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Sonos Ace Ultra: two-minute review

Sonos is making a real statement of intent with its new wireless headphones, the Sonos Ace Ultra.

The multi-room master has made a whole host of improvements to this upgraded wireless over-ear model, which has arrived two years after the original Ace came to market. The Sonos Ace Ultra have enhanced custom 40mm drivers, a new headphone engine, better battery life, better noise-cancelling, and more detailed EQ to name a few things. So can they finally compete with flagship rivals from the likes of Sony and Bose to become some of the best noise-cancelling headphones we've tested? Here’s what I think after weeks of testing.

Let’s start by addressing the most important area of all: sound quality. We felt that the original Ace fell short of the best headphones around due to one main issue: their middling musicality. But the Ace Ultra have remedied that, and then some.

When listening to the Sonos Ace Ultra beside the original model, the differences were stark. Where the standard Sonos Ace sounded confined, overstretched, and unrefined, the Ace Ultra offered openness, intricate detailing, and a broader, more organized soundstage. What’s more, they provide better balance across the frequency range, with deep yet controlled bass, rich but less overzealous mids, and tight, articulate treble.

While I still consider some similarly priced competitors, like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 to supply slightly more premium, detailed sound (for music, that is), the Ace Ultra are really not far behind. Sonos listened to the critics, and proved that it's up to the task of going toe-to-toe with the titans of the headphone world.

We already loved the original Ace for movies, though, finding that they offered immersive Dolby Atmos audio with effective head-tracking to boot. And that’s much the same on the Ace Ultra. They whip up wonderful width, strong command over height effects, and never neglect the fundamentals like clear dialogue and cinematic, pounding bass.

But what’s new on the Ace Ultra? Although music got a seismic upgrade, other alterations feel a bit more incremental — but that’s by no means a bad thing. Two more microphones have been added to the Ultra, bringing the total to ten, and ANC is great here. Wherever I was, my soundings were subdued to great effect, almost creating a bubble of silence. ANC is adaptive this time around and adjusts nicely, and the transparency mode works a treat. Call quality is strong too, as you may expect.

Battery life has also seen a boost, and you’ll now get up to 35 hours with ANC on. Is this anything groundbreaking? No. But it’s slightly above the 30-hour standard for headphones in this price bracket, and I never felt that I had to charge these cans very regularly. The battery is also replaceable, and a rapid charging mode means you can get three hours of playback if you spend three minutes juicing them up.

EQ options have also been expanded beyond the basic two-band equalizer found on the standard Ace headphones. There’s an eight-band option now as well as adaptive EQ, meaning you can genuinely tailor sound to your specific tastes.

We also need to talk about the Wi-Fi capabilities of the Sonos Ace Ultra. No, we’re still not at the point where we can directly stream tunes over a local internet connection, but there are some nifty features at play. First of all, TV Audio Swap is back, enabling you to link the headphones to a compatible Sonos soundbar, and transfer sound seamlessly. This is highly responsive and effective, and while I didn’t find myself using this feature a ton, you can avoid the latency issues you’d get from connecting headphones to your TV over Bluetooth.

The Ace Ultra also add Headphone Linking, though, which means you can also transfer sound from compatible speakers, like the Sonos Play, for instance. This is equally reliable as TV Audio Swap, and is a great option if you’re listening to music at home but want to keep listening without distracting others.

It’s clear to see that the Sonos Ace Ultra don’t look very different from the previous model, but that’s no bad thing. They’re sleek, well-built, and offer a neat combination of comfort and over-ear security. They’re not fully foldable, and the included case could be better quality-wise, but these are fairly minor pain points in the grand scheme of things.

Considering that the Ace Ultra cost the same as the original Ace at the point of launch — and actually less in the UK — they feel like a much more worthwhile investment. They’re by no means cheap, but their enhancements are meaningful and substantial, making these a great pair of headphones whether you have a pre-existing Sonos system or not. As a result, these are a great pair of headphones for music and movie lovers alike that feel worth the outlay — and are easy to recommend if you want a great all-round pair of premium wireless headphones.

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Ace Ultra review: price & release date

• Priced at $449 / £399 / AU$699
• First released September 2026

The Sonos Ace Ultra were released in September 2026, about two years after the original Sonos Ace headphones. The new model is priced at $449 / £399 / AU$699, which is the same as the standard Ace cost at launch in the US and Australia, though they’re actually cheaper in the UK than the original Ace were at the point of release.

Given their price, the Ace Ultra have some extremely hot competition. For example, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are similarly priced, and offer an incredible mix of balanced, dynamic, and impactful sound alongside some of the best noise-cancelling on the market and a giant suite of features. Other competitors include the noise-crushing Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2, the spacious sounding Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, and the ultra-detailed Sennheiser HDB 630.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: specs

Drivers

Next-gen 40mm custom

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

35 hours (ANC on)

Weight

0.7lbs / 322g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Ace Ultra review: features

• Excellent ANC with adaptive mode and effective transparency option
• Higher-res audio available as well as Dolby Atmos for spatial sound
• TV Audio Swap and Headphone Linking works very well

The Sonos Ace Ultra boast an excellent suite of features and are a highly personalizable, smart set of headphones.

Let’s kick off with ANC, which has had quite the revamp. Now, you can toggle on an adaptive mode, which adjusts for things like fit, whether you’re wearing glasses, and if you make sudden head movements. But that’s not all.

Sonos has also boosted the number of mics for the Ultra, with ten to the original Ace’s eight. The mics can monitor your surroundings and cut out external noise in real time, and they do this to great effect. Yes, the Ace Ultra supply great ANC, and no matter my environment, I was treated to satisfying, distraction-free listening.

When out on walks, the sounds of cars passing by were totally nullified. When typing away in the office, the clacking of keyboards was fully subdued, and when travelling on public transport, engine sounds and surrounding chatter were put right to the sword. The Aware Mode is also very effective, and makes it incredibly easy to tune into your surroundings, with the new Voice Boost mode able to improve the clarity of voices around you if you toggle it on.

The upgraded microphone system also helps the Ace Ultra to handle phone calls with greater care than ever before. When taking calls when out and about, my speech was perfectly comprehensible, and never sounded obscured by background noise, even when walking in a busy part of my city.

Something else that’s received a boost is battery life. Sonos says that the Ace Ultra are capable of staying alive for 35 hours on a single charge, and my testing found this to be pretty accurate. This is a slight improvement on the original Ace, which could deliver 30 hours of use, which is essentially the standard for headphones in this price category. There’s also a rapid charging option, which gives the Ace Ultra three hours of playback from a three minute charge and a power saving mode if you want to extend the headphones’ life in a pinch.

One of the more welcome additions to the Ace Ultra is their expanded EQ options. Now, you can make use of an eight-band equalizer to customize the sound of the headphones to your specific taste. This is a big improvement on the basic two-band equalizer on the original Ace (for bass and treble levels), though there’s a more basic three-band option on the Ace Ultra if you prefer a less detail-oriented approach.

Let’s stick with sound, because there are a number of great features here that help you get the best out of both music and movies. First of all, you get all the hi-res goodness from the original Ace, with aptX codec support, as well as lossless audio via USB-C — and there’s a USB-C to 3.5mm cable bundled if you want to use them with a laptop, DJ controller, or other source device.

Dolby Atmos also returns on the Ace Ultra, enabling you to enjoy spatial audio on the go. Once again, this works an absolute treat — especially for movies, where head-tracking also helps to further immerse you in on-screen action. I tried using the TV Audio Swap feature, which enabled me to connect the headphones to the Sonos Beam Ultra, and Atmos movies sounded wonderful — more on that in the ‘sound quality’ section.

While the situations in which I’d use TV Audio Swap are admittedly niche, it's a very reliable feature. It harnesses Wi-Fi connectivity, so you don’t have to deal with the latency issues that connecting headphones to your TV over Bluetooth would bring. And you can easily switch between the soundbar, headphones, and other compatible Sonos speakers with a simple press of a button, which is highly convenient.

The Ace Ultra’s new Headphone Engine 2 also enables Headphone Linking, which allows them to directly connect to other components in your Sonos system — including compatible speakers such as the Sonos play — and move audio to and from your speakers and headphones. Like TV Audio Swap, this feels seamless and speedy to activate, and is great if you’re blasting music at home, but don’t want to disturb others if they want some peace and quiet.

On top of all of this, you get the usual good stuff: multi-point pairing, Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity, wear detection, and a relatively intuitive companion app. And when you add all of this together, I think it's fair to say that the Ace Ultra offer an incredibly fleshed-out, and well-refined feature set.

• Features score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Ace Ultra review: sound quality

• Big improvement over original Ace with better soundstaging, detailing, and control
• Deep, immersive bass, clean mids, and tight, expressive treble
• Fantastic Dolby Atmos performance

While we considered the original Sonos Ace to be a good pair of headphones, their somewhat middling musicality ended up holding them back from greatness. But luckily, Sonos has listened to the criticism, implemented next-gen 40mm custom drivers, and remedied a lot of the issues we had with the previous model. The result? A genuinely great-sounding pair of headphones.

I tried comparing the Sonos Ace Ultra against the original model directly, and when I say that the difference is striking, I truly mean it. In essence, the Ace Ultra provide a significantly broader soundstage with far better organization and balance, as well as deeper, more controlled bass, and more articulate, detailed treble. I also found them to offer superior handling of dynamics and enhanced instrument separation, meaning that, for me, Sonos is closer to rivals like Bose and Sony than ever before.

Sonos has been keen to talk up the Ace Ultra’s improved bass, so I started out by listening to a house track, Get It On by Jansons. The Ace Ultra delivered palpable, pumping bass, that was rhythmic and rapid, never sounding lethargic or boomy. This never concealed other sounds across the frequency range, either, with synths in the mid-range sounding well defined and tonally accurate, and high-pitched drums coming through with precision and vigor, helping the track to maintain its high energy.

Treble was especially tighter on the Ace Ultra compared to the original model, and the wider soundstage gave each individual element more room to breathe, and this became a theme across all of my listening tests.

For instance, with the funk track Joía Rara by Brylho, the upgrade the Ultra provided was considerable. On the original Sonos Ace, the soundstage felt confined, with guitars lacking definition in the mix, and as the track built, the horns, bass, vocals, and guitars sounded slightly convoluted, resulting in a messier presentation than I’d expected. But on the Ace Ultra, things were totally different. Guitars in the intro occupied a unique pocket, bass was well-balanced, and finer percussive details were perfectly audible. Vocals were also separated to greater effect, and while they weren’t the most textured or forward, they were more than clear enough.

Are the Sonos Ace Ultra the best-sounding headphones in their price bracket? Well, they’re not far behind the competition, though I do still think a couple of models edge just ahead. For example, I tested them side by side with the Sony WH-1000XM6, and I found that Sony’s cans supplied a slightly more dynamic low-end output and detailing in the mid-range. It was very close between these two, though. Of course, if you want the most expansive soundstage, headphones like the AirPods Max 2 will edge out the Ace Ultra, but they’re slightly more expensive.

Before we move onto design, we have to talk about the Ace Ultra’s handling of spatial audio. They support Dolby Atmos as well as head tracking, really helping you to immerse yourself in your favorite movies and TV shows, and the expansiveness that the headphones supply is seriously impressive.

When using TV Audio Swap with some 4K UHD Blu-ray discs, the Ace Ultra were able to conjure up an excellent sense of width, almost like some of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars can. I started by watching Elio, and the Ace Ultra did an incredible job — voices were clear, and as characters moved across the screen, they were tracked with precision, and if I tilted my head, sound shifted dynamically as if I was speaking with characters directly. As Elio returned to earth, deep, pounding bass hit with immense power too, but didn’t sound muddy or overbearing.

With Godzilla Minus One, the sense of a plane flying overhead in the opening scene was captured far more effectively than expected. It was genuinely convincing, as if the sound was truly coming from above. Dialogue was clear again, and Godzilla’s almighty screech was both tonally accurate and controlled, rather than tinny. More generally, the movie’s action scenes had tremendous width, creating a genuinely immersive experience.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Ace Ultra review: design

• Beautiful design, and very well made
• Comfortable yet secure fit
• Not fully foldable, but case included for added security

The Ace Ultra look an awful lot like the original Ace, but as someone who loved the way those headphones looked, that’s a big plus. The ear cups are relatively flat and understated, the rounded look is sleek and sexy, and the metallic details only add to the sense of premium. The button controls have shifted about slightly, but they’re incredibly easy to reach, and are all very responsive.

I tried the Soft White version which is stylish and modern, but the Ace Ultra are also available in Black, Agave, and Sand. All of these colorways are minimalistic and suit the luxurious vibe of the headphones to perfection.

In terms of fit, the Ace Ultra strike a really strong balance between comfort and security — they’re the goldilocks of headphones, if you will. There’s enough clamping power to prevent excess sound seeping in and keep them on your head during a workout or similar, but I never found this to be overbearing. Even when I was wearing a hat, the Ace Ultra felt really snug, with the plush ear cups and padded headband helping me to enjoy my music for many hours on end.

One subtle thing I like is how the inside of the right ear cup is green, making it easy to know which side is which when throwing the cans on. The right cup also features a slider, which can be used to easily adjust volume or trigger the Audio Swap feature. I usually prefer touch controls, but the tactile and reliable nature of these buttons might just have converted me.

Something that may frustrated a few users is that the Ace Ultra are not foldable. Yes, the ear cups rotate flat for when you want to stow the headphones in the case, but rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM6 offer a more compact, travel-friendly design. In addition, the case itself doesn’t quite offer the quality I was expecting, with a fuzzy exterior that’s a bit prone to picking up fibers. I also found that the zip jammed a bit easily. I much prefer the magnetic case of the XM6, which is more seamless to use and has a more quality look and feel.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Ace Ultra review: value

• More fully featured and better sounding than the original Ace…
• …but for the same price (at the point of launch)
• A worthwhile choice for those with or without a pre-existing Sonos system

The Sonos Ace Ultra cured the single ailment that plagued the original model above else: their middling musicality. When I tested both headphones side by side, the difference was night and day. The original Ace were held back by a limited soundstage, underwhelming instrument separation, and a lack of balance across the frequency range. But the Ace Ultra sound so much more open, organized, and detailed, and truly compete with flagship rivals from Sony and Bose.

On top of that, you’re getting excellent Dolby Atmos performance, Headphone Linking and TV Audio Swap for linking up to other Sonos products, a beautiful design, and strong noise-cancelling capabilities. Considering that the Sonos Ace Ultra cost the same as the original model did at the point of launch — and less than the standard Ace initially cost in the UK — that’s pretty impressive.

At $449 / £399 / AU$699, they’re still quite the investment, of course. And I do think that some rivals, including the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 just edge above them in terms of sound quality. But those models can’t compete when it comes to movies — a big selling point of the Ace headphones. And the interactivity that these have with other Sonos products makes them a slam-dunk for owners of products like the Sonos Beam Ultra and Sonos Play.

Even if you don’t have a Sonos system, these headphones still justify their price with great all-round performance, a delicious design, higher-res audio codecs and wired lossless sound, as well as solid battery life. All in all, then, the Ace Ultra feel like a much more worthwhile investment than the original Ace, and manage to earn their price.

• Value score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Sonos Ace Ultra?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Enhanced ANC, call quality, and battery life, better EQ options, and neat smart features like Headphone Linking.

5/5

Sound quality

Much better musicality than the original Ace and fantastic Dolby Atmos for movies.

4.5/5

Design

Gorgeous looks, comfortable and secure fit, but the carry case could be better.

4.5/5

Value

Earn their price much more than the original Ace with great performance across the board.

4.5/5

Buy them if…

You want amazing headphones for movies
With Dolby Atmos compatibility and serious spatial audio skills, the Sonos Ace Ultra are arguably the best wireless headphones you can buy for movie-watching. You’ll experience expansive, three-dimensional sound with the Ace Ultra, and head-tracking will only further your immersion in any on-screen action.

You already own a Sonos system
If you own Sonos products like the Sonos Beam Gen 2 or Sonos Play, then the Ace Ultra are a very sensible buy. TV Audio Swap and Headphone Linking enable you to seamlessly transfer sound across your system, giving you unrivalled control over your music-listening and movie-viewing experiences.

Don’t buy them if…

You want the best-sounding headphones in this price-bracket
While the Sonos Ace Ultra offer great musicality, they can still be beaten. The Sony WH-1000XM6 provide a bit more bite and detailing, while the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 provide even more nuanced soundstaging and instrument separation.

You want the best possible cans for travel
The Sonos Ace Ultra supply awesome ANC and do come with a carry case, but unlike some rivals, they’re not fully foldable. Rivals like the WH-1000XM6 are much more compact if you’re on the go and don’t have much space in your bag, for instance.

Sonos Ace Ultra review: also consider

Sonos Ace Ultra

Sony WH-1000XM6

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

Price

$449 / £399 / AU$699

$449 / £399 / AU$699

$479 / £399 / AU$699

Drivers

Next-gen 40mm custom

30mm dynamic

40mm dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life

35 hours (ANC on)

30 hours (ANC on)

30 hours (ANC on)

Weight

0.7lbs / 322g

0.6lbs / 254g

0.7lbs / 300g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

20Hz-20kHz

10Hz-22kHz

Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are true all-rounders, boasting some of the best ANC in the game, beautifully balanced audio, and a huge range of features. They’re fully foldable, offer exceptional call clarity, and support the LDAC codec for higher-res Bluetooth listening. At this price-point, they still feel like the best headphones that you can buy for the money. Read my full Sony WH-1000XM6 review.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
For me, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are probably the best-sounding headphones you can buy in this price-range, with an exceptionally spacious, nuanced soundstage, impeccable detailing right across the frequency range, but dynamic and exciting enough to keep you engaged for hours on end. They also look truly premium, supply USB-C audio passthrough, and have an excellent control app — though their ANC isn’t anything special. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review.

How I tested the Sonos Ace Ultra

(Image credit: Future)

• Spent about two weeks testing
• Compared to competitors and original Sonos Ace
• Predominantly streamed music over Tidal; also watched Dolby Atmos movies

I spent about two weeks testing the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones, during which time I exhausted their various features, like TV audio swap, watched a handful of movies with Dolby Atmos soundtracks, and listened to hours worth of music.

When listening to music, I predominantly streamed tunes over Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone, which supports aptX codecs. To start with, I sifted through the TechRadar testing playlist, but I also listened to a wide variety of tracks from my personal library. On top of this, I compared the Sonos Ace Ultra to some of their major competitors, like the Sony WH-1000XM6, as well as the original Sonos Ace.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested a wide range of audio gear, including other premium headphones like the Sony 1000X The Collexion, party speakers like the Marshall Bromley 750, Dolby Atmos soundbars like the JBL Bar 1300MK2, and more.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: September 2026

Sonos Beam Ultra review

The Sonos Beam Ultra doesn’t merely feel like an evolution of the pre-existing Beam products. Instead, it feels like something of a middle child between the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and the Sonos Arc Ultra. After all, it sits bang in between its sibling models when it comes to channel configuration, boasting a 7.1.2 setup with nine drivers, and while it has up-firing drivers for true Dolby Atmos, it still maintains a fairly compact design.

But the Beam Ultra certainly isn’t an awkward middle-child; it’s a highly capable mid-range option that provides striking cinematic sound, while still being able to fit into a smaller setup. But is the Sonos Beam Ultra worth its $699 / £699 / AU$1,099 asking price?

Like most of the best soundbars, the Sonos Beam Ultra supports Dolby Atmos (though notably Sonos omits DTS:X), and it handles the format very effectively. When watching a 4K UHD Blu-ray of The Mask, the soundbar seamlessly tracked the titular character as he tornadoes across the screen, with audio sounding as if it far exceeded the limited confines of the soundbar. When The Mask jumped upwards, diagonally, his upward trajectory was captured with precision.

(Image credit: Future)

And the Beam Ultra continued to impress me with its height effects across multiple movies. For instance, in Godzilla Minus One, the sense of a plane flying overhead was replicated more naturally than I expected from a mid-range bar. When Godzilla first appeared, the width of the kaiju’s movement was handled brilliantly — it sounded as if the creature’s stomping and destruction were emanating from different corners of the testing room, rather than a set of speakers, even without the help of surround speakers.

What’s more, the Sonos Beam Ultra nails the fundamentals. Watching Top Gun: Maverick, the roar of jet engines was palpable, and I found this to be the case across multiple films. For a mid-sized standalone bar, the Beam Ultra produces incredibly regimented, deep, and responsive low-end sound, which is excellent for movies with high-octane action sequences and dark, impactful scores. The Beam Ultra can also get seriously loud if you want to fill a more open space, but I never noticed any tinniness or harsh compression.

Still, this doesn’t come at the expense of sounds elsewhere in the frequency range. I found dialogue to be generally clear and detailed too, though I will note that turning on the Speech Enhancement mode and setting it to Medium gave me the best results. This means you can bring voices forward without hampering the fidelity of other elements in the mix.

The Beam Ultra even proved to be a hit for music, whether I was listening to an Atmos or stereo mix. With an Atmos mix of I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby by Barry White, there was tremendous width to the guitars, the vocals were perfectly clear in the center, and the bass had pleasant warmth to it. Moving over to First Summer by H.K., deep bass came through with attention-grabbing impact, sounding more full-sounding than I’d anticipated, yet keys and vocal chops in the mid-range still maintained excellent clarity, as did articulate drums in the treble.

(Image credit: Future)

The Sonos Beam Ultra isn’t just a great performer; it’s also rammed full of useful features. TruePlay is here, which can optimize sound for your room in mere seconds, but there are also ways to manually adapt audio. For instance, you can adjust height effects to your choosing, and there’s even a height-effect simulation mode if there’s less than four inches of space above your soundbar — ideal if you’re placing the Beam Ultra on a shelf in your TV stand, say.

I've already mentioned the Speech Enhancement mode, which has multiple levels to emphasize speech as little or much as you need, but there’s also a Night mode if you don’t want to disturb others. You can turn these options on in the Sonos app, but there’s also an option to add a voice assistant if you want to make adjustments on the fly.

The Beam Ultra can, as you'd expect, also interact with other components in your Sonos system. You can pair compatible speakers, such as the Sonos Play, and use them as surround speakers. TV Audio Swap is also back, and enables you to transfer sound from your Beam Ultra to your Sonos Ace or Sonos Ace Ultra headphones. I tried this out with the latter cans, and found that switching was speedy and responsive, while the quality of spatial audio was exceptional — make sure to read my Sonos Ace Ultra review for a deeper dive.

There are a fair few ways to connect to your Sonos Beam Ultra too. Of course, HDMI eARC is the most important — this is what you’ll use to hook the soundbar up to your TV and experience Dolby Atmos movies in all their glory. There’s also Wi-Fi 6 for streaming content over a local connection, allowing you to use services like Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect. And, unlike with the Beam Gen 2, you also get Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity as well as USB-C line-in.

One thing I would have really have loved to see, though, is an HDMI input, which has been left off of the Sonos Beam Ultra. Given that connecting the soundbar up to your TV already takes away one precious HDMI slot, it would’ve been great to get a passthrough port on this model — it’s something I use on my Marshall Heston 120 at home, given that I have multiple game consoles connected up.

Something that does not disappoint, though, is the Beam Ultra’s design. It’s sleek, modern, and stylish — but understated enough to seamlessly slot into just about any living space. It also has a great standard of build, intuitive touch controls, and handy status indicator lights to signify connection status. There’s also a microphone slider, which you can deactivate if you don’t want your soundbar listening in on you.

But here comes the big question: is the Sonos Beam Ultra actually worth the money? While $699 / £699 / AU$1,099 is by no means cheap, I still think the answer is yes. It’s priced right in between the Beam Gen 2 and Arc Ultra, and feels like a true best-of-both-worlds option — the height channels give it much more convincing Atmos performance than the Beam Gen 2, but you also get amazing power in a single, compact package.

Sure, you could get a soundbar and sub combo like the Samsung HW-Q800F for a similar price, and that will give you even deeper, more cinematic bass. But that model has a more restrictive 5.1.2 configuration, and if you want something more low-profile, it won’t fit the bill. You also get an excellent suite of features from the Beam Ultra, and you can add a compatible sub and other other Sonos speakers for surround sound if you wish.

As a result, the Sonos Beam Ultra might just be the best compact Dolby Atmos soundbar I’ve tested. In spite of its modest size, it plates up powerful, immersive, and clear audio, so if you want a simple plug-and-play solution to get amazing audio into just about any space, this is my top recommendation.

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Beam Ultra review: Price and release date

• Priced at $699 / £699 / AU$1,099
• Released in September 2026

The Sonos Beam Ultra is priced at $699 / £699 / AU$1,099, placing it mid-way between the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and the Sonos Arc Ultra. While you can get some multi-box options for a similar price, like the Sony HW-Q800F, for instance, the Beam Ultra features an extensive 7.1.2 driver configuration, and its compact nature is a central part of its appeal.

Sonos Beam Ultra review: specs

Dimensions

29.5 x 2.6 x 4.1 inches / 750 x 65 x 105mm

Speaker channels

7.1.2

Connections

HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Sub included

No

Rear speakers included

No

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Sonos Beam Ultra?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Good connectivity options, great sound modes, can add sub and surrounds, no DTS:X or HDMI passthrough.

4.5/5

Performance

Expansive sound in a compact package with imposing bass and clear dialogue.

5/5

Design

Stellar looks, slim build, neat touch controls.

5/5

Setup & usability

Plug and play set-up, easy to connect to via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

5/5

Value

Not cheap, but a perfect marriage of the standard Beam and Arc that’s priced accordingly.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want a compact soundbar with amazing Dolby Atmos
So many compact Dolby Atmos soundbars fall flat when it comes to Dolby Atmos. Often, that’s due to a lack of dedicated up-firing drivers to provide convincing height effects. But the Beam Ultra has those — and it also conjures up an impressive sense of width.

You already own a Sonos system
If you already have a compatible sub and speakers like the Sonos Play or Sonos Era 100, you can connect them to the Beam Ultra to open up even more immersive, three-dimensional audio. TV Audio Swap is also available if you’ve got the Sonos Ace or Sonos Ace Ultra headphones.

Don’t buy it if…

You need HDMI passthrough
The Sonos Beam Ultra does not offer HDMI passthrough, which might be troublesome if, like me, you have multiple games consoles, a 4K Blu-ray player, and other devices that use HDMI.

You need DTS:X
The Sonos Beam Ultra supports Dolby Atmos, but not DTS:X, much like other Sonos soundbars, including the Sonos Arc Ultra. A number of 4K discs make use of DTS:X, so if you’re someone who often makes use of that format, it may be worth looking elsewhere.

Sonos Beam Ultra review: also consider

Sonos Beam Ultra

Samsung HW-Q800F

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar

Price

$699 / £699 / AU$1,099

$1,099 / £799 / AU$1,099

£899 / $899 / AU$1499

Dimensions

29.5 x 2.6 x 4.1 inches / 750 x 65 x 105mm

Main soundbar: 43.7 x 2.4 x 4.7 inches / 1110.7 x 60.4 x 120mm; subwoofer: 9.8 x 9.9 x 9.8 inches / 249 x 251.8 x 249mm

2.3 x 41 x 4.2 inches / 58 x 1045 x 107mm

Speaker channels

7.1.2

5.1.2

5.1.2

Connections

HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

1x HDMI input, 1x HDMI eARC, digital optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3

HDMI eARC, digital optical, Ethernet, USB (service only), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Yes / Yes

Yes / No

Sub included

No

Yes

No

Rear speakers included

No

No

No

Samsung HW-Q800F
This multi-box Samsung soundbar can now be found for a similar price to the Sonos Beam Ultra, if not less. It supplies exceptional sound, with impeccable bass from its dedicated sub, clear dialogue, and engrossing Atmos effects. It doesn’t offer the Beam Ultra’s compact size, but it does have DTS:X and HDMI passthrough. Read my full Samsung HW-Q800F review.

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is a great 5.1.2 soundbar with wide, detailed sound, excellent build quality, and an effective companion app. It doesn’t quite offer the height or bass weight of the Sonos Beam Ultra, but it can often be found on sale for less than $700 / £500. Read our full Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review.

How I tested the Sonos Beam Ultra

(Image credit: Future)

• I spent one week testing the soundbar in our TV testing space at Future Labs
• I watched a variety of movies, and listened to music in both Dolby Atmos and stereo formats

I spent one week testing the Sonos Beam Ultra at our TV testing space at Future Labs, during which time I exhausted its various features, watched a variety of movies, and listened to music in both Dolby Atmos and stereo formats.

To test the Beam Ultra, I hooked it up to the Samsung R95H TV via HDMI. I also made use of the Panasonic DP-UB820 to view Dolby Atmos-enabled 4K UHD Blu-rays. When listening to music, I streamed tunes over Tidal Connect via Wi-Fi, and made use of the TV Audio Swap feature to transfer audio from the soundbar to the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones.

I also compared the Sonos Beam Ultra directly against the Sonos Beam Gen 2 to assess improvements to height effects, expansiveness, and general functionality.

I’ve spent several years testing audio-visual gear at TechRadar, where I'm a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested a vast number of soundbars specifically, from compact models like the Marshall Heston 60 to grand surround systems like the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: September 2026

Whether it's at work or with my family, all I've been talking about recently is shocking six-part ITV crime drama The Blame.

Led by Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth, it follows the murder of a teenage skater, which not only draws detectives down a dark, treacherous path, but also forces them to investigate their own team.

The call is coming from inside the house, as the kids say. DI Emma Clare (Keegan) is not just the only member of the force to work out what's really going on, but she's the only person brave enough to call out (the fictional) Wakestead police force on its biggest issue: misogyny.

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.

I won't lie to you, it's a really difficult watch. The Blame's approach to its subject matter is incredible heavy-handed, but I think it needs to be. However, if you need some time out — or to swap to a crime drama that doesn't feel as bitingly real — I've got you covered.

In fact, Keegan and Booth are the ones that have you covered. If you're looking for more of the same vibe, they've got the perfect recommendation for you to stream next. Not only can you watch it for free, but there's a hidden link between the two shows.

The Blame on ITV is secretly linked to BBC's Happy Valley — and it's what you need to stream next

"That's a hard question," Booth responded, before he added: "Just because it's my favourite one and Nicola [Schindler] produced it, Happy Valley, but they're obviously very different. It has another great female lead at the heart of it."

To me, that's an understatement. The UK market is flush with cimpeccable crime dramas, but Sally Wainwright's Happy Valley might just be the best of the 21st century so far (at least, it is according to me).

Available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer or on Netflix internationally, we follow West Yorkshire police sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) as she balances local crime in Calderdale with her fierce pursuit of Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton), the violent criminal she holds responsible for her daughter's suicide.

It's fast-paced, quintessentially Yorkshire, and gritty at every turn — to the point where it's almost unbelievable what one woman can physically and mentally endure.

What's even better is the hidden link that Happy Valley has with The Blame.

"We had Lisa Farrand, who was a police advisor," Keegan explained. "She was with us for the interrogation and investigation scenes, where we were out looking for the body, things like that. She was brilliant. Very matter of fact, and if something wasn't working, she would pull it up straight away, speak to the director, and sort of steer us and help navigate the scene.

"She worked on Happy Valley and actually Catherine Cawood was loosely based on her. She's a real character... a tough cookie."

If Catherine Cawood herself isn't a good enough sign of a crime drama being unmissable, I don't know what is. Maybe give yourself some breathing space in between them both, though.

• Researcher Patrick Wardle finds zero‑day in Meta’s new Muse AI assistant,
• Dubbed not‑a‑mused, the exploit requires local compromise, voice dictation, and app integrations; attackers can hijack tokens and exfiltrate data
• Meta has been informed but no patch yet; flaw highlights risks of AI assistants with broad permissions

Meta’s new Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant Muse reportedly carried a zero-day vulnerability that allowed attackers to gain access to people’s apps, such as WhatsApp or email.

However, it’s not as straightforward as your usual zero-day - to exploit it, simply deploying malware will not suffice. Certain features need to be enabled, and certain integrations established before the bug could be leveraged.

Not-a-mused

A little background, for context: Meta recently released Muse, describing it as an assistant that can “book appointments, fill out forms, and handle customer service.” It says the tool, available exclusively for the Mac ecosystem for now, “proactively takes tasks off your plate” and makes purchases, generates images, and creates documents.

To do that, however, it needs to connect to apps such as email, WhatsApp, calendar, or social media accounts - and this connection is the first prerequisite needed to exploit the flaw.

The second prerequisite is voice dictation. The vulnerability was found in the way Muse handles commands received via voice, meaning the attacker must piggyback onto voice commands in order to escalate privileges and access other apps and their content.

Now for the flaw itself. It was discovered by security researcher Patrick Wardle, founder of nonprofit Objective-See. He named it “not-a-mused” and says it hides in an undocumented setting called endo_voyager_dictation_endpoint. When a user narrates a voice command, that instruction is sent and processed in the cloud, where Meta can log it. This setting allows the user to change which endpoint receives the dictation.

Which brings us to the third prerequisite. The threat actor must have local access to be able to change this setting in the first place. In other words, the device must already be compromised in some way, either via remote monitoring and management tools, or via low-level malware (or with physical access).

For the sake of the report, let’s say that a theoretical user checks all the right boxes - they’re running a compromised machine and are talking to Muse that’s already connected to other productivity apps. Instead of reaching Meta’s endpoints, the voice commands are first sent to attacker-controlled infrastructure, where the AI assistant, together with the instructions, also sends authentication tokens for the tool.

If the attacker reacts fast enough, they can grab the token and access their target’s AI tool. If it’s connected to other apps, such as WhatsApp or calendar, they can simply prompt it to extract whatever sensitive information is found inside.

Not-a-mused is therefore a combination of data exfiltration and privilege escalation.

Ironing out the kinks

“We can manipulate the agent and leverage its privileges to do whatever we want,” Wardle told Ars Technica.

“So instead of us having to write a very comprehensive Mac malware stealer, we can just leverage the AI assistant itself.” Wardle said he has developed several proof-of-concept attacks that do things like writing malicious files to disk and snapping pictures, in many cases with no indication to even an alert user.

Meta has been informed, but is yet to comment, or issue a patch.

AI assistants are all the rage nowadays. They’ve turned elaborate answer machines into tools that can complete assignments, even more complex ones. They can book flights and restaurant tables, make purchases, schedule and reschedule calls and meetings, and more. However, to do that, these tools need extensive permissions - something the security community is warning of.

While they’re not openly speaking against it, they are advising caution. There are many stories of AI agents either going rogue, or simply being tricked by malicious actors. For example, a hidden prompt in a phishing email can trick an AI agent tasked with summarizing the message into exfiltrating all .PDF documents from the victim’s inbox.

In the early days of agentic AI, there were reports of assistants simply deleting people’s inboxes.

Assistants are likely here to stay, but there are still quite a few kinks to iron before they can hit the mainstream.

Playing the upcoming Cairn: On the Trail DLC with one of its creators looking over my shoulder was incredibly humbling. It had been months since I’d completed my gruelling ascent of Mt. Kami, and my skills were more than a little rusty. When Aava slipped and plummeted into the sea for the fifth time in less than 20 minutes, I was worried they’d lean over, close the laptop, and walk away shaking their head in disgust.

Luckily, I was allowed to play on, and slowly but surely I (quite literally) found my feet, more confidently and successfully finding the handholds and footholds to make progress on one of the three new challenges found in this first piece of free DLC for the excellent climbing adventure.

The one I was currently dramatically failing at features a piton-shaped rock in the middle of the ocean. You start on a wooden path surrounding this peculiar natural structure, before falling into a familiar pattern where you’re scoping out the potential routes to find a good place to climb it. It’s immediately clear, though, that these DLC environments are even more experimental than what we saw in the main game.

Rising up

“On the Trail is pretty much built on ideas and desires we had but decided not to put on Kami for the sake of consistency,” explains Emeric Thoa, creative director of Cairn.

“Because Kami is a very coherent experience, as you climb a single immense mountain, we wanted the On the Trail DLC to explore more variety in the climbing fantasy.”

(Image credit: The Game Bakers)

That breaks down as follows. This first is the level I’m playing now, with its tough climb up a unique structure. There’s also one set in a climbing gym full of more technically demanding challenges and one on a small island featuring various perilous overhangs over the sea.

You can also now play as Marco, who is less flexible than Aava, but he has a longer reach, stronger arms, and a new climbot model.

Whoever you pick, none of the new stages sound very easy, even for veterans who have successfully reached the top of Kami.

“It’s aimed at people who finished the main game, but it’s not especially difficult,” Thoa assures me. “It’s not like you must have finished in free solo mode with zero falls playing with a Guitar Hero controller. But I would definitely recommend playing the main game before starting On the Trail.”

I would, too, considering I scored it four stars and called it ‘an extremely good and beautifully made climbing game’ in our Cairn review.

And while it was the determination to complete the climb and the satisfaction of achieving it that was a main draw of Cairn, it was also the atmosphere that was one of its strongest points.

As you ascend, you learn more not only about Aava as a character, but also about the civilization that used to live on the mountain and some of its secrets. These neat asides are a wonderful break from the intensity of the rest of the game.

“We definitely tried to keep that exploration and treasure hunt vibe that Kami offers,” confirms Thoa. “It’s a bit different as the climbing spots are smaller. So, for instance, we added an energy mechanic to replace the survival elements.

“Instead of risking your life in a huge ascent over several days, you tackle a one-day challenge, and you have to manage your fatigue and resources in order to climb the spot before getting too tired. But that’s also where exploring becomes useful, as you can find items to get you back on your feet.”

(Image credit: The Game Bakers)

I found I needed them too, as a useful way to restock key resources such as chalk and energy to make these tougher climbs more achievable. It still didn’t prevent me from repeated failures, but I felt that same rush of stubbornness and perseverance that gripped me in the original game coming back. It’s a feeling Thoa wants players to feel when they return to Cairn.

“They should first experience the bittersweet nostalgia of coming back to the unique experience of Cairn, and then they should quite soon after find out that it’s still a game that makes your hands sweat! The thrill should still be there.”

I definitely felt it even in the short demo I had. Truth is, I’ve been keen to return to the game since the DLC was first announced, and even though a delay has meant I’ve had to wait a little longer, The Game Bakers recently confirmed that Cairn: On the Trail - Deep Water will launch on October 29 on PC and PS5.

• Amazfit has unveiled the T-Rex Dual Solar smartwatch
• It offers solar charging on an AMOLED watch — a feat not even Garmin has managed
• As well as charging from the front, the innovative back plate allows the wearer to invert the watch for maximum light absorption

In a world in which most smartwatches now have the same features and similar specs, it's always nice to see something innovative. The Amazfit T-Rex line is a range of rugged adventure-focused smartwatches that are generally — like almost all of Amazfit's products — great value alternatives to more expensive wearables such as the best Garmin watches.

Despite focusing on solar charging, as seen on some top-tier Garmin watches such as the Fenix 9 Pro, the T-Rex Dual Solar brings innovation all of its own. Amazfit's newest smartwatch not only provides battery-lengthening solar charging from the front, but also a secondary, more efficient solar charging plate on the back of the watch. With enough sunlight, this back plate can reportedly revive a completely flat battery. That means if you're out of power, you could invert the watch and wear it inside-out, or leave it on a rock with the back plate facing the sun, to bring it back to life.

Amazfit says that "for those who adventure at the edge of the map, solar offers something more: a way to bring a completely depleted watch back to life using sunlight when traditional power isn’t available, helping users regain access to essential functions like maps and route information."

However, the most interesting bit is that Amazfit has finally cracked what Garmin has not been able to, as yet: bring solar charging to an AMOLED watch. The Amazfit Dual Solar, as its name suggests, charges from both sides, even though it's got a bright AMOLED screen, as long as you're in conditions of 50,000 lux or more for three hours or more. Without exception, Solar charging Garmin watches uses lower-power memory-in-pixel displays in conjunction with Garmin's Power Glass solar charging tech.

Sara Webster Wylie, VP of Global Marketing at Amazfit, says: “With T-Rex Dual Solar, we didn’t want users to have to choose between the bright, premium display they want every day and the battery endurance they need outdoors. Bringing AMOLED and solar together for the first time lets us deliver both.”

Other specs & pricing

(Image credit: Amazfit)

In normal conditions, the watch packs up to 25 days of battery life, extended up to 35 days in optimal solar conditions, and 41 hours of use in 'accurate GPS mode'. A flashlight with red and white modes is built into the titanium casing, while its sapphire crystal screen is capable of up to 3,000 nits of brightness.

With full color preloaded maps (including ski maps), intelligent route planning with turn-by-turn directions and Apple Watch Ultra-style waypoints, and LiveShare (Amazfit's equivalent of Garmin's LiveTrack location-sharing feature), it's certainly a powerhouse of a watch.

Unusually for Amazfit, it's also very expensive, priced at $649.99 in the US. Other regions' pricing is TBC, but that's around £500 / AU$900. Having seen what Amazfit can do with budget devices such as its five-star Amazfit Active 3 Premium, I'm excited to get my hands on a high-end model.

A desktop PC makes a lot of sense when you want plenty of processing power, storage and connectivity without paying over the top. Best Buy has reduced the price of the HP OmniDesk, a powerful, modern computer that stands out thanks to its distinctive dark wood case.

• Best for: Creatives and professionals who want plenty of processing power and memory for demanding applications without paying for a dedicated graphics card they don't need.

• The deal: The HP OmniDesk is $1,398 (was $1,499) at Best Buy, saving you a solid $101, or around 7%, off the usual price.

• Why it matters: It looks good and inside you get a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265 processor, 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD with support for up to 64GB of RAM and two M.2 slots for future storage expansion.

Omnidesk Desktop: was $1499 now $1398
The HP OmniDesk features a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265 processor, 32GB DDR5-5600 memory, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, integrated Intel Graphics, Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet and ten USB ports.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The OmniDesk looks distinctive and classy with its dark wood finish, but it's definitely not a case of style over substance. Inside, the 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265 can boost up to 5.3GHz and has 30MB of L3 cache, providing plenty of processing power for demanding workloads. There's 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. You also get 10 USB ports split between eight USB-A and two USB-C connections, as well as HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth.

Price context & historical value

The $101 reduction from $1,499 to $1,398 isn't enormous at around 7%, but it's still a decent saving on a relatively expensive desktop. It isn't the cheapest we've seen it however. The desktop was on sale at Best Buy for $930 earlier in the year.

For further choices, take a look at our round up of the best business computers we've tested.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the HP OmniDesk Desktop if...

You want a desktop with a powerful processor, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a fast 1TB SSD. The dark wood finish adds warmth and personality, meaning the PC will fit beautifully into home offices or living spaces, blending in with furniture rather than clashing with it.

❌ Skip the HP OmniDesk Desktop if...

You need powerful performance for GPU-intensive rendering and 3D work that will benefit heavily from a dedicated graphics card. This configuration relies on integrated Intel Graphics rather than a discrete GPU.

• Shop all desktop PCs at Best Buy

• BigCommerce confirms supply‑chain breach via compromised Ribon app credentials affecting merchant storefronts
• Master of Malt notified customers: names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses were exposed
• Attack ran Sept 13–17 2026; ICO notified, law firm warns of phishing risks for affected retailers

Ecommerce platform BigCommerce was recently hit with a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data belonging to some of its users.

One of the users - online spirits retailer Master of Malt - confirmed the hit and notified its customers that their personally identifiable information (PII) was accessed in the attack.

BigCommerce is an ecommerce platform relatively similar to Shopify. Businesses use it to build and operate online stores without needing to develop the entire commerce infrastructure themselves. It offers features like storefronts, shopping carts, integrations with different payment providers, product inventories, SEO and marketing tools, and more.

The platform has been around since 2009 and according to a late 2024 SEC filing, serves 5,884 accounts with at least one unique enterprise plan subscription. A 2025 press release says BigCommerce is used by “tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries.”

Software supply chain attack

BigCommerce allows its users to install, among others, a third-party app called Ribon, an ecommerce app providing tools that improve the online shopping experience. Some merchants integrate Ribon into their stores to add different functionality to the customer-facing storefront, and to optimize how visitors interact with different elements of their website. We don’t know exactly how many stores use Ribon.

According to Master of Malt, unidentified threat actors managed to compromise a BigCommerce Application key held by Ribon, and used it to access customer data that was held on their system. The attack took place on Sunday, September 13 2026, until the access was finally revoked four days later, on September 17.

Speaking to BleepingComputer, BigCommerce said credentials for Ribon and Ribon 1.5 were compromised:

"On September 17, 2026, Commerce confirmed that credentials belonging to third-party applications Ribon and Ribon 1.5, owned and operated by 'Be A Part Of,' a Fastr company, had been compromised and used to inject malicious scripts into a small number of merchant storefronts,” the statement reads. "Acting in the best interest of our customers and their shoppers, we uninstalled the application from affected stores to revoke the attacker's access, notified those merchants directly, and are providing log data to support the developer's investigation," the company told the publication.

The keyword in this statement is “small number of merchant storefronts.” BigCommerce hints that the attack was relatively small in scope and, consequently, in damage. However, in its report Master of Malt says otherwise:

“It’s now clear that we weren’t the target of the attack. The attack was against Ribon, which was installed on hundreds of BigCommerce stores. Once the attackers compromised an access key from Ribon, they used it to access data held inside BigCommerce.”

Names and emails

Whether or not this transforms into a new Snowflake fiasco remains to be seen.

In the meantime, Master of Malt also said BigCommerce notified it that the attack had been stopped and that there was no further risk of compromise. All companies affected by the breach were contacted. As for the spirits retailer, here is what it said about the data exposed in the hit:

“I’m sorry to say that the attackers had access to your name, email address, phone number, and address. However, they were not able to access your password, credit card or other payment information as they are held in a separate system which was never compromised.”

Master of Malt reported the attack to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Law firm Emery Reddy is calling for potential claimants to the incidents, saying that “several retailers” are currently notifying customers about data exposure related to the incident, BleepingComputer reported.

“A number of online retailers that use the BigCommerce e-commerce platform have begun notifying customers of a data breach that originated not with the retailers themselves, but with a third-party application called Ribon,” the law firm says. Emery Reddy also warned of potential phishing and scam attacks.

One of the unexpected consequences of freely available AI tools like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT has been the rise of what’s quickly becoming known as ‘grandmaslop’. It seems that grandparents are filling their family albums with AI versions of pictures of their grandchildren and sending them to their kids.

When it comes to using generative AI on family photos, at least, the trend has exposed a striking generational divide.

“I'm Gen X, but my Boomer mom made a whole AI book for both of my kids. It was bizarre,” said one Reddit user, commenting on the rise of grandmaslop. “I think the weirdest part is, if photos are our way of immortalizing a moment in time for the sake of our memories, then what is an AI-generated image, if it's a moment of time that never existed?” asked another user.

Storybooks of slop

The ease of use of AI tools means that grandparents are creating whole storybooks of slop featuring their grandkids and emailing them to their kids.

“The books are crap, all have the same AI slop cartoon styling and the stories make no sense and have horrible meter”, said another Reddit user. “One was a rhyming book that had words that didn’t rhyme.”

The new phenomenon of 'grandmaslop' seems to be a perfect example of a topic that reveals the generational divide in approaches to AI. One user suggests that perhaps for a lot of people the concept and proof of a relationship is more important than the execution of an art project.

Another user agrees and wryly adds, “My father is the proudest grandparent in the world. He tells everyone how much he loves the grandkids he never sees, so that tracks”.

What’s interesting is that when it comes to the workplace, a Randstad report measuring AI adoption rates put Millennials as the quickest adopters of AI in their jobs, significantly more than GenZ, Gen X, and Boomers, with 50% of Millennials using AI compared to just 19% of Boomers and 34% of Gen X. “Their proficiency with Generation AI tools surpasses other generations, marking them as key players in the current AI landscape within workplaces”, says the report.

When it comes to their kids, however, Millennials apparently would rather leave AI out of the picture.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Studio Romantic)A generational divide

I think there’s something else going on here. Digging deeper into the thread on Reddit, it quickly descended into general grievances about the lack of effort grandparents show with their grandkids.

There seems to be a general level of resentment for the privileges that Boomer grandparents have enjoyed due to growing up in different economic circumstances and the general lack of effort parents perceive in them wanting to see their grandchildren, despite having the opportunities to do so. For example:

“My parents never miss an opportunity to say how much they miss the grandkids and wish they could see them more often, and it takes every ounce of my strength not to point out they're both retired and in good health, have $80k/yr worth of pensions and social security, investment accounts worth close to $1mm, and live in a paid-off house.”

Perhaps the visceral reaction to ‘grandmaslop’ is really just the most visible tip of a much larger iceberg of resentment about the lack of effort put into grandparenting, and a generational divide that’s as much economic and cultural as it is to do with attitudes to AI.

After all, there’s nothing inherently wrong with a grandparent making a silly AI picture of their grandkids riding a dinosaur or flying through space. Some children will probably love it. But when an AI-generated storybook arrives from a grandparent who rarely turns up in person, it can start to look like another shortcut.

And perhaps that’s why ‘grandmaslop’ has touched such a nerve. The problem isn’t really that Grandma has discovered ChatGPT. It’s that, for some parents at least, generative AI has made it possible to simulate the effort they wish their children were getting for real.

• Creative Assembly says Alien: Isolation 2 is still influenced by the iconic film, despite the outdoor setting
• Principal environment artist Archie Whitehead says the environment had to be showcased "through the lens of someone from the 1970s"
• Principal UI artist Laura Mouther says the team is "not reinventing the wheel" and is still using a lot of inspiration from the first movie and game

Alien: Isolation 2 is still inspired by the first Alien movie, even though the game features a new outdoor setting, but Creative Assembly had to make sure the environment felt authentic to its iconic retro-futuristic aesthetic.

Like Ridley Scott's 1979 Alien, Alien Isolation takes place inside a space station, isolating the player in a claustrophobic environment as a Xenomorph hunts them. However, the sequel features an outdoor colony world and the confines of a Weyland-Yutani outpost, giving the studio a new opportunity to expand exploration and find new ways to adapt the movie's iconic style.

Speaking to TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom, principal environment artist Archie Whitehead didn't want to spoil the setting too much, suggesting players are in for some surprises as they explore the game's outdoor mining colony, with principal UI artist Laura Mouther explaining that the team is "not reinventing the wheel" and is still using a lot of inspiration from the first movie and the first game.

"The first movie is the lens we're looking through everything at," Mouther said. "It's our guiding step. And when it comes to new, we're really excited about introducing new retrofitting tech," she added before using a CRT computer as an example of how it would be damaged in an outdoor setting.

"I can maybe give you an idea of our approach to it," she said. "We think about it now that you have to be indoors and outdoors; obviously, things need to adapt. I have a CRT monitor on my workstation as my third monitor; there are holes on the top in the back. Obviously, if I put that outside and it's raining, it's gonna go kaput, right? So, we need to make sure that we're adapting the things that we have seen in the first movie and in the first game to be believable in this outdoor environment. [So] it makes sense."

Whitehead added that it has to be showcased "through the lens of someone from the 1970s" because things like LEDs and LCD panels didn't exist back then.

"As an environment artist, I'm making design decisions all the time when modeling something about the shapes used; where's a vent, where's this?" Whitehead said, adding that it would be easy to add "generic" shapes, but he and the team used movie set photos and imagery to "dissect" how to build these assets players will see in the environment.

"Sometimes it feels like yogurt pots," he joked. "It's a lot of vacuum form shapes. They even had some parts of it; I think it was a bomber from the Second World War. They got some stuff from the scrapyard.

"So looking at what they had and working out how to recontextualize those things when creating a new design, and just making sure that whenever we reference stuff, we don't reference anything from beyond that point because those manufacturing techniques and those materials didn't exist yet, so they shouldn't be here."

Alien: Isolation 2 will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. A release date hasn't been announced.

• The second iOS 27.2 developer beta has landed, and code points to several upcoming features
• These include an anti-snatching tool, so the phone locks itself if it detects a sharp grab or when disconnected from your Apple Watch
• There are changes hinted at for Shortcuts, Apple Music, and CarPlay Ultra too

The second iOS 27.2 developer beta has now landed, and while on the face of it this doesn’t look much different to the first beta, behind the scenes there’s quite a lot of new stuff to find.

Digging into the code, 9to5Mac has found more details of an anti-snatching feature that we’ve previously reported on. This as-yet-unannounced feature is apparently called ‘AutoLock’ internally at Apple, and is designed to lock your phone if a thief grabs it.

It sounds similar then to Android’s Theft Detection Lock, and the code in this beta suggests that it would use various signals to tell whether an iPhone has been stolen, such as a sharp acceleration (which could happen when a phone is first snatched), loss of connectivity to a paired Apple Watch, a paired Apple Watch being unreachable, prolonged loss of network activity, or the device remaining unlocked for a certain period of time.

Any of these things could trigger an iPhone to automatically lock itself, but there are also references to safeguards aimed at preventing false positives. These include things like successful biometric authentication, and certain innocent app activities that could otherwise be signs of theft.

Other hidden features

Here’s the new album release countdown on iPhone, coming soon to Apple Music.Featuring a very satisfying numeric text content transition. https://t.co/SIwlvlt9lB pic.twitter.com/stuBUYPoWJSeptember 19, 2026

On top of this, as spotted by X user @itspdfu (via 9to5Mac) iOS 27.2 beta 2 also includes code for a new album release countdown in Apple Music, and for the ability to support actions from third-party apps in Shortcuts new ‘Describe a Shortcut’ tool. So you’ll be able to include third-party apps in shortcuts built using natural language, rather than having to use the old shortcut builder.

Finally, @aaronp613 has found evidence that CarPlay Ultra will soon offer a ‘Drive Mode Theme’, allowing you to change things like the gauge style and color. Though right now CarPlay Ultra is only available on Aston Martin vehicles, so this might be of limited usefulness.

Of course there’s the usual caveat with all this that while Apple is seemingly working on these features, we can’t be sure of if or when they’ll actually launch. But they all sound like worthwhile upgrades, so hopefully they will roll out — and soon.

• iOS users are seeing ‘ads’ for other Apple products on their iPhones
• The banners promote services like iCloud+, Apple Music and AppleCare+
• The messages often can’t be dismissed and stick around for weeks

If you were to ask iOS users how they felt about Apple’s decision to insert ads into Apple Maps, it would quickly become obvious that it was not a popular move. So when iPhone fans discovered that Apple has been inserting prompts for its own products into iOS, the reaction was predictably swift and furious.

The ‘ads’ in question appear in the Settings app in iOS. They can be found near the top of the iPhone’s display and promote several products to the user, including paid-for iCloud+ storage, free trials for services like Apple Music and Apple TV, and the AppleCare+ extended warranty.

Infuriatingly for iOS users, the only way to disable these promos is to either let them expire — which in many cases could take weeks or even months, leaving a persistent notification badge on the Settings app in the meantime — or pay for the service being offered. There is not always a “dismiss” button to shoo them away for good, and when there is, some people have reported that it doesn’t seem to work.

Many people have taken to social media to vent their frustrations with Apple’s actions. “I’m feeling like this is nearly on-par with the ens***ification that Microsoft introduced with Start menu ads,” said one aggravated user. “I wish Apple would just stop that crap,” stated another. Many other people have taken to Reddit to express their exasperation, suggesting that the discontent is widespread.

Some of these ads and offers — such as the one for Apple Music — appear after you’ve bought a new Apple product. With the company launching the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro range recently, it’s perhaps unsurprising that we’re seeing a sudden influx of posts flush with irritation and indignation.

Apple’s services push

(Image credit: Future)

On the face of it, Apple’s decision to include promotions like this in its operating system might seem like a strange one. After all, Apple has long positioned itself as a premium company where the user experience is paramount. From that viewpoint, repeatedly attempting to prod customers towards even more of the company’s products might seem cheap, even distasteful. And when you’ve just shelled out a record fee for an iPhone after Apple’s painful price rises, that can just feel like nickel and diming.

But Apple has been putting increasing emphasis on its services in recent years, of which products like iCloud+, Apple Music, Apple TV and AppleCare+ are all a part. With limited room for growth in the smartphone market, the company is turning to areas where it thinks it can make more progress.

And unfortunately for users, that means more ads like this on their devices. While they are far from the most obnoxious ads around, the fact that many cannot be dismissed is clearly rubbing users the wrong way — as is the fact that the promos even exist at all in an Apple product.

There is also the possibility that at least some of these adverts are appearing due to a bug. The iCloud+ one in particular has drawn comments from users who are already subscribed to iCloud+ and thus, one would think, should not need to see any ads like this. Time will tell how that plays out and whether Apple fixes this ‘bug’ or leaves the ads in place. If the latter transpires, it would suggest that they are not appearing erroneously.

With Apple’s services push showing no signs of slowing down and further ads supposedly planned for the likes of the firm’s Visual Intelligence system, don’t expect Apple to have a change of heart any time soon.

• Principal environment artist Archie Whitehead says Alien: Isolation 2's custom lighting and audio tech allowed it to create a more "realistic" atmosphere
• He says just using Unreal Engine 5 wasn't enough, since the engine is "optimized for usually quite bright scenes"
• Custom lighting allowed the team to design "reactivity" in the environment

Alien: Isolation 2's custom audio and lighting technology has enabled Creative Assembly to create a more authentic atmosphere that it couldn't fully achieve with just Unreal Engine 5.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom, Creative Assembly principal environment artist Archie Whitehead and principal UI artist Laura Mouther shared more about developing the sequel with Unreal Engine 5 and the studio's custom technology, which it previously told us was an "evolution" of what fans are familiar with.

"For horror, audio and lighting are the two Powerman things," Whitehead said. "Unreal gave us a great base, but we felt that to do certain things, it [custom tech] really, really helps."

One of those things, particularly with lighting, was "reactivity," which would offer visual effects from things like weather and other environmental assets, creating a more realistic atmosphere.

"We wanted a thunderclap, like fire flickering, sirens spinning, all of that stuff," he continued. "We felt that a custom solution would give us that perfect frame response that you want in that really, really dark environment. You know, Lumens [UE5's global illumination and reflections system] is optimized for usually quite brighter scenes."

The developer explained that the team struggled with showcasing metals in the game's darker exterior environment, saying, "Metals in virtual worlds are really difficult."

He added, "The color of metal is actually just what's being reflected, right? And the problem is all of our scenes are really dark, so for the metal to behave properly, it's quite a tricky balance to strike. So that's one of the things that our lighting system helps us with."

The game's audio system has also improved, with Whitehead reiterating that it's an "evolution" of what the first game offered, but was iterated on again and again.

"Since then, it's been used for other CA projects, so it's quite mature," he said. "And it creates a kind of spatial setup of the world. And what that means is, when a sound happens in a room that is — a vent away from you or something — that sound is being reverberated around, and you get a really, really realistic response, and hopefully a really, really terrifying version of that sound."

Alien: Isolation 2 is now in development and will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

• Apparently Nvidia's not launching RTX 6000 GPUs until 2028
• A leaker claims that these graphics cards have been delayed from the 2027 debut Nvidia originally planned
• Pushing back these GPUs makes sense given the RAM crisis, and some gamers are happy to wait anyway

Nvidia has pushed back its timeframe for launching next-generation graphics cards for gamers, and we're now hearing they won't arrive until 2028.

As ever, all this is theoretical – Nvidia hasn't uttered a peep about its RTX 6000 GPUs officially – but according to Kopite7kimi, a well-known leaker on X (via TweakTown), these products are now destined for a 2028 release which "means they have postponed again."

In other words, Nvidia was supposedly looking at a launch for next year, but the leaker now believes that isn't the case.

Another leaker, Moore's Law is Dead on YouTube, recently said that Nvidia is planning a 2027 launch for the RTX 6000 series, so this directly contradicts that idea. However, it's possible that this was the case, but Team Green has only just changed its mind.

Analysis: a sensible move

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images)

Of course, both of these assertions are just rumors, and we need to regard them with an equal amount of caution – but I think it makes more sense for Nvidia to delay the release of its next-gen GeForce GPUs until 2028.

Why? I have three predictable words for you: the RAM crisis. With the memory shortage – which also impacts video RAM – rapidly worsening as 2026 progresses, and predicted to descend further into nightmarish pricing territory in 2027, next year seems like a bad move for launching a family of next-gen GPUs.

Especially when you consider that the first graphics cards to emerge will doubtless be the flagship RTX 6090 and the 6080. How expensive will they be in such a climate, given that the RTX 5080 is already exorbitantly priced? The latter has reached around $1,500 in the US at this point, and is at similar levels in other regions, such as £1,350 in the UK (that's the cheapest GPU in both cases at the time of writing, I should make clear). And let's not even talk about the RTX 5090 which has got completely ridiculous.

Remember that these next-gen GPUs are going to require more memory to be an upgrade over their predecessors, and are also likely to use more expensive VRAM modules.

3GB modules will likely be used by Nvidia, or maybe even 4GB or 6GB chips, which as Wccftech reports, are rumored to debut in the next year or two (which would align with a 2028 release for RTX 6000, in theory). That's according to another prominent leaker over in Asia, Golden Pig Upgrade, as posted on Weibo.

All expectations are for the RTX 6000 series to be pricey, which is why launching them at what might be the height of the RAM crisis – 2027, going by current predictions – doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The following year seems a lot more likely, when hopefully the crisis has started to settle down and pricing is at least stabilizing to some extent (although some believe we're looking longer term for that to happen, more towards 2030).

Whatever the case, some gamers are getting jaded with the market. One of the replies to Kopite7kimi's post on X simply says of the next generation of Nvidia GeForce GPUs: "Nobody cares, nobody can afford it anyway." Others – like this Redditor, who says "I'd rather they delayed the launch to consumers" – indicate that they're happy enough to wait due to pricing or stock issues (launch quantities of GPUs would likely be thin on the ground).

The other question is whether we'll see those RTX 5000 Super refreshes that have been long rumored. I'm doubtful at this point, and I think Nvidia may be inclined to rely more on the AI and software side of the equation, principally DLSS 5, to impress gamers, rather than new (stupidly pricey) hardware.

Technology is constantly evolving, and with that comes increasing pressure on those working in the sector. It's no surprise, then, that technology ranks among the industries with the highest levels of work-related stress, contributing to around 550,000 working days lost over three years according to the Health and Safety Executive in 2024.

Stress rarely appears overnight. It builds over time through heavy workloads, unclear expectations, limited support and constantly shifting priorities. Too often, leaders only recognize the problem once an employee has reached burnout.

Managing stress shouldn't be seen solely as an individual's responsibility. Leaders play a vital role in creating environments where people feel supported, can raise concerns early and have the tools they need to manage pressure before it becomes overwhelming.

By recognizing the warning signs and making a few practical changes, leaders can help prevent stress from escalating into burnout.

1. Understand how and why individuals respond differently

Two employees can face exactly the same challenge but respond in completely different ways. One useful way of understanding these differences is through Kirton's Adaption-Innovation (KAI) Theory. Developed by psychologist Dr Michael Kirton, the theory suggests people naturally approach change and problem-solving in different ways.

More adaptive individuals tend to prefer structure, established processes and incremental improvements, while more innovative individuals are often more comfortable with ambiguity, risk taking and finding entirely new solutions. Most people fall somewhere between the two.

Neither style is better than the other, but each can bring different sources of stress. More adaptive employees may struggle with unclear roles, changing priorities or a lack of structure, while more innovative employees can become frustrated by rigid processes or repetitive work.

Understanding how individuals prefer to work allows leaders to allocate work more effectively, helping employees perform at their best while reducing unnecessary pressure.

2. Create a culture of asking questions

Many employees struggle to admit when they need help. We are often taught this is a sign of weakness and an indicator of capability.

Creating a culture of trust changes that. When people feel comfortable raising concerns, asking questions or admitting they are struggling, problems can be addressed before they become unmanageable.

Leaders set the tone. Asking for feedback, acknowledging your own mistakes and responding positively when employees raise concerns all help create psychological safety within a team. An open culture also makes it much easier to recognize when someone is beginning to struggle.

Changes such as withdrawing from colleagues, becoming more irritable, missing deadlines or struggling to prioritize work are often viewed as performance issues, when they may actually be signs of mounting stress.

Regular conversations, rather than relying solely on formal performance reviews, give leaders the opportunity to identify these warning signs early. Simple adjustments, such as redistributing workloads, clarifying priorities or removing unnecessary obstacles, can prevent stress from developing into burnout.

3.Observe your team to identify stress early

Stress rarely appears suddenly. It can build gradually, making it difficult to recognize until it begins to affect an employee's wellbeing or performance.

While you may be aware that a particular task or deadline is likely to create pressure, it can be harder to spot when longer-term stress is beginning to affect your team. Changes in behaviour can be early warning signs. An employee may start to withdraw from colleagues, become more irritable or defensive, miss deadlines or struggle to prioritize their workload.

As leaders, we can be quick to interpret these changes as performance issues. However, they may be indicators that someone is experiencing stress and needs additional support.

Regular check-ins, rather than relying solely on formal performance reviews, give leaders an opportunity to understand what's happening and address problems early. By noticing these changes, leaders can redistribute workloads, adjust expectations or remove obstacles before stress develops into burnout.

4. Give your employees control

Many employees experience stress because they feel they have little control over their work. Those in the technology sector often face tight deadlines, changing priorities, and high expectations. While we cannot remove all these pressures, we can provide autonomy to employees to help them be more successful.

Greater autonomy doesn't mean removing direction altogether. Leaders still need to set realistic expectations and help teams distinguish between what's genuinely urgent and what can wait. As a leader, you need to help your employees set realistic goals. You can help employees recognize what is urgent and prioritize their tasks effectively.

Employees who provide input and contribute in this way feel more in control and experience a higher level of buy in to team goals.

5. Create a culture that prioritizes recovery

We often mistake short-term performance for sustainable outcomes. However, we require time to recover not just as a reward, but as consistent practice. Employees need to be encouraged to take time to recuperate.

As a leader, the tone you set is seen and mimicked. If you’re not taking regular breaks, working at all hours of the night, and pushing through exhaustion, your employees will feel they need to do the same. Consider your own habits and then promote celebrating breaks, disconnection outside of working hours, using leave time, and establishing work-life balance.

It is easy to say, “do as I say not as I do.” However, this culture starts with you. Taking time to recover yourself helps you avoid burnout and be a better leader overall. It will also lead to long-term sustained performance over short bursts of success.

Stress will always be a part of the workplace. The goal is not to remove stress, but to prevent burnout and sustain performance.

As a leader, the ability to help your employees reduce stress is a shared responsibility between the individual, yourself, and your team. By understanding how individuals solve problems, creating an environment of trust, observing stress early on, increasing employee autonomy, and promoting recovery time, your organization can retain talent and build a healthier and more productive workforce.

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• Meta reaches agreement to allow Prospect union access to UK employees
• New reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 come into force in October 2026
• Despite slipping steadily, UK union membership could see a major bounce back

Meta has reached an agreement with Prospect union to allow access to its UK employees to speak about membership opportunities.

The move comes as a deadline for compliance with new union membership rules under the Employment Rights Act 2025 looms in October 2026.

Under the agreement, Prospect will have access to all 5,000 of Meta’s UK employees, allowing the union to talk to Meta workers about the benefits of union membership and recruit workers.

New union rules strengthen UK workers

A spokesperson for Meta said, “Employees who want to find out more about union membership have a straightforward way to do so. Meta's industrial relations team already works with employee representative groups in multiple markets, and we are approaching this in the same way.”

Initial trade union reforms as part of the Employment Rights Act 2025 took effect in February of this year. But subsequent reforms, due to take effect on 30 October, add additional requirements for employers to inform workers of their right to join a union, provide greater access for unions to workplaces, add additional protections for union representatives, and give workers greater protections when taking industrial action.

Meta is therefore providing Prospect with access to Meta employees ahead of the deadline, which Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said “is to Meta’s credit that they have struck this voluntary deal with Prospect, rather than waiting for the new Right of Access to kick in, sending a positive message to staff that they are open to engaging with a union.”

Prospect currently has over 160,000 UK workers within its membership pool, covering technology, broadcasting, creative industries, defense and education.

The beginnings of a UK union bounce back?

According to official statistics from the UK Department for Business & Trade, union membership has been on a steady decline. In 1995, 28.8% of those in employment belonged to a union. But by 2025, this number has reached a historic low of just 19.9%.

Ahead of the reforms introduced by the Employment Rights Bill, union membership as a percentage of those in employment rose to 20.4% in 2025, potentially being bolstered ahead of the Bill’s formal introduction.

There are a number of reasons for the steady decline in union membership - some good, and some bad. The UK economy shifting away from industrial industries that traditionally held union-heavy employment is one of the most significant factors.

But Anti-union legislation introduced under Margaret Thatcher’s premiership during the 1990s also weakened the power of unions significantly. Unions lost legal protections against strikes, outlawed sympathy strikes, and introduced mandatory secret votes on union leadership ahead of strike action.

New rules introduced as part of employment protections and regulations - such as the minimum wage introduced in 1998 - have also reduced the need for unions to negotiate fair pay or organise industrial action in events of extreme unfairness.

Looking forward, the rapid introduction of AI to UK industries and the fear of job displacement are also likely fueling union membership in the UK.

Ask a UK bank for investment advice, and you get a lawful recommendation. If it was negligent, you will have the right to make a claim using the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Ask ChatGPT, or, more fashionable, Claude, the same question and you get nothing. Just an answer, but it will be delivered with a more confident tone, no matter whether it's right or absolutely wrong.

Despite that, more than a quarter of UK consumers now say they trust AI chatbots for money advice. The Financial Conduct Authority found this figure and flagged it as a live concern in its most recent review.

Other surveys found even higher figures. STRAT7 found 55% of UK adults have used AI for financial guidance, Sky News reported 40%, and EY's global study measured Gen Z adoption at 68%. Whatever the precise number is, the direction is the same.

People have started to trust AI more and more in their financial decisions. But the debate about it has, so far, been asking the wrong question.

What is the wrong question?

Most publications today focus on accuracy, and what everyone wants to know is whether the AI's advice is good. But is it?

In one study, there were five real financial scenarios passed to major chatbots, and the output was compared to certified financial planners. The result was unsurprising, though. The bots reliably missed emotional and situational context, so personal decisions turned to rough spreadsheet logic that missed important input.

Sky News has conducted a similar test, where three chatbots were given £16,000 in real savings. What they found was that the recommendations were US-biased and incomplete.

Most alarming, it was an investigation which found Claude incorrectly described Binance as FCA-registered when advising a beginner on cryptocurrency. Binance was, in fact, ordered to cease UK-regulated activity back in 2021.

AI’s misleading outputs sound disturbing, but what is even worse is that it is only one part of the problem. Things get harder after the incorrect advice has already been given, acted on, and gone wrong.

So, when it happens, who takes the blame? Nobody is the answer, although it’s quite uncomfortable to hear.

The FCA has noted the same. In its 2026 report, the regulator confirmed that LLM platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude sit entirely outside its regulatory remit. This means that consumers using them for financial guidance are not receiving regulated advice. Therefore, they have no access to the Financial Ombudsman Service (or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme) if things go wrong.

That said, the safety net simply does not apply the moment consumers paste a question into a chatbot.

The regulatory gap explained

To understand why this gap exists, let’s understand how UK financial regulation actually works. The regulatory perimeter is activity-based, not technology-based. This means what matters most is what is being done, not how.

A firm that provides personalized recommendations on the purchase, sale, or holding of certain assets is engaged in regulated activity, regardless of whether those recommendations are provided by a person or an algorithm.

The problem is that AI chatbots occupy a new space. They are not marketed as financial advisers, so they don't claim to be regulated. And technically, in most cases, they are not offering advice in the strict legal sense — they are responding to open questions.

Again, this ambiguity was addressed in the FCA report. The Mills Review highlights that AI platforms may influence consumers’ financial decisions without clearly implementing regulated actions. As a consequence, this creates a serious blank space between the actual financial impact and the protection provided by regulatory authorities.

The review's main recommendation was for the FCA to officially revise the scope for receiving financial recommendations developed using AI tools. So, this process is ongoing, and further updates will be available only after a few months, or even more.

The consumer protection problem and what fintech can do

While there is no law so far protecting ordinary people, what should we do? Can fintechs close this gap, at least for now?

First of all, waiting for the FCA perimeter check to be completed is not a strategy. It’s better to start by separating information from personalization, especially if your company has an AI assistant.

The thing is that the boundaries of recommendations depend on whether the conclusion is adapted to the specific circumstances of a particular person. The tool that generally explains what an ETF is is in a completely different regulatory status than the one that says how much you should invest in funds.

Also, make sure the disclaimer does real work. The footer text “not financial advice,” located below a specific recommendation, will not pass regulatory checks. The FCA evaluates content, not form. If the output data looks like a personalized recommendation, the tiny disclaimers will not reclassify it.

Although many people use AI today, do not overuse it to earn trust. An analysis of more than 330 million reviews showed that mentions of interaction with AI are rated, on average, at just 1.7 points, compared to 3.7 points for reviews that do not mention AI.

Final words

Surely, there will be some people who continue to use AI directly for financial advice, and their number will grow. For them, I can say only one thing: be careful about who you trust with your earnings. If no one is accountable, maybe not treating it as a rulebook will save you from losses.

But fintechs should start building the accountable version of their business, with an audit trail and a human above the AI layer. So when the machine says "yes," someone is actually standing behind that answer.

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• Apple unveils its Music Hall in Battersea Power Station, London
• Space for live music, but also a place for recording said music
• All performances can be recorded in Spatial Audio

If you love listing to acoustic sets, live recordings or unplugged sessions from your favorite artists, then Apple Music's new announcement might make it your go-to streaming service for this kind of recording.

London's Battersea Power Station, an iconic Art Deco power station once famous for its use in Pink Floyd album artwork (that's since been turned into a rather soulless shopping mall) now plays host to the Apple Music Hall. This, of course, levels up the location's artistic merits, joining the The Cinema in the Power Station, which this writer argues is the best movie theater he's ever been to.

Apple Music Hall is a 600-seater venue, with a 48-speaker surround sound system (that's 12.5 people per speaker, if the venue is at capacity). But its appeal isn't just for people who can hop on the London Underground's Northern Line and navigate the winding halls of the Power Station.

The space also houses a production facility, which can be used for live or post-performance mixing. That means performances at the Apple Music Hall can be recorded and mixed incredibly quickly, letting Apple Music listeners at home enjoy the set with Spatial Audio and video recordings too.

Apple has confirmed that its Music Hall performances will be live-streamed, so you can tune in easily. It didn't specify that this'll only be to Apple Music subscribers, but (given the heavy investment in such a a venue) it'd be odd for the company to let just anyone tune in and listen.

A place to listen to music

(Image credit: Apple)

Music streaming services are starting to realise that intentional listening is more meaningful than algorithmically-picked background noise which you tune out of. Only a few months ago, Spotify opened a Listening Lounge in London, which is a room with a high-end stereo set-up so you can enjoy quality music in an acoustically-tuned environment.

Listening Lounge is a bit different to the Apple Music Hall, because it's not for live music and you can't simply buy tickets to go, but they share a common theme: it's nice to sit down and spend all of your mental capabilities enjoying music. These will be live streams that you don't put on in the background; you can sit down and enjoy the performances as they happen.

The addition of live artists gives the Apple Music Hall a little extra juice — and if the brand manages to book some good artists, the live streams could be outstanding. I don't mean popular artists, but those with a flair for live performance that'll make the recordings transcend their studio equivalents.

Thankfully, London's a city full of artists, with every street hosting theater bars, record store gigs and open mic nights. Apple doesn't need to open the purse strings and look for the big names, or rely on people with loads of TikTok followers, to get a talented line-up.

No artists have been announced for the venue yet, but after its full opening on September 28, perhaps we'll hear some names. And if, like me, you're a local who might consider going to a gig there, signing up for a newsletter on the Apple Music Hall website will keep you in the know.

In March, Google moved its own post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration deadline forward to 2029, a full six years ahead of NIST's guidance, and two ahead of the NSA's requirement for national security systems. It was a terrific bit of security signaling, but now it is backed up by a new product-by-product roadmap organized around three risk domains, with milestones attached to named services.

For anyone whose job touches digital trust, the most significant of those three domains is Google’s attempt at enhancing foundational capabilities for cryptographic agility: building flexible systems that can adopt new cryptographic standards with minimal engineering effort as those standards evolve.

The message is that organizations should prepare for a future in which standards, certificate formats, and operational requirements continue to evolve, and evolve regularly, requiring cryptographic agility.

Why quantum risk is already a digital trust problem

Adversaries are already harvesting and storing encrypted data today on the assumption that a future quantum computer will decrypt it (harvest now, decrypt later). Anything with a long confidentiality tail, from health records to national archives to intellectual property, is already exposed to a machine that does not yet exist.

Quantum-resistant algorithms, like ML-DSA, solve the cryptographic problem, but they introduce much larger keys and signatures. Deployed through today's public key infrastructure (PKI), they would inflate or possibly break the systems behind secure connections. Legacy systems and high-latency networks would feel it most.

What is a Merkle Tree Certificate (MTC)?

At the time this article is being written, the most significant development in Google's roadmap may be the easiest to miss. Under Domain 2, Integrity and non-repudiation, a single line reads:

“Google Trust Services, Merkle Tree Certificates, 2028”.

Merkle Tree Certificates (MTCs) are a new kind of website domain certificate designed to keep secure connections fast in the coming era of quantum computers. Today a website proves its identity by presenting a certificate that carries several digital signatures, and the quantum-resistant versions of those signatures are so bulky they would slow down every secure connection on the internet.

MTCs solves this by having the certificate authority (CA) record everything it issues in a public, tamper-evident log, organized as a Merkle tree. Rather than carrying heavy signatures, the website presents a short trail of digital fingerprints showing its certificate sits in that log, and the browser checks the trail against a summary of the log it already received through its normal software updates.

Of note, MTCs do not abandon X.509. They are X.509 certificates, carrying a proof where a signature used to sit, issued alongside conventional directly-signed certificates rather than replacing them.

The result is a certificate that stays small, stands up to quantum computers, and is publicly verifiable by default. For the regular everyday person: we get to keep using the internet fast and uninterrupted with quantum resistance underneath.

MTCs make transparency structural

In today's web PKI, transparency is bolted onto issuance as a separate step. The CA signs a certificate, submits it to independent CT logs, and collects SCTs, each of which is a log's signed promise to publish the certificate within a fixed window. A misbehaving or compromised log can vouch for a certificate that never becomes visible to the monitors watching for misissuance.

MTCs change that relationship. The CA certifies by logging, and a certificate is literally a proof that its entry appears in the CA's public issuance log, verified by the browser on every connection. If it is not in the log, it is not a certificate. Under MTC, transparency does not merely survive the post-quantum transition. It comes out stronger.

Who is developing Merkle Tree Certificates

When the vendor with the dominant browser share proposes a new certificate format and a new root store to hold it, it is reasonable to ask whether the rest of the ecosystem is being consulted or simply informed.

However, MTCs are not Google's alone. At the time of writing, the IETF draft's authors span Google, Apple, Cloudflare, and Geomys. Cloudflare has been involved from the outset, CAs including Sectigo have contributed to the underlying research, and Let's Encrypt publicly committed to MTCs in June 2026. The result will be an open standard any CA can implement, controlled by no single vendor.

The organizations that will shape post-quantum web trust are the ones in the working group now. Root programs, CAs, and large implementers who stay outside it will inherit decisions rather than influence them. That choice is available to everyone, and the window is open today.

How organizations should prepare for MTCs

Google’s 2028 date for MTCs deserves a roadmap's usual caveats. Google ties it to standardization work still in progress at the IETF, and dates like these move. The direction, however, resembles something that seems settled.

Chrome's planned Quantum-resistant Root Store will support quantum-resistant certificates only in the MTC format, not as post-quantum signatures bolted into traditional X.509. Compact classical signatures and X.509 served the web extraordinarily well for three decades, but with the dawn of quantum computing, we are due for a redesign.

For everyone else, the practical implication of Google's roadmap is not that you need MTCs. It is that you need to be capable of adopting them (or whatever else emerges) without a multi-year engineering program. Which is precisely the cryptographic agility Google put at the foundation of its own plan.

In concrete terms, organizations should focus on:

• A complete inventory of certificates and cryptographic assets, because you cannot migrate what you cannot see
• Automated certificate lifecycle management, because shorter certificate lifetimes will make manual processes untenable well before quantum computers arrive
• A written post-quantum roadmap from your CA, which every organization should be asking for

The full scope of what MTCs can do is still coming into focus, and they may not be the only answer the industry ultimately adopts. What is already clear is that organizations that invest in cryptographic agility, certificate lifecycle management, and complete visibility today will be best positioned to adapt as post-quantum standards mature.

The future of digital trust will belong to organizations that can evolve as quickly as the cryptography they depend on.

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• Daredevil: Born Again will end with its third season
• Marvel has wielded the ax on its longest-running live-action Disney+ show
• Its showrunner has also left with the final season deep into post production

Daredevil: Born Again will end with its third season after Marvel called time on the Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio-led TV show.

Rumors first emerged in the US morning yesterday (September 21) when X/Twitter user HablemonsdecineX claimed it had been canceled. Almost instantly, numerous industry insiders with spotty track records quickly jumped on the bandwagon to insist they'd heard similar things.

TechRadar approached Marvel and Disney for comment on its supposed axing, but didn't receive an immediate response. However, a few hours after Hablemonsdecine's original post, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) published its own piece indicating Daredevil: Born Again season 3 would be the show's last hurrah.

A Disney spokesperson has since told me that THR's article is accurate, so Born Again season 3, which will air on Disney+ sometime in March 2027, will be its final outing.

Why was Daredevil: Born Again canceled after three seasons?

I’ve now lived through two Daredevil Season 3 cancellations. You can’t hurt me anymoreSeptember 21, 2026

Outside of Marvel headquarters, nobody knows for sure — but there's one major reason why it's likely been consigned to the scrap heap.

Indeed, the show's second season suffered a significant drop in viewership compared to its debut outing on Disney+. Per audience measurement experts Luminate, Born Again season 2 accumulated 4.5 million views across its first five weeks in March. Compare that to the 8.4 million that season 1 accrued across the same time period in early 2025 on one of the world's best streaming services, and the Marvel Phase 6 program's audience share fell by a seemingly unrecoverable 47% in the space of 12 months.

I wrote about this last year but Charlie and Vincent only ever signed on for 3 seasons. It’s sad to see it end again but I’m very grateful we got 3 additional seasons. There’s always a possibility that they do come back for more. The ball is in Marvel’s court to make a new deal https://t.co/f83pEFHn6RSeptember 21, 2026

For all intents and purposes, Born Again season 2's dramatic drop in viewers didn't appear to spook Marvel executives. That's because its third — and now final — season was not only greenlit prior to its forebear's release, but also entered full production mere days before season 2 premiered on Disney+.

Furthermore, it seems that the decision to throw the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) TV show in the trash was only just made. According to Deadline, its cast and crew were informed of its cancellation on the same day that said news broke. It's unclear if Marvel's top brass spent months deliberating over the show's future before culling it, or if it was more of a spur-of-the-moment decision.

One thing that might have fast-tracked its demise is the departure of showrunner Dario Scardapane.

Per THR, Scardapane, who was brought on to rescue Daredevil: Born Again following reports that Marvel wanted to rework the entire show in late 2023, is said to have parted ways with the comic giant. Scardapane's exit comes with the show's third season deep into its post-production phase, too, thereby leaving the Born Again team without its creative figurehead. There's no word on who, if anyone, will fill the void and get the series' final installment over the line.

Why Daredevil: Born Again's cancellation couldn't have come at a worse timeComment from r/marvelstudios

With Born Again's time coming to an end, Marvel now has a two-fold problem on its hands.

For one, season 3 was seemingly set to herald a new dawn for the street-level corner of the MCU. Indeed, with the likes of Luke Cage and Iron Fist set to join the eponymous vigilante, Wilson Fisk, and Jessica Jones in making the leap from the Netflix Marvel-Verse to the MCU, fans had hoped that more gritty and grounded MCU stories would branch off of Born Again's forthcoming season.

Admittedly, that could still happen. However, if Marvel no longer has confidence in its longest-running live-action series, what hope do we have of seeing a Jessica Jones TV revival or — whisper it quietly — a Heroes for Hire project?

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

The other major issue Marvel has to contend with is actively promoting Daredevil: Born Again season 3.

New York Comic-Con (NYCC) has been used to market and/or announce many of the comic titan's forthcoming Disney+ offerings. And, with NYCC 2026 due to take place between October 8 and 11, it's highly likely that Marvel will hold its usual panel to reveal more details about its 2027 TV line-up.

With Born Again season 3 confirmed to be the show's last entry, will Marvel show and/or tell us anything significant about it? Or will it shift its focus to its animated programs, such as X-Men 97 season 3 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2, and subsequently ignore the giant Daredevil-shaped elephant in the room? I guess we'll find out in a few weeks' time.

For now, catch up on everything else we know so far about Daredevil: Born Again season 3.