TechRadar News

• Peking University transistor could outperform Intel, TSMC, and Samsung’s top silicon chips
• Full gate coverage boosts speed and cuts energy use in breakthrough Chinese transistor design
• China may have just leapfrogged US chip tech with this silicon-free transistor innovation

Chinese researchers at Peking University have announced what seems like a breakthrough in transistor design, which if commercialized, could dramatically shift the direction of microprocessor development.

The team created a silicon-free transistor based on a two-dimensional material, bismuth oxyselenide.

The innovation hinges on the gate-all-around (GAAFET) architecture, where the transistor’s gate wraps completely around the source. Traditional FinFET designs, which dominate current silicon-based processors, only allow partial gate coverage. This full-wrap structure enhances the contact area between the gate and the channel, improving performance by reducing energy leakage and enabling better current control.

Could this mark the end of silicon chips?

Published in Nature Materials, the paper suggests that the new 2D GAAFET could rival or even surpass silicon transistors in both speed and energy efficiency.

The researchers claim their 2D transistor achieves speeds 40% faster than Intel’s latest 3nm chips while using 10% less power, performance which would place it ahead of current processors from TSMC and Samsung.

The partial gate coverage in traditional designs limits current control and increases energy loss. The new full-gate structure addresses these issues, resulting in high voltage gain and ultra-low power usage. The team has already constructed small logic units using the new design.

“It is the fastest, most efficient transistor ever,” said Peking University. These claims are supported by tests conducted under identical conditions to those used for leading commercial chips.

“If chip innovations based on existing materials are considered a ‘shortcut,’ then our development of 2D material-based transistors is akin to ‘changing lanes,’” said Professor Peng Hailin, the project’s lead scientist.

Unlike the vertical structures of FinFETs, the new design resembles interwoven bridges. This architectural shift may overcome miniaturization limits faced by silicon technology, especially as the industry pushes below the 3nm threshold. It could also benefit the fastest laptops that require such compact chips.

The team developed two new bismuth-based materials: Bi₂O₂Se as the semiconductor and Bi₂SeO₅ as the gate dielectric.

These materials feature low interface energy, reducing defects and electron scattering.

“This allows electrons to flow with almost no resistance, like water through a smooth pipe,” Peng explained.

The performance results are backed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and validated through physical tests using a high-precision fabrication platform at PKU.

The researchers claim the transistors can be manufactured using current semiconductor infrastructure, simplifying future integration.

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• Experts warn Facebook crypto ads now deliver malware through trusted brand impersonation
• Malware deploys only when victims meet specific browser or profile criteria
• Local server and PowerShell commands allow stealthy data exfiltration and control

A new wave of malware attacks is targeting Bitcoin and crypto owners through Facebook ads that mimic trusted names in the industry.

Bitdefender says it has uncovered a multi-stage malvertising campaign that exploits the reputations of well-known platforms like Binance, TradingView, ByBit, and others.

These malicious ads don’t just trick users, they also adapt in real time to avoid detection and deliver malware only when conditions are ideal for the attackers.

Highly evasive delivery system

(Image credit: Bitdefender)

The scheme begins when cybercriminals hijack or create Facebook accounts and use Meta’s ad network to run fraudulent promotions.

These ads feature fake offers and use photos of celebrities - Zendaya, Elon Musk, and Cristiano Ronaldo are the usual suspects - to appear more convincing.

Once clicked, users are redirected to lookalike websites that impersonate legitimate cryptocurrency services and prompt them to download what appears to be a desktop client.

The malware delivery system is highly evasive. Bitdefender says the front-end of the fake site works with a local server quietly spun up by the initial install, allowing attackers to send payloads directly to the victim's system while dodging most security software.

Delivery only happens if the victim meets specific criteria, such as being logged into Facebook, using a preferred browser like Microsoft Edge, or matching a certain demographic profile.

Some malware samples run lightweight .NET servers locally and communicate with the website using advanced scripts that execute encoded PowerShell commands. These can exfiltrate sensitive data like installed software, system and OS info, and even GPU details.

Depending on the findings, the malware may download further payloads or simply go dormant if it suspects it's being analyzed in a sandbox.

Bitdefender researchers found hundreds of Facebook accounts promoting these campaigns. One ran more than 100 ads in a single day. Many ads target men aged 18 and older, with examples found in Bulgaria and Slovakia.

How to stay safe

(Image credit: Amazon India)

Scrutinize ads carefully: Be highly skeptical of ads offering free crypto tools or financial perks. Always verify links before clicking.

Download from official sources only: Visit platforms like Binance or TradingView directly. Never trust redirects from ads.

Use link-checking tools: Tools like Bitdefender Scamio or Link Checker can alert you to dangerous URLs before you engage.

Keep your security software up to date: Use a reputable antivirus that gets regular updates to catch evolving threats.

Watch for suspicious browser behavior: Pages that insist you use Edge or redirect erratically are massive red flags.

Report shady ads: Flag suspicious content on Facebook to help others avoid falling into the same trap.

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• This foldable keyboard PC runs Windows 11 on Ryzen 7 power
• Fits in a jacket or trouser pocket yet handles multi-monitor productivity workloads
• Aluminum build and full keyboard hide a full-spec portable desktop inside

A pocket-sized Windows PC in a folding keyboard might sound like a concept device, but a new mini machine from China appears to be very real.

Designed by a company called Linglong, this foldable Ryzen-powered mini PC fits in a jacket or (large) trouser pocket, unfolds into a full-sized keyboard, and runs a full Windows 11 Pro desktop.

Weighing under 800g and roughly the size of a quarter-sheet of A4 paper when folded, the unit is aimed at anyone who wants portability without sacrificing functionality.

Decent port selection

Once opened, the PC reveals a full QWERTY keyboard with physical switches and a chassis made from CNC-machined aluminium.

There’s no touchpad or ThinkPad-style pointing nub, so a separate mouse is required, but the mechanical travel and durability - rated to 100,000 keystrokes - suggest it’s built for serious use.

At the heart of the system is an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and either 512GB or 1TB of storage.

Graphics are handled by integrated RDNA3-based Radeon 780M, and a 16000mAh internal battery powers the device for up to 10 hours.

Despite its small form factor, the unit includes a respectable selection of ports: USB4, USB-C 3.2, and USB-A 3.2, along with Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6, and an HDMI-compatible USB display option.

The device supports multi-screen output and can be docked to serve as a travel workstation, game center, or media hub.

A built-in monitoring utility displays CPU and GPU load, temperature, and other stats in real time.

Only available in China for now (I share your disappointment), the Linglong mini PC reminds me of the Orange Pi 800 keyboard computer.

While it lacks global availability or official support for Western markets, it’s an ambitious reimagining of what portable computing can look like and I can only hope it gets a wider release soon or sparks similar designs elsewhere.

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• Asus ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 hides Nvidia's wildest chip
• With up to 784GB of memory, it handles models that your RTX 5090 simply can’t
• No rack, no noise - just supercomputer-class AI performance on a desktop you can use

Asus has unveiled a new high-performance desktop PC which delivers petaflop-scale AI performance, not in a flashy server rack, but in a surprisingly unassuming chassis.

The Asus ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 looks like any standard business tower - so much so it even includes a DVD drive and a curious-looking slot that feels like a throwback to the early 2000s.

At the heart of this business PC is the Nvidia GB300 Ultra, a two-part module that combines a Grace CPU with a Blackwell GPU via NVLink-C2C, Nvidia’s high-bandwidth interconnect, making it ideal for programming and AI development.

Designed for serious AI work

The unified chip architecture enables the CPU and GPU to share a single memory pool, reducing latency and improving efficiency for large-scale AI workloads. The system can deliver up to 20 PFLOPS of performance for training large language models or running inference on high-parameter models.

It supports up to 784GB of coherent memory, more than double the combined VRAM of a workstation with four RTX 6000 Ada cards.

That scale of memory access is essential for developers and researchers working with models that exceed the capabilities of mainstream GPUs like the GeForce RTX 5090, which offers 32GB of VRAM.

The ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 also includes support for Nvidia ConnectX-8 SuperNIC, enabling high-throughput networking between systems. This allows it to function in clusters or within a larger enterprise AI deployment.

Despite its performance, it retains a desktop form factor, eliminating the need for rack installation, custom cooling solutions, or the infrastructure demands of a data center.

On the software side, the system runs Nvidia DGX OS, a specialized Ubuntu-based Linux distribution tailored for AI workloads. It provides native support for the full Nvidia software stack, including CUDA, TensorRT, and libraries for machine learning and data science.

It also supports remote scaling, allowing the ET900N G3 to integrate seamlessly with other DGX systems if additional compute power is needed.

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• We may have a price for the Galaxy S25 Edge
• It won't cost quite as much as the Ultra model
• The latest leak also shows off the phone's design

We're ready and waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to finally get its full unveiling tomorrow, but ahead of the official event we've got another leak that points to how much this smartphone is going to cost.

Well-known tipster @MysteryLupin has posted a screengrab of a retailer listing for the phone, which gives us another look at the super-thin chassis that the Galaxy S25 Edge will sport – a design we got our first glimpse of back in January.

The listing is for the model with 256GB of storage, which we presume is going to be the cheapest one available. Head over to our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review and you'll see the storage options there start at 256GB.

According to this leak, the price for a 256GB Galaxy S25 Edge phone is going to be £1,099 – that's less than the Ultra model, but significantly more than you'll pay for the standard Samsung Galaxy S25, which costs $859 / £859 / AU$1,399 with 256GB of storage.

The price is right?

S25 Edge pic.twitter.com/pbMCL68dNsMay 10, 2025

It's not really a surprise that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is going to come with a premium price attached. This is a high-end handset that has clearly been cleverly engineered to make it so slim.

Previous leaks had put the price of this upcoming handset below the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra but above the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, which can be yours for $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 with 256GB of storage on board.

Once the phone does get its grand unveiling, you're going to have four different Galaxy S25 models to choose from, depending on your needs and budget. You can expect those prices to go down over time too, as we get closer to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26.

We will of course be bringing you all the updates from Samsung's event tomorrow, which gets underway at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on May 12, which is 1am BST on May 13, and 10am AEST on May 13. You can also watch the event online.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, May 11 (game #1203).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

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

Quordle today (game #1204) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

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

Quordle today (game #1204) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1204) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1204) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

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

Quordle today (game #1204) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• R

• A

• B

• R

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

Quordle today (game #1204) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1204, are…

• ROYAL
• ARGUE
• BUNCH
• READY

Yesterday Quordle threw up MUNCH to make life more difficult and today we had BUNCH.

I employed exactly the same trick to narrow down the HUNCH/BUNCH/MUNCH options (PUNCH and LUNCH were already ruled out), playing HIMBO in order to identify the B.

So it was a case of deja vu, but it worked so I'm not complaining.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1204) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1204, are…

• EXTRA
• VITAL
• TAPER
• FLING

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUE
• Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATIN
• Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN
• Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE
• Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE
• Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH
• Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE
• Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY
• Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO
• Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT
• Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE
• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, May 11 (game #700).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

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

NYT Connections today (game #701) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• VISIT
• BANK
• WALLET
• HIT
• SMACK
• ATM
• CASH REGISTER
• BOUNCE
• CLICK
• TIP JAR
• PURSE
• CAROM
• CURL
• PAGE VIEW
• RICOCHET
• PUCKER

NYT Connections today (game #701) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Cash holders
• GREEN: Coming back again
• BLUE: Users is another
• PURPLE: Kiss chase!

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #701) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: PLACES TO FIND PAPER MONEY
• GREEN: REBOUND
• BLUE: THINGS TRACKED BY WEB ANALYTICS
• PURPLE: THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR LIPS

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

NYT Connections today (game #701) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #701, are…

• PURPLE: THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR LIPS CURL, PUCKER, PURSE, SMACK
• BLUE: THINGS TRACKED BY WEB ANALYTICS CLICK, HIT, PAGE VIEW, VISIT
• GREEN: REBOUND BANK, BOUNCE, CAROM, RICOCHET
• YELLOW: PLACES TO FIND PAPER MONEY ATM, CASH REGISTER, TIP JAR, WALLET

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 mistakes

I solved today's NYT Connections in the hallowed 'reverse rainbow' order, but it was tough going.

Those dastardly puzzle setters at the NYT threw in plenty of red herrings, with PLACES TO FIND PAPER MONEY a particular problem. It all looked so easy early on – I spotted ATM, CASH REGISTER, TIP JAR and WALLET right away. But I also had PURSE and BANK, and couldn't decide which four of those six went together.

My idea was that they would be 'places you can keep money' – meaning BANK would be in there, but not TIP JAR or ATM – or 'places you can get money from', which would mean including BANK and PURSE, but not TIP JAR or CASH REGISTER (unless you are a store assistant, of course).

After two mistakes on that yellow group I moved on, and solved the more difficult purple, blue and green groups, meaning I got the supposedly easiest one last by default. Maybe my brain was just working backwards today.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, May 11, game #700)

• YELLOW: MAKE HAPPY DELIGHT, PLEASE, SUIT, TICKLE
• GREEN: EVADE DODGE, DUCK, SHAKE, SKIRT
• BLUE: COMMON VIDEO GAME FEATURES BOSS, HEALTH, LEVEL, POWER-UP
• PURPLE: MOTHER ___ EARTH, GOOSE, MAY I, SUPERIOR

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 11 (game #434).

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

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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

NYT Strands today (game #435) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… A little respect

NYT Strands today (game #435) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TRUE
• MAST
• POINT
• POUT
• STAND
• TREE

NYT Strands today (game #435) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #435) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 1st row

Last side: left, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #435) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #435, are…

• STANDING
• CHARACTER
• REPUTATION
• STATURE
• NAME
• SPANGRAM: STREET CRED

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I've never had STREET CRED, which is probably why it took me a little while to solve today's Strands puzzle. Not that it was super tough – the fact that there were only five answers to find, plus the Spangram, made it relatively straightforward once I got going.

The problem was that it took me ages to find the first word. When I did, identifying STANDING by chance, that gave me the hint that I needed and after that it was just a question of trial and error.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 11, game #434)

• FLOWERS
• BREAKFAST
• PARTY
• HUGS
• CARDS
• DRAWINGS
• SPANGRAM: MOTHERS DAY

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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

LG’s C-series OLEDs have been a popular TV range over the past few years, delivering brilliant picture quality, great gaming performance and features, and an intuitive smart TV platform, usually at the best price in the mid-range OLED category.

The new LG C5 continues this trend, and it’s among the best TVs released this year. I gave the C5 five out of five stars in my LG C5 review, finding that it covered every base when it came to picture quality, gaming performance and smart TV features.

As good as the LG C5 is, there is an elephant in the room that needs to be addressed: the C5 is not that much of an upgrade over its predecessor, the LG C4. Certainly not compared to the leap between the LG C4 and its predecessor, the LG C3, which involved a complete performance and picture quality overhaul.

As a result, the C4 remains in the top slot on many of our best-of TV lists, such as the best OLED TVs, as there’s not enough of an upgrade with the C5 to justify the current price gap between the two.

Looking ahead to next year’s C-series (most likely called the LG C6), here are three upgrades I think would enable it to make a bigger splash at launch than this year’s C5.

1. Higher brightness

The C5's peak brightness is good for a mid-range OLED, but its fullscreen brightness could be better. (Image credit: Future)

Brightness has traditionally been a weak point for OLED TVs. You can expect around 1,000 nits peak brightness with most mid-range OLEDs, which is less than what you get with most mini-LED and even some LED TVs. Having that extra peak brightness can give a TV’s picture a nice HDR punch with movies, while higher fullscreen brightness allows it to perform better with programs like sports and for general daytime viewing.

When I tested the C5, I measured its peak brightness at 1,180 nits in Filmmaker Mode, a respectable result for a mid-range OLED, and a 10% increase over the C4. But its fullscreen brightness measured at 195 nits, a lower result than the C4, which hit 199 nits.

Recent flagship OLED TVs, such as the LG G5, hit over 300 nits fullscreen brightness, a marked improvement (although still less than most mini-LEDs). It would be nice to see results like this in more mid-range OLEDs such as the future LG C6.

2. Better built-in sound

The C5 has new sound features, but could use better built-in speakers (Image credit: Future)

It’s no secret that many TVs have weak built-in sound that can be easily topped by one of the best soundbars, even a budget one. For some, though, a soundbar isn’t an option, and they choose to rely on their TV’s built-in sound.

LG’s C-series OLEDs typically have average built-in sound quality that doesn’t match up to the picture. Sadly, that continues with the LG C5. I found the C5’s sound to be better than previous C-series iterations when I tested it, but it certainly couldn’t take on some of the best TVs for sound from the likes of Panasonic, Sony and Philips.

Even a slight improvement over the C5’s 2.2-channel, 40W speaker array would be welcome. A stronger built-in subwoofer, perhaps, or the addition of up-firing or side-firing speakers for greater immersion would give a C6 a step-up over the C5.

3. Lower screen reflections

The C5 is best viewed in dim conditions, as it suffers from screen reflections in brighter rooms. (Image credit: Future)

Screen glare is another challenge OLED TVs struggle with. Due to dimmer fullscreen brightness and a lack of anti-reflection measures, mirror-like reflections can be a real curse for OLEDs in brighter viewing environments.

That situation changed somewhat in 2024 when the Samsung S95D with its OLED Glare Free anti-reflection tech was introduced. During my testing of the S95D, I found that dark movies such as The Batman could even be viewed in rooms with bright overhead lighting. Black levels were sacrificed in this scenario, but I’ve seen the new Samsung S95F with OLED Glare Free 2.0, and it looks to fix this issue.

The S95F is a pricey flagship OLED TV, so I wouldn’t expect the same measures in a mid-range OLED like the LG C-series. Improved anti-reflection measures would be welcome in next year’s C6, however, since I found during testing that the C5 struggled with screen reflections.

LG has already pulled this off with the flagship LG G5 OLED, which did a fantastic job of limiting reflections in our testing space. If the company can find a way to bring that benefit to the C6, it could be a game-changer.

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• Many employees secretly hold multiple remote jobs due to low oversight
• Social media tips help workers juggle meetings across dual roles
• Undisclosed multitasking causes burnout legal issues and lost productivity companywide

Remote work has opened the door to a growing trend of employees secretly holding multiple full-time jobs, a practice known as polygamous working or being “overemployed.”

While having multiple jobs isn't illegal, doing so without disclosure often breaches contracts, strains productivity, and can pose legal and ethical issues.

HR Magazine notes, “Moonlighting in this way can have serious consequences. It’s not just about reduced productivity; there’s a real risk of employee burnout, misuse of company resources, data security breaches and overall erosion of trust in the workplace."

Tips from Reddit and TikTok

The rise of flexible and hybrid work models means many roles can now be done without ever stepping into an office.

“The practice has boomed since the Covid pandemic triggered a rise in working from home, creating an opportunity for shrewd employees to take on multiple remote roles – sometimes as many as three or four at once,” reports The Telegraph.

One woman, going by the name "Nadia", told the paper she earned £87,000 working two jobs simultaneously from her home office.

On Reddit and TikTok, thousands share tips on managing multiple roles, with some workers boasting about using mouse jigglers and dual laptops to juggle overlapping meetings.

One British influencer claimed: "It worked for me, it was great. I was able to do really nice things and take care of myself, go to nice places, save up for property."

But experts warn of the risks. “These issues can quickly escalate into legal and reputational disasters,” HR Magazine noted, suggesting “ongoing or periodic rescreening” of employees can help manage risk and protect both workers and employers.

In some cases, fraud charges have been brought - The i Paper claims one man was sentenced to a year in prison after being paid for two full-time contracts over 10 months.

Peter Boolkah, a business coach, told The Telegraph of the dangers of polygamous working.

“It could mean small business-owners find their employees off work sick more because of burnout," he said.

"Those who stay working two jobs will be overstretched. Inevitably, this will lead to lower productivity for businesses, and those who are off sick will find themselves back where they started, with less money than before.”

Whether a symptom of economic necessity or opportunism, polygamous working raises urgent questions about trust, governance, and the sustainability of remote-first work culture.

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• Whoop changes its device upgrade policies
• Current users no longer have to pay an extra fee
• Whoop subscribers had been complaining

Premium fitness company Whoop showed off some shiny new wearables this week, and has now confirmed that existing users with more than 12 months left on their subscription can get hold of the new devices free of charge.

As reported by Bloomberg, the company was facing a backlash from users after initially charging a $49 upgrade fee – a fee that broke a promise made last year, in a now-deleted blog post, that subscribers would get new devices without paying extra

There was plenty of vitriol directed towards Whoop over on Reddit and social media, from users who expected to get the new bands for free within their current subscription. That's now the case again, after Whoop decided to reverse course.

"Like any company, we from time to time update our commercial policies," a Whoop spokesperson told Bloomberg. The company emphasizes that there's also a newly introduced $199 / £169 / AU$299 per year plan, which is the least expensive yet.

The subscription economy

The Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG (Image credit: Whoop)

There are now three pricing tiers for Whoop: the one mentioned above, Whoop One, plus Whoop Peak ($239 / £229 / AU$419 per year) and Whoop Life ($359 / £349 / AU$629 per year. The most expensive option gets you a Whoop MG (Medical Grade) band, otherwise you get a Whoop 5.0, included in the subscription.

Paying more gets you some additional features. If you're sticking with your Whoop 4.0 wearable, you miss out on a few of the features in the new subscriptions, including physiological age estimates and women's health tracking.

There's lots that's new in the 2025 devices, including ECG readings and blood pressure estimates, and the screen-less wearables also offer 14-day battery life. However, existing users feel they're being pushed into an upgrade.

It's not been the most well communicated of u-turns from Whoop, and it's part of the growing trend for fitness companies to put features behind paywalls to get as much money as possible out of users. As with access to music, movies, and software, you have to keep paying to get what's on offer.

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Boox, the maker of some of the best ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, has just announced its first ever color PC monitor. Called the Boox Mira Pro, it uses a 25.3-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display that emulates the look of paper – a screen technology that's already in use in several popular ereaders, including the Kindle Colorsoft and the Kobo Libra Colour.

Like ereaders, the Mira Pro is front lit rather than having backlighting like on LCD screens, with the ability to adjust both brightness and the light temperature (warm or cold). There's also a dedicated refresh button to minimize ghosting which can be a major problem on e-paper displays. This paper-like panel will also reduce reflections and glare.

To bolster its monitor credentials, the Mira Pro also features a pair of built-in speakers and five ports, including USB-C, HDMI, mini HDMI and DisplayPort. You can also get a Mira Pro version to support the operating system you use, whether that's Windows, Mac or Linux.

That's about it for the Mira Pro's main credentials, which is essentially a color version of the black-and-white Boox Mira that was launched in 2023.

(Image credit: Onyx Boox) An easy read

I'm a huge proponent of ereaders because of the E Ink screens they use, whether in grayscale or color. For avid readers like me, they're 'easy on the eyes', allowing you to read right until bedtime. So wouldn't it be nice if there was a capable E Ink PC monitor that didn't strain the eyes as much for the approximately eight hours I spend working?

As a photographer, I wouldn't use an E Ink screen to edit my photos as the colors would be too soft and unsaturated, but I can absolutely see it fitting into my workflow in the office, which is predominantly as an editor of articles for TechRadar. It would replace the aging 24-inch Dell monitor I currently have set up in the vertical orientation specifically for editing articles because it has major viewing-angle issues.

Checking drafts written in a Google Document by one of the writers on my team would be fantastic on an E Ink display. I've already tried doing so on an E Ink screen, albeit on the 10-inch one on the Boox Go 10.3 as it allows me to log into my Google Drive account. However, it's not the easiest device to type on (and I can't write on Google Docs on it), so a dedicated monitor that seamlessly connects with my MacBook and other peripherals would be nice indeed.

(Image credit: Onyx Boox) Got any spare change?

It's the limited use of an E Ink display that has me questioning its launch price of $1,899.99 / AU$2, 499 (about £1,400). I'm also a little concerned with how well the E Ink Kaleido 3 display on the Mira Pro might have been optimized to display the 4,096 colors in its palette.

While color Boox ereaders are good – and I've tested many of them – I think Kobo has done a better job of making full use of the Kaleido 3 tech. So while the Mira Pro might be just enough for my specific use case, I suspect other users would find it lacking.

Moreover, based on my previous experience with Boox ereaders (color or monochrome), the company hasn't always been able to minimize ghosting – except on the Boox Palma – despite offering multiple refresh rates that can be applied on a per-application basis. Would the refresh button be any better? Well, I can't say for sure as I've not tried either the Mira or the Mira Pro.

As high as the price might seem, particularly taking into consideration the limitations of such a screen, it does seem to be kinda, sorta on par with ereader prices. For example, 10-inch monochrome E Ink writing tablets like the 2024 Kindle Scribe and the reMarkable 2 sell for upwards of $400 / £370 / AU$600, while the color reMarkable Paper Pro (which uses a custom version of the newer E Ink Gallery 3 technology) will set you back $579 / £559 / AU$929 with the basic Marker. Extrapolate these prices for a 25-inch display and throw in the cost of the stand and I can see why it's priced so high.

And customers in the US will need to also take into consideration any potential tariffs, so expect to pay more than the listed launch price.

Despite the high price, I'd be very excited to have something like that on my desk.

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• Bypasses email gateways and security tools by never hitting a real server
• Blob URIs mean phishing content isn’t hosted online, so filters never see it coming
• No weird URLs, no dodgy domains, just silent theft from a fake Microsoft login page

Security researchers have uncovered a series of phishing campaigns that use a rarely exploited technique to steal login credentials, even when those credentials are protected by encryption.

New research from Cofense warns the method relies on blob URIs, a browser feature designed to display temporary local content, and cybercriminals are now abusing this feature to deliver phishing pages.

Blob URIs are created and accessed entirely within a user's browser, meaning the phishing content never exists on a public-facing server. This makes it extremely difficult for even the most advanced endpoint protection systems to detect.

A hidden technique that slips past defenses

In these campaigns, the phishing process begins with an email that easily bypasses Secure Email Gateways (SEGs). These emails typically contain a link to what appears to be a legitimate page, often hosted on trusted domains such as Microsoft’s OneDrive.

However, this initial page doesn’t host the phishing content directly. Instead, it acts as an intermediary, silently loading a threat-actor-controlled HTML file that decodes into a blob URI.

The result is a fake login page rendered within the victim’s browser, designed to closely mimic Microsoft’s sign-in portal.

To the victim, nothing seems out of place - no strange URLs or obvious signs of fraud - just a prompt to log in to view a secure message or access a document. Once they click ‘Sign in,’ the page redirects to another attacker-controlled HTML file, which generates a local blob URI that displays the spoofed login page.

Because blob URIs operate entirely within the browser’s memory and are inaccessible from outside the session, traditional security tools are unable to scan or block the content.

“This method makes detection and analysis especially tricky,” said Jacob Malimban of the Cofense Intelligence Team.

“The phishing page is created and rendered locally using a blob URI. It’s not hosted online, so it can’t be scanned or blocked in the usual way.”

Credentials entered on the spoofed page are silently exfiltrated to a remote threat actor endpoint, leaving the victim unaware.

AI-based security filters also struggle to catch these attacks, as blob URIs are rarely used maliciously and may not be well-represented in training data. Researchers warn that unless detection methods evolve, this technique is likely to gain traction among attackers.

To defend against such threats, organizations are urged to adopt advanced Firewall-as-a-Service (FWAAS) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions that can help secure access and flag suspicious login activity.

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• Polymorphic attacks shift constantly to evade detection in real time
• Business email compromise scams now mimic executives with near-perfect formatting

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Artificial Intelligence is changing the face of cybercrime, and phishing is one area where it's hitting the hardest.

New data from security firm Cofense has warned AI-powered phishing campaigns are not only more frequent but also far more convincing than ever before.

These emails are cleaner, more polished, and tailored to fool even more cautious users, and with generative AI tools now accessible to nearly anyone, threat actors are scaling their operations at a rate that many businesses simply can’t keep up with.

(Image credit: Cofense) Highly evasive delivery system

In its latest threat intelligence report, The Rise of AI - A New Era of Phishing Threats, Cofense details how phishing tactics are evolving at a phenomenal rate.

In 2024, the Cofense Phishing Defense Center detected one malicious email every 42 seconds, many of which slipped through legacy perimeter defenses.

Email-based scams jumped 70% year-over-year, fueled by AI’s ability to mimic tone, spoof internal emails, and personalize messages with impressive accuracy.

Messages now feature perfect grammar, accurate formatting, and realistic sender addresses. They often also impersonate C-suite executives, reply within existing email threads, and use lookalike domains such as “@consultant.com.”

This shift toward business email compromise (BEC) has become a major threat. AI-generated content lacks the telltale signs that previously gave phishers away, such as typos, spelling mistakes and awkward phrasing, often clues that suggest English might not be the sender’s first language.

Polymorphic phishing campaigns are another area of concern, according to Cofense. These constantly-changing attacks modify their content in real time to evade signature-based security tools. Subject lines, sender details, and text all shift dynamically, which makes detection with traditional filters all but impossible.

Malware embedded in these emails has also evolved, Cofense reports, with over 40% of samples in 2024 being newly observed threats, many of them Remote Access Trojans (RATs).

How to stay safe

(Image credit: Shutterstock / MargJohnsonVA)

Scrutinize email content carefully: Be skeptical of emails involving financial actions, urgent requests, or out-of-place language, even if the formatting looks perfect.

Verify internal requests: If an email claims to be from a coworker or executive, double-check using known contact methods before taking action.

Don’t rely on appearance: AI-generated emails often look flawless, so focus on context, timing, and content rather than how “professional” it looks.

Avoid clicking on links without verification: Hover over links to check their destination and avoid downloading files from unfamiliar or unexpected messages.

Use security tools that go beyond the perimeter: Look for solutions that offer post-delivery analysis and threat response based on behavior, not just signatures.

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If the rumors are to be believed, we are creeping closer to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, likely happening in July once we get past the launch of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is very likely to make an appearance at a Galaxy Unpacked event on May 12.

As is the case with a lot of the best phones these days, the changes expected for the next-generation Galaxy foldable phone are set to be somewhat incremental: a specs boost, an improved main camera, potentially improved battery life, and maybe a few nips and tucks to the design. Not a bad suite of upgrades, but it’s almost certainly the classic story of evolution over revolution.

Now this isn't necessarily bad news. I’ve used a couple of generations of Galaxy Fold phones and rather like what they offer. I currently have a Galaxy Z Fold 4 on my desk as I write this, and genuinely enjoy using it as a secondary phone; afraid I’m still an iPhone 16 Pro Max user despite how boringly good Apple’s phones are and me missing the quirks of Android.

So there’s arguably not a lot to get excited about with the next-generation Fold; it’ll almost certainly be a contender for a high spot on our best foldable phones list, but it may not be a phone I’d lust after.

Unless artificial intelligence is at its core.

Aim high with AI

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Now I’m not a 100% generative AI convert, so my flirtations with Galaxy AI, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and so on have been sporadic. But I do appreciate how AI can make my smartphone life easier.

However, outside of the Google Pixel 9 series, I think AI hasn’t been well baked into smartphones; Apple Intelligence being a notably messy launch and integration, especially from a company that’s usually so good at slick software.

As Senior Editor Philip Berne noted in his Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review, Galaxy AI has improved over the past 12 months, but still has scope to better integrate into the overall phone experience. And while Galaxy AI is evolving, it still feels like it has some way to go to be genuinely useful on a daily basis.

My hope is that Samsung knows this and, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, the AI tools and experience are given an overhaul. I especially think this could be the key to getting more out of the extra screen space foldable phones offer.

For example, when it comes to slick multitasking and having multiple apps and windows open on the display of a Fold phone, I find it a thoroughly awkward and borderline irritating experience to get everything sized correctly and neatly positioned. So I’d love for Galaxy AI to be integrated into One UI so that it can figure out how I want my multitasking display to look, or at least serve up options.

I’d also like to see some form of AI upscaling or clever resizing of videos to better fit the esoteric aspect ratios of Fold main displays, to make what I’m watching on the screen without cropping in.

In short, I don’t want to hear more about how Galaxy AI can totally rework photos or better organize the Photos app, but I do want to hear how AI can help me get more out of solid foldable phone hardware and let me do more at speed.

Ultimately, I want AI on all sorts of phones to go this way, but I reckon the most potential is on the foldable front; what do you think? Let me know in the comments.

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• AI threatens jobs across sectors from routine work to skilled professions
• CrowdStrike cuts 500 jobs citing efficiency and AI-driven restructuring
• IBM uses AI to streamline HR while increasing hires in tech roles

Many people worry the rise of AI and robotics could lead to job losses, as machines become increasingly capable of performing tasks faster, cheaper, and more accurately than humans, concerns have grown about the long-term impact on employment, wages, and job security.

Even skilled professions, such as those in healthcare, finance, law, and technology, may not be immune. The growing capabilities of AI suggest that no sector is entirely safe from disruption.

These concerns are no longer hypothetical, they're becoming reality for some IT workers, after CrowdStrike recently announced it is cutting 500 jobs, which equates to around 5% of its workforce.

Realigning the business

In a memo announcing the cuts, the security firm's CEO George Kurtz said, “CrowdStrike is defined by our mission to stop breaches, our disciplined execution, and our commitment to protecting customers."

"Today, our customers are facing an intensifying threat landscape and growing complexity. They trust us to help them move faster and operate more securely. To keep earning that trust, we are evolving how we operate."

Explained the company would be "realigning" parts of the business "to continue scaling with focus and discipline" and explained that: “AI has always been foundational to how we operate. AI flattens our hiring curve, and helps us innovate from idea to product faster. It streamlines go-to-market, improves customer outcomes, and drives efficiencies across both the front and back office. AI is a force multiplier throughout the business.”

CrowdStrike isn’t the only tech firm cutting jobs because of AI.

The Wall Street Journal reports IBM has, “used artificial intelligence, and specifically AI agents, to replace the work of a couple hundred human resources workers.”

However, as a result of these cuts, it was able to hire more programmers and sales and marketing people.

“While we have done a huge amount of work inside IBM on leveraging AI and automation on certain enterprise workflows, our total employment has actually gone up, because what it does is it gives you more investment to put into other areas,” IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told the publication.

So while AI might be taking some people’s jobs, it’s resulting in an increase of opportunities in other areas.

Krishna also urged the Trump administration to increase, rather than cut, federal AI R&D funding, telling TechCrunch:

“We have been an extremely strong advocate - and this is both the company and me personally - on that federally funded R&D should be increased. That’s the position, which is unequivocal, and we strongly believe in that.”

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Well, there goes Skype. Bye-bye, you garbage piece of software. I'm surprised you managed to hang around for as long as you did, frankly.

Okay, I’m being a bit mean here; the impact of Skype on the global tech ecosystem shouldn’t be downplayed, as it effectively brought video communication to the mainstream - something that previously was the domain of corporate execs with money to burn on expensive early video-conferencing solutions. For a wonderful, all-too-brief period in the early 2010s, Skype was everywhere: a way to chat face-to-face with distant relatives or schoolmates who were just beyond the reach of an after-class bike ride.

But I can’t pretend Skype was all sunshine and rainbows, even before the pandemic lockdowns and the rise of its chief competitor, Zoom. I remember sitting for ages waiting for a call to connect, frequent audio dropouts, and sometimes struggling to log in at all. Sure, internet connections are faster and more consistent now than they were when Skype was first conceived back in 2003, but that’s not an all-encompassing excuse for the app’s many failings.

The Microsoft problem

See, Skype’s greatest victory was also a sword of Damocles hanging over its head: its 2011 purchase by Microsoft. A multi-billion dollar deal that positioned Skype to replace Windows Live Messenger (formerly known as the ever-iconic MSN), the purchase proved to be an immediate boon for Skype, as it was widely inserted into Windows devices over the following years, thus reaching a massive global audience.

Unfortunately, this deal also meant that Skype was owned by Microsoft, which is rarely a safe position to be in. Remember Zune? Yeah, me neither. The list of products and services killed off by Microsoft over the years is long and storied, and many - including myself - saw the writing on the wall long before serious external competition arrived on the scene.

Aside from a recent cameo role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Microsoft's attempt to beat the iPod was a colossal failure. (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

A key issue was Microsoft’s long-running and ill-placed desire to make Teams work. I’ll be honest: as someone who was, in a previous and much worse place of employment, forced to use Microsoft Teams, I can say with conviction that it sucks. Rigid settings, feature bloat, and an inexplicable ravenous hunger for RAM make it a frequently painful piece of software to use, especially on an outdated work PC.

But Microsoft wanted - and still wants - it to be a Thing People Want To Use, which ultimately led to Skype taking a back seat as its features were gradually cannibalized to improve Teams. In fact, now that Skype has officially been taken out back with a shotgun, Microsoft is actively encouraging users to port their accounts over to Teams.

And what did Skype get in return? A drip-feed of features that nobody asked for, most of which did little to improve the core video-calling functionality. The interface became more cluttered, frequent UI redesigns left users confused, and yet there was a paradoxical feeling of stagnation; meanwhile, the meteoric rise of social-media-driven video calling across platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp offered a far more streamlined and pleasant user experience.

Impacts of the pandemic

Zoom has been around since 2011 (ironically, the same year Microsoft acquired Skype) but you’d be forgiven for thinking that it just popped into existence at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. When we were collectively displaced from our offices and had to construct impromptu workspaces inside our homes, video conferencing became an everyday necessity - and as we all know, this was where the cracks in Skype’s facade really started to show.

Zoom just works - here's TechRadar's own Lance Ulanoff and Jacob Krol proving it. (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Technical debt is never an easy hurdle to overcome, and Skype’s aging software architecture - while cutting-edge back in 2003 - gradually became a weight chained around its ankle. With Teams at the forefront, investing in updating Skype never seemed like a priority for Microsoft. The app didn’t even change over to a centralized system from its outdated peer-to-peer networking until more than half a decade after Microsoft bought it.

One of the worst blunders was Microsoft’s insistence on keeping it partially anchored to actual phone numbers (with a dial pad feature, no less) in an era when interlinked accounts are king and phones are more than just phones. It was no doubt a move intended to retain the crop of older users who were unaware of the alternatives, but the 100-user call capacity and streamlined interface of Zoom made it an easy choice for professionals who needed to keep their careers afloat while the world screeched to a halt outside.

Long live Zoom

It’s certainly not a universal truth that Microsoft ruins everything it touches - the Surface tablet line is finally good now! - but the tech giant has something of a reputation for enshittification. I’ve been following the gradual decay of Windows for years now, and looking at how Microsoft treats its most widely known product makes understanding the fall of Skype very easy.

Microsoft has finally achieved some success with its Surface tablets, but I'm quietly surprised the brand has lasted this long. (Image credit: Microsoft)

I’ve settled into a belief that Microsoft isn’t able to just let things be what they are. Everything had to be more! More features, more information, more settings, more AI! Forget what consumers actually want; the line must go up, the goalposts must keep moving, everything must be constantly changing and innovating or it’s worthless. Once you start to see Microsoft as a tech company incapable of sitting still, its successes and failures all start to make a lot more sense.

What people needed for the remote working shift during the pandemic was an effective, straightforward video conferencing tool. They didn’t find that in Skype, which had already become a bloated shell of its former self after years of ‘innovation’ at the hands of Microsoft. So I say this now, to the creators of Zoom: if it ain’t broke…

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• We have new details on the Sony Xperia 1 VII
• Upgrades for the cameras and screen are promised
• The phone is set to launch on Tuesday, May 13

We're expecting a brand new flagship phone from Sony in the very near future, and a new leak has revealed plenty about the upcoming handset – including the design of the device, the colors it's going to be available in, and some of the features it'll offer.

This all comes from Android Headlines, where you'll find a host of images of the Sony Xperia 1 VII, as well as some of its marketing material. We can see the standard Xperia design language in evidence here, including a flat screen and boxy corners.

The three colors the phone is going to come in are apparently black, green, and purple, and there are plenty of shots of each shade. We can also see a triple-lens camera around the back, matching the Sony Xperia 1 VI released in May 2024.

Only a few days ago we heard that this phone would be unveiled on May 13, and "powered by Alpha" – the name of the technology in Sony's digital cameras. It's clear that photography capabilities are going to be a big focus for the smartphone.

Battery and screen

The Sony Xperia 1 VI (Image credit: Future / Andrew Williams)

In our Sony Xperia 1 VI review, we praised the core specs of the handset, the strong photo and video performance, and the battery life. However, we did have concerns over the durability of the design and the charging speeds.

For the follow-up, the materials leaked by Android Headlines suggest that we'll get a new Zeiss coating on the screen to combat glare, while there'll be a 5,000 mAh battery inside (the same as on the Xperia 1 VI) that apparently offers two-day battery life.

Focus lock and macro photography features are highlighted, as well as full-stage stereo speakers, while the screen is apparently going to make some use of the same Bravia technology that Sony deploys in its television sets.

This coming Tuesday everything will be made official, and of course we'll bring you all the details of the Sony Xperia 1 VII as they're announced. From what we've heard so far, it looks set to jump straight to the top of our best Sony phones list.

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• Beelink’s GTR9 Pro runs a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor and delivers 126 TOPS for next-gen AI
• Dual 10Gbps Ethernet ports mean lightning-fast clustering and insane data transfer speeds
• Integrated Radeon 8060S GPU rivals RTX 40 series without the bulk or noise

Beelink, a relatively unknown Chinese PC vendor, has introduced a compact mini PC aimed at AI workloads, gaming, and content creation.

The system, dubbed the GTR9 Pro, is powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor and is designed for high data throughput and demanding computing tasks.

Beelink says the GTR9 Pro delivers processing capabilities of up to 126 trillion operations per second (TOPS) and can run AI models with as many as 70 billion parameters, including those based on frameworks like DeepSeek.

Compact AMD-based system built for AI, gaming, and creative tasks

The GTR9 Pro can function as a standalone system or be integrated into clustered computing environments.

With two 10Gbps Ethernet ports and two 40Gbps USB4 ports, the device supports high-speed data transfer both between systems and to external devices.

Its integrated AMD Radeon 8060S GPU features 40 cores and offers graphics performance comparable to Nvidia’s RTX 40 series. It also supports up to 96GB of dedicated video memory, positioning it as one of the more powerful workstation options available.

The GTR9 Pro is capable of running modern gaming titles at high settings and handling AI tasks and media production with ease. It is part of Beelink’s “Quietly” series, indicating a low-noise thermal design.

For creatives, it supports professional applications such as Adobe After Effects and Photoshop, and it is well-suited for tasks like rendering and live streaming.

Beelink describes the system as “engineered for innovators, gamers, and creators who demand more performance, less noise.”

The GTR9 Pro will be priced at $1,999, although Beelink has not yet announced an official launch date.

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Last year, I finally upgraded from an iPhone 12 Pro to an iPhone 16 Pro, and to say it was a big step up would be an understatement. From the speedy performance and improved camera system to the Dynamic Island and super-smooth 120Hz display, I’ve found a lot to love about the best iPhone money can buy in 2025.

Since getting an iPhone 16 Pro, one thing I’ve really grown fond of is Camera Control. This built-in tool lets me quickly open the Camera app when time is of the essence, and I can even do it as I’m taking my phone out of my pocket. There’s no need to look at the display or fumble with on-screen controls – it’s just a quick, snappy way to start shooting.

Yet there’s one new feature in my iPhone 16 Pro that I really haven’t taken to: the Action button. Simply put, I’ve never found a compelling use case for it.

Part of my indifference towards the Action button comes down to how little time it might save me. Lots of the pre-defined options that Apple proposes – like activating the flashlight and setting off Shazam – are easy enough for me to get to in other ways, either via the Lock Screen or in the Control Center.

Likewise, I’ve set my Focus modes to start up automatically, so I never really need to do so manually using the Action button. I don’t use Visual Intelligence or Voice Memos enough to warrant adding them instead. And I’ve found nothing in Apple’s suggested list of controls, shortcuts, or accessibility features that I’ve wanted to add to the button.

In the end, I’ve spent most of my time with the Action button set up as a mute toggle, which is exactly what the feature replaced on my old iPhone 12 Pro.

Shortcuts to success

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Part of the problem is that the thing I’d really love to use the Action button for is incredibly fiddly (or downright impossible) right now.

For me, it would be great to use the side-mounted toggle for contextual shortcuts – where, at a certain time of day or a specified location, the Action button does one thing, and at another time or location, it does something else. I haven’t found a way to do that yet.

And while there are ways to have multiple shortcuts run when you press the button, setting them up is an involved, complex process. I’d like to see a native option to do so from Apple, but that doesn’t seem to be forthcoming, unless the company has something up its sleeve for the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June.

Sure, maybe this is a “me” problem – after all, my colleagues John-Anthony and Axel have found some excellent uses for the Action button involving artificial intelligence and language translation. But neither of their setups really appeals to me and my lifestyle. Right now, I’m still looking for something to change my mind.

Still searching

(Image credit: Apple)

Perhaps the only thing that might convince me of the Action button’s utility is Shazam – like Camera Control, it’s something that’s designed to be used quickly. But even so, adding it to the Action button is only likely to save me a second or two compared to opening Shazam from the Control Center. Yes, identifying a song can be time-sensitive, but not quite as much as snapping a photo before the moment’s gone.

At the end of the day, I’m fine with the Action button and my minimal use of it. After all, it doesn’t get in the way or slow down my day-to-day life. Most of the time, I simply forget it’s there.

But it would be great to find a really convincing reason to use it that can revolutionize how I use my iPhone 16 Pro. If anyone can suggest one to me, I’m all ears.

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