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We’re now just days away from the September 9 launch of the iPhone 16 series, and these are sure to be very expensive phones. But if you’re a member of the iPhone Upgrade Program, then you could get one for ‘free’.

Obviously, almost nothing in life is free, and certainly not smartphones, but at the very least you might not need to spend more than you already are.

Below, we’ll explain exactly what the iPhone Upgrade Program is, how it works, and whether you can use it to get an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max without spending a single extra cent.

What is the iPhone Upgrade Program?

The iPhone Upgrade Program is a contract, much like if you bought an iPhone from a carrier, but this is offered directly by Apple.

You simply choose your iPhone and pay it off over either 20 months (in the UK) or 24 months (in the US) with 0% interest – though if you’re a UK customer there’s additionally a £69 upfront cost.

But once you’ve made 11 payments (in the UK) or 12 payments (in the US) you have the option to upgrade to a new iPhone. If you choose to do that, you just trade in your current iPhone with Apple, and start the program again with your new one.

If you choose not to upgrade, you can simply continue paying off your current iPhone and then keep it at the end.

(Image credit: Apple) Which countries have the iPhone Upgrade Program?

The iPhone upgrade program is available in both the US and the UK, as well as China.

However, the specifics of it – such as the costs and the program duration – vary slightly from place to place. So, where things differ, we’ve noted the different terms in the US and the UK.

What iPhones can you upgrade to as part of the program?

Currently, you can only get iPhone 15 models through the iPhone Upgrade Program. That includes the iPhone 15 itself, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. So, if you want an older or lower-end model, then this program isn’t for you.

Once the iPhone 16 line launches, we’d expect the iPhone 15 line to be replaced here by the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. So, yes, you should be able to get Apple’s so-new-they-haven’t-even-been-announced-yet iPhones on the Upgrade Program.

Of course, the monthly cost you’ll pay will depend on the model and its storage capacity. We don’t know the iPhone 16 line pricing yet, but as an example, the iPhone 15 costs from $39.50 / £42.95 per month on this program, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $58.25 / £65.45 per month.

The iPhone 15 Plus (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) Can you pre-order an iPhone 16 through the iPhone Upgrade Program?

iPhone 16 pre-orders haven’t opened yet, but when they do – which, based on past form, we predict will happen on Friday, September 13 – it’s very likely that you will be able to pre-order one of Apple's new phones through the iPhone Upgrade Program, as you could do so for previous models.

What else do you get with the iPhone Upgrade Program?

As well as the option of a new iPhone, you also get AppleCare+ as part of the iPhone Upgrade Program.

This provides accidental damage protection – meaning you can get your iPhone repaired for free (other than an excess) an unlimited number of times if it’s damaged accidentally.

AppleCare+ also gives you a battery service, access to an 'Express Replacement Service', and 24/7 priority access to Apple experts.

You can also optionally add theft and loss protection, though this costs extra.

(Image credit: Apple) How do you enroll in the iPhone Upgrade Program?

In the US, you can sign up for the iPhone Upgrade Program online, in an Apple Store, or via the Apple Store app. In the UK, you can only sign up at a physical Apple Store, though there is the option to reserve an iPhone online for pickup at a store, and then enroll when you collect it.

Other things to note about the iPhone Upgrade Program

When you get a new iPhone through the iPhone Upgrade Program, you can connect it to your existing carrier with no changes to the plan you have with them – your contract is just with Apple, not with a network carrier.

Apple will carry out a credit check when you apply for the iPhone Upgrade Program, so, depending on your credit rating, there’s a chance you’ll be refused.

Also, while you have to pay a certain amount before you’re eligible to upgrade, you can upgrade early by paying the remaining required balance at the time of the upgrade.

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The first tri-foldable phone is almost here, and we've got another look at it: the Huawei Mate XT officially launches this coming Tuesday, but images and storage options have already been posted online by Huawei.

You can head to the Huawei store now to see the Mate XT in a red finish with gold accents. The site now lets you reserve the phone in China, and the storage options are listed as either 512GB or 1TB, which both come with 16GB of memory.

Huawei previously posted the same image on social media, and noted tipster Evan Blass has also shared the picture of the phone with a different dark gray color. It looks as though these are the two colors that buyers can choose between.

Unfortunately, it looks as though the Mate XT won't be available outside of China – not least because Huawei devices are still banned in the US. The rest of us are going to have to wait to get our hands on a tri-folding phone.

Another fold

Huawei has history with foldables (Image credit: Future)

The addition of an extra fold to the standard foldable form factor adds an extra engineering challenge for Huawei, but it also means part of the main display can double up and be used as the outer display when the device is folded.

With the Mate X and the Mate X2, Huawei has previously produced two different types of standard book-style foldables: one folding inward and one folding outward. That technical know-how has no doubt been useful in creating the Mate XT.

We've also previously seen a teaser video for the Huawei Mate XT, which offers a brief look at the phone in use. We're still waiting for some key details about the phone, including the main screen size and the chipset that's being used inside.

All should be revealed on Tuesday, September 10: everything gets started at 2.30pm China time, which means it'll be 11.30pm PT on September 9, and 2.30am ET / 7.30am BST / 4.30pm AEST on September 10.

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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 Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

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 #189) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… A royal shade

NYT Strands today (game #189) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TAIL
• MOAT
• GOAT
• LAVER
• PLUME
• CHIDE

NYT Strands today (game #189) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• It's all red and blue

NYT Strands today (game #189) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 4th row

Last: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #189) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #189, are…

• LILAC
• MAUVE
• MAGENTA
• VIOLET
• PLUM
• LAVENDER
• ORCHID
• SPANGRAM: PURPLES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Here's a nice, simple Strands puzzle for the weekend, that merely involves finding tones of purple. The theme clue of 'A royal shade' rather gave the game away, because everyone knows that purple is the color of royalty (though I admit that I don't know why). I then spotted the spangram, PURPLES, as my first word, which was great as it divided the board neatly in half and made it easier to find the other answers.

Some of those were, admittedly, a little simpler to uncover than others; I thought of, and found, the likes of LILAC, MAGENTA, MAUVE and VIOLET very quickly, but had to work a little harder for LAVENDER and (particularly) ORCHID, the latter of which didn't occur to me as a shade of purple; orchids come in lots of colors, after all. But by the time I got to that there were only so many words that could be formed, so overall this was a straightforward Strands to play.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday 7 September, game #188)

• DENIM
• CHIFFON
• VELVET
• SATIN
• SPANDEX
• JERSEY
• MUSLIN
• SPANGRAM: FABRIC

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and 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.

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

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

NYT Connections today (game #455) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FROST
• BEACH
• PUMP
• POPE
• RACE
• BISHOP
• PET SHOP
• POUND
• HARDY
• BEAT
• PRIOR
• BAKE
• THROB
• BAD
• PREHEAT
• PASTOR

NYT Connections today (game #455) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• Yellow: Instructions for cooking
• Green: Coronary actions
• Blue: Religious positions
• Purple: blank [not girls]

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #455) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: VERBS IN A CAKE RECIPE
• GREEN: WHAT A HEART DOES WHEN EXCITED
• BLUE: ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES
• PURPLE: ___ BOYS

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

NYT Connections today (game #455) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #455, are…

• YELLOW: VERBS IN A CAKE RECIPE BAKE, BEAT, FROST, PREHEAT
• GREEN: WHAT A HEART DOES WHEN EXCITED POUND, PUMP, RACE, THROB
• BLUE: ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BISHOP, PASTOR, POPE, PRIOR
• PURPLE: ___ BOYS BAD, BEACH, HARDY, PET SHOP

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 mistakes

Today's Connections puzzle is awash with misdirection. Virtually every group had another answer that could have gone in there, and there were several other possible connections that proved to be dead ends. Take BEAT, BAKE, FROST, PREHEAT – which ultimately made up the yellow easiest group, VERBS IN A CAKE RECIPE: POUND could also have been a recipe word and I tried that with various other combinations before getting the correct quartet. And similarly, the WHAT A HEART DOES WHEN EXCITED group (green) could easily have included BEAT if it was just WHAT A HEART DOES.

Fortunately, purple was a relatively easy [blank] format today; the second I saw PET SHOP I thought 'BOYS' and it wasn't hard to identify BEACH, HARDY and BAD to form that group. Ditto the blue ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES group. So, overall not too difficult, but far from a cakewalk (even if cakes were one theme).

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 7 September, game #454)

• YELLOW: WAYS TO TRANSFORM AN IMAGE CROP, FLIP, ROTATE, SCALE
• GREEN: THINGS USED IN GOLF BALL, DRIVER, GLOVE, TEE
• BLUE: AQUARIUM PURCHASES FILTER, PUMP, ROCKS, TANK
• PURPLE: LOGOS WITH HORSES COACH, GODIVA, MUSTANG, POLO

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

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

Quordle today (game #958) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #958) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #958) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #958) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #958) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• T

• A

• P

• P

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

Quordle today (game #958) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #958, are…

• TEASE
• AGATE
• PRIDE
• PLATE

The puzzle-setters at Merriam-Webster gave us an easy Quordle today: two of the words end in the same ATE format, meaning that once you had one you had an advantage with the other. The fact that two also begin with P may have helped too; once you had PLATE you'd therefore have had an advantage with both AGATE and PRIDE.

Against that, AGATE is itself a difficult word for Quordle: it's relatively obscure, contains a repeated A, and also has a near-neighbor in ABATE. But I had enough spare guesses that I wasn't unduly stressed and was able to solve today's game in eight moves.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #958) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #958, are…

• KNAVE
• TREAT
• MUSIC
• OFFER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #957, Saturday 7 September: LASSO, TILDE, BUNCH, PRONG
• Quordle #956, Friday 6 September: FARCE, WOOLY, LOCAL, NIGHT
• Quordle #955, Thursday 5 September: SNIDE, EGRET, AMONG, SHINY
• Quordle #954, Wednesday 4 September: POINT, WITTY, GAFFE, ABUSE
• Quordle #953, Tuesday 3 September: ATOLL, ANGER, OCEAN, SWEEP
• Quordle #952, Monday 2 September: HABIT, LODGE, PLAIN, DRIFT
• Quordle #951, Sunday 1 September: RABBI, CRAWL, GUPPY, BRAND
• Quordle #950, Saturday 31 August: AWOKE, TIBIA, ITCHY, SNACK
• Quordle #949, Friday 30 August: ARISE, OLDER, ISSUE, ERUPT
• Quordle #948, Thursday 29 August: DECAY, DRUID, AVOID, KNEED
• Quordle #947, Wednesday 28 August: VIOLA, GONER, CAVIL, SHARE
• Quordle #946, Tuesday 27 August: ABYSS, DAILY, AGONY, MUSKY
• Quordle #945, Monday 26 August: NEVER, CHUNK, AUNTY, CROUP
• Quordle #944, Sunday 25 August: APTLY, LEVER, STORK, WIDOW
• Quordle #943, Saturday 24 August: EVENT, APNEA, SWATH, IRONY
• Quordle #942, Friday 23 August: LAUGH, SATYR, CACHE, CLONE
• Quordle #941, Thursday 22 August: BEARD, PAYER, BROWN, TRUCK
• Quordle #940, Wednesday 21 August: ALOFT, SNUCK, LAPSE, COMIC
• Quordle #939, Tuesday 20 August: CHIEF, SNORT, OUNCE, MILKY
• Quordle #938, Monday 19 August: GIVEN, STIFF, STOOL, ANTIC

A well-crafted resume is crucial in today’s competitive job market, with an Adobe study showing there is only about a 1 in 17 chance that a submitted resume will lead to an interview.

To improve these odds, job seekers are now leveraging AI tools to refine their resumes, helping to ensure they are tailored to specific job descriptions, feature industry-relevant keywords, and are free from common errors.

While more people use AI to make their resumes stand out, it is very important to know how employers feel about AI-prepared resumes.

How acceptable is the use of AI for resumes?

AI-powered tools can optimize resume content by analyzing job descriptions, suggesting relevant keywords, and ensuring that the language aligns with industry standards. These tools can also help eliminate common errors such as spelling and grammar mistakes, which are frequently cited as red flags by hiring professionals. Also, the use of AI for resumes does not exactly lower chances of getting the job, as 64% of recruiters approve of using AI in resumes.

Despite these advantages, only a small portion of job seekers are using AI to enhance their resumes. Adobe Acrobat’s study shows that just 28% of American job seekers currently employ AI for this purpose, suggesting that there is still an untapped potential for AI in resume creation.

Interestingly, the adoption of AI in resume creation varies significantly across different generations. One in three members of Generation Z have used AI to craft their resumes, making them the generation most likely to embrace the technology. This trend reflects Gen Z’s familiarity with digital tools and their comfort with adopting innovative approaches to problem-solving. In contrast, older generations may be more hesitant to use AI due to concerns about accuracy, authenticity, or a lack of familiarity with the technology.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that while the majority of hiring professionals approve of AI-enhanced resumes, certain industries remain skeptical. According to Adobe Acrobat’s study, using AI in your resume may lead to immediate disqualification in some sectors. The top five industries where AI-assisted resumes may be frowned upon include:

• Finance & Financial Services: This sector often requires highly detailed and precise resumes, and there may be concerns about AI's ability to accurately reflect a candidate's qualifications and experience.
• Construction: This industry emphasizes practical skills and on-the-ground experience. Thus, it may be wary of AI-generated content that lacks a personal touch.
• Technology & Telecommunications: While this might seem counterintuitive, some tech companies prefer manually crafted resumes to gauge a candidate’s personal creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Business Support & Logistics: These industries may prioritize straightforward, human-authored resumes that directly reflect the applicant's hands-on experience.
• Manufacturing: Similar to construction, the focus here is often on real-world skills and experiences, making AI-generated resumes potentially less appealing.

One of the standout findings is that conciseness is crucial; over half of the surveyed hiring professionals prefer a one-page resume. This format compels candidates to distill their experiences and skills to the most relevant information, thereby enhancing clarity and impact.

Another important aspect highlighted in the study is the value of cover letters. While the necessity of these documents is often debated, 56% of hiring professionals still find them helpful, and 20% consider them essential. A well-crafted cover letter can provide context to a resume and emphasize specific qualifications that align with the job requirements.

The study also identifies common red flags that can undermine a candidate's application. Spelling and grammar errors, a lack of relevant experience, and frequent job changes are the top concerns for hiring professionals and can raise doubts about a candidate's attention to detail and stability, which are critical qualities in any potential employee.

Finally, the study emphasizes a balanced approach to using AI tools in resume creation. While AI can streamline the process and enhance the presentation of resumes, candidates need to integrate personal insights and experiences to maintain authenticity.

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Bridgerton season 4: key information

- Season 4 has been in the works since its initial April 2021 announcement
- No release date revealed yet
- Rumored to begin filming in mid-September
- Its romantic lead is Benedict Bridgerton
- Some key cast members should return from previous installments
- Snippets of its plot have been teased
- No trailer unveiled at the time of writing
- Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes has eight-season plan for hugely popular show

Dearest readers, Bridgerton season 4 is on the way and, when it comes to getting into the nitty-gritty of the Ton, there’s plenty to discuss. In season 3, we were treated to the couple affectionately dubbed 'Polin' but, in season 4, it’s all about Benophie. Indeed, despite a slight deviation from the order of Julia Quinn’s famed book series of the same name, it’s time to address 'An Offer From a Gentleman', the third novel in which Benedict Bridgerton and his love interest Sophie take center stage.

With all three seasons thus far holding spots in the top ten all-time most popular English-language TV shows on Netflix, according to Tudum, season 4 has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, the main cast will be returning, Shondaland continues to produce, and Netflix remains the the best streaming service that offers us all the courtship, gossip, and latest Lady Whistledown’s musings we've come to love. So, from our thoughts on its likely release date to its potential plot threads and more, here's what we know about Bridgerton season 4 so far.

Full spoilers follow for Bridgerton season 3 and its predecessors. Potential season 4 spoilers also follow.

Bridgerton season 4 release date prediction

When will season 4 air? It's looking like 2026 (Image credit: Netflix)

Bridgerton season 4 has been on the cards since it was announced alongside season 3 in April 2021. However, while there’s exciting news about season 4 ahead, there’s no official release date to share just yet – and you may be saddened to hear it’s looking like it won't arrive until mid-2026.

Filming was rumored to be begin in June, per filming site Production List, but the date has since moved to mid-September (per What's on Netflix). Principal photography will likely run for several months, too, according to the latter outlet.

We shouldn't see season 4 for two years, then – and that’s been all but confirmed by showrunner Jess Brownell, who told The Hollywood Reporter (THR): "We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language. And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range."

Bridgerton season 4 trailer: is there one?

We don’t have an official trailer, but a brief Bridgerton season 4 teaser, which confirmed season 4’s romantic lead will be Benedict Bridgerton, arrived in July.

Seen amongst clips of previous seasons, the text "Welcome to the marriage mart, Benedict," appears on the screen. Following the montage, we’re treated to behind-the-scenes footage of a person off-screen saying "I hear we’re fitting you for a suit",  to which Benedict aka Luke Thompson replies "I already have an outfit for tonight." The person off-screen responds "Oh no, it’s not for tonight. It’s for the masquerade ball", before Benedict says "In that case, come on in."

The masquerade ball, according to Julia Quinn’s novels, is where Benedict famously meets Sophie Beckett, aka the ‘Lady in Silver,’ but we’ll dive into this in our plot section.

Bridgerton season 4 cast: likely and confirmed

Benedict Bridgerton will take on the role of Bridgerton season 4's romantic lead (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers follow for Bridgerton season 3.

Given that we didn't lose any of the main cast in season 3, we’d expect these characters to return in Bridgerton season 4:

• Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
• Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton
• Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton
• Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
• Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
• Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
• Simone Ashley as Kathani ‘Kate’ Bridgerton
• Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
• Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
• Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington
• Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
• Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington
• Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
• Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
• Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown
• Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich
• Martin Imhangbe as Will Mondrick
• Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley
• Hugh Sachs as Brimsley
• Hannah Doss as Francesca Stirling
• Victor Alli as John Stirling
• Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling
• Kathryn Drysdale as Genevieve Delacroix
• Daniel Francis as Lord Marcus Anderson

We know who Benedict Bridgerton is, but who will play the famous Sophie Beckett? In August, Variety's sources suggested Australian actress Yerin Ha (Halo, Bad Behaviour) had been cast . Netflix and Shondaland are yet to confirm this, though.

We don't expect to see the likes of Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon (Regé Jean-Page) return, but Jonathan Bailey was there in season 3 and he’s confirmed, during an interview with Good Morning America, that he’ll be back in season 4. "I have a couple of weeks etched out in my schedule for returning," he said. "So, I’m really excited and Luke Thompson is just going to be stunning.”

As for season 3’s shining couple Penelope and Colin, they’ll also be back. Speaking to Town & Country, Luke Newton said: "I’m excited for the happily ever after and to see what that brings. I have so much trust in Jess [Brownell] that it will always be interesting and always be exciting. That’s also the joy of being in the Bridgerton family: There’s always going to be drama. There’s always going to be something I get to help out with or causing mischief or whatever it is."

Bridgerton season 4 plot rumors

Season 4 will adapt the third novel penned by Julia Quinn, which is titled 'An Offer From a Gentleman' (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers follow for Bridgerton season 3.

Bridgerton season 4's story brief hasn't been unveiled yet – and it won't be until closer to its release. Even so, we have some ideas of where the plot will go, based on its source material and how Benedict's story in the third season ended.

In Bridgerton season 3, the focus was Penelope and Colin, which actually meant the show skipped ahead in Julia Quinn’s book series. As previously mentioned, however, season 3 will leap back a few chapters to book three, which is called 'An Offer From a Gentleman'. Fans of the books will know, then, that it’s time for Benedict the bachelor to meet Sophie Beckett – the elusive ‘Lady in Silver’ who sneaks into the masquerade ball to find a suitor, stumbles upon him, and likely captures his heart.

Benedict Bridgerton’s Season 4 story? Let us pour some tea…Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down -- until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother's masquerade ball. pic.twitter.com/KmGDp1L5FFJuly 23, 2024

In the books, the Lady in Silver is the illegitimate daughter of an Earl and one of his maids, although he hasn’t publicly acknowledged her as his daughter despite her living with him. 

It may be hard to believe Benedict may finally settle down, considering how season 3 ended. Indeed, viewers watched as Benedict embarked on not one, but two relationships; the untethered playboy messing around with Lady Tilley Arnold and Paul Suarez. However, he broke up with the pair in the season 3 finale after he decides he doesn't want to tie himself down to any one person.

Elaborating on why Benedict made that decision, Luke Thompson, who plays the character, told Netflix's Tudum website: "Benedict has always been a little lost – or free, depending on the way you want to look at it. But, now he’s trying to find something a bit more solid in himself. His identity has been a little bit of a question mark, but it doesn’t ever seem to really bother him. It often feels like 'you’re either this, or you’re this'. He’s finding it out."

Will Benedict be capable of settling down in Bridgerton season 4? (Image credit: Netflix)

Showrunner Jess Brownell also spoke to Tudum about Benedict’s love story, adding: "It felt important for him to explore the fullness of himself before he settles down. He is someone who has big appetites, and we wanted to see him living a big life before he goes into settle-down mode."

Much like Bridgerton’s first three seasons, though, the romantic lead isn’t the only one embarking on a love story, of which there’s most certainly more to explore in season 4. We know that Lady Violet Bridgerton was enjoying the company of Lady Danbury’s brother, Lord Marcus Anderson – and, during the season 3 finale, we saw the pair dance the night away at the Dankworth-Finch ball.

Kate and Anthony are due to welcome their first child, too, which will see the married couple travel to India to do so. There’s also more to explore from Colin and Penelope as Polin embark on married life and raising their child. Luke Newton spoke to Tudum about their new role, teasing: "Once you’ve had your moment, it’s really nice to see how they’ll navigate married life. It’ll be a place of comfort for them and they’ll enjoy it."

The arrival of Michaela Stirling excited Bridgerton fans (Image credit: Netflix)

And then there’s Eloise traveling to Scotland alongside her sister Francesca and new husband Lord John Stirling. She decided to pursue her curiosity and take a break from the marriage mart in doing so, so it’ll be interesting to see how she spends her time there. 

It was as much of a cliffhanger ending for the new Stirlings as well, as Francesca met John’s cousin Michaela Stirling. In Quinn's book 'When He Was Wicked', this character is male and goes by the name Michael Stirling, so the role has been gender-swapped for Netflix's adaptation. Michaela’s appearance sent fans wild, and for those who’ve yet to read the book, the significance will become all the more clear as the seasons continue.

Finally, amongst all the love and marriage, Queen Charlotte made a statement in the season 3 finale of accepting Lady Whistledown, aka Penelope Featherington. Whether the Queen’s favor continues, only time will tell.

Where to watch Bridgerton

Will Queen Charlotte choose a diamond in season 4? (Image credit: Netflix)

Bridgerton seasons 1 to 3 can be streamed exclusively on Netflix. One of the best Netflix shows is also joined on the platform by prequel spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. If you find yourself at a loss while we wait for season 4, here are six dashing dramas like Bridgerton to be captivated by, too.

Will Bridgerton get a fifth season?

Will we get more seasons of Bridgerton? Shonda Rhimes most certainly hopes so (Image credit: Netflix)

Netflix hasn't announced if a fifth season will be made. But, according to executive producer Shonda Rhimes, there’s hopefully going to be at least eight. Per Variety, Rhimes said she still plans to adapt all eight of the Bridgerton books, adding: "I do have a very specific plan of where we go each season – which one is which. Because you really have to start seeding in the other siblings, and what’s going on with them, to push them to the next season. We’ve really talked about it through, I think, season 6 or maybe 7."

It's unclear if Netflix will take a similar approach to Bridgerton seasons 3 and 4 and renew two more seasons at the same time. Considering how popular Bridgerton continues to be, however, we'd be surprised if it doesn't greenlight the pair, if not a trio of new seasons, before too long.

As for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Rhimes has teased the possibility of making a second season. "We talk about it a lot," she told Variety. "And, for a while, I was holding it very close, and didn’t necessarily know that I wanted to play it out in a Bridgerton season. But, now we’ve been talking about what it would look like if we saw a little bit in Bridgerton’s present day, with Brimsley and Reynolds, and what that would mean [and] I think it deprives us of a chance to tell the story the way it should be told."

For more Netflix coverage, read our guides on Arcane season 2, Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, and Squid Game season 2.

We're all set for Apple's 'Glowtime' event this coming Monday, and one of the products on show should be the Apple Watch 10 – an upgrade that'll offer improved sensors and better water resistance, according to a new report.

This comes from "reputable sources" speaking to 9to5Mac, and apparently as well as larger screens, the new models are going to come fitted with an upgraded ECG and heart rate sensor that'll "unlock new features and provide more accurate results".

One of those new features will be sleep apnea detection, 9to5Mac says – something that has also been predicted by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious issue, where breathing stops and starts during the night.

While the Apple Watch 10 won't be able to give you a diagnosis of sleep apnea, according to these reports it will be able to alert you if you might have it, so you can chat to your doctor about it and get properly checked out.

Improved water resistance

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Image credit: Future)

New watch faces are also on the way, 9to5Mac says: 'Reflections' (which reacts to ambient light) and 'Regatta' from Hermès, named after the sailing competition of the same name, and with the option to start a timer right from the watch face.

Improved water resistance is also said to be on the way. Unlike the Apple Watch 9, the Apple Watch 10 is rumored to be getting the Depth app, which at the moment is exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The new Apple Watch 10 will apparently be certified for high-speed water sports, which the Apple Watch 9 isn't, up to a depth of 20 meters. It's not clear if the overall 50-meter water resistance rating of the Apple Watch 9 will be changing as well.

According to 9to5Mac, the incoming watch will be available in two sizes that are slightly bigger than the current 41 mm and 45 mm offerings, with tweaks to the resolution too. We'll see the new smartwatches, and the iPhone 16, on Monday.

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One of my favorite things I saw on the IFA 2024 show floor was Vestel's Block TV, which is only a concept currently, but one that I'd love to see become reality.

The concept is simple: what if you could change the size or the features of your TV screen without having to replace all the other electronics in it? That could save you money, and lead to less e-waste at the same time.

In the Block TV, the stand and the screen are separate parts. The stand would contain all the processing and connections, and the screen is just the screen. You could choose which size screen you want to start with, and if you decide you're ready to move from a 48-inch TV to a 65-inch model later, you can just remove the small screen and attach the new one. Instant upgrade!

Equally, maybe some new console in the future will have some amazing new mode that you really want to take advantage of, but your TV doesn't support… yet. You could keep the screen, and update the rest, once a new version of the stand with extra features is available.

(Image credit: Future)

Vestel focused mostly on being able to switch screen size, but this concept really got me thinking about the possibilities. One obvious aspect would the potential to get a better display technology as they become available, not just a different size of the current one, so you can turn it into one of the best OLED TVs, if you want to one day.

But imagine also options that take this customizability further – perhaps a screen with a soundbar built along the bottom for people who really want the best TV for sound… or maybe one has the soundbar at the bottom and Dolby Atmos upfiring and side-firing speakers, if you're happy to pay a premium. You can choose how serious to be about it.

Maybe you could choose between a glossy screen or a matte display, like the fantastic one on the Samsung S95D, depending how troublesome reflections are in your room (or depending on if you want to display ambient art on it).

(Image credit: Future)

And while I've been focusing on upgrades, it would also make these TVs easier to service and repair, potentially – if something hits the screen and breaks it, you only need to replace the one part, rather than trashing the whole thing in favor of a new one.

I'm not convinced this will ever see the light of day (Vestel always comes to IFA equipped cool TV ideas that don't turn into products you can buy), but given our increased awareness around sustainability and wastage, I really hope an idea like the Block TV gets a chance.

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The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is likely to be Samsung’s last major smartphone launch of 2024 – although we could see the Samsung Galaxy S25 in early 2025.

That timing – right before the Galaxy S25 – might make the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE a tough sell, though how compelling it is could largely come down to the price.

Sadly, we don’t yet know what the price will be, but thanks to leaks and rumors, we do have a very good idea of the upcoming phone's specs, and they paint a picture of a capable alternative to the standard Samsung Galaxy S24.

Below, you’ll find everything we’ve heard so far about the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, including its likely screen, chipset, cameras, and release date, among other things.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? A cheaper alternative to the Galaxy S24
• When is it out? Possibly October
• How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $599.99 / £599 / AU$899

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: expected release date and price

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future)

• Could land in October
• Expect to pay upwards of $599.99 / £599 / AU$899

There’s some disagreement about when the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will launch. The most recent leak at the time of writing suggests the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will land in October. That’s in line with some other claims, with a previous leak stating that the Galaxy S24 FE would land in October or later, and another saying to expect the Galaxy S24 FE in late 2024 or early 2025.

On the other hand, a report from South Korea claimed the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE would land this ‘summer’, which for South Korea would mean sometime between June and August.

Now, at the time of writing we’re in August, so that window is almost closed, but there’s other evidence for an imminent launch. For example, an online database listing for the Galaxy S24 FE has been found, as has a test build of firmware for the Galaxy S24 FE.

Perhaps most tellingly, a support page for the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has actually been spotted on an official Samsung site. These are all things that we’d expect to happen close to launch.

Still, our guess for now is a Galaxy S24 FE launch in October, since the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 only recently landed, and that would allow Samsung to space out its launches more. Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE landed in October of last year.

We’re even less sure of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s price, as no details of that have yet leaked. But for reference, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE started at $599.99 / £599 / AU$899, so it’s likely you’ll have to pay at least that much.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: expected design and display

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)

• Likely to have a similar design to the S23 FE
• Could have a big 6.7-inch screen

We have a good idea of what the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE might look like, thanks to leaked marketing renders shared by Android Headlines. These – some of which you can see below – show a phone that looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, complete with a triple-lens camera running vertically down the back, and a punch-hole camera in the phone’s flat screen.

It reportedly also has an aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on its screen, and Android Headlines claims that the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will be available in graphite, blue, silver/white, green, and yellow, along, we think, with two more unknown shades which would be exclusive to Samsung’s online store.

Another source has mentioned similar colors, saying that the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will come in black, gray, light blue, light green, and yellow shades.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Android Headlines)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Android Headlines)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Android Headlines)

We’ve also seen unofficial renders of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE from another source (one of which you can see below), which show much the same design, so this is likely what you can expect.

As for the screen, that last source mentions a 6.65-inch display, while the source of the marketing renders further up similarly says the Galaxy S24 FE has a 6.7-inch screen – one with a peak brightness of 1,900 nits. For reference, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a 6.4-inch screen with a peak brightness of 1,450 nits.

(Image credit: @OnLeaks / GizNext)

Oddly, though, multiple earlier leaks pointed to the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE having a 6.1-inch screen instead. However, as these leaks are slightly less numerous and less detailed, we’re inclined to believe the 6.7-inch rumors.

One of the 6.1-inch sources added that the Galaxy S24 FE will have an AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and that much at least is likely, since the Galaxy S23 FE has those specs.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: expected cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future)

• Could have a 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, and 8MP telephoto camera
• Cameras might be unchanged from the Galaxy S23 FE

A detailed Galaxy S24 FE specs leak points to a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide one, and an 8MP telephoto one, offering 3x optical zoom, along with a 10MP selfie camera. The source of this leak additionally claims that the Galaxy S24 FE will use ‘AI Zoom’ to get clear shots from a long distance.

We’ve also previously heard talk of the Galaxy S24 FE having a 50MP main sensor, and another leak adds some more details, saying that the Galaxy S24 FE has the same main camera as the S23 FE – specifically a 50MP ISOCELL GN3 sensor with 1.0μm pixels. For what it’s worth, the other leaked camera specs also line up with those of the Galaxy S23 FE, so we might not see many upgrades here.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: expected specs and features

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)

• Might use an Exynos 2400e chipset
• Could have up to 12GB of RAM
• The battery might be 4,565mAh

For power, it’s likely that the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will have an Exynos 2400e chipset, which is reportedly a slightly less powerful version of the Exynos 2400 used in some variants of the Samsung Galaxy S24, and indeed a benchmark spotted by MySmartPrice suggests there’s slightly less power here.

That said, the Exynos 2400e should still be more powerful and more power efficient than the Exynos 2200 used in the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.

Interestingly, an earlier leak suggested that in some regions the Galaxy S24 FE might instead get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which would be a bit more powerful than an Exynos 2400e. That’s a claim we’ve heard more than once, so you might luck out and get a Snapdragon chipset in the Galaxy S24 FE in some parts of the world.

For RAM, the benchmark mentioned above listed 8GB, which is what you get in the Galaxy S23 FE. However, several sources have said that the Galaxy S24 FE could actually top out at 12GB of RAM, so there might be both 8GB and 12GB models of the S24 FE.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

For storage, we’ve heard talk of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE being available in both 128GB and 256GB capacities. Those Galaxy S24 FE storage capacities have been mentioned multiple times, and would be the same as those currently offered for the Galaxy S23 FE.

As for the battery, the most detailed Samsung Galaxy S24 FE battery leak so far points to a 4,565mAh battery capable of lasting for up to 29 hours of video playback or 78 hours when listening to music.

We’re inclined to believe these claims, but it’s worth noting that a couple of earlier Galaxy S24 FE battery leaks pointed to Samsung’s next FE having a slightly smaller 4,500mAh battery.

Finally, we’ve heard that the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE could come with various AI features, like other reasonably high-end Samsung phones.

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Apple is about to launch the brand new iPhone 16 at its “Glowtime” event on September 9, and it’s made me wonder what it could do to win me back. When the Google Pixel 9 range came out I switched to a Google Pixel 9 Pro. Having been an iPhone user all my life I was nervous about dipping my toes in the Android waters, but I can report that the temperature is lovely, come on in! Full disclaimer: my previous iPhone was pretty old, so it was long overdue an upgrade, meaning that the bar was set very low, but thankfully the Pixel 9 Pro easily cleared it, and then some. 

To be honest, after reading our Pixel 9 Pro review, I was just curious to find out what a Google Pixel phone would be like, and it became readily apparent that for everyday use, there’s very little that separates a Google Pixel 9 from a new iPhone. Sure, they use different hardware, the haptic feedback is slightly different, and have different camera specs, but for everyday use, it’s the experience of using the phone that matters most. Once you understand that you’re using the Play Store to download apps, not the App Store, life kind of carries on as normal for an ex-iPhone user. Pixel phones have face recognition for unlocking the phone, so there's no change there for an iPhone user, but they also fingerprint recognition when it needs more security for payments. 

All the apps I used on my iPhone, like Facebook, Threads, X, Instagram, Slack, Gmail, YouTube, etc, are available on the Pixel 9 Pro, and they all work in exactly the same way. The basic gestures for using the phone are similar enough, and my AirPods Pro work with an Android phone just fine. I can even keep my Apple Music subscription and Google Pay works just like Apple Pay in shops. Even my banking apps look and feel the same.

(Image credit: Google) Apple Intelligence vs Gemini

There is one area where Google and Apple have the chance to differentiate themselves however, and that’s with artificial intelligence. Google has beaten Apple to the punch by getting its AI assistant, called Gemini, to market first, but at the moment I’d describe the Gemini execution as somewhat clunky.

You can tell your Pixel 9 to use Gemini instead of Google Assistant, but there are still some things that Gemini can’t do, so it pulls in help from Google Assistant anyway, and it sometimes feels like they’re fighting each other for ownership of the phone.

When I say “Hey Google, launch Gemini”, Google Assistant tells me it can’t find Gemini on the phone and then starts to tell me about the Project Gemini spaceflight missions! The only way to get to Gemini Live (the part where you talk to your phone and it talks back to you like a human) is by launching Gemini and then touching the Gemini Live button on the phone. It feels counterintuitive to have to touch the phone to get to the part where you talk to the phone... But the lack of deep integration goes further - you can’t start timers from inside Gemini Live right now, for instance, and a lot of the features that Google showed off at the launch event, like searching in your Gmail inbox using Gemini Live, require extensions that haven’t launched yet. Basically, a lot of Gemini Live is ‘coming soon’. Plus, you have to pay for it. You get a year's free trial with a new Pixel 9 phone, but after the year is up it’s going to cost you $20 a month (£18.99, AU$30) to be a Gemini Advanced subscriber via a Google One AI Premium Plan, which does come with some nice extras, like 2TB of storage space.

So, it looks like Apple has a chance to use Apple Intelligence to better Gemini when it launches the iPhone 16 range. Unfortunately, it’s not like Apple is about to knock Gemini out of the park with Apple Intelligence. At launch, it’s looking like the iPhone 16 lineup, which comes with iOS 18, won’t have any Apple Intelligence features at all. We have to wait for them to arrive in iOS 18.1 when it launches in October (hopefully), then we have to wait until early 2025 for the full Siri 2.0 experience. 

It used to be the case that I’d compare phones in two ways, firstly on specs like processor, memory, and camera, but then consider the operating system and apps, and how they would fit in with my current workflow. These days I’m finding the line between iOS and Android operating systems has blurred enough that they feel interchangeable, so now it’s down to who nails AI. There is one exception to the spec comparison though, and that’s RAM. RAM is integral to how well AI performs on a smartphone, so I’ll be interested to see how much RAM Apple packs into the iPhone 16 range on September 9, and then we’ll know if Apple can win me back.

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Ransomware operates primarily by encrypting files on the victim’s infected system, rendering them inaccessible to the user. The attacker then demands a ransom, often payable in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

A recent survey from Zscaler [PDF] shows that there has been a huge surge in ransomware activities and this year is projected to be a record year for ransom payments.

Ransomware typically affects organizations that rely on immediate access to critical data, such as hospitals and municipal agencies.

Why the surge in ransomware activities?

This surge is largely attributed to a strategy known as "big game hunting," where cybercriminals target fewer but more significant entities, extracting much larger sums than before. The largest ransom ever recorded is a staggering $75 million payment made to a ransomware group called Dark Angels by a Fortune 50 company.

Victims of ransomware attacks often face a difficult decision of whether to pay the ransom to regain access, or risk permanent data loss. If the ransom is not paid, attackers may threaten to destroy or leak sensitive data publicly. While paying a ransom may seem like the quickest way to recover data, it is generally discouraged as it perpetuates the cycle of cybercrime.

Many organizations opt to negotiate with attackers through third-party incident responders or cyber insurance firms, often using cryptocurrency for payments. However, paying does not guarantee recovery, and there is always a risk of future attacks or data exposure.

Also, normalizing the payment of ransoms leads to an exponential increase of the ransom demand. Just last year, most attackers demanded less than $200,000 but by June of this year, the average ransom demand had increased to approximately $1.5 million.

Refusing to pay a ransom sends a message against the profitability of cybercrime. However, organizations must be prepared for the potential fallout, including the possibility of data leaks. Experts recommend contacting cybersecurity professionals to assess the situation and determine the best course of action, including evaluating backup options and the potential impact of data exposure.

“Recently, ransomware has become the greatest cyber threat to organizations. It keeps spreading and targeting various businesses, from hospitals to oil pipelines, to capitalize on the fear of operation disruption and data loss,” says Vakaris Noreika, head of product for NordStellar. “To pay or not to pay a ransom is the hardest question companies struck by cyber extortion must answer as they face the prospect of permanently losing access to their information.”

“Companies that agree to pay a ransom shouldn‘t be victim-blamed as they surely went through a big moral dilemma, and surrendering to threat actors must have been the last resort to restore their business and protect their client's reputation,” Vakaris Noreika added

However, organizations can mitigate ransomware attacks by implementing a couple of cybersecurity measures.

One of the most fundamental steps is to use antivirus software and firewalls to protect every device and network within the organization. This helps prevent malware infections that can lead to ransomware attacks.

Additionally, it is crucial to keep all systems up-to-date with the latest software patches and updates, as cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Employee training is another critical component of a comprehensive ransomware defense strategy. By educating staff on how to recognize and avoid phishing attempts, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to their systems and networks.

Regular backups of important data are also essential, ensuring that organizations can restore their systems and data in the event of an attack. Encryption is another powerful tool in the fight against ransomware. By encrypting sensitive information, organizations can protect their data from unauthorized access, even if it is stolen during an attack.

Finally, in the unfortunate event of a ransomware attack, organizations must cooperate with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts. By reporting the incident and sharing information, organizations can help authorities track down and prosecute the perpetrators, while also receiving guidance on how to mitigate the damage and prevent future attacks.

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A few months back, TCL announced the details of its next flagship mini-LED TV – and I've just had the first chance to see it in action at the IFA 2024 show, and it really is a stunner.

It's available in 85-inch and 98-inch sizes, and both were on display. Even without worrying about the price (which I have to assume will be high) it's clear that I won't be getting either of these giant TVs to fit in my modest living room, but it makes me excited to see the tech inside them coming to TCL's regular TV range… though also proved to be a reminder of just how good the company's current TVs are.

The X11H is capable of 6,500 nits of brightness according to TCL, and bear in mind that around 3,000 nits is most you get from the more standard-priced mini-LED TVs that appear in our guide to the best TVs – and that's still for the more premium ones.

Super-high brightness isn't really a benefit if all the light is leaking from bright areas into dark areas, so the X11H has over 10,000 dimming zones in the 85-inch model, and over 14,000 in the 98-inch model.

Seeing this combination of brightness and light control in action is pretty mesmerizing. Colors are so intense without falling over the line to over-saturation, and the the dark parts of the screen were inky black with no obvious bleeding from the light areas at all.

(Image credit: Future)

Now, a trade show floor isn't the best place to get a look at the nuances of light control, I readily admit, so I'd love to get the TV in our dark testing room, but I was still impressed at the level of contrast I saw there, because TCL's demo footage wasn't afraid to lean into having small bold areas surrounding by darkness.

Still, I kind of assumed the level of contrast would be good, so the colors were the element that really jumped out at me. The thing about ultra-bright TVs isn't that they don't necessarily make HDR movies any better – in fact, with these very bright TVs, we always recommend using Movie or Filmmaker modes that usually drop the brightness, because it tends to help with accuracy.

But big brightness and big colors are fantastic for recreating the real world, which is a very bright place. It's fantastic watching sports matches or nature documentaries filmed in ultra-detailed 4K on a screen with brightness that makes them look closer to real life – the advantage of the brightness is the flexibility, rather than wanting everything to be bright by default.

(Image credit: Future)

However, I mentioned before that something I picked up on is the comparison to TCL highest-end TV for regular people in Europe this year: the TCL C855. I could see the X11H and the C855 right next to each other at 85 inches, and while that comparison showed what the extra tech of the X11H can do, what I took away even more strongly is just how good the C855 is – not a surprise if you've read our glowing TCL C855 review.

(Being a European trade show, the US-focused TCL QM851G wasn't on show to compare with.)

The 85-inch C855's handling of local dimming didn't seem meaningfully different from the X11H's – the C855 does still have over 2,000 dimming zones, after all.

TCL has a great demo of what a different backlighting technology makes to the LEDs that underlie the picture, to add nuance to the images. (Image credit: Future)

I could see a much clearer jump in color strength on the X11H from the C855, thanks largely to the extra brightness most likely, but even then it kind of served as a reminder that the C855 still looked fantastic and is likely to be a fraction of the price of the X11H – especially since the C855 will drop in price over time, and the X11H won't arrive until later. Plus… well, the C855 is available in more realistic sizes for most people.

As with most high-end AV tech, there's definitely a case of diminishing returns as you spend more and more, but the X11H still made a really strong case for what you get from taking TV tech to the extreme.

We gave the TCL X11H one of our Best of IFA 2024 awards, thanks to this beautiful demonstration of color and contrast – take a look at our other favorite tech from the show too.

Apple's next event is happening this coming Monday, September 9, and we should see the grand unveiling of the iPhone 16 series at the show. While we count down the days, we've heard a couple of new rumors about what to expect from the Pro models.

First up, the analysts at TrendForce (via MacRumors) reckon that both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are going to start at 256GB of storage this year – which would be a bump for the smaller phone.

While the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at 256GB, the iPhone 15 Pro is available with 128GB of storage. It seems Apple is now ditching that lowest storage option, so both of these handsets will be available with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of built-in storage.

This isn't the first leak to suggest the 128GB storage option on the Pro model will be dropped, but we'll have to wait and see how it affects pricing – it may well mean the starting price of the iPhone 16 Pro is higher than its predecessor ($999 / £999 / AU$1,849).

Video capture

The iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future)

Our second iPhone 16 Pro rumor of the day concerns video recording. Sources speaking to 9to5Mac say the Pro and Pro Max will be capable of capturing content in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second – up from 60 frames per second on the current models.

In addition, Apple has apparently been testing out 8K video recording on the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, 9to5Mac says it's not clear whether this capability will be enabled, and it might be saved for the iPhone 17 in 2025.

There's also another mention of the rumored new Capture button here, for taking photos and videos. This is set to be made available to third-party apps as well as the default Camera app, so you won't have to use Apple's own app to make use of it.

From what we're heard so far, it sounds as though the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are going to have an identical triple-camera setup on the back, which wasn't the case with the 2023 equivalents. We'll find out for sure on Monday.

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Editor's note: We live in strange times. With all that's going on in the world, one can sometimes feel cursed. And yeah, I feel like fate is conspiring against me today. 

The reason for this is because the Desert Titanium iPhone 16 Pro is real. And it's not a color I'd have asked for. I'd have rather a nice shade or purple or dark green. But in fairness, in official images Desert Titanium doesn't look too bad. 

However I had a knee-jerk reaction to rumors of its existence which you can read below in the original copy of this article. And I'm not convided its the color I'd choose. Anyway, give the rest of the article a gander, and then pop up back up here for our iPhone 16 launch event live blog recap and everything Apple announced and 16 things we learned. 

I’m not a complex man, despite the claims of my therapist (the one that lives in my head); I like things to be simple and sleek. I’m a plain dark tee kinda guy. I don’t like beers that pretend to be liquid chocolate or mango. And I think Space Gray is the best iPhone color. 

So the rumor of a so-called 'Desert Titanium' color for the not yet official but much-anticipated iPhone 16 Pro turns my stomach a little. 

Maybe I’m just 187cm of lack-of-imagination. Or I have such a vision for aesthetics that I find a white room ambrosia for my eyes. But something about this tipped colorway is rubbing me up the wrong way. 

I’ve seen it touted as a bronze color – which I’m not against, as I’m currently taking the rather lovely Christopher Ward C63 Dune bronze watch for a spin. But that’s made of actual bronze and is developing a patina, mellowing from a slightly too yellow hue to a warm brown. 

However, in my time so far with the iPhone 15 Pro Max I've found that its titanium chassis seems near immune to staining or marking (heck, it’s shrugged off some rather serious drops) let alone discoloration, and that's something I miss when compared to the rather lovely iPhone 13 Pro.

So there’s no scope for an bronze-ish Desert Titanium iPhone 16 Pro to develop a patina, meaning one could be saddled with a phone that doggedly holds onto a color tone that’s not the buttery yellow of caramel or the warm glow of gold (for what it’s worth I think gold iPhones have should have no place on this planet), but rather something sickly in between.

There are four colors in total in the iPhone 16 Pro Lineup: white, black, gold and gray.The desert titanium color is kind of dark gold, similar to the old purple color, relatively discreet and deep pic.twitter.com/uDiNiBI4IzAugust 18, 2024

Bothersome bronze

Also bronze is the color of losers; don’t @ me. 

It’s basically the runner-up medal, which to me feels like a bigger sting than just getting a ribbon or certificate saying you took part. Bronze says you tried hard but still missed the loftier podium positions. And as a one-time British bronze medalist in a 200 meters freestyle swimming race, I know the feeling of having such metal on my person. 

The only exception is the bronze on the aforementioned watch. And even then that feels a little try-hard with its desire to age at speed.

So yeah, I’m really not convinced by the idea of a Desert Titanium iPhone 16 Pro. I will reserve the right to change my mind if I see the phone in person, because I’m flighty like that. And there’s more than enough scope for this rumored shade to not actually see the light of day.

Outside of Desert Titanium, the rest of the tipped iPhone 16 Pro colors seem more pleasing to my eye, with gray, white and Space Black shades to be expected; still no Space Gray though, much to my chagrin.

Of course, with the next Apple event set for September 9 – check out our guide on how to watch the iPhone 16 launch event live – we’ll soon see what iPhone 16 which rumors turn out to have been accurate and which were complete tosh. And TechRadar will be over in Cupertino to cover the ‘It’s Glowtime’ event live, so I’ll be keen to see what my colleagues Lance Ulanoff and Jacob Krol make of the new iPhone 16 colors in general.

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You can be a lead in a romantic film promoting an airline and global travel, or at least your face can do so thanks to a new Qatar Airways campaign. The airline has a new AI Adventure campaign combining a short film and deepfake tools as a way of literally seeing yourself having an exciting trip around the world.  

You can try it out for yourself here. You just need to upload a photo of your face and pick a scene from the film put together by the airline. There is a male and female lead; some scenes have just one or both, though you don’t need to upload two faces if you choose not to. Once the picture is approved, you have to pick your skin tone to ensure the result looks as much like you as possible. 

The nonverbal film tells the story of an actress completing a film in London who bumps into a man and drops her earrings. The man tries to return them to her, traveling to places as far apart as Cape Town, Tokyo, and New York before barely missing her. Eventually, he succeeds in giving them back at an airport in Doha, and they have their own romantic trip, with a Qatar airplane flying overhead. 

“Featuring pioneering AI capabilities unseen elsewhere in the airline industry, our latest campaign not only showcases the innovative spirit driving our brand, but also encapsulates our customer-centric approach, helping to turn every journey into an adventure,” Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori said. “After all, there’s no limit to how far a dream can take you.”

You can watch the original film and a couple of examples of edited clips below.

AI Ad Magic

The altered films are mixed in quality. The facial expressions and basic look are surprisingly smooth, but the fact that the hair stays the same is a little disconcerting, though not as much as seeing your face on a body type unfamiliar with what you see in the mirror. It is notable how strict the rules regarding what faces you can upload are. 

The airline doesn't explicitly say you can't use photos of someone else, just that they can't be inappropriate. Yet, after several experiments, the website clearly prevented any famous people's faces from being used. The only loophole was if the photo was not very high resolution. The reason is likely how you have to own the content (the picture) you share with the website. 

In other words, you have to be the star. That's probably because the terms and conditions state that while you retain some rights, Qatar Airways can use and modify the video as they choose.

This isn't Qatar Airways' only AI experiment. The airline also offers an AI-powered digital human as cabin crew named Sama 2.0. The virtual being is designed to assist passengers with basic in-flight queries, providing an assistant to complement the human cabin crew.

These ads are definitely a step up technically from the more satirical deepfake Jennifer Lopez employed by Virgin Voyages, at least. In that case, the personalized ads you could make were altered only in the names and aspects of the company Lopez mentioned. 

Whether this is the dawn of a new age in marketing and advertising is unclear, but you can bet there will be at least a few more attempts as AI video tech becomes better and cheaper.

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Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

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

Quordle today (game #957) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #957) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #957) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #957) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #957) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• T

• B

• P

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

Quordle today (game #957) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #957, are…

• LASSO
• TILDE
• BUNCH
• PRONG

Today's Quordle is packed with tricky words. BUNCH is a bit of a nightmare for a Wordle-style word game, on account of there being so many similarly spelled options: PUNCH, HUNCH, LUNCH, MUNCH and BUNCH itself, meaning you may have needed to play a narrowing-down word in order to identify the correct one. That's what I had to do, with HIMBO (sorry, but it was accepted!) being my choice; this gave me the B I needed.

But that aside, TILDE was tricky simply by virtue of being an uncommon word, and LASSO on account of having a repeated letter and also just being spelled wrongly. Go on, say it – it should be spelled LASOO, surely? Or maybe that's just me. Anyway, I got there in the end, but it was a struggle all the way.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #957) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #957, are…

• TROVE
• PATIO
• BELLY
• TIGER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #956, Friday 6 September: FARCE, WOOLY, LOCAL, NIGHT
• Quordle #955, Thursday 5 September: SNIDE, EGRET, AMONG, SHINY
• Quordle #954, Wednesday 4 September: POINT, WITTY, GAFFE, ABUSE
• Quordle #953, Tuesday 3 September: ATOLL, ANGER, OCEAN, SWEEP
• Quordle #952, Monday 2 September: HABIT, LODGE, PLAIN, DRIFT
• Quordle #951, Sunday 1 September: RABBI, CRAWL, GUPPY, BRAND
• Quordle #950, Saturday 31 August: AWOKE, TIBIA, ITCHY, SNACK
• Quordle #949, Friday 30 August: ARISE, OLDER, ISSUE, ERUPT
• Quordle #948, Thursday 29 August: DECAY, DRUID, AVOID, KNEED
• Quordle #947, Wednesday 28 August: VIOLA, GONER, CAVIL, SHARE
• Quordle #946, Tuesday 27 August: ABYSS, DAILY, AGONY, MUSKY
• Quordle #945, Monday 26 August: NEVER, CHUNK, AUNTY, CROUP
• Quordle #944, Sunday 25 August: APTLY, LEVER, STORK, WIDOW
• Quordle #943, Saturday 24 August: EVENT, APNEA, SWATH, IRONY
• Quordle #942, Friday 23 August: LAUGH, SATYR, CACHE, CLONE
• Quordle #941, Thursday 22 August: BEARD, PAYER, BROWN, TRUCK
• Quordle #940, Wednesday 21 August: ALOFT, SNUCK, LAPSE, COMIC
• Quordle #939, Tuesday 20 August: CHIEF, SNORT, OUNCE, MILKY
• Quordle #938, Monday 19 August: GIVEN, STIFF, STOOL, ANTIC
• Quordle #937, Sunday 18 August: DEPTH, JUICY, GAWKY, INLAY

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 Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

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 #188) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Know your material

NYT Strands today (game #188) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MUSIC
• SLIM
• FAIL
• DINE
• DINER
• DINES

NYT Strands today (game #188) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• What are you wearing?

NYT Strands today (game #188) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: right, 4th row

Last: left, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #188) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #188, are…

• DENIM
• CHIFFON
• VELVET
• SATIN
• SPANDEX
• JERSEY
• MUSLIN
• SPANGRAM: FABRIC

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

I'm a simple kind of guy. I wear denim on my bottom half, cotton (or more likely polyester) on my top. And that's that. SPANDEX? VELVET? CHIFFON? Nope, nope and nope again. I have heard of them all, however, which is why I was able to solve today's Strands puzzle, albeit with one hint along the way.

The problem today was that lots of these words are unusually spelled: SPANDEX has that X in it, VELVET has two Vs, CHIFFON two Fs… it's not like they will have stood out unless you knew what you were looking for. As a distinctly unfashionable type, I didn't really, so this one took me a fair old time to solve it.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday 6 September, game #187)

• PORRIDGE
• BEDS
• CHAIRS
• MAMA
• BABY
• PAPA
• HARD
• SOFT
• SPANGRAM: THREEBEARS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and 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.

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

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

NYT Connections today (game #454) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TANK
• GLOVE
• SCALE
• TEE
• COACH
• ROCKS
• POLO
• CROP
• FILTER
• BALL
• ROTATE
• MUSTANG
• GODIVA
• FLIP
• PUMP
• DRIVER

NYT Connections today (game #454) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• Yellow: Photoshop skills
• Green: Tiger essentials
• Blue: Fish things
• Purple: Equine badges

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #454) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: WAYS TO TRANSFORM AN IMAGE
• GREEN: THINGS USED IN GOLF
• BLUE: AQUARIUM PURCHASES
• PURPLE: LOGOS WITH HORSES

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

NYT Connections today (game #454) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #454, are…

• YELLOW: WAYS TO TRANSFORM AN IMAGE CROP, FLIP, ROTATE, SCALE
• GREEN: THINGS USED IN GOLF BALL, DRIVER, GLOVE, TEE
• BLUE: AQUARIUM PURCHASES FILTER, PUMP, ROCKS, TANK
• PURPLE: LOGOS WITH HORSES COACH, GODIVA, MUSTANG, POLO

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

Here's yet another super-tough Connections puzzle, guaranteed to get the old gray matter working – or to leave you frustrated at its obtuse nature.

In fairness, a couple of today's groups aren't too bad. I use Photoshop on a daily basis, and so the yellow WAYS TO TRANSFORM AN IMAGE connection stood out to me immediately. Green, THINGS USED IN GOLF, caused me more problems – mainly because I thought some of the words went elsewhere, for instance BALL, FILTER, TANK all seemed like they might be related. But I got it in the end – which left blue and purple.

Purple – which is LOGOS WITH HORSES – was ridiculously difficult. I've not even heard of a company called GODIVA or COACH, though I assume one exists or this group would make even less sense. But I solved it through a combination of trial and error and guesswork, in that I knew GODIVA, POLO and MUSTANG all had a horse connection, and got lucky by adding COACH to it.

That left, blue, AQUARIUM PURCHASES, which was also tricky – but by then I was able to solve it by default, with one guess remaining. Phew!

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 6 September, game #453)

• YELLOW: QUANTITY AMOUNT, COUNT, NUMBER, TOTAL
• GREEN: INCIDENT AFFAIR, EPISODE, EVENT, MATTER
• BLUE: THINGS RECEIVED IN THE MAIL BILL, CARD, CATALOG, LETTER
• PURPLE: WHAT “SPRING” MIGHT REFER TO BOUNCE, COIL, GEYSER, SEASON

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

The executive vice president of SAIC, MG’s parent company, stated that the automaker will begin introducing solid state battery (SSB) technology into its line-up as early as next year.

Speaking at the Chengdu motor show last week, Yu Jingmin discussed a new solid state battery technology that has been developed in-house and is planned to be introduced to numerous upcoming EV models from SAIC brands, including premium offering IM and the more affordable Wuling volume brands in China.

If successful, the introduction of SSBs will occur a full 12 months before the company’s original timelines, putting MG, as well as the other previously mentioned brands, well ahead of the competition.

Toyota, for example, has previously said that it hopes to bring similar technology to market by 2028, while Volkswagen has partnered with US research company QuantumScape. The pair have said they have reached an agreement to industrialize the technology, but no actual timelines have been set.

(Image credit: MG/SAIC)

Unfortunately, Yu Jingmin didn’t provide any details about battery specifics, but sister company IM Motor has already revealed its new L6 Saloon, which uses an early example of the company's solid-state battery research.

In this case, IM Motors claims its tech has double the energy density of current lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, which means the manufacturer has been able to stuff the L6 with a 133kWh battery pack without impeding interior space or causing the overall curb weight to sky-rocket.

The result is a car that can achieve a 673-mile range on China's Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) and can add a staggering 249-mile range in just 12 minutes from a high-powered rapid charger outlet.

Despite the lack of official details of MG's chemical makeup, it is highly likely to follow a similar pattern to those used by IM Motor. The introduction of the technology across the wider SAIC portfolio means the company can benefit from economies of scale and help keep the sticker price of its surprisingly affordable MG models low.

What is solid state battery technology?

(Image credit: Volkswagen Group/QuantumScape)

The current generation of lithium-ion batteries, including those that use a lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry, use liquid electrolytes between their electrodes.

Although the technology has become ubiquitous among modern EVs, it has its limitations. Chiefly, energy density is relatively poor, the battery packs are heavy, and that liquid electrolyte is relatively volatile and can, in some cases, lead to fires and explosions.

A solid-state battery contains a solid lithium metal anode and a solid ceramic electrolyte, so there’s no need for a volatile liquid electrolyte. This equates to a battery pack that offers greater energy density, reducing the overall weight of an electric vehicle and leading to much greater efficiencies.

Solid state batteries are also claimed to be much safer, as they have much higher thermal stability and can tolerate more extreme temperature ranges. This, in turn, allows them to charge at much faster rates, which is a bonus for EV owners sick of hanging around at charging stations.

But it isn’t all plain sailing. Both researchers and the automakers funding this stuff have found that producing solid-state battery tech is complicated and expensive. They also rely on even more lithium than their LFP counterparts, which isn’t great for the planet or a company’s bottom line.

What’s more, many researchers have found that the biggest roadblock is the potential longevity of these new packs. To get very technical, lots of rapid charging can lead to a build-up of dendrites on the lithium electrode.

Like plaque on teeth, this build-up can eventually cause the system to short-circuit and eventually kill the battery. 

To make matters worse, there is limited understanding of how to recycle SSBs, meaning a lot of research and funding has to be poured into this area if we want to avoid a pile-up of dead batteries in five to ten years.

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