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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• F

• H

• W

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1037, are…

• PRIED
• FAINT
• HURRY
• WOOER

There are three things that you need to know about today's game. One, I lost. Again. Two, that was my own fault to a large extent, the result of a really stupid mistake, then a poor strategic decision. And three – I'm delighted about it all, because it's a great story (well, to an extent; it's not Catch-22).

That's because the answer I lost on, WOOER, is my nemesis; the only answer I ever failed on Wordle's first 1250-odd games. I'd played it via the original Wordle archive some time after the game launched (and before the NYT unceremoniously shut it down) and was defeated by its combination of being an ER word, having a repeated letter, containing a very unusual format with three vowels in a row, and it being a slightly ridiculous word that people generally don't use in real life.

I think I would have failed it again even if I hadn't have messed up my fourth guess, going for PRIDE when it couldn't be the answer (it was PRIED), but we'll never know. Instead, I'll have to accept another Quordle loss, and another loss to WOOER.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1037) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1037, are…

• GECKO
• ROUSE
• NOBLY
• AFTER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1036, Monday 25 November: NUDGE, SNOOP, SHACK, DRYLY
• Quordle #1035, Sunday 24 November: CLOTH, CLAMP, PETTY, CHEST
• Quordle #1034, Saturday 23 November: AVOID, PLANT, FILET, TWIRL
• Quordle #1033, Friday 22 November: CUTIE, ALOOF, ETUDE, SILLY
• Quordle #1032, Thursday 21 November: RABBI, EAGER, COUGH, BRASH
• Quordle #1031, Wednesday 20 November: MINTY, TOPAZ, BRUSH, LAPEL
• Quordle #1030, Tuesday 19 November: NINJA, PENCE, PAINT, FOIST
• Quordle #1029, Monday 18 November: ASCOT, BRINK, WEIRD, HOMER
• Quordle #1028, Sunday 17 November: STATE, BRAWN, SWORE, URBAN
• Quordle #1027, Saturday 16 November: NOTCH, BENCH, BUSED, FOUND
• Quordle #1026, Friday 15 November: PURER, TRUSS, TORCH, FORUM
• Quordle #1025, Thursday 14 November: EXALT, TASTE, CRONY, CLOUT
• Quordle #1024, Wednesday 13 November: YEARN, ELBOW, SURGE, PINEY
• Quordle #1023, Tuesday 12 November: CHORD, ATTIC, OLIVE, EIGHT
• Quordle #1022, Monday 11 November: COPSE, REGAL, GRUNT, GOODY
• Quordle #1021, Sunday 10 November: GROIN, FAULT, FERRY, SUITE
• Quordle #1020, Saturday 9 November: FLUME, THERE, ATOLL, SANER
• Quordle #1019, Friday 8 November: DELAY, NAVAL, MOLAR, SWARM
• Quordle #1018, Thursday 7 November: REPAY, SYNOD, LOATH, PITHY
• Quordle #1017, Wednesday 6 November: SASSY, DRUID, THREW, SLOSH

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• F

• H

• W

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

Quordle today (game #1037) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1037, are…

• PRIED
• FAINT
• HURRY
• WOOER

There are three things that you need to know about today's game. One, I lost. Again. Two, that was my own fault to a large extent, the result of a really stupid mistake, then a poor strategic decision. And three – I'm delighted about it all, because it's a great story (well, to an extent; it's not Catch-22).

That's because the answer I lost on, WOOER, is my nemesis; the only answer I ever failed on Wordle's first 1250-odd games. I'd played it via the original Wordle archive some time after the game launched (and before the NYT unceremoniously shut it down) and was defeated by its combination of being an ER word, having a repeated letter, containing a very unusual format with three vowels in a row, and it being a slightly ridiculous word that people generally don't use in real life.

I think I would have failed it again even if I hadn't have messed up my fourth guess, going for PRIDE when it couldn't be the answer (it was PRIED), but we'll never know. Instead, I'll have to accept another Quordle loss, and another loss to WOOER.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1037) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1037, are…

• GECKO
• ROUSE
• NOBLY
• AFTER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1036, Monday 25 November: NUDGE, SNOOP, SHACK, DRYLY
• Quordle #1035, Sunday 24 November: CLOTH, CLAMP, PETTY, CHEST
• Quordle #1034, Saturday 23 November: AVOID, PLANT, FILET, TWIRL
• Quordle #1033, Friday 22 November: CUTIE, ALOOF, ETUDE, SILLY
• Quordle #1032, Thursday 21 November: RABBI, EAGER, COUGH, BRASH
• Quordle #1031, Wednesday 20 November: MINTY, TOPAZ, BRUSH, LAPEL
• Quordle #1030, Tuesday 19 November: NINJA, PENCE, PAINT, FOIST
• Quordle #1029, Monday 18 November: ASCOT, BRINK, WEIRD, HOMER
• Quordle #1028, Sunday 17 November: STATE, BRAWN, SWORE, URBAN
• Quordle #1027, Saturday 16 November: NOTCH, BENCH, BUSED, FOUND
• Quordle #1026, Friday 15 November: PURER, TRUSS, TORCH, FORUM
• Quordle #1025, Thursday 14 November: EXALT, TASTE, CRONY, CLOUT
• Quordle #1024, Wednesday 13 November: YEARN, ELBOW, SURGE, PINEY
• Quordle #1023, Tuesday 12 November: CHORD, ATTIC, OLIVE, EIGHT
• Quordle #1022, Monday 11 November: COPSE, REGAL, GRUNT, GOODY
• Quordle #1021, Sunday 10 November: GROIN, FAULT, FERRY, SUITE
• Quordle #1020, Saturday 9 November: FLUME, THERE, ATOLL, SANER
• Quordle #1019, Friday 8 November: DELAY, NAVAL, MOLAR, SWARM
• Quordle #1018, Thursday 7 November: REPAY, SYNOD, LOATH, PITHY
• Quordle #1017, Wednesday 6 November: SASSY, DRUID, THREW, SLOSH

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

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

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

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Open-and-shut case

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BEAR
• SEAL
• REAR
• HALF
• BOSS
• BAKE

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• On-the-go storage

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 5th row

Last: right, 3rd row

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

NYT Strands today (game #268) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #268, are…

• TOTE
• BARREL
• MESSENGER
• BUCKET
• DUFFEL
• CROSSBODY
• SPANGRAM: HANDBAGS

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

Full disclosure: I am not an expert in HANDBAGS and struggled to solve today's game, let alone write about it. So don't expect too much in the way of entertaining or enlightening insight here (not that you necessarily get that on any day).

So yes, HANDBAGS. Those things you carry stuff around in. Apparently BARREL and BUCKET and DUFFEL and CROSSBODY are all examples, but I didn't know that until now. TOTE and MESSENGER too, but I thought of them more as bags in general, rather than handbags. I accept that I was wrong about this. I solved it by using two hints, then looking for random words, rather than knowing they might be answers. It took a while and was tedious and I'm glad the whole ordeal is over now. If, however, you do know about handbags then I suspect it was a lot more fun. This is all very much my failing, rather than the game's (on this occasion).

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 25 November, game #267)

• DATE
• MONTH
• HOLIDAY
• YEAR
• EVENT
• WEEK
• APPOINTMENT
• SPANGRAM: CALENDAR

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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

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

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

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

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Open-and-shut case

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BEAR
• SEAL
• REAR
• HALF
• BOSS
• BAKE

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• On-the-go storage

NYT Strands today (game #268) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 5th row

Last: right, 3rd row

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

NYT Strands today (game #268) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #268, are…

• TOTE
• BARREL
• MESSENGER
• BUCKET
• DUFFEL
• CROSSBODY
• SPANGRAM: HANDBAGS

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

Full disclosure: I am not an expert in HANDBAGS and struggled to solve today's game, let alone write about it. So don't expect too much in the way of entertaining or enlightening insight here (not that you necessarily get that on any day).

So yes, HANDBAGS. Those things you carry stuff around in. Apparently BARREL and BUCKET and DUFFEL and CROSSBODY are all examples, but I didn't know that until now. TOTE and MESSENGER too, but I thought of them more as bags in general, rather than handbags. I accept that I was wrong about this. I solved it by using two hints, then looking for random words, rather than knowing they might be answers. It took a while and was tedious and I'm glad the whole ordeal is over now. If, however, you do know about handbags then I suspect it was a lot more fun. This is all very much my failing, rather than the game's (on this occasion).

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 25 November, game #267)

• DATE
• MONTH
• HOLIDAY
• YEAR
• EVENT
• WEEK
• APPOINTMENT
• SPANGRAM: CALENDAR

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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

The still-rumored Samsung Galaxy S25 and its siblings could rank among the absolute best phones of 2025, and there’s probably not long to wait for them, with a launch rumored for January.

While nothing will be known for certain about these phones until then, we do have a good idea of what to expect, as there has been an influx of leaks and rumors.

As such, combined with our own educated guesses, we’ve been able to collate a partial list of the likely specs you’ll find on these phones, which we’ve detailed below.

Samsung Galaxy 25 rumored specs

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

The base Samsung Galaxy S25 won’t have as much high-end tech as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but this phone could still impress.

Rumors suggest the Samsung Galaxy S25 will have a roughly 6.2-inch screen, and while the resolution has not been leaked, we predict it will be 1080 x 2340, just like the Samsung Galaxy S24, since the rumored screen size is the same.

That would translate to a pixel density of around 416 pixels per inch, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 is also sure to have a 120Hz refresh rate, since its predecessor does, and since higher refresh rates are typically reserved for gaming phones.

There has been some disagreement over which chipset will be used, but sources seem to now agree that the Samsung Galaxy S25 will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is Qualcomm’s top smartphone chipset.

Multiple leaks also suggest the Samsung Galaxy S25 will have 12GB of RAM. That’s more than the 8GB in the Galaxy S24. But even if these leaks are right, it’s possible there will also be 8GB models.

Storage capacities are unknown for now, but we predict Samsung will once again go with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models – though it’s not impossible that the 128GB model will be ditched or that a 1TB version will be added.

For cameras, TechManiacs reports that they’ll be the same as on the Samsung Galaxy S24, meaning a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 10MP telephoto (with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP front-facing camera.

We’d take this with a pinch of salt since we’ve only heard it from one source, but the fact that we haven’t heard other camera leaks rather suggests that not much is changing.

Finally, we’ve heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 might also have the same size battery as the S24, at 4,000mAh.

Samsung Galaxy 25 Plus rumored specs

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Information tidbits suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus will have a 6.66-inch screen, which will probably be marketed as 6.7 inches, just like the display on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus.

We can guess, therefore, that its other screen specs might largely match the S24 Plus too, perhaps meaning a 1440 x 3120 resolution for around 513 pixels per inch. And the Galaxy S25 Plus will also almost certainly have a 120Hz refresh rate, since that’s the standard for high-end handsets.

For the chipset, we’re expecting a Snapdragon 8 Elite. In fact, the Snapdragon 8 Elite will probably be used in every Galaxy S25-series model. Some benchmarks suggest the Snapdragon 8 Elite could even perform better than the chipset in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so this could be a big win for Samsung.

That chipset will reportedly be joined by 12GB of RAM in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, which would be no change from the Galaxy S24 Plus. There’s no word yet on storage, but there’s a good chance Samsung will stick with the same capacities as the current model, meaning 256GB and 512GB versions.

Our only real camera information comes from the TechManiacs report linked in the Samsung Galaxy S25 section, pointing to the same megapixel counts as the Galaxy S24 Plus. That would mean a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera (probably with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP selfie snapper.

And we’ve heard from that same source that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus will have a 4,900mAh battery, just like its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy 25 Ultra rumored specs

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The best specs are likely to be reserved for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which rumors suggest will have a 6.86-inch screen, likely to be marketed as 6.9 inches. That will make it marginally larger than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 6.8-inch display.

We haven’t heard what resolution the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s screen will be, but given the likely size increase there’s a chance it will be higher than the 1440 x 3120 of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. We also haven’t heard what the refresh rate will be, but we’re almost certain it will be 120Hz, since that’s the standard for most high-end phones.

As with the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, it’s reported that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and in fact we’re even more sure this phone will get that than the other models, since some earlier leaks pointed to other chipsets for the rest of the line, but not for this.

We’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra might have 16GB of RAM, though it’s not clear whether that would be the starting amount or just the amount you get in the top configuration. Either way though, that’s an improvement on the 12GB found in every configuration of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it should help give any Galaxy AI features a boost.

There’s no news on storage, but the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in a choice of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, and we’d think those same capacities are likely to be offered again.

The cameras could get an upgrade though, with sources suggesting the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will have a new 50MP ultra-wide camera, up from 12MP on the current model. However, the other cameras reportedly won’t be changing, meaning a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 10MP 3x telephoto, along probably with a 12MP camera on the front.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s battery also reportedly won’t be any bigger than the S24 Ultra’s, with leaks suggesting it will once again be 5,000mAh, and will once again charge at 45W.

Samsung Galaxy 25 Slim rumored specs

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

Along with the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, leaks have suggested a Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim is on the way, and this might land alongside the other models.

However, we don’t know much about it yet. From what we’ve heard, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim could have a better camera than the base Galaxy S25. One tip even suggests the Galaxy S25 Slim will have an ‘Ultra’-level camera.

So it may impress for photography, and of course it should also be thinner than the rest of the S25 series, though reportedly Samsung hasn’t been able to make the S25 Slim as thin at it would like.

We don’t really know anything else about this phone, which is why we haven’t included a specs chart. But we can predict that it will probably have a 120Hz refresh rate and a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset like the rest of the S25 line.

You might also like

• Samsung Galaxy S25 price rumors: how much is the S25 line likely to cost?
• Samsung Galaxy S25 release date predictions: when are these phones likely to launch?
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – 5 of the biggest expected upgrades

The still-rumored Samsung Galaxy S25 and its siblings could rank among the absolute best phones of 2025, and there’s probably not long to wait for them, with a launch rumored for January.

While nothing will be known for certain about these phones until then, we do have a good idea of what to expect, as there has been an influx of leaks and rumors.

As such, combined with our own educated guesses, we’ve been able to collate a partial list of the likely specs you’ll find on these phones, which we’ve detailed below.

Samsung Galaxy 25 rumored specs

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

The base Samsung Galaxy S25 won’t have as much high-end tech as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but this phone could still impress.

Rumors suggest the Samsung Galaxy S25 will have a roughly 6.2-inch screen, and while the resolution has not been leaked, we predict it will be 1080 x 2340, just like the Samsung Galaxy S24, since the rumored screen size is the same.

That would translate to a pixel density of around 416 pixels per inch, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 is also sure to have a 120Hz refresh rate, since its predecessor does, and since higher refresh rates are typically reserved for gaming phones.

There has been some disagreement over which chipset will be used, but sources seem to now agree that the Samsung Galaxy S25 will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is Qualcomm’s top smartphone chipset.

Multiple leaks also suggest the Samsung Galaxy S25 will have 12GB of RAM. That’s more than the 8GB in the Galaxy S24. But even if these leaks are right, it’s possible there will also be 8GB models.

Storage capacities are unknown for now, but we predict Samsung will once again go with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models – though it’s not impossible that the 128GB model will be ditched or that a 1TB version will be added.

For cameras, TechManiacs reports that they’ll be the same as on the Samsung Galaxy S24, meaning a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 10MP telephoto (with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP front-facing camera.

We’d take this with a pinch of salt since we’ve only heard it from one source, but the fact that we haven’t heard other camera leaks rather suggests that not much is changing.

Finally, we’ve heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 might also have the same size battery as the S24, at 4,000mAh.

Samsung Galaxy 25 Plus rumored specs

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Information tidbits suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus will have a 6.66-inch screen, which will probably be marketed as 6.7 inches, just like the display on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus.

We can guess, therefore, that its other screen specs might largely match the S24 Plus too, perhaps meaning a 1440 x 3120 resolution for around 513 pixels per inch. And the Galaxy S25 Plus will also almost certainly have a 120Hz refresh rate, since that’s the standard for high-end handsets.

For the chipset, we’re expecting a Snapdragon 8 Elite. In fact, the Snapdragon 8 Elite will probably be used in every Galaxy S25-series model. Some benchmarks suggest the Snapdragon 8 Elite could even perform better than the chipset in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so this could be a big win for Samsung.

That chipset will reportedly be joined by 12GB of RAM in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, which would be no change from the Galaxy S24 Plus. There’s no word yet on storage, but there’s a good chance Samsung will stick with the same capacities as the current model, meaning 256GB and 512GB versions.

Our only real camera information comes from the TechManiacs report linked in the Samsung Galaxy S25 section, pointing to the same megapixel counts as the Galaxy S24 Plus. That would mean a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera (probably with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP selfie snapper.

And we’ve heard from that same source that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus will have a 4,900mAh battery, just like its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy 25 Ultra rumored specs

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The best specs are likely to be reserved for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which rumors suggest will have a 6.86-inch screen, likely to be marketed as 6.9 inches. That will make it marginally larger than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 6.8-inch display.

We haven’t heard what resolution the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s screen will be, but given the likely size increase there’s a chance it will be higher than the 1440 x 3120 of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. We also haven’t heard what the refresh rate will be, but we’re almost certain it will be 120Hz, since that’s the standard for most high-end phones.

As with the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, it’s reported that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and in fact we’re even more sure this phone will get that than the other models, since some earlier leaks pointed to other chipsets for the rest of the line, but not for this.

We’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra might have 16GB of RAM, though it’s not clear whether that would be the starting amount or just the amount you get in the top configuration. Either way though, that’s an improvement on the 12GB found in every configuration of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it should help give any Galaxy AI features a boost.

There’s no news on storage, but the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in a choice of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, and we’d think those same capacities are likely to be offered again.

The cameras could get an upgrade though, with sources suggesting the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will have a new 50MP ultra-wide camera, up from 12MP on the current model. However, the other cameras reportedly won’t be changing, meaning a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 10MP 3x telephoto, along probably with a 12MP camera on the front.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s battery also reportedly won’t be any bigger than the S24 Ultra’s, with leaks suggesting it will once again be 5,000mAh, and will once again charge at 45W.

Samsung Galaxy 25 Slim rumored specs

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

Along with the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, leaks have suggested a Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim is on the way, and this might land alongside the other models.

However, we don’t know much about it yet. From what we’ve heard, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim could have a better camera than the base Galaxy S25. One tip even suggests the Galaxy S25 Slim will have an ‘Ultra’-level camera.

So it may impress for photography, and of course it should also be thinner than the rest of the S25 series, though reportedly Samsung hasn’t been able to make the S25 Slim as thin at it would like.

We don’t really know anything else about this phone, which is why we haven’t included a specs chart. But we can predict that it will probably have a 120Hz refresh rate and a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset like the rest of the S25 line.

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• Engineers reveal alternative to floating-point multiplication
• New method could reduce AI energy consumption by up to 95%
• But new calculation method would also need alternative hardware to existing GPUs

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies evolve, the demand for computing power - and consequently, electricity - has surged, as have concerns about its energy consumption.

Now, engineers from BitEnergy AI offers a potential solution - a new method of computation which could reduce the energy needs of AI applications by up to 95%.

Linear-Complexity Multiplication could apparently reducing the energy needs of AI applications by 95% by changing how AI calculations are performed, moving away from the traditional use of floating-point multiplication (FPM) in favor of integer addition.

From floating-point multiplication to linear-complexity multiplication

FPM is typically used in AI computations because it allows systems to handle very large or small numbers with high precision - however, it is also one of the most energy-intensive operations in AI processing. The precision FPM offers is necessary for many AI applications, particularly in areas like deep learning, where models require detailed calculations.

The researchers claim despite cutting energy consumption, there is no impact on the performance of AI applications. However, while the Linear-Complexity Multiplication method shows great promise, its adoption faces certain challenges.

One significant drawback is that the new technique requires different hardware to what is currently in use. Most AI applications today run on hardware optimized for floating-point computations, such as GPUs made by companies like Nvidia. The new method would require redesigned hardware to function effectively.

The team notes the hardware needed for its method has already been designed, built, and tested. However, this new hardware will need to be licensed and there is no telling how this hardware will be made available to the broader market.

Estimates suggest ChatGPT alone currently consumes approximately 564 MWh of electricity daily, enough to power 18,000 US households. Some critics predict that in just a few years, AI applications could consume around 100 TWh of electricity annually, putting them on par with the energy-hungry Bitcoin mining industry.

Via TechXplore

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• Engineers reveal alternative to floating-point multiplication
• New method could reduce AI energy consumption by up to 95%
• But new calculation method would also need alternative hardware to existing GPUs

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies evolve, the demand for computing power - and consequently, electricity - has surged, as have concerns about its energy consumption.

Now, engineers from BitEnergy AI offers a potential solution - a new method of computation which could reduce the energy needs of AI applications by up to 95%.

Linear-Complexity Multiplication could apparently reducing the energy needs of AI applications by 95% by changing how AI calculations are performed, moving away from the traditional use of floating-point multiplication (FPM) in favor of integer addition.

From floating-point multiplication to linear-complexity multiplication

FPM is typically used in AI computations because it allows systems to handle very large or small numbers with high precision - however, it is also one of the most energy-intensive operations in AI processing. The precision FPM offers is necessary for many AI applications, particularly in areas like deep learning, where models require detailed calculations.

The researchers claim despite cutting energy consumption, there is no impact on the performance of AI applications. However, while the Linear-Complexity Multiplication method shows great promise, its adoption faces certain challenges.

One significant drawback is that the new technique requires different hardware to what is currently in use. Most AI applications today run on hardware optimized for floating-point computations, such as GPUs made by companies like Nvidia. The new method would require redesigned hardware to function effectively.

The team notes the hardware needed for its method has already been designed, built, and tested. However, this new hardware will need to be licensed and there is no telling how this hardware will be made available to the broader market.

Estimates suggest ChatGPT alone currently consumes approximately 564 MWh of electricity daily, enough to power 18,000 US households. Some critics predict that in just a few years, AI applications could consume around 100 TWh of electricity annually, putting them on par with the energy-hungry Bitcoin mining industry.

Via TechXplore

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ChatGPT was born two years ago amid a flurry of hyperbolic hype, skepticism, and outright fear. The AI chatbot didn't immediately guide us to digital heaven, take over every job, or become sentient and send robots with Austrian accents after us, but ChatGPT has a made major impact on many people's lives nonetheless.

For ChatGPT's second birthday, I've collected some of the most notable (if not always most noble) ways OpenAI's experiment with a digital sidekick has changed day-to-day living for many people. I should say that while I did ask ChatGPT for examples of how it's changed the world, the AI either was self-deprecating about how it hasn't done so or insisted that everyone's lives are radically altered by its presence in ways that resemble the Matrix films more than reality. Still, even if you aren't one who employs the AI chatbot for all of the following examples, I'd bet you know someone who has at least experimented with doing so. Here are five ways ChatGPT has become a part of people's lives, large and small:

Homework Houdini

Teachers and school administrators quickly noted what ChatGPT could mean for students. Lazy students might ignore hallucinations or awful phrasing to turn in terrible papers, but those were easy to weed out and give an F. More clever students could enhance their work and research with ChatGPT and not always be caught. OpenAI quickly partnered with educational organizations to try and come up with useful ways to deploy the AI chatbot, with fun studying tools and helpful guides to complex subjects.

But, arguably, the bigger impact was changing how teachers do their lessons. Some have relied on extra strict rules for using ChatGPT, while others have replaced essays with oral reports or projects where students can't rely on ChatGPT to do everything for them. Thanks to ChatGPT, homework is disappearing.

ChefGPT

Some have always known how to transform whatever's in the freezer and cabinet into a culinary delight, but for others, ChatGPT has become a go-to resource for figuring out our meals.

ChatGPT has given everyone the option to describe whatever is in the pantry, and later on, just upload a photo of what's available to get a list of ideas for dishes, recipe included. Or maybe you saw something on a cooking show you'd like to try but altered for your taste or dietary restrictions; the AI chatbot has you covered. With the caveat that you want to make sure it hasn't hallucinated anything dangerous, you can quickly be on your way to a delicious dinner. And your AI sous-chef is on standby if you mess up along the way.

DIY coding buddy

Once upon a time, wannabe coders had to scour GitHub for projects, templates, and snippets to Frankenstein their way through building an app or website. Now, many are turning to ChatGPT as their go-to coding companion. Why sift through repositories when you can ask ChatGPT to “write a Python script to rename 1,000 files in a folder” or “explain recursion like I’m five”? It’s fast, straightforward, and skips the endless GitHub rabbit holes.

On the bright side, ChatGPT is making coding more accessible. You don’t have to be a tech wizard to get started; it’s like having a patient (and absurdly knowledgeable) teacher who can explain code, debug errors, or even write entire functions from scratch.

Of course, that leaves the collaborative community of GitHub stranded. Open-source projects on GitHub aren’t just about copying and pasting—they’re about learning from others, contributing to shared goals, and understanding best practices. ChatGPT doesn’t teach you why a line of code works; it just makes sure it does. That’s great for convenience but not so great for developing deeper programming skills or giving back to the broader developer ecosystem.

Imagination on screen

Gone are the days when creating stunning visuals required years of practice or pricey software. With ChatGPT’s image generation, anyone can produce intricate artwork, design concepts, or even memes in minutes.

Aspiring artists are using it to brainstorm ideas, and people are bringing their imagination to life, which is wonderful in many ways. That said, AI-generated images are also likely to cause debates or outright fights if you aren't careful.

Does AI-generated art devalue other kinds of visual creation or simply make it more accessible? Is it an homage or theft of your favorite artist's creation? No matter how you feel about it, it has made the posting of any image a lot more fraught than it used to be.

Cyrano AI

ChatGPT changed how people talk to each other. South Park wrote an entire episode (aided by ChatGPT) about kids using the AI chatbot to figure out how to respond to romantic partners. Satirical though that take may have been, it has a reality to it as well.

Plenty of people have asked the AI for help navigating social and romantic situations. It's like having Cyrano de Bergerac in your pocket, minus the tragic ending and excessive ruffles. ChatGPT has served as an interpreter for cryptic messages and broken down how to end things with someone you aren't into without causing a scene.

It used to be that a text you sent would be seen and discussed by all of the recipient's friends. Now, you have to consider that it will be analyzed by an AI confidant as well. It's not just romance, either. The AI offers everything from ideas on how to dress for a party to good icebreakers at a networking event.

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• ChatGPT's 4o-mini model just got a big upgrade – here are 4 of the best new features

ChatGPT was born two years ago amid a flurry of hyperbolic hype, skepticism, and outright fear. The AI chatbot didn't immediately guide us to digital heaven, take over every job, or become sentient and send robots with Austrian accents after us, but ChatGPT has a made major impact on many people's lives nonetheless.

For ChatGPT's second birthday, I've collected some of the most notable (if not always most noble) ways OpenAI's experiment with a digital sidekick has changed day-to-day living for many people. I should say that while I did ask ChatGPT for examples of how it's changed the world, the AI either was self-deprecating about how it hasn't done so or insisted that everyone's lives are radically altered by its presence in ways that resemble the Matrix films more than reality. Still, even if you aren't one who employs the AI chatbot for all of the following examples, I'd bet you know someone who has at least experimented with doing so. Here are five ways ChatGPT has become a part of people's lives, large and small:

Homework Houdini

Teachers and school administrators quickly noted what ChatGPT could mean for students. Lazy students might ignore hallucinations or awful phrasing to turn in terrible papers, but those were easy to weed out and give an F. More clever students could enhance their work and research with ChatGPT and not always be caught. OpenAI quickly partnered with educational organizations to try and come up with useful ways to deploy the AI chatbot, with fun studying tools and helpful guides to complex subjects.

But, arguably, the bigger impact was changing how teachers do their lessons. Some have relied on extra strict rules for using ChatGPT, while others have replaced essays with oral reports or projects where students can't rely on ChatGPT to do everything for them. Thanks to ChatGPT, homework is disappearing.

ChefGPT

Some have always known how to transform whatever's in the freezer and cabinet into a culinary delight, but for others, ChatGPT has become a go-to resource for figuring out our meals.

ChatGPT has given everyone the option to describe whatever is in the pantry, and later on, just upload a photo of what's available to get a list of ideas for dishes, recipe included. Or maybe you saw something on a cooking show you'd like to try but altered for your taste or dietary restrictions; the AI chatbot has you covered. With the caveat that you want to make sure it hasn't hallucinated anything dangerous, you can quickly be on your way to a delicious dinner. And your AI sous-chef is on standby if you mess up along the way.

DIY coding buddy

Once upon a time, wannabe coders had to scour GitHub for projects, templates, and snippets to Frankenstein their way through building an app or website. Now, many are turning to ChatGPT as their go-to coding companion. Why sift through repositories when you can ask ChatGPT to “write a Python script to rename 1,000 files in a folder” or “explain recursion like I’m five”? It’s fast, straightforward, and skips the endless GitHub rabbit holes.

On the bright side, ChatGPT is making coding more accessible. You don’t have to be a tech wizard to get started; it’s like having a patient (and absurdly knowledgeable) teacher who can explain code, debug errors, or even write entire functions from scratch.

Of course, that leaves the collaborative community of GitHub stranded. Open-source projects on GitHub aren’t just about copying and pasting—they’re about learning from others, contributing to shared goals, and understanding best practices. ChatGPT doesn’t teach you why a line of code works; it just makes sure it does. That’s great for convenience but not so great for developing deeper programming skills or giving back to the broader developer ecosystem.

Imagination on screen

Gone are the days when creating stunning visuals required years of practice or pricey software. With ChatGPT’s image generation, anyone can produce intricate artwork, design concepts, or even memes in minutes.

Aspiring artists are using it to brainstorm ideas, and people are bringing their imagination to life, which is wonderful in many ways. That said, AI-generated images are also likely to cause debates or outright fights if you aren't careful.

Does AI-generated art devalue other kinds of visual creation or simply make it more accessible? Is it an homage or theft of your favorite artist's creation? No matter how you feel about it, it has made the posting of any image a lot more fraught than it used to be.

Cyrano AI

ChatGPT changed how people talk to each other. South Park wrote an entire episode (aided by ChatGPT) about kids using the AI chatbot to figure out how to respond to romantic partners. Satirical though that take may have been, it has a reality to it as well.

Plenty of people have asked the AI for help navigating social and romantic situations. It's like having Cyrano de Bergerac in your pocket, minus the tragic ending and excessive ruffles. ChatGPT has served as an interpreter for cryptic messages and broken down how to end things with someone you aren't into without causing a scene.

It used to be that a text you sent would be seen and discussed by all of the recipient's friends. Now, you have to consider that it will be analyzed by an AI confidant as well. It's not just romance, either. The AI offers everything from ideas on how to dress for a party to good icebreakers at a networking event.

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• ChatGPT's 4o-mini model just got a big upgrade – here are 4 of the best new features

• Researchers spot new campaign that can turn off antivirus protection
• Malware uses legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to access kernel level
• Once antivirus is deactivated, the malware can proceed without detection

Hackers are using a legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to disguise their malware, turn off antivirus protection, and infect systems, experts have warned.

The vulnerable driver has been exploited in a number of attacks since 2021, with the original vulnerabilities being present since at least 2016, research by Trellix, has claimed, noting the malware can use the vulnerable driver to end the processes of security software at the kernel level.

The malware in question belongs to the AV Killer family, with the attack using a vector known as bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver (BYOVD) to infect the system.

Virus can turn off antivirus

Trellix outlined how the malware uses a file named ‘kill-floor.exe’ to place the vulnerable driver named ‘ntfs.bin’ into the default Windows user folder, before using the Service Control executable (sc.exe) to register the driver using the ‘aswArPot.sys’ service.

Included within the malware is a hardcoded list of 142 processes used by common security products, which is used to check system process snapshots for any matches.

The malware then uses the ‘DeviceIoControl’ API to run the relevant commands to end the process, thereby preventing the antivirus from detecting the malware.

The hardcoded list includes processes belonging to a number of security products from names such as McAfee, Avast, Microsoft Defender, BlackBerry, Sophos, and many more.

As BleepingComputer points out, this isn’t the first time a BYOVD attack has exploited a vulnerable Avast driver, with the 2021 Avoslocker ransomware attacks abusing an Avast Anti-Rookit driver. Sentinel Labs also spotted and reported two high-severity flaws to Avast in the same year, which were patched shortly after.

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• Researchers spot new campaign that can turn off antivirus protection
• Malware uses legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to access kernel level
• Once antivirus is deactivated, the malware can proceed without detection

Hackers are using a legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to disguise their malware, turn off antivirus protection, and infect systems, experts have warned.

The vulnerable driver has been exploited in a number of attacks since 2021, with the original vulnerabilities being present since at least 2016, research by Trellix, has claimed, noting the malware can use the vulnerable driver to end the processes of security software at the kernel level.

The malware in question belongs to the AV Killer family, with the attack using a vector known as bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver (BYOVD) to infect the system.

Virus can turn off antivirus

Trellix outlined how the malware uses a file named ‘kill-floor.exe’ to place the vulnerable driver named ‘ntfs.bin’ into the default Windows user folder, before using the Service Control executable (sc.exe) to register the driver using the ‘aswArPot.sys’ service.

Included within the malware is a hardcoded list of 142 processes used by common security products, which is used to check system process snapshots for any matches.

The malware then uses the ‘DeviceIoControl’ API to run the relevant commands to end the process, thereby preventing the antivirus from detecting the malware.

The hardcoded list includes processes belonging to a number of security products from names such as McAfee, Avast, Microsoft Defender, BlackBerry, Sophos, and many more.

As BleepingComputer points out, this isn’t the first time a BYOVD attack has exploited a vulnerable Avast driver, with the 2021 Avoslocker ransomware attacks abusing an Avast Anti-Rookit driver. Sentinel Labs also spotted and reported two high-severity flaws to Avast in the same year, which were patched shortly after.

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• Game Assist mode is part of the Game Bar and is now in testing
• It pops up a compact Edge panel right in your gaming session
• You can look at online tips and guides without Alt-Tabbing out of the game

Microsoft is adding a new feature to the Edge browser that could give it a distinct edge over Chrome (and other rivals), at least for PC gamers.

This is the Game Assist mode, which is now in preview (testing) with Microsoft Edge beta version 132, and it’s part of the functionality integrated into the Game Bar on Windows 11.

The basic idea is to give you access to, say, game guides or tips while you’re playing a game. So, instead of having to Alt-Tab constantly in and out of the game to look at said guide in the browser – or have the guide open on your phone, staring at a small screen – you can have it right there in your game session.

Game Assist is essentially a mini version of Edge running in the Game Bar overlay, so you can look at those hints and tips – or whatever you want – and still see the game world, and when you’re about to be attacked by a monster or something that might be similarly disastrous if you’d Alt-Tabbed out.

This gaming-centric Edge panel shares the same data as the main Edge browser on your PC, so you get access to your favorites, cookies, and so on. It’s also trimmed down and streamlined so it doesn’t sap resources, Microsoft notes – which obviously wouldn’t be helpful for gaming.

Furthermore, Game Assist is aware of what you’re playing and can surface tips or walkthroughs appropriate to that game.

Analysis: Game on!

All in all, this sounds like a great idea – providing what Microsoft says about the Game Assist feature not using too much in the way of resources holds true. Of course, as it’s in beta right now, if you do try the capability out, it’s possible that Game Assist could be wonky in any number of ways.

To begin with, the test version only supports the English language and a ‘selection’ of popular games. The initially supported PC games include Baldur’s Gate 3, Diablo IV, Fortnite, and League of Legends, among others, but no doubt more will be added as we go along – assuming Game Assist makes it out of testing.

We don’t see why it wouldn’t, as this is a pretty neat idea for gamers who don’t have a multiple-monitor setup that allows them to peruse guides or tips on a separate large screen (and not a fiddly little smartphone screen). It also avoids clumsy Alt-Tabbing, as mentioned.

If it works well, this is a feature that we could see persuading a number of PC gamers to give the browser a whirl and perhaps drive more adoption of Microsoft Edge (which is, in fact, already rated as our top pick out of the best web browsers).

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• Mercedes has unveiled a series of future innovations during workshops
• Its 'solar paint' contains no rare earths and no toxic materials
• Aerodynamic braking and power converters aim to improve EV efficiencies

What is solar paint?

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes says it's new kind of solar paint can be used on "all exterior vehicle surfaces". It also claims it's "considerably cheaper" to produce to typical solar modules and is easy to recycle, thanks to the lack of rare earth materials and silicon.

The utopian dream of solar-powered motoring might not be so distant, as Mercedes-Benz recently opened the doors to some of its most forward-thinking engineering laboratories – and it turns out photovoltaic surfaces are very much on the agenda.

During a number of workshops in its home city of Stuttgart, Germany, Mercedes-Benz lifted the lid on how it has been working on a new kind of solar surface that could generate enough electricity for folks in sunnier climates to cover their daily commuting requirements.

According to the German marque, the ‘solar modules’ measure just five micrometers in thickness – significantly thinner than a human hair – and weigh just 50 grams per square meter. They can be applied to almost any substrate, with applications of future vehicles likely coming in the form of a "wafer-thin layer of paste" that will cover most of the body work.

Mercedes-Benz has past experience with solar panels and the impact they can have on the electric range of EVs, as the company’s record-breaking EQXX concept (the rolling lab that drove more than 620 miles on a single charge) used a small solar panel on the roof that added around 30km (18 miles) of additional range during one of its long distance record attempts.

But the breakthrough in photovoltaic surface treatments means much more of a vehicle could be covered, equating to a much greater increase in additional EV mileage.

No giant solar panels needed

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Taking a fairly standard mid-sized SUV like the marque's EQS as an example, Mercedes engineers claim the 11 square meter surface area and the 20% solar efficiencies of the technology would be enough to generate around 7,400-miles of motoring per year in somewhere sunny, like Los Angeles.

Nanoparticle-based paint would also allow 94% of the sun's energy to pass through to the solar coating, meaning future EVs won't necessarily have to look like giant solar panels.

Studying the daily driving habits of EV owners in Stuttgart, Germany, those close to the project found they cover an average of 52 kilometers (around 32 miles) a day. Around 62% of this distance would be covered using solar energy, the company says, despite the often poor weather conditions.

Again, if you live somewhere with plenty of excess sunshine, the 'always-on' nature of a photovoltaic surface means the vehicle could effectively be charging, even when parked.

As a result, LA owners could cover 100% of their driving distance on average by solar energy. Any surplus achieved could be fed directly into the home network via bidirectional charging, in theory.

Braking down inefficiencies

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Alongside pondering the state of future cities and speeding up AI decisions with neuromorphic computing, Mercedes-Benz also touched on the fact that it is also working on an EV braking system that removes the need for standard discs, drums and pads.

Effectively ridding the world of harmful particles emitted in the form of brake dust, Mercedes’ innovation is integrated into the electric drive unit at the front or rear axle, negating the need for in-wheel brakes.

Not only would this be subject to minimal wear and take up less space, it would also mean the company could look at much lighter wheel and tyre combinations, reducing the overall mass of an EV, as well as exploring fully-enclosed rims for optimized aerodynamics, as openings for brake cooling would no longer be required.

Plus, the company's research into electrical inverter systems could see the integration of micro-converters directly at battery-cell level, which would allow for greater control over individual cells.

It is complicated stuff, but it would result in more efficient battery performance, increased the longevity of battery pack lifespans and greater freedom when it comes to packaging – allowing engineers to use varying cell designs throughout the vehicle.

All of these advancements are still a long way from making production, but it is good to see Mercedes-Benz busy exploring innovations that offer its future customers real-world value.

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• Report claims Snapdragon X laptops only capture 0.8% of the global PC market
• Microsoft Surface leads Snapdragon X adoption in niche segment
• Qualcomm faces stiff competition from AMD, Intel, and Apple

Ed: The article has been amended to clarify that the headline number was for Q3 rather than since launched.

The PC market is continuing to be a challenge for Snapdragon X laptops, with recent reports showing limited market penetration in its first full quarter since launch, as total sales reached under 720,000 units.

This figure represents less than 0.8% of the total PCs shipped globally over Q3, equivalent to fewer than one out of every 125 devices.

Despite a notable sequential growth of 180% in Q3 2024 compared to Q2, the Snapdragon X Series remains a small segment of the broader Windows market, capturing less than 1.5% of the ecosystem.

AI-capable PCs are gaining momentum

Microsoft and other popular brands have already transitioned some devices to the Snapdragon X platform, however, the market for these devices remains niche, even as Qualcomm pushes forward with integration into more consumer and business devices.

Canalys told TechRadar Pro, “As this was the first full quarter of shipments for Snapdragon X Series PCs, we saw sequential growth of around 180% compared to Q2 2024. However, as a proportion of the total Windows market, the products remain very niche, at less than 1.5% share. The top shipping vendor was Microsoft, which has transitioned most of their Surface line to the platform. Behind them was Dell who has embraced the new platform quite strongly in terms of SKU count, followed by HP, Lenovo, Acer and Asus (all four with similar volumes).”

While Snapdragon X laptops struggle to gain traction, the broader category of AI-capable PCs is rapidly expanding. In Q3 2024, shipments of these devices reached 13.3 million units, accounting for 20% of all PC shipments. This category includes desktops and notebooks equipped with chipsets dedicated to AI workloads, such as AMD’s XDNA, Intel’s AI Boost, and Qualcomm’s Hexagon.

Windows devices led the AI-capable PC market for the first time, capturing 53% of the segment. The surge in demand was supported by the Windows 11 refresh cycle and processor advancements. Sequential growth for AI-capable PCs stood at 49%, underscoring the market’s increasing appetite for AI-driven computing capabilities.

Nevertheless, AI-capable PCs face significant hurdles. Canalys' data suggests that consumers and channel partners remain cautious about adopting these premium offerings. For instance, Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, requiring at least 40 NPU TOPS and other high-performance specifications, have yet to fully convince buyers of their value.

A November 2024 poll of channel partners revealed that 31% do not plan to sell Copilot+ PCs in 2025, while 34% expect these devices to account for less than 10% of their sales. With Windows 10’s end-of-support deadline approaching, PC vendors are under pressure to drive upgrades among users still relying on ageing devices.

To stand out in the competitive AI-capable PC market, vendors are exploring unique strategies. HP has emphasized collaborations with independent software vendors (ISVs) to enhance on-device AI experiences. Lenovo has invested in proprietary AI tools embedded within its PCs, such as Creator Zone and Lenovo AI Now.

Dell and Lenovo are leveraging on-device AI to complement their broader AI service ecosystems. Meanwhile, Apple has taken a distinct approach, focusing on its vertically integrated ecosystem.

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• AMD's 192-core EPYC 9965 CPU now a third cheaper than at launch
• 5th-gen Turin chip has seen stellar reviews from the tech press
• Half the price of Intel's 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P

AMD’s new 192-core CPU monster, the EPYC 9965, launched last month, four months after its initial announcement. The CPU, which uses the Zen 5c core architecture, boasts 192 cores and 384 threads and competes (almost) directly with Intel’s recently launched 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P.

In addition to being AMD’s most complex microprocessor to date, the EPYC 9965 was also its most expensive, at nearly $15,000.

Fast forward to today however, andWiredzone is currently selling the chip for a more modest $10,034 - a significant discount. Unlike some online deals that disappoint with limited stock or long delivery times, Wiredzone has the processors in and ready to ship, with volume discounts also available.

What's behind the price cut?

The reason for this surprise price drop isn’t entirely clear. It could be that AMD has been able to produce more processors than first anticipated, or perhaps demand hasn’t been as high as expected (which seems very unlikely).

By comparison, Intel’s Xeon 6980P launched at $17,800, but its price has since increased. Newegg is currently selling it for $18,900, and Connection lists it for $20,527 - though neither retailer has the product in stock at the moment. That could suggest another reason for the sudden price drop.

At the lower cost, AMD might see an opportunity to appeal to budget-conscious enterprises or organizations seeking high-performance processors without paying a premium.

By undercutting Intel’s prices and ensuring ample stock availability, AMD could strengthen its position in the competitive server CPU market while attracting new customers who might otherwise consider Intel’s offerings.

Reviewers previously declared that with the Xeon 6900P family, Intel was finally a contender again in the server CPU arena.

However, the arrival shortly afterwards of AMD’s 5th generation Turin products quickly rained on that parade, comfortably putting AMD back on top. As Phoronix noted in its gushing review, “The new top-end AMD EPYC Turin processor performance can obliterate the competition in most workloads and delivers a great generational leap in performance and power efficiency."

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• AMD's 192-core EPYC 9965 CPU now a third cheaper than at launch
• 5th-gen Turin chip has seen stellar reviews from the tech press
• Half the price of Intel's 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P

AMD’s new 192-core CPU monster, the EPYC 9965, launched last month, four months after its initial announcement. The CPU, which uses the Zen 5c core architecture, boasts 192 cores and 384 threads and competes (almost) directly with Intel’s recently launched 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P.

In addition to being AMD’s most complex microprocessor to date, the EPYC 9965 was also its most expensive, at nearly $15,000.

Fast forward to today however, andWiredzone is currently selling the chip for a more modest $10,034 - a significant discount. Unlike some online deals that disappoint with limited stock or long delivery times, Wiredzone has the processors in and ready to ship, with volume discounts also available.

What's behind the price cut?

The reason for this surprise price drop isn’t entirely clear. It could be that AMD has been able to produce more processors than first anticipated, or perhaps demand hasn’t been as high as expected (which seems very unlikely).

By comparison, Intel’s Xeon 6980P launched at $17,800, but its price has since increased. Newegg is currently selling it for $18,900, and Connection lists it for $20,527 - though neither retailer has the product in stock at the moment. That could suggest another reason for the sudden price drop.

At the lower cost, AMD might see an opportunity to appeal to budget-conscious enterprises or organizations seeking high-performance processors without paying a premium.

By undercutting Intel’s prices and ensuring ample stock availability, AMD could strengthen its position in the competitive server CPU market while attracting new customers who might otherwise consider Intel’s offerings.

Reviewers previously declared that with the Xeon 6900P family, Intel was finally a contender again in the server CPU arena.

However, the arrival shortly afterwards of AMD’s 5th generation Turin products quickly rained on that parade, comfortably putting AMD back on top. As Phoronix noted in its gushing review, “The new top-end AMD EPYC Turin processor performance can obliterate the competition in most workloads and delivers a great generational leap in performance and power efficiency."

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• Apple TV Plus renews Jon Hamm series Your Friends & Neighbors
• However, the first season won't air until Spring 2025
• It's the first lead TV role for Jon Hamm since Mad Men

Apple TV Plus seems to have a lot of confidence in its upcoming series Your Friends & Neighbors, as it has been renewed for a second season - before the first has even aired! If you want to catch the new Apple TV Plus show, there's a fairly long wait as it won't be hitting the streamer until Spring 2025.

This isn't the first time one of the best streaming services has renewed one of their originals early, as Slow Horses season six was recently confirmed before viewers have seen the fifth one. So, Apple TV Plus continues to back its growing library even before it has been released to the wider public.

The new Jon Hamm-led series comprises nine episodes and won't premiere until Friday, April 11. To pass the time, you might want to check out some of their other offerings, like the best Apple TV movies.

What do we know about Your Friends & Neighbors?

Your Friends & Neighbors marks Jon Hamm's first leading role in an ongoing series since Mad Men ended in 2015. We've recently seen him in Paramount Plus shows like Landman, but fans will no doubt be excited to see him back as the star of a show.

Here, he plays the role of Cooper, a hedge fund manager who has recently been fired from his job and is going through a divorce, so he's seen better days. Don't feel too sorry for him just yet, though.

To cope with the loss of his job and the financial pressures of a divorce, Cooper begins stealing from his neighbors living in the affluent Westmont Village. However, he soon discovers that there are dark secrets and affairs buried, and this neighborhood might be more dangerous than he first thought.

Currently, we don't have a trailer for the new series, so we'll just have to wait patiently for that!

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• The Roku Channel is becoming tightly integrated with Google TV
• Roku's 500-plus free channels will be searchable and easily accessible
• Home screen integration for recommendations and currently watched titles

The Roku Channel is about to get a whole lot better on Google TV and Android TV. Over the next few weeks, Roku and Google will be improving the Roku Channel experience to make it much easier to find things you'll want to watch, while significantly upgrading your Google TV experience.

Starting today, Google TV will be rolling out Roku Channel integration that'll add the channel to the Google TV search feature. It'll also bring Roku's 500-plus FAST (Free, Ad-Supported TV) channels into Google TV's Live tab, the free hub for live TV.

On paper, this looks like a win-win: Google TV users get improved viewing options and Roku gets more visibility, which no doubt will mean more viewers.

The Roku Channel is free and currently offers more than 80,000 ad-supported titles – movies as well as shows – as well as channels such as ABC News. So Google TV fans certainly won't be short of choice during the holidays this year.

Are you ready to Roku?

(Image credit: Roku)

This integration also means that you'll be able to jump straight back in to Roku Channel shows, while Google TV will now show selected Roku Channel content in new home screen rows such as 'featured on the Roku channel' as well as the Free Live TV row.

Although this specific integration is with Google TV, those aren't the only Android-powered platforms The Roku Channel is available on. You can also get it on compatible Fire TV and Samsung devices. And of course The Roku Channel is also available online and via the Roku Mobile app.

We currently rate The Roku Channel as the best free streaming service for Roku devices, thanks to that big library of movies and TV shows, plus its 350 live TV channels in the US.

And our main gripe, that you need Roku hardware for the best experience, is slowly being eased by its improved availability on other devices, including Google TV.

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• Russia’s APT28 cyber-espionage group linked to ‘Nearest Neighbor Attack’
• Victim’s Wi-Fi network was protected, but its neighbor’s wasn’t
• Timing aligns with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022

Russian cyber-espionage group APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, was able to breach an American company’s network by leveraging a ‘Nearest Neighbor Attack’ exploiting nearby Wi-Fi networks.

First identified by cybersecurity firm Volexity in February 2022, the attack raises new concerns about vulnerabilities in corporate Wi-Fi system.

In this case, APT28, tracked by Volexity as ‘GruesomeLarch,’ targeted a US organization engaged in Ukrainian-related projects, hence the nation-state’s interest in the firm.

‘nearest neighbour attacks’

The attack on the unnamed US company – a customer of Volexity’s whose identity has been protected – started with password-spraying to acquire credentials for the victim’s enterprise Wi-Fi network. The firm’s multi-factor authentication protected its public-facing systems however the hackers then turned to a nearby organization to force entry.

Volexity explained: “The threat actor was halfway around the world and could not actually connect to [the victim’s] Enterprise Wi-Fi network. To overcome this hurdle, the threat actor worked to compromise other organizations who were in buildings within close proximity to [the victim’s] office. Their strategy was to breach another organization.”

APT28 exploited a device that was connected to both wired and wireless networks – it acted as a bridge to the target’s enterprise Wi-Fi, enabling lateral movement and data exfiltration.

Furthermore, the attackers used native Windows tools like Cipher.exe to erase evidence, making it hard to detect and trace the attack. They also exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler service to escalate privileges within the victim’s network.

Given that the attack took place weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its geopolitical significance aligns with its choice of target company.

Volexity is now advising all companies to monitor suspicious activity, create separate networking environments for Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks, and apply authentication and certificate-based solutions.

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