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The movie has it all: Lin-Manuel Miranda songs, a Blue Ivy Carter performance and little CGI lions.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is coming to iOS and Android
• It will launch on April 15 and cost $8.99
• All DLC is included

Dotemu, Tribute Games, Paramount Game Studios, and Pladigious have announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge will hit mobile devices next month.

The game is a 2D beat-em-up with a stunning pixel art aesthetic that looks like it would be perfectly at home on one of the best gaming phones or a big-screen gaming tablet. It's coming to both iOS and Android and will be available via the App Store and Google Play Store respectively.

It features 16 distinct levels, with multiple playable characters which of course means the chance to punch goons such as the iconic ninja turtles Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo but also some more unusual ones like news reporter April O'Neil.

On top of this, the mobile version will come bundled with all DLC content at no additional cost. This means you're getting the Radical Reptiles (which introduces two new playable characters) and Dimension Shellshock (with new characters, game modes, and exclusive mechanics) expansions.

All of this will cost just $8.99 - a fraction of the $32.90 asking price over on PC. Better still, those who pre-order the game ahead of its April 15 launch date will benefit from a special 10% discount which takes it down to only $7.99.

A free trial will be available, which would be a good way to assess performance on your device.

The port will feature full Bluetooth controller support too, which is perfect if you have a spare Xbox Wireless Controller lying around.

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Full spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 2. Mild spoilers also follow for season 3's first three episodes.

I have a complicated relationship with The Wheel of Time's (TWoT) TV adaptation. The first season of Amazon's live-action series was terrific – indeed, I said it was everyone's next fantasy show obsession ahead of its April 2021 launch.

The Wheel of Time's second season was less impressive. Yes, it belatedly found its feet as it raced towards its thrilling finale, but it wasn't the epic second chapter I expected it to be. The so-called 'sophomore slump' was most certainly in effect.

So, thank goodness that, based on its three-episode premiere, The Wheel of Time season 3 is a magical return to form for a show whose future rests on its ability to prove that The Rings of Power isn't the only terrific high fantasy program in Amazon's TV arsenal.

Aes Sedai: civil war

Season 3 kicks off with an almighty and brutal scrap in The White Tower's central chamber (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

One month has passed since Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski) was officially declared the Dragon Reborn in Falme. However, despite the defeat of Ishamael and his Seanchan allies, the Shadow looms larger than ever over The Wheel of Time's world.

To prepare for the forthcoming Last Battle, Rand, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), and company need to divide and conquer once more. Cue our heroes splitting up to not only tackle the threat that the Dark One and his subordinates pose, but also acquire the knowledge, skills, and weapons to defeat them once and for all.

The Aes Sedai battle is an astoundingly cold-blooded and brave entry point to this season

Before those events are set in motion, there's the small matter of a civil war erupting among the Aes Sedai. Trouble has been brewing at the all-female magic wielders' stronghold in Tar Valon since the show began. And, like the merciless Thanedd Coup event in The Witcher season 3 on Netflix, episode 1 of TWoT's third entry is the stage for tensions boiling over.

The extended opening sequence of season 3's first episode is as incendiary as it is brutal (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Season 3, then, wastes no time throwing us into the thick of the action. Political infighting (there's still plenty of this once the dust settles on this bout, FYI) between The White Tower's various factions makes way for bloody, One Power-based warfare as those loyal to the Aes Sedai's leader Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okenedo), aka 'Mother', fight literal fire with fire against Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) and her Black Ajah compatriots – i.e., the Aes Sedai who've now sided with the Dark One.

A microcosm of the wider war that'll eventually envelop TWoT's universe, it's an shockingly cold-blooded and brave reintroduction to one of the best Prime Video shows around. Nonetheless, I welcome any and all courageously creative entry points to new movies and shows or, the latter's case, new seasons, so consider me highly satisfied by this venture.

A dune prophecy

Rand (middle right) and Moiraine (second right) travel to the Aiel Waste in season 3 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

But the Prime Video show's primary heroes aren't side-lined for long. As the dust settles on the conflict within The White Tower's walls and before they part ways to cover as much ground as possible, Rand and company actually spent a significant – well, significant by TWoT's standards – amount of time together in episode 1.

It's a pleasing albeit temporary respite from the dangerous adventures they've embarked on and will soon undertake again. Not only that, it also serves as a reminder of the tight bonds – especially between The Two Rivers quintet of Rand, Egwene (Madeleine Madden), Perrin (Marcus Rutherford), Nynaeve (Zoe Robins), and Matt (Donal Finn) – that they forged before the show began and have been seriously tested since.

Season 3 sacrifices the frustratingly slow and meandering start of its forebear in favor of faster-paced storytelling

The lull between last season's finale and the beginning of season 3's questing doesn't disrupt the pacing, though.

Episode 1's explosive opening, plus the plot exposition dumps we thankfully receive through character conversations, which fill in the narrative gaps between seasons, season 3 hits the ground running. Sure, it might feel like we've skipped an episode, but I'm relieved that TWoT's latest chapter sacrifices the frustratingly slow and meandering start of its forebear in favor of faster-paced storytelling with perpetual forward momentum.

Matt, Nynaeve, Min (all pictured), and Elayne travel to Tanchico in the series' third entry (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

That much is clear in how quickly Rand, Moiraine, Egwene, Lan (Daniel Henney), and Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) journey to and arrive at the Aiel Waste. A vast and mysterious desert region that's steeped in history and home to the Aiel people (they call it the Three-Fold Land, FYI), its introduction in episode 2 is testament to propel the story into darker, narratively absorbing, and enigmatic territory.

Three episodes in, I'd argue this storyline is the most interesting so far in season 3. That might be down to the unmistakable parallels between this particular plot, and Frank Herbert's Dune book series and its live-action movie franchise – the pair of which I adore. After all, TWoT and Dune tell the tale of a prophesized messiah who reluctantly embraces their so-called destiny by traveling to an unknown land and unites its quarrelling factions. Stark comparisons between Rand and Paul Atreides notwithstanding, the Aiel Waste storyline is also full of compelling melodrama and fantastical revelations that'll please new and old fans alike.

The dark arts

Lanfear's return – and the arrival of more Forsaken – means nowhere is safe for our heroes (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

That doesn't mean season 3 prioritizes one storyline over its brethren. Rand's arc is particularly important – you know, what with him being the Dragon Reborn and all – but, aware of its overreliance and favoring of some plots over others last season, TWoT's latest installment takes a proactive approach to managing the time it spends between its multiple narratives.

Whether it's Perrin's cathartic albeit life-threatening return to The Two Rivers, Nynaeve and Elayne's (Ceara Coveney) appointment as Siuan's 'hounds' to track down the Black Ajah and The One Power-infused relics they stole from The White Tower, or Matt battling his inner demons, season 3 skilfully maneuvers between its various storylines with confidence. That was something its forebear lacked, so I'm glad this season doesn't suffer from the same issue.

Season 3 skilfully maneuvers between its various storylines with confidence

That said, I was vexed by season 3's penchant for dragging out problems that have affected certain characters since season 1's second half. Sure, only a month has elapsed in-universe, so it's understandable that traumatic events that impacted some heroes, such as Egwene's post-traumatic stress disorder from her Seanchan imprisonment and torture, and Matt's ongoing mental health issues, in season 2 would continue to afflict them.

However, plot threads like Nynaeve's ongoing struggles to channel the One Power are growing tiresome. True, this is dictated by the storylines and character arcs that comprise season 3, but it's frustrating that plot elements like this, which began in TWoT's first season, haven't been resolved yet, nor allow for much character evolution for individuals who sorely need it.

Season 3 makes more changes from the novels, such as a budding romance between Elayne and Aviendha, that might annoy some fans (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

TWoT devotees are sure to be disgruntled by further deviations from what's depicted in Robert Jordan's beloved book series namesake as well.

Again, such diversions are determined by the story that showrunner Rafe Judkins wishes to tell. That'll be of scant consolation to fans of Jordan's literary works, though, who may bristle at changes like Matt not being part of Rand's Aiel Waste-bound party. However, some tweaks to the source materials, such as the budding romance between Elayne and Aviendha – an evolution of the close friendship they share in the novels – feels less intrusive.

The natural expansion of TWoT's world and the character that inhabit it in season 3 is handled with purposeful precision, too. The introduction of new locations like Tanchico, Rhuidean, and Andor upscale the size and scope of Amazon's adaptation. Meanwhile, the live-action debut of Andor's royal family – aka Elayne's relatives – and more of Lanfear's (Natasha O'Keeffe) fellow Forsaken, plus devoting of more screentime to characters with bit-part roles in season 2 like Aviendha and Siuan, raise the stakes and suggest I should be worried for more characters than just Rand and Moiraine this season.

My verdict

With The Wheel of Time season 3, Prime Video not only conjures up the show's best season yet, but also finally cements its position as one of the greatest Amazon TV Originals.

Like many of the characters that inhabit its world, it's a coming-of-age success story that proves TWoT has the style and substance – and, whisper it quietly, longevity – to go toe-to-toe with Amazon's Lord of the Rings prequel series.

It remains to be seen if a wider audience will be receptive to the Prime Video series' bleakest and most daunting season yet. After all, TWoT's future hinges on how its third chapter performs on one of the world's best streaming services. Based on the spellbinding effect that its three-episode premiere had on me, though, I'm confident it'll perform well enough to keep its storytelling wheel spinning for some time yet.

The Wheel of Time season 3 launches exclusively on Prime Video with a three-episode premiere on Thursday, March 13. New episodes air weekly.

LG is set to release the C5 and G5 updates to its highly regarded OLED TVs this month.

• LG has revealed US pricing for its LG G5 and LG C5 OLED TVs
• Prices are the same or cheaper than their predecessors
• Both series are available to pre-order through LG

LG has announced pricing for two of its 2025 OLED TV series, the LG G5 and LG C5, and in some welcome news, prices are the same and or even cheaper for some sizes compared to last year's models.

Available to order now from LG, the LG G5 and LG C5 are successors to the LG G4 and LG C4, two of the best OLED TVs from 2024. Pricing for the 55, 65, 77, 83 and 97-inch LG G5, is as follows:

• LG 55-inch G5 OLED: $2,499
• LG 65-inch G5 OLED: $3,399
• LG 77-inch G5 OLED: $4,499
• LG 83-inch G5 OLED: $6,499
• LG 97-inch G5 OLED: $27,999

Interestingly, there is no mention of the new LG 48-inch G5, which was announced in the UK with the other models earlier this month along with pricing.

Pricing for the LG C5 series, available in six sizes, is as follows:

• LG 42-inch C5 OLED: $1,399
• LG 48-inch C5 OLED: $1,599
• LG 55-inch C5 OLED: $1,999
• LG 65-inch C5 OLED: $2,699
• LG 77-inch C5 OLED: $3,699
• LG 83-inch C5 OLED: $5,399

Compared with last year's LG G4 and LG C4, launch prices for the G5 and C5 are largely the same, with a couple of exceptions.

The 55- and 77-inch G5 and 42-inch C5 are all launching $100 cheaper than their respective 2024 counterparts, which is welcome pricing news.

Pre-orders for each model are available through LG's website, with links to each model below:

• Pre-order the 55-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 65-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 77-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 83-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 97-inch LG G5 at LG

• Pre-order the 42-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 48-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 55-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 65-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 77-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 83-inch LG C5 at LG

The announcement of these prices also gives us our first release dates, with every model of both the G5 and C5 listed as available in March 2025. Although there is no specific date, this means availability is imminent as we're already into the second week of March. This release schedule follows the same pattern that LG's OLEDs have had for the past few years.

LG has yet to announce a release date or pricing for the LG B5 in the US.

A pricing surprise

The LG G5 (pictured) offers a real brightness boost over its predecessor, the LG G4. (Image credit: Future)

These are the first official prices for the LG G5 and LG C5 in the US that we've received. We initially predicted they would be pricier compared to their 2024 counterparts after a first look at CES 2025 (accounting for inflation and pricing trends over previous years). However, European pricing for the LG G5, C5 and B5 and UK pricing for the LG G5 was recently announced, revealing that prices remained the same for the G4 in Europe and the UK and for the C5 in Europe. We hoped this would also be the case for the US, and thankfully, it is.

What we didn't anticipate in all this pricing news is that some models would be cheaper. Yes, at the time of writing, prices are still at a premium and significantly higher than the 2024 LG OLED models, which have seen their prices fall throughout the past year. But for launch prices to match LG's 2024 OLED lineup, and even go cheaper, could be a good sign for the future. Could prices for the G5 and C5 series eventually drop even lower than their predecessors?

We've seen the LG G5 and C5 in person and are excited about how both advance on two of 2024's best TVs. LG suggested a 40% fullscreen brightness boost in the LG G5 compared to the LG G4 and now we've seen the G5 and G4 side-by-side and can confirm the brightness increase is very real.

We've also seen webOS 25 and its new range of exciting AI features, including the AI Sound Wizard, which enables users to customize their LG TV's built-in sound profile in action and, spoiler alert, it's very cool. From what else we've seen, the C5 looks like a very capable TV.

We haven't had a chance to test the new LG G5 or C5 fully yet, but hope to in the coming weeks. We're encouraged by what we've seen so far and are eager to get our hands on them.

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• Bitdefender has identified a malicious SMS campaign
• The texts promise up to 90% energy bills savings
• Elon Musk's likeness is used to try and trick victims

A malicious SMS campaign has been discovered by Bitdefender, taking advantage of Americans who want to save money on their energy bills.

The scammers sent an offer for an ‘innovative’ energy saving device via an SMS, usually including the victim’s real name, urging them to follow a link to “start saving” hundreds on their electric bill. The fraudsters most likely had access to the victim’s names through previous data breaches. Here’s one example of the SMS;

“Gary, your neighbors are paying 79% less for power. Why aren’t you? Stop overpaying- click here to start saving https://gimelove .com/eln”

ESaver Watt

As well as phishing and malware attacks, the link was found to lead some recipients to a fake news article featuring a photo and testimonial from Musk, promising an up to 90% saving on monthly electricity bills.

“The big power companies are scamming you. Yes, that’s right. Believe it or not, they have been using a secret to cheat you every time you run your lights, dishwasher, blender, vacuum and anything else that draws power”, says the fake Elon Musk.

“This is why your power bill is so expensive every month and keeps rising with some US residents paying as much as $500 a month in electric bills. Every American can slash their electricity bill by 90% using this revolutionary technology. You’re welcome.”

The article features a photo of the ‘device’, and links to product pages, where the plugin is sold for $40. Bitdefender has seen similar devices sold on Chinese marketplaces for just a few dollars - but to be clear, energy prices cannot be reduced by plugging in an outlet, and these devices will cost victims money and their personal information.

These are classic social engineering attacks, which are designed to panic or entice victims into action - usually clicking a malicious link which will steal their data. The best way to stay safe from attacks like these is to stay vigilant, and to never click any unsolicited links - remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

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• Empirical Health has released a new smartwatch health protocol
• Empirical Health Radar uses 40+ smartwatch biomarkers, combined with clinical results to give you a health score
• It can give you a deeper look at heart health, kidney function, liver health, and more

A new service from Empirical Health promises to deliver a comprehensive health score using combined data from your smartwatch and clinical records.

Available from March 11, Empirical Health Radar (no affiliation with TechRadar) can be found in the Empirical Health app on Android and iOS.

Empirical Health Radar takes 40 biomarkers from your Apple Watch or Wear OS smartwatch, and combines the data with blood tests to generate a doctor-designed health score.

The health score was designed by Dr Raquel Rodriguez, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Empirical Health, formerly of Kaiser and UC San Francisco, and features guidelines and risk models from the US Preventive Services Task Force, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology, and American Board of Family Medicine.

At its heart, Empirical Health Data is designed to supplement the fitness and health tracking of your smartwatch with clinical data, filling in the blanks that even the best smartwatches can't quite cover just yet.

The ultimate smartwatch health check?

(Image credit: Empirical Health)

Empirical Health Radar's health score categorizes biomarkers into six categories: heart health, sleep, lungs, exercise, mental health, and kidney/liver.

By way of example, Empirical Health notes even the best Apple Watches can't predict heart attacks, but cholesterol and blood pressure data can be used in an American College of Cardiology risk calculator to do just that. Empirical Health Radar combines that clinical test with your smartwatch's ECG data, irregular rhythm alerts, resting heart rate, and cardio recovery metrics to give you a more holistic heart health score than you'd get from either a smartwatch or a blood test individually.

You can upload a PDF or image of blood tests you've already taken, or import records directly from Apple Health using Apple's clinical records API in HealthKit.

If you don't want to surrender any clinical data, you can use Empirical Health Radar without recent blood tests and get a partial score. Or for convenience you can book a test directly through the Empirical Health app or complete one at a local lab for $97.

Empirical Health is available from the App Store or Google Play Store, or Empirical Health's website now.

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• The Alan Turing Institute has outlined recommendations to protect UK AI research
• Nation-state threat actors pose a serious risk to the UK's AI development
• Universities are increasingly targeted, so need to up protection

The Alan Turing Institute has issued a report warning ‘urgent action’ is needed to protect the UK’s ‘world leading AI research ecosystem’.

An urgent, coordinated response from the UK Government and higher education institutions is needed, the report says, to develop protections for the research sector. This includes recommendations to create a classified mapping of the AI higher education research ecosystem, and provide guidance to universities.

Higher education institutions in the UK are increasingly targeted by threat actors, with almost half experiencing a cyberattack every week. The report confirms that nation-based actors have been discovered using “espionage, theft, and duplicitous collaboration” to try and keep pace with the UK’s research and development.

Culture change

The rapid development of AI research makes it vulnerable to nation-backed threat actors looking to steal intellectual property, and using it for malicious purposes.

Concerns were raised about hostile states potentially gaining access to the “dual-use” nature of the technology, meaning that the tool can be repurposed or reverse engineered to be used for malicious activity, such as defence tools being converted to help attackers.

The report outlines a need for a change in culture to focus on building risk awareness and security-mindedness, and encouraging "consistent compliance” with guidelines and best practice.

The research also wants to address the UK's AI skills gap by ensuring domestic talent is retained, and delivering research security training for staff and research students. Research intensive universities are also advised to set up research scrutiny committees in order to support risk assessments for AI researchers.

“Furthering AI research is rightly a top priority for the UK, but the accompanying security risks cannot be ignored as the world around us grows ever more volatile,” says Megan Hughes, Research Associate at the Alan Turing institute.

“Academia and the government must commit to and support this long overdue culture change to strike the right balance between academic freedom and protecting this vital asset.”

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Elon Musk said a “massive cyberattack” disrupted X on Monday and pointed to “IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area” as the source of the attack. Security experts say that's not how it works.

A reader is taken aback by her best friend's reaction to the possibility that she might want kids. He says that if she had kids, it would change everything between them. Friendship experts weigh in.

(Image credit: Photographs by Getty Images; Collage by Beck Harlan/NPR)

• Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel, but won't end the way 2016's Doom reboot begins with the Slayer in the coffin
• Game director Hugo Martin says this wouldn't allow the team to tell more stories
• Martin also said the team is working on DLC so the game can't end with the Slayer in a coffin

Doom: The Dark Ages might be a prequel, but developer iD Software confirms it won't end the way 2016's Doom begins.

If you haven't played Doom, the game begins with the Slayer locked inside a coffin until he breaks free. Since Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to this story, some players have started to form ideas about how the upcoming game will end.

However, according to game director Hugo Martin, this won't happen as it would mean the team wouldn't be able to tell more medieval stories.

"I mean, that would end the Dark Ages, the medieval chapter of the Doom saga. This is kind of like the Chronicles of the Slayer," Martin told PC Gamer.

"So if we took it all the way to that point, then that would mean that we couldn't tell any more medieval stories. And I'm not announcing projects or anything other than to just say it's better to leave it open."

Martin went on to reveal that iD Software has downloadable content (DLC) planned for Doom: The Dark Ages, which would also go against the idea of the Slayer ending up in a coffin at the end of the game.

"We do have a DLC and things like that, so it won't - I'm not giving away spoilers - but it doesn't end with him [in the coffin]," the game director added.

"The story is that they collapsed a building on top of him and then put him inside of that sarcophagus that we find him in at the beginning of 2016. And this game doesn't end that way."

Doom: The Dark Ages launches on May 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, as well as Xbox Game Pass on day one.

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• Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that a major iOS overhaul is on the way with iOS 19
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• A new software look could go hand-in-hand with rumored hardware changes

We’ve heard plenty about the rumored hardware upgrades for the iPhone 17 family, which is supposedly due at some point later this year, but a new report from the industry’s best-regarded Apple tipster suggests Apple’s next handsets will also usher in a huge software revamp.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that iOS 19 will represent “one of the most dramatic software overhauls” in the history of not only iOS, but Apple as a company. The last time iOS saw a truly massive change in form and function was with iOS 7, released in 2013 – even today, many of the apps and interface elements found in iOS 18 are based on their iOS 7 versions.

In terms of new functionality, iOS 19 could bring a reworked camera app and (finally) a more powerful Siri, but we’re still pretty light on tips about other features. Below, we’ve put together a roundup of the major rumors so far, as well as a few things I’d like to see from Apple’s next mobile operating system.

An overhauled design

iOS 19 may take inspiration from VisionOS (Image credit: Apple)

As mentioned, iOS 19 is strongly rumored to bring a total visual overhaul to Apple’s mobile operating system, the likes of which we haven’t seen in more than a decade.

Gurman’s report for Bloomberg suggests that iOS 19 will bring a similar visual refresh to iOS 7, with a major update to the “style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons” across the iPhone experience.

Furthermore, the Bloomberg report hints that the new interface could take inspiration from VisionOS, which could mean anything from full-on circular icons to subtler tweaks to UI overlays and menus.

However, a large part of Apple’s success as a brand depends on familiarity, so it’s likely that iOS 19 will at least resemble iOS versions from prior years – we wouldn’t expect to see the settings app lose its gear icon motif, for example.

This software overhaul may come in tandem with a reworked physical design; the iPhone 17 family is rumored to bring a new hardware look to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and all-new iPhone 17 Air.

A new camera app

(Image credit: Front Page Tech)

The first major suggestion of an iOS 19 redesign came with rumors of a new camera app, which could use an uncluttered, open design reminiscent of VisionOS.

As we previously reported, a supposed iOS 19 leak hinted at the new camera app design earlier this year, with a handful of mocked-up screenshots to go with it.

In said screenshots, the shutter button appears to float freely over the lower part of the screen, with key settings available below it rather than crammed up at the top of the screen.

The buttons are all either circular or rounded, and there doesn't appear to be many of them. Overall, the new design looks pretty sleek. Still, but of course, this is just a leak, and may not reflect the camera app’s final look.

An improved Siri

(Image credit: Apple)

iOS 19 is also tipped to bring improvements to Apple’s digital assistant, Siri.

We had previously expected Siri to get some Apple Intelligence-flavored updates via mid-year updates to iOS 18, but it now seems more likely that Siri will get a proper AI upgrade during the life cycle of iOS 19.

9to5Mac notes that Apple could bring together the two separate systems that currently power Siri into one, offering a more conversational and efficient experience. Siri currently makes use of ChatGPT, but it’s suggested that Apple would prefer not to rely on third-party AI.

However, Gurman predicts that iOS 19 won’t bring any major consumer-facing Apple Intelligence features, so we could be waiting until later versions of iOS 19 to get a proprietary AI Siri.

iOS 19: what I want to see

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Personally, I’m a fan of the mellow, dependable interface that Apple has built out over the years. After smoothing out the sharp visuals of iOS 7 and adding expanded, modernized features with each iteration, iOS 18 looks and feels excellent in most situations.

Nevertheless, there are some things I’d like to see from the next version of iOS.

If a new, airier UI is on the way, it could be a chance for Apple to enable more fluidity in navigating through that UI. I’m a huge fan of the swipe navigation found on most of the best Android phones, and always find the lack of a universal “back” gesture a real loss when I switch back to iPhone.

I’d also like to see Apple go even further with customization. iOS 18 finally gave us the ability to move icons around the home screen and recolor them to fit with a given wallpaper or theme (here's how to customize your iPhone’s Home Screen in iOS 18 if you haven't done so already), but again, Android has been pulling ahead for years in this department.

The live wallpapers offered by Xiaomi or OnePlus could serve as valuable inspiration, and more control over widget size in a VisionOS-inspired aesthetic would make a lot of sense.

With that all said, I’m supportive of any potential shake-ups. From both a hardware and software standpoint, phone design can get pretty homogenous, so it’s nice to hear that Apple might be willing to take some risks. In any case, let us know what you want to see from iOS 19 in the comments below.

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• Google bug bounties see 660 researchers get a share of $11.8 million in 2024
• Chrome and Android VRPs were lucrative
• Google’s VRP program turns 15 next year

Google has revealed it paid out $11.8 million in bug bounties in 2024, with payments going out to 660 security researchers, equating to a theoretical average of around $18,000 each.

Its highest payout in 2024 was $110,000, with its total payout to date now standing at $65 million since 2010.

Chrome researchers and those revealing vulnerabilities in Android and other Google Devices accounted for around half of 2024’s payouts, marking the company’s commitment to security within its most popular devices.

Google paid out $12 million in bug bounties last year

Some changes to the structures last year resulted in higher payout potentials, with the Google VRP now paying out up to $151,515, $300,000 for the Mobile VRP, $151,515 for the Cloud VRP and $250,000 for Chrome awards.

In a blog post, Google's Dirk Göhmann said researchers contributing to the Android and Google Devices Security Reward Program and the Google Mobile Vulnerability Reward Program got over $3.3 million in rewards in 2024, adding that 8% fewer reports were logged. However, the company did see a minor 2% increase in critical and high vulnerabilities.

A total of 337 unique reports were made to the Chrome VRP – 137 received rewards totalling an additional $3.4 million.

Google also celebrated the launch of a new category – 2024 was its first full year of AI bug bounties, but payouts remained relatively low, at $55,000.

Other successes include two bugSWAT events and four init.g workshops to support the next generation of security researchers.

Looking ahead, Göhmann noted the company will be celebrating 15 years of VRP in 2025 – it’s unclear whether any changes will be made to its VRPs to commemorate this milestone.

Göhmann added: “We want to send a huge thank you to our bug hunter community for helping us make Google products and platforms more safe and secure for our users around the world – and invite researchers not yet engaged with the Vulnerability Reward Program to join us in our mission to keep Google safe!”

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• Fluance launches bookshelf and tower speakers
• The Ri71 and Ri91 retail for $399 and $799 respectively
• Bluetooth aptX HD, HDMI ARC, RCA, and a sub out

With speakers this good, who needs a soundbar? That’s the argument for these new Fluance stereo speakers, which are thoroughly geared up with useful ports and connections to boost your home theater setup, or for modern music needs.

Fluance is a North American audio brand that’s been around since 1999, producing a long line of great ready to vie to be ranked among the best stereo speakers and best turntables – and the line now included the new Ri71 bookshelf and Ri91 tower models, which are both now available to buy in the US.

The Ri71 Reference Stereo Powered Bookshelf Speakers offer 120W of amplification, with five-inch “woven glass fiber drivers” that promise “a rich midrange and deep bass without distortion”, 'Air Motion Transformer' tweeters, and an MDF wooden cabinet to limit unwanted resonance – all for $399 (about £319 / AU$635).

However, the Ri91 speakers are where things get serious. These $799 (about £640 / AU$1,270 floorstanding speakers boast 150W of amplification, dual 6.5-inch woven glass fiber drivers per unit, 'Air Motion Transformer' tweeters again, and the built-in height, porting and air volume needed to blare out immersive cinema sound, as long as you’re happy with the larger footprint.

(Image credit: Fluance) All about connections

While AV enthusiasts often have to choose between a well-connected, compact, all-in-one soundbar and the greater sonic potential of separate speaker units – which can be arranged to suit the layout and space of your own home – these Fluance speakers come with a host of ports for connecting other pieces of AV hardware.

Both models support HDMI ARC, for two-way communication between the speakers and your TV screen, as well as an RCA port for turntables (with no amp needed, because they're active speakers), and a subwoofer output for upping the bass with another speaker unit.

You’ll also get support for Bluetooth aptX HD, for easy music streaming from whatever device you want, at a higher level of quality if your phone or laptop supports it.

Fluance is best known for starter and mid-range audio products, –such as the four-star Fluance Ai41 bookshelf speakers, or the Fluance RT81 turntable, which we called “the best starter turntable you can buy” – rather than truly high-end models. And Fluance’s Reference series spans $150-$1,100 speakers, offering a range of channel, bookshelf, floorstanding and surround sound speakers for different budgets.

But if you’re looking for a soundbar alternative for a three-figure sum, these decked-out speakers may be a suitable option – we’ll look to update you when we’ve had the chance to test them out ourselves.

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• Some Warner Bros DVDs won't play due to material problems
• Affected discs were made between 2006 and 2008
• Warner Bros is replacing discs, but not all movies are still available

Of all the advantages of physical media – picture and sound quality, extra features, impressing visitors to your home with your excellent and eclectic taste – one of the most important ones is permanence. Unlike movies on the best streaming services, movies won't suddenly disappear from your shelves overnight because of licensing issues or cost-cutting.

Unless… they rot.

A new plague of disc rot has been discovered, and it's affecting Warner Bros Home Entertainment movies manufactured between 2006 and 2008. The rot renders the discs unplayable, and while Warner Bros is offering replacements, it can't replace them all.

Why isn't Warner Bros replacing every rotted disc?

The short answer is that it can't. As the firm explained in a statement, "Where possible, the defective discs have been replaced with the same title. However, as some of the affected titles are no longer in print or the rights have expired, consumers have been offered an exchange for a title of like-value."

Disc rot isn't new – it affected laserdiscs, and CDs, and every other shiny disc format since. But this particular outbreak is happening very early in the discs' lifespan.

Disc rot is oxidization, and it's very unusual to have that happen on discs that are still relatively young. In ideal conditions and with careful storage and handling a DVD could last as long as 100 years, and even the lowest lifespan expectation is around 30 years.

However, if the manufacturing isn't perfect, then the lifespan can be much shorter: for example, the phenomenon of disc bronzing, a form of disc rot affecting compact discs in the early 1990s, was largely found in discs made at a specific UK factory between 1988 and 1993.

There's no cure for disc rot, so if you think you might have some of the affected titles it's a good idea to check them now: disc rot is often visible on the disc itself, usually as a cloudy area, but it's most apparent when you actually play the disc: rot means it doesn't work properly.

As for prevention, other than careful handling and storage there's not a great deal you can do to prevent something that's mostly the result of manufacturing issues.

And it's all especially frustrating in this case, where collectors of physical media may be keeping these discs because a particular movie – or feature, or commentary – is hard to find or not available now. That's not a problem if Warner Bros can really replace the disc, but when it can't we're facing the question of how can we secure access to art for the future?

People who rip discs to make a backup aren't necessarily immune either: rewritable Blu-Rays and DVD discs may only have a lifespan of five to 10 years. But it's more understandable than ever that people want a backup of the things they want to keep most – even the physical object isn't safe from change.

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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4): Two-minute review

How do you make the best MacBook, and arguably one of the best laptops on the market, better? You could redesign it, but that’s a move fraught with potential downsides; if the current design is popular, you risk disenfranchising fans. In that case, making small changes, especially under-the-hood ones, is probably the smart move, and it’s clearly Apple’s strategy.

The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is virtually indistinguishable from the M3 model. Apple has left the exquisite keyboard and responsive trackpad untouched, and the same goes for the brilliant Liquid Retina display. The 2.7lbs. weight is unchanged, and even the two Thunderbolt 4 ports are essentially the same. Visually, the only thing that's new is a new color option, and the Sky Blue finish is a subtle hue that can, depending on the light, look almost gray, but a second glance always reveals that pleasing almost pastel-like azure. It’s a color that should sell out fast.

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♬ original sound - TechRadar

The other two significant changes are to the hardware. Replacing the FaceTime camera is the new 12MP Center Stage Camera. It’s an ultra-wide lens in a screen notch that can keep you in the frame during video calls, and it’s a nice-to-have though not earth-shattering update.

There’s also the M4 chip, which adds cores and performance over the M3 Apple silicon it replaces. Like the M3, this is a fast, efficient, 3-nanometer chip with plenty of headroom for AAA gaming, video editing, music creation and, of course, Apple Intelligence.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

From one perspective, the biggest upgrade might be in the value space. Apple doubled the base memory from 8GB of unified memory to 16GB while reducing the price to $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. That’s a shocking, and very welcome, turn of events. The best MacBook is now back to its pre–MacBook Air M3 price, and better value because of it.

It really is hard to find any fault with the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4). It’s lightweight, attractive, powerful, easy to use, and up for anything. I gamed, streamed video, browsed the web, answered email, texted friends, conducted FaceTime calls, edited video, practiced guitar, and wrote this review on it. I’m not concerned about the lack of design changes, and I like the new color, the Center Stage Camera, and especially the price. I would not be surprised to see the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) rise to the very top of our best laptops list.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Price and availability

• Starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699
• Lower launch price than the discontinued M3 model
• M2 and M3 models no longer on the Apple Store, but M2 MacBooks can be found at third-party retailers

Rarely do I get to write about a price drop for a new product that arrives with feature enhancements. Usually, we get the same or sometimes a little less for the money. That is not the case with the MacBook Air 13-inch M4.

Even though Apple hasn't radically refreshed its best MacBook, the updates in performance, memory, and video conferencing, plus a new color, hit all the right notes – and when paired with a now $100 (in the US) lower price, they have me singing a happy tune.

Funnily enough, the first 3lb MacBook Air – the one that slid out of a manilla envelope in 2008 – cost $1,799. It would take a few years for it to hit that $999 sweet spot, which it maintained until recently.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Sometimes that $999 got you a lower-end Intel Core I, but in the age of Apple silicon we’re getting great performance and efficiency at an excellent price.

The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) comes in three base configurations. If you upgrade to the $1,199 / £1,199 model the GPU gets a bump from eight to 10 cores, and the storage doubles to 512GB. Go for the $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399 top-tier model and the base unified memory is increased from 16GB to 24GB, and you can get up to 2TB of storage. Whichever option you go for, you can upgrade the RAM to 32GB.

It’s available in the new Sky Blue (like my 256GB review unit), Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. Apple has discontinued Space Gray (for now).

Apple unveiled the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) on March 5, 2025, and the laptop starts shipping on March 12.

• Price score: 4.5/5

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Specs

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) comes in three pre-configured options.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Design

• No major redesign
• Sky Blue is subtle but attractive
• Excellent construction, materials, keyboard, and trackpad

There are still some who mourn the passing of the original MacBook Air’s wedge design, the one that started at a more than half inch (1.61 cm) at one end and ended at 0.16 inches (4.064mm) at the other. That design remains so popular that the M1 model featuring it is still a top seller at Walmart.

I’ve moved on. The MacBook Air M4 is just 2.7lbs / 1.24kg, and at 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches / 30.41 x 21.5 x 1.13cm, is thinner than the OG MacBook Air was at its thickest point. This is a laptop that's built for your backpack and, yes, it’s light enough that you might forget it’s there.

Everything about the MacBook Air M4 feels premium. The 100% recycled aluminum enclosure is light but solid and has all the exacting tolerances Apple is known for. It’s a finely machined, eye-catching piece of hardware, and few laptops can match its elegance.

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The backlit keyboard is an absolute pleasure to type on, and has remarkable travel and response for such a thin design. It includes all your function keys and a multipurpose power / sleep / Touch ID button that’s useful for unlocking the MacBook Air and logging into various apps and services with your registered fingertips.

I do prefer the Microsoft Surface Laptop’s Windows Hello feature, which lets you log on using your face in much the way you do with Face ID on any of the best iPhones, although I don’t have to touch anything because I set the MacBook Air to unlock automatically with my Apple Watch.

While Apple hasn't redesigned the keyboard, there is one small change that you might not notice at first glance: the mute key now features a speaker icon with a line through it, which matches what you see on-screen when you press the key. It's a small but clarifying change.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

There’s ample room to rest your palms, and the glass-covered multi-touch trackpad is huge and responsive.

Ports and other elements are unchanged from the last two MacBook Air generations. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left side with up to 40GBps of throughput and which are capable of driving two external screens, even with the MacBook Air lid open. Next to those is the MagSafe charging port, and on the right side is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The four-speaker stereo sound system is hidden in the hinge below the display. It can fill a room with bright, crisp audio, although it mostly lacks bass (the 15-inch model offers a 6-speaker sound system with force-cancelling sound woofers).

• Design score: 4.5/5

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Display and Center Stage

With one exception, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air’s display is identical to the last generation. It’s still a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel with 2560 x 1664 resolution and 500 nits of sustained brightness, which in my experience is viewable in direct sunlight, and support for one billion colors. It’s a fantastic display for everything from gaming to streaming to content creation.

There is a notch at the top for the camera, but most apps do not wrap around that cutout, and it’s not distracting on the desktop.

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The notch also contains the new 12MP Center Stage Camera. The idea here is that the lens is an ultra-wide camera, but for the purposes of video conferencing it crops to an undistorted rectangle. Then, as you move around, the frame moves around to keep you in the frame. If you like to get up and walk around, or people walk in and out of the video conversation, this can be tremendously useful, and it worked well for me as long as I didn't stray too far out of frame. If you need the camera to stay still (as I do when I use the 1080p camera to go on TV), you can easily turn Center Stage off.

(Image credit: Future)

Compared to Microsoft’s excellent Surface Laptop 7, the screen is missing one feature: touch. I used Surface laptops for years, and I did enjoy being able to touch and even draw on the display with a dedicated Bluetooth pen. Apple has steadfastly resisted introducing touch on its MacBook line – and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs didn’t think it made sense. If you require that kind of multipurpose device, you may want to consider the M4 iPad Pro 13-inch plus a Magic Keyboard.

• Display score: 4.5/5

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: macOS and Apple Intelligence

• macOS Sequoia is a rich, deep, and well-organized platform
• Everything is well integrated into Apple's wider ecosystem
• Apple Intelligence can be useful, but it's not yet compelling

With macOS Sequoia, Apple has built one of the most consistent and stable desktop platforms on the planet. It virtually never crashes, and it’s full of useful features.

The latest version is mostly a refinement of the platform, but if it’s been a while since you’ve upgraded you will notice feature enhancement like better widgets and window-management tools, the excellent new Passwords app, and audio transcription on Notes.

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What’s more, macOS makes excellent use of the M4’s power.

At one point I ran Garage Band, and I was pleased to discover that not only could I use the MacBook Air to tune my guitar, but it could also tell me if I was playing my chords correctly. I also used Pixelmator Pro image and video editor (now owned by Apple) to effortlessly apply complex masks.

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Of course, the big news on the software side is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s own brand of AI, which is supported by the M4’s 16-core neural engine.

It enables features like Image Playground, which lets you imagine wild scenes that can include representations of you and others from your Photos library. It’s good fun, but I still struggle to see the utility, and I wonder when Apple will offer a more open-range image-generation platform, one that enables me to describe a complex scene in a prompt and get a result. Most Windows laptops running Copilot can do this.

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Writing Tools, which is available in Apple's native text composition apps like Notes and Mail, is useful, especially if you struggle to write clear, cogent sentences. It's of limited utility to me.

Similarly, Siri got a few nice upgrades, like the ability to respond to text prompts and better handle broken speech patterns, but it's still unable to carry on longer conversations or learn anything about you, and you still can't use it to comprehensively control your MacBook. What’s worse is that promised updates to Siri that would have made it a more able competitor to ChatGPT and Gemini have failed to materialize. At least Siri can now tap into ChatGPT (if you allow it) for more complex queries.

Safari is an excellent browser, but I still find myself using Chrome.

• Software score: 4/5

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Performance

• M4 has more CPU cores than the M3 that preceded it
• Ample power
• Decent but not massive performance upgrade
• Excellent platform and increasing Apple Intelligence capabilities

Benchmarks

Here’s how the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Geekbench 6.2.2 Single-Core: 3679; Multi-Core: 14430
Geekbench Metal score (8-core GPU): 48515
Cinebench 2024 Single-core: 165; Multi-core: 652
Battery life (web surfing): 14 hours 51 minutes, and 59 seconds

For comparison, here’s how the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Geekbench 6.2.2 Single-Core: 3,148; Multi-Core: 11,893
Geekbench Metal score (10-core GPU): 49090
Cinebench 2024 Single-core: 141; Multi-core: 615

Ever since Apple switched from Intel to Apple silicon we’ve seen significant gains in performance and efficiency. The power of these lightweight laptops and the M-class chips can appear limitless, and all-day battery life is now usually a given.

Of course, the world has not stood still. Some Windows laptops are now arriving with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, and these ultraportables often nearly match Apple silicon for performance and battery life.

The M4 10-core CPU and 8-Core GPU backed by 16GB of unified memory inside my test system generally outperformed the X Elite on single-core scores but are now matched for multi-core performance.

These are just numbers of course, and I prefer to rely on real-world performance. In my tests, the MacBook Air 13 and its M4 chip handled everything I threw at it. It can be difficult to stress out the system – I played the AAA game Lies of Pi at maximum settings and it was smooth as butter, thanks no doubt in part to the new Game Mode that optimizes performance for gaming.

I highly recommend getting a controller (I use one designed for the Xbox), but regardless, the new MacBook Air offers a great gaming experience with thrilling, smooth graphics, and excellent sound.

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I often ran the game alongside multiple background apps, including Final Cut Pro. I had no trouble editing four 4K 30fps streams at once, but when I loaded up four 4K 120fps clips, I did notice some stuttering on video playback, although as this is not a considerably more expensive MacBook Pro, that doesn’t concern me.

I noticed in my benchmarking that the Metal Score on the MacBook Air M3 was slightly higher than that of the M4 system, but that’s because I had a 10-core GPU on the older MacBook and just an eight-core GPU on the new M4 system. You can, as I noted earlier in the price section, pay a bit more for the two extra cores. It’s worth noting, though, that the differences in performance between the M3 10 Core and M4 8-Core GPU were minimal.

The system supports WiFi 6e and Bluetooth 5.3, which is good, if not entirely forward-leaning – I'd like to see WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Battery life

• 14 hours battery life (web activities)
• Effectively lasts all day (mixed use)
• Charges to 50% in 90 minutes; 100% in three hours

Apple is promising up to 18 hours of battery life from the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), which is mostly a test of how long the laptop can play 1080p video for; for comparison, Microsoft promises 20 hours from its Surface Laptop 7 for a similar task. The MacBook Air 13 M4’s real-world battery life numbers will vary significantly when performing a mix of sometimes CPU-intensive tasks.

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In my tests, which included playing games (which made the base of the laptop quite warm), editing video, opening multiple browser windows and streaming video, battery life came in around eight hours. That’s quite good for a hard day of work, and especially for such a thin and light laptop. In our Future Labs test, which is primarily web browsing, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) managed 14 hours, 51 minutes, which is about 30 minutes longer than the M3 but for slightly different tasks.

Overall, you're getting good, all-day battery life, but your experience will vary based on the tasks you perform.

After I drained the laptop to zero, I recharged it with the included 30W charger (the more expensive 24GB model comes with a 35W charger) and (matching Sky Blue) woven MagSafe charger to 50% in 90 minutes, and 100% in three-and-a-half hours.

• Battery score: 5/5

Should you buy the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)? Buy it if...

You want the best ultraportable experience
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) might look the same as last year's model, but it's a definite upgrade – and that price makes it a winner.

You like your laptops thin and light
At 0.44 inches / 1.13cm thick and just 2.7lbs /1.24kg, the new 13-inch Air is a perfect backpack companion.

You need a good blend of power and efficiency
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) packs more than enough power for most users and you can bank on all-day battery life.

Don't buy it if...

You want a touchscreen
Apple may never introduce a touchscreen MacBook. For that, look to the Surface Laptop, or an iPad Pro paired with a Magic Keyboard.

You want more AI
Apple Intelligence is showing promise, but it still pales in comparison to what you'll find on some Windows Laptops with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) review: Also consider

If our Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)
The MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is virtually the same as the 13-inch model in every aspect except size (and screen size), but the base model does start with two extra GPU cores. It also gets a price reduction compared to the M3 model, so if screen real estate matters to you, this is the MacBook Air to go for.

Check out our MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review

Dell XPS 13 Plus
Its thin and light design, stunning OLED screen, great sound quality, and comfortable keyboard make this a premium Windows 11 laptop that in many ways rivals the MacBook Air. However, it’s prone to overheating, and the touch bar is divisive.

Read more: Dell XPS 13 Plus review

How I tested the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• I used the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) for five days
• I worked, played, listened, edited, and wrote this review on it
• I usually ran multiple apps at once

After receiving my MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review unit I immediately unboxed it and began testing, and it did not leave my side for much of the next five days.

I ran benchmarks, installed multiple apps, and then began using it to edit images and video, play AAA games, listen to music, stream movies and shows, answer email, browse the web, and generate words and images with Apple Intelligence.

I've been reviewing technology for over 30 years, and I've tested everything from DOS-based word processors to Apple's Vision Pro. I've reviewed laptops of all stripes, including traditional clamshells and convertibles. I regularly work on macOS but also use the Windows platform almost every day – I like to keep my hands in all the ecosystems.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

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