice is the 65-inch Samsung S95H OLED for $2,799 (was $3,399). This one is the successor to one of our favorite TVs of 2025, and the new QD-OLED panel, updated AI processing, and picture-frame design look like particularly compelling upgrades for 2026. Read more about this TV, and others, just down below.

Today's best TV deals at Samsung

The Frame (2026) 55-inch Neo-QLED TV: was $1499.99 now $1199.99
The Frame series is a real crowd favorite, and it's certainly a very unique idea. Specs-wise, you don't tend to get the best of the best with these TVs, but they do offer a gorgeous art-like design that melds into any environment. The latest 2026 Pro model features a matte anti-reflective coating and a Neo-QLED panel with support for 144Hz refresh rates. View Deal

Samsung's latest sale has a rare $700 discount on the new 75-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K Smart TV. The Samsung R85H uses individually controlled micro-sized RGB light sources that deliver lifelike images and brilliant colors. Perfect for movies and sports, the R85H is also great for gamers thanks to its Motion Xcelerator features and support for 144Hz refresh rates at 4K.View Deal

S95H 65-inch OLED TV: was $3399.99 now $2799.99
The S95H is the successor to the wildly popular S95F, which was one of our top-rated TVs of 2025. We haven't reviewed this iteration yet, but we have no hesitation recommending one of the first price cuts we've seen on the model. The main upgrades here are a QD-OLED panel, updated AI processing, and a new picture-frame design with a built-in bezel. Otherwise, you're still getting a stunning picture and support for a 165Hz refresh rate.View Deal

S90H 65-inch OLED TV: was $3399.99 now $2299.99
The S90H is the mid-range OLED TV for Samsung's 2026 line-up. Like the S95H above, it's capable of 165Hz and features advanced AI upscaling, but it uses a slightly lower-end WRGB OLED panel. During our hands-on testing, we praised this model's anti-glare technology and overall picture quality. If you're looking for a good alternative to the likes of the LG C6, this is a strong competitor. View Deal

S85H 65-inch OLED TV: was $1999.99 now $1399.99
The S85H is the entry-level OLED model for 2026 at Samsung, but as you'd imagine, you still get excellent image quality with this display. 2025's iteration of this model was one of our favorite OLED TVs of the year because of its excellent picture quality and gaming features. Even better still, the S85H improves on its predecessor's brightness — although it still doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR, unlike some other brands. View Deal

QN80H 75-inch Neo-QLED TV: was $1999.99 now $1699.99
The new QH series from Samsung are a good choice if you want a decent TV but don't want to completely break the bank. The QN80H is the higher-end model and features AI-based picture and audio optimization, and SDR to HDR upscaling. QN80H also features Motion Xcelerator 144Hz support, which makes it a good choice for sports or gaming. You don't get as deep blacks with a Neo-QLED, but the picture quality is still absolutely fantastic.View Deal

See 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

IFA, Berlin's huge annual tech expo, is where some of the biggest tech firms unveil their latest innovations — and this year is one of the strongest we've seen in a long time for interesting new releases.

IFA is a great place to find fascinating new gadgets and devices, ranging from next-gen AR glasses to self-driving personal mobility vehicles, and from weird new kitchen appliances to armies of humanoid robots.

We've chosen the top products from those that were nominated for our IFA 2026 'Best in Show' awards to produce this list of our 25 winners, based on how innovative they are, how well they serve their intended use, and the degree to which we think they'll influence their area of the tech market.

There were many more products that we really liked, of course, but we had to be ruthless — here are our top picks from IFA 2026.

Anker Soundcore Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro

(Image credit: Anker)

The best technology delivers real-world benefits, and what could be more beneficial than a good night's sleep? The Soundcore Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro use in-ear PPG optical sensors to monitor your heartrate, which is more accurate than other optical tracking methods thanks to the rich capillaries and stable position of your ear canal. That monitoring delivers data to the smart-screen, phone-free SleepHub charging case.

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The Sleep Earbuds Pro feature passive isolation as well as 30dB active noise cancelling, and the case-based snore monitoring system detects and masks the sound of your partner snoring using its built-in sounds. Despite the addition of multiple new components the housing is thinner than previous generations, and even more comfortable for side sleepers.

Anker's BioSync dynamic audio system monitors relaxation in real time, dynamically adjusting the audio content and structure to help you find the most effective sleep sounds. Sleep earbuds are something that can truly improve your health and happiness by improving your sleep, and these look like a really smart upgrade.

Agibot A3

(Image credit: Agibot)

Agibot is doing some amazing things with humanoid robots, and the full-sized Agibot A3 combines multiple capabilities in a lightweight, extremely dynamic model: if you're assembling a robot dance troupe or planning a big exhibition, the A3's the bot to buy.

The A3 weighs just 55kg, has a power-to-weight ratio of 0.218kW/kg, and delivers up to 12kW of instant peak power, enabling it to somersault. Its battery runs for up to 10 hours and is hot-swappable in seconds, so it's great for applications where it needs to last all day. It'll happily fit in an SUV for travel, too.

In addition to voice and app control, the A3 delivers industry-first touch sensing that adds physical interaction to its controls. It also has a 360-degree multi-array mic system for accurate voice recognition, even in noisy environments.

One of the most exciting features of the A3 is its large-scale swarm co-ordination, which uses precise UWB positioning to enable performances by up to 100 individual robots. That makes it possible to create very complex, high-impact performances for big events, as well as enabling multiple units to work smartly in environments such as factories or warehouses. The awareness and the uptime make this a great new approach to robotics.

Hypershell X Ultra S

(Image credit: Hypershell)

The Hypershell X Ultra S exoskeleton helped mountaineer Adriana Brownlee in -30C temperatures on Mount Everest, supported athlete Aurélien Fontenoy's 4,037km Route 66 journey while recovering from injury, and is currently being trialed by search and rescue organizations worldwide.

Before Hypershell, exoskeletons cost $100,000 and above; the same capabilities are now available to consumers for less than $2,000, in a device weighing under 2kg.

The X Ultra S is an end-to-end AI motion-control system that uses an AI model to transform raw sensor data directly into motor torque, enabling faster response, smoother adaptation, and more natural human-machine synchronization.

There are 12 active modes, including walking, cycling and running, and a new Gentle Assist mode for older adults and users with short or shuffling strides. Fitness Mode adds resistance, turning a walk into a workout.

But it's the price that won us over here — this could be a game changer for getting people with limited mobility out and doing more things that they love, from hiking to just visiting the local stores.

JMGO IRIS Ultra Max

(Image credit: JMGO)

The IRIS Ultra Max is one of the world’s first true 4K 120Hz flagship smart projectors, delivering native 4K (rather than pixel-shifted) at 120Hz from input to output, all from its very compact case.

The Ultra Max's dual iris system has 6+9 blades, the highest count in its class, which promises to improve stray light suppression by 11.34% for a more accurate picture, while delivering class-leading contrast, with a quoted ration of 10,000:1. The MALC 6.0 Triple-Laser Engine delivers an impressive 6,500 ISO lumens of brightness, making it more visible in more lighting conditions, and with a promised ability to recreate 110% of the BT.2020 color space, with an astounding color accuracy of delta-E of 0.7, meaning it's truly capable of pro-level color range and accuracy.

The IRIS Ultra Max also introduces an industry-first 3-in-1 Optical System that integrates 0.88–1.7:1 Optical Zoom, Four-Way Lens Shift (V ±130%, H ±53%), and an AI-Powered Gimbal (360° H, 150° V) into a unified projection architecture. This makes it more more flexible than traditional projectors to positioning, because it has so many different options for correcting its picture. It gives small home theater setups top-tier performance without compromise.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P

(Image credit: DJI)

Designed for vloggers and movie-makers alike, the Osmo Pocket 4P is the world’s first dual-lens pocket gimbal camera. It delivers cinema-grade imaging in a pocket-friendly form, and features DJI's Academy Award-winning Ronin stabilization.

The main lens is a wide-angle 20mm equivalent with an f/2.0 aperture, and a new 1-inch CMOS sensor that offers 17 stops of dynamic range and over one billion colors via DJI's new 10-bit D-Log 2 color profile.

That's supplemented with a 60mm medium-tele portrait lens, which gives you 3x optical zoom and up to 12x digital zoom. Its f/1.8 aperture is particularly good for creating bokeh effects by compressing the background and pulling it closer to the subject.

The Osmo Pocket 4P also features the latest version of DJI's ActiveTrack, which uses AI algorithms to maintain tracking lock at up to 12x zoom. It can actively track up to eight people, framing groups and centering anyone new who steps into the field of view.

RayNeo GT Max AR Glasses

(Image credit: RayNeo)

The RayNeo GT Max AR Glasses are the world's first AR glasses to support Dolby Vision playback as part of creating a virtual cinema experience. They deliver up to 1,200 nits of perceived brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and real-time SDR to HDR conversion for super-clear images, too. Their optical system is 29% thinner and lighter than traditional designs, and delivers an industry-leading 59-degree field of view.

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One of our favorite features is the adjustable virtual screen sizes, with a choice of 227 inches, 267 inches or 307 inches. That's clever: the tighter size is ideal for spreadsheets and productivity apps if you're using them as a display for a phone or laptop, while the larger sizes deliver immersive gaming and video.

Steady, Pinned and Follow modes enable you to anchor the screen or have it move with you, and 3DoF spatial tracking maintains the screen position without straining your eyes, and keeps subtitles, taskbars and image edges within the viewing area as you move. These look like the most advanced way to take a screen with you everywhere, and they could be indispensable for long flights.

TCL P80 Ultra

(Image credit: TCL)

If you spend as much time on your phone as we do, you'll be blown away by the screen of the TCL P80 Ultra. It's the first phone to integrate NXTPAPER eye-comfort technology, with a 1.5K sharp AMOLED display for reflection-free reading even in bright sunlight, and a button that instantly turns your P80 Ultra into an e-reader with paper-like viewing.

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The P80 Ultra has nano-etched anti-glare glass, eliminating surface reflections without reducing brightness. It also features circular polarized light technology, which changes the light output to more closely replicate the characteristics of natural light, and flicker-free dimming.

The camera's pretty special too. It's a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto lens with a 50MP 1/1.56-inch large-format sensor, capturing more light per pixel than smaller sensors and enabling 6x lossless zoom. Image stabilization eliminates motion blur in photos and video, and TCL's MuseFilm filters promise cinematic-quality images. But it's the groundbreaking display that really won us over — a lot of people will find it much kinder on the eyes.

Lenovo ThinkBook 14x Gen 2

(Image credit: Lenovo)

Lenovo's ultra-light laptop makes even ultraportables look positively porky: at just 2.18lbs / 990g and just 12.9mm thick it's one of the lightest and thinnest laptops around, making it ideal for business travelers and students alike — especially if you opt for the backlit keyboard, which is really helpful in dimly lit rooms and airplanes.

Lenovo has somehow managed to give the ThinkBook 14x the super-thin treatment without sacrificing connectivity, so in addition to its Wi-Fi 7 it features two 10Gbps USB-C ports, two 5Gbps USB-A ports and an HDMI 2.1 port, so there's no need to haul a hub around with you. It also has a spare M.2 slot that enables you to expand its storage, which makes this a solid long-term investment.

The ThinkBook 14x Gen 2 is also one of the most customizable ultraportables, powered by Intel Core 7 (Series 3) processors and with display options including vivid OLED and touchscreen LCD. It's good-looking too, with a choice of metallic finishes including Luna Gray, Celestial White, Mystic Violet and Veil Blue.

EarFun Wave Pro X

(Image credit: EarFun)

EarFun's headphones consistently deliver premium performance without the premium price tag, and the Wave Pro X are the brand's best yet. They feature a patented dual-driver system that places a 40mm diamond-like carbon driver and a 10mm liquid crystal polymer driver on a precisely aligned axis, creating a more natural and detailed sound than you typically get from multi-driver designs.

The Wave Pro X feature an 8-mic AI system that continuously optimizes the hybrid ANC system, even in wired AUX mode, and the Qualcomm QCC3095 chipset delivers Bluetooth 6.0, aptX Lossless, LDAC, USB Audio and Auracast. Add AI translation and up to 90 hours of battery life to the mix and you've got a truly excellent pair of headphones — EarFun has been working on these for a long time, and even delayed them in order to get the tuning just right.

Urevo CyberPad 3

(Image credit: Urevo)

The CyberPad 3 is a home/office treadmill that's designed differently to traditional models. Its WalkFree Adaptive Speed Control uses pressure sensors built into the running board, which detect your stepping motion to automatically start and stop operation; when you're walking or running it takes data from the motor to calculate speed adjustments in real time.

Its multi-user support is smart too, capturing raw weight and stride-rate data to generate a structured user profile that's directly linked to the speed-control algorithm.

The support structure is made from Q235 steel with a side frame of die-cast aluminum, and it utilizes a redesigned transmission path to deliver an exceptionally compact construction: the ultra-slim body is under 11cm thick. Despite its small size it features a 15% incline-lift mechanism and a 42cm running belt, with its size based on analysis of human shoulder widths.

Plaud One

(Image credit: Plaud)

Plaud One is a wearable AI companion that combines three key features that are usually separate: wearable conversation capture, context that builds across day-to-day conversations, and AI that can analyze data and take appropriate action. It can capture online meetings, and face-to-face discussions and phone calls, and it has built-in eSIM and 4G LTE for phone-free operation.

What makes Plaud One different is that it understands context. Instead of treating each recording as a standalone transcript, it can retain context across multiple discussions — so a conversation from one meeting can be connected to a later conversation or call.

That understanding enables the Plaud Agent to help you take action, identifying next steps and completing tasks across tools such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion, and Slack.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max-P495

(Image credit: Minisforum)

The MS-S1 Max-P495 delivers large-model AI computing from an exceptionally small footprint with a very high specification. It combines AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 with up to 192GB of unified memory to run 128B+ LLMs locally, delivering up to 126 TOPS, and its unified memory architecture eliminates VRAM bottlenecks while also reducing latency.

That power is cooled by a high-performance thermal solution featuring a copper base, six heat pipes, dual fans and phase-change cooling, and it's encased in a fully scalable design, with a slide-out chassis for easy upgrading and a rack-ready form factor.

With 4x PCIe expansion, dual 10Gb Ethernet, dual 40Gbps USB4 v2, Wi-Fi 7, and a built-in 320W PSU, the MS-S1 Max-P495 delivers future-proof power for desktop systems and scalable AI clusters alike — it's a mind-blowing beast made to meet a new kind of research and development need.

XPPen Magic Pro 13

(Image credit: XPPen)

XPPen's Magic Pro 13 is a mobile drawing pad designed for creative pros, featuring an industry-first hardware-level drawing display mode that delivers low latency, native color output and higher bandwidth video transmission over a simple one-cable connection, giving you a paper-like experience with 16K pressure sensitivity and cursor hover support.

It's the first drawing pad in its category to come with dual-USB support, enabling you to benefit from a high-speed data connection while charging your Magic Pro 13.

The Magic Pro 13 features the new Shelf digital asset management system and XPPen's Canvas software, designed to deliver a simple and intuitive sketching experience for capturing ideas when inspiration strikes. And for creatives on the move it offers two thermal management modes, balancing performance and energy efficiency based on different creative scenarios.

Strutt ev1c

(Image credit: Strutt)

Strutt's ev1c reimagines the power chair with three major advancements: Strutt's evSense sensing array, a quad-drive drivetrain, and a modular, connected design.

eVSense uses two LiDARs, 10 time-of-flight sensors, six ultrasonics and two cameras to create 3D maps in real time, powering the Co-Pilot collision avoidance for people, pets, and edges, and the Auto-Pilot, which enables you to select on-screen destinations, or use LLM-powered voice commands such as "Take me to the kitchen" — basically it's a self-driving personal mobility vehicle.

The drivetrain features four-wheel independent suspension, ABS, active steering, and an integrated electronic stability program (ESP), safely managing 13-degree slopes, cobblestones and rough terrain without slippage or tipping. And when it's time to travel, it breaks down into five modules for easy trunk storage. It looks like a genuine move forward for this kind of mobility device.

xTool M2 Color Craft Laser

(Image credit: xTool)

The xTool M2 is the first desktop machine to combine full-color CMYK printing, laser engraving and laser cutting into one enclosed Class 1 system, delivering a full print-then-cut workflow. Simply print your full-color design onto a piece of wood, leather or acrylic, and the xTool M2 Color Craft Laser cuts or engraves the exact contour with camera-guided precision. And there's a built-in air-assist pump, an industry first for a semiconductor laser, that keeps cut edges clean by reducing carbonization and yellowing.

Having these three capabilities in a single device is a huge power-up: instead of having to print on one machine and engrave or cut on another, you can turn your raw idea into a finished, professional-looking product in a single operation. It's ideal for stickers, labels, signage, personalized gifts, and small-batch products — you could start a whole business with this one device. And because it's an enclosed system, it's also very safe.

Perlegear AX1 Smart Adaptive Mount

(Image credit: Perlegear)

The Perlegear AX1 Smart Adaptive Mount answers an interesting question: what if your TV mount was as smart as your TV? The AX1 is an AI-powered, motorized TV mount that can automatically adjust the height of your TV to different viewing positions, so for example you might have it low for solo TV watching, but raised for watching sports with friends, or for following an on-screen fitness app or motion-based game.

The AX1 is controllable via gesture commands, its mobile app, via remote control, or via Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri. It can distinguish between single- and multi-person viewing, with the latter calculating the best screen height for the group, and it's capable of moving a 200-pound / 90kg TV up to 15.7 inches / 400mm vertically, with real-time obstacle detection that stops and reverses the move if the path is blocked.

Speediance Gym Monster 3

(Image credit: Speediance)

The brilliantly named Gym Monster 3 delivers serious strength training for home workouts, combining the experience of a Smith machine, barbell, dumbbells, cable machine, rowing machine, pulley system, and squat rack into one streamlined setup with up to 200lbs / 90kg of intelligent digital resistance.

Twin 800W direct-drive motors deliver smooth, consistent resistance through every rep, and it's adjustable in one-pound / 0.45kg increments, so you can progress at your own pace, rather than make big jumps you might not be ready for.

The Gym Monster 3 is controlled via a clever Bluetooth Ring Control that enables you to make adjustments without stepping away or breaking your flow, and it features four dedicated training modes: Standard, Chain, Eccentric, and Fixed Speed. It also features a built-in AI coach that can guide you from your first session onwards.

Midea GreenApex Dishwasher

(Image credit: Midea)

The humble dishwasher hasn't changed much since Josephine Cochrane's 1886 invention went electric in the late 1920s and gained spray arms in the 1950s. But the Midea GreenApex is very different from traditional grease-busters. It's a dual heat-pump system that uses a single coordinated heat pump platform to deliver washing, rapid drying, and dry storage in a single appliance.

The GreenApex is 50% more energy efficient than conventional dishwashers, delivers 30-minute rapid drying and 168 hours of dry storage without continued system operation, and offers gentle heat-pump drying at around 45°C, so you don't need to worry about high temperatures damaging more delicate items. It feels like a major leap forward for an appliance type that doesn't often have the phrase 'cutting-edge' associated with it.

Reolink OMVI 2i Ultra

(Image credit: Reolink)

The Reolink OMVI 2i Ultra Security Camera features an innovative, decoupled dual-lens tracking system in which the individual lenses operate fully independently of one another. Unlike in other dual-lens or hybrid zoom security cameras, the two lenses here are not mechanically linked, so the fixed 130-degree 4K wide-angle lens never moves, while the telephoto camera is free to rotate anywhere, including to cover areas outside the field of view of the main lens.

This means that when the 4K camera's on-device AI spots a person, vehicle or animal, it triggers the pan-tilt camera to lock onto and follow that subject even after they exit the wide camera's field of view — but you don't lose any recording from the wide camera's view during that time.

You can also use the wide-angle view to redirect the pan-tilt camera to a particular location by simply tapping that point in the live camera view, or have the wide camera and the pan-tilt camera monitoring two distinct locations, such as your driveway and a side gate.

Navimow H510 Pro

(Image credit: Navimo)

The Navimow H510 Pro features four key innovations: precise edge finishing, zero-turn steering, adaptive mowing intelligence, and 3D modelling.

Rather than edging with a trimmer line, which can be noisy and cause minor damage, the H510 Pro has an extendable robot arm that performs zero-gap edging quietly and safely — it's the most interesting and smart version of this technology that we've seen.

The all-wheel-drive system protects your turf too, with a zero-steering system that avoids dragging the wheels across the grass during lateral turns. And the Adaptive Mowing Intelligence feature analyzes grass growth patterns to determine the optimal mowing frequency, using the 1/3 cutting rule to preserve lawn health.

With 3D terrain modeling rather than the industry-standard 2D, and a sensor array including infrared as well as LiDAR and vision for low-light reliability, and triple-sensor avoidance to protect wildlife, the H510 is a smart solution for even the most challenging lawns.

DJI Romo 2 Series

(Image credit: DJI)

The Romo 2 Series is a robot vacuum that won't be defeated by obstacles such as deep rugs, sliding door tracks and other barriers. That's because it has robotic legs that can step over obstacles as high as 4cm, and double-step thresholds up to an impressive 8.5cm.

It also features a built-in LiDAR-guided ultra-wide-swing robotic arm to extend the mop's reach, and its powerful suction system features an automatically lowering plate that forms a semi-seal on carpet for better extraction of dust and allergens.

The Romo 2 Series also benefits from the tech of DJI's flagship drones, with a Structured Light-Speckle projector and dual fish-eye vision sensors for full 3D depth perception. It can detect items such as cables and training pads as thin as 2mm, and its AI can distinguish between debris and liquid, as well as deal with transparent obstacles such as glass doors and mirrors.

Acer Vero 16

(Image credit: Acer)

With so many laptops sacrificing easy maintenance and repairability for super-skinny styling, the Acer Vero 16 is a breath of fresh air. While it doesn't skimp on style or power — it's highly portable, delivers up to 180 platform TOPS with an Intel Core Ultra X9 processor 388H, and can be configured with a stunning 16-inch 3K OLED display — it's made with longevity in mind.

A tool-free latch provides easy access to the Vero's innards, and the battery and SSD are replaceable, while the system is designed to support the next two generations of processors if you want to upgrade. Fully 70% of the chassis consists of a blend of PCR (post-consumer recycled) and bio-based oyster shell material, and it meets US military standards for toughness. This is a laptop that's built to last, in a way that's rare to see — and very welcome.

Asus ProArt GR1X

(Image credit: Asus)

The Asus ProArt GR1X is tiny, measuring just 150 x 150 x 51mm. But there's nothing small about its specification. Designed for advanced content creation and local AI workflows, it delivers data center-class compute inside a mini PC, removing the need to run LLMs remotely while eliminating cloud latency, cost, and IP protection concerns for pro creators.

The ProArt GR1X features the groundbreaking Nvidia RTX Spark 'superchip', which means you get a 20-core Grace CPU and a 6,144-core Blackwell GPU, delivering up to one petaflop of FP4 AI inference performance. With up to 128GB of LPDDR5X unified memory at 9,400MHz, it enables you to run up to 120B-parameter LLMs locally, and render entire 3D scenes on-device in Windows 11.

That kind of power demands highly efficient cooling, and Asus has developed an advanced precision-cooling system that delivers 1.6x more efficient thermal coverage than standard compact systems. Asus also solved the challenge of metal-enclosure signal attenuation by embedding the Wi-Fi 7 antennas behind a glass-like signal-transparent material. It's quite the design coup, and an impressive showcase for Nvidia's new elite chip.

EcoFlow STREAM 5000 / STREAM AC 5000

(Image credit: EcoFlow)

The EcoFlow Stream series is a plug-and-play modular system for residential solar energy generation and storage that's designed to be renter- and apartment-friendly. It can add battery storage and smart power-management to existing solar PV installations, as well as being employed to create a new home system from scratch.

The Stream Series features EcoFlow's Oasis 3.0 home energy management system, which understands dynamic energy tariffs, keeps an eye on the weather forecast, and continuously analyzes your home energy needs to optimize generation, storage and consumption.

That means you can give the EcoBot AI agent instructions such as "I need my car charged by 7am tomorrow at the lowest possible cost" and it will implement the necessary steps, or have your energy schedules reconfigured automatically when you have visitors or other instances of increased demand.

From October the EcoFlow Stream series will also get a new feature: Local Mode, which gives you uninterrupted operation and local app control even if there are cloud or connectivity outages. It's a very powerful (no pun intended) system that's been designed with the real world in mind.

Tapo D260

(Image credit: Tapo)

The Tapo D260 wired/wireless security camera is a video doorbell that delivers all the benefits of high-spec security without the potential downsides: it stores facial recognition data locally to protect privacy, and no features are locked behind a subscription. It's advanced, yet totally cost-free once you buy it.

It has 4K resolution, a wide 180-degree field of view to cover the entire doorway, and delivers sharp detail in subjects up to 30 feet away.

The D260 features multiple intelligent detection and recognition features, including radar as well as the obligatory infrared motion sensor. These enable it to discount false alerts from things such as moving branches or passing headlights, while on-device AI can recognize people, packages, vehicles, and animals.

If you wish, you can opt in to build a library of family and friends using facial recognition, and there's even a voice changer to disguise your voice when speaking to unfamiliar callers. In a world where people are sick of subscriptions, this offers a great security upgrade without the monthly fee.

Apple’s Sept. 9 event could bring the iPhone 18 Pro, its first foldable iPhone, and a split release schedule extending into 2027.

The post Apple’s Sept. 9 Event: What to Expect From the iPhone 18 Pro and the Reported $2,099-Plus Foldable appeared first on TechRepublic.

• OpenAI launched Daybreak for Frontline Defenders, offering $1B in credits for resource‑constrained security orgs
• Priority goes to essential services, governments, banks, nonprofits, and open‑source maintainers
• Initiative includes training, partnerships, and a water‑sector pilot with MS‑ISCA for local defenders

OpenAI is offering a billion dollars in credits to security organizations who want to use its Daybreak initiative but cannot afford it.

Daybreak is a cybersecurity program that provides vetted defenders with specialized AI tools and models. It was introduced in May this year, and later expanded into two tiers - Blue, and Red. Blue is the entry-level tier, providing a general-purpose model with custom-tailored safeguards. Red, on the other hand, offers a more purpose-trained cybersecurity model and almost no safeguards.

According to OpenAI, “thousands of defenders across 2,000 approved organizations and workspaces” already use Daybreak, including cybersecurity companies, defense organizations, and law enforcement agencies.

Who gets priority?

But these models cost money, and to make sure more businesses can access them, OpenAI announced, “Daybreak for Frontline Defenders”, a project where defenders can apply and receive credits for AI tokens. Even though the company announced it as a global initiative, it seems that US businesses will be the first to take advantage of it:

“OpenAI is committing $1 billion in subsidized Daybreak access to help resource-constrained cyber defenders, starting with the United States, put frontier AI to work, targeting it to be consumed over the next six months,” the company said in an announcement blog.

Businesses operating essential services such as water and wastewater systems, and electric grid operators, will get priority, OpenAI said. Then come state and local governments, community and regional banks, nonprofits, open-source maintainers, and then “other organizations with limited security resources.”

The subsidy is not just about using the models, though. OpenAI also said it will be increasing hands-on support for frontline defenders, training, and new partnerships.

On top of all that, OpenAI also announced a public sector, water-focused pilot with the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISCA) to train and support local, tribal, and territorial defenders.

“The pilot will pair Daybreak access with guided training and hands-on assistance for an initial group of public sector and water system defenders, helping them validate and prioritize findings, coordinate remediation, and develop a repeatable approach that can be expanded over time,” the announcement concluded.

The Pixel 11 Pro debuted this summer with some new camera enhancements, and I wanted to see how it shapes up against the iPhone 17 Pro ahead of Apple’s Sept. 9 event.

Sonoff arrived at IFA with a much-needed smart solution for radiators and I’m very happy.

• The Romo 2 Series is drone brand DJI's second-gen robot vacuum
• Available in transparent (P2) and non-transparent A2) versions
• Following Romo's hacking drama, DJI has added 'Local Data Mode', which severs the bot's internet connection entirely

Looks aren't everything, but in the case of the DJI Romo 2, that seems the logical place to start. DJI has come in strong with its second-generation robot vacuum, calling it "not just a cleaning tool, [but] an elegant, semi-translucent piece of future-forward home decor".

My home has been blessed with the presence of several very good-looking robovacs over the year, but it must be said that none has quite the wow-factor of the Romo 2. (I'm about to begin testing at home, and also saw the bot being demoed at IFA 2026.)

The rest of the market is going for minimalist shapes and glossy surfaces; DJI has embraced the opposite aesthetic. Like its predecessor, the Romo 2 has a chunky, curvy build that reminds me of Apple's iMac G3 of the late 90s, while the transparent cover — which exposes tubes, filters and mechanisms that make the robovac function — has shades of HR Giger. Although, obviously, without the sexual overtones.

(Image credit: Future)

I should state at this point that I'm specifically talking about the Romo P2. DJI has also released an A2 version, which is essentially the same except with opaque covers, for those seeking a less bold aesthetic.

I'm already hooked on the design of the Romo P2, but I don't like it enough that I'd have it in my house if it wasn't also a good cleaner, so let's take a look at what DJI's second-gen robovac has in its cleaning arsenal.

(Image credit: Future)Making your way

DJI really knows what it's doing when it comes to flying gadgets — it makes pretty much all the best drones on the market right now (which makes it slightly unfortunate that they're in the process of being banned in the US).

Now, it promises to use this expertise into its robovacs. Specifically, the press info states that "By converting aerial robotics intelligence into ultimate terrestrial performance, [the Romo 2] sets the new gold standard for home automation."

(Image credit: Future)

The main area where the brand has been able to port in its drone knowledge is in its navigation and spatial perception. The Romo 2 uses "an advanced sensory array" that combines "Structured-Light Speckle Projector LiDAR with dual-eye fisheye vision sensors" to create precise 3D maps in real time.

DJI says it can avoid obstacles as thin as 2mm, and navigate objects like floor-standing mirrors and glass partitions with confidence and ease. I haven't tested the Romo 2 on my own glass partitions yet, but given the original Romo boasted some crazy-good obstacle avoidance skills, I have high expectations.

Leveling up

Working alongside those navigation skills are some mechanical features to help deliver thorough cleaning coverage. The Romo 2 has pop-out wheels that raise it up to boost it over single steps up to 1.6in / 4cm tall, and double steps up to 3.3in / 8.5cm. That's not quite the biggest step clearance I've seen from a robovac at this year's IFA, but it's up there.

(Image credit: Future)

The Romo 2 also has a mop pad that can swing out 123 degrees, extending the mop's reach by 3in / 7.8cm and enabling it to dip right under low furniture.

(Image credit: Future)

DJI has also added a clever-sounding feature whereby the Romo 2 uses AI to distinguish between solid and liquid spills. When it encounters the latter, the bot will wave its robotic mop arm out to clear the mess without getting any on its wheels.

Privacy focus

The launch of DJI's first robot vacuum was marred by a security hiccup that saw a Romo owner inadvertently gaining access to 7,000 other devices, so it makes sense that privacy is addressed specifically in the press material for the second-gen version.

DJI has added a 'Local Data Mode', which severs the internet connection of the DJI Home app completely. With this mode activated, things like home maps, camera feeds and voice recordings should have no way to escape.

• The Govee Sky Ceiling Light shifts according to time, weather, and mood
• It prioritizes flicker-free blue light when you want to concentrate
• It's Matter-compatible, unlike a recent skylight-style light from Philips

Smart lighting company Govee has launched a new smart ceiling light that changes color depending on the time of day, just like a real skylight — and can even use AI to shift its settings to suit your mood.

The Govee Sky Ceiling Light, which debuted at the IFA tech show in Berlin this week, can automatically adjust the light based on time and weather (ideal for rooms without natural light), and can prioritize Govee's sky blue spectrum when you want to feel energized (particularly handy if you're working from home).

A few months ago, Philips launched a new skylight-style light fitting that changes light temperature and brightness to suit the time of day. It looked very realistic, but without true smart home integration (the skylight is operated via a physical remote control), we found its starting price of €499.99 (about $580 / £430 / AU$810) a little hard to swallow.

The Govee Sky Ceiling Light, on the other hand, is Matter-compatible, so it can integrate with your other smart home devices. It's more affordable too, with a list price of $399.99 (about £300 / AU$560).

GoveeGoveeGoveeGovee

However, the Philips lamp has a few extra tricks up its sleeve, including an integrated UV-B module designed to support your body's natural production of vitamin D, and an IP44 rating for use in bathrooms — which often lack real windows. Its rectangular shape arguably looks more like a real skylight as well, particularly in homes with traditional styling.

I can see smart skylights becoming increasingly popular over the coming years, particularly for small homes, and it will be interesting to see how else brands manage to differentiate themselves. The Philips light isn't a Hue product, but it is made by the same parent company (Signify), so I wouldn't be at all surprised if we see a Philips Hue skylight this time next year.

Google is rolling out AI-powered Battery usage summaries to Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 phones to help users understand what may be draining battery life.

The post Pixel’s New AI Feature Can Now Explain What’s Draining Your Phone appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Gemini Audio models power the latest conversational AI in Google Workspace
• Gmail Live can find information buried inside your emails for you
• Users can create Docs and Keep notes with just a brain dump

Google has finally launched the conversational voice features it previewed earlier this May, allowing users to interact with Workspace apps like Gmail and Google Docs by speaking instead of typing.

Much more than just simple dictation, the Gemini Audio models should be able to interpret user intent and retrieve the relevant information.

From launch, the company is supporting its new 'Live' functionality across Gmail, Docs and Keep, but we can expect a fuller rollout as Google continues to tweak the technology based on user feedback and real-world use cases.

Gemini now handles some of your documents and work by voice

Starting with Gmail Live, users can ask things like what gate a flight departs from or what's happening at a child's school during the week, and the model should be able to read and retrieve the necessary information without the user ever having to find the email.

For Docs Live, it's more about generating documents through natural language prompts. Google gave an example of a user giving a 'brain dump' to Gemini, which then goes on to organize the thoughts and produce a structured draft. The tool can also draw information from other Workspace apps like Google Drive, Gmail and the internet.

Keep Live offers similar functionality, turning speech into organized notes rather than simply transcribing a user's thoughts word-for-word.

Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers get first access to Gmail Live and Keep Live, beginning now. Docs Live is limited to Pro and Ultra subscribers, cutting access for Plus members. Business customers are also set to get the updates soon.

"Whether searching your inbox, organizing your thoughts, or brainstorming, the new capabilities in Gmail, Docs, and Keep let you do it all conversationally," Google Workspace Product VP Yulie Kwon Kim summarized.

Improved mopping, stain removing spray and a physical privacy shutter build on Ecovac’s previous model.

OpenAI launched GPT-6 Astra with advanced computer-use capabilities as Greg Brockman declared the “AGI era” has arrived, though major questions remain.

The post OpenAI Launches GPT-6 Astra as Brockman Says the ‘AGI Era’ Has Arrived appeared first on TechRepublic.

When businesses and governments delegate operational tasks to AI agents, the discussion tends to start with capability. Can AI do what a person can do, such as reconcile accounts, negotiate with suppliers, sign a document or submit a public filing? And can it do so quickly and cheaply enough to justify putting it to work?

These questions matter, but performance is only part of the picture. Once an agent acts independently, different questions emerge; who authorized it, whose interests does it represent, where does its authority end and, perhaps most importantly, who is responsible when something goes wrong?

This is the accountability gap in agentic AI, and a more advanced model will not close it. An agent might be remarkably capable, yet still act with potentially unwanted or possibly even unlawful consequences.

The only way to bridge that gap is through a system with clear permission guardrails and an audit trail that links each agentic action to the person that authorized it, and can tell the difference between a person and a machine in the first place.

Ordinary error at extraordinary scale

When people think about AI risk, they tend to picture a machine breaking free of human control and pursuing goals of its own. The more immediate risk is less dramatic; a system simply getting an ordinary task wrong, again and again, with no clear line of responsibility and accountability.

A person might send an invoice to the wrong customer. An agent connected to the full customer database could send the same invoice to thousands. It might change the wrong field and then repeat the change across an entire market, not because it has become malicious, but because it has misunderstood an instruction and had the access to act on that.

The speed that makes an agent valuable can save a business hundreds of hours, but can also turn a small and recoverable mistake into a serious operational problem.

When an agent drafts an email for someone to review, this ambiguity may not matter very much because the person remains between the software and the outside world.

But when it can send the message, submit a declaration or move money, it matters a great deal. Imagine asking an assistant to book one flight and, instead of giving them a company card with an appropriate spending limit, handing over your passport, bank card and office keys. You may trust the assistant completely, but the permissions bear no sensible relation to the task.

Define the boundaries, solve the problem

AI agents cannot hold citizenship or legal personhood, but they can be linked to natural persons in legally sound ways. For example, a reliable identifier could trace the agent's activity back to the person responsible for deploying it. Combined with clear permissions and mandates that make the terms of its authority visible and auditable, this would allow AI agents to carry out a range of operations and transactions in a more controlled way.

These controls could be very precise. An agent might be allowed to view financial information but not change it, prepare a payment but not approve it or order from named suppliers without exceeding a fixed amount. Its permissions might last for one transaction, one working day or the duration of a particular contract, after which it would expire without relying on someone to remember to switch it off.

Withdrawing that authority should be equally straightforward. If a company ends its relationship with an agent, changes supplier, or discovers that something is wrong, it should be able to cancel the it’s access without changing the credentials of the person behind it.

The agent’s legally anchored mandate in the various realms of these controls has a longer shelf life than any individual AI model, which will be upgraded, replaced and combined over time, often without the customer seeing much more than a new version number.

Putting the idea into practice

Estonia has decided to work through these questions now. In June, the government began developing a state-backed registration system for AI agents that will be available to both Estonian citizens and the country’s global community of entrepreneurs. The goal is to explore how Estonia’s fully digital state, where all public services are available online, can be opened to the emerging wave of AI-powered businesses.

Under the current proposal, a person would receive a registered numeric identifier that could be linked to one or more agents acting on their behalf. Operations performed by an AI agent are treated as operations performed by a machine, for which the natural person, the identity anchor, is liable. The AI agent can only operate within the limits of the authorizations granted to it.

For transparency, private service providers also need to know whether an operation was performed by a person or by a machine acting on their behalf. This allows them to apply appropriate controls, restrictions and risk models.

Built for delegation

The approach draws on more than two decades of digital government. Estonia’s system of personal identifiers and digital identities already allows people to act on behalf of others with clearly defined permissions.

An accountant can file a client’s taxes, an adult can manage an elderly parent’s affairs through the health portal, and several people can use a corporate bank account with individual rights and limits. In principle, the same framework could support mandates for AI agents.

This would give users greater confidence that safeguards are in place to protect the responsible person from foreseeable errors by an AI agent. It would also help close the accountability gap as agentic activity increases.

Before AI agents are given executive powers, they need a technically and legally binding framework that records who they represent, what they can do and who remains responsible for their actions.

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• Tottenham Hotspur just confirmed plans to migrate from VMware to HPE, saving 85% off its bill
• CTO Rob Pickering revealed that Broadcom-era changes are largely to blame
• The stadium is also undergoing a broader HPE upgrade

Tottenham Hotspur has phased out VMware at its stadium as part of a major infrastructure overhaul. By moving to HPE Morpheus VM Essentials, the London football team managed to cut virtualization costs by more than 85%.

According to Ars Technica, CTO Rob Pickering explicitly pointed toward the commercial changes following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware.

But for Tottenham, the migration was just one part of a major data center and networking refresh, with the company also shifting its server, storage and networking infrastructure – incidentally, to HPE.

Tottenham moves from VMware to HPE, saves 85%

Though the team didn't reveal how much it paid for which products with VMware, Pickering did say the saving was a "significant amount" and "north of 85%."

"The issues with the Broadcom takeover of VMware are well-known in terms of the commercial changes to their structure and the way that they engage with clients," he added.

Tottenham also confirmed that integrating virtualization, infrastructure and automation into one single operational stack ultimately led to more value than simply swapping one virtualization vendor for another to save money, hence the decision to go all-in on HPE.

Earlier this summer, HPE announced that it would be offering prospective customers a year's free HPE Morpheus VM Essentials for customers switching from VMware to help ease the cost involved with migration. Its Zerto migration software was also confirmed to be part of a $1 package.

It's unclear whether Tottenham Hotspur took advantage of those offers.

At the same time, the stadium is also said to have started a major network upgrade toward Wi-Fi 7 and HPE Aruba Central in a stadium with around 20,000 network access points and connections.

More broadly, Tottenham Hotspur isn't the only business turning its back on VMware – UK supermarket giant Tesco also confirmed plans to dump 40,000 VMware licenses.

Aqara is expanding from the home security world into smart lighting, and the results could challenge popular brands like Govee.

Deciding between Asana and Planner? This comparison guide will help you evaluate their features, pricing, and more.

The post Microsoft Planner vs Asana: Which PM Tool Wins in 2026? appeared first on TechRepublic.

Citing rising costs, Microsoft is changing its cloud gaming service options.

Explore the Honor Robot Phone’s 200MP gimbal camera, flagship specs, China pricing, key trade-offs, and whether this experimental phone is worth buying.

The post Honor Robot Phone Cheat Sheet: Specs, Price and Who Should Buy It appeared first on TechRepublic.