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Taiz, a city in southwestern Yemen, faces a severe water crisis as Houthi rebels backed by Iran tighten their encirclement. The city has struggled with water issues for over a decade, but the situation has worsened in recent weeks.

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Intense rainfall slammed the Four Corners region late this week. As rivers flooded, towns declared evacuations and emergencies and made rescues.

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JBL Bar 800MK2 review

The JBL Bar 800MK2 is the mid-range option in the audio specialist’s MK2 line, delivering surround sound though its main bar, detachable rear speakers, and mighty subwoofer. It comes with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, a wide range of connectivity options, and an expansive 7.1 channel configuration — but is it actually worth buying?

I’ve spent a bunch of hours testing the JBL Bar 800MK2 for myself, putting it to the test with 4K UHD Blu-rays as well as Dolby Atmos and stereo format music. Here’s whether I’d recommend it or not.

Let’s start by talking about performance, an area where this model certainly excels. Like a lot of the best soundbars, the JBL Bar 800MK2 produces beautifully expansive sound with powerful bass and clear dialogue, and it consistently impressed me during testing. It makes use of six full-range drivers and two tweeters in the main bar, two full rangers in each surround speaker, and a ten-inch bass unit in the sub, with a solid 780W maximum power output, so you’re really going to feel the action in every scene when watching movies.

(Image credit: Future)

For instance, when watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, I was blown away by the thunderous bass on offer as a UFO airlifted Peach’s Castle into the stratosphere, with a regimented, rippling sound emanating from the sub. As the chaos unfurled, crashing waves hit with tremendous impact, and as Toads jumped into the water, their movement was tracked with commendable precision. Similarly, the sound of Yoshi’s tongue flicking across the scene was mapped perfectly, making for an immensely immersive viewing experience, with the width of his motion far exceeding the limited confines of the soundbar.

The JBL Bar 800MK2 skips on dedicated up-firing drivers, so you’re not going to get the most convincing verticality while watching Atmos movies, but I was still seriously impressed with the virtual recreation of height effects. For example, in Top Gun Maverick, the sound of Tom Cruise flying a jet up and overhead sounded surprisingly life-like, and it genuinely seemed as if I could hear the upward trajectory. The low-end rumble of jet engines also shook our testing room to its foundations, but all the while, dialogue continued to come through clearly in the mix.

Speaking of dialogue, the JBL Bar 800MK2 is well equipped to deliver clear and concise speech at all times. That’s in part thanks to the PureVoice setting, which enables you to push vocals forward without ruining the fidelity of sounds elsewhere in the frequency range. I never felt like PureVoice made the movie’s audio seem unbalanced, and it proved to be super-effective, especially in more crowded, action-packed sequences where dialogue can sometimes take a backseat.

I was also really impressed with the sound quality coming from the detachable rear speakers. They sounded brilliantly balanced from where I was sitting, but you can easily change their volume level in the JBL One app to suit your room setup. They gave Dolby Atmos movies an ultra-expansive quality, and provided controlled highs and clear mids, making for stellar surround sound.

Even when it came to music, the JBL Bar 800MK2 performed fantastically well. With an Atmos mix of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, the system whipped up a strikingly expansive presentation with articulate drums in the treble range, great vocal clarity, and warm bass that never sounded overly assertive. The rears also combined really nicely here, which was a relief as I’ve found that the surround channels on some rival models don't always seem cohesive with the rest of the system. Stereo music impressed me too, with deep and agile bass, detailed mids, and solid instrument separation.

(Image credit: Future)

So yes, despite lacking dedicated up-firing drivers, the virtual Atmos on the 800MK2 works very well, and it handles the fundamentals with ease too. But how does this model fare elsewhere?

In terms of features, this system is a strong all-rounder. On top of the PureVoice setting I mentioned, there’s a Night Mode that uses the detachable speakers only, voice assistant support, AirPlay and Google Cast support, EQ options, and much more. All of these features can be tapped into over on the JBL One app, which is intuitive and incredibly easy to use.

There are a few sound-related features I’d like to highlight too. The first is MultiBeam 3.0, which is intended to create a “wide, cinema-like soundstage”. This feature harnesses beamforming and digital processing to achieve its goal, and works a treat. There’s also a sound calibration option, which is quick and seamless, and provides optimized three-dimensional sound for your space, no matter how it’s set up.

The Bar 800MK2 also has a very solid set of connectivity options. You get the usual HDMI eARC, digital optical, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, but also Ethernet and an HDMI input (just one, rather than the three on the Bar 1300MK2). The HDMI input supports 4K passthrough, but only at 60Hz, so it's not the best option if you’re looking for peak-performance gaming or anything.

Before we wrap up, I also want to talk about design. On the one hand, the JBL Bar 800MK2 is ingenious. Its use of battery powered rear speakers makes it incredibly versatile. You can place these anywhere in your room for a flexible, wire-free setup, and the speakers can even function as standalone Bluetooth speakers. If they run low on charge, they can even be used while connected to a USB-C power cable. That alone is a huge plus.

But that’s actually where my praise runs dry. The JBL Bar 800MK2 looks quite cheap for the price you pay, with a plasticky one-note appearance. The sub is also very bulky — even more so than the more powerful alternative you get with the JBL Bar 1300MK2. But then again, what the system lacks in style, it certainly makes up for in substance.

When all’s said and done, is the JBL Bar 800MK2 worth the money? Well, its list price of £899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200) may seem steep, but realistically, you’ll be paying less than £650 / AU$850 for it now. At that price, the Bar 800MK2 is well worth it. Despite its bulk and lack of up-firing drivers, it's an excellent performer with incredible virtual Atmos and low-end might, as well as a top-class feature-set and versatile connectivity options.

Want something more slim and stylish? Then I’d recommend scooping up the new Sonos Beam Ultra and building out a system at your own pace. But if you want a great value surround sound package, look no further than the JBL Bar 800MK2.

(Image credit: Future)JBL Bar 800MK2 review: price & release date

• Priced at £899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200)
• First released June 2025

The JBL Bar 800MK2 was released in June 2025 as part of the refreshed MK2 line, alongside the smaller Bar 300MK2 as well as the larger 1000MK2 and 1300MK2. The JBL Bar 800MK2 is priced at £899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200), but can often be found on sale for less than £650 / AU$850. It appears that the soundbar system is still unavailable for purchase in the US, unfortunately.

JBL Bar 800MK2 review: specs

Dimensions

Soundbar: 35.6 x 2 x 5 inches / 854 x 52 x 128mm; subwoofer: 12.8 x 15.7 x 12.8 inches / 325 x 400 x 325 mm; rear speakers: 6.7 x 2 x 5 inches / 169 x 52 x 128mm

Speaker channels

7.1

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, digital optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 (surround speakers use 5.4)

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / Yes

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the JBL Bar 800MK2?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Broad feature-set in JBL One app, great connectivity options, Atmos and DTS:X support.

4.5/5

Performance

Lacks up-firing speakers, but virtual Atmos is great, very expansive sound overall with big bass and clear dialogue.

4.5/5

Design

Not exactly a looker and sub seems very bulky, but the detachable rear speakers are genius.

3.5/5

Setup & usability

Incredibly easy setup and top-tier companion app.

5/5

Value

Well-worth picking up now it's on sale, with excellent sound for the price.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want almighty sound for movie nights
The JBL Bar 800MK2 plates up phenomenally powerful, cinematic sound, packing plenty of bass and expansive Dolby Atmos. If you want massive audio for immersive movie-watching, this is a great option.

You’re looking for a soundbar with flexible surrounds
The battery powered surround speakers that come with the JBL Bar 800MK2 are excellent. They sound fantastic, can easily slot onto the main bar to charge up, and don’t require wires when in use. You can even use them as standalone Bluetooth speakers, meaning that their versatility is unmatched.

Don’t buy it if…

You want ‘true’ Dolby Atmos
The JBL Bar 800MK2 lacks dedicated up-firing speakers, meaning that it has to rely on virtual processing to replicate Dolby Atmos content. While the Bar 800MK’s virtual Atmos is genuinely impressive, the larger JBL Bar 1300MK2 should be your go-to for premium spatial sound.

You’re looking for something stylish
The JBL Bar 800MK2 isn’t much of a looker. Its build quality could be better for the price, and the sub seems oversized, especially given that the more powerful 1300MK2 offers a more compact bass unit.

JBL Bar 800MK2 review: also consider

JBL Bar 800MK2

Samsung HW-Q990H

Sonos Beam Ultra

Price

£899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200)

$1,999 / £1,599 / AU$1,999

$699 / £699 / AU$1,099

Dimensions

Soundbar: 35.6 x 2 x 5 inches / 854 x 52 x 128mm; subwoofer: 12.8 x 15.7 x 12.8 inches / 325 x 400 x 325 mm; rear speakers: 6.7 x 2 x 5 inches / 169 x 52 x 128mm

Soundbar: 48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inches / 1232 x 70.8 x 138mm; subwoofer: 9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inches / 249 x 251.8 x 249mm; rear speaker: 5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inches / 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4mm

29.5 x 2.6 x 4.1 inches / 750 x 65 x 105mm

Speaker channels

7.1

11.1.4

7.1.2

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, digital optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 (surround speakers use 5.4)

1x HDMI out (with eARC), 2x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / Yes

Yes / Yes

Yes / No

Sub included

Yes

Yes

No

Rear speakers included

Yes

Yes

No

Samsung HW-Q990H
At a glance, this model may seem far too expensive to compete with the Bar 800MK2, but I often see it on sale for close to the JBL’s launch price. This is the ultimate surround sound package, with top-tier cinematic sound, excellent connectivity options, an 11.1.4 channel configuration, and both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. Up-firing drivers mean you get true Atmos, and HDMI passthrough is on board for ultimate ease of use. Read our full Samsung HW-Q990H review.

Sonos Beam Ultra
The Sonos Beam Ultra is a totally different proposition, but it’s fully worth your consideration. This model has up-firing drivers, incredible bass output, and crystal-clear dialogue, making it amazing for both movies and music. It doesn’t come with a sub or surrounds, but these can be added easily through the Sonos app when purchased separately. This model is more compact, and looks beautiful to boot, so if you’re OK with building out a system of your own rather than getting a pre-built combo, it’s my top recommendation. Read my full Sonos Beam Ultra review.

How I tested the JBL Bar 800MK2

(Image credit: Future)

• Assessed at our TV testing space at Future Labs
• Used 4K Blu-ray for movies and Tidal Connect to stream music
• One of more than 30 soundbars I’ve tested

I spent many hours using the JBL Bar 800MK2 for watching movies and listening to music. I judged its capabilities at our TV testing space at Future Labs, made use of all of the soundbar’s features, and tried it with multiple surround speaker configurations.

Most of the time, I used HDMI eARC to connect the LG G6 OLED TV, and watched 4K Blu-ray discs via the Panasonic DP-UB820 to assess the soundbar’s handling of Dolby Atmos movies. I did, however, also test the Bar 800MK2 with Netflix movies, and used Tidal Connect to stream music over Wi-Fi.

More generally, I’ve tested more than 30 soundbars during my time here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from budget-friendly bars like the Sony HT-SF150 through to huge surround sound systems such as the Bar 800MK2’s big sibling, the JBL Bar 1300MK2.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

JBL Bar 800MK2 review

The JBL Bar 800MK2 is the mid-range option in the audio specialist’s MK2 line, delivering surround sound though its main bar, detachable rear speakers, and mighty subwoofer. It comes with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, a wide range of connectivity options, and an expansive 7.1 channel configuration — but is it actually worth buying?

I’ve spent a bunch of hours testing the JBL Bar 800MK2 for myself, putting it to the test with 4K UHD Blu-rays as well as Dolby Atmos and stereo format music. Here’s whether I’d recommend it or not.

Let’s start by talking about performance, an area where this model certainly excels. Like a lot of the best soundbars, the JBL Bar 800MK2 produces beautifully expansive sound with powerful bass and clear dialogue, and it consistently impressed me during testing. It makes use of six full-range drivers and two tweeters in the main bar, two full rangers in each surround speaker, and a ten-inch bass unit in the sub, with a solid 780W maximum power output, so you’re really going to feel the action in every scene when watching movies.

(Image credit: Future)

For instance, when watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, I was blown away by the thunderous bass on offer as a UFO airlifted Peach’s Castle into the stratosphere, with a regimented, rippling sound emanating from the sub. As the chaos unfurled, crashing waves hit with tremendous impact, and as Toads jumped into the water, their movement was tracked with commendable precision. Similarly, the sound of Yoshi’s tongue flicking across the scene was mapped perfectly, making for an immensely immersive viewing experience, with the width of his motion far exceeding the limited confines of the soundbar.

The JBL Bar 800MK2 skips on dedicated up-firing drivers, so you’re not going to get the most convincing verticality while watching Atmos movies, but I was still seriously impressed with the virtual recreation of height effects. For example, in Top Gun Maverick, the sound of Tom Cruise flying a jet up and overhead sounded surprisingly life-like, and it genuinely seemed as if I could hear the upward trajectory. The low-end rumble of jet engines also shook our testing room to its foundations, but all the while, dialogue continued to come through clearly in the mix.

Speaking of dialogue, the JBL Bar 800MK2 is well equipped to deliver clear and concise speech at all times. That’s in part thanks to the PureVoice setting, which enables you to push vocals forward without ruining the fidelity of sounds elsewhere in the frequency range. I never felt like PureVoice made the movie’s audio seem unbalanced, and it proved to be super-effective, especially in more crowded, action-packed sequences where dialogue can sometimes take a backseat.

I was also really impressed with the sound quality coming from the detachable rear speakers. They sounded brilliantly balanced from where I was sitting, but you can easily change their volume level in the JBL One app to suit your room setup. They gave Dolby Atmos movies an ultra-expansive quality, and provided controlled highs and clear mids, making for stellar surround sound.

Even when it came to music, the JBL Bar 800MK2 performed fantastically well. With an Atmos mix of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, the system whipped up a strikingly expansive presentation with articulate drums in the treble range, great vocal clarity, and warm bass that never sounded overly assertive. The rears also combined really nicely here, which was a relief as I’ve found that the surround channels on some rival models don't always seem cohesive with the rest of the system. Stereo music impressed me too, with deep and agile bass, detailed mids, and solid instrument separation.

(Image credit: Future)

So yes, despite lacking dedicated up-firing drivers, the virtual Atmos on the 800MK2 works very well, and it handles the fundamentals with ease too. But how does this model fare elsewhere?

In terms of features, this system is a strong all-rounder. On top of the PureVoice setting I mentioned, there’s a Night Mode that uses the detachable speakers only, voice assistant support, AirPlay and Google Cast support, EQ options, and much more. All of these features can be tapped into over on the JBL One app, which is intuitive and incredibly easy to use.

There are a few sound-related features I’d like to highlight too. The first is MultiBeam 3.0, which is intended to create a “wide, cinema-like soundstage”. This feature harnesses beamforming and digital processing to achieve its goal, and works a treat. There’s also a sound calibration option, which is quick and seamless, and provides optimized three-dimensional sound for your space, no matter how it’s set up.

The Bar 800MK2 also has a very solid set of connectivity options. You get the usual HDMI eARC, digital optical, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, but also Ethernet and an HDMI input (just one, rather than the three on the Bar 1300MK2). The HDMI input supports 4K passthrough, but only at 60Hz, so it's not the best option if you’re looking for peak-performance gaming or anything.

Before we wrap up, I also want to talk about design. On the one hand, the JBL Bar 800MK2 is ingenious. Its use of battery powered rear speakers makes it incredibly versatile. You can place these anywhere in your room for a flexible, wire-free setup, and the speakers can even function as standalone Bluetooth speakers. If they run low on charge, they can even be used while connected to a USB-C power cable. That alone is a huge plus.

But that’s actually where my praise runs dry. The JBL Bar 800MK2 looks quite cheap for the price you pay, with a plasticky one-note appearance. The sub is also very bulky — even more so than the more powerful alternative you get with the JBL Bar 1300MK2. But then again, what the system lacks in style, it certainly makes up for in substance.

When all’s said and done, is the JBL Bar 800MK2 worth the money? Well, its list price of £899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200) may seem steep, but realistically, you’ll be paying less than £650 / AU$850 for it now. At that price, the Bar 800MK2 is well worth it. Despite its bulk and lack of up-firing drivers, it's an excellent performer with incredible virtual Atmos and low-end might, as well as a top-class feature-set and versatile connectivity options.

Want something more slim and stylish? Then I’d recommend scooping up the new Sonos Beam Ultra and building out a system at your own pace. But if you want a great value surround sound package, look no further than the JBL Bar 800MK2.

(Image credit: Future)JBL Bar 800MK2 review: price & release date

• Priced at £899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200)
• First released June 2025

The JBL Bar 800MK2 was released in June 2025 as part of the refreshed MK2 line, alongside the smaller Bar 300MK2 as well as the larger 1000MK2 and 1300MK2. The JBL Bar 800MK2 is priced at £899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200), but can often be found on sale for less than £650 / AU$850. It appears that the soundbar system is still unavailable for purchase in the US, unfortunately.

JBL Bar 800MK2 review: specs

Dimensions

Soundbar: 35.6 x 2 x 5 inches / 854 x 52 x 128mm; subwoofer: 12.8 x 15.7 x 12.8 inches / 325 x 400 x 325 mm; rear speakers: 6.7 x 2 x 5 inches / 169 x 52 x 128mm

Speaker channels

7.1

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, digital optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 (surround speakers use 5.4)

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / Yes

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the JBL Bar 800MK2?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Broad feature-set in JBL One app, great connectivity options, Atmos and DTS:X support.

4.5/5

Performance

Lacks up-firing speakers, but virtual Atmos is great, very expansive sound overall with big bass and clear dialogue.

4.5/5

Design

Not exactly a looker and sub seems very bulky, but the detachable rear speakers are genius.

3.5/5

Setup & usability

Incredibly easy setup and top-tier companion app.

5/5

Value

Well-worth picking up now it's on sale, with excellent sound for the price.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want almighty sound for movie nights
The JBL Bar 800MK2 plates up phenomenally powerful, cinematic sound, packing plenty of bass and expansive Dolby Atmos. If you want massive audio for immersive movie-watching, this is a great option.

You’re looking for a soundbar with flexible surrounds
The battery powered surround speakers that come with the JBL Bar 800MK2 are excellent. They sound fantastic, can easily slot onto the main bar to charge up, and don’t require wires when in use. You can even use them as standalone Bluetooth speakers, meaning that their versatility is unmatched.

Don’t buy it if…

You want ‘true’ Dolby Atmos
The JBL Bar 800MK2 lacks dedicated up-firing speakers, meaning that it has to rely on virtual processing to replicate Dolby Atmos content. While the Bar 800MK’s virtual Atmos is genuinely impressive, the larger JBL Bar 1300MK2 should be your go-to for premium spatial sound.

You’re looking for something stylish
The JBL Bar 800MK2 isn’t much of a looker. Its build quality could be better for the price, and the sub seems oversized, especially given that the more powerful 1300MK2 offers a more compact bass unit.

JBL Bar 800MK2 review: also consider

JBL Bar 800MK2

Samsung HW-Q990H

Sonos Beam Ultra

Price

£899 / AU$1,199.95 (about $1,200)

$1,999 / £1,599 / AU$1,999

$699 / £699 / AU$1,099

Dimensions

Soundbar: 35.6 x 2 x 5 inches / 854 x 52 x 128mm; subwoofer: 12.8 x 15.7 x 12.8 inches / 325 x 400 x 325 mm; rear speakers: 6.7 x 2 x 5 inches / 169 x 52 x 128mm

Soundbar: 48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inches / 1232 x 70.8 x 138mm; subwoofer: 9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inches / 249 x 251.8 x 249mm; rear speaker: 5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inches / 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4mm

29.5 x 2.6 x 4.1 inches / 750 x 65 x 105mm

Speaker channels

7.1

11.1.4

7.1.2

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, digital optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 (surround speakers use 5.4)

1x HDMI out (with eARC), 2x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / Yes

Yes / Yes

Yes / No

Sub included

Yes

Yes

No

Rear speakers included

Yes

Yes

No

Samsung HW-Q990H
At a glance, this model may seem far too expensive to compete with the Bar 800MK2, but I often see it on sale for close to the JBL’s launch price. This is the ultimate surround sound package, with top-tier cinematic sound, excellent connectivity options, an 11.1.4 channel configuration, and both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. Up-firing drivers mean you get true Atmos, and HDMI passthrough is on board for ultimate ease of use. Read our full Samsung HW-Q990H review.

Sonos Beam Ultra
The Sonos Beam Ultra is a totally different proposition, but it’s fully worth your consideration. This model has up-firing drivers, incredible bass output, and crystal-clear dialogue, making it amazing for both movies and music. It doesn’t come with a sub or surrounds, but these can be added easily through the Sonos app when purchased separately. This model is more compact, and looks beautiful to boot, so if you’re OK with building out a system of your own rather than getting a pre-built combo, it’s my top recommendation. Read my full Sonos Beam Ultra review.

How I tested the JBL Bar 800MK2

(Image credit: Future)

• Assessed at our TV testing space at Future Labs
• Used 4K Blu-ray for movies and Tidal Connect to stream music
• One of more than 30 soundbars I’ve tested

I spent many hours using the JBL Bar 800MK2 for watching movies and listening to music. I judged its capabilities at our TV testing space at Future Labs, made use of all of the soundbar’s features, and tried it with multiple surround speaker configurations.

Most of the time, I used HDMI eARC to connect the LG G6 OLED TV, and watched 4K Blu-ray discs via the Panasonic DP-UB820 to assess the soundbar’s handling of Dolby Atmos movies. I did, however, also test the Bar 800MK2 with Netflix movies, and used Tidal Connect to stream music over Wi-Fi.

More generally, I’ve tested more than 30 soundbars during my time here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from budget-friendly bars like the Sony HT-SF150 through to huge surround sound systems such as the Bar 800MK2’s big sibling, the JBL Bar 1300MK2.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

The final Modern Warfare is a fitting swansong that rights the wrongs of previous outings.

• An AI tool called Raven can cross-reference fixtures, fittings, and other interior details to find the location of a property
• It pinpoints properties using data scraped from Airbnb and other sites
• Raven was previously known as GeoSpy and was initially conceived to identify locations based on landmarks

A new AI tool that can identify a property’s location using interior photos has been publicized online. Already in use by law enforcement agencies in Florida and California, Raven uses AI to match fixtures and fittings and decorative elements from photos with information sourced online.

Following the publication of a video demonstrating the software, Raven has attracted attention from some of the websites it apparently uses to acquire the information it uses. The sites – which include Airbnb – seem to have concerns about how the data and images they collect is being used.

Raven’s existence could potentially be used to find the location of any property – assuming that its address and similar images already exist online.

Innocent? Your home is safe

Raven has been used by the LAPD and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office in Florida. Its main purpose so far has been in tackling human trafficking, but the software represents obvious privacy challenges which its creators seem to be sidestepping at this stage.

The most important takeaway is that as long as your home (or business premises) hasn’t been used for criminal activities and photos of its interior aren’t online, then you have nothing to worry about.

Daniel Heinen of Raven developers Graylark described the product as “purpose-built AI for the people working to find answers and protect lives.”

However, some of the websites that Raven uses to gather information have expressed concern. The video of Raven in action appears to show the software using both Zillow, Vrbo, and Airbnb, with the latter reviewing the situation. Zillow stated scraping its data was against its ToS.

These issues could prove to be a challenge to the successful use of Raven across a wider area.

Matching interiors

Raven essentially breaches privacy by providing the location of an interior photo. Assuming a similar photo of the same interior exists online with an address attached – such as on Airbnb or a property site – then Raven should be able to identify it.

Heinen doesn’t mention the privacy challenges in his LinkedIn post about Raven, instead focusing on the software’s “ability to geolocate interior images across millions of short-term rental units worldwide.”

While highlighting the use of short-term rentals for human trafficking, the post focuses on Raven’s USP: “For investigators, a photo or video from inside a property may be a critical lead, but without an address or location tag, knowing where to start can be difficult. Raven helps investigators match interior imagery to potential properties, turning visual clues into location leads they can review and verify.”

It would seem likely that for Raven to be embraced successfully by other police departments in the US and beyond, it would need to accept regional privacy laws and build partnerships with the companies it appears to be scraping.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #1733).

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

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

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1734) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• T

• S

• M

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1734) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1734, are…

• TOXIN
• SMART
• MOUSE
• STYLE

Our first five-vowel game for a while also delivered the rare letter X.

Even though I was sure the word in the first column was TOXIN I still hesitated to guess it until I’d completed the others.

That’s the thing about rare letters, it’s very hard to not handle them with care.

Daily Sequence today (game #1734) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1734, are…

• SUING
• THERE
• TENET
• BRIEF

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1733, Friday, 23 October: BLIMP, HOIST, FRIED, LURID
• Quordle #1732, Thursday, 22 October: DECAL, WIDTH, WOKEN, LEVER
• Quordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTH
• Quordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPY
• Quordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUID
• Quordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEO
• Quordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCK
• Quordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNK
• Quordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNY
• Quordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERY
• Quordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEIN
• Quordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANT
• Quordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPE
• Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
• Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
• Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
• Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
• Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
• Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST
• Quordle #1714, Sunday, 4 October: INFER, RAINY, THING, ARENA

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #1230).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COMIC
• SALAD
• BACON
• SPARKLER
• POPSICLE
• POP-UP
• CANDY
• HOBBY HORSE
• BANNER
• PINWHEEL
• SPACE
• FILM
• INTERSTITIAL
• SPORTS
• MÖBIUS
• OVERLAY

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Come in narrow pieces
• GREEN: A format you can hold
• BLUE: Methods of internet advertising
• PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “car”

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: KINDS OF STRIPS
• GREEN: THINGS ON STICKS
• BLUE: ONLINE AD FORMATS
• PURPLE: _____ BAR

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

NYT Connections today (game #1231) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1231, are…

• YELLOW: KINDS OF STRIPS: BACON, COMIC, FILM, MÖBIUS
• GREEN: THINGS ON STICKS: HOBBY HORSE, PINWHEEL, POPSICLE, SPARKLER
• BLUE: ONLINE AD FORMATS: BANNER, INTERSTITIAL, OVERLAY, POP-UP
• PURPLE: _____ BAR: CANDY, SALAD, SPACE, SPORTS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

Unlike TV and print advertising, ONLINE AD FORMATS are not something people are going to feel much nostalgia for in the future, mainly because in order to work they decided that they had to be annoying, flickering things that got in the way of what you actually wanted to look at on the internet.

This is where I made my mistake — guessing PINWHEEL before deciding that INTERSTITIAL sounded like the sort of annoying word that belonged in the world of online ads; these are the ones that take up the entire screen and require you to hunt for the X to click off them.

I can’t help thinking online advertising would be more successful if they could find a way to make it less annoying.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, October 23, 2026, game #1230)

• YELLOW: FORTHRIGHT: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, VOCAL
• GREEN: THINGS YOU INSTALL ON A COMPUTER: DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN, UPDATE
• BLUE: QUANTITIES IN A FORMULA FOR POWER: DISTANCE, FORCE, POWER, TIME
• PURPLE: _____ TAP: DOUBLE, LOVE, PHONE, SPINAL

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, October 23 (game #964).

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Re-fresh-ing

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• DRAKE
• READY
• SUNDRY
• CASK
• DETER
• GREED

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #965) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 4th row

• Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #965) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #965, are…

• BASKET
• WASHER
• SINK
• RACK
• DETERGENT
• IRON
• SPANGRAM: LAUNDRYDAY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I didn’t need any hints, but I didn’t exactly smash this game out of the park…

Instead of seeing DETERGENT I added “deter” and “gent”, I bailed out of connecting LAUNDRYDAY at “laundry” and tried to tap out “cark” before RACK.

Having made such inelegant progress, it was somewhat ironic to be rewarded with the “perfect!” pop-up, as much like my own efforts at clothes washing it was far from it.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, October 23, game #964)

• NOSY
• EAVESDROPPING
• INQUISITIVE
• SNOOPY
• PRYING
• SPANGRAM: BUSYBODY

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

It's a big day for both Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB). Today, October 23, 2026, Apple launched its biggest iPhone change ever: the iPhone Duo. But in just a few hours, baseball's most important series will kick off, with the Tampa Bay Rays facing the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series. Game 1 starts at 8 p.m. ET.

And there's a commonality here: MLB has launched a redesigned app experience built to take advantage of the iPhone Duo's foldable form factor. So, if you were lucky enough to pick one up, you can tune into the World Series on your Duo's 5.4-inch cover screen. Or, let's be real, you'll open it up and watch on that enormous 7.6-inch inner display, complete with its Nano-texture finish.

But this experience is more than just giving baseball a bigger screen. MLB has been working on the new experience since Apple announced the iPhone Duo on September 9, getting it ready for launch in just 44 days.

You can fold the iPhone Duo like a mini laptop — ahem, MacBook — or prop it up in a seated position, with the livestream on top and real-time, updating box scores on the bottom. Watch in full screen on either display, or split the screen with another app. Whether it's X (formerly Twitter), Threads, a group chat to discuss the game, or even Apple's Sports app, you can keep up with the conversation while keeping an eye on the action.

The idea is to meet fans where they are and make the most of the hardware they have in their hands. The iPhone Duo gives MLB a new canvas, but the real opportunity is to deliver something useful with it—an experience that makes following baseball feel more natural, not just bigger.

(Image credit: Apple)

Sean Curtis, MLB's chief technology officer, told TechRadar that he's particularly excited about combining the league's Game Day experience with live video.

"I'm really excited about, you know, the full-screen nature of just like how good our video looks on Apple devices and just really take that in as like, 'hey, this just came from my phone, but it really feels like just such a quality experience,'" Curtis said.

"I really like our Game Day experience merged with video, so watch video [and] live stats."

The combination lets fans follow the action and keep tabs on the numbers in one place, rather than bouncing between the two. MLB is also using AI to generate additional information about individual plays, players, and game situations, adding context to the action as it unfolds.

"When you get into Game Day, and you're actually applying context to the events, we're using AI to actually generate more information about each play, each player, each situation," Curtis said.

For a sport with so much happening between pitches, that combination could be particularly compelling. The video gives you the action, while the data helps explain it. Rather than forcing fans to choose between watching and digging into the numbers, MLB wants to bring those two parts of the experience closer together.

Kenny Gersh, MLB's executive vice president of Media, Business Development, and Product, highlighted the simple appeal of opening the device and immediately having a much bigger screen ready for video.

"You're on a phone that's in your pocket, you're sitting down somewhere, and just to be able to go like that — whoops, I messed it up with my finger — but to have it just open right up into that is amazing," Gersh told TechRadar.

It's a straightforward idea, but one that makes sense for live sports. The phone can stay compact in your pocket until you're ready to settle in and watch, at which point the larger inner display gives the MLB app more room to shine.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

MLB's relationship with Apple goes back to the early days of the App Store. The league was among the first 500 apps available on the original iPhone, and its iPad app was ready for launch day, earning a spotlight during the original iPad keynote.

As Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, told TechRadar, "Sports are important to us; it's important to our users.” Over the years, the partnership has evolved alongside Apple's products and platforms. Gersh recalled working with Apple on HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), helping advance the technology needed to deliver live video reliably, including advertising insertion.

More recently, Apple and MLB have explored new ways to bring fans closer to the action, including spatial sports broadcasts on Apple Vision Pro and the use of iPhone cameras to capture footage for baseball broadcasts on Apple TV.

The iPhone Duo is the latest chapter in that relationship, and it feels particularly interesting. MLB isn't just showing fans that baseball works on a foldable phone; it's exploring how a different kind of device could change the way they follow the game.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

And this is only the beginning. As the new experience arrives and the World Series gets underway, MLB has some of baseball's biggest games ahead to see how fans respond. Those early learnings could shape what comes next, with the off-season offering a chance to refine the experience and build something even more compelling for next year's Opening Day.

Curtis hinted at further developments he can't discuss yet, particularly around keeping fans engaged with the app without pulling them away from a live game.

For now, a 7.6-inch inner display, live video, real-time stats, and AI-generated context give baseball fans a new way to follow the action on their phones. The World Series offers an ideal first test, and the off-season gives MLB time to build on what it learns. If the league gets that balance right, the next version of its app could be even more compelling when baseball returns for Opening Day.

An Apple Music easter egg will let you experience the sound and the scroll of the click wheel.

• Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe says the game's Showbiz system was "a real challenge" for RGG Studio
• Abe says lots of research was put into finding out what a show promoter does and how to depict that in-game
• Abe adds that "At some point we did have a small rhythm game," but the idea didn't match the team's vision

Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe has revealed how RGG Studio designed the game's Showbiz narrative system and how difficult it was to get right.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Abe said the Showbiz, an entertainment management system requiring the main character, Makoto Daito, to build a business, find sources of inspiration for music, and plan productions as a promoter, "was a real challenge for us."

The director explained that RGG started by asking: what does a promoter actually do? Because "you know what a singer does, and you know what a band does, but you don't exactly know what a promoter does in the music industry," so research began from there.

Abe revealed that "At some point we did have a small rhythm game, but it didn't exactly match the feeling that you're promoting a show," so the team went back to the whiteboard phase to try different things.

"One thing that we noticed is that a promoter is the person who brings in not just the money, but also the inspiration and the whole vision of the show," Abe said. "We thought that's an interesting aspect that we can put into this game."

In Stranger Than Heaven, players can walk around cities and interact with things in the environment, like a grandfather clock or a bonfire, and collect sounds as inspiration for music. Daito can then take these samples and collaborate with a composer to create new music and plan a production for the singer and band.

"The inspiration sources are basically like when you have a certain job, you always have these antennas looking for something," Abe said. "So, if you're a musician, you always have this antenna for the music you're hearing, and that can inspire people to create new stuff, and that was no different for Makoto as well.

Abe added, "That's why this game system of finding and then using that inspiration to create music came to life in the game."

Stranger Than Heaven releases on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

• Samsung Display is developing more efficient OLED pixel tech to rival LG's FLiPP tech
• It could start production very soon, but the prototype is only 7 inches
• The tech seems to target watch and phone screens over larger panels

As we reported last week, LG Display is moving forward with next-gen Fine Metal Mask-free OLED pixels that could mean brighter, more efficient and maybe more affordable OLED panels. And it looks like Samsung Display is thinking along very similar lines.

A new report by trade site The Elec says that Samsung Display has been working on a prototype seven-inch FMM-free OLED panel using its proprietary Micro Patterned OLED technology, or MPO for short.

The Elec has been speaking to unnamed industry sources, who said that Samsung has been working on MPO product development since March 2026 with a target date at the end of 2026, although that may slip into early 2027.

As with LG's FLiPP technology, the plan is to focus on a particular screen size at first. Samsung is aiming at phone or watch-sized displays, while LG is aiming at laptop or monitor-sized displays. (Neither is aiming at TVs in the near future, alas.)

But while the two companies are taking slightly different approaches to FMM-free manufacturing, the result is likely to be the same: brighter, more efficient and more affordable OLED panels.

LG's FLiPP process promises to reduce waste and make OLED production more efficient (Image credit: LG Display)What is Samsung Display's MPO technology, and how does it differ from LG Display's FLiPP?

First, why do these companies want to drop 'Fine Metal Mask' tech? This is currently how the material for OLED pixels is deposited into each pixel, and while the tech is useful and mature, it makes for pixels that aren't very efficient.

The primary goal of moving to a more efficient tech is make it so that more of the area of each pixel is filled with light-emitting elements, which means the panel will be brighter, or can be the same brightness but uses less power to do it, which great for battery life and longevity of devices. FMM-free pixels could also be cheaper to make, long-term.

LG's FLiPP technology (FMM-Less innovative Pixel Patterning) essentially covers the panel with organic materials and then removes the bits it doesn't want via etching and photolithography. MPO does things slightly differently, creating microscopic structures that fence in the organic materials so they're only laid where they need to go. Those structures are then removed. That means less waste and simpler manufacturing, which will ultimately mean lower manufacturing costs, in theory.

The most important difference may not be technical, however: as The Elec points out, there are various active patents regarding FMM-free technologies, and MPO may enable Samsung Display to avoid them.

What we don't know yet is how well the technology will scale. As one of the unnamed industry insiders explained, "MPO is being developed in a direction better suited to high-resolution OLED displays than medium- and large-sized panels. Once a 7-inch-class sample is available, it will be possible to assess how effectively MPO’s technical advantages can be realized at an actual product size."

The big problems for OLED screens, and the thing that keeps them more expensive than LCD panels, is yield rates — that means how many panels you produce are actually usable. The new FMM-free technologies might work perfectly and be cheaper in terms of the material used, but if only 50% of the panels you make are good enough to ship, you haven't actually saved anything.

That's why the production test runs of both technologies will be the make-or-break moment — though both are behind the roll-out of inkjet-printed OLED, arriving in monitors now, which hopes to deliver all the same advantages.

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

Apple Watch Series 12: One minute review

While the Apple Watch Series 12 is a decidedly modern-looking smartwatch in a pleasingly thin profile, it’s not a major redesign from the Cupertino-based tech giant. And if you're upgrading from the Series 11, you'll probably notice more of a difference in what the watch can do rather than in how it looks. Apple has updated the Health Sensing System (its array of LEDs and sensors used to collect your health data), introduced Readiness Score, and made everyday tracking more useful, with real-time steps and heart-rate information easier to access.

I've been wearing the Series 12 for more than a month, and Readiness Score is the addition I've found myself using the most. It takes your sleep and other health data and turns it into a score out of 10, giving you a quick idea of how ready you might be for the day. I've generally found the results match how I feel, and it's a feature that can genuinely influence what I do, whether that's heading out for a workout or taking a longer walk with my dog, Rosie.

I've also been comparing the Series 12 with the Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Ultra 4, as well as the Oura Ring 5 and Pixel Watch 5. That has helped me put Apple's latest watch into context, particularly when looking at health tracking and heart-rate readings. The Series 12 has generally delivered the sort of everyday experience I'd expect from an Apple Watch, with battery life that's worked well for me most of the time.

A couple of things to consider, though. The design is very familiar, so there's little reason to upgrade purely for its appearance, and I did have two nights when the battery ran out before morning. Apple's upcoming AI features are also still a reason to wait rather than buy immediately. If they're what you're most interested in.

For anyone using an older Apple Watch, particularly a Series 9 or earlier, the Series 12 makes a much stronger case. The combination of newer health features, Readiness Score, performance, and battery life makes this an upgrade worth considering.

Apple Watch Series 12: Specs Table

Component

Apple Watch Series 12 (42mm)

Apple Watch Series 12 (46mm)

Price

$399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 42mm

$429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 46mm

Dimension

46 x 40 x 9.7mm

42 x 37 x 9.7mm

Weight

31.5g (without band)

38.6g (without band)

Case/bezel

Aluminum, Titanium, or Ceramic

Aluminum, Titanium, or Ceramic

Display

42mm Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display (up to 2,000 nits)

46mm Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display (up to 2,000 nits)

Processor

Apple-made S11 chip

Apple-made S11 chip

GPS

Precision L1 GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou)

Precision L1 GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou)

Battery life

Up to 24 hours with normal use

Up to 24 hours with normal use

Connections

4G LTE, Satellite SOS, Wi‑Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3

Wi‑Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3, and 4G LTE

Water resistant

Water resistance 50m

Water resistance 50m

Apple Watch Series 12: Price and availability

• $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 42mm
• $429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 46mm
• Prices unchanged from last year

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 42mm with a recycled aluminum case and standard strap, and $429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 46mm. LTE-capable models, which can be added to your data plans, as well as optional improvements to the finish — titanium or ceramic — are available at an additional cost.

It doesn’t represent outstanding value in the same way as, let’s say, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium might, but it’s fine — the price has actually held steady on Apple Watches for the last couple of years, which is encouraging given the electronics industry is undergoing a supply chain crisis at the moment.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch Series 12: Design

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• Same ‘squircle’ and digital crown design
• Retains slimmer look from Series 11
• Redesigned sensor array and GPS architecture

If you expect the Apple Watch Series 12 to look substantially different from the Series 11, you'll be disappointed. Apple has kept the familiar rectangular ‘squircle’ design, with the Digital Crown and side button on the case, and the overall look remains very much the same.

After using the Series 12 for more than a month and comparing it with the Series 11, I haven't found the exterior to be a major reason to upgrade. It doesn't look dramatically different on your wrist, and Apple hasn't tried to reinvent a design that already works.

That's not necessarily a problem, though. The Apple Watch Series 12 remains a comfortable everyday smartwatch, and wearing it all day and overnight matters when you use it for sleep tracking and the Readiness Score. The biggest changes are on the rear of the case, as Apple has redesigned the LEDs and internal architecture to make its data collection more accurate. However, a watch can have all the health features in the world, but they're less useful if you don't want to wear it consistently.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

The Series 12 comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with aluminum and titanium options alongside ceramic, which is returning and still adds a bit more heft. That gives you some choice in look and finish, though the core experience stays the same. The aluminum model is the more straightforward choice for most people, while titanium and ceramic offer alternatives if materials and appearance matter more to you.

The always-on OLED display is familiar, too. It lets you glance at the time, check a notification, or see your workout metrics without having to wake the screen manually. That's one of those features that quickly becomes part of your routine, particularly if you use complications to keep useful information on the watch face.

One addition I've found handy is the real-time step-count complication. I check steps regularly, and seeing the number at a glance saves me from opening the Fitness app. The heart rate complication works the same way, especially when I want to keep an eye on my readings during the day.

Compared with the Ultra 3 and Ultra 4, the Series 12 feels more like a familiar everyday watch. The Ultra models have their own appeal, particularly if you want a larger, more rugged watch, but the Series 12 is easier to recommend to someone who doesn't need that design.

The main point is that the Series 12 doesn't feel like a new design generation. If you're upgrading, look at the back of the case, with its improved health features enabling the Readiness Score and overall experience, rather than expecting a noticeable aesthetic change to the watch itself.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch Series 12: Features

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• Readiness score is a major boon
• More frequent heart rate data collection
• Upcoming Audio Intelligence features

The Readiness Score is the biggest reason I'd consider the Series 12, and it stood out most during my testing. It uses overnight sleep and HRV data, along with other health and activity information and some custom processing, to produce a score from 1 to 10. The idea is to give you a quick indication of how ready you might be for the day, rather than leaving you to interpret a collection of separate metrics yourself. Tested against the Garmin Cirqa, our senior fitness editor Matt Evans found both devices provided identical Readiness scores after wearing both for one week’s worth of sleep.

I like how Apple presents it: a half-moon graphic that’s easy to read, with an accompanying explanation that gives context for the score. It feels grounded in the data, rather than relying on vague wellness language that doesn't explain why you got a particular result.

My scores have generally been high, and they've mostly matched how I've felt. Getting my first 10 out of 10 was satisfying, of course, but the more interesting part is how I can use the information. If I've slept well and feel good, a strong score might encourage me to fit in a workout or take Rosie on a longer walk. It won't make every decision for me, but it gives me another useful piece of information to consider.

I've used an Oura Ring before, so I know the appeal of a daily Readiness score and the help it can provide beyond raw data. I appreciate that Apple built the feature into the watch I already use. I don't need to add another device to my routine, and Readiness Score doesn't require a separate subscription.

That makes it a particularly interesting addition for existing Apple Watch owners who want more from the health data their watch collects. Instead of simply checking how long I slept or looking at the previous day's activity, I get a more immediate summary I can use to plan my day. However, we have to acknowledge the wait for this feature — most other devices have had Readiness for years, but Apple has stated the feature has been enabled by its redesigned sensors taking heart rate and HRV readings more frequently, up to 60 times more often than previous Apple Watches.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

I've also been paying attention to heart rate readings while comparing the Series 12 with the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and Ultra 4, along with the Oura Ring 5 and Pixel Watch 5. In my everyday use, the Series 12's readings have been broadly consistent with what I've seen from those other devices.

Having heart rate information readily available is useful during workouts, too. I've used the watch for yoga, outdoor walks and runs, and indoor cycling, and it has fit naturally into those sessions. The real-time heart rate complication also makes it easier to check my readings without navigating away from the watch face.

The Series 12 retains the wider Apple Watch health feature set, including ECG, heart-rate notifications, wrist-temperature sensing, sleep tracking, respiratory-rate tracking, cycle tracking, hearing-health features, hypertension notifications and blood-oxygen tracking where supported. These aren't all new to this generation, but they contribute to the overall package.

Apple's upcoming AI (‘Audio Intelligence’ this time) features aren't a strong reason to buy right now. Live Rewind and Siri Recap sound interesting, but I haven't been able to test them because they aren’t out yet. If you're considering the Series 12 for those, I'd wait until Apple confirms when they're shipping and what will be available in your region, as there is some contention with Siri AI in certain regions such as the EU.

For now, Readiness Score is the feature I'd focus on. It's useful today, fits into the existing Apple Watch experience, and has made the biggest difference in how I use the Series 12. Best of all, it’s not locked behind another subscription … and that’s simply refreshing.

• Design score: 5/5

Apple Watch Series 12: Performance

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• S11 chip drives excellent performance
• Accurate compared to other wearables
• Responsive with no stutters

While the Series 12 still feels and looks like an Apple Watch in pretty much every sense of the word, you can’t judge a book by its cover, especially when it comes to performance. Under the hood, the Series 12 runs on Apple’s new S11 chip, and the new health-sensing system on the back enables the Readiness score and HRV features. All of this comes together to make the Series 12 feel responsive, with none-to-minimal stutters when calling on a particular feature set.

I've now used the Series 12 for more than a month, and I've compared it directly alongside the Series 11, Ultra 3, and Ultra 4. These comparisons have helped me understand how the Series 12 fits into the wider wearable landscape, and while the latest generation doesn’t run laps around the previous gen or the one before that, the responsiveness is definitely noticeable.

Whether you’re customizing a Watch Face with your favorite complications, calling on Siri to remember a piece of information or drafting a message, controlling media playback, making a call, recording a voice memo, checking your activity score, monitoring your heart rate, or starting a workout, the Series 12 feels very responsive. We’ve also tested the same heart rate system, albeit on the Ultra 4, against a chest-mounted heart rate monitor, the Frontier X2, alongside the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, and found Apple’s latest gen is highly accurate.

Battery life has been good overall, and it certainly meets Apple's all-day battery life promise. On a normal day with plenty of interaction points and one extended workout, I typically have around 30%–45% battery remaining by bedtime. That's enough to get through a normal day, and faster charging makes it easier to top up when I need to. Depending on how I use it, I can get through a full day and sometimes stretch it to a day and a half.

So far, the Series 12 has run out of battery overnight twice, and I think it’s especially worth mentioning because you need a full night of sleep data to wake up with a Readiness Score. And that means an unexpected shutdown can interrupt that routine. My general solution, even if the percentage hasn’t dropped super low, is to give it a quick charge before bed rather than assuming it will always have enough power to last the night.

The faster charging helps here. A short top-up with the USB-C to Apple Watch dongle that ships with the Series 12 can make it easier to keep the watch going overnight while still wearing it.

If you’re coming from an older Apple Watch, the all-day battery life paired with fast-charging will likely make a big difference. It’s not just a quality-of-life upgrade from, say, a Series 10 or older; compared with the rest of the features, it's a significant leap in what watchOS can accomplish and how long you go before you need to charge.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Apple Watch Series 12?Buy it if..

You're upgrading from an Apple Watch Series 9 or older and want better health tracking, Readiness Score, and faster charging.

You want a responsive everyday smartwatch with useful at-a-glance health metrics and no extra subscription for Readiness Score.

Don’t buy it if..

You already own an Apple Watch Series 11 and want a major design change or a substantial leap in performance.

You're buying primarily for Apple's upcoming AI features, or you need battery life you can count on for every night of sleep tracking without a top-up.

Also consider

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro

The Apple Watch Ultra 4's biggest competitor in the premium adventure watch space.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 9 Pro review

How we tested

We tested the Apple Watch Series 12 by wearing it day and night, tracking workouts, monitoring sleep, and putting its features to the test over multiple weeks. We compared its health and fitness readings with other wearables and an electrical heart rate monitor, tested battery life, and explored as many features as possible to see how it holds up in everyday use.

First reviewed October 2026.

Apple Watch Series 12: One minute review

While the Apple Watch Series 12 is a decidedly modern-looking smartwatch in a pleasingly thin profile, it’s not a major redesign from the Cupertino-based tech giant. And if you're upgrading from the Series 11, you'll probably notice more of a difference in what the watch can do rather than in how it looks. Apple has updated the Health Sensing System (its array of LEDs and sensors used to collect your health data), introduced Readiness Score, and made everyday tracking more useful, with real-time steps and heart-rate information easier to access.

I've been wearing the Series 12 for more than a month, and Readiness Score is the addition I've found myself using the most. It takes your sleep and other health data and turns it into a score out of 10, giving you a quick idea of how ready you might be for the day. I've generally found the results match how I feel, and it's a feature that can genuinely influence what I do, whether that's heading out for a workout or taking a longer walk with my dog, Rosie.

I've also been comparing the Series 12 with the Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Ultra 4, as well as the Oura Ring 5 and Pixel Watch 5. That has helped me put Apple's latest watch into context, particularly when looking at health tracking and heart-rate readings. The Series 12 has generally delivered the sort of everyday experience I'd expect from an Apple Watch, with battery life that's worked well for me most of the time.

A couple of things to consider, though. The design is very familiar, so there's little reason to upgrade purely for its appearance, and I did have two nights when the battery ran out before morning. Apple's upcoming AI features are also still a reason to wait rather than buy immediately. If they're what you're most interested in.

For anyone using an older Apple Watch, particularly a Series 9 or earlier, the Series 12 makes a much stronger case. The combination of newer health features, Readiness Score, performance, and battery life makes this an upgrade worth considering.

Apple Watch Series 12: Specs Table

Component

Apple Watch Series 12 (42mm)

Apple Watch Series 12 (46mm)

Price

$399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 42mm

$429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 46mm

Dimension

46 x 40 x 9.7mm

42 x 37 x 9.7mm

Weight

31.5g (without band)

38.6g (without band)

Case/bezel

Aluminum, Titanium, or Ceramic

Aluminum, Titanium, or Ceramic

Display

42mm Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display (up to 2,000 nits)

46mm Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display (up to 2,000 nits)

Processor

Apple-made S11 chip

Apple-made S11 chip

GPS

Precision L1 GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou)

Precision L1 GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou)

Battery life

Up to 24 hours with normal use

Up to 24 hours with normal use

Connections

4G LTE, Satellite SOS, Wi‑Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3

Wi‑Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3, and 4G LTE

Water resistant

Water resistance 50m

Water resistance 50m

Apple Watch Series 12: Price and availability

• $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 42mm
• $429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 46mm
• Prices unchanged from last year

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 42mm with a recycled aluminum case and standard strap, and $429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 46mm. LTE-capable models, which can be added to your data plans, as well as optional improvements to the finish — titanium or ceramic — are available at an additional cost.

It doesn’t represent outstanding value in the same way as, let’s say, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium might, but it’s fine — the price has actually held steady on Apple Watches for the last couple of years, which is encouraging given the electronics industry is undergoing a supply chain crisis at the moment.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch Series 12: Design

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• Same ‘squircle’ and digital crown design
• Retains slimmer look from Series 11
• Redesigned sensor array and GPS architecture

If you expect the Apple Watch Series 12 to look substantially different from the Series 11, you'll be disappointed. Apple has kept the familiar rectangular ‘squircle’ design, with the Digital Crown and side button on the case, and the overall look remains very much the same.

After using the Series 12 for more than a month and comparing it with the Series 11, I haven't found the exterior to be a major reason to upgrade. It doesn't look dramatically different on your wrist, and Apple hasn't tried to reinvent a design that already works.

That's not necessarily a problem, though. The Apple Watch Series 12 remains a comfortable everyday smartwatch, and wearing it all day and overnight matters when you use it for sleep tracking and the Readiness Score. The biggest changes are on the rear of the case, as Apple has redesigned the LEDs and internal architecture to make its data collection more accurate. However, a watch can have all the health features in the world, but they're less useful if you don't want to wear it consistently.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

The Series 12 comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with aluminum and titanium options alongside ceramic, which is returning and still adds a bit more heft. That gives you some choice in look and finish, though the core experience stays the same. The aluminum model is the more straightforward choice for most people, while titanium and ceramic offer alternatives if materials and appearance matter more to you.

The always-on OLED display is familiar, too. It lets you glance at the time, check a notification, or see your workout metrics without having to wake the screen manually. That's one of those features that quickly becomes part of your routine, particularly if you use complications to keep useful information on the watch face.

One addition I've found handy is the real-time step-count complication. I check steps regularly, and seeing the number at a glance saves me from opening the Fitness app. The heart rate complication works the same way, especially when I want to keep an eye on my readings during the day.

Compared with the Ultra 3 and Ultra 4, the Series 12 feels more like a familiar everyday watch. The Ultra models have their own appeal, particularly if you want a larger, more rugged watch, but the Series 12 is easier to recommend to someone who doesn't need that design.

The main point is that the Series 12 doesn't feel like a new design generation. If you're upgrading, look at the back of the case, with its improved health features enabling the Readiness Score and overall experience, rather than expecting a noticeable aesthetic change to the watch itself.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch Series 12: Features

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• Readiness score is a major boon
• More frequent heart rate data collection
• Upcoming Audio Intelligence features

The Readiness Score is the biggest reason I'd consider the Series 12, and it stood out most during my testing. It uses overnight sleep and HRV data, along with other health and activity information and some custom processing, to produce a score from 1 to 10. The idea is to give you a quick indication of how ready you might be for the day, rather than leaving you to interpret a collection of separate metrics yourself. Tested against the Garmin Cirqa, our senior fitness editor Matt Evans found both devices provided identical Readiness scores after wearing both for one week’s worth of sleep.

I like how Apple presents it: a half-moon graphic that’s easy to read, with an accompanying explanation that gives context for the score. It feels grounded in the data, rather than relying on vague wellness language that doesn't explain why you got a particular result.

My scores have generally been high, and they've mostly matched how I've felt. Getting my first 10 out of 10 was satisfying, of course, but the more interesting part is how I can use the information. If I've slept well and feel good, a strong score might encourage me to fit in a workout or take Rosie on a longer walk. It won't make every decision for me, but it gives me another useful piece of information to consider.

I've used an Oura Ring before, so I know the appeal of a daily Readiness score and the help it can provide beyond raw data. I appreciate that Apple built the feature into the watch I already use. I don't need to add another device to my routine, and Readiness Score doesn't require a separate subscription.

That makes it a particularly interesting addition for existing Apple Watch owners who want more from the health data their watch collects. Instead of simply checking how long I slept or looking at the previous day's activity, I get a more immediate summary I can use to plan my day. However, we have to acknowledge the wait for this feature — most other devices have had Readiness for years, but Apple has stated the feature has been enabled by its redesigned sensors taking heart rate and HRV readings more frequently, up to 60 times more often than previous Apple Watches.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

I've also been paying attention to heart rate readings while comparing the Series 12 with the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and Ultra 4, along with the Oura Ring 5 and Pixel Watch 5. In my everyday use, the Series 12's readings have been broadly consistent with what I've seen from those other devices.

Having heart rate information readily available is useful during workouts, too. I've used the watch for yoga, outdoor walks and runs, and indoor cycling, and it has fit naturally into those sessions. The real-time heart rate complication also makes it easier to check my readings without navigating away from the watch face.

The Series 12 retains the wider Apple Watch health feature set, including ECG, heart-rate notifications, wrist-temperature sensing, sleep tracking, respiratory-rate tracking, cycle tracking, hearing-health features, hypertension notifications and blood-oxygen tracking where supported. These aren't all new to this generation, but they contribute to the overall package.

Apple's upcoming AI (‘Audio Intelligence’ this time) features aren't a strong reason to buy right now. Live Rewind and Siri Recap sound interesting, but I haven't been able to test them because they aren’t out yet. If you're considering the Series 12 for those, I'd wait until Apple confirms when they're shipping and what will be available in your region, as there is some contention with Siri AI in certain regions such as the EU.

For now, Readiness Score is the feature I'd focus on. It's useful today, fits into the existing Apple Watch experience, and has made the biggest difference in how I use the Series 12. Best of all, it’s not locked behind another subscription … and that’s simply refreshing.

• Design score: 5/5

Apple Watch Series 12: Performance

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

• S11 chip drives excellent performance
• Accurate compared to other wearables
• Responsive with no stutters

While the Series 12 still feels and looks like an Apple Watch in pretty much every sense of the word, you can’t judge a book by its cover, especially when it comes to performance. Under the hood, the Series 12 runs on Apple’s new S11 chip, and the new health-sensing system on the back enables the Readiness score and HRV features. All of this comes together to make the Series 12 feel responsive, with none-to-minimal stutters when calling on a particular feature set.

I've now used the Series 12 for more than a month, and I've compared it directly alongside the Series 11, Ultra 3, and Ultra 4. These comparisons have helped me understand how the Series 12 fits into the wider wearable landscape, and while the latest generation doesn’t run laps around the previous gen or the one before that, the responsiveness is definitely noticeable.

Whether you’re customizing a Watch Face with your favorite complications, calling on Siri to remember a piece of information or drafting a message, controlling media playback, making a call, recording a voice memo, checking your activity score, monitoring your heart rate, or starting a workout, the Series 12 feels very responsive. We’ve also tested the same heart rate system, albeit on the Ultra 4, against a chest-mounted heart rate monitor, the Frontier X2, alongside the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, and found Apple’s latest gen is highly accurate.

Battery life has been good overall, and it certainly meets Apple's all-day battery life promise. On a normal day with plenty of interaction points and one extended workout, I typically have around 30%–45% battery remaining by bedtime. That's enough to get through a normal day, and faster charging makes it easier to top up when I need to. Depending on how I use it, I can get through a full day and sometimes stretch it to a day and a half.

So far, the Series 12 has run out of battery overnight twice, and I think it’s especially worth mentioning because you need a full night of sleep data to wake up with a Readiness Score. And that means an unexpected shutdown can interrupt that routine. My general solution, even if the percentage hasn’t dropped super low, is to give it a quick charge before bed rather than assuming it will always have enough power to last the night.

The faster charging helps here. A short top-up with the USB-C to Apple Watch dongle that ships with the Series 12 can make it easier to keep the watch going overnight while still wearing it.

If you’re coming from an older Apple Watch, the all-day battery life paired with fast-charging will likely make a big difference. It’s not just a quality-of-life upgrade from, say, a Series 10 or older; compared with the rest of the features, it's a significant leap in what watchOS can accomplish and how long you go before you need to charge.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Apple Watch Series 12?Buy it if..

You're upgrading from an Apple Watch Series 9 or older and want better health tracking, Readiness Score, and faster charging.

You want a responsive everyday smartwatch with useful at-a-glance health metrics and no extra subscription for Readiness Score.

Don’t buy it if..

You already own an Apple Watch Series 11 and want a major design change or a substantial leap in performance.

You're buying primarily for Apple's upcoming AI features, or you need battery life you can count on for every night of sleep tracking without a top-up.

Also consider

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro

The Apple Watch Ultra 4's biggest competitor in the premium adventure watch space.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 9 Pro review

How we tested

We tested the Apple Watch Series 12 by wearing it day and night, tracking workouts, monitoring sleep, and putting its features to the test over multiple weeks. We compared its health and fitness readings with other wearables and an electrical heart rate monitor, tested battery life, and explored as many features as possible to see how it holds up in everyday use.

First reviewed October 2026.

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• Marvell reveals Photonic Fabric Memory Module, the building block of a 16-module appliance sharing 32TB of DDR5 and 1,152GB of HBM3e across 16 hosts over fiber
• The design dates back to Celestial AI's 2025 presentations, currently remains pre-silicon, and is targeting customer sampling by 2027
• Nvidia is already hedging with a $2 billion Marvell stake in addition to its own BlueField-4 STX context memory, Enfabrica's pooling tech, and a co-packaged optics roadmap

Marvell has put physical hardware behind one of the more ambitious ideas in AI infrastructure.

In a video posted to X, and earlier in a theCUBE interview recorded around its October 6 Investor Day, the company showed off its Photonic Fabric Memory Module, which it bills as the "first optically interconnected high-capacity, high-bandwidth memory."

The pitch is simple: use light instead of copper so that dozens of terabytes of memory can sit in a separate box, racks away, and be shared by many processors at once, something that could effectively birth the widespread use of communal or shared memory across multiple AI servers.

Two terabytes at a time

Some clarity, however, is warranted: the 32TB figure belongs not to the module but to the Photonic Fabric Memory Appliance, which gangs 16 modules together and shares the pool across up to 16 hosts.

Those hosts can be whole servers or individual accelerators, so 16 GPUs might understate the potential reach in one sense and at the same time, overstate the bandwidth any single GPU will see in another. Nothing is shipping just yet, either: Marvell is targeting customer sampling in 2027.

Each module pairs 72GB of HBM3e with slots for up to eight DDR5 DIMMs, a Photonic Fabric ASIC, and 7.2Tbps of optical I/O, according to Marvell's August 2026 Hot Interconnects presentation.

Hitting 2TB per module means filling all eight slots with 256GB RDIMMs and sixteen modules, joined by a passive all-to-all fiber shuffle rather than an electrical switch, yields 32TB of DDR5 plus 1,152GB of HBM3e, which Marvell rounds to about 1TB and runs as a faster write-through cache in front of the DRAM.

Marvell is going after the economics of today's accelerators. HBM sits roughly 1.5 millimeters from the processor inside the same package, so the only way to buy more of it is to buy more processors. This is increasingly expensive because HBM is extremely costly, and it also means a GPU essentially acts as "the world's most expensive memory controller," as per Dave Lazovsky.

The target workload is the KV cache, the working memory a large language model keeps for each conversation, which balloons with long contexts and agentic sessions. Once it outgrows local HBM and host DRAM, servers either evict it and recompute, or fetch it from much slower storage. This has significant performance implications, and Marvell plans to mitigate it differently.

Ravi Mahatme, who leads product management for the Photonic Fabric unit, said the biggest payoff of a shared tier is "a cross-node KV cache," letting one accelerator reuse context another has already computed. Will Chu, Marvell's EVP of Custom Cloud Solutions, made the broader case in the company's FMS announcement: "As AI scales, memory must scale more independently of compute."

The CAPEX argument is rooted in this: If operators can buy memory separately from accelerators, they no longer need to buy GPUs just to get capacity. This makes sense, but Marvell has yet to put a number to it, even as a May 2026 company blog talks about lower memory cost per gigabyte and lower inference costs without figures, and Celestial AI's 2025 conference slides promised benefits beyond TCO reduction with no supporting numbers.

The timing also isn't ideal for harnessing cheap memory: the approach's 128 DIMM slots draw on the same DDR5 caught up in the current memory crunch, where server RDIMM prices have climbed faster than consumer memory, now around 5.5 times their pre-crisis price in the US.

The appliance design is not entirely new either; Celestial AI presented the same architecture, 16 modules holding 32TB of DDR and about 1TB of HBM, at Hot Interconnects in August 2025, and TechRadar has covered its DDR5-plus-HBM approach back in 2024. What has changed is the Marvell badge, a physical module, and a sampling date.

Nvidia is already hedging, both as an investor and a pioneer

The idea that Nvidia won't sit idle is more than an assumption, because it has been moving for more than a year, including taking a stake in Marvell itself. In March 2026, Nvidia invested $2 billion in Marvell in a deal covering NVLink Fusion and silicon photonics, with Jensen Huang declaring that "The inference inflection has arrived."

It is also important to understand that every NVLink Fusion platform must include at least one Nvidia product, so Nvidia gets paid even when custom silicon wins the socket, but that doesn't mean it doesn't want a piece of that pie anyway.

It is bringing its own answers to the same memory problem in multiple ways; A single Vera Rubin NVL72 rack carries 54TB of LPDDR5X, more than Marvell's entire appliance.

At Nvidia GTC 2026, the company launched BlueField-4 STX, a flash-based context memory tier built for KV cache, claiming up to five times the token throughput of CPU-based storage, with Huang saying reasoning AI needs "a new class of storage." Partner systems are due in the second half of 2026. Back in 2025, Nvidia reportedly spent more than $900 million on Enfabrica, whose EMFASYS system pooled up to 18TB of memory for GPU clusters.

On optics, Nvidia has put $4 billion into Lumentum and Coherent, unveiled photonics switches at GTC 2025, and will offer co-packaged optics as an NVLink option in Feynman-generation systems due in 2028. On the choice between copper and optical scale-up, Huang has said: "We're going to do both."

Marvell still has a long way to go: working silicon, a named customer, a memory partner, and measured throughput on real hardware rather than simulated curves all need to play out exactly as planned.

Until then, the appliance is a well-argued blueprint, and the CAPEX savings remain an argument rather than a number. The irony is hard to miss: the company whose GPUs Lazovsky casts as the world's priciest memory controller owns a $2 billion slice of Marvell, and through NVLink Fusion, stands to earn on the racks either way.

We’ll fold Apple’s iPhone Duo 900 times an hour to see how its hinge holds up.