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• Electric bike manufacturer Cowboy is recalling its C4 ST MR Edition
• The voluntary recall is due to a frame problem, after cracks appeared in some models after 2,500km
• Cowboy will provide a replacement frame free of charge

Electric bike manufacturer Cowboy is recalling the MR Edition of its step-through C4 bikes, after identifying an issue with cracks forming in the frame after the bikes have been ridden for an extended period of time.

The Cowboy 4, now named the C4, is on our list of the best electric bikes you can buy in 2025, but some owners of the step-through (ST) MR Edition version of the bike have noticed cracks appearing in the bike's frame, as described in the Reddit post below.

Cowboy has said this is a frame problem that occurs after the bike has been ridden for around 2,500km, stating on its website that "these bikes, welded by one manufacturing partner, may develop fatigue cracks at the joint between the headtube and downtube.

"This issue stems from a production deviation and does not reflect the standards we uphold. As rider safety is our top priority, we are taking proactive measures and have initiated a voluntary recall of the affected frames."

Cowboy will be contacting registered riders likely to be affected, and will be replacing frames free of charge. If you own a C4 ST MR Edition but haven't yet been contacted, you can check if your bike is eligible for recall here.

What happens when a bike is recalled? Do you think I had a lucky escape? from r/cowboybikes

Cowboy has asked users whose bikes are likely to be recalled to not use their bike for the foreseeable future, in case the frame breaks completely while it's being ridden. Or, as one Reddit user put it, "this is some Final Destination level bull****".

Cowboy does have the ability to disable your bike using its anti-theft measures, but it has decided not to do so in this instance – so the onus is on owners to not use their bikes.

Eventually, all owners will be contacted by Cowboy, and their frame will be replaced free of charge.

Cowboy states: "Cowboy is committed to completing each frame replacement as quickly and safely as possible. Bikes with the highest mileage will be given priority, as they carry a higher risk."

Cowboy has committed to replacing all affected frames this year. However, if you've got an affected bike that's relatively low in mileage, you might be waiting a while to get a replacement, so it may be worth looking at our best cheap e-bikes list for a temporary fix.

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• The Sony WH-1000XM6 are expected to launch this month, May 2025
• They're likely to be significantly more expensive than the current model
• Specifications have leaked and now there's a photo too

Sony's latest flagship headphones are leaking all over the place. Over the weekend, The Walkman Blog reported that the Sony WH-1000XM6 were slated for a May release; two days later a listing for the new headphones accidentally appeared on Amazon Spain with some key specifications. And now there's another leak that appears to be a photo, which we've included below.

The news comes via Notebookcheck.net, which spotted that the image (below) had leaked on Reddit. And while it's hardly hi-res, it does show enough detail to corroborate one of the key details of the Amazon Spain link: a return to the foldable hinges of the XM4, which Sony dropped for the WH-1000XM5.

WH-XM6 from r/SonyHeadphones

The lack of a foldable hinge was something we noted in our Sony WH-1000XM5 review, which concluded that this makes them "a bit large when it comes to storing them away" and that if you wanted a "truly on-the-go pair of headphones" you should consider Sony's WF-1000XM4 in-ears (now succeeded by the WF-1000XM5, and perhaps one day this year by the XM6s) as an alternative.

Well, it seems the incoming WH-1000XM6 flagships could again offer a more travel-friendly design than their predecessors, alongside some other new features...

Sony WH-1000XM6: what we know so far

The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones could bring back some foldable hinges like the ones last seen in the XM4 model (above). (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

The Amazon leak included a price of €470 including tax; without, it's about €439. That's roughly $499 / £439 / AU$770, which tracks: rumors suggested we'd see a price hike with this new version. The current model launched at $399 / £380 / AU$649.

The Amazon listing detailed a new QN3 processor, more microphones for the noise cancellation and a new magnetic case. It also listed a 10-band equalizer, 30-hour battery life and 30mm drivers – smaller than the ones in the XM5. The listing also promises 360-degree audio upmixing to create surround sound.

The marketing text from the Amazon listing, as screenshotted by The Walkman Blog, also includes some handy details. We can apparently expect that "new HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 and 12 microphones", a "new headband" that's "even more comfortable and secure than the previous model" and "six Al-powered microphones" that use Al noise reduction to filter out unwanted sounds.

So while the rumored price rise isn't great news, it sounds like the Sony WH-1000XM6 could still deliver some worthy upgrades – and we should hear about them all officially during their launch this month.

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The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump Administration to start executing its ban on trans military service members. And, the conclave to elect the Catholic Church's new leader begins today.

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• Security researchers have seen a bug in Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server abused in the wild
• It is being used to deploy malware
• The bug was fixed in August 2024, so users should patch now

Cybercriminals are abusing a vulnerability in Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server that was patched almost a year ago.

Cybersecurity researchers SSD-Disclosure published an in-depth analysis and a proof-of-concept (PoC) of the threat against the company's digital signage content management system (CMS).

It is used to manage, schedule, and monitor multimedia content across Samsung smart displays, and is a popular solution in different industries such as retail, or transportation.

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PoC and abuse

In August 2024, Samsung announced fixing a remote code execution vulnerability. It described it as an “improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability allowing attackers to write arbitrary files as system authority”. It was tracked as CVE-2024-7399, and was given a severity score of 8.8/10 (high).

BleepingComputer described it as an ability to upload malware through a file upload functionality intended for updating display content. Samsung addressed it in version 21.1050.

Despite being fixed almost a year ago, threat actors are finding unpathed endpoints to target. SSD-Disclosure said attackers are uploading malicious .jsp files via an unauthenticated POST request.

In addition, security firm Arctic Wolf noted how, several days after the PoC was released, it observed the flaw being leveraged in attacks.

"Given the low barrier to exploitation and the availability of a public PoC, threat actors are likely to continue targeting this vulnerability," the researchers said.

We don’t know how successful these attacks are, who the threat actors are, or how many organizations fell victim. We also don’t know if the threat actors are focusing on any specific industry, or if they are simply casting a wide net.

In any case, organizations using Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server are advised to apply the latest patch, or at least bring their software to version 21.1050 to mitigate the risks.

Via BleepingComputer

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• One UI 8 should bring new features to the Now Bar
• The software may also fix a problem with the Secure Folder
• One UI 8 assets for watches have also leaked

With One UI 7 (based on Android 15) only just making its way out to older Galaxy handsets, Samsung is already prepping One UI 8 (based on Android 16) – and there are some key upgrades in the pipeline for both phones and watches.

We know that Google is planning to push out Android 16 very soon, ahead of the Pixel 10 phones, and it looks as though Samsung is keen to catch up. There have been rumors that One UI 8 could launch with the next Galaxy foldables sometime in July.

Let's start with the Now Bar, the dynamic lock-screen widget added in One UI 7. As per @Topraks9plus on social media (via 9to5Google), the One UI 8 version of the widget will add the ability to show phone calls and 'do not disturb' modes.

Both would be useful additions. Right now, the Now Bar can show live updates from apps such as Samsung Health and Google Maps, but the more information that's available on the lock screen the better.

Phones and watches

Updates are also on the way for the Galaxy Watch 7 (Image credit: Samsung)

Separately, a social post from @DevOfIpos (via Android Authority) suggests the Secure Folder in One UI 8 will be based on the Private Space feature in Android 15. This would be a small change, but it would fix one of the few privacy issues with Secure Folder.

Right now, the apps and files in Secure Folder can be exposed in certain scenarios. Samsung hasn't publicly acknowledged the problem, but it seems it might be about to fix it.

We've also seen assets for One UI 8 Watch leaked, again leaked by @DevOfIpos (via SamMobile). There are new system sounds, refined app icons, and more hints that Gemini will soon be appearing on Galaxy Watch devices.

Samsung hasn't yet updated any of its Galaxy Watches to One UI 7, and it looks almost certain that wearables like the Galaxy Watch 7 will jump directly to One UI 8 instead. We can expect more leaks in the near future, and hopefully some official news fairly soon too.

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• Screen Time is set to gain new parental controls in iOS 18.5
• Other changes include tweaks to Mail, Settings, and more
• iOS 18.5 is expected to launch as soon as next week

Apple is on the brink of releasing the iOS 18.5 update, and it’ll come with a bunch of useful new features that could enhance all the best iPhones when it arrives. And judging by Apple’s release notes for the update, there’s a particularly useful change coming to Screen Time.

According to Apple, parents will soon be notified when their Screen Time passcode has been successfully entered into a child’s device. That should immediately let parents know that their offspring have found a way past the restrictions on their device.

Screen Time can be used to limit how long a person spends in a specified app, block inappropriate content, and confine device access to predefined times. If a child finds a way around these restrictions, they might be able to change or disable them.

Parents will also be able to get similar notifications in macOS once they’ve installed the macOS 15.5 update. The release candidate builds of both iOS 18.5 and macOS 15.5 were released yesterday, with the full versions expected to be launched next week.

More changes coming to iOS 18.5

(Image credit: Future)

Improved parental controls are not the only changes coming to Apple’s next operating system updates. There are minor tweaks like Apple bundling a new Pride Harmony wallpaper to support LGBT rights, but some wider changes are coming too.

The Mail app now has options to show or hide contact photos in your inbox, while you can also disable the Group by Sender view. In the Settings app, meanwhile, it’s now easier to view your AppleCare+ information and find out more about the service. These updates were previously spotted in the iOS 18.5 beta in early April.

The changes aren’t just focused on the latest iPhones. Users of the iPhone 13 will also benefit, with carrier-provided satellite services available to all models in the iPhone 13 range. That doesn’t refer to Apple’s own satellite services – like Emergency SOS via Satellite – but rather those provided by carriers, such as T-Mobile’s collaboration with Starlink.

With iOS 18.5 on the brink of launching to the public, it won’t be long until everyone will be able to try out these new features. That should set us up nicely for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, where iOS 19 is expected to be unveiled to the world.

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• ServiceNow is adding agentic AI to its CRM platform
• The company criticized the market for being "outdated" and "overbuilt"
• AI agents promise contextually-aware resolutions for happier customers

ServiceNow is looking to take on industry giant Salesforce with its next-generation CRM platform, enhanced with agentic AI, in a bid to help significantly improve efficiency across the board.

ServiceNow's agents will connect with third-party tools and systems using open source protocols like Google's A2A and Anthropic's MCP to make the platform even more powerful.

Referring to the CRM industry as one, "dominated by outdated, overbuilt systems," the company says its updated platform will enable it to make better use of data that was previously siloed, such as "spreadsheets, shared inboxes, and human middleware."

ServiceNow criticizes CRMs

In a press release, the company revealed CRM is its fastest-growing workflow, reaching $1.4 billion in annual contract value and growing 30% year-over-year. In fiscal 2024, the company made $10.98 billion in revenue, marking a healthy 22% growth compared with 2023.

"ServiceNow is delivering a groundbreaking new vision for CRM that transforms the entire customer experience around the powerful capabilities of AI," explained John Ball, the company's EVP and GM of CRM and Industry Workflows.

The company added customer service has evolved in recent years, and customers are now expecting "personalized, proactive experiences that anticipate their needs and resolve issues without friction."

ServiceNow also compared next-generation agentic AI with existing automation solutions, detailing how AI agents can dynamically determine the best course of action while taking into account broader context for quicker and more accurate resolutions.

"Far beyond rebranded chatbots, we’re enabling our customers to orchestrate end‑to‑end sales and service on a single AI‑powered platform, helping organizations manage the entire customer lifecycle with greater efficiency," Ball added.

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It's slick, comfortable and clever, but you pay the premium for it.

• Garmin released its new subscription service in March
• It has proven extremely unpopular with users
• CEO Cliff Pemble says the response has been positive, and says the company will likely reserve some premium features for it going forward

Garmin claims the response to its Connect+ subscription service "has been positive," but it's also hinted at a future where premium features are reserved for behind the paywall, in what is likely to be seen as another blow to loyal users.

During its recent Q1 2025 earnings call, Garmin announced earnings of $1.54 billion, up 11% year on year, and a record $330 million in operating income.

Naturally, questions and concerns revolved around the impact of tariffs on Garmin's business. However, CEO Cliff Pemble also touched on the launch of its controversial Garmin Connect+ service, with some news that users of the best Garmins devices won't want to hear.

In the opening Q&A, Pemble was asked about Garmin's decision to launch Connect+ when it did, given the company's previous reservations about charging its customers for more features.

"I think we've been saying for a while that we are evaluating opportunities to have a premium offering on Garmin Connect," Pemble responded. "I think the developments of AI and particularly around AI-based insights for our users was one of those things that we felt was important to recognize the value for the investment that it takes to do."

He added that "we felt like it was the right time," and echoed previous sentiments that Connect+ isn't a requirement for users, and that the company hasn't taken away any previously free features from users.

A positive response?

(Image credit: Garmin)

Pemble claimed the response to Connect+ "has been positive," despite widespread user outcry over the principle of a subscription service and specific complaints about the extremely thin offering Connect+ currently gives users.

Active Intelligence insights, in particular, are woefully basic, and mocking them has become something of a sport over on the Garmin Subreddit.

In passing, Pemble also dropped a very quiet bombshell. Noting the broad range of features available to users currently, he said, "certain ones, we will likely reserve for premium offerings." It's the clearest confirmation yet that Garmin plans to introduce future premium features to its lineup that will only be accessible to Garmin Connect+ subscribers.

The news is a double-edged sword, of course. Garmin is under fire in part because the Connect+ offering isn't fantastic, so adding more features to it is a key part of improving the product. However, that will mean some features aren't accessible to users who don't pay, a fact that goes to the heart of why Garmin users seem so opposed to a subscription service in principle.

Garmin users' worst fears, that a growing subscription service will eventually see more and more features hidden behind a paywall, are quickly being realized.

That's not such a burden if you've spent a relatively small sum on a Garmin Forerunner 55, but for those who've spent the best part of $1,000 / £1,000 on a Fenix 8 hoping for Garmin's most premium experience, it could prove a bitter pill to swallow.

You can read the transcript of the earnings call, or listen to a recording on YouTube. Pemble's Connect+ remarks can be found beginning at 19 minutes and 40 seconds.

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• AWS study finds 90% of businesses use AI, with spend now surpassing security
• Three in five have already appointed a Chief AI Officer
• Budgets and uncertainty could hinder training efforts

Spending on generative AI has surpassed cybersecurity, with financial services, ICT, manufacturing and retail all looking to adopt the technology, new research has claimed.

As a result, three in five organizations have now appointed a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) or similar to oversee their strategy, the latest Generative AI Adoption Index from cloud computing giant AWS found.

According to the report, almost all (90%) organizations are using GenAI in some capacity, with 44% already having moved from experimentation to full implementation.

GenAI spending has surpassed security spending

AWS's report explores the different ways companies are planning to go about deploying AI, with half as many companies again planning to build their own custom apps using existing models (58%) as those using off-the-shelf tools (40%).

An equally high number of businesses will also use fine-tuned models based on their own proprietary data. (55%), but on the whole, a hybrid of building and buying AI tools appears to be favored.

Over half (56%) or the companies surveyed also noted that they already have internal AI training programs, but that figure is expected to jump by 19 percentage points to 75% by the end of 2025. However, with constrained budgets and uncertainty about how to go about defining precise AI skillsets, it's clear that companies will be spending time finding their feet before workers might feel fully supported.

Still, 92% of companies are requiring AI skills during recruitment in 2025, demonstrating a huge opportunity for workers to upskill and prepare for an evolving workplace.

An additional one in four (26%) also plan to adopt more AI over the next year, showing how leadership roles are developing to handle AI as well as humans – a sentiment felt by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who believes the current and next generations of CEOs will need to manage AI agents alongside humans.

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• The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be just 3.9mm thick when unfolded
• It might also have new battery and charging tech
• We're also hearing again that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 could have a bigger battery than its predecessor

We’ve heard from several sources that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be impressively slim, but a new claim suggests it will be even thinner than we’d previously heard, at least when unfolded.

According to @UniverseIce, a leaker with a solid track record, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be just 3.9mm thick when unfolded – that’s even slimmer than a 4.5mm claim we’d previously heard.

When folded, it’s a slightly different story, with this source claiming the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be 8.9mm thick, which would actually be thicker than the 8.2mm we’d heard elsewhere. Either way though, that’s exceptionally slim for a foldable phone.

According to some exclusive information, the next direction of Samsung flagship machine is still to be thin and light, and the battery will be thin and thin, and the body will continue to be thin. The Galaxy Z Fold7 will be the thinnest folding machine in the world at that time,… pic.twitter.com/uAs3NzAf8jMay 7, 2025

@UniverseIce also shed some light on the battery, echoing previous leaks in saying that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will have a 4,400mAh battery, just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, but intriguingly also claimed that it will use new battery and charging tech.

It’s unclear what they mean by this, but it could mean the battery will last longer than the battery in the Z Fold 6, despite apparently being the same capacity, and it may also mean we see higher charging speeds than the 25W of the Z Fold 6.

From the Fold to the Flip, and the S26

Moving away from the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the same source has also claimed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 will have a 4,300mAh battery. That would make it bigger than the 4,000mAh battery in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, and this is something we’ve heard from multiple sources, so there’s a good chance it’s accurate.

Finally, @UniverseIce claims the Samsung Galaxy S26 “will continue to be thin”. For reference, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is 7.2mm thick, so this suggests its successor won’t be much thicker, and could possibly be thinner.

Of course we’d take all of this with a pinch of salt, but as far as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 go we should know all about them soon, as they’re likely to be unveiled in July. The Samsung Galaxy S26, though, probably won’t land until early 2026.

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• Microsoft has revealed some smart new features for Copilot+ PCs
• Windows 11 is getting an AI agent to help you easily adjust settings
• There's a bunch of other features coming (in testing), including powering up Narrator, the Photos app, and Snipping Tool

Copilot+ PC owners are getting some very useful introductions for Windows 11, including functionality that Microsoft has been promising for a long time now – the ability for AI to change settings for you in the operating system.

Microsoft covers all the introductions it’s making in a blog post – note that these additions will all be in testing only (for now) – as well as recapping a bunch of other features that have already been seen in testing.

The key introduction for many (coming off the back of the full release of Recall, finally – and more besides) will be the change for the Settings app which brings in an AI agent.

This takes the form of a bar at the top of the Settings panel into which you can type natural language queries. The idea is to take all the pain out of tweaking the various settings in Windows 11, of which there are a ton (and a half).

So, as an example, if you wanted to make the mouse cursor larger, rather than searching for ‘mouse’ in the normal Settings search bar, you can ask the AI instead, and just type a query: “How do I make my mouse pointer bigger?”

You can phrase it any way you want (within reason), and the AI should surface the option you need so you can click to enable it. Or it might go even further and make suggestions as to what setting you might want to pick (like a recommended size for the pointer in the example above). When it comes to such recommendations, the obvious caveat that AI can be wrong is included.

The ability for AI to make sweeping changes in Windows 11 has been something Microsoft has been talking about since it first introduced Copilot to the OS. And while these are smaller tweaks, rather than big swathes of options being adjusted, it’s still a very nifty move – and likely a safer way to work (for now, certainly) given the propensity for AI to make mistakes at times.

Check out the YouTube video above to see the feature in action. However, do note that this functionality is coming to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips only to begin with (in testing, as mentioned), but it shouldn’t be long before it arrives for devices with AMD or Intel processors.

There are a few other notable features being brought in for Copilot+ PCs here (also in testing), and I’ll take a look at them next.

1. Relight your photos

The Photos app in Windows 11 is getting dynamic lighting controls which are facilitated by AI (and the NPU on your Copilot+ PC).

This allows you to correct poor lighting in an image, or just play around with different (or even oddball) lighting effects, using up to three light sources.

Check out the example tweaking shown in the above video (where another feature, object select in Paint, is showcased too).

2. Easy screenshots with AI doing the heavy lifting

The Snipping Tool is getting a new ‘Perfect Screenshot’ feature. Invoke this and you can roughly frame an area of the screen that you want captured, and AI will crop it down to the key part that (it assumes) you want to screenshot.

Check it out in the above sample video clip – this could be another substantial timesaver. Should the AI get it wrong, there are handles to adjust the errant crop, too.

3. Narrator gets powered up

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 11’s screen reading tool is getting a boost, as Microsoft explains: “Narrator now offers rich image descriptions, which provide detailed context for visuals including charts, photos and UI elements.”

What this means is that where web content doesn’t have alternative text provided – words that can be read out to describe an image for those who can’t see it – Narrator can do this itself.

This should be a major step forward with accessibility for blind (or low-vision) Windows 11 users. As with the Settings AI agent, this functionality is coming (in testing) to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips before other models.

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Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation: two-minute review

The latest version of the Beosound A1 by Bang & Olufsen is the best yet – and when you consider how well-regarded the previous two versions were, it follows that this 3rd Gen is something special.

As you might expect from this brand (and as you’re likely to demand at this price), the A1 3rd Gen looks and feels like a high-end product. There's a heated debate among TechRadar's US and UK staff over whether the A1 Gen 3 looks more like a muffin, a crumpet or a bombolone, but whichever baked (or fried) breakfast (or teatime) treat works best for you also works for us. Yes, it looks like that, but in the most premium way. The materials used in its construction are relatively lavish, and build quality is unarguable. Its modular design means it can be repaired, and its battery can be replaced – both of which are good things and certainly help it all the way into our roundup of the the best Bluetooth speakers at its size and weight.

And between multipoint connectivity, aptX Adaptive compatibility, 60 watts of power, an IP67 rating (meaning it's up there with the best waterproof speakers too), plus a USB-C socket that can be used for data transfer as well as for charging, the A1 3rd Gen is pretty well-specified too. Only a lack of Auracast compatibility sounds a mildly false note.

Best of all, though, is the sound. The Beosound is a robust but deft listen, detailed and dynamic in equal measure, and able to present recordings with a nice open character at the same time as ensuring they sound unified and together. It’s short of ultimate scale, of course – a product of this sort of size is almost bound to be – but in every other respect it’s an engaging, revealing and thoroughly entertaining listen.

(Image credit: Future) Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: price and release date

• $349 / £299 / AU$639
• Launched on May 6, 2025

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen is on sale from today (7th May 2025) and in the United Kingdom it’s priced at £299. It’s $249 in the United States, and in Australia it goes for AU$639. Which means that no matter the territory in which you’re shopping, it’s priced like a premium device – which, in turn, means it’s Bang & Olufsen business as usual.

(Image credit: Future) Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: specs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: features

• Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX Adaptive compatibility
• 60 watts of Class D power
• USB-C can be used for data transfer

The Beosound A1 3rd Gen uses Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity, and it’s compatible with SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive codecs. That Bluetooth standard means it won’t support Auracast, though multipoint connectivity means your speaker can be connected to two sources at the same time. Once your digital audio information is on board, it’s dealt with by a digital-to-analogue converter of unspecified type and resolution, and then served up by a two-driver array. A 15mm tweeter and 83mm mid/bass driver each receive 30 watts of Class D power, in an arrangement Bang & Olufsen claims is good for a frequency response of 54Hz - 20kHz.

The adoption of aptX Adaptive is a step forward for the A1, but this 3rd Gen model dispenses with Amazon Alexa voice control and wider smart-control integration you'll find in the 2020-issue Beosound A1 Gen 2. Whether or not you consider this to be a backward step depends almost entirely on how much you enjoy the sound of your own voice.

Battery life is a very creditable 24 hours from a single charge (provided you’re operating at reasonably modest volume), while from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes a rather leisurely three hours. Charging happens via the USB-C slot on the edge of the speaker, and for this 3rd generation this input can also be used for data transfer – so the Beosound can be hard-wired to a source of music. It can also form a stereo pair with another A1 3rd Gen or, happily, an A1 2nd Gen should you have one.

• Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: sound quality

• Impressive low-frequency extension and substance
• Consistent and balanced even at volume
• Great detail retrieval and midrange resolution

With one or two fairly minor caveats, there’s an awful lot to like about the way the Beosound A1 3rd Gen goes about things. So minor are these caveats, in fact, I may as well get them out of the way right now before piling into all the things the Bang & Olufsen excels at.

It’s probably an inevitability given the physical size of the speaker, but the A1 3rd Gen isn’t an especially large-scale listen. The soundstage it creates is properly organised and quite open – but where out-and-out scale is concerned, there’s no getting around the fact that this speaker doesn’t sound especially big.

Its tonal balance isn’t, strictly speaking, all that neutral either. There’s a hint of warmth and richness, a kind of sonic luxuriousness, about its presentation that’s not in any way unpleasant but that is most definitely a characteristic. This can be mitigated a little in the control app – but given that the best overall balance comes from leaving the EQ setting at ‘optimal’ (the clue’s in the name, really) it’s probably best to accept your Bang & Olufsen speaker sounds, as well as looks and feels, deluxe.

From here on out, the news is all positive. The A1 3rd Gen can summon frankly unlikely low-frequency presence and substance - it hits remarkably hard for a speaker of its size, and the claim for frequency response down to 54Hz seems perfectly plausible. The low end is properly controlled, too, which means rhythms during Thin Air by Floating Points are confidently expressed – and the Bang & Olufsen is a front-foot listen as a result. At the opposite end of the frequency range it attacks with polite determination, bringing a reasonable amount of bite and shine to treble sounds without ever threatening to become unruly. There’s a fair amount of substance to offset the brilliance, too, which helps the overall balance of the sound no end.

In between, the A1 3rd Gen communicates through the midrange in the most uninhibited manner. Voices as dissimilar as Joni Mitchell’s and Alex Turner’s emerge with all of their character intact, and the midrange is nudged forwards just a little to help with intelligibility. The crossover between the mid/bass driver and the tweeter is smooth to the point of imperceptibility, and though the tonal balance here has a very definite flavour, it is at least consistent from top to bottom. The Bang & Olufsen sounds unified and of a whole, no matter the sort of content you’re listening to.

What else? Well, detail levels are high across the board – and even when it comes to the most minor harmonic variations or transient events in a recording, the A1 3rd Gen does good work in identifying and contextualising them. And despite its relative lack of outright scale, it can put appreciable distance between the quietest and the loudest moments in a recording too. As long as you’re not expecting to fill a medium-sized room with sound, the A1 3rd Gen is a great option – and you can at least be assured that if you do wind up the volume to the point the Bang & Olufsen is giving you everything it’s got, it doesn’t alter its sonic character in the slightest. It simply gets louder.

• Sound quality score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future) Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: design

• 46 x 133 x 133mm, HxWxD
• 576g
• Built to a high standard from premium materials

As both the asking price and the manufacturer’s reputation demands, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is little short of a masterclass where materials and their deployment are concerned. It’s tricky for a product of such modest dimensions (this speaker is just 46 x 133 x 133mm, HxWxD) to look overtly premium, but this Bang & Olufsen manages just fine.

The lower half of the spheroid is of hard-wearing polymer, and it’s seamlessly connected to an upper portion made of tactile, textured pearl-blasted anodised aluminium. A carry-strap made of waterproof leather is threaded through the polymer, and it’s here you’ll find the only visible bit of branding. The look is understated and sophisticated, no matter which of the three available finishes you choose – take your pick from ‘natural aluminium’ (which is ‘silver’), ‘honey tone’ (‘gold’) and ‘eucalyptus green’ (‘green’). And the 576g weight seems purposefully judged to strike a balance between ‘portability’ and ‘reassuring heft’. The overall standard of construction and finish is basically flawless, and the IP67 rating means it will be fine in any realistic environment.

This is, says the manufacturer, the first ever Bluetooth speaker with ‘Cradle-to-Cradle’ certification (at the bronze level). So it’s made with sustainable practices in mind, and is modular to the point that it has a replaceable battery and can, in certain circumstances, be repaired rather than scrapped. This is something Bang & Olufsen has long been known for; just see the company's modular Beosound Theater soundbar and reissued vertical CD player for starters…

• Design score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future) Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: setup and usability

• Some physical controls
• Excellent B&O control app
• Swift Pair and Fast Pair

It’s a very simple device to operate, the A1 3rd Gen – the options you have are very tidily realised indeed. Along with that USB-C socket, the polymer edge of the chassis features a few physical controls, all very positive in their action – you can take care of ‘power on/off’, Bluetooth pairing, ‘volume up/down’, ‘play/pause’ this way. There’s also a button to mute the mics that are used for telephony. Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair are available, while a single LED on the top surface indicates what the speaker might be up to, and another next to the USB-C input lets you know about charging.

There’s also the B&O control app that’s free for iOS and Android – and it remains one of the best examples of its type. Here’s where you can check for software updates, form that stereo pair using another A1 3rd Gen or your A1 2nd Gen, integrate your favourite music streaming service (as long as it’s Deezer, Spotify or TIDAL) and access music on a HomeMedia server. It also gives internet radio access via the entirely admirable ‘B&O Radio’. It’s where you can access some EQ presets, or define your own using a graphic ‘target’ control that’s about as gratifying an EQ adjustment mechanism as I’ve ever seen.

• Setup and usability score: 5/5

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen) Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: value

This is far from the most affordable Bluetooth speaker around – although when judged by the standards Bang & Olufsen has long since established, it’s actually within touching distance of many credible alternatives.

The usual B&O selling points of premium materials, indulgent design and impeccable build quality are all present and correct, too – and the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is a match for any price-comparable rival where pure sound quality is concerned. So for once here’s a Bang & Olufsen product that doesn’t require all that “yes, but..” when it comes to value for money.

• Value score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation? Buy it if...

You like nice things
The Beosound A1 3rd Gen looks and feels every bit the Bang & Olufsen product.

You know a good control app when you see one
The B&O control app is comprehensive, easy to use and features the most gratifying EQ adjustment around.

You enjoy a hint of sonic luxuriousness
The A1 3rd Gen is slightly less than neutral in its sound, but in a quite expensive-sounding way.

Don't buy it if...

You intend to fill the great outdoors with sound
The A1 3rd Gen has a degree of grunt, but it’s not the biggest-sounding speaker around.

You want to just ask
There’s no Alexa integration for this latest model.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: also consider

JBL Flip 7
The March 2025-issue seventh Flip is also a five-star Bluetooth portable speaker. And it also looks good, thanks to a new switchable carabiner detail. The battery won't last quite as long as the B&O Beosound A1 Gen 3, but the audio is special for a speaker of its size, and it's hard to ignore the price difference… 
Read just how good it is in our full JBL Flip 7 review.

Bose Soundlink Flex Gen 2
It's a September 2024 release, so still a relative newbie to the game, and although the Bose Soundlink Max is closer in price to the B&O option you came here to read about (at $399 / £399 / AU$599), the Flex Gen 2 is a better size match – and a lot cheaper. How often can you say that of Bose products? It's not quite as gifted sonically, but it does give you punchy output in a relatively bijou design. Get the full scoop in our Bose Soundlink Flex Gen 2 review.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: how I tested

I connected the A1 3rd Gen wirelessly to my Apple iPhone 14 Pro and my FiiO M15S digital audio player, and also made a hard connection via USB-C to my Apple MacBook Pro. So I was able to listen to lots of different content from lots of different platforms, of various file-types and sizes.

And having done so for well over a week, I realised the A1 3rd Gen is the best yet – which is saying something…

• First reviewed: May 2025
• Read more about how we test

• Andor season 2 episode 9 finally sees Mon Mothma's infamous Senate speech brought to life
• Genevieve O'Reilly said she was "so nervous" about doing justice to the iconic moment
• Fans have waited years for it to be depicted in a live-action or animated project

Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2, up to and including episode 9.

Genevieve O'Reilly has revealed why she was "so nervous" about finally delivering Mon Mothma's famous Senate speech in a Star Wars project.

Before Andor season 2 was released in late April, I sat down with O'Reilly to discuss the scene that's not only a landmark moment for the Chandrilan Senator but also for O'Reilly.

O'Reilly is renowned for portraying Mon Mothma in Andor on Disney+, but she's actually played the character in multiple projects since 2005's Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Throughout her 20-year (and counting!) career as part of Lucasfilm's legendary sci-fi franchise, O'Reilly has never had the opportunity to bring her character's hugely significant speech to life before. That's changed now, though. To the delight of Star Wars fans who've waited years for this moment, Mon Mothma finally gets on her proverbial soapbox to denounce Emperor Palpatine for his autocratic rule of that iconic galaxy far, far away.

Benjamin Bratt's Bail Organa is the only Senator who agrees with Mon Mothma's stance on the Empire (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

It's a hugely pivotal moment for Mon Mothma, the nascent Rebel Alliance, and the galaxy as a whole.

Indeed, while Mon Mothma has been part of Luthen's quickly evolving, galaxy-wide rebellion for years at this point, she's largely operated in the shadows to keep herself and her family safe from the Galactic Empire's prying eyes.

All of that is thrown out the window in this season's ninth episode. The emotionally devastating events in season 2 episode 8, which depicted the Ghorman Massacre in all of its harrowing glory – an event Andor season 2 has laid the groundwork for since its first episode – Mon Mothma decides to take a public stand against the Emperor and those who follow his every whim.

Mon Mothma's speech has been 20 years in the making for Genevieve O'Reilly (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

Addressing the Senate in one of the best Disney+ shows' latest episodes, Mon Mothma not only condemns Palpatine for the slaughter of innocent and largely peaceful protestors on Ghorman, but outright rejects his tyrannical leadership.

Vilified by her fellow Senators (aside from Bail Organa, anyway, who silently supports her) and knowing that the Empire will come for her, Mon Mothma quickly flees the scene.

With the aid of Cassian Andor, who's been sent by Luthen Rael to get her to safety, Mon Mothma escapes Coruscant. Off-screen, she's passed onto the crew of The Ghost, aka the heroes of Star Wars: Rebels, in season 3 episode 18, titled 'Secret Cargo', of that animated program. A couple of Rebels characters appear in another live-action series Star Wars: Ahsoka, too, which further highlights the connective tissue between numerous Lucasfilm productions.

Now we know who delivers Mon Mothma to the crew of the Ghost in Rebels' 'Secret Cargo' episode (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

But I digress. Andor has been building towards this significant Mon Mothma moment ever since we were reintroduced to her in mid-2022. O'Reilly has also harbored ambitions of giving this speech for almost two decades, too, so how did it feel to finally deliver it in one of 2025's new Star Wars shows?

"The opportunity to give that speech, as well as the lead up to it, was everything I could have hoped for," O'Reilly replied.

"I was so nervous that, because it's existed previously in canon, we might not get to visit it. But what [showrunner] Tony [Gilroy] did, which was so clever, is carve a space to allow us to see that moment.

I was so nervous that... we might not get to visit it

Genevieve O'Reilly

"I think it makes sense of everything about her," O'Reilly continued, "And not just her. It makes sense of our show. If sacrifice is at the cost of everyone, Mon has to understand and be at peace with what she has to sacrifice.

"I also think it's important to mention that a voice can be powerful. It's not about the fact that we pick up weapons, but perhaps a voice can shift things, and that speaks to everything that is why I think Mon Mothma is valuable to the rebellion."

Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 9 are out now on Disney+. The final three chapters will air on May 13 (US) and May 14 (UK and Australia).

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