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A former USDS employee called the repurposing of the Digital Service into DOGE an “A+ bureaucratic jiu-jitsu move.” It will give Musk and his associates access to unclassified data in every government agency.

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In today's rapidly advancing technological landscape, digital transformation is a key driver of innovation across many industries. One of the most impactful technologies leading this revolution is the digital twin. This is a real-time virtual model that replicates a physical object, system, or process. It continuously receives data from its physical twin, creating a dynamic, up-to-date digital replica. This allows users to monitor, simulate, and enhance the object or system without directly interacting with the real-world version.

While the concept of a digital twin isn’t entirely new, its application has exploded due to progress in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data. Across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, smart cities, and aerospace, digital twins are helping businesses operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and improve decision-making.

This comprehensive guide explains what digital twins are, how they are used in different industries, and how they are built, while also examining their potential impact on future technology.

What is a Digital Twin?

A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical object or system that is kept in sync with its real-world counterpart. This virtual model collects real-time data through sensors, cameras, and IoT devices, providing an accurate representation of the object’s current state. A digital twin is more than a 3D model—it is a dynamic, data-driven simulation that evolves as the physical object changes over time.

One of the key features of a digital twin is its ability to simulate future scenarios. By using historical and real-time data, digital twins can model various conditions and outcomes, allowing businesses to foresee challenges, predict system failures, and optimize operations. These simulations are incredibly useful for making informed decisions without physically testing every possible outcome, saving both time and money.

The origins and evolution of Digital Twins

The idea of creating digital replicas of physical objects goes back to the early days of space exploration. NASA engineers used physical models and simulators to monitor and diagnose issues with spacecraft that were too far away to inspect directly. These early models laid the groundwork for the development of the digital twin concept.

But it wasn’t until the convergence of IoT, big data, and AI technologies that digital twins became a practical tool for mainstream use. Today, digital twins are more sophisticated than ever before. They can process vast amounts of data in real time, enabling detailed simulations and advanced analytics. As digital twins continue to evolve, they are playing a pivotal role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), transforming sectors from manufacturing to urban planning.

What are Digital Twins used for?

Digital twins are incredibly versatile and have found applications across many industries. Below are some of the primary use cases for these tools and how they are transforming different sectors.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is one of the largest users of digital twin technology. In this sector, digital twins are used to optimize production lines, monitor machinery, and improve product designs. By creating digital replicas of factory equipment and processes, manufacturers can simulate different production scenarios, spot inefficiencies, and predict potential breakdowns. For example, a car manufacturer might create a digital twin of an assembly line to test how adding a new robotic arm will affect workflow. By running simulations, the manufacturer can fine-tune the process to ensure the robotic arm integrates seamlessly, leading to more efficient working.

Additionally, digital twins are invaluable for predictive maintenance. By collecting data on the condition of machines—such as temperature, vibration, or pressure—they can predict when a machine is likely to break down. This allows manufacturers to schedule maintenance at the right time, cutting unplanned downtime and extending the lifespan of equipment.

Healthcare

Digital twin technology is making strides in healthcare, where it is used to model individual patients, medical devices, and biological systems. Personalized healthcare, in particular, benefits from digital twins. By creating a virtual model of a patient’s body or organ, doctors can simulate different treatment options to determine the best course of action.

For example, heart surgeons may use a digital twin of a patient’s heart to plan and simulate a procedure before performing it. This allows them to visualize the surgery and plan for potential complications, improving the chances of successful surgery.

Similarly, pharmaceutical companies use digital twins to simulate how drugs interact with the human body. This helps them develop new treatments more quickly and efficiently by testing drug reactions virtually before conducting human trials.

Medical device manufacturers also leverage digital twins to design and test products like pacemakers, joint replacements, or diagnostic machines. By using digital twins, they can ensure that devices perform optimally within the body before they are ever implanted or used.

Smart cities and urban planning

Digital twins are now playing an increasingly important role in the development of smart cities. City planners and local authorities are using digital twins to create virtual models of urban infrastructure and services, such as transport systems, energy grids, and waste management. With real-time data collected from sensors placed throughout an urban area, digital twins can help cities monitor traffic flow, energy usage, and pollution. This data allows town planners to test different strategies for improving transport networks, reducing congestion, and lowering energy consumption.

For example, local government could use a digital twin of its public transport system to simulate the impact of rerouting buses or adding new train lines. By running these models, planners can identify the best ways to cut travel times and improve service without disrupting the real-world network.

Digital twins are also instrumental in disaster response planning. By modelling how a city would be affected by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or fires, emergency workers can develop better contingency plans and improve their ability to manage crises in real time.

Aerospace

In the aerospace industry, digital twins are widely used to improve aircraft design, production, and maintenance. By creating digital replicas of airplanes, engines, and other components, aerospace engineers can simulate how different factors—such as extreme weather, air pressure, or mechanical stress—will affect an aircraft over time.

One of key aspects of digital twins in aerospace is their ability to inform predictive maintenance. For example, digital twins of jet engines collect data on performance metrics like temperature, pressure, and vibration. Using this data, engineers can predict when parts are likely to wear out or malfunction, allowing airlines to perform maintenance before a problem occurs. This reduces the risk of in-flight issues and lowers operational costs. Airlines are also using digital twins to simulate flight conditions and boost fuel efficiency. By modelling various flight paths, weather conditions, and aircraft configurations, digital twins help pilots and airlines reduce fuel consumption, leading to both cost savings and environmental benefits.

Energy

Digital twins have found significant applications in the energy sector, where they are used to monitor and enhance the performance of power plants, wind farms, and solar energy systems. By creating digital replicas of these systems, operators can simulate different conditions—such as changes in weather or energy demand—and finetune operations accordingly. For example, wind farm operators use digital twins to track the performance of individual turbines. The digital twin collects data on wind speed, turbine rotation, and power output, providing insights into each turbine’s efficiency. This data helps operators identify underperforming turbines and adjust to maximize energy production.

In the case of power plants, digital twins can monitor critical elements, such as generators, cooling systems, and pipelines. By predicting when components are likely to fail, digital twins enable operators to carry out preventive maintenance, cutting downtime and improving the reliability of the energy grid.

Digital twins also help energy companies manage grid stability. With real-time data on energy consumption and generation, they allow operators to balance supply and demand more efficiently, preventing blackouts and reducing energy waste.

How to build a Digital Twin

Creating a digital twin involves several steps, from data collection to simulation and analysis. Below is a detailed explanation of each phase in the development process.

Data collection

The first step in building a digital twin is collecting data from the physical object or system. This is typically gathered using sensors, IoT devices, and control systems that measure key parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed, and vibration. In some cases, historical data may also be used to model how the object has performed over time.

For example, if you are creating a digital twin of a factory production line, you would install sensors on the machines to track their performance, energy consumption, and maintenance needs. The more data is collected, the more accurate and detailed the digital twin will be.

Create the digital model

Once the data is collected, the next step is to create a digital model of the object or system. This is often built using 3D modelling software or computer-aided design (CAD) tools. The complexity of the model will depend on the nature of the object being reproduced. For some applications, a simple 3D model might suffice, while for others, a highly detailed, physics-based simulation may be needed.

For instance, a digital twin of a wind turbine would not only include a 3D model of the turbine blades but also a simulation of how the blades interact with different wind speeds and environmental conditions.

Real-time data connection

To keep the digital twin updated, it must be connected to its physical twin through real-time data transmission. This connection ensures that the digital version evolves as the physical object changes or moves through different operating conditions.

For example, in smart cities, sensors placed throughout an urban area feed data back to the digital twin, which continuously updates itself in line with real-time conditions like traffic flow, air quality, or energy consumption.

In many cases, real-time data is transmitted via IoT platforms and processed in the cloud. Advanced AI and machine learning algorithms are often used to analyze this data, providing insights into how the physical object is performing and predicting future outcomes.

Simulation and optimization

Once the digital twin is live and connected to its physical equivalent, it can be used for simulations and optimizations. By testing different scenarios and variables on the digital model, users can identify areas which can be finetuned without affecting the real-world object. For instance, a digital twin of a factory machine could help simulate how different workloads or production speeds impact overall efficiency. Based on the findings of these models, factory managers can adjust operations to reduce bottlenecks, save energy, or cut downtime.

Digital twins can also be used for scenario planning, helping organisations to model how changes—such as new laws or market conditions—will impact their operations. By running these simulations, businesses can prepare for potential challenges and make more informed strategic decisions.

Continuous updates and maintenance

To remain accurate, digital twins must be constantly updated with real-time data and information about the physical object’s condition. This includes tracking wear and tear, repairs, and upgrades. Regular updates ensure that the digital twin remains a reliable tool for monitoring and simulation.

In the aerospace industry, digital twins of aircraft engines are regularly updated to reflect the engine’s current condition and usage history. These updates allow engineers to make accurate predictions about future maintenance needs and performance.

Understanding Digital Twins vs. traditional simulations

At the core, a digital twin is a digital replica of a physical object, system, or process, continuously updated with real-time data. Unlike traditional simulations, which run under set parameters and aren’t connected to the real world, digital twins are dynamic. They reflect the current state of their physical counterpart, using data gathered from sensors and other sources. This connection allows digital twins to provide accurate insights, predict future behaviors, and make real-time decisions.

For example, a simulation might help design a new product, testing it virtually under various conditions. However, once the simulation ends, it’s static. A digital twin, on the other hand, remains active, continuously mirroring the physical product’s lifecycle. This ongoing connection enables businesses to manage assets, troubleshoot issues, and optimize operations more effectively than a traditional simulation could.

Building a Digital Twin: timeframes and considerations

The timeline to create a digital twin depends heavily on the complexity of the object or system being modeled. For a simple asset, like a single machine or piece of equipment, a digital twin could be developed in a few weeks to a few months. The process involves setting up data collection through sensors, building the digital model, and validating its accuracy. For more complex systems—like an entire manufacturing plant or a smart city—development can take from 6 months to a year, or even longer. These large-scale digital twins require extensive data integration, advanced simulations, and rigorous testing to ensure they mirror their physical counterparts accurately.

Creating a digital twin isn’t just about initial setup; it’s an ongoing effort. A digital twin must be updated and maintained to keep it in sync with the physical world. This involves continuous data collection, periodic calibration, and refining the model to reflect any changes in the real-world object.

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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

Our team has spent years testing sleep and wellness products for the best bedtime routines. Here's a peek at what works best for each of us.

Another week has ended and, two of the world's best streaming services aside (step up your game, Hulu and Disney Plus), there's something new to watch on their rival platforms this weekend.

Indeed, from a couple of new movies that originally released in theaters in late 2024, to a bunch of new shows (and the return of a smash-hit Netflix series), there's plenty for you to wrap your eyeballs around over the next few days. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Night Agent season 2 (Netflix)

From The Recruit to Black Doves, Netflix has slowly been building out its back catalog of fun, dramatic, and thrilling spy genre shows. Few are more popular on the service, though, than The Night Agent, whose first season was a surprise overnight hit for the streaming titan and earned it a spot on our best Netflix shows list.

Two years on from that unprecedented success, the spy thriller is back for its second season. This time around, trust is in short supply for newly-minted Night Agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who becomes embroiled in another wild conspiracy that'll force him to question who he can really rely on. I'll be tuning in to see if Netflix's seventh most-watched English TV Original of all-time can build on its debut season's almighty performance. Before you do likewise, get the lowdown on the show's return with our The Night Agent season 2 hub. – TP

• Watch The Night Agent season 2 on Netflix

Prime Target (Apple TV Plus)

Apple TV Plus keeps its busy start to 2025 going with new espionage thriller Prime Target, which stars One Day actor Leo Woodall alongside Quintessa Swindell from Euphoria. In the Apple TV Original, Woodall plays a math genius, who's working on a secret research project to discover patterns in prime numbers that eventually catches the attention of Swindell's NSA surveillance operative.

The idea that the story is built around is the fact that prime numbers form the basis of the world's most common types of encryption that are still widely used today, which is why a Cambridge graduate cracking the code is of seismic global proportions in this new series. The best way I can think to describe it is the Da Vinci Code meets Good Will Hunting and, while it might not rank among the best Apple TV Plus shows, it's an absorbing watch no less. – Amelia Schwanke, entertainment editor

• Watch Prime Target on Apple TV Plus

The Wild Robot (Peacock)

One of the best 52 movies of 2024 has finally made its streaming debut – well, in the US (sorry, UK and Australian readers). The Wild Robot is an absolute joy of a film, with its gorgeous, painterly art style and wonderfully realized animation, emotionally resonant story, and top-tier voice acting making for a perfect, easy-to-watch flick on Peacock this weekend.

Marvel star Lupita Nyong'o voices Roz, a service robot who becomes shipwrecked on a remote island that's inhabited by talking animals. Unsurprisingly, she's viewed as an outsider by the creatures that live on it. But, armed with a steely determination to adapt to her environment, plus the fact that she becomes the adoptive mother of an orphaned goose called Brightbill (Heartstopper's Kit Connor), Roz resolves to not only ingratiate herself with the locals, but also become their protector-in-chief. A beautiful movie in more ways than one that deserves to be seen. – TP

• Watch The Wild Robot on Peacock (available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and more services in the UK and Australia)

Gladiator II (Paramount Plus)

Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated follow-up to iconic 2000 movie Gladiator is now available on Paramount Plus (again, only in the US, though). If you weren’t among those who took part in last year’s unexpected double bill Glicked (that’s Gladiator II and Wicked), you can bring the thrill of the Colossuem to your home. It hasn’t performed as well as Wicked, which was recently nominated for Best Picture, but its 71% Rotten Tomatoes rating means it could be worthy of a spot on our best Paramount Plus movies round-up.

With a brilliant ensemble cast like Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Derek Jacobi, the movie is set 15 years after the first and is definitely worth your time if you are a fan of the original. It’s perfect if you’re looking for an action packed movie this weekend. Altogether now: are you not entertained!? – Lucy Buglass, entertainment writer

• Watch Gladiator II on Paramount Plus

C.B. Strike: The Ink Black Heart (Max)

Max is now home to the TV adaptation of controversial author J. K. Rowling’s novel series of the same name, which were published under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The series follows private detective Cormoran Strike who teams up with his assistant Robin Ellacott to take on cases that have baffled the police, hoping they can finally get to the bottom of what happened. It’s no easy task and they work out of a cramped office, but they get the job done.

There’ll be weekly episodic releases for this one, and the series has already premiered in the UK where it’s been met with some seriously mixed reviews. It’s Rotten Tomatoes score is too low to guarantee a spot to our best Max shows, but you might have a good time with it regardless. – LB

• Watch C.B. Strike: The Ink Black Heart on Max

Star Trek: Section 31 (Paramount Plus)

Paramount Plus has released its first-ever made Star Trek TV movie; a 100-minute spin-off of galactic proportions that focuses on the secret Star Fleet agency called Section 31. Star Trek: Section 31 sees Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as emperor Philippa Georgiou who we met in the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery before she eventually becomes a member of the special ops division.

It's a little different to your usual Star Trek movies, with Yeoh previously describing it as a mix of Mission: Impossible and Guardians of the Galaxy, which makes sense with the plot's merry band of mercenaries that get caught up in a heist to defend the United Federation of Planets against multi-universal threats. It's been through a lot of iterations to get here (it was originally going to be a series), which means that "there was so much more" that was left out, Yeoh's fellow star Sven Ruygrok told us. That might be why long-time Trekkies and newcomers alike have absolutely slammed it, with many labeling it one of the franchise's worst-ever projects. Ouch! – AS

• Watch Star Trek: Section 31 on Paramount Plus

Harlem season 3 (Prime Video)

The third and final season of Harlem is out now. Prime Video’s beloved comedy series is coming to an end, but I’m sure the Amazon TV Original will go out on a high. You’ll get two episodes each week until the finale on February 6, and I’m sure this will beat the January Blues some of us might be feeling.

The iconic cast made up of Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandaie, Jerrie Johnson, Tyler Lepley and Whoopi Goldberg are all back, with a few surprises and new faces teased for the final instalment. We’ve got plenty of great comedy recommendations on our best Prime Video shows round-up if you need to fill the Harlem shaped hole in your heart, though nothing can quite compare to how great this is. – LB

• Watch Harlem season 3 on Prime Video

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Prime Video movies, best Disney Plus shows, and best Hulu movies.

• Security researchers from Eclypsium find several bugs in multiple Palo Alto Networks firewalls
• They claim the vulnerabilities are quite severe
• Palo Alto Networks says if the OS is up to date, and security settings nominal, there is no risk

Security researchers have slammed Palo Alto Networks firewalls, claiming to have discovered severe vulnerabilities which undermine the entire point of the products.

Cybersecurity researchers Eclypsium published a report detailing a host of security flaws impacting Palo Alto Networks’ firewall firmware as well as misconfigured security features.

The company responded by saying the vulnerabilities were a stretch, that they’re close to impossible to leverage in the wild, and that they’ve not seen them abused anywhere.

LogoFAIL, PixieFAIL, and other woes

"These weren't obscure, corner-case vulnerabilities," the researchers said. "Instead these were very well-known issues that we wouldn't expect to see even on a consumer-grade laptop. These issues could allow attackers to evade even the most basic integrity protections, such as Secure Boot, and modify device firmware if exploited."

Eclypisum said the flaws were found in PA-3260, PA-1410, and PA-415. The first one reached end-of-sale in mid-2023, while the other two are still fully supported.

The bugs are tracked as CVE-2020-10713, CVE-2022-24030, CVE-2021-33627, CVE-2021-42060, CVE-2021-42554, CVE-2021-43323, and CVE-2021-45970, LogoFAIL, PixieFail, CVE-2023-1017, and Intel bootguard leaked keys bypass.

After the news broke, The Hacker News reached out to the company for comment. Palo Alto Networks responded by saying that “the scenarios required for successful exploitation do not exist on up-to-date PAN-OS software under normal conditions with secured management interfaces deployed according to best practice guidelines.”

In other words, if the firewalls’ OS is up to date, and secured management interfaces are properly deployed, there is no risk.

“Palo Alto Networks is not aware of any malicious exploitation of these issues. We stand by the quality and integrity of our technology,” it added.

“While the conditions required to exploit these vulnerabilities are not available to users or administrators of PAN-OS software, we are working with the third-party vendor to develop any mitigations that may be needed. We will provide further updates and guidance to impacted customers as they become available.”

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There they sat, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s three proud parents: Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. Samsung plays the largest parental role, but all three have lent a guiding hand in creating what is arguably more of a mobile AI device than a mere smartphone.

Samsung’s Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office Jay Kim, Google President, Android Ecosystem, Sameer Samat, and Qualcomm SVP & GM of Mobile Handset Christopher Patrick gathered on stage a day after the official Samsung Unpacked festivities where the company introduced its new line of Galaxy S25 handsets (four in all if you count the teased S25 Edge).

The group talked at length about their close partnership and the practical aspects of bringing an AI phone to life. Samsung provides the design and most of the hardware, but it’s Google that provides the subsystem, Android, Gemini generative assistant, and the Gemini models that many of the phone’s core generative features rely on. Finally, Qualcomm provided the phone’s brains with a bespoke version of its fastest mobile chip: the Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy.

The group was led in conversation by analyst Bob O’Donnell of TECHalysis and joined by the University of London and Symmetry's Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Chris Brauer.

The group described many late-night phone calls and an almost constant discussion about how to integrate AI throughout the mobile system. Google is deeply invested in the Samsung experience and its success, giving Samsung early access to all the latest Gemini models and features.

It's why the Samsung Galaxy S25 ultra, which I am currently testing, has the latest edition of Circle to Search that can also identify sounds in videos and why the latest version of Gemini Advanced is available on all S25 phones as a six-month trial. The tri-partnership is how Qualcomm built a special core on the Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite to house Samsung's Personal Data Engine locally.

The partnership is also how my S25 Ultra can funnel a single prompt through both Google and Samsung first-party apps. This means a single query can tap into both Google Search and Samsung Calendar, YouTube, and Samsung Notes.

And it’s how the side button on the Samsung Galaxy S25 series is now a Gemini button.

A matter of trust

Left to right: Analyst Bob O'Donnell, Google's Sameer Samat, Samsung's Jay Kim, Qualcomm's Christopher Patrick, and Dr. Chris Brauer. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Google’s Samat said that working so closely together required a level of trust between the organizations and deep collaboration on every detail of the hardware and software experience.

Samat admitted, “We do disagree frequently. There was disagreement on how long to press the button before the assistant shows up.”

The group didn't go into any specific details, though. What we know is that it takes perhaps a second and a half after the long press for Gemini to appear. Did Google want a longer press? Samsung a shorter one? We may never know, but it’s clear that they worked it out satisfactorily.

As Samat noted, “Productive disagreement on product design is necessary.”

For his part, Qualcomm’s Patrick also recalled “late-night calls and occasional disagreements.”

When asked about what keeps them up at night, Samsung’s Kim joked, “Other than Samir calling – same thing on Qualcomm side – I never sleep.”

AI’s bright, daunting future

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Across the group, they’re shocked – and maybe a bit daunted – at the pace of change. “I’ve worked in this space for 20-plus years and I’ve never seen the kinds of leaps we’re experiencing now,” said Samat.

Qualcomm’s Patrick said he hopes that as an industry, “we have the willpower to do what it takes to work together, and sometimes it takes some natural competitors to work together.”

This group and the industry do have their work cut out for them. Dr. Brauer, who has been tracking the industry, presented new numbers showing a meteoric rise in consumer interest over just six months. A study in July of last year, around the time of the Galaxy AI’s launch, found that 16% of consumers identified themselves as frequent and heavy AI users. Now the number is 27%.

It seems that to meet this demand, the partnership – disagreements and all – is only just beginning.

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After Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order directed against trans people this week, trans and nonbinary people are scared of what happens next.

Chinese author Fang Fang posted notes online while being quarantined in Wuhan. They became Wuhan Diary. She talks with us about two more of her books now coming to English readers.

(Image credit: ‎)

Friday's debut of new pandas at the National Zoo in D.C. is the latest chapter in a long tale of "panda diplomacy" between China and the rest of the world.

(Image credit: File)

The announcement of the 2025 Oscar nominees marks the countdown to the biggest and most respected awards ceremony in entertainment, and although I had a strong idea of which new movies would be nominated (thanks to the 2025 Golden Globe awards) that’s not saying that I wasn’t left bewildered beyond comprehension when a certain Netflix movie scored big with nods. I’m of course talking about Emilia Pérez (2024), the crime-thriller musical hybrid that follows a cartel boss’ gender transition.

I won’t lie, I was expecting Jacques Audiard’s drama to get some recognition at the 2025 Oscars, but I wasn’t expecting Emilia Pérez to receive 13 nominations. 13 nominations?! This puts Emilia Pérez above fellow nominees The Brutalist, Conclave, and The Substance, which make up some of the best movies of 2024. If you were to ask me, Emilia Pérez doesn’t even come close and frankly, I’d rather put myself through Joker: Folie a Deux again.

I have no doubt that this will go down in history as one of the most divisive movies to circulate cultural discourse, and not just in the history of the Oscars. Alas, what’s done is done, and all will be revealed on March 3 when the 2025 Oscars will air and for those who are still undecided whether you love or hate Emilia Pérez, hear me out.

Putting 13 Oscar nominations into context

Depending on a movie’s anticipation, marketing, and audience reception, singular movies can reach a relatively high number – just look at how the ‘Barbenheimer’ double bill influenced last year’s awards season. Unfortunately, Emilia Pérez is this year’s Oppenheimer (2023), and 13 nominations for a single movie means so much more than you may think.

Since the 2025 Oscar nominations were unveiled, Emilia Pérez has since been inducted into the so-called ‘13 Club’, an elite select group of movies that earned a grand total of 13 Oscar nominations at the time of their release. That group includes, but isn’t limited to the following movies:

Forrest Gump (1994)
Oppenheimer (2023)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Chicago (2002)

Shocking, I know, right? Not only has Emilia Pérez earned a place among movies that are considered to be cinematic staples, it has gone on to earn more Oscar nominations than the first installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, A New Hope (1977), and has the same amount of Oscar nominations as Stanley Kubrick had throughout his entire career. Excuse me, while I go and slam my head against a wall.

(Image credit: Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 - WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS - PATHÉ FILMS - FRANCE 2 CINÉMA ) Jacques Audiard doesn’t care about trans stories, he just wants an Oscar

If you’ve seen Emilia Pérez and stand on the same side of the fence as me, then I hope you understand what I mean when I say that Audiard’s crime musical feels formulaic and manufactured for Oscar appeal. On paper, Emilia Pérez could’ve been a compelling and influential story, one that could’ve rewritten the representation of trans people and Mexican communities through an authentic narrative. Instead, it’s an unfortunate mess of three different plotlines, with a lot of head-scratching.

In addition to its voice enhancement controversy, GLAAD has described Emilia Pérez as a “retrograde portrayal of a trans woman” and many trans movie critics challenging Emilia Pérez for its ‘transition equals death’ treatment, the film has come under fire for its equally questionable portrayal of Mexican communities, with the BBC highlighting both the lack of involvement from Mexican individuals in the production of Emilia Pérez, and the mockery that the film makes of the ongoing violent hardships of drug war through its musical format.

Though my disappointment speaks for itself, that doesn’t mean I would tell people to avoid Emilia Pérez. If anything, I encourage you to watch it if you haven’t yet already, just so you can see how abysmal it is as both a drama, and a depiction of a vulnerable minority that’s already the target of an increasingly worrying social and political attack.

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• CISA and FBI issue new warning about old Ivanti flaws
• They claim the flaws are being abused in coordinated attacks
• The bugs were patched in September and October 2024, so update now

Security flaws in Ivanti Cloud Service Appliance (CSA) discovered and patched in September and October 2024 are still being used to breach networks, a new security advisory from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the FBI has warned.

In the advisory, the two agencies claim threat actors are chaining together four vulnerabilities - two in one chain: CVE-2024-8963, and CVE-2024-8190, and two in another: CVE-2024-9379, and CVE-2024-9380.

“Threat actors chained the listed vulnerabilities to gain initial access, conduct remote code execution (RCE), obtain credentials, and implant webshells on victim networks,” the two agencies said.

Compromised credentials

All of these flaws were being abused while they were zero-days - and at the time, CISA added them to its catalog of exploited vulnerabilities (KEV), forcing federal agencies to patch up within three weeks. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that the majority of the newer victims are in the private sector.

The agencies have, once again, repeated their earlier calls for upgrades, and urged network administrators to be on the lookout for signs of compromise.

"Credentials and sensitive data stored within the affected Ivanti appliances should be considered compromised," they added. "Organizations should collect and analyze logs and artifacts for malicious activity and apply the incident response recommendations within this advisory."

Ivanti is an American IT software company, specializing in IT security, service management, asset management, and more. As of 2023, Ivanti employed approximately 3,070 people, and claims more than 40,000 organizations worldwide are using its services.

In 2024, Ivanti experienced several cybersecurity incidents, including a January 2024 report indicating that Chinese government hackers used its software to target organizations. One such group is tracked as UNC5221, and was believed to have compromised thousands of Ivanti VPN devices, with CISA being among the victims.

Via BleepingComputer

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Here's what you should know before participating in the crowdfunding and fundraising platform.

Don't let unnecessary charges chip away at your hard-earned money.

Marvel Rivals ranks let you slowly progress against harder and harder teams, with rewards associated with reaching certain thresholds. Getting into the upper ranks is no easy feat, as the rules change slightly as you climb, including one that lets you and your team choose a character to ban from play.

In terms of Competitive Mode, Marvel Rivals already offers a whole host of rewards for reaching the higher ranks, including an exclusive new skin for Invisible Woman. Challenging yourself as you move up higher and higher in ranks is part of Marvel Rivals' appeal, making it a new contender for our best crossplay games list.

Here's all of the Marvel Rivals ranks in order, so that you can know just how close you are to the top. Also, we'll explain how things change as you reach Diamond Rank, and walk you through some of the rewards you'll get once the season ends.

Marvel Rivals ranks in order

(Image credit: NetEase)

Below, you'll find a list of the Marvel Rivals ranks in order:

• Bronze: Tier 3-1
• Silver: Tier 3-1
• Gold: Tier 3-1
• Platinum: Tier 3-1
• Diamond: Tier 3-1
• Grandmaster: Tier 3-1
• Celestial: Tier 3-1
• Eternity: Rack Up Points
• One Above All: Rack Up Points (limited to the top 500 players)

As you can see, all but the top two ranks have three tiers that you must move through. Once you get to Eternity, you'll simply need to rack up points to rank up. Be aware, however, that at Eternity and One Above All, you will gradually lose points if you're not active enough.

How to unlock Ranked in Marvel Rivals

(Image credit: NetEase)

To unlock Ranked Play in Marvel Rivals you will need to reach level 10. This is done by simply playing matches. We recommend jumping into Quick Play to get a feel for the characters, and the two main game modes.

If you're looking to team up with some friends, be aware that players in Gold and below can squad up without any restrictions. For those in Gold Tier 1 to Celestial tiers, teaming is limited to a maximum range of three divisions. Players in Eternity or One Above All can team with Celestial Tier 2 players within 200 points. However, if they exceed 200 points, the point difference must be less than 200.

Marvel Rivals Ranked rewards

(Image credit: NetEase)

There are a few different rewards that you can pick up by playing Season 1 of Marvel Rivals' Competitive Mode. They are as follows:

• Blood Shield Invisible Woman skin: Reach at least Gold Tier 3 by the end of the season
• Silver Crest of Honor: Reach at least Grandmaster Tier 3 by the end of the season
• "One Above All" Crest of Honor: Reach One Above All by the end of the season

Note that rewards are given out corresponding to the highest rank achieved during a season in Marvel Rivals. This means that as long as you reach, for example, Gold Tier 3, you'll get the Invisible Woman skin regardless of whether you go up or down in rank by the end of the season. If you want more ways to get free skins, then visit our Marvel Rivals Codes for January 2025 page.

Marvel Rivals Ranked FAQs

(Image credit: NetEase) How does the Marvel Rivals Chrono Shield work?

The Chrono Shield is a unique mechanic in Marvel Rivals that can save you from losing points after losing a ranked game. This Chrono Shield will charge up as you play games, and once it's fully charged, it'll shatter in place of a rank demotion, giving you another chance to claw things back.

Can you ban Heroes in Marvel Rivals ranked mode?

Once you get into a match where all players are at least Diamond Tier 3 rank, you'll get the option to ban 2 Heroes before the game starts. This can counter some pesky meta-plays, like those using Hela to revive Loki and Thor.

What are the rules in Marvel Rivals ranked mode?

Game modes work a little differently in Marvel Rivals ranked when compared to Quick Play. Each game can have multiple rounds, and the team that wins the most rounds wins the game. You'll gain a point for each objective captured while attacking and then must make sure the enemy team scores fewer points while you're on the defensive side. If there's a tie, the match is decided on distance pushed in terms of Convoy, or with another set of rounds in terms of Domination.

(Image credit: NetEase Games) How to get your Marvel Rivals ranked rewards

Once you've hit the requisite rank to receive a reward, you'll just need to wait until the end of the season to receive it. Unfortunately, this is the earliest you'll be able to get new reward skins, so it's best to just focus on climbing even higher before the season ends.

How do I rank up in Marvel Rivals?

To rank up in Marvel Rivals, you need to be playing Competitive Mode. For each win, you'll be awarded points, and for a loss, your point value will decrease. Once you hit 100 points total, you'll go up to the next rank.

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• The iPhone 16 and 15 both have Thread radios inside them
• An Apple director and Thread president has explained why they're there
• Both of the main benefits are related to smart home future-proofing

Apple's kept pretty quiet about that the fact that its iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 series, alongside many recent iPads and MacBooks, have Thread radios inside them. But now one of its directors has explained why they're there – and how they'll soon be able to boost your smart home plans.

What is Thread?

(Image credit: Thread)

Thread is a wireless protocol that's been specifically designed for the smart home. It's designed to complement Wi-Fi by offering a low-power, low-bandwidth way for devices to communicate with each other.

In an interview with The Verge (via 9to5Mac), Vividh Siddha – who is Director of software engineering at Apple, and also president of Thread Group – said that Apple's inclusion of Thread radios is to "enable an early adopter" to build a Matter-based smart home, and then gave two clear examples of how the fledgling protocol can help.

"If you take a very early on smart home user – somebody who goes to Ikea, buys a bulb and a switch – what happens with those users is they discover they cannot do automations. So, Thread on mobile can enable that evolution [to a border router]", Siddha said.

In other words, while you typically need a hub to unlock powerful smart home functions such as automations, having Thread on your phone can act as the necessary glue to get them all talking to a border router (like the Apple TV, for example). Because any device that supports Thread can act as a border router, you hopefully already have one somewhere in your setup.

The other benefit of that Thread radio inside your iPhone 16 or 15, according to Vividh Siddha, is that it can act as a handy backup during power cuts. "The other important factor is the ability to use your accessories, and some important ones, like your front door lock when there’s a power outage" Siddha said.

"If you have no infrastructure – your Wi-Fi router is down, your Thread border router is down – and you still want the ability to get into your house or do other things that might be smart home related. Those are some use cases that it’s explicitly designed for, but it’s not limited to that," Siddha added.

Matter is still a mess – but there's hope

(Image credit: Connectivity Standards Alliance)

The problem with the smart home and Matter (the standard that will supposedly get everything singing from the same hymn sheet) is that it's still very messy and confusing. Unless you have a qualification in networking protocols, you probably don't care about Thread, border routers or Matter – you just want everything you buy to work out of the box.

This is probably why Apple has been quiet about Thread support in your iPhone, iPads and Macs – because it's still early days. But there is hope on the horizon, according to this interview at least.

Referring the issues that have hampered Matter and Thread, Tobin Richardson (president and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, or CSA) said: "2025 is going to be a really important year for Matter. We’re not looking to add 100 new device types this year. We’re looking to really hit reliability and make sure that things just work. That’s been a strong focus, and that’s why these relationships are so important."

Vividh Siddha, from Thread and Apple, agreed by adding that “2025 is really pivotal for us to get all those issues resolved, to get all these product experiences to be more robust and reliable".

So while that seamless smart home experience we've been promised for years may still be a little while off, at least you know the latest iPhones, alongside other Apple devices like the latest Apple TVs and HomePods, will be future-proofed and ready to join the party when it finally kicks off.

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It looks like the Sonos Arc has sung its last song – the soundbar is now listed on Sonos' website with a 'Last Chance' flag, and is currently on-sale in the US for its lowest-ever price of $649, suggesting that Sonos is clearing out the remaining stock.

I've approached Sonos for an official comment on the Arc's future, but the company's style is to just quietly end production of older products when a new replacement comes along, as seems to be the case here now that the Sonos Arc Ultra is out.

The company told me that this is exactly what it did when the Sonos Era 100 launched – the Sonos One stopped being produced, and remaining stock was just sold until everything was gone.

It had been unclear if the Arc Ultra would be a total replacement for the Arc, or would sit at a higher-tier model, but it seems like we have our answer. Still, at big discounts, the Arc could make a good upgrade while stock lasts, if you're in the market for one of the best soundbars.

Today's best Sonos Arc deal

For a limited time only, you can get the Sonos Arc soundbar at Amazon for $649. This is $50 cheaper than the previous best-ever deal we saw during Black Friday, making it an ideal time to up the sound experience of your favorite TV shows and movies. We rate this soundbar highly for its dynamic and powerful sound, flexibility, Dolby Atmos support, and capabilities as an all-in-one solution to upgrade your TV audio.View Deal

Mind the gap

However, the Arc's demise leaves a very large price gap between the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and the Sonos Arc Ultra. The $999 / £999 Arc Ultra is literally twice the price of the $499 / £449 Beam, and I know from experience that a lot of people are interested in powerful soundbars that fit between those prices – something like the Samsung HW-Q800D, which is regularly available in the $700-$800 region.

I hope that Sonos is working on something new to fill this gap that includes its Sound Motion bass driver, which helps make the Arc Ultra sound so full for a subwoofer-less soundbar. Something that adds real upfiring speakers for Dolby Atmos, which the Beam lacks, and that fuller bass driver for a more impactful soundstage, but without as many angled drivers as the Arc Ultra, and a smaller size than the Arc Ultra.

On the other hand, perhaps Sonos thinks that four soundbars is a bit much, or has data that its buyers either want to keep the budget lower or are happy to pay lots.

Either way, it feels like the end of an era for the Arc to go – I reviewed it when it launched in 2020, locked in my house, and have been writing it constantly since. Still, it's not like Sonos hasn't provided other things to talk about.

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How President Trump wants to use disaster relief funds as political leverage. And, why he says DEI programs are illegal and wants to end investigations into military extremism.

(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: one-minute review

British manufacturer Russell Hobbs is a trusted name in the European home and kitchen gadgets market, providing high-quality appliances that don't break the bank. As such, our expectations for the brand's new Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre were high - and it didn't disappoint. The Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer is perfect for small to medium-sized households who want a solid, no-nonsense air fryer and aren't fussed about extra bells and whistles.

This air fryer offers two separate baskets that can be programmed to different temperatures and times. There are also handy match and sync functionalities to allow you to program each to the same settings (if you need to cook more of one food across two baskets, for example) or, if you're cooking separate foods for the same meal, finish cooking simultaneously. I'd have loved to see smart functionality included to make this process even easier, though. In addition, nine presets are available so you can quickly cook pizza, chips, and even steak. I found these presets to provide mostly accurate results, though, like most air fryers, some experimentation is required for optimal results. Overall, I only had a few minor hiccups with testing - with the usual air fryer suspects (baking and dehydrating).

You can match or sync cooking times for the two baskets (Image credit: Future)

Aesthetically, the Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre looks beautiful, with its modern matte black and champagne design allowing it to blend into a contemporary kitchen's decor without sticking out like a sore thumb. This design is important because this air fryer takes up a lot of counter space, so the least it can do is be pretty doing it.

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre is a great air fryer with consistent results, but don't expect as much hand-holding as you get from some competitors. There's no recipe book included, only a user manual that tells you how to use its functions (which you definitely need to read), a breakdown of its preset functions, and a rough guide to the temperatures and time for other common air fryer items. While this guide is useful and includes some notes on preparing roast potatoes, for example, it doesn't give weights, so you may need to experiment with how much food product you should put in the baskets for optimal results.

The manual provides instructions for cooking roast potatoes, but no weights, so you may have to experiment. Our potatoes turned out perfectly (Image credit: Future)

In addition, while nine liters seems like a lot, I found it was enough capacity for our household of two, but larger families may struggle to cook more than one meal component at a time. I'd have loved to see the dual basket become one large basket with a removable divider, as seen in the Cosori Dual Blaze Twinfry 10L Air Fryer.

Overall, the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket is a brilliant kitchen gadget that ranks up there with the best air fryers, especially for those with experience using these handy appliances. While this is a more premium air fryer with a price tag to match, it performs better than some competitors we've tested at higher price points. It's worth the investment if you're after a reliable air fryer with quality-of-life functions, but may be less suitable for large families or those after extras, like smart functionality.

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: price and availability

• Price: £199.99 (roughly $250 / AU$400)
• Available in UK only from Russell Hobbs directly and select third-party retailers
• Regular discounts and sales

While some of the best air fryers on the market, like the Ninja Double Oven and Dreo ChefMaker, can cost you over $250 /£250, the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre comes in at the lower end of premium pricing. At £199.99 (roughly $250 / AU$400), it's still a pretty pricey investment but is well worth the money if you want a reliable air fryer you plan to use regularly. Plus, there are regular sales, with the Russell Hobbs store dropping the price to just £99.99 in its January 2025 sale - an absolute steal for this level of quality.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the Satisfry Dual Basket isn't available in the US or Australia.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: specifications Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: design

• Modern black and champagne colorways
• Takes up a lot of space
• Easy to clean
• Clear touchscreen display, but can be hard to navigate

The Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket has one of the sleekest air fryer designs around. It's matte black with stylish champagne accents, so it should complement a contemporary kitchen well. This is a hefty air fryer, though. It may not be as large as some on the market, but it easily takes up a whole counter space and weighs in at 7.8kg. So, if you have a smaller kitchen or less countertop room, you may struggle to find it a home.

This size isn't surprising given this is a nine-liter air fryer with two deep separate baskets. While this seems like a lot, the baskets have more depth than width and length, so while they can hold bigger items, you can't fit a huge amount in each basket. For example, I got about 321g of frozen steak fries into one basket (with some overlap) while still allowing for the required space the air fryer needs to function, and a small pizza just about fitted in the other. This was fine for our two-person household, but for bigger households, you would likely need both baskets - preventing you from cooking another item for your meal simultaneously. I wish Russell Hobbs had designed this so that you could connect the two baskets to create one large basket, as we've seen from some competitors.

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There's just about enough room for a small pizza in one basket, and steak fries for two people in the other (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The Pizza setting delivered slightly overdone results (Image credit: Future)

The baskets are easily washed, requiring a simple wipe-down before hand washing both it and the crisping plates. Whether you can actually put parts in the dishwasher is a tad confusing, though. The user manual says you can wash the baskets and crisping plates in the dishwasher, but Russell Hobbs advises against it. This is likely due to the black, non-stick coating of these elements, and it's also recommended you use plastic tongs to remove your food.

While the sound levels of some kitchen gadgets can be imposing, the Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Liter isn't one of those. Sure, it's loud enough that you can certainly hear it, clocking around an average of 63 to 64 decibels during my testing, but not loud enough that you have to shout over it. Likewise, when in use, the front is room temperature to the touch, with the heat coming out of a vent at the back and hitting a max temperature (while cooking steak and fries together) of 75C / 167F. This means it should be safe to function in your kitchen if you've got little ones about - just don't let them touch the inside!

The Satisfry has a bright LED display and touch controls that let you program each basket separately, but make sure you read the instruction manual carefully first (Image credit: Future)

Here's where I struggled a bit with the Satisfry Dual Basket: the touchscreen interface. The appliance has a touchscreen digital display that lets you program each basket, assigning your preferred presets, functions, temperature, and time. On the surface, it looks pretty straightforward to use - but you need to read the instructions because it can be a bit complicated to get to grips with, especially when you're programming baskets separately.

That's fine, and with time, I got used to it, but issues arose when I tried to cancel a basket while the other was on. While you can adjust the temperature, time, and settings of one basket while the other is on, there doesn't appear to be a cancel button if you decide to pull out one basket early. I still haven't worked out how to do it without stopping the other basket cooking - and the manual doesn't cover it.

This is an air fryer that's not going to hold your hand. It has plenty of handy quality-of-life features to make cooking efficient, but if you've not had an air fryer before, you may struggle to work out some aspects. While some air fryers come with a hefty user manual and recipe book, this one includes a fairly short manual.

The Satisfry can cook foods like steak well, but the instruction manual doesn't hold your hand - cooking experience is invaluable. Our cooked steaks tasted great (Image credit: Future)

It does a great job explaining how to use the gadget's main functions but doesn't cover cancelling. Likewise, it lists the preset functions' settings and gives a rough guideline for cooking common foods but doesn't give a recommended weight or size. This was particularly confusing when it came to pizza. There's a pizza preset with a slice of pizza icon, which left me confused about whether it's meant to cook just one slice of pizza or what size pizza this preset was designed for. The air fryer just about fits a small pizza in one basket. If you're expecting to put anything bigger in it. as I was. you're out of luck.

• Design score: 4/5

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: performance

• Presets are pretty accurate
• Useful Sync and Match functions
• Quality-of-life features, like Shake
• No smart functionality

While the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre's interface can be a bit confusing to get to grips with, its performance and features are impressive.

This air fryer comes with nine presets: Steak, Fries, Chicken, Fish, Pizza, Dehydrate, Bake, Vegetables, and Reheat. I admit I was skeptical about air-frying steak so it was the first thing I tested. I popped two sirloins into a basket with a bit of oil and seasoning, selected the Steak preset, and in 12 minutes, I had two medium steaks. Now, they were a bit overdone for my liking, didn't have the sort of sear you get from a pan, and the fat hadn't really rendered, but they tasted great. If I were to repeat this in the future, I'd have preheated the air fryer manually (there's no preheat function) and taken the steaks out a few minutes earlier.

Fries turned out crisp and golden on the outside, and fluffy within (Image credit: Future)

Alongside my steaks, I added about four potatoes worth of fresh fries to the other basket and set the second basket to the Fries preset and to Sync mode. This meant the fries were ready at the same time as my steaks and cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. If you want to cook the two baskets at the same temperature and time or preset, you simply press Match instead of Sync.

Other presets performed well, too, but some food items worked better than others. The Chicken preset resulted in crispy chicken wings that were juicy inside, the Vegetables setting gave me delicious carrots - but charred broccoli - and the Pizza setting gave me a slightly overdone (but not burnt) lunch.

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Chicken wings cooked using the Satisfry air fryer turned out juicy and delicious... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

...but vegetables were a little overdone (Image credit: Future)

The Dehydration setting, as with many air fryers, didn't dry out my oranges quite how I'd like, so it took another 120 minutes for the best results. The Bake setting, however, I was fairly impressed with - though an oven definitely gives better results.

Air fryers are renowned for being bad at baking, particularly cakes. When I cooked some cupcake-sized muffins on the Bake preset, they came out a bit browner on top but cooked, whereas another batch (which I set to the recipe instructions rather than the preset) was raw on the bottom. The silicon cupcake tray only just fit in a basket, though, so what you can bake may be somewhat restricted.

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Muffins turned out well when cooked using the air fryer's Bake preset (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Don't be tempted to use the recipe instructions rather than the Bake setting (Image credit: Future)

After the muffin success, I gave an air fryer Lemon Drizzle cake/loaf a try. A metal loaf tin didn't fit, but my silicon one did - again just. This time, I combined the Bake preset with the recipe, cooking the cake low and slow for an hour and 30 minutes, adding aluminum foil to the top of it after the first 30 minutes to prevent it from burning. The cake worked, but again, it was quite dry, so I wouldn't advise prioritizing baking with this air fryer (or any, in fact).

What I particularly liked about this air fryer was its extra, quality-of-life functions and features. The Delay function allows you to delay the start of cooking by a set amount of time, so I could easily put some food in the air fryer for lunch an hour later, set the delay time for 60 minutes and the preset I needed, and return to my cooked food after the delay and cooking time had passed.

(Image credit: Future)

There's also a shake reminder for some presets, which means the air fryer beeps to remind you to turn or shake your food - allowing for more even cooking. While this and the end time beep aren't as loud as I'd like, it's very useful when you're busy with other things, as is the auto shut off feature. It feels like Russell Hobbs is missing a trick by not adding smart functionality so you could program the air fryer from your phone, but this may not be a dealbreaker for you.

• Performance: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer? Buy it if

You want a high quality air fryer with good performance

The Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer is a high-quality appliance that does its job with little fuss. If you need an air fryer that offers consistent results and covers the common food types well, you can't go wrong with this gadget.

You want a premium air fryer that's not over £200

Premium air fryers can cost upwards of £250 and that pricing isn't always indicative of quality. While £199.99 is still expensive, you're getting premium quality for that price tag and a one-year guarantee, while regular sales and discounts mean you can pick it up for even less.

You want to cook two meal components at once

Whether you want to use Match or Sync, this air fryer can help you make mealtimes easier by setting each basket to its own temperature and time, or preset.

You want a stylish air fryer

This is one of my favorite air fryer designs, as it's simply yet elegant. If aesthetics are important to you, and you're a fan of contemporary decor, this is one of the prettiest air fryers around.

Don't buy it if

You've got a large family

I have a household of two, and this air fryer felt like the right size for us to make larger meals. If you have a large family and want to make a full meal in an air fryer, this may not be for you, but if you want to use an air fryer to do parts of your meals, it's the perfect companion to your oven or stove.

You've got little counter space

Like many dual air fryers, this is a chunky appliance. I have a smaller kitchen and it was quite imposing as it took up a full counter space. If you've a smaller kitchen or less counter space, you may struggle to find a home for it.

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: also consider

Not sure if the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer is right for you? Here are two more options to consider.

Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone

If you live outside the UK where the Satisfry isn't available, this is two-drawer air fryer is a great alternative. It looks smart, and produces consistently good results (though we'd appreciate a reminder to shake to food for even cooking).

Read our full Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone review

Ninja Double Stack

If you don't have space for a full-width two-drawer air fryer, the Double Stack is the appliance for you. It's deeper and taller, but much narrower than the Russell Hobbs Satisfry or the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone, and in our tests it produced evenly browned, crispy fries every time.

Read our full Ninja Double Stack review

How I tested the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer

I used the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryeror a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, chicken wings, fresh vegetables, steak, cake, and muffins. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test.

First reviewed January 2025.