TechRadar News

• Spotify and United Airlines have announced a new partnership that enhances in-flight entertainment for passengers
• Now you can access over 450 hours of in-flight Spotify content, including curated playlists, audiobooks, and video podcasts – the first for any airline
• As of 2026, passengers will be able to log into their own Spotify account on seatback screens to pick up where they left off with their favorite music and podcasts

Spotify has announced a new partnership with United Airlines that aims to enhance your in-flight experience by giving you access to free content while onboard. Now, passengers will be able to stream over 450 hours of Spotify-curated playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks for free on over 130,000+ seatback screens.

Spotify is already available on the in-flight entertainment systems of several other airlines, including Emirates, Delta Airlines, and Virgin America – though they don’t offer video podcasts.

In Spotify’s blog post, the streaming platform said that this collaboration ‘marks the first time [we’ve] offered audiobooks and video podcasts onboard an airline’. Passengers will have access to a selection of titles including popular shows Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Dave Chang Show, and The Comment Section with Drew Afualo.

Recently, Spotify has been improving the way users keep track of their favorite shows, adding a podcast recommendations in the Home page. (Image credit: Spotify)

But that’s not all. This new partnership will also let travelers on Starlink-equipped aircraft stream Spotify on their personal devices between gates – without interruptions, and free of charge.

The only requirement is that you log into your MileagePlus account, United’s frequent-flyer program, and accept the terms and conditions. From there, you’ll be able to stream content in Spotify as normal on the Starlink network.

Following these announcements, CEO of MileagePlus, Richard Nunn, provided a comment on the collaboration: “Spotify has a huge audience and people love their content. And now our customers can enjoy it all in a simple and easy way, at 35,000 feet”.

There’s more to come…

When it comes to United’s new collaboration with one of the best music streaming services, this is just the beginning of their growing relationship and as of 2026, users will be able to have more freedom with the in-flight Spotify content they choose to stream.

Next year, passengers will be able to use their personal devices to log into the Spotify app in United’s in-flight entertainment system to display their account on the seatback screen. The aim of this is to allow United passengers with a Spotify Premium to access and enjoy their own personal content beyond what’s already available for free on United’s system.

Having this freedom will allow you to pick up where you left off with your favorite albums, audiobooks, and podcasts, and give you wider access to Spotify content as you fly. Though we don’t know if United’s in-flight Spotify content is ad-supported, we’ll bring you updates as soon as more details are announced.

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It's almost that time of year again: WWDC time. Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference is an annual event, where it reveals to developers and the rest of us what's coming in terms of software updates. That covers iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, so it's always a packed show.

When it comes to official WWDC 2025 news, all we really know is when it's happening. Unofficially, there have been a ton of leaks and rumors hinting at what's to come – and we've collected them all here so you can prepare yourself for the big day.

If Apple sticks to its usual schedule, we'll get beta versions of some of these updates shortly after WWDC 2025 has ended, followed by full launches later in the year. When it comes to iOS 19 (or iOS 26) for example, the software should start rolling out to iPhones in September to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 17.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Apple's big annual software show
• When is it? Monday, June 9, 2025

WWDC 2025: when is it?

This year's WWDC is happening on Monday, June 9, as announced by Apple.

There are meetings and presentations all week, but most of the main announcements will be made by Tim Cook and his colleagues in a keynote speech that kicks off the event: that's scheduled to get underway at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm UK (that's 3am AEST on June 10, for those of you in Australia).

As usual, the keynote will be livestreamed over the web, and here's how to watch it.

WWDC 2025: what can we expect?

It looks as though WWDC 2025 is going to be particularly busy, based on the rumors and speculation we've come across in the run up to the event. Bear in mind that none of this is official yet, but here's what we're expecting.

A major software rebrand

We were expecting iOS 19 to follow iOS 18, as you would, but a reliable source says Apple plans to name the next iPhone operating system update iOS 26 – to match the year 2026, even though it's launching in the third quarter of 2025.

Not only that, but the rumor is that every Apple software platform will be renamed to match. This would fix the rather confusing situation we have now, where macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS are all on different version numbers.

That would be quite a jump in some cases – from visionOS 2 to visionOS 26 – but it would make everything more consistent. It's also going to be interesting to see which devices will be eligible for the upcoming updates.

Revamped interfaces

(Image credit: Apple)

Another leak that's emerged ahead of time suggests most of Apple's software platforms are going to get a modern visual refresh – one that actually matches the least widely used of those platforms, visionOS.

From what we've heard, it sounds like the new look will be more consistent, more straightforward, and with more use of translucent, glass-like elements. We've actually seen hints of this in the official invite to WWDC 2025.

What's more, the tagline of the event is "sleek peek" – pointing towards something that involves a visual overhaul. It could be the biggest update to the aesthetics of Apple's software and apps since iOS 7, all the way back in 2014.

Big app upgrades

As well as refreshing the underlying operating systems, Apple tends to save all its individual app update announcements for WWDC 2025 too. This year it's been rumored that Messages will get automatic translation and support for polls, for example.

The same leak predicts animated album art on the lock screen when you're listening to your tunes in Apple Music, as well as the ability to export Notes in markdown format. An overhaul to the CarPlay interface has also been predicted.

Apparently, a dedicated gaming app is on the way for Apple devices too, a central hub where all your games, chats, leaderboards, and other game-related information can live and sync across your various gadgets.

Not much Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence hasn't had the best of starts (Image credit: Apple)

Apple has gone big on AI recently, like just about every other tech company in business – but after several delays to the rollout of Apple Intelligence, it seems we won't get much in the way of new AI announcements at WWDC 2025.

That's according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who is usually reliable when it comes to Apple predictions. Apparently it's going to be pretty quiet on the Siri front, while Apple engineers regroup and make sure the next update is a polished one.

We may still see a few Apple Intelligence tweaks, such as battery optimizations, but don't expect too much in terms of AI – even if there's a possibility that Apple could open up its platforms to more third-party AI voice assistants.

More leaks and rumors

That's not quite the end of the leaks and rumors when it comes to WWDC 2025. Software updates for the Apple AirPods are rumored to be adding features such as camera control, support for more gestures, and a new mic mode.

Then there's the Apple Watch: we won't see new hardware at WWDC 2025, but we suspect Apple may well introduce some new tracking features in watchOS, as well as perhaps a smattering of Apple Intelligence features.

No doubt Apple will have some surprises in store, so join us on June 9 for the full story: we'll be running a live blog alongside speedy updates from Apple, as we hear all about its software plans for the rest of the year.

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• Google has made a number of under-the-hood tweaks to Chrome
• It claims the browser is now 10% faster than it was a year ago
• That’s based on benchmarking with Speedometer 3.0, but we're not shown comparative results with other popular web browsers

Google has boasted that Chrome is now faster than ever, outlining the improvements it's made to its popular web browser to achieve this speed boost.

Neown flagged up the latest blog post from Google in a series entitled the ‘Fast and the Curious’ for those who are intrigued to see what tinkering Google has been doing.

We’re told that Chrome has recorded its highest score ever on Speedometer 3.0, a browser benchmarking tool, and that it’s now 10% faster than in August 2024 with the release of the latest version 139 (still in testing, in the Dev channel).

Google says these improvements have been possible due to the Chrome team working across all the main ‘rendering paths’ of the browser, referring to the fundamental mechanisms that convert the nuts-and-bolts of code for a website into a visible web page in Chrome.

With that work happening more swiftly across multiple fronts, you see web pages rendered in the browser a bit faster, and it should act more responsively overall.

Clearly, though, performance mileage depends not just on the browser, but on a lot of factors (including any given website itself, and how it’s implemented, alongside the spec of the PC and its current overall workload).

(Image credit: Pixabay)Analysis: faster than ever – but some RAM concerns remain

There’s a fair bit of techie detail provided in terms of the exact tweaks Google has applied here, but to summarize, they include memory-related optimizations, better use of caches, and work on refining data structures.

Fortunately, us mere non-programmer mortals don’t need to know those ins and outs. The simple takeaway is that, as mentioned, Chrome is now 10% faster – at least based on this run of benchmarking.

This is the latest in a series of boosts for Chrome, as Google showed us how much faster its browser was at around the same time last year, as Neowin pointed out.

The benchmarking tool employed, Speedometer, is a respected suite of tests for web browsers, generally acknowledged to reflect a real-world browsing experience with a commendable degree of accuracy. What we don’t see here, though, are any comparative results that show how fast Edge, or Firefox, or some of the other best web browsers are in relation to Chrome.

That said, a quick scan of recent independent testing with Speedometer does suggest that Chrome is no slouch, and it seems like it currently has the edge (no pun intended) over other browsers.

Google appears to be doing good work on the performance front, then, despite Chrome’s reputation as a RAM hog, an issue it has sought to address. There have been improvements in terms of streamlining memory usage with Chrome in the more recent past, though – and overall, Google’s browser seems nippy enough these days.

That said, concerns around RAM-related performance headwinds remain. How much of this is down to tainted perceptions is debatable, but complaints certainly persist on various online forums that Chrome doesn’t fare so well here, and overreaches with its demands on the system, particularly with lower-end PCs that aren’t well-equipped in the RAM department.

There’s more to web browsers than speed, too, and one of the thornier remaining issues for Chrome is one of trust – or rather a lack of it, regarding Google ‘spying’ on its users, which is a common theme in terms of accusations leveled online. Not that Google is alone in terms of tech giants in this respect – far from it.

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• The Garmin Index Sleep Monitor is rapidly becoming an open secret
• A regional arm of Garmin reportedly released a one-minute video featuring the device
• The video was quickly taken down, but Gadgets & Wearables managed to grab a few screenshots

The fact that Garmin is entering the best sleep tracker race with a new product, said to be called the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor, isn't news anymore. Several leaks over the last two weeks have all but confirmed the product's existence. However, this time the leak has apparently come from Garmin itself, as it published – then quickly took down – a video featuring the product. The call is coming from inside the house!

First reported by Gadgets & Wearables, a regional arm of Garmin first posted the video. The report doesn't mention which region, and as the video has been taken down, we're unable to work our way back to the YouTube channel that originally posted it.

Nevertheless, Gadgets & Wearables apparently grabbed some screenshots of the video before it was removed, showing the device in action. The shots show a wearable heart rate monitor attached to the user's upper arm via a Velcro strap, designed to be worn during sleep only. It's not a Whoop-style screenless fitness tracker as previously thought. You can view those images in the link above.

Gadgets & Wearables confirms the device will pack a vibrating smart alarm as well as a seven-day battery life and Garmin's usual suite of data collected by its optical heart rate monitor and sensor arrays.

These include heart rate, heart rate variability and skin temperature, as well as a new metric called breathing variation. This is likely a move towards recording instances of sleep apnea.

Garmin's big bet on sleep

We reported on previous leaks stating the device was likely to cost 170 euros, around $200 / £150 / AU$300. That's quite a lot of money for an add-on device that does something your Garmin watch can already do, that isn't a fitness tracker too.

It's said to interface with Garmin Connect in the same way as your watch, so the intention is likely to wear your watch during the day and the more accurate Index Sleep Monitor at night.

As a sleep-only tracker, the upper arm positioning will allow for more accurate heart rate readings, but we're particularly interested in the sleep apnoea feature. Apple debuted its Sleep Apnoea Notifications feature on the best Apple Watches last year, and Samsung's gone hard into sleep with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Your bed is rapidly becoming the next big wearables frontier. We'll know more for sure about the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor when it launches – and if promotional materials have already been leaked, that can't be far away.

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• Alphabet CEO says AI won't lead to job cuts
• Sundar Pichai believes Alphabet could even hire more workers
• Many major tech firms have announced job cuts in recent years

The CEO of Google's parent company Alphabet has hit back at fears growing AI adoption will lead to job cuts.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, Sundar Pichai said AI could actually help Alphabet grow its workforce, rather than lead to redundancies and losses.

“I expect we will grow from our current engineering phase even into next year, because it allows us to do more,” Pichai said, noting AI could be "an accelerator" driving new product development, which in turn needs more human workers.

AI job concerns

Alphabet has made several large-scale layoffs in recent years, with 12,000 workers cut in January 2023, and around a thousand let go over the course of 2024, with Google also announcing several hundred more cuts in 2025.

However, many of the largest technology firms in the world have also been forced to make similar cuts, such as Microsoft, which recently announced 7,000 roles would go.

Pichai was hopeful about the impact AI will have on Alphabet's workers, noting the technology could free them from repetitive or dull admin work to tackle more creative tasks.

He did acknowledge concerns about AI taking human jobs, and addressed recent comments by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei suggesting AI could remove half of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years by saying, “I respect that … I think it’s important to voice those concerns and debate them.”

"There’s a lot of forward progress ahead with the paths we are on, not only the set of ideas we are working on today, [but] some of the newer ideas we are experimenting with,” Pichai added.

“I’m very optimistic on seeing a lot of progress - but you’ve always had these technology curves where you may hit a temporary plateau. So are we currently on an absolute path to AGI? I don’t think anyone can say for sure.”

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• Marks and Spencer CEO received communication from a ransom gang
• This follows a devastating attack earlier in 2025
• The email confirms a link between the M&S and Co-op attacks

Marks and Spencer was amongst the British retailers that suffered devastating cyberattacks earlier in 2025, with services and stores facing disruption, as well as online orders being suspended.

In the midst of all this, reports from the BBC claim company CEO Stuart Machin was personally sent emails by the attackers goading him and inviting him to begin negotiating the ransom fee.

"We have marched the ways from China all the way to the UK and have mercilessly raped your company and encrypted all the servers," the hackers wrote. "The dragon wants to speak to you so please head over to [our darknet website]."

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“Let's get the party started”

The group, who call themselves “DragonForce” also claimed responsibility for the Co-op attack, which came around a similar time - making this email the first official link between the two incidents.

Little is known so far about the group themselves, but the emails confirm this was a ransomware attack, something that M&S have so far refused to comment on.

It was sent through a London-based Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee, and it appears as though this employee was also hacked as part of the wider attack - and the Indian IT service is investigating whether it was the origin for the M&S cyberattack.

The email indicated a knowledge of the firm’s cyber insurance, taunting the firm; "we know we can both help each other handsomely : ))". The email also contained a link to begin ransom negotiations; "let's get the party started. Message us, we will make this fast and easy for us."

We reached out to Marks and Spencer for comment, which it declined, offering the following;

“We cannot comment on details of or speculation on the cyber incident, and we have been advised not to.”

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• Upgraded MagSafe chargers have been spotted in filings
• The iPhone 17 could support up to 50W wireless charging
• Price hikes for the new models have been predicted

We're counting down the weeks until the iPhone 17 reveal, which should be sometime in September, and a couple of new leaks have caught our attention. In short: there's good news and there's bad news.

First up, the positive news is that Apple's flagship phone series might be getting a boost in terms of its wireless MagSafe charging, compared to the iPhone 16 range.

As spotted by 91mobiles, Apple has submitted regulatory filings in Taiwan for two new MagSafe charger models, with model numbers A3502 and A3503.

Crucially, the chargers support the Qi 2.2 standard, and that means a big jump in wireless charging power: 50W, as opposed to the 25W that the current iPhones max out on (the current MagSafe tech is limited to Qi 2.0).

The Qi 2.2 standard also brings with it improved efficiency, to cut down on heat generation and energy loss, as well as better magnetic alignment – so these new MagSafe chargers should snap into place better than ever before. The signs are promising that the new models will offer improved charging speeds for the iPhone 17.

Price rises

Current iPhones, like the iPhone 16e, have stayed at their original price (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Less encouragingly, 9to5Mac reports on a prediction from the analysts at Counterpoint Research, which suggests the starting price of an iPhone will go up this year – primarily because of the ongoing US tariff situation.

Some of that tariff cost is going to be passed on to consumers by Apple, Counterpoint Research says, though it doesn't specify what the price hike might be, or which models could be most affected. Up until now, Apple has resisted raising the prices of its current lineup, including the recently launched iPhone 16e.

Of course, this is all unofficial for now, and the tariff situation might look a lot different in September 2025, but you might want to start saving up. The iPhone 16 starting price was set at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 when it launched last September.

Rumors of an iPhone 17 price hike have been swirling all year, so this latest prediction isn't really a surprise. Insider sources and analysts from Samsung Securities have both speculated that the iPhone 17 could cost more than its predecessor – not just because of tariffs, but also because of new costs to Apple and new features in the handset.

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• The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are again rumored to have 120Hz refresh rates
• However, this time we're hearing that they might not have ProMotion screens
• That would likely mean they don't have a variable refresh rate, which could be bad news for battery life

We’ve long expected that the entire iPhone 17 series will get 120Hz displays, with numerous sources saying the base model will finally leave 60Hz screens in the past. However, a new leak complicates this claim slightly.

According to reputable leaker Fixed Focus Digital (via 9to5Mac), the base iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air will indeed have 120Hz screens, but unlike on the Pro models, these won’t be ProMotion displays.

You see, Apple equips its Pro models with ProMotion screens, which, as well as being able to reach 120Hz, are also able to dial all the way down to 1Hz. This means the refresh rate is never higher than it needs to be, so battery can be conserved when a high refresh rate isn’t needed.

And with a 1Hz refresh rate, they can also support Apple’s always-on display feature (which would use a lot of battery if the refresh rate were stuck at a high level). But according to this source, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air won’t have a variable refresh rate.

No always-on, and not enough endurance

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a variable refresh rate (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

So, that would likely mean the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air still won’t support Apple's always-on display feature, but more troublingly, it could also mean a reduction in battery life for both models. That’s especially worrying for the iPhone 17 Air, which by virtue of being slim will probably have quite a small battery to begin with.

But that makes me doubt this rumor a bit. It could make sense for Apple to do this with the base iPhone 17, as it would be a spec upgrade, but one that still keeps it behind the Pro models. The battery hit on the Air, however, would surely be too big a sacrifice.

So, I'm hoping that this rumored upgrade is either totally wrong or will only come to the base iPhone 17, as in the iPhone 17 Air’s case, it might end up being more of a downgrade than just equipping it with a 60Hz screen.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally arrived, and it brings several upgrades over its predecessor, including 4K resolution, 120Hz (at 1080p resolution) and HDR support. It also supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which provides a smoother gaming experience, although this is only available in handheld mode. If you managed to get one, now might be a good time to upgrade another vital piece of gaming equipment: your TV.

If you're still looking for a Switch 2, be sure to check out our live stock checker.

When it comes to the best gaming TVs, we at TechRadar look for features such as VRR, a 120Hz refresh rate and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically selects a TV’s game-optimized mode when it detects a connected console. Low input lag for responsive performance and top-notch picture quality are also important.

There’s a plethora of gaming TV options, making choosing one a bit daunting. I’ve chosen three TVs that I think would suit the Switch 2, and the list is led by my top pick, the LG C4.

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The LG B4 provides premium OLED picture quality and a full array of gaming features - 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision gaming - for a more budget-friendly price than any other OLED. It would make a perfect gaming monitor for the Switch 2 and it's now back to its lowest ever price for the 48-inch model. View Deal

The LG C4's colourful, detailed and contrast-rich picture and unbeatable array of gaming features including 4K at 144Hz, VRR (FreeSync and G-Sync), HGiG, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM mean it's a match made in heaven for gaming consoles like the Switch 2. And just in time for the Switch 2's release, this is the cheapest we've ever seen the 55-inch model and is an unmissable offer. View Deal

LG C4

(Image credit: Future)

The LG C4 sits at the top of many of our best TV lists, including the best gaming TV and best OLED TV. A true jack of all trades, it delivers every feature you’d want for gaming and movies and has fantastic picture quality and an intuitive smart TV platform:

The C4 supports 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync), HGiG, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM. Although the Switch 2 won’t take full advantage of all these features in docked mode, it can use High Refresh Rate (120Hz) or 4K resolution for its picture (though not both at the same time).

Plus, games like Mario Kart World will really benefit from the LG C4’s ultra-low 9.2ms input lag time. For driving games like Mario Kart World, a low input lag means a snappier response to your command, something that’s necessary on a course like Rainbow Road! And the C4’s Game Optimizer will allow you to make other settings adjustments to get your Switch 2 experience just right.

Picture quality is where the C4 shines. It has bright, bold colors with plenty of dynamic punch thanks to its high brightness (we measured its peak brightness at 1,065 nits in Filmmaker Mode). Plus, its rich detail and contrast are sure to give the colorful, larger-than-life graphics of the Switch 2’s games a deeper, richer look.

The C4’s picture quality earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in our LG C4 review for good reason! And there’s no better time to buy one to pair with your Nintendo Switch 2 with ambitious ports such as Cyberpunk: 2077 available from launch.

Hisense U7N

(Image credit: Future)

The Hisense U7N is packed with a ton of gaming features and delivers good picture quality without breaking the bank. It’s an excellent choice for those looking for a budget gaming TV.

For gaming features, the U7N supports 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. It also delivers a respectable 13.5ms input lag time. Once again, the Switch 2 will benefit from these gaming features, and the U7N also has a useful game mode, where other tweaks such as shadow detail can be made.

In my Hisense U7N review, I said that “its picture punched above its weight’, and cited its rich color and solid contrast. The Switch 2’s visually appealing games, such as Mario Kart World and Legend of Zelda, will really benefit from the vibrant picture the U7N provides.

LG B4

(Image credit: Future)

That’s right, another LG OLED has made my list. The LG B4 is the step-down model from the LG C4, and while it doesn’t hit the same brightness levels, it still produces excellent picture quality and has an equally impressive list of gaming features.

The B4 is also a great value for an OLED TV, especially the 48-inch model.

Just like its more premium sibling, the B4’s superb stock of gaming features includes 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. It also has an ultra-low 9.1ms input lag time (activated by Boost mode in the Game Optimizer). The Switch 2 can once again take advantage of that low input lag time for ultra-responsive performance (crucial for Mario Kart World) and the B4’s 4K, HDR and 120Hz support to level-up their experience from the original Nintendo Switch.

While it may not have the brightness of the LG C4, the B4 still produces striking colors and rich contrast that gives pictures a dynamic and engaging look with plenty of detail. In our testing, we also found it was great for upscaling non-4K content – perfect if you’re playing an HD-resolution Switch 2 game.

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Europe’s biggest WordPress event is back - this time in the historic city of Basel, Switzerland. We are here to bring you all the latest news and insights from the event.

Several of the biggest names in website hosting, building, and growth are here including WordPress.com, Hostinger, Elementor, Bluehost, Google, and Yoast. There are some interesting talks taking place throughout the event on everything from development and community to content and website design. On day 2, we will also hear from Matt Mullenweg Co-Founder of WordPress and Mary Hubbard Executive Director of WordPress.

So, if WordPress websites are your thing, keep this page bookmarked to find all the latest updates from WordCamp Europe 2025.

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Good morning from Basel, Switzerland!

James Capell (Editor, Web Hosting) and Owain Williams (Editor, Website Builders & CRM) reporting from the opening day of WordCamp Europe. We are looking forward to seeing what this year’s event has in store.

(Image credit: Future)

The doors have opened! Attendees are trickling in.

(Image credit: Future)

The exhibition hall has a fantastic buzz to it, lots of smiling faces and engaging conversations. You immediately get a sense of how close-knit the WordPress community is as you walk around.

What I'm looking forward to today (Owain Williams):

Having attended WordCamp Europe before, I know I’m in for conundrum over the next couple of days. So many great talks to attend, so many fantastic exhibitors to quiz, and countless amazing attendees to chat to.

I know I won’t fit everything in, but here are the three sessions I am going to make special effort to attend today:

1. 3 WordPress agency f*ckups and what I learned from them with Jennifer Aguilera Schumacher
2. Live website reviews by industry experts with Taco Verdonschot
3. WordPress speed build with Jamie Marsland

AI isn’t hype anymore—it’s real. IDC predicts that by 2028 AI spending could hit $623 billion by 2028. That kind of investment doesn’t come from buzz. It comes from companies seeing real value.

AI tools are already cutting costs, speeding up work, and - let’s be honest - making jobs more enjoyable. Nobody misses the repetitive stuff. Instead, we’re doing more of what we’re actually good at: strategy, creativity, and problem-solving.

So now that companies have tasted that value, many want to go further. Not just use AI—but build entire internal AI-powered solutions themselves. Stitch together some models, build an app, launch it to their teams. The thinking goes: if off-the-shelf tools work, imagine how great it’ll be if we control the whole thing.

Here’s the reality: for most companies, especially non-tech companies, building in-house AI solutions is a bad bet. They take too long, cost too much, and rarely deliver what the business actually needs.

Let’s talk about why.

It’s not about the model. It’s about the missing link Between tech and impact.

Companies are already experimenting with models. They’re using GPTs, building copilots, testing agents. That’s not the problem. The problem is believing the solution is just about picking a model or wiring one together. That’s not where most projects fail.

They fail because the solution—how it fits into your workflows, your systems, your people—isn’t well thought out. It’s fragmented. It’s not scalable. It doesn’t stick. The model might be powerful, but the experience around it doesn’t work. And without that, the value never materializes. This is why the connective layer matters.

The interface. The orchestration. The automation. The safeguards. It’s what turns "we have a model" into "we’re driving results." And most companies don’t have the internal expertise to build that layer right.

Going solo comes with hidden costs

Trying to build your own AI-powered solution might feel brave. But unless your company is a product and engineering company, the odds are stacked against you.

Here’s where most organizations get it wrong:

1. You Don’t Have the UX Muscle

AI only delivers value when people actually use it. That means seamless, intuitive, trustworthy interfaces. Most enterprises don’t have the product design and UX software and development capabilities to build interfaces that users actually want to engage with. Internal tools often look—and perform—like science experiments.

2. You’re Flying Blind

Vendors bring learning from hundreds of deployments. You don’t. If you’re rolling out a custom AI solution based on a few internal tests and gut instinct, you’re guessing. You don’t have enough data to know what “good” looks like—or what real adoption takes.

3. You’re Not Budgeting for What Comes Next

AI isn’t static. Models evolve. Interfaces break. User needs change. If you’re not committing budget and headcount for constant iteration, retraining, and support, that in-house solution will be outdated in under a year. And it will sit unused, no matter how promising it looked at launch.

4. Security Concerns Are Overblown

Yes, protecting data is critical. But assuming vendor AI tools are inherently less secure? That’s a flawed take. The best AI providers build with security and compliance at the core. If you trust cloud infrastructure, you can trust enterprise-grade AI vendors.

5. "Only We Know Our Business" Misses the Point

Your internal team knows your business better. That’s not in question. But they likely don’t know how to build scalable, production-ready AI. Vendors do. They’ve already solved the engineering challenges, the data problems, the deployment mess. Why start from scratch?

If you’re not a tech company, stop trying to be one. There’s no shame in partnering with experts—it’s how the winners win faster.

Agentic AI is coming—and it’s even harder to build right

The next phase is agentic AI. These systems don’t just generate—they act. They make decisions. They learn. They execute. It’s already revolutionizing workstreams like customer service, reporting, and document creation.

But these aren’t lightweight features. They’re full systems—requiring real orchestration, context awareness, governance, and maintenance. Trying to build them internally without the right foundation? That’s not just inefficient. It’s risky.

You don’t need to build these things. You need to leverage the companies that already have.

AI is a team sport, play with the pros

AI feels like it’s getting easier. And in some ways, it is. Open-source models. No-code platforms. Accessible APIs.

But building an AI solution that actually moves the needle? That’s still hard. Really hard. And if you think your internal team can replicate what vendors have spent years perfecting, you’re wasting time—and likely money.

The smartest companies aren’t trying to do it all themselves. They’re focusing on what they do best and partnering for the rest.

AI is a team sport. Play with the pros.

That’s how you win.

LINK!

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Luma Labs' new Modify Video tool for Dream Machine uses AI to alter any video footage without reshoots
• Any characters or environments won't lose their original motion or performances
• Anything from subtle wardrobe tweaks to full magical scene overhauls is feasible

Luma Labs is known for producing AI videos from scratch, but the company has a new feature for its Dream Machine that can utterly transform real video footage in subtle or blatant ways, even if it's just an old home movie.

The new Modify Video feature does for videos something like the best Photoshop tools do for images. It can change a scene's setting, style, even whole characters, all without reshooting, reanimating, or even standing up.

The company boasts that the AI video editing preserves everything that matters to you from the original recording, such as actor movement, framing, timing, and other key details, while altering anything else you want.

The outfit you're wearing, which you've decided wasn't you, is suddenly an entirely different set of clothing. That blanket fort is now a ship sailing a stormy sea, and your friend flailing on the ground is actually an astronaut in space, all without the use of green screens or editing bays.

Luma’s combination of advanced motion and performance capture, AI styling, and what it calls structured presets makes it possible to offer the full range of reimagined videos.

All you need to do is upload a video of up to 10 seconds in length to get started. Then pick from the Adhere, Flex, or Reimagine presets.

Adhere is the most subtle option; it focuses on minimal changes, such as the clothing adjustment below or different textures on furniture. Flex does that but can also adjust the style of the video, the lighting, and other, more obvious details. Reimagine, as the name suggests, can completely remake everything about the video, taking it to another world or remaking people into cartoon animals or sending someone standing on a flat board into a cyberpunk hoverboard race.

Flexible AI video

It all depends on not just prompts, but reference images and frame selections from your video if you choose. As a result, the process is much more user-friendly and flexible.

Although AI video modification is hardly unique to Luma, the company claims it outperforms rivals like Runway and Pika due to its performance fidelity. The altered videos keep an actor’s body language, facial expressions, and lip sync. The final results appear as an organic whole, not just stitched-together bits.

Of course, the Modify Video tools have limitations. These are still capped at 10 seconds per clip for now, which keeps things manageable in terms of wait times. However, if you want a longer film, you need to plan and work out how to artistically incorporate different shots into one film.

Still, features like the ability to isolate elements within a shot are a big deal. Sometimes you have a performance you're very happy with, but it's supposed to be a different kind of character in a different setting. Well, you can keep the performance intact and swap a garage for the sea and your actor's legs for a fish tail.

Dreams to reality

It is genuinely impressive how quickly and thoroughly the AI tools can rework a bit of footage. These tools aren't just a gimmick; the AI models are aware of performances and timelines in a way that feels closer to human than any I've seen. The AI models don't actually understand pacing, continuity, or structure, but they are very good at mimicking these aspects.

While the technical and ethical limitations will prevent Luma Labs from recreating the entire cinema at this point, these tools will be tempting for many amateur or independent video producers. And while I don't see it becoming as widely used as common photo filters, there are some fun ideas in Luma's demos that you might want to try.

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• Meta is developing its Aria Gen 2 smart glasses, which come packed with sensors and AI features
• The smart glasses can track your gaze, movement, and even heart rate to gauge what's happening around you and your feelings about it
• The smart glasses are currently being used to help researchers train robots and build better AI systems that could be incorporated into consumer smart glasses

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are still relatively new, but Meta is already ramping up work with its new Aria Gen 2 smart glasses. Unlike the Ray-Bans, these smart glasses are only for research purposes, for now, but are packed with enough sensors, cameras, and processing power that it seems inevitable some of what Meta learns from them will be incorporated into future wearables.

Project Aria's research-level tools, like the new smart glasses, are used by people working on computer vision, robotics, or any relevant hybrid of contextual AI and neuroscience that draws Meta's attention. The idea for developers is to utilize these glasses to devise more effective methods for teaching machines to navigate, contextualize, and interact with the world.

The first Aria smart glasses came out in 2020. The Aria Gen 2s are far more advanced in hardware and software. They’re lighter, more accurate, pack more power, and look much more like glasses people wear in their regular lives, though you wouldn't mistake them for a standard pair of spectacles.

The four computer vision cameras can see an 80° arc around you and measure depth and relative distance, so it can tell both how far your coffee mug is from your keyboard, or where a drone’s landing gear might be heading. That's just the beginning of the sensory equipment in the glasses, including an ambient light sensor with ultraviolet mode, a contact microphone that can pick up your voice even in noisy environments, and a pulse detector embedded in the nose pad that can estimate your heart rate.

Future facewear

There's also plenty of eye-tracking technology, able to tell where you’re looking, when you blink, how your pupils change, and what you're focusing on. It can even track your hands, measuring joint movement in a way that could help with training robots or learning gestures. Combined, the glasses can figure out what you're looking at, how you're holding an object, and if what you're seeing is getting your heart rate up because of an emotional reaction. If you're holding an egg and see your sworn enemy, the AI might be able to figure out you want to throw the egg at them, and help you aim it accurately.

As stated, these are research tools. They’re not for sale to consumers, and Meta hasn’t said if they ever will be. Researchers have to apply to get access, and the company is expected to start taking those applications later this year.

But the implications are far larger. Meta's plans for smart glasses go well beyond checking for messages. They want to link human interactions with the real world to machines, teaching them to do the same. Theoretically, those robots could look, listen, and interpret the world around them like humans do.

It's not going to happen tomorrow, but the Aria Gen 2 smart glasses prove it's a lot closer than you might think. And it’s probably only a matter of time before some version of the Aria Gen 2 ends up for sale to the average person. You'll have that powerful AI brain sitting on your face, remembering where you left your keys and sending a robot to pick them up for you.

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• No new iPhone expected, not even a hint, really
• No apologies for the bad Apple Intelligence launch
• No Holy Grail products like XR glasses or a glucose monitor

Next week Apple hosts its Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) 2025, bringing together developers and media to discuss what’s new and what’s upcoming in the world of All Things Apple. Apple makes a lot of stuff, and more importantly, Apple makes the software that runs it all. Apple’s developer conference is about software more than anything else, and hardware news will only serve to expand on Apple’s software development.

If I were a betting man, here’s my safe bet for what new products we’ll see at WWDC 2025: nothing! Apple almost never launches hardware at WWDC. The only time we get something new at WWDC is when it serves to make the developer news more interesting.

Of course, this year’s software news could be very interesting, with a major redesign possibly in the cards for every Apple OS, plus a new naming scheme that will match the update to the year: ie. iOS 26 in 2026. Do we need new hardware to go with the updated interface? No, but it could generate more excitement.

With that in mind, here’s what I do not expect to see at WWDC 2025

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)No hardware, no new iPhone, not even the iPhone 17 Air

If you were hoping for a sneak peak at the iPhone 17 Air, I would highly doubt that Apple will drop any hints about its rumored upcoming thin phone. Even with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge now available, I don’t think Apple will ruin the surprise coming in September, when it launches a drastically redesigned iPhone 17 family. Showing off an iPhone 17 Air would give too much away today.

I also wouldn’t expect any new iPad models. Apple launched new iPad base models and new iPad Air tablets recently, with faster processors inside. There’s no reason to launch anything new at WWDC 2025. Even the iPad Mini got a recent refresh, so it’s doubtful we’ll see anything new.

Occasionally Apple announces a new chipset at WWDC, like the Apple M4 platform. That would be a good reason to get a new Macbook Pro, or possibly an updated iPad Pro model. We haven’t gotten hints about this, so we’re not expecting any new Macbook or iPad’s with an Apple M5, for instance.

There is one lingering rumor about an updated Apple Homepod, possibly with a built-in display. That would make sense for WWDC 2025 because a new display means new possibilities for developers to load apps. If there is any hardware announced next week, that would be my top bet.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)No apologies about Apple AI, and no backing down

If you think Apple Intelligence hasn’t been going well, you’re right, but I wouldn’t expect Apple to admit as much, and it definitely won’t be apologizing for any of the missteps so far. In fact, I expect we’ll see Apple barreling forward with AI features at every level of every single OS.

We’re going to get Apple Intelligence on the Apple Watch, along with more AI on the iPhone, iPad, and MacBooks. The real question is whether Apple will keep promising the same features that never materialized – Siri’s ability to read your email and your personal info and provide you with tailored advice – or if there will be some new direction, perhaps with new partnerships to bridge the gaps in Apple’s capabilities.

I think the latter is most likely, as developers right now are keen on ways to integrate existing apps and features with AI. It makes sense for Apple to partner more closely with companies outside of OpenAI, while it continues to try to build its own AI infrastructure.

(Image credit: Apple)No holy grail, either on your wrist or your face

I expect Apple will talk about advances in Apple Health on the Apple Watch, but I don’t expect any dramatic new capabilities will be announced. We won’t see improvements in glucose monitoring, for instance, or new hardware that can measure metabolic rates in non-invasive ways.

Apple still has a lot of catching up to do on its watch hardware. Google’s Wear OS watches and its partners have added features like zero pulse detection plus more AI features, and battery life continues to climb on the Wear OS side. Apple has been a bit stagnant with its WatchOS progress.

I also wouldn’t expect new face wearables. No update to Apple Vision Pro, and no new Apple Vision products. It is possible that we will get improved controls for Vision Pro, and maybe even real joystick controllers, but no new platform like XR smart glasses.

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• Thunderbolt 5 brings external GPUs closer to delivering real desktop-class performance on thin laptops
• Gigabyte Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box is a dream for power users, not casual gamers
• Heat and power delivery are major concerns when running top-tier GPUs like the RTX 5090

At Computex 2025, Gigabyte introduced a new external GPU enclosure designed to deliver high-performance gaming and AI capabilities.

The Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box connects via Thunderbolt 5 and is powered by Nvidia’s flagship GeForce RTX 5090, following in the footsteps of previous models like the Aorus GTX 1070 and Aorus RTX 3080 Ti, which also featured top-tier Nvidia GPUs at the time.

With the RTX 5090 widely regarded as the best GPU on the market, the AI Box promises desktop-class performance for machines that previously maxed out with integrated graphics or modest discrete GPUs.

Thunderbolt 5 unlocks new performance potential

Thanks to Thunderbolt 5’s dramatically increased bandwidth, many of the bottlenecks that once plagued eGPU setups are being addressed, bringing users closer to the long-standing goal of running a high-end GPU on a lightweight, ultraportable machine.

Theoretically, the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box checks nearly every box: cutting-edge graphics, future-proof connectivity, and plug-and-play flexibility. However, eGPU setups still come with inherent limitations.

Despite lower latency and higher throughput, external GPUs often fall short of matching the performance of internal GPUs due to data transfer overhead and potential driver inconsistencies.

Heat and power management also remain critical concerns, especially with a GPU as power-hungry as the RTX 5090.

There's also the question of practicality. This setup will likely be overkill for casual gaming or office tasks, but it will be a compelling option for developers, video editors, and 3D artists who need the fastest PC performance with the flexibility of a mobile setup.

That said, pricing will be a key consideration. Gigabyte has yet to announce the price of the AI Box, but with the RTX 5090 already commanding a premium, and Thunderbolt 5 components adding to the cost, this device won’t come cheap.

For reference, the Gigabyte Aorus GV-N4090IXEB-24GD, launched two years ago, debuted at $2,000. The new model could very well surpass that figure.

Via PCWatch (originally published in Japanese)

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• Volvo's innovation uses sensors to help the belt adjust its load
• The company claims it can help reduce injuries
• The multi-adaptive safety belt will feature on the EX60

Volvo can claim to be part of the very history of the humble seatbelt, considering Swedish engineer and Volvo employee Nils Bohlin perfected his three-point harness with the company way back in the late 1950s.

Now, it wants to inject some serious smarts into a very simple device that has saved millions of lives over the years.

Thanks to input from the multitude of sensors, cameras, and compute tech onboard the upcoming EX60 (the EX90's sleek little brother), Volvo’s new multi-adaptive safety belt can provide the perfect tension in the unfortunate event of an accident.

Most regular seat belts have three “load-limiting” profile variations that help apply the right load for drivers and occupants of differing heights and weights.

However, Volvo’s latest invention features 11 profiles that adapt to traffic variations and the person wearing it, thanks to real-time data from the car’s advanced sensors, according to the Swedish marque.

Sensors inside can detect height, weight, and seating position of occupants, while the exterior sensor suite can analyze the characteristics of a crash and send the data to the belt to provide the appropriate load "in the blink of an eye".

And how will it help? Well, Volvo gives the example that larger occupants in a serious crash will receive a higher belt load, while smaller occupants in a less severe crash will receive a milder load to prevent common injuries associated with standard seat belts.

Passive tech gets active

(Image credit: Volvo)

Volvo states that it bases its safety innovations on the research it has conducted into some 80,000 real-life accidents over five decades, with a continual data feed helping it make improvements.

It is one of the few automotive companies that has a dedicated Accident Research Team that is permitted to attend the scene of an accident that occurs near its Gothenburg headquarters.

Thanks to this constant source of data, its latest multi-adaptive safety belt will apparently get better over time via over-the-air updates.

Volvo claims that as it gathers more data and insights, its cars will improve their understanding of the "occupants, new scenarios and response strategies". Clever stuff.

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• A watered-down Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 is still potent enough to keep China’s AI ambitions alive
• Nvidia’s workaround isn’t top-tier, but it could still flood China’s data centers
• Export rules slow performance, but they can’t stop parallelized AI scaling by Chinese CSPs

In response to US export restrictions introduced in April 2025, Nvidia is reportedly preparing a special edition of its RTX Pro 6000 GPU for the Chinese market.

A report from TrendForce claims this new version will switch from high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to the slower but more accessible GDDR7.

The switch will allow the chip to comply with new regulations that prohibit GPUs with HBM-level memory bandwidth or advanced interconnect capabilities, resulting in a scaled-down GPU, but not one lacking power.

Not the best, but enough for decent AI work

The RTX Pro 6000 is a potent chip. Even after being watered down, TrendForce estimates its performance will fall between Nvidia’s older L40S and the L20 China edition. This places the chip well within the range of GPUs capable of meaningful AI workloads.

What’s driving interest is not just availability, but capability, even with the downgrade. Critics have pointed out that a cut-down version of a very powerful card is still extremely capable, especially if it's priced more affordably.

As a result, Chinese cloud service providers (CSPs) are expected to scale horizontally, buying more units and optimizing for larger node deployments.

Yes, this approach will be more expensive and consume more power, but that’s just a numbers game - CSPs will need to increase infrastructure investment and manage higher power demands. The downside, of course, is that such workarounds are inherently inefficient.

Nonetheless, if the price per unit is right, the aggregate performance could still meet, or even exceed, current needs.

It may not be the fastest setup in traditional terms, but in parallelized environments, the performance gap could narrow. That said, Chinese chipmakers like Huawei and Cambricon are working to fill the gap left by restricted access to top-tier Nvidia GPUs.

If the special edition RTX Pro 6000 succeeds, it might delay the domestic adoption of homegrown alternatives. If it fails, it could accelerate them.

Nvidia’s strategy may help it navigate current U.S. restrictions, but it remains an open question whether that will be enough in the long run.

A weaker chip could still be one of the fastest GPUs on the market, and too powerful to ignore, especially when the line between compliance and capability is so finely drawn.

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• RTX Pro 6000 beats the unreleased 5090 despite lacking important drivers
• Nvidia’s $10000 card was benchmarked across multiple modern game titles
• Extreme power noise and price make it impractical for most would-be buyers

Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000 might not be marketed as a gaming GPU, but overclocking expert Roman ‘der8auer’ Hartung has shown it can outperform every consumer card Nvidia makes, and that includes the yet-to-be-released RTX 5090.

In his latest video, which you can watch below, der8auer benchmarked the $10,000 Blackwell-based workstation GPU across multiple titles, calling it “the new gaming king.”

Unlike the RTX 5090, which uses the same GB202 chip, the Pro 6000 sports 24,064 CUDA cores, more Tensor and RT cores, and a massive 96GB of GDDR7 memory.

Coil whine

It lacks Nvidia’s Game Ready Drivers, but der8auer notes this didn’t seriously affect gaming performance. In 4K Cyberpunk 2077 tests (without ray tracing), the Pro 6000 pulled 14% ahead of the RTX 5090, though it also used 15% more power.

Performance across other titles echoed that trend. The card was 11% faster in Star Wars Outlaws and Remnant 2, and 3% faster in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the latter possibly held back by driver limitations.

Power draw and heat are challenges, with the card reaching 600W during gaming. Noise was another factor. According to der8auer, the fan ramps up aggressively, and the coil whine was the loudest he’s ever heard.

While the Pro 6000 is clearly dominant in raw performance, its price point makes it unreachable for most.

Der8auer noted that although the card has three times the VRAM of the RTX 5090, the price is five times higher. He estimated the 64GB of additional VRAM might cost $200 more to produce, but that doesn’t justify the $8,000 difference for consumers.

Still, for those chasing the absolute peak of performance - and willing to overlook coil whine and noise - the RTX Pro 6000 has set a new bar. Just don’t expect it to be practical for most gamers.

Via Tom's Hardware

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• Ahead of WWDC 2025, Apple is sharing install stats for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
• If you haven't installed iOS 18 yet, you're in the smaller group, as it's on 82% of all eligible devices
• Apple doesn't guarantee a number of years for software updates for its devices

Have you been using iOS 18 on your iPhone since it was released in September? Or maybe you’re in the camp of waiting a bit to upgrade until friends or family do, or you read reactions from those who’ve tested it.

Well, regardless of which camp you’re in, Apple’s iOS 18 – and iPadOS 18, the operating system for the iPad – are officially eight months old. While that’s not a year, the company’s 2025 Worldwide Developer Conference is kicking off on Monday, June 9, with an opening keynote. We’re expecting the reveal of the next generation of iOS and other platforms.

In the days leading up to that event, Apple is sharing the final usage numbers of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. While the tech giant doesn’t promise a specific number of years for software updates and equally essential security updates, iOS 18 supports up to iPhone XR/XS, and iPadOS 18 works on the iPad 7th Gen, iPad mini 5th Gen, iPad Pro 1st Gen, and iPad Air 1st Gen.

That’s an extensive range of supported devices, and for iOS 18, 82% of all eligible iOS devices are running the latest and greatest from Apple. Regarding eligible devices released in the last four years, the installation rate is higher: 88%. Meanwhile, 71% of all iPads that can run iPadOS 18 have it installed, and iPads released in the last four years have an install ratio of about 81%.

(Image credit: Apple)

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 were pretty big updates, as well – for one, it did start the rolling launch of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 in October of 2024, but that remains incomplete, and the much-anticipated AI-powered Siri is still delayed. You can use features like Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence on eligible iPhones or iPads that support Apple Intelligence.

Beyond that suite, though, iOS 18 broke the so-called app grid, allowing you to place apps wherever you like – even with spaces in between – on the iPhone and iPad. It also lets you adjust the color or tone of your entire home screen, including app icons. The Photos app was redesigned and added customization, but wasn’t loved by everyone. Also, Apple finally added support for RCS messaging, as well as being able to rework the layout of Control Center.

It was a solid, sizable release for iOS and iPadOS, which even got smaller updates and is currently sitting at iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5. Many of the features do work on devices as far back as the iPhone XR, though overall speed and battery life might vary.

So if you haven’t updated to iOS 18 yet and you're on iPhone, Apple’s latest numbers do put you in the smaller group. That’s not a bad thing, but it's a good idea to keep your phone up to date beyond just the new features, as privacy and security updates are also included within these updates.

(Image credit: Apple)

But how does this compare to Android phones? As I wrote above, Apple doesn’t guarantee a timeframe, but you can see that it goes back six years for iPhones, as the XS was released in 2018.

Samsung now guarantees most of its Galaxy phone lineup for seven years of software upgrades, while Google Pixel phones receive five years of updates for the Pixel 6 and older, and this increases to seven years for the Pixel 7 and newer. That means if you get a Pixel 9, you can expect updates through 2031.

Depending on the model, Motorola offers three years of major OS updates plus an additional year of security updates. OnePlus offers four years of OS and security updates on its eponymous flagship phones.

While we expect new versions of iOS and iPadOS at WWDC 2025, the rumor mill hasn’t mentioned Apple promising a specific number of years of software and privacy updates. That could happen, but I think the focus will be on the much-rumored ushering in of a Vision Pro-like design for the rest of the platforms – think glassy and sleek throughout.

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• Sony unveils its first-ever wireless fight stick, codenamed Project Defiant
• The fight stick is launching in 2026 and is designed for PS5 and PC
• The controller can be used wirelessly via PlayStation Link technology for ultra-low latency gameplay, or wired using a USB-C connection

Sony has revealed its first-ever wireless fight stick, codenamed Project Defiant, and it's releasing in 2026.

Announced during PlayStation's June State of Play, Project Defiant is designed for a variety of fighting games and can be used wirelessly or wired for the PlayStation 5 and PC.

"This sleek new controller will give players more flexibility to play their favorite fighting games, whether that is wirelessly with the innovative PlayStation Link technology that provides ultra-low latency, or through a wired connection on PS5 or PC," said Edwin Foo, Vice President, Product Development, SIE, in a PlayStation blog post.

Project Defiant features a high-quality digital stick that’s custom-designed by Sony, toolless interchangeable restrictor gates (square, circle, and octagon) for the stick, buttons with mechanical switches, and a touch pad like the one found on the DualSense wireless controller.

The controller also boasts a sturdy, ergonomic design for long gaming sessions, features a storage compartment for restrictor gates for convenience, and a PS Link USB adapter.

Like the DualSense wireless controller, Project Defiant also supports the ability to wirelessly wake up the user's PS5 by pressing and holding the PS button on the top side of the device.

As previously mentioned, input timing has been refined thanks to Sony's PS Link wireless technology, but there's also an option for players to plug in to play by using a wired USB-C connection.

Sony has also confirmed that the fight stick will come packaged with a sling carry case, which includes a lever gap to keep the digital stick safe, allowing players to take the hardware on the go.

Since Project Defiant is just a codename, we'll likely learn the name of the fight stick closer to launch.

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