Faith Kipyegon, the fastest female miler in the world, could dip under 4 minutes with an extra boost from pacers.
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The 97th Academy Awards will air on ABC and stream on Hulu at 7 p.m. ET. Comedian and actor Conan O'Brien is hosting and Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will perform.
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Trump will give his first speech to Congress next Tuesday since his reelection. It has characteristics of what Americans call a State of the Union address, but it's not officially designated as such.
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Sometimes it's not the specs, the design, or the features of an upcoming phone that leak out: it's the wallpapers. And we now apparently have the official, preinstalled backdrops for the Google Pixel 9a.
These images come courtesy of Android Authority, and you can go right ahead and download them in full resolution if you want to. The set of pictures have supposedly come from a source inside Google.
It appears we're looking at abstract interpretations of flowers here. There's a lot of color and a lot of creative blurring on show – it's possible they were made in collaboration with a digital artist, but we don't have any details on that right now.
The eight wallpapers seem to match the four Pixel 9a colors that have been leaked so far: Obsidian (black), Iris (purple), Porcelain (white), and Raspberry or Peony (pink). We've got light mode and dark mode variations for each color.
The Pixel 9a rumors so far The Pixel 9a may borrow some components from the Pixel 9, shown here (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)There have been plenty of Pixel 9a rumors flying around recently. Indeed, the Google mid-ranger is expected to get a full reveal sometime this month, at which point we'll get a proper look at the wallpapers and everything else.
Compared with the Google Pixel 8a, the biggest change would appear to be the removal of the iconic Pixel camera bar on the back of the phone – the next model will apparently be flat on the back, which isn't quite as interesting from a design perspective.
On the inside, we should get a Tensor G4 chipset (like the other Pixel 9 phones), and that's set to be paired with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. It seems we're also looking at a 6.3-inch, 120Hz display.
As for pricing, the phone is expected to match its predecessor with a starting price of $499 / £499 / AU$849, though the version with more storage could get a small price bump. Free trials of YouTube Premium, Fitbit Premium, and Google One are expected to be included.
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Despite increasing competition, Netflix continues to cement its place as one of the best streaming services, starting 2025 with a bang by bringing a whole host of titles that Rotten Tomatoes has dubbed near perfect, awarding a 100% score.
Netflix latest offerings include Oscar-nominee Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, the latest in the long-running Dragon Ball saga, and new crime doc sensation American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson. From true crime to true love, prison penguins to prison drama there’s something for everyone – and we're only at the end of Feb.
I can’t wait to get binging on these movies and shows, and you can read the full list of new titles with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes below.
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Movie)After a long absence, Ardman Animation’s most famous creations returned with a brand new feature length film. The movie contained all the heart and humor we expect from Nick Park and co. and Ben Whitehead slipped into his feature debut as Wallace – following the death of Peter Sallis – like a pair of old slippers.
And the critics agreed, with Filmweek calling it “The most sheerly entertaining movie I’ve seen this year.”
Cunk on Life (TV Special)Diane Morgan’s sardonic host returned for a feature length instalment of the mockumentary spin-off from Charlie Brooker's (the Black Mirror creator) shows, as Philomena Cunk set out to venture right up the universe to provide answers to the big questions, and plenty of laughs.
Decider called the special “laugh out loud funny” while The Guardian praised the host, commenting that “Morgan is peerless.”
Dragon Ball Diama (Season 1)Comic Book Resource called the latest instalment in the long-running franchise “the best Dragon Ball fans have eaten in years” with the inter-quel (set between the iconic Dragon Ball Z and follow-up Dragon Ball Super) telling the story of Goku and the gang being turned into children before exploring the unknown Demon Realm. While the DB saga can be hit and miss at times, Diama is an often hilarious nostalgic treat.
Offline Love (Season 1)The Japanese dating series sees a group of young singles spend 10 days in Nice, France, stripped of smartphones and other connected devices and left to find love the old-fashioned way – through chance encounters and dating.
Decider called the show a “fun throwback” to the pre-internet days, and it’s not hard to see why the easy-going nature of nurturing relationships against the stunning surroundings of the French city has become such a hit.
Cassandra (Season 1)“Fusing elements of sci-fi, horror, psychological thriller, and women-focused family dramas” according to Collider, Cassandra follows the Prill family as they move into a house unoccupied for decades.
Their arrival awakens the AI domestic helper based there, who has greater intentions than household chores. Inverse said the show could be Netflix's “next international hit,” while Collider called it a “sleek, ambitious limited series.”
American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson (Season 1)While the Simpson case may seem well-covered ground, this new true crime doc has been called “compelling, gripping, and, at times, jaw-dropping” by FandomWire, and it’s hard not to agree, with the mini-series uncovering a few new pieces of information and footage, and featuring a rare interview with former prosecutor Christopher Darden.
Asura (Season 1)This Japanese drama, set in Tokyo in 1979, follows four sisters who, upon discovering their aging father’s affair, find their lives beginning to unravel as hidden truths are revealed and facades drop.
Critics have praised the character driven storytelling and fascinating characters, as well as the deft touch of writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda (director of Monster (2023) and Broker) with the New York Times saying the helmer delivers a “stylishness to make it sing.”
Black Warrant (Season 1)Based on Sunil Gupta & Sunetra Choudhury’s book about Gupta’s time as a jailer in an Indian prison, this Hindi-language thriller covers the author’s experiences at Tihar Prisons in the early ’80s.
A “piercing look at Tihar, an absorbing story of a baptism by fire and an insightful snapshot of an era in the life of a nation” (NDTV), the drama gives an uncompromising look at the hardened men on both sides of the bars, and a system designed to punish rather than rehabilitate.
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The Happy Plugs Joy Speaker aims to offer good vibrations, a pleasing design and stunning, portable build. Don’t worry, it’s only a Bluetooth speaker. And for the most part, this diminutive portable speaker achieves what it sets out to do. It has an eye-catching shape fit for fashionistas, decent all-round audio and impressive build quality. But unfortunately for the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker, it just falls short of its competitors in a couple of crucial areas.
Before we get into that, though, let’s start with a sound assessment. Due to its tiny size, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is pretty limited in terms of the quality and volume it can produce. It has a single 45mm, 5W full-range driver that produces typically clear, tonally-accurate audio. Some sounds can get a touch edgy at times – especially those in the treble range while listening at higher volumes.
But again, I still felt that the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker sounded fine given its intrinsic limitations. Specifically, I was surprised by the meatiness of the bass on offer. Next to the not-much-smaller JBL Go 4, I found the Joy speaker capable of dishing up superior low-end impact. You won’t find the extra serving of detail that some of the best Bluetooth speakers can deliver, though, with more subtle sonic ornaments often hard to uncover. It’s also worth noting that the speaker only harnesses the basic SBC Bluetooth codec, so you won’t be able to enjoy higher-quality aptX files at their very best.
Perhaps unconventionally, the draw of this speaker isn’t all too much to do with sound – it’s about style. Happy Plugs refers to the Joy Speaker as “fashion tech designed in Sweden”, giving it a real sense of identity. Its rounded look, attractive color options and lace attachment certainly give it that je ne sais quoi, something that can often be overlooked in a cheaper, more bare bones speaker such as this.
Speaking of price, this Happy Plugs product will set you back just $49.99 / £39.99. Realistically, that’s pretty standard stuff for a speaker in this weight class but still, it's a looker for the money. Competitors like the JBL Go 4 and Sony SRS-XB100 have very similar list prices. Other than its winsome design, the Happy Plugs Joy doesn’t really do enough to set itself apart from some pretty fierce competition, in my view.
That predominantly comes down to its disappointing feature-set. Sure, the built-in mic works to a commendable standard and the ability to pair another Joy Speaker for stereo sound is handy, but that’s about it as far as features go, bar the inclusion of an AUX port for wired listening. There’s no companion app or way to adjust EQ – something I’d expect for a speaker released in 2025.
Another issue is the poor dust- and waterproofing offered by the Joy Speaker. It is only IPX4 rated, meaning it can withstand some water splashes or rainfall, but little else. Given you see a whole bunch of competitors, like the Ultimate Ears Miniroll, offering IP67-rated protection against dust and water submersion, IPX4 just feels a bit underwhelming, I’m afraid.
When you pair the fairly feeble protection against the elements with the speaker’s 5W maximum power output, it’s safe to say the Joy Speaker is better suited to bedroom use, rather than taking into the great outdoors or a party environment.
And if a small, personal speaker is all you’re looking for, the Happy Plugs Joy is still an OK option at a reasonable price. Its stylish edge will no doubt earn its fair share of plaudits, even if there’s a shortage of features and undercooked protection against the elements. Overall, I’d still say you’re better off with the JBL Go 4, or even one of the best waterproof speakers like the excellent Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 – both of which offer impressive audio in a similarly mini package, but one that can also be dunked fully in a pool and survive.
(Image credit: Future) Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: price and release dateThe Happy Plugs Joy Speaker released at the beginning of 2025, carrying a very modest list price of $49.99 / £39.99 (about AU$80). That price applies to each of the four color variants this speaker comes in, namely: Black; Blue; Green; and Pink. The Happy Plug Joy Speaker’s main competitors at this price-point include the excellent JBL Clip 5 and supremely durable LG XBoom Go XG2T – more on those in the ‘Also Consider’ section.
(Image credit: Future) Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: specs Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: featuresI don’t like to do this, honestly I don’t – but I’m going to start on a negative note. The Happy Plugs Joy Speaker has a pretty limited set of features. For a speaker released in 2025, that’s pretty disappointing – even for a small one like this.
A lot of that stems from the omission of a companion app, which instantly restricts what this thing can do. You won’t find any ways to adjust EQ, view connected devices or get the visual on battery life, for example. That’s a bit of a let down when you consider that small options like the JBL Go 4 offer all of this and more (we’ll talk more about this little treasure later).
There are some features of note, though, like the inclusion of a built-in mic, stereo pairing and an AUX port for wired listening. Now, in fairness, the inbuilt microphone is above average – I found call quality to be slightly superior to my phone in speaker or earpiece mode. Similarly, when recording a voice note, I felt that my speech was clear at varying distances, even if there was a bit of feedback lurking in the background.
Stereo pairing is a handy inclusion, especially as this speaker can’t get too loud – more on that later. AUX is cool too if you’re into wired listening, but I suspect most will stick with Bluetooth. This uses version 5.3, which is plenty good enough – although some competitors are using version 5.4 as of the time of writing.
On top of this, you’re getting up to eight hours of playtime with the Happy Plugs Joy. That’s fairly average stuff. Sure, it’s superior to the seven hours offered by the JBL Go 4, but it’s vastly inferior to the fantastic 16 hours you’ll get with the Sony SRS-XB100. A strong battery life would’ve added some much needed credit into this speaker’s account, but ultimately it just feels a bit uninteresting, feature-wise.
Sound-wise, I was left with conflicting thoughts on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. Right off the bat, I can tell you that the manufacturer’s claim of “high quality audio” is stretching the meaning a bit. When tuning into That Lady Pts. 1 & 2 by The Isley Brothers, I found some percussive elements to be a touch tinny-sounding at high volumes and side-by-side with the JBL Go 4, vocals occasionally lacked control.
But overall, I still felt that sound quality was solid for both its size and price. And in some areas it outclassed the Go 4. For instance, when bumping Dasha - Tour Mauborg Remix by Fusion Affair, the bass thump running throughout hit with significantly more impact and weight when listening via the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. Similarly, I was impressed by the depth of the drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X, even if the speaker wasn’t quite dynamic enough to replicate the bouncing effect of the bass bounding throughout the intro.
In addition, I sensed that the acoustic guitar running through Come sweet death, second impact by Megumi Hayashibara was fairly expressive and tonally accurate. It was also pleasantly forward until vocals entered the fray and deservedly assumed the limelight. I will caveat that with a note that densely layered tracks, such as I Want You by Moloko, aren’t expertly emulated, with synths, vocals, percussion, strings and more sometimes bunching up to create a slightly restricted-sounding result.
But much of that is down to the inherent limitations of speakers this small. You’re rarely going to be smacked by a majestically broad, nuanced soundstage or massively full-sounding profile from a model this mini – I have tested enough speakers of this size to know it. I wasn’t getting a huge dose of detail out of my favorite tracks either, with more granular sonic elements often left under wraps. That reminds me: this speaker only supports the basic SBC codec – no aptX or LDAC for less-compressed Bluetooth streaming this time out, I’m afraid.
Another issue that’s pretty typical of tiny speakers like this is relatively low power output. And the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker doesn’t look to buck that trend. It has a single 5W 45mm driver that can’t get all too loud. Sure, it will have enough power for solo bedroom listening, but if you’re turning up to the party with this, you’re going to be left wanting more. On that note, if you’re more of a party animal, it's well worth checking out our guide to the best party speakers.
So here I am, left with pretty mixed feelings. Overall, I’m leaning towards a positive outlook on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker – and not just because of the name. It offers generally clear audio, surprisingly attention-grabbing bass output and stereo sound – if you have two paired in stereo mode. But there are some imperfections, too, including occasionally tinny output, restricted volume potential and a lack of detail.
But arguably the main strength of this lil’ speaker is its eye-catching design – after all, Happy Plugs itself describes the Joy Speaker as “a statement piece”. I’m not sure if it’s quite the fashion revolution that it's made out to be, but still, I really like the look of this speaker. (Is it worth mentioning that some of the TechRadar team call this review sample Grogu? I suppose I just have.)
The Joy speaker almost has a rounded trapezoid structure, with a classy-looking fabric speaker grille on its front and reverse side. It also has five small, easy-to-use button controls on the top, which subtly blend into the rubber casing that coats the edge of the device. These include play/pause, call and volume controls, as well as power on/off and Bluetooth. There’s a small LED that flashes to indicate if the speaker is charging or in pairing mode, which is a useful visual prompt as well.
On the side of the Joy Speaker, you’ll discover a tab, under which lies a USB-C port that can charge the speaker from 0-100% in two and a half hours, as well as an AUX port. This will let you play music via a wired connection, if you feel so inclined.
One more highlight – I’m a big fan of the color options available here. I tested out a broccoli-shade green model, but there’s also a dusty pink or blue and a deep black variant available. These colorways compliment the speaker’s “fashion tech” identity to a tee and make for a nice break from the plain, single color direction a lot of rivals go in.
This is all positive stuff so far, but when it comes to practicality, this speaker is a bit of a mixed bag. First, the pros. The lace attached to the side of the speaker looks sleek and is super effective for hanging it off a backpack or nearby attachment. There are also four mini rubber feet on the speaker that keep it in an upright position, even if it gets knocked a little. But I have one major gripe: the dust and waterproof rating.
The Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is only IPX4-rated, meaning it’s resistant to light rain and splashes of water, but little more. For a speaker in this age, that’s simply not cutting it. Almost every major manufacturer is putting out IP67 – or at least IPX7-rated speakers, which enables them to survive submersion under water for extended periods of time. IPX4 isn’t ideal for listening at the beach or in the shower, for instance, whereas a speaker like the Ultimate Ears Miniroll will easily be able to pull through.
At $49.99 / £39.99, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker very much blends in with rivals including the JBL Go 4 and Sony SRS-XB100. It’s by no means expensive, but not a crazy bargain either. Due to its age, you can occasionally find the Go 4 for less than $40 / £30, which is phenomenal value for money, so with time, I’d hope to see the Joy Speaker discounted to a similar level.
For a speaker of its size, the Joy Speaker does perform pretty well where it matters most – sound. Of course, you’re not going to get perfectly crisp, detailed or booming audio, but for the most part it's expressive and clear enough to keep you engaged and enjoying your queued tunes. And of course, it is very easy on the eye. There’s not a lot of power here and it's not so well protected against the elements, but if you’re just looking for a speaker to use in your bedroom, it will do the trick, no problem.
Ultimately, there are a host of better-value options out there. I mentioned the JBL Go 4 there, which can sound a little thinner through the low-end but does have EQ adjustment options, a useful companion app and superior protection against the elements. Even the LG XBoom Go XG2T – which I marked down for limited EQ presets – still had some… and it offered superior battery life.
In its own right, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is fine value-wise. It gets the basics right, but just skips out on a few too many niceties to outdo its rivals. Unless you’re a real lover of its design, I’d wager that you’ll be tempted to consider some of those other options.
You’re all about style
If the most important thing for you is stunning looks, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is well worth considering. It comes in four neat colorways, has a mini, curved build and dons well-sized buttons to boot.
You’re on a budget
The Happy Plugs Joy isn’t outrageously cheap for a speaker of this size, but it’s definitely not overly expensive either. At $49.99 / £39.99 it’s a nice option if you’re on a budget, although there are some small competitors, like the LG XBoom Go XG2T, that can be found at a similar pricepoint on sale, so make sure to weigh your options.
You want top-tier sound quality
Given that it’s a small-sized speaker, the Happy Plugs Joy sounds decent. But if you want a beautiful sonic experience for this size, you’ll be better off with an option like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 – more on that below.
You’re looking for a speaker that’s shower or beach-ready
One of my biggest gripes with this speaker is its weak dust and waterproofing. It’s just IPX4 rated, meaning it can survive water splashes, but not submersion or anything. That’s not great considering a lot of competitors, like the JBL Go 4, can withstand being dunked a meter underwater for 30 minutes.
JBL Go 4
The JBL Go 4 is a diminutive, stylish and solid-sounding speaker that’s ideal for on-the-go listening. It offers pretty controlled audio given its size and surprising levels of loudness. On top of that, it has a superior IP67 waterproof rating, in-app EQ adjustment and cool color options to match. Read our full JBL Go 4 review.
Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
Tribit has been putting out some amazing value audio tech over the past two years and the Stormbox Micro 2 is no exception. With excellent sound quality, fantastic protection against the elements, an awesome 12-hour battery life and the ability to charge your phone, there’s just so much to love here. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 review.
I spent hours playing music on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. I tried it out in a handful of environments, but mainly at our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge the audio quality in a quiet, controlled space.
When blasting tunes, I mainly took to Tidal using my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, where I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, as well as my personal library. I also tested the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker alongside the JBL Go 4 to compare sound quality, design elements and loudness.
This model has slightly different names in different territories:
US: Tineco Pure One A50S
UK: Tineco Pure One A50S Plus
For this review, I tested the UK version, which has an extra 'mini power brush' compared to the US version.
While it certainly has a few foibles, the Tineco Pure One A50S cordless stick vacuum offers a decent combination of features and performance. I tried out the 'Plus' version, which comes with an extra detail tool, and while I wouldn't count it amongst the best cordless vacuums I've reviewed, it does come with some appealing features.
Its 60-degree or so swiveling floorhead and bendable wand make it easy to maneuver around furniture and under beds. The suction power is very impressive, too, effectively picking up dust, debris and even pet hair from various floor types. That said, I wouldn't recommend this model solely for dealing with pet hair because its floorhead feels very resistant on carpet and is therefore tiring to push and pull.
On the other hand, the smart DustSense sensor, which automatically adjusts suction power based on the amount of dirt detected, is genuinely useful and certainly contributes to more efficient cleaning. Battery life is reasonable, too, though larger homes might require a recharge for a thorough clean; and it has a larger bin than the norm which in turn reduces the need to empty it too often. However, while it performs very well at sucking stuff up, the A50S is let down by poor ergonomics and a few other niggling design details.
That's the short version; read on for my full Tineco Pure One A50S Plus review.
Tineco Pure One A50S review: price & availabilityThe Tineco Pure One A50S has a list price of $329 / £329, which puts it in the mid-range price bracket for cordless vacuums. It's available to buy direct from Tineco, or via Amazon.
It's competitively priced when compared to other mid-priced cordless vacuums with similar features. However, there's some very strong competition out there, most notably the Dreame R20 which, while equipped with a smaller bin, is lighter in the hand and therefore easier to use.
If you're smart about when you buy, you might be able to avoid paying list price too. At time of writing the UK version was discounted to £229 on the Tineco site, for example. The Black Friday sales tend to be an especially good time to shop for new appliances.
Tineco – a sub brand of Ecovacs the robot vac company – has been producing innovative cordless vacs, wet and dry mops and carpet cleaners since 1998. The Chinese company is perhaps best known for the high level of 'smarts' it injects into the majority of its products. Chief amongst these is the interface, which invariably involves a (sometimes quite huge) colorful onboard LCD monitor that provides the user with all manner of information, often using animation for added pizzazz. Tech nerds (me included) love this kind of stuff, though I wouldn't say any of it makes Tineco's machines any easier or more efficient to use.
(Image credit: Future)However, while other models like the Tineco Pure One S15 Pro and PURE One S11 come with huge, colorful circular displays at the head of the hand unit, this model opts for a much smaller and less fancy info monitor that provides little more than three vacuum modes – Eco, Auto and Max – plus a couple of tiny icons that light up if the air channel is blocked or the brushroll is tangled. There's also a simple three-bar battery level indicator. Oh, and you thankfully don't get a trigger with this model – instead you tap a simple on/off button on the rear.
(Image credit: Future)Elaborating on these power modes a little more, the A50S Plus uses a feature called DustSense that automatically adjusts the suction draw depending on the amount of muck it detects. Many modern stick vacs have this feature and it provides a good balance between cleaning efficiency and battery use. However, I find the 'Auto' power band description a bit confusing because from what I've noticed, both Eco and Auto use the DustSense function whenever the floorhead sensor detects some extra detritus. And you can hear the change in motor pitch as the power is increased, usually for just a few seconds.
From what I can gather, the Eco mode ramps the power up to the equivalent of Auto mode, and Auto mode increases its power to the equivalent of Max mode which doesn't use DustSense at all because it's already at maximum power. You still with me? This means that 'Auto' is actually a false flag and more like a medium mode. Not sure why Tineco's designers opted for this labelling but I'm guessing they called the equivalent of a medium mode 'Auto' for marketing reasons because, well, everyone uses auto mode on every device, right?
According to Tineco, the Pure One A50S Plus boasts 185 Watts of suction power which is rather confusing since most manufacturers use either Air Watts or Pascals when measuring their products' statistics (here's more on how to tell how much suction your vacuum has). All I know is that there is no shortage of suction power here, as I'll get into in more detail in the Performance section.
(Image credit: Future)Let's take a quick tour of the Pure One A50S Plus' handle design, starting with its ergonomics. The A50S Plus's handle is comprised of two grip sections, and your hand naturally gravitates to the rear handle because that's the area with the small protruding finger support. Also, this is the type of hand position that most stick vac manufacturers opt for.
However, I've found that if you use the rear section of the handle, the angular edge of the info screen mount digs into the flesh between thumb and index finger and rests on a pressure point that hurts after just a few minutes of use (Dyson's vacs have a similar effect). But worse than that, this position also involves bending the arm at the elbow which means your biceps and anterior muscles in the forearm end up holding all the weight, while the shoulder muscles take care of the pushing and pulling.
(Image credit: Future)Call me a loafer but I want an easier ride when doing one of the most mundane tasks in the home, so I tend to vacuum with a completely straight arm while performing a pendulum motion using mostly the top of my biceps and shoulder muscle group. I simply walk slowly forward while swinging the whole unit back and forth like a grandfather clock's pendulum. You should try it.
(Image credit: Future)However, if the handle on the vac is positioned in a way that involves bending the wrist and arm – like this and most other models – I immediately ask myself why manufacturers continue to insist on making models with right-angled handles on the rear when they should ideally be positioned above, and be smooth and circular in shape. Roidmi with its rounded rectangular handle on the X30 Pro, Miele's Duoflex models and Vax with its Blade series have managed it, so why has no one else cottoned on?
But I digress, because, as alluded to above, the Tineco A50S Plus does indeed have a second grip section at the top, though it's still not especially comfortable to use because the pinky finger is squashed in the process. It's not terrible but it's not brilliant either. Also, this model's weight – 3.3kgs with wand and main floorhead – is higher than other models I've tested – just over half a kilo heavier than the Dreame R20 I very recently reviewed – and that makes it feel heavy in the hand, especially during a long session on the pile.
(Image credit: Future)While most stick vacs ship with a relatively small dust bin of between 0.5 liters and 0.8 liters, this one comes with a substantial one-liter capacity for longer cleaning sessions and fewer trips to the kitchen bin. The emptying mechanism is pretty much the same as all stick vacs, Dyson notwithstanding. In other words you awkwardly unlatch the bin section from the motor housing, and flip a latch to empty the contents. Since this bin is larger than most, clumped pet hair tends to fall out though it might involve a gentle tap of the unit against the inside of the kitchen bin. However, it can be a bit fiddly to fit the bin back onto the vac.
Since the inner mesh filter inside the cyclone section was as dusty as expected, I attempted to pull it out to give it a clean but it wouldn't budge. So I tried twisting it, still to no avail. I then reached for the accompanying manual only to discover that it was full of useless safety and troubleshooting information with absolutely nothing on how to use the machine, let alone remove the mesh filter. So I went online and downloaded the manual from the Tineco website but it was the same piece of safety literature. Needless to say the mesh filter is still firmly attached and perhaps it's designed that way – answers on a postcard please. [Ed's note: we contacted Tineco's PRs, who say the filter can be removed, although we're still not sure exactly how.]
(Image credit: Future)I was, however, able to access the washable sponge HEPA filter system, which works in tandem with said mesh filter to remove '99.9% of dust and debris as small as 0.3μm', one micrometer. This model also includes a scent block that clips under the battery to help keep carpet smells at bay. (This last feature is unusual but not unheard of – it's most associated with today's best Shark vacuums.)
(Image credit: Future)Regarding the business end, this model comes with a sturdy articulating wand that can bend 90-degrees for easy access under beds and sofas, and a 23cm brush bar comprising two rows of chevron-shaped bristles designed for both hard floor and carpet. The roller brush can be easily removed for cleaning.
In general, the build feels clunky, unrefined, and less maneuverable than other vacuums I've tested – not just pricy models like those made by Dyson, but even more budget-friendly options from the likes of Dreame.
(Image credit: Future)According to the blurb, the Tineco's 3DSense brush bar has built-in sensors that will automatically boost suction whenever it detects the edge of a skirting board. In fact you can see two small cutouts on each side of the floorhead's housing, which allow the suction to draw in air from the sides, along with any dust that's lurking along the edges. Nice. There are also two rows of stiff combs at the rear of the brush to prevent entangling of hair and cotton strands.
In order to help the brushroll collect larger particles on hard floor and when using it on carpet to help reduce friction, the floorhead is also equipped with an air intake switch that opens two little ports where the front of the head meets the floor. And, in a nod to the best Dyson vacuums on the market, this model's front headlight is green colored to make dust on hard floors more visible. However, unlike the Dyson, which uses a laser to highlight even the finest of particles, this model uses a simple green LED bulb. Nevertheless, it's still surprisingly effective.
(Image credit: Future)For use in handheld mode, the Tineco also comes packaged with a motorized upholstery brush, a detail nozzle with slide-down brush fitting and a wall mount that holds everything in one place. The rear handle position works just fine with this setup, though the body does feel heavy when held up high. Also, like the majority of cordless stick vacs, this model won't stand up on its own so there will be times during use when you'll just have to prop it up against something while you shift any furniture around.
The first thing you notice when holding the Tineco Pure One A50S Plus for the first time is the 3.3kg weight, which makes it feel a bit clunky when carrying it around – a bit like the equally hefty Dyson gen5detect. Personally, I think much of the weight comes from the wand and its over-engineered centre section where it bends at 90-degrees.
Since this vac only comes with one floorhead, which is designed more towards carpet use, it isn't as smooth sounding on hard floor as most hard floor-specific soft rollers. However, while the A50S has proved to be a very impressive cleaner on carpet (see results below), the design of the floorhead makes it feel very stiff to push on even medium-pile carpet, and that's with the little front air-intake wide open and the power in Auto (i.e. medium) mode.
(Image credit: Future)Moreover, when the DustSense feature kicks in, it produces even more friction between the front of the floorhead and the carpet. Put another way, your arm will feel like it's had a good workout after just five minutes of cleaning, although the aforementioned pendulum action helps in this regard. In hindsight I would opt for vacuuming on carpet in ECO mode, which applies less downward suction to the floor and makes it that little bit easier to push.
The Tineco A50S's floorhead articulates up to about 60-degrees – less than a Dyson or the Dreame R20, but decent enough for easy steering around furnishings. However, it is a bit of a struggle removing the wand to swap over to any of the hand tools. The fit is very firm – which is good – but also tricky to release. Incidentally, while quite heavy to hold up in the air, the handheld side of it using the mini motorized brush head is efficient at doing the stairs, the car, the dog bed and sofas, and so on.
I tested the Tineco A50S's noise level and it's not too shabby. In ECO mode it registered at a pleasant 63dB at shoulder height, 66dB in Auto mode and a not considerably louder 69dB in Max mode.
Suction testsAs well as assessing general usability, I ran a series of suction tests. For my main hard floor vacuum test I scattered 25g of oats, flour, orzo pasta, crushed digestive biscuit and a few Coco Pops and set the unit to Auto mode. The motor started gently before the DustSense sensor ramped up the power as soon as it detected the extra debris.
Image 1 of 3Debris laid out on hard floor ready for suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3During the suction test on hard floor... (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3... and after (Image credit: Future)Impressively, it collected everything – even the large pieces – in one sweep. Weighing the contents of the bin, it collected 24g in all but I'm betting at least 1g of the flour likely remained in the bin and around the mesh filter. And that's a great result in my opinion.
Image 1 of 2Debris scattered on carpet ready for suction test... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2... and the results following the test (Image credit: Future)For the carpet test I used the same pre-weighed 25 grams of ingredients and used the same Auto setting with the front air intake open. This test required one back-and-forth sweep to remove the majority of the debris and a few more quick passes to remove any evidence of flour.
Like the hard floor test, I measured the bin's contents but this time it said 26 grams because it had also collected some hidden dust in the carpet. Yes, it did take a lot of effort to push the floorhead on the medium-pile rug I used but, hey, it did the job and did it well.
Tineco states a maximum runtime of 70 minutes, which is up there with the longest you'll find anywhere. However, that figure is always for the lowest powered mode. However, I ran a test in Auto mode on a 50:50 medium-pile carpet and tiled hard floor mix and after seven minutes the battery depleted by two bars (from three). Nevertheless, it carried on running till around 17 minutes before automatically switching to Eco mode where it continued at lower power before coming to a stop at 20 minutes and 22 seconds.
In Max mode, runtimes are understandably shorter. I ran this test on hard floor only, because it's too powerful and creates too much friction on carpet. From full charge, it lasted just shy on 10 minutes in Max, before dropping to Eco where it ran until 12 mins 16 seconds before stopping.
Now I should add that most day-to-day vacuum tasks would likely be just one or two rooms unless doing a full spring clean, so 20 minutes in Auto mode is perfectly acceptable, especially given the the DustSense feature boosts the power and battery usage when it detects extra dirt. However, if you have a weekly cleaner who uses your cleaning tools to vacuum the entire home, this model may struggle to complete a whole three bedroom house with kitchen lounge, dining room and bathrooms on a single charge, especially if used entirely in Auto mode.
Now that the battery was completely flat, I fully recharged it and it took exactly three hours and four minutes, which is about average for a cordless stick vac. By the way, I did notice that the charging bar on the screen turns off after a set amount of time so you will need to press the power button while it's connected to the mains to check its progress. However, there is also a green light on the side that pulsates throughout the charging process so I would use that as a charging state reference.
You want great pick-up performance
This model sucks like a limpet, and aced all my suction tests.
You need a large bin
The A50S Plus ships with a larger-than-average 1-liter dust bin – closer to what you'd expect on an upright vacuum than your standard stick vac.
You want automatic suction control
The Tineco's DustSense feature works well, and will ensure an efficient clean that won't deplete the battery.
Don't buy it if...Your strength isn't what it used to be
The A50S is difficult to push on carpet, and it's heavier than average too.
You need something light in the hand
There are lighter stick vacs on the market, and this one is especially weighty when used in handheld mode.
How I tested the Tineco Pure One A50SI received the Tineco Pure One A50S Plus a few weeks ago so have had plenty of time to live with it and put it through its daily paces. Despite some annoying traits, it does vacuum well and I do rate the extra large bin. Aside from general vacuuming on both hard wooden flooring and carpets up to medium pile, I also tested it using a variety of ingredients – including some large biscuit crumbs – and it sailed through both floor-type tests. However, my overriding thoughts is that it feels a bit clunky when compared to other stick vacs I've used.
Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners.
De'Longhi makes some of the best coffee makers we've tested here at TechRadar, and its latest bean-to-cup machine looks like it could rival the technical skills of a professional barista. Not only does the new De'Longhi La Specialista Touch offer an extensive menu of hot and cold drinks, it can also tailor the brewing process to suit your preferred beans, and offers five different milk textures. The only thing you need to worry about is pouring the latte art.
Unlike the De'Longhi La Specialista Opera, which launched in October, the new La Specialista Touch has a large color touchscreen that lets you browse through a list of preset drink options, and tinker with brewing settings, taking your pick from 15 grind sizes and three brewing temperatures.
Not quite sure how to extract the most flavor from your beans? The machine's Bean Adapt technology makes recommendations for different types of coffee, with optimized dosing, grind and extraction settings for different types, roasts, and blends. Once you've found something you like, you can save it to your personal profile so you can access it quickly next time.
(Image credit: De'Longhi) Plant or dairyAs a fan of a good macchiato, what I find most intriguing is the machine's new milk texturizing system, which uses a cool-touch automatic steam wand to produce five different milk textures. The system has settings for both plant and dairy milk, which is always welcome too. Many machines are optimized for dairy only, and struggle to create silky foam with almond or oat alternatives.
Another particularly interesting feature is cold extraction, which De'Longhi promises will create a smooth drink with the same flavor profile as traditional overnight cold brewing, but takes just five minutes from start to finish. Several coffee machines I've tried recently have done a respectable job of cold extraction, so I'm interested to see how the La Specialista Touch compares.
I'll be testing the new machine very soon, and will bring you a full review so you can see how it holds up against the competition – and whether it can create the dreamy, creamy microfoam it promises. It's available now direct from De'Longhi, priced at £699 (about $880 / AU$1,400).
You might also likeAMD’s most powerful processor to date, the EPYC 9965, is being offered on eBay and other online retailers, at the time of writing, with discounts of up to 47%.
Compared to other similar instances I tracked before, the big difference is that there are far more EPYC 9965 on sale in the US than before and all the CPUs are brand new.
Launched in October 2024, the EPYC 9965 is AMD’s most expensive CPU with a suggested retail price of $14,813 and its most powerful as well with 192 Zen 5c cores and 384 threads. A search on eBay for 100-000000976, the OEM SKU (stock keeping unit) code for the 9965, brings up 10 results, all of them US-based and brand new.
This is the first of several articles based on data I’ve compiled on 41 AMD Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPUs (socketed, OEM). In the rest of the series, I will be looking at the cost per core, performance per core, AMD CPUs that are getting more expensive, all this with the new Ryzen 9 9900/9950 X3D CPUs in the backdrop.
Some sellers offered the 9965 for as little as $8,250 when buying a pair; individual pricing started from $8,369. Oddly enough, searching for EPYC 9965 brought up several entries from mainland China. I estimate at 100 the total number of EPYC 9965 currently on sale on eBay.
On the open web, Wiredzone, a popular online US-based retailer stocks the EPYC 9965 for just over $10,000, a fair bit more expensive than eBay but it’s a recognized business. It has been at this price for more than three months now. About a dozen other retailers worldwide sell AMD’s flagship server processor for less than $11,000, a clear sign that supply is relatively abundant.
The EPYC 9965 requires a special motherboard if you plan to run a pair of them (because, why not). Experiencing 768 threads on one motherboard such as the Gigabyte MZ73-LM2 with up to 24 DIMM slots is something few of us will ever need, especially when such a dual-socket motherboard retails for about $2500 and requires a special casing. But if you want the best workstation out there, that’s a very good place to start.
This Comino Grande server is an example of the type of device that could accommodate the 9965 (Image credit: Comino) So, why such a drop?Demand for this particular type of processor, one which focusses on hyperscalers such as Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, has been one of the drivers of AMD’s success in the server market. AMD’s market share rose from nearly zero a decade or so ago to about 25% in 2024.
So what to make of the myriad of vendors that are selling this flagship, cutting-edge server processor for thousands of dollars less than the sticker price? Could excess inventory be a reason as to why prices have gone down so quickly on such a recent CPU?
But here’s the thing, during my research, I was shocked to see that the 9965 was not the only one to have such a big discount: the 9655P (up to 47%), the EPYC 9655 (up to 57%) and so on, and so forth all experienced big price drops.
Indeed, my snapshot survey of AMD’s 5th gen socketed CPUs (with a sprinkle of Threadripper), 41 CPUs in all, reveals that the majority of models have a discount of 20% or more once they hit retail.
History repeating itselfI began tracking this odd scenario back two years ago when I noticed that US retailers were selling the then-three month old EPYC 9954 processor with a massive 30% discount. A month later, in March 2023, I found that hundreds of used 64-core 3rd gen EPYC CPUs were being as Chinese hyperscalers rushed to upgrade their servers.
It looked like someone in the supply chain tried to make a quick buck off the ‘obsolete’ hardware with prices tumbling down to just over $1000 in June 2023. The same happened with the 128-core EPYC 9754 server processor which saw significant discounts but nothing on the scale I am seeing today.
You might also likeOne week, the tech news will slow down – but not this week. It's been another seven days packed with announcements, rumors, reviews, and debate, and our In Case You Missed It summary will bring you right up to speed on everything that's been going on.
We've got everything from a new iPhone to next-gen AI to cover here, with some Netflix leaks and an outrageous OnePlus gaffe in between, so whatever your tech tastes you're going to find something that's of interest here.
No doubt the next week in tech is going to be just as frenetic as this one, so make sure you're up to speed on all the major news – so you're ready for the next batch.
7. Framework launched a cute desktop PC We're quite taken with the new Framework Desktop (Image credit: Framework)Framework is well known for its modular laptops that promote user choice and reduce e-waste, and now it's turning its attention to desktop PCs, too: the new Framework Desktop is a compact, colorful, and cute system with parts you can easily swap in and out.
While we haven't been able to put this PC to the test yet, it certainly impresses in terms of its looks and specs (led by new AMD Ryzen AI Max processors). You've got a host of customization options to pick from, and the system starts at $799 / £799 (about AU$1,265).
6. OnePlus made an embarrassing typo "Meda in China" apparently... (Image credit: Future)You wouldn't think an obvious typo would make it all the way to a finished hardware product from one of the biggest gadget companies in the business, but here we are: certain OnePlus Watch 3 models have rolled out with "Meda in China" labels on them.
It's all rather embarrassing for OnePlus, though the manufacturer has tried to keep a sense of humor about the whole affair. Due to the mistake, the full launch of the wearable has been pushed back a couple of months, but the preorder deals have improved.
5. Photoshop got a new iPhone app Adobe has a new Photoshop app to show off (Image credit: Adobe)Various flavors of Photoshop for mobile have appeared down the years, but the latest Photoshop app for iPhone (with Android coming soon) is the most complete and most powerful yet, bringing over many of the best features from the desktop application.
As you might have expected, some of the more advanced tools need a paid subscription to access, but this is an app that's bound to be of interest for anyone who wants to edit photos on the go – and we've got all the key details right here.
It feels as though the Stranger Things kids have grown up as Netflix has grown up as a streaming service – the show debuted way back in 2016 – and so there are mixed emotions as we get to the fifth and final season, made up of eight episodes and due this year.
If you're keen to avoid spoilers ahead of the season premiere, you might want to skip this extensive leak, which has rocked Netflix: details of the plot, when the episodes will air, and more besides have appeared online, and it isn't the first time this has happened, either.
3. ChatGPT levelled up ChatGPT is more natural and knowledgeable than ever (Image credit: ChatGPT)The pace of AI development isn't slowing down: OpenAI just pushed out an upgraded GPT-4.5 model for its ChatGPT bot, promising a "more natural" conversation experience and a "broader knowledge base" – as well as, hopefully, fewer hallucinations.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has admitted the company is struggling to scale up the data center support for its models, so for the time being GPT-4.5 is in a "research preview" stage, and can only be accessed by those paying top dollar for a subscription.
The iPhone 16e is being widely seen as the next model in the iPhone SE series – but as the name change and price hike indicates, this is actually the start of a new iPhone range, with close to top-tier performance wrapped inside a mid-range package of materials.
Our full iPhone 16e review will tell you everything you need to know about the latest Apple iPhone: what's good about it, what could be better, and why it might be the perfect phone for you. Only seven more months, and we'll be welcoming the iPhone 17 series...
1. Amazon unveiled Alexa+ Alexa+ was launched by Amazon this week (Image credit: Future)Amazon's long-rumored next-gen AI upgrade for Alexa is here, so it – in theory – can catch up to ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Siri with Apple Intelligence, and all the other AI assistants that have appeared since we first started chatting with Alexa more than a decade ago.
TechRadar was at the Amazon Alexa+ launch event, and we've got all the details you need on the upgrade: the new features it brings with it, when it's going to start rolling out, the Echo devices it will and won't work with, and how much you'll have to pay to get it.
You might also like...Federal employees have received a second email from the Office of Personnel Management asking them what they did last week.
(Image credit: Jim Watson)
A good baby monitor is your link to your child when you can't be close. You want to choose one that will ensure your baby is safe, whether they're sleeping soundly in their crib or enjoying playtime with the nanny while you're away from home. Thankfully, modern tech has provided new solutions to age-old problems, and checking in on your child is easier than ever thanks to high-tech baby monitors like the Momcozy 5-inch Dual-Mode Smart Baby Monitor. The dual-mode baby monitor can be paired with the app and a dedicated parent unit, keeping you in the know and your baby in sight.
Peace of mind for new parents (Image credit: Momcozy)A new baby in the house is life-altering, and it can be scary to leave your little one alone in their room at night, even when you're in desperate need of sleep. A smart monitor from Momcozy can help you relax when your baby sleeps by providing useful, nonintrusive, smart features that keep you informed about your little one's well-being. Nobody wants to wake a sleeping baby, but parents need to be reassured they're safe and made aware when their needs change. Baby monitors from Momcozy offer useful alerts for smart features like real-time motion and cry detection, so you know when your little one stirs from their slumber. These alerts help you to stay one step ahead of your baby’s needs, keeping them safe from potential dangers.
It's recommended that parents lay their babies down to sleep on their backs, but that doesn't mean your little inchworm can't figure out how to get themselves in other positions once they've been laid down. The 5-inch Dual Mode Smart Baby Monitor from Momcozy features unique smart detection technology that can detect all of your baby’s movements and even offers cry detection. Paired with the dedicated parent unit the cry detection and top-tier movement detection functionality, you can check in on your baby as they sleep and ensure you know that your baby is safe when it matters the most. Paired with the Momcozy app's instant alerts, the Momcozy Dual Mode Smart Baby Monitor ensures your little one's safety and gives you peace of mind.
Keeping toddlers safe (Image credit: Momcozy)Watching our little ones grow is one of life's greatest joys, but it can also be incredibly stressful. There's nothing quite like waking in the middle of the night to find your newly mobile toddler standing at your bedside when you thought they were safely in their crib. That's where this Momcozy monitor's Danger Zone alert comes in handy. It offers an instant app notification to let you know when your little Houdini has escaped the crib and may be wandering the halls of your home.
Danger Zone alerts aren't just great for keeping your child safe at night. They can also be used to designate safe play spaces for your toddler during the day, like a sandbox in the backyard or a playroom in the house. Using this monitor, your toddler can enjoy some important independent playtime, and you can focus on getting through chores or catching a much-needed moment for yourself without worrying that your little one is getting into something they shouldn't.
It takes a village
(Image credit: Momcozy)Raising babies is hard work, but it's made easier when there are helping hands. Sometimes we need to leave the little ones with Grandma, Auntie, or even a friendly neighborhood teenager who babysits. Having a smart monitor that only connects to your smartphone would be limiting. The Momcozy 5-inch Dual-Mode Smart Baby Monitor allows you to share video access with up to 20 friends and family members, ensuring that the village that helps raise your baby is just as connected as you are.
Creating a connected network for safety and security
(Image credit: Momcozy)With this monitor, you can create a smart network with optional Wi-Fi or non-Wi-Fi connected monitoring with advanced encryption so that you can control who connects to the video. This keeps you and your house safe and secure, while giving you and your loved ones the tools for peace of mind.
The Momcozy 5-inch Dual-Mode Smart Baby Monitor is equipped with a 1080p resolution high-definition camera that captures crystal-clear video. The camera is also bolstered by superior night vision to ensure that video of your little one is just as clear at night as it is during the day. The parent unit uses a 5000mAh battery, giving the 5-inch screen over 10 hours of performance when the display is always on and up to 20 hours when set to its standard mode. You can be sure your monitor will last through the night while your little one is sleeping.
(Image credit: Momcozy)We can't all be with our little ones 24/7, and a baby monitor has become an essential purchase for parents. Parenting is a unique adventure for each person, but the desire to stay connected and to keep an eye on your baby’s safety is a universal one felt by working parents and stay-at-home parents alike. Whether you're creating a baby registry for a new bundle of joy or need a new solution to keep your toddler safe, a smart baby monitor from Momcozy is the secure, reliable choice to keep you connected when it counts the most.