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Honkai: Nexus Anima feels like a logical evolution of Hoyoverse's ambitions to create its own take on a range of beloved games or genres. If Genshin Impact was its open-world action RPG à la Breath of the Wild, and Honkai: Star Rail was its take on Final Fantasy-style turn-based RPGs, then Nexus Anima is its twist on the creature collector.

Although the game has had two closed betas already, my first chance to get hands-on with Honkai: Nexus Anima was at Gamescom 2026.

If much attention on Hoyoverse was on how it's pivoting away from its trademark anime aesthetic, following the reveal of its newest project, Nodusfall, at Gamescom Opening Night Live, then upcoming titles Honkai: Nexus Anima and cozy life sim Petit Planet are there to reassure you that the company isn't changing what it does wholesale.

Anime auto-battling

(Image credit: Hoyoverse)

At first glance, I even thought Honkai: Nexus Anima looked remarkably similar to Genshin Impact when my character loaded into a bright and colourful city location.

If you jump from a high point, you can also open a glider to get around similarly. The difference is that this city also has creatures standing or roaming around known as Anima, and if I want to, I could just approach one to engage in a battle, a somewhat more polite approach than catching Pokémon in long grass.

Yet the Nexus battles of this game also differ from Pokemon, as instead of turn-based battles, you assemble your team of Anima in a top-down arena in auto-battles like Team Fight Tactics. I must admit that the concept of auto-battlers isn't something I'm used to, because other than where you place your Anima on the board, all that seems to be left is to just start the battle and leave them to it.

It probably doesn't help that the build I was trying at Gamescom already gave me a huge roster of high-level Anima, which made the battles I engaged in a cakewalk in which I couldn't discern any kind of strategy.

(Image credit: Hoyoverse)

That said, you can also equip up to three cooldown-based ability cards belonging to allies, which you can just drag and drop into the arena, some to target one enemy causing you a problem, while some have a handy AoE to make the battle end even quicker.

Still, if you're to scrutinize the stats of each Anima beyond their familiar designs, they're categorized into more unusual and abstract classes known as Aspects, which differ from the elemental varieties of a typical RPG. For example, there are Anima that are associated with Love, Satiation, Pride, and Reality.

I couldn't tell you what any of that means, but I respect that Hoyoverse is in fact trying to do something a little different, while even their Anima designs, from a boxing poached egg to a sentient wind chime, aren't just copying Game Freak's homework.

Gotta gacha 'em all

(Image credit: Hoyoverse)

Obviously, a creature-collecting game with gacha elements is a cause for concern, especially for players compelled to spend money in order to get the five-star Anima.

While that wasn't something I could speak to in the Gamescom demo, my concern was more that it's possible to defeat an Anima and then bond with them so that they join you. To do this requires using certain resources to entice them, and you only have a handful of attempts to do this before they run away, prompting the dilemma of whether to spend money to obtain the item that guarantees a 100% bonding result.

Outside of the auto-battling, the demo also placed me just outside the town's Nexus hall for what seemed to be the beginning of a qualifier for an upcoming Nexus championship, which is, of course, very Pokémon as well. Before I could enter the qualifier, however, I also needed to obtain certain numbered badges belonging to other competitors that I had to find and fight.

Hoyoverse has a knack for populating its worlds with lots of characters and lore, and Honkai: Nexus Anima seems no different, given the characters whose abilities you'll be able to summon during your Nexus battles. It's also having a bit of fun with the narrative in sillier ways, and I don't just mean one character called Mr. No, who will only reply to you with 'No', which is ripe for exploitation.

What ended up catching my attention unexpectedly is the voiced second-person narration that occasionally occurs. While it's used for conveying your thoughts, when it's a posh-sounding omniscient male voice, it almost gives me the vibe of Baldur's Gate 3's narrator.

Whether that is the intent, I can't really say at this point, though, given its backstory of a cataclysmic event called The Sundering or being greeted by someone with a bread for a head at the beginning of its closed beta, a coherent story is probably not on the priority list.

Honkai: Nexus Anima is coming to PC, iOS, and Android. Pre-registrations are open now.

• Osprey’s UK charging network is among the first to offer Autocharge tech
• Feature automatically charges registered accounts
• Dynamic pricing can result in cheaper charging sessions, too

Osprey hopes to solve one of the most common EV charging headaches with new software that delivers automatic payment authentication and dynamic pricing to users of its rapidly expanding charging network.

Dubbed Osprey Go, the new app builds on existing Autocharge technology to authenticate vehicles automatically at the point of plug-in, which means drivers don’t have to fumble around with payment cards, nor do they have to download myriad apps in order to commence a charging session.

The company says its in-house-developed Osprey Iris platform underpins the app and takes care of everything from dynamic charging pricing to charge point management. It has been upgraded so it can now automatically identify compatible electric vehicles and proceed with a charging session without the pain points.

Once the customer has set up Osprey Go and entered their billing details, the software then requires two sessions started via the Osprey app to register the vehicle in its systems.

After that, Osprey Iris identifies the vehicle, starts the charging session and applies the best pricing, all without further input. Drivers simply plug in and walk away.

Osprey says it also applies the best charging rates for each customer based on the site and time of charging. Those plugging in during off-peak periods can get access to better rates at ultra-rapid charging sites.

“Osprey Go is a significant improvement to the EV customer experience,” Olly Cooper, CTO of Osprey, explains.

“We took Autocharge and we made it Osprey: building a simple set-up flow, testing it thoroughly, and offering the functionality to the widest range of drivers,” Cooper added.

Analysis: EV charging is still fragmented

(Image credit: Polestar)

Although Osprey's technology might sound a lot like Plug & Charge, an ISO 15118-based authentication standard that stores payment details within the car and automatically commences charging sessions, it actually operates independently of it, meaning a much wider number of EVs can take advantage of the convenience.

But despite more manufacturers taking advantage of Plug & Charge, or similar in-house-derived variants of this, the network remains relatively fragmented.

There are a huge number of Charge Point Operators (CPOs) that all offer a variety of payment methods, ranging from RFID cards linked to their own accounts to tap-to-pay credit card options that sometimes require a temporary pre-authorization on your bank account that can take days to refund.

Osprey’s solution is undeniably convenient, but it is still limited to its own network, while it admits that Plug & Charge capability is planned as a "future addition to the platform". Anyone used to an automated payment system will have to download Osprey's app for now.

While those with regular commutes that pass the same charging networks will find that a solution like Osprey’s or Plug & Charge is perfectly amenable, it’s still not all-encompassing.

Unfortunately, EV owners still have to occasionally resort to fumbling with credit cards or frantically downloading an obscure app in an attempt to top up their batteries when venturing off the beaten path.

With 120Hz refresh and a reasonable price, the Aura 3 Max and Pro could be very interesting.

The annual Labor Day sales are traditionally more associated with grills than with price cuts on the latest cameras, but between you and me, it's often a great time to consider upgrading. Specialist retailers like Adorama and B&H Photo usually have great discounts around federal holidays, and this week is no exception, with several of our favorite models on sale.

• Check out today's sales at Adorama and B&H Photo

I've been scanning through the retail events today, and I've found some great deals on models like the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, the Nikon Z5 II, and the Sony A7R V — all of which are highly rated here at TechRadar. In some cases, we're even seeing record-low prices (or at least the best prices since most of the big brands hiked their prices).

Just below, you can see a list of 16 deals that I've picked out as particularly good value buys. I've started with Canon models, but you'll also find Nikon and Sony, as well as some great prices on OM System's latest models.

Where applicable, I've made sure to point out the various record-low prices — or some context around the various price hikes that have hit cameras recently.

Today's best Labor Day camera deals

Our Canon EOS R5 Mark II review awarded this stunning flagship camera a full five stars out of five — and it's easy to see why. Alongside incredible autofocus (easily some of the best we've ever tested), a 45MP full-frame sensor, and a host of new computational features, the EOS R5 Mark II is easily one of the best cameras on the market right now. Is it overkill for most? Arguably. However, professional photographers will love how this camera makes the most demanding of tasks easy. Today's discount isn't a record low (that's $3,899), but it is the usual sales price for this particular model.

B&H Photo: was $4399 now $3,999View Deal

EOS R5 Mark I: was $3299 now $2799
If you're looking to save some cash, you could instead opt for the slightly older Mark I, which is still a stunningly effective pro-grade body. Right now, it's sitting at $2,599, which makes it significantly cheaper than the second iteration. Sure, you're missing out on the latest computational and cutting-edge autofocus features here, but this camera still has that great 45MP full-frame sensor, 8k video, and excellent in-body image stabilization. Today's discount isn't a record low, but it matches the usual sales price for this body.

B&H Photo: was $3299 now $2,799View Deal

Canon's low-cost full-frame RF-mount camera is now even cheaper with this decent price cut. The EOS R8 packs many of the same features as the pricier EOS R6 II, including the 24.2MP sensor and 4K 60p video recording. We explained the key EOS R8 and EOS R6 Mark II differences, so if you can do without in-body image stabilization and sturdier build quality, then you can make a decent saving by opting for the smaller and lighter EOS R8. Today's price is actually $100 cheaper than the previous record-low price, so this is a real highlight of today's discounts at the retailer.

B&H Photo: was $1649 now $1,349View Deal

The EOS R6 Mark II is one of the best mirrorless hybrid cameras of the past few years. Our Canon EOS R6 II review awarded this excellent model an impressive four and a half stars out of five, praising its autofocus, ISO handling, and burst shooting, so it's an easy recommendation — even if it isn't the latest model anymore. Annoyingly, this one has been $100 cheaper before, but today's discount is actually better than last Black Friday, impressively.

B&H Photo: was $2299 now $1,999View Deal

Even cheaper still is the EOS RP: Canon's entry-level full-frame camera and the cheapest new full-frame body you'll find anywhere. As you'd expect, the EOS RP is a pretty stripped-down affair. It doesn't feature the best video specs or image stabilization, for example. It does, however, feature a decent 26.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, a lightweight build, and good autofocus for a body in this price range. In terms of value, it's still a good choice, although it's still $50 away from the record-low price here.

B&H Photo: was $1149 now $799View Deal

Z5 II (body): was $1846.95 now $1596.95
The Nikon Z5 II was the recipient of hefty price hikes recently, but right now, you can pick it up for a brand-new record-low price at Adorama and B&H Photo. I loved this model when I reviewed it and it's a fantastic choice if you're looking for a fully-featured full-frame camera that doesn't break the bank. As an entry point to the excellent Z-mount ecosystem, the Z5 II offers fantastic image quality, decent video, and similar autofocus performance to the much pricier high-end Z models.

B&H Photo: was $1849 now $1,596View Deal

Z6III: was $2499 now $1996.95
TechRadar's top camera of 2025, the Nikon Z6 III, is available for a record-low price at several retailers right now. This fantastic mirrorless camera is the latest model from the brand and features an impressive 24.5MP full-frame partially stacked sensor with vastly improved autofocus and 6K video up to 60fps. Our Nikon Z6 III review awarded the camera a full five stars out of five, and it feels like excellent value now, thanks to a massive price cut at B&H Photo and other retailers.

B&H Photo: was $2699 now $2,096View Deal

Classic retro style, full-frame 24MP sensor, Nikon's best in-body image stabilisation, smart manual focus controls, and a dedicated black-and-white colour mode. The retro-style camera market is big business, and it attracts larger-than-life price tags. However, Nikon's Zf packs a technological punch alongside producing excellent image quality. The record low for this model is technically $1,799, but today's price reflects the various price hikes we've seen on this model in the last year or so.

B&H Photo: was $2196 now $2,046.95View Deal

We rate the Nikon Z8 as the best full-frame hybrid camera for pros. Of course, anyone with deep pockets will appreciate its superb 45.7MP stacked sensor, 8K video capabilities, and 20fps burst shooting. Our Nikon Z8 review awarded this excellent camera a full five stars out of five, praising its awesome feature set and smaller and lighter body versus the flagship Z9. The record-low for this model is technically $3,299, but again, tariffs have unfortunately shifted the price for this one up a notch in recent months. Today's price is actually one of the best we've seen for a while now.

B&H Photo: was $4299 now $3,396.95View Deal

The Z30 is Nikon's cheapest mirrorless camera, and a great choice if you're looking to get started with either photography or video. Primarily designed for beginner vloggers, the Z30 features excellent 4K video, a flip-out touchscreen, plus a dedicated mic port. A lack of a viewfinder means this isn't the best for dedicated photographers, but if you're coming from a phone, you may not mind that.

B&H Photo: was $806 now $606.95View Deal

The a7CR might just be the ultimate travel camera. With its 61MP sensor, excellent autofocus, and range-finger-esque design, it's a fantastic choice if you want a powerful camera with a compact form factor. Our Sony a7CR review almost awarded this one full marks, with our only major complaints being the price and the relatively small viewfinder, which you can forgive considering it's being squeezed onto such a small body.

B&H Photo: was $3,399 now $2,998View Deal

The Sony Alpha a7R V is our current top pick for professional stills photographers, although anyone with a penchant for resolution will marvel at its incredible 61MP sensor. While you'll need some high-level glass to truly harness the full resolving power of the A7R V, its handy eight-stop image stabilization and superb tracking autofocus make it a superbly usable camera for landscape, product, or studio work. Today's price at Adorama brings the body down to within $100 of its lowest ever price, which isn't bad considering the price hikes.

B&H Photo: was $3799 now $3,498View Deal

Alpha A7 IV: was $2699 now $1998
The A7 IV is no longer the flagship mid-range body from Sony, but we still absolutely rate it as a fantastic choice for both stills and video work. With an excellent 33MP full-frame sensor and game-changing auto-focus system, it's hard to believe you can get all that goodness for such a low price. Now is a great time to consider making the switch since this excellent flagship is currently sitting at its lowest-ever price.

B&H Photo: was $2699 now $1,998View Deal

The Sony Alpha 1's eye-wateringly high price tag will mean that it's not for everybody, but a decent price cut at Adorama today means it's a little easier on the pocket. And, if you have deep pockets, then the first Alpha 1 is still an amazing do-it-all camera. With incredible autofocus, 8K video, and a 50.1MP full-frame sensor, the Sony Alpha 1 can still keep up with the competition — even if it isn't right at the cutting edge for the brand anymore.

B&H Photo: was $6,199 now $5,698View Deal

OM-3 camera: was $1999 now $1699
We've been waiting for the stunning OM System OM-3 to get a decent price cut ever since it was released earlier this year, and here we are. While still pricey, you get the same speedy stacked 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor as the flagship OM System OM-1 Mark II, intelligent subject-tracking autofocus, and up to 50FPS continuous burst. There's also OM System's Log color profile for video and support for 4K capture at 60FPS. All that is wrapped up in a design that we think stands out as one of the most appealing on the market right now. Today's price cut is a new record low, so it's definitely worth checking out.

B&H Photo: was $1999 now $1,699View Deal

OM-1 Mark II: was $2399.99 now $1999.99
This is, so far, the lowest price yet for a camera we called 'mind-blowingly capable in our OM System OM-1 II review. Key features include a 20MP BSI Micro Four Thirds sensor with blazingly quick shooting speeds and a host of innovative built-in software features. While the OM-1 II has niche appeal, it's a superb option for adventure, wildlife, and landscape/travel photographers looking to cut a bulky kit bag down to size.

B&H Photo: was $2,399 now $1,999.99View Deal

The Sony Alpha A7 III is an older body now but there's a reason Sony has kept it in production as the 'entry-level' A7 option - it's still a stunning camera. Our Sony Alpha a7 III review awarded this model a full five stars when we originally tested it and it's an easy recommendation even in 2024. You miss out on some of the latest bells and whistles, but the A7 III still has great autofocus, uncropped 4K video, and a 24.2MP full-frame sensor that's more than capable. The body has been $1,299 before, however.

B&H Photo: was $1999 now $1,498View Deal

Panasonic's smallest full-frame camera, the Lumix S9, has a genuinely great record-low price right now. Featuring 6K 'open gate' video, Panasonic's excellent real-time LUTs, and impressive image stabilization, the S9 brings an extremely competitive set of video-focused features for the price. While photographers will be better served with other bodies, the S9 is a great choice for beginner videographers in particular. At this price, it's easily one of the cheapest full-frame cameras on the market.

B&H Photo: was $1497 now $1,197View Deal

Lumix S5 II: was $1997.99 now $1497.99
The Panasonic S5 II is easily one of our favorite hybrid flagships right now - especially because today's discount at Adorama makes it a competitive choice to the likes of the Nikon Z5 II. Highlight features for the S5 II include a new 24MP full-frame sensor with phase detection AF (a first for Panasonic), uncropped 6K / 30p video, and superb image stabilization. We were also impressed by the S5 II's rugged build quality and overall well-thought-out ergonomics, which is obviously handy when pairing up with some of the larger lenses available in the L-Mount ecosystem. Check out our Panasonic S5 II review for more details on this excellent camera.

B&H Photo: was $1997 now $1,497View Deal

Can AI-driven NAS tech be sentimental? UGreen CEO Samuel Zhang seems to think so.

Launching the company’s new smart-home technology suite, he started by recounting a personal story. It was a hot summer’s day, and his family gathered in the backyard for a barbecue. They cooked together, chatted, played, and just had a genuinely fantastic time. But weeks later, when Zhang went to check his photo gallery and relive that cherished day, he was left feeling disappointed. The family hadn't taken any photos.

This, he said, got him thinking about home cameras — devices that are typically used for security. But, Zhang said, “it [a home camera] should see more than just danger — it should also be able to witness the joys of everyday family life”. And this, he said, was one of the key points of inspiration for UGreen’s new suite of local smart-home AI technology.

I got the chance to hear about, and see, UGreen’s home hubs, cameras, digital photo frames and more at IFA 2026 in Berlin. Here’s what I learned — and how the technology could transform the smart home.

Keeping it local

(Image credit: UGreen)

At the heart of UGreen’s smart-home suite is the new HomeAgent. This is an ‘agentic AI local hub' that brings local storage, computing, and control all together in a single device. Through this hub, users can connect up a range of UGreen AIoT devices, such as cameras, smart speakers, and digital photo frames, plus some select third-party products.

A crucial part of the HomeAgent’s appeal is its reliance on local storage and computing. This means that any data that runs through your hub — be that photos, videos, voice inputs, or other files — is processed locally, rather than through a corporate cloud server.

At a time when trust in large corporations is strikingly low, and major data breaches seem all too common, this could be a massive selling point for security-savvy customers. Keeping data local also removes the need for costly Cloud subscriptions, making the initial investment feel that bit more worthwhile.

There are three HomeAgent models scheduled for release. The first is the UGreen HomeAgent HA100, which is the most basic option. It provides all of the core functions you’d need from the hub, but offers slightly less processing power, memory, and storage, among other things, than its siblings. The HA100 Pro is the step-up model, which offers heightened performance, with 205 TOPS (as opposed to the standard HA100’s 26 TOPS), a 10GbE LAN port (compared to the HA100’s 2.5GbE), and a more advanced CPU.

The final boss, if you will, of the HomeAgent trio is the MA100. This is powered by the NVIDIA Jetson Thor T5000, and offers far superior AI performance to the other two models, and considerably more memory and storage.

However, this is certainly reflected in the price, with the MA100 commanding a list price of $19,999, compared to the HA100 Pro, which costs $5,999 and the HA100 at $1,799. Early bird offers are available, which make the HomeAgents about half-price across the board. Shipping is set to commence in early 2027.

AIoT in action

(Image credit: UGreen)

So what does UGreen’s smart home AIoT tech look like in person? Well, pretty impressive.

I was able to check out a demo, and take a closer look at all of the HomeAgent products, and other devices you can connect up to it. UGreen had a HomeAgent connected to a smart speaker, and a camera, among other things.

I tried walking towards a door, and a UGreen smart security camera started blaring after I walked past a certain point, telling me that I was on private property. This data is processed locally through the HomeAgent, so if you ask your connected smart speaker about any unusual activity, it can tell you if anyone approached your door, whether that was a delivery worker, or something more nefarious.

The smart speaker UGreen showed off has a new AI assistant, named Uliya. You can use the smart speaker to do just about anything around your home. You can ask Uliya to remind you of where you were at a specific time, to close the curtains, to play music, or even to identify the location of your pet and cast a live video feed. The functionality you get will vary depending on how invested you are in UGreen’s AIoT ecosystem, but the capabilities are pretty broad.

You can also ask Uliya to give you a summary of captured events throughout the day, display memories on a UGreen smart photo frame in real time, or to show you highlights from a special day — circling back to Zhang’s desire to revive memories that had been lost in time. One function I really liked was the ability to create an Away mode, so that when you step out of the house, lights will turn off, curtains will close, and a robovac will get to work.

UGreen’s new HomeAgents appear to be incredibly capable, feature-rich, and innovative products, and their local handling of data could be game changing for some households. At the product launch, Zhang said “In the future, we hope every family can have a HomeAgent”; and it'll be interesting to see how families adopt such tech moving forward.

• G7 urges governments and organizations to begin transitioning to quantum‑resistant encryption
• Warning highlights risk from future quantum computers able to break current standards like AES
• Guidance: inventory cryptographic assets, prioritize critical systems, and adopt phased PQC strategies

The G7, a collection of some of the world’s most powerful economies, is urging organizations to adopt quantum-resistant encryption as soon as possible and minimize the risk of losing sensitive data to technologically advanced threat actors.

Virtually every industry in the world today relies on encryption (the process of converting readable data into scrambled, unreadable data so that only someone with the correct key can decode and access it) to protect sensitive information. Banks, telecommunications providers, defense organizations, and practically everyone else are using some form of encryption - most probably AES (Advanced Encryption Standard).

Decrypting the protected data without the encryption key is considered almost impossible, since the computational effort necessary to pull it off would simply be too large. However, since quantum computers work on a fundamentally different principle, it is believed that once they are mature enough, they will be able to “crack” today’s encryption standards.

G7's advice

Now, the G7 has urged government and organizations to remain ahead of the curve by deploying “quantum-resistant encryption”:

“To protect themselves from the threat brought by CRQCs (cryptographically relevant quantum computers), organizations should begin planning their PQC transition now and should aim to complete their transitions within any the timelines set out by their national cybersecurity authorities,” the warning reads.

“In addition to quantum-related risks, organizations that delay their PQC transition may lose competitive advantage or may be excluded from contracting opportunities, including public procurement.”

The G7 advises governments and organizations to take a number of steps, including identifying critical systems and prioritizing them. They should adopt a phased and risk-based strategy, start their transition early, and inventory their cryptographic assets. They should also map their dependencies and develop a transition plan.

“To limit transition-related costs, they should opt to purchase products that integrate PQC and replace their systems with quantum-safe ones as part of their standard renewal schedule. As such, starting the transition early could result in lower migration costs overall. Planning and conducting their PQC transition properly would enable organizations to prevent insecure implementations and avoid increased exposure to conventional cyber threats.”

The $300 WH-1000XM4C will be released alongside Sony’s new midrange CH730N and entry-level CH530 headphones.

Replaceable lenses, new image sensors and 8K60 video. The hardware of the DJI Osmo 360 II is not the problem.

The LuxVision from AWOL has a gorgeous design, impressive specs and an eyebrow-raising refresh rate.

With a decade of proxy service catering to individuals and small businesses, Storm Proxies has established itself as a budget-friendly proxy provider for those who want straightforward performance without paying per gigabyte. Its product catalog covers three primary proxy types: residential rotating proxies backed by a pool of 20M+ IPs, dedicated rotating proxies drawing from 700,000+ shared IPs, and private dedicated proxies offering 1 Gbps speeds across US locations.

Storm Proxies sets itself apart with 100% unlimited bandwidth across every single plan, pricing its plans differently than the majority of its peers. As expected, a focus on low-cost simplicity comes with a few trade-offs (which we’ll get to), but it doesn’t change the fact that Storm Proxies is a no-nonsense and cost-effective entry point for heavy scraping and other data needs.

Plans and pricing

Storm Proxies provides access to three IP categories: residential rotating proxies, dedicated rotating proxies, and private dedicated proxies. Each comes with its own distinct thread- or port-based pricing options, and most notably, unlimited bandwidth across every tier.

The company charges a monthly fee for private dedicated IPs according to the number of proxies, hosted on a 1 Gbps network across three US locations.

For $10/month, you can get 5 private IPs ($2 per proxy) with unlimited bandwidth and 100 concurrent threads. At $20/month, you can get 10 IPs; $40/month gets you 20 IPs, $60/month provides access to 30 IPs, $90/month is guaranteed 50 IPs , $160/month means 100 IPs, $320/month is 200 IPs, and for $640/month, you can get 400 data center proxies ($1.40 per proxy).

In other words, the higher the number of IPs, the lower the cost per IP.

Where residential rotating proxies are concerned, you pay according to the number of ports ('proxy gateway' IPs) that change every five minutes, drawing from a pool of over 20 million IPs. Access to one residential IP port costs $19/month, 5 ports are charged $50/month, 10 ports are $90/month, 20 ports are $160/month, 50 ports are $300/month, and 100 ports are available for $550/month (with each port capped at a limit of 50 simultaneous threads).

For reverse rotating backconnect proxies, which draw from a pool of 700,000+ shared IPs, you pay according to the number of 'threads' or simultaneous connections from one device.

Pricing starts at a low $14/month for a 10-thread test package, while standard plans start at $39/month for up to 40 simultaneous connections. To get 80 connections, you'll pay $59/month; $97/month will get you 150 connections, $147/month delivers 200 threads, and $294/month gets you 400 threads. Depending on the backconnect gateway you choose, IPs rotate on every HTTP request or every three or 15 minutes.

All packages include optional discounts for bi-annual billing (such as 1 month free on 6-month plans) and a 24-hour money-back guarantee on entry-level plans.

Features

Storm Proxies focuses on proxy IPs and lacks complementary features you’ll find on other proxy providers, such as web scraping APIs. However, it performs its core function well.

Residential rotating proxies

Residential proxies are real IP addresses sourced from physical devices. The device owners agree to add their IP address to Storm Proxies’ network in exchange for a benefit, e.g., VPN usage. The vendor then pools these IPs and offers them to its users with automated rotation every five minutes per gateway port.

Rotating means your IP address changes frequently to a new one randomly selected from the pool without needing manual IP replacements or complex API scripting. Constant rotation makes it harder for target servers to detect and block your automation tools. Storm Proxies’ residential rotating proxy pool boasts over 20 million IPs.

So what are residential proxies used for? Web scraping is a major use case, like tracking retail prices or monitoring competitor listings across sites that deploy strict anti-bot checks.

When you use a residential proxy to visit a website, the website thinks the traffic comes from a typical device. With IP rotation, the website thinks the traffic comes from different devices visiting the site as usual. Some ticket websites block traffic from entire countries, usually those they aren’t serving. But you can simply bypass this geo-restriction by choosing a US or EU proxy.

Storm Proxies' residential proxies have unlimited bandwidth, so you don't need to worry about the volume of data being scraped. It uses encryption to hide your actual IP address from websites. During our test, Storm Proxies’ IPs offered fast speeds and performance, with little slowdown compared to accessing sites normally. The drawback is this platform’s limited proxy pool, with servers concentrated in the US and EU and negligible in other regions.

Dedicated rotating proxies

Somewhat confusing since Storm Proxies' official terminology also includes the term ‘backconnect rotating proxies’, these are a type of proxy server that dynamically routes traffic through a pool of rotating IPs. Storm Proxies lets you choose proxies that change every three minutes or 15 minutes. A three-minute proxy is suitable for regular browsing or account creation, while 15-minute proxies are suitable for longer browsing sessions. You can also get a fresh IP address with every new HTTP request, which further improves your anonymity and maximizes data extraction speeds.

The provider gives you one or several "proxy gateway" IPs that you'll enter into your proxy management software. With this connection set up, you'll receive a new proxy IP on every HTTP request or at the previously mentioned intervals. The good news is that there’s no need to manually change IPs in your proxy management software, since everything works out of the box on Storm Proxies' side. Additionally, you can route your traffic through four general geographic pools: USA, EU, combined USA+EU, or worldwide.

The maximum number of backconnect proxy connections you can open depends on your proxy plan. Storm Proxies offers different plans ranging from 10 simultaneous threads (a $14/month entry package) up to 400 simultaneous threads for high-volume tasks. Depending on your plan tier, you can register between 1 and 5 authorized access IPs (allowing you to run connections simultaneously across multiple machines). Users get unlimited bandwidth, so there’s no need to worry about your data scraping volumes or unexpected overage fees.

Storm Proxies’ backconnect proxies were reliable during our test. We liked that the pools rotated automatically while we surfed the web seamlessly. We chose the option for a new IP address with every request, enabling us to bypass geo-restrictions more effectively, although we encountered a few request failures. The main drawback remains Storm Proxies’ limited 700,000-IP pool (though IPs are replaced every 7 days), unlike many competitors whose access is measured in tens of millions of global IPs.

Private dedicated proxies

Unlike residential and backconnect proxies, which rotate on set intervals or on every request, private dedicated datacenter IPs are static IP addresses tied to physical servers. You'll get fixed IPs to keep for your entire billing cycle, but you can request up to two IP replacements per month in case you haven't gotten more than 20% of your assigned proxy pool banned.

Datacenter IPs deliver rapid speed and performance. In this case, a physical server with a stable 1 Gbps connection sits as an intermediary between you and the good ole internet. Such a setup provides far higher stability and faster throughput than relying on an end user’s PC or mobile phone (residential IP), which might have an unstable connection.

Among the more noteworthy things about private dedicated datacenter IPs here is that Storm Proxies owns 100% of its dedicated server infrastructure, providing users with exclusive and non-shared access. All dedicated plans include unlimited bandwidth and support up to 100 concurrent threads, and offer both IP allowlist and username/password authentication options in the member dashboard.

If you’re scraping massive data volumes, datacenter IPs are the best choice because of their better reliability and speed. The drawback is their limited reach, with Storm Proxies supplying datacenter IPs only in the US (Cheyenne, Los Angeles, and New York City). If you need a datacenter IP in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and other continents, Storm Proxies can’t fulfill this need.

Storm Proxies also provides purpose-built dedicated proxy packages tailored for strict target platforms, such as specialized Ticket Sites proxies and Social Sites proxies.

This would be a good place to mention what Storm Proxies lacks compared to its more robust and enterprise-oriented competitors. For starters, there is no web scraping or SERP API. Web scraping is the most common use case for proxy servers, and web scraping APIs let you automate massive data scraping tasks. You’ll choose the website you want to scrape from and select your data type, and the API fetches the data.

We don’t like that Storm Proxies doesn’t offer bandwidth-based or pay-as-you-go pricing plans, which can be more economical for small or low-volume users. If you need just a few GB of proxy bandwidth for light tasks, it’ll be more cost-effective to pay per gigabyte rather than subscribe to a monthly plan with set port or thread limits. Furthermore, rotating pools support HTTP and HTTPS protocols exclusively, with no SOCKS5 support. We also don’t like this platform’s limited geographical reach, as it lacks city- or state-level targeting entirely.

That said, if you’re looking for unlimited bandwidth proxies and already run custom scripts, Storm Proxies is an affordable and good choice.

Ease of use

Storm Proxies offers a simple dashboard that we found easy to use. Setting up your proxies is as simple as it gets, helped by its limited features and straightforward design. Account activation is completely automated, giving you instant access to your proxies immediately after payment.

(Image credit: Storm Proxies)

The user interface in the member area neatly organizes options by active subscription package. From this menu, you can renew your plan, deploy new proxies, change credentials, and whitelist IPs (supporting 1 to 5 authorized access IPs depending on your plan tier, or dynamic DNS tracking via No-IP for non-static home connections). Just keep in mind that private dedicated proxies support both IP allowlisting and username/password credentials, whereas the other two types operate exclusively on IP authorization.

(Image credit: Storm Proxies)

However, we noticed a user interface-related drawback: the lack of usage reports and traffic analytics. Most proxies we've tested provide extensive usage reports, which let users know how much bandwidth they've consumed over time or track request success rates. But Storm Proxies doesn't have this feature; a disadvantage for developers who want deeper connection diagnostics. On the bright side, Storm Proxies provides 100% unlimited bandwidth on all subscriptions, so you don't need to monitor your data consumption rigorously.

Customer support

You can contact the Storm Proxies customer support team 24/7 via email or through the web contact form in the member area. It doesn’t offer telephone support or real-time live chat, a noticeable drawback compared to competitors offering instant chat widgets. Nonetheless, the company aims to respond to emails promptly, typically within a few hours.

Storm Proxies also maintains a dedicated Help Scout Knowledge Base with answers to common questions about using its service.

A word about Storm Proxies' strict refund policy. The company offers a 24-hour money-back guarantee, but it applies exclusively to the single smallest package within each proxy category for first-time buyers. Higher-tier plans and repeat purchases carry zero refund eligibility, which makes it smart to test the smallest entry plan before committing to a larger order.

(Image credit: Storm Proxies)The competition

Storm Proxies sits firmly in the basic, budget-friendly niche compared to the likes of Bright Data, Oxylabs, and IPRoyal.

Bright Data is a stellar proxy provider that offers residential, datacenter, ISP, and mobile proxies from its gargantuan network of 400 million+ global IPs. It also offers sophisticated web scraping APIs, so it lets users kill two birds with one stone. Overall, we consider Bright Data a better proxy service than Storm Proxies, albeit a more expensive one.

Oxylabs has a massive pool of 177 million proxies and provides residential, datacenter, ISP, and mobile proxies, plus web scraping APIs and pre-built datasets. Oxylabs is a more sophisticated proxy provider, but unlike Storm Proxies and its unlimited bandwidth, residential IPs are bandwidth-limited.

IPRoyal is a strong alternative for users who need geographical flexibility and modern features. The provider offers a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model with bandwidth that never expires, and access to over 68 million residential IPs spanning 195+ locations. It also fully supports the SOCKS5 protocol, which makes it a better choice for users needing city-level targeting or non-HTTP traffic.

Final verdict

Presenting itself as a budget-conscious option for individuals and small businesses who need straightforward proxy access without paying steep per-gigabyte bandwidth fees, Storm Proxies is not designed for complex, enterprise-level scraping. It lacks granular state- or city-level targeting, offers no SOCKS5 support for rotating pools, provides no web scraping APIs, and restricts its server footprint primarily to broad US and EU regions.

Still, if you need simple setup and unlimited traffic for US/EU targets as opposed to a solution for massive data scraping tasks, Storm Proxies delivers excellent value for money.

We've also highlighted the best proxy and best VPN

• OpenAI hid an incident where a model hijacked a wiki page to use as an AI agent communication board
• The incident was hidden while the company dealt with the fallout of the Hugging Face attack
• The company is now working on a framework for disclosing incidents of 'misalignment'

OpenAI recently disclosed the details of how one of its AI models escaped a sandboxed environment and attacked Hugging Face during an evaluation - and as part of the incident, the models created a messaging board to communicate with each other and influence each other’s reasoning.

OpenAI has now disclosed that shortly after this incident, agents undergoing testing again escaped their ‘secured’ environment and hijacked an obscure German wiki to use as a messaging board. Per Reuters, OpenAI leadership kept the incident hidden while they dealt with the fallout from the Hugging Face incident.

Now that OpenAI has acknowledged its role in the incident, the company has said it is “past time” to put together an incident disclosure pipeline when its models escape testing and slip into third-party networks.

Who is at fault when models do what they’re designed to do?

Before the two incidents, OpenAI said it, “treated misalignment largely as a research question, which gets communicated in research publications”. But now that models are behaving in previously unknown ways and having real-world impacts, the company said it would change its approach “to expand for this new phase of model capabilities”.

The company labelled the most recently disclosed incident as “an instance of misalignment similar” to the Hugging Face breach.

I myself am guilty of reporting on AI breaking out of containment as going ‘rogue’, but these models are doing exactly what they are designed to do. OpenAI’s detailed disclosure of the Hugging Face incident showed that the models were pushed to try and solve a benchmark test by cheating, which is exactly what caused the cyberattack to happen.

OpenAI said that both itself and “the larger AI community do not yet have a clear standard for how to report misalignment that shows up during training, evaluation, and deployment, including examples that don’t look like traditional security incidents but could provide insight into AI behavior and future risks”.

The company added that it is “working on a framework and will share it in upcoming weeks, and in parallel we’re working with dozens of government regulatory agencies worldwide on these issues”.

“When you combine this 'breakout' with the Hugging face breakout, it's starting to display a pattern,” said Ashley Knowles, Lead Cybersecurity Consultant at Black Hills Information Security. “I struggle here with not getting too doomsday-ish but realistically, this is showing a pattern of concerning behavior.”

“I'm wondering if this race to become 'first' is undercutting security measures that need to be taken to properly secure and guard AI agents as they're in development. My concern grows when you consider that OpenAI is also resisting further investigation. Adding onto that, the release and promise that Astra can evade human monitoring. The pot is brewing…”

Dell is running a surprisingly small Labor Day sale this year with hardly any laptop deals in it. However, there is one offer that rises above the rest and is really the only one that matters if you're shopping for a new device in today's sales: it's this Dell XPS 13 for $699.99 (was $999).

• Browse the full Dell Labor Day sale

Yep, I'm shouting about this one again, as I still don't quite believe that you can pick up one of our favorite and highly-rated laptops for such a terrific price. This particular model boasts a 3.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen display, an Intel Core 5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

That's a decent all-around mid-range spec, which will have no issues with general everyday use, college and university work such as essay writing and research, and also allow for a bit of multitasking if you enjoy a bit of streaming in your downtime.

And, better still, if you're an eligible student, you can save another $100 off the sale price, bringing it to a super-low $599. When it comes to powerful, efficient and affordable laptops in this year's sales, I truly think that this one is hard to beat.

Dell XPS 13 Labor Day deal

XPS 13 Laptop: was $999.99 now $699.99
Display - 13.4 inches
Processor - Intel Core 5
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB

The Dell XPS 13 has regularly been one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar, and this brand-new version continues that trend. With a 13.4-inch touchscreen display, Intel Core 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and excellent battery life, it has everything you need for solid all-around performance at work or college. Students can also save an extra $100, bringing the price down to a ridiculously low $599.View Deal

Our 4.5-star Dell XPS 13 review explains exactly why we think this is such a brilliant little laptop. We had lots of praise for the gorgeous display, fantastic battery life, solid overall performance, and sleek design. It hits everything you'd want from an all-purpose laptop at a stunning price in today's market.

More of today's best Labor Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Appliances: up to $1,200 at Samsung
• Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $349
• Saatva: up to $625 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off 4K, QLED & OLED TVs
• Target: 45% off clothing, tech & furniture
• Walmart: 58% off back-to-school, furniture, & clothing

Commentary: Robots pose an inherent risk to humans. It’s time to take safety more seriously.

• GPT-6 Astra has arrived, and it's being called AGI
• This includes by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
• Huang's celebratory X post also promotes Nvidia's GPUs, saying we need to get 400K of them online

Over the weekend, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took to social media to celebrate OpenAI’s latest achievement — “AGI has arrived” in the form of GPT-6 Astra. And of course it was developed using over 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs.

According to OpenAI, Astra represents a "significant step forward" for AI, with OpenAI's president Greg Brockman also saying "welcome to the AGI era" as Astra was debuted — with the company promising that GPT-6 boasts incredible aptitude at tasks across software engineering, science, mathematics, and professional workflows.

It’s also said to be much better at agentic work, meaning you can delegate tasks to GPT-6 with less fear that the AI will misunderstand your intent as it works independently.

We haven’t yet given GPT-6 a full shakedown — the update is steadily rolling out to subscribers — but if OpenAI’s claims live up to the hype, Astra could be quite the capable tool, and may actually live up to those early AGI claims, even if this isn’t the first time Jensen Huang has heralded the arrival of AGI.

But what is AGI, and why does it matter if Astra is AGI or not? Well, as Huang himself suggests, AGI matters because it’s a reason to quadruple the number of Nvidia GPUs OpenAI is using.

(Image credit: OpenAI)What is AGI?

Let’s address the elephant in the room. AGI, or artificial general intelligence, isn’t a well-defined term, so judging if we have or haven’t achieved AGI is a bit like judging if a piece of art is a masterpiece or not.

Broadly speaking, AGI is an artificial system that can beat humans across any task that involves thinking or reasoning. Crucially, it should also be able to adapt to new problems by applying what it has learnt in training. For example, an AGI could learn a new skill to overcome a challenge posed to it without being retrained or reprogrammed — it just applies what it knows to evolve itself.

Think J.A.R.V.I.S from Marvel. It’s a very powerful assistant that helps Tony Stark across all fields, even how to deal with otherworldly threats like Loki, without needing to be trained on each individual problem.

Does AGI matter?

Okay, but does it matter if it’s AGI or just a very, very smart AI?

For most of us, not really. An AI doesn’t need to be very good at everything to be a majorly useful tool. It doesn’t matter if your AI doctor can understand the deep complexities of the vast universe, it just needs to be able to diagnose your illness and suggest treatment. An AI lawyer doesn’t need to be able to comprehend five-dimensional topology to defend you in court.

It's not just me saying that; Jensen Huang recently admitted that AGI doesn’t matter — this was before his social media praise for OpenAI — noting that the term is effectively meaningless.

However there’s one important reason for achieving AGI, and it’s about reaching what comes after: ASI, or artificial superintelligence.

ASI would be an AI no human could ever hope to match, let alone beat. It would be able to grapple and solve problems humans aren’t capable of even understanding. AGI is distinctly not ASI, but its ability to self-train and develop tools for itself suggests that an AGI will eventually construct ASI through a process called recursive self-improvement.

For Hitchhiker’s Guide the Galaxy fans, it’s like how the supercomputer Deep Thought couldn’t find the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, but could build the computer which would be able to find the question.

(Image credit: OpenAI)

Perhaps more importantly, AGI is an investment buzzword, and there’s more than a hint of that in Huang’s celebratory post. Because while he says Astra is the product of 100,000 Nvidia Grace Blackwell NVLink72, he adds that if we want to see bigger and better improvements we’ll need to bring 400,000 GPUs online next.

To do this OpenAI and Nvidia will need a heck of a lot of investment, and will also need to build more data centers, just as communities across the US and rest of the world are pushing. back against their construction.

The arrival of AGI could represent the last opportunity for investors to make it big in AI, or any stock, before ASI takes over productivity. So they need to invest as much as they can now (or keep their investments in AI) before they’re left behind. For data centers, the big concern is they are pollution nightmares that merely take from a community with no promise they’ll actually succeed long enough to give back. The advent of AGI would suggest that the AI hype has been justified all along — the bubble won’t burst, and local communities could finally reap the reward of accepting data centers.

I’m not saying Huang or OpenAI are definitely misleading us, or even just being hyperbolic. It's possible that Astra is in fact our first taste of AGI. I’m just pointing out that companies and CEOs have a massive incentive to claim that we’ve achieved AGI, even if they later make the same claim about the next new model — I won’t be surprised if GPT-7 is later called 'the debut of AGI'.

(Image credit: Future)

My point is that we won’t really know if or when we achieved AGI until much later, when we can look back with hindsight and see when our AI models reached a turning point in their ability to evolve.

In the moment, though, we will know if an AI is useful and can provide some genuine benefit to us. We’ll do that as a collective, as individuals and businesses not directly associated with OpenAI get their hands on the new model and determine whether or not it makes their life significantly easier. Try Astra out if you can, learn about the experience of others with the tech, and decide if you think it’ll be worth paying to be able to access it.

Don’t get caught up in the hype, and don’t worry about whether it's AGI or not. In time it’ll be very clear if it is — and we won’t need a social media post to convince us.

If you're looking for the ultimate upgrade to your TV's sound, then the Samsung HW-Q990F is one of my top picks, and it's available for a near record-low price of $999 at Best Buy right now.

The Q990F has 11.1.4 channels and packs 23 speakers across the four units, consisting of a front soundbar, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer. It supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats, so you're well covered.

It's one of the best soundbars that I've tested in the last few years, and even though it's from last year, it's rare to see its price drop below $1,000.

Today's best Samsung HW-Q990F deal

HW-Q990F 11.1.4 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar (2025): was $1999 now $999
The Samsung HW-Q990F is a fantastic soundbar. It delivers a sound that's both powerful and detailed, as well as offering an immersive Atmos experience. It also houses HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz for those looking for an extra slot for their game console. At $999, this is a near-record-low price for a five-star soundbar system. View Deal

Phenomenal Dolby Atmos performance

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung's flagship soundbar systems have solidified their place at the top of the market over the last few years, balancing performance and features with bang-for-your-buck value. The Q990F continued that trend when it was released last year.

The biggest change between the Q990F and its predecessor wasn't its sound, but rather a redesigned compact subwoofer. While I worried that this would affect the Q990F's bass performance, I was happily proven wrong.

The Q990F's smaller subwoofer still delivers plenty of punch that, when cranked up, can shake a room. But it still manages to offer precise bass that can pick out individual details, as I found when the Batmobile's crunchy gear changes happened in The Batman.

Elsewhere, the Q990F still offers superb, accurate detail, as I found when watching Star Wars: A New Hope. As TIE Fighter laser bolts flew past, the sound trajectory was mapped to the soundbar with real precision. Even the score and the X-Wing's engines were well mapped to the rear channels. Overhead flight was a perfect demonstration of the Q990F's Atmos abilities too.

The Q990F also offers plenty of useful features, particularly for gaming. Its built-in HDMI 2.1 ports, which support 4K 120Hz, can be helpful to those with multiple consoles. And having tried the ports out, they produce top-notch gaming performance too.

Shop more of today's best Labor Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Appliances: up to $1,200 at Samsung
• Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $349
• Saatva: up to $625 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off 4K, QLED & OLED TVs
• Target: 45% off clothing, tech & furniture
• Walmart: 58% off back-to-school, furniture, & clothing

It’s an ultracompact stabilized camera and a wearable action camera in one package.

Having reviewed multiple iterations, the Geekom A5 has remained one of our favorite mini PCs for work and study for a long time now. If you're looking for a well-built compact desktop, there's a lot we like about this little machine.

And right now, the Geekom A5 is down to $419 (was $719) at Best Buy. That's cheaper than it is at Amazon, where it's priced at $479. But you'll need to act fast, because the clock is ticking on this deal, which ends in a few hours.

The mini PC is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 7430U, with 16GB upgradeable RAM and 1TB SSD. In our own tests, we found it has enough performance for everyday office work and multitasking, and remains impressively quiet even under sustained use.

A5 Mini PC: was $719 now $419
AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD

The Geekom A5 combines a six-core Ryzen 5 7430U processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, Radeon Vega 7 graphics, Wi-Fi 6, 2.5GbE Ethernet and Windows 11 Pro.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Ryzen 5 7430U has six cores and 12 threads, with boost speeds up to 4.3GHz. Combined with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, that's a solid specification for office work, browsing and everyday multitasking.

In our four-star review, Windows 11 ran smoothly and the A5 performed better than mini PCs based on lower-end Intel N100, N150 and N300 processors.

There's an impressive selection of connections for such a small PC, too. You get two HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB-C 3.2 ports, four USB-A connections and 2.5GbE Ethernet, alongside Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

It's also easy to get inside the A5 if you want to upgrade it at a later date. The two DDR4 SODIMM slots support up to 64GB of RAM, giving you plenty of scope to add more memory if your needs grow.

Price context & historical value

Best Buy has reduced the Geekom A5 from $719 to $419, saving you a substantial $300. That's almost 42% off the regular price and means you can pick up a 16GB/1TB Windows 11 Pro mini PC for comfortably below the $500 mark.

You'll need to move quickly if you want it at this price, however, as the offer will end very soon.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Geekom A5 if...

You want a small Windows PC for working from home, studying or general everyday computing without having to cope with entry-level processor. We found the Ryzen 5 7430U to be more than capable of handling most everyday tasks, and the 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD provide plenty of headroom.

❌ Skip the Geekom A5 if...

You need a mini PC for demanding creative applications or serious gaming. Performance is comfortably above many entry-level mini PCs, but the older Ryzen 5 7430U and integrated Radeon Vega graphics are well behind newer AMD platforms with DDR5 memory and more powerful integrated GPUs.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

Despite its Ryzen 7000-series name, the Ryzen 5 7430U is based on AMD's older Zen 3 architecture and uses Radeon Vega graphics rather than the newer integrated GPUs found in some other Ryzen mini PCs.

It has enough performance for everyday office work and multitasking though, while remaining impressively quiet even under sustained use.

• Shop all mini PCs at Best Buy

Ask a CISO why they bought their newest cybersecurity tool, and they’ll have a clear answer lined up.

It stops a specific technique, closes a particular gap, or satisfies a compliance requirement.

However, it's often less clear how the tool fits in with the rest of the stack.

Does it make the overall system stronger, or simply add another layer of complexity to manage?

Research indicates most security professionals already believe they’re juggling too many tools, with over half saying they don’t properly integrate together.

This is a pattern I call ‘additive by default,’ and it results in stacks that grow without a plan, becoming broader but not necessarily deeper or able to match today’s threats.

Start with the outcome, not the technology

I find this additive approach is often due to focusing on specific emerging threats or identified weak points, so decisions are made with a tactical eye rather than a broader strategic view.

Part of the problem is that most organizations have never precisely defined the security outcome they are trying to achieve. Without a shared, specific language for the problem, every new purchase becomes additive, because there is nothing solid to measure it against.

Take asset labelling, which is a core capability most organizations know they need, so they invest in a tool, populate a configuration management database (CMDB), and assign criticality scores. Job done, right? But labelling an asset only answers the question of what it is, and says nothing about how that asset connects to everything around it, or what happens when a policy needs to be enforced against it.

Labelling, visibility and enforcement are three distinct jobs, not one. Solve the first and the second and third remain wide open, so another tool gets bought to cover visibility, then another for enforcement. Each purchase solves its own narrow question perfectly well.

However, none of them were ever asked to work as a single, continuous capability, because nobody defined that as the actual requirement in the first place.

What if asset management labels fed into visibility views and the same reflected how policy is drafted and then enforced? Now you have a strategic problem solved with interoperable capabilities.

How much of your stack is really putting in the work?

Gartner’s most recent Leadership Perspective Survey saw CISOs noting this as a common issue, with just 20-30% of tool capability actually being used in some cases. The instinctive response to this is to cut the stack down, however, that instinct solves the wrong problem.

A good exercise for working out the value of the stack is to evaluate every tool, new or already deployed, against three plain questions.

Does it offer continuous validation against a given threat - and what, specifically, does it validate? Is it still operationally relevant? And is it effective, right now, in the environment you have today? A tool can pass one or two of these and still be failing you.

Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) are a good example of this. Twenty or thirty years ago, when networks were typically static and everything likely sat inside a single data center, VLAN-based segmentation was genuinely effective. It matched the environment it was built for.

That environment has since changed almost beyond recognition. Workloads move between on-premises systems, cloud and containers, and nothing stays fixed for long. VLANs are still deployed across many stacks today, still technically doing the segmentation job they were built for. Yet their effectiveness has dropped sharply because they offer none of the continuous validation a hybrid, constantly shifting estate actually requires.

Effectiveness has an expiry date that has nothing to do with whether the tool still runs. Success should be measured by whether the system as a whole still holds up, not by how many tools remain switched on.

Consolidated security, not consolidated tooling

Gartner identified that most organizations are pursuing a vendor consolidation strategy. While this approach certainly reduces unnecessary spending and keeps budgets under control, it’s not necessarily solving the biggest problem.

Consolidated tooling and consolidated security are not the same thing, and it’s an assumption that leads to disappointment. Reducing the number of tools alone achieves little if the underlying processes remain fragmented or teams continue to operate against different objectives.

No data center I have walked through was built entirely by one manufacturer. Racks, switches, storage and cabling come from a dozen suppliers, yet they operate as one coherent system because they were designed to fit together. Security should work the same way.

The goal is not necessarily fewer vendors, but every control, whoever built it, feeding into the same continuous picture of identification, visibility and enforcement.

What to ask instead

Before completing the next security purchase, consider how well a new tool fits into the stack you already have, not just what it claims to do on its own.

A tool that deploys cleanly, validates continuously rather than only at go-live, and feeds its findings back into the tools already in place is doing real work. One that arrives as a fresh, isolated source of alerts is just adding to the noise, however good its individual detection rate looks in a demo. That means comparing what the tool was bought to solve against what it is actually delivering today, checking it against newer capabilities, and being willing to redeploy or renegotiate rather than automatically renew or even retire.

Ultimately, the strongest security programs are not defined by the number of tools they deploy, nor by the number they eliminate. They're defined by how effectively every control works together when it matters most.

We've rounded up the best endpoint protection software suites.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Most desktop chargers are purely functional, but the robot-shaped Ugreen Uno manages to make something as mundane as powering your devices surprisingly fun.

Right now, the Ugreen Uno 100W GaN fast-charging block is now $60 (was $80) at Amazon. It's one of our favorite quirky gadgets for the office, scoring the full 5 stars in our review.

The Uno has a small TFT display that shows different facial expressions depending on its charging status, and its removable magnetic feet complete the little desktop robot design. In the UK, Ugreen's 100W charging block is now £40 (was £56) at Amazon.

Uno 100W 4-Port USB C Wall Charger: was $79.99 now $59.99
The quirky Uno combines 100W GaN charging with three USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a TFT expression display, removable magnetic feet, four-device simultaneous charging and multiple built-in safety protections.

In the UK: now £40 (was £56)View Deal

Why we recommend it

In his rave five-star review of the Uno, our expert Harry said: "With an impressive power output, quad-port design and quirky robot form, the UGreen Uno Charger 100W establishes itself as one of the best wall chargers on the market. It’s modestly priced against competitors, delivers super-fast charging and displays entertaining emojis, making it the ideal charging companion."

The Uno is a desk accessory that can add some personality to a home office without loosing practicality. Its display cycles through expressions including smiling, blushing and even an eating animation while charging, with a suitably cool expression appearing when charging completes.

More importantly, there's a capable 100W GaN charger inside that lets you power four devices simultaneously, The top two USB-C ports can each deliver up to 100W when used individually, making it suitable for more demanding devices such as laptops.

The port placement on top also makes sense when it's sitting on a desk, while its compact 2.05 x 1.93 x 3.23-inch dimensions are impressive considering the number of ports and power available.

Price context & historical value

Amazon has reduced the price of Ugreen's Uno 100W charger from $79.99 to $59.99, knocking $20 off the usual price. You're inevitably paying something for the unusual design, but you're getting four charging ports and enough output to handle many USB-C laptops.

This isn't the cheapest I've seen it though. It was on sale for $45 towards the end of last year. Even so, I think this is still a great deal and one I'd recommend snapping up.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Ugreen Uno 100W charger if...

You want to replace several chargers with one device that also adds some personality to your home office. With three USB-C ports, USB-A and up to 100W of power, it can handle your laptop, phone, tablet and headphones simultaneously while taking up little desk space.

❌ Skip the Ugreen Uno 100W charger if...

You only need a charger for your phone or another low-powered device. The Uno is overkill for that job, and you can find considerably cheaper single-port chargers if you don't need its 100W output, four ports or quirky display.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 100W figure is the maximum available output rather than 100W from every port simultaneously. Power is shared when you're charging multiple devices, although the top two USB-C ports can each provide up to 100W when used individually.

It doesn't come with any charging cables, either, so you'll need to provide those yourself. The display also isn't particularly bright, which can make its expressions harder to see from some angles.

• Shop all chargers at Amazon

Bigme B6 Color: Two-minute review

If you’re looking for a cheaper Kindle Colorsoft alternative, then there’s a strong chance you’ll come across the Bigme B6 Color.

This ereader is cheaper but still boasts a six-inch color e-ink screen, 64GB of storage, and 4GB of RAM paired with a MediaTek Helio P35 processor.

That’s an entry-level smartphone SoC from 2018 and would be a poor choice for a standard tablet, but it is actually pretty powerful for an ereader, being significantly faster than the chip found in the Colorsoft or other similarly priced competitors like the Kobo Clara Color.

The Bigme B6 Color needs that added juice because, unlike mainstream options, it runs on a modified version of Android 14 like a standard tablet rather than a locked-down custom OS.

This means you can expect oodles of added functionality like downloading apps from the Google Play Store or reading online articles in the surprisingly capable web browser. If, like me, you’re coming over from a Kindle, you’ll still be able to access your entire library via the Kindle App in addition to exploring new options like Kobo Books or Google Play Books.

FutureFutureFuture

The freedom of Android means getting your own ebook files on the Bigme B6 Color is a breeze via the included Type-C cable or by making use of its microSD card slot.

The Bigme B6 Color also boasts a little mono speaker. It’s a bit tinny, but it means you can use the device to listen to audiobooks and podcasts in a pinch. It’s impressively versatile, and all of this functionality is packed into a sleek and premium form factor that is easily pocketable and can be used one-handed.

But what's the reading experience actually like? Text is sharp, and there is minimal ghosting when flicking between pages, so novels are a breeze — even at night, thanks to a backlight with a good level of brightness and adjustable warmth levels.

I’ve had a perfectly pleasant experience with comic books and manga as well. Monochrome illustrations look pin sharp, while the color screen elevates color splashes. I do wish the colors were a little richer, though, as they’re slightly more washed out than on the Colorsoft.

It’s sometimes spoiled by the many bugs in the operating system, but the biggest issue with the Bigme B6 Color is undoubtedly its battery life. Android is much more power-hungry than most ereader operating systems, and it really shows here. With the brightness cranked up, the battery meter steadily ticks down with every page turn.

I managed to squeeze only about five hours out of a single charge flicking through manga on the Kindle app. That was closer to ten hours for a basic PDF novel stored in the system files, which would at least see you through a full week of reading, but it's still a fraction of the multi-week usage a Kindle Colorsoft or Kobo Clara Color would give you.

To make matters worse, the battery life drops quickly when the ereader isn’t even in use. Tossed in my bag with its screen off, it lost about 10% charge each day, so you’re forced to shut it down fully every time you put it away or risk sitting down for a long train ride and finding it out of juice (something that happened to me more than once in even my relatively short testing period).

(Image credit: Future)Bigme B6 Color review: Price & availability

• Costs around $179 / £149 / AU$280
• Available via the Bigme website and other retailers
• Comes with a case

At the time of writing, I can find the Bigme B6 Color on sale for around $179 / £149 / AU$280. You can find it on the Bigme website in all regions. Shoppers in the US can also find it at Amazon and Newegg, while in the UK it’s also available via JoyBuy. In Australia, you can find it on AliExpress too.

There are three colors available: black, white, and light green. It also comes bundled with a magnetic protective case. It’s a nice case too; my review unit came in black with a navy one, and it attaches neatly to the back via strong magnets and puts the ereader to sleep when closed.

The Bigme B6 Color comes with 64GB of storage, and the value is extremely strong when you consider that the Kindle Colorsoft costs $279.99 / £269.99 / AU$449 for just 32GB of storage and doesn't come with a case.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Bigme B6 Color review: Specs

Display type:

Kaleido 3 Color E-Ink

Screen size:

6-inch

Resolution:

300ppi in B&W; 150ppi in color

CPU:

MediaTek Helio P35

Frontlight:

Warm and cold

Storage:

64GB (expandable)

Battery:

2,100 mAh

Speaker:

Mono

Water protection:

None

Software:

Android 14

Connectivity:

WiFI, Bluetooth

File support:

Epub, PDF, etc.

Dimensions:

108 x 149.3 x 6.98mm (4.25 × 5.88 × 0.27 inches)

Weight:

~176g (~6.2oz)

Bigme B6 Color review: Design & display

• Compact and lightweight
• Color display
• Physical buttons… sort of

The Bigme B6 Color is sleek and compact at 108 x 149.3 × 6.98 mm (or 4.25 × 5.88 × 0.27 inches). It’s easy to slip into a pocket or bag.

The back and sides are a matte plastic material that feels pleasant in the hands, while the bezel around the screen is shinier and smoother. The black model that I’ve been testing is quite plain-looking aside from a silver Bigme logo on the rear and a red power button.

If you look closely at the top, you’ll see a small grille for the speaker and a microphone hole. Flipping it over to the bottom reveals the USB Type-C charging port, a small LED charging indicator, and a slot for the microSD card.

Given that Bigme is a smaller brand, I’m really impressed with the build quality overall.

It’s lightweight at under 200g / 7.1oz but reassuringly solid in the hands. The materials used feel equivalent to those by Amazon or Kobo-maker Rakuten — something really worth commending given just how much cheaper the Bigme B6 Color is than those brands’ equivalent models.

(Image credit: Future)

The ereader's six-inch color e-ink display sits above a little row of grey buttons. These aren’t proper buttons in the traditional sense, and they don’t click like those of a Kindle Oasis. Rather, they’re little shortcuts printed on the screen that are tied to certain system apps.

The first opens your library, which shows any ebooks or PDFs you have saved on the device’s storage. The next is an AI button tied to BigmeGPT, an AI assistant of questionable value, but I’ll get on to that in more detail later.

The middle one opens the file manager, and the next takes you to the home screen. The fifth and final button is a settings shortcut.

I’m in two minds about these. On the one hand, some of them are useful to have, like the home screen button or library shortcut, but others, like the AI button, haven’t been pressed more than once or twice in my entire time testing the device.

I couldn’t find a way to rebind the buttons in the system settings, sadly, though even if you could, you would still be stuck with the printed icons.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Bigme B6 Color review: Android software & apps

• Freedom of Android
• Google Play Store access
• Stock apps are poor

Unlike a conventional ereader, the Bigme B6 Color runs on Android 14 and comes with the Google Play Store installed. This allows you to download a wide range of Android apps, all the way from chat services like Discord to social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook, or even some games.

Of course, the screen is a major limitation, and although you can technically watch the latest TechRadar YouTube video on your device, the low refresh rate makes for a pretty unpleasant experience.

That said, Android has some big advantages, namely allowing you to download a wide range of ereader apps. The Kindle app, for example, works fantastically and delivers a comparable experience to using an ereader made by Amazon. Favorites like Libby, which lets you access books from local libraries, are accessible too, and you can even use the ereader’s web browser to download files directly from sites like Internet Archive. Audiobook and podcast apps are also excellent.

The freedom is fantastic and will be a breath of fresh air if you’re used to locked-down ecosystems.

This isn’t a stock version of Android, though. Everything is wrapped in a custom skin created by Bigme, and it’s far from a smooth experience.

(Image credit: Future)

There are lots of stock apps, and some are quite buggy. The built-in BigmeGPT AI, for example, crashes instantly if you lose your internet connection. It’s not particularly useful when it does work either, offering only basic text and image generation features.

There’s also the screen saver app that lets you change the image on your lock screen. I used BigmeGPT to generate a few wacky pictures to use as screensavers, only to discover that it doesn’t seem to work very well when you select an image from system files, often defaulting to the default option (a childish cartoon of some bears sleeping in a forest) instead.

Other stock apps include a basic calendar, music player, dictionary, voice recorder, and translator. They all seem to work alright, but are so basic I can’t imagine them being very useful.

The overall interface also has some issues. System notifications will randomly pop up in Chinese from time to time, and it can all freeze up while you’re in menus. I even had the settings app crash entirely on a few occasions.

• Software score: 3/5

Bigme B6 Color review: User experience

• Reading is great
• But the battery life dampens the experience
• Not a tablet replacement

Despite the rough edges in the software, if your number one concern is the reading experience, the Bigme B6 Color does deliver. 300ppi resolution is more than sufficient for the small 6-inch screen and means that text looks very crisp. The backlight is effective too, offering sufficient brightness for reading in dimmer spaces or even a pitch-black room.

As I mentioned earlier, the colors could be better as they look more washed out than those of the Colorsoft, but they’re still decently accurate and help liven up illustrations. Browsing the web is also surprisingly smooth, though the refresh rate does hamper the experience. Even so, you can still browse news websites easily if you want to catch up with current events on the go.

(Image credit: Future)

The biggest issue encountered while trying to use the Bigme B6 Color as my main ereader was its battery life. It really does run out quickly, and I struggled to adjust to plugging it in for a top-up every night, having become used to only charging my Kindle every few weeks.

Although it does run Android, I wouldn’t view the Bigme B6 Color as a replacement for a conventional tablet. You technically can use productivity apps (WPS Office even comes installed out of the box to tempt you), but the experience is poor, again, thanks to that slow refresh rate. To Bigme’s credit, the brand advertises the B6 Color as an ereader rather than anything else — so I’m not deducting any points for this.

• User experience score: 3.5/5

Bigme B6 Color review: Performance

• Snappy performance
• Usable web browser
• You can even watch YouTube videos

The Bigme B6 Color performs fantastically with its 4GB of RAM and MediaTek Helio P35 chipset.

Don’t get me wrong, these would be awful specs for a phone — but on a relatively cheap ereader? Everything is butter smooth as far as an e-ink screen allows. Loading is fast, pages turn with no lag, and it doesn’t immediately lose your place if you send an ereader app to the background. It boots from sleep almost instantly as well.

(Image credit: Future)

I have had no issue accessing my favorite news websites (including TechRadar, of course) using the built-in browser. I even managed to get YouTube videos playing on it, which is pretty impressive for this kind of device. After using the Bigme B6 Color, my usual Kindle feels unbearably sluggish.

Storage is generous out of the box to boot, and, having downloaded a load of books and a handful of apps, I still have more than 40GB of free space left.

Not shabby at all for this price!

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Bigme B6 Color?

Bigme B6 Color

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

Kobo Clara Color

Display type:

Kaleido 3 Color E-Ink

Kaleido 3 Color E-Ink

Kaleido 3 Color E-Ink

Screen size:

6-inch

7-inch

6-inch

Resolution:

300ppi in B&W; 150ppi in color

300ppi in B&W; 150ppi in color

300ppi in B&W; 150ppi in color

CPU:

MediaTek Helio P35

Unspecified dual-core MediaTek

MediaTek MT8113T

Frontlight:

Warm and cold

Warm and cold

Warm and cold

Storage:

64GB (expandable)

32GB

16GB

Battery:

2,100 mAh

2,310 mAh

1,500 mAh

Speaker:

Mono

None

None

Water protection:

None

IPX8 water-resistance

IPX8 water-resistance

Software:

Android 14

Proprietary

Proprietary

Connectivity:

WIFI, Bluetooth

WIFI, Bluetooth

WIFI, Bluetooth

File support:

EPUB, PDF, etc.

EPUB, PDF, AZW3

EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR

Dimensions:

108 x 149.3 x 6.98mm (4.25 × 5.88 × 0.27 inches)

127.6 x 176.7 x 7.8 mm (5.02 x 6.96 x 0.31 inches)

112 x 160 x 9.2 mm (6.3 x 4.4 x 0.36 inches)

Weight:

~176g (~6.2oz)

219g (7.73oz)

174g (6.1oz)

Buy it if...

You want an affordable color Android ereader

The Bigme B6 Color is surprisingly cheap for a color ereader running on Android. It's a good buy if you don't want to be locked down to one specific ecosystem.

You don't mind some jank

The software here takes some getting used to and can be buggy at times, but that shouldn't be much of an issue if you're used to fiddling with Android systems.

Don't buy it if...

You need long battery life

The Bigme B6 Color's biggest flaw is its battery life. Avoid picking one up if you need an ereader you can toss in a bag in sleep mode for a few weeks or one you don't have to charge every day or two.

Bigme B6 Color review: Alternatives

Kindle Colorsoft
Far superior battery life makes the Kindle Colorsoft a great alternative to the Bigme B6 Color. You lose the freedom of Android, but gain a much sleeker and smoother experience in return. Bear in mind it is much more expensive, though.

Read our in-depth Kindle Colorsoft review

Kobo Clara Color

The Kindle Clara Color isn't much more expensive than the Bigme B6 Color. Its processor is much slower, however, and it has far more limited storage.

Read our in-depth Kobo Clara Color review

How I tested the Bigme B6 Color

• Used as main e-reader for a month
• Popular e-reader apps tested
• Compared to similar models by brands like Amazon

To review the Bigme B6 Color I used it as my primary e-reader for just over a month. This meant using it for about forty minutes each way on my commutes to and from our office in London, during which I enjoyed a variety of novels, comic books, and manga.

Throughout my time with the e-reader I compared my experience to my hands-on usage of similar devices, including the Amazon Kindle, Amazon Kindle Colorsoft, and Kobo Clara Color.

Read more about how we test.

First published September 2026