Feed aggregator

• Lenovo presented a 3.5-inch mock-up of an 'AI storage device', which could be a portable SSD, a NAS, or something new
• Not a product announcement, but a proof of concept
• But presence of a red ring on one of the ports may indicate that it will be a ThinkStorage product

Lenovo has unveiled a new concept device at CES called "AI Storage", which could be the company’s first AI-assisted NAS (Network Attached Storage).

The apparent prototype features a minimalist, space-efficient design with ventilation grilles on the right side for either active or passive cooling.

The 3.5-inch mock-up could be more than a traditional NAS, in that it might also function as a portable SSD, or serve an entirely new purpose, blurring the lines between storage and AI integration.

A smarter future for storage?

The concept image shows that this device will support a standard RJ45 Ethernet port accompanied by dual status LEDs. These could indicate active connectivity or possibly its association with Lenovo’s ThinkStorage branding.

A visible USB-C port should enable high-speed data transfers via USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt protocols. There's also another USB-C port marked with a distinctive red ring, presumably for power.

It's important to note that a good number of concept devices never make it to the market. Whether this device will evolve into a full-fledged NAS or will work as a versatile storage solution remains to be seen.

You might also like

• We tested the best free text-to-speech software
• I’ve tested the best wireless earbuds for over 10 years – here are my top Bluetooth earbuds to buy
• AI hype is real in manufacturing – successful adoption journeys are scarce

Protect your iPhone SE with one of the best compatible phone cases, handpicked by our CNET experts.

In a city prone to large natural disasters, L.A. firefighters are widely considered to be among the best in the business at knocking down urban wildfires. But in the extreme conditions lately, experts say little can be done even to slow these modern fires.

(Image credit: Eric Thayer)

• Modular laptop vendor Framework said it will launch a RISC-V product in 2025
• RISC-V is the equivalent of Linux for hardware, open source and free
• More tech companies are adopting but it has yet to hit mainstream in a meaningful way

RISC-V, an open source ISA developed at the University of California, Berkeley in 2010, has steadily been gaining attention as a customizable alternative to proprietary ISAs like x86 and Arm.

Its license-free approach allows manufacturers to create and modify processors without restrictions, leading to adoption in various specialized applications, and this year could mark a key step toward broader consumer adoption of the architecture.

For RISC-V to truly reach the mainstream, it still needs to gain traction in the laptop market. Hong Kong–based DeepComputing introduced the first RISC-V notebook, the Roma, in 2023, followed by the DC-Roma II in 2024, which shipped with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed. While praised for its open-source flexibility, the laptop’s performance lagged behind x86 and Arm alternatives - but speaking to IEEE Spectrum, DeepComputing CEO Yuning Liang said the company's upcoming DC-Roma III will close that gap with performance comparable to the Arm Cortex-A76.

Enter Framework

Perhaps even more excitingly, DeepComputing is collaborating with Framework, a company known for its modular, repairable laptops, to create a RISC-V motherboard for the Framework Laptop 13. Nirav Patel, CEO of Framework, said, "If we look at a couple of generations down the [software] stack, we’re starting to see a line of sight to consumer-ready RISC-V in something like a laptop, or even a phone.”

According to IEEE Spectrum, "Though still intended for early adopters and developers, it will be the most accessible and polished RISC-V laptop yet, and it will ship to users with the same look and feel as the Framework laptops that use x86 chips."

Following the initial announcement in June 2024, Framework launched a product page for the RISC-V motherboard, but it remains a placeholder.

DeepComputing's site however, reveals more details, including images of the DC-Roma RISC-V Mainboard for the Framework 13 Laptop, one of which you can see at the top of the page. The board is powered by the RISC-V 64-bit quad-core CPU JH7110, and supports both Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 and Fedora 41.

RISC-V has already been embraced by a number of tech companies. Western Digital uses it for storage controllers, British startup Blueshift Memory's BlueFive processor is built on an open-source RISC-V core, the Chinese XiangShan project has developed two RISC-V designs, and Ubitium has a universal RISC-V processor that consolidates all computing workloads onto a single, affordable chip.

We will likely see more details about Framework's RISC-V Laptop 13 in the coming months, but given the current focus on developers and early adopters, along with performance limitations compared to established architectures like x86 and Arm, it seems fair to say that while this is unquestionably a huge step forward for the architecture, RISC-V isn’t ready for mainstream consumer adoption quite yet.

You might also like

• These are the best business laptops for every budget
• And these are the best laptops for programming you can buy right now
• Framework wants to lure enterprises with wholesome laptop offers

Get some structure in your workouts and keep track of your activity with the best workout apps.

While there aren't many options for internet in Billings, most people will be able to find at least one good provider that offers solid internet in their area.

As firefighters continue to battle blazes in multiple fires, more Santa Ana winds in the coming days threaten to increase fire risk.

(Image credit: John Locher)

Fort Collins residents have access to fast and affordable internet service providers. We've found the top options in the area.

The star, director and showrunner of the Apple TV Plus hit show told us what to expect from the upcoming season.

Hyve showed up to CES with a mission: Create a delivery box that's both useful and package theft-proof.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6: Two-minute review

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 are a more 'budget' alternative to B&W’s big flagship pair for 2024, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. I put budget in quotation marks, because despite undercutting their siblings, the Pi6 are still a premium pair of buds in their own right when you consider that rivals come in at almost half the price – and some of those offer hearing tests, proprietary spatial audio solutions and personalised sound profiles.

Bowers & Wilkins is a name revered for top-tier audio, even if you’re getting the company's ‘budget’ option, and that’s emphatically the case with the Pi6. As soon as you start listening to them you’ll be serenaded with a detailed soundstage, a zealous sound and smart ANC that’ll strip away any distractions.

If you're all about audio and can't quite stretch to the premium B&W Pi8, these earbuds are still a viable option. But to start with the sound quality might be getting ahead of ourselves, because you certainly won’t start there – like me, you’ll probably begin by hitting your shins on the harsh edges that B&W has left about the place. These buds have a surprising number of cut corners for earbuds that cost this much.

Sadly, I found pairing with the Pi6 a torturous and ongoing process. I realise it's one person's experience, but nonetheless I reviewed over 30 pairs of wireless headphones and earbuds last year and I'm not slouch on this. It was difficult. For me, the initial set-up was a time-consuming struggle, which I went through on multiple devices to check whether it was just my phone being problematic. And sadly, the connection wasn’t 100% reliable even once the buds were paired, because Bower & Wilkins’ app would reliably fail to recognize the buds if I put them in my ears once the app was already open.

The app doesn’t offer any scope for Spatial Audio or otoacoustic hearing profile curation, which is fair enough, but there are one or two standard quality-of-life perks missing, such as ‘find my headphones’.

Fortunately, the Pi6 are nice and light to wear, making them comfortable to wear and reliable to place in your ear. Honestly, the great audio quality here could very well offset the omission of a few personalisation perks and my connectivity issues, and this review was initially meant to have a 4.5-star score. However, near the end of the testing I was having trouble getting the Pi6 to work before leaving home, once again, and so despite the fact I was meant to be testing the Pi6 I had to leave the house with another pair of buds. And if I choose not to use the Pi6, despite the great-sounding audio, then it makes it hard to wholeheartedly recommend them to someone else.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released in September 2024, after Pi8
• Costs $199 / £219 / AU$449

You can buy the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 for $199 / £219 / AU$449, so they’re mid-range buds that act as cheaper – though not ‘cheap’ – alternatives to the Pi8.

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 sell for $399 / £349 / AU$599, which is a big step up, and so people who don’t need the very best and want to save a few pennies will find it a tempting option, and they are absolutely worthy of consideration.

Both earbuds were announced at the same time in August 2024. The Pi8 were put on sale straight away while the Pi6 were released in September.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: Specs Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• App doesn't offer the plethora of features others can
• Persistent connectivity issues
• Quoted battery life is 8 hours, but didn't reach that

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 easily takes a top-three spot in my all-time ranking of the most troublesome earbuds to pair with.

Devices just refused to recognize the Pi6. That’s plural devices – I tried to connect to a smartphone, a laptop and an iPad during testing. On all occasions, the device stalwartly refused to ‘see’ the buds via Bluetooth, and I’d have to keep turning Bluetooth on and off before the planets aligned and the device found the Pi6. Mercury must have been in retrograde or something when I was trying to connect the buds to my iPad, because I simply never managed it – not once.

When I first paired the Pi6 to my smartphone, the right bud wouldn’t work, a process which was only fixed when I went through the entire process all over again and re-paired them to my mobile. And when it did work, the connection wasn’t always reliable, with the app not always recognizing the buds and the left earbud continuing to give up the ghost from time to time. Again, it's important to note this is my personal experience (and it's very different to the one Becky Scarrott had when testing the flagship Pi8) but still, it's valid: I'm a regular TechRadar audio tester and in this particular area, the B&W Pi6 were unusually troublesome.

(Image credit: Future)

Another weak link is the battery life. Bowers & Wilkins quotes the Pi6 as having an 8-hour battery life but from my testing, it fell an hour or so short each time. Seven hours is still just above average, but the case was the real issue. The charging case is meant to provide 24 hours of listening time but I found that the power on this would be much less than that.

I’d sometimes put the earbuds in after a few days of not using them, to find that the battery had fully drained, even if it was powered up before. I’d need to charge the buds back up again before using them.

There’s a smartphone app to provide some extra controls over the buds. However, this was chock-full of adverts for things like streaming service free trials and podcasts that B&W sponsors, and so the actual features feel somewhat hidden. You can turn on ANC or ANC pass-through, play with a simple equalizer (you can increase or decrease treble or bass), turn off or on the wearer detection and customize the touch controls.

Most of these are listed under the ‘Discover More’ section of the app’s home page, as though they’re optional extras instead of the main reason you’d download said app. That’s only if you have the buds paired though and remember, several times in my testing the app wouldn’t recognize that the buds were connected.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Premium-feel, compact case
• Handy touch controls
• Four color options to pick from

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 come in a small pebble-like charging case. It measures 6.5 x 2.9 x 5.2 cm and weighs 46g so it’s nice and small. I had no issue popping it in a trouser pocket and forgetting about it for a day. The case doesn’t seem to have an IP rating.

The buds themselves are fairly light in weight, tipping the scales at 7g each. I found the fit to be comfortable and reliable, staying in my ears during a gym session amongst other activities, but several different ear tip sizes come in the box with the Pi6.

Each bud has a sensor on the top plate that you can use to control your music. Using these took a little bit of getting used-to (to figure out where to tap and how firm to be) but after a while it became a convenient way to handle the playback of my music. Using the app you can choose for the hold options to be to change the volume, or to handle ANC and summon your voice assistant.

You can pick up the buds in four colors. I used Cloud Gray but there’s also Glacier Blue (pale blue), Storm Gray (black) and Forest Green (olive).

I mentioned that the case doesn’t have an IP rating, but the buds do: they’re certified at IP54, which is a good dust-resistant and water-resistant rating – but I hope it goes without saying that you shouldn’t submerge them in water.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• 12mm driver, but misses the Pi8's custom one
• Hearty bass and mid, treble falls a little short
• Support for a range of codecs

Bowers and Wilkins has managed to get a 12mm dynamic driver into each of the Pi6 buds, and they support SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Classic codecs.

The Pi6 sound great for their price, which is just as well given the lack of a hugely meaningful equalizer to let you fix any issues. I really enjoyed listening to music with them, when the buds worked.

The buds took a zealous approach to my music, with a meaty but not overwhelming bass and full-bodied mids, and a detailed soundstage helps you appreciate these elements. For certain kinds of music, the Pi6 were some of the best buds I’ve tested in some time.

(Image credit: Future)

If there’s an Achilles’ Heel, it’s the treble, which I found to lack an extra ounce of sparkle as well as prevalence in the mix. I found myself wishing female vocals and harmonising instruments were a little more prominent, and even maxing out the treble in the equalizer only went so far towards fixing the issue.

At least for the music I listen to, however, the treble was never a huge issue, but it’s something worth flagging to prospective buyers. A few features are missing in the Pi6 that show up in the Pi8, including aptX Lossless support, an advanced DAC and bespoke drivers, but those are pretty niche features that only certain audiophile-grade fans will really need.

• Sound quality: 4.5/5

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Don't offer fantastic value for money
• Hunt around for sales to save

The B&W Pi6 have great audio for the price and a nice light case design, but the value proposition is knocked by the limited feature set.

I’ve tested plenty of earbuds that cost a third of the price of the Pi6 and have more impressive feature sets, more detailed equalizers and apps that don’t attack you with advertising for music services, playlists or podcasts.

You’re paying a fairly high price for the audio tech here and even non-audiophiles will enjoy the sound quality. But you can definitely find earbuds that sound almost as good for around $120 / £120 / AU$300 if you shop around. You can even find the Pi6 for a lot less in sales, despite writing this review only a few months after their release, so shop around.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6?

(Image credit: Future) Buy them if…

You're on a middling budget
If you're okay with spending a fair amount of money, but not loads of it, then the Pi6 might be the nice middle ground you need instead of going for expensive buds.

You need a slender carry case
Some wireless earbuds come with charging cases that you need to clear by customs, they're so big; if you want something nice and easy to tote about, then the Pi6 will be great for you.

Don’t buy them if…

You like customizing your audio
You can tweak bass and audio by a little bit, but even cheap earbuds have much more detailed equalizers (or preset options) than the Pi6 does..

You're a technophobe
If you struggle with any techy issues, the constant pairing problems of the Pi6 may well cause you to lose all your hair.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: Also consider

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
Not an imaginative comparison, but this is the Pi6's big sibling. A higher price tag gets you better audio, some extra features and the flagship driver, but (mostly) the same design.

See our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review

Sony WF-1000XM5
Sony's recent top-end earbuds cost similar amounts to the Pi6. They get you great audio, comfortable fits and a much better selection of Sony features to enjoy.

See our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review

How I tested the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6

• Tested for over three weeks
• Tested at home, in the office and at the gym

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 (when they weren't testing me...) for roughly three weeks, due to the testing period falling over the Christmas break.

I've detailed lots of my testing process above; I used them alongside my phone, an iPad and a laptop, in a range of environments including my home, the office, public transport and the gym. I streamed music, played games and watched some TV too.

I've been testing gadgets for TechRadar for almost six years now, and in that time have tested a huge range of headphones and earbuds, so I'm used to troubleshooting and fixing faulty tech.

• First reviewed in January 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

• The AI headphones would offer real-time translation and AI-generated voice cloning
• Given the design, I expect it to be rolled out as part of the Think family
• It could be paired with Lenovo's AI-driven action assistant

At CES 2025, Lenovo showed off prototype AI-powered headphones it hopes will elevate language skills for workers everywhere.

The standout feature is the headphones' ability to provide real-time translation, enabling users to interact across different languages.

The prototype also introduced a new feature called AI-generated voice cloning, which allows the headphones to mimic a user’s voice accurately.

Advanced health features and Action Assistant

The concept also incorporates advanced health monitoring features through Lenovo Virtual Care, which combines biometric tracking with an AI-powered virtual assistant for personalized wellness insights.

These headphones could also integrate with Lenovo’s Action Assistant, a task automation concept also unveiled at CES 2025.

Powered by a large action model (LAM), Action Assistant can understand natural language instructions to perform complex workflows.

From the concept image, Lenovo’s AI headphones integrate seven key ports and buttons - including volume - on one ear.

Adjacent to this is a multi-function button, likely designated for playing or pausing media, answering calls, or activating a voice assistant.

The concept also features with a foldable microphone arm which can swing to any direction for clear audio capture.

A USB-C port should support fast charging and potentially wired connectivity. There's also a dedicated power button as well as a speaker grille that features a perforated design.

Finally, the AI headphones' design is rounded out by a padded and adjustable headband which is usually used to provide comfort during extended wear.

It's worth reiterating that Lenovo’s AI headphones are just a prototype; and pointing out that a significant number of prototypes never reach commercial availability.

You might also like

• We tested the best free text-to-speech software
• I’ve tested the best wireless earbuds for over 10 years – here are my top Bluetooth earbuds to buy
• AI hype is real in manufacturing – successful adoption journeys are scarce

Explore the top internet options in Elk Grove, including multi-gigabit plans from Xfinity.

• The OnePlus Open 2 could be arriving imminently
• A tougher, lighter, thinner build is rumored
• The Honor Magic V3 is currently the thinnest foldable

The OnePlus Open 2 is shaping up to be a fantastic foldable, with new details leaking out about what to expect from the phone: apparently it'll be the thinnest foldable to date, while also offering an upgraded titanium build.

These predictions come from two well-known tipsters, Digital Chat Station and Smart Pikachu (via Android Authority). Both leaks mention the Oppo Find N5, which is expected to be marketed as the OnePlus Open 2 outside of China – just like the Oppo Find N3 was rebadged as the original OnePlus Open.

There's a mention of the foldable being the "thinnest in the world" (as per Google Translate). That would mean the OnePlus Open 2 would have to be less than the 9.2 mm thickness of the Honor Magic V3 when closed.

Indeed, this has been rumored since last September, which gives you a sense of the anticipation around the second foldable from OnePlus. We don't get any information about just how thin the phone could be, but it sounds like it will be super-thin.

Lighter and tougher

The Honor Magic V3 is currently the thinnest foldable (Image credit: Future)

Across these two leaks we get a mention of titanium being used in the build, and a "new industrial design, focusing on durability" (again via Google Translate). That suggests we're looking at a phone that will be both lighter and tougher.

There's also talk of a triple-lens camera with periscope zoom and Hasselblad engineering, satellite communication capabilities, a Snapdragon 8 Extreme Edition chipset, a battery approaching a capacity of 6,000 mAh (as previously rumored), and wireless charging – all of which sounds good to us.

One of these tipsters mentions a half a year gap between the next foldable phone and this one – and with new foldables from Google and Samsung expected around July time, the OnePlus Open 2 could be with us before the end of February.

There has been some debate about when the OnePlus Open 2 would see the light of day – bear in mind the first OnePlus Open phone launched in October 2023, so we've now been waiting more than a year for its successor.

You might also like

• The OnePlus Open 2 could bring some big upgrades
• These are the best foldables around
• Here's when the OnePlus Open 2 is expected

• The LG UltraFine 32U990A has a gorgeous design and targets creatives
• Its Thunderbolt 5 port makes it a perfect complement for Apple's Pro range
• It is the third 6K monitor after Dell and Apple's Pro Display XDR

If you’re in the market for a new monitor that’s going to last you a while, LG’s 32-inch UltraFine 32U990A, showcased at CES 2025, definitely fits the bill. Judging by the image released with the announcement, the monitor sports a minimalist design with ultra-thin bezels and a sleek stand.

Although details are a little lacking, the UltraFine 32U990A is the world’s first 6K high-resolution monitor to feature Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. This could potentially enable refresh rates of up to 120Hz (which would be quite something), but LG has yet to confirm the exact specifications.

What we do know is that the screen features a Nano IPS Black panel, designed for exceptional color accuracy and high contrast. It offers a wide color gamut covering 99.5% of Adobe RGB and 98% of DCI-P3, making it ideal for creative professionals working with high-end content creation.

A great match for the Apple Mac Mini M4

The monitor’s 6K resolution provides nearly 40% more screen real estate than a standard 5K display, positioning it as a competitor to Apple’s Pro Display XDR, though likely at a more affordable price point.

For comparison, Apple’s Pro Display XDR delivers a resolution of 6016 x 3384 pixels with a pixel density of 218 ppi, 1,000 nits of sustained brightness, up to 1,600 nits peak brightness, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Dell’s UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor (U3224KBA), another competitor, offers a 6144 x 3456 resolution at 60Hz but that only has Thunderbolt 4.

With its professional-grade resolution and Thunderbolt 5 support, the UltraFine 32U990A would be a great match for Apple’s Mac Mini M4 - if you’re prepared to step outside Apple’s ecosystem and opt for a third-party display, that is.

LG's CES announcement says, “With calibration software support, this monitor is perfect for media professionals, while its slim, geometric design enhances both aesthetics and user convenience to satisfy every kind of user.”

Pricing and availability details have yet to be revealed, but are expected soon.

You might also like

• We've rounded up the best business laptops for every budget
• And these are the best monitors for digital design you can buy right now
• Asus launched two business monitors with a unique feature

• SanDisk could be onto something by adding the word Creator to product names
• 3 new products released at CES 2025 are actually refreshes with different color schemes
• Only the Creator Phone SSD is a genuinely new product

CES is when many tech firms announce or launch their latest and greatest products - but sometimes what’s being shown isn’t quite as new as it seems.

Case in point is SanDisk’s new range of Creator storage products, announced at CES 2025. If you’re a creator, or aspire to be one, you’ll probably be very interested in these, as they are clearly tailored to your needs - however, "caveat emptor" as the Romans used to say - buyer beware.

This is because the bright blue 8TB SanDisk Creator Desk Drive, priced at $629.99, looks good and promises 1000MB/s sequential reads. But then, so does the SanDisk Desk Drive, which has a very similar model number, doesn’t include the word “Creator” in its name and isn’t blue, but is cheaper at $549.99 – a not to be sniffed at saving of $80.

Paying a premium for the color

Perhaps you’re looking to buy a microSDXC card. SanDisk has you covered here too.

Its new 1TB Creator microSD Card (in blue!) is designed for use in slotted Android phones and tablets, drones, action cams, and digital cameras, including standard point-and-shoot, digital single-lens reflex (DSLR), and mirrorless (MIL) models - all the devices a creator might use. Plus, it’s temperature-proof, humidity-proof, drop-proof, and waterproof, which is important if you're out and about.

A bargain at $159.99 - or… you could buy the 1TB SanDisk Extreme microSDXC card instead. Sure, it doesn’t specifically list the devices you can use it in, but it’s essentially the same product and $67 cheaper at $92.99.

Perhaps you want a portable SSD, like the SanDisk Creator Pro? Available in – you guessed it – a pretty blue color, it offers up to 4TB capacity and up to 2000MB/s read speeds, letting you back up and access your content with NVMe SSD performance. Good value at $349.99, right? Unless you’re not bothered about the color, in which case you can pick up the extremely similar SanDisk Extreme PRO (reviewed here) for $299.99 and save $50 - enough to buy some blue paint if you really want to match.

Or maybe you’d like to buy the SanDisk Creator Phone SSD (see below), available in 1TB or 2TB capacities, which is designed for producing content on the go by attaching to any MagSafe-compatible smartphone. That doesn’t have a price at the moment, because, unlike SanDisk's other Creator-branded storage it’s actually a new product, and one that looks genuinely useful.

We can’t blame SanDisk for rebadging old products to appeal to the creator market - it’s a smart business move. But unless you’re particularly attached to the blue color, you can enjoy some decent savings by buying the non-Creator versions instead.

(Image credit: SanDisk) More from TechRadar Pro

• These are the largest microSD cards you can buy right now
• These are the fastest external hard drives for any budget
• SanDisk takes over SSD, memory cards and flash drives from Western Digital

Hori Fighting Stick Alpha: one-minute review

The Hori Fighting Stick Alpha is a very solid option for those on the hunt for a new fight stick, but only if you’ve already got some familiarity with this type of controller and prefer them for fighting games over regular gamepads. At $200 / £200, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to players transitioning to fight sticks for the first time. Especially as many of the best fight sticks come in cheaper while still offering a fantastic onboarding experience.

But that doesn’t mean the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha isn’t worth buying. For one, it’s impressively light for its size, meaning it’ll rest on your lap easily. There’s plenty of space on its surface, too, making for a roomy and comfortable stick to use for quick sessions online.

As we see with similarly priced sticks like the Nacon Daija, the Alpha is fully customizable. Its clamshell design allows you to easily open it up and swap out Hori’s components for alternatives should you desire. That goes for the faceplate, too, if you’re keen to add some of your own unique flair to the rather bland default design.

Circling back to comfort, one other dealbreaker here might be the Alpha’s usage of the Noir layout for its buttons. This means the buttons are slightly more offset than what you’d find with the more modern Vewlix layout - where the buttons are gathered closer together. Your preference may vary here, and I certainly found the Noir layout well-suited for four-button games like Tekken 8 (Noir is a layout popularized by Namco, after all), but when swapping over to Street Fighter 6, I found myself wanting the more uniform layout of a Vewlix stick.

(Image credit: Future) Hori Fighting Stick Alpha: Price and availability

• $200 / £200
• Priced similarly to the Nacon Daija
• Newcomers may wish to consider cheaper sticks like the 8BitDo Arcade Stick

The Hori Fighting Stick Alpha is not cheap, and while it is significantly easier on the wallet than premium sticks like the Victrix Pro FS, it’d be understandable if its $200 / £200 price tag turned newcomers away. It’s definitely a workhorse fight stick thanks to its good build quality and customizability, and well worth the investment if you know you’re going to get plenty of use out of it.

However, those dipping a toe in for the first time may want to consider some of the cheaper fight stick options out there. The excellent 8BitDo Arcade Stick comes to mind here. The Xbox/PC version can be had for $119.99 / £99, and the original Switch model often comes in even cheaper than that (and it also works with PC).

Hori Fighting Stick Alpha: specs

(Image credit: Future) Hori Fighting Stick Alpha: design and features

• Solid build quality and impressively lightweight
• Features Hori’s Hayabusa modules by default
• Fully customizable modules and faceplate

While not the absolute tip-top premium in this regard, there is a good build quality all around on the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha. It’s entirely plastic and rather lightweight compared to many of its peers, but this does mean it sits easily in your lap without feeling like it’s weighing you down. Two rubberized grips on the underside mean it can easily be placed on a desk or similar flat surface without slipping around.

Hori’s own Hayabusa modules are in play here, including eight buttons and a square gate joystick. The top of the board features a line of ancillary function buttons, including Home and sharing buttons as well as options to mute your headset should one be connected via the 3.5mm jack on the left side of the unit. A couple of switches here also let you toggle between Xbox and PC compatibility, as well as a lock switch to prevent pausing or accessing your console’s dashboard for tournament play.

If you’re not keen on those Hayabusa modules, or simply want to swap in other parts like the gold standard Sanwa-Denshi buttons and sticks, you can do so here. The Alpha features a clamshell design that can be opened up via a sturdy latch at the rear side of the unit. I tested swapping out parts myself and found the process to be straightforward. But if you’re new to this kind of thing, you may wish to look up a separate guide as some cable management is involved.

The transparent pane on the surface of the Alpha can also be removed, allowing you to swap in custom faceplates. All in all, it’s a highly customizable stick. You should expect that, given the cost, but it’s nice that you can change up the stick to such a degree based on your preferences nonetheless.

(Image credit: Future) Hori Fighting Stick Alpha: performance

• Sharply responsive across all fighting games tested
• Better suited to four-button games due to Noir layout
• No option for wireless connectivity

In terms of overall performance, the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha doesn’t really put a foot wrong. You’re getting solid, responsive performance across all of the best fighting games. Hori’s Hayabusa buttons have a very short travel time, allowing you to perform inputs quickly and reliably. Stick motions for special move inputs in games like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear Strive do take some getting used to, but that’s more of a stick thing in general and not really a flaw of the Alpha itself.

The elephant in the room for the Alpha - and whether or not you’re likely to gel with it - is its usage of the Noir button layout which many find to be outdated. As mentioned earlier, Noir has the button column second from the left slightly raised compared to the rest, and the buttons on the far right are slightly lowered, too. This creates an offset that might cause your hand to get uncomfortable during longer play sessions.

Noir is actually excellent for four-button fighting games like Tekken 8 as your fingers will naturally rest over those four leftmost buttons. It can be a little awkward for six-button fighters, however, like Street Fighter 6 and many of the titles featured in Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. That’s because you’ll more regularly be using the buttons further to the right (by default, for heavy attacks).

You can of course set your own button profiles on the Alpha which may alleviate some of the stress here. But if you’re a Street Fighter player, you may be better served with a stick that adopts the Vewlix layout which has the buttons laid out in more uniform rows.

Lastly, for connectivity on console or PC, you’ll be relying on the included 10ft (3m) USB-C cable. That should be fine for most gaming setups and you can adjust its length via a spool beneath the Alpha’s clamshell. But just know that wireless connectivity isn’t an option here.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha? Buy it if...

You’re a Tekken player
Four-button fighting games like Tekken 8 or The King of Fighters 15 are well-suited for the Alpha’s Noir button layout.

You’re after a long-lasting, customizable fight stick
The Alpha is customizable in terms of its hardware and software, allowing you to swap out components and set your own button profiles. Its sturdy build quality and lightweight design make it excellent for traveling and taking to tournaments, too.

Don't buy it if...

You’re new to fight sticks
This is a price thing more than anything else. If you’re just looking to dabble in fight sticks for the first time, cheaper options like the 8BitDo Arcade Stick or Mayflash F300 might suit you better.

You play a wide range of fighting games
While you can have success in just about any fighting game with the Alpha, if you juggle a number of fighting games you might find that a Vewlix layout stick is better suited for you, especially for titles like Street Fighter 6.

Also consider...

Still unsure? We’ve reviewed a couple of fight stick alternatives that you may wish to check out instead of the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha. Refer to the table below for a quick rundown of specs.

8BitDo Arcade Stick
An excellent budget-friendly fight stick that’s relatively light and travel-friendly. It’s also got wireless connectivity via an included 2.4GHz dongle if you’d prefer that over a stricter wired connection. You will have to contend with slightly higher input lag if you’re going wireless, though, which is worth keeping in mind.

For more information, read our full 8BitDo Arcade Stick review

Victrix Pro FS
Arguably the cream of the crop when it comes to premium fight sticks, the Victrix Pro FS boasts immaculate build quality and comes fitted with best-in-class Sanwa-Denshi buttons. If money’s no object and you’re going all in on a fight stick, this is the one to go for. Both stick and leverless options are available here, at the same price.

For more information, read our full Victrix Pro FS review

How I tested the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha

• Tested for two weeks
• Platforms tested: Xbox Series X, PC
• Played a wide variety of fighting games across platforms

I tested the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha over a period of two weeks, playing a variety of fighting games including Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, Guilty Gear Strive, Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes.

I’ve been playing fighting games all my life, and while I’m typically a controller player, I’ve owned a number of fight sticks and thus have been able to channel my experience there into this review. Key things I looked out for during my testing included button responsiveness, the durability of the product, its aptitude to differing fighting game button layouts, and its comfort over longer gaming sessions.

I tested the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha primarily on PC but was also able to hook it up to my Xbox Series X Digital Edition for play on an LG CX OLED TV. Whether I was on console or PC, I didn’t notice any serious deviation when it came to input lag or general performance.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025

• View Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus at Amazon US

Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus: two-minute review Product note

The robot vacuum on review here is the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus. Elsewhere in the lineup you'll find the Yeedi M12 Pro Plus – this is essentially the same vacuum, but the Ultra Plus has marginally higher suction: 11,800Pa for the Ultra, 11,000Pa for the Pro Plus.

The Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus is a fantastic robot vacuum in terms of cleaning power. The vacuuming is powerful (with suction specs up there with the highest on the market) and reliable, the mopping is efficient – especially thanks to a pad that can shift outwards to enable this robovac to mop right up to the edges of rooms. Reliable object avoidance and very good mapping also help ensure a thorough clean.

In fact, in terms of cleaning alone, it's up there with the best robot vacuums on the market. However, it doesn't quite set itself apart in a way that's much of a game-changer, and it lacks extra features that you will find with other premium models. Perhaps the most notable of those is the lack of voice assistant support (which is surprising at this price point), but you also can't do things like use the bot as a security camera / pet checker. To some, those features will be unnecessary extras, though.

The base station is comprehensive, taking care of much of the maintenance for you, including refilling the bot's water tanks, and washing and drying the mop pads. However, the knock-on of that is that it is quite bulky.

That's the short version; read on for my full Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus robot vacuum review.

(Image credit: Future) Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus review: price & availability

• List price: $1,099 / (about £840 / AU$1,630)
• Available: US
• Launched: September 2024

An asking price of $1,099 / (about £840 / AU$1,630) may seem exorbitant, but it really isn't with flagship models such as the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus. Top-of-the-line models basically start at around $1,000 / £1,000 so something that's just a hundred bucks more is reasonable. Add on to that the fact that the Yeedi M21 Ultra Plus comes with powerful suction rated at 11,8000 Pa and has an extendable mop pad for mopping edges, along with great object avoidance, and you're getting pretty good value. While I hesitate to call it a deal, it's worth the price.

Compare, for instance, to the Narwal Freo X Ultra. At $1,399.99 / AU$ 2,299 (about £1,110), it's quite a bit more expensive, doesn't have that extendable mop pad, and isn't quite as powerful(it has 8,200 Pa of suction). The Narwal is a bit more aesthetically pleasing, however, and more feature-filled. For instance, you can actually use it as a security video camera drone.

The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo is another option that's going to set you back quite a bit with its $1,199.99 / AU$2,299 (about £950) price tag. It's very feature-rich and even comes with a handheld vacuum that self-empties into the base station. While it shouldn't be a huge consideration since all of these robot vacuums frequently return to the base station to wash their mop pads, it does have a 200 minute battery life to the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus' 290 minutes.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus specs Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus review: design

• Spinning mop pads – one of which extends to reach the edges of rooms
• 3D mapping sensors for improved object avoidance
• Large water tanks and dust bag in base station

The Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus, as a flagship robot vacuum, comes with some top tier design choices. For instance, while it comes with just one side brush (some models have two), it does have an anti-tangle brush roll. Plus, it comes with two spinning mop pads, one of which can extend out for edge mopping. Both can also lift off the ground for carpet cleaning as well, though it's not quite high enough for thick, shag carpets.

(Image credit: Future)

As far as its sensors go, it utilizes 3D mapping – you can see the results in the app. When it goes around mapping or cleaning, you can actually see two lasers cross in front of it. This helps with seeing objects more fully to avoid them. (Here's more on how robot vacuums navigate, if you're interested.)

(Image credit: Future)

Moving on to the base station. This is on the bulky side, although that's common for docks that offer comprehensive maintenance features, as this one does. Not only will it empty the bot's dustbin, it can also refill its onboard water tank and clean and dry its mop pads.

The most unusual thing about the dock is the fact that the clean and dirty water tanks are flat and wide, sitting on top of the base station instead of the thinner, deeper tanks of other models that sit inside the base station. I'm not sure there's a real practical difference other than the water tanks here are harder to tip over if you're filling up or emptying them.

They're both sizable, with the clean water tank holding 4L and the dirty water tank 3.5L. The dust bag that the robot vacuum automatically self-empties into is also pretty big at 3.4L. Also on hand are features that I've come to expect in flagship robot vacuums with mopping capability, such as hot mop pad washing and drying.

• Design score: 5 out of 5

Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus review: performance

• Both vacuuming and mopping are great
• Extendable mop pad means edges get mopped
• Object avoidance is very good

As one would expect with a flagship model, the vacuuming and mopping are both very good with the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus. I tested this robot vacuum on hardwood and marble floors as well as a bath mat to see how it would do with carpeting.

Tackling the vacuuming first, it sucked up all manner of debris very well. For a more controlled test, I used cereal and sugar and it sucked everything right up. That's to be expected for a robovac that boasts 11,800Pa of suction – right up there with the highest on the market.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future)

If there's any place to mildly criticize the M12 Ultra Plus, it would be nice to see two side brushes instead of just one, as this would push more dust and debris in front of it to pick up per pass. At least it has a tangle-free brush roll.

While I was impressed with the mopping as well, it's a bit light on how much water it uses so I ended up preferring to use the highest water level when running it. Still, it left floors looking very clean. During that cereal and sugar test, I also tossed some coffee on the floor and it mopped that up fairly quickly.

(Image credit: Future)

Also, one of the mop pads extends out during cleaning so that the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus is able to get to the edges of rooms. It's a nice feature that not all flagship robot vacuums come with.

Since the mop pads can lift up, when it vacuumed the bath mat that I used to simulate testing on carpet, it left the bath mat dry, meaning you can use this robot vacuum in a hybrid space and it will vacuum and mop hard flooring while just vacuuming carpeted areas.

Since this robot vacuum utilizes its 3D sensors for navigating and mapping, it does a very good job avoiding objects. I saw it go right up to and around chairs that had been moved, without touching (or sometimes barely touching). Just be aware that Yeedi hasn't yet solved cables and cords (no one has, frankly) so you should still pick those up before running the robot vacuum.

Performance-related features also include mop pad washing and drying as well as auto-emptying. They all work very well, though the robot vacuum has a tendency to wash the mop pads before running, which can be annoying if something just spilled and you want to do some spot cleaning.

Battery life

Since the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus is one of those robot vacuums that regularly returns to its base station to wash its mop pads and empty its onboard dustbin, squeezing every minute of battery life out of it is not going to make a big impact on your experience. Still, its up to 290 minutes of use is fairly remarkable as many robot vacuums, especially with spinning mop pads, have a battery life that's closer to 200 minutes.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus review: app

• Straightforward to use
• Somewhat light on features – no option of voice assistant support
• Mapping is mostly good

The app is straightforward, from setup to use. There are no surprises, though some of that is due to the fact that there aren't a lot of extra features here. You won't find the ability to pair with Alexa or use as a remote video drone (this may seem random but more than a few flagship models have this feature).

But, the more important stuff is here, such as running the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus in vacuum only, mop only, or vacuum and mop mode and the various settings during its cleaning (vacuuming power, mopping water level, etc.). There's also the ability to schedule cleanings, see a log of previous cleanings, edit the map, and adjust some other settings.

I like to focus specifically on the maps as I typically test robot vacuums in a semi-open floor plan and find many to have issues dividing the mapped space into smaller rooms – typically, the whole space, which comprises four rooms, are registered as one big room.

The Yeedi app does a good job dividing that space into smaller rooms, though I did find one instance where it wouldn't accept a division, so I have to either clean two rooms at once or use the zone setting to clean one of those specific rooms. This is an improvement over what I've experienced in the past, not just from Yeedi but other manufacturers as well.

• App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus?

Design

Sizable water tanks and dust bag in the base station, and the robot vacuum has an extendable mop pad.

5 /5

Performance

Vacuuming and mopping performance are both very good.

4.5 /5

Buy it if...

You want great vacuuming and mopping

There's little to fault with its vacuuming and mopping performance. Plus, it can get to the edges with that extendable mop pad.

You have an open or semi-open floor plan

Its mapping and ability to divide the map in app makes creating new rooms easy, though there are still some quirks.

You want good object avoidance

Maybe it's from that 3D mapping, but the object avoidance is very good, without giving too wide a berth to the objects the robot vacuum is avoiding.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget

The price is reasonable compared to other flagship models, but you're dropping quite a bit of cash here.

You want all the bells and whistles

It has all the necessities on hand, but there are a few extras that other flagship models offer that you won't find with this Yeedi – lack of voice assistant support being the main one.

Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus: alternatives to consider

Narwal Freo X Ultra

The Narwal Freo X Ultra sets itself apart just by its base station's aesthetics, with its more aerodynamic look. It's feature-filled and good at vacuuming corners, but is very pricey, has some minor issues with mapping (at least with open floor plans), and is not quite as powerful as the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus.

Read our full Narwal Freo X Ultra review

Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo

It might be louder and more expensive, but the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo is worthy competition to the Yeedi M21 Ultra Plus. Not only does it do a great job vacuuming and mopping – it has that same extendable mop pad to get edges – but it also comes with a handheld vacuum for some extra deep or spot cleaning prowess.

Read our full Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo review

How I tested the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus

To test the Yeedi M12 Ultra Plus, I used it for a week to vacuum and mop the hardwood floors and a bath mat (to simulate carpeting) in my house. I also tested all the features listed in the app, particularly its mapping. I took note of how well the vacuum cleaned the edges of a room as well as around obstacles.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed October 2024

Faith communities in Los Angeles are trying to protect their homes and houses of worship from deadly wildfires. They are also trying to provide spiritual support for their traumatized congregations.

(Image credit: Chris Pizzello)

"People have lost everything," says FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell. More than 24,000 have already applied for assistance from FEMA, but Criswell says that number is certain to rise.

(Image credit: Jae C. Hong)