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A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, September 30 (game #941).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #942) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Things fall apart

NYT Strands today (game #942) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• OBEY
• CRUEL
• CORN
• SLAP
• REAL
• MATES

NYT Strands today (game #942) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #942) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 3rd row

• Last side: right, 8th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #942) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #942, are…

• BREAK
• CRUMBLE
• COLLAPSE
• DISSOLVE
• FRAGMENT
• SPANGRAM: BEYONDREPAIR

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 hints

I eventually got the spangram after multiple stages of feeling myself towards it — pair, then repair, then on repair, then finally BEYONDREPAIR. Once I’d made it, my gameplay felt the same way.

I was also slow to get going, but after finding half a dozen non-game words I took the lazy person’s way out and grabbed two hints: BREAk and CRUMBLE. From here it was easier, but I didn’t have my finest of days.

In the West we find the idea of things falling apart depressing, but in Japan there is a term — wabi-sabi — for taking pleasure and beauty in the natural decay and weathering of objects and displaying the patina of life. It’s lovely.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, September 30, game #941)

• CAPO
• PICK
• GUITAR
• DRUMS
• PIANO
• SYNTH
• AMPLIFIER
• SPANGRAM: MUSICSTORE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• Russia will reject flight plans from October 1 for civilian drones over 250 grams that are not connected to its ERA-GLONASS tracking system
• ERA-GLONASS is Russia's eCall-style emergency telematics platform that effectively functions as a clearinghouse for tracker data
• Officials are pitching the system as a way to lift regional drone bans, yet Moscow-area and St. Petersburg restrictions remain in force for now

From October 1 2026, Russia will stop accepting flight plans for civilian drones that are not hooked up to ERA-GLONASS, the state telematics platform that was previously best known for dispatching ambulances to car crashes.

The Ministry of Transport recently announced the change, stating "connection to ERA-GLONASS will become a prerequisite for submitting flight plans" to the State Air Traffic Management Corporation.

The requirement, which comes at a time when it continues to engage in an increasingly escalatory conflict with Ukraine, much of which involves drones of various shapes and sizes, applies to any drone that weighs more than 250 grams.

Not a new requirement altogether

The obligation itself is not new: since March 1 2026, aircraft have had to carry remote identification hardware that reports the drone, its owner, location, altitude, and route, under a government decree issued in Feb. 2026 (RU), which amended an earlier 2024 decree.

ERA-GLONASS, which functions as an emergency call system and is Russia's counterpart to the EU's eCall service, is not entirely new; it was officially commissioned in Jan. 2015 and has been mandatory since Jan. 2017 for all passenger and freight vehicles in the region.

It has since doubled as a state-owned clearinghouse for drone information, storing it and tracking them across the board. According to Rosaviatsia, it accepts feeds from cellular, satellite, and hybrid trackers, as well as ADS-B, and passes position, altitude, route, identification index, and aircraft category to supervisory agencies and bodies authorized to stop drone flights.

It is fairly ambitious in its own right; in January, JSC GLONASS chief executive Alexey Raikevich told TASS, after briefing Vladimir Putin at a Moscow unmanned-vehicle exhibition, that the system was ready to monitor up to 1 million civilian unmanned vehicles on land, on water, and in the air.

The ministry's own numbers are much more revealing: after seven months, 1,027 users are connected, comprising 752 organizations and 278 individuals, including 50 professional drone operators, and 1,205 drones are registered.

For context, deputy industry minister Vasily Shpak said Russia produced 16,398 civilian drones in 2024 alone. Not all of these will weigh over 250 grams or remain in civilian hands, and imported consumer drones are not counted here at all; the gap between drones in circulation and drones on the register appears wide.

The boldest claim about the system, however, is one that does not pass the smell test: In January, Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin said the system could forcibly stop a drone's movement if necessary, and at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2025, Raikevich said supervisors would be able to "press a button and land all the drones in a given area."

This does not align with the requirements the Russian government's decree established, which describe a one-way data feed from the drone to monitoring services rather than a command link that would make such an approach possible.

There is a significant military aspect to this at a time when Ukraine has managed to hit Russian targets with drones launched into Russian airspace from the ground. The best example is also the one that ran Russia billions of dollars in military equipment: Operation Spiderweb.

Whether the million drone tracking claims hold up or the 'kill switch' is actually a functional design at some level in Russian-made drones or otherwise remains to be seen, but it does highlight a growing awareness at the state level of how lethal even a single unaccounted-for drone can be at a time when both Ukraine and Russia are targeting civillian and energy infrastructure as part of a long-drawn out drone-enabled war of attrition.

• OVHcloud and CGI are teaming with the European Space Agency to build its ESA Earth Observation Information System
• Christened "Digital EO," the project will amass an incredible 500PB of Earth observation data by 2035
• The decentralized cloud-based project will provide data and compute processing for scientists, researchers, businesses, and citizens across Europe and the UK

A huge new project to record Earth Observation data has been launched by the European Space Agency (ESA), with OVHcloud providing cloud storage and processing and project management courtesy of IT and business management firm CGI (via its France Défense et Spatial subsidiary).

The ESA Earth Observation Information System, or Digital EO, aims to collect data about our planet from satellites and other observation hardware for use in studies and research.

With initial deployment in Italy, France, and Germany, Digital EO will be able to extend to other European countries, as well as Canada. Despite leaving the European Union, the UK remains a member of the European Space Agency and as such has access to Digital EO.

Decentralized, scalable, resilient

Determining that the growth in data collection from satellites and other devices and hardware requires better management and wider access, the ESA has launched the Digital EO project as a decentralized system that relies on OVHcloud’s expertise.

“Digital EO must allow us to take a new step forward in the way Earth Observation data is managed and used,” said Nicolaus Hanowski, the ESA’s Head of EO Mission Management and Ground Segment Department.

“With CGI and OVHcloud, we will build and operate a European innovative and sovereign system capable of supporting this ambition and of providing lasting support to the ESA and European Commission programs like Copernicus and DestinE.”

OVHcloud will also support the evolution of the ESA Earth Observation Information System, potentially beyond the initial 30 month project, aiming to ensure performance and meet the needs of Digital EO’s users.

Digital EO backbone

The ESA, which is overseen by the European Commission, has a long history of relying on companies and technology across the continent, rather than buying in solutions from the USA, China, South Korea, or Japan.

French cloud technology firm OVHcloud is the ideal partner for the Digital EO project (OVHcloud state it is worth “multi-million” Euros). Its CEO and Founder, Octave Klaba, noted that, “Europe absolutely must have control over the infrastructure that runs its most strategic programs. With Digital EO, we are putting our sovereign cloud expertise at ESA’s service so that it can build innovative solutions to process, store and make the most of ever-growing volumes of Earth Observation data for the benefit of research, industry and operational user communities.”

OVHcloud aims to deliver “performance, resilience and security” says Klaba, adding that the ambition is “to build a robust, sovereign European Digital EO able to evolve over time, in step with ESA’s needs and ambitions.”

• GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro starts at $6,399, but other Gorgon Halo systems exceed $7,000
• Runs 320B-parameter models offline under suitable conditions
• Memory bandwidth reaches 273GB/s, and up to 160GB can serve graphics

GMKtec has launched the EVO-X5 Pro starting at $6,399, making it one of the earliest devices to use the Gorgon Halo chip.

The mini PC combines AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 processor with 192GB of LPDDR5X-8533 unified memory for demanding local computing.

According to GMKtec, this device can run LLMs containing 320 billion parameters completely offline under suitable software and configuration conditions.

A $6,399 machine with substantial hardware

The company revealed that the starting price applies to the first 30 units of the 192GB memory and 2TB storage model.

After the first 30 units, subsequent early buyers will spend $200 more, purchasing this device at $6,599, while the regular price after the promotional period is $6,799.

A second model with 192GB of memory and 4TB of storage is available for $6,699 during the Super Early Bird promotion, $6,899 during the Early Bird period, and $7,099 at its regular price.

Other Gorgon Halo devices start well in excess of $7,000, making the EVO-X5 Pro one of the cheapest Gorgon Halo devices available.

However, the X5 Pro could easily be one of the most expensive mini PCs out there, as most of these devices sell for less than $4,000.

Its Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 processor provides 16 Zen 5 CPU cores, 32 threads, and boost speeds reaching 5.2GHz for demanding desktop workloads.

For graphics processing, this device uses the Radeon 8065S hardware with 40 compute units, RDNA 3.5 architecture, and hardware ray tracing.

Its XDNA 2 NPU can deliver up to 55 TOPS for supported artificial intelligence workloads, adding another processing resource to the system.

Memory bandwidth reaches 273GB/s, while the system can dynamically allocate as much as 160GB of its unified memory for graphics processing.

Its storage capacity can be expanded up to 24TB, giving the compact desktop considerable room for local datasets, applications and large artificial intelligence models.

To move that data in and out quickly, connectivity includes two USB4 V2 ports supporting up to 80Gbps, two USB4 ports reaching 40Gbps and two 10GbE LAN connections.

Offline AI capability is central to the EVO-X5 Pro

GMKtec originally developed the machine around support for 300B parameter models before later tuning increased its stated capability to 320B.

The company cautions that actual compatibility and performance depend on the selected model, software, quantization method, workload, and complete system configuration.

That capability is paired with features intended for private AI deployment, including local language models, coding assistants, research workloads and enterprise applications.

The EVO-X5 Pro supports eGPUs and multi-system clustering, allowing users to expand computing resources when individual workloads exceed its internal hardware.

For business environments, it includes AMD DASH, a dedicated dTPM 2.0 security chip and operating-system-independent out-of-band management.

GMKtec says the system has been validated for continuous 24/7 operation, although that claim does not establish performance levels across every workload.

To sustain that workload, cooling uses a vapor chamber with three fans inside an all-metal CNC-machined enclosure. The system also offers three performance modes for different operating requirements.

Beyond AI work, the device supports displays reaching 8K resolution, extending its intended use toward demanding professional desktop workloads.

We already have a unit of this mini PC on our desk; stay tuned for the detailed review coming up soon.

I've covered every single Amazon sale that's taken place in Australia for TechRadar and, in my experience, it's been rare to see all-time low prices during the October Prime Day sale.

• Shop Amazon's full Prime Big Deal Days sale

And I have just been proven wrong! On day one of Prime Big Deal Days this year (which was Tuesday, September 29), there were already a fair few record lows in the morning, then nearly half of my top deals were cheaper still by the afternoon. Day two saw some of those prices fall further — my favourite price drop was on the Samsung Galaxy A57 smartphone for just AU$519, and that meant it quickly went out of stock.

Other highlights are still going strong: the Philips Baristina coffee machine dropping from a discounted AU$398 to AU$378, then to AU$359; the Bose SoundLink Flex (Gen 2) Bluetooth speaker getting cheaper by about AU$3; and the popular Ninja DoubleStack XXXL also dropping by nearly AU$10. I also love that the Ninja Crispi Pro is down to all-time low of AU$290.70 — it's the air fryer I use myself and couldn't recommend highly enough.

Of course, pretty much all these deals are Prime exclusive, so I hope you have a subscription. If not, you can sign up now and get a 30-day free trial if you're a first-time customer and you can cancel any time. Prime Big Deal Days 2026 ends at 11:59pm AEDT on Monday, October 5, so you have some time to figure out what to get, but don't take too long.

Amazon quick linksEditor's picks: today's top deals

This discount matches the Blink Video Doorbell System’s last all-time low price during the last Prime Day sale in July. It’s worth noting, though, that many of the features are locked behind the AU$4.95/m Blink Basic or AU$15/m Blink Plus subscription plans, so those costs should be considered if you want video storage, person detection and more. Amazon is also offering a bundle with two Blink Mini 2K+ cameras for AU$48 or 74% off, perfect for a good starter home security system.View Deal

The JBL Grip plugs the gap between the smaller Clip and formidable Flip. It's a compact speaker that delivers a big sound, offers impressive protection against dust and water and has some nifty LED lighting on its rear. The Flip 7 is still our top recommendation, but with the Grip currently at the lowest price we have seen for a couple of colour options, it's a great buy. View Deal

Vertuo Pop: was $229 now $92.15
This little pod machine is very popular among TechRadar's Aussie team. We've had past and present staff say how much they love it, and they'd even buy it at full price. With a very compact footprint and plenty of Vertuo pods to choose from, you'll get delicious coffee at just the press of a button. View Deal

These AirPods lack active noise cancellation but you still get great audio and personalised spatial audio with dynamic head tracking without having to pay too much. Additionally, a battery life of up to five hours on a single charge and 30 hours with the included carry case will keep you listening for longer.
Prefer noise cancellation as well? Grab the AirPods 4 with ANC for AU$185 (or 38% off).View Deal

SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen): was $249.95 now $147.25
Clean, detailed sound, full protection against dust and water and all packaged in a gorgeous body, the Bose SoundLink Flex is a Bluetooth speaker you'll want to take with you everywhere you go, and at a pretty good price too.View Deal

Momentum 4 Wireless: was $579 now $257
The 5th-gen version is out now, but it's our Sennheiser Momentum 4 review that scored a full five stars, where we called these headphones "unbeatable". With active noise-cancellation, 60-hours of battery life and excellent sound quality, there are few pairs that can compete with the Momentum 4.View Deal

Crispi Pro: was $499 now $290.70
I've just got me this air fryer, but I haven't started using it yet... I can't wait to cook up a storm that can potentially feed up to 10 people! Yes, its largest glass basket has a 5.7L capacity, so that's a lotta chips! There's another 2.3L borosilicate basket also in the box, so you can just cook a small portion too. And both come with lids, so you can serve in the same basket or cover and store in the fridge.View Deal

Baristina: was $599 now $359
The best entry-level bean-to-cup coffee maker has received a good discount for Prime Day. It's simple to use, taking care of the grinding, tamping and pouring for you. The porta filter will even automatically slide into position for you. Do note there's no milk frothing here, but a matching milk frother is available. Also available in black. View Deal

Instinct 2X Solar: was $769 now $379
An upgraded version of a watch we proudly awarded five stars, this handy fitness tracker features solar power charging, allowing it to last much longer than the standard model. It's a rugged wrist piece and it's intended for heavy-duty activities.View Deal

PowerDetect Clean & Empty: was $999 now $462.10
With powerful and dynamic suction, plenty of attachments and an auto-empty charging dock, this is arguably the best value non-Dyson cordless vacuum right now. Read our review for the full scoop. Often sold around the AU$750 price point, it as low as AU$438 at the start of this sale, but this is still a great bargain on what I think is the best stick vacuum cleaner in Australia. View Deal

As anticipated, Amazon has further dropped the price of this budget handset, making it an even better value option — as long as you don't need the most powerful phone with all the bells and whistles. We called it a "competent all-rounder" in our Samsung Galaxy A57 review, but we also noted that it will not wow you.View Deal

Deals under AU$100

Video Doorbell 2K+: was $109 now $41
Already quite affordable, this Blink video doorbell can rival anything from the more expensive Ring line, while also offering a long battery life and IP65 weatherproofing. Also included is the Sync Module that you'll need to make everything work, but you will need to take into account that it requires a Blink Subscription Plan if you want all its functions at your fingertips. Note that the 'typical price' listed was the July discount, so this is more than the displayed 7% discount.View Deal

TV Stick 4K Plus: was $99 now $45.60
This is just the previous Fire TV Stick 4K rebranded to a new name. So if you already have the original, there's no need to upgrade, but for a first-time customer, you get Wi-Fi 6 support and a fast processor so you can get to your favourite streaming content that much quicker. All Fire TV Sticks now get you access to XBox Game Pass, so you don't need a console to play if you already have a subscription.View Deal

Ultimate C: was $79.95 now $46.74
Sure, it's a wired controller, but this gamepad is simple to use and durable, with drift-free hall effect analog sticks. In fact, the base of the sticks also have RGB, which is fantastic at this price. Being wired, however, means this isn't ideal for couch play, but if you're a PC gamer at your desk, it'll do wonderfully well.
[Shipped and sold by Amazon UK]View Deal

Boasting a 12,000dpi 'Hero' sensor, as well as 6 programmable buttons, a 250-hour battery and onboard memory for your settings, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse is ideal for competitive play. Want to know more? Check out our review, but not that only the blue and lilac colourways get the best discount.View Deal

Outdoor 4 (2 pack): was $179 now $58.99
Read our review for the full scoop, but the Blink Outdoor 4 is an affordable home security camera from Amazon with the ability to last up to two years off batteries. It comes with an easy-to-use app and fairly good camera quality via a 1080p lens, and can store video when paired with a Blink Sync module.View Deal

iO 2: was $159.99 now $56.05
If you're after a really good electric toothbrush that won't cost an arm and a leg (or some teeth), then this is it. It's an entry-level oscillating brush, which means it rotates at fast speeds and may not be ideal for people with sensitive or bleeding gums as that movement can be harsh, but it sure does remove a heck of a lot of plaque and keeps your teeth healthy. View Deal

Echo Dot (5th gen): was $99 now $59
Amazon's Echo Dot it's a great smart speaker with decent sound and Alexa built-in. It also has motion detection and can measure temperature, which is handy if you have a connected thermostat. It is a little long in the tooth now, having released in 2022, but it's a bargain at this price.View Deal

Already affordable, these wireless buds have dropped to a record-low price (outdoing the previous one by a single cent). This is excellent value considering we rate them 4.5 stars in our Earfun Air Pro 3 review, and they have active noise cancelling, premium aptX sound quality and 45 hours total play time.View Deal

A Modo Mio Jolie Evo: was $129 now $64.99
The Lavazza Jolie machines are excellent and affordable alternatives to Nespresso. This Evo model just has a single button for extracting coffee (compared to the Jolie Plus that has programmable buttons), making it oh so simple to use. If you'd like the option to froth milk, you can get a bundle with a frother too. View Deal

Blast Water Flosser: was $179.99 now $65.78
If you don't enjoy flossing the traditional way, use the power of water instead. Removing plaque using three different water pressure settings, this handy flosser will clean out those hard-to-reach gaps that your toothbrush can't. Plus, it's cordless, meaning you can take it on your travels too. Admittedly these were a lot cheaper in July (just over AU$48), but they were bestseller then, so it would be remiss of me to not include it here again.View Deal

Galaxy SmartTag 2 (4-pack): was $169 now $69
Samsung's answer to the AirTag, the SmartTag 2 works with select Samsung phones to help you find mislaid items. It has a built-in hole for easier attachments, up to 700 days of battery life and it's water-resistant. If you're always losing stuff, this is a worthy investment that drops the price of each individual tracker to a mere AU$17.25 apiece.View Deal

Freeze Wand: was $149 now $84
The Ninja Creami is great and all, but paying almost AU$300 for an ice cream maker is a lot — but this one from Cuisinart costs a fraction of the price and also takes a lot less space too! It's a versatile machine that makes ice cream, slushies, milkshakes, sorbets, and mix-ins to truly earn its space in the kitchen. You can even combine up to three flavours with three included dessert cups.View Deal

the Aroma Style: was $109.95 now $87
This drip-style coffee maker lets you wake up to a fresh pot of coffee every morning and it will even keep it warm all morning for those cold days working from home. You can program it to brew at a specific time and even adjust the strength of your brew. View Deal

MultiPro Go food processor: was $149 now $87
This food processor's biggest drawcard is its small footprint (30cm tall and 16cm wide), making it great for those with smaller kitchens, but it also has a powerful 650W motor to help blitz foods to slice, grate, chop and knead in seconds. This is the lowest price we've seen for the MultiPro Go, and you can read the full review here.View Deal

Our 1More Sonoflow review praised the comfort of the headphones, as well as the excellent active noise cancelling and up to 70 hours of battery life. Honestly, at this price, it's excellent value for everyday listening.View Deal

Air Circulator 460: was $179 now $94
We might be in the middle of winter, but there's no denying some parts of Australia need a good fan year round. This Vornado model creates tornado-like air flow that circulates around the room. Note that this is the smallest model in the range, ideal for bedrooms. View Deal

2000 Series: was $179 now $98
If you're after a compact model that can feed one or two people, this Philips option is great for under a hundred dollary-doos. It's been hovering around the AU$95 mark for a while, so it's quite the best deal, but it's still a discount that's hard to pass up on an air fryer with a staggering 13 preset cooking options.View Deal

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Headphones & speakers

Offering poised and revealing sound, along with excellent comfort and microphone quality, this saving is one to consider if you've been on the hunt for a quality pair of earbuds. Though noise cancellation and battery life could use some work, we awarded these earbuds a TechRadar Recommends seal of approval in our Technics EAH-AZ80 review.View Deal

Offering “incredible sound”, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have all the power and quality you’d expect from a Bose-branded item while providing the benefits of an open-ear form factor. The Immersive sound is excellent, and there’s also up to seven hours of play time and up to 48 hours of standby time. They simply just work and work very well.View Deal

Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds (Black Copper): was $499 now $247
We gave these stunning earbuds 4.5 stars in our review as they have class-leading audio handling and impeccable sound quality that rivals the best wireless earbuds. With balanced sound, effective ANC and a great battery life, these Sennheiser buds will make any audiophile smile. View Deal

OpenRun Pro 2: was $319 now $227.05
Read our review for the full lowdown on why these are the ideal runners headphones. Importantly, this Pro 2 version that improves the sound quality by combining the bone conduction tech with an air conduction speaker. This discount beats the price from Black Friday last year, but is five cents more than July.View Deal

QuietComfort SC: was $499.95 now $243
Nearly as good as the gen 1 QuietComfort Ultra, the SC misses out on the Immersive Audio mode. There'll also be a little difference in sound quality as they process sound differently, but it's still excellent, as is the ANC performance. You'll also get a soft case for this foldable headphone rather than the hard one for the more expensive set.View Deal

WH1000-XM6 (pink): was $699.95 now $513
It's a pity only one colourway is going for this price, but if you don't mind the dusty pink of Sony's latest flagship cans, you'll be in for a treat. Arguably one of the best headphones available today, there's no doubting performance here, with beautifully balanced sound and great ANC.View Deal

Boom 4: was $229.95 now $158.85
This floatable Bluetooth speaker is perfect for the poolside party, with up to 15 hours of playtime and very decent 45m connectivity range. It promises bassy, punchy and yet a clear 360º soundstage.View Deal

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Vacuum cleaners

This is a very different Dreame R10 to the one we've previously reviewed on TechRadar, but if it performs anything like the light-coloured version that has since been discontinued, then I think this is excellent value. For not a lot of money, this appliance promises up to 45 minutes of runtime and a bendy wand to get under furniture. It even comes with a wall-mount attachment.View Deal

Cordless Vacuum with Self Cleaning Brushroll (IZ102): was $549 now $189
We haven't tested this cordless vacuum ourselves but user reviews are glowing and I think that says something. For quick and daily vacuuming, this is great and excellent value and is currently at an all-time low price on Amazon.View Deal

Arguably the cheapest Dyson available right now, the V8 Origin is pretty much the same machine as the standard V8, just with a red wand and barely any additional accessories shipping in the box along with it — which explains the lower price. Honestly, I think the standard V8 is the better buy, but if cash is tight and you really want a Dyson, this will suit you fine with up to 40 minutes of runtime.View Deal

F25 Ace: was $999 now $349
This Roborock wet-dry vacuum will leave your hard floors sparkling clean thanks to powerful suction and effective cleaning. It can get up close to edges and the whole body can lay completely flat to help getting underneath tricky to reach places. This price is equal to the lowest we have seen on Amazon and is a great saving on an excellent floor washer – read our review for more info.View Deal

X40 Ultra (black): was $2799 now $712.49
Where this Dreame differs from all the others on this page is that if you don't want it to mop (do a vacuum-only run), it can drop its mop pads in the base station by itself. It's also pretty powerful and scored 4 stars in our Dreame X40 Ultra review. It's now two generations old but I'd still recommend it today, especially at this price. View Deal

L50 Ultra CE: was $2199 now $999.99
Want the latest Dreame tech? Released earlier this year, this robovac packs everything that Dreame models are good at — excellent suction, decent mopping, superb obstacle avoidance, pet-zone cleaning and so much more — into a sleek machine. OK, so it looks like all the others, but c'mon, you can't tell me the white with metallic accents don't fit into any home.View Deal

This is the robovac I would consider buying if I didn't already have a high-end Dreame machine that's been cleaning my home like... a dream. This Roborock is slimlined to crawl under furniture (no navigation puck here), and can raise not just its mop pads, but its side brush to avoid scattering and excessive tangling. Its headline act, however, has to be its cleaning prowess — our Roborock Saros 10R review didn't score 4.5 stars for nothing!View Deal

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Coffee machines

Dedica Arte: was $299 now $196.95
This compact manual coffee machine can pour up to two espresso shots at once and features a steam wand for cafe-quality milk foaming. There's no built-in grinder, but you either use ground coffee beans or invest in a separate grinder using the cash you save with this deal. View Deal

La Specialista Arte: was $649 now $444
This gorgeous-looking, easy-to-use, bean-to-cup espresso machine is a worthy addition to any coffee lover's kitchen. It's relatively compact, too, and pours delicious espresso with little to no skill involved. Note that this is the non-Evo model, meaning it can't make cold brew. The Evo model is out of stock at the time of writing.View Deal

The Breville Bambino Plus is incredibly simple to use, and can take care of most of the coffee making process for you. Grind some beans into the porta filter, insert it into the group head and use the one-touch controls to brew. It also has a hands-free milk texturing system for expertly frothed milk, while ThermoJet technology means the machine is ready to use in seconds. There's very little you need to do to simply enjoy the results — now AU$20 more than what it cost at the start of the sale.View Deal

4400 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine: was $1199 now $563.99
This Philips bean-to-cup machine can make 12 coffee-based drinks, all of which are served perfectly, and can be customised to suit your tastes. We weren't too fond of its milk frothing skills in our LatteGo 4400 Series review, but at this price, I can't recommend it highly enough since it's the lowest I can remember it dropping to, thanks to an additional AU$175 coupon you need check on the listing page. View Deal

Luxe Café Premier: was $799.99 now $577.89
This 3-in-1 coffee machine brews quality espresso, drip coffee and even fast cold brew using its Barista Assist technology, an integrated grinder and weight-based dosing. There's a lot it can do, and it does it very well. And it's just dropped in price by about AU$11 in the Oat Milk colourway.View Deal

The Barista Express (Stainless Steel): was $999 now $599
This at-home espresso machine is perfect for hobbyist baristas and coffee connoisseurs alike and has long held a position on our round-up of the best espresso machines for good reason. This manual coffee machine streamlines the brewing process from beans to latte with its integrated conical burr grinder, steam wand and precise espresso extraction. View Deal

It's an expensive machine but we like it so much that it scored 4.5 stars in our De'Longhi Eletta Explore review. Capable of making both hot and cold coffee brews, this bean-to-cup machine produces delicious results, although it's not without its quirks. Our reviewer thought its water tank design was a little annoying and wasn't too thrilled with the two-carafe milk system, but if those aren't going to be issues for you, this could be a good investment.View Deal

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Air fryers

Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer (AF300): was $249.99 now $127
This is an excellent price for the air fryer we awarded five stars to in our Ninja AF300UK review. It has six easy-to-use cooking functions and a total 7.6L capacity dual drawer setup, which can cook separate foods and sync timers to finish simultaneously — perfect for a couple.View Deal

Multi Zone Air Fryer Oven: was $299 now $162.45
This big air fryer has multiple accessories to keep clean, but there's no denying this Sunbeam unit is a fantastic addition to any kitchen. It's capable of cooking in separate zones, complete with separate trays to maximise the space or one huge 11.4L zone. Food is roasted to perfection, whether it's a full chicken or small portions of fries or vegetables.View Deal

DoubleStack XXXL: was $599.99 now $170.05
Securing a spot on our list of the best air fryers, our reviewer said this innovative model from Ninja was the "air fryer of my dreams". It takes a familiar double drawer design, but stacks them on top of each other, resulting in a smaller footprint. Performance is exemplary, but just make sure the food you put in isn't that big, as the drawers themselves are on the smaller side at 4.75L each.View Deal

3000 Series dual basket air fryer (9L): was $349 now $170.05
We haven't tested Philips' dual basket air fryer, but considering how much we've loved the brand's other kitchen appliances, it's hard to not make a mention of this offer. This 9L air fryer has drawers of different sizes, which makes it easy to cook a main and a side together, and promises to sync cooking times if needed. View Deal

This compact air fryer packs 1700W of power into a portable design, with two borosilicate glassware containers that serve as both frying baskets and serving dishes. The borosilicate means they can also withstand extreme temperatures, making it easy to take your favourite foods from frozen to crispy, and it's safer to use than any non-stick basket. The Crispi also comes with two removable crisping grates and two snap-on container lids for easy food-storage post-feast.View Deal

5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer Steam: was $499 now $224.20
Ever cooked with steam in an air fryer? Now you can with this Philips two-drawer air fryer. In my Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket XXL Air Fryer Steam review, I said that it cooks everything really well, but there are some caveats to keep in mind when it comes to the use of steam. Still, it's absolutely worth the investment if you want to upgrade from an old air fryer and you have the space for it.View Deal

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Summer essentials

Creami Deluxe: was $449.99 now $283.10
It's got a cult-like following and two members of our own staff are massive fans. If you love your chilled desserts – ice creams, gelatos, smoothies – but want to control your calorie intake, you really should consider getting the Ninja Creami. This Deluxe edition gets you three containers, which is great value at this price, although it was over AU$50 cheaper in July.View Deal

The Ninja Slushi lets you skip the ice and still enjoy perfectly smooth icy drinks with very little effort. Whether you're craving a frappe, smoothie, or even a cheeky spiked slushi, its multiple drink modes have you covered. Check out our Ninja Slushi review for the full rundown. View Deal

Tower Fan 5000: was $179 now $113.05
When space is a premium and you only require cooling in a focused area, then a tower fan might be for you. This one from Philips is only 23.8cm deep and wide to fit a small space like a corner or a narrow hallway, while also standing 109.5cm tall to provide more cooling.View Deal

This fan can be used either at home, plugged in, or on the go with its built-in battery that’s rated for up to 12 hours of continuous operation. The water droplets from the misting function are ultra-fine and come from an integrated tank, so the feature also works while on the go. A built-in handle and lightweight 1.76kg body also make the FlexBreeze HydroGo easy to transport and move around.View Deal

This bladeless fan may be the priciest in this list, but this discount still makes the Shark TurboBlade Ultra a more affordable option than Dyson’s offerings. The fan can either be set horizontally to cover a wider area or vertically for more focused cooling. It comes with 10 speed options and different noise levels to suit whatever your cooling needs are.View Deal

2.5Kw portable air conditioner: was $299.99 now $239.99
This portable aircon can rapidly cool down a space of up to 20sqm while also running relatively quietly for as low as 64db. We haven't reviewed this yet, but it has dozens of 5-star user reviews for its ease of installation and effectiveness.View Deal

portable air conditioner: was $379.80 now $303.84
This portable aircon also doubles as a dehumidifier and can cool down a room of up to 30sqm, while also running at 64db during low-speed mode. TechRadar hasn't reviewed this yet, but it has a handful of 5-star user reviews praising its portability and performance.View Deal

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Personal care

The Beard Hedger: was $159.99 now $119.99
Whisk away facial hair in one smooth motion using Manscaped's Beard Hedger beard trimmer. With 20 length settings, edge trimming capabilities and a fully waterproof body, you'll be perfecting your stubble in no time. We have seen this trimmer go lower in price before, but we think it's such a talented performer that we felt compelled to include it here.View Deal

Series 9000 Prestige wet & dry shaver: was $209 now $113.53
Fitted with a flexible head, this shaver is designed to glide against the shape of your face, while onboard sensors will allow it to adapt the cutting power to your beard's length. Speaking of which, it's got 5 length settings to suit different needs and it holds its own while in the shower too. View Deal

Gleam Hair Dryer: was $169.99 now $66.47
The Dreame Gleame hair dryer is an even more affordable alternative to the bigger brands. Its motor spins at a mighty fast 110,000 RPM for fast airflow and quick drying, plus built-in ion technology results in smooth, shiny hair. Not to mention, the slim, lightweight build make it comfortable to hold. View Deal

The Oral-B iO 6 is a smart brush that can recognise your personal brushing style and provide feedback via the companion app to improve it. It also features a pressure sensor and an interactive display, as well a ring timer letting you know when to move on to a different section of your pearly whites. View Deal

Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 (2-pack): was $619 now $249
If you didn't know what a 'sonic' brush is, it's quieter and gentler than an oscillating electric toothbrush (like Oral-B). The DiamondClean 9000 has 4 cleaning modes, and one of them gets you 3 intensities. This value pack gets you a his-and-hers version, plus the glass is actually the charger.View Deal

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Home entertainment & Hi-Fi

The Amazon Fire TV Cube combines all the benefits of a streaming device with Alexa support. It works as a smart speaker so you can control your smart home devices with it, but it also provides access to every streaming app you can think of. Throw in Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos, and it’s everything you could want. So why not grab a streaming device that's also a smart speaker?View Deal

This budget-friendly 2.1 soundbar is ideal for anyone looking to upgrade their TV or computer audio without spending much money. We were pleasantly surprised by how it performed in our Creative Stage Pro review, finding it delivered impressive bass and excellent volume. Given its size and price, expectations should be tempered, but for a cost-effective audio upgrade, it's ace.View Deal

SR-B30A soundbar: was $499 now $309
It's often the #1 bestselling soundbar on Amazon and that doesn't surprise me in the least. It was very well received by experts at its price point when it launched in 2023, and has remained a top option for users too. And at this price, it's a fantastic budget option with Dolby Atmos support, plenty of bass and a wide soundstage.View Deal

In our Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review, we said this soundbar rivals the Sonos Arc, which is the best Sonos soundbar we've tried. The Smart Ultra is compact, beautifully built, and offers plenty of control options to go with its wide, detailed sound. View Deal

Arguably one of the most iconic turntables available right now, the Sound Burger is lightweight, works wirelessly with up to 12 hours of playtime, has Bluetooth connectivity and is easy to use. It's a fabulous entry into the world of vinyl at a fantastic price.View Deal

PS-LX310BT turntable with Bluetooth: was $399 now $230
This Sony Bluetooth turntable is as fuss-free as they come with regard to setup and getting your favourite vinyl records spinning. Whether you're playing via wired or wireless speakers, it delivers a delightfully musical sound that will satisfy vinyl beginners or those looking for a more hands-off approach. View Deal

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Phones & tablets

Phone (4a) 128GB: was $649 now $538.99
We named the Nothing Phone (4a) the best overall cheap phone for its mix of good mid-range specs, unique design, clean Android UI and low price. Its cameras can be better and there's no wireless charging here, but it's to be expected for a phone at this price point. If you're sold, then hurry, as there's limited stock right now on Amazon.View Deal

17T (512GB): was $1199 now $889
It looks like an iPhone and can rival Apple's performance too, thanks to a powerful chipset under the hood. In fact, our tester was quite impressed with this phone in our Xiaomi 17T review, with the biggest issue being bloatware. If that doesn't bother you, we gave this one four stars.View Deal

Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB): was $2199 now $1688
Our Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review called it the best Android phone ever for its powerful specs, excellent cameras, AI features and a new privacy display screen. It's also one of our picks for the best phone you can buy in Australia and we highly recommend it if you’re shopping for a top-spec Android handset. We’ve seen the S26 Ultra cheaper elsewhere before, but this discount is the lowest price we’ve seen on Amazon.View Deal

Galaxy Tab A11+ (128GB, Wi-Fi): was $399 now $339
The latest in Samsung's well-received budget tablet range, the A11 picks up where the A9 left off, and at the same price too. This is the base model, with just Wi-Fi connectivity and 128GB of storage, but you can expand that easily to up to 2TB via a microSD card. If you need an Android tablet for daily use like browsing, watching videos and maybe playing a few games, this one's well worth considering, although it has been available for less than AU$300 previously.View Deal

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024): was $329 now $259
With more storage than the standard Paperwhite, a brighter screen and wireless charging, the Paperwhite Signature Edition is arguably better value than the base model above if you think you'll make full use of the storage and its wireless charging capabilities. If not, you're better off going with the standard Paperwhite, although its meagre discount is rather disappointing.View Deal

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition: was $419 now $334
The Kindle Colorsoft is one of the best ereaders with a colour display, even offering a feature to make the hues more vivid. While I wouldn't recommend at full price, this discount makes it a little easier on the pocket for the 32GB version that also has wireless charging.View Deal

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Fitness trackers & smartwatches

Ring 4 (silver, black): was $449 now $317
We called it "nearly the perfect fitness tracker" in our Oura Ring 4 review, praising the design, ease-of-use, long-lasting battery and detailed health information it offers. This fascinating bit of tech hasn't been cheaper and, even though you need a subscription, it can be well worth it for the comprehensive health data you can get. Note that prices vary depending on colour and size, but most are discounted.View Deal

Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition: was $1699.01 now $829
While it’s been cheaper before (having dropped to AU$684 in July this year), you get the same core functionality of the Fenix 9 — like multi-band GPS tracking, a built-in LED torch, core mapping data, and premium materials like scratch-free sapphire lenses and titanium bezels — for a much lower price.View Deal

Forerunner 265S: was $799 now $498
The 'S' in the name stands for 'small', meaning this specific Garmin was made for petite wrists and features a 42mm vibrant OLED display. You also get Multiband GPS, an intuitive menu navigation, excellent battery life, plenty of Garmin fitness features... and, oh, did I mention the OLED display? Just note that only the pink option is currently in stock.View Deal

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Cameras

Brave 7 LE: was $249.99 now $193.79
You may not have heard of this brand and dismiss it out of hand but, for its price, our colleagues at Digital Camera World rated it with a 4-star score in their review. Even at full price, it represents excellent value, offering a front screen that even a GoPro doesn't get you. Admittedly its image quality lacks against the big players, but we have it on good authority that it's reliable, easy to use and comes with plenty of accessories in the box.View Deal

PowerShot V10: was $699 now $499
This point-and-shoot camera fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, and makes content creation as easy as possible. You quite literally just need to point and shoot. There are just a few control buttons on the rear, but the tiny 2-inch flip-up touchscreen adds functionality too. It's capable of 4K/30p videos and 20MP stills. View Deal

Tough TG-7: was $644.91 now $598
While it's not a huge upgrade over the previous model, the TG-6 is no longer available to buy, making this the best choice if you'd like a near-indestructible camera that you can take underwater.View Deal

PowerShot V1: was $1449 now $1015
This is Canon's first compact camera in years, picking up where the fabulous and popular PowerShot G7 X series left off. It features a brand-new 22.3MP 1.4-inch sensor that boasts Canon's trusty Dual Pixel CMOS II autofocus and it has an integrated fan to keep things cool for the content creator. With plenty of grunt under the hood, this is the best price yet on this relatively new camera.View Deal

EOS R8 (body): was $2599 now $1529
This might be an entry-level camera but it has some advanced features. Anyone who wants to shoot wildlife or sports will be thrilled with the 40fps burst speed, and it inherits some of the tracking precision from Canon's higher-end cameras too. With a 24.2MP full-frame sensor, it's one of the lightest cameras available today and represents excellent value for a beginner even though this isn't the best price it's been.View Deal

Z6 III (body): was $4499 now $2602
It's been cheaper than this before, but this is still a fantastic saving on an excellent Nikon full-framer. The 24.6MP sensor can shoot at up to 120fps, records 6K video, has built-in image stabilisation and has dual card slots, including one for a CFexpress device to make full use of its speed. Note that this offer is from a third-party reseller and not Amazon AU.View Deal

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Dash cams

E1 Mini: was $239.99 now $126.99
Holding a spot on our list of the best dash cams, the Vantrue E1 is super compact, yet is capable of recording clear, detailed footage day and night. A comprehensive mobile, PC and Mac app allows for easy footage transfers and built-in GPS ensures you know exactly where any incidents take place.View Deal

A510 dash cam: was $269.99 now $170.98
We call this an "all-round surveillance solution" in our 70mai Dash Cam A510 review, due to it including both front-facing and rear-facing cameras in the box. They're quality cameras, too, recording 2.7K footage from the front and 1080p at the back, complete with wide fields of view. Built-in GPS, 360º rotation for in-car recording and easy install only add to its appeal.View Deal

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Gaming hardware

Nova Lite: was $45 now $32
This is an excellent budget PC controller and affordable even at full price, but let's not scoff at the AU$13 saving, shall we? Despite its price, there's plenty here to get your game on, including 2.4Ghz wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, a wired option via the Type-C port, and 10 hours of battery life. The build quality isn't the best and there's no audio jack but, for under AU$50, it's a fab buy.View Deal

Quest 3S (128GB): was $569 now $454
This deal offers you a significant saving on the new, higher price on Meta's best 'affordable' headset, and a close second to its best ever headset according to our resident VR headset tester. In fact, he thinks it's the second-best headset anyone can buy from any brand, and it's only a more tempting offer thanks to this limited-time deal.View Deal

Please don't confuse this with the ROG Xbox Ally X, which has more powerful specs. This is the cheaper sibling that now costs AU$10 more than its July Prime Day price. However, given the price hikes across the board on all game consoles, this seems like a tempting buy right now. This was AU$799 during Amazon's Mid-Year Sale in early June, but it would be remiss of me to not list this discount here.View Deal

Legion Go S: was $1199 now $997
This handheld gaming PC has been cheaper before, dropping to the AU$899 mark but, then again, nothing really comes cheap these days. Importantly, though, this is a great performer, with a vivid 8-inch display and 144Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay. It's also rather nice looking and comfortable in the hand.View Deal

G Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed: was $299 now $186.33
One of the best gaming mice available right now, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is an exceptionally lightweight and capable device, with a long-lasting battery life, five programmable buttons and a 32K DPI sensor. View Deal

AW2725Q QD-OLED (2025): was $1199 now $813.01
A nice 30% off deal on a 27-inch OLED gaming monitor, bringing it down to the lowest price we have seen on Amazon. It features a 180Hz panel capable of a 4K resolution. We awarded four and a half stars to this screen in our Alienware 27 AW2725Q review, and were impressed with its sharp visuals and HDR performance.View Deal

AW3425DW QD-OLED (2025): was $1499 now $971.22
This OLED monitor comes with a gigantic 34.2-inch curved screen that boasts a 240Hz refresh rate and a lightning fast 0.03ms response time. It’s capable of producing gorgeous darkness with DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 certification, and offers a 3440 x 1440 resolution.View Deal

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PC peripherals

Lift: was $129.95 now $71.24
This ergonomic vertical mouse is perfect for small hands and it encourages better posture, thus reducing aches along the wrist, shoulder and shoulder blade. I use it myself (I have the white colourway) and can't recommend it highly enough, even at full price. View Deal

MX Master 3S (Bluetooth Edition): was $149.95 now $89.99
The Logitech MX Master range have been some of my favourite mice of all time, thanks to the ergonomic design, multiple customisable buttons, and a second scroll wheel for horizontal scrolling (or for flicking through multiple browser tabs). This version is Bluetooth-only, meaning it doesn’t have the Logi Bolt USB dongle and a USB-C charging cable included in the box.View Deal

L24-4E 23.8-inch monitor: was $179 now $117
A 100Hz-refresh-rate monitor for just AU$100? Sign me up! This display from Lenovo may be a bit small at under 24 inches with a 1080p resolution, but it uses IPS technology for sharp image quality. This is price is the lowest we've seen this monitor go on Amazon.View Deal

The MX Keys S Combo is an excellent desk upgrade if you want a premium keyboard and mouse without paying anywhere near the usual bundle price. It combines the backlit MX Keys S with the quiet, ergonomic MX Master 3S, plus a palm rest, and both can switch between up to three devices. View Deal

K100 Air wireless gaming keyboard: was $489 now $284.88
The most striking feature of this mechanical keyboard is its thinness, but it also comes with the promise of sub-1ms latency and 8,000Hz hyper-polling. In our review we praised the K100 Air's durability, great actuation and high polling, while bemoaning the high price of this slab. And yeah: it's expensive, so good thing there's a discount.
[Shipped and sold by Amazon US]View Deal

Nest Wifi Pro Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System: was $699 now $279
Google's Wi-Fi 6e capable mesh system is worth considering for big homes, although we've seen discounts that make this 3-pack cheaper than half price. You can position each unit around your home to create an even blanket of Wi-Fi, cracking down on dead spots.View Deal

Eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi Router (3-pack): was $599.99 now $419.98
If you aren't keen on the Google mesh Wi-Fi system listed above, consider Amazon's own Eero 6+ three-pack instead. You should read our full review to get the complete picture, but we gave the Eero 6+ 4 stars, and noted that the Wi-Fi performance was excellent, the pricing is good and it's easy to use. View Deal

eero Pro 7 tri-band mesh Wi-Fi 7 router: was $529.99 now $397.49
The latest eero Wi-Fi 7 mesh router is down to the lowest price we have seen on Amazon. We don't have a review yet, but our friends over at Tom's Guide rated it 4-stars. It's a Wi-Fi 7 model designed for high-speed wireless and wired networks and includes dual 5GbE ports. View Deal

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Smart home

Mini Smart Plug (4 pack): was $69.99 now $48.99
I've tried a fair few smart home devices in my time but not the Meross smart plugs. Still, something has got to be said about the 4.6-star rating on Amazon with some very happy customers saying it's a great product. Smart plugs are a great way to turn any gadget at home into a smart one, including lamps and kettles. Where the Meross stands out from other affordable offerings is by also featuring an energy monitor — a great way to keep tabs on your usage and save money on power bills.View Deal

Echo Hub: was $329 now $118
This 8-inch smart display will need to be wall-mounted and it gives you control of thousands of smart home devices that work over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other connectivity standards like Zigbee, Matter and Thread. You can stream video, even security footage, start routines, add widgets and a heck of a lot more you can't with a regular Echo Show — now at its lowest price yet.View Deal

Matter Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp: was $149.99 now $119.20
As of October last year, the RRP for this floor lamp was just AU$149, something that made me give it a high value score on my Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp review. Now, though, the RRP is AU$169.99 – blame inflation, I suppose — but Amazon is still sticking with the original price. What that means is this is a bigger discount than it first appears. Either way, this is one of the cheapest smart lamps you can get, one that does exactly what it promises on the tin. I have one in my bedroom and, although it's not bright, it creates lovely wall-washing effects.View Deal

Echo Dot Max: was $199 now $119
This little speaker might be priced higher than the older Echo Dot models, but then it takes what Amazon's palm-sized smart speakers can do to the, well, max. It improves on sound with higher bass than the previous Echo Dot to make streaming music a much better experience. View Deal

Shapes (Hexagon; 9pk): was $349.99 now $191.42
It's been a while since I've seen a good Nanoleaf Shapes discount on Amazon, so I'm stoked to find this. It will make a lovely Christmas gift or you can use it to create spooky Halloween effects this month, the possibilities are endless if you want to get creative. I'm not a great fan of the Nanoleaf app itself but I can't fault the lights.View Deal

I much prefer this design of the newest Echo Show 8 smart display, now powered by a AZ3 Pro chip for better performance and 15% more screen real estate than previous generations. It's a much better smart hub now, with Alexa at your beck and call (and fingertips).View Deal

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Hello and welcome back to my ongoing live coverage of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale. And, guess what? It's proving to be a rather big deal indeed. I honestly wasn't expected the kind of prices I'm seeing right now — I assumed that would happen during the Amazon Black Friday sale.

That begs the question: if prices are already low now, would we see even better discounts in November? Well, we can hope but there are no guarantees. So if a price looks right to you and it's an item you've had on your shopping list for a while, grab it now.

September 30, 2026 – 5:15 PMBlack Friday vs Prime Big Deal Days: should you wait?

(Image credit: Getty)

In some ways, it's good to wait till Black Friday sales kick off in Australia for purchasing big-ticket items like TVs and laptops as nearly every retailer will be vying for your attention. However, for most items available on Amazon, this year's Prime Big Deal Days sale is proving to be quite good than previous ones, so you can get a head start on your Christmas gift shopping — I would highly recommend it.

So it all depends on what exactly it is that you'd like to buy. If it's Halloween decorations or Christmas gifts, indeed shop now. For the more expensive tech, I would suggest you wait, but there's no guarantee you'll get stock later. As always, if a price suits your budget now on a product sold on Amazon AU, splurge away.

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September 30, 2026 – 6:15 PMLego, it's Halloween season!

(Image credit: Lego)

While Halloween and trick-or-treating are still treated as American imports, more Aussies are embracing the festivities and even Amazon Australia has its own dedicated Halloween-themed storefront for costumes, decor and more.

Some standout deals we've found are these Halloween-themed Lego sets: The Nightmare Before Christmas set for AU$262 and this brilliant Haunted Mansion set complete with minifigures like a werewolf, vampire, ghost, skeleton and even Frankenstein's monster — for AU$100.

Whether they're for decorating or as a fun Halloween activity with the kids, these themed Lego sets are sure to provide some spooky (but wholesome fun) for everyone.

Lego Ideas Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas set: AU$299.99 now AU$262.55
Lego Creator 3in1 Haunted Mansion 31167: AU$149.99 now AU$100

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September 30, 2026 – 7:16 PMIt's a good morning when toast is consistently coloured

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

There are toasters and there are toasters, none need to cost as much as AU$400, but then again, maybe they do.

I'm not saying I can justify the high asking price of the Breville Eye Q, but damn, it makes fabulous toast, just how I like it. It uses optic sensors to determine the doneness of the bread based on the colour (and that's chosen by the user of course) rather than heat sensors, and it has a specific mode for artisanal breads too. Whether you like it well browned or just lightly toasted, the Breville Eye Q can do it just right every time.

Well, at least it won't cost you AU$400 to get perfect toast every morning — a couple of the colourways on Amazon are slightly cheaper, although they were AU$299 before Prime Day (yeah, go figure).

Breville Eye Q (2-slice; Red): AU$419 now AU$329

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September 30, 2026 – 8:15 PMHoover this up

(Image credit: Future)

I've been reviewing vacuum cleaners for a decade and Shark has consistently impressed me. Right now, the best Shark vacuum I would recommend to anyone who asks is the PowerDetect Clean & Empty as it's just got a massive discount.

Unfortunately it's no longer at its lowest price — which was just over AU$438 for the first two days of Prime Big Deal Days — but it's still an excellent option at AU$462.10.

It's a little heavy and some users might find it hard to manoeuvre, but it boasts excellent suction and a self-emptying charging dock that doesn't need dust bags as it empties into a larger bin that you'll need to wash out regularly. There's even an optional odour neutraliser to help combat bad smells inside the vacuum, but you'll need to replenish that puck if you want to continue using it.

You can read all about why my colleagues and I think this is an excellent vacuum in our Shark PowerDetect Cordless review — this is one deal you shouldn't pass up.

Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty: AU$750 AU$462.10

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September 30, 2026 – 9:15 PMHow fast can deals make it to my door?

(Image credit: Amazon)

If you’re an Amazon shopper in Australia, you’ve probably noticed that shipping speeds can vary depending on where you live. The quickest way to have purchases delivered is to be a Prime member.

In some parts of Sydney and Melbourne, Prime members can get same-day delivery on certain products, but I should stress that this will depend on your post code within the metro areas of each major city. This means that if you place your order before lunchtime, you could have it by the evening. It’s a great option for last-minute gifts or urgent purchases.

Next-day delivery is the most common for all metro areas, and it's available on a much larger catalogue of eligible items. Order today, and your package could be at your door tomorrow. Again, you need to be a Prime member and this applies on products marked as eligible.

If you have several items in your cart and they all arrive on different days, Amazon now gives you the option to choose a date so as many of them can arrive at the same time in minimal packaging and reducing the number of trips a delivery van has to do — thus reducing its own and your carbon footprint.

If you’re not a Prime member, standard shipping options are still available, but delivery times may be longer, and you might need to pay extra.

For those in regional and rural areas, Amazon still delivers, but shipping times will depend on how far you are from a major hub. Most Prime-eligible items will arrive within two to five days, though some locations may have to wait a little longer. Non-Prime orders may take longer, and shipping costs can vary depending on the seller and product.

No matter where you live, Amazon shipping speeds are better than ever, but if you want to check what’s available in your area, you can enter your postcode at checkout to see estimated delivery times.

Want more info? Head to the Amazon Help hub and click Delivery Speeds & Charges.

If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, signing up for Prime could be worth it just for the faster shipping alone. If you’ve never tried it, you can start with a 30-day free trial. That means you can sign up now, take advantage of the sale, and cancel anytime if you decide it’s not for you.

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September 30, 2026 – 10:16 PMWrap this up real quick

(Image credit: Dyson)

Given how expensive the latest Dyson Airwrap i.d. is, you might as well get yourself the older model, especially since the Airwrap Origin is now down to less than AU$400.

The problem with the Origin is that you don't get all the attachments, but the basics are supplied. You'll get the 40mm barrel to add waves and curls, but you'll also get a brush and a condenser. So if you want to coif your hair to perfection without spending too much money on a premium Dyson, this is the deal for you.

Dyson Airwrap Origin: AU$649 now AU$378.10

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September 30, 2026 – 11:16 PMThese headphones are something

(Image credit: Future)

Among a sea of talented pairs of headphones from the likes of Sony and Bose et al., you'd be forgiven for forgetting about Nothing. Yet the brand has consistently proven it can compete at lower price points, and that's saying something.

Take the Nothing Headphone (a): it's got a low RRP of just AU$329 when other premium models launched around the same time came in at AU$699, and they sound lovely too.

As we said in our Nothing Headphone (a) review, they "nail it in nearly every way", delivering an "impactful and well-balanced sound, good active noise cancellation, the best on-ear controls and battery life available today". Those couple of latter points are particularly noteworthy, as they really do help the over-ears to stand out from the crowd — and that's before I even get onto the design.

Yes, these look unlike any other pair of headphones available today (except for Nothing's own Headphone (1), of course. Grab one of these distinctive cans, but note that the offers are from Amazon UK for all colour options.

Nothing Headphone (a): AU$329 now AU$210.50

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October 1, 2026 – 12:14 AMLook, an affordable monitor

(Image credit: Future)

It's hardly a secret at this point that PC gaming is expensive as ever, no thanks to shortages in RAM and storage pushing up prices of the overall computing industry. In fact, it's even impacted console gaming, too, with price hikes on the PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch.

One respite, however, is that monitors are getting cheaper than ever, and this Lenovo monitor is a fantastic budget option.

While the 23.80-inch Lenovo L24-4E isn't an outright gaming monitor, it has a 100Hz refresh rate to create a smooth gaming experience if you don't mind a 1080p display, as well as crisp IPS display technology. It was down to AU$94 during July's Prime Day sale, but I think the current price is still worth considering if you don't need the latest tech for a triple-monitor setup — it would still be cheaper than a single ultrawide monitor in most cases.

Lenovo L24-4E 23.8-inch monitor: AU$179 now AU$117

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October 1, 2026 – 1:15 AMThe keyboard Apple should have made

(Image credit: Logitech)

Apple's Magic Keyboard does a great job of replicating the built-in MacBook keyboard, but for Macs. The seamless device pairing, ultra-slim build and Touch ID make it a really convenient option.

But the typing experience could be a lot better, and it only works on Apple devices.

Logitech's MX Keys keyboard brings a similar slim chassis but adds a more cushioned and ergonomic typing experience. It uses spherically-dished keys with deeper, more tactile travel, which can be more comfortable for longer typing sessions. It also has backlighting, which is missing in the Magic Keyboard, and it also adjusts automatically to your ambient room lighting.

And because it isn't an Apple product, the MX Keys also works with Windows and Linux too!

Logitech MX Keys S: AU$229 now AU$132.05

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October 1, 2026 – 2:15 AMGet your game on

(Image credit: Logitech)

This wireless gaming headset is premium for a reason. And even though we haven't tested this one ourselves, we have reviewed some of Logitech's other premium headsets and if it's anything like them, you'll likely forget you even have them on.

Features include Playsync Audio, which allows for seamless platform switching via a USB-C connection to the headset’s charging base station, although it misses out on the HDMI ports in the base station that the Astro A50X offers.

The Astro A50 Gen 5 boasts Pro-G Graphene audio drivers that impressed is very much in our Astro A50 X review, so you know you won't be disappointed. This is in addition to a 48kHz high-resolution microphone for more clear communication and, potentially, even live streaming.

And let's not forget that it's 46% off for the white variant, making it cheaper than what it was in July (when it was AU$358).

Logitech G Astro A50 Lightspeed (Gen 5): AU$599.95 AU$326.15

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October 1, 2026 – 3:15 AMGet a Grip, literally

(Image credit: Future)

JBL is no stranger to producing excellent Bluetooth speakers — just take the Flip and Charge series are prime examples — but it's latest creation, the Grip, is one of the cutest in my opinion.

Admittedly, we do think the Flip 7 provides just a touch more value, but there's no denying the Grip is a truly fun little speaker (it's roughly the size of a Coke can), offering excellent weather protection and a big, bold sound we've come to expect from JBL. Plus, it can now be yours for for an all-time low price of just under AU$70 for a couple of colourways.

JBL Grip: AU$129.95 from AU$69.95

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October 1, 2026 – 4:15 AMAre Amazon's lightning deals good?

For the most part, yes they are. There are, however, certain things you need to know about lightning deals on Amazon.

Firstly, they're usually available only for a limited time — this could be just a couple to a few hours, or maybe a couple of days. Sometimes the offer is available till stocks run out.

And that brings us to the second thing: stock is typically very limited. To put that into perspective, here's an analogy that might help — if there are 100 pieces of the item in the Amazon warehouse, perhaps only 10 of those would be available at the discounted price in a lightning deal.

The good thing is that the discounted price is typically far better than a regular Amazon deal would be. For example, if something costs AU$100 RRP and it is discounted typically to AU$60, then a lightning deal on limited stock could drop to as low as AU$30-AU$40.

During Prime Day, most of these lightning deals will likely be Prime exclusive, so not only will you need to be quick to secure your purchase, but you'll also need to be a Prime member. So be sure to sign up if you aren't already.

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October 1, 2026 – 5:15 AMDon't Dash off just yet

(Image credit: ShutterStock)

Did you know that your Prime membership includes a two-year free DashPass subscription? That means you can get as many DoorDash deliveries as you need, but this offer is only for a limited time. As a Prime member, you'll need to redeem it before November 14 this year.

Once the two years has passed, the DashPass membership will renew automatically at AU$9.99 a month (or the then-current fee) unless you can cancel it prior to renewal. This is a saving of AU$239, which isn't bad at all.

Click here to redeem your DashPass offer

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Nihon Falcom is on a real hot streak right now, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down with Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. The remake of 2006’s acclaimed Japanese role-playing game (JRPG), The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC, is packed full of excellent quality-of-life updates that are sure to delight veteran players and newcomers alike, with full English voice acting, a visual overhaul, and modernized combat.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: September 17, 2026

But just how good is Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter? Should you play it? Here are my thoughts after countless hours of gameplay.

I absolutely loved this game’s predecessor, which launched last year and was among the best RPGs released in 2025. Yes, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter was a phenomenon, supplying a beautiful blend of action and turn-based combat, silky smooth performance, and a brilliantly revamped UI. I sunk so many hours into that game, and so I was delighted to find that everything I loved about 1st Chapter transferred across to this follow-up.

A first-rate follow-up

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

I’ll start by talking about gameplay, which feels just as tight and refined as it did in 1st Chapter. You can rush around the world and attack enemies with Arts and basic attacks in Quick Battle. This is great if you want to mow through enemies — especially weaker ones — without having to spend too long strategizing, and it feels incredibly rapid and responsive. Being able to hack, slash, and whack your foes in a flash means that the game feels well-paced, and longer dungeons don’t seem too daunting.

However, you also have the choice to partake in turn-based Combat Battles to vanquish your opponents, and this is where a lot of the depth comes in. You have to carefully manage your Craft Points (CP) and Energy Points (EP), which enable you to use brutal physical and magical attacks and support options, while also carefully positioning your units to manage health.

It's also crucial to keep an eye on turn order to avoid getting KO’d before you unleash your attacks, choosing when to steal bonuses from your foes to heal or deal critical damage, and when to launch a deadly all-out team attack.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

My absolute favorite part of this game was simply managing my Orbments — building out the ideal set of Quartz to buff my allies, to protect against almighty attacks, and to unleash mega damage on my foes.

As you can gather, there are a lot of mechanics to consider, and there’s plenty of depth to be found in command battles. But perhaps the most important thing is to manage your Orbments properly.

Orbments string a number of gems together, known as Quartz, which determine the Arts that you can use in battle. Carefully curating your Orbments for each character is crucial, and I had an absolute blast tinkering around to build the ideal build for every boss.

By travelling the world and taking on optional battles and quests, you can unlock some seriously powerful Quartz too, which makes exploration feel truly rewarding.

This may seem like a lot to take in at once — especially for newer players. But don’t worry — there are plenty of difficulty options to choose from to fit your desired level of challenge. There’s everything from Very Easy to Nightmare (one for the true sadists). I selected Advanced this time out, which is somewhere between Normal and Hard, and while the road got tough at times, the Orbment system gave me all the tools I needed to shield my allies from devastating attacks.

Hey bro, wya?

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

The follow-up from the 1st Chapter is seamless gameplay-wise, and also in terms of narrative.

You can watch a recap of the first game if you want a refresher (or if you missed it entirely), and you’re reminded that Joshua (the protagonist Estelle’s adopted brother…lover? Both?) has fled. I won’t delve into the reasons why in this review, but essentially, Estelle decides to attend a specialist training camp to bolster her skills and track him down herself. It sounds pretty basic, but the story is pretty engrossing, actually. Like the first game, there are deeper political elements to explore, and you get to learn more about the mysterious secret society, Ouroboros.

The narrative remains gripping throughout, and there is no shortage of characters who join Estelle on her journey, be they returning faces like the travelling musician and romantic Olivier or the alcohol-loving Senior Bracer, Scherazard.

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

Voice acting is strong across the board, and breathes so much life into this colorful and charismatic cast. Some of the more low-key parts of the story and side content are only voiced partially, though, meaning you can get one character narrating their thoughts aloud while others sit in silence with text boxes. This was also in Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and can create a slightly awkward atmosphere in moments, though I understand this is more of a nitpick.

It’s also worth noting that this is a true anime-inspired JRPG with all of the melodrama and theatrics that you’d expect from the genre dialled up to 11. While this produces some stronger emotive moments and a good amount of comic relief, it may feel overbearing for some players. A few characters, like Anelace, go on pretty long monologues about the importance of wearing pretty bows while facing your foes. The wandering priest, Kevin, likes to let Estelle know how pretty she is about 10 times in the space of five seconds during the game’s opening section, too.

While this is by no means something that ruins the experience, I did find some of the characters a little unlikeable. So yes, some dialogue can feel superfluous at times, and it can also stretch on for quite a while. But there is a speed-up mode, and there’s nothing stopping you from skipping over the less crucial dialogue segments.

Robustly revamped for the modern era

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

On top of what I’ve already mentioned, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is filled with a slew of masterful modernizations that really make the game click.

Like last time out, the UI has been considerably revamped and feels incredibly intuitive to sift through, while also looking great. Managing items and skills is seamless and easy, and you can access your quest list, recipe book, and the map in an instant. The speed-up option is also very welcome if you want to fly through your quick battles or travel over a long distance when fast-travel isn’t available.

The visuals are also great once again. Shimmering water, rich forest environments, and character models all look spectacular, at least on the PS5 version I played. By default, the game runs at silky 60fps with next-to-none hiccups whatsoever, but you can also play in performance mode, which targets 120fps at the expense of some graphical fidelity. This is perfect for fast-flowing action combat and exploring vast open areas. Loading screens are also incredibly brief, and I continue to be blown away by how well these games play on modern platforms.

One more thing I absolutely love about this remake is its stellar soundtrack. There’s an eclectic mix of delicate acoustic tracks, funk-infused high-energy tunes, and grandiose, hard-hitting battle themes that totally immerse you in the land of Liberl. Again, you have the option to pick between standard, arranged, or original background music – something that long-time fans no doubt appreciate.

All in all, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is another exceptional remake that effortlessly maintains the strong momentum its predecessor picked up. Gameplay is varied, depth-filled, and addictive; the narrative is engaging, and the quality-of-life upgrades make it feel almost like a brand new game — all while carrying over the beloved aspects of the source material. Sure, the game’s melodramatic nature might not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’re a fan of the JRPG genre and want an epic adventure to sink your teeth into, then look no further.

Should you play Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter?

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)Play it if...

You want a deep combat system to sink your teeth into
Combat is excellent in Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, with a brilliant blend of action and turn-based battles available. The depth of the combat system is also impressive; you need to be considerate when it comes to your Orbments, turn order, stealing bonuses, and so much more.

You’re looking for a game with peak performance
I was absolutely wowed by the performance in Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and luckily that remains the case for its sequel. It's visually striking, runs at an incredibly smooth 60fps, and there’s even a performance mode that targets 120fps if you have a compatible display.

Don't play it if...

You’ve never played a Trails game before
While there’s an option to catch up on the events of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, I’d strongly recommend playing that title before you jump into this one. This is a direct sequel, and a lot of the story elements won’t make much sense if you start here. The first game is the ultimate entry point — so be sure to get that finished before hopping into this.

You’re not a big fan of anime-style melodrama
If you’re not a fan of the classic anime tropes and over-the-top characters, you might find it a little challenging to get on with the case in Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. I still like a lot of the characters here personally, and the core narrative is very strong, it has to be said.

Accessibility features

You can adjust the subtitle language to English, German, French, or Spanish, and select either English or Japanese voice acting. There are a number of ways to customize the camera’s behavior, too, such as normal or inverted configurations, camera movement speed, and camera distance.

On top of this, there are difficulty options, including a Very Easy mode if you just want to focus on the game’s story. Unfortunately, there is no colorblind mode.

How I reviewed Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

I spent two weeks playing through Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, during which time I played through the main story, took on a bunch of side quests, and sunk hours into exploring the land of Liberl.

For the most part, I played the game on my PS5 while connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and my Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, from time to time I dipped into the title on my PlayStation Portal remote player, and had the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones connected to listen to in-game audio.

More generally, I’ve spent years reviewing gaming software and hardware at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I reviewed the previous game in this series, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and have covered a wider range of JRPGs here, including Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, and The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales.

First reviewed September 2026

• The US Department of Energy has plans for $1.9 billion in grants for 31 grid projects worth $5.25 billion, with recipients covering the other $3.35 billion
• The money is essentially rebranded Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) funding from the 2021 infrastructure law, aimed at reconductoring and grid-enhancing tech rather than a focus on new power plants
• Only three project summaries tie the work to AI or data center demand, but half the value of the spending sits in four state-led projects under a category DOE designed around 'new large loads', which could potentially be addressing AI data center demand

The US Department of Energy's Office of Electricity said on September 24 that it intends to help fund 31 transmission projects under its Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades initiative, a mouthful that it has somewhat mercifully shortened to SPARK.

The $5.25 billion attached to the announcement, however, is the projects' combined value, not federal spending, with the federal government only picking up roughly 36% of the tab.

The DOE's $1.9 billion is tied to commitments from utilities, cooperatives, state agencies, and companies it selected that will provide the remaining $3.35 billion in coverage.

An AI-centric play?

The DOE's announcement focuses on the infrastructure side of the equation; it says the work will rebuild more than 1,500 miles of transmission line, add grid-enhancing technologies to nearly 21,000 more, and free up over 23 GW of capacity.

The Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the investments will "get more out of the infrastructure we already have," even as the current documentation lists selections rather than actual signed awards.

The DOE expects to finalize them between October 2026 and January 2027, according to its SPARK program page, and the funding notice lets the department redirect or discontinue funding at go/no-go checkpoints.

The money isn't exactly new, nor is the idea for a country dealing with an aging grid that saw most of its infrastructure built 50 to 75 years ago; SPARK is the third round of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Adding a large number of AI data centers would quickly overwhelm it at various junctions, potentially turning the AI infrastructure race into one about power delivery and capacity versus actual compute power as the US continues to fend off Chinese advances in the arena.

The DOE's release never mentions artificial intelligence or data centers, though publications like The Register were less subtle, saying "Bit barn builders can rejoice" as a result of the new commitment. The link is indirect but present. DOE launched the wider Speed to Power initiative in September 2025 partly to "win the global artificial intelligence (AI) race".

Its data center resource hub lists SPARK among its grid actions, and the funding notice counts enabling data centers as a qualifying benefit. This is despite only three of the thirty-one project summaries naming AI or data centers outright as direct beneficiaries. They amount to roughly 7% or $371 million of the total funding in play here.

Bigger projects, however, are more discrete but leave no doubt about where the money is going; they focus on building "transmission systems that facilitate development of new large loads," the industry's catch-all for data centers, factories, and other heavy users.

With potentially 23 GW of transmission capacity essentially being unlocked on the grid, coupled with private and public generation being geared up across the country to meet AI power demand, one could assume- and correctly so that energy costs will only increase at a time when crude oil is hovering near the $100 mark due to a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, coupled with large spending being earmarked by utility companies that will inevitably show up on residential power bills.

Federal funding for the grid might dull the blow, but small domestic consumers and taxpayers will inevitably pick up the tab for a buildout that doesn't seem to have data center developers lining up to pay for the capacity they will eventually consume.

Bambu Lab has started its Halloween Sale, with a collection of themed bundles, filament offers, Maker's Supply discounts, and CyberBrick deals. The sale period runs from September 28 to October 16.

• Shop the Halloween Sale at Bambu Lab

No, I don't know why it ends before Halloween either, but if you're pairing those deals with a Bambu Lab machine, I've picked out the top three 3D printers I'd buy based on our workshop tests.

My top cheap 3D printer for beginners

A1 Mini 3D Printer: $219
Despite being the cheapest of my three picks, the Bambu Lab A1 mini is a terrific choice if you're new to 3D printing. Its tiny footprint means it won't take up a lot of space and the full automatic calibration removes much of the manual setup.View Deal

In his five-star review, our 3D printer expert Alastair said: "Boasting exceptional build quality and advanced features, it strikes a perfect balance, catering to a wide range of users from beginners to professionals."

MakerWorld integration lets you find projects and start printing with minimal fuss, while multi-color printing is also available with the Combo version and its AMS Lite system.

My top mid-range 3D printer

P1S 3D Printer: $579
This 3D printer is ideal for anyone seeking plenty of capability without maxing out the credit card. Its fully enclosed design supports a wider range of materials, and the 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume provides room for larger projects. Bambu Lab says the P1S can go from being unboxed to its first print in around 15 minutes.View Deal

In his five-star review of the P1P, which shares similar core printing hardware with the P1S but lacks its fully enclosed design, Alastair said: "It costs less than most highly regarded consumer machines yet fires into life ploughing through prints with a speed and accuracy that you would usually associate with business class and priced machines."

My top 3D printer for professionals

H2D AMS Combo: was $1999 now $1749
This is my top choice for anyone prepared to spend more for additional capabilities. It features a dual-nozzle system designed for multi-material 3D printing and offers a 350 x 320 x 325 mm print volume, a 350°C nozzle, and active chamber heating up to 65°C.View Deal

In his four-and-a-half-star review, Alastair said: "Far from being a jack of all trades, the H2D matches — and in some cases exceeds — the quality of dedication machines, the 3D print quality being a case in point. The fact that it features excellent laser engraving and cutting all add to the appeal. Tool swaps are straightforward, and despite a few quirks, they come together to add great value."

In a nutshell...

For anyone on a budget, the beginner-friendly Bambu Lab A1 Mini for $219 scored 5 stars in our review for exceptional value for money, with print quality professionals will appreciate.

For a mid-range pick, check out the Bambu Lab P1S, which is $579 and offers speed and print quality you'd find on much more expensive units.

And then there's the Bambu Lab H2D AMS Combo for $1749 (was $1999). This pro-grade machine is in a league of its own, and takes the number one slot in our guide to 3D printers.

These are my top three choices for Bambu Lab 3D printers, covering every budget. If you want more options, check out our roundups of the best 3D printers.

• See all 3D printers at Bambu Lab

The Ugreen DXP4800 GT is one of those NAS devices that reallu impressed us, earning the full 5 stars in our tests. Its four drive bays are joined by dual 10GbE networking, M.2 NVMe expansion, an AMD Ryzen processor, and features aimed at creators and office teams.

• Best for: Small businesses, studios, and creative professionals who needs fast centralized storage for large files, backups, media libraries, and multi-user access.

• The deal: The Ugreen DXP4800 GT NAS device is now $560 (was $660) at Amazon.

• Why it matters: Dual 10GbE networking, four drive bays, two M.2 slots, and up to 144TB of claimed capacity provide a fast, expandable alternative to relying on cloud storage. In summing up this NAS drive, we called it "a superb NAS option for those in the creative sector."

4-Bay DXP4800 GT NAS: was $659.99 now $559.99
This four-bay NAS features a Ryzen Embedded R2514 processor, 8GB DDR4 memory, dual 10GbE networking, two M.2 NVMe slots, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, SD card support and up to 144TB storage capacity.View Deal

Why we recommend it

In his 5-star review, our expert Alastair said: "The DXP4800 GT is an excellent choice for smaller studios, offices and homes, really anyone who wants dual 10GbE without the huge cost that has until now been associated with this network speed."

He also noted: "when I sat down and worked through the costs of my Google Drive storage, WeTransfer, Wipster, and Backblaze subscriptions, it didn’t take long for those subscriptions' yearly costs to far surpass the cost of the DXP4800 GT. I’ve been sold on this new wave of NAS for a while, and the advancements with each new release just make them more impressive and usable, especially when you need to store large quantities of files and access them quickly."

The DXP4800 GT combines an AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 processor with four cores and eight threads, plus 8GB of DDR4 memory. RAM can be expanded to 64GB, while compatible ECC memory can also be installed if you want error correction.

There are four SATA bays supporting drives up to 32TB each, with two of those bays also supporting U.2 NVMe SSDs. Two additional M.2 slots accommodate up to 16TB of SSD storage between them, giving the NAS a claimed maximum capacity of 144TB.

Creators also get an SD card slot for transferring photos and video directly to the NAS, alongside 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C connections and a 4K HDMI output.

Price context & historical value

We noted in our review, this is "the best-value 4-bay 10GbE NAS you can buy and an excellent choice for video and creators who need mass storage and speed."

The reduction from $659.99 to $559.99 knocks exactly $100 off the regular price, equivalent to a saving of just over 15%. That's not the cheapest it's been however. I've seen it for $528 in the recent past.

Remember that this is a diskless NAS, however, so you'll need to budget separately for the HDDs or SSDs required to actually store your files.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Ugreen DXP4800 GT NAS if...

You want fast, centralized storage. The combination of nippy networking, SSD expansion, and direct SD card imports will make it especially useful for photographers and video creators. The system is capable of local-like 4K and 8K editing directly from the NAS — when the rest of your network and storage setup can keep up.

UGOS Pro also goes beyond file storage, with support for Docker, virtual machines, SAN Manager, backups, and compatible surveillance cameras.

❌ Skip the Ugreen DXP4800 GT NAS if...

You simply need somewhere for backups or don't have the networking hardware to benefit from 10GbE. A more basic two- or four-bay NAS could be all you'll need and cost you considerably less.

Also consider

• Shop all NAS products at Amazon.

DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS: was $729.99 now $656.99
This four-bay NAS features an Intel 8505 processor, 8GB DDR5 memory, 10GbE and 2.5GbE networking, a built-in 128GB SSD, dual M.2 NVMe slots, 4K media playback and hardware transcoding support.View Deal

This bundle combines the Ugreen DXP2800 two-bay NAS with the US3000 12,000mAh uninterruptible power supply, providing up to 80TB of storage capacity alongside battery backup for added protection during outages.View Deal

• Russia could slash SIM sellers as new rules tighten mobile registration
• New SIM cards could arrive without money under Russia’s fraud measures
• Anti-Fraud 3.0 could replace thousands of smaller SIM-selling intermediaries

Moscow is preparing a new round of anti-fraud rules, dubbed Anti-Fraud 3.0, that would sharply shrink the number of people allowed to sell SIM cards.

The proposals would reserve number registration for direct dealers while requiring new SIM cards to carry no funds before contracts are signed.

If adopted, the measures could change how Russians obtain mobile numbers and make prepaid SIM cards less useful in fraud schemes.

Russia could sharply reduce the number of SIM sellers

Individual entrepreneurs currently acting as intermediaries between operators and customers would therefore lose their ability to arrange subscriber agreements.

An industry estimate claims that these intermediaries account for almost half of physical SIM purchases across Russia.

The change could affect thousands of retail locations, potentially making mobile numbers less readily available in some areas.

T2, one of Russia's mobile operators, has argued that stronger intermediary requirements could work better than eliminating the model.

The operator says it already checks customer identities and activates numbers only after the required verification procedures have been completed.

The proposal would also require operators to issue new SIM cards without money already loaded into their associated accounts.

Customers would instead need to establish the service agreement before adding funds, creating a record connected with the eventual payment.

Russia's Finance Ministry says this approach is intended to make numbers purchased for fraudulent purposes easier to trace through payment activity.

“Such measures will make fraudulent use of prepaid numbers or numbers obtained using another person's identity impossible,” it said.

Zero balance could leave fraudsters with fewer anonymous options

The ministry argues that prepaid numbers can allow criminals to obtain communication services, exploit them, and then discard them after use.

Under the new plan, new SIM cards will not come with bonus funds. Even if this free money is on the SIM, the user must make a purchase on the SIM to activate it.

Requiring customers to add money after signing their service agreements could create payment records that investigators can examine during fraud cases.

Payments made through terminals or communication outlets could additionally generate records that help authorities connect transactions with individual users.

The proposed package also considers requiring identifiable sender information for bulk text messages, with inaccurate details potentially triggering contract termination.

The package would also prohibit automated calls made solely to check whether particular numbers remain active.

Owners of websites and mobile applications could also face requirements to retain registration and login records for three years.

Those records would be available to law enforcement when legally required, according to the proposed measures.

However, Russia already requires operators to verify customers before activating numbers, following communication law changes introduced during spring 2025.

T2 and Beeline say their customers cannot use newly obtained numbers before completing the legally required identity verification.

That means the proposed zero-balance requirement would add another control rather than simply introducing identification.

The Finance Ministry has stressed that Anti-Fraud 3.0 remains work in progress, with industry recommendations still being considered before authorities make a final decision.

Via 1.ru

• The Shark FlexStyle IonCurl is a hair styler for creating bouncy curls
• It uses the same Coanda airflow technology as the Dyson Airwrap
• Its ionic tech reduces static, and temperature control protects your scalp

Shark has launched a new multi-function hair styler as an affordable alternative to the Dyson Airwrap — with added ionic technology to help reduce frizz, which sounds perfect if your hair is as prone to flyaways as mine.

The Shark FlexStyle IonCurl uses the same Coanda airflow technology as the Dyson Airwrap to wrap hair around the barrel, plus negative ions to reduce static build-up. There's also an 'AirSet' button that allows you to pause the airflow during styling, or release a pulse of cold air to help set curls for bouncier results.

The original Shark FlexStyle impressed our three testers with its versatility, excellent drying power, and wide range of attachments. that make it suitable for a wide range of different hair types. "It's well-designed, packs a good amount of power, and is comfortable to use," we concluded. "The auto-wrap barrels work as advertised and make this an affordable alternative to the Airwrap."

The IonCurl is also an all-rounder, but as the name suggests, focuses more specifically on curling. There are two versions to choose from: the four-in-one model, which is supplied with two 32mm Coanda curlers, FrizzFighter high shine polisher, oval brush, and styling concentrator nozzle, and the five-in-one version with two smaller-diameter curlers included as well.

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The IonCurl offers a stronger Coanda airflow than the original FlexStyle, to wrap hair around the barrel more firmly during styling.

Another new addition is the Scalp Shield mode, which activates automatically to control the temperature when drying hair near your scalp, helping to protect delicate new growth — similar to the Scalp Protect mode on the Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer.

We'll be testing the FlexStyle IonCurl very soon, and we'll bring you a full review so you can see how it compares with the best Dyson AirWrap dupes if you're shopping for a more affordable hair styler.

• Spaces is replacing Library for Pro, Business and Enterprise users
• It puts your documents, colleagues, generative AI and agentic AI in one place
• Live Pages are a new document type that AI can automatically keep up-to-date

As AI continues to evolve from much more than just basic generative conversations to greater autonomy, OpenAI has launched a new ChatGPT Spaces interface to serve as the new environment for human-AI collaboration.

Within Spaces, multiple colleagues will be able to collaborate with each other alongside ChatGPT, but it's also a shared space for other OpenAI tools like Codex and the newly-announced, always-on Dots.

The introduction of Spaces largely replaces the now-outgoing Library tab for Pro, Business and Enterprise users across both desktop and mobile, as well as the web, but it also serves a much bigger purpose than Library ever did.

ChatGPT Spaces replaces Library

The company defines Spaces as a "home for the pages and files you create, upload, and share in ChatGPT, including spreadsheets and presentations."

But importantly, the change also sees the introduction of Pages – new documents that combine "text, images, charts and [other] interactive tools." Instead of ChatGPT generating a document and users having to manually edit or prompt changes, Pages are now live places where connections with apps like Slack, emails and calendars keep data current.

In a set of FAQs, the company also noted that each user has their own ChatGPT and, where applicable, Dot, to interact with, so they can call on AI to make changes or keep things up-to-date.

There's also a meeting plugin in the works, currently available in beta for Pro and Business users via the desktop app only. It "creates private, personalized notes and suggests follow-ups" within the shared Space that's accessible by colleagues.

While OpenAI hasn't set out to replace Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, Spaces does mark a major shift in how workers access their documents, putting documents (via plugins), humans and AI all in one place together.

• Meta adds new SMB plan for Muse always-on agents
• It works with Instagram/Facebook and third-party connections
• Most Muse use cases should be free, but there are paid plans for more tokens

Meta has expanded its agentic AI platform with the launch of Muse for Small Business.

In a similar vein to OpenAI's new Dots service, Muse users can give their agents a goal or objective and let the agent carry out work independently, palming off some of the more administrative workloads like running parts of the business or finding new customers.

Meta argues that small businesses are a key target for Muse because they wouldn't typically have dedicated resources across marketing, finance and other admin, hence the agentic boost.

Muse for Small Business

Importantly, Muse is likely to be highly tailored toward Meta's own products, hence the company's examples spanning connections with "Instagram professional account analytics, Facebook Pages, and Meta ad accounts."

Crucially, Muse also works with other existing connectors, like Asana, Dropbox, Shopify, Slack and Zoom, making it much more than a Meta-only tool.

Just like its high-profile rival, Muse also continues to work in the background toward pre-defined objectives, surfacing relevant information or issues that require human intervention. Some use case examples include scanning emails and calendars for the most important actions, and drafting new ad campaigns based on current trends.

Meta argues that Muse is set to be free "for most of what people need," but two additional paid plans are also available for businesses who want to go all-in on agentic AI, including the $20/month Power plan (500M weekly tokens) and the $100/month Max plan (3B weekly tokens).

Interestingly, Meta's approach took a consumer product and reframed it for businesses. Muse launched earlier this month for US and Canadian customers before getting an SMB variant, but OpenAI's Dots landed with business users in mind, and there's currently no word on whether a consumer variant could launch.

If you're British, you're automatically a Maxine Peake superfan — regardless of your age or generation. From Silk to the hugely overlooked The Bisexual on Channel 4, she's starred in banger after banger.

Now, she stars as delusional wife Jenna in gripping Australian Apple TV thriller Last Seen, which follows emergency dispatcher Ian (Patrick Brammall) trying to find his missing daughter after a mysterious phone call suggests she's alive years after going missing.

It's a gripping watch from start to finish, but I can't help wishing that Peake had more screen time. Did that stop me blurting out "I love you" during a Zoom call about the series? Absolutely not.

What Stars Watch

Everyone gets stuck on what to watch next — so let’s make that choice easier with the help of your favorite actors. What Stars Watch pairs the latest TV shows and movies with cinematic classics or underrated gems, based on A-List tastes. Read the full series here.

More than anything, I wanted to know what Peake recommended that fans should watch next, whether that was continuing the same vibe or finding something completely different to decompress.

She went with the latter not only by choosing my favorite British comedy series of 2026, but by picking something that isn't going to cost you a dime to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Maxine Peake is a huge fan of Ann Droid on BBC iPlayer — and I don't blame her

"I would go to the BBC and I would watch Ann Droid with Diane Morgan," Peake tells me. "It's another side of some Boltonian joy."

I'd completely forgotten that this is where both Peake and Morgan come from, but even without the geographical link, it's an excellent shout. if you've not yet seen the hit comedy series, Morgan plays Linda, a secondhand AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot gifted to widow Sue (Sue Johnston) by her son Michael (Kevin Ready).

Basically, it's like Channel 4's Humans meets a Royale Family and Motherland reunion that we weren't expecting, and it's nothing short of glorious. Clearly, everybody else who's watched thinks the same thing, as season 2 was renewed shortly after all six episodes of season 1 were released.

Morgan is truly the most talented, authentic and unique voice in Western comedy at the moment, but even those, this is huge praise from Peake. Why? her first job out of drama school was snarky Twinkle in Dinnerladies, the classic Victoria Wood sitcom.

Despite only running for two seasons, it's a cornerstone of British sitcom culture, a baton that Morgan has picked up and run with. It's unexpected, but the more I think about it, I'm not sure a that a better TV pairing is possible.

• New Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K unveiled for $59.99 / £69.99 (about AU$86)
• Main upgrade is speed, promises that you'll start watching up to 40% faster than rival 4K streaming sticks
• New-design Fire TV Remote is included, with a Plus version to follow in 2027 with built-in 'Find My Remote' function

Amazon has unveiled a new version of the Fire TV Stick 4K that it says is blazingly fast — and it's made a video to prove it. The video, embedded below, compares the new Fire TV Stick 4K with the average performance of "3 top brand" smart TVs, and "a similarly priced 4K stick from another leading brand".

According to Amazon, the new Fire TV Stick 4K gets you watching 20% to 40% more quickly than rival 4K streaming sticks, with apps launching 35% more quickly. It's also faster than the smart TVs Amazon tested. Amazon's video is embedded below so you can see for yourself.

We're always wary of manufacturers' own speed claims, because of course they're not independent tests and the manufacturer isn't going to test its products against anything that'll leave their device in the dust. The video is really just an animation that illustrates Amazon's test data, rather than showing the difference on real devices. But a faster version of the Fire TV Stick 4K is still a welcome addition to the Fire TV family.

There are changes to Alexa+ too. It's getting a dedicated hub on Fire TV with more intelligent movie and show recommendations, and the Fire TV app now uses Alexa+ to manage watchlists and discover shows on your phone. Updates to existing Alexa+ devices will begin rolling out in the US in November 2026 and to the rest of the world in 2027.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026): key features

The new Fire TV Stick 4K, like the Fire Stick HD that launched earlier this year, is slimmer than before, making it more convenient to put behind your TV or pack for traveling. It runs Amazon's own Vega operating system, meaning that you can't sideload apps on it, and Alexa+ is on board.

Amazon is streamlining its lineup of TV sticks to focus on three distinct tiers: HD, 4K and 4K Max. The most expensive option, the 4K Max, gets the premium features such as Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and Alexa+ Home Theater.

The launch also delivers a new Fire TV remote, which Amazon says has been made more tactile and easy to hold. Its flat top and curved, weighted bottom are intended to help you get it the right way round first time, and the Home button gets its own special metal surface so you can find it by feel. The other buttons are shaped or indented for the same reason.

The new remote also gets the customizable star button that was previously reserved for the most expensive models. That can be assigned to a specific app or to a feature such as the Screen Magnifier.

The new remote is compatible with all Fire TV players since 2019 and all Amazon Ember TVs too. A new Fire TV Remote Plus is coming too, to replace the Alexa Voice Remote Pro, but that won't be out until early 2027. It's most useful feature will be a 'Find My Remote' feature, so you can just ask Alexa to locate the remote, and the remote will start making a sound so you can find which cushion it's behind.

The new Fire TV Stick 4K is available now for $59.99 / £69.99 (about AU$86), but Amazon has confirmed that the price will fall to $39.99 / £32.99 / AU$tbc during the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale, starting October 6th. Here's the link to the new 4K Stick, if you want to bookmark it for then. We assume it'll be discounted in other regions too, but we haven't had that confirmed.

That price includes the remote, but if you're happy with your current Fire TV and just want the nicer remote control, that'll be $14.99 / £13.99 / AU$tbc on its own. The new remote will ship in late October 2026.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026): Two-minute review

The ROG Zephyrus Duo is a mighty gaming laptop with an outstanding spec, which includes not one but two 3K OLED touchscreens.

It looks, though, bely its capabilities. There isn’t much branding or brashness here, and the dark colorway keeps things modest. It also lacks the sleekness of some models, with its various jutting edges and angles sullying its contours. The materials don’t seem all that premium, either. However, the ROG Zephyrus Duo is still a solidly made machine, and considering what lurks beneath, it’s surprisingly thin and compact.

The way the dual displays are set up is clever and well engineered, too. The keyboard can be detached to reveal the second screen, and there’s a sturdy stand underneath the unit to prop up both displays. These solutions provide plenty of scope for your preferred setup, and the various hinges operate smoothly while providing plenty of stability.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s more, there’s a generous selection of ports on the ROG Zephyrus Duo, matching some of the best gaming laptops on this front. In addition to two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, you also get an SD card reader and an HDMI output.

My review unit was the top-spec model with the RTX 5090 GPU, so naturally its gaming performance was superb. It ran Cyberpunk 2077 between 50-60fps on the highest preset and at full resolution. There was a lot of fan noise and heat, but the former isn’t too disruptive, and the latter is confined to the underside of the unit.

Both displays are as vivid and as sharp as you would expect given their OLED technology and 3K resolution. Their touchscreens are responsive and sufficiently smooth, although they can feel a little grabby at times. They’d be better served by a stylus, but unfortunately you’ll have to provide your own, since the ROG Zephyrus Duo doesn’t come with one.

The keyboard functions well, whether attached to the bottom screen or detached and connected via Bluetooth. The keys have a generous travel and a tactile feel, which makes them great for typing. However, they feel a little cramped when gaming in the WASD position, and it’s a shame the layout isn’t full size, given the space available. The integrated touchpad works well for cursor navigation, thanks to its large surface.

As with most gaming laptops, the battery life of the ROG Zephyrus Duo is a weak point. It didn’t even last four hours when I ran a movie on a continuous loop, a poor result even by the measly standards of your typical gaming laptop.

The ROG Zephyrus Duo certainly demands a large chunk of money, but it's an undeniably high-end device with just about the best performance you could wish for in a portable gaming machine. What’s more, there aren’t many dual-screen laptops built for gaming at this level, so the ROG Zephyrus Duo is a must if that’s a priority for you.

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) review: Price & availability

• Starts from $4,499.99 / £3,999.99 / AU$8,999
• Available now
• Incredibly expensive

Given its almighty spec, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the ROG Zephyrus Duo has a price tag to match. Exact model specifications vary with region, but the starting price is $4,499.99 / £3,999.99 / AU$8,999. For this, you get an RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.

If a dual-screen setup is a must for your laptop, you could also look at the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. It too comes with Bluetooth keyboard, but also comes with a mouse and a stylus, both of which the ROG Zephyrus Duo omits. Additionally, it costs a lot less than ROG Zephyrus Duo, although the big drawback is that it doesn’t have a dedicated GPU, so it isn’t one for heavy gamers.

If you don’t need dual screens, but just want an all-conquering gaming laptop, then the Razer Blade 18 is about the best we’ve tried in this category. We were overawed by its performance, while we also loved its keyboard, display, and form factor. It too has a seriously daunting price, though.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) review: Specs

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) base configuration

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) mid configuration

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) max configuration

Price

$4,499.99 / £3,999.99 / AU$8,999

$5,499.99

$(TBC) / £6,099.99 / AU$12,999

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (up to 4.9 GHz, 16 cores)

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (up to 4.9 GHz, 16 cores)

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (up to 4.9 GHz, 16 cores)

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU (12GB GDDR7)

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24GB GDDR7)

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24GB GDDR7)

RAM

32GB LPDDR5X

32GB LPDDR5X

64GB LPDDR5X

Screen

2x 16-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 16:10, 120Hz, HDR, Touchscreen, G-Sync

2x 16-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 16:10, 120Hz, HDR, Touchscreen, G-Sync

2x 16-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 16:10, 120Hz, HDR, Touchscreen, G-Sync

Storage

1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2

1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2

2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2

Ports

1x power input (DC), 2x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort / power delivery, 40Gbps), 2x USB-A (3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x SD card reader, 1x 3.5mm combo audio

1x power input (DC), 2x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort / power delivery, 40Gbps), 2x USB-A (3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x SD card reader, 1x 3.5mm combo audio

1x power input (DC), 2x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort / power delivery, 40Gbps), 2x USB-A (3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x SD card reader, 1x 3.5mm combo audio

Wireless

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0

Battery

90WHrs

90WHrs

90WHrs

Weight

2.82kg (6.22 lbs)

2.82kg (6.22 lbs)

2.82kg (6.22 lbs)

Dimensions

13.98 x 9.72 x 0.98 inches (355 x 247 x 24.9mm)

13.98 x 9.72 x 0.98 inches (355 x 247 x 24.9mm)

13.98 x 9.72 x 0.98 inches (355 x 247 x 24.9mm)

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) review: Design

• Understated looks
• Smart and versatile dual-screen setup
• Generous port selection

The ROG Zephyrus Duo cuts a rather unassuming figure, with its dark gray colorway and lack of branding. On the lid, the diagonal strip that’s become the mark of the Zephyrus line doesn’t add much interest. But the matte finish on the lid is a nice touch.

However, the rest of the unit’s materials don’t look or feel particularly premium. Its form is quite utilitarian, too, lacking the totally flat and flush surfaces of more sleek laptops. Thankfully, though, it feels very solid, and although the top display enclosure is quite thin and has some flex to it, it’s sturdy enough.

The ROG Zephyrus Duo is actually quite a discreet device. There’s no denying its thickness, but when you consider it hides a second screen and a detachable wireless keyboard, as well as featuring up to an RTX 5090 GPU, it’s quite impressive Asus has managed to make it this compact. It’s still expectedly heavy, though.

Two 3K OLED touchscreen displays are the standout feature of the ROG Zephyrus Duo. You can set them up in various ways: by reclining the main display back past 180 degrees so you can prop the unit like a tent, or leave the laptop in the standard position and simply remove the keyboard to use the display underneath. This would be perfect for drawing or handwriting while you keep your eyes on the main display. It’s a shame, though, that the ROG Zephyrus Duo doesn’t come with a stylus despite supporting them, although if you’re an enthusiastic creative you may already have one you can use.

(Image credit: Future)

The hinge offers a smooth pivot and provides plenty of stability, no matter what angle you have the main display at. However, it doesn’t allow for a full 360-degree rotation, so the ROG Zephyrus Duo can’t be used like a tablet — although this wouldn’t exactly be practical, given its size and weight.

Perhaps the best way to make use of the ROG Zephyrus Duo’s dual displays is to unfold the integrated kickstand underneath the unit so that both displays are stacked on top of each other. This stand provides a reassuring stability and, despite how thin it is, it doesn’t feel flimsy.

Switching between dual- and single-screen use is made easy thanks to the removable keyboard. It’s magnetically attached to the bottom screen, so it simply requires a light pry to detach it. At the same time, it’s also very stable when in place; I didn’t experience any wobbling or displacement when using it.

When detached, it connects to the ROG Zephyrus Duo via Bluetooth, which you enable by flicking a switch on the side of the keyboard. It charges when attached to the bottom screen, but you can also charge it using the USB-C port on its side when it’s not.

Its build quality is less impressive than the rest of the ROG Zephyrus Duo, though. The soft outer material feels cheap and is prone to scuff marks and the like, while the board itself is quite flimsy. However, this is a price worth paying for its lightness, and it remains stable while typing.

Given its real estate, the layout is disappointingly compromised. It seems like there’s space to include a number pad or at least more navigation keys. The arrow keys are inconveniently small, too, although the integrated touchpad is a good size at least.

I was also glad to see a number of ports on board the ROG Zephyrus Duo. In addition to two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, there’s also a full-sized SD card reader, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headset jack. These ports are spread quite evenly across both sides of the unit and are sensibly positioned.

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) review: Performance

• Phenomenal performance
• Consistent fan noise
• Keyboard not great for gaming

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) benchmarks

3DMark: Night Raid: 63,017; Fire Strike: 34,724; Steel Nomad: 4,818; Solar Bay: 88,856; Solar Bay Unlimited: 86,289; Solar Bay Extreme: 17,498; Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited: 16,958
Geekbench 6.5: Multicore: 17,119; Single-core: 2,857
Cinebench R23: Multi Core: 20,933; Cinebench R24: Single Core: 124; Multi Core: 1,252
Crossmark: Overall: 2,177; Productivity: 1,975; Creativity: 2,532; Responsiveness: 1,852
Passmark Overall: 15,847.2; CPU: 39,981.9; 2D Graphics: 1,462.5; 3D Graphics: 30,730.9; Memory: 40,56.3; Disk: 82,992.7
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 9,501MB/s; Write: 8,190MB/s
HandBrake 4K to 1080p: 104.26fps
Civilization VII: (Max resolution, High, XeSS Balanced): 149fps; (1080p, High): 183fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: (Max resolution, Highest, DLSS Balanced): 173fps; (1080p, Highest, SMAA x4): 162fps
Total War: Warhammer III: Mirrors of Madness: (Max Resolution, Ultra): 48fps; (1080p, Ultra): 53fps
Cyberpunk 2077: (1600p, Ray Tracing: Ultra, DLSS Balanced): 66fps; (Max resolution, Ultra, DLSS Balanced): 94fps; (1080p, Ultra): 124fps
Marvel Rivals: (Max resolution, DLSS Balanced, Ultra): 75fps; (1200p, Low): 149fps
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 3 hours and 37 minutes

My review unit was equipped with the top-tier RTX 5090, which, combined with the Intel Core Ultra 9 and 64GB of RAM, made for blistering performance. I was getting around 30fps on Cyberpunk 2077 with the maximum Ray Tracing: Overdrive preset and the maximum 2880 x 1800 resolution selected, with DLSS set to Balanced. This jumped to between 50-60fps when I enabled Frame Generation on top.

As expected, though, fan noise accompanied this performance. Thankfully, it’s not too disruptive, but more troubling is the fact that the fans can whir up sporadically, even when fairly lightweight tasks are being undertaken, such as browsing the web.

Scorching temperature can also afflict the ROG Zephyrus Duo, although mercifully the heat is confined to the underside of the base, with the commonly contactable surfaces, such as the keyboard and bottom screen, remaining perfectly comfortable to touch. Using the kickstand also helps to dissipate some of the heat.

As you would expect, the two 3K OLED displays are a visual treat, with plenty of sharpness, contrast, and vividness. They both have small bezels, which helps them to maximize their respective 16-inch canvases, and they do a reasonable job of keeping reflections at bay thanks to their high brightness levels.

Their touchscreen functionality is also quite good. Although they can be a little grabby at times, they’re smooth enough for the most part. They’re also quick to respond to inputs.

The keyboard is a tactile affair, with low-profile keys that offer more dampening and travel than you might expect, but they're still snappy, making for a fast and satisfying experience. They’re comfortably spaced for typing, although I found gaming in the WASD position a little cramped and awkward. The large touchpad makes general navigation practical, though.

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) review: Battery life

• Short-lived, even by gaming laptop standards
• Quick to charge

For such a large and feature-packed gaming laptop, it’s no real surprise that the ROG Zephyrus Duo isn’t a particularly enduring machine. However, it drains faster than many other gaming laptops. It lasted just over three and a half hours in our movie playback test, and this was with just the main screen active.

To put this result into context, the Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10, another 16-inch gaming laptop, lasted almost eight hours in the same test, while the Razer Blade 18, which is 18-inches, lasted closer to eight and a half hours.

Fortunately, the ROG Zephyrus Duo is quick to charge, taking between 60-90 minutes to fully replenish, which is more impressive.

Should I buy the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026)?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The ROG Zephyrus Duo is incredibly expensive, but that’s hardly a surprise considering its two displays and superlative spec.

3 / 5

Design

That dual-display setup is well thought-out, but while the construction is strong, it doesn’t look or feel especially premium.

4 / 5

Performance

My review unit had just about the highest spec a gaming laptop could have, so naturally outright performance was peerless. The fans frequently make themselves known, though, and the keyboard isn’t the best for gaming.

5 / 5

Battery life

Disappointing, even by gaming laptop standards. It’s at least quick to charge, though.

3 / 5

Overall Rating

The ROG Zephyrus Duo is a unique proposition in the gaming laptop market, and it's certainly an accomplished machine. The poor battery and awkward keyboard are drawbacks, but the real issue is the price. Still, if you need an incredibly powerful dual-screen laptop, nothing fits the bill better.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want two displays
I don’t think I’ve seen a more powerful laptop with dual displays, and their clever versatility is an added bonus.

You want a high spec
With heaps of RAM and storage space, not to mention a top-tier CPU and GPU, there aren’t many portable devices more powerful.

Don't buy it if…

You’re on a budget
With that godlike spec comes an unholy price tag.

You want a long battery life
Not many gaming laptops can keep going all day, but the ROG Zephyrus Duo is particularly short lived.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) review: Also consider

Razer Blade 18
The Razer Blade 18 is easily one of the best gaming laptops we’ve ever tested. It gets pretty much everything right: the performance is phenomenal, the keyboard is a dream to use, and even the form factor is reasonable for an 18-inch machine. More remarkable is that it has a superior battery life to many of its rivals. Read our full Razer Blade 18 review.

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
If you want a powerful dual-screen laptop, but don’t need all that gaming prowess, the Yoga Book 9i is a fine choice. We loved this laptop’s everyday performance and interesting arrangements for its two displays. Its port selection is a little disappointing, but it’s a veritable bargain next to the ROG Zephyrus Duo. Read our full Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review.

How I tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026)

• Tested for a few days
• Used for a variety of tasks
• Plenty of gaming laptop experience

I tested the ROG Zephyrus Duo for several days, during which time I used it for a variety of tasks besides gaming, such as general browsing and video streaming.

I also ran our comprehensive series of benchmark tests, designed to assess every facet of a gaming laptop. I tested the battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used a variety of systems and components during that time. I’ve also reviewed many gaming laptops previous to the ROG Zephyrus Duo, including other Asus models.

• First reviewed: August 2026
• Read more about how we test

LG Gram Pro 16 review: Two Minute Review

Thin. Light. And a big screen. Say less. Add in a surprising amount of power for this form factor, and you have the LG Gram Pro 16. There’s a lot to like with this laptop, including some interesting LG-specific software and a very impressive battery life. The only thing that might give me pause in recommending it as one of the best laptops out there is its very high price.

Now, I should clarify that there is a version of the LG Gram Pro 16 that skips the Aerominum material of the pricier version (more on that later) and has the most basic integrated graphics instead of the Intel Arc B390 Graphics included on the configuration reviewed here. Even though the Intel Arc B390 Graphics in the review unit are also integrated, it’s surprisingly on par with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050.

So that version might be one of the best Ultrabooks out there for someone who wants that thin and light package with a big screen but doesn’t need all the bells and whistles. But that version pales in performance. Of course, the LG Gram Pro 16 reviewed here is much more expensive. I don’t want to tell you to wait for a sale, but its price is its biggest drawback.

The LG Gram Pro 16 is very portable thanks ot its light weight, thin design, and powerful battery. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)LG Gram Pro 16 review: Price & Availability

• How much does it cost? Starting at $2,699.99 (about £2,010/ AU$3,830)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US

While the LG Gram Pro 16 is available in US, UK, and Australia, the 2026 configuration, which has the model designation of 16Z90U (or 16Z95U for the AMD powered ones), is mostly just available in the US at the time of writing. It most certainly will make it to the UK, and one configuration is sold in Australia with an MSRP of AU$4,199, though it’s already discounted to AU$2,899. This configuration comes with a Intel Core Ultra 7 355 CPU, 32GB RAM, Intel Arc graphics, and 1TB of storage. It also features a 2560x1600 touchscreen.

For the US, there are seven configurations. The cheapest one, not accounting for any slashed prices, goes for $2,699.99, which has an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and its integrated graphics, 32GB RAM, 512GB storage, and that same 2560x1600 touch screen. The price starts to creep up with more storage (though some models have a 1TB SSD but 16GB of RAM and are maybe fifty bucks more).

The most expensive model doesn’t have a touchscreen, but does have slightly higher resolution with a 2560x1800 screen. More importantly, it comes with an Intel Core Ultra X7 CPU, integrated Intel Arc graphics B390 Graphics which have the power of an Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is a good laptop to compare the LG Gram Pro 16 to. Its price tag of $2,449.99 / £2,999 (around AU$6,000) for a laptop with an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU and 1TB of storage, similar CPU, and similar screen is also expensive, though less expensive than the LG Gram Pro 16 at its maxed out configuration. Or, if you look at the Dell 2026 XPS 16, you’ll find a very similarly priced and specced laptop that also comes with an OLED screen (again comparing to the max configuration).

I think there are a few reasons that LG costs more. The first is that they’re using a new material called Aerominum for the chassis, and semi-relatedly, weighs under three pounds, unlike either of the other mentioned laptops. Hopefully as LG keeps using Aerominum, the price will come down.

• Value score: 4 / 5

LG Gram Pro 16 review: specs

The LG Gram Pro 16 has about seven different configurations at the time of writing, all with slightly different combinations of CPU (Intel Core Ultra 7, AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, Intel Core Ultra X7), RAM (16 or 32GB), storage space (512GB, 1TB, or 2TB), and graphics, with the cheapest configuration utilizing the basic integrated Intel Graphics and more substantial configurations using the Ryzen AI 7 450’s integrated AMD Radeon 860M graphics or at the top of the price range, Intel’s integrated but powerful Arc B390 GPU.

Base

Review / Max

Price

$1,399.99 (about £1,040 / AU$1,980)

$3,499.99 (about £2,600 / AU$9,000)

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7

Intel Core Ultra X7

GPU

Intel graphics

Intel Arc B390 Graphics

RAM

32GB LPDDR5X

32GB LPDDR5X (Dual Channel, 8533MHz)

Storage

512GB M.2 SSD

1TB M.2 SSD

Display

16-inch diagonal, WQXGA (2560x1600) touch IPS @120Hz

16-inch diagonal, WQXGA+ (2560x1800) non-touch IPS @120Hz

Ports and Connectivity

USB 3.2 Gen1 (x2), USB 4 Gen3x2 Type C (x2, with Power Delivery, Display Port, Thunderbolt 4), HDMI, Aux out

USB 3.2 Gen1 (x2), USB 4 Gen3x2 Type C (x2, with Power Delivery, Display Port, Thunderbolt 4), HDMI, Aux out

Wireless

Intel Wi-Fi 7 (WiFi7, 2x2, BT Combo) and Bluetooth 6

Intel Wi-Fi 7 (WiFi7, 2x2, BT Combo) and Bluetooth 6

Camera

FHD IR Webcam with Dual Mic (Face recognition)

FHD IR Webcam with Dual Mic (Face recognition)

Dimensions

2.97 lbs (1.35 kg)

2.64 lbs (1.2 kg)

Weight

14.1 x 9.9 x 0.49~0.5 inches / 358.1 x 251.5 x 12.4~12.7 mm

14.1 x 9.9 x 0.49~0.5 inches / 358.1 x 251.5 x 12.4~12.7 mm

On the exterior, there are two different screen options. The less powerful models come with a 2560x1600 resolution, some of which have touchscreens including the cheapest configuration. The more powerful ones with either the Ryzen or Intel Arc graphics have a slightly sharper 2560x1800 resolution – none of them touchscreen.

LG Gram Pro 16 review: Design

• Light, thin, but with a big screen!
• Keyboard doesn’t have much travel
• Good ports, but not ideal port placement

First things first, the LG Gram Pro 16 reviewed here is like all the other LG Grams, as it manages to be light and portable while still providing a pretty large screen. Those things are typically mutually exclusive. Yet here, you get a 16-inch screen in a package that weighs under three pounds. And since the bezels are pretty thin, it’s only fourteen inches wide. Plus, it’s half an inch thick.

It’s taken me a while to figure out why the LG Gram Pro 16 comes with such a high price tag. Part of it is the robust components. Part of it is the engineering to get it so light and thin. But part of it is, in my opinion, the use of a proprietary material called Aerominum instead of the usual aluminum alloy or plastic. It feels like plastic but is a little tougher, and the LG Gram Pro 16's chassis is made from it. There is, however, a little bit of give in the bottom shell where the venting is.

The LG Gram Pro 16 has both USB-C ports on the same side. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Since the LG Gram Pro 16 is so thin, the keyboard doesn’t have much travel. Because of this, I don’t really enjoy typing on it for long periods of time. It’s fine. It’s accurate. And it doesn’t bother me when browsing or more casual use, but it just doesn’t have much cushion. I can feel the keys bottom out on every press. At least, it’s a full size keyboard.

The trackpad, on the other hand, is nice to use. It’s also big, though I have to be careful to not accidentally touch it when typing as it is sensitive, and I’m somewhat lazy with my hand placement. And if you use all the different gestures Windows is capable of, the trackpad will register them.

Lastly, I’m appreciative of the port selection, but less so the port placement. A laptop like this doesn’t need anything beyond the two USB-4 type C, two USB, headphone jack, and an HDMI port that it comes with, but the LG Gram Pro 16 makes the same mistake that many laptops do. If you have two USB-C ports and that’s the only way to power the laptop, put one on each side and not on the same side. The power cable it comes with is not that long, and I’ve created a few tripping hazards trying to charge just because of the port placement.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

LG Gram Pro 16 review: Performance

• Plenty of power for demanding tasks, though with some adjustments
• Mostly great suite of additional software
• Good audio, camera, and mic performance

LG Gram Pro 16 benchmarks

3DMark: Solar Bay: 25,811; Steel Nomad: 1,607
Geekbench 7.0: (Single Core) 2,254; (Multi Core) 17,471
Crossmark: Overall: 1,981; Productivity: 1,763; Creativity: 2,334; Responsiveness: 1,716
HandBrake 1.11.1: 4:01
Total War: Warhammer III: Mirrors of Madness (1080p): 61.7fps; (2880x1800) 29.7fps
Cyberpunk 2077: (1080p, Ray Tracing): 18.29fps; (1080p, Ray Tracing off) 50.07fps
Battery Life (PCMark 10): 15:34:02

Between the Intel Core Ultra X7, Intel Arc B390 Graphics, and 32GB or RAM the LG Gram Pro 16 I’m reviewing has, it’s a fairly powerful computer. Despite the fact that the Intel Arc graphics are integrated and not actually a discrete GPU, it compares favorably to an Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050 (which is admittedly entry level for discrete graphics).

That means that I can take this somewhere to do a little work – maybe write this review, for instance – and then switch to a demanding video game like Starfield, South of Midnight or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for a bit of fun. While the computer struggles a little at the highest settings for these games, it’s also running at a 120Hz refresh rate.

Now, I assume that many people wanting to read about the LG Gram Pro 16 care about its gaming capabilities, but those are among the more demanding tasks you can ask from a computer. If it can run one of those games, it can handle photo and video editing (we also have benchmarks to show how they would handle those tasks). It can handle recording audio. This is a powerful computer, though, as a gaming computer, it just barely clears the bar of running those more demanding titles.

The keyboard is full size, but a little shallow. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Now, since LG proudly advertises the AI capabilities of this laptop – if you look on the website, the thumbnail puts “AI” next to the computer’s name as if it’s part of it – it makes sense that AI is all over this thing.

When I open LG’s My Gram app, which is the LG Gram Pro 16’s software interface for fine-tuning its performance, I see things like AI microphone and speaker optimization settings (you can also register your voice so that the laptop only hears / recognizes it), AI cooling for the fan settings, and an AI mode for the battery settings where it adjusts battery usage based on what it’s learned about how one uses their computer and how to allocate battery based on that. The My Gram software can also turn off the screen automatically when you walk away from the laptop.

LG also includes its own LLM tool for interacting with the laptop: AI Gram Chat. Instead of letting you write prompts to generate an image or a short story, it is made as almost an interactive interface for the computer. I can ask it to summarize a document, change settings, or troubleshoot, to name just a few things it's capable of.

The unique software suite on the LG Gram Pro 16 isn’t limited to AI-focused apps. LG Gram Link is an interesting one that’s included, and lets you quickly share files with other compatible devices, like other LG Grams from 2021 and on, LG TVs and smart monitors, and mobile devices. You can download the LG Gram Link for both Android and iOS, so you’re not limited to an LG device.

The last thing worth mentioning on the software front is that, as interesting as those other apps are and as expensive as this computer can be, you’ll still be subjected to dealing with a free McAfee trial. Since I don’t use or like McAfee, it’s an annoyance with its constant pop-ups. And it’s a piece of software that makes you jump through hoops to uninstall. I don’t like it. Minus five points to LG.

For a laptop, the audio here is pretty good. There’s almost no low end to speak of, but that’s the case for most laptops. Content, whether it’s a movie or music, sounds clear without sounding harsh. If you want excellent audio, get some wireless headphones, but if you don’t have any, the speakers on this laptop are good enough.

Those who are stuck on video calls all day will be happy to know that the webcam looks pretty good. There’s some graininess in low light situations, which is to be expected, but the image is clear and smooth. Plus, you can do the auto framing where the camera zooms in on your face like a 70’s Western. The eye contact feature and background effects are also here. Just be aware that there’s no physical shutter to block the camera. And the built-in mic is similarly capable for Zoom and voice calls.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

LG Gram Pro 16 review: Battery life

• Very long battery life
• Has some AI features to extend battery life even longer

LG claims that the Gram Pro 16’s 77Wh battery can last for 27 hours when playing back video when using its AI Battery Efficiency feature). And it might just be able to do that. But I like to test battery life without any special features or tricks. I want to get a good sense of what the battery itself is capable of.

During use, it did in fact last quite a while. I was able to actually play computer games unplugged without running the battery completely down in an hour or two, though it did take a hit. And I would use it unplugged multiple days at a time without charging. Running the PCMark 10 battery benchmark for office use with all the settings midway between performance and battery took almost 17 hours. A chore to sit through, but a great indicator of how good the battery life is.

Using the LG Gram Link app, you can share files between devices. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

• Battery Life score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the LG Gram Pro 16?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

If you compare the LG Gram Pro 16 to similarly specced laptops trying to do the MacBook Pro 16 thing, they’re all at the same somewhat hard-to-stomach price.

4 / 5

Design

I might have some issue with a few choices on this laptop, but it’s thin and light while still offering a big screen. That’s hard to find.

4.5 / 5

Performance

In that thin and light chassis is a pretty powerful computer, able to handle pretty powerful tasks along with its own AI apps. Just beware the McAfee popups.

4.5 / 5

Battery Life

Even without LG’s battery efficiency, the battery on this laptop lasts a very long time.

5 / 5

Final Score

If price is no object, the LG Gram Pro 16 is a very impressive computer. It’s the full packet (but a light one).

4.5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want thin, light, and powerful
This laptop comes in under three pounds and is half an inch thick, yet you can run a lot of demanding software on it.View Deal

You need long battery life
The LG Gram Pro 16 surprised me with its battery life, especially after experiencing its power. I think you’ll be surprised by it too.View Deal

You want to drag and drop files between devices
Using LG Gram Link, you can share files between devices. So, if you want to send a couple pictures from your phone to the laptop for editing, the app makes it simple.View Deal

Don't buy it if…

You have any budget concerns
The LG Gram Pro 16 is just priced too high. While I hazard to guess that it’s the use of a new type of material, its price tag is just out of reach for most people.View Deal

You don’t like McAfee
This is bloatware. Yes, it can be removed, but you get an added inconvenience to counteract the laptop’s actual conveniences like LG Gram Link.View Deal

LG Gram Pro 16 review: Also Consider

If our LG Gram Pro 16 review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra

Thin. Light. With a 16-inch screen. Sound familiar? Well, the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra checks those boxes too. Plus, it’s similarly expensive. However, it does come with more powerful graphics (and a bigger issue with heat).

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra review

Dell XPS 16 (2026)

The Dell XPS 16 is a premium laptop that’s thin and light with a big screen like the LG Gram Pro 16. Plus, it comes with an OLED screen for about the same price. Its port selection is a bit more limited, however, and it’s a pound heavier.

Read our full Dell XPS 16 (2026) review

How I tested the LG Gram Pro 16

• Tested for a couple weeks
• Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
• Messed with its AI capabilities

I used the LG Gram Pro 16 for a couple weeks. I used it for work, including typing up most of this review (along with the requisite online research). I used it to stream video. I even did some serious gaming. I also played around with the AI and first-party software.

After spending time with the LG Gram Pro 16, it’s clear that this is meant for those who want a large screen in a thin, light package without sacrificing power. That might be a big ask, but LG has done it for a price.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.

• First reviewed: August 2026

Thinking of buying an Amazon Echo Show? The best time to do it is during an Amazon Prime Day sale. It's a safe bet that the vast majority of Amazon devices — including Echo Shows — will be heavily discounted during these events, and it's very rare to see these kinds of price-drops at any other time of year.

Nowadays, we have two Prime Days every year: one around July and one around October. And of course they don't just last a day. That would be silly. You can expect at least two days of deals, and maybe more. The next Amazon Prime Day is imminent: it's scheduled to run on 6 and 7 October.

Traditionally, you had to be a Prime subscriber to take advantage of the Prime Day deals. That's still sort-of the case, but increasingly we're seeing 'Prime Day' pricing appearing ahead of the official events, and the deals are open to everyone. That's the case this year with the Echo Show range (as well as a bunch of other Amazon devices, actually).

• Shop Amazon's full US early Prime Day sale / UK early Prime Day sale

There are significant discounts live already across almost the entire Echo Show range in both the US and the UK. I've rounded up all the current pricing directly below, or you can scroll down further for more information on the deals — including how they compare to previous offers — and my advice on how to choose.

US links

Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest gen)

Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest gen)

Amazon Echo Show 11 (newest gen)

Amazon Echo Show 15 (newest gen)

Amazon Echo Show 21 (newest gen)

UK links

Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest gen)

Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest Gen)

Amazon Echo Show 11 (newest Gen)

Amazon Echo Show 15 (newest gen)

Amazon Echo Show 21 (newest Gen)

Amazon Echo show: buying advice

Normal bargain-hunting rules dictate you should wait for a product to return to the cheapest price it has ever dropped to, before now. However, in the case of Prime Day, Amazon does like to switch things up. For instance, the most recent Prime Day was in June 2026; the deals appearing now aren't exactly the same, and in some cases prices are slightly higher than we saw in June.

However, I'd still recommend buying the model you want now, as I don't expect prices to drop any further during this event. Unless, of course, you wanted to gamble and wait until the next Prime Day to see if your desired model gets a bigger discount. (Risky tactics because in general, prices are trending up.)

(Image credit: Future)

What's slightly sneaky is that Amazon has increased the list price alongside those discounts, to make the deal appear better than it is. For instance, in the US the Echo Show 11 has fallen to the same price it was in June: $149.99. However, because Amazon has raised the 'original' price, it's showing as a 40% discount now, whereas in June it was only 32% off.

For reference, here are all the discounts and list prices for the June 2026 Prime Day. I'll start with the US:

• Show 5: $59.99 (list price $89.99) — 33% off
• Show 8: $124.99 (list price $179.99) — 31% off
• Show 11: $149.99 (list price $219.99) — 32% off
• Show 15: $249.99 (list price $299.99) — 17% off
• Show 21: $319.99 (list price $399.99) — 20% off

And here were the deals in the UK:

• Show 5: £49.99 (list price £89.99) — 44% off
• Show 8: £114.99 (list price £179.99) — 36% off
• Show 11: £139.99 (list price £219.99) — 36% off
• Show 15: £239.99 (list price £299.99) — 20% off
• Show 21: List price £399.99 — no discount

Which one should I buy?

I assume if you've got this far, you know what an Amazon Echo Show is and what it's for. But just in case: these are speakers / displays that act as hubs from which you can control your smart home. The different options range in capabilities and screen size — the number at the end of the product name indicates the size of screen.

If you want the biggest and best screen, you should buy the Show 21, which has a 21-inch, full HD display. The Show 15 and Show 11 also have full HD screens, but they're smaller.

If price is your main consideration, it's the littlest option that comes in cheapest. The Echo Show 5 is very compact, and less than half the price of the next model up. However, there are concessions you're making for that low price: the display isn't HD, there's one basic speaker and the camera is only 2MP.

You might get better value for money by opting for an Echo Show 8 or 11, which both offer a jump up in specs compared to the Show 5. Both have two full-range drivers and a 2.8-inch woofer, plus a 13MP camera with auto-framing. The 8 has a HD display and the 11 has full HD. You can see exactly how all the specs compare in the table below.

Model:

Show 5

Show 8

Show 11

Show 15

Show 21

Current gen:

3rd gen, 2023

4th gen, 2025

1st gen, 2025

2nd gen, 2024

1st gen, 2024

Screen size:

5.5 inch

8.7 inch

11 inch

15.5 inch

21 inch

Screen specs:

Touchscreen

HD touchscreen

Full HD touchscreen

Full HD touchscreen

Full HD touchscreen

Audio:

1.75-in speaker

2x full-range drivers and 1x 2.8-inch woofer

2x full-range drivers and 1x 2.8-inch woofer

2x 2in woofers, 2x 0.6in tweeters

2x 2in woofers, 2x 0.6in tweeters

Camera:

2MP

13MP with auto-framing

13MP with auto-framing

13MP wide angle with auto-framing

13MP wide angle with auto-framing

Video support:

Prime Video app

Prime Video and Netflix app

Prime Video and Netflix app

Full selection via Fire TV app store

Full selection via Fire TV app store

Fire TV built in:

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Smart home hub built in:

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dimensions (W x D x H):

5.8 x 3.6 x 3.2in / 14.7 x 9.1 x 8.2cm

8.2 x 5 x 5.9in / 21 x 13 x 15cm

10 x 5 x 7.2in / 26 x 13 x 18cm

16.1 x 10.1 x 1.4in / 41 x 3.6 x 26cm

21.4 x 13.2 x 1.5in / 54 x 3.8 x 34cm

• New Spectre variant exploits processor prediction behavior in just-in-time compilers
• Researchers demonstrated practical attacks against Intel-based Linux systems
• Vendors released mitigations as security teams assess performance tradeoffs

The dreaded Spectre vulnerability which had chip manufacturers scrambling for a fix a few years ago, has returned, experts have claimed.

Security researchers from the Vrije Universiteit in the Netherlands and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Italy published a new report, detailing a type of attack they call Branch Target Reuse (BTR).

They labeled it the first practical in-place Spectre v2 attack that targets just-in-time (JIT) compilers - and it's a lot to decompile (pun intended), so let’s break it all down.

Spectre and Meltdown

Modern microprocessors come with a feature called “speculative execution” - they speculate what a program’s next moves might be, and load them in advance, so that when one scenario actually happens, it can be executed rather quickly.

They also monitor recurring patterns and try to remember them, but this also opens the doors to so-called “side-channel attacks”, which allow threat actors to steal information by observing indirect clues from a system (timing, power consumption, etc.), rather than accessing them directly.

Back in 2017, security researchers discovered that speculative execution can be abused via side-channel attacks, giving birth to two vulnerabilities: Spectre and Meltdown. Given how widespread the flaws were (practically all chips were affected), and their potential severity, the entire industry rushed to fix the flaws with software patches. Some succeeded, but the overall effort was more of a fiasco than a success. Many chips were throttled significantly, and some computers were entirely bricked.

Spectre and Meltdown were eventually fixed, but since then, there have been countless copycats and variants. We now have a new variant, called Branch Target Reuse (BTR).

BTR

When a processor wants to “remember” a recurring theme, it stores it in something called the Branch Target Buffer (BTB). At the same time, there is an element called “JIT”. Short for just-in-time, it is a compiler that translates code into native machine instructions during program execution, rather than before it runs. In practice, JIT creates code at memory address X, later running it numerous times. The CPU learns the pattern and tries to repeat it.

So when JIT deletes the code and puts something else at the same address X, that’s where the problems begin, since the CPU still tries to jump to X first. That is called Branch Target Reuse. The CPU will eventually realize that the old habits no longer work, but it’s the moment in between that the researchers managed to exploit.

What makes BTR particularly dangerous is the fact that there is no need for a new malware to exploit it. Threat actors can simply use the fact that machine-code bytes can mean different things when execution begins at a different byte offset.

In the paper, the researchers detail two proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits that can target Intel-based Linux kernels, revealing the root password hash even with the constant binding defense provided by cBPF. The expected leakage rate is 5.7 KB/sec for Intel Raptor Cove chips and 5.4 KB/sec for Lion Cove which, according to The Register, is “slow but enough for an unprivileged user to coax a sensitive password hash out of a vulnerable system.”

Linux kernel developers and Oracle responded with mitigations. The bugs have now gotten two CVEs: CVE-2026-64507 and CVE-2026-64508. Mozilla decided to focus more on site isolation, and while IBPB is most likely effective, it will slow the machine down. “Update your OS and software as soon as vendor patches are available,” the researchers said. “Both the Linux kernel and Oracle have released patches.”

The Branch Target Reuse paper, which can be read on this link, was peer-reviewed and accepted by ACM CCS 2026, a major academic cybersecurity conference, due to take place in mid-November this year in The Hague, Netherlands.

Via The Register

Celebrity Traitors Season 2 arrives tomorrow, but if you're travelling and at risk of missing out, you needn't worry.

BBC iPlayer is the free home of the popular UK series, meaning if you're a UK resident on holiday, you'll be stuck without due to the BBC limiting access to only those on home soil. Thankfully, a VPN can fix this, and I've found the cheapest way to ensure you don't miss out on the chaos: PrivadoVPN.

PrivadoVPN ranks among the fastest VPNs we've tested and offers the best free VPN alternative too. But, more importantly, it's also a top streaming VPN for BBC iPlayer.

When I tried using PrivadoVPN to watch the last series of Celebrity Traitors, it was flawless. I connected to a UK server quickly, and never experienced any buffering or dropouts.

What's more, unlike alternatives such as NordVPN, PrivadoVPN costs only $1.11 per month. This means you can get two years of stress-free streaming access for only $30. That's over $60 less than an equivalent NordVPN plan.

PrivadoVPN: Only $1.11 per month for 27 months of protection

PrivadoVPN is the cheapest way to access the new season of Celebrity Traitors without compromising your stream quality. It's by far the fastest VPN available right now. Plus, it's got all the essential security features you need from a VPN, and servers in 66 cities worldwide so you can be secure anywhere. Interested? PrivadoVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free. View Deal

PrivadoVPN's streaming performance excels beyond iPlayer too. We put it through rigorous testing with global Netflix libraries, Prime Video, Disney+, and more, and, compared to far more expensive alternatives, it proved effective.

Its biggest hurdle was Prime Video which, like many VPNs, it failed with altogether. Aside from that, it worked with all the global and local streaming services we tested it with, despite its budget price. This is helped by its servers in 49 countries being regularly optimized for streaming.