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• A new rumor suggests the iPhone 17 Pro could have a very different design to what most leaks so far have suggested
• However, the source has a mixed track record, and we're not convinced
• We've also heard again that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might have a smaller Dynamic Island than its predecessor

One thing most iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max leaks seem to be in agreement on is that the design will be changing, with several sources suggesting the phone will have a Pixel-like camera bar and a two-tone rear. Now though, another possible design has emerged.

In his Front Page Tech YouTube show, Jon Prosser, a leaker with a mixed track record, has shown off a strange-looking iPhone 17 Pro camera layout, with the lenses arranged in the same triangular pattern, as on the iPhone 16 Pro, but they’re housed in a large black camera island, with empty space in the middle and the flash off to the right. You can see how this looks below.

It’s an odd, arguably ugly design, and one that doesn’t quite match with previous iPhone 17 series design leaks, though there are some similarities. Both this and earlier leaks showed a camera bar running the full width of the phone, but the bar was much narrower in earlier leaks, meaning the lenses would have had to run horizontally along it.

(Image credit: Front Page Tech / @asherdipps‬)

We’d say the earlier leaks look better, but as Prosser notes in the video, they come with a problem, in that having lenses arranged horizontally along the bar could get in the way of the phone’s Face ID components. So he believes that for Apple to have a horizontal camera bar, either it would have to be housed further down the back of the phone, or be more like the one he’s showing here.

According to Prosser’s sources, it’s this latter design that Apple is actually using, but despite Prosser’s claims we’d take this with a serious side of salt. As mentioned, Prosser has a mixed track record for leaks, and this design looks like an earlier sketch that was shared by Majin Bu – another leaker with a mixed track record – and which Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has a much better hit rate for breaking Apple news, claims is “fake.”

The “iPhone 17 Pro” renders on YouTube tonight appear to be based on this fake late January sketch. https://t.co/NpMBlfnHZYFebruary 14, 2025

Further complicating things is the fact that Apple may well have prototypes in multiple designs, so it’s not impossible that all of these leaks are correct, in so much as Apple might be testing these ideas, but which if any of them will be used for the final iPhone 17 Pro design remains to be seen.

For now, we’re skeptical of Prosser’s claims since they are at odds with most sources, but it’s not impossible that this is what we’ll see, and it would at least leave it looking less like a Google Pixel.

Changes up front too

And while it’s mostly the back of the iPhone 17 Pro – and likely also the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max – that will probably be changing, there may be some changes to the front of the iPhone 17 Pro Max as well, with leaker Digital Chat Station (via GSMArena) claiming that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a smaller Dynamic Island than its predecessor.

This will apparently be achieved by reducing the size of the components, and it’s not the first time we’ve heard that a smaller Dynamic Island might be planned – though not all sources agree that the Dynamic Island will be smaller, so this too we’d take with a pinch of salt.

Interestingly though, Digital Chat Station added that the same smaller Dynamic Island design will also be used with the foldable iPad when Apple launches one, and with a future iPad Pro model. So Apple could be changing the designs of quite a few of its products.

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• The UK's AI Safety Institute is now the AI Security Institute
• The renaming represents a shift towards cybersecurity
• Anthropic has also partnered with the Government

The new Labour Government has gone all in on AI since taking power in 2024, and was supported by the UK’s AI Safety Institute (AISI) - but not for much longer. The institution will remain, but the government has announced that this will now be renamed to UK AI Security Institute - signalling a definite shift towards cybersecurity.

But what’s the difference? Well security is focused on defending against things like cyberattacks, and mitigating security risks including how the technology can be leveraged against national security or can enable crimes such as fraud or developing chemical weapons.

Safety has a slightly wider scope - also aimed at mitigating the risks of cyberattacks, but going further to protect against misinformation spread by chatbots, and aims to assess the societal impacts of AI models, rather than just the immediate cybersecurity threats.

New partnerships

The UK’s widely publicised Plan for Change, released in January 2025, leant heavily on AI, introducing ‘Growth Zones’, handing public data over to train models, and aiming to see AI ‘mainlined into the veins’ of public services - but not once did the document mention the words ‘harm’, ‘safety’, or ‘threat’, TechCrunch noted.

Despite these omissions, the work of the AI Security Institute is still the same, says Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle;

“The work of the AI Security Institute won’t change, but this renewed focus will ensure our citizens – and those of our allies - are protected from those who would look to use AI against our institutions, democratic values, and way of life.”

As part of the new plan, the government has agreed to a new partnership with AI firm Anthropic, working to ‘realise the technology’s opportunities, with a continued focus on the responsible development and deployment of AI systems.’ This will include ‘insights’ on how AI can ‘transform public services and improve the lives of citizens’, as well as drive scientific development.

This is part of the UK’s ambition to attract tech investments from around the world - trying to foster an environment perfect for AI innovation, seemingly free of safety regulations.

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• The PS5 just had its best financial quarter results ever
• The console shipped a staggering 9.5 million units in Q3 FY24
• Monthly active users also saw a healthy uptick in the same period

It seems that folks are still plenty eager to add a PlayStation 5 console to their gaming setups, as the system has just enjoyed its best financial quarter on record.

This is per financial results recently published by Sony for its Q3 FY24. Page 10 of the report shows that the company shifted 9.5 million PS5 consoles during this financial quarter. While that's an astronomical jump from Q1 (2.8 million) and Q2 (3.8 million) these Q3 numbers were most likely bolstered by the release of the PS5 Pro.

This brings the total number of PS5 consoles shipped to around 15.7 million for this financial year so far. Last financial year, Sony shipped a total of 20.8 million PS5 units, and with a quarter left to go for this financial year, the console could well be on track to beating that, too.

This brings the PS5's lifetime sales so far up to 75 million which, per GameSpot, is just shy of the 76.5 million PlayStation 4 consoles shipped over the same amount of time. In that case, it should be stressed that the PS4 Pro launched earlier in that generation than the PS5 Pro did in this one. PS4 family units were also cheaper than their PS5 counterparts.

Another highlight from the financial report show that there has also been a decent uptick in monthly active users. Q3 FY24 peaked at 129 million monthly active users compared to the previous year's 123 million from the same quarter. You could likely look at the success of live service titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Helldivers 2 for getting a few million extra folks to log on each month.

Sony has two high-profile exclusive games launching this year in Ghost of Yōtei and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, though as both currently lack a release date beyond a vague '2025' window and it's unclear whether or not they'll land in Q4 FY24.

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• Gen research claims malicious apps on major app stores are on the rise
• New banking trojans, predatory loan apps, and similar, have been spotted
• Official app stores are still a safer bet than third-party ones

App stores are becoming an increasingly major security concern, as more and more malicious apps are discovered in stores owned by major brands, experts have warned.

A new report from cybersecurity researchers Gen claims it observed new mobile bankers (phone applications designed to steal banking information) launched in the fourth quarter of 2024, often disguising themselves as Visa apps, dating apps, or Chrome browsers. Gen added that the well-known BankBot banker compromised 236% more devices compared to the previous quarter.

Besides banker apps, malicious loan apps surged as well, the researchers said. These promise quick money, but demand excessive permissions (SMS, photos, sensitive data) which they later use in extortion, threatening to publish victim data unless they pay up.

Generally safe

Gen also noted cybercriminals are adopting novel distribution tactics in app stores. Recently, they discovered a new malware strain disguised as a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator. The app was spread through the Amazon App Store.

Major app stores like the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Samsung Galaxy Store are generally safe because these companies invest heavily in security measures to protect users. They use automated malware detection, manual app reviews, and strict developer policies to prevent harmful apps from reaching their customers.

Features like Google Play Protect scan apps in real-time, while Apple’s notarization process ensures apps are vetted before approval. Regular security updates, user reporting systems, and app removal policies further enhance safety.

Obviously, no platform is completely risk-free. We’ve seen malicious apps make their way into these stores in the past, and we’ll probably see them in the future, as well. However, these app stores provide a significantly safer environment than third-party or unofficial sources.

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• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has suddenly shut down on iOS
• Square Enix says the problem lies with an unsolvable in-app purchase bug
• The specific problem has been speculated on by users

There’s been some surprising news in the world of Final Fantasy, as the game’s developer Square Enix recently shut down Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on iOS without a warning. The move only struck the game on iOS, with other platforms being unaffected, leaving iOS users wondering what on earth had happened.

According to Square Enix, the issue centered on in-app purchases within the game. In particular, a blog post by the company revealed that “we have been receiving reports of customers unable to access the additional content they purchased for the iOS version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.” This problem affects the full, paid version of the game too.

Unfortunately, Square Enix has taken the drastic step of shutting down the game on iOS entirely. The developer said that “Further investigation revealed that we are unable to completely fix the bug and implement the new changes, making it unlikely to resume service for the game.”

Square Enix believes the problem lies with “changes made to the in-app purchases model.” While this seems a little vague, some have speculated that the decision could be due to a recent change to Apple's in-app purchase verification. If true, this could be what has caused the disruption to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles – although it’s not clear why Square Enix couldn’t update the game to be compliant.

How to get a refund

(Image credit: Square Enix)

If you’ve bought in-app purchases in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on iOS and have been affected by this bug, Square Enix has laid out the steps you can take to get a refund.

To be eligible, you need to have made an in-app purchase in the game in January 2024 or later. The list of affected items includes the full version unlock, the Magic Wallet, the Memory Crystal Pack, and more. The full list can be found in Square Enix’s blog post.

To get your money back, Square Enix advises you to contact Apple Support and request a refund from them. Square Enix’s support team will be available to help until August 31, 2025.

It’s unfortunate to see the game be completely pulled from the App Store. While we would hope that Square Enix is able to find a fix, judging by the company’s own words, it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen.

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• Google Gemini can now remember previous conversations
• The memory functionality is rolling out now to Google One AI Premium subscribers
• ChatGPT has had similar functionality for a year, and it's one of the best features of any AI chatbot

Google has just added an upgraded memory feature to Gemini that allows you to ask the AI chatbot questions based on past conversations.

The new "recall" feature is rolling out to all users who subscribe to Google One AI Premium, a paid monthly subscription that grants access to Gemini's best features. With recall, you'll be able to ask Gemini about previous conversations and pick up from where you left off, allowing the AI to feel more alive and aware of your history. Previously, Gemini had no recollection of previous chats, so you'd have to remind it of important details.

This huge upgrade to Google Gemini brings the AI chatbot up-to-speed with competitor ChatGPT, which has had a well-functioning memory feature for over a year now. The difference is, ChatGPT's offering is available for free and doesn't require a monthly subscription to access its functionality. That said, Google could be testing the recall feature before rolling it out to free Gemini users, although currently, we've had no information of that happening.

This new update comes off the back of Gemini's November update that added the ability for the chatbot to remember certain things about you based on your interests and personal preferences. Unlike this new update, you'd have to go to Gemini's "Saved Info" tab and pre-fill information for the AI to reference in conversations.

When ChatGPT introduced memory last year it completely changed the way I interacted with AI, allowing me to speak naturally with the chatbot and spot nuances where it was able to reference the past in very useful ways. Until now, I've been put off from using Gemini because of its lack of memory, but that's all changed. Gemini's recall feature is rolling out in English to Gemini One AI Premium users now (although I don't have access yet), and Google says the update will be available for other languages in the coming weeks.

The context we needed

Gemini's ability to remember previous conversations gives Google's AI chatbot a whole new level of usefulness. In the past, I've been frustrated by Gemini's lack of context to my prompts when I've asked similar questions in old chats. This was never an issue if you used one single chat with Gemini, but considering the range of models from Gemini 2.0 Flash to Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, I can quickly rack up multiple discussions at once.

Now, Gemini will be able to take information from all of my chats and have the personal context to reference them in any way I need. Things like "Remember that time I talked to you about train travel? What was the route you told me to take?" can now be used in Gemini, and that's a huge step in making AI more conversational and more accessible.

Talking about accessibility, hopefully, Google plans to roll out this memory feature to free users, as I truly believe a memory function is one of the most important features for any AI chatbot. Until then, I'll still recommend ChatGPT to my friends and family, after all, OpenAI's model has the memory ofan elephant, and without paying for it.

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Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless: two-minute review

Ultenic has certainly upped the ante with the U16 Flex Cordless vacuum, launched in August 2024. As you may have already guessed from the name, the most notable feature is the U16 Flex’s flexibility. Thanks to a clever bendable elbow feature in its wand, this cool cordless does all the bending for you – making light work of pushing the floorhead deep under the furniture.

That's not the only feature borrowed from today's best cordless vacuums. The floorhead has 'GreenEye technology'; essentially bright green LED lights that help you track down less obvious dirt, dust and dander... as well as adding a bit of space-ship coolness. There’s a tangle-free roller brush that actually works, three power modes, six-layer HEPA filtration and a funky illuminated display panel that adds more spaceship vibes.

Operation is one-touch, by which I mean you don’t have to hold the power button in to keep it going, which is always a relief to my poor RSI-ridden hand. Ultenic promises the battery will last up to a full 60 minutes. I managed 54 in my tests, but that's still very respectable.

For all these features, you may well be expecting a price tag along Dyson lines, but perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the U16 Flex cordless is its price – if you shop smart, you can pick one of these little beauties up for under $200 / £200. It's absolutely one of the best budget vacuums I've tested.

I test it in out my four-bed home over the very busy Christmas and New Year holidays, and it did a sterling job on hard flooring (of which we have plenty). I loved how lightweight it was, and the power lasted plenty long enough to whip round downstairs before the next gaggle of guests descended.

However, there's one concession you'll need to make for that mind-blowingly bargain price. To get carpets clean, Normal mode won't cut it; you'll need to call on the maximum 'Turbo' mode. Unfortunately, the U16 can only manage 12 minutes of cleaning in this mode; not long enough to make it around my mostly-carpeted upstairs. So this one is only really suitable for people with mostly hard floors in their home.

Now you’ve read the short-and-sweet version, keep going to discover the full highs and lows of using this budget-friendly cordless in my full Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless review.

Everything that came in the box for my review model (Image credit: Future) Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless review: price & availability

• List price: $219.99 / £219.99 (but discounted everywhere)
• Launched: August 2024
• Availability: US / UK

The Ultenic U16 Flex cordless vacuum is a straight-up bargain. If you’re on the hunt for a lightweight player without dropping a small fortune, this sleek little number is worth a look.

Officially, purchasing direct from Ultenic the list price is $219.99 / £219.99, which is in TechRadar's lower-mid price bracket for vacuums. However, at time of writing, it's discounted there and on Amazon, so you can expect to pay more like $150-$180 in the US, or £160-£170 in the UK. That's firmly in the budget bracket.

Sadly, Australians are out of luck because it’s not available there yet. But for everyone else, this vacuum delivers mid-range performance for a low-end price-tag. It’s got power, it’s lightweight, and it’s brilliant for getting into all those low-level nooks and crannies.

If you’re after a cordless vac that’s stylish, effective, and doesn’t leave you eating instant noodles for a month, the Ultenic U16 Flex has got your back.

• Value for money score: 5 out of 5

Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless specs Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless review: design

• Lightweight, with flexible wand for getting under furniture
• Intuitive LED display and good bin capacity
• Slightly plasticky build quality

Landing on my doorstep in a compact box, with a fair number of plastic bags and foam padding, it wasn’t especially eco-friendly looking on the packaging front, but the Ultenic U16 Flex was very well protected. After pulling out and unwrapping all the elements, I found it was super easy to put together without any need to look at the quick setup instructions.

In red, black and a hint of purple, the Ultenic U16 Flex cordless vacuum gives me '80s throwback fear. The design has hints of early Dyson, too – that purple cyclone-like filter chamber looks very familiar. Overall, it's lightweight and easy to use; you won’t be breaking a sweat lugging it around.

The build quality feels a bit on the budget side – kind of plasticky and a bit clunky to connect the wand to the floorhead, but given the price that's not a dealbreaker. It's sturdy enough to get the job done without worrying it’ll collapse mid-clean.

(Image credit: Future)

The main design highlight for me was the flexible wand, which can be released to bend forwards. It's an idea borrowed from today's best Shark vacuums (like the PowerDetect Cordless), and a game-changer for reaching awkward spots – like under the couch where crumbs and dust bunnies love to party. It bends and twists like a pro, making those hard-to-reach areas not so hard-to-reach. Combined with the lightweight build and searing green LED lighting in the floorhead (this one inspired by the far-pricier Dyson V15 Detect and Gen5detect), it was perfect for quick zips around the house.

Oddly, the control panel isn’t nearly as sexy as the previous model, the slightly cheaper U12 Vesla (which I have also put through its paces) but it’s still nicely styled and techy-looking. There's one button for switching between power modes, so you don’t have to overthink anything while you're cleaning. Plus, the battery indicator is super clear – no guessing games about how much power you have left in the tank.

The control panel shows power level and battery percentage, and the light ring turns more red as the power dials up (Image credit: Future)

The main floorhead is solid enough, with decent swivel action that lets you glide around furniture. It's also shallow enough that it doesn’t get stuck under my sideboards, like competitors' models have. It only comes with one detachable crevice tool, but let’s face it, that’s the one we all use – I’ve got a cleaning cupboard full of weird and wonderful (and never used) nozzles from various ghosts of vacuums past. If you do need the gentler approach of a bristled nozzle, for furniture or upholstery etc, one slides out in handheld mode, which is handy because it’s always there, close to hand.

The Ultenic U16 Flex features a generous dustbin for the cordless sector, with a 95ml capacity. I could vacuum round our 4-bed home at least twice before needing to empty it, and given that we have two very hairy spaniels and two messy kids so that’s pretty impressive. When it’s time to dump the contents, the process is simple – just press the release button, and the lid flaps open. You can then empty it directly into the trash with minimal mess – and I never had to get my hands dirty digging out any stuck muck.

The bin empties easily. (Image credit: Future)

The Ultenic U16 Flex’s charging wall mount is space-saving and convenient. I didn’t fix it to my wall because it wasn’t staying, but I could check how well the vacuum slots in and out and always appreciate a mount where the charging is automatic once docked – no need to fiddle about manually inserting the charger port. If you prefer, you can also slide the battery out and charge it away from the vacuum, which would be handy if you don’t have a socket where you want to store your cleaner.

Overall, the U16 Flex is designed to offer everything you need, with a few cool extras on top. It might not feel as premium as some high-end brands, but nor do you have to sell a kidney to buy it.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless review: performance

• Excellent maneuvering, and great on hard floors
• Easy to empty and clean
• Battery-sapping Turbo mode needed for carpets

Let me start by saying that the Ultenic U16 Flex cordless vacuum isn’t great on carpets. It’s not the worst I’ve tested, but if you have wall-to-wall carpets throughout and like to feel the power of dirt lifting through from the floorboards underneath, this is not the vacuum for you.

Those with mostly solid floors, like me, should keep reading, especially anyone who is really feeling the cost-of-living crisis right now (also me!). The Ultenic U16 Flex has three power levels: Eco, Normal (which is the default startup setting) and Turbo.

In Eco mode, which gives you the maximum battery life, it did a perfectly good job of sucking up dog hair, crumbs and small particles of dust/dirt from my solid floors (in the busiest rooms of our home: the open-plan kitchen, hallway and utility). However, it wasn’t great at dealing with bigger debris like hay and shavings (we have horses, and half the yard seems to come home via the kids’ socks). Normal was much better and so it was the mode I used most of the time on my hard floors.

On carpet I felt like I was wasting my time in Eco mode. Normal was okay, but I also had to call upon the battery-depleting Turbo mode for carpets. The vacuum only lasted around 12 minutes in Turbo mode. This was okay if I was only cleaning the downstairs, where there's just one room that's carpeted, and it's small. However, it wasn't long enough to clean the four carpeted bedrooms upstairs.

The Ultenic U16 Flex took a little longer than I’d expect to complete a full battery recharge – around four hours. I could have done with a spare battery to tackle upstairs though.

Using the crevice tool in handheld mode (Image credit: Future)

The real star of this vacuum, though, has to be the flexibility. The floorhead swivels and moves really smoothly and I can glide around my furniture without getting the floorhead stuck. I never felt like I was doing battle with the vacuum, and my hand/arm never ached, even when testing the battery to its maximum use in Eco mode (I clocked 52 minutes).

The flex wand is also a total game-changer. It bends low so I don’t have to, stretching under areas that I can normally only reach by getting down on my hands and knees. That almost never happens so it was quite satisfying/disturbing to see how full the bin got when I tackled under the island and kitchen sofa.

Plus, the attachments are really easy, if slightly clunky, to pop on and off. I’ve been using the crevice tool on the end of the long wand for the edges of my baseboards and getting cobwebs up high, and it worked perfectly – again without making my arm ache.

The brush bar is great on hard floors and doesn't get choked with hair (Image credit: Future)

In handheld mode, the Ultenic U16 Flex really shines for quick and targeted cleaning jobs. It’s lightweight and easy to handle, making it perfect for tackling stairs, upholstery, or even light spills in your car (just don’t expect thorough detailing – for that you might need to invest in one of the best car vacuums).

With the crevice attachment, you can reach tight spots effortlessly, like between couch cushions or the corners of stair treads, without contorting into awkward angles or straining your wrists. In handheld mode, the suction is the best you’ll get from this cordless, easily picking up crumbs, and dust. I’d have like a mini upholstery head attachment, ideally with power brush, for really getting those deep-grained pet hairs out of my couch cushions though. TechRadar's best vacuum for pet hair list has some alternative suggestions here.

It's light and nimble for cleaning the stairs (Image credit: Future)

When it comes to noise, the Ultenic U16 is pretty average for cordless vacuums – not too loud but not super quiet either. In the lowest power it recorded 71 dB on my decibel meter app, in Normal it was 74 dB and in Turbo it went to 82 dB, which is comparable to a food processor or blender. It’s not silent, but it’s definitely quieter than I expected for the price. The good news was I could vacuum in Eco without making my spaniel bark his head off, which is a huge win and a rare feat. He still lost his cool when I dialed up to Turbo, though.

Suction tests

When I ran our standard vacuuming tests – one with flour to mimic fine debris, and another with oats for larger particles – the results were exactly as I’d anticipated. The Ultenic U16 did well on the hard floors and failed on carpets.

The flour test was completed on our engineered wood flooring, and I found I had to switch to Turbo mode to get the best results, but it only took two passes to achieve a clean strip of flooring.

Flour on hard floors, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo (Image credit: Future)

Next came the oats test, again on engineered wood, and I was surprised to discover that I could get all the oats up as easily in Eco mode as I did in Turbo. In fact, the Ultenic U16 Flex made really light work of clearing away the entire spill, with a little help from the spaniels!

Oats on hard floors, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo (Image credit: Future)

Moving into the snug to check out performance on carpet (a short-pile wool number), and the flour test was an absolute fail. Eco mode barely touched the flour and even in Turbo I had to do a bazillion passes and then call in the big guns (my Miele Duoflex cordless) to get the job done.

Flour on carpet, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo (Image credit: Future)

The oats test was a bit better on carpet, but I still had to spend a lot of time going back and forth over the same spots. Then I had to get the crevice nozzle out to suction up the strays that had snuck into the threshold joint. I nearly ran out of power before my carpet was clean again.

Oats on carpet, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo (Image credit: Future) Maintenance

I found the Ultenic U16 easy to clean and maintain. The bin pops open really easily and empties straight out – no fishing about with sticks to unblock clogs. The HEPA filter is also simple to access, which is a bonus for those who hate vacuum maintenance.

The filter is easy to clean under a running tap (Image credit: Future)

You just detach the dustbin by pressing the release button and the filter is easy to spot and pull out. Wash it under a running tap and leave to dry – there’s a spare so you’ll always have a dry one to hand. Another bonus of this cordless is the hair-evading brush in the floorhead, which didn’t get wrapped in any hair, string or random threads during the entire test period.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless review: battery

• Battery lasts 12 mins in Turbo, 52 mins in Eco
• 4 hours to fully recharge the battery
• Removable and swappable battery

The Ultenic U16 Flex provides a practical balance between performance and battery life, especially in a home with mostly solid floors like ours. In Eco mode, the vacuum lasted a generous 52 minutes. That's not quite as long as the hour promised by Ultenic, but it's still plenty of time to tackle everyday messes in busy areas like my open-plan kitchen and hallway.

Most of today's best cordless stick vacuums will offer a maximum of 50 or 60 minutes' of cleaning (and a couple offer up to 70 minutes), although of course the suction in that mode will vary from model to model.

In Turbo mode the battery lasted just 12 minutes. It's not unusual for a stick vacuum's maximum suction mode to drain power that quickly, but the fact I had to use Turbo mode quite a lot when tackling carpets wasn't ideal.

Recharging takes around four hours. The U16's battery is removable and spares can be purchased if you want to extend the cleaning times further.

• Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless? Buy it if...

Your chiropractor is on speed dial

Anyone with limited strength, RSI or back pain will really appreciate this flexible, lightweight vacuum that makes cleaning tight spaces and under furniture a breeze.

You like to see what you’re cleaning

The bright LED lights in the floorhead of this thing are really exceptional, possibly the best I’ve tested – no dirt, hair strands or dust will escape your attention, even in the darkest of corners.

Analogue is your thing

Those who value simplicity and convenience, with easy-to-use features and quick attachment swaps will love the lack of nonsense tech and complicated controls. Turn it on, vacuum, empty and repeat. Simple.

Don't buy it if...

You covet a champagne lifestyle

If you’re all about luxury and expect a premium feel this is not the vacuum for you – it’s functional, but the plasticky build might not vibe with your high-end tastes.

Carpets are everywhere

You need heavy-duty suction power for deep-pile carpets; this one’s definitely better for hard floors.

You like a quiet life

If you are noise-sensitive and crave near-silent cleaning – or have a newborn or irritable neighbours, the sound levels may disappoint. It’s not super loud, but it’s no whisper either, especially on max power.

How I tested the Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless

I tested the Ultenic U16 Flex cordless vacuum for four weeks during the festive season, during which we hosted far too many family gatherings than was good for our livers, and a child’s birthday, too. Our home is a Victorian, four-bed detached property that is mostly open-plan downstairs. We don’t have any thick-pile carpet, but we do have virtually every other type of flooring – porcelain, terracotta, luxury vinyl, engineered oaks, wool carpets and lots of flatweave rugs. I used this cordless as the only vacuum during the testing period, in every room and up the stairs, checking out the various attachments as I went. I also conducted controlled tests using flour and oats on hard floors and carpet, monitored the sound levels using an App on my iPhone and timed battery use and charging.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners.

First reviewed January 2025

• Sophos has laid off 6% of its workers to align the two businesses
• It’s also blaming an evolving cybersecurity landscape
• Both are privately owned, marking a major shift

Just over a week after it officially completed its acquisition of Secureworks in a deal worth $859 million, Sophos has laid off around 6% of its workers.

The post-merger layoffs are a result of Secureworks no longer being a public company, with some further jobs also cut to prevent certain overlaps between the two entities.

Given that Sophos is estimated to have had around 4,500-5,000 workers (per The Register), the 6% headcount reduction could equate to around 300 positions.

Sophos lays of 6% of workers

Besides the effects of the merger, a company spokesperson also revealed that an evolving cybersecurity landscape was to blame for some job losses: “In addition to aligning our business goals, changes in the cyberattack landscape are driving an urgent shift in security needs.

“With persistent increases in both targeted and opportunistic cyberattacks, organizations of any type and size are now battling both everyday cybercrime, such as identity theft, data theft and ransomware, and state sponsored attacks, which used to be more focused on specific enterprise or public sector targets.”

It’s not the first time the company has laid off workers – widespread pandemic-induced tech layoffs in 2023 saw Sophos say goodbye to 10%, or 450, or its workers in the first month (via layoffs.fyi).

The Register reports that, in this year’s layoffs, workers lost their jobs from both Sophos and Secureworks, and that they were handled “as well as is possible.” No details have been shared regarding redundancy packages.

Secureworks’ most recent full-quarter revenue stood at $288.8 million, up 4% year-over-year, with CEO Wendy Thomas revealing a 30% rise in ransomware groups compared with the year before.

Now that it’s private, we’ll have no concrete idea as to the company’s performance, much like that of Sophos, which was snapped up by private equity firm Thoma Bravo in 2020 for $3.9 billion. Cybersecurity giant McAfee was also acquired by Thoma Bravo in 2021 for $14 billion – the private equity firm’s cybersecurity portfolio is now worth $54 billion.

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The recently launched UK government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan highlights the immense scope of AI to impact business, society and individuals in the coming years, and the need to move quickly to take advantage of the technology. Looking at UK organizations' cloud strategies for the next 18 months, preparing for AI adoption was cited as a priority for 88% of IT manager respondents.

For organizations that want to keep up with any technological innovations, flexibility and agility are essential. This is no different with AI. Although this technology is sometimes described in almost mystical terms, it is better to treat it ‘simply’ as a new application. And like any modern and complex application, AI requires an open, vendor-agnostic, and hybrid-agnostic IT infrastructure.

Hybrid cloud for flexible AI use

AI tools are, of course, anything but ‘simple’. They are very complex and involve large datasets and advanced algorithms for which a traditional IT infrastructure is not suitable. An on-premises or private cloud environment can quickly become costly due to the necessary hardware investments, while a single public cloud comes with flexibility challenges. An additional consideration is whether organizations want to store all their data in the public cloud.

These challenges and risks can be better managed in a hybrid environment. ‘Hybrid’ does not only mean using a private and public cloud side by side. A hybrid cloud environment means that the different clouds are aligned and integrated within one flexible infrastructure. This orchestration is the key to uniting the benefits of on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud.

A similar hybrid cloud approach offers several advantages for AI use. First, it provides much-needed flexibility: companies can choose the best environment for each AI workload, optimizing performance, cost, and security based on specific requirements. Second, it supports scalability. An open hybrid cloud platform can be more easily scaled in response to growing AI demands, allowing companies to continue innovating without infrastructure constraints. Third, it optimizes costs. By leveraging both private and public cloud resources, companies can better optimize their cloud computing costs.

An open infrastructure for trust in AI

Trust plays a special role in the use of AI. Whether due to a lack of knowledge about how AI models work or the many headlines about hallucinations and data leaks – more than any other application, you must lay a foundation of trust to move AI applications out of the experimental phase and into production.

The solution to trust issues around AI starts with a secured and reliable AI production chain, a transparent path from idea to production, with automation where possible. Automation is important to streamline the development process and prevent human errors. Additionally, transparency and explainability in AI algorithms are important, so organizations can better understand how AI-driven decisions come about. Organizations can then build upon this with certain open source tools like InstructLab, which allow developers not only to gain insights but also to directly contribute to models with skills and knowledge without requiring specific data science expertise.

Small language models (SLMs) also play a role here. They are trained on smaller data sets, typically tailored to specific industry domains, and can enable developers to get started with AI on their laptops, removing the need to risk using unsafe or uncurated data.

Keep your options open

As AI development accelerates, companies will need to pursue flexibility and openness. This means organizations must keep their options open regarding infrastructure. A consistent platform layer that supports the use of open standards and interoperable systems from multiple vendors makes it easier for companies to switch to new tools and technologies without compromising on innovation speed.

We've compiled a list of the best cloud storage.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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