TechRadar News

• GL.iNet Flint 3 is a powerful Wi-Fi 7 router with 2.5GbE ports at a bargain early bird price
• Supports OpenWrt, VPNs, and mesh with wide plugin compatibility
• It's the follow-up to the Slate 7, the world's first mobile Wi-Fi 7 router

The GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) may be the cheapest Wi-Fi 7 BE9300 router currently available, and with four 2.5GbE LAN ports plus VPN support, it could be a no-brainer for buyers looking to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7 speeds on a budget.

The tri-band router, designed for home users and small offices, is available for pre-order now. Super early bird buyers had the chance to grab it for just $119, but that tier quickly sold out. Early bird pricing is set at $139, while the standard pre-order price is $159. The MSRP is listed at $229.90, with orders expected to ship in mid-July 2025.

The Flint 3 builds on GL.iNet’s more compact, travel-oriented Slate 7, which the company launched a few months ago priced from $120.

Solid VPN performance

The Flint 3 is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, probably the IPQ5332, and paired with 1GB of DDR4 RAM and 8GB of eMMC storage.

It runs a customized version of OpenWrt 23.05 (Linux 5.4.213) and includes GL.iNet’s Admin Panel v4.7. The OS supports over 5,000 plug-ins, with built-in tools for privacy, tunneling, and ad blocking.

On the networking side, the Flint 3 is fitted with five 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, one for WAN, one WAN/LAN, and three dedicated LAN ports. These support up to 10Gbps link aggregation.

It supports WiFi 7 across the 2.4GHz (688Mbps), 5GHz (2882Mbps), and 6GHz (5765Mbps) bands, and includes four foldable external antennas. A USB 3.0 port allows for smartphone tethering or use with a cellular dongle.

The router’s VPN performance is rated up to 680Mbps on both WireGuard and OpenVPN-DCO. This is slightly below the 900Mbps seen on the older Flint 2, but still solid for encrypted traffic.

It also includes features like AdGuard Home, failover support, load balancing, and mesh networking. Power is provided via a 12V/4A DC input, and power draw is listed as under 25W under normal load.

Compared to more expensive BE9300 routers on the market, Flint 3’s early pricing and hardware mix make it a standout. Competing with similarly priced routers like the TP-Link Archer BE550 may be tough at full MSRP, but right now, it’s among the best WiFi 7 deals available.

Via CNX Software

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• Solidigm’s 122.88TB SSD may not be the fastest, but it wins on density and design
• At $12,400, this SSD isn’t cheap, but it could slash rack space and energy waste
• Solidigm already has rivals with competing 122.88TB SSD products

With a staggering capacity of 122.88TB, the Solidigm D5-P5336 currently holds the title for the world’s largest SSD.

Launched in late 2024, it became available for purchase at $12,400, a figure which may seem steep, until one considers the operational cost savings from reducing physical rack space and energy usage.

As Solidigm aims to lead the market in high-capacity enterprise storage, the company may soon face competition, not just in performance, but in scale.

A 246TB SSD may arrive in 2025

Reports now suggest that a 246TB SSD could be introduced before the end of 2025, potentially doubling today’s storage ceiling.

Solidigm’s drive has been positioned as a density-first product, with read speeds up to 7GB/s and write speeds of 3GB/s via PCIe Gen4.

It is optimized for workloads that benefit from high sequential read performance, such as AI pipelines, CDN services, and object storage.

Solidigm’s D5-P5336 122.88TB SSD packs a decent capacity into a single U.2 drive and sets a new benchmark in SSD storage density.

Yet despite the scale, real-world benchmarks indicate that performance doesn't scale linearly.

It often matches or slightly trails its 61.44TB predecessor in high-concurrency workloads, and lags behind Gen5 drives like Micron’s 61TB 6550, particularly in write-heavy operations.

The 122.88TB model offers modest endurance at 0.6 DWPD, which equates to 134.3 PB written over its five-year warranty period.

That makes it a fit for read-heavy environments, but less ideal for mixed or write-intensive deployments.

Still, Solidigm’s strategy is clear: focus on maximizing storage per watt, per rack unit, and per dollar.

As such, this drive may not be the best SSD in raw performance terms, but it plays a critical role in modern data centers where density and efficiency drive infrastructure design.

The competitive landscape is also shifting, and little-known Chinese brand DapuStor has released its own 122.88TB SSD, joining the race toward high-capacity flash.

While details on its long-term reliability and support remain limited, this signals growing interest in ultra-dense enterprise SSDs beyond established players.

That said, the possibility of a 246TB SSD raises important questions. Can NAND technology and controller efficiency keep up with this growth?

And will such capacity jumps continue to deliver meaningful performance improvements?

As data centers brace for AI-driven demand, the answer may define not only the best external SSD for hyperscalers but the trajectory of the largest SSD and hard drive technologies overall.

Via StorageReview

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• Aura Ultrabook Dual 14" Touch is perfect for presentations and scrolling through documents
• Stunning display setup is held back by an underpowered Intel Celeron processor that just can’t keep up
• A magnetic Bluetooth keyboard and a touch display give you both tactile and futuristic input options

The Aura Ultrabook Dual 14" Touch is an ambitious entry in the compact laptop market, targeting users who value portability and a futuristic dual-screen experience.

It offers an appealing form factor and sleek design with two 14-inch vertically stacked touchscreens that merge into an 18.5-inch workspace, and each screen boasts a 2.2K resolution with factory-calibrated 100% sRGB color accuracy.

The 360° friction hinge on the display allows for various modes of use, from tablet to full workstation, and it also offers a Bluetooth magnetic keyboard for a tactile typing experience when needed, along with a virtual touch keyboard integrated within the display.

Impressive visual and structural design but lackluster power

So on paper, it looks like a serious contender for those in need of flexible screen real estate, especially for professionals juggling multiple tasks - however, a critical shortcoming in its core performance undercuts its broader potential.

The biggest limitation is its use of an Intel Celeron N95 processor. While it’s a quad-core CPU with turbo boosting capabilities, the N95 remains an entry-level chip with relatively low power.

For users who plan to run simulations, data-heavy apps, or multiple demanding programs at once, this CPU will struggle.

Performance is limited not by RAM or storage, both of which are available in generous configurations (16GB RAM and up to 1TB SSD), but by the bottleneck in processing speed.

This issue is made worse by the device’s unconventional architecture. The CPU and battery are housed in one half of the dual-screen setup, meaning the keyboard is entirely optional and not part of the main body.

While that’s clever in terms of modularity, it raises concerns about long-term ergonomics and heat distribution, particularly when used without the keyboard attachment for extended periods.

That said, the laptop’s connectivity is broad, including USB-A and USB-C ports, HDMI, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack. It supports dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2.

As part of the Father’s Day promotional campaign, the Aura Ultrabook Dual 14" Touch is currently available for $699, a 13% discount off the $799 original price, and delivery will start worldwide on June 20.

While the price and discount are attractive, the underwhelming CPU is a significant flaw and is a deal breaker for power-hungry users.

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• Polar is launching a screenless band, confirmed in a recent press release
• It's a distraction free wearable set to launch on September 3
• Very few details are available, but it will definitely be subscription-free

I first learned about Polar when searching for alternatives to the best Garmin watches, but Polar as a company has been around for a long time: Polar Electro actually developed the world's first wireless heart rate monitor, filing the patent in 1980.

While the company may have slipped behind some of its competitors in the smartwatch popularity stakes since then, Polar does make solid, reliable devices that regularly rank on our best running watches and best heart rate monitor lists.

Now, though, Polar is moving into a new category: eating Whoop's lunch by releasing a screenless wrist band.

However, what excites me isn't just a new challenger in the screenless wearable space; it's the fact that this is a Whoop alternative that's completely subscription-free.

(Image credit: Lee Bell)

I haven't yet published my review for the Whoop MG, the latest high-end wearable to be released by Whoop, but to cut a long story short: there's a lot to love, especially the detailed analytics. While it's not ideal for runners, it's probably the most useful wearable for hybrid athletes and gym bunnies I've tested in a very long time, thanks to its Oura-style tagging system, workout builder, and advanced recovery tools.

However, it's not perfect: the clasp system frequently comes apart when taking the band off, and the subscription cost is very steep: the Whoop MG comes in at a staggering £349 / $359 / AU$629 per year, with the cheapest tier coming in at £169 / $199 / AU$299 per year. For this cost, you get the device along with an annual subscription to the Whoop app.

Polar does have a premium subscription tier in its app, but it's specifically for its Fitness Program feature, an adaptive training plan generation tool. The base analytics collected by Polar devices are free, which makes its devices a pretty good value: once a device has been purchased, it can be used without spending more money.

I'm really excited about the prospect of a budget Whoop alternative without the costly annual subscription. Polar's running watches, such as the Polar Grit X2 Pro, and heart rate monitors, like the Polar H10, are usually very well-reviewed, which bodes well for the wearable.

(Image credit: Whoop)

Although a price point hasn't been released for the screenless band – we don't even know its name – we do have a launch date for it: September 3, as mentioned in a Polar press release.

The release states that: "The upcoming Polar wearable will not only be the brand’s first screen-free wrist device, but it will also be a subscription-free alternative to other health bands and fitness trackers on the market.

"By eliminating the need for a screen, this new category of wearables captures accurate insights and data in the background without intruding on users’ daily lives, blending seamlessly into their routines as they go about their day.

"Users can then check their stats and progress whenever it suits them, staying connected to their sleep, activity, health, and fitness – without it demanding their attention."

It certainly sounds a lot like a cheaper Whoop, but we'll know more for sure closer to the launch date. Expect a detailed comparison when it drops, along with my full Whoop MG review soon.

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• Kia says it will offer Netflix, Disney+ , YouTube and LG Channels
• The entertainment is only available when parked
• It’s not free, as it comes part of a subscription-based package

Kia is the latest in a slew of manufacturers to start offering blockbuster entertainment inside vehicles, with a new subscription-based Entertainment Package unlocking Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and more.

Available only when parked, the optional new packages essentially unlock access to some of the world’s most popular streaming services, but also offer things like Stingray Karaoke, as well as Baby Shark World for Kids.

Coming first to the recently launched Kia EV3, the South Korean marque says that the additional software will soon be introduced to new Sportage, EV4, EV5 and all upcoming models in the future.

That said, it will only run on those newer vehicles powered by LG’s webOS-based Automotive Content Platform, which discounts older EV6, for example.

Currently, it's also only available to European markets, for now with North America and other regions to follow suit. The Entertainment Standard package, which will be offered free for a year, only supports music streaming and YouTube via Obigo.

A more comprehensive (and expensive) Entertainment Plus plan grants access to Netflix, Disney+ (in limited European countries) and YouTube via a native app.

Finally, an Entertainment PlusWiFi package throws in all of the above, as well as a WiFi hotspot function in the car, meaning passengers can tether and browse using the vehicle’s data package.

Analysis: Boredom busting comes at a price

(Image credit: Kia)

Kia joins a growing list of automotive manufacturers that are transforming their infotainment systems into media streaming devices when parked.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has offered the likes of Disney+ through its MBUX system for some time now, while Tesla’s built-in browser can access streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu.

Porsche's passenger-specific display, which is available on Taycan, Panamera and Macan as an optional extra, even allows front seat passengers to enjoy a movie or play games when the vehicle is in motion.

More and more, we are seeing digital displays within the vehicle double-up as entertainment platforms to kill time when parked... something that many EV owners still find themselves doing while waiting to brim batteries.

It's a great distraction and perfect for those times that you forgot to pack iPads or other digital devices for the kids.

There have been numerous times where I have whiled away the minutes playing a pop quiz or watching an episode of Bluey in the passenger seat with the little ones as we wait for a charging session to complete.

That said, the decision to charge just to access streaming services seems like a backwards step, particularly when most folk are already spending a fortune each month on entertainment plans as it is.

Kia will charge £74 a year (around $100/AU$154), or £7 (around $10/AU$15) per month, for its most basic package, with prices rising to £34 (around $46/AU$70) for the first three months for the Entertainment Plus Wi-Fi package .

This is in addition to the £80 (around $108/AU$166) a year required for the Kia Connect data package, which is free for the duration of the warranty (7 years), but runs out when the vehicles enter the used market.

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• World Leaks adds Freedman HealthCare to its data leak site
• The group claims to have exfiltrated tens of thousands of files
• The company is staying silent for now

A cybercrime gang claims to have breached Freedman HealthCare, a US-based consulting firm which helps states and healthcare organizations handle data, and allegedly stole thousands of sensitive files.

A threat actor called World Leaks added Freedman HealthCare to its data leak website. The group is a new entrant in the cybercrime space, with some saying it’s a rebrand of Hunters International, while others report it’s a spin-off of the infamous organization.

In any case, the group added the consulting firm to its site, but hasn’t yet uploaded any files, most likely to try and pressure it into paying the ransom demand.

Extortion as a service

The attackers claim to have stolen 42,204 files, amounting to more than 50GB, but the nature of the stolen files isn’t known, nor is the amount of money requested.

The company handles personal health information of millions of Americans, including sensitive data processed in Medicaid and commercial insurance claims, state health and human services agencies, social determinants of health datasets, and healthcare workforce initiatives.

Freedman HealthCare has not yet addressed these claims, so we don’t even know if they’re legitimate, or not.

However, Hunters International has a relatively good track record, with notable past victims including Toyota Brazil, NanoLumens, Integrated Control, and Frederick Wildman and Sons.

World Leaks apparently operates on an “extortion-as-a-service” model, launched in early 2025. The Register notes Hunters International found their ransomware work too risky, especially with international law enforcement operations actively targeting these groups. This prompted them to switch from the usual double extortion tactics to extortion as a service, resulting in the creation of World Leaks.

The group appears to be Russian in origin, and is rather active, with more than 150 victims in the last year.

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It’s official: the Nothing Phone 3 will use the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset.

Nothing CEO Carl Pei revealed the spec detail in an interview uploaded to the company’s YouTube channel, confirming that Nothing’s “first true flagship” phone will be “36% faster on CPU, 88% stronger on GPU, and 60% stronger on the NPU” than the Nothing Phone 2.

Big numbers! Except the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1-equipped Nothing Phone 2 is almost two years old, and by Nothing’s own admission, it’s not a true flagship, so you’d expect the Phone 3 to deliver a serious jump in performance. The even bigger elephant in the room is that Nothing’s “first true flagship” won’t be using the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which by all accounts is currently the fastest gun in the West. Is this a terrible revelation? I’m not so sure.

Look, it’s true that many of the best Android phones use Qualcomm’s latest top-end chipest, and it’s also true that, in not using the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Nothing Phone 3 will likely lag behind the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13 in benchmark tests and push-your-phone-to-the-limits use cases.

If you’re someone who likes to max out every setting in Call of Duty: Mobile or record lengthy videos in 8K, the Nothing Phone 3 won’t be for you. But Nothing is not, and never will be, a brand for these types of power users.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro launched in March (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Carl Pei founded Nothing in 2020 with a mission to “make tech cool again,” and that ethos has been evident in every Nothing phone released thus far (we described the company’s most recent effort, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, as “the most interesting phone you can buy for less than $500 / £500 / AU$850” in our review).

Nothing’s next challenge is to make a “cool” phone that isn’t noticeably slower or buggier than the best phones on the market. And any device that fits that remit can, I think, accurately be described as “a true flagship”.

By using the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, the Nothing Phone 3 will feel like a flagship in comparison to Nothing phones of old, but I’m 99% sure it’ll feel like a flagship in relation to the best iPhones, Samsung phones, and Pixel phones, too.

As I wrote in a similarly minded piece last year, in my opinion, we’ve reached a saturation point when it comes to the speed of flagship phones. Not necessarily in their capacity to complete complex tasks, mind, but in the way these phones feel when you’re swiping through them on a daily basis.

If the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset can deliver a smooth experience while you’re scrolling, streaming, swiping, gaming, taking photos, or doing any of the other things one does with their phone in 2025, I think it’s a perfectly acceptable chipset choice for a flagship handset aimed at those who value aesthetics over raw, unmitigated power.

The Tensor G4-equipped Google Pixel 9 Pro was our Phone of the Year last year (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

Consider Google’s latest flagship phone, the Pixel 9 Pro.

By all accounts, its Tensor G4 chipset is weaker than the competition, yet the Pixel 9 Pro sits pretty as the ‘best Android’ option in our list of the best phones and also scooped our Phone of the Year award in 2024. Sure, those titles were awarded subjectively, but no one bats an eyelid when Google’s bona fide flagship ships without the latest and greatest in mobile silicon.

The price argument is a little harder to rebuff. Rumors put the Nothing Phone 3’s price tag at around $799 / £799 / AU$1,300, which would bring the phone in line with the Snapdragon 8 Elite-equipped Samsung Galaxy S25.

Naturally, Nothing’s upcoming handset won’t be able to compete with Samsung’s latest base model for raw power, but with Carl Pei promising "premium materials and software that really levels things up,” I’m confident that the Phone 3 will deliver on the CEO’s “true flagship” promise.

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• Keyview 13" Touch is a mechanical keyboard with a built-in 13-inch touchscreen
• It works with phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and even game consoles
• There’s no battery or touchpad unfortunately, so you'll need to provide power and a mouse

The Keyview 13" Touch, from Aura Displays, is a compact 82-key mechanical keyboard (83 keys for the UK version) with a fun, and useful twist - it has an integrated 13-inch touchscreen attached.

This isn’t the first product of its kind we’ve seen - we’ve previously covered the Maxfree K3 and the Thanko mechanical keyboard with a 10-inch monitor, both of which offer the same blend of keyboard and display in one unit.

We’ve also encountered various DIY projects that produced laptops without displays, as well as notebook docking stations with built-in screens, but few of those have been as polished or feature-packed as this.

RGB lighting and custom shortcuts

The Keyview 13" Touch's screen folds from 0 to 90 degrees and delivers a 1920 x 720 matte IPS display. It supports full 10-point multitouch and has a wide 178° viewing angle, making it usable for video, docs, or just as a second screen.

The keyboard itself uses yellow mechanical switches and PBT keycaps. It’s fully customizable, with hot-swappable keys, RGB lighting, and support for custom shortcuts.

The device includes USB-C, HDMI, two USB 3.0 ports, an SD/TF slot, and an M2 SSD bay for internal storage expansion. It also supports 60W PD fast charging.

It’s compatible with macOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and ChromeOS. That means it works with laptops, desktops, full-featured USB-C phones like the Galaxy line, latest iPhones, tablets, and even game consoles.

The case is made from aluminum alloy, ABS, and PC plastic. It’s solid but weighs 2.12kg, which makes it more of a backpack item than something pocketable.

There’s also a built-in speaker, rated at 1W. That's nothing special, but it will be fine for notifications or quick audio tasks.

There are a couple of bigger drawbacks, though - there’s no battery for starters, so you’ll need to plug it in every time you want to use it. And there’s no touchpad either, so unless your device is touch-capable, you’ll want to bring a mouse too.

Still, for a certain type of user, especially those wanting to turn their phone into a capable workstation, it’s an unusual and potentially useful option. You can buy it direct from Aura now for $399.00, 20% off its usual MSRP of $499.

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• You can now create ChatGPT images in WhatsApp
• Ask it to create any image you want
• Upload an image and ask it to modify it

You can now create and modify images using ChatGPT’s AI chops inside WhatsApp without having to use the ChatGPT app at all.

WhatsApp, the MetaAI-owned messaging app, caused more than a little controversy recently when it added a new Meta AI button to its interface that was impossible to remove.

The new button caused outrage from WhatsApp users, many of whom felt like they were being forced to use AI.

“Why do they have to slap that stuff on everything?” said Reddit user Special-Oil-7447. “I'm in the EU and it’s just been dumped on me. I am going to uninstall WhatsApp today after I have loaded Signal. Vote with your feet people”, said user BrainCell 7.

But Meta has not backed down, and the unpopular MetaAI button remains.

Tapping it will initiate a conversation with the MetaAI chatbot, however, it's not the only AI chatbot you can use with WhatsApp.

Accessing ChatGPT

If you’re a fan of AI, then there’s nothing stopping you from chatting using ChatGPT in WhatsApp so long as you know how, and what’s more, you can now use ChatGPT to generate AI images right inside WhatsApp. You can even upload a picture and get the AI to edit it, all from within WhatsApp.

It’s easy. All you need to do is set up ChatGPT as one of your contacts in WhatsApp - as if it’s a person.

Just add ChatGPT as a contact with the number 1-800-CHATGPT (that’s 1-800-242-8478). If you’re outside of the US, then you’ll need to add them as a US contact, which I've written about before.

Now you can chat with ChatGPT as if it were one of your friends. When you start a chat with ChatGPT, you can simply say “Create an image of...” and add some details. Sit back and let ChatGPT do its AI magic.

To upload an image that you want ChatGPT to edit, tap the + button, then Photos, and upload the image.

ChatGPT will ask you what you would like to do with the image, and you can just use natural language to describe what you want to do.

If you reach your limit for a free ChatGPT account, but you’ve got a Plus account, then WhatsApp will throw up a link so you can link to your Plus account and get more images. It couldn’t be simpler.

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• Asus released a patch for CVE-2025-3464, a high-severity authentication bypass flaw
• The issue affects Armoury Crate, a centralized hub for managing ASUS and ROG hardware
• The flaw could possibly lead to full device takeover

Asus says it has fixed a high-severity vulnerability that could have allowed threat actors to bypass authentication requirements and obtain SYSTEM privileges on a Windows device.

Recently, a security researcher from Cisco Talos discovered an Armoury Crate kernel-mode driver doesn’t rely on proper OS-level checks, but instead authenticates requests using a hardcoded SHA-256 hash of AsusCertServices.exe and a PID allowlist.

This means that a threat actor can create a hard link from a benign executable to a placeholder file, launch the app, and then swap the link to point to the trusted Asus binary. When the driver verifies the hash, it will recognize a trusted signature, even though the attacker’s process is now using that context.

Fixed with updates

The end result is unauthorized driver access, which could lead to full device compromise. The good news is that in order to abuse this vulnerability, the threat actor must obtain system access beforehand (either through stolen/purchased credentials, or a backdoor).

The vulnerability was found in Armoury Crate, an Asus application commonly pre-installed on ROG and TUF laptops and desktops.

It serves as a centralized hub for managing Asus and ROG hardware, including RGB lighting, fan curves, and the performance of different peripherals - and can also be used to manage driver and firmware updates.

The issue is now tracked as CVE-2025-3464, and has a severity score of 8.4/10 (high), as per NVD.

All versions between 5.9.9.0 and 6.1.18.0 were said to be vulnerable, and to secure their devices, users should update to the newest version of Armoury Crate: That can be done by navigating to Settings > Update Center > Check for Updates > Update.

Asus said it found no evidence that the flaw is being abused in the wild, but still “strongly recommends” users update their installations as soon as possible.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Sandfall Interactive has announced a jewelry collaboration to create a digital collection inspired by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• The collection was designed by British artist Hannah Martin and is inspired by the characters of Clair Obscur, Gustave, Lune, Sciel, Maelle, and Verso
• Sandfall took Martin's designs and modeled them in Unreal Engine 5

Kepler Interactive and Sandfall Interactive have announced a new collaboration with British jewelry designer Hannah Martin to create a collection of conceptual digital pieces inspired by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Inspired by the Belle Époque beauty era of French and European history and bold brutalism, these digital designs were inspired by the main characters of Clair Obscur, Gustave, Lune, Sciel, Maelle, and Verso, and crafted with 18 carat gold and jet-black obsidian to reflect Martin’s interpretation of the aesthetic of Expedition 33.

The developers at Sandfall Interactive took Martin's designs and intricately modeled them in Unreal Engine 5 to create a series of in-engine images "that fully blend the digital and physical worlds together with stunningly bold artistry." You can check them out below.

(Image credit: Sandfall Interactive / Hannah Martin)

These are only digital, conceptual designs, but I would love for the jewelry collection to become available in-game as downloadable content (DLC).

"This collaboration has been amazing," said Martin in a press release. "It is totally new territory for me, and I have loved being able to explore and push the boundaries between reality and unreality. It has been a constant dance between real world and fantasy."

In addition, Martin also went ahead and created 33 real-life sterling silver necklaces inspired by the design representing Verso. Unfortunately, these pieces are not for sale and were created as a celebration of the game in a limited quantity as a "thank you" to community members and artists who have supported the game and its creation.

In TechRadar Gaming's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review, Managing Editor Rob Dwiar said the game is "easily an early game of the year contender" and praised its "exquisite writing and story craft" and "wonderfully stylish and multifaceted combat".

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• A cyberattack has targeted food distributor UNFI
• Incident has the markings of a ransomware attack
• UNFI is making progress towards recovery, but warns delays could still continue

United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) says it is making ‘significant progress’ towards safely restoring electronic ordering systems, and is increasing operational capacity, following a recent major cyberattack which caused widespread delays and system shutdowns.

In a statement, UNFI, one of the largest food distributors in North America, reassured customers it is working towards increasing its operational capacity and order fulfilment.

“We are also using alternative processes to ensure our customers receive the products they need while we continue making progress to restore our technology capabilities,” the statement said. “Our customers, suppliers, and associates remain our highest priority, and we are working closely with them every step of the way.”

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Unknown Attackers

The extent of the attack is not yet known, and no criminal group has claimed responsibility, although investors were told that UNFI’s entire network was shut down - a move that meant customer orders could not be fulfilled.

UNFI has not revealed the nature of the attack, but typically an organization shutting down their network is an indication that this was a ransomware attack.

Organizations take systems offline to prevent additional devices from being encrypted by attackers, and it can mitigate the risk of data exfiltration and protect sensitive information.

UNFI is a primary distributor to retail giant Whole Foods, which has been seriously affected by the attack, which comes soon after three massive UK retailers were hit by cyberattacks that took systems offline and disrupted operations for weeks.

2025 has been a dangerous year for retailers, with these alleged ransomware attacks costing affected organisations millions in downtime, lost data, reputational loss, and potential future regulatory fines.

If you frequent these retailers or are worried that your data may be affected in these breaches, take a look at the best identity theft software around to keep your information safe.

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• Iran VPN usage has been skyrocketing since Friday, reaching peaks of over 700% increase so far
• Authorities imposed new internet restrictions on Friday following Israeli airstrikes
• Online commentators have also reported some VPN throttling issues

VPN usage in Iran has been skyrocketing since Friday, June 13, 2025, as citizens are looking for ways to keep accessing the global internet.

Iranian authorities imposed new internet restrictions on Friday following the first Israeli airstrikes. These measures follow threats of legal actions coming from Iran's Prosecutor General against media and social media users for content that "disrupts society's psychological security," IranWire reported.

⚠️ Confirmed: Analysis shows a decline in international internet traffic from #Iran, corroborating user reports of poor service, with gateway and virtual server providers particularly impacted as the Ministry of Communications announces temporary internet restrictions; the… pic.twitter.com/a8iEiZqunWJune 13, 2025

According to the latest data coming from Top10VPN, the demand for the best VPN apps in Iran has seen peaks of up to 707% over the baseline level.

Specifically, VPN usage began rising on Friday by 425%, reached a 530% increase the following day, and over 700% on Sunday. While the data for Monday remains incomplete, experts recorded a rise in demand of at least 623% at the time of writing.

Commenting on the findings, the Head of Research at Top10VPN, Simon Migliano, told TechRadar: "The decision by the Iranian authorities to impose internet restrictions as its citizens suffer such incredible upheavals is simply cruel. It’s no surprise then that Iranians are turning to VPNs in such huge numbers, given the circumstances."

Despite these numbers, there have also been some reports of VPN throttling as users lamented that their VPN apps are not working at all times.

Are VPNs legal in Iran?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts all internet connections while spoofing a user's real IP address location. This skill is exactly what's needed to bypass geo-restrictions like those in place in Iran.

Iranian authorities know this very well and have been busy preventing the use of Iran VPN over the years.

For example, in 2023, Iran was second only to China for VPN censorship. This also occurred in 2024, when Iran topped the VPN censoring list across the country's official app stores.

Not only VPN-targeted blocking, though. The regime has even challenged the legality of using a VPN in the first place. In February 2024, Iran outlawed "unauthorized" VPNs, banning their usage without a legal permit. Three months later, the government also resurrected an internet bill that could put VPN usage at risk even more.

Despite all these efforts, the usage of VPN-like tools remains high even after authorities lifted the 2-year blockage on WhatsApp and Google Play last January. Now, people have been turning to this circumventing software en masse, no matter the consequences.

"When your home is at risk and loved ones are in danger, it’s critical that you can reliably access messaging apps, social media, and international news sites. That VPNs are banned will be the last thing on anyone’s mind right now in Iran," said Migliano.

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• To celebrate Amazon Prime Day, Prime Gaming members can now claim six free games
• Those games include the likes of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Saints Row 2, Saints Row 4: Re-Elected, and more
• Amazon Prime Day begins on July 8, but members can claim these titles now ahead of the event

Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and to celebrate, Prime Gaming members can claim an assortment of free games leading up to the event.

The annual sale officially begins on July 8, but starting today through July 7, subscribers can claim six PC games, including Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Saints Row 2, Saints Row 4: Re-Elected, Star Wars: Rebellion, TOEM, and Dungeon of the Endless Definitive Edition.

These games are now available for platforms like the Amazon Games App and GOG, and can be claimed on top of the previously announced Prime Gaming titles for the month of June.

This collection includes Mordheim: City of the Damned, The Abandoned Planet, Station to Station and Death Squared, which can be claimed now.

Starting on June 19, Prime members can claim Dark Envoy and Fate: Undiscovered Realms, while Thief: Deadly Shadows, Jupiter Hell, and Gallery of Things: Reveries will be redeemable on June 26.

Amazon also revealed that more Prime Day offers for Prime members will be announced soon.

If you're looking to get in on the early sales, you can check out our coverage of the early Amazon Prime Day deals that are now live.

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• WhatsApp is finally getting ads
• They'll appear in the Updates tab, integrated with Statuses and Channels
• Regular chats won't be affected by the chnages, and are still private

It’s official, WhatsApp’s latest update is bringing ads to the platform.

My initial reaction to this news was dread that the conversations with my friends might be diluted by pop-ups like you see on Messenger (another Meta-owned messaging service). Thankfully, however, it looks like WhatsApp is keeping its adverts locked within its Updates tab. At least for now.

In the Updates tab, you’ll find that both Channels and Statuses are getting the ad treatment. Channels are dedicated groups you can join, with hosts who send you messages and update. They’re popular among football teams, influencers and news outlets (in fact, we here at TechRadar have one you can join).

The ads come in the form of new Promoted Channels, which will soon start to appear when you look through the directory. They'll be recommended to you based on what WhatsApp thinks you’ll find interesting, assuming the channel is paying to be promoted.

Channels give you direct access to content, and fun extras like polls (Image credit: Future / Apple / WhatsApp)

Statuses (basically WhatsApp Stories) are ways to share quick updates and highlights with friends and family. Now ads will appear as Stauses too – again being promoted to you based on your interests.

On top of these changes, WhatsApp is adding Channel subscriptions. These aren’t ads, but are another (and in my opinion better) way to monetize WhatsApp.

By paying a monthly fee you can support your favorite channel and get exclusive updates in exchange – a bit like you do through third-party services like Patreon or premium newsletters.

WhatsApp has me hooked

I'm not ditching WhatsApp, and I know it (Image credit: Shutterstock)

After digging through the changes I’m generally less concerned than I was when i heard of the announcement.

I rarely use the Updates tab, and as WhatsApp’s blog post explains “if you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones there is no change to your experience at all.”

Further down, it adds that these ads won’t affect your privacy either. “Your personal messages, calls, and statuses remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one (not even us) can see or hear them.”

Meta explains that Status and Channel ads will be based on the limited information it does collect like where you’re from, the language your app is set to, which Channels you already follow, and how you engage with ads you are shown.

If your WhatsApp is part of your Meta Accounts Center, it’ll also base its data on info from your other accounts.

It’s really trying to hammer home that our chat data is just as secure as ever, and that non-Updates chats won’t be changed.

Should I switch to Google Messages? (Image credit: Google)

It feels like the start of a slippery slope to me, but like the rest of WhatsApp’s 3 billion monthly active users – a figure that makes it the world's biggest messaging platform – I know I can’t leave.

That's not only because I don’t want to lose the chats and contacts I already have through the app (migrating everyone to a different service would be a Sisyphean task), but also because as someone who travels a lot it’s an excellent country-agnostic platform that has allowed me to make restaurant reservations, book taxis, and call a car repair company when I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

So for now I’m sticking with WhatsApp, but I’m also starting my hunt for a new service – even considering jumping back to classic text messages or Android’s Google Messages, which has received a fair few upgrades in the past few years.

Even if things do get worse, I’m not sure I’ll be able to leave then either, but the best I can do is try.

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• Oracle Defense Ecosystem gives SMBs access to potential DoD contracts
• The program includes access to office spaces, software and support
• Its scope could extend beyond US DoD contracts

Oracle has launched a new program aimed at helping tech vendors, especially smaller firms, sell to the US Department of Defense (DoD).

The launch of the Oracle Defense Ecosystem program comes amid a major restructuring of US government tech procurement, with many hyperscalers losing contracts as the Trump administration seeks to centralize purchasing and reduce expenditure.

Although the companies that have traditionally sold to the government have been seen to be offering huge discounts to keep their government contracts, the time has also come for smaller companies to be in with a chance of winning bids.

Oracle and US DoD

As part of the program, smaller vendors will get access to Oracle office spaces, discounts on Palantir's cloud/AI tools and Oracle's NetSuite software, and guidance on navigating the Pentagon's procurement processes.

The company says the program has been designed to overcome the structural challenges small vendors often face compared to large defense contractors, effectively levelling the playing field.

Initially, 10 companies, including Blackshar.ai, SensusQ, Metron and Arqit are participating, but signing up is free (backed by Oracle funding).

The benefits extend far beyond boosting smaller tech firms, though, with the DoD also getting access to more advanced tech and a broader spectrum of offerings, and Oracle Cloud weaving its way deeper into defense operations – a win all-round, then.

DOGE's focus on efficiency could further benefit Oracle by terminating legacy contracts – although the company trails far behind the likes of AWS and Azure in terms of market share, it sees opportunities in the AI and defense spaces.

Speaking about the new program, Oracle VP Rand Waldron said: "Nothing is more important than the national security of the U.S. and its allies, and Oracle has been a cornerstone of this mission for nearly 50 years."

The company's announcement also shows a clear intent to redefine national security innovation, supporting not just the US but also its allied nations, in digital and physical defense.

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• Windows Hello facial recognition no longer works in poorly-lit rooms
• This is due to a move Microsoft made to shore up security with the feature
• The change to require a ‘color camera to see a visible face’ means logins now fail in dark rooms, where previously infrared allowed them to work

Windows Hello, the system that allows for secure login to your Windows 11 (or 10) PC, no longer works when using facial recognition in a dark environment.

Indeed, this has been the case for a couple of months, because as Windows Central reports, Microsoft made this change in the April update for Windows 11, but it flew under the radar.

When some Windows Hello users noticed that they couldn’t successfully log in because their face wasn’t recognized sometimes, they may have just assumed it was a bug (or the feature being flaky, which it is occasionally). However, this is an intentional change by Microsoft as the company made clear in the April patch release notes.

Microsoft said, “For enhanced security, Windows Hello facial recognition requires color cameras to see a visible face when signing in.”

This security improvement was necessary due to a vulnerability being discovered that could potentially allow an attacker with access to the Windows PC to spoof their way past Windows Hello protection.

That trick evidently involved messing with the infrared camera – leveraging “adversarial input perturbations,” as Microsoft puts it in fancy security-speak – so to avoid this exploit, the company added the requirement for a color camera.

Why has this scuppered logins in darkened environments? Before the April update, Windows Hello could go purely off the infrared sensor to achieve a login in low-light (infrared scanning works fine without light, of course). However, now the feature needs your face to be visible to the camera, logins in those conditions just won’t work anymore.

Analysis: There’s a workaround, but it isn’t helpful

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There’s no way of getting around this as such, and if you’re in a poorly lit room, Windows Hello facial login may well fail (when before it wouldn’t).

Okay, so Windows Central does point out there is a workaround here, namely that you can disable your webcam in Windows 11 (the actual camera can be turned off in Device Manager). With that done, Windows Hello will authenticate with the infrared sensor – because it’s the only option – and so it’ll work in the semi-dark again.

Presumably, if you go this route, though, you may be vulnerable to the mentioned exploit (unless that requires the camera to be active, a point that Microsoft doesn’t go into). At any rate, disabling the webcam is hardly a good solution, as it means you won’t be able to use it for video chatting (obviously, or anything else).

It’s a shame Microsoft had to tighten security in this way, but the software giant can’t risk leaving the door open to an exploit that someone who has stolen a Windows 11 laptop might be able to leverage in order to gain access to the device.

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iPadOS 26 is on the way – Apple revealed its next iPad software update at WWDC 2025, and since then the internet has been ablaze with reactions and speculation.

The big ticket items for this year’s iPadOS update pertain to multitasking – all currently-sold iPads (and likely several older models) are due to get support for up to six desktop-style windows at once, as well as a menu bar, and updates to the dock and background processing.

We already recommend the base model iPad and iPad Pro as some of the best tablets you can buy, but this upcoming update has got me thinking about where Apple now sits in the wider tablet market.

It’s no secret that Apple’s tablet hardware is the best on the market – there are simply no other tablets with the raw processing power the iPad Pro and iPad Air's M-series chipsets can offer.

Speaking frankly, the only thing giving other tablet makers a chance has been software – iPadOS has long been held back by a lack of flexibility and unintuitive design, while rivals like Samsung have pushed ahead with innovative features like DeX, which offers a desktop-style experience that works especially well with a keyboard and mouse.

But with iPadOS 26 bringing huge updates, that could all change.

Samsung's options

Uniquely huge screen aside, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra can't match the iPad Pro on performance (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I recently spent some time testing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus for an upcoming review, and found it to be a big, premium-feeling tablet that offers a lot of software flexibility at the cost of performance.

In fact, having used the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus in a variety of situations, I think the only reason someone should buy one is if they absolutely need its combination of a large 13-inch screen, flexible multitasking, and intermediate price (starting at $649 / £649 / AU$1,099).

iPadOS 26’s windowed multitasking, from what we’ve seen so far, is not as developed or as open-ended as Samsung DeX, but in true Apple style it’ll probably be just useful enough to overshadow Samsung’s offering when combined with the iPad’s hardware power.

That takes away a major advantage to buying a Samsung tablet pretty much instantly.

@techradar

♬ Coleen - The Heavy

If you ask me, Samsung should be really quite worried about this, and has one of two options to survive an upcoming iPad renaissance.

The first is simply cutting prices as much as costs allow. Samsung tablets are definitively premium devices, with great build quality and sometimes bigger screens than comparably priced iPads – but they’re still very expensive, and don't perform as well as Apple's tablets.

Like it or not, iPadOS is the standard for how a tablet works, so asking users to shell out almost as much as an iPad costs for a device that isn’t as powerful, runs potentially unfamiliar software, and offers just slightly more utility looks like a pretty mediocre deal.

The second option is stepping up performance without an increase in price – our Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review and Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra review found the tablets to be solid performers, but not to Apple’s standards. That’s backed up by our own Future Labs testing data: neither Samsung tablet catches up to the latest iPad Air in single or multicore benchmarks.

A renewed rivalry

iPadOS 26 being introduced at WWDC 2025 (Image credit: Apple)

Both of these options ask a lot of Samsung, perhaps more than can be delivered in a few release cycles.

But with Apple’s smooth user experience, wider selection of professional apps, more powerful hardware, and upcoming multitasking improvements, I seriously can’t see the point in buying a Samsung tablet right now.

That's not me giving Apple an easy ride either, let me be clear that as someone who personally bought an iPad Pro in 2020, the long wait for proper multitasking on iPad has been very, very frustrating. But having used both iPads and Samsung tablets, I'd still pick the iPad any day thanks to its better app availability and smoother user experience.

And my own experiences aside, there's no denying that iPads are vastly more popular than Samsung tablets. A Forbes report from September 2024 estimates that Apple holds 35.8% of the tablet market worldwide, compared to Samsung's 20.1%. That's going to make the impact of iPadOS 26 feel even more significant, even if the features added are ones Samsung users have enjoyed for years.

That’s not to say there are no benefits to buying a Samsung tablet: One UI 7 is rich with customizable settings, and the aforementioned Dex mode really is fantastic. It’s just that iPadOS 26 is poised to take Apple’s tablet platform to a new level of competition.

I'd like to see a future in which the best iPads and the best Samsung tablets keep clashing head-to-head; here’s hoping Samsung can make the right moves to keep up. Look out for my full Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus review soon.

As ever, the comments section is open for discussion – is Apple destined to take over? Or does Samsung have more of a chance than I think? Let us know below.

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• KitchenAid's Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine comes in two new colors
• Candy Apple is a pearlescent red, and Juniper is green with a satin finish
• The colors are part of a bigger trend towards fun colors in the kitchen

KitchenAid, maker of some of the best espresso machines I've tested here at TechRadar, has given one of its most popular models a fresh new look for the summer. The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is now available in two tasty colorways: Candy Apple (bright red) and Juniper (rich green).

The Candy Apple machine (my personal favorite) has a pearlescent finish, while the Juniper version has a satin sheen.

The two new shades are part of a continuing trend away from traditional black and chrome kitchen appliances. Earlier this year, KitchenAid revealed that its official color of 2025 is a soft yellow called Butter, and since then we've seen various other brands join the effort to break away from clinical styling in favor of warmer shades that often draw inspiration from the natural world.

Image 1 of 2

The Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is now available in a total of five colors (Image credit: KitchenAid)Image 2 of 2

Bright red Candy Apple is my personal favorite thanks to its pearlescent finish (Image credit: KitchenAid)

KitchenAid released a new version of its classic Artisan Stand Mixer in a soft olive color called EverGreen, with a real walnut wood bowl, while Breville revealed a new look for its best-selling Barista Touch Impress coffee maker in shades of creamy white, navy blue, and muted green – all with brass accents.

Espresso without the fuss

The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is the sibling of the fully automatic KF6 and KF8 coffee makers. It can not only handle the trickiest and messiest parts of making great-tasting coffee, but unlike the other two models, it also allows you to control as much of the process as you want.

Your coffee beans are ground using stainless steel conical burrs (the most common type for home espresso machines). Once that's done, you can let the machine weigh out a suitable amount of coffee for a single or double shot, or choose the dose yourself.

Juniper is a cool, dark green similar to the color of pine needles (Image credit: KitchenAid)

KitchenAid's machine has a handy anti-static feature, which helps stop the ground coffee sticking to the machine or spreading over your counter – something I've experienced all too often while compiling TechRadar's list of the best coffee makers.

The KitchenAid machine comes with a 58mm portafilter with a flat base to help with even tamping, and there's a multi-angle steam wand to help you create nicely textured milk.

It's available direct from KitchenAid in the UK and the US for $699.99 / £699.

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There’s still a lot left to learn about the mid-range OnePlus Nord 5, but following the phone’s official announcement earlier this week, we do at least know that it’ll look dramatically different to the OnePlus Nord 4.

Last year’s model was heavily marketed as being “the only metal unibody 5G smartphone on the market” – according to OnePlus, the Nord 4 used “aircraft-grade aluminum” that made it “sleek, strong and less prone to shatter.” We agreed with that assessment in our OnePlus Nord 4 review, describing the phone’s metal frame as “a small touch that makes the Nord 4 look distinct and feel well-protected against drops and knocks.”

Why, then, has OnePlus decided to do away with metal on the upcoming Nord 5? We put the question to OnePlus’ Chief Marketing Officer for Europe, Celina Shi, in an exclusive interview, and while she wasn’t able to share specifics about the Nord 5’s new design, she did shed some light on why OnePlus has chosen to ditch this seemingly once-important feature.

“While I can't reveal specifics about the OnePlus Nord 5 series materials just yet, I can say that it won't be in a metal frame this year,” Shi explained. “Our design concept for all of our devices is grounded in consumer insight. Following a global survey conducted across Europe, North America, India, and China, we found that our target audience places strong emphasis on practicality in design.”

“They consistently prefer styles that are brief, simple, and elegant. In response to this, in the OnePlus Nord Series this year, we are offering Nordic-inspired design that reflects these values and resonates with our consumers globally.”

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The OnePlus Nord 5 (left) and OnePlus Nord CE5 (right) (Image credit: OnePlus)Image 2 of 2

The two-tone metal OnePlus Nord 4 (Image credit: Future)

Presumably, OnePlus is referring to Scandinavian minimalism when it says “Nordic-inspired design” – and from the first teaser image we’ve seen of the upcoming Nord 5, it's certainly a more stripped-back affair than the two-tone Nord 4 (especially the Mercurial Silver model, which also sports an eye-catching ribbed pattern on its rear panel).

The Nord 5’s colors, too, will likely be inspired by Nordic geography; we already know that the phone will launch in a shade called “Dry Ice”, for instance.

And if you’re wondering whether the “Nord” name itself has any bearing on OnePlus’ latest design philosophy, it’s more of a happy coincidence. As OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei exclusively revealed to TechRadar back in 2020, “Nord” refers to both “North” in the navigational sense and OnePlus “going back to [its] true north” as a brand.

But the absence of metal isn’t the only big design change coming to the OnePlus Nord 5. With the Nord 4, OnePlus flipped the script on previous Nord models by equipping it with a horizontal camera array, but the Nord 5 will once again sport a vertical camera layout.

The horizontal camera array on the OnePlus Nord 4 (Image credit: Future)

“With any smartphone, there is always negotiation between aesthetic design and what's physically possible within those parameters,” Shi explained in relation to the change. “As tech components evolve, so too will our design to make the best-looking products that function optimally.”

“The camera module is vertical in the latest OnePlus Nord Series as this layout optimizes space within the device, allowing us to include a best-in-class chipset, battery, and screen within.”

At the time of writing, we’re only privy to one of those “best-in-class” specs for the upcoming OnePlus Nord 5 – it’ll use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset – but here’s hoping we’ll hear more about this potential addition to our best OnePlus phones guide soon.

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