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Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid review: Two-minute review

Let’s get one thing out of the way: the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid commands a premium price tag. At $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95, it sits near the top of the gaming keyboard market — costing more than similarly high-end alternatives like the Razer Huntsman V3 HE or Corsair K70 Max. It’s currently the most expensive gaming keyboard that Logitech sells, reflecting its positioning as the very best of the best.

What does that price get you, though? The big draw here is the custom KS-20 POM switches. They’re manufactured by Gateron, one of the most popular keyboard switch brands, with contactless Hall effect operation. They feature a customizable actuation point, allowing you to select actuation depth all the way from 4mm to a very shallow 0.1mm in 0.05mm increments.

(Image credit: Future)

Raising the actuation point reduces the time taken for each keystroke to be registered, facilitating lightning-fast responses in intense competitive titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant. You can customize the actuation point on a per-button basis as well, meaning you can make your movement inputs as sensitive as possible while leaving the button to switch weapons, for example, a more deliberate press to prevent misclicks in key moments.

This works in tandem with the rapid trigger setting, which sets the point at which a key needs to be lifted in order to reset. You can practically remove the delay between rapid inputs, meaning much more responsive movement. Getting used to the snappy responses certainly took some adjustment in my testing, but I found strafing felt much more precise, and this could make a big difference in a competitive setting where speed can make the difference between a win and defeat.

(Image credit: Future)

You can also set up key priority, which determines how the keyboard interprets almost simultaneous inputs via metrics like key travel or a chosen override. This sounds great on paper, as it should allow for much easier counter-strafing or ‘jiggle peeking’ (emerging from cover for a split second to try and bait an opponent into taking a shot), but there’s a big catch. This feature is banned in some competitive titles (including Counter-Strike 2) and will result in automated server kicks, so it should be treated with some degree of caution.

The built-in OLED display is also a pretty cool addition, though honestly, it’s not as useful as I first assumed it would be. It’s a small vertical display positioned on the far right-hand side of the keyboard above a small button and a little scroll wheel. By default, the wheel controls your system volume, but a quick tap of the button opens a menu with access to activation point adjustment, rapid trigger, mkey priority, RGB lighting, and game mode settings.

Adjusting them like this is very fiddly and much more easily accomplished right in the compatible Logitech G Hub software. With G Hub, you can save settings directly onto the keyboard’s memory, and I suspect that most pro players would rather create their settings in advance with the software rather than try and adjust them on the fly in the middle of a game.

The spec sheet is also impressive, with highlights like an optional 8,000Hz report rate. The keyboard also has a physical game mode switch, designed almost like a light switch. Flick this on to enable your game mode preset, which disables the two Windows keys by default to prevent accidental tab changes.

The physical design of the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid exudes quality too, with the compact TKL form factor making it easy to incorporate into your setup. All three colorways (Black, White, and Magenta) look excellent, and key presses feel suitably satisfying with a very smooth motion and lovely sound. It feels great to type on as a result, but I am still disappointed that the exterior of the keyboard is entirely plastic when most gaming keyboards above a hundred bucks incorporate more durable metal faceplates instead.

I also don’t understand why Logitech G didn’t opt to go for a nice braided USB Type-C cable rather than a rubbery plastic one at this price. Maybe there’s some reason for pro players to prefer plastic, but if that’s the case, the brand could surely just throw in two alternate cable options given the $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95 price tag.

There’s also the matter of the included wrist rest, which I unfortunately don’t think is particularly good. It’s basically just a huge rectangular hunk of cold, rubbery plastic that you have to flop awkwardly onto your desk. It’s not well padded, and I quickly relegated it to confinement back in the box. It’s presumably a very cheap extra to include, but I’m not too happy with the prospect of having to store it.

Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid review: Price & availability

• Costs $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95
• Available via the Logitech website or online retailers
• More expensive than many alternatives

At $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95, the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid is expensive for a gaming keyboard, particularly a wired-only model with a predominantly plastic construction.

To give just two examples, similarly priced high-end options such as the Razer Huntsman V3 HE or Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K incorporate more premium materials like aluminum and, in the case of the Keychron model, offer wireless connectivity.

Still, it’s not offensively bad value by any means, as you are paying specifically for the high-end spec sheet, built-in screen, custom switches, and suite of esports features. You also get a wrist rest in the box and, while I’m not a huge fan, it might be useful for some.

The Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid can be purchased directly from the Logitech G website or at online retailers like Amazon.

Should I buy the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid?Scorecard

Value

Expensive for a wired gaming keyboard, but goes some way to justify its price with its feature set.

4/5

Design and features

Looks great and is tuned to deliver serious esports performance with specialist features like rapid trigger and custom actuation points.

4/5

Performance

A joy to type on and an excellent pick for competitive games.

4.5/5

Final score

Expensive, but worth it if you’re serious about competitive gaming given the performance and features.

4/5

Buy it if…

You want esports-grade performance
The Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid is all about competitive gaming performance with features like the optional 8,000Hz polling rate and custom actuation point settings designed to help you do your best when it counts.

You’re after the ultimate switch customization
The Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid offers multiple ways to customize its KS-20 POM switches. You can adjust the actuation depth to your preference on a key-by-key basis, or enable the rapid trigger mode for accurate repeat inputs.

Don't buy it if…

You’re used to more premium materials
The exterior of the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid is fully plastic, which is unfortunate when cheaper alternatives offer more durable-feeling metal elements.

Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid review: Also consider

Razer Huntsman V3 HEThis Razer keyboard offers Hall effect magnetic switches and features an integrated OLED screen, yet costs significantly less than the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid. It even has a metal faceplate, which feels more premium than the X2 Rapid’s plastic.

Read our full Razer Huntsman V3 HE review

Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K
This high-end option from Keychron is often on sale for cheaper than the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid and delivers an excellent typing experience with a robust aluminium chassis. It’s also capable of an 8K report rate, but unfortunately isn’t widely available in the UK or Australia.

Read our full Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid

• Tested for multiple weeks
• Used as main keyboard for work and gaming
• Compared to other gaming keyboards

I tested the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid for multiple weeks alongside the Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike mouse, with my hands on both before and after the official reveal and release.

I used it for gaming sessions and productivity tasks throughout my days. This included plenty of time in popular esports titles such as Counter-Strike 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. I also played a range of other games, including the likes of Gears of War: E-Day, Cities: Skylines 2, and Far Cry 6.

Throughout my time with the keyboard, I compared it to my hands-on testing of other gaming keyboards across the price spectrum.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: October 2026

Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid review: Two-minute review

Let’s get one thing out of the way: the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid commands a premium price tag. At $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95, it sits near the top of the gaming keyboard market — costing more than similarly high-end alternatives like the Razer Huntsman V3 HE or Corsair K70 Max. It’s currently the most expensive gaming keyboard that Logitech sells, reflecting its positioning as the very best of the best.

What does that price get you, though? The big draw here is the custom KS-20 POM switches. They’re manufactured by Gateron, one of the most popular keyboard switch brands, with contactless Hall effect operation. They feature a customizable actuation point, allowing you to select actuation depth all the way from 4mm to a very shallow 0.1mm in 0.05mm increments.

(Image credit: Future)

Raising the actuation point reduces the time taken for each keystroke to be registered, facilitating lightning-fast responses in intense competitive titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant. You can customize the actuation point on a per-button basis as well, meaning you can make your movement inputs as sensitive as possible while leaving the button to switch weapons, for example, a more deliberate press to prevent misclicks in key moments.

This works in tandem with the rapid trigger setting, which sets the point at which a key needs to be lifted in order to reset. You can practically remove the delay between rapid inputs, meaning much more responsive movement. Getting used to the snappy responses certainly took some adjustment in my testing, but I found strafing felt much more precise, and this could make a big difference in a competitive setting where speed can make the difference between a win and defeat.

(Image credit: Future)

You can also set up key priority, which determines how the keyboard interprets almost simultaneous inputs via metrics like key travel or a chosen override. This sounds great on paper, as it should allow for much easier counter-strafing or ‘jiggle peeking’ (emerging from cover for a split second to try and bait an opponent into taking a shot), but there’s a big catch. This feature is banned in some competitive titles (including Counter-Strike 2) and will result in automated server kicks, so it should be treated with some degree of caution.

The built-in OLED display is also a pretty cool addition, though honestly, it’s not as useful as I first assumed it would be. It’s a small vertical display positioned on the far right-hand side of the keyboard above a small button and a little scroll wheel. By default, the wheel controls your system volume, but a quick tap of the button opens a menu with access to activation point adjustment, rapid trigger, mkey priority, RGB lighting, and game mode settings.

Adjusting them like this is very fiddly and much more easily accomplished right in the compatible Logitech G Hub software. With G Hub, you can save settings directly onto the keyboard’s memory, and I suspect that most pro players would rather create their settings in advance with the software rather than try and adjust them on the fly in the middle of a game.

The spec sheet is also impressive, with highlights like an optional 8,000Hz report rate. The keyboard also has a physical game mode switch, designed almost like a light switch. Flick this on to enable your game mode preset, which disables the two Windows keys by default to prevent accidental tab changes.

The physical design of the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid exudes quality too, with the compact TKL form factor making it easy to incorporate into your setup. All three colorways (Black, White, and Magenta) look excellent, and key presses feel suitably satisfying with a very smooth motion and lovely sound. It feels great to type on as a result, but I am still disappointed that the exterior of the keyboard is entirely plastic when most gaming keyboards above a hundred bucks incorporate more durable metal faceplates instead.

I also don’t understand why Logitech G didn’t opt to go for a nice braided USB Type-C cable rather than a rubbery plastic one at this price. Maybe there’s some reason for pro players to prefer plastic, but if that’s the case, the brand could surely just throw in two alternate cable options given the $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95 price tag.

There’s also the matter of the included wrist rest, which I unfortunately don’t think is particularly good. It’s basically just a huge rectangular hunk of cold, rubbery plastic that you have to flop awkwardly onto your desk. It’s not well padded, and I quickly relegated it to confinement back in the box. It’s presumably a very cheap extra to include, but I’m not too happy with the prospect of having to store it.

Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid review: Price & availability

• Costs $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95
• Available via the Logitech website or online retailers
• More expensive than many alternatives

At $229.99 / £209.99 / AU$399.95, the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid is expensive for a gaming keyboard, particularly a wired-only model with a predominantly plastic construction.

To give just two examples, similarly priced high-end options such as the Razer Huntsman V3 HE or Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K incorporate more premium materials like aluminum and, in the case of the Keychron model, offer wireless connectivity.

Still, it’s not offensively bad value by any means, as you are paying specifically for the high-end spec sheet, built-in screen, custom switches, and suite of esports features. You also get a wrist rest in the box and, while I’m not a huge fan, it might be useful for some.

The Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid can be purchased directly from the Logitech G website or at online retailers like Amazon.

Should I buy the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid?Scorecard

Value

Expensive for a wired gaming keyboard, but goes some way to justify its price with its feature set.

4/5

Design and features

Looks great and is tuned to deliver serious esports performance with specialist features like rapid trigger and custom actuation points.

4/5

Performance

A joy to type on and an excellent pick for competitive games.

4.5/5

Final score

Expensive, but worth it if you’re serious about competitive gaming given the performance and features.

4/5

Buy it if…

You want esports-grade performance
The Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid is all about competitive gaming performance with features like the optional 8,000Hz polling rate and custom actuation point settings designed to help you do your best when it counts.

You’re after the ultimate switch customization
The Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid offers multiple ways to customize its KS-20 POM switches. You can adjust the actuation depth to your preference on a key-by-key basis, or enable the rapid trigger mode for accurate repeat inputs.

Don't buy it if…

You’re used to more premium materials
The exterior of the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid is fully plastic, which is unfortunate when cheaper alternatives offer more durable-feeling metal elements.

Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid review: Also consider

Razer Huntsman V3 HEThis Razer keyboard offers Hall effect magnetic switches and features an integrated OLED screen, yet costs significantly less than the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid. It even has a metal faceplate, which feels more premium than the X2 Rapid’s plastic.

Read our full Razer Huntsman V3 HE review

Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K
This high-end option from Keychron is often on sale for cheaper than the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid and delivers an excellent typing experience with a robust aluminium chassis. It’s also capable of an 8K report rate, but unfortunately isn’t widely available in the UK or Australia.

Read our full Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid

• Tested for multiple weeks
• Used as main keyboard for work and gaming
• Compared to other gaming keyboards

I tested the Logitech G Pro X2 Rapid for multiple weeks alongside the Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike mouse, with my hands on both before and after the official reveal and release.

I used it for gaming sessions and productivity tasks throughout my days. This included plenty of time in popular esports titles such as Counter-Strike 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. I also played a range of other games, including the likes of Gears of War: E-Day, Cities: Skylines 2, and Far Cry 6.

Throughout my time with the keyboard, I compared it to my hands-on testing of other gaming keyboards across the price spectrum.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: October 2026

Russian authorities have reportedly explored using artificial intelligence to identify and block virtual private networks with a staggering 95% effectiveness.

According to a report by Russian newspaper Kommersant, the proposal surfaced in a draft national plan for implementing AI technologies through 2030. The ambitious scheme envisioned AI models analyzing the characteristics of 70% of VPN services targeted for censorship.

While Russia’s Digital Development Ministry claims this AI measure is absent from the plan's current iteration, the underlying intent remains clear. Moscow is already heavily investing in a permanent censorship infrastructure, with recent reports highlighting plans for Russia to double its internet censorship budget.

For citizens or visitors trying to secure their connection, finding the best VPN is increasingly difficult as the state tightens its grip on circumvention tools. Currently, Russia relies on "intelligent algorithms" rather than true AI to analyze internet traffic. However, the government still intends to increase the capacity of its traffic-filtering infrastructure 2.5-fold to 954 terabits per second by 2030.

Collateral damage and false positives

(Image credit: Getty Images / Surasak Suwanmake)

An AI-powered system would sit atop Russia's existing technical systems for countering threats (TSPU), the dedicated filtering hardware already installed on telecom operators' networks.

Speaking to Kommersant, a source in the Russian networking industry explained the technical mechanics. “AI automates and accelerates the analysis of connection patterns,” the source noted. The technology would evaluate data points like packet size and timing, session duration, traffic ratios, and neighboring IP addresses to indirectly root out VPN infrastructure.

However, deploying artificial intelligence to blindly hunt down hidden traffic comes with a steep cost.

Industry sources cautioned that an AI layer could lead to a surge in false positives, trapping legitimate business and corporate traffic in the dragnet. One source estimated that the algorithmic error rate is already 5% to 6%, and early-stage AI models would likely produce a significant number of incorrect blocks.

As noted by United24 Media, rolling out such a system requires immense resources. A fully operational AI detection net requires large-scale telemetry storage, massive computing clusters for model training, and a complex infrastructure to distribute updated models directly to filtering nodes.

A broader push for "sovereign" tech

The drive to automate VPN detection is just one piece of a broader effort by Moscow to tightly control mobile communications and escalate VPN blocks. Alongside restricting circumvention tools, Russia is attempting to force the tech industry to adopt strictly domestic security standards.

A recent draft order from the Digital Development Ministry mandates that smartphones operating on Russia's future 5G networks must support "Kuznyechik", an encryption algorithm developed with participation from the FSB’s information-security centre and InfoTeKS. Scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2032, this is not part of the standard 3GPP encryption suite.

Because the algorithm must be baked into modem chipsets, it could effectively force global manufacturers like Apple and Samsung to build Russia-specific hardware just to operate in the country.

Ultimately, it appears the Kremlin is prepared to use every technological weapon at its disposal to isolate its digital borders.

• Hackers and fraudsters are already gearing up to steal data and financial information in the run up to the US midterm elections
• AI generated imagery and deepfakes are part of highly convincing scams
• Phishing campaigns designed to prey on voter registration are also likely to pop up

As the US midterms rapidly approach, the FBI is once again warning Americans about the flood of election-related scam campaigns coming their way.

Thousands of websites have already been spotted getting ready to spool up for election season, with phishing sites, fake donation portals, and Doppelganger clones also emerging as November draws closer.

Finances and personal data are both at risk, the FBI has warned, with many campaigns leveraging new AI technologies to make scams even more convincing.

Scammers leveraging AI and deepfakes

One of the ways scammers are taking advantage of the elections is by launching campaign investment pool schemes. These campaigns ask victims to pay into a campaign pool that promises to pay more money than the victims invested if the candidate wins.

Similar scams have been spotted surrounding investment in stocks and cryptocurrencies, but campaign investments are a novel new approach.

Fake political action committee (PAC) scams have also been popping up, requesting donations to help fund campaigns, but rather than any of the money going towards furthering the candidate’s political aims, the money is instead kept by the scammers.

Political merchandise is also being abused by scammers. Fake websites advertise clothing and trinkets bearing political logos and candidate’s names, but never arrive once they are purchased.

Election phishing on the rise

Outside of what the FBI has warned against in its advisory, there are a number of other common scams that are targeting Americans looking to exercise their right to vote.

Scammers are sending out text messages en masse stating that the recipient has not yet registered to vote and that the deadline is closing soon.

This sense of urgency can easily push past the better judgement of those looking to participate in the midterm elections, and upon visiting a fake voter registration website the victims hand over their sensitive information.

Subsequent phishing, scams, and even identity theft can follow.

Iran, Russia, and China are also launching disinformation and misinformation campaigns aimed at polarizing voters across the political spectrum. Similar campaigns were spotted for the 2024 Presidential election surrounding everything from US support for Ukraine, to election interference claims.

Via The Register

• The UK’s Fuse Energy has announced a plug-in solar product
• It combines solar panels with a 2.5kWh plug-in battery
• It’s due on sale next year, provided plug-in batteries are made legal

With energy prices soaring thanks to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, you might be looking to plug-in solar panels to help cut your bills. To that end, the UK’s Fuse Energy has just announced the country’s first plug-in solar panels that come with an included battery, so you can harvest your own energy and store it for when it’s needed most — though the combination isn't yet legal in the UK.

The Jules by Fuse scheme lets you plug up to four 500W solar panels into a standard socket and use them to collect solar energy. This can be stored in the included 2.5kWh battery, with the Fuse app deciding when to store power and when to start using it from the battery.

Fuse frames the device as a handy product for people who a renting, living in an apartment or whose house roof is not suitable for solar panels. Instead of requiring scaffolding and a suitable home structure, the panels and battery can be placed on a balcony, mounted on a wall or placed in a garden.

That means accessing solar energy and storing it at home need not be limited to homeowners living in properties with suitable roof spaces. That said, there is a catch to be aware of with Fuse’s new initiative.

Waiting to clear the legal hurdle

(Image credit: Fuse Energy)

As we noted earlier, you can’t get one of Fuse’s Jules setups installed today, as they’re not technically legal in the UK yet. Fuse says that the first deliveries of the product are “expected post legislation approval in 2027,” so if you’re interested, all you can do for now is pre-order one using Fuse’s waitlist.

Once the relevant legislation is passed and the Jules does become available, Fuse says it will cost £577 and will save you around £180 a year in electricity bills, meaning it’ll be paid off in a little over three years. In contrast, Fuse says that standard rooftop solar panels can set you back between £7,000 and £8,000, plus scaffolding and installation costs.

The big difference with plug-in solar kits — which only became legal in the UK in August 2026 — is Fuse’s inclusion of a battery in its Jules setup. This can make a real difference because it lets you power your house using the energy you’ve collected even when the sun isn’t shining, keeping you juiced up in all conditions.

(Image credit: Fuse Energy)

Rival provider Octopus Energy is planning similar home battery products called the Nook Cube (2kWh) and Nook Colossus (5kWh or 10kWh, expandable to 30kWh) — also due to launch in 2027. Octopus’s own plug-in solar panels have repeatedly sold out since going on sale, although they don’t come with their own batteries.

While we’re waiting for battery legislation to pass, it’s a good idea to read up on the existing rules surrounding solar batteries and panels, as they’re not as simple as you might think. Hopefully things will become clearer next year, when the likes of Fuse and Octopus are confident that plug-in batteries will have passed the legal hurdles in their way.

Your social media profiles are a goldmine for scammers looking to harvest personal information for phishing, social engineering, or identity theft. Between birthday posts and family photos, you’re essentially building a detailed dossier that cybercriminals can weaponize against you.

Here’s the good news: with just a few adjustments, you can dramatically reduce your attack surface without losing the convenience and fun of socializing online.

This article is the fourth in a series of content relating to Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026, which runs throughout October. The previous articles have covered VPN dark web alerts and free alternatives, VPN protection when using AI, and the benefits of dedicated antivirus over packaged solutions.

Less is more

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) emphasizes that privacy settings exist for a reason: they keep your personal information “inaccessible to anyone but you.” Their guidance focuses on using each platform’s settings to control who can see your posts, contact you, or find your profile.

Scammers can piece together seemingly harmless details to craft highly convincing, targeted phishing attacks. Even a pet name or tagged location – innocent on their own – can become ammunition for someone trying to impersonate you or guess your security questions.

Platform-by-platform quick hits

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Here are the most impactful privacy switches to flip on each major platform:

• Facebook: Set your profile to “Friends only” for posts, limit past posts visibility, disable search engine indexing, and restrict who can look you up using your email address or phone number.
• Instagram: Switch to a private account in Settings > Privacy. This prevents strangers from seeing your posts or stories. Disable activity status, restrict tag approvals, and turn off location sharing on posts.
• Snapchat: Enable “Ghost Mode” in Snap Map settings to hide your location. In Privacy Control, set who can contact you and view your story to “Friends Only.” Review your “Find Friends” settings regularly to control whether your account is suggested to other users.
• TikTok: Go to Privacy settings and toggle “Private Account.” Disable “Suggest your account to others,” restrict direct messages, and set duet/stitch permissions to “Friends” or “Off”.
• YouTube: In Settings > Privacy, mark your channel and subscriptions as private. You can also disable video recommendations showing your watch history and turn off location data on uploaded videos.

Universal security settings

Regardless of which platforms you use, two actions should be at the top of your list:

First, enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) everywhere. Even if someone guesses or steals your password, they can’t get in without the second factor – ideally an authentication app.

Second, audit your connected apps. There may be games, quizzes, and other services logged in that you haven’t touched in years. Head to each platform’s third-party app settings and revoke access for anything unused or unfamiliar.

In summary

Spending just five minutes adjusting these settings across your apps reduces your visibility to bad actors and can help keep your data out of the hands of cybercriminals. You don’t need to delete your accounts or leave social media behind – just be intentional about what you share and who can see it.

We're barely past the midpoint of October, but some Black Friday sales are already being teased. That's exactly what's happening over at Samsung, where there are a small number of offers on its latest phones, TVs, tablets, smartwatches, and more for Samsung Week.

• Browse the full Samsung Week sale

Some of the best offers are found on the latest Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, if you're looking to upgrade. You can get a guaranteed minimum of £150 off the former when you trade in any other device, while the latter features trade-in discounts of up to £730 with select smartphones.

As for TVs, you have several options, depending on the display type and any extras you're after. For example, there's 20% off when you buy a TV with a soundbar, up to £500 cashback on select TVs, and the option to trade in and upgrade to a 2026 display for £250 less.

Even though Samsung is teasing these as its early Black Friday deals, I doubt that this is everything the manufacturer will offer during the big end-of-year sales. So if there isn't a deal on the tech you're after, it's worth checking back later next month when the full Black Friday sales start.

For now, here are my top picks from Samsung Week, which, despite the name, actually runs all the way through to November 3.

Samsung Week — quick links

• Appliances: up to 20% off
• Laptops: up to £400 off
• Monitors: claim up to £300 cashback
• Phones: guaranteed £150 off with a trade
• Smartwatches: get Bupa Well+ for free
• Tablets: up to £730 off with a trade-in
• TVs: up to 20% off and £500 cashback

My top 5 deals

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: guaranteed £150 off with a trade-in
The £150 discount you get for trading in a phone works with any device in any condition, so you could really stretch the value out with a super-cheap or super-old phone. This is missing the cashback that was available in a previous offer, so it isn't the cheapest I've seen Samsung's flagship smartphone, but it's still a reasonble offer for one of the best high-end Android phones available now.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: up to £730 off with a trade-in
This is one of the biggest trade-in offers on the premium Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra since the foldable launched earlier this year. If you have an eligible device to hand over, it could be a good time to upgrade if you don't want to wait until closer to Black Friday. We gave it an incredible 4.5 stars in our review for its power, slick screen with no crease, excellent cameras, and respectable battery life.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra: up to £730 off with a trade and £100 extra off with PayPal
Samsung only just released the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, so we're still in that early window of strong launch offers, thanks to a combined trade-in discount of up to £730 and an extra £100 saving if you check out using PayPal. As we found after spending two weeks with the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, it's an impressive and powerful slate, although it's likely an unnecessary upgrade for most if you already have a top-end tablet.View Deal

R85H 65-inch Micro RGB TV: was £1899 now £1699
The 65-inch version of Samsung's latest R85H is now £400 off after a combined £200 discount and £200 cashback offer. Plus, there's another £150 off if you recycle your old TV. The R85H stands out for its excellent colour and image quality, thanks to the array of micro RGB LEDs. That means it also boasts superior brightness and fantastic contrast, ensuring you get a smooth, sharp and vibrant image. It's an ideal all-rounder for films, movies, sports, and gaming, as it also supports 144Hz and a variable refresh rate to give you a smooth and responsive picture. With all the offers combined, it's easily one of the best premium TV deals I've seen right now.View Deal

The Frame Pro 55-inch 4K TV: was £1499 now £1299
If you want your TV to blend into the environment when it's not in use, then you'll want to check out this deal on the latest version of Samsung's The Frame display. With a stylish design and a bezel included for free, it disguises itself well as any other picture and can even display your own chosen art or photos. It's solid as a TV, too, with a bright and colourful picture that's best suited to shows and movies. For a gaming TV, though, I'd look elsewhere.View Deal

• Cyberattack on BAE Systems disrupted the US Bankruptcy Noticing Center and halted bankruptcy notice distribution
• Multiple judiciary-related services and websites were temporarily taken offline during the incident
• Authorities and BAE are investigating the attack, with no details yet on data exposure or attribution

BAE Systems recently suffered a cyberattack which disrupted the US Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC), a service that sends official notes and orders from US federal bankruptcy courts.

The incident meant that the production and distribution of bankruptcy notices was temporarily paused until the issue was resolved.

“BAE Systems IT and websites that support the operations of the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) have been impacted by a cybersecurity incident,” a notice on the US Federal Courts website reads. “The BNC produces and transmits bankruptcy notices for all federal bankruptcy courts around the country, and BAE Systems operates BNC systems and websites on behalf of the Federal Judiciary.”

Looking into the matter

The Administrative Office of the US Courts (AOUSC) is coordinating with impacting courts, it was said, as well as with BAE Systems which is now “actively investigating” the incident and working to restore operations.

“As a result of the incident, all access to the BNC systems and websites that BAE operates on behalf of the judiciary and the related bankruptcy noticing process are unavailable at this time, including bnc.uscourts.gov, bankruptcynotices.uscourts.gov, notices.uscourts.gov, and the National Creditor Registration Service,” the notice reads. “The incident has also halted the BNC’s production and distribution of bankruptcy notices for bankruptcy courts.”

There is no official confirmation, or clarification, on the company’s website for now, but in a statement given to BleepingComputer, BAE Systems said it was investigating the matter.

"We are aware of a security incident that is isolated to the BNC system and have taken immediate steps to address it. We are coordinating closely with AOUSC on the response," the statement reads.

BAE Systems is one of the largest defense, aerospace, and security companies in the world. It is headquartered in London, UK, and works on military equipment, weapons, advanced electronics, and cybersecurity systems for governments and the military.

Among other things, BAE Systems works on the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, different armored combat vehicles, naval ships, radars and sensors, and different intelligence analysis and digital security services. The company reported approximately $40.91 billion in sales for 2025 and employs more than 111,000 people worldwide.

Woes of US courts

It seems that every few months, news emerges of a new breach or cyberattack at one of the US court systems.

Most recently, it was reported that the Arizona Supreme Court suffered a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data on more than a million people. In this incident, an employee allegedly clicked a malicious link in an email, which led to the compromise of information on 1.3 million people with unpaid court fees, fines and restitution payments for traffic and criminal violations dating back 30 years.

The threat actors also stole almost 30,000 active and inactive orders of protection, as well as 150,000 reports dating back to 2010 from a foster care board making recommendations in cases where parents were allegedly unable or unfit to care for a child.

In September 2026, Thomson Reuters, the IT company behind the Reuters news agency, reported suffering a breach a few months prior, and exposing certain court documents to the attackers. The company operates a court case-management system called C-Track which was broken into in March 2026.

Earlier still, in August 2026, the US Judiciary system confirmed experiencing an “escalated cyberattacks of a sophisticated and persistent nature.” in which the threat actors targeted the case management system.

“The vast majority of documents filed with the Judiciary’s electronic case management system are not confidential and indeed are readily available to the public, which is fundamental to an open and transparent judicial system. However, some filings contain confidential or proprietary information that are sealed from public view,” the announcement said.

• Chinese chipmaker CXMT is predicted to be ramping up RAM production
• It could double memory production by 2028, we're told
• This extra RAM is likely to service the domestic market, though, and meanwhile, Dell's CEO is warning that the memory crisis is likely to persist to 2030

A major Chinese chipmaker has plans to expand its DRAM production in a big way over the next couple of years, but this won't be a silver bullet for wider RAM problems, and Dell's CEO is warning on the memory crisis getting worse, too.

First, the news on the Chinese company CXMT, which was flagged by P Equity Research on X (via Wccftech) in a post that highlights forecasts from Counterpoint Research and TrendForce.

According to those research firms, CXMT is set to expand its DRAM wafer production from around 320,000 units this year, to 420,000 units over the course of 2027.

That translates to a growth of just over 30% in a year, and the further prediction is that in 2028, production capacity might hit 500,000 to 600,000, so given that most optimistic scenario, it would nearly double compared to this year.

There's some excitement on that point because while others are focusing on HBM, or high-end RAM for the AI industry, this is an expansion of traditional RAM production, meaning the kind that'll go in a PC as opposed to a data center server.

However, before we start mulling the prospect of RAM supply being shored up to some extent, there are obvious caveats to consider here – including a new warning from Dell's CEO as mentioned at the outset.

Analysis: domestic relief – and more pessimism from Dell

(Image credit: Stockcrafter / Getty)

The problem with CXMT is that even if the predicted near-doubling of RAM production does happen in 2028 as these analysts are theorizing, where is this memory going to end up?

Most likely it'll serve the domestic market in China, and the chances of it making any kind of a meaningful difference to the balance of RAM supply outside of Asia are minimal. China's own memory requirements are substantial, and as we've discussed before, the government is likely to exert its influence in terms of keeping local demand fulfilled rather than selling abroad.

And yes, while it's true that CXMT's RAM is being used by some manufacturers in the west already, it's on a very limited basis currently – and it isn't like it's some kind of a bargain, either. Indeed, the cost of CXMT's memory is reportedly much the same as what you'll pay if buying from Samsung.

Meanwhile, as Wccftech also picked up, the CEO of Dell, Michael Dell, added his voice to the growing consensus that the memory shortage will get worse next year, and that these RAM woes are going to be prolonged for quite some time.

Dell told the Wall Street Journal that memory supply problems could keep on making us miserable for up to four years, meaning until 2030. Again, this echoes some of the many negative calls on the RAM crisis which have been heard in the past few months.

CXMT expanding its RAM production in a beefy way certainly won't hurt, but it's unlikely to help the average consumer outside of China.

Meanwhile, as RAM continues to get pricier (somehow, even though the cost was already through the roof), it's worth considering workarounds to get more from your gaming PC.

Could this be the best price per GB for a PCIe SSD this year so far?

The Teamgroup T-Force G50 EVO is the cheapest 4TB SSD you can buy right now. Newegg sells it for $369.99 after using promo code SSF74294 and the current gift card offer (buy $200, get $230). That’s an extraordinary $126 discount off its sticker price. I cannot stress enough how good of a deal that is!

At just over $0.09 per TB, it is significantly cheaper than the Acer FA200 I found a fortnight ago. The G50 Evo is easily the cheapest PCIe SSD of the year so far per TB. Nothing comes remotely close to it but it is sadly the odd one out, an anomaly in a sea of expensive SSDs especially with a 4TB capacity.

T-Force G50 Evo 4TB SSD: was $455.99 now $369.99
This 4TB SSD features a PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 interface, with read speeds up to 5,000MB/s. For the full discount, pick up two Newegg gift cards which gives you a bonus $30, then use code SSF74294. View Deal

Why I recommend this deal

I am guilty of recommending the Acer FA200 in a previous deal. You can always send it back and get this one. At $92 per TB, it is $110 cheaper than Acer’s model, which is a lot (although the FA200 is significantly faster) and far cheaper than anything I saw during Amazon October Prime Day.

The T-Force G50 Evo is an entry level PCIe 4.0 SSD with read/write speeds of 5000 MBps and 4700 MBps, which is towards the slower end of the spectrum but fast enough for everyday usage. Team Group says that the drive has a 1.5 million hour MTBF (mean time before failure), a 1.200 TBW endurance and a three-year warranty, which again is towards the lower part of the market.

Other things worth mentioning are the graphene heat spreader (which is basically a sticker in the packaging) and the lack of onboard DRAM. I haven’t found any reviews of the G50 EVO online yet.

More 4TB SSDs

WD Blue SN5000 4TB SSD: $449.99
The closest competitor to the FA200 in terms of price, but the speeds can't match it, reaching up to 5,500 MB/s. View Deal

990 Pro 4TB SSD: was $1099.99 now $949
Still one of the best internal SSDs we've ever tested, but the price is astronomically high right now, especially compared to the Acer FA200. View Deal

Black Opal 2TB SSD: $340.99
This deal is from Biwin, who manufacturer's the Acer SSD. It's for the 2TB model, so you could plug two in a RAID-0 to match the FA200's capacity. View Deal

• Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent to explore development of a European constellation
• This could work as an alternative to Starlink, and allow networks to plug coverage gaps with satellites
• However, they still need a satellite partner to deliver any such plan

Starlink has major mobile ambitions, seemingly seeing itself as a true rival to conventional carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile in the US. But over in Europe, mobile operators might look to offer a Starlink alternative.

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone have all signed a letter of intent to explore “a potential joint bid for the future allocation of spectrum for Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) in Europe.”

So, in other words, they might work together to allocate spectrum to a satellite-based connectivity service aimed at increasing their coverage in areas where masts and other ground-based infrastructure don’t currently reach.

Such a service would put them in direct competition with Starlink, which has partnered with the likes of T-Mobile in the US and O2 in the UK to plug coverage gaps in their networks, and which has ambitions to launch a standalone carrier.

A long way off

(Image credit: Vodafone)

But it’s still very early days for this European initiative. The letter of intent is simply to explore a potential bid — wording which suggests nothing is very set in stone. And even if these carriers do jointly allocate this spectrum, they still need to “establish key ground network infrastructure” to go along with it.

And most importantly of all, they need access to a satellite constellation, and while part of the intent here is to “support the development of a European constellation,” they don’t actually plan to build a constellation themselves; rather, they’re looking for a satellite partner.

So don’t expect to see a European Starlink alternative anytime soon, but it’s sounding like there might be one at some point in the future — and this is a move that would make sense, given Europe’s ongoing attempt to lessen its reliance on US services.

Seagate has made hard drives for decades, and the Expansion line is about as straightforward as external storage gets: plug it in and drag your files across, no software required. The included Rescue data recovery service is a useful safety net for a drive that’s likely to hold years of files.

If your photos, videos, and backups are scattered across too many small drives, a single 16TB Seagate Expansion lets you consolidate them. Currently, you can pick up the Seagate Expansion Desktop 16TB HDD for $420 (was $550) at Newegg with the current gift card offer (buy two for $200, get $230).

• Best for: Professionals who needs a lot of affordable backup or media storage for a desktop PC or Mac.

• Why we like it: We've had good experiences testing out Seagate's line of storage. Here, you get a huge 16TB capacity in one box, simple plug-and-play setup on Windows and Mac, and Rescue data recovery services included.

Expansion 16TB: was $549.99 now $419.99
This 16TB desktop external hard drive connects over USB 3.0 and works with Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.12 or later (you may need to reformat it for Time Machine). It includes Seagate’s Rescue data recovery services and a one-year warranty. For the full discount, pick up two Newegg gift cards for the bonus $30 free.View Deal

Price Context & Historical Value

The $100 savings work out to 18% off, a modest discount on a high-capacity drive. If you also pick up two $100 Newegg gift cards, you’ll get $30 in bonus credit. External drive prices have risen over the past year, so this is a fair price today but not a bargain by older standards.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Seagate Expansion 16TB if...

You need a single, roomy drive for backups or a media library, you want simple plug-and-play storage for a desktop PC or Mac, or you like having data recovery services included.

❌ Skip the Seagate Expansion 16TB if...

You need something portable, since this desktop drive needs wall power, you want the speed of an SSD or a faster USB-C connection, or a one-year warranty feels too short for a drive holding this much data.

• See all desktop hard drives at Newegg

• World ID for Zoom will put a Human Badge on your video feed to prove you're... human
• Setting this up requires a physical iris scan and a verification selfie
• Verifying human authenticity is easier than identifying deepfakes

Sam Altman's biometric identity verification company, World, has launched a series of tools designed to help businesses distinguish real people from AI deepfakes as one of his other companies – OpenAI – becomes increasingly capable of mimicking humans.

One of the main announcements was the general availability of World ID for Zoom, which gives enterprise customers access to a verification process that can distinguish genuine video from AI content.

Under the newly-launched system, verified participants will receive a "Human Badge" displayed alongside their video feed so that other participants can be more confident that they're speaking with a human.

World ID for Zoom

While the problem World is aiming to solve seems rather dystopian and unlikely, recent Gartner research actually revealed that 36% of senior cybersecurity leaders reported at least one incident involving a deepfake during an video call over the past 12 months.

We also know that Microsoft has been launching numerous updates to address similar concerns in Teams, opening up its platform to enable third-party deepfake detection in the hope of stamping out AI-generated video and audio.

However, proving human authenticity isn't as simple as ticking a few boxes or scanning a passport. Workers will have to visit one of World's physical Orb devices, which scans their iris to create a cryptographically secure biometric reference.

To streamline the process, enterprises can choose to have an Orb installed onsite, though this could likely be a costly option.

A selfie through the mobile app then verifies the human participant against that biometric reference image during Zoom calls.

World says that detecting deepfakes can be especially challenging, "lead[ing] to an arms race between deepfake detection and creation," hence the decision to verify human authenticity instead.

• GPT-6 Astra has cracked the code on a 19th-century military cipher
• Claude AI has also been busy testing elliptical curve encryption
• Both breakthroughs highlight the increasing capabilities of AI models

AI continues to push the boundaries in almost every task it gets given, and two new reports highlight the tech's growing capabilities when it comes to code-breaking and testing widely used encryption security protocols.

First up, Japan Today reveals that AI engineer Carter Church has used OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra model to crack a written code used by one of Napoleon Bonaparte's generals more than 200 years ago. The message dates from 1809, and mentions the positions of troops belonging to France and its allies.

The letter was sitting ignored in an online archive when Church decided to give it a go. Manually decoding the symbols, numbers, and letters could have taken weeks, but the AI was done in just six hours.

"What AI mostly brings is persistence," Church told AFP, adding that he felt "an unbelievable sense of satisfaction and excitement" when the result appeared. It was verified by patent engineer Satoshi Tomokiyo, who maintains an online list of unsolved ciphers for amateur cryptographers to tackle.

Curves and keys

Claude from Anthropic is one of the models that's been busy (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Our second bit of AI code-breaking concerns cryptographic key generation — the methods software and hardware use to encrypt and secure data. Elliptic curves are one way to produce the keys required, and 'seeds' are starting points for these curves.

As reported by Cyber Security News, an internal Claude AI model used by Anthropic has now traced the origins of five elliptic curve seeds generated by the US National Security Agency (NSA) in less than 30 minutes. For more than 25 years, since the seeds were published, there have been claims that they contained weaknesses the NSA could use as backdoors.

Not so, Claude has now determined — there are no weaknesses, and no inside jokes. As Anthropic points out, most researchers trusted the curves already and no action is necessary, but it's a "fun closing chapter" that again demonstrates the AI's prowess.

Claude also had time for a quiet dig at human cryptographers. "Is it suspicious that such an obvious thing wasn't discovered in 25 years?" the AI asked on its way to finding the correct solution, according to the internal thinking logs. Not only are these models outperforming us at the core math, they're dunking on us along the way.

TT Nature Bird Feeder Station: Two-minute review

Unlike companies like Netvue (which originated as a smart security camera maker before launching the Birdfy line) or Bird Buddy (which built its platform from the ground up around a custom app experience), TT Nature uses off-the-shelf camera hardware paired with third-party software.

Its wooden Smart Bird Feeder Station is a rustic, budget-friendly alternative to the sleek, plastic-heavy smart feeders dominating the market. It’s solidly built from FSC-certified natural timber and topped with a dark metal roof, making it look more like a traditional garden birdhouse than smart home tech, and a natural fit for rustic outdoor setups. It also matches my garden office perfectly.

Beware, the camera is more like a retrofitted security device than a specialized bird snapper. After mounting the feeder to my garden fence and monitoring it for several weeks, I appreciate its physical design and reasonable cost, while also finding the basic software setup frustrating.

As mentioned, the wooden housing feels very sturdy, though it will inherently be harder to clean and maintain than all-plastic constructions. The included mounting template and accessories make locking it securely onto a fence panel or post easy, provided you have a decent drill. The external solar panel and full mounting kit are included, whereas most rivals require you to buy these as extras.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

The physical assembly is minimal, but setting up the camera with TT Nature's accompanying app, PerchLens, proved to be less straightforward than the process with Birdfy models. The app refused to detect the camera automatically, forcing a manual setup that meant temporarily locking my home router to a 2.4GHz band — a hurdle I’ve never had to clear with other feeders I’ve tested. Once past that, though, the Wi-Fi connection has remained stable, even with the feeder at the far end of my garden.

The feeder captures 1080p HD video with a wide field of view and a pleasantly sharp focus on the perch itself. However, clips aren't detailed enough to see individual feathers. I found that the camera’s motion sensor is slow to trigger, so clips often start a fraction too late and catch the tail end of a visit or an empty perch. The camera lens also fogged up several times on damp mornings, muting contrast and visibility during the busiest dawn feeding hours.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

You can use microSD recording (cards up to 128GB are supported) and also get three-day cloud storage without a monthly fee. However, AI species identification is locked behind an optional monthly or annual subscription. Without it, incoming alerts are just listed as 'bird'. The software is far more rudimentary than the polished, gamified ecosystems of the Bird Buddy 2 or Birdfy. If you don't mind manually spotting your visitors, though, the app does at least neatly organize your clips by date and time.

Despite its basic app and trigger lag (something I hope will be less of an issue when the birds feel brave enough to spend longer feeding), the TT Nature delivers undeniable value. It offers a nice-to-look-at wooden build and set-and-forget solar power, at a fraction of the price of most flagship competitors. If you’re a casual bird lover who wants a budget-friendly garden camera that blends in naturally, I think it can still earn a spot in your yard or garden.

• Interested in other options available besides the TT Nature Bird Feeder Station? Check out our best bird feeder cameras guide.

I found live streaming to be occasionally laggy, sometimes not loading at all, and even when I set the camera to Frenzy Mode, the AI postcard capture missed birds I could clearly see sitting on the feeder from my kitchen window. It’s not the most reliable feeder I’ve used, and not ideal if you want to capture every single bird and build a picture of their visiting habits; however, it does stop your feed from getting clogged with thousands of similar clips.

Despite these niggles and quirks, I really enjoy the core experience. The AI bird identification is almost perfect, the postcard collection system provides a handy highlight reel, and the solar roof means near-continuous use.

The Bird Buddy 2 is a sleek, low-maintenance smart feeder with strong app design and best-in-class solar performance. For now, it earns its spot in my garden (and believe me, I have four smart feeders on the go), though I can’t help thinking about its price and hope tighter bird detection lands in future updates.

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder: Price and availability

• First created and released around mid-2024
• Available via Amazon US, Walmart, and Amazon UK
• $120-140 in US (approx. £75 in UK)

At around $140 (£75), the TT Nature smart bird feeder station sits at the affordable end of the best bird cameras, especially given its solid timber construction. It sits well below Netvue’s premium wooden options like the Birdfy Bamboo (~£199) and costs about the same as the plastic entry-level Birdfy Rookie (~£80), which doesn’t include a solar panel.

The feeder includes free AI species identification, and I like that it has a local MicroSD card slot (supporting up to 128GB) for storage, plus a free 3-day rolling cloud buffer. Not hugely generous, but enough for a freebie. Unlike rivals that lock some features under a premium membership, you don’t have to budget for recurring monthly fees here.

Availability is primarily via Amazon in both the US and UK, or directly from TT Nature in the US. The package includes the wooden feeder housing, 1080p camera module, mounting hardware, and an external 3W solar panel. Considering the full package, I think TT Nature delivers good upfront value for birdwatchers who want a complete, low-maintenance setup on a sensible budget.

Software is as important as hardware, though. I found its accompanying app lags behind Birdfy and Bird Buddy in terms of enjoyment and features, and I’d still consider paying a bit more for them.

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera: Specs

Feature

Specification

Sensor

1/2.7" CMOS

Photo quality

12MP - 1080p snapshot capture with 130-degree FOV

Video quality

1080p HD @ 30fps

Memory

MicroSD slot (up to 128GB) + Cloud storage options

Dimensions

185 x 198 x 270 mm (7.3 x 7.8 x 10.6")

Weight

0.95 kg (2.1 lbs)

Seed capacity

1.5 Litres (~6.3 Cups)

Weather resistance

IP65 Certified

Battery

5200 mAh rechargeable battery with an external 3W Solar Panel included

Connectivity

2.4 GHz Wi-Fi

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera: Design

• Rustic wooden build with a black metal roof
• Mounting kit included for trees, walls, or poles
• Separate wired solar panel for charging

The TT Nature feeder, made from FSC-certified natural timber housing, immediately sets the kind of traditional, garden-friendly tone that I like over a plastic model. On its website, the brand sells two roof options, but the dark metal roof on my version feels sturdy and well-built. The packaging is neat and secure, though I found it a shame that TT Nature uses single-use plastic wrapping for some elements instead of easily recyclable cardboard—a missed opportunity for a nature-friendly product.

Assembly takes less than ten minutes and is intuitive enough that you likely won't need the instruction manual. You simply pop the perching ledge onto the front, lift the hinged wooden flap to slide in the camera module, and tilt up the roof to pour in your seed mix.

Initially, the physical assembly took about ten minutes. There are clear instructions included in the box, but I didn't find I needed them because it was all intuitive. You slot the metal perching ledge into pre-drilled holes at the end of the wooden feeding area, pull down the branded wooden flap at the front to slot the camera module in, and tilt up the roof when you want to add seed. The camera sits loosely in its designated space rather than clipping or mounting in, which is surprisingly secure even if it feels a little unanchored at first.

Lauren ScottLauren ScottLauren Scott

Though putting together the wooden unit was easy, I struggled for a while to get the camera to pair with TT Nature's accompanying app over Wi-Fi. It took me about an hour of troubleshooting to get the camera connected, as it wouldn’t find the camera automatically during scanning and I had to switch over to manual setup.

Even then, I had to temporarily set my Virgin Media home router to broadcast on a 2.4GHz network only—a step I’ve never had to take with any of the other smart feeders I’ve tested. Luckily, now that the initial connection has been established, I‘ve been able to switch my router back to a dual 2.4GHz/5GHz band without any ongoing drops.

Even with some premium smart feeders, wall or fence mounting brackets are sold as extra accessories. The TT Nature feeder has mounting options for trees, poles, walls, and fences included, and I opted to mount the feeder directly onto my garden fence panel with the supplied screws.

Once these were drilled in—made much easier thanks to an included mounting template—the feeder sat firmly on its plate with no wobbling. I do appreciate the sturdy, locked-in feel this gives you, but note that it’s far less flexible to reposition the feeder on a whim when compared to hanging designs like the Bird Buddy 2.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

I found out (the fiddly way) that it’s better to mount the wooden feeder to your fence or post first, pair the camera to your phone app second, and then slide the camera module into its front slot. You’ll also need to thread the solar panel cable through a small access hole in the back of the wooden housing to connect it to the camera.

The solar panel can be mounted separately nearby, but to save drilling extra holes into my garden fence, for now I’ve chosen to rest it directly on top of the feeder’s metal roof for easy adjusting. The white trailing wires from the panel aren't the prettiest to look at, and I prefer a feeder with flush solar panels integrated directly into the roof design, but you can easily tuck the excess cable behind the wooden housing to tidy things up.

Filling the 1.5-litre hopper is quick and easy, though I found seed doesn't always flow freely down to the perch and needs some encouragement—either a nudge with your fingers or a gentle shake of the housing. There are drainage holes built into the feeding perch to allow water drainage, but these are wide enough to let smaller seeds fall straight through to the ground, which feels wasteful when you’ve bought premium bird food mix.

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera: Performance

• Clear 1080p video in dry conditions and direct sun
• Consistent motion detection but a recording lag
• The app is functional, with AI species ID paywalled

It took only a few days for the local birds to grow bold enough to land on the TT Nature feeder in my garden, and soon after, my phone started pinging with initial motion alerts. Whenever I’m first testing out a new bird cameras, I also like to do a bit of an observation check out of my kitchen window to see how real-time landings translates to app notifications. More advanced software can take a few days to calibrate, but the motion sensors triggered reliably for almost every visitor I spotted.

That said, playing the clips back revealed a particularly frustrating flaw: the camera often triggers a fraction of a second too slowly. For particularly short visits, by the time the recording had started, the bird had often already flown off. Videos are capped at a fixed 20-second duration with no option in the app to adjust clip length. By default, the motion sensitivity is set to Medium (the other options being low or high); I bumped this up to High in the hope of catching birds as they first approached, but it didn’t make a noticeable difference to the trigger lag.

The camera settings are rudimentary overall, though Iappreciate that you can filter notifications to alert you to animal visitors only. This stopped my phone from pinging me every time I took out some washing or my dog sniffed past. Of course, you can leave it set to all motion if you want—at its core, this is essentially a standard security camera housed inside a wooden birdhouse.

In terms of video quality, the camera definitely needs even lighting and a dry day to perform at its best, a slight drawback when your feeder is at its busiest during the early hours. On several damp autumn mornings, the glass lens completely fogged up with condensation, making visiting birds look like blurs. There’s also no automatic white balance or HDR tone-mapping at play (I don’t know how exposure works on other cameras, but the Bird Buddy has often seemed to compensate); birds sitting in deep morning shade can also look quite dark and hard to make out.

When the weather is fair, however, the optical performance is more charming. The lens offers a crisp, fixed focal plane right on the front perch, paired with a natural, shallow depth of field that softens the garden background nicely. I also like how wide the field of view is, allowing you to watch where birds fly in from and trace their exit paths after a feed. Video playback is generally clear, if occasionally a bit juddery during fast wing-flaps.

Lauren ScottLauren ScottLauren Scott

The accompanying PerchLens app is where the TT Nature camera feels most in tune with its entry-level price. Unlike the slick, fun ecosystems of Birdfy or Bird Buddy—which feature near-flawless AI identification out of the box—the software experience here is basic.

Without paying for an optional monthly subscription (£6.10/month, processed painstakingly via PayPal or bank transfer), you don't get any automatic AI species tagging, and incoming sightings are simply labelled as "bird".

TT Nature doesn't push the camera as a heavy AI play, and personally, I don't mind manually spotting the birds coming and going since I recognise common local garden species anyway. But I think if your goal is to automatically curate a digital log, track species frequency and behaviour, or build up a solid collection of identified visitors, the app simply isn’t advanced enough for that. The camera also doesn't automatically generate shareable photo cards like the Bird Buddy 2, and if you want stills, your best bet is capturing a manual screenshot while watching the 1080p live stream.

Should you buy the TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera?Buy it if...

You want a natural-looking design

Constructed from FSC-certified natural timber with a weather-resistant metal roof, the wooden TT Nature looks like a traditional garden birdhouse rather than a plastic security cam. It blended well into my garden, though mounting the solar panel is extra faff.

You want a no-subscription storage option

The TT Nature includes a physical MicroSD card slot (up to 128GB) and a free 3-day cloud loop, meaning you can save and download 1080p footage (if you're quick) without recurring costs.

Don't buy it if...

You want a large-capacity seed tray

With a 1.5-litre capacity, I'd say this feeder is on the smaller side for big or busy gardens. If you have high bird traffic or frequent squirrel visits, you might have to refill the seed tray every few days compared to larger 3L+ feeders.

You want an all-in-one solar roof

The camera's 3W solar panel is connected via a wire rather than being a seamless, flush panel built into the roof. If you want a clean, single-piece feeder, this setup feels a bit more modular and requires extra consideration.

Also consider

Bird Buddy Pro (with solar roof)

If you don't want to maintain the TT Nature's wooden exterior and prefer an easier-to-clean, modern design, the Bird Buddy Pro is a premium alternative. Its solar roof is integrated, and the companion app curates daily Postcard highlight reels instead of sending constant motion alerts.

Read our Bird Buddy Pro reviewView Deal

Birdfy Bamboo

If you like the naturalistic look of the TT Nature wooden camera but want something a little bigger, Netvue's Birdfy Bamboo gives you almost double the seed capacity. It's sustainably made and looks just as integrated in a traditional garden setting. The product is more expensive, but it offers better build quality.

Read our Netvue Birdfy Bamboo reviewView Deal

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)How I tested the TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera

• Tested for several weeks in a UK garden in October
• Mounted using the included hanging hardware
• Connected to an iPhone 15 Pro running the PerchLens app

I tested the TT Nature Bird Feeder Station in my garden for two weeks, after mounting it securely onto my fence using the metal plate and screws included in the box. I powered up the camera using the wired external 3W solar panel balanced on the feeder's roof.

I connected the camera to my iPhone 15 Pro via TT Nature's app, PerchLens, so I could see how effective the Wi-Fi pairing process and motion alert notifications were. I spent time navigating the app and reading the FAQs to see what the camera's support and community were like.

I mostly followed RSPB guidance on feeding birds and left small amounts of mealworms in the base of the feeder, adding a few seeds close to the end of October. I took the camera inside once during the testing period to refill it and wipe it down, as I wanted to gauge how easy it would be to clean.

First reviewed October 2026

TT Nature Bird Feeder Station: Two-minute review

Unlike companies like Netvue (which originated as a smart security camera maker before launching the Birdfy line) or Bird Buddy (which built its platform from the ground up around a custom app experience), TT Nature uses off-the-shelf camera hardware paired with third-party software.

Its wooden Smart Bird Feeder Station is a rustic, budget-friendly alternative to the sleek, plastic-heavy smart feeders dominating the market. It’s solidly built from FSC-certified natural timber and topped with a dark metal roof, making it look more like a traditional garden birdhouse than smart home tech, and a natural fit for rustic outdoor setups. It also matches my garden office perfectly.

Beware, the camera is more like a retrofitted security device than a specialized bird snapper. After mounting the feeder to my garden fence and monitoring it for several weeks, I appreciate its physical design and reasonable cost, while also finding the basic software setup frustrating.

As mentioned, the wooden housing feels very sturdy, though it will inherently be harder to clean and maintain than all-plastic constructions. The included mounting template and accessories make locking it securely onto a fence panel or post easy, provided you have a decent drill. The external solar panel and full mounting kit are included, whereas most rivals require you to buy these as extras.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

The physical assembly is minimal, but setting up the camera with TT Nature's accompanying app, PerchLens, proved to be less straightforward than the process with Birdfy models. The app refused to detect the camera automatically, forcing a manual setup that meant temporarily locking my home router to a 2.4GHz band — a hurdle I’ve never had to clear with other feeders I’ve tested. Once past that, though, the Wi-Fi connection has remained stable, even with the feeder at the far end of my garden.

The feeder captures 1080p HD video with a wide field of view and a pleasantly sharp focus on the perch itself. However, clips aren't detailed enough to see individual feathers. I found that the camera’s motion sensor is slow to trigger, so clips often start a fraction too late and catch the tail end of a visit or an empty perch. The camera lens also fogged up several times on damp mornings, muting contrast and visibility during the busiest dawn feeding hours.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

You can use microSD recording (cards up to 128GB are supported) and also get three-day cloud storage without a monthly fee. However, AI species identification is locked behind an optional monthly or annual subscription. Without it, incoming alerts are just listed as 'bird'. The software is far more rudimentary than the polished, gamified ecosystems of the Bird Buddy 2 or Birdfy. If you don't mind manually spotting your visitors, though, the app does at least neatly organize your clips by date and time.

Despite its basic app and trigger lag (something I hope will be less of an issue when the birds feel brave enough to spend longer feeding), the TT Nature delivers undeniable value. It offers a nice-to-look-at wooden build and set-and-forget solar power, at a fraction of the price of most flagship competitors. If you’re a casual bird lover who wants a budget-friendly garden camera that blends in naturally, I think it can still earn a spot in your yard or garden.

• Interested in other options available besides the TT Nature Bird Feeder Station? Check out our best bird feeder cameras guide.

I found live streaming to be occasionally laggy, sometimes not loading at all, and even when I set the camera to Frenzy Mode, the AI postcard capture missed birds I could clearly see sitting on the feeder from my kitchen window. It’s not the most reliable feeder I’ve used, and not ideal if you want to capture every single bird and build a picture of their visiting habits; however, it does stop your feed from getting clogged with thousands of similar clips.

Despite these niggles and quirks, I really enjoy the core experience. The AI bird identification is almost perfect, the postcard collection system provides a handy highlight reel, and the solar roof means near-continuous use.

The Bird Buddy 2 is a sleek, low-maintenance smart feeder with strong app design and best-in-class solar performance. For now, it earns its spot in my garden (and believe me, I have four smart feeders on the go), though I can’t help thinking about its price and hope tighter bird detection lands in future updates.

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder: Price and availability

• First created and released around mid-2024
• Available via Amazon US, Walmart, and Amazon UK
• $120-140 in US (approx. £75 in UK)

At around $140 (£75), the TT Nature smart bird feeder station sits at the affordable end of the best bird cameras, especially given its solid timber construction. It sits well below Netvue’s premium wooden options like the Birdfy Bamboo (~£199) and costs about the same as the plastic entry-level Birdfy Rookie (~£80), which doesn’t include a solar panel.

The feeder includes free AI species identification, and I like that it has a local MicroSD card slot (supporting up to 128GB) for storage, plus a free 3-day rolling cloud buffer. Not hugely generous, but enough for a freebie. Unlike rivals that lock some features under a premium membership, you don’t have to budget for recurring monthly fees here.

Availability is primarily via Amazon in both the US and UK, or directly from TT Nature in the US. The package includes the wooden feeder housing, 1080p camera module, mounting hardware, and an external 3W solar panel. Considering the full package, I think TT Nature delivers good upfront value for birdwatchers who want a complete, low-maintenance setup on a sensible budget.

Software is as important as hardware, though. I found its accompanying app lags behind Birdfy and Bird Buddy in terms of enjoyment and features, and I’d still consider paying a bit more for them.

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera: Specs

Feature

Specification

Sensor

1/2.7" CMOS

Photo quality

12MP - 1080p snapshot capture with 130-degree FOV

Video quality

1080p HD @ 30fps

Memory

MicroSD slot (up to 128GB) + Cloud storage options

Dimensions

185 x 198 x 270 mm (7.3 x 7.8 x 10.6")

Weight

0.95 kg (2.1 lbs)

Seed capacity

1.5 Litres (~6.3 Cups)

Weather resistance

IP65 Certified

Battery

5200 mAh rechargeable battery with an external 3W Solar Panel included

Connectivity

2.4 GHz Wi-Fi

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera: Design

• Rustic wooden build with a black metal roof
• Mounting kit included for trees, walls, or poles
• Separate wired solar panel for charging

The TT Nature feeder, made from FSC-certified natural timber housing, immediately sets the kind of traditional, garden-friendly tone that I like over a plastic model. On its website, the brand sells two roof options, but the dark metal roof on my version feels sturdy and well-built. The packaging is neat and secure, though I found it a shame that TT Nature uses single-use plastic wrapping for some elements instead of easily recyclable cardboard—a missed opportunity for a nature-friendly product.

Assembly takes less than ten minutes and is intuitive enough that you likely won't need the instruction manual. You simply pop the perching ledge onto the front, lift the hinged wooden flap to slide in the camera module, and tilt up the roof to pour in your seed mix.

Initially, the physical assembly took about ten minutes. There are clear instructions included in the box, but I didn't find I needed them because it was all intuitive. You slot the metal perching ledge into pre-drilled holes at the end of the wooden feeding area, pull down the branded wooden flap at the front to slot the camera module in, and tilt up the roof when you want to add seed. The camera sits loosely in its designated space rather than clipping or mounting in, which is surprisingly secure even if it feels a little unanchored at first.

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Though putting together the wooden unit was easy, I struggled for a while to get the camera to pair with TT Nature's accompanying app over Wi-Fi. It took me about an hour of troubleshooting to get the camera connected, as it wouldn’t find the camera automatically during scanning and I had to switch over to manual setup.

Even then, I had to temporarily set my Virgin Media home router to broadcast on a 2.4GHz network only—a step I’ve never had to take with any of the other smart feeders I’ve tested. Luckily, now that the initial connection has been established, I‘ve been able to switch my router back to a dual 2.4GHz/5GHz band without any ongoing drops.

Even with some premium smart feeders, wall or fence mounting brackets are sold as extra accessories. The TT Nature feeder has mounting options for trees, poles, walls, and fences included, and I opted to mount the feeder directly onto my garden fence panel with the supplied screws.

Once these were drilled in—made much easier thanks to an included mounting template—the feeder sat firmly on its plate with no wobbling. I do appreciate the sturdy, locked-in feel this gives you, but note that it’s far less flexible to reposition the feeder on a whim when compared to hanging designs like the Bird Buddy 2.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

I found out (the fiddly way) that it’s better to mount the wooden feeder to your fence or post first, pair the camera to your phone app second, and then slide the camera module into its front slot. You’ll also need to thread the solar panel cable through a small access hole in the back of the wooden housing to connect it to the camera.

The solar panel can be mounted separately nearby, but to save drilling extra holes into my garden fence, for now I’ve chosen to rest it directly on top of the feeder’s metal roof for easy adjusting. The white trailing wires from the panel aren't the prettiest to look at, and I prefer a feeder with flush solar panels integrated directly into the roof design, but you can easily tuck the excess cable behind the wooden housing to tidy things up.

Filling the 1.5-litre hopper is quick and easy, though I found seed doesn't always flow freely down to the perch and needs some encouragement—either a nudge with your fingers or a gentle shake of the housing. There are drainage holes built into the feeding perch to allow water drainage, but these are wide enough to let smaller seeds fall straight through to the ground, which feels wasteful when you’ve bought premium bird food mix.

TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera: Performance

• Clear 1080p video in dry conditions and direct sun
• Consistent motion detection but a recording lag
• The app is functional, with AI species ID paywalled

It took only a few days for the local birds to grow bold enough to land on the TT Nature feeder in my garden, and soon after, my phone started pinging with initial motion alerts. Whenever I’m first testing out a new bird cameras, I also like to do a bit of an observation check out of my kitchen window to see how real-time landings translates to app notifications. More advanced software can take a few days to calibrate, but the motion sensors triggered reliably for almost every visitor I spotted.

That said, playing the clips back revealed a particularly frustrating flaw: the camera often triggers a fraction of a second too slowly. For particularly short visits, by the time the recording had started, the bird had often already flown off. Videos are capped at a fixed 20-second duration with no option in the app to adjust clip length. By default, the motion sensitivity is set to Medium (the other options being low or high); I bumped this up to High in the hope of catching birds as they first approached, but it didn’t make a noticeable difference to the trigger lag.

The camera settings are rudimentary overall, though Iappreciate that you can filter notifications to alert you to animal visitors only. This stopped my phone from pinging me every time I took out some washing or my dog sniffed past. Of course, you can leave it set to all motion if you want—at its core, this is essentially a standard security camera housed inside a wooden birdhouse.

In terms of video quality, the camera definitely needs even lighting and a dry day to perform at its best, a slight drawback when your feeder is at its busiest during the early hours. On several damp autumn mornings, the glass lens completely fogged up with condensation, making visiting birds look like blurs. There’s also no automatic white balance or HDR tone-mapping at play (I don’t know how exposure works on other cameras, but the Bird Buddy has often seemed to compensate); birds sitting in deep morning shade can also look quite dark and hard to make out.

When the weather is fair, however, the optical performance is more charming. The lens offers a crisp, fixed focal plane right on the front perch, paired with a natural, shallow depth of field that softens the garden background nicely. I also like how wide the field of view is, allowing you to watch where birds fly in from and trace their exit paths after a feed. Video playback is generally clear, if occasionally a bit juddery during fast wing-flaps.

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The accompanying PerchLens app is where the TT Nature camera feels most in tune with its entry-level price. Unlike the slick, fun ecosystems of Birdfy or Bird Buddy—which feature near-flawless AI identification out of the box—the software experience here is basic.

Without paying for an optional monthly subscription (£6.10/month, processed painstakingly via PayPal or bank transfer), you don't get any automatic AI species tagging, and incoming sightings are simply labelled as "bird".

TT Nature doesn't push the camera as a heavy AI play, and personally, I don't mind manually spotting the birds coming and going since I recognise common local garden species anyway. But I think if your goal is to automatically curate a digital log, track species frequency and behaviour, or build up a solid collection of identified visitors, the app simply isn’t advanced enough for that. The camera also doesn't automatically generate shareable photo cards like the Bird Buddy 2, and if you want stills, your best bet is capturing a manual screenshot while watching the 1080p live stream.

Should you buy the TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera?Buy it if...

You want a natural-looking design

Constructed from FSC-certified natural timber with a weather-resistant metal roof, the wooden TT Nature looks like a traditional garden birdhouse rather than a plastic security cam. It blended well into my garden, though mounting the solar panel is extra faff.

You want a no-subscription storage option

The TT Nature includes a physical MicroSD card slot (up to 128GB) and a free 3-day cloud loop, meaning you can save and download 1080p footage (if you're quick) without recurring costs.

Don't buy it if...

You want a large-capacity seed tray

With a 1.5-litre capacity, I'd say this feeder is on the smaller side for big or busy gardens. If you have high bird traffic or frequent squirrel visits, you might have to refill the seed tray every few days compared to larger 3L+ feeders.

You want an all-in-one solar roof

The camera's 3W solar panel is connected via a wire rather than being a seamless, flush panel built into the roof. If you want a clean, single-piece feeder, this setup feels a bit more modular and requires extra consideration.

Also consider

Bird Buddy Pro (with solar roof)

If you don't want to maintain the TT Nature's wooden exterior and prefer an easier-to-clean, modern design, the Bird Buddy Pro is a premium alternative. Its solar roof is integrated, and the companion app curates daily Postcard highlight reels instead of sending constant motion alerts.

Read our Bird Buddy Pro reviewView Deal

Birdfy Bamboo

If you like the naturalistic look of the TT Nature wooden camera but want something a little bigger, Netvue's Birdfy Bamboo gives you almost double the seed capacity. It's sustainably made and looks just as integrated in a traditional garden setting. The product is more expensive, but it offers better build quality.

Read our Netvue Birdfy Bamboo reviewView Deal

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)How I tested the TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder camera

• Tested for several weeks in a UK garden in October
• Mounted using the included hanging hardware
• Connected to an iPhone 15 Pro running the PerchLens app

I tested the TT Nature Bird Feeder Station in my garden for two weeks, after mounting it securely onto my fence using the metal plate and screws included in the box. I powered up the camera using the wired external 3W solar panel balanced on the feeder's roof.

I connected the camera to my iPhone 15 Pro via TT Nature's app, PerchLens, so I could see how effective the Wi-Fi pairing process and motion alert notifications were. I spent time navigating the app and reading the FAQs to see what the camera's support and community were like.

I mostly followed RSPB guidance on feeding birds and left small amounts of mealworms in the base of the feeder, adding a few seeds close to the end of October. I took the camera inside once during the testing period to refill it and wipe it down, as I wanted to gauge how easy it would be to clean.

First reviewed October 2026

The AMD Ryzen 7 700X impressed us during our testing, with our components expert John calling it "hands down the best processor on the market for most people." If you’re building or upgrading to AMD’s AM5 platform, this CPU delivers a fast eight-core chip and the cooler to run it for well under the original asking price.

Now, the AMD Ryzen 7 700X is $239 (was $399) at Newegg with a free Cooler Master Elite Liquid 240mm AIO. But I've found a way to bring that down to $209 when you buy two $100 Newegg gift cards, with the site giving away a bonus $30 free with each purchase ($15 per card).

• Best for: gamers and everyday power users building a new AM5 system who want strong performance without paying for a Ryzen 9.

• Why we like it: eight Zen 4 cores with boost clocks up to 5.4GHz, PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support, and a free 240mm liquid cooler, which matters because the 7700X doesn’t ship with one.

• What to know: To use this CPU, you need an AM5 motherboard and DDR5 memory.

Ryzen 7 700X: was $399 now $209
An eight-core, 16-thread Zen 4 desktop processor for Socket AM5, with a 4.5GHz base clock, up to 5.4GHz boost, 32MB of L3 cache, and a 105W TDP. No cooler is included in the box, but Newegg is currently adding a Cooler Master Elite Liquid 240mm AIO free with purchase. For the full discount, get two Newegg gift cards for a bonus $30.View Deal

Why we recommend it

In our Ryzen 7 7700X review, we praised its outstanding performance and accessible price, calling it the processor most people should buy. At $209 with a free AIO, though, the chip is a much easier sell than at launch, and the bundled cooler removes one of the extra costs we flagged.

Price Context & Historical Value

By stacking two Newegg gift cards alongside the existing discount, you're saving $190 off the $399 list price. That's not the lowest ever price. But what makes this deal stand out is the free 240mm AIO cooler, which you’d otherwise have to buy separately. If you’re ready to build on AM5 now, it’s a strong time to buy.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X if... you’re building a new AM5 gaming or general-use PC, you want eight fast cores without paying Ryzen 9 prices, or you need a cooler anyway and like the idea of getting a 240mm AIO thrown in.

❌ Skip the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X if... you’re on an older AM4 or DDR4 system and don’t want to replace your motherboard and memory, you do heavy professional rendering that would benefit from more cores, or your case can’t fit a 240mm radiator.

• See all desktop CPU at Newegg

• Microsoft pulls out of the UK's largest data center project over concerns surrounding power supply
• The site was expected to be hooked up to the grid by 2027, but new estimates suggest it will not be operational until early 2030
• Microsoft was the site's only publicly announced customer

Microsoft has announced it will pull out of a project the UK government had previously dubbed the country’s largest AI data center.

A backlog of power capacity for UK data centers means the site would not be operational until the early 2030s, prompting Microsoft’s withdrawal from the project.

The development, announced in 2025 and headed by British company Nscale, was set to be built at a site in Loughton, Essex - but the project has been mired in controversy after it was revealed in March 2026 that the site was still operating as a scaffolding yard.

Nscale data center in limbo

The data center was originally planned to be hooked up to the grid by 2027, but the UK currently does not have enough energy capacity for the more than 300 data centers still looking to connect to the energy grid. Capacity is stretched so thin that the total electricity demand for data centers is currently 60% greater than current capacity.

Microsoft’s investment was a linchpin for the site with the company planning to fund a supercomputer and act as a key customer once the data center was operational. However, the withdrawal of Nscale’s only publicly announced customer has left the site in limbo.

“We remain committed to both the Loughton project and the UK and we are exploring alternative power sources for the site, in addition to other expansion sites in the UK,” Nscale said in a statement. “Our relationship with Microsoft remains strong and long-term.”

“This unfortunate London-wide grid issue has no impact on our other contracts,” the company added.

Britain’s ‘sovereign’ data center provider

Nscale has positioned itself as Britain’s “sovereign” data center provider and was planning to head to Wall Street with an estimated valuation of $35 billion (£26billion). The company is a neocloud - operating with significant backing from Nvidia - looking to build the underlying infrastructure that will power the AI boom.

But there are concerns that neoclouds and other data center developers could be an instability in the AI ecosystem. Some experts have theorized that AI will need to offer a global revenue of $2.5 trillion annually in order to deliver on the underlying investments made in infrastructure and hardware.

Current estimates suggest the yearly AI revenue sits between just $150 billion and $250 billion.

Developers are taking on increasingly risky debts to lay the foundation for the expected AI boom in the hope that losses can be recovered once productivity gains are fully realized, but as previous revolutionary tech cycles have demonstrated, it is the companies that build upon the underlying infrastructure succeed, but those building it often struggle to recuperate their investments.

With RAM prices apparently out of control thanks to a very hungry AI, my team and I have been tracking the best deals on memory that we can find. And using my Newegg 'trick', this must be the cheapest way to upgrade to a DDR5-6000 setup yet.

Newegg is currently selling a $100 gift card that gives you a bonus $15 for free. You can buy two of these to get $30 free. Couple that with the current discounts, and you can choose between three different 32GB memory kits for $420 apiece.

In terms of value, I've selected the Patriot Viper Venom DDR5-6400 kit, the TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-6000 kit, and Klevv's 32GB DDR5-6000 kit.

Today's best DDR5 RAM deals

Viper Venom 32GB DDR5-6400 kit: was $449.99 now $419.99
Built for AMD Expo profiles, this kit has CL38-46-46-110 timings. For the full discount, buy two Newegg gift cards for $200, which nets you a free $30. View Deal

T-Force Delta RGB 32GB DDR5-6000 kit: was $478.99 now $419.99
TeamGroup's DDR5 RAM is a dual-profile kit for AMD Expo and Intel XMP 3.0. It features CL38-46-46-84 timings. For the full discount, grab two Newegg gift cards for $200, and use code GTWF569. View Deal

32GB DDR5-6000 kit: was $472.99 now $419.99
This is another dual-profile memory kit with Intel and AMD support. It has tighter 30-36-36-76 timings. For the full discount, get two Newegg gift cards for $200, and use code GTWF569. View Deal

Why we recommend them

With RAM prices sky-rocketing right now, any discount is worth checking out - and pairing the discounts with Newegg's limited-time gift card, which effectively offers a free $30 to use on the site, this is one of the cheapest ways to pick up DDR5 memory.

Which RAM deal should you buy?

✅ Buy the Patriot Viper Venom if...

You're focusing on speed - at 6400MT/s, it's the fastest of the three, supporting AMD 600 Series, 800 Series, or Ryzen PCs.

✅ Buy the TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB if...

You want a stylish RGB memory kit that's effectively plug-and-play for Intel XMP boards.

✅ Buy the Klevv RAM kit if...

You're building an AMD PC. While it supports Intel, the 6000MT/s with CL30 timings is the sweet spot for AMD processors.

• See all desktop memory kits at Newegg

• Anthropic says it is no longer hiring so many junior/entry-level roles
• Many technical workers are becoming AI managers, and so are spending more time in meetings
• The company says its "deep adoption" makes it a useful "early warning system" for AI's impacts

One of the biggest AI developers in the world has released a brand-new study on how AI is transforming its own workforce - but we're not sure whether it's good or bad news.

Starting off with the bad news, Anthropic uncovered a considerable drop in junior workers – junior workers accounted for just 14% of technical staff by mid-2026, down from 21% in early 2025.

The proportion of junior employees among the company's new technical hires fell even more dramatically in the same period, from 27% to just 9%.

Is AI replacing some workers, but not all?

Ultimately, the paper concludes that artificial intelligence is handling more and more entry-level roles, therefore Anthropic hasn't needed to hire as many junior workers.

In fact, hiring on the whole has seemingly dropped thanks to AI-induced productivity gains. "[Anthropic] has hired less per dollar of revenue than an earlier generation of large tech companies," the company explained.

Crucially, the Claude maker isn't reporting a declining technical workforce. Quite the opposite, as it continues to grow, but those technical workers are now handling higher-level, managerial-type roles.

AI's biggest impact at Anthropic has been the number of code commits per engineer, up 5.1x from the end of 2025 to mid-2026. Data queries per data scientist (up 3.1x), contracts per legal worker (up 3.1x) and deals per salesperson (up 1.7x) are also all trending upward.

Humans remain in the loop

More broadly, the company sees many workers transitioning into decision-making roles, and that's increased the amount of time they spend in meetings. A 20% median increase was observed across the workforce.

"Engineers described becoming leaders and managers of agents; non-technical employees described doing more and more of the strategic parts of their job."

Despite massive productivity gains through automation, Anthropic also confirmed that some roles just have to remain human. They include things like sales calls and interviews.

Still, human workers are seen as something of a bottleneck in the world of AI. Claude spends around 80% of interactive session time waiting for human input, the research revealed.

Looking ahead, Anthropic has projected where we could be heading and how things could change with all employers. One of the biggest shifts could come in hiring, where a new set of skills is likely to be prioritized – including "autonomy and judgment."

A more optimistic approach admits that hiring is indeed falling, but job opportunities could actually be exploding. "One possibility is single-person start-ups, each with a human founder steering swarms of agents to rake in billions in revenue."

Ultimately, Anthropic says its "deep adoption of AI... makes it a useful case," and that it exists as an "early warning system" – so maybe we look at AI companies to see how AI is going to impact jobs?