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A leaked regional chip split could make Samsung’s rumored Galaxy S27 Pro a more complicated choice for global IT teams standardizing corporate mobile fleets.

The post Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro Leak Points to Exynos Split for Global Buyers appeared first on TechRepublic.

I hate buying compressed air in cans. They're expensive, bulky, and they never last as long as they should. But I've found an awesome, affordable alternative that's a lot less wasteful (and a lot more fun).

The Wolfbox MF60 electric air duster is currently discounted to $31 (was $50) at Amazon. This rechargeable electric duster features 110,000 RPM brushless motor delivering that's capable of clearing out dust and debris from keyboards, computers, camera gear, and plenty more.

It's one of those home office gadgets that you never realize you need until you get one. In the UK, the MF60 is also discounted to £37 (was £44) at Amazon, too.

Today's top office accessory deal

A rechargeable cordless air duster with a 110,000 RPM brushless motor and three adjustable speed settings. The lowest speed is gentle enough for delicate components and camera lenses; the highest moves real debris from keyboards, fan grilles, and car vents.

In the UK: now £37 (was £44)View Deal

The three-speed control is more useful than it sounds. A single-speed electric duster forces you to manage the distance from the surface to control airflow intensity, which can get awkward with delicate components. The MF60’s lowest speed lets you safely clean around camera sensors, circuit boards, and laptop keyboards without blasting debris deeper into gaps or risking damage to fragile parts. The highest speed is reserved for the jobs that need it — shifting compacted dust from heatsinks, clearing a fan grille that hasn’t been touched in years, or blasting pet hair from a car seat.

The brushless motor is the component that determines both the lifespan and the consistent performance of an electric air duster. Brushless motors have no physical contact points that wear down over time, which is why the Gadgeteer’s review of the MF100 found it delivered “impressive power” that held up across extended testing. The same brushless motor architecture carries through to the MF60, which means it should perform consistently whether you’re using it for the first time or the five hundredth.

USB-C charging is the practical detail that matters most for day-to-day use. It means the duster charges from the same cable as your laptop, phone, or other devices — no proprietary charger to lose, and it works from a power bank if you’re using it away from a wall outlet. The full charge time is reasonable for a device you’ll use in bursts rather than continuously.

The nozzle kit covers the practical range of cleaning scenarios: a narrow extension nozzle for getting into tight gaps between keyboard keys or fan blades, a wider deflector for broader surface coverage, and a brush attachment for simultaneously scrubbing and blowing on surfaces with caked-on dust. For a PC that’s been neglected for a year or more, the brush attachment on the GPU heatsink makes a noticeable difference over a bare nozzle alone.

One note on expectations: the MF60 at 110,000 RPM produces strong, consistent airflow for the cleaning tasks most people need — keyboards, electronics, camera gear, car interiors. The flagship MF100 at 150,000 RPM pushes more air per second and is the better choice if you regularly clean large surfaces or heavily clogged components. So, the MF60 is the right entry point for anyone who just wants to get off canned air without spending flagship money.

• US: See all PC accessories at Amazon
• UK: See all computer accessories at Amazon.co.uk

Jump to...

MI6 Approved: Screen-accurate 007 office gear
Q Branch: Bond-themed gear, gifts & gadgets

I'm a massive James Bond fan - if I had a specialist subject, it would be the 007 movies and books. So, I had a lot of fun building out the best James Bond home office gear I could find. Spreadsheets and online meetings might not always be quite as exciting as tackling Blofeld's never-ending plans for world domination - the same old dream - but at least this office setup brings the world of Bond to your workspace.

I've included 6 MI6-approved screen-accurate desk accessories and replicas. This includes GoldenEye's Parker Jotter (three clicks...), Bernard Lee's GPO 746 Red Rotary Phone - a staple of the Roger Moore era - and the iconic Royal Doulton Jack the Bulldog gifted to 007 by M in Skyfall. Consider this your official 00-Section requisition list.

Direct from Q Branch, I've also rounded up James Bond-inspired office gear for field-work and gadgets that keep SPECTRE from nosing through your files. They might not have appeared in the films, but they at least make you feel more like taking part in a global espionage caper (the rearview mirror dish is a particular favorite, as well as a "genuine Felix lighter").

MI6 approved 007 home office gear

Royal Doulton Jack the Bulldog - No Time to Die edition

Parker Parker Jotter Ballpoint Pen

GPO GPO 746 Rotary Phone

Anglepoise Anglepoise Type 75 Desk Lamp

SHISEDECO Shisedeco Classic Hang It All Rack

Pioneer DJ Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10-S Headphones

Q Branch: James Bond office gear, gifts & gadgets

Balvi Secret Agent Bookend

SNDEC Rear View Desk Mirror Dish

Factory Entertainment James Bond: Dr. No Tin Tote

JiveZync Flash Drive Pen

SUMNEW Fingerprint Cabinet Lock

Collectable Sign and Clock Walther PPK Patent Backlit Clock

Custom Car Posters Aston Martin DB5 Handmade Poster

Amazon Basics Book Safe with Key Lock

Official James Bond 007 Official Diamonds Are Forever Ceramic Mug

Alpine Swiss Executive Aluminum Briefcase

KCD 007 James Bond Vinyl Decals

Nordik By Design Nordik Leather Desk Mat Cable Organizer

HWC Trading The Spy Who Loved Me Framed Movie Poster

Apricorn Apricorn 1TB Encrypted Hard Drive

Zonsuli Golden Hands Sculpture

Vaydeer Metal Pen Holder

Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Hard Cover Notebook

Zippo James Bond 007 Engraved Zippo Lighter

DuckDuckGo says its browser now blocks most video ads, including those on YouTube.

The blockbuster video game movie hits streaming this month.

• You can now run Claude Cowork in the cloud, from the web or mobile
• Knowledge work now accounts for around half of all Cowork sessions
• Traditional local Cowork sessions are still supported

Days after reports surfaced that Anthropic could be bringing Claude Cowork to its mobile app, the company has gone one further – users can now start, monitor and complete their agentic workflows from the mobile app and a dedicated web portal.

The upgrade is rolling out in beta now for Claude Max subscribers, but the company has plans to bring the functionality to more plans as rollout continues.

As part of the upgrade, Cowork sessions will also run in the cloud by default – another beta introduction that means workflows can continue even once a PC goes offline or shuts down.

Claude Cowork can now be used virtually anywhere

Because the AI agent can run autonomously across things like files and documents, emails and calendars, and other connected apps, many users mostly left Cowork to run independently. However because it ran locally, it required users to keep their desktop session active even when they stepped away.

Now, scheduled work no longer requires a device to remain online – though users can still choose to run Cowork locally when access to local files is required, for example.

As for why Claude Cowork is being used, Anthropic has revealed that the autonomous agent is mostly being used among knowledge workers despite initially being targeted at coders. "Pulling scattered updates into a single report, building onboarding checklists and reconciling spreadsheets" account for the largest chunk, at around 33% of all use cases across Anthropic's analysis of 1.2 million sessions.

Content creation and copywriting (16%) came next, with software development (9%) and DevOps and infrastructure (7%) actually only accounting for much smaller proportions.

With knowledge work now accounting for nearly half of all Claude Cowork sessions, the company's research shows agentic AI emerging as an everyday work colleague. Though the company didn't indicate how, or whether, this shift in behavior might impact its pipeline, a shift away from coding as a primary use case could evolve Cowork in different ways to how we might have imagined.

You can now own the NordicTrack Ultra 1 Reformer and never pay for a Pilates class again.

The Bambu Lab A1 mini is one of those beginner-friendly 3D printers that isn't just great for the price - it's absolutely brilliant, scoring the full 5 stars in our review.

And right now, the A1 mini has dropped to $209 (was $300) at Bambu Lab. That's a huge discount on one of the most beginner-friendly 3D printers available, while still offering the speed and print quality enthusiasts look for. A multi-color combo kit also discounted on the same page.

One of the printer's key features is fully automatic calibration, which removes much of the trial and error traditionally associated with 3D printing. Instead of manually adjusting settings before every print, the device handles calibration on its own, helping you get started faster. In the UK, the 3D printer is also down to £139 (was £149).

Today's top Bambu Lab 3D printer deal

The Bambu Lab A1 mini combines fully automatic calibration, print speeds up to 500mm/s, quiet 49dB operation, and a compact design with a 180 x 180 x 180mm build volume, making high-quality 3D printing simple and approachable. A multi-color combo version is also on sale.

In the UK: now £139 (was £149)View Deal

Although compact enough to fit comfortably on a desk, the A1 mini still offers a generous 180 x 180 x 180mm build volume. That's plenty of space for household projects, toys, models, organizers, and replacement parts.

Print speeds reach up to 500mm/s with acceleration of up to 10,000mm/s², allowing projects to finish much faster than many entry-level printers.

An all-metal hot end with a stainless steel nozzle supports temperatures up to 300°C, making it compatible with popular materials including PLA, PETG, TPU, and PVA.

Built-in sensors that monitor filament movement detect tangles, warn when filament runs out, and recover prints after a power outage. This will help reduce wasted material and reduce failed prints during longer jobs.

A built-in monitoring camera supports timelapse recording, while MakerWorld integration makes it easier to discover new projects and begin printing with minimum effort.

Everything works together to streamline the experience from choosing a model to watching the finished result appear.

Promising a maximum of 49dB of noise, the A1 mini runs at about the level of a quiet library, making it much easier to use in a home office or shared living space.

In our five-star review, we said: "The A1 Mini packs quite a punch in terms of performance and quality for its price point and will find wide appeal for both amateur and professional 3D printing enthusiasts."

If you've been waiting for an affordable way to get into 3D printing, the Bambu Lab A1 mini one of the best deals I've seen recently.

For more top picks, these are the best 3D printers we've tested and reviewed. And check out the gallery below for our 3D printed test samples using Bambu Lab's A1 mini.

Ali JenningsAli JenningsAli JenningsAli JenningsAlastair JenningsAlso consider: More 3D printer deals for beginners

The Anycubic Kobra X offers native four-color printing, expandable to 19 colors with additional modules, print speeds up to 600mm/s, AI monitoring, automatic bed leveling, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a spacious 260 x 260 x 260mm build volume. In our rave review we said, "The Kobra X marks a major update to the Anycubic range, offering faster printing and a boost in aesthetics and product design quality."

In the UK: now £279 (was £329)View Deal

• See all Bambu Lab 3D printers on sale now

A June 2026 research review found that AI chatbot warning labels may be a weak safeguard for organization-backed AI advisors, raising new audit questions for IT, security, and compliance teams.

The post AI Chatbot Warnings May Not Stop Hallucinations, Researchers Say appeared first on TechRepublic.

• OpenAI is releasing a preview of ChatGPT-5.6 to trusted partners on Thursday
• The new GPT-5.6 comes in three versions: Sol, Terra and Luna
• Initial access is via API only, with a broader rollout to ChatGPT later

GPT-5.6 is coming in three different versions, Sol, Terra, and Luna, but it won’t be anything like the normal ChatGPT releases we’ve been used to. First there will be a limited preview for trusted partners, followed by a broader rollout later. The preview begins this Thursday for the lucky few.

The staggered rollout is not by OpenAI’s design. In a release about the new models OpenAI said, “As part of our ongoing engagement with the U.S. government, we previewed our plans and the models’ capabilities ahead of today’s launch. At their request, we are starting with a limited preview for a small group of trusted partners whose participation has been shared with the government, before releasing more broadly.“

The delay comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a voluntary framework ​under which ⁠AI developers could provide the U.S. government with access to their new models for up to 30 days before releasing them to trusted partners.

OpenAI is clearly unhappy with the situation: “We don’t believe this kind of government access process should become the long-term default. It keeps the best tools from users, developers, enterprises, cyber defenders, and global partners who need them. “

Meet Sol, Terra and Luna

OpenAI is launching GPT-5.6 as a family of three models named after celestial objects, rather than its more usual naming conventions like “Instant” and “Mini”. Sol, Terra and Luna are three versions of the new ChatGPT-5.6, each aimed at a different balance of intelligence, speed and cost.

GPT-5.6 Sol is the flagship model and OpenAI’s most capable AI yet. This is the model for the hardest jobs: complex coding, multi-step reasoning, agent-style work and specialist tasks where accuracy matters more than speed. OpenAI says Sol has improved capabilities in coding, biology and cybersecurity, and it is also getting new “max” and “ultra” modes designed to give it more time and, in ultra mode, extra subagents to work through complicated tasks. You can think of Sol as the ‘big-brain’ version of GPT-5.6, which you want when the question is difficult enough that waiting a little longer is worth it.

GPT-5.6 Terra is the middle option, and probably the one most ordinary people will use. OpenAI describes it as a balanced model for everyday work, with performance competitive with GPT-5.5 but at half the cost. That makes Terra sound like the likely daily-driver model: powerful enough for writing, planning, research, coding help and general ChatGPT use, but not as expensive or heavyweight as Sol. If Sol is the specialist you call in for the hard problems, Terra is the model you would expect to use for most normal tasks.

GPT-5.6 Luna is the fast and affordable model. It's designed to offer strong capability at OpenAI’s lowest cost in the GPT-5.6 family, which suggests it is aimed at quick responses, lighter tasks and high-volume use where speed matters. This is the model you would expect to handle simpler questions, summaries, rewrites, quick brainstorming, and everyday back-and-forth without needing the full power of Sol. Luna may not be the showpiece model, but it could end up being the one people interact with most often if it makes ChatGPT feel faster and cheaper to run.

What will you notice?

As I’ve mentioned before, the test for new AI models, like GPT-5.6 or Claude Sonnet 5, will increasingly be how well they manage mult-step tasks and agentic processes.

For ordinary ChatGPT users, the most obvious change when using GPT-5.6 may not be a dramatic new button or interface. It will probably be that ChatGPT feels more capable when you ask it to do something complicated and less like a chatbot that needs to be carefully walked through every step.

That matters because most people do not use ChatGPT by comparing benchmark scores. They notice whether it understands a messy request, remembers the point of the task, follows instructions properly and gets closer to a finished result the first time. If GPT-5.6 works as OpenAI is suggesting, the upgrade should be most visible in those moments where today’s models still feel impressive but slightly fragile.

When can I get it?

OpenAI’s three-model structure is interesting and it’s not clear if the ChatGPT version will automatically send your request to different models depending on how complex it is. Obviously, not every task will need the same level of intelligence. A fast, cheaper model such as Luna could handle simple summaries, rewrites and everyday questions, while a more powerful model such as Sol could be reserved for harder work where depth matters more than speed.

GPT-5.6 is not available in ChatGPT during the preview, so ordinary users may not notice any of this immediately. OpenAI says the models are currently available through the API and Codex to a limited group of trusted partners and organizations, with broader availability through ChatGPT planned later.

• Researchers have spotted problems with AI pattern matching in science data
• It could mean false flags for signatures of life on other planets
• AI can still be useful, but checks need to be built in

One of the ways AI can be most helpful is in trawling through masses of scientific data that human researchers don't have time to analyze, looking for patterns — but this use-case is now proving problematic when it comes to the search for life beyond our planet.

A new study from researchers at Michigan State University suggests that AI systems can be too easily fooled into identifying signatures of life out in the universe where none exist. We need these flags to be accurate to know where to point our telescopes next, so it's important that the detection processes work.

The researchers set up a digital simulation including a key sign of life: the ability for molecules to replicate and mutate. Software was used to generate tens of thousands of digital organisms with and without this ability, which where then used to trail a neural network to spot the difference with an accuracy rating of 99.7%.

When the neural network was pointed towards data it hadn't previously seen, however, the AI's life-spotting skills fell apart. The researchers started with a digital organism that couldn't copy itself, which the AI correctly identified, then began making small edits and asking the AI to check again.

Essentially, as the AI was nudged out of its comfort zone of training data, it started seeing life where there wasn't any. "No matter what sequence of commands we started with, we were able to fool the AI 100% of the time," said Ankit Gupta, one of the researchers.

Space and beyond

A representation of the simulation the AI was tested on (Image credit: University of Michigan)

It's worth bearing in mind the limitations of this research: these tests were carried out in an artificial, digital simulation, and so didn't rely on any real data. The researchers were deliberately searching for errors too, rather than letting them happen by chance.

However, the study methods are solid enough to be concerning. The worry is that a Mars rover or a deep-space telescope could identify a life signature with a high degree of confidence, without necessarily having a human in the loop to check.

The researchers found there were a vast number of sequences that could trip up the AI too, meaning the risk of a mistake is more likely. While the digital organisms incorrectly identified by the neural network were close to what it had been trained to spot, they weren't full matches — despite the AI thinking they were.

These issues could crop up outside of space exploration too. The same errors might appear when looking for patterns in medical scans, security camera footage, and everywhere else the technology is used.

That said, the researchers are keen to emphasize that AI can still be useful in these scenarios — it just needs careful checks and supervision. "AI has an Achilles' heel: it can see a pattern and completely misclassify it," said Christoph Adami, one of the team. "There needs to be a human in the loop."

Turns out, there’s one food item you don’t want to throw in your dishwasher.

• Google is discontinuing the desktop version of Google Earth Pro
• The web and mobile versions of the app will continue to be available
• You have until June 25 2027 to download the desktop edition

When it comes to abandoning and discontinuing its own products, Google doesn’t have a particularly stellar record. So many projects have been given the boot by the tech giant that there's even a Killed by Google website that collects all 300-plus of them.

Now, we can add Google Earth Pro to the list — and the announcement has caused consternation among Google fans.

An official post on the Google Earth support forums declared that “While you can continue using the legacy Google Earth Pro desktop app, it will no longer be available for new downloads beginning on June 25, 2027.” Users are being pointed towards the mobile and web versions of the app “for the best Google Earth experience.”

Provided you’ve downloaded it, you’ll be able to continue using the desktop version of Google Earth Pro beyond June 25. If you want to bring your saved places and projects from the desktop app to the web or mobile, you’ll need to follow Google’s instructions.

Google didn’t say exactly why it was discontinuing Google Earth Pro on desktop, only that “We’re continuing to make Google Earth on web and mobile the best place for people to get helpful geospatial insights.” But there’s no doubt that the decision to add yet another product to the Google graveyard will not go down well with many users.

Going, going, gone

(Image credit: Google)

As you might expect, social media has seen scores of Google users complaining about the move. Underneath Google’s forum post, for example, one anonymous user said: “Google Earth web is functionally useless for any kind of serious project. The max number of 250,000 vertices is ridiculous. It severely limits the amount of existing datasets I'm using on the desktop version. The [user interface] is intrusive and crowds the map, forcing the user to constantly move around and zoom in and out to see anything significant.”

That feeling was mirrored by sdot-p on Reddit, who lamented that “The impact to thousands of companies across industries will be huge. Earth Pro is integrated in workflows at a scale that can’t be changed without ridiculous amounts of effort. And even then the company is likely to be in a worse position than prior. You’re talking about impact to contractors, surveyors, utilities, municipalities, archeologists etc.”

Other users were more prosaic. “They accidentally made something that created too much value they couldn't monetize,” quipped MTGuy406 on Reddit, reflecting a longstanding sentiment that Google is quick to abandon projects that don’t make enough of an impact to its bottom line, no matter how beloved they might be.

I also have a soft spot for Google Earth Pro, having first used it many years ago to download North Korea Uncovered, a Google Earth project that aimed to map and label almost every building and location of interest inside the secretive state. Whether or not that will work anywhere near as well on the web isn't cleara, given the user interface and experience criticisms of the non-desktop version of Google Earth.

If you’ve been tempted to download Google Earth Pro on your desktop but haven't got around to doing it, now is the time to make your move. You’ll find the download on Google’s website — make sure you grab it before it’s too late.

• Xero CEO outlines the agentic age of accounting, powered by AI
• Several new additions to JAX agentic platform will help workers in all teams
• Cassidy also looks to allay fears AI will take jobs, saying human influence is always vital

The CEO of Xero has highlighted the key role AI can play in helping revolutionize the finance and accounting industries.

Speaking at Xerocon 2026 in London, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy outlined her company’s aim, “to be the trusted ecosystem for the agentic era” through its range of AI services and tools.

“It's never been a more exciting time to imagine what's possible with software,” she declared, outlining Xero’s aim, “to keep transforming our platforms, so you can transform your practice and then we can keep taking advantage of technology old and new to make work smarter.”

Agentic age

Cassidy went on to mention Xero’s role in two major initiatives going forward, what she called the “next chapter” for the company - namely, “making AI work for work” and also “supporting the rise of the builders.”

“AI is indeed here,” she noted, “it's still messy, it's still early, but it's one of the biggest trends, if not the biggest technological trend of our lifetime.”

The finance industry looks to be an obvious area where AI can benefit workers, with automated tools and services taking the strain off overloaded employees, particularly when it comes to time-consuming manual processes.

The company highlighted this with the release of several new AI tools for its JAX agentic platform, including Smart Document Capture, which can automatically pull out relevant data and adds it to Xero, and Auto Bank Reconciliation, which automates time-consuming manual tasks in bookkeeping by matching transactions to bank feeds automatically, in real-time.

With all these new tools taking work away from humans, Cassidy confronted the fear faced by some employees that AI would steal their roles.

“We believe the role of the trusted advisor doesn't go away,” she noted, “it magnifies, it multiplies into something much more powerful and meaningful in this era - your judgement, your relationships, your expertise become more valuable, not less, as you take advantage of these tools to supercharge your business.”

“It's important to recognise that our job is not only to make sure AI works for your work, but the new opportunities multiply.”

Trump said that he believes the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is over, but hasn't ruled out talks. And, the International Olympic Committee paves the way for Russian athletes to compete in the 2028 games.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

• PlayStation 5 exclusive Silent Hill: The Short Message is getting a physical disc release
• It's only available as part of a pricey deluxe version with some bonus physical items
• The game is available completely for free digitally

An incredibly short, free Silent Hill spinoff is inexplicably getting a pricey physical release in a new collaboration between publisher Konami and distributor Limited Run Games.

A listing for a physical PlayStation 5 version of Silent Hill: The Short Message has appeared on the Limited Run website, offering fans the chance to get their hands on a disc copy of the game for the very first time.

The PS5 exclusive title, which only takes about two hours to beat, was first released digitally back in 2024 and is completely free to own on the console. If you haven't got your hands on it yet, you can add it to your library in just a few clicks via the PlayStation Store.

Given the fact that anyone can claim the full game at no cost, you might assume that this upcoming physical version would be quite cheap, but that is not the case. It's priced at a full $69.99 (roughly £52 / AU$101), the same as recent major first-party PS5 releases like Ghost of Yotei or Astro Bot.

(Image credit: Limited Run Games / Konami)

To be fair, it is only being sold as part of a special limited edition deluxe version that throws in some additional physical goodies (a collector's box, art poster, flower keychain, set of art cards, and certificate of authenticity), but this still seems like a pretty steep price for a title previously valued at, well, nothing.

Silent Hill: The Short Message is an entirely standalone experience set in a fictional German town. It follows a young girl who explores an abandoned apartment building while being pursued by an unsettling, cherry blossom-themed monster.

Despite being completely free, it didn't receive the best reviews when it launched with a Metacritic score of just 52 out of 100. Common complaints from critics were directed towards its clumsy handling of serious topics like suicide and self-harm.

If you are a massive Silent Hill collector and do really want to get your hands on the physical version, it will become available to pre-order on July 10, with shipping expected to begin early next year.

Finding the perfect budget laptop for college or university can be a tricky task. You want something that won't break the bank, but will be a great studying companion that won't let you down. At TechRadar, we've tested hundreds of laptops; this guide runs through our top affordable recommendations for college or university students.

I've focused on options that deliver strong bang for your buck, and can handle an average student's day-to-day typing, research and entertainment needs. Most offer generous battery life, so you can move about without having to worry about staying near a power outlet, and are pleasingly compact and portable too. Note, these are all affordable, relatively basic options and as a result, they're not suitable for demanding tasks — head to our general best laptop or best student laptop guides for a wider range of options for more intensive needs.

Scroll down for our top recommendations. Hit the View Details button to find out more about each one and why it's a great choice for students specifically, or hop to the bottom for a specs comparison table.

College champions Acer Chromebook Spin 312

Why's it good for students? The Acer Chromebook Spin 312 has a lot going for it: it's nice and portable, with strong build quality, a sharp screen and the longest battery life of any model featured here, bar the much pricier MacBook Neo. As you'd expect for its affordable price, it's not capable of intensive computing tasks, but it'll have no issues with light work and entertainment, and the flippable touchscreen adds versatility.

Read our full review

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Why's it good for students? This budget-friendly laptop delivers speedy performance, decent battery and an impressive screen for a very affordable price. For regular computing needs, it'll more than fit the bill.

Read the full review

Pros

• Great performance
• Excellent display
• Practical port selection

Cons

• Keyboard isn’t the most premium
• No SD card slot
• Can get a little noisy

Apple MacBook Neo

Why's it good for students? Although less strong value for money following the recent price rises, if you're wedded to Apple, the Neo is your best affordable option. It delivers full macOS, and offers the best battery life and most storage of any laptop in this list. The build quality is solid, and it looks great too.

Read our full review

Pros

• Strong value for money
• Fantastic build quality
• Full macOS experience

Cons

• No keyboard backlight
• USB 2 port feels a bit silly in 2026
• 8GB of memory could become frustrating

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch

Why's it good for students? This wallet-friendly Chromebook punches above its affordable price tag, with a surprisingly premium feel and useful touchscreen. It delivers long battery life and solid productivity performance for regular computing needs.

Read the full review

Acer Chromebook Plus 516

Why's it good for students? We were impressed with this ultra-large Chromebook's "vibrant and sharp display and great performance". You're sacrificing portability for that bigger size, though, and the battery life is somewhat limited (the shortest of any laptop listed here). However, if those compromises are acceptable, this is a wallet-friendly and high-performing option.

Read our full review

Pros

• Large and sharp display
• Versatile and satisfying keyboard
• Above-average Chromebook performance

Cons

• Might be too large for some
• Both USB-C ports on same side
• Middling battery life

Asus Chromebook CM14

Why's it good for students? This one is great if you're on a tight budget and just want something you can type on, and which won't run out of battery halfway through the day. The screen can lie completely flat and Asus promises 'military-grade durability'. Beware, though, this cheap Chromebook isn't good at multitasking.

Read our full review

Cheap college laptops: specs compared

The economic collapse of Venezuela has pushed its healthcare system to the brink. The disaster is now adding to the stress.

(Image credit: Family photo)

Health departments, universities and nonprofit grantees had spent months adapting to President Trump's executive orders. They say the funding cut was completely unexpected.

(Image credit: Hózhǫ́ Horizons)

• Google has sent out invites for an event on August 12
• It says we'll see “the next generation of Pixel” there
• We expect the brand to launch the Pixel 11 series and the Pixel Watch 5, along with some price rises

It’s official — the Google Pixel 11 series will be launching on August 12, as Google has started sending out invites for an event on that date, promising to unveil “the next generation of Pixel.”

The launch starts at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST, which is 8am on August 13 for those in Australia’s AEST time zone. The event will be held in New York, but we fully expect it to be streamed online too.

But what will Google actually unveil? Well, while no specific models were mentioned in the invite, we have a very good idea of what to expect.

1. The Google Pixel 11

The Google Pixel 10 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Google Pixel 11 itself will almost certainly be announced at this event, with this phone rumored to have a new ‘Pixel Glow’ feature, which could take the form of colored lights on the back that can alert you to notifications.

Beyond that, the design might be similar to the Google Pixel 10’s, but there are sure to be changes to specs, with leaks pointing to a new Tensor G6 chipset, a new 50MP camera, and a new M16 OLED panel, which could improve the quality of the screen.

That might be about it for notable upgrades — though some new colors are likely to be offered too — so the Pixel Glow feature could be the standout change.

2. The Google Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Alongside the vanilla Pixel 11, Google will almost certainly launch the Pixel 11 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro XL.

These phones should have many of the same upgrades — including Pixel Glow, a Tensor G6 chipset, and an M16 screen. But additionally, we’re hearing that they could also get two new camera sensors, and possibly a boost in charging power for the Pixel 11 Pro, bringing it up to 45W, in line with the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (and likely the Pixel 11 Pro XL).

Less promisingly, there might be both 12GB and 16GB models of these phones, where the Google Pixel 10 Pro series came with 16GB of RAM as standard. But this might be necessary to keep the starting prices palatable in the face of rising RAM prices.

3. The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

We’re also expecting a new foldable phone, in the form of the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold. And this phone, as with the rest of the Pixel 11 line, will probably have a new Tensor G6 chipset and an M16 screen, though it’s unclear whether it will get the Pixel Glow feature rumored for the rest of the line.

What it might get, though, is a removable battery — but while this feature has been quite widely reported, the only evidence for it seems to be a patent, so we wouldn’t count on it, since patents often don’t turn into anything.

Beyond all that, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold could be similar to last year’s model, with the same screen sizes and a similar battery capacity, but we’ll know for sure soon.

4. The Google Pixel Watch 5

The Google Pixel Watch 4 (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

It’s not just phones we’ll see on August 12, as we’re also expecting to see the Google Pixel Watch 5.

Key rumored upgrades here include a Tensor chipset in place of its predecessor’s Snapdragon one, a brighter screen, smaller bezels, and potentially better battery life — though the latter will probably come as a result of optimizations rather than a higher capacity battery.

Some new AI and fitness tracking features may also be offered, but it’s likely that the Pixel Watch 5 will largely retain its predecessor’s design, so expect a circular screen and both 41mm and 45mm sizes.

5. Higher prices

The Google Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Future)

That’s probably all of the products we’ll see at Google's upcoming event, but one other notable element could be their prices, as unfortunately, they may well be higher than we’ve seen from current models.

According to Dealabs, all four Pixel 11 series models will start at €100 more than their predecessors in Europe. Now, in the case of the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, Google is apparently doing away with the 128GB starting capacity of their predecessors and starting them at 256GB of storage instead, with this new price being the same as what you’d already pay for a 256GB model of those phones.

So, in other words, the price of a 256GB model might be the same as last year; you just apparently won’t have the option to get a cheaper 128GB one.

But for the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, that €100 price increase isn’t offset by a storage bump, with these phones reportedly starting at 256GB, just like their predecessors.

So, what will that mean in other regions? Well, if this information is accurate, then it likely means an $899 / £899 / AU$1,499 starting price for the Pixel 11 and a $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 starting price for the Pixel 11 Pro, since that’s what their 256GB predecessors launched at.

For the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, we have to take more of a guess, but based on how Google tends to adjust its pricing for different configurations, it could mean a starting price of $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,149 for the former and $1,899 / £1,849 / AU$2,849 for the latter — which would be $100 / £100 / AU$150 more than their predecessors.