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• An estimated 1 out of every 8 UK small and medium businesses are paying for AI tools
• Over 28% of SMEs are using two or more AI platforms
• Publishing is the main UK sector adopting AI

British SMEs are moving toward AI solutions, with adoption increasing from 1.1% in 2023 to 12.8% in 2026, new research has claimed.

The study, by small business credit card providers Capital on Tap, also shows that while smaller companies may have more modest budgets, they’re still happy to spread their bets when it comes to choosing an AI solution.

Over 28% of SMEs are using multiple AI platforms – with Anthropic’s Claude just edging out OpenAI’s ChatGPT, with the average quarterly spend growing to a quarterly average of £75.60 per SME.

SMEs explore AI

Anthropic is the most popular AI provider among British SMEs according to the research, with those businesses devoting 54.1% of all AI spending on Claude and its sister tools. Conversely, OpenAI/ChatGPT received 27.3% in second place.

The presence of tools like Perplexity, Replit, and Lovable in the list suggests that many of the SMEs analyzed are in the software development industry. However, it is the publishing industry that apparently leads in AI adoption, at 26%, followed by Radio & Television and “consulting” both at 21.6% and telecoms at 20.3%.

“A three-person firm can now do its own research, marketing, bookkeeping and customer service to a standard that used to need a department," noted Damian Brychcy, the Chief Executive Officer at Capital on Tap.

"More than one in eight of the small businesses in our data are already buying AI tools, and the pace is accelerating, not levelling off.”

Cut duplication

Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising aspect of the analysis is the duplication. There is a suspicion that SMEs are trying one AI – perhaps on a trial that they forget to cancel – then moving onto another.

Brychcy states “More than a quarter of AI buyers now pay for two or more providers, and the balance between those providers can flip inside a single quarter.”

This introduces the challenge of duplication, and puts the onus on SMEs to “cut the duplication and be honest about whether each tool is earning its place.”

Whether SMEs are suitably equipped to appreciate the risks of AI tools isn’t clear from the analysis, but few will have dedicated IT personnel who are completely across the details.

So Brychcy offers some useful tips: “check its output, keep sensitive business and customer data out of tools you haven't vetted, and don't hand a model decisions that need a person's judgement.”

Mova V70 Ultra Complete: Two-minute review

If you've never heard of Mova as a brand, you're not alone as it was initially only available in select European and South-East Asian countries. The brand, which is owned by Dreame Technology, is now expanding and is supposed to be value-focused side of the company — although you'd be hard pressed to believe that when its latest flagship robot vacuum costs upwards $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$3,000.

However, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete brings everything you expect from such an expensive robovac, including some industry-first features that are now being adopted by other brands. This includes suction that's a whopping 42,000Pa at its maximum, as well as the impressively long reach of the side brush and mopping arm (12cm and 17cm respectively). I even love the fact that it eliminates the need for dust bags by using a tank you can clean out every now and then while still remaining as hands-free as possible.

It's also arguably the quietest robot vacuum I've tested, even at maximum suction — so quiet, in fact, that I had to check it was actually cleaning during my testing. Yes, it was.

It's vacuuming prowess, however, isn't a good reflection of its listed suction power, particularly on carpets. Case in point: it failed to pick up a mix of oats, tea and chia seeds from a mid-pile carpet even after two passes on its Max (or second-highest) suction setting. Hair pickup at the same setting is also not that great, but bump it up to Max+ (which significantly impacts battery life) and I found my carpets looking a lot better, with even bits of thread cleaned up. The mixture of pantry essentials, however, still remained and I needed to use my Dyson V15 Detect to clean up the leftovers.

Moreover, the extra reach the side brush promises isn't consistent. For example, I expected it to remain extended as long as the V70 was traversing along a room edge, but it repeatedly retracts, leaving dirt along some sections of a room edge. The timing of the extension while cleaning around furniture legs is also off, with the side brush opening up either just before or just after it gets to a chair leg.

The extending mop arm, however, performs better, but even it retracts along some sections of a room edge, but the bot is close enough for edges and areas around furniture to be mopped, if not vacuumed.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete uses dual rotating mop pads that, in my opinion, aren't as good as rollers. It made a bigger mess of some spilled soy sauce in my kitchen, which a roller mop doesn't as these are constantly washed with fresh water while the robot vacuum is cleaning. I also found that for hard floors to even seem damp, waterflow rate needs to be set to high.

It's also disappointing that, for an expensive robot vacuum, the docking sequence takes a few tries. In the four weeks of testing, I had to replace the bot in the dock manually twice, but at all other times, it took 2-3 attempts to correctly roll itself back in for self-cleaning and charging.

The companion app is near identical to the Dreame one, but can be slow to load and respond (at least on iOS, which is what I use). And, like its counterpart, some settings are tucked away in submenus, so you need to spend some time going through it all.

While there are features to love here, it's disappointing that they don't really come together well enough to make a complete package, especially when it has to the potential to be one and blow the competition out of the water. For its high asking price, it's a hard one to recommend.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Price & availability

• First unveiled in May 2026 in Europe, followed by an August launch in the US
• Available in bigger markets, like the US, UK, Europe and Australia
• Investment pricing of $1,299 / £1,219 / AU$3,299

The very high $1,299 / £1,219 / AU$3,299 retail price of the Mova V70 Ultra Complete might make you balk but, given its feature set, it shouldn't be all that surprising.

Then again, it's a competitive price when you take into account other flagships recently released, including the $1,699 Roborock Saros 20 Flow (which is unavailable in the UK at the time of writing, but is a lot cheaper at AU$2,499 in Australia) and the Dreame Aqua20 Ultra Roller going for £1,299 / AU$3,299 (unavailable in the US at the time of publication).

All the aforementioned new flagships have different feature sets to justify their high asking prices, but we're yet to try the last two competitors ourselves. Given the results of my testing in this review, however, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete doesn't deliver on its promises as it should, making it a tough sell at its very high price point.

Instead, opting for slightly older models like the Roborock Saros 10 or Saros 20, even the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, would be the better buy, especially if you can get them at a discounted price.

However, I should note that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete doesn't use dust bags, minimizing your ongoing costs. Plus there's a complete set of replacement brushes and three additional pairs of mop pads in the box, meaning you can go a very long while without needing to buy any replacement parts, adding some additional value to the initial cost.

The only ongoing purchase, if you wish, would be a mopping detergent and/or wood floor-care solution. Only the former is supplied, but Mova recommends you only purchase its proprietary detergents to avoid damaging the appliance and voiding warranty.

• Value score: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Specs

Max suction:

42,000Pa

Robot size:

13.8 x 13.8 inches (35 × 35 × 8.8 cm)

Robot height:

3.4 inches (8.8cm)

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

16.5 × 18.0 × 18.5 inches (42 × 45.8 × 47 cm)

Mop type:

Dual spinning discs

Max threshold clearance: 

Double layer thresholds up to 3.5 inches (9cm)

Dust bin volume (base):

2L

Water tank volume:

4L (clean), 3.5L (dirty)

Base functions:

Charge, empty dust, wash mop pads, dry mop pads, self-clean

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Design

• Clean, modern design with no dust bag
• Retractable LiDAR turret
• Extending side brush and mop arm with industry-leading reach

These days, if you've seen one premium robot vacuum, you've essentially seen them all. The Mova V70 Ultra Complete isn't, at least at first glance, very different from nearly every other set-and-forget alternative on the market, although there are some design elements you won't find elsewhere just yet.

Robot design

The first, and arguably the Mova V70 Ultra Complete's headline act, is on the bot itself — the MaxiReachX mechanism for the side brush and a mop arm. What this means is that for both vacuuming and mopping, the bot has quite the reach, extending 12cm and 17cm respectively. This is not only good for edge cleaning and sweeping into room corners, but it also allows the bot to clean around furniture legs that most other robovacs don't necessarily do well.

The efficacy of the cleaning, however, is a different story, with the side brush extension not quite timing itself right when around furniture and not remaining fully extended when traveling along a wall (or room edge). As you can see from the video clip below, the side brush opens just before it actually gets to the chair leg — when the bot 'sees' the furniture' — then retracts.

I do worry about the longevity of the side brush arm, though, as I found it often scraps against a wall or skirting board, which means it could suffer from wear and tear with constant use, potentially cracking or breaking. While it could still be usable, any jagged edges of the broken plastic could scratch walls. In the four weeks of almost daily use I put the Mova V70 Ultra Complete to, there has been no issues, but the sound the extended side brush makes while scraping has often made my jaw clench.

The mop arm, however, does often stay extended longer but, again, not as consistently as I had expected, retracting when the bot gets close enough to a skirting board to not need the extension.

Mova promises that the dual circular mop pads can apply 15N of downward pressure and, in combination with their spinning, should apply a little elbow grease when mopping but, in reality, that's asking for too much from any robot vacuum cleaner.

What I do appreciate is that the mop pads attach magnetically and they're left behind automatically in the dock whenever the V70 needs to vacuum, so there's no fear of dirty dampness transferring on carpets. That said, you can set the bot to vacuum carpets first anyway, so it really doesn't matter either way.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

Most of its other features are similar to what you'll get with other premium bots, including its retractible navigation turret that allows it to roll under low-lying furniture. However, I should note that I often found the turret elevated when it was knocking against the underside of cabinets, and the bot itself isn't the thinnest on the market — at 8.8cm, it doesn't have as good a clearance as, say, the 7.98cm of the Roborock Saros 10R.

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete also features robotic legs that allow it to climb up to 9cm in two shallow steps, plus dual anti-tangle bar brushes that definitely don't require manual intervention to keep clean. I should mention, though, that during my testing, hair got badly entangled with the large wheels and the side brush, which were difficult to cut away.

One small point of difference on the bot compared to others is that along with lit buttons on the turret, the Mova V70 features a thin bar of blue light when it's powered on. It gives the otherwise white bot a slightly ethereal look in my opinion.

Dock design

The white and silver dock is quite standard on the outside but, instead of housing a dust bag inside, there's a 2L box with a filter that holds up to 100 days' worth of dirt. This means there are no ongoing costs for replacing bags and you're also reducing waste in the bargain. The dust tank, as Mova calls it, is washable, but it also gets dried out after every use, thus reducing the build up of odors and a bacterial or fungal ecosystem within.

Like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, the dock also houses a detergent dispenser with two compartments — one for a standard mopping soap, the other for either a pet odor neutralizer or a wood floor-care solution. You will need to use the app to enable the use of these as they're not set to flow into the clean water by default.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

Both water tanks are under a lid, keeping them out of sight. Moreover, the lids on each tank clip on tightly, so odors from the dirty mop water don't escape in case you forget to clean it out regularly.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Performance

• Hard floor cleaning is good, but carpet vacuuming is disappointing
• Excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance
• Auto docking requires multiple attempts

Say what you will about the Mova V70 Ultra Complete — and I do have a lot to say about its performance — but the one thing I love about it is how quietly it goes about its work. When vacuuming, even at its Max+ (its highest suction setting), the V70 did not hit more than 66dB on the Decibel X app, when others can average around the 80dB mark at similar settings. Understandably this isn't a very scientific method of measuring sound, but it's a good way to compare.

Even the dock isn't as loud as similar models, with auto-emptying of the onboard bin being easily be missed if you aren't paying attention.

How does it actually clean, though? Let's get into the crux of the matter.

Vacuuming

With up to 42,000Pa on tap, the expectation that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete would be able to ace my tests was high. And while it does vacuum well, especially hard floors, its edge cleaning isn't as good as I hoped it would be. That's due to the fact that, during use, the automatically extending side brush doesn't remain stretched as the bot is rolling along a room edge but, instead, retracts after a few seconds.

In fact, at one point in my tests, the bot moved away from a room edge, leaving behind dirt — a mixture of oats, tea from a tea bag, chia seeds and freeze-dried raspberries to emulate different debris sizes — that most other premium robovacs I've previously tested have successfully cleaned up (see video below).

Otherwise, it tackles regular daily vacuuming well enough on hard floors even at mid-suction settings, but it's a different story on carpets.

While I don't expect side brushes on any robovac to be as effective on carpet as on hard floors, I had hoped that on Max suction, the same mixture of oats, tea, chia seeds and bits of fruit would be easily tackled but, as you can see from the photos below, the V70 left behind a lot even after two passes. Bumping up to Max+ helped only marginally, but debris still remained on the carpet and I had to use my cordless vacuum to clean up the rest.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

Hair pickup on carpets in the Max setting also wasn't as impressive as I had hoped — around 80% — but it was about 98% when bumped up to Max+. Given this performance, I found leaving the vacuum setting at Max worked best for regular jobs, but occasionally used the Max+ setting when a carpet needed a little extra work. And that's disappointing from such a premium flagship that boasts high suction.

Mopping

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete, however, is slightly better at mopping room edges as I found the extending mop pads stayed open for longer periods of the bot sensed room edges, corners and furniture legs.

Mova says it applies a downward pressure of 15N but, in real-world use, that doesn't translate for any robovac as there's never enough vibrations to emulate 'scrubbing'. So I can't blame the V70 for not being able to clean up a drop of dried up curry on my kitchen floor.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The same downward force also doesn't work along room edges, which I tested by sprinkling a few crystals of charcoal-infused sea salt under my kitchen cabinets and moistening by adding a few drops of water. The tiny black spots remained where they were even after two mopping sessions at high waterflow rates.

Where other premium robovacs have been able to successfully clean up small spills of liquid, like soy sauce, I found that the V70 made more of a mess, spreading the dark liquid across a larger section of floor until I ended its task to prevent the stain from expanding further (see video below).

That said, I was impressed by how well the bot identified furniture legs while mopping and the extending mop pad was able to clean a full 360º around each leg in both my dining and living rooms.

It doesn't, sadly, negate the overall performance of the mopping which, like the vacuuming is disappointing. If you don't have a messy household, though, what the V70 does do will leave you with clean floors — something a far less expensive robovac will also give you.

Navigation and obstacle avoidance

Here's the good news: the Mova V70 Ultra Complete has impeccable navigation skills with very good obstacle avoidance. Throughout the four-week testing period, not once did the Mova V70 Ultra Complete deviate from its prescribed path, whether that was a quick clean with wider zig-zags or a tighter grid for deeper cleaning.

It also never got lost when told to do a room or zone cleaning, finding the path of least resistance wherever it needed to go, even if there were obstacles in its path.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Speaking of which, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete promises to recognize up to 300 different obstacles, and that includes cables and your pets. For the most part, it gets them correct, although there were instances when it didn't quite recognize some items. For example, a large charging brick on the floor was picked up as a shoe, and that's OK.

All obstacles, even smaller pieces of furniture that you may not have added to the map get picked up and they're marked in the app. Just tap on any of these grey icons and a small diagram and name of the item is shown, along with accuracy of recognition.

The one thing it definitely struggles with is docking on its own — every single time, it took the bot two to three attempts to automatically engage docking. In the four weeks of testing, I was asked to manually replace the bot back in the dock for charging and self-cleaning.

Self-cleaning

Dock performance itself isn't bad, with self-emptying of the onboard bin into the dust tank quite good, leaving only the barest layer of very fine dust sticking to the plastic sides of the smaller box inside the bot. And, as I've previously mentioned, this self-emptying isn't as loud as I've experienced with other robovacs, and I appreciate that.

Like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra where the dust bag is dried with warm air, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete also dries out the dust tank. However, it takes 5 hours to do so compared to just 3 hours on the Dreame. It's also a lot longer than the V70 takes to dry out the mop pads, which is 3 hours as well. I'm not entirely sure why the dust tank requires more time, and while the additional power consumption is unlikely to make a significant dent in your energy bills, it could become inconvenient if you run the robovac daily.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Mop pad washing is impressive as well, with even dark soy stains being 95% scrubbed away. The good thing is the circular pads can be removed and washed in the machine or soaked in a stain-removing solution to return them to pristine condition.

The wear and tear on the pads, however, is a little more than on other robovacs that use spinning pads. I've spotted bits of fiber stuck on the textured wash tray after only five mopping runs, so it's a good thing that Mova supplies three additional pairs in the box.

Dock maintenance is very easy as well, with the dust tank easy to empty and wash, and access to the tanks is minimal effort.

Battery life

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete uses a 6,400mAh battery pack like many premium robot vacuums and its runtime is quite standard, depending on the suction setting, of course.

For example, when doing a full-home clean on the Max (penultimate) setting in an area approximately 45sqm / 484sq ft, it drops from 100% to 44% when vacuuming only, and 100% to 32% when vacuuming and mopping at the same time. In both cases, dynamic suction was engaged when it detected carpets (which automatically boosts suction slightly).

When I ran it on Max+ (its highest suction) for approximately 20 minutes, battery life dropped from 100% to 82%, but that was nonstop cleaning with no dynamic suction engaged and no need to return to the dock for self-emptying.

This is, of course, based on a smaller test space, so bigger homes might not get a full clean on a single charge, and the one time in my testing when battery dropped off entirely with a task incomplete, the bot didn't pick up where it left off once there was sufficient battery even though I made sure it was toggled on in the app.

• Performance score: 2.5 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Mova V70 Ultra Complete: App support

• Almost identical to the Dreamehome app with similar navigation and setup
• Mostly easy to understand, but some settings need a little digging
• App can be slow to load and respond

Given that Dreame Technology owns Mova, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to see that the MOVAHome app is identical to Dreamehome, with only minor differences, like the color scheme on the home page.

And I do mean identical as the entire bot setup and the settings, plus all the navigation, is the same. Since I've previously used a Dreame robovac, the learning curve needed for me to get around the MOVAHome app was small, but first-time users will need to spend a little time going through every setting to ensure they've got the V70 set up to how they want it, including toggling carpet-first for a 'global clean' and selecting detergent use if necessary.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

However, the MOVAHome app is a little slower compared to the Dreame one, and that includes editing the map as well which, on iOS, was a little tedious to do. So much so, that I decided to not divide the study from the entry hallway in mine. Adding the rug to my living room was a heck of a lot fiddlier than on the Dreamehome app, while it took three attempts to add wall-to-wall carpet to the bedroom on the Mova app.

Once everything is set up just the way you like, though, the MOVAHome app becomes easy to use, and you'll only likely need to select the cleaning type and the space. Setting up scheduled runs isn't hard either, as is creating custom cleaning routines. All in all, it's a clean app, just one that might require some initial time investment to wrap your head around.

• App support score: 4 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

As one of the most expensive models in the market, and given its performance issues, it's hard to recommend.

3 / 5

Design

It's a good-looking appliance with an easy-to-maintain design.

4.5 / 5

Performance

It can handle daily hard floor cleaning, but the tougher jobs are, well, tough for it.

2.5 / 5

App support

It's not a bad app, but it will require a little time investment up front to find all the right settings.

4 / 5

Should I buy the Mova V70 Ultra Complete?Buy it if...

You don't like the idea of replacement dust bags

While there are some self-emptying cordless vacuums that don't need dust bags, there aren't many robovacs that have adopted the same ethos. So, if you're keen on reducing waste and save on ongoing costs, the V70 can help you do that.

You have high thresholds

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete can climb two shallow steps of approximately 4cm each, with a total clearance of 9cm. So if you have high room thresholds for a robovac to get past, the V70s robotic legs will get over them.

Don't buy it if...

You want value for money

While you get plenty of replacement parts in the box and don't need to buy dust bags, the V70 Ultra Complete is still expensive and its subpar performance means you'll be better off considering a cheaper flagship.

You have mixed flooring

The V70 Ultra Complete will handle daily cleaning easily on hard floors, but tougher jobs, especially on carpets, aren't up to expectations.

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Alternatives

I like that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete brings some good features to the market but, given its performance during my testing, there are other models I would consider instead.

Roborock Saros 20

If you're after a flagship released in 2026, then this one scored well in our tests and we called it "formidable". From being able to handle uneven floors to thick carpets, this is one to consider if money is no object.
Read our full Roborock Saros 20 review for more information

Dreame Aqua10 Ultra

It's now been succeeded by the Dreame Aqua20 Ultra, but that means this model can be had at a discount, making it excellent value. It's what I use in my own home and it's been reliable and excellent at cleaning for nearly two years.
Read my in-depth Dreame Aqua10 Ultra review to learn more

How I tested the Mova V70 Ultra Complete

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I used the Mova V70 Ultra Complete three times a week for four weeks in my one-bedroom apartment that has mixed flooring and an internal cleaning area of approximately 45sqm (484sq ft). The mixed flooring includes wall-to-wall mid-pile carpet in the bedroom, tiles everywhere else, plus a mid-pile rug in the living room.

While many of the cleaning runs were for regular upkeep of the floors, I put the Mova V70 Ultra Complete through some of TechRadar's standard tests. For vacuuming, this included sprinkling oats, tea from a tea bag, chia seeds and pieces of freeze-dried berries on carpets and hard floors to emulate different debris sizes.

Since I don't have a pet, I collected strands of my long hair and spread them on the bedroom carpet, walked over them for a couple of days to ensure they were embedded in fibers, then ran the V70 on two different high suction settings to test results. I even used pieces of thread on carpets to enhance visibility of pickup.

For mopping tests, I poured a little soy sauce and dropped a dollop of mustard on my kitchen floor, but kept the waterflow rate high.

I regularly checked the onboard dustbin to ensure self-empty was good, while also washing the dust tank once. I tested the wash-board cleaning feature once during this time.

I also ensured I went through everything the app had to offer, comparing it to the Dreame alternative which I use regularly anyway.

I've tested several robot vacuums in the last 10 years and, having witnessed their rapid evolution, I've built a solid knowledge base to help me compare different models.

Read more about how we test vacuums

[First reviewed October 2026]

Mova V70 Ultra Complete: Two-minute review

If you've never heard of Mova as a brand, you're not alone as it was initially only available in select European and South-East Asian countries. The brand, which is owned by Dreame Technology, is now expanding and is supposed to be value-focused side of the company — although you'd be hard pressed to believe that when its latest flagship robot vacuum costs upwards $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$3,000.

However, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete brings everything you expect from such an expensive robovac, including some industry-first features that are now being adopted by other brands. This includes suction that's a whopping 42,000Pa at its maximum, as well as the impressively long reach of the side brush and mopping arm (12cm and 17cm respectively). I even love the fact that it eliminates the need for dust bags by using a tank you can clean out every now and then while still remaining as hands-free as possible.

It's also arguably the quietest robot vacuum I've tested, even at maximum suction — so quiet, in fact, that I had to check it was actually cleaning during my testing. Yes, it was.

It's vacuuming prowess, however, isn't a good reflection of its listed suction power, particularly on carpets. Case in point: it failed to pick up a mix of oats, tea and chia seeds from a mid-pile carpet even after two passes on its Max (or second-highest) suction setting. Hair pickup at the same setting is also not that great, but bump it up to Max+ (which significantly impacts battery life) and I found my carpets looking a lot better, with even bits of thread cleaned up. The mixture of pantry essentials, however, still remained and I needed to use my Dyson V15 Detect to clean up the leftovers.

Moreover, the extra reach the side brush promises isn't consistent. For example, I expected it to remain extended as long as the V70 was traversing along a room edge, but it repeatedly retracts, leaving dirt along some sections of a room edge. The timing of the extension while cleaning around furniture legs is also off, with the side brush opening up either just before or just after it gets to a chair leg.

The extending mop arm, however, performs better, but even it retracts along some sections of a room edge, but the bot is close enough for edges and areas around furniture to be mopped, if not vacuumed.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete uses dual rotating mop pads that, in my opinion, aren't as good as rollers. It made a bigger mess of some spilled soy sauce in my kitchen, which a roller mop doesn't as these are constantly washed with fresh water while the robot vacuum is cleaning. I also found that for hard floors to even seem damp, waterflow rate needs to be set to high.

It's also disappointing that, for an expensive robot vacuum, the docking sequence takes a few tries. In the four weeks of testing, I had to replace the bot in the dock manually twice, but at all other times, it took 2-3 attempts to correctly roll itself back in for self-cleaning and charging.

The companion app is near identical to the Dreame one, but can be slow to load and respond (at least on iOS, which is what I use). And, like its counterpart, some settings are tucked away in submenus, so you need to spend some time going through it all.

While there are features to love here, it's disappointing that they don't really come together well enough to make a complete package, especially when it has to the potential to be one and blow the competition out of the water. For its high asking price, it's a hard one to recommend.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Price & availability

• First unveiled in May 2026 in Europe, followed by an August launch in the US
• Available in bigger markets, like the US, UK, Europe and Australia
• Investment pricing of $1,299 / £1,219 / AU$3,299

The very high $1,299 / £1,219 / AU$3,299 retail price of the Mova V70 Ultra Complete might make you balk but, given its feature set, it shouldn't be all that surprising.

Then again, it's a competitive price when you take into account other flagships recently released, including the $1,699 Roborock Saros 20 Flow (which is unavailable in the UK at the time of writing, but is a lot cheaper at AU$2,499 in Australia) and the Dreame Aqua20 Ultra Roller going for £1,299 / AU$3,299 (unavailable in the US at the time of publication).

All the aforementioned new flagships have different feature sets to justify their high asking prices, but we're yet to try the last two competitors ourselves. Given the results of my testing in this review, however, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete doesn't deliver on its promises as it should, making it a tough sell at its very high price point.

Instead, opting for slightly older models like the Roborock Saros 10 or Saros 20, even the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, would be the better buy, especially if you can get them at a discounted price.

However, I should note that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete doesn't use dust bags, minimizing your ongoing costs. Plus there's a complete set of replacement brushes and three additional pairs of mop pads in the box, meaning you can go a very long while without needing to buy any replacement parts, adding some additional value to the initial cost.

The only ongoing purchase, if you wish, would be a mopping detergent and/or wood floor-care solution. Only the former is supplied, but Mova recommends you only purchase its proprietary detergents to avoid damaging the appliance and voiding warranty.

• Value score: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Specs

Max suction:

42,000Pa

Robot size:

13.8 x 13.8 inches (35 × 35 × 8.8 cm)

Robot height:

3.4 inches (8.8cm)

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

16.5 × 18.0 × 18.5 inches (42 × 45.8 × 47 cm)

Mop type:

Dual spinning discs

Max threshold clearance: 

Double layer thresholds up to 3.5 inches (9cm)

Dust bin volume (base):

2L

Water tank volume:

4L (clean), 3.5L (dirty)

Base functions:

Charge, empty dust, wash mop pads, dry mop pads, self-clean

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Design

• Clean, modern design with no dust bag
• Retractable LiDAR turret
• Extending side brush and mop arm with industry-leading reach

These days, if you've seen one premium robot vacuum, you've essentially seen them all. The Mova V70 Ultra Complete isn't, at least at first glance, very different from nearly every other set-and-forget alternative on the market, although there are some design elements you won't find elsewhere just yet.

Robot design

The first, and arguably the Mova V70 Ultra Complete's headline act, is on the bot itself — the MaxiReachX mechanism for the side brush and a mop arm. What this means is that for both vacuuming and mopping, the bot has quite the reach, extending 12cm and 17cm respectively. This is not only good for edge cleaning and sweeping into room corners, but it also allows the bot to clean around furniture legs that most other robovacs don't necessarily do well.

The efficacy of the cleaning, however, is a different story, with the side brush extension not quite timing itself right when around furniture and not remaining fully extended when traveling along a wall (or room edge). As you can see from the video clip below, the side brush opens just before it actually gets to the chair leg — when the bot 'sees' the furniture' — then retracts.

I do worry about the longevity of the side brush arm, though, as I found it often scraps against a wall or skirting board, which means it could suffer from wear and tear with constant use, potentially cracking or breaking. While it could still be usable, any jagged edges of the broken plastic could scratch walls. In the four weeks of almost daily use I put the Mova V70 Ultra Complete to, there has been no issues, but the sound the extended side brush makes while scraping has often made my jaw clench.

The mop arm, however, does often stay extended longer but, again, not as consistently as I had expected, retracting when the bot gets close enough to a skirting board to not need the extension.

Mova promises that the dual circular mop pads can apply 15N of downward pressure and, in combination with their spinning, should apply a little elbow grease when mopping but, in reality, that's asking for too much from any robot vacuum cleaner.

What I do appreciate is that the mop pads attach magnetically and they're left behind automatically in the dock whenever the V70 needs to vacuum, so there's no fear of dirty dampness transferring on carpets. That said, you can set the bot to vacuum carpets first anyway, so it really doesn't matter either way.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

Most of its other features are similar to what you'll get with other premium bots, including its retractible navigation turret that allows it to roll under low-lying furniture. However, I should note that I often found the turret elevated when it was knocking against the underside of cabinets, and the bot itself isn't the thinnest on the market — at 8.8cm, it doesn't have as good a clearance as, say, the 7.98cm of the Roborock Saros 10R.

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete also features robotic legs that allow it to climb up to 9cm in two shallow steps, plus dual anti-tangle bar brushes that definitely don't require manual intervention to keep clean. I should mention, though, that during my testing, hair got badly entangled with the large wheels and the side brush, which were difficult to cut away.

One small point of difference on the bot compared to others is that along with lit buttons on the turret, the Mova V70 features a thin bar of blue light when it's powered on. It gives the otherwise white bot a slightly ethereal look in my opinion.

Dock design

The white and silver dock is quite standard on the outside but, instead of housing a dust bag inside, there's a 2L box with a filter that holds up to 100 days' worth of dirt. This means there are no ongoing costs for replacing bags and you're also reducing waste in the bargain. The dust tank, as Mova calls it, is washable, but it also gets dried out after every use, thus reducing the build up of odors and a bacterial or fungal ecosystem within.

Like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, the dock also houses a detergent dispenser with two compartments — one for a standard mopping soap, the other for either a pet odor neutralizer or a wood floor-care solution. You will need to use the app to enable the use of these as they're not set to flow into the clean water by default.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

Both water tanks are under a lid, keeping them out of sight. Moreover, the lids on each tank clip on tightly, so odors from the dirty mop water don't escape in case you forget to clean it out regularly.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Performance

• Hard floor cleaning is good, but carpet vacuuming is disappointing
• Excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance
• Auto docking requires multiple attempts

Say what you will about the Mova V70 Ultra Complete — and I do have a lot to say about its performance — but the one thing I love about it is how quietly it goes about its work. When vacuuming, even at its Max+ (its highest suction setting), the V70 did not hit more than 66dB on the Decibel X app, when others can average around the 80dB mark at similar settings. Understandably this isn't a very scientific method of measuring sound, but it's a good way to compare.

Even the dock isn't as loud as similar models, with auto-emptying of the onboard bin being easily be missed if you aren't paying attention.

How does it actually clean, though? Let's get into the crux of the matter.

Vacuuming

With up to 42,000Pa on tap, the expectation that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete would be able to ace my tests was high. And while it does vacuum well, especially hard floors, its edge cleaning isn't as good as I hoped it would be. That's due to the fact that, during use, the automatically extending side brush doesn't remain stretched as the bot is rolling along a room edge but, instead, retracts after a few seconds.

In fact, at one point in my tests, the bot moved away from a room edge, leaving behind dirt — a mixture of oats, tea from a tea bag, chia seeds and freeze-dried raspberries to emulate different debris sizes — that most other premium robovacs I've previously tested have successfully cleaned up (see video below).

Otherwise, it tackles regular daily vacuuming well enough on hard floors even at mid-suction settings, but it's a different story on carpets.

While I don't expect side brushes on any robovac to be as effective on carpet as on hard floors, I had hoped that on Max suction, the same mixture of oats, tea, chia seeds and bits of fruit would be easily tackled but, as you can see from the photos below, the V70 left behind a lot even after two passes. Bumping up to Max+ helped only marginally, but debris still remained on the carpet and I had to use my cordless vacuum to clean up the rest.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

Hair pickup on carpets in the Max setting also wasn't as impressive as I had hoped — around 80% — but it was about 98% when bumped up to Max+. Given this performance, I found leaving the vacuum setting at Max worked best for regular jobs, but occasionally used the Max+ setting when a carpet needed a little extra work. And that's disappointing from such a premium flagship that boasts high suction.

Mopping

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete, however, is slightly better at mopping room edges as I found the extending mop pads stayed open for longer periods of the bot sensed room edges, corners and furniture legs.

Mova says it applies a downward pressure of 15N but, in real-world use, that doesn't translate for any robovac as there's never enough vibrations to emulate 'scrubbing'. So I can't blame the V70 for not being able to clean up a drop of dried up curry on my kitchen floor.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The same downward force also doesn't work along room edges, which I tested by sprinkling a few crystals of charcoal-infused sea salt under my kitchen cabinets and moistening by adding a few drops of water. The tiny black spots remained where they were even after two mopping sessions at high waterflow rates.

Where other premium robovacs have been able to successfully clean up small spills of liquid, like soy sauce, I found that the V70 made more of a mess, spreading the dark liquid across a larger section of floor until I ended its task to prevent the stain from expanding further (see video below).

That said, I was impressed by how well the bot identified furniture legs while mopping and the extending mop pad was able to clean a full 360º around each leg in both my dining and living rooms.

It doesn't, sadly, negate the overall performance of the mopping which, like the vacuuming is disappointing. If you don't have a messy household, though, what the V70 does do will leave you with clean floors — something a far less expensive robovac will also give you.

Navigation and obstacle avoidance

Here's the good news: the Mova V70 Ultra Complete has impeccable navigation skills with very good obstacle avoidance. Throughout the four-week testing period, not once did the Mova V70 Ultra Complete deviate from its prescribed path, whether that was a quick clean with wider zig-zags or a tighter grid for deeper cleaning.

It also never got lost when told to do a room or zone cleaning, finding the path of least resistance wherever it needed to go, even if there were obstacles in its path.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Speaking of which, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete promises to recognize up to 300 different obstacles, and that includes cables and your pets. For the most part, it gets them correct, although there were instances when it didn't quite recognize some items. For example, a large charging brick on the floor was picked up as a shoe, and that's OK.

All obstacles, even smaller pieces of furniture that you may not have added to the map get picked up and they're marked in the app. Just tap on any of these grey icons and a small diagram and name of the item is shown, along with accuracy of recognition.

The one thing it definitely struggles with is docking on its own — every single time, it took the bot two to three attempts to automatically engage docking. In the four weeks of testing, I was asked to manually replace the bot back in the dock for charging and self-cleaning.

Self-cleaning

Dock performance itself isn't bad, with self-emptying of the onboard bin into the dust tank quite good, leaving only the barest layer of very fine dust sticking to the plastic sides of the smaller box inside the bot. And, as I've previously mentioned, this self-emptying isn't as loud as I've experienced with other robovacs, and I appreciate that.

Like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra where the dust bag is dried with warm air, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete also dries out the dust tank. However, it takes 5 hours to do so compared to just 3 hours on the Dreame. It's also a lot longer than the V70 takes to dry out the mop pads, which is 3 hours as well. I'm not entirely sure why the dust tank requires more time, and while the additional power consumption is unlikely to make a significant dent in your energy bills, it could become inconvenient if you run the robovac daily.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Mop pad washing is impressive as well, with even dark soy stains being 95% scrubbed away. The good thing is the circular pads can be removed and washed in the machine or soaked in a stain-removing solution to return them to pristine condition.

The wear and tear on the pads, however, is a little more than on other robovacs that use spinning pads. I've spotted bits of fiber stuck on the textured wash tray after only five mopping runs, so it's a good thing that Mova supplies three additional pairs in the box.

Dock maintenance is very easy as well, with the dust tank easy to empty and wash, and access to the tanks is minimal effort.

Battery life

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete uses a 6,400mAh battery pack like many premium robot vacuums and its runtime is quite standard, depending on the suction setting, of course.

For example, when doing a full-home clean on the Max (penultimate) setting in an area approximately 45sqm / 484sq ft, it drops from 100% to 44% when vacuuming only, and 100% to 32% when vacuuming and mopping at the same time. In both cases, dynamic suction was engaged when it detected carpets (which automatically boosts suction slightly).

When I ran it on Max+ (its highest suction) for approximately 20 minutes, battery life dropped from 100% to 82%, but that was nonstop cleaning with no dynamic suction engaged and no need to return to the dock for self-emptying.

This is, of course, based on a smaller test space, so bigger homes might not get a full clean on a single charge, and the one time in my testing when battery dropped off entirely with a task incomplete, the bot didn't pick up where it left off once there was sufficient battery even though I made sure it was toggled on in the app.

• Performance score: 2.5 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Mova V70 Ultra Complete: App support

• Almost identical to the Dreamehome app with similar navigation and setup
• Mostly easy to understand, but some settings need a little digging
• App can be slow to load and respond

Given that Dreame Technology owns Mova, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to see that the MOVAHome app is identical to Dreamehome, with only minor differences, like the color scheme on the home page.

And I do mean identical as the entire bot setup and the settings, plus all the navigation, is the same. Since I've previously used a Dreame robovac, the learning curve needed for me to get around the MOVAHome app was small, but first-time users will need to spend a little time going through every setting to ensure they've got the V70 set up to how they want it, including toggling carpet-first for a 'global clean' and selecting detergent use if necessary.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

However, the MOVAHome app is a little slower compared to the Dreame one, and that includes editing the map as well which, on iOS, was a little tedious to do. So much so, that I decided to not divide the study from the entry hallway in mine. Adding the rug to my living room was a heck of a lot fiddlier than on the Dreamehome app, while it took three attempts to add wall-to-wall carpet to the bedroom on the Mova app.

Once everything is set up just the way you like, though, the MOVAHome app becomes easy to use, and you'll only likely need to select the cleaning type and the space. Setting up scheduled runs isn't hard either, as is creating custom cleaning routines. All in all, it's a clean app, just one that might require some initial time investment to wrap your head around.

• App support score: 4 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

As one of the most expensive models in the market, and given its performance issues, it's hard to recommend.

3 / 5

Design

It's a good-looking appliance with an easy-to-maintain design.

4.5 / 5

Performance

It can handle daily hard floor cleaning, but the tougher jobs are, well, tough for it.

2.5 / 5

App support

It's not a bad app, but it will require a little time investment up front to find all the right settings.

4 / 5

Should I buy the Mova V70 Ultra Complete?Buy it if...

You don't like the idea of replacement dust bags

While there are some self-emptying cordless vacuums that don't need dust bags, there aren't many robovacs that have adopted the same ethos. So, if you're keen on reducing waste and save on ongoing costs, the V70 can help you do that.

You have high thresholds

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete can climb two shallow steps of approximately 4cm each, with a total clearance of 9cm. So if you have high room thresholds for a robovac to get past, the V70s robotic legs will get over them.

Don't buy it if...

You want value for money

While you get plenty of replacement parts in the box and don't need to buy dust bags, the V70 Ultra Complete is still expensive and its subpar performance means you'll be better off considering a cheaper flagship.

You have mixed flooring

The V70 Ultra Complete will handle daily cleaning easily on hard floors, but tougher jobs, especially on carpets, aren't up to expectations.

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Alternatives

I like that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete brings some good features to the market but, given its performance during my testing, there are other models I would consider instead.

Roborock Saros 20

If you're after a flagship released in 2026, then this one scored well in our tests and we called it "formidable". From being able to handle uneven floors to thick carpets, this is one to consider if money is no object.
Read our full Roborock Saros 20 review for more information

Dreame Aqua10 Ultra

It's now been succeeded by the Dreame Aqua20 Ultra, but that means this model can be had at a discount, making it excellent value. It's what I use in my own home and it's been reliable and excellent at cleaning for nearly two years.
Read my in-depth Dreame Aqua10 Ultra review to learn more

How I tested the Mova V70 Ultra Complete

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I used the Mova V70 Ultra Complete three times a week for four weeks in my one-bedroom apartment that has mixed flooring and an internal cleaning area of approximately 45sqm (484sq ft). The mixed flooring includes wall-to-wall mid-pile carpet in the bedroom, tiles everywhere else, plus a mid-pile rug in the living room.

While many of the cleaning runs were for regular upkeep of the floors, I put the Mova V70 Ultra Complete through some of TechRadar's standard tests. For vacuuming, this included sprinkling oats, tea from a tea bag, chia seeds and pieces of freeze-dried berries on carpets and hard floors to emulate different debris sizes.

Since I don't have a pet, I collected strands of my long hair and spread them on the bedroom carpet, walked over them for a couple of days to ensure they were embedded in fibers, then ran the V70 on two different high suction settings to test results. I even used pieces of thread on carpets to enhance visibility of pickup.

For mopping tests, I poured a little soy sauce and dropped a dollop of mustard on my kitchen floor, but kept the waterflow rate high.

I regularly checked the onboard dustbin to ensure self-empty was good, while also washing the dust tank once. I tested the wash-board cleaning feature once during this time.

I also ensured I went through everything the app had to offer, comparing it to the Dreame alternative which I use regularly anyway.

I've tested several robot vacuums in the last 10 years and, having witnessed their rapid evolution, I've built a solid knowledge base to help me compare different models.

Read more about how we test vacuums

[First reviewed October 2026]

I love a good coffee machine, and appreciate the benefits of fully automatic and manual styles. I use the former type at home myself since it makes the morning orders for my partner and me as easy as possible. If I really had my way though, I’d choose manual, as it opens the door to a lot more experimentation, and the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine would be right at the top of my wishlist.

If you’re considering a manual espresso machine for your home (especially now that some cafés and coffee shops are charging more to reconcile the loss of card surcharges), I think it should be top of your wishlist too. The good news is that it’s now received a 43% discount on Amazon, which beats its October Prime Day price. The only slight caveat is that this huge discount only applies to the black model.

It’s a great-looking machine, don’t get me wrong, it just might understandably be a little tricker to match with kitchen decor compared to the porcelain white model, for example.

Semi-automatic espresso machine: was $999 now $566
Beating its AU$699 Prime Day price by some margin, this is a great opportunity to nab a highly capable bean-to-cup espresso machine. It brews a delicious coffee — just as soon as you’ve experimented and dialled in the best settings for your beans. It also has a steam wand for frothing all types of milk.View Deal

I gave this espresso machine five stars in my KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine review. One of the standout features for me is its flat-bottom portafilter, which makes tamping the ground coffee beans an absolute breeze. The portafilters that come supplied with most other machines feature a couple of spouts, so you need to rest them on the edge of your counter, which can be cumbersome and messy.

Not so here. You can place the whole portafilter down on a flat surface, allowing you to apply a good amount of pressure to tamp the coffee down.

Another benefit is its ability to quickly heat up, so you could be drinking your coffee in a matter of minutes, while smart dosage control ensures the same amount of coffee is delivered each time — you will just likely need to experiment for a bit with your beans. There’s a line in the portafilter basket to indicate the ideal level once the coffee is tamped, giving you some assistance if you’re new to the whole process.

And if you take milk with your coffee or you want to try your hand at some latte art, the steam wand works wonders. Plus, it has the inherent ability to play nicely with dairy and non-dairy milks, as you can shut it off whenever you want.

This is a fantastic price for a fantastic machine, and given I can’t guarantee how long it will last, I encourage you to consider it if your home is crying out for a top-performing model.

• Openreach is apparently readying a trial for a DIY fibre modem install
• This would mean customers upgrading their fibre who already have a modem could simply replace it, which would mean a cheaper setup
• However, this modem switch is not as straightforward as it might first sound, and there are potential pitfalls to be aware of here

Openreach is seemingly conducting trials to see if fibre broadband customers in the UK can install their own fibre modem rather than having an engineer do the job, which would save on setup costs with an installation that was a box swap (as opposed to a from-scratch fibre install).

ISPreview reports that Openreach (of course, part of BT) is "tentatively proposing" a proof-of-concept trial of a DIY install for the Optical Network Terminal (ONT), which sits at the end of the FTTP broadband connection in your house (or office).

This is the fibre modem on the wall which receives the fibre cable, converting that optical signal into an electrical one to pipe to your home router via an Ethernet port.

The idea is that the customer would receive the new ONT in the post, and as noted, this would just be for fibre service upgrades where a modem is already in place, where the homeowner would be replacing it with a newer model.

According to ISPreview, the trial is set to last three months and should begin before 2026 is out. However, it will involve only a small number of orders (about 200), apparently those upgrading from an older Nokia ONT with 1Gbps or slower speeds to a faster multi-gig line.

Analysis: unfortunate cable bends or floor placement

(Image credit: Openreach)

The main aim of the trial is to assess whether the customer can successfully handle this modem upgrade. While it sounds simple enough on the face of it, there are some potential complications here.

The task involves attaching the new ONT to the wall securely, but as ISPreview points out, some folks may be tempted to take a shortcut and simply leave the unit loose on the floor, maybe thinking it's fine if tucked away under a desk. But that leaves the connection potentially more vulnerable to getting dust or dirt in the port, or on the connector, when plugging it in – which is bad news for the connection speed.

One solution might be to fix a bracket to the wall for the initial ONT installation, so that in the future a new unit can simply be slotted in as a replacement, with no DIY skills required.

Another concern raised by commenters is fibre installations where the cable doesn't have much slack, so if there's a different port position on the new ONT, the cable might not reach. There's also the danger of customers trying to make it reach, or bending it harshly, resulting in damage to the fibre cable.

Doubtless these kinds of issues are what the trial will examine, assuming it goes ahead as reported.

Lego's 2026 Advent Calendars are here, and there are six new sets to explore. The Lego City calendar is the traditional option, centered around Santa's workshop, with elves, toys, Mr and Mrs Claus, and snowman figurines. The box transforms into a scene onto which the completed models can sit — a perfect addition to your Holiday decorations.

Marvel and Star Wars fans are catered for, too, with calendars that include fan-favorite characters with a festive twist. There's Doctor Doom angrily enjoying his candy cane, Spider-Man on skis, and Mandalorian, Moff Gideon and Grogu all sporting Holiday sweaters.

Finally, there are a couple more child-focused options; a festive-themed Lego Friends calendar, and a Disney calendar that turns into a board game. The latter includes princesses and their sidekicks kitted out in their holiday best (Cinderella's Gus has antlers), plus buildable scenes like a gingerbread castle and train set.

If you head to Amazon there are also a number of previous years' calendars still available to purchase — including some classics like the Harry Potter sets. Because they're just numbered 1-25 they'll work just as well this year as the year they launched in.

Lego's Advent calendars have proven themselves reliably popular year-in, year-out, and some of the 2026 sets are already showing as sold out in some places. So although it might feel a bit premature to be planning for the holidays in mid-October, now is actually quite a smart time to buy. Scroll down for a roundup of your Lego Advent calendar options available to buy now...

US Lego Advent calendars

Hop straight to the UK calendars

Lego Marvel 2026 Advent Calendar 76340

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 75456

Lego Disney Princess 2026 Advent Calendar 43298

Lego Friends 2026 Advent Calendar 42698

Lego City 2026 Advent Calendar 60510

Lego Countdown to Christmas Jigsaw Puzzles [NO MINIFIGS]

Previous years' calendars

LEGO Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 43273

LEGO Disney Advent Calendar 2024 43253

Lego City Advent Calendar 2025 60475

LEGO City Advent Calendar 2024

Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2025 76456

Lego Harry Potter 2019 Advent Calendar 75964

LEGO Star Wars 2025 Advent Calendar 75418

Lego Friends 2023 Advent Calendar 41758

UK Lego Advent calendars

Hop back to the US calendars

Lego Marvel 2026 Advent Calendar 76340

Lego Star Wars 2026 Advent Calendar 75456

Lego Friends 2026 Advent Calendar 42698

Lego City 2026 Advent Calendar 60510

Previous years' calendars

LEGO Guardians of the Galaxy 2022 Advent Calendar 76231

Lego Harry Potter 2025 Advent Calendar 76456

Lego City 2025 Advent Calendar 60475

LEGO Disney Frozen 2025 Advent Calendar 43273

Lego Friends 2025 Advent Calendar 42668

• Ukraine combines centuries-old balloon technology with a modern long-range strike drone
• The Mara drone reportedly travels beyond 1,000km aboard the Balun aerostat
• After balloon release, Mara can reportedly fly another 60km independently

Ukrainian engineers are combining aerostat technology, which dates back approximately 240 years, with a strike drone capable of reaching locations more than 1,000km away.

The Mara drone travels aboard the Balun aerostat, developed by the Ukrainian Mariupol design bureau, which carries the aircraft beyond 10km altitude before releasing it.

The manufacturer estimates that the combined Mara and Balun system costs up to $6,000, although it has not disclosed a detailed breakdown of the price.

Balloon transport extends the drone's operational reach

Mara hangs beneath the balloon on a release mechanism, then continues in guided flight and can cover extra distance in glider mode.

Once separated from the carrier, the fixed-wing aircraft can continue flying independently for approximately 60km before reaching its intended destination.

This takes the total covered distance of the entire system to at least 1060 km.

The Balun aerostat incorporates ballast equipment, navigation hardware, data transmission components, and a release mechanism for deploying the aircraft during its flight.

The bureau built its data links and flight controls in-house but has not disclosed the warhead weight or detailed specifications for either.

The designers claim the altitude keeps the system beyond reach of inexpensive defences, such as small interceptors or light cannons, so Russia needs costlier missiles.

This arrangement combines an established form of lighter-than-air transportation with contemporary unmanned aviation technology, reducing the distance Mara must cover independently.

Production plans follow reported battlefield deployment

The bureau reports that the drone has undergone combat testing and struck locations in occupied Crimea and Berdiansk, although independent verification remains unavailable.

Following the reported combat trials, the Ukrainian Mariupol bureau intends to begin manufacturing Mara drones commercially by the middle of October.

Its production ambitions form part of an existing manufacturing operation that supplies unmanned aircraft and related equipment to Ukrainian military formations.

Some reports claim that serial production has started, but there are no official figures or delivery numbers.

Neither the Balun aerostat’s claimed altitude nor its supposed shield against cheap air defences has been independently tested.

Winds at those heights could also carry the balloon far from its planned release point, which could leave the destination beyond Mara’s own flight range.

The bureau has also not stated Mara’s cruising speed, which matters because a slow aircraft would stay exposed to air defences throughout its final approach.

A Tomahawk cruise missile covers up to 1,600km and costs between $1.3 million and $2.5 million depending on the variant.

At its reported price of up to $6,000, the Mara and Balun system costs substantially less than a Tomahawk, although their capabilities are not directly equivalent.

However, until independent evidence of its performance emerges, the system remains a manufacturer claim rather than a proven weapon.

Via Defender Media

The TV network that airs the show says a backup system failed, but the raw material still exists.

• The Great Han can manage over 600 miles on China's test cycles
• Full battery top-ups take as little as nine minutes
• The world’s luxury car makers could soon face stiff competition

BYD has revealed its latest flagship electric large sedan in China, capable of delivering Lucid Air Grand Touring-level range for a fraction of the cost.

Badged the BYD Han (the Great Han), the opulent sedan will cost just 235,900 yuan (around $35,200/£26,500/AU$51,000) in its domestic market, yet it is capable of delivering almost 630 miles on the CLTC test cycle — or around 508 miles on the much stricter European WLTP cycle.

Thanks to advanced technologies such as rear-wheel steering, an augmented-reality head-up display, and dual-chamber air suspension, the car has positioned to rival luxury models from Germany, the UK, and beyond.

Compatible with BYD’s Flash Charge system, the Great Han can charge from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes, outdoing almost every EV on sale today for charging convenience.

There is no word on whether BYD will introduce the luxurious sedan to Europe and other markets, but seeing as it is rapidly expanding its network across the globe, it may well decide to offer it through its high-end Denza brand in the near future.

Analysis: Lucid numbers for less

(Image credit: BYD China)

The Lucid Gravity Air Grand Touring is often considered the benchmark for electric range, luxury, and cutting-edge technology in the EV market, but that car costs almost $110,000 in the US.

Naturally, the BYD Great Han will cost much more than the approximate $35,000 exchange rate from Chinese yuan if it ever sells elsewhere, but it would likely still undercut its premium rivals by a tempting amount.

Once again, China is proving that it can deliver the latest automotive tech, such as LiDAR-based autonomous driving systems, “crab walking” air suspension and lashings of infotainment displays, at rock-bottom prices.

With Chinese badge snobbery rapidly evaporating, particularly in BYD’s case, luxury legacy automakers, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, could soon find sales of their range-topping models not only suffer in China, but also in those European markets that they once dominated.

• Windows 11 is now 'up to 20% more responsive,' Microsoft tells us, based on benchmarking typical interface workloads
• Apparently, this performance honing 'can make an especially meaningful difference on PCs with 8GB of memory'
• A new Photos app is also out, which is a good deal speedier, alongside changes for Windows 11's Gallery and photo viewer

Microsoft has underlined how it's making Windows 11 faster and ensuring the OS uses system RAM more optimally, while also introducing a new and more performant Photos app.

In a blog post, Microsoft explained how it's been tinkering with Windows 11 to make it run faster, and that: "The result is a Windows experience that's up to 20% more responsive, with improvements you can feel as soon as you boot into your PC."

That 20% figure is quite vague, but Microsoft says it's based on measured speed increases in Windows 11 search, the right-click menu, Settings, Start menu, as well as File Explorer (the folders on the desktop) and the Snipping Tool.

These are performance boosts seen in the most recent October update for Windows 11 (well, they were tested in the September preview update, but it's the same thing) compared to the OS as it stood at the beginning of 2026. Naturally, performance will vary by device and configuration, but the gist is clear: there's a sizeable speed boost.

Microsoft observes that a big part of this nippier performance lies in better use of system resources and RAM, with improvements in memory management and efficiency.

The software giant notes: "That work can make an especially meaningful difference on PCs with 8GB of memory. Windows can now keep up to 2GB more of your active data in memory instead of moving it to slower storage, helping your PC stay responsive as you open more apps or browser tabs."

We're also told that Windows 11's background RAM use is being trimmed back, so on PCs with only 8GB of memory (or less), widgets load only when opened, reducing background workload by 200 MB.

In this blog post, Microsoft also reminds us of all the work it's done to fix Windows 11. From key interface changes for the likes of the Start menu and taskbar, through to improving Windows updates, we've also witnessed recent changes that make search faster, more accurate, and useful (and more efficient with RAM usage).

There's an entirely fresh revelation here, though, in the form of the new Photos app as mentioned at the outset.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft says it rebuilt the native Photo editor around WinUI 3 (the modern interface framework for Windows 11), and it now launches 25% faster than before. It sports a reorganized set of menus and features, including repair (unwanted object removal) and relight (to swiftly adjust the lighting of a photo).

The Photo viewer also launches faster (by about 15% on average, Microsoft claims), opens photos up to 30% faster, and has a cleaner, more streamlined design, so you see more of the picture.

It also adds a new Gallery that brings together photos on your PC and in the cloud (OneDrive and Apple iCloud). Again, expect faster launch times, more responsive scrolling, and natural-language search, so you can ask for 'pictures of my dog on the beach,' and Windows will find them (hopefully).

Analysis: progress in the right direction

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft previously promised to work hard on memory optimization for Windows 11, and it's presenting clear evidence of that here, which is good to see. As I've said before, though, it's a puzzle why Microsoft hasn't done this before now, and you've got to wonder why, for example, widgets were ever allowed to eat up memory if they're not being used.

At any rate, this is useful progress, and there's a very handy bunch of enhancements for the Photos app, too, along with the associated Viewer and Gallery, with impressive performance improvements therein.

Microsoft is crystal clear about there being significant speed-ups present in Windows 11 all-round with the latest update for the OS, although we're yet to see any commentary from users who are noticing this. Admittedly, the October update has only been out for a couple of days, so it'll be interesting to watch the ongoing reaction.

Overall, this seems like continued progress in the right direction, and we can expect more performance tuning before 2026 is out.

• Shield AI expects its first full-scale X-BAT prototype by October's end
• X-BAT aims to fly 2,000 nautical miles and reach 50,000 feet
• The aircraft's projected combat radius ranges from 1,000 to 1,340 nautical miles

Shield AI expects to unveil its full-scale X-BAT unmanned combat aircraft by the end of October 2026 ahead of planned flight tests later this year.

In addition to its initial $50 million investment, the U.S. Navy has committed another $150 million toward X-BAT’s development, bringing the total external funding to $200 million.

The aircraft is designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), with a projected range of 2,000 nautical miles and an operating ceiling of 50,000 feet.

Funding advances development of runway-independent aircraft

The latest funding comes through a US Navy development agreement that links payments to specific technical milestones, rather than providing the entire sum upfront.

Shield AI must match the Navy's $150 million contribution, following an earlier $50 million government investment accompanied by equivalent company funding.

According to the company, the first full-scale prototype of the aircraft should be completed within weeks.

“We've been building two prototype vehicles—they're full scale. The first one will be done in the next couple of weeks here,” said Armor Harris, Shield AI’s senior vice president of aircraft.

“And then we'll be getting into flight testing at the end of this year…going straight to the vertical takeoff and landing tests as the final de-risk of the [technology].”

The company has spent the past year conducting wind tunnel, engine and thermal testing to reduce technical risks before moving toward flight demonstrations.

X-BAT uses a tail-sitting design, allowing it to launch and recover vertically without a conventional runway.

Its propulsion system combines a General Electric F110 engine with an axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle, which helps control the aircraft during vertical flight.

Ambitious performance targets face demanding tests

Shield AI revealed that the X-BAT comes with a potential combat radius of around 1,340 nautical miles, approximately twice that of the F-35.

Its planned weapons capacity includes internal bays comparable in size to those aboard the F-35, alongside two hardpoints beneath the wings.

These external stations can accommodate weapons, drop tanks or buddy-refuelling equipment, potentially extending X-BAT's mission options.

Its internal weapons bays can carry strike weapons, while its modular architecture is designed to support electronic warfare and air-to-air missions.

The company expects to achieve a fully equipped flight-test aircraft in 2028, with early operational capability planned for 2029.

Serial production is expected to follow, although the schedule depends on successful testing and the Navy's assessment of development milestones.

The programme forms part of the Navy's Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike initiative, which aims to operate combat aircraft without depending on conventional airfields.

Shield AI envisages deploying X-BAT from amphibious warfare ships and dispersed land locations, potentially increasing access to aircraft without using additional carrier deck space.

However, the aircraft has not yet demonstrated its defining vertical flight capability, and its projected range, payload and autonomy remain developmental goals.

Earlier attempts to develop tail-sitting combat aircraft encountered substantial engineering difficulties, making successful testing essential before the programme's ambitious schedule can be assessed.

Via Defense One

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, October 15 (game #1725).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1726) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1726) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1726) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1726) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1726) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• W

• J

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1726) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1726, are…

• SHORT
• WORTH
• JOIST
• SLUNK

I came close to a perfect four-in-a-row run of correct guesses but faltered on my final word, opting for “slung” ahead of SLUNK.

Meanwhile, the rare letter J made an appearance in a game that was also notable for its absence of As and Es.

Daily Sequence today (game #1726) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1726, are…

• DOWD
• ADOPT
• MOSSY
• DANDY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
• Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
• Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
• Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
• Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
• Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
• Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
• Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
• Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
• Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
• Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST
• Quordle #1714, Sunday, 4 October: INFER, RAINY, THING, ARENA
• Quordle #1713, Saturday, 3 October: CHORE, FLYER, STICK, PURSE
• Quordle #1712, Friday, 2 October: IVORY, SADLY, ANGEL, LLAMA
• Quordle #1711, Thursday, 1 October: NAVEL, SHEER, BIRTH, TACKY
• Quordle #1710, Wednesday, 30 September: CHOKE, BATCH, MOSSY, EAGER
• Quordle #1709, Tuesday, 29 September: BILGE, MEDAL, LODGE, PORCH
• Quordle #1708, Monday, 28 September: BRUNT, TORSO, STONE, HEATH
• Quordle #1707, Sunday, 27 September: VALET, CHEST, VIGIL, PUREE
• Quordle #1706, Saturday, 26 September: SNORT, BIBLE, LAPSE, CRANE

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, October 15 (game #956).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Just a little bit

NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PILL
• STATE
• LAME
• SALT
• LOCAL
• WORM

NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 5th row

• Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #957) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #957, are…

• PINPOINT
• MOLECULE
• ATOM
• MITE
• FOLLICLE
• AMOEBA
• SPANGRAM: SMALLWORLD

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Yet again, looking in the top left-hand corner paid off. However, it was at the expense of a fairly easy-to-spot spangram — congratulations if you got a Spangram First today.

After spotting PINPOINT and SMALLWORLD (did everyone have the Disney ride theme tune churning around their heads afterwards?) I was convinced that MINIATURE would be lurking on the board somewhere.

Instead, the remaining words were all scientific leaning, with only the spelling of AMOEBA causing me pause.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, October 15, game #956)

• BEACON
• STAIRCASE
• DOME
• LANTERN
• GALLERY
• SPANGRAM: LIGHTHOUSE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, October 15 (game #1222).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1223) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• HUNGARY
• HUNGRY
• HIPPO
• CHICKEN
• CHIP
• CHAD
• COOLIDGE
• CYRUS
• SPAN
• MARK
• LAOS
• NICK
• PARAGUAY
• SMARTIES
• BULGARI
• SCRATCH

NYT Connections today (game #1223) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Paint repair required
• GREEN: Nations without a coastline
• BLUE: Nations with something absent
• PURPLE: Fashionable to begin with

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1223) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS
• GREEN: LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES
• BLUE: EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MINUS A LETTER
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH WORDS FOR "STYLISH"

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1223) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1223, are…

• YELLOW: SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS: CHIP, MARK, NICK, SCRATCH
• GREEN: LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES: CHAD, HUNGARY, LAOS, PARAGUAY
• BLUE: EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MINUS A LETTER: BULGARI, CYRUS, HUNGRY, SPAN
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH WORDS FOR "STYLISH": CHICKEN, COOLIDGE, HIPPO, SMARTIES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Having HUNGRY and HIPPO beside each other on the board, not to mention HUNGRY and HUNGARY, was very distracting. Fortunately I managed to focus and completed the game without a hitch.

I got the four EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MINUS A LETTER first, but it was a toss of a coin between that and the quartet of LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES.

Once again I managed to get Yellow last, which is something of an achievement considering that it was the most straightforward of today's groups and required no lateral thinking. Perhaps Hungry Hippo was a mental distraction after all.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, October 15, 2026, game #1222)

• YELLOW: WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD: CURE, DRY, PICKLE, SMOKE
• GREEN: THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS: BASKET, GOAL, RUN, TOUCHDOWN
• BLUE: LOWEST PART: BASE, BOTTOM, FOOT, FOUNDATION
• PURPLE: LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED: CANNON, FORGE, RACINE, VOLLEY

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Doing away with the leap second might prevent time-related computer anomalies in the future.

• A printed data packet has been sold at auction via Christie’s
• The sale price was $24,600 for a piece of paper that was once secured to a pigeon’s leg
• Pigeon internet began life as an April Fool’s proposal

A printed internet packet intended has been sold at auction for $24,600 (close to £20,800) at Christie’s - and while the lot had a listing of a comparatively modest $4,000 (call it £3,040), it had attracted considerable attention due to the fact that it was deployed via carrier pigeon.

The lot is a rare survivor of a 2001 experiment into the concept of pigeon-powered internet. Initially conceived as an April Fool’s joke, the ruse was embraced by the early Linux community, resulting in a 2001 proof of concept, which employed a racing pigeons.

Sold as part of Christie’s “Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts Including Americana and Science” auction, the tiny scroll came from the collection of American network engineer David Waitzman, to whom it was framed and presented in 2002.

Framed packet

In what might be described as one of the slowest pings in history, Norway’s Bergen Linux User Group (BLUG) ran the live experiment over 3 miles.

Measuring a tiny 41mm by 210mm (that’s 1.61 inches by 8.27 inches), the framed packet would have been tightly rolled and placed in a small message capsule attached to its pigeon’s leg.

The live experiment in 2001 occurred 11 years after Waitzman’s original proposal, entitled “A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers.” The document, labelled RFC 1149, remains online for posterity, and opens with the following passage:

“Avian carriers can provide high delay, low throughput, and low altitude service. The connection topology is limited to a single point-to-point path for each carrier, used with standard carriers, but many carriers can be used without significant interference with each other, outside of early spring.”

The document continues in a similar vein.

Keeping to the spirit of RFC 1149, the BLUG employed nine racing pigeons with a 3 mile flight between lofts, carrying printed IP packets in hexadecimal form, and dispatched them to their destination. Once the packets were scanned at the other end to confirm receipt, the process was repeated in the opposite direction… but with just four replies.

Artful hack

Auctioned by David Waitzman and the Bergen Linux User Group, the new owner of the framed packet will be responsible for a comparatively early – and certainly amusing – piece of internet history.

As the listing notes, “The RFC 1149 implementation has been described as a quintessential example of the Internet's tradition of the "artful hack," embodying the playfulness, technical ingenuity, and collaborative spirit that characterized the early Internet community.”

The Bee Frontier and Bee Eclipse use artificial intelligence to process conversations into summaries, to-do lists and more. Just make sure you ask people for permission to record first.