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Opera was founded in 1995, which makes it one of the oldest browsers (even older than Chrome and Edge), which adds to its credibility. While its earlier versions were known to be slow and featureless, the recent updates have put it on par with the competitors.

In fact, in some areas, such as performance and security, Opera has surpassed other popular browsers with its consistent and remarkable service. If you’re planning to give Opera another try or have yet to experience it, read this guide till the end to find everything you need to know about whether it's the best browser for you.

Opera browser: Features

Opera is perhaps one of the only widely recognized browsers that provides a free VPN to all users. Sure, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge provide an option to use VPN, but they are either paid services or have a data cap. VPN-enabled browsing is undoubtedly far safer than any incognito mode or private browsing mode.

(Image credit: Opera)

It also comes with a built-in adblocker that gives you a seamless browsing experience without the distraction of pop-ups. Also, since pop-ups from unknown websites could be bait from hackers, keeping them blocked is a great way to protect your system against such digital attacks. Another notable benefit of having ads blocked is the browser will load much faster.

Opera also integrates with many popular social media sites such as Instagram, X, and Facebook Messenger. If you frequently use these platforms on the web, Opera’s instant access feature will definitely benefit you. Opera also integrates with WhatsApp and lets you chat through a small WhatsApp window on the sidebar as you browse online. It's the perfect way to work online while collaborating with your team.

One of Opera’s most unique features is the “Lucid Mode,” which instantly improves the quality of your videos and images with a click. Opera has also made managing web snapshots easier than ever. While traditionally, you had to go back to the folder where any snapshots you’ve taken are saved to edit them, Opera allows you to edit them as soon as you capture the screen.

If you want to watch videos as you work, Opera has the perfect solution for you — Video Pop-Up. Using this, you can make the video window float on the screen as you browse other things. The same goes for music and podcasts — you can play any audio in the background as you work. Unlike music on YouTube that disappears as soon as you close the tab, this feature will keep the music running at all times.

Opera provides you with an easy way to save and share web content that you frequently browse, all thanks to its “Pinboards” feature. Additionally, you can share this saved content visually with other users.

Talking of sharing content, the browser also has a file sharing service built-in that securely sends data between the connected devices via an encrypted channel.

Opera also has wonderful tab management features. For starters, you can easily identify tabs by adding emojis to them. If you have lots of open tabs, you can organize them in groups, and workspaces for easier access. You can even view the content of two tabs alongside each other by splitting the screen.

Opera browser: Privacy

Opera has a high standard for user privacy. For starters, it provides a free VPN to all its users so that none of you have to worry about your activities being tracked.

Secondly, it blocks all ads and pop-ups that could possibly lead you to websites that steal data.

Thirdly, you get a tracker blocker that's specially designed to keep away third-party tools that are infamous for stealing your data.

These features come together to not only keep your data safe but also reduce the load time, lighten the load on your CPU and RAM, and boost the overall performance of your device.

(Image credit: Opera)Opera browser: Ease Of use

Opera has upped its game when it comes to user experience. The browser’s onboarding process is similar to its peers and lets you quickly import bookmarks, and more.

The browser’s interface is neatly arranged and again looks similar to other popular browsers. There’s a search bar in the middle of the landing page along with a list of some popular websites that you can customize or disable altogether.

It also groups and makes available commonly accessed settings in an easily accessible Easy setup menu. From here you can customize the start page, alter the layout, switch themes, and more.

Accessing your social media apps via Opera is easy too. You’ll find all the necessary shortcuts on the left-side menu of the screen. The sidebar comes with its own setup settings, which help you quickly customize the content of the sidebar. You can also hide it altogether if it is a distraction, and further unclutter the interface.

Opera browser: Competitors

As with other tier 2 browsers, Opera faces tough competition from Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Chrome has the biggest market share in the browser industry, and commands over half of the web browser market share. However, more doesn't always mean better. Opera is slightly ahead of Chrome in terms of user security and performance efficiency.

For example, while Chrome offers a paid VPN service, Opera offers it for free. Chrome takes up too much space and slows down your system, whereas Opera is fast and responsive. Along with that, Chrome has faced several lawsuits and allegations for leaking user data, but Opera is widely renowned for its safe network.

The same goes for Edge. When compared for privacy and security, Opera is the clear winner. It not only has a wide range of security settings but many features, such as an intuitive ad-blocker, are set by default. This way, your browsing experience remains secure from day one.

Speaking of Firefox and Opera, the latter is a few brownie points above the former with faster loading, enhanced tracking protection, and a built-in tracker blocker.

Also, unlike its peers, Opera has a “Battery Saver” mode that can extend battery life. You can even set it up so that it kicks in automatically when you unplug your laptop.

Opera browser: Final verdict

Opera is a comprehensive browser with enough in it to win you over. It provides you with a secure browsing space like no other and offers a free VPN too, which further adds to your protection.

Despite not being one of the top contenders in the market, Opera’s catalog of features is praiseworthy. Starting from multiple browser themes and integrated social media platforms to AI integration and simpler task management, Opera does it all.

Last but not least, Opera takes much less space and CPU power than its more popular peers, meaning your system and other apps work smoother.

We've listed the best privacy tools and anonymous browsers.

Last year was the year of the best smart rings, and 2025 is shaping up to be another interesting one in the world of wearables – and we discuss that and lots more on the latest episode of the TechRadar podcast.

From the scramble to find the next 'it' form factor in the wearables space to the race for AI feature supremacy, there's plenty to talk about, and we're particularly interested in some of the new devices we've seen this year, like the Garmin Venu X1 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

We've also seen our first glimpse of Meta's latest smart glasses, which it produces in collaboration with Ray-Ban's sister-brand, Oakley. Alas, we're not exactly thrilled with the outcome – you'll have to catch the episode to find out why.

Plus, with more devices set to land later this year, including the Pixel Watch 4 and the Apple Watch Series 11 (and, hopefully, the Apple Watch Ultra 3), it's still all to play for in the contest to release the best smartwatch of 2025.

To hear our thoughts on all of the above (and a robot vacuum), join me, Hamish Hector and Matt Evans, as well as friend of the show and special guest, YouTuber and tech reviewer Mark Ellis.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, or if you prefer an audio-only podcast experience you can listen along on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts – and wherever you catch us, you'll also find all of our previous episodes, including our CES and gaming specials.

So, what are you waiting for? Tune in to find out why we think Garmin has a long way to go before winning over die-hard Apple or Samsung users, why Meta's Oakley collab fell flat in our estimations, and who has the lowest antioxidant level on a table of overworked tech journalists.

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Mozilla Firefox was introduced in 2004 and hit 100 million downloads in less than a year after launch. However, things began to go downhill for it after Google Chrome was launched and heavily promoted in lieu of Firefox.

Still the default web browser on virtually all Linux distros, Firefox, at one point, had over 350 million users. But its market share has now dropped significantly, pushing it to the fourth spot behind Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

Although Chrome might have gained immense popularity, the speed and security provided by Firefox remain unbeatable to date.

If you’re looking for a privacy-friendly browser that’s lightweight and kind on your system, read on till the end, as we believe Firefox might just be the best browser for you.

Mozilla Firefox: Features

Firefox has been proven to use less memory than Chrome, for a majority of users. When using multiple apps along with Firefox, they won't lag or freeze, which is a common problem with other slow browsers.

Firefox uses the bare minimum memory so that it works fine without slowing down the entire system. It also automatically blocks ad trackers and third-party cookies from collecting your personal data.

Like most other popular browsers, Firefox also has its own built-in password manager.

As you create a new account on a website, it’ll ask whether you want to save its credentials or not. If you do, the next time you log into that account, it’ll give you the option to autofill the password on your behalf.

Firefox offers much more security and privacy than any other browser. There’s the Private Browsing mode that deletes your history and cookies after every browsing session. Each time you close the tab, all links that could trace back to your searches will be erased automatically.

While many other browsers let you bookmark your favorite websites, Firefox goes a step ahead and lets you create separate folders. You can customize the names and categorize similar links into the same folder. This way, you’ll save a lot of space, plus it'll be much easier to look for the bookmarked page.

You can also pin tabs in Firefox to keep your favorite and often visited websites, like email, always open. The browser will also notify you when the content of a pinned tab is updated, for instance, when you get a new email.

Firefox's built-in language translator lets you translate the web pages in the results into 100 different international languages of your choice — a truly global browser that erases language barriers.

Firefox also has a built-in screenshot tool that gives you several options for capturing a web page. Using this feature you can save the entire page, including the sections that aren’t visible without scrolling.

It also includes the Pocket app by default. You can use it to save content as you browse the web and access it later, even when offline.

Like some of its peers, Firefox also has a PDF reader that’s good enough to eradicate the need for having a dedicated app, for most users.

Most web browsers can pop out videos into their own individual floating windows, thanks to a feature called Picture-in-Picture mode. However, Firefox’s implementation offers more functionality than many of its peers. You can turn it on by clicking the Picture-in-Picture button when you hover over a video.

Firefox is indeed a highly functional and powerful web browser, but there’s always room to improve, right? That’s why it lets you add extensions to the default browser to make your life easier.

Mozilla Firefox: Privacy

(Image credit: Firefox)

We cannot emphasize enough that Firefox is one of the most secure and privacy-friendly browsers out there.

Even on its FAQ page about privacy, you’ll see that it has addressed the issue and stated that Firefox neither sells your data nor buys it from other parties. It wants you to have a truly authentic and unbiased browsing experience.

On top of that, while other popular browsers such as Chrome are swimming in privacy violation lawsuits, Firefox has hardly ever landed in any such scandal.

If you’re still unsure about how safe it is, you can use its Private Browsing mode, which automatically wipes off every trace of your browsing session once you close the tabs.

Firefox also has a Forget functionality that you can use to wipe your recent browser activity. When used, the “Forget” button can help you quickly delete the last five minutes, two hours, or 24 hours of activity.

Security advocates will also appreciate the fact that Firefox automatically tries to upgrade any images, audio and video content from HTTP to HTTPS if they are embedded within an HTTPS page. If they do not support HTTPS, they will no longer load.

Firefox users on MacOS and Windows can also tweak Firefox to ask for a device sign in, such as your operating system password, fingerprint, face or voice login, every time you access and fill in stored passwords.

Mozilla Firefox: Ease of use

One of the most important features of a good browser is a simple user interface so that everyone, regardless of their technical expertise, can use it. Thankfully, Firefox flairs quite well in that department.

The design of the main page is a lot like Chrome. It has the search bar in the center of the page, and the tabs are lined up horizontally at the top, which makes the first few steps simpler.

Firefox also offers a high level of customization. You can, for instance, change the appearance, layout, and functionality of the browser with lots of themes and add-ons. While this is possible with other browsers as well, the ability is implemented more extensively in Firefox.

In the same vein, while not as large as Chrome's extension store, Firefox still has a wide variety of extensions available for added functionality.

New users will also appreciate Firefox’s strong default privacy features that’ll help them stay safe straight out of the box. Firefox is also hailed for being one of the first browsers to rope in accessibility features.

Mozilla Firefox: Competitors

Firefox might not be as popular as Chrome or Edge, but it certainly stands out with a few unique features under its belt.

For example, it's one of the few browsers that automatically blocks trackers from collecting your personal data. At a time when the market leader, Chrome, is accused of selling consumer data, Firefox is your best bet for safety.

Also, compared to Chrome, Firefox takes much less memory space, which in turn, helps it run faster. On top of that, using Firefox does not affect the speed or performance of any other apps you might be running simultaneously.

Firefox not only uses the Google Safe Browsing database but also automatically blocks pop-ups. You can also add more extensions to keep away ads and trackers. Since these things are known to hide malicious links, blocking them will also reduce your overall vulnerability.

On the downside though, unlike some of its peers like Opera and Edge, Firefox does not have a built-in VPN. Similarly, its AI assistant, Orbit, is also available as an extension, and isn’t part of the browser.

Mozilla Firefox: Final verdict

Firefox, one of the best web browsers in the industry for a long time, is certainly a great choice for any internet user. It comes with a diverse range of features, beats popular peers like Chrome and Safari in terms of privacy, is easy to use, and is also lightning-quick.

Plus, it doesn't ask for too much space either, so you don't have to think twice before installing it. What's more, Firefox also has multiple customization options — whether you want to stick to the default theme or experiment with a thousand other themes, the choice is yours.

Also check out our roundup of the best anonymous browsers.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the best phones in Australia, and in 2025 it’ll be a difficult handset to beat as our attention turns to the Google Pixel 10 Pro and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max coming later this year. It only improves upon the best cameraphone of 2024, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it continues a trend set by the S24. In 2025, software took over the stage almost entirely in San Jose at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event.

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra received a new rounded design that makes it look more like its standard S25 and S25 Plus counterparts. Samsung also decided to axe Bluetooth features from the S Pen with the S25 Ultra, which enabled users to take photos with the phone’s included stylus (super useful for group shots and selfies, though Samsung said it’s not a popular feature). Hardware undoubtedly changed and indeed the phone did receive its annual CPU/GPU performance buff – but in 2025, Samsung’s more interested in software.

With the launch of One UI 7, Samsung’s app icons, widgets, status bar and other core software features have gotten a refresh. They feel more efficient, space-aware and better in line with the customization that many users crave from their smartphones. When I first received this phone, my colleagues and I were saddened at how limited the ‘Good Lock’ OS-modifying tool had become with One UI 7, but after toying with the operating system, I’ve come to realize that I could finally get by without it.

Better yet, the introduction of the Now Bar and the all-new Now Brief are actually useful productivity features that look good on the display, and they’re my favorite features of the launch.

Whether or not Samsung’s useful Now Brief page, which generates an AI-assisted snapshot of the rest of your day (or next day), effectively encompasses what has become the popular perception of AI (incorporating the use of large-language models and the like) feels beside the point. This is a genuinely useful feature and to some extent, I’m disappointed that it has been tarnished by the ‘AI’ tag that justifiably puts a bad taste in people’s mouths.

To that end, we can ignore the elephant in the room no longer – the messy state of affairs that is AI on a Samsung phone. Such phones are torn between Galaxy AI tools (many of which function on-device) and Google Gemini, and there’s cause for concern in this discrepancy.

So let’s chat Samsung’s latest OS polish, its handy new tricks, and its spotty AI-fication.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)Hello, beautiful

I’ll quickly admit that Samsung’s approach to UI design up until now hasn’t been my favorite. Coming from iOS in 2022, the Google Pixel range won me over with the uniform aesthetic that makes it the closest thing to an iPhone on the Android side of the fence. Samsung’s phones, albeit partly due to their overstuffing of bloatware with a fresh install, tend to have a more tech-savvy aesthetic – showing more icons on a space, settings icons at all times across the settings bar (top of the display) and generally sharing more information than is necessary for a casual user.

That doesn't seem to be the case with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series and One UI 7. With this launch, subtle but sweeping changes have been made to the home screen, including app icon scale choice, dark icons in dark mode when ‘Color Palette’ is applied to apps, and expanded folders (which you can tap to open apps without opening said folder).

One of my big reservations about Samsung phones up until now has been the cluttered Status Bar, showing oh so many symbols that don’t need to be displayed at all times (for example, the 5G icon, NFC icon and Bluetooth icon, to name a few). These icons have now been relegated to the status bar only when accessing the quick settings and notifications menu (accessed by swiping down), while app notifications continue to persist on the left of the status bar (unless disabled).

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)How to customize the Galaxy S25’s lock screen and always-on display

Widgets and lock screen/notifications menu pop-ups have also received a glow-up, and are now rounded at the corners and displaying more information on the home screen. However, to activate these notification ‘cards’ on the lock screen, you’ll need to do so in your lock screen settings (switching over from icons to cards).

Beyond that, there are a few ways to customize the always-on display: You can change the wallpaper, clock style, font, color, and add widgets galore. Some widgets might require the Good Lock app for customization, but it's a simple download that will help you fully customize your phone.

Then there's the new Now bar; a multi-function widget that appears contextually at the bottom of the lock screen. I really love how it expands when tapped while playing music, displays timers and how it communicates Google Maps info. It’s great having it so low on the screen, so it’s more accessible one-handed. It feels more intuitive than Apple’s Dynamic Island, which it seems inspired by.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Moreover, Now Brief is a genuinely useful addition to the One UI suite of features. In the morning, at mid-day and at night, the phone will produce a ‘Now Brief’ rundown of upcoming events (including weather reports, travel information and calendar notifications) and a recap of your last several hours (including sleep data, missed calls and photos taken).

It’s a useful tool for putting all your contextually appropriate alerts in the one spot for your review, and it pains me that it’s not even more useful. I’d love for it to pull information from more apps – recommending me to continue listening to a podcast, select audiobook or keep watching a Disney+ series. The best it’ll do on these fronts is recommend you a Spotify playlist or push you in the direction of YouTube Shorts.

I’d also like it to be a little less… wrong? After waking up one morning, it recommended me a ‘liquid EDM’ playlist. I've been known to l listen to the odd EDM song here or there, but it seems like a wild genre to wake up to.

But it’s in Now Brief that we approach the cluttered state of Samsung’s AI suite.

Samsung’s AI confusion

And then there’s Google Gemini. On One UI 7 and the S25 range, Gemini has replaced the default Google Assistant (Bixby who?), and while I do like Gemini as a virtual assistant, its coexistence with these other AI tools is potentially confusing to a casual user.

That being said, Samsung has added cross-app actions to the S25 range with Google Gemini. You can ask Gemini to perform a complex series of commands, such as finding the information on several businesses online to be added to your Notes app, and it will be done so fluidly (as demonstrated by our friends at Tom’s Guide). The only third-party apps currently supported are Whatsapp and Spotify, but this awesome time-saving feature genuinely has the potential to help get stuff done quickly.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Erring on the critical side, I think we’re being a bit liberal with what we’re appropriately calling an ‘AI feature’. For example; Google Circle to Search continues to be one of my favorite features of Android phones in 2024. It’s supposedly underpinned by AI, but it’s unclear how AI actually factors into the function of this tool. After all, it’s basically a simple-to-access spin on Google Lens with support for on-screen circling.

Similarly with Now Brief, it’s not clear just how much of it benefits from so-called AI features. A day-to-come or day-passed snapshot is simply a splash screen displaying your upcoming events, weather alerts, a smattering of content recommendations and health figures from throughout the day.

It might seem bereft to criticize AI features on the merit of being ‘AI-powered’, but I have one major concern. Since the launch of the Galaxy S24 range, Samsung has noted that it may, eventually, start to charge for its AI features. At the time of writing, the official company tagline is:

“Fees may apply for AI features at the end of 2025. Certain Galaxy AI features require [a] Samsung and Google Account. [An] internet connection may be required to use some features. AI Features will be provided free of charge until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.”

My concern is that access to some of these genuinely useful features will be paywalled alongside the AI tools that many people won’t actually get any use from.

I have no problem paying a subscription for a genuinely useful product or service if I’m actually getting value from it. Between Circle to Search and Now Brief, I now have two AI features that I like.

And I don’t think I could sensibly pay for either.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)Samsung needs to steer carefully

While Samsung has spent a fair amount of time beautifying its operating system, its AI software is starting to become a different story altogether. No doubt people are using such features at their own discretion, but so far there hasn’t been a must-have AI tool built into One UI (or any phone OS for that matter).

On the bright side, One UI 7 brings with it a nice aesthetic refresh, and in a hardware lull year, it’s the best I could have wanted from Samsung.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 range is available now.

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Edge is Microsoft’s latest web browser, and it looks its best when you use it as it was intended to be used: by running Bing, which is Microsoft’s search engine.

Microsoft Edge is undoubtedly the second-biggest fish in the pond, as of now. But it offers virtually everything users need to put up a tough fight to its long-time competitor, Google Chrome.

After dragging its feet with Internet Explorer, Edge is Microsoft’s best answer to the competition. It has all the features and enhancements users expect from a modern web browser. Windows users swear by Edge’s speeds and performance improvements. With the introduction of AI-powered functionalities on Edge, the user experience is way more personalized than before.

For the ones looking for a reliable browser that comes with security, user data privacy, and an easy user interface, Edge is a great choice. If you want to know more about the browser and how it can make a difference to your online experience, read on!

Microsoft Edge: Features

Microsoft Edge offers one of the fastest browsing experiences in the industry, thanks to its performance features such as “Sleep Tabs”. Thanks to this feature, Edge will put the tabs that haven't been used in a while to sleep, opening up more space and power for your CPU and RAM so that they can take on the active tabs.

Edge is also one of the quickest browsers as far as launching is concerned. That’s because it uses a special feature called “Startup Boost.”

Whether you’re opening the browser from the main menu, taskbar, or a link, the Edge window will open up almost instantly, whereas Opera and Safari usually take a lot longer.

So if you’re in a hurry to look up something or open a link, Edge won't stand in your way. This feature is available on all current versions of Windows.

Edge is highly battery-efficient. Microsoft is constantly working to optimize energy usage so that Edge can function on minimal battery power.

Current tests show that Edge’s efficiency mode helps you save up to 25% of your battery life. Features like putting your tabs to sleep further contribute to it. Even for your active tabs, Edge uses a rather tiny portion of the battery to keep them running in the background.

With Edge’s Clarity Boost protocol, all the visuals on your screen look much clearer and life-like. For avid gamers or movie enthusiasts, this feature is a huge win. Currently, this feature is available on devices running Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Speaking of gaming, if you’re looking for a browser that’s masterfully crafted for gamers, Edge is a must-try. With its “Efficiency mode”, Edge keeps your PC running fast and smooth even when you’re playing a demanding game.

The Efficiency mode is turned on by default. But if you want to turn it off, go to “Settings,” click on “More,” select “System & Performance” and turn off the “Improve your PC gaming experience with efficiency mode” setting. However, if you’re keen on getting the best browser performance, we don't recommend turning it off. After all, it's not going to take up any extra power or space.

When comparing Microsoft Edge and Chrome for gaming performance, most benchmarks favor Edge primarily due to its integration with the Windows operating system. This is even true for machines with less powerful hardware since the browser tends to use less system resources than its peers.

(Image credit: Microsoft Edge)

Also of note are Edge’s AI features, primarily the “Copilot” functionality. When enabled by clicking its icon, you can interact with Copilot using natural language. You can ask it to summarize the content of a page, ask questions about the content of a web page, and more. Copilot can also help you compose social media posts and emails.

Microsoft Edge: Privacy

(Image credit: Microsoft Edge)

Microsoft Edge comes equipped with several privacy-enhancing features. For starters the browser ships with three Tracking Prevention mechanisms to block trackers from tracking your movement through the web.

By default, the browser uses the Balanced Mode where it blocks trackers from websites you haven’t yet visited. If you are truly paranoid about tracking, you can toggle the Strict Mode, which will block a majority of the trackers, but could potentially degrade the browsing experience on some websites.

Some users prefer to use the Strict Mode of tracking when using the browser’s InPrivate browsing mode. This is similar to the Incognito mode in other browsers, and prevents the browser from storing any browsing history, or cookies.

Additionally, you can also choose to clear all cookies and block all or certain websites from saving cookies during browsing sessions. Remember however that while this does enhance your privacy, it can also potentially prevent some webpages from displaying correctly.

The browser’s headline privacy protection feature is the “Defender Smartscreen”. It helps you stay away from malicious websites and can also block phishing and malware attacks.

Edge also includes 5 GB of free VPN data protection that renews every month. The protection obscures your location and IP address, and kicks in automatically when you connect to an open Wi-Fi network or visit a non-HTTPS secured website.

Talking of visiting insecure websites, you can use Edge’s “Enhanced Security Mode” that automatically applies stricter security settings on unfamiliar sites. The opt-in feature isn’t enabled by default, but will adapt to your browsing habits once you toggle it.

The browser also includes a Password Monitor that alerts you if any of your saved passwords have been exposed in a data breach anywhere.

Microsoft Edge: Ease of use

If you’re not a fan of complex browsing applications, you’ll certainly appreciate Edge’s simple interface. The biggest advantage here is that Edge comes pre-installed on most devices running Windows 10 and 11. This means that you won't have to go through the hassle of downloading and setting up a new browser.

Once you open the browser, you’ll have everything you’ll need at your fingertips. Granted, at first, it might be a little overwhelming because there are too many options, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

You can also ask Edge to display Vertical tabs. This is a space saving functionality that puts tabs on the left side of the screen instead of across the top.

You can also use the browser in the “Immersive Reader” mode that makes the text easier to read by removing all distracting elements from the webpage. There’s also the AI-powered “Read aloud” feature that helps you listen to the content on a webpage in multiple languages. You can control the pace of the speech, and even the voice accent.

There’s also the Collections feature using which you can collate webpages, images, text snippets, and more from different websites into a single location. This comes in handy when you’re researching on the web for a holiday, or planning an event.

Microsoft Edge: The competition

Edge and Google Chrome are the two most popular browsers, and although they share a lot of similarities, many people consider Edge to be easier to use.

This is primarily because of features like vertical tabs, Collections, Immersive Reader, and a whole gamut of AI-powered functionalities. Edge has also been designed to be familiar to Windows users with a similar design philosophy, giving it an advantage over its peers.

What’s more, Edge is also faster than Google Chrome. When it was initially launched, Microsoft claimed that it was 112% faster than Chrome. While we cannot confirm that exact number, tests run by Avast show that Edge is faster than Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and many other popular browsers.

It's also the default browser for Windows, unlike others like Opera or Mozilla Firefox, which have to be downloaded and installed separately.

That said, Opera does outperform Edge in some parameters, particularly VPN. While Edge's VPN has a limited monthly data allowance and automatically connects to the nearest location, Opera bundles a more flexible free VPN with no data cap. Another potential downside is that Edge doesn’t offer as vast a selection of extensions as Google Chrome.

However, in short, if we consider its ease of use, speed, features, and overall performance, Edge is by and large at-par, if not ahead, of most of its competitors.

Microsoft Edge: Final verdict

Considering all the reviews, facts, and results from our own evaluation, we find Microsoft Edge to be a good browser and certainly worth your time.

Thanks to its beginner-friendly yet uncompromising nature, it's the perfect browser for people who aren't-tech savvy. Another point to consider here is that it’s the default browser for Windows, so you won't have to put any effort into setting it up.

As the cherry on top, the Edge browser is battery plus internet usage efficient. For people who are constantly on their laptops/computers, a power and data-saving browser is a must-have. No matter how many tabs you have running at any given moment, Edge will always minimize power usage.

We've listed the best business VPN.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps director has revealed how he shot scenes that are supposed to be set in space – and what differentiates those sequences from other cosmic Marvel movies, including Guardians of the Galaxy.

In an interview with TechRadar, Matt Shakman admitted he didn't use a zero gravity (Zero-G) simulator to film sequences that involved The Fantastic Four heading into space via their Excelsior star ship. The group do so on a couple of occasions in the flick, with the most notable space-based set-piece seeing them confront Galactus in deep space after he threatens to destroy their world. You can read more about why he wants to in my review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

It's during this intense intergalactic sequence that the film's crew needed to achieve the feeling of weightlessness for the eponymous team.

Indeed, as they flee in their spaceship (the Excelsior) after unsuccessfully attempting to negotiate with Galactus, the quartet are forced to act on the fly as they try to evade capture. Subsequently, there's no time to strap themselves into their seats, hence the need to carry out their actions in Zero-G.

First Steps' cast and crew used as many practical effects and sets as they could throughout its production (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

So, how did Shakman and company replicate the absence of gravity for this sequence? And what is it about the approach they took that separates it from the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy?

"One of the things I really wanted to do is imagine the Fantastic Four as the Apollo 11 astronauts," Shakman said. "When they go into space, it's zero gravity. It's not like Guardians, where they're able to walk around their ship like Star Trek. I wanted it to feel as real as possible.

"But shooting zero gravity is difficult," the Marvel Phase 6 film's director added. "It involves a lot of wire work and it's hard on the actors' bodies. It's very difficult for them to be able to perform and do what they need to do, while also dealing with that sort of physical discomfort. So, while it was a wonderful thing to execute and bring to life in an authentic way, it was challenging."

That scale of that challenge is more remarkable when you consider how much work goes into shooting a sequence like this.

#TheFantasticFour: First Steps is Certified Fresh at 88% on the Tomatometer, with 83 reviews: https://t.co/g632UvfMQK pic.twitter.com/BWhJdzUFMnJuly 22, 2025

For starters, over 10,000 feet of wire and almost 30 wire rigs were required throughout the Excelsior's interior. The ship's cockpit and fuselage were physically built by First Steps' production team to further underline the crew's commitment to use practical sets and effects wherever possible.

Once the actors portraying Marvel's First Family were hoisted up in harnesses and attached to various ceiling tracks via the aforementioned wires, they were taught to push off from the set itself without swinging harshly. Doing so would expose the wires and make it more difficult to delete the cables during the post-production phase.

Lastly, puppeteers in gray suits helped to control the speed and movement of each actor, and allow them to hit their marks. Add in the fact that each star had to remember their lines an actually act during this sequence, and you really get a sense of how demanding it was for the entire cast and crew to successfully execute.

Thankfully, all of their hard work pays off in the final product. It'll be interesting to see if a similar set-up will be used in future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects, including Avengers: Doomsday, which is currently in production and might feature one or more space-set sequences. You can read more about the aforementioned film via my dedicated Avengers: Doomsday hub.

There's less than 24 hours to go (at the time of publication) until First Steps is out in theaters, so get your last-minute lowdown on it by reading my ultimate guide to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Read the section below, too, for more exclusive coverage on it.

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• The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast and character guide: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and who else you'll see in the Marvel movie
• Marvel director Matt Shakman explains why The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn't require any MCU homework: 'There are no Easter eggs or other heroes'
• Was Doctor Doom ever considered as The Fantastic Four: First Steps' main villain? The Marvel movie's director has his say

• IT decision-makers see upgrading as a chance to get the latest AI PCs
• Advanced security and boosted productivity are especially attractive
• 62% would now consider an AI PC over a regular PC

New research on Windows 11 and AI PC Readiness says the timing couldn't be more perfect – Windows 10 end of life has coincided with a surge of AI PCs available on the market, making now the perfect time to upgrade for two reasons.

The study from Dell found with 80% of UK businesses migrating or having already migrated to Windows 11, they're seeing it as a strategic opportunity to adopt AI-ready PCs rather than just a simple OS update.

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of IT decision-makers agree they've been presented with an opportunity to upgrade to more powerful AI PCs at the same time.

Windows 11 upgrade is causing many to consider AI PCs

Nearly half agreed AI PCs bring advanced security features (47%) and greater employee productivity (44%), with around two-thirds (64%) considering AI-capable hardware critical for future operations.

Those additional security features are much-needed, too, with a similar number (46%) citing security breaches as the main driver for refreshing PC fleets – more than the number of businesses refreshing due to the Windows 10 EOS (42%).

However, some factors continue to hold businesses back, and they're the same ones we see time and time again. Software compatibility (45%) was the most frequently cited concern, with many also concerned about hardware compatibility (34%) and operational disruption (32%).

That leaves 20% of the businesses surveyed not yet having started transitioning, even though the deadline is now less than four months away.

"Adding the context of the Windows 11 transition means the AI PC isn't just a new product to sell; it is a gateway to higher-value services like strategic deployment, security hardening and workflow integration," Dell UK Channel and Distribution Lead Ian Heath explained.

Looking ahead, it's clear that AI PCs are gaining in popularity. Three in five (62%) IT decision-makers would choose a Copilot+ PC over a regular one, based on the promises of longer battery life, better performance, local AI processing and integrated productivity tools.

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NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL: two-minute review

When it comes to square filter holders, they’re surely all the same, aren’t they? In terms of basic design, they are, but build quality, functionality and value are another matter. For me, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is one of the best professional 100mm filter holders available, with an impressive performance that belies its attractive price.

100mm filter holders are typically used with lenses as wide as 15mm full-frame (or 10mm for APS-C). For lenses wider than this, you’ll need to move up to a cumbersome and painfully expensive 150mm square filter system.

150mm filters are also so large that they simply look ridiculous, and I have chuckled watching other photographers on location with me wrestle with their window pane-sized filters. But I digress.

The advantage of the Nisi V7 kit, like many 100mm filter holders, is that you can use up to three square filters at once alongside a polarising filter. So, that’s ND graduated filters, ND filters, color correction filters and special effects filters. Are three slots overkill? Definitely not – I often require all three slots when shooting in tricky lighting conditions while controlling exposure times.

One thing that I love about the NiSi V7 kit is that you get four adaptor rings, which means you can use the holder with four filter thread sizes straight away. These include 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, plus the main ring which has an 82mm thread. This covers the vast majority of landscape photography lenses, plus you can also buy adaptor rings for other sizes separately if you need them. For example, I own a 62mm ring that allows me to use square filters with my macro lens.

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(Image credit: James Abbott)

The V7 filter holder isn’t really suitable for smaller lenses with smaller filter threads, say in the 39mm to 67mm range. For example, I own some small Fujifilm prime lenses, plus some Micro Four Thirds lenses, for which the NiSi M75 II with True Color NC CPL is a better fit. The downside with this smaller holder only is that it only has two filter slots alongside the rear-mounted polarizing filter, rather than three.

Build quality of the V7 kit is excellent and the overall design is reasonably compact. The holder is a CNC-machined single block of matte black coated aeronautical aluminum, with three plastic filter holder slots screwed onto the front. The polarizing filter screws into the main ring, locking in place at around a 10-degree turn, while the holder clips onto the main ring and can be locked in place to avoid detachment of the two parts.

The main ring is also an 82mm adaptor ring, and is attached to the smaller adaptor rings when a smaller thread than 82mm is required. Practically speaking, these are best attached to the lens before the holder is attached. The polarizer can be rotated using a couple of small dials on the rear of the main ring. You can also use any 100mm square filters with this holder.

The advantage of the rear positioning of the polarizing filter is that the filter holder doesn’t vignette with lenses as wide as 15mm. NiSi even says that the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4S doesn’t vignette at 14mm, although I haven't tried that lens with the holder. The rival LEE Filters LEE100 Polarizer mounts at the front, thereby creating a vignette with ultra wide-angle lenses – meaning Nisi has the advantage in this regard.

Unlike cheap polarizers, the supplied True Color NC CPL also produces clean images with no color casts at different rotations, which is exactly what you want.

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(Image credit: James Abbott)

In my experience, some filter holders can also be too tight, making it hard to slot filters in and out, to the point that this can risk accidental damage.

The V7, thankfully, provides just the right amount of resistance that filters are secure, but they’re easy enough to slot in and out of the holder when it’s attached to the front of your lenses.

The downside to a system like this, however, is that a set of filters and the holder take up space in your kit bag and can weigh more than other types of filters.

As magnetic and stackable filters are growing in popularity, you may be wondering what place there is for larger, heavier and more expensive square filters. The simple answer is ND grads. With square filters, you can get everything as right as possible in-camera, including the sky exposure.

With magnetic filters, the price you pay is no ND grads, so while you get a polariser, NDs and other types of filters depending on the kit, you have to shoot HDR to maintain sky detail. That naturally means you have to take more shots and spend more time at the computer editing. For me, square filters remain the optimal option for landscape photography.

NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL: key specs

Filter slots

Three

Adaptor rings

67, 72, 77, 82mm

Polarizing filter

True Color NC CPL

Case included

Yes

Lens cap

Yes

NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL price and availability

The NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL costs $259 / £199 / AU$389, which is an incredible price considering what’s included in the kit: a Filter Holder for three 100mm filters and a CPL, an 82mm main ring with polarizing adjustment, a True Color NC CPL (removable), three adapter rings (67/72/77), a soft case and a V7 Lens Cap.

To provide a point of reference, the LEE Filters LEE100 Polarizer filter alone costs as much as the NiSi V7 kit.

There are V7 kits available that also include several filters and offer excellent value for money compared to purchasing separately. The NiSi Starter Kit – V7 – 100mm Filters costs $499 / £345 / AU$849 and includes most of the above, a few additional accessories, a 3-stop medium GND and a 10-stop ND filter.

If you already own 100mm filters and would simply like a new filter holder, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is perfect for you. If you’re getting started with 100mm filters, I’d recommend the NiSi Starter Kit – V7 – 100mm Filters or one of the other kits that come with filters, because you will save money and have several filters to use from the get-go.

NiSi square filters themselves are expensive. They’re optically fantastic and made of high-quality optical glass, but expect to pay in the region of $245 / £95 /AU$279 per filter. The glass used is much better than traditional resin square filters in many ways, but they do cost more.

Should I buy the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL?

(Image credit: James Abbott)Buy it if...

You need a pro filter holder

This is a professional filter holder kit offering excellent performance and several extremely useful accessories.

You want incredible value

While not cheap, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is a high-quality professional filter holder at an affordable price, certainly versus LEE filters. For me, it's a bargain.

Don't buy it if...

You’d prefer lighter weight filters

The weight of square filters does add up once you factor in several glass filters, so you may find magnetic circular filters are better for you.

You don’t require ND Grads

The main reason to have square filters is to combine NDs and corrective filters with ND grads. So, if you don’t use ND grads, square filters aren’t for you.

How I tested the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL

• Long-term test
• Tested with a variety of lenses
• Used for landscape, cityscape and astrophotography

I've tested the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL over many years, with a range of different NiSi filters in different combinations, for subjects including landscape, cityscape and astrophotography.

As my go-to filter holder, I've also used it with a wide range of lenses, including zooms and primes, ranging between 16mm and 200mm on a full-frame camera.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 17 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve used many of the cameras and lenses that have been released in that time. As a working photographer, I aim to test cameras, lenses and accessories from a photographer’s point of view.

First reviewed July 2025

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The technology industry is always trying to tempt consumers into buying or upgrading to the latest offerings. However, where consumers once rushed to get their hands on the newest technology as soon as possible, the diminishing returns that come from upgrading most devices today makes people much more reluctant to part with their hard-earned cash.

With this in mind, technology companies have started looking for new ways to appeal to consumers and something that’s become more and more prevalent in recent years is the promotion of ‘rugged’ features on consumer grade devices, such as rugged phones and rugged laptops.

In particular, ingress protection (IP) ratings have become commonplace amongst the latest smart devices, with many now boasting ratings as high as IP68. But what exactly does this mean?

IP ratings explained

IP ratings are a useful standard for understanding how resistant a digital device is to the intrusion of dust and liquids. The rating is split into two numbers with the first denoting the level of resistance to dust and outside objects, measured on a scale from 0 to 6 (with 6 being the highest resistance). According to the IEC’s rating guide, 5 means “dust-protected” and 6 means “dust-tight.”

The second number in the IP rating represents the device’s water resistance and is measured on a scale of 0 to 9 (with 9 being the highest resistance). Devices rated 7 can be fully submerged in shallow water for a short period of time, while those with an 8 rating are certified to go a few meters deeper and remain unscathed, although the increase in depth is variable.

For example, a device rated as IP68 is sealed off from dust and can be submerged in water up to a depth of six meters for a short time (around 15-30 mins) without breaking.

If an IP rating uses an “X” in one of the two number slots, it means the device isn’t rated for water or dust protection accordingly.

IP rating alone does not make a device truly rugged

While something like an IP rating can help with consumer confidence in the event of the device accidentally falling in the sink or down the toilet, it’s important to realize that this alone doesn’t make a device ‘rugged’.

Modern rugged design is about optimizing device performance in challenging environments where consumer grade devices simply wouldn’t survive for any meaningful length of time. Consequently, an effective rugged device must excel in multiple categories, from damage resistance and excellent all-weather performance to comprehensive connectivity and manufacturer support. Below are some of the key considerations for anyone looking to purchase a truly rugged device.

1. Independent rugged certifications

All rugged devices are IP and MIL-STD certified but a lack of legislation around the certification process means many manufacturers self-certify their products, making it hard to know how rugged they really are. True rugged manufacturers always will have their devices independently certified, so be sure to look out for this when choosing a device.

When it comes to specific rugged standards to look for, MIL-STD 810H is considered the benchmark, meaning the product has passed rigorous US Military standard testing focused on environmental conditions. Extreme temperature, moisture, dust, shock and drop resistance are just a few of the 30 situations in which a device is tested before it can be MIL-STD 810H certified. Similarly, IP ratings remain key to the process, with most fully rugged devices now coming with IP67-IP68 as standard.

2. Excellent battery life

Long battery life is another key consideration for anyone that wants to use a rugged digital device for extended periods of time in the field, where there’s usually no access to charge facilities. As such, many rugged devices are designed to accommodate high-capacity batteries and allow users to hot swap batteries on the go without having to switch the device off first. This means many more hours of uninterrupted operation than would be possible from a device with a fixed battery capacity.

3. Multiple connectivity options

Rugged devices typically feature a diverse set of connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and 4G/5G. This enables users to collect/share information and communicate with colleagues in a wide range of environments, from busy city centers to remote outdoor regions and everything in between. When it comes to connectivity options, the more a device has, the better.

4. Comprehensive aftermarket support and OS longevity

Before buying a rugged device, customers need to make sure it comes with a level of aftermarket support that fits their needs. This includes things like service and repair, diagnostic assistance, and provision of any software drivers that might be required, both now and at a later date. Another key thing to look at is OS longevity, particularly if their app ecosystem is built around a specific version.

5. A top-tier warranty

True rugged manufacturers stand behind their products. If a rugged device doesn’t come with a top-tier warranty, it’s best to steer clear.

In the fast-paced technology industry, manufacturers are increasingly using ‘rugged features’ to promote and differentiate their latest consumer devices. But while the inclusion of something like an IP rating can be great for a little added peace of mind, that alone is not enough to turn a consumer-grade product into a truly rugged device.

Rugged manufacturers specialize in creating devices that can thrive in highly challenging environments and this is reflected in their exceptional build quality, overall specification and aftermarket support. Not everyone needs the all benefits that a true rugged devices offers, but for those that do, there’s no substitute for the real thing.

We list the best rugged hard drive and SSD.

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

Everyone’s talking about AI agents. From Manus to Gemma, they’re hailed as the next frontier in enterprise transformation. In fact, 25% of enterprises are forecast to deploy AI agents this year alone. But the rise of AI agents isn’t the real story—it’s a symptom of something far bigger.

AI is not just changing how we work. AI tools are disrupting entire industries. From healthcare to finance, retail to telecom, AI is reshaping not only the tools we use but the very foundations of how businesses operate, communicate, and compete.

Organizations that cautiously experiment will fall behind. It’s those who rebuild from the ground up that will lead in the future.

This article lays out the critical mindset shift separating those who browse AI from those who build with it and shows how organizations can move from pilots to real transformation by embedding intelligence into the heart of how they work.

Two distinct approaches to AI adoption

To understand this divide, let’s first explore the Browsers. These organizations tend to approach AI cautiously, treating it as a set of isolated tools or pilot projects. They might deploy a chatbot, automate a single workflow, or experiment with generative content creation. On the surface, this seems progressive as they’re engaging with the technology, running pilots, and holding conversations.

But these efforts often lack long-term impact.

Such initiatives rarely scale or become integrated into core business processes. They often reside in pockets owned by teams without clear accountability for ongoing adoption or improvement. The central question guiding these efforts tends to be: can AI solve this one problem?

While well-intentioned, this mindset limits AI’s potential.

Builders reimagine the entire organization

In contrast, Builders take a fundamentally different approach. For them, AI is not merely an add-on feature—it is the foundation of how the business operates. These organizations embed intelligence throughout every process, workflow, and decision point.

Rather than asking if AI can solve an isolated problem, Builders ask: how can AI be integral to everything we do?

This shift in mindset drives measurable outcomes, accelerating innovation, enhancing operational intelligence, and enabling scalable growth. Builders aren’t just improving the present; they are engineering the future.

A broader disruption is already underway

This distinction between Browsers and Builders grows more critical as AI’s impact deepens. Disruption is no longer confined to specific tasks or isolated sectors. Entire industries—from telecommunications and finance to logistics, sales, and creative fields—are being fundamentally transformed.

AI is remapping the fundamentals of language, logic, design, engineering, and decision-making science. No layer of the enterprise remains untouched, and no sector remains immune.

The stakes could not be higher. Organizations that linger in cautious experimentation risk being outpaced by those bold enough to rebuild their foundations with AI at the core.

Transformation begins with process, not technology

Yet one of the most common missteps businesses make is leading with tools rather than strategy. It’s tempting to jump straight into deploying AI solutions—whether chatbots, copilots, or large language models—without first understanding how work currently happens.

Meaningful transformation begins by gaining clarity on existing processes.

When organizations adopt a process-first, AI-second mindset, they can design solutions that truly amplify and complement the way work is done. Intelligence then becomes a force multiplier, not a disconnected experiment. Skip this critical step, and AI initiatives risk becoming isolated pilots that fail to realize their true potential.

From pilots to platforms, what sets builders apart

It’s common to hear leaders say they want to “lead with AI.” However, their strategies often reveal something different: a pattern of proof-of-concept projects that stall, responsibilities assigned without execution, and business cases that do not translate into action.

This pattern exemplifies the Browser trap: movement without momentum.

Builders, by contrast, go deeper. They tailor AI models to their unique data environments, invest in infrastructure built for scale, and weave AI into their organizational DNA—embedding it into products, systems, and services so it evolves with the business rather than running alongside it.

Talent as a critical enabler

None of this transformation is possible without people.

In recent conversations with enterprise leaders across the UK and Europe, talent consistently emerged as a major barrier, not due to a lack of belief in AI, but because of limited confidence in teams’ ability to build, implement, and manage AI solutions effectively.

The most successful Builders do more than train their teams. They rethink how their teams work by fostering internal fluency in AI principles, pairing internal champions with external experts, and transforming AI from a discrete innovation project into a cross-functional capability.

The choice facing every organization

Ultimately, the question for every leader is no longer whether AI is relevant—that is already settled. The real choice is whether you will build for disruption or wait to be disrupted.

This moment calls not for incremental gains but for fundamental re-architecture.

In a world where intelligence becomes the new infrastructure, organizations that remain Browsers, tentatively piloting without scaling, will quickly fall behind. The future belongs to the Builders who have the vision, discipline, and talent to engineer transformation at scale.

If you want to lead, start thinking like a Builder. Embed AI into your processes, invest in your people, and prepare to redefine your organization from the ground up. Because AI’s real disruption isn’t just about new tools; it’s about a new way of thinking, working, and winning.

An aggressive CEO isn’t exploring just four AI use cases a quarter—they’re aiming for over 1,000 AI-powered interventions in the next 365 days, each built, deployed, and monitored with intent. And AI budgets? They won’t be a sliver of IT spend. In the near term, expect them to rival 25% of your personnel costs, reflecting a shift in how businesses create, scale, and compete.

In the era of AI, leadership isn’t about adoption, it’s about ambition. The organizations that build boldly now will be the ones defining what’s next.

We list the best business intelligence platform.

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

• Palmer Luckey has asked: Would you buy a 'Made In America' laptop from his firm Anduril for 20% more than a MacBook?
• The results of that poll on X currently show almost two-thirds of respondents would
• How such a notebook might be realized at this cost level is, however, far from clear - and there are lots of question marks here

Would you buy a laptop that was fully made in America if it cost 20% more than an Apple notebook made in China?

Tom's Hardware reports that this is a question Palmer Luckey has posed on X (and elsewhere, such as the Reindustrialize Summit), complete with a poll to test the waters.

Would you buy a Made In America computer from Anduril for 20% more than Chinese-manufactured options from Apple?July 20, 2025

If you're scratching around in corners of your brain trying to remember what Luckey was famous for in the tech world, it was, of course, the creation of the Oculus Rift - though his company was eventually swallowed up by Facebook.

Since then, Luckey has been dabbling in a few things, including crypto and military tech, the latter of which is the mentioned Anduril Industries in the above post. So, given the poll, how many people on X would buy a 'Made In America computer from Anduril' if it was a fifth more pricey than a (presumably roughly equivalent spec) MacBook?

At the time of writing, with nearly 77,000 votes registered on X, almost two-thirds of respondents (63.5%) would purchase such an Anduril laptop.

The response was seemingly not quite as enthusiastic at the aforementioned Reindustrialize Summit, based on the clip below also posted on X (where Luckey is apparently speaking through a robot, yeah, don't ask).

Here's the moment where @PalmerLuckey interrupted @ashleevance at Reindustrialize to ask:"How many people in the audience would buy an American made computer if it was 20% more expensive?"The full clip is a great distillation of his thinking on the opportunity. https://t.co/aEvFdAxyBx pic.twitter.com/77qsvBJ52dJuly 20, 2025

However, commenters claim the rough count of raised hands was underestimated (as the audience was difficult to see due to the spotlights shining on the stage, which does make sense to be fair). According to the report, it was supposedly more than half in favor, which aligns more closely with Luckey's poll result.

(Image credit: NATNN / Shutterstock)Analysis: One laptop to rule US?

As Tom's Hardware points out, there's an important distinction here. Luckey talks about a laptop 'made' in the US, and that's very different from a notebook that's merely 'assembled' in America - with components like the key chips coming from elsewhere (like China).

Our sister site points to the definition of 'Made in USA' as put forward by the FTC, and that includes not just the assembly happening in a factory in the US, but that also "virtually all components of the product are made and sourced in the United States".

It may be different in the future, but at this point, it seems unlikely that Anduril could source entirely US-made components for the potential laptop. In fact, it seems highly improbable that this could be realized with only a 20% price hike over what Apple charges. (What with the MacBook maker's highly leveraged deals with the Asian supply chain, of course - not to mention any would-be rival would have to compete with the now impressively refined M-series silicon Apple has in its armory).

Hardware complications aside, the other bone of contention on X is what this hypothetical laptop would run by way of an operating system - Windows or Linux? Frankly, there are too many elements up in the air with this idea right now, and too many questions - although there is clearly some basic level of desire for such a product in the US.

Will that compel Luckey to reveal more about how he might achieve this feat? Or is this vague laptop concept just a bit of media hype? As mentioned, there are definitely more questions than answers, and it'll certainly be interesting to see whether anything more will be forthcoming in terms of the latter.

What Luckey has more recently done (on X) is to fire back at 'cynics' criticizing the idea as "some cross between impossible and nakedly political opportunism driven by current US tariffs", adding that: "Don't miss the point. This problem transcends administrations. Myself and others have said so for years."

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• Kobo recently pushed out a fully redesigned reading app for iPhones
• Several new features have been added, including a listening bar for audiobook control, vertical scrolling and guest mode
• Instapaper integration is coming soon to replace Pocket support on Kobo ereaders

I've been a massive Kobo fan since I first started using the Kobo Glo way back when. I've always preferred the Rakuten-owned company's UI over Kindle, although I will admit I wasn't particularly keen on its phone app – whether iOS or Android.

I might be inclined to give the reading app a try now, given that the iOS version has been fully redesigned – its first major overhaul since it was released back in 2010.

Several new features have been added, key among them being vertical scrolling. Behaving more like infinite scroll on web pages, you can now read an entire book by just scrolling down and the pages will just keep loading. This, in my opinion, is a more seamless reading method on a phone, although I think I might still prefer the tap-to-turn on an iPad (not that I use one, I read on the Kobo Elipsa 2E).

Screenshots of the old Kobo iOS app (Image credit: TechRadar)

Other features include a new Listening Bar for audiobooks that 'freezes' the controls in place for easy access, even if you veer away from the listening pane to browse the rest of the application.

A new guest mode will let you "browse books, save previews and discover your next read" according to the Japanese-Canadian ereader maker, without you needing to sign into your Kobo account. This, in fact, is an ingenious way to pull new customers into the Kobo ecosystem.

Kobo also says that you will no longer need to manually sync your notes, highlights and bookmarks – it should get done automatically. There's still one major missing feature in the app: there's no way to find your handwritten notes on the app.

And, finally, to replace Pocket integration – which was a fantastic read-it-later service for long-form web articles – the brand is partnering with Instapaper and support will be rolled out to all Kobo ereaders later this year. A confirmed date has not yet been announced.

(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)Take note, Kobo – we need a new Elipsa

As much as I appreciate the newly redesigned Kobo app for iPhones, I'm wondering if the ereader maker will release any new hardware this year.

Around the merry month of May is typically when Kobo has announced new ereaders, with the Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW arriving on schedule in 2024. This year, there's been radio silence, although it could be possible that the company is waiting for the Instapaper integration to be completed before releasing new devices.

That would be marvelous because it's time the Kobo Elipsa 2E got an overhaul. In fact, I wouldn't mind a new version of the Kobo Sage as well, but I'm partial to the larger epaper writing tablet.

Compared to newer models from the competition, like the several Boox options and the Kindle Scribe (2024), the Elipsa 2E – which launched in April 2023 – feels very dated now. They have better performance thanks to newer processors and the screens also feel fresher – sharper and better optimized.

I'd love to see the Elipsa adopt the E Ink Carta 1300 screen (the current 2E model uses the Carta 1200) that also features an ambient light sensor, much like the 2024 Kindle Scribe does, and has a 300ppi resolution (it's currently 227ppi). I'd also prefer a softer nib than the Kobo Stylus 2 currently uses as it can detract from a smooth writing experience, but that's a minor quibble.

While I wouldn't want to change very much in the UI, and I'm still a fan of Kobo's Advanced Notebooks, the only request I have is to allow subfolders within the library's Collections to organize ebooks better.

Pretty please, Kobo, I'm asking nicely so I can fall back in love with the Elipsa again.

You might also like...

• Find more epaper tablets in our pick of the best ereaders
• Take a look at the list of best Kindles instead if you want an Amazon ereader
• Need more epaper tablet options? Read my Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review and my reMarkable 2 review