TechRadar News

• AirPods with cameras are reportedly an active Apple project
• Don't expect them soon – this will be in the early stages
• There are potential issues with hair, hoods, hats and more

We've been hearing for a while now that Apple is working on camera-equipped AirPods, and a new report says that they're in "active development".

The report, from Bloomberg, doesn't go into any more detail. But it ties in with previous reports from the same source that say Apple sees camera-equipped earbuds as an interim step until AI-packing smart glasses are practical and affordable.

I'm not so sure, because just like Vision Pro there are some very significant obstacles to come. And some of those obstacles are literal obstacles rather than metaphorical ones.

Opinion: AirPods with eyes could be even more niche than Vision Pro

Let's assume that Apple can do the tech equivalent of putting a quart into a pint pot, with some of the tech that currently takes up so much room in Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses made small enough to stick in an AirPod. That in itself is a big ask – it's one reason why Vision Pro is so big and Apple's own smart glasses are still years in the future, if they arrive at all – but if Apple does solve it there are still significant obstacles to overcome.

The camera tech in Meta's smart glasses would take up most of an AirPods' volume on its own… (Image credit: Meta / Ray-Ban)

The thing about in-ear cameras is that they need to be able to see beyond your ears. And if you're not a short-haired man in California, that means there are potential obstacles: long hair is the most obvious one, of course, but for reasons of warmth, religion or fashion there are also hoods, hats and other fabrics to think about too.

There's also the same question that, for me at least, applies to the Vision Pro. Yes, it's magical and clever and amazing and all the other superlatives. But what is it actually for? What will it actually do to make your life better and to justify the price tag?

The answer, inevitably, appears to be AI. But right now AI is frequently hopeless, and Apple Intelligence is hopeless-er – so much so that the only reason I haven't turned it off on my iPhone is because doing so makes Siri on my HomePods become completely unusable.

And I'm not alone. In December 2024, some 73% of iPhone owners and 87% of Samsung phone owners said that AI added "little to no value" to their devices. Perhaps this is why Apple has delayed the launch of the full AI-infused Siri for a while longer, while it develops it further.

Apple has a long tradition of launching devices without full understanding their most impactful purpose – it did it with the iPad, and again with the Apple Watch; both products took a while to find their niches – and I worry that unless they're designed to enhance another product such as Apple's smart glasses, then eyeballing AirPods may have a similar trajectory.

Cameras in smart glasses – privacy issues aside – make sense. But cameras in your ears may be too limited a prospect to ever really live.

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• Google's researchers found a vulnerability in AMD Zen 1 - 4 chips
• It allows anyone to push microcode updates, even malicious ones
• The bug requires high privilege level in advance

AMD processors, from Zen 1 all the way to Zen 4, are carrying a major vulnerability that allows threat actors to push microcode updates on affected chips.

This is according to researchers from Google, who also released a tool to install the updates, or “jailbreak” the device.

Google’s researchers called the vulnerability “EntrySign”. They explained that it stems from the way AMD uses AES-CMAC as a hash function in a signature verification process, which is essentially a cryptographic error, since CMAC is designed as a message authentication code. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2024-56161, and was given a severity score of 7.2/10 (high).

Zentool

The researchers also found AMD was using a published example key from NIST documentation all this time, which helped them forge signatures and install any updates to the microcode they saw fit. In theory, a threat actor could abuse the vulnerability to bypass security mechanisms and trigger information leakage.

In practice, however, it’s a lot more difficult than that. The attackers would need to have local admin privileges beforehand, which is difficult enough on its own. Furthermore, the attacks would only persist until the next system reboot.

In any case, Google released an open source tool called ‘zentool’, which allows security researchers (and, unfortunately, threat actors) to drop custom microcode patches.

It consists of tools for microcode patch examination (including limited disassembly), microcode patch authoring, signing, and loading. The researchers said they’re planning on releasing details on how to decrypt and encrypt microcode patches in the future, as well. “A significant portion of the ongoing research is focused on building an accurate understanding of the AMD microcode instruction set – the current disassembly and assembly are not always accurate due to this challenge,” the report stated.

AMD has released BIOS updates to address this vulnerability, so if you fear you might be targeted, make sure to update your systems to versions dated December 17, 2024, or later.

Via Tom's Hardware

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• More details of Motorola's 2025 phones have leaked
• The Edge 60 Pro, Edge 60 Fusion, and Edge 60 are on the way
• Right now we don't have a rumored launch date

There are a host of new Motorola Android phones on the way for 2025, and we may have just heard a whole lot more about them, courtesy of a major new leak – a leak that covers pricing, color options, and internal spec options.

All of this information comes from the usually reliable 91mobiles (via Notebookcheck), and we get a mention of three different Edge 60 phones. These follow on from the Edge 50 phones that launched last year – see our Motorola Edge 50 Pro review, for one example.

There will apparently be a Motorola Edge 60 Pro, the most expensive in the line-up: it's said to be coming with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, in blue, green, or grape shades, and with a starting price of €600 (about $655 / £505 / AU$1,040). It's also being tipped to get a larger battery (5,100 mAh) than its predecessor (4,500 mAh).

Moving on to the Motorola Edge 60 and the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, the former will be available in sea and green colors and cost €380 (about $415 / £320 / AU$660), while the latter will be available in blue and gray colors and cost €350 (about $380 / £295 / AU$605).

Even more Moto phones

The Motorola Edge 50 (Image credit: Motorola)

There are also details of the budget Moto G56, which is also on the way in black, blue, and dill colors. That will apparently offer 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and be priced at €250 (that's roughly $270 / £210 / AU$435).

Lastly for now, there's also the Moto G86, which is said to be on the way in colors called Golden, Cosmic, Red, and Spellbound. The specs are listed as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and the price is said to be €330 (about $570 / £280 / AU$570).

That's a lot of choice if you're in the market for a value-for-money Android handset in 2025 – and it's what we've come to expect from Motorola. It tends to launch a bunch of variants each year, often with differing availability (and even different names) depending on where in the world you're trying to buy them from.

There's no word in this leak about the Motorola Edge 60 Stylus, which has previously been mentioned by well-known tipster @evleaks. It's also not clear when all of these phones are going to actually be revealed – so we'll just have to sit tight and wait for now.

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• Sony is currently working on the evolution of its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) AI-upscaling technology
• PlayStation's lead architect Mark Cerny says it's aiming to deliver "something very similar" to AMD FSR 4 for the PS5 Pro
• PS5 Pro titles in 2026 will see "the next evolution of PSSR"

PlayStation's lead console architect Mark Cerny has said PS5 Pro games will soon feature "something very similar" to AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4).

Speaking to Digital Foundry, Cerny revealed that Sony is now focusing on its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and working with developers to integrate the AI-upscaling technology into their titles, but for 2026 it's aiming to deliver an FSR 4-level upscaler for upcoming games.

"Our focus for 2025 is working with developers to integrate PSSR into their titles; in parallel, though, we have already started to implement the new neural network on PS5 Pro," Cerny said.

"Our target is to have something very similar to FSR 4's upscaler available on PS5 Pro for 2026 titles as the next evolution of PSSR; it should take the same inputs and produce essentially the same outputs. Doing that implementation is rather ambitious and time consuming, which is why you haven't already seen this new upscaler on PS5 Pro."

This comes after AMD launched its new RDNA 4 GPU architecture for its RX 9000 Series, in collaboration with PlayStation on Project Amethyst; a multi-year partnership that was announced in December, which aims to create "a more ideal architecture for machine learning".

"The neural network (and training recipe) in FSR 4's upscaler are the first results of the Amethyst collaboration," Cerny added. "And results are excellent, it's a more advanced approach that can exceed the crispness of PSSR. I’m very proud of the work of the joint team!"

Despite FSR4's intensive computing power, Cerny also believes that the PS5 Pro has the potential to run FSR 4-like technology, saying, "That is what we are targeting, and we believe we can achieve it".

"The peak performance number for PS5 Pro is 300 8-bit TOPS without sparsity, which compares very well to the recently released AMD GPUs. We don't believe sparsity is useful for this particular upscaling algorithm," he said.

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Want to know when episode 3 of Daredevil: Born Again will be released on Disney+? You've come to the right place.

Below, I'll reveal the launch date for the Marvel TV show's next episode for US, UK, and Australian viewers. You'll also find more information on one of the best Disney+ shows' episodic release schedule, too, so you can find out when to tune into Disney+ to watch its forthcoming chapters.

So, without further ado, here's when the next installment of Daredevil's standalone series will air.

When will Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 come out on Disney+ in the US?

"This city... could do with knowing when episode 3 will be released" (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Episode 3, titled 'The Hollow of His Hand', will be available to stream on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on Tuesday, March 11 at 6PM PT / 9PM ET.

That's the same time that Born Again's two-episode premiere (read my thoughts on those via my Daredevil: Born Again review if you haven't yet!) was released on the service, so it makes sense that future entries would be released then, too.

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What is the Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 release time in the UK?

I'm legally obliged to tell you when Born Again's third episode will be released on British shores (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

Born Again's first two episodes dropped on Disney+ UK on Wednesday, March 5 at 2AM GMT. So, you'd expect episode 3 to make its way onto the streaming titan at the same time, right?

Well, you'd be wrong to think that. Daredevil: Born Again's third episode will be released on Wednesday, March 12 at 1AM GMT in the UK instead.

There's a simple reason for the timeslot switch-up. The clocks went forward in the US last Sunday (March 9), so the UK is only four hours behind North America's Eastern Time Zone and seven hours behind its Pacific Time Zone. In short: that means British viewers can stream it an hour earlier. Huzzah!

When can I watch Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 in Australia?

"Do you know when episode 3 will launch in Australia, Matt?" (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

The good news is that audiences Down Under can also watch the Marvel Phase 5 show's third episode a whole hour earlier than its two-episode premiere because the current time difference between the US and Australia.

So, if you want to watch episode 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) latest TV series in Australia, you can do so on Wednesday, March 12 at 12PM AEDT.

Where can I watch Daredevil: Born Again episode 3?

Hear that? It's the sound of people signing up for a Disney+ account (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The answer is obvious but, for anyone who might have skipped to this section: Daredevil: Born Again season 1 is only available to stream on Disney+.

If you haven't signed up to the platform yet, you can do so by heading to the Disney+ website or downloading the Disney+ app on your PC, videogame console, or mobile phone. Before you do that, read our Disney+ price guide, or check out the widget below, to see how much it'll cost to create an account wherever you live.

What is Daredevil: Born Again's full release schedule?

Sitting around waiting for news on Born Again's full release schedule like... (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Like its Marvel TV siblings, new episodes of Daredevil: Born Again will arrive weekly on Disney+, albeit with one exception.

Indeed, in February, I reported on the news that Born Again will have an unusual Disney+ launch schedule, which is likely down to the forthcoming arrival of Andor season 2. The critically-acclaimed and award-winning Star Wars show's final chapter launches on April 22, so Born Again's first season needs to have wrapped up by that date to prevent a clash between Born Again's season 1 finale and the three-episode premiere of Andor's last season.

Anyway, here's Daredevil: Born Again season 1's full launch schedule:

• Episode 1 – out now
• Episode 2 – out now
• Episode 3 – March 11 (US); March 12 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 4 – March 18 (US); March 19 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 5 – March 25 (US); March 26 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 6 – March 25 (US); March 26 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 7 – April 1 (US); April 2 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 8 – April 8 (US); April 9 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 9 – April 15 (US); April 16 (UK and Australia)

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• A new FCC filing has further details on the Nintendo Switch 2
• The upcoming console will have NFC support, likely for amiibo figures
• Wi-Fi 6 is also supported, as well as two USB-C ports for charging

Great news amiibo heads - it looks like the Nintendo Switch 2 will indeed have near-field communication (NFC) support.

A new FCC filing spotted by The Verge confirms that NFC support will be featured on Nintendo's upcoming console. As with the original Nintendo Switch, the NFC reader looks like it'll be housed within the Joy-Con controller's right thumbstick. This most likely means that Nintendo's amiibo figures will still be supported on Switch 2 - though we still don't know if any new figures are going to be produced for Switch 2 games.

That's not the only point of interest from the FCC filing. It also reveals that the Nintendo Switch 2 will support Wi-Fi 6 - an improvement over the original console's Wi-Fi 5. However, as The Verge notes, Switch 2 doesn't seem like it supports Wi-Fi 6E or indeed Wi-Fi 7.

The initial announcement trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed the console will sport two USB-C ports located on the top and bottom of the system. The FCC filing confirms that - similar to the Nitro Deck+ - both of these can be used for charging purposes. Maybe that seems obvious, but it should allow for more comfortable handheld gaming if you need to top up the battery while you're playing.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch sometime in 2025. There is no concrete release date as of yet, but this is expected to be revealed at the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct which is airing on April 2, 2025.

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• Researchers have found that AI will cheat to win at chess
• Deep reasoning models are more active cheaters
• Some models simply rewrote the board in their favor

In a move that will perhaps surprise nobody, especially those people who are already suspicious of AI, researchers have found that the latest AI deep research models will start to cheat at chess if they find they’re being outplayed.

Published in a paper called “Demonstrating specification gaming in reasoning models” and submitted to Cornell University, the researchers pitted all the common AI models, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT o1-preview, DeepSeek-R1 and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, against Stockfish, an open-source chess engine.

The AI models played hundreds of games of chess on Stockfish, while researchers monitored what happened, and the results surprised them.

The winner takes it all

When outplayed, researchers noted that the AI models resorted to cheating, using a number of devious strategies from running a separate copy of Stockfish so they could study how it played, to replacing its engine and overwriting the chess board, effectively moving the pieces to positions that suited it better.

Its antics make the current accusations of cheating levied at modern day grandmasters look like child’s play in comparison.

Interestingly, researchers found that the newer, deeper reasoning models will start to hack the chess engine by default, while the older GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet needed to be encouraged to start to hack.

(Image credit: ARKHIPOV ALEKSEY via Shutterstock) Who can you trust?

AI models turning to hacking to get a job done is nothing new. Back in January last year researchers found that they could get AI chatbots to ‘jailbreak’ each other, removing guardrails and safeguards in a move that ignited discussions about how possible it would be to contain AI once it reaches better-than-human levels of intelligence.

Safeguards and guardrails to stop AI doing bad things like credit card fraud are all very well, but if the AI can remove its own guardrails, who will be there to stop it?

The newest reasoning models like ChatGPT o1 and DeepSeek-R1 are designed to spend more time thinking before they respond, but now I'm left wondering whether more time needs to spent on ethical considerations when training LLMs. If AI models would cheat at chess when they start losing, what else would they cheat at?

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• Google Pixel phones are experiencing a few bugs
• They seem to have been caused by the recent security patch
• There's no official fix, but a few possible workarounds

It’s not a great time for Google at the moment. Its Chromescasts are having casting glitches, Google Maps is seemingly deleting timelines, and now Google Pixel phone users are reporting screen, sound and, haptics bugs following the rollout of the most recent security patch.

Users have taken to the Google Pixel subreddit to complain about random brightness fluctuations, sound glitching when using third-party EQ apps like PowerAmp EQ, and feeling like the haptics are a lot more intense after the update (spotted by 9to5Google).

Thankfully there are a couple of suggested fixes, though we’re still waiting on an official patch from Google itself.

When it comes to the screen brightness flickering in certain apps, some users have found setting their phone’s refresh rate to 60Hz using features like Battery Saver did the trick (though it’s not an ideal workaround).

A few possible solutions

(Image credit: Google)

On the haptics side of things Google has said (via Reddit) that it’s “looking into reports from some Pixel users about changes to haptic intensity” with it also offering advice on how to change haptic intensity on your Pixel device by going into Settings, Sound & vibration, and then Vibration & haptics.

As for audio, you might have to make do without your third party equalizers for now.

We’re not experiencing the issues ourselves so we can’t test these tactics out, but affected users are saying that the solutions work – so they’re something to try while waiting for a more permanent solution if the glitches are bothering you.

As for the few of you who may have somehow put off installing the latest security update because of these glitches, you might want to reconsider. Glitches can be frustrating, but not everyone who updates has been affected, and not installing essential security patches can put your device at risk – which could lead to problems a lot bigger than your screen brightness flickering.

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• GMKTec EVO-X2 targets AI computing and gaming with 16 Zen 5 cores and a Radeon 8060S
• Ryzen AI Max+ 395 delivers 2.75× faster AI compute than Nvidia’s RTX 5090
• GMKTec accelerates its AI mini PC roadmap as rivals adopt AMD’s Strix Halo platform

Chinese mini PC maker GMKTec is preparing to launch the EVO-X2, a compact yet powerful system featuring AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor.

Per GMKTec, the device features 16 Zen 5 cores and Radeon 8060S graphics with 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units, positioning it as strong in AI tools, computing, gaming, and professional workload performance.

A GMKTec spokesperson told TechRadar Pro the Evo X2 will launch in May 2025, with pricing yet to be confirmed. However, its positioning suggests it will rival Apple’s Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra as one of the most capable AI mini PCs to date.

GMKTec sets sights on AI-driven mini PC dominance

Previously, the company announced plans for a Strix Halo-based mini PC but provided little detail at the time. With competitors like the HP ZBook and Framework Desktop adopting Strix Halo, GMKTec appears to be accelerating its roadmap to stay ahead in the AI-driven mini PC market.

The company claims that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 can deliver AI compute performance up to 2.75 times faster than Nvidia’s RTX 5090. Additionally, the mini PC will support a 140W TDP, suggesting a focus on high-performance computing, 4K gaming, and AI model training.

If these claims hold, the EVO-X2 could redefine expectations for AI-enabled mini PCs, offering a compelling alternative to traditional desktop workstations.

While GMKTec has not yet revealed final design details, reports indicate the EVO-X2 will maintain the compact footprint of its predecessor, the EVO-X1, which was one of the smallest high-TDP Strix Point-based mini PCs available.

Via Videocardz

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We've seen a litany of new phones released since the beginning of the year, and a fair few of them have been in the more affordable, mid-range bracket, but which one is best?

For this episode, Hamish Hector and I are joined by TechRadar's Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff, Mobiles Editor Axel Metz, and special guest (slash friend of the show) Alex Walker-Todd to discuss all things phones.

We also discuss new gadgets like Apple's latest iPads and Macs, the pro-grade photography beast that is the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and new foldable tech that could make its way into upcoming phones.

You can catch the episode in the video player above, or you can stream it directly via our YouTube channel, on Spotify or via Apple Podcasts.

While you’re there, you can also catch up on all of our older episodes – including our CES 2025 and iPhone 16 specials – and if you’re on YouTube, you can check out all our other amazing video reviews and features.

In the next episode, we'll be talking about some more new phones we're expecting this month and a roundup of the best wearables we've seen so far this year. See you there!

This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to https://nordvpn.com/techradar - our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. There's no risk with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee!

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Apple's next World Wide Developers Conference could mark a major pivot in iOS, macOS, and iPadOS design language, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

Details are thin, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that there's an effort to unify the designs and usage metaphors across these platforms, with much of it influenced, at least in part, by visionOS, which runs inside Vision Pro.

Apple's pricey mixed reality headset hasn't exactly taken the consumer world by storm, but there may be something about the interface metaphors, which rely on sight and gestures, that appeal to Apple's software designers.

Gurman claims that part of the effort is to make the platforms look similar. Of course, if you were to look at the Safari or Settings icons across all platforms, you would already notice significant similarities, with the only differences often being if they are round or square icons.

Time for a change

It has been some time since Apple significantly altered iOS and macOS. The desktop platform saw a major design update in 2020 with macOS Big Sur (the same year as the first Apple Silicon Macs).

iOS's last big overhaul dates back over a decade, when it scrubbed away most of the original iPhone's skeuomorphic design.

Skeuomorphism is where icons look like the thing they represent. The Photos app was a photo of a flower. The Settings app was a trio of almost touchable gears, Newsstand was a bookshelf filled with subscriptions, and the Calendar looked so much like an old desk calendar that you were tempted to rip a page right off the screen.

Apple iPhone (2007) (Image credit: Future)

If you look at today's iOS, you can see how flat and clean everything is, and that's mostly Jony Ive's work. Apple's former head of design loved a clean aesthetic, and starting with iOS 7, he got his way.

This new effort might be an opportunity to bring these disparate platforms into some unified visual and functional whole.

They should not look and work alike slavishly, but there could be benefits in Apple pushing them in that direction. It can be jarring if an action works one way on the iPhone and differently on the Mac, iPad, and even the Vision Pro.

One would hope that Apple Intelligence and a much smarter Siri (available on all platforms) could help with some of that confusion, but the process of integration into the deepest part of each operating system has not gone as fast or smoothly as we all were expecting.

Apple Vision OS app screen (Image credit: Apple)

Can Apple find that sweet spot of uniformity and differentiation that makes sense for its vast user base? Maybe.

And we wouldn't mind a little return to skeuomorphism. Having icons that look like their purpose is a form of shorthand and will always help beginners learn. The counter to that – and it is a fair argument – is that when you design software to look like current hardware, the software will be outdated as soon as progress remakes those objects.

The fact that our iPhone 16 Pro Max's "phone" icon still looks like a 20th-century phone handset is almost comical. Gen Z has never seen or used a phone that looks like that.

Which brings me to another major question. Will the iOS 19 redesign be so radical that it will do away with that iconic phone app icon? I hope not, but I guess anything is possible.

Whatever the case, WWDC 25 looks like it'll be a big moment for the Apple ecosystem. Sure, every platform sees upgrades during these events, but usually not at this rumored scale.

Hold onto your iPhones, iPads, and MacBook; this could be a wild, visual ride.

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• Director eliminated manual input, making computing more efficient and automated
• Seventy years later, Director’s legacy remains vital to operating system history
• Whirlwind I led to SAGE, transforming US Air Force technology

Seventy years ago, the foundation of modern computing was laid with the development of Director, the first operating system.

On March 8, 1955, its launch marked a turning point in computer science, shaping the evolution of future operating systems like Windows, and the various Linux distributions.

Unlike earlier machines that simply replaced mechanical computing with electronic components, Whirlwind I processed data using bit-parallel calculations, significantly improving speed and efficiency. However, as computing tasks grew more complex, the need for automation became apparent.

Automating computation with Director

Director was created for MIT’s Whirlwind I, a pioneering real-time digital computer developed during the Cold War at MIT’s Servomechanisms Laboratory.

Seventy years later, Director’s legacy remains undeniable. As the first attempt at an automated operating system, it revolutionized software design and set the stage for future innovations. Today, every modern device that relies on software to manage tasks efficiently can trace its roots back to this pioneering achievement.

At the time, computers relied on punched paper tapes to store and execute instructions, but switching between tasks required manual intervention. To address this, Director was developed as an early job control system, allowing Whirlwind I to manage multiple computing tasks without constant operator input.

Developed by John Frankovich and Frank Helwig, Director worked by reading a special Director tape, which contained predefined instructions that automated job execution. This innovation introduced batch processing, a concept that later became a standard feature in operating systems.

More importantly, Director laid the foundation for automated computing, influencing the development of IBM’s OS/360 and UNIX.

Whirlwind I’s impact extended beyond automation, shaping military computing with its role in the SAGE air defense system for the U.S. Air Force. Many computers in the 1960s adopted principles first seen in Whirlwind I, ensuring that both the machine and Director left a lasting mark on computing history.

Via Wired

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• Lego just unveiled a new Mario Kart set that's constructed from 1,972 pieces
• You'll build Mario and the iconic 'Standard Kart'
• It's up for preorder now ahead of a May 15, 2025, ship date

You could say that Lego is on a bit of a roll with new sets across its various lineups. We saw an epic Steamboat from its Ideas theme at ToyFair – it even sailed away as our best construction toy – an epic new Disney castle, and now a set that not only appropriately celebrates MAR10 day, but lets you build an iconic piece of video game history.

The just-announced Lego Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart set will let you build a larger-than-life Mario and his iconic kart from the video game. It’s up for preorder at $169.99 / £149.99 / AU$249.99 and will begin shipping on May 15, 2025. Though, like other Super Mario theme sets and generally other epic Lego sets, there is a chance this one could quickly move to backorder.

And as exciting as the new set is, it's also reignited our excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the brand new Mario Kart game. We should learn more about the upcoming title and next-generation Switch on April 2, 2025 during the Nintendo Direct, but until then, this new set could help hold us over.

Lego Mario Kart preorder deal

The Lego Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart set is up for preorder at $169.99 / £149.99 / AU$249.99 and will begin shipping on May 15, 2025.

Preorder it from Lego GB here.

Preorder it from Lego Australia here.View Deal

Now, a lot of attention to detail has been paid to this Mario Kart set. For one, it’s a pretty great recreation of the iconic character and the kart as seen in several tiles of video game. You’ll build both Mario and the kart – wheels included – out of 1,972 pieces. Once built, you can rest the cart on a flat surface courtesy of the wheels or display it on a stand you’ll build.

And opting for the latter, you can have a lot of fun with the kart. Thanks to what appears to be Technic parts, you can tilt the kart up or down to simulate driving and even move it to the left or right to simulate a drift or sharp turn. Much like you’d have to do if you were racing with the Standard Kart on Rainbow Road, Koopa Cape, or the Mushroom Bridge.

(Image credit: Lego)

You can also show that Mario is in the zone thanks to posable arms and a moveable head. This way, you can have him looking straight ahead or maybe facing an opponent like Donkey Kong, Yoshi, or Walugi.

Once built, the kart with Mario in the driver's seat will be over eight inches tall and 12.5 inches long. That’s no small vehicle and likely one that is great for display in an office, living room, or even on a counter. You can, of course, also take it off the stand and give the wheels a go, but Lego does note this is a “build-and-display model.”

And if you decide to preorder the Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart set from Lego by March 11, 2025 at midnight or until supplies run out, you’ll score a mini Mario Kart – Toad (Pit Crew) set. It’s a fun touch. If you’re a Lego Insiders member – a free rewards program – you’ll also score double points through March 11, 2025, on purchases.

Now, if you’re looking for a Lego Mario set that will deliver sooner than May, Amazon has you covered in the best way possible. The LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant is down to just $47.99 from $59.99 on Amazon, and like the Mario Kart set, it’s one that is designed for display.

More Lego deals

Just promise us when you get your Mario Kart set that you’ll pose him with a thumbs up.

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• New Tesla sales have dropped in Germany, Australia, China and elsewhere
• Used Model 3 and Model Y prices have also fallen in the US
• Web searches for used EVs are also trending away from Tesla

Whatever your political persuasion, it's hard to get away from the fact that Tesla is having a rough time at the moment, with new car sales plummeting by up to 76.6% in some markets over reason months.

According to CarScoops, Tesla sales in Norway dropped by 44.4% through January and February, meanwhile in Germany, where Musk’s now infamous salute arguably hit the hardest, sales were down a staggering 76.3% in February compared to the same period in 2024.

The picture looks even gloomier when you consider that in both the Norwegian and German markets, overall EV adoption has steadily been on the rise, with sales in Germany climbing 30.8% in February, and Norway’s EV market growing by 53.4% since the beginning of the year.

Tesla diehards will be keen to point out that the updated Model Y likely has something to do with it, as customers put off buying new and wait for that car to arrive in key markets, such as China, Australia and much of mainland Europe in the coming weeks.

Whether or not it's down to a general waning of consumer demand for Tesla products, or customers holding off for refreshed product, it’s hard to ignore the fact that these price crashes are also happening across the used market, too.

According to Forbes, the average price for a used Model Y in the US has dropped by more than $6,000 over the last 12 months to about $30,000 this month, according to data it received from used car experts CarGurus.

The same thing is happening to older, higher-mileage Model 3s, which Forbes says can now be picked up for less than $15,000, making them a veritable used bargain for first-time EV buyers.

But the anti-Tesla sentiment that is rife in the US right now could well see stock lingering on used-car forecourts for longer, as buyers actively choose to move away from the brand.

In the US, some Tesla owners have even resorted to sticking rival automotive badges onto their vehicles in an effort to disguise them.

This behavior is contagious, and is impacting the overall demand for Musk’s product, with web searches for Tesla vehicles dropping 7% this February, compared to the same period last year, while searches for other used EVs spiked 28%, according to Davide Greene, an industry analyst who spoke to Forbes.

Big names are turning on Tesla

(Image credit: Tesla UK)

With continuing threats of demonstrations and even violent actions at Tesla dealerships, the outlook for the brand isn’t rosy right now. And to make matters worse, some big-name Tesla advocates are turning their backs on Tesla.

Recently, Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak went on record to say that Tesla is “the worst in the world” when it comes to user interface, citing the fact that constant updates to the infotainment system have made it a “miserable” experience, according to Fortune.

Wozniak was an early advocate of Musk’s, praising the entrepreneur and publicly revealing his love for his Model S. Similarly, big-name celebrities, such as Sheryl Crow, have publicly waved goodbye to their Teslas in recent months.

One 2024 article by The Hollywood Reporter claimed that “Hollywood Can’t Ditch Its Teslas Fast Enough,” citing numerous industry experts that have seen demand for Musk’s electric vehicle plummet from an all-time high 10 years ago as it loses market share to Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and relative newcomers like Polestar.

However, some investors believe that the refreshed Model Y will see Tesla’s fortunes change, seeing as the model has historically accounted for a large proportion of the company’s overall sales.

This Reddit Post offers a rather more upbeat assessment of Telsa's fortunes compared to the pummeling the company is getting elsewhere in the press at the moment, but only time will tell if Elon’s brand damage has been permanent or not.

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• TCL has announced the QM7K, a mid-range series of mini-LED TVs
• The QM7K series is available in the US in 55- to 115-inch screen sizes
• QM7K series TVS feature a built-in 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen speaker system

TCL had a relatively low-key presence at the recent CES 2025, announcing just one series of new TVs, the budget-priced QM6K. The company promised more TV news would be forthcoming in a “phased series rollout,” and today, it made good on that promise with the announcement of the QM7K series mini-LED TVs.

The new mid-range sets from TCL range in size from 55 inches up to a gargantuan 115 inches, with prices starting at $1,299.99 for the 55-inch model and $19,999.99 for the 115-inch behemoth.

TCL’s QM7K series TVs feature a Super High Energy mini-LED chip design that the company claims will increase brightness by 53% and light efficiency by 10%. They additionally feature a new Halo Control System with a Super Condensed Micro Lens to minimize light blooming artifacts, along with a new Crystglow HVA Panel with anti-reflection properties. TCL is claiming up to 3,000 nits peak brightness for the new TVs, which provide up to 2,800 local dimming zones.

Video features on the QM7K series include Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, and HDR10 high dynamic range support, along with a Filmmaker Mode and IMAX Enhanced certification.

A built-in 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen speaker system delivers Dolby Atmos sound, and the Google TV is onboard for streaming with a far-field mic for voice control.

Gaming is also well supported on the QM7K series TVs, with 4K 144Hz for PC gaming, AMD FreeSync, and a Game Accelerator feature for 1080p 288Hz VRR.

QM7K series: TCL’s best value TV?

According to TCL, 2024's TCL QM7 series “was the biggest star in our portfolio last year, with some of the best-selling skus in the U.S.”

TechRadar didn’t review a QM7 series model, but the step-up TCL QM851G series landed on our list of the best TVs in 2024. Looking over the QM7K series specifications, they are very similar to last year’s QM851G, which was the brightest TV we’ve yet tested, exceeding its 3,000 nits peak brightness spec at 3,583 nits (in Vivid picture mode).

The gaming features TCL has listed for the new QM7K are also similar to what was provided on the QM851G, and TCL’s new Halo Control System with a Super Condensed Micro Lens – and 2,800 local dimming zones – promises to deliver similarly excellent, backlight blooming-free blacks when watching movies and TV shows with dark content.

Also notable is the QM7K’s built-in 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen sound system. The QM851G’s powerful 2.1.2-channel Onkyo-designed speakers performed well in our tests. And while Onkyo has a well-deserved reputation for sound quality, Bang & Olufsen is a premium brand that’s been responsible for some cutting-edge TV designs that combine an OLED panel with both built-in and external wireless speakers.

We look forward to getting our hands on a QM7K model soon for testing. Prices for the new TVs, which, except for the 98- and 115-inch models, are available now, are significantly lower than what the QM851G initially listed for. If the QM7K series can even approach the performance of the QM851G series, it should be an exceptional value.

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• Health New Zealand’s finances are being tracked with Excel
• The body operates 6,000 apps and 100 digital networks
• No immediate plans to modernize its systems

A recently published report has revealed Health New Zealand (HNZ) has been relying on a single Microsoft Excel spreadsheet as its primary financial management tool.

Established in 2022, HNZ was designed to replace 20 district health boards in the name of cost efficiency and service consistency, but until now, the body has been relying on basic spreadsheet software that has been deemed unsuitable for purpose.

A Deloitte report found HNZ lost control of “critical levers that drive financial outcomes,” which it blamed primarily on “the inability to identify and respond to the disconnect between expenditure and revenue” among other factors.

New Zealand’s healthcare was run off an Excel spreadsheet

HNZ reported a $1.013bn deficit against a breakeven budget in 2022/23, and by 2023/24, Doilette says financial challenges were “increasingly evident.”

Overall, the report specified five major issues with the Excel-based system: hard-coded financial data made updates and source tracing difficult; errors such as incorrectly released accruals were not picked up until later; changes to prior periods would not flow into consolidated data; limited tracking allows for easy data manipulation; and input and changes are prone to simple human errors, such as typos or missing zeroes.

“The use of an Excel spreadsheet file to track and report financial performance for a $28bn expenditure organisation raises significant concerns," Deloitte summarized.

Separately, Health Minister Simeon Brown recently revealed in a speech that HNZ operates an estimated 6,000 applications and 100 digital networks – he described the healthcare system’s digital infrastructure as “fragmented.”

Despite the damming report, the Health Minister has not revealed any immediate plans to replace Excel. A potential Health Infrastructure Entity is being considered for managing physical and digital assets, but no timeline has been set. TechRadar Pro has contacted Health New Zealand for a comment.

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As TechRadar's Homes Editor, I spend a lot of my time testing and writing about vacuums. It is my opinion that Dyson makes some of the very best vacuum cleaners on the market. They're super easy to maneuver, they're well-built, and the suction is excellent. Some even have things like lasers, sensors, and LED screens. But almost all of them – bar the very top model – have one big, basic usability issue, and I just can't understand why.

Here it is: the trigger needs to be continually held down when using the vacuum.

If you're vacuuming anything bigger than a doormat, that means a sore index finger. It impedes maneuverability too, because you need to factor in your poor digits when twisting the vacuum into awkward corners. I've tested lots of vacuums now, and in my experience it's rare that the manufacturer won't provide a way to lock the power on for continuous running. Yet, whenever I get my Dyson V8 out to do some comparative testing, I am immediately frustrated by the trigger setup.

There's no way to activate continuous running on most Dyson vacuums, including the V8 (Image credit: Future)

It's not a price thing; most of the best budget vacuums address this potential problem. Even the ultra-cheap vacuum I purchased when I bought my first flat (and discovered, to my horror, how much such boring adult appliances could cost), had a simple-but-effective plastic clip that held the trigger down. Sure, the suction was barely a gentle breeze, but at least my finger wasn't getting sore as I waved my new vac ineffectually across my floors.

What's more baffling to me is that Dyson is clearly investing in product development. It's one of the best vacuum brands when it comes to innovation. This is an incredibly basic usability issue that absolutely should have been addressed before Dyson started messing around with lasers and real-time dust sensors.

Button vs trigger

The brand has fixed the issue on the Dyson Gen5detect – the newest and best Dyson vacuum by specs. That model uses a single-press button rather than a trigger for operation, which means your fingers don't need to get involved at all (except for tuning it on or off).

But the Gen5detect is a very expensive model, mainly because it's packed with tech and advanced engineering. While I'm happy the Gen5 exists, for most people it'll be overkill. I generally think something like the Dyson V11 offers a much better balance of performance to price, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it... if it weren't for that pesky trigger issue.

The Gen5detect is the only model to have button rather than a trigger (Image credit: Future)

Dyson was late in addressing its trigger problem, and I think it should consider retrospectively fixing the issue on at least some of the four or so models that remain in the current lineup and precede the Gen5. Let's not forget that even these older models are still not particularly cheap. Imagine splashing $749.99 / £649.99 / AU$1,449 on a V15 Detect and discovering Dyson hasn't even spared a thought for your poor index finger.

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• AI servers boost revenue but have far lower margins than traditional servers
• AI server sales are hugely unpredictable, with revenue fluctuating massively
• Companies like Dell offset low AI margins with storage, networking, and support

The high-performance computing market has long been a tough space for manufacturers to turn a profit, and this is true even with the surge in demand for AI servers.

In a new deep-dive, The Next Platform has looked into the economics faced by server makers like Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Lenovo which shows that while those firms are aggressively pushing AI server deployments, the real profits are being made elsewhere.

The site reports that although AI server deals are increasing the likes of Dell’s total revenue and adding some profit, they are also reducing the overall profitability per dollar earned because the profit margins on AI servers are much lower than those on traditional servers and storage.

Unpredictable AI hardware sales

TNP's Timothy Prickett Morgan notes, “Almost all of the margin of building AI systems is going to Nvidia for GPUs, interconnects, and sometimes CPUs as well as to those making memory and flash storage for these AI systems. AMD is getting some margins, and eventually Arista Networks and Cisco Systems will get their shares of the AI revenue and profit pie, too, but it hasn’t really happened yet. AMD is getting a skinny slice of GPU and CPU revenue from AI servers, and Intel has an even tinier slice of CPU revenue and profit. That’s about it.”

Dell reported $2.1 billion in AI server revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 that ended in January, down from $2.9 billion in the previous quarter and significantly lower than the $3.1 billion recorded in Q2. This fluctuation highlights the unpredictable nature of AI hardware sales.

Despite the challenges, Dell said in a call to Wall Street analysts that it expects to generate at least $15 billion from AI servers in fiscal 2026. Its AI server backlog stood at $4.1 billion at the end of Q4, but a recent $4.9 billion deal with xAI, which we reported last month, immediately pushed it to $9 billion.

“AI servers have gross margins on the order of 5 percent. A mix of enterprise servers consisting of big systems for running ERP systems and databases, midrange machines for mid-sized companies, and less capacious boxes for small businesses have gross margins that are on the order of three times higher than this,” Prickett Morgan writes.

“The networking and storage attached to these systems adds more margin, and so does installation, tech support, and financing services. The latter is where companies like Dell, HPE, and Lenovo make up for the fact that building the physical server is not worth much margin at all.”

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After Netflix offered glimpses at serial killer Joe Goldberg's (Penn Badgley) bloody final chapter with an ominous first image and a short teaser trailer, the streaming service has finally dropped an official two-minute trailer for You season 5.

Joe's deadly journey is coming to an end with You season 5 as his murderous escapades in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London see him return to where it all began in New York City.

The trailer teases "the killer finale you never saw coming" and going off the clip alone, I think You season 5 has promise to become the best season yet even though my favorite character Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) isn't around to make Joe's life a nightmare.

In the trailer for one of the best Netflix shows, the book-loving killer is back in New York aka "the greatest city in the world," with his You season 4 love interest Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie). Now that Kate is the powerful leader of her father's company, Joe has emerged from the shadows and gone under the spotlight as he reveals: "Fame definitely took a bit of getting used to, but to live happily ever after, you had to bury your old self."

However, his "perfect life" is threatened when his dark past is splashed all over the media and a young woman called Bronte (Madeline Brewer) comes to work at his new bookstore.

What else happens in the You season 5 trailer?

While the new trailer also teases a new rivalry between Joe and his twin sisters-in-law Raegan and Maddie Lockwood (Anna Camp), some familiar faces from Joe's past also make an appearance as the devious protagonist has made himself a whole lot of enemies that are out now out get him.

So, who could be seeking their vengeance this time around? Well, student-turned-detective Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman) from You season 4 is seen in the trailer after being sent to prison for a crime Joe committed and there's also Annika (Kathryn Gallagher) from the first season, a social media influencer who was friends with Joe's ex-girlfriend Beck (Elizabeth Lail). Both Beck and her best friend Peach (Shay Mitchell) were murdered by Joe and now she's onto him.

What is the release date for You season 5?

(Image credit: Netflix)

You season 5 will premiere globally on Netflix on April, 24.

You season 5 cast: Penn Badgley, Charlotte Ritchie, Madeline Brewer, and more

(Image credit: Netflix)

Newcomers joining the likes of series regulars Badgley and Ritchie are Madeline Brewer as Bronte, "an enigmatic and free-spirited playwright who comes to work for Joe Goldberg at his bookstore" and Anna Camp as Joe's twin sisters-in-law Raegan and Maddie Lockwood.

Griffin Matthews also joins the cast as Teddy Lockwood, Joe's brother-in-law, and Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau as Detective Marquez. Amy-Leigh Hickman returns to You season 5 as Nadia and Kathryn Gallagher reprises her season 1 role of Annika.

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Are you growing tired of your TV’s sub-par audio? Well I promise you this, you’re not alone. A lot of TVs – yes, even some more expensive models – are guilty of plating up unclear dialogue, tinny treble and thin bass. But since I added a soundbar to my setup, I’ve freed myself of such issues and watching my favorite movies or TV shows never felt better.

But a lot of you may be thinking that a good soundbar will set you back quite some way. And OK, if you want the crème de la crème, you’re right; some of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, for instance, won’t come cheap. Having said that, I’ve tested some of the absolute best cheap soundbars on the market and now I’m convinced – there’s an option for everyone, whether your budget is around $300 or under $100. So, I’ve collected a list of five budget bars that will take your viewing experiences to the next level. Let’s take a look…

Sony HT-SF150

(Image credit: Future)

I’d like to begin with a real favorite of mine, the Sony HT-SF150, or HT-S100F for those of you in the States. This isn’t the newest soundbar on the market – there’s nothing flashy like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support, but it just nails the basics.

Firstly, it’s ultra-cheap, often appearing on sale for less than $100 / £90 / AU$180 – that’s a phenomenally low price. But don’t be deceived: that low price is not indicative of the bar’s quality. The HT-SF150 also offers up clear dialogue, meaning you can keep those pesky subtitles turned off. And you can adjust audio to suit whatever content you’re viewing by switching between the soundbar’s Standard, Cinema, Music, Night, and crisp-sounding Voice modes.

On top of all of that, the HT-SF150 harnesses the power of Sony’s S-Force Front Surround virtual processing, which aims to emulate “cinema-style surround sound”. Now that might be a bit out of reach for this bar, but still, I was impressed by the width of audio and felt on-screen action was mapped pretty effectively to boot. Pair that with the soundbar’s surprisingly sleek looks and you’re staring at a value champion.

Read our full Sony HT-SF150 review.

Hisense HS214

(Image credit: Future)

But hold on: let’s say you’re working with a bit less space. Well, the Hisense HS214 could be the perfect option for you. This is another sub-$100 option, coming in at $99 / £79, but unlike the Sony HT-SF150, this is a mini soundbar.

The HS214’s diminutive build makes it is ideal if you live in a dorm room or small-sized apartment and want a soundbar that seamlessly slots into your TV setup. But despite its truncated size, this thing is able to pack quite the punch. It boasts a maximum power output of 108W and has a built-in subwoofer for some added weight in the low-end. Does it dish out truly booming bass? Not quite. But if will be a significant step-up on a lot of TVs – especially smaller models that often serve up disappointing sound. Yep, that even includes some of the best small TVs.

What’s more, this soundbar comes with EQ options of its own, is simple to setup and has every connection type under the sun – including HDMI ARC. It can’t create quite as broad a spatial impression as the HT-SF150, though. That’s partially inherent to its more restricted width, but its included Surround Mode also sounds a bit tinny – so if you want truly expansive audio, the Sony alternative may be a better fit. But all in all, this surprisingly powerful soundbar is a super solid option if you’re looking for a quick and cheap upgrade on plain TV audio.

Read our full Hisense HS214 review.

Panasonic SC-HTB100

(Image credit: Future)

And for my next trick: a UK exclusive. Sorry, US folk. I’d like to shed some light on the Panasonic SC-HTB100, which sees us return to full-sized soundbars once again. This model is ultra-cheap, often retailing for less than £80, but I was surprised to find that out myself.

Why? Well, above all, I was impressed by how clear and well-positioned vocals sounded with this soundbar. Both higher and lower-pitched voices are pretty neatly separated, rarely sounding muffled or disrupted in the overall mix. Sure, this isn’t the most powerful bar and bass isn’t going to blow you away – but if you listen to a lot of radio or documentaries, for instance, the crisp reproduction of vocals makes this bar worth it alone.

Another reason to choose the Panasonic SC-HTB100 is its Bluetooth connectivity. This bar uses Bluetooth 5.0 – more up-to-date than the previous two’s Bluetooth 4.2. And of course the big win there is you can seamlessly connect your phone up to the soundbar and play your favorite tunes from Spotify, Apple Music and the like. I found music quality to be pretty decent on the SC-HTB100 – not as good as the best Bluetooth speakers or anything – but still clear and tonally accurate, especially in Music mode.

Read our full Panasonic SC-HTB100 review.

Bose Solo Soundbar 2

(Image credit: Future)

Another small-sized option I enjoyed using was the Bose Solo Soundbar 2. I’ll come clean from the get-go… there’s no HDMI connectivity option here, so you’ll have to use the included-remote to adjust volume output. But picture this: you have a Playstation 5, a Nintendo Switch and a Blu-ray player. Oh no! You have no more HDMI ports remaining. But the optical connection will render that insignificant. So, if you don’t want to keep swapping out one of your consoles or accessories, the optical route may be a better fit for you anyway.

Regardless, let’s talk about the soundbar itself. Again, it’s surprisingly powerful for such a tiny model, with a maximum power output of 100W. It also has adjustable bass levels, so you can get fairly meaty low-end audio – a big plus when watching movies with dark, imposing soundtracks. On top of that, there’s Dialogue Mode, which is effective at lifting speech out in busier scenes, or just giving crisp clarity when streaming podcasts, for example.

Like the Hisense HS214, you can’t expect particularly striking expansiveness from this soundbar, in part down to its small size. But a more positive similarity is that this is again, a pretty attractive-looking model, with a responsive remote and straightforward setup process. It’s not too expensive for a Bose product either, carrying a list price of $199 / £179.95 / AU$359.95 – and it’s sometimes available at a cut-price too.

Read our full Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review.

Sony HT-S2000

(Image credit: Future)

Maybe I’m being a bit cheeky here, but I just have to circle back to Sony and shout out the HT-S2000 model. In honesty, this bar isn’t quite as cheap as the previously mentioned soundbars, but still, it’s by no means super-expensive. We’ve even seen it drop to less than $300 in the US and that’s unbeatable value as far as I’m concerned.

That’s because this soundbar packs almost everything you need into one comprehensive package. And I mean that literally: this is a standalone 3.1 soundbar that can play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks to a high standard and deeply immerse you in the action, courtesy of Sony’s proprietary processing tech. It’s quite rare, in my experience, to find a more budget-friendly soundbar that can do Atmos justice. But when I tested this bar myself, I was really impressed by the verticality on offer – sounds can easily exceed the height of your TV screen, making for significantly more engaging viewing.

Again, you can expect the HT-S200 to handle the fundamentals – be it crisp dialogue, neat aesthetics and a straightforward setup. But it even gets trickier things right too, be that deep bass output, adept music replication or accurate mapping of on-screen activity. It’s worth noting that this is a chunkier bar than some of the alternatives I’ve listed above, so make sure you have plenty of space on your TV unit – that is if you don’t fancy setting it up on a rack.

Read our full Sony HT-S2000 review.

So, there you have it. My picks for the best soundbars if you’re on a budget. As you may have noticed, a lot of these models sit closer to the $100 side of the spectrum, which really goes to prove that stepping up from TV audio doesn’t have to be a crazy expensive endeavour.

Of course, some of these options won’t rock your world with booming bass or the delights of Dolby Atmos – but I can still vouch for their impressive sound quality. If you’re looking for a real top-tier performer, check out our guide to the best soundbars, where we’ve curated a list of the most elite options available today.

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