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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 17.

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 175, for March 17.

In an all-time record, 14 of the 68 teams in the men's tournament all come from one conference — the SEC. In the women's, UCLA and South Carolina are top seeds. Games tip off this coming week.

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If you need fast internet in Milwaukee, then you have plenty of options, all the way up to 5,000Mbps. Here's what we found.

Poco F6 Pro review: Two-minute review

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has sub-brands, with Redmi already having built a strong reputation, but you should also start to take notice of Poco. The latter originally launched as Poco by Xiaomi, though it soon spun off as its own independent brand while remaining under the Xiaomi umbrella.

Poco aims to provide customers with "everything you need, nothing you don’t" – delivering devices for those on strict budgets, promising to offer near-premium smartphones for less. The Poco F6 Pro is its most high-end offering, calling it an "all-around flagship that closes the gap on high-end performance phones," and in many ways, it succeeds.

The pricing and model availability of the Poco F6 Pro can be a little tricky to pin down. It comes in three models: 12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB storage and the 16GB RAM/1TB model that I've reviewed here. While the UK get all three models, only the 512GB F6 Pro is available in Australia, priced at £549 / AU$999.

The Poco F6 Pro isn't officially available in the USA but, similarly to the 256GB and 1TB versions in Australia, international models can be purchased through AliExpress (as well as Amazon and Kogan in Australia).

I'm not a hardcore mobile gamer, but across casual titles like Marvel Snap, Hearthstone and Clash Royale, as well as more demanding games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and PUBG Mobile, the Poco F6 Pro ran flawlessly with a steady 60FPS at high graphics settings.

Playing Fortnite on the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)

It boasts a large, bright 6.67-inch WQHD+ display with sharp, vibrant colors. The 120Hz refresh rate makes gaming smooth and, combined with the 3200 x 1440 resolution, I found myself – a movie snob who desires the best possible viewing experience – genuinely enjoying watching movies and TV shows on the Poco F6 Pro. Perhaps most impressive is its 4000-nit peak brightness, just short of the OnePlus 12’s 4500-nit display.

With a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro camera, the Poco F6 Pro offers a solid setup for casual photographers. While it doesn’t quite match the vibrancy or feature set of the best camera phones – or the best budget camera phone – it produces sharp, well-defined images, even in incredibly dark environments, where it's assisted by AI to restore details and deliver clear images.

One feature I personally enjoyed – but might not be for everyone – is the iOS-like interface, specifically regarding the iPhone's swipe-down control center that HyperOS almost completely copies. As an iPhone user in my daily life, it made for an easier transition compared to something like Samsung’s One UI.

The Control Center of the iPhone 15 compared to the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)

Now, for the bad – bloatware, and lots of it. Right out of the box, the Poco F6 Pro comes loaded with an abundance of applications, from duplicates with the Google suite to random games (Bubble Shooter, really?) and third-party apps that clutter the app drawer. Worse yet, you can't mass-delete them, forcing you to hold down each one individually and drag them to the bin.

Worse yet, ads appear within system apps like Themes. While they can be disabled, the fact that customers would have to traverse ads on a phone they've paid for is baffling, if not insulting. Despite enjoying my experience once I'd removed (most) ads, the sour taste they left was hard to forget.

In the budget phone market where high-quality UX is offered by Samsung, Google, Motorola, and now Apple with the iPhone 16e, it's a relatively small drawback that stops the Poco F6 Pro from sitting in the upper echelon of cheap phones.

Still, once beyond the initial setup pains, you're left with a stunning display, powerful performance and all-day battery life within a premium build. Poco even includes a 120W Type C pin charger (in certain countries), USB-C cable and a surprisingly high-quality phone case in the box.

Whether you’re a gamer, casual photographer, or someone who just wants a fast, reliable phone for streaming, scrolling and playing, the Poco F6 Pro delivers exceptional value.

Poco F6 Pro review: price and availability

• Released in May 2024 for £549 / AU$999 (12GB/512GB model)
• Not always available from reputable retailers
• 16GB/1TB model is only available in certain countries

Poco F6 Pro's glass back and cameras (Image credit: Future)

The easiest way to purchase the Poco F6 Pro in the UK and Australia is through the Xiaomi online store. In Australia it is also available via independent retailers: Amazon, Kogan and AliExpress. Amazon and AliExpress reliably stock it for the UK too, while the latter is your only easy option in the US, where you could get it for a discounted price at around the $400 mark.

While the F6 Pro launched in May 2024, it didn't hit the Australian market until August 2024. It comes in three configurations: the 12GB/512GB model is priced at £549 / AU$999, a 256GB storage variant is also available, currently available for approximately £499, though it’s only available in select markets. The 16GB/1TB model is priced at £599, but is available in even fewer markets.

When I first got my hands on the Poco F6 Pro, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s a lesser-known brand – at least in Australia where this phone was tested – claiming to offer impressive value even among the best budget phones. Yet, after testing it, I found it mostly delivered on its promise of flagship visuals and performance at a more accessible price.

Adding even more value, the Poco F6 Pro includes a 120W charger and a Europlug CEE 7/16 wall plug (in compatible countries), a USB-C cable, and a protective case – a rarity in an era where many brands are cutting back on in-box accessories.

Despite some minor drawbacks, the Poco F6 Pro consistently impressed me with its price-to-performance ratio. While the newer and cheaper Poco X7 Pro might be a better pick for those purely seeking ultra-budget gaming power, the Poco F6 Pro stands out as an excellent all-rounder with a gaming focus in the mid-range market.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: specs

Given the nomenclature, it's seems obvious that the Poco F6 Pro would be the more expensive handset compared to the standard Poco F6, but the story isn't so simple. The Poco F6 Pro is a gaming-focused all-rounder in the mid-range market, but its regular sibling actually outperforms the Pro in some areas, which a much more dedicated focus on speed.

The F6 Pro sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, while the Poco F6 sports the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Poco F6 Pro is also beaten in durability, with the IP64 durability rating and Gorilla Glass Invictus protection of the Poco F6 beating the Gorilla Glass 5 and IP54 of its Pro sibling.

Worth highlighting in the specs list is the F6 Pro's 6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440 resolution), 50/8/2MP rear camera trio, and 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging.

Poco F6 Pro review: design

• Smooth quad-curved glass back
• IP54 durability rating
• Two color options

Poco F6 Pro camera bump and side buttons (Image credit: Future)

Much like the all-new iPhone 16e, the Poco F6 Pro sticks to just black and white options, ditching the more vibrant yellow seen on many other Poco phones. The result is a premium, albeit slightly boring-looking smartphone.

Unlike the plastic design of the F6, the Poco F6 Pro features an aluminum frame and marbled, smooth quad-curved glass back, giving it a high-end feel that exceeds expectations for its price.

My review unit was the white model, and while I usually prefer the more understated black, I quickly warmed to the color – especially since I had the option to cover the device with the included black case anyway.

Speaking of the included rubber phone case, it actually feels substantial, more like something you’d buy off Amazon than a flimsy throwaway addition.

However, the case won't protect your F6 Pro from its biggest design flaw – an IP54 dust- and water-resistance rating. This means the Poco F6 Pro offers limited protection against dust ingress and water sprays, and compared to other phones in its class that offer a minimum IP67 rating, it simply falls short.

This could be a deal breaker for those who work in dusty environments or need their phone in inclement weather.

The only part of the Poco F6 Pro that (literally) sticks out when using the case – besides the (thankfully) minimal Poco branding – is its camera array. Three large lenses and a flash dominate the top of the rear of the device, which avoid the all-too-common table wobble.

Attractive from any angle you look at it, comfortable to hold with either one or two hands and going without the Poco yellow, the design of the F6 Pro would be one of my favourite features… if it wasn't more impressive in other areas.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: display

• 6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440) with 120Hz refresh rate
• 4000-nit peak brightness
• Visible Gorilla Glass 5 protector

Checking out TechRadar on an overcast day (Image credit: Future)

Alongside its gaming prowess, the Poco F6 Pro’s display is one of its standout features – and one of the best you’ll find at this price visually.

As someone who previously loved the compact iPhone 12 mini, I’ve had to adjust to using larger smartphones and, while bigger isn’t always better, the 6.67-inch screen on the Poco F6 Pro hits the sweet spot between usability and immersive viewing.

Not all screens are built the same. In the past I've struggled with the long and narrow 6.7-inch Motorola Edge 50 Pro, whereas the 6.6-inch Samsung Galaxy A55 feels much more comfortable to hold. It's worth noting that I have larger hands, but the Poco F6 Pro sits closer to the Samsung in terms of usability, with an excellent in-hand feel.

Watching a nature documentary (Image credit: Future)

Beyond size, the Poco F6 Pro impresses with its 3200 x 1440 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (which you’ll need to activate in settings, with a 60Hz base), and 4000-nit peak brightness. Whether I was reading, gaming, or watching videos, the display looked fantastic – even outside under the bright Australian summer sun.

Unfortunately, one of the Poco F6 Pro’s biggest weaknesses is its durability. Strangely, the cheaper Poco F6 is actually tougher as it features Gorilla Glass Victus, while the F6 Pro is stuck with older Gorilla Glass 5.

Damage from dropping it face-down (bottom) and one of several minor scratches from regular use (top) (Image credit: Future)

Usually, I'd hope not to have to test the toughness of the screen, but my Poco F6 Pro took a tumble off my bathroom sink onto the tiled floor, coming away with some minor damage. I also found that it's quite easy to scratch up, coming away with a few marks just from sitting in my pocket and bag. My biggest problem, though, is that the glass is visibly sitting on top of the main screen, taking away from the F6 Pro's display.

The Poco F6 has an excellently bright, responsive display that is a joy to both watch and play on, but phones at this price, and considerably cheaper – it's non-pro sibling a prime example – offer stronger displays without a visually obtrusive protector.

• Display score: 4/5

Poco F6 Pro review: software

• Ads in system apps and suffocating bloatware
• HyperOS on top of Android 15
• 3 years of OS updates and 4 of security patches

Poco F6 Pro homepage (Image credit: Future)

One of the best things about a new phone is the naked, fresh interface and the Poco F6 Pro felt like it came wearing seven hats, three watches, and nine pairs of socks.

The software of the Poco F6 Pro is perhaps its weakest attribute. Pre-installed apps on Android phones never quite match up with the clean feeling of setting up a new iPhone. Typically, this includes useful essentials like the Google Suite, along with perhaps a few duplicate system apps such as a gallery and Google Photos.

This was my first time using a Xiaomi phone, and the Poco F6 Pro took my experience with bloatware to another level. I've never had to delete so many apps just to clear my home screen and keep only the ones I actually use.

Two app stores, the App Vault, Facebook, TikTok, Farm Frenzy, Booking.com, Bubble Shooter, LinkedIn, Mi Mover, Mi Remote, Mi Video, Gallery, Google Photos, Poco Community – you get the point. And that's far from the full list.

Note that I made things worse for myself by quickly rushing through the setup process and choosing to download several games right at the start. However, even when denying that, you'll still get far too many pre-downloaded, unwanted applications.

Once I cleared out the clutter, Poco’s HyperOS became a straightforward Android experience that I enjoyed.

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On the customization front, the Poco F6 Pro offers a wealth of options. You can personalize your lock screen style, icons, fonts, notification effects, and even fingerprint unlock animation. The phone also supports themes that allow you to change multiple elements at once for a cohesive look.

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For those who enjoy AI-powered features, the Poco F6 Pro offers plenty. Google Gemini is integrated and activates when holding the power button, allowing you to ask about what’s on the screen, issue voice commands or type requests. You also get Google’s Circle to Search functionality.

Beyond that, AI features extend into Notes, Gallery and Recorder, enabling AI summaries, proofreading, translation, image expansion, editing, transcribing, speaker recognition, summary generation, and more. There’s even an AI Interpreter for real-time translation during conversations or phone calls, as well as AI subtitles for translated video playback.

Using AI to translate a news story in real-time (Image credit: Future)

Overall, I enjoyed Poco’s HyperOS experience, and while the three years of software updates isn’t the most generous I’ve seen, it’s acceptable. However, that positive experience is heavily tarnished by built-in ads and an overwhelming amount of bloatware upon setup.

• Software score: 3/5

Poco F6 Pro review: cameras

• 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide
• 2MP macro, 16MP front camera
• Dull coloring

Poco F6 Pro camera bump and Poco branding (Image credit: Future)

The ability to snap great photos on a cheap smartphone is one of the key needs for budget buyers. Sure, you want to save money by avoiding bank-breaking flagship devices, but you don't want to struggle to take family photos, or be left with blurry results when you snap a selfie at the end of your hike.

That's why, right next to battery life, camera performance is one of the top qualities of many of the best cheap phones, from the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, to the Edge 50 Fusion, Galaxy A55, Pixel 8a and more. That's not the case for the Poco F6 Pro – it makes no apologies for focusing on gaming power and all-day battery. However, it still does well enough for most users to be happy with their results, especially if it's a secondary need to gaming.

It is not the best camera I have used while testing the other budget phones, but it was satisfactory across the board. From the 50MP main camera, to the 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro and 16MP selfie camera, the Poco F6 Pro lets you take any photo you want.

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It's not as feature-rich as other phone cameras in this market – there's not a ton of photo types or filters – and I did struggle to get the phone to focus in macro mode, but it performed well once in position and the subject wasn't moving.

The Poco F6 Pro has a few modes like document scanner and long exposure that allow you to do more than just take regular photos and videos. While the Poco F6 Pro claims to excel in night photography – and it certainly is impressive at pulling some detail from near pitch-black environments, I found it performed inconsistently in low-light environments like dimly lit restaurants.

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Results with the lights on (Image credit: Future)

The Poco F6 Pro isn't one of the best camera phones on the market, and the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A55 and the Samsung Galaxy A56 surpass it in the budget category. Still though, if you just want a decent enough camera setup for snapping the family, your pets or weekly hike, the Poco F6 Pro is more than up to the task.

• Camera score: 3.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: performance

• Handles strenuous loads
• Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
• Stereo audio, no headphone jack

Fortnite on the Poco F6 Pro with DualSense controller (Image credit: Future)

Ranking smartphone processors isn’t always straightforward – some excel in speed, others in gaming, battery efficiency, or specific tasks. Still, the Poco F6 Pro runs on one of the better mobile chipsets available today in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

It delivers excellent, well-rounded performance and particularly stands out in gaming power and battery life. It even outperforms the Dimensity 8400 chip found in the newer Poco X7 Pro.

I reviewed the 1TB/16GB RAM model, and I was impressed by how cool it stayed under pressure. Many budget phones I’ve tested tend to heat up even during basic tasks, and even my personal iPhone 15 seems to get warm when I take a few seconds too long to select a podcast.

The Poco F6 Pro remained cool throughout my testing – even while gaming and charging simultaneously.

Using the DualSense controller to play Fortnite on mobile (Image credit: Future)

Its real-world performance translated well to benchmarks, too. In Geekbench tests, which measure CPU performance, the Poco F6 Pro’s multi-core score (4,733) outperformed the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Nothing Phone 2, and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. Its single-core score, however, placed it alongside mid-range devices like the Pixel 7a, Poco F5 Pro, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo.

When it comes to 3D Mark gaming benchmarks, the Poco F6 Pro dominates budget and mid-range rivals and even approaches flagship-level performance:

As you can see, in nearly every benchmark test, the Poco F6 Pro significantly outperforms two of the best cheap phones on the market. And from my own experience, I can confidently say it felt just as powerful in everyday use.

As for its audio quality, the Poco F6 Pro connected to my Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, Apple AirPods 4 and Sony WH-1000XM5 very easily. Its dual stereo speakers offer Dolby Atmos where it can, and provided a completely enjoyable sound experience the rare times I wasn't using headphones.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: battery

• 20% in 5 minutes, full-charge in around 30 minutes (67W charger)
• Easily handles hours of gaming
• 120W charger included (in certain countries)

Poco F6 Pro charging port, speakers and SIM card tray (Image credit: Future)

You might think that a smartphone that promises power, should have the battery to go with it. But, while that is not always the case, the Poco F6 Pro is certainly in line with that rule.

With a 5,000mAh battery, the Poco F6 Pro's battery capacity matches up to that of some of the best phones, not just the best cheap phones it's competing against. Battery capacity isn't everything, but even phones like the Google Pixel 9 Pro (4,700mAh) falls short in comparison to the Poco F6 Pro, which matches the battery capacities of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Like I said, battery capacity isn't everything, and it's actually the enhanced power efficiency of the F6 Pro, thanks to its LiquidCool Technology 4.0 with lce Loop system that makes it feel as good in use as its battery looks on the specs sheet.

The Poco F6 Pro only ever gets slightly warm when running games on low battery. And, as such, it has no issue lasting all day. So, while it varied depending on my use that day, I found myself with about 20% battery by the time I got home at 6pm after being up and using my phone from 5am.

Charging the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)

With the included 120W charger – that's not compatible with Australian sockets – Poco promises a HyperCharge speed that will get you to 100% in just 19 minutes. Though of course you can purchase your own 120W charger to get those speeds.

With the Xiaomi 67W GaN wall charger – which can be purchased from the Xiaomi store – the Poco F6 Pro increased by 22% in just 5 minutes, while 15 minutes would get you around 70%, and it would sit at about 85% after 30.

Playing Fortnite Mobile on the Poco F6 Pro was a blast, and it lasted a touch more than 3.5 hours of continuous, nonstop 60FPS gameplay at high graphics settings and around 80% brightness.

Speaking of, after a day of strenuous testing, the Poco F6 pro was sitting at only 10% battery as I got onto the bus after work, but I still needed some entertainment for my commute. Luckily, six games of Marvel Snap (around 15 minutes), starting with the phone on just 8%, took the F6 Pro to just 2% battery, which the phone stated would last about half an hour if you stopped using it and saved it for emergencies.

For both regular use and heavy gamers, the Poco F6 Pro is an excellent choice in the budget space.

• Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Poco F6 Pro ? Buy it if...

You're a mobile gamer with other needs
The Poco F6 Pro offers excellent gaming performance, but there may be better options if you've got other priorities.

You regularly watch content on your phone
This phone doesn't have the biggest or best screen on the market, but if you're a regular mobile watcher on a budget, its 6.67-inch high-res display is a great option.

You don't want to worry about battery
Its 5,000mAh battery doesn't stand out on a specs sheet, but it has excellent power efficiency, fast charging and several battery settings that see it last all day.

Don't buy it if...

Cameras are your number one priority
The cameras of the Poco F6 Pro perform adequately, but there are better options at its price range, and for less. You might even consider waiting for the Google Pixel 9a.

You like a clean start
The Poco F6 Pro comes with a ton of pre-installed applications, most of which will require deletion as they're double-ups of the app store, gallery or mail app – making it one to avoid if you want a fresh start.

You plan on keeping your phone for years
Whether you work in construction and need a phone that can handle the rigors of your daily life, or you just don't want to panic about the possibility of your phone slipping into your bath, there are more durable and resistant phones in this market.

Poco F6 Pro review: also consider

Poco X7 Pro
If your main focus is gaming, and everything else is an afterthought, the X7 Pro is cheaper with a better battery and perhaps better gaming performance – though it's lacking in other areas.
Read our full review of the Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro

Samsung Galaxy A56
The brand-new Galaxy A56 gives you tons of Samsung AI features and great specs for a very attractive price. If you're not a gamer, this is the cheap Android phone.
Read our hands-on thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy A56

Apple iPhone 16e
Android faithful won't want to hear it, but if you're an Apple user who's considering swapping sides for more value, the iPhone 16e is exactly what you're after.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

How I tested the Poco F6 Pro

• Review test period = 3 weeks (had the device for much longer)
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, 3D Mark, native Android stats

I received the Poco F6 Pro in October 2024, but due to a combination of reviewing other devices, the Black Friday rush, and the busy Christmas period, I didn't get around to properly testing it until the new year. However, when I first received the device, I did use it as my main device for about a week and carried it with me to work, testing it intermittently during that time.

When I finally dedicated myself to the Poco F6 Pro review, I used it as my primary device for a three full weeks. During this time, I tested its capabilities with regular tasks like texting, video calling, and scrolling through social media for hours, along with gaming and streaming content from the best services.

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

The only out-of-the-ordinary activity I indulged in was playing mobile games like Fortnite and PUBG – as the device is gaming focused and I'm not much of a mobile gamer. I quickly found myself enjoying it quite a bit, especially when I paired my mobile gaming sessions with my PlayStation 5's DualSense controller.

To ensure accurate performance results, I ran 3D Mark and Geekbench tests several times throughout my review period, factoring in battery performance and daily usage conditions at the time of testing to get the most applicable numbers.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed March 2025]

In the image published online by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff was seated in a wheelchair and praying in the private chapel of Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

(Image credit: Vatican Press Hall)

• BraX3 is a privacy-focused, modular smartphone running iodéOS
• Advanced tools block trackers and analyze your data’s digital path
• Open source iodéOS promises privacy and security

A little-known device maker is looking to address the growing concerns about smartphone surveillance as modern devices collect and share extensive user data to build digital profiles.

BraX is working to launch BraX3, a business smartphone designed for those who value their privacy above all else - it runs iodéOS, a de-Googled, open source Android 14-based alternative operating system that blocks ads, trackers, and unwanted data sharing.

Instead, the BraX3 uses dedicated privacy-focused servers for essential services, providing safe browsing with privacy-first search engines like Qwant, Brave, and Ecosia.

The most privacy-friendly smartphone yet?

The BraX3 also employs Lunar Network for geolocation, blending GPS for outdoor navigation and a secure indoor network-based location service. With no Google identity required, users can enjoy complete anonymity.

It also includes an internet traffic analysis tool, which visualizes who is accessing your data, how much is being collected, and where it is sent. By restricting intrusive applications and ensuring only privacy-compliant apps are used, BraX3 minimizes data exposure without sacrificing functionality.

As for hardware, the BraX3's modular design allows users to replace parts using standard tools, with spare parts available for six years post-launch.

It offers a 6.56-inch HD+ display which supports 90Hz refresh rate, and a pixel density of 280 xhdpi. Under the hood, it boasts the Dimensity 6300 processor (Octa-core, 2.4GHz, 6nm), paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. A 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging ensures lasting performance.

It comes with a 50MP camera on the rear as well as a 5MP front camera for selfies. This device features a fingerprint sensor, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and multiple 4G and 5G bands.

Crucially, it also supports an eSIM for international travel, dual SIM, and a MicroSD slot.

While the porting process may face delays, BraX hopes that power users will have the option to run Ubuntu Touch, offering an independent app store and Terminal access.

The BraX3 is available for pre-order for $299.00 via crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. With 2,792 backers at press time, this alternative business smartphone signals a rising demand for tech that prioritizes privacy and the right-to-repair.

You might also like

• We've listed the best rugged phones right now
• We've also listed the best rugged tablets right now
• This is the most powerful rugged smartphone ever built, and its CPU is supposedly faster than the iPhone 15 Pro Max

What's a Spoonerism? Here are hints and answers for that really difficult NYT Strands puzzle No. 379 for March 17.

Hints and answers for Connections for March 17, #645.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle No. 1,367 for March 17.

Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1 review

The Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1 – that’s a bit of a mouthful isn’t it. But don’t be fooled, this charger isn’t compensating for anything with its epic name. With four ports, an admirable maximum power output of 140W and even its own display, this charger is undoubtedly a top performer. But is it worth its high asking price of $89.99 / £89.99?

Well, if we’re talking about performance, the answer is yes. You can get up to 65W and 45W from USB-C port 1 and 2 respectively when quad-charging, with a maximum of 140W overall. You can even get that full 140W routed to either of these ports when charging one device at a time – not bad at all!

And when I tested out the charger to verify its prowess myself, I was delighted with the results. Even while utilizing all four ports, I was able to get the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE from 0% - 100% in less than 80 minutes. That’s the kind of speed I’d expect from some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers.

If you want to see just how fast your devices are charging, this model has a neat display located on top of the charger. When you first plug it in, you’ll be greeted with a robot-looking face – one that’s not quite emotive as that of the UGreen Uno Charger 100W, mind you. Anyway, after the initial startup, you can sift between three different displays: power consumption per port; temperature monitoring; and total power use (in watts).

I tended to stick to the first menu in order to check the changing power use in each individual port, although the temperature monitoring screen was handy too. This display provides a rating depending on how hot the charger gets or can let you know if it's in High Performance / Cooling Mode – always good to know!

Something else that I liked was the positioning of the ports. They’re located on the underside of the charger, meaning your cables will dangle down if you’re using a wall socket. This is ideal in my view, because if you’re using a socket close to a desk or couch, for instance, the cables won’t be pressed against a surface. That makes the charger ideal for use in tight spaces. Combine that with its foldable prongs and compact size and you’re onto a real winner for portability and seamless usability.

But that’s not all – this is also a very nice-looking charger. The display is nice and bright and the outer casing has a premium-looking finish. Not only that, but there are two classy color options – Dark Gray or Silver. Well, that is if you’re in the US – I do wish the Silver option was there for us UK folk.

But that’s a pretty minor qualm I have – what’s the real catch to this charger? Well, if I had to pick something out, it would probably be the price. At $89.99 / £89.99 (about AU$140), this model is by no means cheap. But this charger does come with its own USB-C to USB-C cable and given its inclusion of a display, I’d still argue it’s great value. That’s especially true when you consider that the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger – a clear rival to this Anker alternative – costs $119.99 / £99.99 and is display-less. So, it’s fair to say this entry from Anker gets almost everything right and it’s well worth grabbing – if you have the cash.

(Image credit: Future) Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1 review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1? Buy it if…

You want high-level performance
This model can offer fast charging speeds, no matter how many devices you have plugged in at once. With a maximum power output of 140W, there’ll be plenty of power for your phone, the best wireless earbuds, tablets and more. Even if you want to juice up 2024’s Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4, you should be able to get it back to life in no time.

You’d like to get the visual on charging progress
One of the unique benefits of using this charger is its inclusion of a display. If you want to monitor temperature or power output and management, this is definitely the charger for you.

Don't buy it if…

You’re on a tight budget
OK, so this charger packs a lot of punch and has plenty of ports, which makes it a good value option. But that still doesn’t mean it comes cheap. It’s knocking on the door of the $100 / £100 mark, so if you’re on a tight budget, maybe consider another option, like the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port charger, for instance.

You want some neat color options
This model is available in Dark Gray in the UK and US, but the smart Silver option is exclusive to the latter. And although I personally like the look of this charger, those with a preference for more vibrant colours may find it a little plain.

Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1: Also consider

UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger
Although I’d consider this Anker charger to be a stronger value option, there’s no denying the impressive power and quality of the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger. You get a bit more juice out of this model thanks to its maximum power output of 160W and ports are positioned on the end of the charger – rather than underneath, if you’d prefer that. There’s no display here, but I can assure you, this thing will bring your devices back to life – and fast. On top of that, there’s intelligent temperature monitoring and four USB ports. The lack of foldable prongs on the UK model are a little bit of a miss though. Read our full UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger review.

AOHI Future Starship review

The AOHI Future Starship is a large power bank with plenty of power to charge large devices on the go.

It adopts what you might call a cyberpunk aesthetic, with yellow markings and accents imparting a futuristic industrial look. The overall form is also reminiscent of some kind of a sci-fi gadget, injecting some interest in the typically straight-laced world of power bank design.

No doubt some will like it and others will hate it, but it’s not brash enough to totally preclude it from more professional settings.

At 23oz / 650g, the Future Starship isn’t exactly light, but its dimensions are relatively compact – it's not as thick or as long as some power banks with a similar wattage. The overall build quality is good, although there’s a small amount of flex to the side panels, so it’s not constructed quite as sturdily as some of the best power banks.

The large panel for the screen is somewhat misleading, as the actual display only occupies a very small area. What’s more, since it packs in quite a lot of information when charging, it’s hard to read at a glance if you want to quickly see how much battery power remains. It’s also relatively dim, which only adds to the visibility problem, especially at certain angles.

Still, the information the Future Starship displays is useful, as it includes readouts for each individual port, displaying their real-time wattage. There’s also an indicator to show whether the power is being outputted or inputted, which is useful to make sure the bank itself is actually being charged when plugged into an outlet.

Battery life is given as a percentage and in bars, which presumably is designed to make it easier to scan. However, in addition to the aforementioned issues with the display itself, the bars are too small to see from a distance because there are too many; four or five would have been enough, but there are 10, which is too many to parse quickly.

There are three ports in total on the Future Starship: two USB-C ports and one USB-A. It seems like another USB-C could have been squeezed in, and there are similarly large power banks out there with four, so it’s a small shame not to see this.

The two Type-C ports can deliver a max 140W each, both for output and for input. When used at the same time, one will drop to 100W, meaning the total output for both ports is 240W. It also comes with a USB-C cable rated for charging at 140W, which is nice to see, as not all large power banks include high-power cables.

The Future Starship managed to charge a Dell Latitude 5410, with its 68Wh battery, in just over two hours, which is an impressive performance, especially considering that I was using the laptop at the same time. The bank depleted from 100% down to about 20%, so it’s nice to know you’ll get one full laptop charge out of it, with a bit left in the tank for smaller devices.

It also stayed cool throughout, only warming slightly. Charging the bank itself also took just over two hours, which again is an impressive performance considering its large capacity.

However, the Future Starship is a very expensive power bank, and not many users will need such a massive output – and those who do would probably wish for a higher capacity to charge large devices multiple times. There are many cheaper alternatives out there that can handle laptop charging just as well.

(Image credit: Future) AOHI Future Starship review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the AOHI Future Starship? Buy it if…

You want plenty of power
With a total of 240W, there aren’t many USB devices the Future Starship can’t charge.

You want plenty of info
The screen might be a bit small, but all the useful metrics are there, including real-time wattage figures.

Don't buy it if…

You want something cheap
The Future Starship is expensive full stop, and many probably won’t utilize all the power it has to offer.

You want multiple laptop charges
Yes, it can charge a laptop completely – but it can only do so once before you have to recharge the bank itself.

AOHI Future Starship: also consider

Anker Laptop Power Bank
It might be less powerful, but the Anker Laptop Power Bank is more than capable of charging most large devices thanks to its 165W output, and it has close to the same capacity at 25,000mAh. It also has two inbuilt USB-C cables for added convenience, and to top it all off it’s much cheaper than the Future Starship.

Read our Anker Laptop Power Bank review

• Despite predictions, HDDs are here to stay and increasing in capacity
• Seagate recently sold one exabyte of HAMR storage to two hyperscalers
• The "tens of thousands of drives" likely cost between $33 and $35 million

Although the likes of Pure Storage, IBM, and Meta believe the writing is on the wall for hard drives, the technology doesn’t look like it will be going away any time soon.

Seagate and its main rival Western Digital are working on magnetic recording methods that will allow the drives to continue increasing in capacity, helping them maintain a clear advantage over SSDs when it comes to storage density.

The main technology leading this charge is HAMR, or heat-assisted magnetic recording, which could see HDDs hitting incredible 100TB capacities. HAMR works by briefly heating the disk surface with a laser to make it easier to write data at higher densities. HDMR - short for heated dot magnetic recording - is HAMR’s likely successor and could lead to even larger drives by focusing the heat and magnetic energy into smaller, more precise areas for even denser data storage.

Not an unreasonable outlay

In a recent The Wall Street Journal article, John Keilman wrote an article covering Seagate’s “fight to store the world’s data”, and mentioned something which caught my attention. “Seagate said two large cloud-computing customers have each ordered one exabyte’s worth of HAMR storage, which works out to tens of thousands of hard drives.”

Keilman didn’t name names - Seagate wouldn’t have told him who the buyers were - but we can narrow the list of suspects down to the usual big US hyperscalers, including Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta. It’s possible that Chinese hyperscalers could have come shopping for the drives, but that seems unlikely to me.

Keilman doesn’t say what capacity drives were sold, but we can assume they will have been Seagate’s highest commercial HDD, the Exos M, which ranges from 30TB (CMR) to 36TB (SMR), with a breakthrough 3TB-per-platter density. Based on timing, it’s likely we’re talking about the 30TB models, as the 32TB drive was only added to the range in December 2024, followed by the 36TB model just a month later.

Assuming the hyperscalers in question paid bulk pricing of around $500 per drive (refurbished models of Seagate's Exos 28TB HDD can currently be purchased for as low as $365), their combined bill likely came to somewhere between $33 and $35 million. For a full exabyte of cutting-edge, high-capacity storage, $16 billion or so isn't an unreasonable outlay.

Seagate previously revealed that a 60TB drive was on its way, and the firm recently announced plans to acquire Intevac, a HAMR specialist, which could help it achieve that 100TB capacity goal faster, as well as ramp up HAMR drive production.

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It's a crucial top-of-the-table clash at the Metropolitano Stadium.

VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with a design that makes it a fashion accessory as well as a portable battery. The Cath Kidston crossover means you get the brand’s illustrative designs. The bee print finish of the model I had was rather subtle, with its cream background and the small drawings lacking any vivid colors.

If you want a little more vibrancy, two more finishes are available, both floral in nature, and incorporate bright shades of red and green. All schemes have a high-gloss finish, which VQ claims is scratch-resistant. After spending a couple of days with it, I didn’t notice any blemishes.

Other nice touches include the small power button integrated on the bezel, and the equally discreet LED dots indicating the battery life of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank. These are integrated on the front panel in the bottom right corner, and are barely noticeably, designed to intrude as little as possible on the Cath Kidston design. The problem is, however, that they’re hard to see even when they’re lit up, and are virtually invisible when looking at them from an angle, which is less than ideal.

What is more practical, though, is the pleasingly light and slim form factor, making it easy to carry in a bag or pocket. However, while the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is built quite well, it isn’t up there with the very best power banks. The plastic panels do flex somewhat, and while the joins to the bezel are strong enough, I did notice a few wide gaps in places. Also, the power button doesn’t quite sit flush with the bezel as perhaps it should, although it’s at least easy to use.

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank features one USB-C, one USB-A, and one Lightning port – disappointingly, though, only the USB-A can be used for charging devices, as the other two are for input only. This is especially baffling in the case of the Lightning port, as this is a now-defunct standard for older Apple devices, so quite what it’s doing here as an input is a mystery.

What’s also unusual is that VQ doesn’t provide a power output figure, although it does list the voltage and amperage for both the input and the output, so with some basic math, its total wattage should be 20.5W.

Charging my Google Pixel 7a from 50% to full took about two and a half hours, which is an adequate performance. The bank depleted by one dot, meaning it should be able to handle two roughly full charges. Charging the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank itself from about half full took just over two hours, which again isn’t an overly impressive effort.

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is more expensive than other popular power banks with similar specs, so it seems you’re paying for its looks more than anything else. Unless you really must have the Cath Kidston design, there are better value picks out there.

(Image credit: Future) VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank? Buy it if…

You want some flair
The Cath Kidston designs certainly add more interest and personality than many other power bank finishes.

You want something easy to carry around
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is small, thin, and light, so this is an easy power bank to take on your travels.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best build
The overall construction is good enough, but the chassis isn’t rock solid, and there are some questionable gaps where the panel meets the bezel.

You’re want the best performance
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank doesn’t have enough power to charge smartphones fast, and only the USB-A port can actually charge devices, which is a shame.

VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: also consider

Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank
For about the same price as the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, the Ugreen provides a similarly small and sleek form, but with the added bonuses of a USB-C port for both input and output, and a MagSafe wireless charging pad for use with the best iPhones and other Apple products. It might lack the style of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, but it makes up for it in performance. Read our Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review.

The Trump administration has invoked a 227 year old law, the Alien Enemies Act, to target Tren de Aragua, a gang with its roots in the prisons of Venezuela. Who are they and how wide is their reach?

(Image credit: YURI CORTEZ)

The Best Picture Academy Award winner hits the streaming platform on March 17.

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If you've read my previous articles, you should know that PC is my preferred option for gaming. Whether it's with handheld gaming PCs or a full-fledged desktop setup, I believe it offers the best gaming experiences possible with better performance and advanced graphics options.

There's also a much greater level of freedom PC players have over console players: lower game prices thanks to digital marketplaces, free multiplayer online access (which shouldn't even be a debate), and modding capabilities all play an integral part. I can't deny that PC gaming isn't cheap, but there also isn't much of an argument when looking at the likes of the PS5 Pro and its $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199 price - as I've said before, you may as well start saving for a PC build at that price point.

However, my stance on that has changed at least for the time being - not because I think consoles are more powerful than most PCs, no - but because the current landscape of the GPU market is an absolute mess. Nvidia and AMD both launched new GPUs: the Blackwell RTX 5000 series and Radeon RX 9000 series respectively, and getting your hands on any of these graphics cards at MSRP (or even at all) is one heck of a mission.

From scalpers to retailers, you'll more than likely find yourself overpaying for a new mid-range or high-end GPU. Now it's worth mentioning that Intel is also in the mix with its Battlemage Arc B570 and B580 GPUs, but it's got some catching up to do against Team Green and Team Red in terms of performance capabilities and its XeSS upscaling method.

Ultimately, it means that if there was any opportunity for a large amount of console-only gamers (or even new gamers entirely) to join the PC platform, that chance is nearly dead in the water - and I don't see it getting better anytime soon.

GPUs are far too expensive and it's completely unreasonable

(Image credit: Andrew Derr / Shutterstock)

It's important I note that I absolutely don't expect powerful graphics cards to be cheap, especially considering the advancement of tech and power capabilities we've seen over the years from Nvidia and AMD. Game developers are now able to provide exceptional and immersive gaming experiences with hyper-realistic visuals, thanks to the power provided by GPUs like the RTX 5090.

This is even possible with midrange cards at high resolutions, with the help of upscaling tools like DLSS and FSR. What I do expect, however, is for hardware to be affordable, especially with less powerful products - and unfortunately, that's the complete opposite of what we're seeing.

Examples of this are evident with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080: both of these Blackwell GPUs are high-end offerings, priced at $1,999 / £1,939 / AU$4,039 and $999 / £999 / AU$2,019 respectively, and will give gamers the best performance possible this generation. Those prices are arguably too high, particularly when the leap from the previous flagship GPU, the RTX 4090, is significant but perhaps not enough to pay another $400 above its $1,599 MSRP.

When you add scalpers, low stock, and hardware issues into the equation, it makes matters worse - and we've seen this occur since board partners are selling the GPUs at inflated prices. It means either you won't find a GPU to buy at all, or if you do, you'll more than likely be overpaying.

You might be thinking it's best to just buy a midrange GPU, but the exact same thing is happening there too. AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series GPU prices have seen a sudden hike - so instead of paying $599 / £569 / around AU$944 for the RX 9070 XT, you'll be paying much more.

It's also worth noting that PC games are released with bad optimization - so even if you do manage to find a powerhouse GPU without overpaying, you'll have to deal with bad performance and game-breaking bugs.

If I was a console-only player, I would stay away too...

(Image credit: Mohsen Vaziri / Shutterstock.com)

As a gamer who is on both PC and console, I can totally understand why most console players are hesitant when advised to build gaming PCs. Yes, I still think PC is the better platform and there's plenty of freedom to be had with your gaming experience - but if you can't even acquire the right hardware at affordable prices, what choice do you have but to stick with a console?

Again, you may end up building your desired gaming PC and then still be met with frustrating performance problems. While performance may not be as good on console, it's a manageable experience with stable frame rates that come without the need to tinker or mess around with settings.

I believe it's a big part of why handheld gaming options like the Steam Deck are so popular: gamers can simply select a game they want to play (with the help of Deck Verified) and dive in. It's not like that isn't the case on Windows PCs, but it's annoying dealing with regular performance drops due to bad optimization, along with Windows 11 and its game incompatibility problems.

Gamers just want to be able to purchase the right hardware and get their money's worth while gaming - and if PCs can't provide that right now because of GPU price inflation, then I can't blame anyone for sticking with a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S.

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• Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP
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• Benchmarks for the Pixel 9a have appeared online
• Some – but not all – of the scores match the Pixel 9
• The handset could be launching sometime this month

If the rumors we've heard so far turn out to be accurate, we could be seeing the official launch of the Google Pixel 9a as early as next week – and fresh benchmarks that have appeared online give us some idea of the kind of performance we can expect from it.

These benchmarks come from tipster @KaroulSahil (via Notebookcheck), and are presumably from a device that's being tested somewhere, ahead of the full reveal. The stats include an AnTuTu score of 1,049,844, and Geekbench scores of 1,530 (single-core) and 3,344 (multi-core).

While that AnTuTu score is along the same lines as the existing Google Pixel 9 phones – which you would expect, given that the Pixel 9a is predicted to be running the same Tensor G4 processor inside – the Geekbench scores are some way short of the flagship phones that Google unveiled last August.

There could be a few reasons for this, with the primary one most likely to be that this is a Pixel 9a running pre-launch software that hasn't been properly optimized yet. There might be a few hardware tweaks that still need to be made too.

The price is right?

Google Pixel 9a Benchmark result#Google #GooglePixel9a pic.twitter.com/3lZBobYt6gMarch 15, 2025

Given the history of this mid-range phone series – see our Google Pixel 8a review, for example – it's unlikely that we're going to be too surprised by what the Pixel 9a has to offer in terms of performance, when it finally shows up.

Typically with these phones, the internal specs have been comparable to the flagship models that came before them, while cost savings have been made in the design and materials. That makes them a more affordable choice if you don't want the most expensive Pixel phones Google has to offer.

As always, pricing is going to be crucial. The Pixel 8a launched for a starting price of $499 / £499 / AU$849, and it looks as though the 128GB model of the Google Pixel 9a is going to match that. However, we have also heard that the variant with 256GB of storage is going to cost a little more than its predecessor.

It seems there's a surprising design decision on the way that we're going to have to come to terms with: Google is apparently getting rid of the classic Pixel camera bump, so it will have a flatter back than the phones that came before it.

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