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Qualcomm has announced not one, but two new flagship mobile chipsets at its annual Snapdragon Summit: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.

Succeeding last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, both chipsets have been designed to reduce reliance on RAM (no prizes for guessing why), and each will unlock advanced gaming and agentic AI capabilities for the next generation of flagship Android phones (including, we presume, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra). But how, and why, do they differ?

I attended the Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii to speak to Qualcomm's team about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Here’s why the American silicon giant is launching two flagship chipsets this year — and why one of them is shipping with the ‘Extreme’ moniker.

Why are they different?

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon announcing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series at Snapdragon Summit 2026 (Image credit: Future)

As Lekha Motiwala, Senior Director of Product Management at Qualcomm, told me: “Some OEMs [Original Equipment Manufacturers] are trying to reach the pinnacle of technology, while others are trying to reach broader audiences. We want to give choice and flexibility to the OEMs.

“The 8 Elite Gen 6 is the next generation to the 8 Elite Gen 5. The 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is positioned above it as the top tier, to enable newer experiences like ultra[-level] gaming, professional video codec support, etc. — on the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, we are going beyond what we traditionally do [with our flagship chipsets], hence the tiering this year.”

“Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 delivers generational improvements across all key experiences, and is designed to power the core flagship tier,” added Ellie Fortin, Senior PR spokesperson at Qualcomm.

“The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 sits above Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 as our top-tier Elite platform, showcasing leadership in AI, gaming, and advanced platform technologies, and is designed to power the best, most aspirational devices. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 includes everything in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, plus additional capabilities and advanced AI features. They’re both on 2nm TSMC.”

How are they different?

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (left) and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (right) (Image credit: Qualcomm)

As for what Qualcomm means by ‘everything’ in the above statement, let’s get technical. Both chipsets feature the newest version of the company’s Oryon CPU, comprising two prime cores up to 5GHz (that’s a world-first) and six performance cores up to 4GHz. This CPU also packs a 16MB Oryon Flex Cache, which Qualcomm says will allow mobile agents to run demanding workloads without slowing down.

Qualcomm’s re-tooled Hexagon NPU [neural processing unit] features a new Hexagon Element Accelerator that should speed up how quickly AI prompts are processed by your phone — regardless of which new chipset it’s running — while the NPU in the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 gets 50% more Large Shared Memory than the equivalent NPU in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Still with me? As for the new Adreno graphics unit, Qualcomm says it represents the “biggest generational leap yet,” and will deliver substantial gains in graphics performance and power efficiency for phones equipped with either the 8 Elite Gen 6 or 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. But the latter pulls further away from its sibling with something called Adreno Neural Fusion — a dedicated gaming rendering technology that uses AI to deliver enhanced graphics and longer play sessions in compatible titles like Honkai: Star Rail, Diablo Immortal, and War Thunder: Mobile.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 will bring AI-enhanced gaming experiences to compatible devices (Image credit: Future)

Couple that with three AI-dedicated GPU cores, and the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 looks set to make the next best gaming phones more capable than ever: “We’re introducing Adreno Matrix cores, which are exclusive to the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6,” Motiwala explained to me. “They support the running of AI workloads within the graphics pipeline itself. Rendering becomes smarter, [you’ll get] super resolution, frame generation — many of these features can now be run within the graphics pipeline rather than moving to the NPU and other [parts of the chipset]. So now you’ll have much lower latency and much lower power consumption.”

And finally, both new chipsets feature the Qualcomm Spectra ISP for improved digital stabilization, color processing, and motion detection, but only phones equipped with the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 will support — or rather have the capability to support — Advanced Professional Video (APV) codecs and 8K 60fps video capture.

Initial impressions

The Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra use last year's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset — will users be able to make use of even more power in their respective successors? (Image credit: Prakhar Khanna)

In other words, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is likely to be the chipset of choice for Android phone manufacturers hoping to claim that their upcoming flagships offer the very best in AI features, performance efficiency, and image processing. But it remains to be seen whether the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi, and Oppo can actually make use of all this extra power.

In truth, even the current-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 provides more than enough juice for 99% of smartphone tasks, and so that’s almost certainly going to be true of the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (the clue is in the name) and indeed the lower-spec 8 Elite Gen 6, both of which are objectively more powerful than last’s year’s flagship chipset.

The key takeaway here is that Qualcomm is aware of the memory constraints affecting the technology industry, and has clearly worked hard to bring AI processing closer to the chipset with this year’s Snapdragon lineup. This should mean that, even if upcoming Android flagships arrive with lower RAM capacities than their predecessors (see the Google Pixel 11 Pro), their ability to process AI tasks won’t be negatively affected — if we take Qualcomm’s word for it, it’ll actually be improved.

Basically, it’s about doing more with less. Or maybe more with more, but not as much ‘more’ as we might’ve expected pre-RAM crisis.

Which phones will be supported?

The Motorola Signature 27 is one of the first phones to be announced with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (Image credit: Motorola)

Both the Motorola Signature 27 and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max are the first phones to be announced with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. The Xiaomi 18 Pro, meanwhile, will use the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.

We don’t have any other official information about which phones will use either chipset just yet, but here’s a list of rumored devices whose respective predecessors use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and could therefore ship with Qualcomm’s latest slices of Snapdragon silicon:

• Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy S27 Plus
• Samsung Galaxy S27
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 9 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 9
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 9
• Xiaomi 18 Ultra
• Xiaomi 18
• Oppo Find X10 Ultra
• Oppo Find X10 Pro Max
• Oppo Find X10
• Honor Magic 10 Pro
• Honor Magic V7
• RedMagic 12 Pro
• RedMagic 12S Pro

• A new approach could catch 90% of potentially convertible wave energy
• It's based on a array of dozens of connected buoys, designed to handle different types of waves
• Further research is needed to test its viability

There's potentially a lot of clean, renewable energy locked up in waves, but the challenge is getting it converted into power in a viable way. Now researchers from Germany and Australia have come up with a potential method for capturing way more of the energy produced by the undulating oceans.

The solution (via Interesting Engineering) is big buoys, and lots of them. In simulation models, the researchers showed that a fixed array of 60 connected buoys — with some described as being as large as small houses — could convert 90% of potential ocean wave energy, even with significant variability in wave direction.

These buoys would be like flat drums on the surface of the water, connected to spring and generator units on the seabed. Crucially, each one would be individually tuned to match a certain wave rhythm — what's known as the 'resonance frequency' of the buoy, where the maximum amount of power can be produced.

"It's similar to a child on a swing," says Professor Malte Peter, from the University of Augsburg (via Google Translate). "Only if the support comes at the right moment will the child swing higher and higher over time. Similarly, the waves must arrive at the buoy at the appropriate intervals so that its pendulum motion is as strong as possible."

Dealing with unpredictability

Each buoy is tuned to grab energy from specific wave strengths (Image credit: Westcott et al., Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2026)

Waves are typically rather unpredictable: if a large wave hits a buoy that's already on the up from a previous wave, a lot of the energy is missed. Add in the effects from neighboring buoys deflecting waves and influencing each other's movement, and you can understand the challenge in capturing all of this energy.

The larger arrays proposed by the team here act as a sort of sieve system. Even if a wave gets 'missed' by one buoy, it will hit another that's better tuned to it, meaning very little energy is lost. The researchers detail careful adjustments to buoy positions and resonance to achieve the results.

It's not a completely new idea, and borrows thinking from other fields of science. Some of the same researchers previously came up with a more basic model of the buoy farm, but only in 2D — in their new paper, they've extended into three dimensions, increased the size of the array, and adapted it to a greater variety of wave directions.

All that said, this remains theoretical, and hasn't been tested yet. The team notes that while each individual buoy could power "several hundred households" in this system, installing and maintaining the equipment is going to be expensive, and field tests and further research will need to happen first.

After an overseas-only debut, Motorola’s new Signature 27 is coming to the US, with the high-end phone set to be released this year.

A pair of top-tier Snapdragon chips will empower AI, boost graphics and enable 8K video in next year’s phones.

The future of Trump's D.C. arch was already fraught. Then he rebranded it as a military complex. Experts say that only raises more legal and logistical questions.

(Image credit: Kent Nishimura)

• Over 1,000 small drones are being added to the British Army’s modernized battlefield surveillance kit
• 245 FOXE-NATO drones from Evolve Dynamics in Hampshire, England, have been ordered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), with a further 670 built by California-based Skydio
• A further £400 million investment in “long-endurance surveillance drones” has also been announced

The British government has announced spending on over 1,000 small surveillance drones for the British Army, as part of its Defence Investment Plan. This includes compact, lightweight devices assembled at UK-based Evolve Dynamics, designed for fast deployment.

Announcing the spending plans and investment, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has emphasized the use of what it terms Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones as a step forward in detecting emerging threats.

In addition, a huge £400 million is being invested in replacing the Watchkeeper Uncrewed Air System. This unmanned drone surveillance program has been in operation since 2014, and is being retired in 2027.

UK companies handling delivery

In total, 1,025 smaller drones are being procured in the £16 million deal, which involves deals with a trio of UK-based companies. Among these small and medium sized companies is Evolve Dynamics, a Hampshire-based company which is supplying the army with 245 FOXE-NATO drones. Weighing under 250g and equipped with infrared cameras for nighttime use, the FOXE-NATO drones are also designed for quick deployment from a backpack or pouch.

Meanwhile, Marlborough Communications Limited, in Surrey, England, is supplying the MoD with 670 Skydio X10 INTL drones, also capable of a fast deployment and speeds of up to 45 mpg. Skydio is a California-based company.

Finally, Exeter-based Brigantes Consulting and and Harmattan AI are delivering 110 SONORA drones. These are training devices, to prepare soldiers for using field-ready drones.

“Our soldiers deserve the best technology, and that’s what we’re delivering,” said Luke Pollard MP, the UK’s Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry.

“From small drones giving troops eyes on the enemy, to the AR5 offering commanders better intelligence over the battlefield, we’re transforming the Army’s ability to see, understand and act first.”

“This is defence procurement that backs British industry, creates skilled jobs and keeps our Armed Forces ahead of our adversaries.”

Long-endurance

Joining the smaller surveillance and training drone expenditure, the MoD has announced a £400 million spend on a fleet of Tekever AR5 surveillance drones (initially six, rising to 24 by 2029), designed and built for endurance. These craft have already seen action in Ukraine.

“We are proud to be delivering the AR5 to the British Army at this critical moment for national security,” said Tekever UK’s Managing Director Karl Brew. “This investment allows us to grow our UK operations, create hundreds of skilled jobs and bring cutting-edge surveillance technology, proven on the battlefield in Ukraine, into service with British forces.”

These units, capable of carrying up to 50kg of cameras and sensors, are being assembled at Swindon, UK, and the contract is expected to create 1,000 jobs at sites around the UK, including sites in the South West, Edinburgh, and London.

• Geely plans to unveil new charging technology this week
• The system will draw 2.2 MegaWatts of power during use
• Charging sessions could take as little as four minutes

The Geely Group has taken to Chinese social media site Weibo to tease its next generation of charging technology, which the company says can fill batteries in around four minutes.

The news arrives along with details of a new Geely Galaxy E5, an all-electric premium SUV that is due for launch in China this year and is reportedly the first model that will able to use this new, ultra-fast charging technology.

Delivering a staggering peak power of 2.2MW, the next-generation "AI-powered" charging system is claimed to be able to deliver a full charging session in four minutes.

However, there’s no mention of whether that’s the standard 10-80% state of charge or something else entirely.

According to China EV Home, the Galaxy E5 uses an 800V architecture and Geely’s next-generation Aegis Short Blade battery, which will be available in 61.52kWh and 70.01kWh capacities.

The batteries offer CLTC-rated ranges of 550 km (around 341 miles) and 635 km (395 miles) respectively, but it is the ultra-fast charging that will likely hog the headlines.

While there are very few details (Geely will hold an event imminently to unveil more), the AI involvement is reportedly to do with thermal control, which allows such a mammoth rate of charge without damaging battery cells.

Geely says its packs can last 3,500 charge-discharge cycles "with limited degradation”.

Analysis: China continues to push speed

(Image credit: BYD)

The EV dream has always been to recharge in the sort of time it takes to refuel a petrol or diesel counterpart, as this would arguably break down one of the biggest barriers to ownership: range anxiety.

Those with little experience of electric vehicles worry about becoming stranded when batteries run out of charge, only to be faced with an hour or more wait to get back on the road.

However, most people that have owned a modern EV will likely argue that this isn’t really the case any more, but China continues to develop charging technology that prioritizes speed an convenience.

BYD has demonstrated its 1.5MW Flash chargers both in China and in Europe, where they are capable of brimming batteries in under 10 minutes.

Unfortunately, the only vehicles compatible with the tech (in Europe at least) happen to be some of the most expensive in the BYD stable.

Zeekr has also been pushing its own 1.2MW chargers in China, which are also capable of lighting-fast top-up times.

(Image credit: Nio)

While it’s easy to see this as simple one-upmanship, China’s charging infrastructure needs to grow at a rapid rate to serve the more than 110 million EVs predicted to be on the roads by 2030.

This will mean installing more than 40 million charging points and approximately 300,000 high-power charging facilities to deal with the demand.

Having this mix of high and lower powered charging is the only way to meet all the needs of drivers, where high power and speed is essential in places like motorway service stations along busy travel corridors, while cheaper, lower-powered options benefit those charging curbside over night, for example.

Unlike many other nations, which have been comparatively slow to adopt electrification and the surrounding infrastructure, China appears to be exploring all avenues.

While the iPhone 17 Pro and 18 Pro look similar, there are a lot of changes on the inside.

DJI built its name on drones, but nowadays it has firmly established itself in multiple other content creator gadget markets too. That includes mics. The brand makes a selection of microphones, including two models released this year. Our testers have been extremely impressed with all of them — so much so, we awarded every single one a perfect five stars in their respective reviews.

If you're a content creator looking to upgrade your audio so it's just as good as your video, how do you choose between them? There's no dud option here, but certain models will be better than others depending on your needs. Below, you'll find an overview of the brand, links to find out more about each one, and a handy specs comparison table. Here's everything you need to know about DJI's microphone range.

DJI mic range

There are two main microphone lines: Mic and Mic Mini. The former is more pro-friendly, larger and higher specced (details vary by model, but expect superior audio quality, more adaptable noise cancelling and features like timecode and built-in storage). The latter is more compact and lightweight — although note the main Mic models aren't exactly bulky — and an excellent entry-level choice.

Scroll down for more details, and tap the View details button for a summary of each model, plus a link to read the full reviews.

DJI Mic Mini 2S

Read our full DJI Mic Mini 2S review

Pros

• Audio quality that rivals the pricier DJI Mic 3
• Internal recording and 32-bit float included
• AI noise cancelling is a step up from the Mic Mini 2

Cons

• Considerably pricier than the standard Mic Mini 2
• Still lacks the Mic 3's timecode, dual-file recording and touchscreen receiver

DJI Mic Mini 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Small, lightweight and customizable transmitters
• Affordable price
• Versatile connectivity and mounting options
• Reliable performance

Cons

• Apple Lightning adapter not included
• No monitoring display on receiver
• Few reasons to upgrade from original Mic Mini

DJI Mic Mini

Read our full review

Pros

• Tiny and super-reliable
• Can be used with phones and cameras
• Components can be purchased individually

Cons

• Receiver sticks out when attached to a phone
• No easy way to monitor audio levels
• Apple's Lightning adapter is a separate purchase

DJI Mic 3

Read our full review

Pros

• Smaller and lighter TX than the Mic 2
• Now supports timecode and group productions
• Improved battery life, storage and transmission range over Mic 2

Cons

• No lavalier input on TX
• Shorter battery life than Mic Mini
• No Lightning adapter included

DJI Mic 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Quick and easy set-up
• Records superb-quality vocals
• Slick design

Cons

• Transmitters are bulkier than a lav mic

In the main range the Mic 2 (launched 2024) and Mic 3 (launched 2025) are still widely available. In the Mini range, it's the Mic Mini (launched 2024), Mic Mini 2 and Mic Mini 2S (both released 2026). We awarded every single one of them a perfect five stars in our reviews, so you can expect a very capable mic no matter which one you go for.

Broadly speaking, within each lineup it's the newer the model, the more advanced the specs — although the gaps between some generations are bigger than others. The Mini 2S came out more recently than the Mini 2, and offers a number of upgrades over that model, most notable of which is internal recording.

For each model, you can also choose from various bundles of transmitters (TX), receivers (RX) and charge cases. These elements can, broadly speaking, also be purchased individually.

DJI Mics: specs compared

Model:

Mic Mini 2S

Mic Mini 2

Mic Mini

Mic 3

Mic 2

Launched:

2026

2026

2024

2025

2024

Range:

With standard RX: up to 400m / with mobile RX: up to 300m

With standard RX: up to 400m / with mobile RX: up to 300m

400m

400m

250m

Connectivity:

USB-C / Lightning, 3.5mm jack

USB-C / Lightning, 3.5mm jack

USB-C / Lightning, 3.5mm jack

USB-C / Lightning, 3.5mm jack

USB-C / Lightning, 3.5mm jack

Bluetooth:

Yes (Bluetooth 6.0)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery:

11 hours (TX), 10 hours (RX), 40 hours w/case

11.5 hours (TX), 10.5 hours (RX), 48 hours w/case

11.5 hours (TX), 10.5 hours (RX), 48 hours w/case

10 hours (TX), 8 hours (RX), up to 28 hours with fully charged case

6 hours (TX), 6 hours (RX), 18 hours w/case

Noise cancelling:

Two-level, AI-powered

Two-level

Two-level, auto

Two-level active

Intelligent

• The US could have a 157,000 shortage of semiconductor and microelectronics workers by 2030
• International chip makers are reportedly bringing in workers as a temporary measure
• Worker salaries aren't the issue, but competition with other sectors might be

New analysis from the SEMI Foundation has revealed the US could face a shortage of up to 157,000 semiconductor and microelectronics workers by as soon as 2030.

This shortage will likely cover all manner of jobs, right from semiconductor engineers to supply chain workers and maintenance staff, putting immense pressure on the sector at the very time that it needs all the resources it can get.

Speaking with CNBC, Samsung semiconductor EVP Jon Taylor declared that the company is "concerned" because it's not seeing enough technical workers coming through the US pipeline.

Chipmakers are worried about a lack of workers

Only 3% of US engineering graduates enter the semiconductor industry every year, the report warns, with nearly three in four (73%) semiconductor companies reporting significant difficulties recruiting engineers.

The ongoing AI boom, and especially America and the Trump administration's push for more domestic manufacturing and AI processing, are accentuating this shortage of workers. According to McKinsey, semiconductor sales growth during the first six months of 2026 reached its highest year-on-year rate since the mid 80s, with revenue surpassing the trillion-dollar mark.

Numerous high-profile companies are also working on expanding their US footprints despite the clear strains. Samsung itself reportedly expects to create around 3,500 new jobs from two fabs at its Taylor, Texas site, however it's unclear with how much success it will fill them given news about recruitment struggles.

Micron, SK Hynix, TSMC and Intel are also opening new manufacturing facilities, per the CNBC report.

However, the report also reveals that both Samsung and SK Hynix are bringing in workers from South Korea temporarily to offset some of those US struggles.

US workers don't want to work in chip manufacturing, but why?

Despite low uptake, these roles typically fetch some pretty attractive salaries. SEMI's figures put typical US semiconductor compensation around $127,000 to $187,000, with some senior roles exceeding $238,000.

Ultimately, it's clear that companies are willing to pay the right compensation to attract workers, so the issue lies elsewhere.

And it could be cross-sector competition that's making jobs at other companies more attractive – semiconductor workers are also great fits for software, AI and aerospace, per the report.

In the meantime, hyperscalers are increasingly prepared to remind us that investments in new campuses also go hand-in-hand with local training opportunities, college funding and upskilling. But with the impacts of those schemes unlikely to be seen for many years, it's likely that many US semiconductor roles could remain unfilled in the meantime.

The new models prioritize faster speeds and lower prices.

If there's one thing President Donald Trump is good at, it's misdirection: focusing your attention on what doesn't matter so he can actively ignore the most distressing problems. So it comes as little surprise that he is now campaigning to rename Artificial Intelligence to "Super Intelligence". In the meantime, he's downplaying concerns and promising to give AI... er... SI "free rein".

Trump rolled out the name change during his annual United Nations General Assembly address in Manhattan on Tuesday, admitting that he doesn't know if he has the power to rename an entire science, technology discipline, and industry. But naturally, the guy who bulldozes buildings first and never asks questions later is willing to try.

"Welcome to the world of super intelligence, dash, SI, SI, " Trump declared. "Let's see if that sticks. Let's see if that goes. It sounds much better, and it's much more accurate." He even plans to change the usage across all government documents, which should only foster mass confusion.

The rationale here is that "there's nothing artificial about it," whatever that means. Trump loves his superlatives, like "greatest ever," "beautiful," "tremendous," "huge" (or "Yuge"). "Super" fits the mold. But it's also inaccurate. AI is not super intelligence. It's not yet human intelligence with extra juice. Consider it this way: Superman, though an alien, is called "Super " because he appears as a man but with extraordinary powers.

Artificial intelligence is so named because it's made like an artificial sweetener. There's nothing natural about it. It's not a genius or super-smart person. It's computers, programs, algorithms, models, and training that can create the appearance of human-like intelligence, which, in some instances, can be far greater than our own. But there's nothing remotely human about it.

Trump tells the UN he is officially changing the name of Artificial Intelligence to "Super Intelligence" and says all US government documents will now be changed to refer to "SI" pic.twitter.com/LEWbc5tn3BSeptember 22, 2026

The other confusing part of this is that the timeline of AI does allow for "Super Intelligence," but not as the same thing. Instead, it's something down the line that far exceeds human cognition. It's also what some call Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Whatever you call it, experts think that it's fast approaching and we should be deeply concerned.

The so-called Godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, just issued a fresh warning that the U.S. Congress has “maybe a year, but not much more than a year,” to regulate AI before we lose control. He's particularly concerned about AI that doesn't need human intervention for improvement: "AI has now reached the point where AI is designing better AI,” said Hinton last week after his congressional testimony. "That’s called recursive self-improvement." He added that it could get out of control, and warned "We need to slow down.”

AI unleashed

Look, I know Trump has had some luck with renaming bodies of water (at least from the US perspective), but I'm hoping the AI industry and those covering AI reject Trump's proposal out of hand, and focus instead on the more existential AI problem and Trump's declaration, "We will only encourage super intelligence. We're going to encourage it, not rein it in."

If anyone was hoping that rising concerns over human ability to keep track of and maintain control of AI — plus recent well-documented incidents of AI jumping out of sandboxes — would prompt some self-reflection and action on the part of the White House, they are surely disappointed.

It's not a surprising stance for him. Trump has publicly worried about falling behind China in the AI (or SI) race. Even those who have voiced concerns about AI's aforementioned recent attacks on third-party systems, recursive development, and inscrutable language have noted the need to both regulate and control AI while still competing with China. The prevailing idea is to create internal independent watchdogs and some sort of a global body that will help everyone, including China, work together on regulating AI.

As long as Trump is President, the US will clearly have no part in that.

Which leaves us with unfettered AI (or SI or whatever) and no clear path for continued safe use. Instead, the US will be encouraging AI companies to work fast, and as the old Facebook once did, break things along the way, all in a quest to maintain global AI dominance. If there's any glimmer of hope here, it's that Trump, as he insisted AI is not "fake" (no one says it is, but Trump thinks "artificial" is synonymous with "fake"), did say "we have to be careful." He also said that the US "rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control... artificial intelligence."

So, sure, let's talk about Super Intelligence and, I guess Super General Intelligence(?) but also not forget that Trump is stepping aside so the freight train of AI development can race by, careening into an uncertain future where AI becomes, maybe not sentient, but also likely completely out of our control.

That doesn't seem super intelligent.

• Pensacola fishermen pulls large unidentified military drone from the Gulf
• The aircraft surfaced only miles from Eglin’s extensive military testing zones
• Authorities recovered the drone without publicly identifying its origin or mission

A Pensacola-based fishing charter pulled a large military-style drone from Gulf of Mexico waters over the weekend, surprising both crew and onlookers.

Hot Spot Fishing Charters discovered it during a routine six-hour trip roughly 15 to 30 miles offshore from Pensacola Beach.

Authorities arrived later that same day and retrieved the aircraft, though details about the recovery process itself remain largely unavailable to the public.

An unusual interruption

The waters near this stretch of coastline sit close to Eglin Air Force Base, one of the largest military test ranges nationwide.

That base oversees restricted airspace and offshore zones used for trials of advanced weapons systems, including hypersonic missile technology in recent years.

The exact model of the drone remains unconfirmed, though local station WEAR-TV suggested the aircraft resembles an MQM-172, a drone flown for weapons testing and aircrew training.

The delta-wing shape of that platform also resembles Iran's Shahed-136 strike drone, a design widely recognized for its distinctive triangular silhouette.

Such resemblance likely explains why a civilian fishing crew would pause and take a closer notice of an unfamiliar aircraft floating offshore.

WEAR-TV described the discovery only as a large drone pulled from Gulf waters, providing little additional identifying information beyond that.

A brief video clip, shared widely across social media platforms, shows crew members hauling the large aircraft aboard their vessel.

The charter company regularly runs six- to eight-hour offshore excursions, giving anglers access to waters far beyond the immediate coastline.

Those extended trips routinely place crews within range of restricted military zones tied to ongoing weapons trials and training missions.

Eglin's long association with cutting-edge programs, including hypersonic missile trials, adds extra intrigue to any unexplained hardware found nearby offshore.

Lingering questions

No agency has issued a public statement claiming the aircraft or explaining how it drifted into civilian waters.

Regulations at Eglin explicitly bar small unmanned aircraft systems from operating within the base's land reservation and its surrounding boundaries as well.

Aircraft used for weapons testing sometimes conclude their operational service in open water, particularly following live-fire exercises conducted offshore near the base.

Whether this particular drone came from a specific Eglin program or another branch's testing effort remains an open question for now.

Investigators have not confirmed whether the aircraft drifted naturally with Gulf currents or was intentionally released during a recovery attempt.

Images circulating online appear to show visible damage along the fuselage, consistent with an extended period spent adrift at sea.

Residents have expressed curiosity about whether similar recoveries might happen again given the area's ongoing military testing activity.

It usually takes days or weeks for government officials to comment on unexplained hardware recovered along the Gulf coastline, especially when it's military.

Via Gadget Review

Best Buy has dropped the price of the Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station by over half price. You get three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, allowing you to power as many as four devices simultaneously from a single charger.

• Best for: Professionals and students who regularly charges multiple devices at their desk at the same time and wants to replace different adapters with a single charging point.

• The deal: The Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station is just $30 (was $70) at Best Buy.

• Why it matters: You can charge up to four devices simultaneously, and 100W output provides enough power for compatible laptops. Built-in protection covers over-voltage, over-current, short circuits and temperature.

Nexode 4-Port 100w GaN Charging Station: was $69.99 now $29.99
Ugreen's desktop charger delivers up to 100W through four ports, including three USB-C and one USB-A, with GaN technology, multiple fast-charging protocols, integrated safety protection and an included cable.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The two main USB-C ports can each deliver up to 100W of power, enough to charge compatible laptops as well as phones and tablets. Ugreen says the included 100W USB-C cable can charge a 14-inch MacBook Pro to 50% in just 27 minutes. GaN technology helps keep the charger relatively small, at around 3.4 x 3.3 x 1.2 inches, tiny enough to carry about in a bag when traveling. As well as USB Power Delivery, there's support for PPS, QC 4.0+, AFC, FCP and SCP charging protocols.

Price context & historical value

A $40 reduction on a charger that normally costs $69.99 is huge. At $29.99, you're paying less than half the original price. It's also cheaper than the $34.99 Best Buy had it for earlier this month, and I haven't found a lower price for this exact model. It is currently on sale at Amazon, but will set you back $42.99 there. So, Best Buy is offering the best price right now.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Ugreen Nexode Charging Station if...

You regularly charge a laptop alongside a phone, tablet, headphones or other USB devices at your desk. The 100W maximum output means it can handle compatible laptops rather than being limited to smaller devices.

❌ Skip the Ugreen Nexode Charging Station if...

You only need to charge one or two low-power devices at a time. You should also remember that 100W is the charger's total available output, so connecting several devices means that power has to be distributed between them rather than every port delivering 100W simultaneously.

Also consider

6-in-1 100W USB-C GaN Charging Station: was $49.99 now $39.48
If you need more ports, this Ugreen fast charger packs in 6 of them with up to 65W power delivery on a single USB-C. That's enough to keep most work laptops, MacBooks, and phones juiced up. View Deal

• Shop all laptop chargers and adapters at Best Buy

With the price of the new Mac mini M6 skyrocketing compared to previous editions, we've been looking out for Windows 11 alternatives to Apple's mini PC. And the Beelink SER8 is one of the most stylish we've tested. You get some serious desktop performance here, in a 5.3x5.3-inch chassis only slightly larger than the Mac mini.

• Best for: Anyone who wants a powerful desktop PC for productivity or creative work but would rather have a compact machine that takes up very little desk space.

• The deal: The Beelink SER8 with 32GB RAM and a 500GB is $769 at Amazon. The 32GB/512GB model is $779 (was $929) at Best Buy.

• Why it matters: This mini PC is about $100 cheaper than the new Mac mini M6 base configuration, but just as stylish and performance-driven. You get an eight-core Ryzen 7 8745HS processor with 16 threads and Radeon 780M integrated graphics, alongside plenty of upgrade potential and support for three external displays. A USB4 port allows you add an external graphics card for creative workloads, too.

SER8 Mini PC: $769
Beelink's mini PC combines an eight-core Ryzen 7 8745HS processor, Radeon 780M graphics, 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM, 500GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, Wi-Fi 6, 2.5Gbps Ethernet and triple-display support in one compact PC.View Deal

• The Beelink SER8 with 32GB RAM and 512GB SSD is now $779 (was $929) at Best Buy

Why we recommend it

The Ryzen 7 8745HS CPU delivers boost speeds up to 4.9GHz, giving the SER8 enough processing power to handle most tasks. There's plenty of scope for upgrading with two memory slots and support for up to 256GB of DDR5 RAM and up to 8TB of SSD storage.

In his four-star review, our expert Mark said it was "a classy small system ideal for those needing processing power (or even AI)" and that "Beelink makes some excellent mini PCs, and the SER8 is another in a long line of high-quality products from that brand. The enclosure's engineering delivers styling and refinement that even Apple would admire."

Price context & historical value

At $769, the price at Amazon is the cheapest we've seen - although for an extra $10 you get 512GB storage buying from Best Buy. It's a case of whether that's right for you out of the box, since the SER8 does let you expand storage up to 8TB anyway.

For alternative options look at our roundups of the best mini PCs and this week's best mini PC deals.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Beelink SER8 mini PC if...

You want solid performance without taking up a lot of desk space. The Ryzen 7 8745HS, Radeon 780M graphics and 32GB DDR5 RAM make it suitable for demanding tasks. You can replace the memory and add considerably more internal storage if required.

❌ Skip the Beelink SER8 mini PC if...

You need a dedicated graphics card for demanding 3D workloads. The Radeon 780M is capable integrated graphics, but it isn't a substitute for a powerful discrete GPU.

• Texas Gov. Abbott bans new data center grid connections until key audit is finished
• California Gov. Newsom introduces new laws regulating data center land, energy, and water usage
• Federal regulations could also be coming soon, but the midterms are still to go

AI data centers in the US have been dealt another blow due to new regulations and rules rolled out in Texas and California.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the reach of a de facto moratorium on new data centers until a new electricity audit has been completed, effectively preventing any new data centers from being granted environmental permits or grid permissions.

At the same time, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law new regulations which provide communities with greater control over the water, electricity, and land use of data centers built in the state.

States are backing communities, not big tech

“Simply put, Texans must come first,” Texas Governor Abbott said. “Data centers must pay their own way, protect our grid and water, and complete the ERCOT and audits” (via Politico).

According to ERCOT, which operates the Texas electricity grid, approvals for data centers to connect could be paused until December when the audit is expected to be completed. Until then, no new connections will be authorized.

Texans have been increasingly vocal about their opinions on data centers, particularly when it comes to land use, noise, pollution, and strain on the electricity grid. The issue has become such a big topic that Texas and other states have seen a jump in first-time candidates for local elections.

Abbott himself was previously pro-data center, advertising Texas as the “epicenter of AI development”, but has made a rapid pivot in stance - recently stating that data centers are getting “the backlash they deserve”.

In California, Governor Newsom’s new data center laws aim to move much of the costs imposed by data centers connecting to resources away from the public’s purse, and back onto data centers.

To this end, electrical grid connections and upgrade costs will be shouldered by the data centers requesting them, with additional requirements that new data centers will have to add new clean energy to supplement the additional energy they will consume.

More transparency is being added to data center water usage as well. Proposed projects will now have to inform local governments of water use, supply, efficiency and drought planning - with similar requirements to pay for infrastructural upgrades.

Land usage requirements are also under the regulatory hammer, with data centers no longer exempt from environmental regulations. Instead, proposed projects will have to meet state standards on energy, water, and fuel consumption while also mitigating any downstream costs for ratepayers.

Federal regulation could be coming too

Federal level regulation is making progress too.

The Ratepayer Protection Act aims to make the developers of medium and large campuses pay for the infrastructural upgrades and grid connections required for data centers with a peak power of over 100MW.

The Act was recently passed by House lawmakers with bipartisan support, and is now headed to Congress for approval. But due to the midterm elections, the Act may not be signed into law until the end of the year.

Data center opposition and state-level regulations have drawn significant criticism from the White House. President Trump said that those opposed to AI data centers are “making a mistake” adding that communities would miss out on the “tremendous amounts of jobs and money” that having a local data center would provide.

In the second quarter of 2026, over $68 billion in data center projects have been successfully blocked by local opposition with a total of 45 proposed projects being opposed.

The R1 isn’t Bambu Lab's first venture into laser engraving; of course, we first saw the small-capacity engraver in the H2D, which enabled, with the cutter and 3D printer, a full range of manufacturing tools in one not-so-small machine. The R1 is something altogether more serious and much closer to machines such as the xTool P2 that I've previously tested.

It's also an important machine for Bambu Lab and shows them expanding further into the growing maker space. The R1 is the company's first dedicated product outside 3D printing and is based around a 55W CO2 laser rather than a diode; the H2D utilised diode lasers. Using CO2 rather than diode laser technology lets the machine work with a wider range of materials, most notably clear acrylic and glass, while also providing considerably more cutting power; most diodes currently top out at 40W, although several far more powerful heads exist.

However, as with Bambu Lab’s entrance into the 3D print market, the machine technology and market aren’t new, and plenty of other players already exist. xTool, LaserPecker, Glowforge and Creality have already demonstrated how far enclosed desktop laser cutters have progressed in recent years. Five years ago, many of the smaller laser engravers I looked at were open-frame machines that required assembly and considerably more caution, to the point where I will no longer cover them. These days, fully enclosed machines are really where the technology is at, and there are some great options at very reasonable prices.

While there are plenty of machines in the sector, this is Bambu Lab, and with their first laser, they also bring much of the knowledge of 3D printing with them, along with their own approach to automation.

The R1 handles focusing, material positioning and optical alignment, with cameras, lasers and encoders helping the machine understand where the material is and where the toolhead is moving. On paper, this looks great because it will speed up workflows; however, it was only during testing that I realised what a difference it can make.

I've been using the R1 for around three weeks, mostly cutting 3mm basswood ply and acrylic, but also testing MDF, leather, paper, ceramic, glass, coated metal, and plenty of irregular wooden objects. What I have found during that time is that the hardware is exceptionally polished, and while Bambu Suite is good, it still has some catching up to do to realise its and the machine's full potential.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Bambu Lab R1: Price & availability

The Bambu Lab R1 launches at $2,499 in the US direct from the company site and £2,249 from the UK site. Pre-orders start on September 22, 2026 and shipping scheduled to begin in October.

The short-focus lens is included. The Riser Base, Conveyor, Rotary attachment, medium- and long-focus lenses, Vision Encoder, E1 Pro Air Purifier and Auto Fire Extinguishing System are optional extras.

Bambu Lab R1: DesignSpecs

Laser technology: 55W CO2
Working area: 600 x 300mm
Working area with Conveyor: 600 x 3000mm
Maximum speed: 1,000mm/s
Maximum acceleration: 20,000mm/s²
Positioning accuracy: < 0.2 mm
Absolute motion accuracy: < 0.1 mm across 600mm with Vision Encoder
Dimensions: 940 x 560 x 200mm
Weight: 33.5kg
Maximum input power: 780W
Software: Bambu Suite
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi, USB
Laser safety: Class 1 in standard enclosed configuration
Short-focus spot: 0.11mm
Medium-focus spot: 0.17mm
Long-focus spot: 0.19mm
Maximum cutting capacity: 18mm black walnut with medium/long-focus lens; 20mm acrylic.
Standard lens: Short-focus
Supported cutting/engraving materials: Wood, acrylic including clear acrylic, leather, fabric, paper, EVA foam and shell
Engraving materials: Glass, ceramic and coated metal
Optional accessories: Riser Base, Conveyor, Rotary, medium/long-focus lenses, Vision Encoder, E1 Pro Air Purifier and Auto Fire Extinguishing System.

Unpacking the box, and having already checked the specifications before the machine arrived, I was surprised the packaging was smaller than expected. It still required two of us to manoeuvre the box into the workshop, but once unpacked and at 33.5 kg, I could lift and position it with little issue. It’s still heavy, but looking at the slight curve that’s left in the desk from the previous test, it's not quite as heavy as the previous 3D printer that took up the space.

The weight and, for that matter, the size are actually very manageable, and with a footprint of 940 x 560mm, the machine was able to sit on the standard section of the 60cm-deep workshop bench. While the main machine sits quite happily in that space, you’ll also need to consider venting and leave enough vertical clearance to open the lid.

Once in position, the R1's design is unmistakably Bambu Lab. The finish is superb; everything feels properly manufactured rather than assembled from off-the-shelf laser components, and I was pleased to see the machine arrived largely configured; I just had a few small setup procedures to follow before I could start.

As with all engravers, the first job was to attach the exhaust to the filter, and in my setup this was paired with the optional E1 Pro filtration system. You also need to fill the cooling reservoir with distilled or de-ionised water.

The instructions suggest adding antifreeze if you live in a colder climate. My workshop can drop below 5°C during winter, so I filled the system to the -10°C protection mark. Once I removed the transport restraints and checked the interior, the R1 was ready to power on.

The initial startup takes roughly 30 seconds before calibration begins. The automated self-check and initial calibration took around half an hour. Once that completes, you can then run the laser alignment procedure, and this is the first sign that this laser is something a little different.

Unlike the more manual approach of other CO2 lasers, here all you need to do to calibrate is to lift the small cover on the toolhead, then attach the supplied Laser Alignment Sensor, which clicks into place magnetically. Select the alignment function from the touchscreen, and the R1 handles the rest. The complete process took me approximately five minutes, including fitting and removing the sensor.

That's longer than Bambu's roughly one-minute claim for the alignment operation itself, but from my perspective there was virtually nothing to do. Then inside, there are a few removable slats that help to support the material that is placed within.

These are all easy to reposition, but again I would have liked more of them, although there are a few more than when I looked inside the LaserPecker LX2 in my recent review. The main issue is that small cut pieces can fall between the gaps, and for detailed work I still prefer a proper honeycomb bed, which I used for most of the review.

Around the machine, things are similarly clean. The exhaust and main power connection are at the rear, while Air Assist is integrated. Accessory connections sit on the side, alongside USB, and an easily accessible emergency stop is included. Unusually for a laser engraver, it has a small touchscreen, which is extremely useful. Most laser cutters force almost every operation back through the computer. Having direct access to machine functions makes the R1 much easier to use.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Bambu Lab R1: Features

A look through the specifications, and the first thing to note is that this is a 55W CO2 laser; at present, there are only a few CO2 laser engravers at this price aimed at the enthusiast and small-business sector, and the only real competition is the xTool P2.

Inside is a very decent 600 x 300mm working area, which, from my testing, is large enough for most projects; if you need to go larger, there is an optional conveyor. Based on my testing of the base unit alone, I found I could place two standard 300 x 300mm basswood sheets side by side, which was useful when cutting multi-part models, such as the flower box and an RC boat I’m partway through. If you need longer than 300mm, the Conveyor enables working lengths of up to 3000mm, but you are still limited to the 600mm width.

After reviewing all the information, Bambu Lab is keen to highlight the Auto Laser Alignment. This is because, in the past, this process has been very hands-on with other machines, as a CO2 laser relies on mirrors to direct the beam through the machine, and those mirrors need to remain aligned.

On most machines, these mirrors are pre-calibrated, but they do occasionally need recalibration, which can be time-consuming; here, however, that process is fully automated with motorised mirror actuators and an alignment sensor.

For design placement accuracy on materials and tight measurements, the machine uses a TriSense system. This combines the BirdsEye Camera, Toolhead Camera, Pinpoint Laser, distance-measurement laser, and XY encoders to locate material, measure its surface, and monitor movement.

During testing, I accidentally put this to the test when I made an error importing a cutting design and left the paths set as lines rather than cuts. I ran the job, removed the basswood from the machine and only then realised the mistake. Normally, that could easily mean starting again.

Instead, I put the sheet back into the R1, used the camera view to align the cutting paths with the lines already engraved into the material, changed the operation to Cut and reran it. The cuts followed the previous lines accurately, with no obvious signs of the mistake.

When it came to small objects, the positioning was equally impressive. I placed pre-cut objects such as placemats around the work area, positioned the artwork through Bambu Suite, and achieved results very close to what I had on screen.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Alongside the hardware is the Bambu Suite software, which offers plenty of functionality, and I found it to have good overall stability when working on macOS, but the workflow isn't yet as fluid as the hardware deserves.

Importing a DXF, for example, involves selecting Open Image, when Open File would make considerably more sense. Once you import a design, you can assign Cut, Line, and Fill operations. Then you move into Prepare, where you set up the machine and material.

This separation isn't always convenient. If you realise you've assigned the wrong operation later, changing it isn't as immediate as right-clicking the object in the earlier screen.

Capturing the work area also requires you to enter the preparation workflow. During testing, I occasionally found the workspace remained blank until I selected Measure and ran through the capture procedure again. On the Mac version, I also occasionally saw a ghost of the previously captured image underneath the current one. However, none of this stopped me from working.

After a couple of days, the workflow logic did make sense, and after three weeks I could move through jobs quickly, although I still didn’t feel that the workflow was as fluid as it could have been. Material profiles cover most common materials, while manual control gives you plenty of flexibility when experimenting with less conventional materials and objects.

Bambu Lab R1: Performance

I started the test with the setup process, and while this was straightforward, there was a little to-and-fro with attaching vents and making sure the filter vent was routed outside. I then had to fill the machine with distilled water and antifreeze before running through the calibration processes, which all took around an hour.

Starting the tests, I focused on using 3mm basswood ply; this is for a couple of reasons: it's a common material used by crafters, model makers, and many small businesses. Second, I’m familiar with how it reacts under lasers and the initial results I should expect. As I started the process, the Bambu Lab philosophy that I’ve seen with their 3D printers started to become obvious.

One of my standard initial tests is a flower-box project. I imported the design, detached individual components and rearranged them across two 300 x 300mm basswood sheets to make better use of the material. I tried the auto layout, but because I hadn’t regrouped the paths, the design scattered across the work area. Undoing the mistake didn’t work, so I had to reload the design.

Once I’d re-laid out the design over the two sheets, I hit the Make button, and then the main button of the machine the R1 started the process of engraving and cutting, and with decent speed that I seen with other CO2 engravers. The complete model took around 10 minutes to cut across those two sheets, and the result was close to perfect.

However, there was one issue. Once the pieces were cut free, the smaller parts dropped between the support slats, and a couple of scorch marks appeared where they fell into the laser's path. Moving the slats closer helps, but this is where a honeycomb grid should really be used.

After several impressive results in basswood ply, I then produced the same flower-box design in acrylic. This took considerably longer at around 29 minutes, but the finish was exceptional, one of the best results I've achieved with this particular cutting plan in acrylic. The use of this material is one of the reasons that you would want to go for a CO2 laser over a conventional diode laser.

I also pushed the R1 beyond thin sheet material, testing materials ranging from lightweight paper through to 16mm MDF; in the case of these materials I tended to opt for the manual control so that I could get the best possible cut, and I was pleased to see it was possible to save down the settings as presets.

In the engraving tests, I used leather, ceramic, coated metal, and glass. Across those materials, the CO2 source's added power and flexibility became apparent, especially compared with the smaller diode engravers I've used.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Through the test, the raw cutting power was impressive, and by slowing the engraver down and maxing out the power, I was able to cut through an 18mm sheet of ply. However, the positioning accuracy is what has really impressed me.

For small objects, the position shown in Bambu Suite and the finished engraving were exceptionally good. Once I'd grouped individual elements of a design correctly, the automatic positioning tools made batches of pre-cut objects far easier, although I was equally as impressed by the xTool and Creality machines that I’ve looked at recently in this respect.

Curved-surface engraving, however, was one up from what I have experienced before as it was easy to set up and use. Essentially, I can place something such as a bowl or piece of timber into the R1, select curved-surface machining, and manually check that there's enough clearance for the toolhead.

The machine then measures multiple points across the object to gauge the changing surface height and generates a height map. I could then position the artwork and run the job the same way I would on a flat sheet.

I tried this with curved wooden objects, including a log, and the resulting lines stayed clear and focused as the surface height changed. There is a bit of physical interaction involved. The lid needs to be raised and lowered as the R1 works through parts of the measurement process, and an automated lid would make the experience even slicker.

Bambu Lab R1: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Bambu Lab may be arriving relatively late to the dedicated desktop laser market, but the R1 doesn't feel like a first attempt. After three weeks of use, what stands out isn't just the 55W CO2 laser; it’s that Bambu Lab's formula has been applied, which means it looks great, is easy to use, and produces great cuts and engravings.

The automatic optical alignment seems to do its job and removes some of the more complex maintenance tasks that come with owning a CO2 laser. Then there's the TriSense system that makes positioning objects and designs easy, and the curved-surface measurement procedure just works exceptionally well.

I even felt that the material presets were spot on, enabling me to get excellent results without spending the first afternoon with the machine producing endless power-and-speed test grids. Something I’m all too familiar with.

The physical design is excellent and weight and size means it sits perfectly in the workshop with teh 600 x 300mm work area enabling enough rooom for most of the jobs that I would want to do on this style of machine.

Bambu Suite does, however, need more work. I'd like quicker access to camera capture, a more fluid transition between design and preparation, clearer terminology, and a few interface bugs ironed out. I'd also like more support slats in the actual machine, or preferably a honeycomb bed that was supplied with the machine and not an optional extra.

Also, on the interior, a little more headroom would have been nice, but then you can use a raiser, but that or the use of the conveyor changes the machine from a class 1 to a class 4.

The R1 has been designed to be part of the Bambu Lab ecosystem and is designed for makers who are already invested in Bambu. Putting laser engraving and 3D printing together at scale does provide a solid base for personal manufacturer and it is exciting.

For small businesses, workshops, model makers and serious crafters, this is a fast, accurate and unusually easy to use CO2 machine.

Should you buy the Bambu Lab R1

Value:

Premium price, but with serious production capability

4

Design:

Considering the size of the work area it's relatively compact and exceptionally solid

4.5

Features

Automation brought over from 3D printing makes complicated jobs simple.

5

Performance

Excellent cuts and detail with superb positioning and minimal scorching

5

Total

Exceptional CO2 cutter, software needs some workflow issue resolving.

4.5

Buy it if...

You already 3D print
Pairing the R1 with a Bambu 3D printer creates an exceptionally flexible workshop for combining printed components with wood and acrylic.

Accuracy really matters
Camera positioning, surface measurement and automatic alignment make placing detailed engravings onto pre-cut and curved objects remarkably straightforward and repeatable.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

Space is limited
The R1 is compact for its capacity, but at 33.5kg with extraction and filtration, it still requires a proper workshop setup.

You want simplicity
The hardware is exceptionally polished, but Bambu Suite's current workflow requires some familiarisation and could still benefit from further refinement.View Deal

For more crafting tech, I've tested and reviewed all the best 3D printers and the best laser engravers.

The R1 isn’t Bambu Lab's first venture into laser engraving; of course, we first saw the small-capacity engraver in the H2D, which enabled, with the cutter and 3D printer, a full range of manufacturing tools in one not-so-small machine. The R1 is something altogether more serious and much closer to machines such as the xTool P2 that I've previously tested.

It's also an important machine for Bambu Lab and shows them expanding further into the growing maker space. The R1 is the company's first dedicated product outside 3D printing and is based around a 55W CO2 laser rather than a diode; the H2D utilised diode lasers. Using CO2 rather than diode laser technology lets the machine work with a wider range of materials, most notably clear acrylic and glass, while also providing considerably more cutting power; most diodes currently top out at 40W, although several far more powerful heads exist.

However, as with Bambu Lab’s entrance into the 3D print market, the machine technology and market aren’t new, and plenty of other players already exist. xTool, LaserPecker, Glowforge and Creality have already demonstrated how far enclosed desktop laser cutters have progressed in recent years. Five years ago, many of the smaller laser engravers I looked at were open-frame machines that required assembly and considerably more caution, to the point where I will no longer cover them. These days, fully enclosed machines are really where the technology is at, and there are some great options at very reasonable prices.

While there are plenty of machines in the sector, this is Bambu Lab, and with their first laser, they also bring much of the knowledge of 3D printing with them, along with their own approach to automation.

The R1 handles focusing, material positioning and optical alignment, with cameras, lasers and encoders helping the machine understand where the material is and where the toolhead is moving. On paper, this looks great because it will speed up workflows; however, it was only during testing that I realised what a difference it can make.

I've been using the R1 for around three weeks, mostly cutting 3mm basswood ply and acrylic, but also testing MDF, leather, paper, ceramic, glass, coated metal, and plenty of irregular wooden objects. What I have found during that time is that the hardware is exceptionally polished, and while Bambu Suite is good, it still has some catching up to do to realise its and the machine's full potential.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Bambu Lab R1: Price & availability

The Bambu Lab R1 launches at $2,499 in the US direct from the company site and £2,249 from the UK site. Pre-orders start on September 22, 2026 and shipping scheduled to begin in October.

The short-focus lens is included. The Riser Base, Conveyor, Rotary attachment, medium- and long-focus lenses, Vision Encoder, E1 Pro Air Purifier and Auto Fire Extinguishing System are optional extras.

Bambu Lab R1: DesignSpecs

Laser technology: 55W CO2
Working area: 600 x 300mm
Working area with Conveyor: 600 x 3000mm
Maximum speed: 1,000mm/s
Maximum acceleration: 20,000mm/s²
Positioning accuracy: < 0.2 mm
Absolute motion accuracy: < 0.1 mm across 600mm with Vision Encoder
Dimensions: 940 x 560 x 200mm
Weight: 33.5kg
Maximum input power: 780W
Software: Bambu Suite
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi, USB
Laser safety: Class 1 in standard enclosed configuration
Short-focus spot: 0.11mm
Medium-focus spot: 0.17mm
Long-focus spot: 0.19mm
Maximum cutting capacity: 18mm black walnut with medium/long-focus lens; 20mm acrylic.
Standard lens: Short-focus
Supported cutting/engraving materials: Wood, acrylic including clear acrylic, leather, fabric, paper, EVA foam and shell
Engraving materials: Glass, ceramic and coated metal
Optional accessories: Riser Base, Conveyor, Rotary, medium/long-focus lenses, Vision Encoder, E1 Pro Air Purifier and Auto Fire Extinguishing System.

Unpacking the box, and having already checked the specifications before the machine arrived, I was surprised the packaging was smaller than expected. It still required two of us to manoeuvre the box into the workshop, but once unpacked and at 33.5 kg, I could lift and position it with little issue. It’s still heavy, but looking at the slight curve that’s left in the desk from the previous test, it's not quite as heavy as the previous 3D printer that took up the space.

The weight and, for that matter, the size are actually very manageable, and with a footprint of 940 x 560mm, the machine was able to sit on the standard section of the 60cm-deep workshop bench. While the main machine sits quite happily in that space, you’ll also need to consider venting and leave enough vertical clearance to open the lid.

Once in position, the R1's design is unmistakably Bambu Lab. The finish is superb; everything feels properly manufactured rather than assembled from off-the-shelf laser components, and I was pleased to see the machine arrived largely configured; I just had a few small setup procedures to follow before I could start.

As with all engravers, the first job was to attach the exhaust to the filter, and in my setup this was paired with the optional E1 Pro filtration system. You also need to fill the cooling reservoir with distilled or de-ionised water.

The instructions suggest adding antifreeze if you live in a colder climate. My workshop can drop below 5°C during winter, so I filled the system to the -10°C protection mark. Once I removed the transport restraints and checked the interior, the R1 was ready to power on.

The initial startup takes roughly 30 seconds before calibration begins. The automated self-check and initial calibration took around half an hour. Once that completes, you can then run the laser alignment procedure, and this is the first sign that this laser is something a little different.

Unlike the more manual approach of other CO2 lasers, here all you need to do to calibrate is to lift the small cover on the toolhead, then attach the supplied Laser Alignment Sensor, which clicks into place magnetically. Select the alignment function from the touchscreen, and the R1 handles the rest. The complete process took me approximately five minutes, including fitting and removing the sensor.

That's longer than Bambu's roughly one-minute claim for the alignment operation itself, but from my perspective there was virtually nothing to do. Then inside, there are a few removable slats that help to support the material that is placed within.

These are all easy to reposition, but again I would have liked more of them, although there are a few more than when I looked inside the LaserPecker LX2 in my recent review. The main issue is that small cut pieces can fall between the gaps, and for detailed work I still prefer a proper honeycomb bed, which I used for most of the review.

Around the machine, things are similarly clean. The exhaust and main power connection are at the rear, while Air Assist is integrated. Accessory connections sit on the side, alongside USB, and an easily accessible emergency stop is included. Unusually for a laser engraver, it has a small touchscreen, which is extremely useful. Most laser cutters force almost every operation back through the computer. Having direct access to machine functions makes the R1 much easier to use.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Bambu Lab R1: Features

A look through the specifications, and the first thing to note is that this is a 55W CO2 laser; at present, there are only a few CO2 laser engravers at this price aimed at the enthusiast and small-business sector, and the only real competition is the xTool P2.

Inside is a very decent 600 x 300mm working area, which, from my testing, is large enough for most projects; if you need to go larger, there is an optional conveyor. Based on my testing of the base unit alone, I found I could place two standard 300 x 300mm basswood sheets side by side, which was useful when cutting multi-part models, such as the flower box and an RC boat I’m partway through. If you need longer than 300mm, the Conveyor enables working lengths of up to 3000mm, but you are still limited to the 600mm width.

After reviewing all the information, Bambu Lab is keen to highlight the Auto Laser Alignment. This is because, in the past, this process has been very hands-on with other machines, as a CO2 laser relies on mirrors to direct the beam through the machine, and those mirrors need to remain aligned.

On most machines, these mirrors are pre-calibrated, but they do occasionally need recalibration, which can be time-consuming; here, however, that process is fully automated with motorised mirror actuators and an alignment sensor.

For design placement accuracy on materials and tight measurements, the machine uses a TriSense system. This combines the BirdsEye Camera, Toolhead Camera, Pinpoint Laser, distance-measurement laser, and XY encoders to locate material, measure its surface, and monitor movement.

During testing, I accidentally put this to the test when I made an error importing a cutting design and left the paths set as lines rather than cuts. I ran the job, removed the basswood from the machine and only then realised the mistake. Normally, that could easily mean starting again.

Instead, I put the sheet back into the R1, used the camera view to align the cutting paths with the lines already engraved into the material, changed the operation to Cut and reran it. The cuts followed the previous lines accurately, with no obvious signs of the mistake.

When it came to small objects, the positioning was equally impressive. I placed pre-cut objects such as placemats around the work area, positioned the artwork through Bambu Suite, and achieved results very close to what I had on screen.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Alongside the hardware is the Bambu Suite software, which offers plenty of functionality, and I found it to have good overall stability when working on macOS, but the workflow isn't yet as fluid as the hardware deserves.

Importing a DXF, for example, involves selecting Open Image, when Open File would make considerably more sense. Once you import a design, you can assign Cut, Line, and Fill operations. Then you move into Prepare, where you set up the machine and material.

This separation isn't always convenient. If you realise you've assigned the wrong operation later, changing it isn't as immediate as right-clicking the object in the earlier screen.

Capturing the work area also requires you to enter the preparation workflow. During testing, I occasionally found the workspace remained blank until I selected Measure and ran through the capture procedure again. On the Mac version, I also occasionally saw a ghost of the previously captured image underneath the current one. However, none of this stopped me from working.

After a couple of days, the workflow logic did make sense, and after three weeks I could move through jobs quickly, although I still didn’t feel that the workflow was as fluid as it could have been. Material profiles cover most common materials, while manual control gives you plenty of flexibility when experimenting with less conventional materials and objects.

Bambu Lab R1: Performance

I started the test with the setup process, and while this was straightforward, there was a little to-and-fro with attaching vents and making sure the filter vent was routed outside. I then had to fill the machine with distilled water and antifreeze before running through the calibration processes, which all took around an hour.

Starting the tests, I focused on using 3mm basswood ply; this is for a couple of reasons: it's a common material used by crafters, model makers, and many small businesses. Second, I’m familiar with how it reacts under lasers and the initial results I should expect. As I started the process, the Bambu Lab philosophy that I’ve seen with their 3D printers started to become obvious.

One of my standard initial tests is a flower-box project. I imported the design, detached individual components and rearranged them across two 300 x 300mm basswood sheets to make better use of the material. I tried the auto layout, but because I hadn’t regrouped the paths, the design scattered across the work area. Undoing the mistake didn’t work, so I had to reload the design.

Once I’d re-laid out the design over the two sheets, I hit the Make button, and then the main button of the machine the R1 started the process of engraving and cutting, and with decent speed that I seen with other CO2 engravers. The complete model took around 10 minutes to cut across those two sheets, and the result was close to perfect.

However, there was one issue. Once the pieces were cut free, the smaller parts dropped between the support slats, and a couple of scorch marks appeared where they fell into the laser's path. Moving the slats closer helps, but this is where a honeycomb grid should really be used.

After several impressive results in basswood ply, I then produced the same flower-box design in acrylic. This took considerably longer at around 29 minutes, but the finish was exceptional, one of the best results I've achieved with this particular cutting plan in acrylic. The use of this material is one of the reasons that you would want to go for a CO2 laser over a conventional diode laser.

I also pushed the R1 beyond thin sheet material, testing materials ranging from lightweight paper through to 16mm MDF; in the case of these materials I tended to opt for the manual control so that I could get the best possible cut, and I was pleased to see it was possible to save down the settings as presets.

In the engraving tests, I used leather, ceramic, coated metal, and glass. Across those materials, the CO2 source's added power and flexibility became apparent, especially compared with the smaller diode engravers I've used.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Through the test, the raw cutting power was impressive, and by slowing the engraver down and maxing out the power, I was able to cut through an 18mm sheet of ply. However, the positioning accuracy is what has really impressed me.

For small objects, the position shown in Bambu Suite and the finished engraving were exceptionally good. Once I'd grouped individual elements of a design correctly, the automatic positioning tools made batches of pre-cut objects far easier, although I was equally as impressed by the xTool and Creality machines that I’ve looked at recently in this respect.

Curved-surface engraving, however, was one up from what I have experienced before as it was easy to set up and use. Essentially, I can place something such as a bowl or piece of timber into the R1, select curved-surface machining, and manually check that there's enough clearance for the toolhead.

The machine then measures multiple points across the object to gauge the changing surface height and generates a height map. I could then position the artwork and run the job the same way I would on a flat sheet.

I tried this with curved wooden objects, including a log, and the resulting lines stayed clear and focused as the surface height changed. There is a bit of physical interaction involved. The lid needs to be raised and lowered as the R1 works through parts of the measurement process, and an automated lid would make the experience even slicker.

Bambu Lab R1: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Bambu Lab may be arriving relatively late to the dedicated desktop laser market, but the R1 doesn't feel like a first attempt. After three weeks of use, what stands out isn't just the 55W CO2 laser; it’s that Bambu Lab's formula has been applied, which means it looks great, is easy to use, and produces great cuts and engravings.

The automatic optical alignment seems to do its job and removes some of the more complex maintenance tasks that come with owning a CO2 laser. Then there's the TriSense system that makes positioning objects and designs easy, and the curved-surface measurement procedure just works exceptionally well.

I even felt that the material presets were spot on, enabling me to get excellent results without spending the first afternoon with the machine producing endless power-and-speed test grids. Something I’m all too familiar with.

The physical design is excellent and weight and size means it sits perfectly in the workshop with teh 600 x 300mm work area enabling enough rooom for most of the jobs that I would want to do on this style of machine.

Bambu Suite does, however, need more work. I'd like quicker access to camera capture, a more fluid transition between design and preparation, clearer terminology, and a few interface bugs ironed out. I'd also like more support slats in the actual machine, or preferably a honeycomb bed that was supplied with the machine and not an optional extra.

Also, on the interior, a little more headroom would have been nice, but then you can use a raiser, but that or the use of the conveyor changes the machine from a class 1 to a class 4.

The R1 has been designed to be part of the Bambu Lab ecosystem and is designed for makers who are already invested in Bambu. Putting laser engraving and 3D printing together at scale does provide a solid base for personal manufacturer and it is exciting.

For small businesses, workshops, model makers and serious crafters, this is a fast, accurate and unusually easy to use CO2 machine.

Should you buy the Bambu Lab R1

Value:

Premium price, but with serious production capability

4

Design:

Considering the size of the work area it's relatively compact and exceptionally solid

4.5

Features

Automation brought over from 3D printing makes complicated jobs simple.

5

Performance

Excellent cuts and detail with superb positioning and minimal scorching

5

Total

Exceptional CO2 cutter, software needs some workflow issue resolving.

4.5

Buy it if...

You already 3D print
Pairing the R1 with a Bambu 3D printer creates an exceptionally flexible workshop for combining printed components with wood and acrylic.

Accuracy really matters
Camera positioning, surface measurement and automatic alignment make placing detailed engravings onto pre-cut and curved objects remarkably straightforward and repeatable.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

Space is limited
The R1 is compact for its capacity, but at 33.5kg with extraction and filtration, it still requires a proper workshop setup.

You want simplicity
The hardware is exceptionally polished, but Bambu Suite's current workflow requires some familiarisation and could still benefit from further refinement.View Deal

For more crafting tech, I've tested and reviewed all the best 3D printers and the best laser engravers.

• Senior game director Joe Shely confirms Diablo's victory won't take place completely off-screen in Diablo 5
• He says, "You're going to get to learn more in the game about how these events took place"
• Narrative director Jennifer Hepler teases the bond the player has with Diablo and "how that affected his ability to come in and have this victory is something that unfolds over the course of the story"

Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo 5 players will get to see how Diablo conquered Sanctuary, despite how the game starts.

If you missed the major announcement at BlizzCon 2026, the next era of the long-running series is now in development and kicks off a new story that takes place after Sanctuary has already been conquered by Diablo.

"Diablo has conquered Sanctuary, a stepping stone to invading the Heavens. Now from the throne of Westmarch, he wields Sanctuary's people and souls as weapons in the Eternal Conflict," the description reads. "Diablo is no longer a distant threat waiting at the end of the journey. He is present from the moment Diablo V begins, shaping the story, the world, and your path through it."

Players take the role of the Heir of Westmarch, a fugitive with a mysterious connection to Diablo as they build a caravan of allies and travel across the scorched wastes.

TechRadar Gaming caught up with the development team after the game's announcement to ask about the decision to start the game after Diablo has already taken over Sanctuary.

It's probably a question many fans have had since watching the trailer, but according to senior game director Joe Shely, Diablo's victory won't take place completely off-screen.

"I think as we get the opportunity to share more about the game, we'll be able to sort of fill out how that works a lot more," Shely said. "One of the things about a game like Diablo, any RPG, is that you have this power progression from starting off small and becoming this powerful character. And so, in the opening of the game, you know you're on the run. Westmarch has burned. Diablo is sitting on the throne, and then as you travel through the world, you're going to get to learn more in the game about how these events took place, and it's not going to take place entirely off-screen."

Narrative director Jennifer Hepler also teased the campaign, saying, "There will be dramatization of how exactly Diablo came to power, but also there's going to be a lot of story behind his rise that is you finding out is a big part of the narrative of the game."

The developer teased that the story starts when the player finds out they can go into Diablo's terror realm and come out alive, "which nobody else can do," and finding out these answers will be a significant part of the story alongside how he came to power.

"Finding out why you can do that, what other powers you have, what this bond is between you and Diablo, and how that affected his ability to come in and have this victory is something that unfolds over the course of the story, and makes every victory that you achieve over him and his minions very, very personal," Hepler said.

Diablo 5 is in development and is slated to launch in Spring 2029.

• Adobe Premiere on Android has officially launched
• The free video editing app adds easy 4K video editing, AI, and more
• I checked out how the app runs, what you get, and if it really does offer 'effortless editing' for creators

Quick verdict

What works: Easy edits, unlimited 4K exports, clean interface, loads of templates, quick generative AI

What doesn't: Limited free AI tokens

Adobe Premiere for Android has arrived - finally, since Apple users got this app almost exactly a year ago. The mobile editing app is promising to deliver 4K video for content creators, alongside a slew of other tools including templates and AI generation (did you ever doubt it?).

Like most of Adobe's mobile apps, Premiere is free to download from the Google Play Store, although you'll need a subscription for extra AI generations and storage.

The upshot is, I've been keen to try out this Android app for a long time now, so here's what you can expect after I spent an hour dabbling with it on my Fairphone.

What's new?

This new Adobe Premiere app is specifically designed for Android phones, including foldables. According to Adobe, you'll need a device running Android 13 or later, with a minimum of 5GB RAM.

The app serves up a host of useful tools for content creators, including 4K video, simple-to-use templates for speeding up production, multi-track timeline editing, music and audio effects, and generative AI for image and video.

One of the high-points, as far as I'm concerned, is that it has no ads and exported videos are watermark-free.

A lot of 'free' mobile video editors could learn from this. There are no added intros and outros promoting Adobe either. So you can basically start creating video for social channels immediately. You can read the full write-up in Adobe's blog here. But is it any good? Here are my thoughts...

First impressions

(Image credit: Future)

I spent the last hour toying with Adobe Premiere to see whether it lives up to the promise of creating "stand out edits to share on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook."

Spoiler alert: It's good stuff. A responsive app that's worth checking out if you need a free video editor that does everything I'd expect it to do. Especially if you have a paid Adobe account for those extra AI generations.

Layout

Adobe Premiere on Android feels very clean, very sensibly laid out. That's a relief, because often I find Adobe's user interface to be unintuitive as a result of too many features. A phone screen is the last place you want to combat that.

Along the top of the screen are shortcuts for the main functions. This includes 'New from files' and 'Create for YouTube Shorts', as well as AI generations tools 'Image to video' and 'Text to video'. Once you start editing, your most recent projects can be found below this.

Under those key tools are a ridiculous number of templates for quickly spinning up videos - notably, there are ones designed specifically for YouTube, with "exclusive music and effects."

All in all, it's very simple to jump into the timeline and start creating.

Editing process

Editing video is incredibly straightforward. It's not laggy or clunky like I've seen with some mobile apps.

In fact, I was impressed how responsive it was overall, even with relatively larger video files. Helpfully, there are undo and re-do buttons sitting beneath the large preview window. An absolute godsend when editing on a phone.

Once you have a clip loaded on to the timeline, double-tapping the video brings up the handles for trimming. There's a Plus sign for adding (or generating) more clips. And you can select from a range of transitions with the tap of a button.

Running along the bottom of the screen are options to add text and audio, modify aspect ratio. I particularly liked this, because inside the frame options are logos, letting you know which ratio is suitable for which platforms.

AI generation

(Image credit: Future)

You do get access to a limited number of free tokens for AI image and video generation.

And when I say limited, I mean it. It's not very generous, and Firefly eats through them. I managed to squeeze out a single 4-second 720p clip before I needed to upgrade (or rather, sign into my main account).

Still, the generation itself works well, and it's relatively quick. Functionally, it's exactly what you'd get if you were using Adobe Firefly in your browser, or the Premiere desktop app.

I like that you can define the first and last frames of a video, generate in 720p and 1080p resolutions, change the duration, and opt to add audio. But to really make the most of this part of the app, a paid subscription is essential.

Video export

Super-simple, this one. When you're done editing, tap the ever-present Export button in the upper-right corner. You're then able to either export direct or tweak the settings.

Those settings include changing the resolution (720p, 1080p, 4K), the frame rate, between 24 and 60fps, and quality (low, medium, high).

Once you've got it set, Adobe Premiere offers an estimated file size, which is a nice touch. I exported a 17-second video at 4K in highest quality. The 106.5MB video took 34 seconds to complete. I then had the option to share via the usual channels.

My initial verdict

The Android spin on Adobe Premiere is actually very good - although I'll be keen to put it under the full review process. But it's very easy to use, and the 4K res video export without watermarks is excellent.

The real catch is the laughably small AI generation limit. Unless you're a paid subscriber, I'd swerve those and use it strictly as an editor for your own clips. On that score, it delivers everything I'd expect from a free video editor for your phone.

• Where to get it: You can grab Adobe Premiere on Android free from the Google Play Store here