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She’s seen enough. She’s had enough. She can’t book a one-way ticket to the stars (yet), but these gifts will help her transcend this world.

Paramount Plus is among the best streaming services. Although it might not be as popular as bigger names like Netflix and Prime Video, there's still plenty to explore, especially among the streamer's original content.

February 2025 sees the return of huge new Paramount Originals, with Yellowjackets season 3 and 1923 season 2 both premiering this month. There's also some classic movies joining the lineup, including a much-loved slasher movie for those who love watching the genre all-year round.

If you're more interested in the best that Paramount Plus has to offer, then do check out our best Paramount Plus movies guide for only the highest-rated titles. Otherwise, keep reading for a complete rundown of every new movie and TV show arriving on Paramount Plus in February 2025.

Everything new on Paramount Plus in January 2025

Arriving on February 1

A Mighty Heart (movie)
A Walk on the Moon (movie)
Adore (movie)
Along Came A Spider (movie)
American Gigolo (movie)
Attack the Block (movie)
Babel (movie)
Bebe's Kids (movie)
Birthday Girl (movie)
Boys And Girls (movie)
Brokeback Mountain (movie)
Chocolate City (movie)
Cinema Paradiso (movie)
Come Away (movie)
Critical Condition (movie)
Dangerous Beauty (movie)
Doubt (movie)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (movie)
Geostorm (movie)
Hooking Up (movie)
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell (movie)
In & Out (movie)
Into The Wild (movie)
Jersey Girl (movie)
Juice (movie)
Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (movie)
Like Water for Chocolate (movie)
Losing Isaiah (movie)
Mansfield Park (movie)
Marvin's Room (movie)
Men, Women & Children (movie)
Menace II Society (movie)
Muriel's Wedding (movie)
My Best Friend's Wedding (movie)
My Boss's Daughter (movie)
O (Othello) (movie)
Old School (movie)
Pretty In Pink (movie)
Ride (movie)
Road to Perdition (movie)
Roman Holiday (movie)
Saturday Night Fever (movie)
Serendipity (movie)
Shakespeare in Love (movie)
Shall We Dance? (movie)
Shooter (movie)
Suffragette (movie)
Terms of Endearment (movie)
The Babysitter (movie)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (movie)
The Color Purple (movie)
The Evening Star (movie)
The Firm (movie)
The Hunt for Red October (movie)
The Love Guru (movie)
The Love Letter (movie)
The Mask (movie)
The Pursuit of Happyness (movie)
The Smurfs (movie)
The Smurfs 2 (movie)
The Stepford Wives (movie)
The To Do List (movie)
The Wood (movie)
Transformers (movie)
Vampire in Brooklyn (movie)
What Lies Beneath (movie)
What Women Want (movie)
When Harry Met Sally (movie)
Win A Date With Tad Hamilton! (movie)
World War Z (movie)
Wuthering Heights (2003) (movie)

Arriving on February 2

The 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards hosted by Trevor Noah (TV broadcast)

Arriving on February 3

Bull (movie)
The Nanny Diaries (movie)

Arriving on February 4

Burden of Guilt (TV show)

Arriving on February 5

Bar Rescue season 9 (TV show)
The Patrick Star Show season 2 (TV show)
The Price is Right at Night (winter premiere)

Arriving on February 6

Death Without Mercy (TV show)

Arriving on February 12

Eric Clapton Unplugged…Over 30 Years Later special premiere (TV special)
PAW Patrol: Big Truck Pups (TV show)
CMT Crossroads seasons 1-3,5,10-16,18-20 (TV show)
How Did They Fix That? season 3 (TV show)
MTV Unplugged seasons 1-8, 10-13 (TV show)
VH1 Storytellers seasons 1-9, 11-13,15,16 (TV show)
Fanboys (movie)

Arriving on February 14

Yellowjackets season 3 (TV show)

Arriving on February 16

The Equalizer season 5 (TV show)
Tracker season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on February 17

On TV: A Black History Month Special (TV special)
Halloween (movie)

Arriving on February 23

1923 season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on February 24

Beyond the Gates season 1 (TV show)
Southpaw (movie)

Arriving on February 26

Survivor season 48 (TV show)
The Loud House season 7 (TV show)

Arriving on February 27

The Aviary (movie)

Arriving on February 28

Crossing Over (movie)

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• CyberNews researchers discover data leak belonging to Valley News Live
• An unprotected dataset with 1.8 million records has been discovered
• The data primarily affects job applicants to the firm

An unprotected dataset has been discovered online containing 1.8 million files, including over a million CVs.

The dataset was discovered by CyberNews researchers, who suspect that the data comes from Valley News Live’s job portal, which attracts up to 250,000 monthly visitors.

Researchers confirmed the personally identifiable information (PII) exposed contained full names, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, social media links as well as employment and education backgrounds.

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Applicants at risk

Valley News Live is a television station based in Fargo, North Dakota, and is owned by Gray Media, a large conglomerate which owns or operates 180 stations across the US in 113 markets - and is the third-largest broadcaster in the US.

Anyone who has recently touched up their CV can probably understand just how much danger that might put a victim in, as the amount of PII required to build them could easily put someone in danger of social engineering attacks or identity theft.

The researchers warned many of the discovered CVs spanned numerous years, covering a period between 2017 and 2024, which outlines just how many are at risk.

The dataset was discovered online on August 31, 2024, and the initial disclosure notice was sent to the firm on September 17, 2024.

“The exposed data includes highly sensitive personal identifiers, creating numerous attack vectors for cybercriminals, where personal information can be used to create synthetic identities or fraudulent accounts,” the researchers said.

Anyone who has applied for a job at the firm or who believes they might be at risk from this or any leak, should be vigilant in monitoring their cards, and should be extra careful when receiving any unexpected communications.

For businesses, our full advice on what to do after a data breach can be found here.

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In an exclusive interview with WIRED, the British entrepreneur shares why it’s time to move on from TED.

• Multiple RTX 5000 series-powered gaming laptops are available for pre-order at European retailer Dream Machines
• Some configurations will house AMD's Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU
• RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop configurations are also available for pre-order

There isn't much of a surprise to see that Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are completely sold out across multiple retailers, leaving many of those after the powerhouse GPUs awaiting new stock - but, you may not have to wait any longer to join the RTX 5000 series experience - as long as you don’t mind investing in a gaming laptop.

Spotted by VideoCardz, AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D configurations are now available for pre-order at Dream Machines, which house Nvidia's new RTX 5090, 5080, and 5070 Ti laptop GPUs. Several of these configurations come with different processors, RAM, and SSDs, at a range of different prices. Unfortunately (at the time of writing), shipping to the UK or Australia isn't an option.

However, if you're in the US, you can get your hands on one of the most powerful configurations, which comes with an RTX 5090 and AMD's Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, and is available for pre-order for $3,409.99. It's important to note that these are OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) laptops that use parts from another laptop maker), and with stock currently unavailable for some (but ready for shipping when restocked).

Since the RTX 5090 laptop GPU will utilize 24GB of VRAM, most may prefer to wait for restocks of the desktop GPU, which features 32GB. However, with the desktop Nvidia RTX 5090 suffering from extremely limited availability and very high pricing at $1,999 / £1,939 / AU$4,039, buying a gaming laptop with the mobile RTX 5090 GPU might be your best bet.

(Image credit: Dream Machines) Expect scalping to occur with the laptops too...

It seems like once again, scalpers have been buying up Nvidia’s new GPUs to sell at a much higher price - there are already plenty of listings available on eBay at inflated prices, with some including fake listings selling images of the GPUs to buyers instead.

So, it would be a shock if scalpers didn't also try this with RTX 5000-powered laptops - as while it's clear they won't be as powerful as their desktop GPU counterparts, they still have advantages over RTX 4000 series GPUs, notably Multi Frame Generation.

These configurations (using the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080) aren't particularly cheap either, so I'd anticipate scalpers targeting the likes of RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptops instead. It's unfortunate, but if you've got your sights set on one of these systems, you may have to act quickly yet again.

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Syria's interim president says the now departed Iranian forces were damaging to his country and also posed a threat to the wider Middle East.

(Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

• Marvel has released the first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps
• The MCU Phase 6 movie's inaugural teaser leans into its retro-futuristic vibe with a film grain aesthetic
• Marvel's First Family will make their MCU debut in theaters worldwide on July 25

At long last, the first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been released, and it's already looking like a Marvel movie unlike anything we've seen before.

The forthcoming superhero film's first teaser, which you can view below, reveals how hard The Fantastic Four's latest big-screen adventure is leaning into its period piece setting. That much is obvious from its 1960s era and retro-futuristic vibes, but it's the project's film grain aesthetic that's really selling the movie's uniqueness to me.

The teaser, which reconfirms this flick will take place in an alternate reality to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), was already one of 2025's most anticipated new movies. Now, though, the superhero film has jumped to the top of my must-see films of the year – and that's mainly thanks to its incredibly talented cast and crew, the former of whom look tailor-made for these roles.

From the costumes and the sets, to the clear love and care that's gone into bringing one of Marvel's most beloved supergroups back to the silver screen, there's so much to take in and appreciate from the near-two-minute long teaser. I don't know about you, but I'm already, erm, ready to see The Fantastic Four's next cinematic adventure and how they'll tackle the universal threat of this movie's Big Bad, aka the planet-devouring entity known as Galactus. Here's more on what you can expect from First Steps' story, courtesy of a Marvel press release:

"Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family – Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And, if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal."

We have liftoff.Marvel Studios' #TheFantasticFour: First Steps lands in theaters July 25. pic.twitter.com/hJ98F6PHEjFebruary 4, 2025

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' inaugural trailer has been a long time coming. The movie's first footage was shown exclusively to San Diego Comic-Con 2024 attendees last July – one of nine huge announcements that we covered at the time.

Considering that principal photography only began earlier that month, it was quite the turnaround for Marvel to actually show something to those who snagged a seat at its now-customary Hall H panel. One month later, Marvel showed off the same footage to D23 Expo 2024 attendees, so the Disney subsidiary has been sitting on these clips for a while, which has made the wait all the more excruciating for the rest of us.

We haven't had to sit tight for more information about the Marvel Phase 6 film, though. On Valentine's Day 2024, Marvel confirmed the release date, main cast, and a new title for its new Fantastic Four movie. Just one day later, The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first poster all but revealed when and where it would be set. Then, last April, another tease from the comic book giant heavily implied who its main villain would be alongside other key story details.

There's plenty more for you to read about the film in my guide on The Fantastic Four: First Steps, including a round-up of its confirmed cast, story rumors, and how it could set up future storylines in the MCU. Oh, and, in case you missed it earlier, here's when it'll be released in theaters globally: July 25, 2025. That's just two weeks after James Gunn's Superman movie, so comic book movie fans are going to have a summer (or winter, if you live in the southern hemisphere) to remember.

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• Google Gemini can now access extensions from your lockscreen
• This means it can use other phone apps to complete tasks
• Gemini won’t be able access personal information such as your calendar

Google is expanding what Gemini is capable of doing from your phone’s lock screen. The new AI update will allow Android device users to quickly access Gemini extensions alongside the AI’s regular assistance without needing to unlock their phone once they’ve enabled the feature.

To access the lock screen version of Gemini you’ll need to use either the 'Hey Google' wake word, or your device’s inbuilt AI activation (such as long-pressing the power button on Google Pixel phones). Then you can make your usual Gemini requests – either to receive the AI’s more in-depth responses, or to tell it to perform an action using one of your other apps.

Previously, if Gemini needed to rely on another app to finish its objective you’d have to unlock your device, which could be frustrating if you were hoping to complete the task hands-free. Now prompts such as setting up a reminder to grab some chocolates and roses before your date night, or asking when the nearest Starbucks closes and how far away it is, can be performed hands-free with a locked phone.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) Gemini won’t be able to pull personal information from apps like your calendar or emails unless you unlock it first – which while not great for ease of use means you won’t need to worry about the AI revealing private information to anyone who asks your phone a probing question.

How to turn on Gemini on lockscreen

(Image credit: Google)

Activating Gemini’s new extension powers is simple. If you previously allowed Google Assistant on lock screen or Gemini on lock screen then the new tool has been activated by default.

If you hadn’t previously enabled your AI to work on your lock screen but want to activate it you’ll need to open the Gemini app, tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen, go into your Settings, tap on ‘Gemini on lock screen’ and then in this sub-menu toggle on the option at the top of the page.

Once you’ve allowed Gemini to work without unlocking your device you’ll need to separately allow the AI to make calls and send messages without unlocking – which also requires you to connect your calling and messaging apps with the AI.

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• The details of Minecraft's new public testing update have been revealed
• The patch adds two new cow variants, two bush types, and new ambient sounds for desert biomes
• These features will be included in Minecraft's first update of 2025

Mojang Studios has shared the details for Minecraft's latest public testing update.

Ahead of the release of Minecraft's first content update of 2025, the developer has outlined several features that it will be adding to the game but can now be tested via the latest Java snapshot.

As detailed in latest blog post, among these new features are two new cow variants, including a cold cow, which "brings cozy with them wherever they go" thanks to their fluffy coat and can be found in cold biomes, as well as the auburn warm cow which can be found around sandy biomes.

Mojang is also continuing to implement new foliage to bring Minecraft's sandbox world to life. With the new update, players will come across the "firefly bush" that will spawn dancing fireflies at night-time, illuminating darkened areas. The firefly bush can be found in swamps and bodies of water and players will also be able to bury them below other blocks to make them sparkle.

Another new plant, simply called "bush", has also been added to the game, a fairly unremarkable tuft of greenery that can be found sprouting in forests, birch forests, plains, windswept hills, and other green biomes.

Finally, even more ambient sounds are being introduced to the game, this time to desert biomes.

"Next time you’re surfing the dunes of the desert biomes, husks and warm cows won’t be the only things heard stirring in the sandbanks," Mojang said. "Listen out for whispers of sand and other new ambient desert sounds coming from clusters of sand and terracotta blocks. The dead bush will also carry the chirping of crickets, rustling twigs, and howling winds as you journey across this expansive terrain.

"You can also bring the soothing sounds of the deserts to your own builds by placing the dead bush on two sand blocks outside, or by clustering several sand or terracotta blocks together."

These new features, alongside the six new gameplay features that were added last month, are now available in Minecraft: Java Edition.

For players interested in testing out the update, all they need to do is enable snapshots for Minecraft: Java Edition, or by enabling previews/beta for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

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Federal agencies are sending out sample contract agreements to their employees in what appears to be an effort to alleviate doubts. But some of the language differs from the original offer.

(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch)

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• Cloudflare boosts image verification capabilities by adding C2PA
• Content Authenticity Initative provides a wealth of information to prove legitimacy
• Verification helps support creatives and stomp out fake news

In an effort to help web users verify the authenticity of online images and get the credit they deserve, Cloudflare has added a major certification tool to its platform.

The company has integrated the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) into Cloudflare Images, allowing creators to preserve the entire provenance chain across its network, including details such as who created the image, how they created it, and its editing history.

Writing about the update, Cloudflare Head of AI Control, Privacy, & Media Products Will Allen expressed the importance of giving creators credit for their work, likening digital provenance to the authenticity and history of art in museums and galleries.

Cloudflare launched network-wide image provenance tool

“If you help ensure an artist or content creator gets credit for their work, that exposure could result in more career opportunities," Allen added.

Besides supporting creatives, Cloudflare is also keen to help the public verify the authenticity of images that appear in news articles, in a bid to prevent the spread of fake news.

Dubbed ‘Content Credentials,’ the system was developed in 2019 by the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), with Adobe among its co-founders. During this time, Allen, then an Adobe VP, started the CAI and C2PA.

The CAI, which has tasked itself with “restoring trust and transparency in the age of AI,” counts the BBC, the New York Times, Reuters, Nikkei and The Wall Street Journal among its media members. Photography companies like Nikon, Leica and Canon are also members.

It works by creatives opting to attach Content Credentials to their photograph, which are stored using JUMBF (JPEG Universal Metadata Box Format). Now that the system is supported by networking giant Cloudflare, the metadata can be preserved one step further as content gets shared online.

Users can toggle on ‘Preserve Content Credentials’ from within Images > Transformations > Zone from the Cloudflare dashboard.

“We are excited to continue to partner with Adobe and many other organizations to extend support for preserving Content Credentials across our products and services,” Allen added.

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Redmi Buds 6: Recensione rapida

Gli auricolari true wireless sono diventati un accessorio indispensabile per chi desidera ascoltare musica, effettuare chiamate o seguire contenuti multimediali senza fili e con la massima libertà di movimento. Xiaomi, con la serie Redmi Buds, ha sempre puntato su un ottimo rapporto qualità-prezzo, offrendo dispositivi accessibili ma ricchi di funzionalità. Con i nuovi Redmi Buds 6, il brand cerca di alzare ulteriormente l’asticella, proponendo un doppio driver per una qualità audio superiore, cancellazione attiva del rumore fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata.

Rispetto ai modelli precedenti, i Redmi Buds 6 migliorano diversi aspetti chiave, come la qualità del suono, la riduzione del rumore e il comfort. Pur mantenendo un prezzo competitivo di circa 43 euro, offrono funzioni avanzate che si trovano solitamente su dispositivi più costosi. Tuttavia, ci sono anche alcune limitazioni da considerare, come la mancanza della ricarica wireless e la scelta di un cavo USB-A a USB-C invece di un più moderno USB-C a USB-C. In questa recensione analizzeremo nel dettaglio tutti i pro e i contro, valutando se i Redmi Buds 6 rappresentano davvero la scelta ideale per chi cerca auricolari economici ma performanti.

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6) Redmi Buds 6: Design, comodità, ergonomia

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un design moderno e compatto, progettato per un uso quotidiano confortevole e discreto. La custodia ha una finitura opaca che migliora la presa e riduce le impronte, un dettaglio che la rende più elegante e resistente nel tempo. È disponibile in tre colorazioni: Ivy Green, nero e bianco, permettendo una scelta estetica più ampia rispetto a molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo.

Il peso ridotto della custodia (43,2 g con gli auricolari inclusi) la rende facilmente trasportabile in tasca o in una borsa senza risultare ingombrante. Anche gli auricolari, che pesano solo 5 g ciascuno, sono leggeri e ben bilanciati, riducendo la fatica anche durante sessioni prolungate di ascolto.

Per garantire la migliore vestibilità possibile, Xiaomi include punte in silicone intercambiabili in più misure. Questo dettaglio è fondamentale per migliorare sia l’isolamento passivo dal rumore esterno sia il comfort, evitando che gli auricolari si spostino o risultino fastidiosi dopo un uso prolungato. Inoltre, la certificazione IP54 assicura resistenza a polvere e schizzi, rendendoli adatti all’uso in palestra o sotto la pioggia leggera.

Un aspetto da considerare è l’assenza della ricarica wireless, una funzione sempre più diffusa anche in modelli economici. Sebbene comprensibile per un dispositivo dal prezzo contenuto, avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente la comodità d’uso. Inoltre, il cavo incluso è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che potrebbe risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C.

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6) Redmi Buds 6: Applicazione per smartphone

I Redmi Buds 6 sono compatibili con l’app Xiaomi Earbuds, disponibile per Android e iOS, che aggiunge un livello di personalizzazione e controllo avanzato alle cuffie. L’interfaccia è intuitiva e ben organizzata, permettendo di monitorare la batteria sia degli auricolari che della custodia, nonché di regolare impostazioni fondamentali per l’esperienza d’ascolto.

Tra le funzioni principali, spicca la possibilità di personalizzare i comandi touch per ogni auricolare, consentendo di assegnare azioni diverse a tocchi singoli, doppi o prolungati. È possibile, ad esempio, attivare/disattivare l’ANC, gestire la riproduzione musicale, rispondere alle chiamate o attivare l’assistente vocale.

L’app include anche quattro preset EQ per adattare il suono alle preferenze personali:

Bilanciato – un profilo neutro per la maggior parte degli ascoltatori.

Bassi potenziati – ideale per chi ascolta generi come EDM, hip-hop o rock.

Voce enfatizzata – perfetto per podcast, audiolibri e videochiamate.

Alti migliorati – consigliato per generi musicali con strumenti ad alta frequenza, come jazz o musica classica.

Un aspetto molto apprezzato è il supporto al dual device pairing, che permette di collegare due dispositivi contemporaneamente. Questa funzione è particolarmente utile per chi lavora con un laptop e uno smartphone, evitando la necessità di riconnessioni manuali. Ad esempio, si può ascoltare musica dal computer e passare automaticamente alle chiamate in arrivo sul telefono.

L’app offre inoltre strumenti pratici come il test di tenuta delle punte auricolari, che aiuta a verificare la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo per migliorare isolamento e comfort. Infine, consente di aggiornare il firmware, garantendo che gli auricolari siano sempre ottimizzati con le ultime migliorie software.

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6) Redmi Buds 6: Isolamento passivo

Grazie al design in-ear, i Redmi Buds 6 offrono un buon isolamento passivo già senza la necessità di attivare l’ANC. La forma ergonomica e il peso ridotto (5 g per auricolare) permettono una tenuta salda e confortevole, riducendo naturalmente il rumore esterno. Questo aspetto è particolarmente utile in ambienti rumorosi, come uffici, trasporti pubblici o palestre, dove un buon isolamento passivo migliora l’esperienza d’ascolto senza dover sempre ricorrere alla cancellazione attiva del rumore.

Un ulteriore supporto all’isolamento è dato dalle punte in silicone intercambiabili, che consentono di adattare gli auricolari alle diverse conformazioni dell’orecchio. L’app Xiaomi Earbuds include inoltre un test di vestibilità, che verifica la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo e aiuta a scegliere la misura di gommini più adatta. Questo non solo ottimizza l’isolamento acustico, ma migliora anche la resa sonora complessiva, evitando dispersioni di bassi e assicurando un audio più definito.

La leggerezza e la forma compatta delle Buds 6 le rendono ideali anche per l’attività fisica, garantendo stabilità anche durante movimenti intensi, come corsa o allenamenti in palestra.

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6) Redmi Buds 6: Riduzione del suono ANC

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una cancellazione attiva del rumore (ANC) fino a 49 dB, un valore notevole per questa fascia di prezzo. Grazie ai quattro microfoni integrati, gli auricolari analizzano i suoni ambientali e li eliminano in tempo reale, migliorando sensibilmente l’esperienza d’ascolto, specialmente in ambienti rumorosi.

Nei test effettuati su voli, trasporti pubblici e uffici affollati, le Buds 6 si sono dimostrate molto efficaci nel ridurre rumori di fondo costanti, come il ronzio dei motori, il brusio delle persone o il ticchettio delle tastiere. Anche se non raggiungono il livello di cancellazione di modelli premium, la loro performance è più che adeguata per la maggior parte degli utenti.

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds consente di regolare l’intensità dell’ANC in base alle necessità, permettendo di scegliere tra più livelli di cancellazione. Questo è utile per trovare il giusto equilibrio tra isolamento e comfort, evitando quella sensazione di pressione auricolare che alcuni utenti avvertono con ANC troppo aggressivi.

Un’altra funzione apprezzata è la modalità trasparenza, che permette di amplificare i suoni ambientali, rendendo più facile ascoltare annunci nei trasporti pubblici o interagire con le persone senza dover rimuovere gli auricolari. La modalità voce migliorata è particolarmente utile per chiamate o conversazioni rapide, enfatizzando il parlato e filtrando il rumore di sottofondo.

Grazie alla combinazione di ANC efficace e modalità trasparenza ben implementata, le Buds 6 risultano ideali sia per chi vuole immergersi completamente nella musica o nel lavoro, sia per chi ha bisogno di rimanere consapevole dell’ambiente circostante.

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità musica

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una qualità audio sorprendente per la loro fascia di prezzo, grazie all’architettura a doppio driver. Ogni auricolare è dotato di un driver dinamico in titanio da 12,4 mm, responsabile dei bassi potenti e della resa delle frequenze medio-basse, e di un driver piezoelettrico in ceramica da 5,5 mm, che migliora la riproduzione degli alti e la separazione dei dettagli sonori. Questa combinazione, solitamente riservata a modelli più costosi, garantisce un suono ricco e bilanciato, con un’ottima definizione degli strumenti e delle voci.

La mancanza di un equalizzatore personalizzabile può risultare una limitazione per gli utenti più esigenti, che preferiscono regolare manualmente le frequenze in base ai propri gusti. Tuttavia, la qualità audio offerta dal doppio driver compensa questa assenza, garantendo una riproduzione fedele e ben equilibrata.

Nel complesso, le Buds 6 si distinguono per una resa sonora dettagliata e dinamica, rendendole una scelta eccellente per chi cerca auricolari economici senza rinunciare a una buona esperienza musicale.

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6) Redmi Buds 6: Qualità audio in chiamata

I Redmi Buds 6 sono progettate per garantire una qualità audio in chiamata chiara e affidabile, grazie a un sistema a quattro microfoni con riduzione del rumore AI. Questa tecnologia analizza e filtra i suoni di sottofondo, migliorando la nitidezza della voce e riducendo le interferenze ambientali.

Nei test effettuati in ambienti chiusi, come uffici o stanze silenziose, le Buds 6 garantiscono una trasmissione vocale pulita e naturale, senza distorsioni o eccessiva compressione del suono. All’aperto, in contesti più rumorosi come strade trafficate o luoghi affollati, la riduzione del rumore AI si dimostra efficace nel minimizzare il vento e i rumori di fondo, permettendo all’interlocutore di sentire chiaramente la conversazione.

Un ulteriore vantaggio è la possibilità di utilizzare un solo auricolare per le chiamate, utile per chi preferisce mantenere un orecchio libero per ascoltare l’ambiente circostante.

Queste caratteristiche rendono i Redmi Buds 6 particolarmente adatte a chi utilizza spesso gli auricolari per riunioni di lavoro, chiamate su piattaforme come Zoom o Teams, o semplicemente per conversazioni telefoniche in mobilità, senza preoccuparsi della qualità del microfono.

Redmi Buds 6: Batteria

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un’autonomia eccellente, superando molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo. Gli auricolari offrono fino a 10 ore di utilizzo continuo senza ANC e circa 5 ore con la cancellazione del rumore attiva. Questo permette di coprire un’intera giornata lavorativa o lunghe sessioni di ascolto senza doverli ricaricare frequentemente.

La custodia di ricarica amplia ulteriormente l’autonomia, portandola a un totale di 42 ore, garantendo così diversi giorni di utilizzo senza necessità di collegare il dispositivo alla corrente. Un punto di forza è il supporto alla ricarica rapida, che permette di ottenere fino a 2 ore di riproduzione con pochi minuti di ricarica, una funzionalità particolarmente utile in situazioni di emergenza.

Un aspetto da considerare è la mancanza della ricarica wireless, che avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente l’usabilità, specialmente per chi utilizza caricabatterie wireless con il proprio smartphone o altri accessori. Inoltre, il cavo incluso nella confezione è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che può risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C, ormai standard nei dispositivi più recenti.

Nonostante questi piccoli compromessi, i Redmi Buds 6 si confermano tra le migliori opzioni in termini di durata della batteria e velocità di ricarica, offrendo un’ottima esperienza d’uso per chi cerca auricolari affidabili e con una lunga autonomia.

Redmi Buds 6: Confronto con altre varianti

La gamma Redmi Buds 6 include diverse varianti, pensate per soddisfare esigenze e budget differenti. Il modello Redmi Buds 6 Lite è la versione più economica, ma mantiene un buon livello di cancellazione del rumore fino a 40 dB e un driver dinamico da 12,4 mm. La sua autonomia arriva a 7 ore di utilizzo continuo e 38 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Play sono invece prive di ANC, ma offrono un driver da 10 mm e cinque modalità EQ per personalizzare l’audio. Hanno un’autonomia leggermente superiore, con 7,5 ore di utilizzo e un totale di 36 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Active presentano un design semi-in-ear, che privilegia il comfort rispetto all’isolamento passivo. Sono dotate di un driver più ampio da 14,2 mm, ma l’autonomia è inferiore rispetto agli altri modelli, con 6 ore di riproduzione continua e 30 ore complessive.

Infine, i Redmi Buds 6 Pro rappresentano la versione più avanzata, con un sistema a triplo driver (11 mm + 2 piezoelettrici), supporto all’audio Hi-Res LDAC e una cancellazione del rumore fino a 55 dB. Questo modello è pensato per chi cerca la massima qualità audio e una cancellazione del rumore superiore.

Redmi Buds 6, ne vale la pena?

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono un equilibrio ideale tra funzionalità avanzate e prezzo accessibile, posizionandosi come una delle migliori opzioni nella loro fascia di mercato. Con un costo di circa 43 euro, questi auricolari garantiscono un’eccellente qualità audio grazie al sistema a doppio driver, una cancellazione attiva del rumore efficace fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata che permette di affrontare giornate intere senza preoccupazioni.

Alcune mancanze, come l’assenza della ricarica wireless e il cavo USB-A a USB-C anziché un più moderno USB-C a USB-C, avrebbero potuto migliorare ulteriormente l’esperienza d’uso. Tuttavia, considerando la qualità complessiva, queste limitazioni risultano secondarie rispetto ai numerosi vantaggi offerti.

I Redmi Buds 6 sono una scelta consigliata per chi cerca auricolari versatili, performanti e dal prezzo competitivo, senza rinunciare a funzionalità avanzate come l’ANC, la personalizzazione tramite app e il dual device pairing. Un prodotto solido, capace di soddisfare sia chi desidera un’esperienza musicale immersiva sia chi necessita di auricolari affidabili per chiamate e utilizzo quotidiano.

Ragioni per comprare

Audio di qualità con doppio driver

Il sistema a doppio driver (12,4 mm + 5,5 mm piezoelettrico) offre bassi profondi, alti cristallini e ottima separazione sonora.

ANC efficace fino a 49 dB

La cancellazione attiva del rumore riduce significativamente i rumori esterni, migliorando l’esperienza d’ascolto su voli, trasporti pubblici o ambienti affollati.

Autonomia eccellente e ricarica rapida

Le 10 ore di utilizzo continuo e le 42 ore totali garantiscono un’intera giornata di ascolto senza interruzioni.

Ragioni per NON comprare

Manca la ricarica wireless

L’assenza di ricarica wireless può essere un limite per chi possiede uno smartphone compatibile e vuole maggiore comodità.

No supporto a codec avanzati

Manca la compatibilità con aptX o LHDC, limitando la qualità audio per chi cerca un suono ad alta risoluzione su dispositivi compatibili.

No equalizzatore personalizzato

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds offre solo quattro preset EQ, ma manca la possibilità di regolare manualmente le frequenze audio preferite.

Alternative

Se i Redmi Buds 6 non ti convincono del tutto, esistono diverse opzioni valide nella stessa fascia di prezzo o leggermente superiore. Ecco tre alternative da considerare, ognuna con caratteristiche specifiche che potrebbero meglio adattarsi alle tue esigenze.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2

Questi auricolari semi-in-ear offrono un’ottima ergonomia e una qualità audio equilibrata, con autonomia fino a 40 ore grazie alla custodia di ricarica. Pur non avendo ANC, la loro vestibilità garantisce un discreto isolamento passivo. Sono ideali per chi cerca auricolari leggeri e comodi per un utilizzo quotidiano.

Sony WF-C510

Sony è sinonimo di qualità audio, e i WF-C510 offrono un suono ricco e dettagliato con supporto DSEE, che migliora la resa delle tracce audio compresse. L’autonomia è eccellente, con 10 ore per carica e fino a 30 ore con la custodia. Non hanno ANC, ma compensano con una resa sonora superiore.

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS

Questi auricolari Hi-Res certificati sono tra i migliori nella loro fascia di prezzo per qualità audio. Supportano il codec LDAC, offrendo una maggiore fedeltà sonora rispetto ai normali SBC/AAC. Sono semi-in-ear, quindi non offrono ANC, ma la loro qualità audio e connettività stabile li rendono un’ottima alternativa.

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• New study predicts 15 million new Chinese cars will have autonomous tech
• Affordable models will be capable of SAE Level 2 self-driving
• China looks set to fast-track autonomous vehicles

A new study has revealed that around 15 million new cars sold in China will be fitted with at least SAE Level 2 self-driving capabilities this year, including models priced below 100,000 yuan (which is less than $14,000), according to the South China Morning Post.

China EV100, which is a non-governmental organization that includes key players from China’s largest EV manufacturers, claims that two out of three new cars sold on the mainland will have autonomous driving capabilities this year. This will, at the very minimum, allow them to speed up, slow down and change lanes without driver input.

Where these sort of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) were once the reserve of more expensive models, the mass production of the technology has forced prices down to a point where even the most affordable vehicles can now offer them.

As a quick recap, SAE Level 2 autonomous vehicles offer partial automation, so they can speed up, slow down and even steer, so long as the driver is always ready to take back control, with hands on the wheel just in case.

Stepping up to SAE Level 3 allows drivers to take hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, with the ability to engage with emails on the vehicle’s infotainment system, for example.

Currently, this level is only legally available on a handful of models and only in specific driving conditions in select regions of the world, with Mercedes-Benz and BMW leading the way.

Despite what Elon Musk says, Tesla is still very much at SAE Level 2 until legislation allows for unsupervised Full Self-Driving on public roads.

In China, many automotive manufacturers have already seen the potential of autonomous driving, with UBS analyst Xu Bin predicting that Chinese companies could save around 1.8 trillion yuan in annual labour costs by 2030 as thousands of trucks become driverless, according to South China Morning Post.

Analysis: China is building a fully autonomous future

(Image credit: Tesla)

In China, the self-driving experience doesn’t come with the same stigma that it does in much of the Western world, where drivers are generally wary of its capabilities.

On the contrary, young Chinese buyers are actively seeking out the latest technology when purchasing new vehicles, with increasing levels of autonomy high on the shopping list.

By forcing down the cost of the camera, Lidar, sensor and chipset technology required (let’s not get into how China has managed to do that here), the country has been able to introduce it on a mass scale.

It is widely agreed that higher levels of automation on the road will only really work when vehicles equipped with the required technology reach critical mass.

There’s a much slimmer chance of an accident occurring if everyone on the highway is using some form of auto-pilot system, for example.

Despite this, there are still major automotive players in China that don't believe we will ever reach a point where a human isn't involved. One of BYD's spokespeople told reporters at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show that it is "basically impossible".

But with two out of three new cars sold in China this year meeting basic autonomous driving requirements, it won’t be long before parts of the country could legitimately allow for much higher levels of autonomous activity on public roads.

This technological prowess would make it easier to geo-fence certain areas where SAE Level 3 systems are mandatory, for example.

Alternatively, the country could even legislate that every new car sold must be capable of automatically adjusting to speed limits, keeping lanes and autonomously braking, thus creating a more predictable environment for autonomous vehicles to thrive.

It is believed that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, often regarded as one of the most advanced in the world, will begin testing in China this year.

With a more supportive framework, Elon Musk’s predictions of a fully autonomous future may well be realized… just 7,000-miles away from where it was first conceived.

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