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• We’ve had word of the rumored specs for Nvidia’s RTX 5050 desktop GPU
• Two sources are saying that it’ll use slower GDDR6 VRAM, rather than the GDDR7 modules used with other Blackwell GPUs
• Based on that, and the rest of the supposed spec, some PC gamers are not impressed, but it’s too early to judge yet

Apparently Nvidia does have an RTX 5050 inbound as a desktop graphics card (and likely a laptop GPU too), and we’ve just caught a bunch of spilled specs for this low-tier Blackwell model.

As flagged up by VideoCardz in both cases [1, 2], there have been two purported leaks around the RTX 5050, both of which insist that the graphics card will use a slower type of video memory than the rest of the existing Blackwell desktop GPU range.

First off came an assertion from Chinese tech site Benchlife that the RTX 5050 will have 8GB of video RAM, but that it’ll be slower GDDR6 memory, rather than the new GDDR7 featured in all the RTX 5000 GPUs so far (and rumored for the RTX 5060 models, too).

That’s backed up by a regular hardware gossip on X, Kopite7kimi, who also claims to have word on the specs of the RTX 5050. This leaker believes the VRAM will end up as 8GB of GDDR6 (with a 128-bit memory bus), and that the RTX 5050 will have 2,560 CUDA Cores (using the GB207 bottom-tier Blackwell chip).

The power consumption is supposedly set at 130W, we’re told.

GeForce RTX 5050PG152-SKU50GB207-300-A12560FP32128-bit GDDR6 8G130WMarch 9, 2025

This is the first concrete info on the full specs of this graphics card, but obviously, take all this with plenty of caution. However, the fact that we’re hearing more and more about the RTX 5050 now, including firmer spec details, does suggest that it’s more likely to be something Nvidia has up its sleeve, not just as a laptop GPU, but a desktop graphics card. (Remember that the RTX 4050 was a mobile graphics card only, present in budget gaming laptops – there was no desktop incarnation for PCs).

Indeed, the buzz on the rumor mill is that the RTX 5050 could arrive in a matter of weeks, and the RTX 5060 models aren’t too far off either. We may be looking at April (or May) for all these graphics cards to arrive (and announcements from Nvidia could come very soon indeed).

Kopite7kimi also mentions the RTX 5060, echoing previous rumors of the spec, with the RTX 5060 Ti supposedly set to be offered in 16GB and 8GB flavors, and the vanilla 5060 just an 8GB version (with GDDR7 VRAM, though).

The leaker reckons the RTX 5060 Ti will sport 4,608 CUDA Cores, and a power consumption of 180W.

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: RTX 5050 in the bin already? Not so fast…

There’s nothing unexpected in equipping the RTX 5050 with 8GB of video RAM – indeed, this would be the expected allocation at the far budget end of the RTX spectrum – but slower GDDR6 memory is a bolt out of the blue (or green, rather).

Previous rumors suggested Nvidia was sticking with GDDR7 for the entire Blackwell range, but then, we’ve never been sure Team Green intends to make a desktop RTX 5050. Indeed, we still can’t be sure – but as noted, it’s looking more likely at this point.

Would much slower VRAM effectively hamstring the RTX 5050? Well, clearly it wouldn’t help, and a big part of the performance increase with Blackwell has been achieved by Nvidia thanks to the faster GDDR7 modules on these graphics cards. (As Blackwell’s VRAM loadouts have largely stagnated, as we’ve seen with the RTX 5080, 5070, and indeed the rumored plan to stick with the same video memory configurations with the RTX 5060 models).

So, leaving that generational boost out of the equation isn’t going to be good for the RTX 5050, and as gamers are already speculating, we might get a GPU that’s not a whole lot better than the RTX 3060 here (or one that’ll fall short of the RTX 4060, anyway).

Going by the rumor mill, the RTX 5050 is a reaction to the launch of Intel’s Arc B580 graphics card, which would appear to suggest that it’s aiming to compete with Team Blue’s well-received offering. At least in theory, but it feels like what we’re seeing on paper here for the RTX 5050 doesn’t fit that bill, and Nvidia would need something a fair bit peppier. Given that the B580 handles 1440p duties capably – and notably has 12GB of VRAM – whereas the RTX 5050 presented here looks more 1080p fare.

Perhaps Nvidia intends to push clock speeds with the RTX 5050, which the power consumption hints at, in order to get a faster graphics card – but overall, something doesn’t quite add up with the chatter from the rumor mill here, particularly that B580 comparison.

Really, though, speculating on performance at this stage is a bit premature – albeit the temptation is inevitable – but of course we need the price of the RTX 5050 to get a fuller perspective on what’s being offered.

Personally, I think there’s quite a lot of pressure on Nvidia to get some goodwill back with gamers, given how the Blackwell launch has limped along thus far. So an RTX 5050 which is priced very affordably – which lesser performance levels could hint at – would be a great way to do that. We’ve been a long time waiting for an Nvidia RTX desktop GPU at a true budget price level, after all.

Is this naïve thinking? Quite possibly, although other rumors have indicated a possible MSRP as low as $199 (or $249) in the US, and the point is, let’s not go throwing the (purported) RTX 5050 in the bin just yet. It might end up wresting the crown away from Intel’s B580, our reigning best budget GPU, you never know.

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• Security researchers Tarlogic found a hidden feature in the ESPC32 Bluetooth chip
• The affordable chip is found in millions of domestic IoT devices worldwide
• The flaw allowed malicious actors access to the devices and sensitive data coming through

A low-cost Bluetooth chip which allegedly powers millions of Internet of Things (IoT) devices around the world has a “hidden feature” that allows those who know of it, to run arbitrary commands, unlock additional functionalities, and even extract sensitive information from the devices.

Cybersecurity researchers at Tarlogic have claimed ESPC32 chips, which allow connectivity via WiFi or Bluetooth, “have hidden commands not documented by the manufacturer.”

“These commands would allow modifying the chips arbitrarily to unlock additional functionalities, infecting these chips with malicious code, and even carrying out attacks of identity theft of devices," they said.

Obtaining confidential information

The ESP32 chip is built by a Chinese semiconductor company headquartered in Shanghai, called Espressif. It costs approximately $2 per unit and, according to the manufacturer, has been sold a billion times from its inception to 2023.

Tarlogic says that its affordability is one of the main reasons why it is so commonly found in Bluetooth IoT devices for domestic use.

Tarlogic first described the findings as a “backdoor”, but later backtracked on that terminology: “We would like to clarify that it is more appropriate to refer to the presence of proprietary HCI commands—which allow operations such as reading and modifying memory in the ESP32 controller—as a “hidden feature” rather than a “backdoor.”,” it said.

Stil, threat actors could use these commands to run supply chain attacks, hide backdoors in the chipset, or execute more sophisticated attacks, Tarlogic added. They could impersonate known devices to connect to mobile phones, computers, and smart devices, even when they’re in offline mode.

Tarlogic said the purpose is, “to obtain confidential information stored on them, to have access to personal and business conversations, and to spy on citizens and companies.”

We have reached out to Espressif for a comment and will update the article if we hear back.

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If you want to get things done with precision, slick ergonomics and outstanding connectivity, try the new HP Series 7 Pro 727pm for size. It's a 27-inch 4K monitor with fantastic connectivity, plus a few extra useful frills that help it rank among the best business monitors.

The main attraction is a 27-inch 4K LCD panel using LG's IPS Black technology for heightened contrast. To that HP has added a suite of features aimed at maximising utility. That starts with truly comprehensive connectivity, including both Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort in and out, monitor daisy chaining, a KVM switch, and full hub functionality with ethernet.

You also get a pop-out 5MP webcam with Windows Hello and AI head tracking capability. In productivity and connectivity terms, this monitor really has all your bases covered. However, it's slightly less impressive from a multimedia perspective.

HDR support is limited to DisplayHDR 400 and this monitor only runs at 60Hz. But those are expected limitations for this class of display, even if higher refresh rates of 120Hz and beyond are arguably becoming more mainstream and do have benefits beyond just gaming.

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• Slick, slim-bezel design
• Outstanding connectivity
• Above-average integrated webcam

Specs

Panel size: 27-inch

Panel type: IPS Black

Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160

Brightness: 400 cd/m2

Contrast: 2,000:1

Pixel response: 5ms GtG

Refresh rate: 60Hz

Color coverage: 98% DCI-P3

HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm (bracket included)

Inputs: DisplayPort 1.4 x1 in, DisplayPort 1.4 x1 out, HDMI 2.0 x1, Thunderbolt 4 in with 100W PD, Thunderbolt 4 out with 15W PD, USB-C with 65W PD

Other: 5x USB-A plus 1x USB-C hub, KVM switch, audio out, ethernet

The HP Series 7 Pro 727pm conforms to HP's latest premium productivity design language. So, it's clean, modern and minimalist. The slim and symmetrical bezels on all four sides of the display make for a contemporary looking and compact monitor. You won't need a huge amount of desktop space to accommodate this 27-inch monitor. It's also nicely engineered with a metal stand and base that offers a full range of adjustment and thus excellent ergonomics.

The plentiful range of ports on the rear are likewise especially easy to access, with all ports located on the chassis back panel with cables and connectors exiting straight out the back as opposed to directly downwards. That includes the power cable, which slots neatly into the rear with neat flush-fitting attachment.

You can also plug a standard kettle-style power cable into the rear, but the bundled connector with its flush attachment is a nice touch and speaks to the attention to detail to which HP has gone with this display. Speaking of those connections, there's quite the array of them on the rear. You'll find two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one input with 100W PD and one output with 15W PD, another USB-C in, USB-C out, DisplayPort in and out, HDMI, ethernet and two USB-A out.

That little collection means you have support for everything from single-cable laptop connectivity to sharing this monitor across two PCs or Macs via the integrated KVM switch, plus monitor daisy chaining that allows you to run a dual-display setup via just one cable. It really is a comprehensive setup.

To that you can add the integrated 5MP webcam. It pops out of the top bezel manually, which means it can be hidden away for totally reliable security and offers both Windows Hello support for quick and secure Windows logins and AI head tracking.

The latter works better than some competing cameras with similar functionality, tracking you accurately as you move around the camera frame. Admittedly, the tracking is a little slow and laggy, but it does offer you a little more freedom of movement than a conventional fully static webcam.

What's more, the image quality is a clear step above both most integrated monitor webcams and those typically found in laptops. In other words, you'll very likely benefit from the HP Series 7 Pro 727pm's webcam almost regardless of what laptop you're currently using.

HP Series 7 Pro 727pm: Performance Image 1 of 5

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• Crisp, precise 4K visuals
• IPS Black tech isn't that impressive
• Limited HDR support

In theory, the main visual attraction of the HP Series 7 Pro 727pm is its 27-inch panel. Partly that's because it offers a full 4K resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. Sure enough, that translates into excellent pixel density of 163DPI.

The result is really crisp, clean fonts and razer-sharp image detail. That applies to both Windows and MacOS, the latter being particularly good at making the most of this HP's pixel density when it comes to rendering really lovely looking fonts.

In practice, the other key element from an image quality perspective isn't quite so successful. HP has gone for LG's latest IPS Black panel tech. On paper, it offers all the usual benefits of IPS panel technology, including excellent colour accuracy, good viewing angles and fast response (in an LCD as opposed to OLED context) and adds increased contrast.

It's contrast where IPS is weakest versus VA panel technology, with most IPS panels coming in at 1,000 or 1,300 to one ratios. This IPS Black panel increases that to fully 2,000 to one. That's a big boost even if it's still well short of the 3,000 or 4,000 to one of most VA-equipped monitors, never mind the perfect per-pixel lighting and effectively infinite contrast of an OLED display.

Anyway, as we've found with all other IPS Black monitors, the subjective experience doesn't really match the on-paper advantages. For sure, this is a lovely 4K IPS monitor. It's vibrant, punchy and accurate. It just doesn't look obviously superior to other high-quality IPS monitors. As with all IPS panels, there's still a little light bleed and the contrast and black levels are subjectively very similar.

As for HDR performance, this monitor lacks local dimming and only offers HDR 400 certification, which is entry-level stuff. Ultimately, this isn't a true HDR monitor, but it can at least decode an HDR signal.

Elsewhere, the limitation to 60Hz is largely expected for this class of productivity rather than gaming monitor. But refresh is one area where this monitor ends up feeling a little dated in years to come. Once you've used a 120Hz-monitor as your daily driver, 60Hz panels like this do feel a tiny bit sluggish.

That said, the pixel response is zippy enough. HP has included four levels of pixel-accelerating overdrive in the OSD menu. The fastest setting really is pretty nippy and only suffers from a touch of overshoot. If you want to game on this monitor, you will actually get a pretty good experience, albeit it won't be a high-refresh experience.

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The new HP Series 7 Pro 727pm isn't cheap, especially not for a "mere" 60Hz 27-inch monitor using LCD as opposed to OLED technology. However, the 4K resolution makes for super crisp and precise visuals and lots of working space.

Admittedly, the supposedly next-gen IPS Black panel doesn't move the game on much, in subjective terms, compared with existing IPS screen technology. ANd the HDR support on offer is limited. But in terms of the clear productivity remit, this is a lovely monitor to use daily thanks to its vibrant, accurate visuals and excellent image detail.

But arguably the star of the show here is connectivity. HP has covered off just about every eventuality, with Thunderbolt 4, 100W charging, daisy chaining, a KVM switch, USB-C hub support, ethernet, the works—you name it, this monitor has it when it comes to connectivity.

The pop-out 5MP webcam is likewise a very welcome inclusion. Along with Windows Hello support, it sports AI-enabled head tracking that works better than many similar systems. It also offers much better image quality than most integrated webcams, be they in other competing monitors or in laptops.

All told, the HP Series 7 Pro 727pm offers a very strong productivity proposition. It's not the cheapest 4K 60Hz IPS panel out there. But if you're going to make use of a decent subsection of its feature set, it's definitely worth the extra cash over a screen with more basic connectivity and no webcam. Just don't go buying it expecting that IPS Black panel tech to be revolutionary.

For high-resolution displays, we've rounded up all the best 5K and 8K monitors.

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• The Electric State directors have revealed why they didn't use animatronic robots
• Joe and Anthony Russo say it would've been too expensive to make them
• The pair's comments come amid reports that the Netflix movie cost over $300 million

The Electric State's directors have revealed why the forthcoming Netflix movie doesn't actually have any robots in it – and it's all down to money.

Speaking ahead of the film's release this Friday (March 14), Joe and Anthony Russo said it would've been too expensive to make every single android that appears in the sci-fi flick.

To combat this, the pair and the film's sizable crew utilized a combination of visual effects (VFX) and motion capture (mocap) performance work to bring the movie's robot ensemble to life. It's a tactic that the Russo brothers say they really got to grips with in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame – the last Marvel movies they directed and, at the time of publication, are two of the three highest-grossing films of all-time.

The Electric State's robot contingent vastly outnumbers its human cast (Image credit: Netflix)

"There are so many robots that, if we went with animatronics, it would've cost five times as much to make," Joe Russo said when I asked why they didn't create real-world versions of the robots that popular one of March's new Netflix movies. "Having worked on [Infinity War and Endgame villain] Thanos, we also have a good sense of what's required to get great mocap performance.

"It's really important for live-action actors to have other actors to work off of," he continued. "We had an incredible troupe of mocap actors who were trained to move like the robots, say their lines, and create that chemistry with Chris [Pratt, who plays John Keats] and Millie [Bobby Brown, who portrays Michelle].

You're actually getting more human performance within the robots themselves

Anthony Russo, The Electric State co-director

"It was a very layered process. We would record the voice actors before we began shooting. Then, we had the mocap actors listen to the voice actors' recordings and perform the robot parts. When we were done shooting and were layering on the VFX, we brought the voice actors in again so they could see their character fully fleshed out and then re-record their lines."

I can see why the at-time gigantic Herman wasn't created, but still... (Image credit: Netflix)

"Our movie explores the idea that you can find humanity in technology, and you can find inhumanity in humans," Anthony Russo interjected. "So, it was very important to us to bring a strong human texture to the robots. I don't know if we could've achieved that through animatronics.

"When we work with mocap actors, we're capturing all the subtleties of their body language, the way they move, and their emotions," he continued. "When we record our voice actors, we're doing a similar thing. We're capturing their body language and facial expressions, so all of that information goes to our animators as they create the robots. You're actually getting more human performance within the robots themselves that we couldn't have achieved with puppetry or animatronics."

Hey, big spender

"Wait, our new Netflix movie cost how much!?" (Image credit: Netflix)

Keeping the cost down on a film like The Electric State makes a lot of sense. After all, moviemaking is becoming an increasingly expensive outlay for many studios, including Netflix.

That didn't stop the Russos and Netflix from reportedly throwing cash at the movie, mind you. According to articles published by Puck News and World of Reel last June, The Electric State cost an eyewatering $320 million to produce.

Per early critical reactions, that titanic expenditure hasn't paid dividends. Indeed, in my review of The Electric State, I called it "another subpar non-Marvel project to add to the Russo brothers' library of movie and TV show misfires" and "a pale imitation of nostalgia-fuelled sci-fi flicks with richer human stories at their core". At the time of publication, its abject 23% Rotten Tomatoes critical score suggests many of my fellow reviewers agree. Don't expect to see it join our best Netflix movies guide, then.

Such terribly-received Netflix Movie Originals aren't a cause for concern for the world's best streaming service, though. Per Variety, Netflix's chief financial officer Spencer Neuman says the streaming giant is set to spend an astronomical $18 billion on content in 2025. That's an 11% jump up from last year's spending.

The long and short of it, then, is that Netflix will continue to churn out movies and shows no matter how they perform critically and commercially. So, don't be surprised if (and it's a big if!), despite its rubbish reviews, The Electric State becomes one of Netflix's most-watched original films ever and a sequel is quickly greenlit.

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• Report claims security architects are earning around $200,000+ a year
• West and Northeast US companies pay the best, IANS finds
• However many workers belieive there’s not enough career progression

Although cybersecurity workers are unhappy with their employers, they’re still getting high compensation for their jobs, new research has claimed.

A report from IANS Research and Artico Search has revealed security engineers are earning an average of $191,000, with security architects earning an even higher average of $206,000.

The research confirms specialized skills in areas like cloud security, application security and threat intelligence command the highest salaries.

Cybersecurity continues to pay well

Despite high salaries, the report found regional pay gaps across the US, with the West (home to a considerable portion of Big Tech) leading. The Northeast follows in second place, with the Southeast and Central US reporting lower salaries.

The study also included Canada, which lags behind all US regions when it comes to total pay.

Even with attractive salaries, cybersecurity workers continue to be dissatisfied with their employers, with only one in three prepared to recommend their employer. Limited career growth was highlighted as a primary concern, with fewer than two in five happy with their career advancement opportunities and nearly half (45%) frustrated with slow progression. Consequentially, three in five cybersecurity professionals are considering a job change.

The two companies also looked at the impact these factors have on employers. Organizations with compensation gaps, limited career growth and strict return-to-office policies (which have been sweeping the industry in recent months) tend to have talent acquisition and retention issues.

“CISOs who create growth opportunities for their high-performing team members through leadership training, mentorship, and skill development have a far greater ability to attract and retain top security professionals,” said Steve Martano, IANS Faculty member and partner at Artico Search.

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• Nvidia's new GeForce Hotfix Display Driver 572.75 supposedly fixes overclocking issue for some
• Black screen login issues remain, as users voice further complaints
• It adds to the growing list of Team Green's controversies amid the RTX 5000 series launch

Nvidia's recent Game Ready Drivers have come with a list of issues, which appear to have begun with the launch of its RTX 5000 series and seem to be affecting all manner of RTX GPU owners. However, while Team Green is working hard to resolve driver hiccups, some users are still frustrated.

As highlighted on Nvidia's support page, a new GeForce Hotfix Display Driver 572.75 has been released with patch notes addressing an overclocking issue, including black screen problems (notably on RTX 5000 series GPUs). This comes after the previous Game Ready Driver 572.70 that added support for the new RTX 5070 GPU and was supposed to solve a black screen booting issue that leaves users stuck at a blank login screen when connected via DisplayPort on certain monitors. Unfortunately, it appears as though the latter remains for some users.

It's not exactly clear whether the issue stems from the drivers' dedicated support for Team Green's new Blackwell GPUs - one thing that is clear though, is that the black screen issue mostly occurs during system boot which renders PCs inoperable (beyond the BIOS) until repaired via Windows recovery mode.

Having faced black screen issues myself, I have switched back to driver 572.47, and it's been smooth sailing without any glaring problems to note. Due to reports that this latest hotfix doesn’t appear to have completely fixed the issues, it’s yet another reason why it may be best to avoid updating drivers for now unless necessary.

Comment from r/nvidia Comment from r/nvidia Comment from r/nvidia

(Image credit: Andreas Merchel / Shutterstock) More momentum for AMD...

It's no secret that the RTX 5000 series launch has been a bit of a mess - from reports of missing ROPs, limited availability, inflated prices (partner cards), and now driver issues, it's left some fans of Team Green in a sour mood.

AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series has also just launched, enjoying heaps of praise for its performance capabilities at affordable prices - and while it's not a perfect launch since prices at some retailers are above MSRP, Team Red has been off to a much better start compared to its main rival.

The tide appears to be turning drastically now, as AMD's Radeon GPU drivers were often criticized for issues in the past - which some used as a reason to avoid Radeon GPUs - but this is now happening with Nvidia's Game Ready Drivers.

If this same pattern continues, I expect AMD GPUs to become much more popular among PC gamers - and as one who has been crying out for competition against Nvidia’s market domination, it's pleasing to see - though I’d rather AMD’s success didn’t come at the cost of poor experiences for Nvidia GPU owners.

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Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): One-Minute Review

Apple hasn’t changed much with the latest generation iPad Air, and for good reason. In 2024, Apple expanded the Air to two sizes, moved the front-facing camera, tossed in support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and upgraded it to the M2 chip.

This year – and not even 12 months have passed since the last upgrade – Apple keeps the same prices and color options but equips the Air with an even better chip – the M3. The result is a faster yet refreshingly familiar experience that checks off the right boxes, whether you want a tablet just for entertainment or one for both work and play. The only caveat is that you’ll need to spend a bit more to get the Magic Keyboard to get the most out of it, particularly if your focus is more on productivity.

In my five days with the iPad Air, I really noticed and enjoyed the speed boost. It stretches the value proposition that bit further, and puts any concerns about power – both now and likely for the foreseeable future for most people – pretty much to bed for me. I was able to edit photos in Photoshop and Pixelmator, draw my wildest dreams in ProCreate, and even edit a movie in Final Cut Pro, and export those media files swiftly, with the Air sometimes outpacing a MacBook Air.

When it was time to get to work, I could dive into Slack, Safari, Gmail, and Google Docs to quickly write, edit, and produce stories to get them live without missing a beat. And I could also fit in time for a FaceTime call, a quick game – be it a AAA title or an Apple Arcade one – and stream any TV show or movie on the services I subscribe to.

All this is to say that the latest generation iPad Air blurs the line between who this is for and who the iPad Pro is for. Yes, it’s more powerful than the iPad mini or the entry-level iPad, but it lacks some of the flair of the iPad Pro. If you need the best-in-range screen from Apple, and for some reason need even more power than the new Air, or really want the ultra-thin look and feel, the Pro is worth consideration if you can afford it.

Otherwise, the latest iPad Air might be a bit thicker and heavier, but it makes less of a dent in your wallet – and really isn’t that heavy. I normally would have opted for the larger-screen option, but the 11-inch iPad Air stretched its mileage for me. It’s proved to be an excellent working companion when teamed with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, allowing me to leave my Mac at home and more than get by with just the super-portable combo.

If you invested in the iPad Air with M2 you won’t need to make the jump just yet, but if you have an M1 or older iPad Air, or own an entry-level iPad and feel the need for more power, now’s an excellent time to upgrade.

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Specs Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Price and Availability

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• How much does it cost: $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the 11-inch or $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 for the 13-inch
• When does it ship: Apple’s iPad Air with M3 in both sizes formally launches on March 12, 2025.

Here’s some good news: Apple’s 11-inch iPad Air with M3 starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999, and the 13-inch at $799 / £799 / AU$1,299, which is the same price as last year’s M2 model. Both start at 128GB but can be configured with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage if you’re willing to spend the money.

Apple also offers an LTE model with 5G connectivity if you need it. The iPad Air comes in Purple, Blue, Space Gray, or Starlight regardless of connectivity or storage size.

My test unit is an 11-inch iPad Air with M3 with cellular connectivity and 1TB of storage in a lovely shade of purple.

• Value score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Design

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• The 11-inch size is very portable without compromising on features or power
• It's a nearly identical build to the 2024 model aside from slightly less branding

Considering that Apple updated the design of the iPad Air in 2024 and rolled out a new super-sized 13-inch model, there isn’t a whole lot new about the M3 iPad Air design-wise. After all, the most significant change does lie within the name.

The dimensions year over year for both sizes remain essentially the same. The 11-inch iPad Air I’ve been using is 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm and weighs 460 grams – that’s actually two grams lighter than last year’s model, but the difference is indiscernible in everyday use.

For those keeping track, that’s heavier and thicker than the 11-inch iPad Pro, but the iPad Air still feels effortlessly modern. I still dig the pastel-y shade of purple that it comes in and appreciate that, thanks to its matte aluminum finish, the rear gets easily covered in fingerprints. That distinct shade of purple can also change depending on how the light hits it.

The most noticeable design change that Apple has made to the iPad Air is removing the name from the tablet's rear. On previous models, ‘iPad Air’ was stamped above the Smart Connectors on the rear (when held vertically, it was centered on the bottom), but that’s no longer the case. Now, the whole rear is quite clean, aside from a shiny Apple logo in the center and a 12-megapixel camera aperture in the upper-right corner (when held vertically).

Little has changed in terms of button and port placement, which is to be expected, especially since the power button with the embedded Touch ID sensor was already in a location that works great for either orientation. When the Air is held horizontally or docked in the Magic Keyboard, that button lives at the top on the left-hand side, making it easy to unlock the iPad and authenticate for purchases or password fill-ins, and when you’re holding the tablet held vertically Touch ID is a beat away at the top on the right-hand side.

Touch ID is fast here, and I’d highly recommend setting up a finger from each of your hands, as it makes it a bit easier to get the most out of the button in both orientations; it will also save you from playing Twister when it comes to unlocking. You’ll also find the stereo speakers – which get quite loud – on the shorter sides of the iPad Air, so on the top and bottom when it’s vertical or left and right when horizontal. It makes this tablet excellent for enjoying content, be it in an episode of Bluey with my niece, the latest episode of Severance, or Bruce Springsteen’s Road Diary on Disney Plus.

The speaker volume is controlled by the up and down buttons that are on the top when horizontal or right side when vertical, or via Control Center. For charging or data transfers, the USB-C port is still on the bottom when the tablet is vertical or on the right side when it’s horizontal. You get a USB-C to USB-C cable and wall plug in the box.

Right below the volume controls is the magnetic connector for the Apple Pencil. The iPad Air supports both the Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil with USB-C, but I’d recommend the former if you can afford it, as it will wirelessly charge when attached to the side. As we noted with the 2024 refresh of the iPad Air, reconfiguring the wireless charging spot here required some heavy lifting on Apple’s part.

Apple has made this change not only to facilitate easier Pencil charging, but also so that it could move the front-facing 12-megapixel wide camera that supports CenterStage, which is now in a better position when you're using the iPad Air horizontally. The microphone now sits directly next to it, and you won’t risk muddying up the lens with fingerprints, which can be an issue given that the bezels on tablets are relatively thick. The bezels are identical in size to those on the 2024 model, and despite their relative thickness and the Liquid Retina display here, which I’ll talk about more in the next section, is almost all screen.

Even if it’s no longer the thinnest or lightest iPad, the 11-inch iPad Air was never a chore to take with me. While I usually use a 13-inch iPad Pro, I really like the flexibility this size of iPad affords – I could easily toss it in a bag or backpack wrapped in either the Smart Folio or the Magic Keyboard. It will easily fit on a tray table on an airplane, but more importantly, it didn’t take up too much space when I was working in a cafe or at a kitchen island. The 11-inch size has its perks.

So, the iPad Air is still the name, but maybe ‘Air’ reflects the price more than the design. Either way, the iPad Air is still a modern-looking tablet that has all the buttons in the right places and is won’t weigh you down, whether you’re using it to watch something in bed, working at your desk or from the kitchen, or touting it around in a bag.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Display

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• The Liquid Retina display is still excellent with punchy colors
• No ProMotion high refresh rate here

I’ll cut to the chase here: the 11-inch Liquid Retina display is excellent. No, it’s not a Dynamic OLED like on the iPad Pro, but it’s more than enough for everything from streaming content to editing photos or videos or drawing in Procreate, playing games like Asphalt 9 or Mini Metro, browsing the web, and responding to emails in between all of the above. The colors are vibrant and punchy, contrast is good, and whether it was typed or handwritten via an Apple Pencil, text is rich and inky.

Apple is also one of the best at creating anti-reflective coatings for its screens, and the oleophobic coating here effectively blocks fingerprints from being visible when you’re using the tablet. That’s something that I think is pretty important – and remember, the 11-inch Air only hits 500 nits at its peak (that’s up by 100 to 600 nits on the 13-inch iPad Air), so the coating is doing its thing here.

As on the 2024 model, this year’s display still has a 2360 x 1640 resolution at 264 pixels per inch, with support for the P3 Wide Color Gamut and Apple’s True Tone tech.

For the lower price, I think the Liquid Retina display here isn’t too much of a concession – it’s a great tablet screen that lets you make the most of iPadOS and your various apps.

The only thing missing is a higher refresh rate courtesy of the ProMotion designation, but as on the iPhone and Mac, Apple reserves that for its higher-tier products.

Still, whether you’re using the 11-inch iPad Air for education, work, or play, you’ll be happy with the screen here. And if you want a super-sized experience, the 13-inch Air gives you a more expansive canvas.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Cameras

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• No major upgrades to either the front or rear camera
• Center Stage is still great for video calls

Like every other iPad in Apple’s lineup, the iPad Air features two cameras, and as on every other model but the iPad mini, the front camera is on the landscape/horizontal side. It’s still a 12-megapixel camera that supports Center Stage, Apple’s onboard software that responds swiftly to keep you in the center of the frame for video calls. That, plus the better location for the camera, especially if you use it docked in the Magic Keyboard, makes this an excellent device for video calls or at-home recording.

For instance, one night, while cooking dinner, I rested the iPad Air on the counter in one position. As I moved around to the stove and back to the countertop, including draining a pot while cooking pasta, Center Stage kept me in the frame while on a FaceTime call with friends.

The rear camera on the new iPad Air is still a 12-megapixel wide lens that can zoom in up to five times digitally and supports video recording at up to 4K at 60 frames per second. It performs pretty well, and considering some folks insist on taking photos with an iPad, the Air does a good job here.

• Cameras score: 4 / 5

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(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Software

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• It's the familiar iPadOS experience
• The iPad Air supports the advanced Stage Manager multitasking mode
• It works really well with the new Magic Keyboard; it's more laptop-like than before

Just as with the iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro, or the iPad Air that came before this iPad Air, one of the best parts of the Apple tablet experience is the vast array of things you can do on your device.

In my testing time so far, I’ve been writing – including this review – on the iPad Air with it docked in the Magic Keyboard, streaming movies and TV shows, playing games like Mini Metro, RFS+ (a flight simulator), Asphalt 9, and Disney Dreamlight Valley, editing photos and videos in Pixelmator, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Detail, drawing in Procreate, practicing organization in Notability, and even dabbling with some 3D modeling to see what the M3 chip is capable of in the likes of Uniform.

I’ve pushed iPadOS pretty much to the limits, using just one app, multitasking on a split screen with a third app hanging on the side, and even using Stage Manager. iPadOS 18 is still a very familiar experience; it’s another year older, but Apple is still differentiating it from its other OSes – it’s not entirely different from iOS, though it has clear benefits for the tablet form factor, and still uniquely different from macOS. There’s sufficient continuity between iPadOS and Apple’s wider ecosystem, though – I can use my Mac’s trackpad and keyboard on the iPad thanks to Universal Control, and even extend my display to the iPad with Sidecar.

The M3 chip here is very, very powerful, and ensures that nothing so much as stutters, other than a larger 4K export file in Final Cut Pro, which took some time. For the most part, any typical productivity or entertainment task really flies, allowing you to get a lot done with the iPad Air in a little time – and it also blurs the lines as to who might need this model versus the iPad Pro with the M4.

While the iPad Air with M2 was released before Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence and began its staggered release – one that’s still ongoing – it does support the suite of features, as does the iPad Air with M3.

A lot of what you can do with Apple’s take on AI right now is complimentary to the rest of iPadOS – you can remove photo bombers and objects from photos directly in the app under ‘Clean Up’, you can opt to have your notifications summarized, create unique emojis on the fly, and even have Siri route your queries through ChatGPT.

You’ll also find Siri’s new look – a colorful glow that surrounds the whole display as a digital bezel – here on the iPad Air, but the truly AI-infused Siri is still a promised feature. On March 7, Apple announced that the smarter Siri was taking a bit longer that expected, and that it would arrive “in the coming year.” Whenever it does come, the iPad Air with M3 will support ot, as well as future Apple Intelligence features

Another way in which the iPad Air with M3 really shines is when it’s docked into the redesigned Magic Keyboard, which costs $269 / £269 / AU$449 for the 11-inch iPad, and $319 / £299 / AU$499 for the 13-inch model. Regardless of size, the new Magic Keyboard is slightly cheaper, and you’re getting a much more Pro experience that almost takes you into MacBook territory. Apple has kept the same form factor for the Magic Keyboard, but there’s now a 14-key function row, which gives you easy access to shortcuts like multitasking, playback control, volume control, and even focus mode engagement. You also get a full QWERTY keyboard with arrow keys and a larger trackpad. I spent two days using just the 11-inch iPad Air as my main work device, tabbing between Slack, Gmail, Google Docs, and Sheets, as well as Safari, Messages, Photoshop, Notes, FaceTime, and countless other apps.

Even though I usually use a 13-inch or 14-inch MacBook, I didn’t feel all that cramped on the iPad Air, even at the 11-inch size, and this is something I want to test more while traveling. I especially liked that I could literally reach out and touch iPadOS when I needed to, and I felt at home with the more laptop-like experience as well.

Another key and needed upgrade to the Magic Keyboard is an upgrade to the charging speed, and the keyboard’s USB-C port now supports up to 60W charging, the same as the iPad’s own USB-C port. Bravo, Apple! To make room for the extra row of keys and larger trackpad, the oval hinge – the mechanism by which the iPad attaches and the case closes – has been redesigned to accommodate the extra functionality. It’s really well designed, and my only complaint is that the Magic Keyboard only comes in white, which will undoubtedly get dirty.

It adds cost to the iPad Air, but it’s an excellent accessory that will let you stretch the mileage and capabilities of the tablet itself; and paired with the M3 chip inside, the excellent, punchy display, and iPadOS, it will most certainly let you get a bunch of years of use out of your device.

The Apple Pencil Pro is also an add-on at $129 / £129 / AU$219, and one that I found enjoyable to use for note-taking, navigating iPadOS, and for creative acts like drawing. Way back when Apple first launched the original Apple Pencil and super-sized 12.9-inch iPad, I ditched a Retina MacBook Pro for the iPad and used it with the Pencil and eventually a Smart Keyboard as my main device combo – and the note-taking experience is still effortless here, and basically identical to writing on paper, with no visible latency. The addition of Squeeze to the Pencil Pro lets you easily engage options like an eraser, which is quite helpful considering Apple never added one to the top.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Performance

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• M3 chip lets the iPad Air fly with nearly any task
• Even more intense video edits or AAA game perform without hiccups
• Not a night and day difference over the M2 iPad Air, but older models will see a big improvement

The biggest change with Apple’s 2025 iPad Air refresh is the newer, faster, and better-equipped M3 chip under the hood. It also blurs the lines between the iPad Air and the M4-powered iPad Pro a bit more, as both are very powerful – and it was already a close race last year between the M2-powered Air and the M4 Pro. Apple’s silicon is just very, very good.

I threw pretty much everything at the M3 iPad Air, and it was almost impossible even to slow it down, never mind make it buckle. It’s not leagues better than the iPad Air with M2, but it’s closing the gap with the Pro, and has me questioning exactly which specific use cases might require you to make that jump – the overall thinner build and OLED screen might be better selling points for the Pro.

Considering that the Air in iPad Air doesn't mean slower speeds or a super light build, I think it really denotes that this tablet is closer in terms of features and power to the MacBook Air. The new iPad Air is more affordable, but it still delivers a stellar experience in nearly every department, especially performance. I could perform all my daily tasks for work, from email to writing and editing written words, as well as producing GIFs and editing photos, then exporting them at my normal speed, if not faster. I could also have a FaceTime call running during this or even take a break for a quick game – maybe, just don’t tell my boss that. Testing, though, am I right?

In my daily experience, the M3 iPad Air flew, and quantitatively, it also bettered the results we got from the M2 iPad Air in 2024. Apple hasn’t put an underpowered version of the M3 in the iPad Air – it’s still an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine as well as 8GB of RAM – that’s plenty for an iPad in pretty much any use case.

The chip enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing for AAA titles like Death Stranding and Resident Evil. Using GeekBench 6, which runs the iPad Air through a number of tests, the iPad Air scored very well, achieving 3,023 single-core and 11,716 multi-core scores. That jumps past the iPad Air with M2, which scored 2,591 on single-core and 10,046 on multi-core, and puts it closer to the iPad Pro with M4, which scored 3,700 on single-core and 14,523 on multi-core.

Suffice to say, those are impressive numbers from Apple’s mid-range iPad, at a much more affordable price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 11-inch or the $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 for the 13-inch then compared with the iPad Pro. You’ll also find that really any iPad task runs well here, assuming you have the app to make it happen.

Given that it’s not a huge leap over the M2-powered iPad Air, I don’t see any need for folks who bought that model last year to rush out and upgrade. But if you have an older standard iPad, and find your needs pushing past its capabilities, or even an M1-powered iPad Air or older, the iPad Air with M3 makes a whole lot of sense, offering power and performance that will last you for many years to come.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Battery and Connectivity

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• The iPad Air can still last a full work day on a charge
• It's the same battery performance as the prior generation
• No Wi-Fi 7 support

Still powering the 11-inch iPad Air is a 28.93Wh battery (the 13-inch, expectedly, has a larger 36.59 battery), and Apple still promises up to 10 hours of web surfing or watching a video on Wi-Fi. That basically aligns with the typical all-day battery life claim and largely what I got out of the iPad Air with M3, even when docked in the Magic Keyboard, which didn’t seem to drain much more. The latter was caused mainly by a more power-hungry app like several photo or video exports or even one of those AAA games.

I could get through between eight to ten hours of work with brightness at about 70% using various productivity apps with some music playback and video calls in between. It's pretty good for a tablet of this size, all things considered. When needed, I could also plug in the iPad Air or utilize the port on the Magic Keyboard with a USB-C cable to recharge.

Connectivity is identical to the previous version, meaning that Wi-Fi 7 is still missing here, as Apple opted for Wi-Fi 6E for connectivity. That’s here alongside Bluetooth 5.3 and on cellular configured models support for 5G Sub-6 GHz and Gigabit LTE.

• Battery and Connectivity score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Should you buy it? Buy it if...

You have an older iPad or tablet

The M3 chip inside here essentially affords no power concerns and makes this an especially good upgrade if you have an M1 iPad Air or older, an entry-level iPad, or another tablet and are craving more power.View Deal

You don’t want to break the bank

At $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the 11-inch and $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 for the 13-inch, you can get the screen size you want with excellent cameras, software, and power without breaking the bank or spending thousands.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You don’t need M-series power

If you don’t need a laptop replacement, aren’t planning on playing AAA games, or are alright with some load times, go with the entry-level iPad.View Deal

You want a jaw-dropping display

If you want the best visuals and can stomach the price tag, consider the iPad Pro with M4, thanks to its Dynamic OLED screenView Deal

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): How I tested

I spent five days with the 11-inch iPad Air with M3, a Magic Keyboard, a Smart Folio, and an Apple Pencil Pro. First, I unboxed the main device and accessories, set the iPad Air up as new, and then downloaded my apps to make it feel like home.

I mostly put my 14-inch MacBook Pro to the side to put the iPad Air to the test using it as my primary device. To test the iPad Air, I used it for several of my daily tasks across productivity and entertainment categories, from responding to emails to writing stories and responding to Slack with editing photos and videos. I also played several games on the device, from more basic to AAA ones, and streamed hours of content, including music, TV shows, and movies.

First reviewed March 10, 2025

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• Garmin recently issued its 13.35 software update
• It has confused users because it looked like a beta release
• Turns out it's a regular public update with some bug fixes

Garmin has confused users of its best Garmin Watches with a new software update that looked like a beta but actually wasn't.

As reported by NotebookCheck, Garmin teased a stable release for its best Garmins, the Garmin Fenix E, Fenix 8, and Enduro 3 watches last week, before reports emerged that it was delivering a "new stable update" with the same build number as its latest beta.

As the report notes, Garmin has previously done this, but tends to post changelogs on its forum to notify users of a new stable rollout. Because the company didn't do that in this case, many users started to think they'd accidentally been sent a beta software release despite never signing up for the beta program.

"Did someone screw up at Garmin because I'm not signed up for beta and got the update as well," one concerned user asked in Garmin's forum. "Same here - I'm not on beta and 13.35 just hit my E3," another user stated.

Garmin 13.35 software update explained

Since the confused rollout, Garmin has now issued confirmation that this is a stable update, version 13.35, with various bug fixes, not an accidental beta rollout or anything else for that matter. The release for the Fenix 8, Fenix E, and Enduro 3 fixes the following:

• Fixed Blank Map Covering Activity Data
• Fixed Blank Completed Strength DSW
• Fixed Crash when Using Keyboard to Respond to Text Messages in Activities
• Fixed Device Lockout when Enabling Passcode
• Fixed Potential Bug Preventing Activity Uploads
• Fixed Potential Crash when Using Keyboard in Emergency Assistance
• Fixed Virtual Partner Pace Range

While ultimately turning out to be a minor hiccup, it says a lot about the confidence of Garmin's users that there was concern the company had accidentally rolled out a beta to all users.

Such an instance could have disabled the life-saving ECG feature on affected models, so it's great to hear this didn't actually happen.

With Garmin recently suffering a global outage that caused all of its devices to stop working for more than 24 hours, and users complaining that devices like the Fenix 7 are being left behind by fragemented software support, clearly users are a least a little bit on edge when it comes to Garmin's support track record, as evidenced by some of the more nervous comments on this latest release.

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Apple's midrange tablet is now an option for creatives and gamers alike, but it lacks exciting upgrades all around.

China-developed DeepSeek AI has raised plenty of privacy and security concerns since its launch, with some governments no longer offering the service at all or launching investigations into its data-handling practices. In terms of privacy, however, the Chinese chatbot may not be the worst offender.

As per recent data from Surfshark, one of the best VPN providers on the market, Google Gemini takes the gold medal for the most data-hungry AI chatbot app. DeepSeek comes, in fact, only fifth out of the 10 most popular applications for aggressive data collection.

Surfshark researchers also found a worrying 30% of the analyzed chatbots share user data, such as contact details, location, and search and browsing history, with third parties, including data brokers.

The real cost of using AI chatbots

As Tomas Stamulis, Chief Security Officer at Surfshark, explains, the apps we use every day regularly collect our personal information. While some of this data is necessary for the applications' functionality, others are linked to our identities. He said: "AI chatbot apps can go even further by processing and storing conversations."

To determine the real privacy price tag affixed to AI chatbots, Surfshark researchers looked at the privacy details of the 10 most popular apps on the Apple App Store. They then compared how many types of data each app collects, whether it collects any data linked to its users, and whether the app includes third-party advertisers.

The analysis uncovered an average of 11 different types of data out of the 35 possible. As mentioned earlier, Google Gemini stands out as the most data-hungry service, collecting 22 of these data types, including highly sensitive data like precise location, user content, the device's contacts list, browsing history, and more.

Among the analyzed applications, only Google Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity were found to collect precise location data. The controversial DeepSeek chatbot stands right in the middle, collecting 11 unique types of data, such as user input like chat history. The main issue here – and what attracted privacy complaints under GDPR rules – is that the provider's privacy policy claims to retain this data for as long as it's necessary on servers located in China.

Its rival, ChatGPT, is hot on Gemini's heels, with 10 types of data collected. These include contact information, user content, identifiers, usage data, and diagnostics. It's also worth noting that, while ChatGPT also collects chat history, you can opt to use temporary chats instead to ensure this info gets deleted after 30 days – or ask for the removal of personal data from its training sets.

Apps' data collection is only one side of the privacy problem, though.

This is because, Stamulis explains: "This data could be used within the company or shared across third-party networks, potentially reaching hundreds of partners, and leading to highly targeted ads or an increase in spam calls."

Researchers also found that 30% of these chatbot apps track user data, too. This means that the user or device data collected from the app is linked with third-party data for targeted advertising or advertising measurement purposes.

Copilot, Poe, and Jasper are the three apps that collect data used to track you. Essentially, this data "could be sold to data brokers or used to display targeted advertisements in your app," Surfshark experts noted. Copilot and Poe only collect device IDs for this purpose, while Jasper gathers device IDs, product interaction data, advertising data, and other usage data, which refers to "any other data about user activity in the app".

"As a rule, the more information is shared, the greater the risk of data leaks," said Stamulis, adding that cybercriminals are known to exploit these incidents to create personalized phishing attacks that could lead to massive financial losses.

Stamulis recommends being mindful of the information you provide to chatbots, reviewing your sharing settings, and disabling chat history whenever possible.

• The Samsung Galaxy A26, A36, and A56 are due to launch with One UI 7
• Users of the Galaxy S24 and older are still waiting for their update
• One UI 7 gets its stable release in April this year

Samsung revealed three new mid-range A-series phones, the Galaxy A26, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A56, at the end of February, and we now know that every model will ship with One UI 7 (aka the latest version of Samsung's mobile operating system) out of the box.

One UI 7, which is based on Android 15, was first made available with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra in February – though in its current state, the software is still technically a pre-release build.

Samsung's new, One UI 7-compatible A-series models will be available on March 19 in the UK, with the Galaxy A26 and Galaxy A36 available from March 28 in the US (the Galaxy A56 will launch in the US at an as-yet unspecified date later this year). However, as Samsung recently confirmed, older Galaxy smartphones – even former flagships – won’t be getting One UI 7 until April.

That’s got to sting for customers that shelled out up to $1,649 / $1,549 / AU$2,799 for the Galaxy S24 Ultra as recently as February this year. With that kind of price tag, I’m sure many users would expect Samsung to prioritize updating their previous flagship devices over issuing the new software to more budget-conscious users.

Samsung's new A-series phones, including the Galaxy A56 (pictured), are due to launch in March (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at $300, with the Galaxy A36 starting at $400 and the Galaxy A56 starting at $500. This year marks the first time a Galaxy A5-series phone has landed in the US, which is a big deal as the Galaxy A55 currently features on our list of the best UK cheap phones.

These new mid-range phones are likely to be decently powerful devices for their respective price brackets, and as PhoneArena notes, Samsung’s diverse portfolio begets a wider range of hardware specifications that need to be accounted for and tested with any new software.

Still, I reckon users of the best Samsung phones from years past will feel somewhat left out with the release of these new A-series handsets.

The wait for One UI 7 continues

The wait for One UI 7 is starting to feel rather long indeed. Even compared to Apple’s half-baked launch of Apple Intelligence and iOS 18 late last year, Samsung is making a hash of this rollout.

Though Samsung’s latest Android wrapper is admittedly excellent, with a stylish new look and a very smooth user experience, it doesn’t excuse taking almost an entire update cycle to release it – indeed, Android 16 is likely to be out shortly after One UI 7 makes it to stable release.

You don’t have to look far online to find discontent within the Samsung fan community, either – Reddit user Healthinfoman theorizes that the update has been “intentionally delayed to promote the [Galaxy] S25 as the only device with One UI 7." Other forums and posts are full of frustrated comments.

There is, however, an end in sight. As mentioned, One UI 7 is due to launch in April – but I fear this staggering rollout may have already overshadowed its eventual release. Let us know what you think about the One UI 7 rollout in the comments below.

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• Demand has reportedly been weak for the OLED iPad Pro
• This means there are some expected changes to Apple's OLED roadmap
• This year's iPad Pro upgrade is set to be a minor one

Our iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) review will tell you that we love the most recent version of the tablet – the first to sport an OLED screen – but it doesn't come cheap, and its price is reportedly leading to weak demand for the Apple slate.

This comes from the industry analysts at Meritz Securities (via @Jukanlosreve), with around 5.7 million units apparently shipping last year. If accurate, that figure is some way down on the nine million units Apple was originally hoping to shift.

What's more, the same report says there won't be many changes in the OLED iPad Pro rumored to launch later this year. While it is predicted to get an upgrade to an M5 chip, it sounds as though everything else will be more or less the same.

Given that the device isn't exactly flying off the shelves right now, and won't get a big upgrade this year, Apple is said to be revising its OLED tech plans – with some products coming forward and some getting pushed back.

What's coming next

▶ Apple’s OLED Transition Roadmap Update – Meritz Securities• The OLED iPad Pro model, first launched last year, incorporated several new technologies such as tandem displays and a hybrid OLED structure. Although it…March 10, 2025

Under the new schedule, the OLED iPad mini will make an appearance in 2026, while the OLED iPad Air is going to jump forward from 2028 to 2027 – that's if Meritz Securities and its sources have got their information correct.

An upgrade to the OLED tech in the iPad Pro – incorporating something called Capsule OLED Encapsulation, for improved performance and durability – has apparently been pushed back from 2027 to 2028.

While the starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 might be putting potential buyers off the 2024 iPad Pro, it seems Apple will continue to use the most expensive OLED displays for it. The iPad mini and iPad Air are thought to be getting cheaper OLED tech.

We most recently saw a new 7th-gen iPad Air and a refreshed entry-level iPad from Apple – neither of which come with an OLED display. If you're wondering which one is the right pick for you, check out our guide to the best iPads.

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• DOJ says Google should sell off Chrome to address search monopoly
• Its AI investments are safe and Android discussions quieten down
• Google worries about the impacts on national security

Although the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has dropped its AI divestiture proposal for Google, which could’ve seen the tech giant forced to sell off its AI investments (including a multibillion-dollar stake in Anthropic), the company still faces an uncertain future over its Chrome browser.

The DOJ continues to seek a court order for Google to sell off its popular browser as part of a broader effort to address its alleged search market monopoly.

Google hasn’t come out completely unscathed from the AI saga, either, with the company now being required to notify the government of future AI investments.

Google might still have to sell off Chrome

The DOJ has the backing of 38 state attorneys general in its bid to split up Google from its popular Chrome browser, which accounts for two-thirds (66.3%) of all browser sessions globally (via Statcounter).

An extract from the executive summary of the plaintiffs’ revised proposed final judgement (via Reuters) reads: “Google’s conduct presents genuine danger to freedom in the marketplace and to robust competition in our economy.”

A Google spokesperson previously shared with TechRadar Pro: “We routinely meet with regulators, including with the DOJ to discuss this case. As we’ve publicly said, we’re concerned the current proposals would harm the American economy and national security.”

We’ve asked Google for a comment on the latest developments, but have not yet received a response.

Google has sought to reach an agreement that would see it loosen its exclusivity and default search engine deals with the likes of Apple. It is unclear how successful that argument was in the eyes of the court.

Moreover, the DOJ has loosened its stance on Google’s ownership of Android, the mobile operating system that accounts for nearly three-quarters (72%) of the global smartphone market (via separate Statcounter figures).

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