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Rather than lowering the price, some universities use online courses to subsidize everything else.

(Image credit: Getty Images; photo collage NPR)

This week has been a rollercoaster in the world of tech. Twitter shut down thanks to its biggest outage in years, giving us all a moment of peace, Google unveiled Gemini-infused robots, which feels like the start of a robot revolution, and we tested Apple's new Macbook and iPad Air.

To catch up on all that and more, scroll down for our in case you missed it and catch up on the week's seven biggest tech news stories.

Once you're caught up on the week's news, check out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (March 14).

X had its biggest outage in years

(Image credit: X / Future)

The social media giant formerly known as Twitter has had a tumultuous few years – but even compared to Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022, this week was a turbulent one. X was taken completely offline several times on Monday, with Musk later claiming that this was due to a “massive cyberattack”.

Given X is attacked “every day”, according to Musk, this enormous outage was explained by the culprit having “a lot of resources”. Cue some inevitable political finger-pointing and a lot of people discovering what DDOS stands for (spoiler for your trivia quiz, it’s ‘Distributed Denial of Service’). X is back to its old self now with its trademark mix of memes and outrage, but it might not be long before its next big outage.

• Read more: X is back – here's what we know about the 'massive cyberattack' that caused Twitter to go down multiple times

We saw Sony’s next-gen TV tech in action

(Image credit: Sony)

OLED is generally regarded as the best-performing TV tech, and for good reason, since OLED TVs deliver perfectly uniform pictures with “infinite” contrast and rich color. OLED’s primacy has mostly gone unchallenged, but a new RGB LED backlight technology for TVs that Sony just announced could finally make mini-LED TVs competitive.

Sony’s “next-generation display system” replaces the quantum dot layer used for higher-end mini-LED TVs with a “high density LED backlight” with individual control over the red, green and blue primary colors. Its benefits include high brightness, extended color, and OLED-like contrast, and Sony also claims it can be cost-effectively scaled up to larger screen sizes than OLED TVs, which max out at 97 inches.

TV makers regularly issue chest-beating announcements of new tech in development, but in this case, TechRadar was invited to Sony’s headquarters for a preview, and it’s every bit as good as they claim. Watch your back, OLED!

• Read more: I saw Sony’s next-gen RGB mini-LED TV tech, and OLED TVs should be worried

We reviewed the new MacBooks and iPads

(Image credit: Future)

Apple recently launched some new tech and we’ve had the chance to try it all out. Long story short, it’s all great.

The iPad Air with M3 earned four-and-a-half-stars thanks to its new chipset offering a solid power boost without a price bump. The screen is just as vibrant as ever, the battery life and audio are great, and thanks to support from the new Magic Keyboard, it’s more laptop-like than ever before. Our only gripe is Apple's new slate is a little too similar to last year’s model in the camera and display department – with still only a pair of 12MP snappers (one facing each direction) and a screen lacking smooth ProMotion refresh rates you’ll still only get on more premium models.

As for the new MacBook Airs with M4, they wowed us yet again as not only do they boast excellent performance – helped by the upgraded chipset they just received – but they’re less pricey to boot. Instead of $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199 you can pick the laptop up for $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099 cementing this sleek machine as one of the best value for money laptops on the market.

• Read more: I tested the 11-inch iPad Air with M3 for five days, and it stretches the value even further
• Read more: I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people

iRobot replaced almost its entire Roomba range

(Image credit: iRobot)

This week we learned that iRobot was scrapping almost its entire range of Roomba robot vacuums, and replacing them with four shiny new models. It's a bold move, but feels necessary given how far the brand was starting to slip behind competitors.

New features include LiDAR navigation (at long last), spinning mop pads, a cool design aesthetic, and a naming system that actually makes some sort of sense. Perhaps the most interesting model is the Roomba 205, which boasts a dust-compacting onboard bin, and looks perfect for those with small homes who don't have space for a bulky dock.

They might not be the flashiest innovations we've seen in the market of late, but we think iRobot has nailed what customers are actually looking for in a robot vacuum. Here's hoping it can help the original robovac brand catch up to the competition.

• Read more: iRobot is overhauling its robovac range, and for the first time in years I'm excited about a new Roomba

New limited Ray-Ban smart glasses disappointed us

(Image credit: Ray-Ban / Meta / COperni)

Meta launched new Ray-Ban smart glasses this week – well, it launched a new design of glasses, which are available for a limited time in collaboration with fashion brand Coperni.

They’re undeniably stylish with a translucent black frame (which lets you see their inner workings) and mirrored lenses, but beyond the Coperni logo stamped at the end of each arm there’s nothing particularly special about this limited run. What’s more not only are these specs more limited than Meta’s previous clear frame drop – only 3,600 Coperni smart glasses are available instead of 7,500 like before – they’re also pricier.

Meta’s glasses normally start at $299 / £299 / AU$449, and its last limited drop was $429 / £429 (it wasn’t available in Australia). These Coperni specs are selling for $549 / £519 / AU$859. Some commenters on the original story love the design, but for us it’s not enough to justify the hype and cost of Meta and Ray-Ban’s first-ever smart glasses collab.

• Read more: The new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses design is an expensive disappointment

Disney+ is making Andor free to stream on YouTube

Did you miss out on seeing what’s come to be considered as the best Star Wars show ever made? Well, you don’t have to worry about having FOMO anymore because Disney has decided to publish the first three episodes of Andor on YouTube for free.

It has also made the entire first season of one of the best Disney+ shows available on Hulu in the US ahead of the highly-anticipated premiere of Andor season 2 on April 22, giving any non-Disney+ subscribers even more ways to get in on the action.

That’s a smart move to hook more fans on the show and if you’ve become one of them (welcome) then you’ll no doubt want to take advantage of this great streaming deal that brings down the Disney+ and Hulu bundle cost back down to its awesome Black Friday price – come join the rebels!

• Read more: Disney+ is making Andor free to stream on YouTube, and now you have no excuse not to watch the best Star Wars show

Google Gemini just got physical

(Image credit: Google)

Google Gemini is one of the most powerful AI platforms, but up until this week, it was mostly about text, images and did not connect directly to the physical world. That changes with Gemini Robotics and its counterpart, Gemini Robotics-ER (embodied reasoning). Together, these platforms will connect the dots between Gemini’s powerful models and robots.

The long-term goal is humanoid robots running Gemini models (many major robot companies, like Boston Dynamics, are already on-board) to assist them in interacting with the real world, and especially unfamiliar situations. Our personal favorite was a pair of robot arms that quickly figured out how to slam dunk a toy basketball without any specific training. The race to our robot revolution is accelerating.

• Read more: You should prepare for a robot revolution

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is convening a second meeting of global leaders Saturday to discuss the developments regarding the war in Ukraine.

(Image credit: Stefan Rousseau)

I spent nearly a decade with iPhones until I switched to the Google Pixel 6a in 2022, and have not looked back. Android sucked me in. But I was curious about how the Apple experience has changed since I left, so I decided to go back to iOS with the iPhone 16e.

Apple's latest is the exact iPhone I wanted three years ago, leaps and bounds ahead of the iPhone SE it replaces. It’s not a 'budget' phone, but it’s far from being a flagship, too.

Among its rivals, it holds up exceptionally well in benchmarks, but has significant tradeoffs compared to some phones that are half its price.

Having been out of Camp Apple for so long, I’ve seen what it’s like on the other side – and coming back, I’m both impressed and puzzled with the hands-on experience.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

There is an assured certainty and comfort when the manufacturer has complete control over an ecosystem – ie, having hardware, software, cloud and content management (via apps like Home and Music) talk to each other seamlessly. And when this comes from Cupertino, it's more about the experience rather than the performance of the device.

It’s also why the Google Pixel range remains my most recommended Android family of devices, and that's despite Samsung offering better tech on all fronts and at all price points – Google’s range feels more like Apple. The Pixels feel more mastered and uniform: again, because it's about the experience rather than the performance.

The iPhone 16e makes the experience more accessible than the standard range, offering shaved-off specs at a lower (but still considerable) price.

So turning to the iPhone 16e, knowing how comfortable I’ve gotten with the Android ecosystem, I’m left asking if this is enough. Many of the spec choices are baffling, but others are still ones that I wish more Android manufacturers would learn from.

An Androider’s take on the iPhone 16e

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

I’m impressed with how well Apple continues to make all this stuff simply work together – from FaceID biometrics to allowing purchases and app downloads, to the instantly recognizable and understandable Home, Lock and Control Center screens, they all make for an experience that’s instantly operable.

Performance is in line with the base iPhone 16 (which I consider to be Apple’s best handset in years) and far ahead of similarly positioned Android phones. It's great for a mixed use of gaming, social media, messaging and note-writing.

Coming from Android, I'm also drawn to the simplicity. The cuteness of FaceTime, the ability to share contacts with a tap of an NFC sensor between iPhones, and the more user-friendly approach to home screen customization (focused on colors instead of palettes) give off a great feeling of coziness. It’s cute, it works, and it’s fun!

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

What on Earth is up with this screen, though? 60Hz on such a pricey unit, and the same goes for the standard iPhone 16. This is grating as I don't like the scrolling and app-opening experience.

That makes the 16 and 16e seem like they perform worse than they do, and look less smooth than much cheaper Androids.

There’s nothing stopping these phones from operating a 120Hz display like the Pro counterparts, apart from Apple’s unwillingness to provide such screens. It breaks the seamlessness I referred to earlier.

Moving on: something I’ve been quite jealous of while using an Android phone has been Apple’s Action Button. I love the idea of an extra button with customizable functionality, but I'm not sold on its usability. I wish it had more than just a 'hold to open' trigger, but rather more like the stand-by button that works with a single or a double press.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)

I still appreciate the Action Button though. An extra physical control on Android handsets would enable so much flexibility, say to quickly open a messaging app, use Google Lens, or quickly pull up your favorite contact list.

Finally, and this is a gripe specific to the iPhone 16e, but only offering a single camera at this price point feels like a huge step backwards for Apple. There are competing phones available at half the price of this handset that have two lenses, enabling more impressive zoom capabilities or greater detail up close.

Don’t get me wrong; the iPhone 16e can produce great photos, but a native zoom that maxes out at 2x is meager compared to what the Pixel 8a and Galaxy A56 are capable of – at a lower price point.

'e' is for...

When I first saw this phone's name, I assumed that the 'e' meant 'essential'. There's no official word from Apple on what it means, but I think I may have hit the mark.

Firstly, it's price tag – while still expensive, it strips back some non-essentials from the premium range but includes the Apple A18 chip, an IP68 resistance rating, an extremely impressive 30-hour battery life, and even Apple-specific features like its advanced biometric FaceID sensor and Action Button. In other words, the 'essentials'.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

It fits the sweetspot between the now grandfathered SE and the base model 16 – more expensive than the former but offering the essentials of the latter, probably filling a crucial marketshare goal. I can absolutely see it being a hit in markets like India, where Apple has only just managed to become one of the country’s top five smartphone brands.

Paradoxically restrictive and freeing, the iPhone 16e is a comfortable phone. It’s the right pick if you’ve been holding out for an entry-level device to upgrade to in the Apple family, but it’s not great value if you’ve broken out of the Apple ecosystem.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

At this end of the phone market, Apple has the competitive edge on raw benchmarking performance – but its rivals are far less expensive with cameras easily outpacing the single lens on the iPhone 16e.

Performance benchmarks be damned, the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Google Pixel 8a feel much more general purpose and suitable for day-to-day use, with more impressive cameras to boot. Not to mention the larger screens on both.

It’s an awkward spot for Apple to place such a great phone – it’s more powerful, but it’s not as practical as cheaper rivals. That said, it will be a brilliant handset to pick up on sale, otherwise its standard price is perhaps a little too high.

You might also like...

• I tested the iPhone 16e for a week and found it's a good phone that stretches the definition of 'budget'
• New iPhone 17 Air leak may have revealed some key specs – and how it compares to the iPhone 17 Pro Max
• I went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy A56, and it might just be better value than the Galaxy S25

Roborock Q5 Pro+: two-minute review Product info

For this review, I tested the Q5 Pro+, which has a self-empty dock. There's also a cheaper Q5 Pro, which is the same bot but with a charge-only dock.

The Roborock Q5 Pro+ is an affordable robot vacuum that delivers strong vacuuming performance with one major trade-off – poor mopping. Despite having a slightly lower 5,500Pa of suction power, on test I found it excelled at picking up dirt and dust, especially on carpets – perhaps thanks to the dual rubber roller brushes borrowed from Roborock's higher-end models. It also handled the copious amounts of pet hair in my home extremely well. If you don't have loads of cash to splash and your priority is vacuuming, this could be the best robot vacuum for you.

This model uses LiDAR-based navigation, which allows for precise mapping and efficient cleaning paths. Its obstacle avoidance is a little basic, though, so it's one to avoid if you typically have lots of clutter on your floors. Other standout features include the extra large 2.5-liter bag in its compact but efficient dock, and an outstanding, intuitive app.

While the Q5 Pro+ performs admirably well at vacuuming floors of all types, its mopping system is simply comprised of a static mop pad with no mop-cleaning facilities of any sort. Hence, its mopping performance is very underwhelming when compared to much of the competition, including many of its own, admittedly more expensive, Roborock stablemates.

If you don't need mopping, however, this could be an excellent buy. It's slightly older now and discounts are easy to come by, taking the Q5 Pro into the budget price bracket and delivering strong value for money. It's not the latest and greatest model, but it delivers strong vacuuming performance, smart navigation and minimal dust-emptying maintenance. I'd include it amongst the best cheap robot vacuums around and the best robot vacuums for pet hair if you're on a budget.

That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock Q5 Pro+ review.

(Image credit: Future) Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: price & availability

• List price: $699.99 / £499.99 / AU$999
• Launch date: October 2023
• Availability: US, UK, AU (out of stock)

The Q5 Pro line was first announced at IFA 2023, and launched in October 2023. As of writing, the Q5 Pro+ with auto dustbin is available on the US Roborock site at a list price of $699.99, but reduced to $359.99. On the UK Roborock website, it's £499.99 down to £349.99. In Australia, if you go direct to Roborock the Q5 Pro+ costs AU$999, reduced to AU$799 but out of stock at time of writing. The Q5 Pro+ can also be purchased via Amazon, although at time of writing it was out of stock in both the US and UK.

If you don't need the self-empty dock, you can opt for the Roborock Q5 Pro, which is the same model but just with a basic, charge-only dock. That costs $429.99 (reduced to $179.99) or £299 (down to £199.99). In Australia it's only available via third party retailers, but has a list price of AU$899.

At TechRadar, a robot vacuum under $500 / £400 is considered a budget model. At full price, the Pro+ model is mid-range, but it's currently widely discounted into the budget bracket. The Pro version is a budget model even at list price, and really very cheap if you can snag a discount. If vacuuming is your priority, then it's well worth considering.

If mopping is a priority, then it won't be such a good pick, though. In which case, perhaps opt for the earlier high-end Roborock S7 Max Ultra model – which features a fully functioning mop system with self cleaning ability, and can be picked up for around $799.99 / £500 (although at list price it's more expensive),

Shoppers in the UK should also check out the excellent Xiaomi X20+, which retails for a ridiculously low price of £299, and is the best cheap robovac I've tested.

A quick note on availability. Given the rate of new releases in the robot vacuum world, the Q5 Pro and Pro+ are now considered slightly older models. That, combined with widespread discounts and some lack of availability makes me think that maybe this line may be discontinued in the not-too-distant future.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ specs Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: design

• Excellent dual-roller vacuum system
• Great dock with extra large dust bag
• Disappointing mop pad

As much as I tend to gravitate towards Roborock as my brand of choice when it comes to robot vacuum cleaners, I'm also startled by the number of different models – 21 and counting – that the innovative Chinese manufacturer has launched in just the past year alone (at time of writing in March 2025). It's hard enough as reviewer of these little home helpers to differentiate between one model and the next, so I can only imagine the confusion it must cause for prospective buyers who don't know anything about all these models' respective suction power levels, navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, and their various mopping functions.

(Image credit: Future)

What I will say is that, though it's not necessarily the best in the Roborock range, if you're on a tight budget and wish to jump onto the Roborock bandwagon, the minimalistic Q5 Pro series is a good place to start. Available in two variants – the Pro+ I'm reviewing here with self-emptying dock and the standard Pro with no dock – the Roborock Q5 Pro+ is one of the lowest priced Roborock series currently on the market.

Robot design

Let's take a look at the robot itself. At 35 x 35.3 x 9.7cm it's about the same width as most robot vacs though, at a shade under 9.7cm, it's also one of the tallest, which means it won't be able to venture beneath some furnishings like its ultra-low stablemates, the Saros 10 and Saros 10R. In the pantheon of robot vacs, this one's not a bad looker, though its ribbed top and black plastic does attract dust instantly. Like within seconds.

Like so many robot vacs these days, the Q5 Pro uses LDS (Laser Distance Sensor) LiDAR and this means that the Q5 Pro will quickly map a home – usually in a matter of minutes – and present its floor plan in great detail on the accompanying Roborock app. LiDAR-equipped robots are excellent at general navigation – even in total darkness – and will almost always find their way back to their docks the very first time you use them, unlike old-fashioned camera-only models that don't know where they are half the time (here's more on how robot vacuums navigate, if you're interested).

(Image credit: Future)

This model isn't fitted with a front-facing camera, so obstacle avoidance of any item under around four inches in height will suffer. Instead, it uses its LiDAR and a bump sensor to help it avoid larger obstacles and furniture. While there is a sensor on the front, it's only used for navigation back to the dock.

Like all robovacs, the Q5 pro also comes with four under-body cliff sensors to prevent it tumbling down a flight of stairs (you can also set a virtual barrier in the app for extra peace of mind). The top part of the unit is completed with three instant-access buttons for some manual control – dock, start/stop and spot clean.

(Image credit: Future)

This model is fitted with Roborock's very effective Duo Roller rubber rollers for efficient pickup of carpet and hard floor debris, along with the obligatory fixed spinning side brush for sweeping matter from corners of the room into the path of the suction funnel. And speaking of suction, this model is rated at 5,500Pa which is a lot lower than some Roborock flagship models which boast up to 22,000Pa.

However, as you'll see in my tests below, its lower suction power doesn't impinge on the bot's ability to vacuum as well as the very best, especially considering the lower price point. This model doesn't feature an ultrasonic carpet sensor, and while the blurb does say it has carpet boost by default, I haven't heard anything from the motor to suggest it does.

One especially useful asset here is the inclusion of a larger-than-average 770ml internal bin for the robot – most others are around 270ml – and that means it will happily tackle pet hair on a grand scale before it trundles back to the dock to have it all emptied automatically into the dock's also larger-than-average 2.5-litre dust bag. But more on that below.

(Image credit: Future)

If you have a big home and are interested in battery specs, you'll be pleased to know that the Q5 Pro comes with a 5200mAh battery – the same as fitted to some of Roborock's earlier flagship models. This battery boasts a running time of up to 180 minutes, which is more than enough juice for a large floor plan.

Finally we come to this model's Achilles Heel – the dreadful moping system. Now I'm generally no fan of any robot with a mopping system and I know I'm not the only one. But, hey, the powers that be have decided that that is what most people want so all manufacturers continue to make high-end robots with mopping systems when all some of us want is a highly efficient vacuum-only system with a whopping 5-litre dust bag instead of the space in the dock being consumed by two large water containers. But what do I know?

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(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

So, what's so bad about this model's mop? Well it's a simple 35cm static pad for a start and, worse, it isn't really pushed down hard enough against the floor by the weight of the robot, which means poor contact and coverage. Also, since there are no water tanks in the dock, you will have to fill a tiny 180ml water tank above the mopping pad and select two levels of moisture – a lot and a little. Incidentally, this mop does not raise automatically when traversing carpet so tread carefully if you have a lot of rugs en route to the hard floor. You can read all about the performance of this mop in the, er, Performance chapter below, but suffice to say I wasn't impressed.

Dock design

The Q5 Pro+'s dock is a great bonus since it features an extra large 2.5-liter dust bag where most other bots can only manage around two liters. And since there are no water tanks to accommodate, the dock itself is only around 45cm in height, a svelte 30cm in width and 44cm in depth, which means it won't take up very much floor space.

(Image credit: Future)

The ribbed design of the dock's front fascia is reminiscent of some of iRobot's newer offerings and it's no shabby looker, especially when compared to some of the tasteless designs I've recently seen. However, I'm not too enamoured of the cheap-feeling lid one has to lift to access the dock's dust bag. Also, setting the dock up isn't quite as straightforward as most models since you will need to assemble the dock by using the supplied Allen key (under the platform) to attach it to the bin housing.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: performance

• Excellent vacuum performance
• Strong navigation but rudimentary obstacle avoidance
• Very poor mopping

Let's take a look at the Roborock Q5 Pro+'s performance. It's a bit of a mixed bag here, so I've broken this section up into navigation, vacuuming and mopping so it's clear where this bot's strengths and weaknesses are.

Navigation performance

All Roborocks navigate spaces extremely well and this model is no different. No it doesn't have the bells-and-whistles multi-point LiDAR navigation of the new Roborock Saros 10R, but it managed just fine in my open-plan home. Put another way, during my review period it never once got lost or found itself trapped under furniture. I'm not promising that'll never happen in the future – it's a robot after all – but it's a strong start.

Roborock uses something called Adaptive Route Algorithms for the Q5 Pro's navigation system and this means it will clean floors in a logical, linear way rather than randomly like most camera only-based models.

Crucially, this is another one of those modern bots that didn't seem to have any trouble traversing my rugs, even those of the loose, thin variety. And that's always a major bonus in my opinion.

(Image credit: Future)

This model can be described as merely adequate when it comes to obstacle avoidance, so it's best suited to homes that are generally free of small items like loose socks, Lego bricks and phone cables. If this describes your home, you would be better off spending a lot more on a higher-end model – or avoid a robot altogether.

The Q5 pro uses very basic touch-and-run avoidance. This means it may gently push some larger items out of the way while dodging others. There's no rhyme or reason to its thought processes when faced with obstacles but, according to my tests, it didn't seem to see any items less than around 4 inches in height. Consequently, it gamely ploughed over the small nylon dog bone that has similarly caught out many other robot vacs and pushed some smaller dog toys that other models have avoided.

Vacuum performance

Vacuum cleaning of both hard floor and carpet is where this model really shines. But then that doesn't surprise me because very few Roborocks fail to impress in this regard.

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Before the suction test on hard floor... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

... and during (Image credit: Future)

Test one took place on my kitchen floor with a buffet of different ingredients – a handful of orzo pasta, a crushed Hob Nob, half a teaspoon of brown sugar, a large pinch of flour and a scattering of cornflakes (I would usually also include some oats, but I ate them). Anyway, I set the unit to Max (one below full power) and selected two passes.

The results were excellent; indeed, as good as many of Roborock's high-end bots. Yes, there was some serious snow ploughing of ingredients (my bad for adding so many) but everything was eventually sucked up with no traces of any remnants. Top marks.

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Before the suction test on carpet... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

... and after (Image credit: Future)

I then replicated the test on a medium-pile carpet rug using the app's Zone option and set the vacuum power to Max+ (its highest setting) plus two passes for good measure. I expected poorer performance for this test but was pleasantly surprised to see it collect the vast majority of the debris in a single pass. It then came back on itself and collected the rest. And just for good measure, it then proceeded to run over the same section horizontally until absolutely nothing remained. I call that a success.

Aside from the above tests, I also had the Q5 Pro running over a five day period and noted how well it collected all the hair shed by my two dogs and three cats. The great thing about this model is that it has a much larger internal bin than the majority of other robot vacs. This is a big bonus when it comes to collecting pet hair – not because it can cram more in during an average cleaning session, but because of the extra space in the bin which prevents bundling and compression when automatically emptying at the dock.

Many robot vacs I've tested have occasionally had issues during self emptying, where large clumps of hair become trapped in the outlet of the robot's bin and around the intake to the dock's dust bag. These issues are easily fixed but are also an inconvenience. Hence, if I'm in the same room as the dock, I always listen for the tell-tale ‘woomph' sound as the hair is sucked into the dock. In fact, I've also become accustomed to the tone of the motor fan during emptying so I can usually tell if there's a blockage issue.

Mopping performance

In short, there is nothing Pro about this robot's mopping system. In fact, I'm not sure why Roborock even considered a mopping system like this in this day and age, because it is pretty woeful at mopping up anything other than the very top layer of dust and some very light soiling. Worse, the mop cannot lift itself off the floor when crossing carpets so you would need to remove all rugs while in transit.

To set up the mopping system you need to fill the small 180ml water tank – preferably with hot water – and slide the switch under the mop pad to your preferred choice of wetness (I chose the lower amount since I have engineered wooden floors). Now wait a few minutes while the water saturates the mop and set it off on its way. Since the app doesn't show an option for mopping, you basically set the robot to do a standard vacuum and the mop pad simply drags along the floor.

Mopping merely left damp stripes on my floor (Image credit: Future)

In my test, the pad left a lot more moisture on the floor than other mopping models I've tried and, because some of my floor's wooden planks are fractionally bowed, the water was deposited as a series of stripes. Yes, it kind of mopped the floor as evidenced by the dirtiness of the mop but, really, this is no substitute for some proper elbow grease. Worse, you have to remove the mop pad when finished and clean it under a hot tap. That's just too much work for me.

Personally, I wouldn't bother using this model as a wet mop. Instead I would advise leaving the dry pad attached when sending the bot out on a vacuum run. It'll simply drag behind, collecting any remnants of dust while giving your hard floor a polish of sorts.

Alternatively, if you don't think you need a mop, perhaps consider the non-mopping Q5 Max+, which is ultimately a better overall choice for the money. And if your robot simply must have a mop attached, consider something like the Roborock S7 Max Ultra which, while more expensive, is way better at wet mopping hard floors.

Dock performance

I've been very impressed with the performance of this dock. For a start, it's got a much larger dust bag than most other models (2.5-litres) and a reassuringly loud suction process that never failed to remove all contents from the robot's larger-than-average bin, even when filled with pet hair. I also love its unobtrusively small size, which makes it perfectly suited to location in a living room if space is an issue.

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The dock has a larger than usual bin (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

The onboard bin before auto-empty... (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

... and after (Image credit: Future)

It's not as fully-featured as you'd find on pricier models – as discussed, there are no water tanks, let alone mop pad cleaning – but as a dust-emptying dock it's excellent. Despite some cheapness in the quality of the lift-off dust bag lid, I give this dock close to top marks.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: app

• Intuitive and easy to set up
• Feature filled
• Not all setting options available

The Roborock app is essential for maximizing the Q5 Pro+'s potential. Setup is straightforward and the interface is clean and very intuitive. It also comes with tons of options, though some may be missing for this particular model of robot vac.

(Image credit: Roborock)

In general, you're provided with a decent range of parameters, including real-time mapping, cleaning schedules, zone customization, routine settings and various custom options regarding how the robot and dock behave during any cleaning session. I particularly appreciated the ‘no-go zones' for keeping the vacuum away from delicate areas and the way you can view your home in 3D. I also love the way you can set its voice notifications to your specific language and, if living in the UK, even choose a British accent.

• App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock Q5 Pro+? Buy it if...

You want reliable, efficient vacuuming

Roborocks rarely fail to impress when it comes to sweeping floors, and this model is no exception. Despite not having the highest outright suction on the market, its cleaning power is right up there with far pricier, higher-specced models.

You're on a budget

This is one of the cheapest Roborock bots available, and discounts are easy to come by. If mopping isn't your priority, this could be a great-value buy.

You want a compact dock

The dock is small for a self-empty option, despite having generously sized dust containers. I have no complaints about its functionality, either.

Don't buy it if...

You need a mopping feature

Although this bot does mop, it's pretty useless at it.

Your home is a little cluttered

While mapping is good, the obstacle avoidance here is basic. If there are often toys or other clutter on your floor, and you don't want to have to tidy before every vacuum session, this is one to avoid.

You have low furniture

The Q5 Pro+ is on the taller side for a robot vacuum. If you have low-sitting furniture, it might not be able to fit underneath. Roborock's newest models (including the Qrevo Slim and Saros 10R) are designed specifically with this in mind. View Deal

How I tested the Roborock Q5 Pro+

I let the Roborock Q5 Pro+ loose on my open-plan flooring and observed its behavior over a five-day period. I then ran a series of intensive tests to see how well it vacuumed both hard floor and carpet, which it passed with flying colours. I also tried out its obstacle avoidance using a variety of items, including small and large dog toys. I then put its mop to the test, knowing full well that it would be a sub-par performer simply by looking at it. And I was right.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed March 2025

Stay in style while adding mild compression for improved blood flow with the best compression socks on the market.

• New dual-core MEGA.mini architecture boosts performance while saving energy
• Dynamic core allocation optimizes workloads
• Mega cores for complex tasks and mini cores for routine processing

At February 2025's International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), researchers unveiled a new MEGA.mini architecture.

Inspired by Arm’s celebrated "big.LITTLE" paradigm, this universal generative AI processor, discussed at length in 'MEGA.mini: A Universal Generative AI Processor with a New Big/Little Core Architecture for NPU', an academic paper presented at the conference, promised a revolutionary approach to neural processing unit (NPU) design.

Arm's big.LITTLE architecture has long been a staple of efficient mobile and embedded systems, balancing high-performance cores with energy-efficient ones to optimize power usage. The MEGA.mini project seeks to bring a similar dual-core philosophy to NPUs, which are essential for running AI models efficiently.

MEGA.mini: A game-changing NPU design

This approach will likely involve pairing high-capacity "Mega" cores for demanding tasks with lightweight "Mini" cores for routine processing. The primary goal of this design is to optimize power consumption while maximizing processing capabilities for various generative artificial intelligence (AI) tasks, ranging from natural language generation to complex reasoning.

Generative AI tool workloads, like those powering large language models or image synthesis systems, are notoriously resource-intensive. MEGA.mini's architecture aims to delegate complex tasks to Mega cores while offloading simpler operations to Mini cores, balancing speed, and power efficiency.

MEGA.mini also functions as a universal processor for generative AI. Unlike traditional fastest CPUs that require customization for specific AI tasks, MEGA.mini is being developed such that developers can leverage the architecture for different use cases, including natural language processing (NLP) and multimodal AI systems that integrate text, image, and audio processing.

It also optimizes workloads, whether running massive cloud-based AI models or compact edge AI applications, assisted by its support for multiple data types and formats, from traditional floating-point operations to emerging sparsity-aware computations.

This universal approach could simplify AI development pipelines and improve deployment efficiency across platforms, from mobile devices to high-performance data centers.

The introduction of a dual-core architecture to NPUs is a significant departure from conventional designs — traditional NPUs often rely on a monolithic structure, which can lead to inefficiencies when processing varied AI tasks.

MEGA.mini's design addresses this limitation by creating cores specialized for specific types of operations. Mega cores are engineered for high-performance tasks like matrix multiplications and large-scale computations, essential for training and running sophisticated large language models (LLMs) while mini cores are optimized for low-power operations such as data pre-processing and inference tasks.

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Articles, photos and videos that are seen as promoting DEI will be removed under the new approach.

(Image credit: Jacquelyn Martin
)

The Trump administration delivered an ultimatum to leaders of Columbia University: Make a series of major changes or lose out on billions in federal aid.

(Image credit: Jason DeCrow)

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 15.

An appeals court on Friday lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end government support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, allowing the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit challenging them plays out.

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In an internal VA memo seen by NPR, the VA says it's rescinding a directive that contains detailed guidance on the kind of care transgender veterans can receive at VA facilities.

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The melodrama of the 2024 F1 season -- both on and off the track -- comes back to bite in the latest installment of the hit Netflix show.

A directive from the National Institute of Standards and Technology eliminates mention of “AI safety” and “AI fairness.”

Tesla has joined the ranks of U.S. companies concerned that Trump's aggressive tariff policies may negatively affect global sales.

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The rare speech at the Justice Department comes as the Trump administration has spent the last several weeks trying to reconfigure the agency, including demoting attorneys who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and firing officials who investigated the president himself.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

Registering a domain can be done with just a few simple clicks in 2025, but it hasn’t always been that way. Rewind to March 1985 and the internet’s first .com domain name was registered: Symbolics.com.

What makes this date particularly noteworthy is the fact that the World Wide Web didn’t even exist at that point, and it would be six years until the web came onto the scene and changed our world forever.

Put simply, the creation of Symbolics.com marked what many would regard as the beginning of the dot-com era; the embryonic phase of a tectonic shift in global business, commerce, and society in general.

Symbolics.com

So who was behind the registration? As the name obviously suggests, it was created by an organization called Symbolics Computer Corporation. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company specialized in the development of Lisp machines - early general-purpose computers running on the list processing (Lisp) programming language.

Registering a domain was no easy task during this period. The Domain Name System (DNS) was very much still in its infancy, and registrations were processed manually by the Stanford Research Institute (SRI).

To secure the domain, Symbolics was required to submit a paper request via fax machine or mail to the institute. Thereafter, it was a waiting game until it was processed and approved.

A far cry from the simple click-and-go experience of your modern web user.

A long road since the first domain name registration

It would be an understatement to say the web has come a long way in the 40 years since the Symbolics registration. It’s now an ever-present aspect of our daily lives, defining how we access information, shop, communicate with friends and family, and crucially, how we work.

We’ve seen the impact of IT downtime in the last few years, and it’s safe to say that moving back to pen and paper and fax machines on a full-time basis simply isn’t an option.

From that first registration, the number of domains globally has surged steadily over the years. As of the end of 2024, the number of domains registered globally stood at 364.3 million, according to figures from DNIB.

For context, in 2014 the number of domains registered globally stood at around 250 million. This continued growth over the last decade hasn’t been restricted to business-related domains, either. Anyone can create one easily and at a fairly reasonable price.

From microbusinesses and blogs to professional portfolios and artistic showcase sites, millions of people globally have some form of website and associated domain.

Where is Symbolics now?

Today, a quick visit to Symbolics.com will take you to what is essentially a web-based museum. In 2009, the domain was acquired by Aron Meystedt, a startup investor and founder of Napkin.com.

Meystedt has maintained the site since then, offering users a glimpse into historic events and milestones over the course of the web’s development. It still attracts tens of thousands of curious visitors each year, including myself while researching this article.

Aside from the interesting facts and tidbits available on the site, there is another interesting feature: an AI-powered domain name quality scoring tool.

It’s fantastic that, 40 years on from its creation, the world’s first domain has jumped on the AI bandwagon. Nonetheless, it is a handy tool and has been used by thousands of people to evaluate domain name strength and quality.

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In my years as a gamer – stretching back to childhood afternoons blowing desperately into dusty Nintendo cartridges – I've watched countless tech innovations appear, dazzle briefly, and fade quietly away. Remember motion controls? Great for Wii bowling, less great for just about everything else. VR keeps promising to be revolutionary but always feels like it's still waiting in the wings. But artificial intelligence may have something that lasts longer.

That's probably why Microsoft is working on an AI "Copilot for Gaming," that will aid future Xbox players. But there’s no need to wait if you want to bring the power of AI to your next gaming session. ChatGPT can be a surprisingly pleasant companion on your gaming journey, here are a few ways I've deployed it to make playing video games more fun.

Game guide AI

(Image credit: Insomniac Games / Sony)

There was a time when official game guides were thick, glossy artifacts full of art and obscure easter eggs or enormous and often funny digital books written by paid games journalists. But these days, official guides are rare, and the investors in online guides mostly rely on messy wikis. The information you want is probably out there, but rarely in a cohesive and useful format.

Recently, while swinging through the streets of New York in Spider-Man 2 on my PS5, I decided to see if ChatGPT could recreate something resembling those classic guides, one that could chart every side mission, collectible, and hidden secret. I used the Deep Research tool to really delve into the internet and come back with more than just a single mission tipsheet. I asked the AI to "Create a personalized, comprehensive guide for completing Spider-Man 2 on PS5. Make sure it includes information on collecting suits, getting upgrades, and finding side-missions, so I don't miss anything."

Five minutes later I had a thorough game plan, with not just everything I should look for, but even what to prioritize at different stages of the story. I got optimal routes for collectibles, tips for efficiently earning upgrade tokens, and suggested combat approaches tailored to different types of encounters. I didn't need or want to follow its suggestions slavishly, but if I ever got confused or realized there was a blank in my costume options, it was right there to steer me to the solution.

Real-time guidance

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Open-world games offer freedom to do anything, but a sprawling fantasy RPG can sometimes almost be annoying if you simultaneously love them but also get impatient with them. While wandering the vibrant landscapes of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, I stood atop a floating island and felt stuck despite the options for shrines, side quests, and mysteries scattered across the horizon.

Just to break the paralysis, I asked ChatGPT, "I'm feeling unsure what to do in Tears of the Kingdom. Should I prioritize shrines, exploration, or push forward with the main story?" I soon had a nice breakdown of possible rewards, pacing, and general vibe of the options, and I immediately had my next four hours filled with fun rather than dithering from my island.

Game mechanics education

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Complex game mechanics are part of the fun of a video game, but sometimes they're a little too difficult to work out from a game's own description. I don't like switching to easy mode on games even in a game with that option, but that can leave me stuck failing over and over. Hogwarts: Legacy is no one's idea of an ultra-hard pro-gamer only game, but that doesn't mean the mastering spell combos, potions, and talent trees doesn't take at least some practice.

Frustrated after a particularly disastrous duel, I turned to ChatGPT for help. My prompt was: "I'm struggling with the spell system and combat combos in Hogwarts: Legacy. Can you clearly explain how I can combine different spells effectively without making it feel like studying for finals?"

Happily, ChatGPT didn't just mock me, but explained some intricate mechanics in simpler ways and suggested strategies to improve. The advice included showing the synergy of some spells, combos to try for different enemies, and other variations to try. Suddenly I was a capable wizard, rather than another confused Muggle.

The next game

(Image credit: Sony Santa Monica)

Ever stare at your gaming library or scrolled endlessly through digital stores, unable to choose a new game? ChatGPT can be your guide on that too. After completing God of War: Ragnarok, I was keen to find something similarly exciting. Online guides helped, but I didn't want to waste time or money so I asked ChatGPT for help with the prompt, "I loved God of War: Ragnarok, particularly the story, visceral combat, and mythology connection. Can you recommend something similar for my next game?"

ChatGPT recommended options like Horizon: Forbidden West and Ghost of Tsushima, explaining how each matched my preferences. ChatGPT didn't just throw random ideas my way, it had an explanation for each. Ghost of Tsushima turned out to fulfill my interests perfectly.

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Ukraine's president said he hopes the U.S. applies "maximum additional sanctions" on Russia if it refuses to accept a 30-day ceasefire, describing the Russian leader's "bravado" as a stalling tactic.

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