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OnePlus 13: Two-minute review

The OnePlus 13 is extravagant and restrained. It’s a beautiful phone, sure, but OnePlus has made beautiful phones before. The OnePlus 13 is trustworthy. It’s durable, maybe the most durable phone I’ve tested that wasn’t made with military standards in mind. It’s also refined, with a look that is equally pretty and smart. It will also get four years of Android updates from OnePlus, which is longer than you’ll probably own this phone.

I highly recommend the OnePlus 13, and my biggest concern is that people won’t know what the hell phone I’m talking about. OnePlus fans know the company very well; other folks… not so much.

As I reviewed the OnePlus 13, I met more people than ever asking me what’s that gorgeous phone I’m using (sorry, embargo). I’d tell them it’s the new OnePlus, then I had to spell the name of the company because they’d never heard of it. OnePlus is a company you need to know about if you’re in the market for a premium phone.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus had a fascinating trajectory. It started as a flagship-killer-maker, which means it made phones that gave you some of the features found on the best Samsung and best Apple phones, at a lower price. You might get a great display and amazing performance but middling cameras and no wireless charging. You’d also pay hundreds less.

That’s not true for the OnePlus 13. This phone is uncompromising in every way. It’s one of the first phones to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and this chipset delivers on Qualcomm’s lofty promises.

The OnePlus 13 has the best display on any smartphone* (*according to DisplayMate). It has the biggest battery and the longest battery life; and even better, it charges much faster than any Samsung or Apple or Google phone.

The OnePlus 13 has great cameras, too. It can match the best camera phones in many situations, offering just enough artistic flair to compete with the iPhone while giving you AI assistance to zoom like a Galaxy.

Missing features that used to hold OnePlus back have become its biggest strengths on the OnePlus 13. My key complaint about OnePlus phones was the lack of IP68 certification. Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy phones have been water resistant for almost a decade, but OnePlus has never officially certified any of its flagship phones for IP68 durability. This year, the OnePlus 13 takes the plunge with unbeatable IP69 certification, and it’s been the most durable phone I’ve ever tested that doesn’t look like a brick made out of a Jeep.

OnePlus phones also used to lack wireless charging, but today’s OnePlus 13 has so-called AirVOOC wireless charging at up to 50W. To compare, the Qi2 charging standard supports up to 15W, and that’s what you’ll get with iPhone and Galaxy devices. The OnePlus 13 charges faster wirelessly than the iPhone 16 Pro can charge with a USB-C cable.

A OnePlus 13 in the aramid fiber case with the AirVOOC charger attached (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

You can’t buy a OnePlus phone at your local carrier store. That’s probably why your friends or your parents haven’t heard of OnePlus. Selling a phone through Verizon or Vodafone is an expensive proposition that requires testing, free samples, and marketing money. By skipping the carriers and selling direct (mostly), OnePlus says it keeps its prices lower.

Unfortunately, that means a lot of people who would probably love the OnePlus 13 will never hear about it. It also means the OnePlus 13 is harder to afford. When you buy a new iPhone or Galaxy from your carrier, they give you a big discount if you agree to pay for it for the next three years. You don’t get the massive discount with a OnePlus phone, but you also don’t get the three-year obligation.

It’s hard to find anything I don’t like about the OnePlus 13. I don’t wish it had any more AI features now, but the lack of AI might mean this phone gets left behind when the good stuff – agentic AI – finally arrives in a couple of years.

If you’re remotely considering the OnePlus 13, just buy it, you’ll be happy. The battery life alone makes this an easy decision, and the performance, polished interface, and delightful touches throughout make this a phone that will keep you happy as long as you own it, which will be a long time, thanks to its improved durability. The hardest part might be choosing the color and the magnetic case to go with it.

OnePlus 13 review: price and availability

• $799.99 / £799 for 12GB RAM, 256GB storage in black only
• $899 / £899 for 16GB RAM, 512GB storage and the good colors

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If the OnePlus 13 seems a bit expensive for a sleeper hit, that’s because OnePlus is great at making phones, but not so good at pricing them. You can ignore the list prices (below), because OnePlus offers a perpetual discount on all of its best phones that usually keeps the price lower. In the US, for instance, there is a $100 discount on the upgraded 512GB/16GB model, as well as a guarantee of at least $100 no matter what phone you trade. That means the price is effectively $799.99.

The OnePlus 13 is competing with the absolute top-tier flagship phones, but you can buy it for the price of the base model. The OnePlus 13 cameras, display, and battery life all compete handily against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the phone can be purchased for the price of an iPhone 16 or Galaxy S24.

The real problem for OnePlus is where and how you can purchase the OnePlus 13. You can buy it directly from OnePlus, or you can buy it from Best Buy, but only the blue or black models, and if you walk into a Best Buy you’ll only find the black. Amazon will have the OnePlus 13 in the near future, but it’s not available on Amazon yet.

OnePlus offers payment plans in the US through third-party Affirm, but doesn’t seem to have similar plans in the UK, which means many people will have to pay up front for the OnePlus 13. That’s not how most of us buy phones, so if you’re used to paying a monthly installment through your mobile carrier, there will be some sticker shock with the OnePlus 13.

OnePlus 13 in every color: black, blue, and white (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Hang in there, though, because having an unlocked phone that you own is a huge benefit. You can shop around for any cell phone plan on any carrier, and when it comes time to sell your phone, you’ll be able to sell it without having a lien from a carrier agreement.

The OnePlus 13 is available in three colors at launch: Midnight Ocean (blue); Arctic Dawn (white); and Black Eclipse (black). My review sample was the blue color, which might be the best one, but the white is quite striking, with a bit of texture in the back that makes it stand out. Also, there’s black.

• Value score: 4/5

OnePlus 13 review: specs

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Except for a couple of hardcore gaming phones, the OnePlus 13 is the first mainstream phone we’ve tested with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor inside. The chipset delivers on Qualcomm’s promises. It’s much faster than the previous generation, and it beats Apple’s latest A18 Pro-powered iPhone 16 Pro in many benchmark tests.

The wins don’t stop there. OnePlus says the display is the best that DisplayMate has ever seen, and our tests show it beats competitors in color gamut, if not average brightness. The RAM and storage are significant, and more than enough to drive all of the phone’s AI features and more.

The most impressive specs might be the 6,000mAh battery and the accompanying 80W charging. I’ve never seen a battery this big in a phone that wasn’t made for hardcore gaming. With the huge battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite, the OnePlus 13 is our new battery life champ, and it charges back to full faster than any Samsung or Apple phone, even with the larger cell inside.

OnePlus 13 review: design

• Lovely vegan microfiber (aka plastic) on the dark blue
• Excellent cases with magnets that make MagSafe accessories work

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I’ve long been a big fan of OnePlus phone designs, but I had a major complaint that kept me from recommending them more often: OnePlus phones weren’t durable. They were not certified to be water and dust resistant, unlike every major Samsung phone since the Galaxy S7. That all changes with the OnePlus 13, and it changes in a big way.

For such a gorgeous phone, the OnePlus 13 is shockingly durable. Most phone makers test phones to IP68 requirements, which means they can be submerged in one meter of water for thirty minutes, and they won’t allow any dust particles inside. OnePlus turns that dial to 11 with, it claims, the first IP69 certified phone. Technically, IP69 just means IP68 plus more, and OnePlus gave this phone a lot more.

I saw OnePlus reps drop the OnePlus 13 into a clothes washing machine and run it with a full load. I saw the phone placed into a dishwasher, where it sat for a full dish cycle, including the drying. This phone doesn’t just take a dunk. It takes a dunk, a spray, and a punch to the face.

It can’t handle salt water, sadly, but that only leaves room for future improvement. But seriously, this might be the most durable phone you can buy that isn’t made for the military or deep sea drilling operations.

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OnePlus makes the best looking phones you can buy, and the OnePlus 13 continues the trend. While I miss the swirly green from the OnePlus 12, which seemed like a magical object I picked up on my journey through an elfen forest, the Midnight Ocean blue is so strikingly classy that it’s undeniably a good evolution for OnePlus.

For accessories, I highly recommend buying the Aramid Fiber Magnetic case, which is not only incredibly functional, it also looks snazzy with that bright red ring around the camera bump. OnePlus is also offering the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in a matching hue, a very nice touch.

The OnePlus 13 feels fantastic when you hold it, especially in the blue color with its soft, inviting, ‘microfiber vegan’ finish that makes me wonder why I’d ever consider a cold, glass-backed phone like the iPhone or Galaxy. The circular camera bump seems purposeful and stylish, unlike the embarrassed portholes on the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra. Be proud of your cameras! Of course, you get the Hasselblad H stamp next to the ring, for the three people you meet who have heard of Hasselblad – they will be very impressed.

OnePlus keeps the mute switch on the side of the phone, and it’s the most useful mute switch on any device thanks to intuitive haptic feedback that clearly tells you when the phone will make a ruckus or when it will keep quiet.

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I usually ignore phone cases in my review, but OnePlus has gone above and beyond with this year’s offerings. My review sample came with the aramid fiber case (DuPont’s Kevlar is an aramid fiber), which also has magnets built in that by design line up perfectly with every MagSafe charger and attachment. With the case on, I had no trouble charging my OnePlus 13 on my Anker 3-in-1 cube, or attaching my magnetic wallet to the back – the one that came with my iPhone 16 Pro case.

The OnePlus 13 with my favorite Peak Design magnetic tripod, thanks to the magnetic case (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If you’re considering switching from an iPhone to OnePlus, all of your MagSafe gear will work fine if you also have one of the new cases attached to your OnePlus 13. It’s an incredibly smart system that – sorry Apple – every phone maker should adopt. Let’s make magnet placement a standard across all phones. OnePlus told me that it kept magnets out of the phone itself to keep the price down, but its cases are gorgeous, and third-party options are already making an appearance.

• Design score: 5/5

OnePlus 13 review: display

• Fantastic display is rated tops by DisplayMate, apparently
• Great colors with a slick design that is curved on all four sides

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus points to DisplayMate, which says the OnePlus 13 earned DisplayMate’s Highest Ever Display Performance Grade of A++. Who am I to argue? Our own testing in Future Labs showed a wider color gamut than the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, except when the Galaxy was boosting its color with Vivid mode turned on.

OnePlus loves to flaunt its maximum brightness numbers, but you will never see the phone reach the 4,500 nits that OnePlus claims. In our tests, the display was not as bright as the iPhone or Galaxy using HDR mode. In my real-world time with the phone, I had no trouble seeing the display even in bright sunlight, and OnePlus handed me the phone after flying me to Miami, so it was plenty bright.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The fingerprint reader under the display was a delight, the most responsive I think I’ve ever used. I don’t remember a missed attempt in my entire three-week review period, while my Galaxy phone fails to read my thumb print on the daily.

I even like the subtle curve all around the edges of the display. It makes for a very appealing device to hold and swipe around. My fingers never caught on the edges, and it gives the phone a premium feel.

• Display score: 5/5

OnePlus 13 review: software

• The best-looking Android interface, with just the right features
• Not as much AI as a Pixel or iPhone, for better and for worse

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

At its best, the OnePlus Oxygen OS 15 interface is delightful. It’s colorful enough to be engaging and unique, without feeling cartoonish or distracting. The OnePlus shelf is a brilliant way to handle widgets, with great designs, and the system settings and notification menus are refined and restrained. Every other Android phone maker should be following OnePlus’s lead, because the OnePlus interface doesn’t go too far, like Samsung’s OneUI, or oversimplify, like Google’s vanilla Pixel Android.

Sometimes, OnePlus gets a bit silly in its pursuit to take on Apple, but it's an earnest attempt to create the most thoughtful and appealing phone software you’ll use. There is a fake Dynamic Island on the OnePlus 13 that mimics the pill-shaped island on the latest Apple iPhone 16. Unlike the iPhone, the OnePlus Dynamic Island persists even when the phone is in landscape mode. The feature Apple created to hide the hole in its screen is now being copied to create a fake hole in the screen.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I appreciated the attempt, and OnePlus sees utility in having a tiny little window with animations for app activity, like your Uber Eats meal approaching or your Audible audiobook playing. All around the OnePlus 13 I found thoughtful touches and flourishes. It never went too far, and OnePlus even retains its controversial Zen Space, an app that will literally lock you out of your own phone, with no way to regain access, for a period that you specify. Zen indeed.

On the other hand, not everything is perfect. OnePlus claimed that its phones could tap to share with the iPhone, which would be a huge win for an Android phone. In fact, your iPhone friends need to download special OnePlus software, then walk through a series of steps. It’s not as seamless as OnePlus made it sound, and I’d never subject my iPhone friends to this process when I can just email a photo or file instead.

Google's Circle To Search scanning for a lighthouse (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If you’re a huge fan of smartphone AI, what you get on the OnePlus 13 won’t compete with Apple Intelligence or Google’s Pixel phones. You get a lot of Google AI features, including Google Gemini and Circle to Search, but Google isn’t handing over all of the AI magic to its Android partners. For instance, my Pixel 9 Pro will screen calls using an AI assistant, but the OnePlus 13 can’t do that.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus also loads its phones with just a bit more first-party bloat than I’d like. There’s a Clone Phone app and that Zen Space app, and those should just be Settings options. The OnePlus Community app should be an optional download. There are sadly two Photos apps, because one is actually Google Photos and the other is from OnePlus. And why is there a strange ‘Internet’ web browser from third-party developer HeyTap? Chrome works fine.

• Software score: 4/5

OnePlus 13 review: cameras

• Wonderful cameras for action photos and low-light shooting
• Heavy reliance on computational tools, but photos look great

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The OnePlus 13 has three 50-megapixel cameras, but forget about the megapixels because megapixels don’t matter. What matters is the size of the sensor. The main sensor on the OnePlus 13 is the Sony LYT-808, the same sensor used on the OnePlus 12. The iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra each use slightly larger main sensors, but the difference is minimal: around 0.06-inches diagonally.

The OnePlus 13 has excellent cameras, and it’s one of the best camera phones you can buy. The OnePlus approach to mobile photography is going to be more and more important in the near future. Instead of packing the phone with massive sensors, OnePlus is aggressively enhancing images with computational photography techniques, to mostly excellent effect.

From the main sensor, I got photos that fell somewhere between the oversaturated, explosive colors I see from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the staid, film-like softness of the iPhone 16 Pro. The OnePlus 13 takes photos that are stylish and realistic, without being dull.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

In some ways, the OnePlus camera is truly remarkable, like with zoom shots and action photos. Though the OnePlus 13 gets a lot of help from AI to fix the 3x zoom long-distance pics, the result is much better than the competition. Zooming in on my kid on the football field, the iPhone left him grainy and blurred, while the Galaxy made him look cartoonish. The OnePlus 13 offered remarkable detail and sharpness without much blur, even on action shots taken in low light.

Shooting fast-action scenes gave the OnePlus 13 even more advantage. OnePlus paid for me to take a Royal Caribbean cruise with other tech media (I know, I know) to preview the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R, and I got to photograph folks riding the simulated surfing wave. Under cloudy skies or even at night with disco lights, I got amazing shots that other phone cameras couldn’t approach.

I still think that the iPhone 16 Pro offers a better look, and the photos from my iPhone look like real photo prints, which can be charming. The OnePlus 13 offers amazing dynamic range, but it suffers from the classic camera phone problem of balancing everything too evenly. Sometimes I don’t want to see so much detail, I want a little more mystery.

• Camera score: 4/5

OnePlus 13 review: camera samples Image 1 of 6

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(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) OnePlus 13 review: performance

• The fastest phone you can buy, if you need that
• Android needs software to justify performance gains, besides AI

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What do you do with the fastest phone in the world? That’s the question I’m left pondering after my time with the OnePlus 13, which scored higher in important benchmarks than any other phone we’ve tested in Future Labs. It beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max handily in multi-core processing performance and on most graphics tests. Against the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the OnePlus 13 was twice as fast on some tests.

In the real world? Yes, it’s the fastest phone I’ve ever used. The interface is incredibly snappy, and OnePlus says its doing work behind the scenes to make sure that everything apps open and windows render faster on the OnePlus 13 than any other phone. Still, phones were already plenty fast, and I don’t know a single human who can perceive the difference between the fastest overall and the third, fourth, or tenth fastest phone.

The problem is that Android software, especially, hasn’t caught up to the performance benefits. Sure, I can use Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Premiere to edit photos and videos, but the software doesn’t work the same as it does on a desktop computer. Even worse, Apple has far more desktop-class applications developed for its mobile platforms, likely because it took the lead with pro software like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro. Where is the Final Cut for Android? What apps justify the need for so much power?

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I suspect that all of the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s processing power will be used eventually by upcoming AI features. For now, the AI story is confusing. It seems that the OnePlus 13 is offloading most of its AI work to various cloud servers. It isn’t doing much machine learning computation on the phone itself, even though that’s supposed to be the whole point of the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Frankly, the Snapdragon will benefit Samsung more than OnePlus, because Samsung stuffs its phones full of software features like the DeX desktop environment, the Bixby assistant, and more robust edge panels and pop-up bonuses. You’ll find a useful, simpler edge panel on the OnePlus 13 by swiping in from the edge of the phone, but you won’t find a desktop computer hidden inside. I appreciate that OnePlus doesn’t overload its phones with features I’d hardly use.

• Performance score: 5/5

OnePlus 13 review: battery

• The longest battery life of any phone we’ve tested
• Astonishing charging speeds, even charging wirelessly

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Ahhh, here’s the answer to the Snapdragon question: How does the OnePlus 13 benefit from using the Snapdragon 8 Elite? It’s the battery life, which is the best I’ve ever experienced from a mobile phone. My OnePlus 13 lasted longer than a full day of use every day I used it, and I would often forget to charge it at night in my first week of testing because I simply wasn’t worried that it would run out of juice.

In our lab testing, the OnePlus 13 lasted 15 minutes shy of 20 hours. The iPhone 16 Pro Max lasted just over 17 and a half hours, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra couldn’t last 17 hours in our testing. That’s the longest any phone has lasted, though it shouldn’t be a huge surprise because the phone to beat was the OnePlus 12R, a big battery powerhouse with an efficient Snapdragon inside.

In the aramid fiber case with the AirVOOC charger (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

In my real-world use, honestly I’m not entirely sure because charging the OnePlus 13 is very fun. It charges so fast, it’s incredible. OnePlus also gave me the new AirVOOC wireless charging puck with a cooling fan built in, and it attaches magnetically to the back of the OnePlus 13 when it’s wearing a case. Even with the wireless charger, the OnePlus 13 charges faster than my iPhone or Galaxy. But connected to a special OnePlus red cable? Superhuman (phone) speeds.

When I can charge my phone past 50% in the 15 minutes it takes me to shower, I barely worry about battery life. Or I can drop my phone onto the wireless charger and get a full charge in an hour while I catch up on work. The OnePlus 13 lasts longer than any other phone, sure, but it almost doesn’t need to last so long because, even with the huge battery, it charges faster than all the rest.

In 15 minutes, the OnePlus 13 charges to 52% full. In the same time, my iPhone 16 Pro Max reached 29%, and my Galaxy S24 Ultra hit 39%. After charging for 30 minutes, the OnePlus was five minutes from being totally topped up, while the other phones weren’t even three-quarters charged.

OnePlus even gives you a charger in the box, though it must, because no other charger will charge the OnePlus 13 that fast. You must use the special OnePlus charger. In the near future, OnePlus will be releasing an even more special charger than can charge the phone to the full 100W speed, instead of just 80W, though that big brick will cost a lot extra.

• Battery score: 5/5

Should you buy the OnePlus 13? Buy it if...

You want the best battery and fastest charging
The OnePlus 13 has the best battery life of any phone I’ve tested, and it can charge to full in just over 30 minutes like a fiend.

You want a beautiful phone that is delightful to use
The OnePlus 13 turns heads and makes people ask what phone I’m using. I’m happy to show them, the interface is just as pretty.

You want to switch from iPhone to Android
I’m calling it: the OnePlus 13 is the phone to consider if you want to switch from iPhone to a more versatile, powerful phone with better battery life.

Don't buy it if...

All your friends have iPhones
Sorry to say that OnePlus’s iPhone sharing capabilities don’t live up to the hype, and may frustrate friends more than help.

You don’t have that much cash on hand
Your mobile carrier will practically give you a Galaxy or iPhone free if you sign your soul away for a few years.

You want the best camera phone
The OnePlus 13 is one of the best camera phones, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro still take better photos in many situations.

OnePlus 13 review: also consider

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple’s big phone gives you a Camera Control button, Apple Intelligence, and all of Apple’s unique features that only work between iPhones.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
This Galaxy is about to be replaced, but it still hits hard with amazing cameras, the water resistant S Pen camera remote, and tons of other features.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.

How I tested the OnePlus 13

OnePlus flew me to Miami to give me a OnePlus 13 review sample, then paid for me to join the company and around three dozen other reviewers on a 4-day Royal Caribbean cruise. OnePlus had no say in any part of this review and did not ask for any consideration in return. I tested the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R during that period and for two weeks after, side-by-side against all of my best phones.

I tested the phone by submerging it in water, spraying it with a hose, and generally abusing it with liquids then washing it in the sink.

I had the OnePlus 13 for around three weeks before this review was published. I used it as my primary work phone that time, including Slack, Google Meet, Vampire Survivors, and Google’s office suite. I also used Google Gemini Advanced with my own personal subscription to the service.

I used the OnePlus 13 primarily as a camera and video camera, but I also played a lot of games, listened to music, and used it for maps and navigation. I connected the OnePlus 13 to my car stereo via Bluetooth and Android Auto, and I connected to a variety of other headphones including the matching OnePlus Buds Pro 3, Sony Bluetooth headphones, Google Pixel Buds Pro, and more.

I benchmarked the OnePlus 13 using a variety of benchmarking software available from the Google Play Store. The phone was also independently tested in Future Labs by our reviews testing team.

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First reviewed January 2025

The move, which comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, represents a challenge to the new administration.

(Image credit: PhotoAlto)

• AMD announces FSR 4’s exclusivity to RDNA 4 Radeon RX 9070 series GPUs
• It’s unclear why the RX 9060 won’t have FSR 4
• Team Red’s main rival Nvidia has made DLSS 4 backwards compatible

There were hardly any doubts over AMD conceding ground to Nvidia at CES 2025, with the unveiling of new GPUs on both sides overshadowed by AMD’s recent shift to a focus on mid-range options, but Team Red has also confirmed that FSR 4 will be exclusive to the new RDNA 4 GPUs - and I’ll be honest, that sucks.

As noted by VideoCardz, FSR 4 will only be available to Radeon RX 9070 series GPU owners, including games that already have FSR 3.1 support, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This is in stark contrast to FSR 3, which is available for all AMD users and beyond thanks to its open-source design, serving as a huge benefit for handheld gaming PCs as well.

Now, FSR 4's technology is said to be 'developed for RDNA 4' (the hardware microarchitecture of the new Radeon GPUs) which could be the main reason for this exclusivity. Despite this, it isn't exactly clear yet why the upscaling method is being omitted from other hardware, especially after Nvidia's announcement of DLSS 4 being available for all existing RTX GPUs - a step in the right direction for Nvidia on this occasion.

(Image credit: AMD) Should we be worried about AMD's position in the GPU market?

In previous articles, I’ve made my frustrations clear regarding Nvidia’s decision to make DLSS 3 and Frame Generation exclusively available for RTX 4000 series GPU owners. Team Green has now made amends with DLSS 4, which will be available for all RTX GPUs except for the Frame Generation feature, which remains exclusive to the RTX 4000 and the recently revealed RTX 5000 series (with the new-and-improved ‘Multi Frame Generation’ only on RTX 50 series).

This brings me to AMD’s decision to focus on mid-range GPUs this generation, which was a concern, to say the least - but after hearing that FSR 4 will only be available to RX 9070 series GPUs, I honestly believe Team Red could be in big trouble.

Even with a fresh focus on the midrange space, the lack of backward compatibility will hurt AMD’s gamer-friendly image - especially with Nvidia’s claim of the RTX 5070 performance being equal to the RTX 4090’s (most likely while using Multi Frame Generation and DLSS 4), priced at $549 / £539 / AU$1,109. Pricing on AMD’s new cards has yet to be revealed, but if it can’t undercut Nvidia’s new midrange champion, Team Red could be in dire straits.

If AMD’s RX 9060 doesn’t have access to FSR 4 (which at the very least is implied in the FSR 4 slide pictured above), the RTX 5070 will be a much easier choice at an affordable price. While FSR 4 could prove to be a massive leap over the previous rendition, it’s hard to see this beating Nvidia’s offerings unless the new Radeon GPUs are cheaper than the new Blackwell GPUs.

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• A new teaser for The Last of Us season 2 was revealed at CES 2025
• The hit series, which returns in April, looks like it'll directly adapt large swathes of the video game series
• Fans are already worried about the reaction that Kaitlyn Dever will get for playing Abby

A new trailer for The Last of Us season 2 has got fans waxing lyrical over every small but significant detail that makes up its near 70-second runtime.

The latest round of footage, which accompanied The Last of Us season 2's release month announcement last night (January 6) at CES 2025, is jam-packed with quick-fire clips that suggest it'll be as true to its identically titled game series as possible.

Considering how The Last of Us season 1 largely mirrored what happens in the first game in Naughty Dog's video game franchise, plus the involvement of The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann, that's to be expected. Nevertheless, it's pleasing to see how much of The Last of Us Part II is being adapted for the show's sophomore outing.

Ever since the sizzle reel-style trailer dropped online, fans have gushed over how authentic it looks, too. Threads that popped up on The Last of Us and R/Television sub-Reddits are full of comments from fans new and old discussing the level of detail on show. Where the latter group are concerned, the inclusion of a large, silver hook, the sound of that haunting siren, a snippet of that dance sequence involving Isabela Merced's Dina and Bella Ramsey's Ellie, and quotes pulled directly from The Last of Us Part II are call-backs to hugely significant moments in the action-adventure survival horror game. I won't spoil what these mean for anyone who hasn't played the games, but believe me when I say they're incredibly important moments.

The Last of Us TV show's newest teaser comes four months after the first unsettling trailer for season 2 confirmed that I wasn't ready to have my heart broken all over again (if you know, you know). It also arrives two months after The Last of Us season 2 was confirmed to be launching on in early 2025. Thanks to a stinger at the end of this most recent sizzle reel, we know it'll be with us sometime in April.

Why are people worried for Kaitlyn Dever, the actor who'll play Abby in The Last of Us TV show?

(Image credit: HBO)

Exciting as this new teaser is, it's also led to the resurfacing of fan worries about one of the Max series' new cast members.

Last January, Kaitlyn Dever was cast as Abby, The Last of Us Part II's deuteragonist. Now, the video game series' fanbase isn't concerned about Dever's acting abilities – quite the opposite, in fact. The No One Will Save You star is incredibly talented and, as many have pointed out since season 2's latest footage was released, she seems tailor-made to play the morally complex character in one of the best Max shows' second chapter.

Some people still can't separate the artist from the art

So, what's everyone panicking about? Some simply don't like Abby because of an absolutely devastating moment in The Last of Us Part II that she's involved in (don't worry, I won't spoil anything here). Others, meanwhile, weren't enamored with being forced to play as her alongside Ellie in that game, either, especially when some gamers found Abby to be an unlikable character. The sad reality, though, is that a small portion of the franchise's fanbase hates Abby because she's a muscular woman and subsequently feel emasculated in comparison. It's a bizarre opinion to have, not least because Abby is a fictional character, but there's a toxic minority who resent her for it.

That brings us onto Dever's casting. Per IGN, Dever was given extra security while season 2 was being filmed because of the vitriol that's continually aimed at the character she's portraying. Clearly, some people still can't separate the artist from the art – and it's for this reason that the aforementioned Reddit threads were also full of commenters rightfully expressing concern for Dever's wellbeing ahead of season 2's release. I'm certainly among that number, and I hope – perhaps naively – that the Booksmart and Rosaline alumnus is spared the inevitable discourse that'll likely come her way once season 2 begins.

The Last of Us season 2 will launch on Max (US), Sky/Now TV (UK), and Binge (Australia) in April.

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• The Last of Us season 2 will be shorter than the first – here are 3 reasons why that's exciting for the hit Max show
• The Last of Us season 2 will contain brand-new material that was cut from the original games
• Here's everything we know about The White Lotus season 3

Nikon Z50 II: two-minute review

A tidily packaged APS-C camera with great handling and plenty of features at decent price, we rated the original Nikon Z50 highly. Its successor takes that recipe and supercharges it, with the help of an Expeed 7 processor. The result is a versatile mirrorless camera that’s perfect to learn and grow with.

Its dimensions are neat enough to compete with the best travel cameras, yet Nikon hasn’t sacrificed ergonomics. Slightly larger than the original, the Z50 II feels fantastic in the hand. With a deep grip and plenty of direct-access controls, as well as a useful vari-angle touchscreen and upgraded viewfinder, it’s a satisfying camera to shoot with, whether you’re capturing stills or video.

Under the hood, Nikon’s latest Expeed 7 processor runs the show – the same silicon found in the Nikon Z9 and Z8. It might be pitched as an entry-level option, but that chip gives the Z50 II some serious pace. The interface is quick as you like, while autofocus performance is superlative. Equipped with detection modes for nine different subject types, including people, animals and vehicles, it’s as fast and accurate as many of Nikon’s more expensive models.

Processor aside, a lot remains unchanged from the Z50. That includes the APS-C sensor which, at 20.9MP, is bettered by many of the best beginner mirrorless cameras. That said, it’s still capable of producing detailed and realistic images when paired with a quality Z mount lens. If you already own a Z50, you won’t notice a huge difference in overall quality – although noise performance has been improved thanks to the Expeed 7 processor, meaning stills are cleaner at the same ISO settings.

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Nikon has also bolstered the video capabilities of the Z50 II, boosting its status as an all-rounder. 4K frame rates now top out at 60fps, albeit with a 1.5x crop, and it becomes the first Nikon APS-C camera to support 10-bit N-log video – giving videography enthusiasts more flexibility when color grading in post. A headphone socket is a welcome addition, too.

The features above are complemented by a new Product Review mode, which allows influencers to produce content where the focus shifts seamlessly from presenter to product. There’s also a Picture Control button on the top plate, which gives easy access to color presets, with the option to add downloaded Creator Recipes alongside the built-in presets.

Taken as a whole, the Z50 II proves that one camera can work effectively for different creative styles and experience levels. Buy it as a beginner and it will quickly yield impressive results. Stick with it as you improve and the Z50 II has the controls and capabilities to continue delivering.

Nikon Z50 II: price and release date

• Body-only price: $909.95 / £849 / AU$1499.95
• With the 16-50mm kit lens: $1,346.95 / £1,199 / AU$ N/A
• Available now

Like the original Z50, the Z50 II is positioned at the entry-level end of Nikon’s Z mount line-up. With a body-only price of $909.95 / £849 / AU$1499.95, that feels like a competitive offer for such a well-rounded APS-C camera.

In Australia and the US, the Z50 II costs pretty much the same as the original did at launch. In the UK, it’s cheaper by £50. That makes it excellent value. While the Z50 can now be found at a discount online, we think the second-gen version is the smarter buy: it’s not a total upgrade, but its powerful processor and video upgrades make it the more accomplished all-rounder.

That price also makes it slightly cheaper than the Canon EOS R10, our current favorite camera for beginners and arguably the Nikon Z50 II’s closest rival. Both are compact APS-C cameras with modern autofocus and comparable video skills. Which is right for you will come down to more than cost alone, but the Z50 II wins on price.

The Z50 II can also be picked up with bundled lenses. If you’re not already bought into the Z mount system, this is a great way to save on entry-level glass. Options include a single-lens kit with a 16-50mm VR lens for $1,049.95 / £999, and a twin-lens kit which throws in a 50-250mm VR number for $1,299.95 / £1,199. There’s also an 18-140mm kit in the UK and Australia for £1,299 / AU$2,279.

• Price score: 5/5

Nikon Z50 II: specs Nikon Z50 II: design and handling

• Upgraded viewfinder and vari-angle touchscreen
• Slightly bigger dimensions with a deeper grip
• Dedicated Picture Controls button for style presets

At first glance, the Nikon Z50 II bears a strong resemblance to the original Z50. It’s a tidily packaged camera, very much in the established mould of entry-level mirrorless models. Its dimensions are compact enough to be travel friendly, yet it also benefits from a sturdy build and comfortable ergonomics.

That’s in part because the Z50 II is marginally bigger and heavier than the first version. In the hand, we found its grip substantial enough to wrap our fingers around, without being cumbersome. We also appreciated the extra grams: the body features plenty of plastic, but doesn’t feel flimsy in use.

Look closer at the Z50 II and you’ll find several welcome refinements. The tilting screen of the original has become a fully articulating display, a much more flexible solution for framing on the move. This is especially useful for videography and vlogging, as it can flip all the way around to face the front. So is the addition of a headphone port, which allows aspiring filmmakers to monitor audio in real time when recording footage.

The viewfinder has also received the attention of Nikon’s product developers. It has the same 2.36m-dot resolution as before, but is now twice as bright at up to 1000 nits. In practise, that makes the EVF an easier adjustment for the eyes when framing and shooting in daylight conditions.

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Eagle eyes will also discover new additions to the control layout. In our review of the Z50, we complimented the layout and balance of its buttons and dials, praising its resemblance to full-frame Nikon siblings like the Z6 and Z7. The Z50 II gets closer still, with the addition of five new buttons.

You still don’t get a joystick, which means selecting the AF point requires use of the touchscreen. What you do get are zoom buttons, a display button and a dedicated drive button. These aren’t game-changing additions, but we valued their presence: they bolster the Z50 II’s chops for aspiring enthusiasts, making it easier to change key settings, without cluttering the interface.

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The fifth new button sits on the top plate. A first for any Nikon camera, it gives instant access to Picture Controls – a library of aesthetic presets. To seasoned users, this might sound like a fad, but we think it will appeal to learners who want to get creative while shooting JPEGs. 31 profiles come pre-installed, with the option to adjust them through NX Studio. You can also download Creator Recipes from Nikon Imaging Cloud, and select which appear in the list.

The button’s presence leans into the Z50 II’s status as a camera for all kinds of creators. So does the fact that you can re-program its function, a useful option which will appeal to users as they move into shooting RAW stills and making color edits in post.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Nikon Z50 II: features and performance

• Expeed 7 processor drives subject-recognition AF
• Same 20.9MP APS-C sensor as the Nikon Z50
• First Nikon APS-C camera with 10-bit N-log video

If you already own a Nikon Z50, you’ll find a lot of familiar numbers on the spec sheet. The Z50 II uses the same 20.9MP APS-C sensor as its predecessor. Its mechanical burst speeds max out at 11fps. And, like many of the best mirrorless cameras for beginners, it still doesn’t offer in-body image stabilization. What it does have is a new engine.

The headline upgrade for the Z50 II is its Expeed 7 processor – the same chip used by the flagship Nikon Z9 and, subsequently, the Z8. This is the first time it’s been fitted to an APS-C body. As the motor that drives everything from autofocus to burst shooting speeds to video frame rates, it has a lot to do. Based on our experience, the Expeed 7 makes the Z50 II a proper pocket rocket.

Chief among the benefits of that new chip is top-spec subject-recognition autofocus. It might be an entry-level model, but the Nikon Z50 II can detect and lock on to targets rapidly and reliably. It has dedicated detection modes for nine different subject types, including people, animals, birds and cars, as well as an auto setting which can pick up a range of subjects at the same time.

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In our experience, the Z50 II’s autofocus performance feels just as snappy in action as many of Nikon’s more expensive full-frame Z series models. With a new High-Speed Frame Capture+ mode which allows you to shoot at up to 30fps using the electronic shutter, this is a camera that’s perfectly comfortable covering action. We did encounter some rolling shutter when using this mode, but it's nevertheless an impressive feature for an entry-level camera.

It helps that the SD card slot now supports UHS-II cards for faster read and write speeds. The USB port has also been upgraded to a Type-C number, which brings a host of benefits: as well as 5Gbit/s transfer rates, it can be used to charge the camera directly, while UVC/UAC compatibility means it can be used as a webcam without the need for additional software.

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Nikon has pitched the Z50 II as a hybrid, which is reflected in its video skills. Even with the same sensor as the Z50, Nikon has harnessed the power of the Expeed 7 to squeeze more recording performance out of it. That includes the ability to capture 4K/60p video, albeit with a 1.5x crop. Uncroppped 4K footage is shot at 30fps, oversampled from 5.6K.

It’s also the first Nikon APS-C camera to support 10-bit N-log video, as well as the option to use RED Luts. This makes the Z50 II a camera with the flexibility for budding filmmakers to grow with, as they learn the ropes of videography and start to explore the possibilities of color grading.

These enthusiast-grade video capabilities might go beyond what most beginners need, but the Z50 II is also well-equipped for first-timers. A new Product Review mode seamlessly adjusts focus from the present to an object brought into the frame, similar to the Product Showcase feature found on cameras like the Sony ZV-1. It won’t be relevant to everyone, but if you have ambitions of becoming an influencer, it’s an effective tool.

Like the Z50, the Z50 II features electronic vibration reduction to help steady handheld footage. As before, this applies a 1.3x crop to video. Nikon claims that the feature has been improved for the Z50 II, though our tests found that it still isn’t a replacement for full in-body image stabilization.

• Features and performance score: 4.5/5

Nikon Z5 II: image and video quality

• Excellent image quality in most conditions
• Better noise-handling than the Z50 at the same ISO
• 4K/60p video with a 1.5x crop

On the whole, images from the Z50 II are as they were with the Z50: realistic, vibrant and clear. While its competitors offer higher resolutions, the 20.9MP sensor inside the Z50 II still does an admirable job of capturing detail.

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With the white balance on automatic, we found stills out of the camera to be nicely saturated and just the right amount of dynamic, without straying too far from neutral. The metering system coped well in a range of lighting scenarios, delivering well-judged exposures. We found that skin tones in particular were rendered faithfully in natural lighting, with a touch of warmth only detectable when shooting under heavy artificial lighting.

While its sensor size and ISO range are unchanged, we found that the Nikon Z50 II handles noise better than the Z50, thanks to the Expeed 7 processor. It was always going to lose out to its full-frame siblings, but you can get away with pushing the ISO number higher on the Z50 II before significant smoothing becomes an issue. ISO 12800 is still the upper limit, but you can comfortably lean on ISO 6400 if the conditions demand it.

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If you’re purely a stills photographer, you will get better resolution elsewhere. What sets the Z50 II apart as a value offering is its autofocus performance, as well as its hybrid video abilities. As above, stabilization isn’t perfect, but the same adjectives are true of 4K footage from the Z50 II as for its stills.

We found 4K/60p video to be well-defined and nicely balanced. In our tests, the Z50 II adapted well to different light sources and levels, producing lifelike footage that’s good for grading. Used with a tripod, we can’t see content creators having any issues with the video that the Nikon Z50 II captures.

• Image and video quality score: 4.5/5

Nikon Z5 II: testing scorecard Should I buy the Nikon Z5 II? Buy it if...

You want top-spec autofocus
Driven by Nikon’s Expeed 7 processor, the Z50 II offers autofocus performance to rival the flagship Z9. With subject detection modes for people, animals and more, it’s rapid and reliable.

You value ergonomics and handling
A deeper grip makes the Z50 II even more comfortable to shoot with. A vari-angle touchscreen is helpful for framing, while new buttons bring its control layout in line with full-frame Z models.

You want to shoot a mix of stills and video
With 4K/30p footage oversampled from 5.6K, plus support for N-log 10-bit recording and a useful Product Review mode for vloggers, the Z50 II has the video capabilities of a proper hybrid.

Don't buy it if...

You already own the Z50
Performance improvements from the Expeed 7 processor are notable, but with few other changes to the overall package, there’s probably not enough here to justify upgrading from the original Z50.

You need in-body image stabilization
Like many entry-level mirrorless cameras, the Z50 II lacks in-body image stabilization. Electronic video stabilization is available with a crop, but you’ll need a VR lens for optical shake reduction.

You want high-resolution stills
At 20.9MP, the Z50 II’s APS-C sensor doesn’t have the highest pixel count. If the number of megapixels matters to you, other entry-level mirrorless cameras offer more for similar money.

Nikon Z5 II: also consider Canon EOS R10

Our top pick for beginners, the R10 is a similarly priced entry-level mirrorless camera with a compact design, impressive autofocus and rapid burst speeds. It also benefits from a deep grip. Like the Z50 II, it has no in-body image stabilization and puts a crop on 4K/60p video.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS R10 review

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

Its 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than the APS-C number inside the Z50 II and has fewer megapixels, but the Mark IV impresses in other ways. It offers excellent in-body image stabilization, classic styling and a compact body, all at a more accessible body-only price.

Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review

Nikon Z fc

Another APS-C Nikon Z mount camera, the Z fc offers a stunning blend of old and new. It uses the same sensor as the Z50 II, packaged in a body inspired by the retro FM2. You also get a vari-angle touchscreen, making this a great value casual alternative.

Read our in-depth Nikon Z fc review

How I tested the Nikon Z50 II

(Image credit: Future / Chris Rowlands)

• Tested a production model over a fortnight
• Shot with multiple Nikon Z mount lenses
• Used with Nikon’s SnapBridge smartphone app

I tested the Nikon Z50 II for a fortnight, shooting with it on a daily basis. Nikon supplied me with three Z mount lenses for this review: the Z 35mm f/1.4, the Z 85mm f/1.2 S and the Z 70-180mm f/2.8. This allowed me to cover a range of subjects and scenarios with the Z50 II, from street scenes to portraits.

To assess its hybrid capabilities, I used the Z50 II to shoot a combination of stills and video. I also shot fast-moving subjects, including children and dogs, to put its autofocus and burst speeds to the test. During testing, I used one of the best SD cards, a SanDisk Class 10 U3 model, to ensure that performance wasn’t throttled by the memory card.

I also tested the Z50 II at various times of day and in different weather conditions, from bright sunlight to overcast skies. The resulting stills let me assess the white balance out of the camera, as well as how effectively the Z50 II handled noise at different ISO settings.

First reviewed January 2025

The Samsung Galaxy Ring was unveiled to much fanfare in early 2024. Hinted at the winter Galaxy Unpacked presentation and revealed at the Mobile World Congress tech conference in Barcelona, it didn't actually launch until July last year, and consequently is less than a year old. But the world of fitness and wearable tech is a fast-moving one, and the latest rumors indicate Samsung could have a new version of the best smart ring on the market ready for launch as early as the January 22 Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event.

A full release seems unlikely given the short life span of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, but it's very possible we could see at least a glimpse of the next version very soon.

So what could the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 bring us for 2025? The current version is brilliant and trumps the Oura Ring 4 as our top pick because it doesn't require a subscription, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of room for improvement. So here's everything we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2, and everything we'd like to see.

Samsung Galaxy Ring latest rumors and leaks Latest news

Samsung tipped to unveil the Galaxy Ring 2 at its January Unpacked event.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next smart ring from Samsung
• When is it out? Probably mid-to-late 2025, with a teaser unveiling in the meantime
• How much will it cost? Don't expect much change on the current price of $399/£399/around AU$750 - we're also hoping Samsung continues to eschew the subscription model

Samsung Galaxy Ring: Price and release date rumors expectations

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

• No word of price change or increase
• Tipped for unveiling at Unpacked on January 22
• Might not go on sale until later this year

When it comes to release date and pricing information, we don't have too much to go on for the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2. There are no rumors or leaks to suggest Samsung will change the current pricing structure of the Galaxy Ring with its next model.

As such, we can probably expect it to cost around the same as last year: $399/£399/ or around AU$750. One crucial aspect of the pricing was Samsung's choice not to opt for a subscription model with the Galaxy Ring. It's a vital advantage over the rival Oura Ring range, and one we definitely hope sticks around this year.

There are a few more rumblings when it comes to a release timetable. A leak in November revealed that Samsung was "planning to launch its Galaxy Ring 2 model a bit earlier than originally scheduled." Of course, this is hard to decipher when we don't know when Samsung was originally planning to launch the Ring, and sooner could mean days, weeks, months, or even years. More helpfully, a December 2024 leak suggested we would get an "introduction" to the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 at January's Unpacked event, which has now been confirmed for January 22.

As with the unveiling of the original model, this is likely to be a glimpse ahead of a full unveiling later in the year. The Galaxy Ring was shown off at Unpacked and MWC before its full unveiling in July 2024. We'd expect the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 to follow a similar pattern.

Samsung Galaxy Ring 2: Probable design and features

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

• Rumored to be thinner
• Samsung has patented an adjustable band to solve sizing
• Larger sizes also a possibility
• Longer battery life rumored

Samsung is unlikely to reinvent the wheel when it comes to smart ring design, which is severely limited in its form by virtue of the tech and its purpose. However, a couple of interesting design changes could be in the works.

According to the same leak which pointed to a sooner-than-expected launch, the new Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 will be thinner than its predecessor. Thankfully, that won't come at the expense of battery life, which the leak claims will also improve. The information also points to "more features," but details are scant on what could entail.

It was revealed in October that Samsung has patented a new type of smart ring with an adjustable band that could solve the sizing issues that currently dog the smart ring market. The adjustable inner band would change size, while the outer band remains fixed. It's not a perfect solution, but as a patent, this is likely years away and an unlikely inclusion for the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2.

Another, more confused rumor, points to the prospect of new Samsung Galaxy Ring sizes in the pipeline. These were first reported in September, with X leaker Max Jambor claiming the Galaxy Ring will be available in two additional sizes, 14 and 15, "in the coming weeks." Jambor has since revised his prediction stating the new sizes will be available in January.

The Galaxy Ring will be available in two additional sizes, 14 and 15, in the coming weeks pic.twitter.com/00vP18RAKqSeptember 20, 2024

While some outlets have taken this to mean that the Galaxy Ring 2 will feature new larger sizes, Jambor doesn't specify this, and a more in-depth report from 91Mobiles indicates these are additional sizes for the current model, rather than the Galaxy Ring 2.

Samsung Galaxy Ring 2: What we want to see

Thus, we have exhausted all of the concrete information out there about the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2. But what does the second iteration need to succeed? After months of testing and use, here are some things we'd like to see.

1. A leaf out of Circular's Sizing book

The Circular Ring 2 can be sized using a smartphone camera, not a plastic sizing kit. (Image credit: Circular)

The Circular Ring might not have set the world alight, but the Circular Ring 2 unveiled at CES 2025 features a massive upgrade in smart ring tech.

It's leaving behind physical plastic sizing kits in favor of a smartphone-powered Digital Ring Sizing function, and it's a feature we'd love to see come to every smart ring out there, especially the Galaxy Ring 2.

2. More workout detection

The Oura Ring 4 can automatically track 40 different types of activity. (Image credit: Future)

While the Galaxy Ring offers walking and running workout detection, the Oura Ring 4 offers 40 automatic workout profiles based on your tastes, and even works to pick up more challenges exercise profiles like rowing.

The Galaxy Ring 2 could definitely benefit from more automatic workout detection, which is a mainstay of the best smartwatches and the rival Oura.

3. More gesture controls

(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung's Galaxy Ring features a limited number of gesture controls, a vital advantage over the Oura Ring lineup. We'd love to see Samsung expand the offering.

Right now there are two gestures, you can dismiss alarms, or take a picture or video, by using the double pinch gesture. More options including a function to answer phone calls would do just fine, thank you, but we'd love to see a remote screen control functionality – picture Tony Stark/Iron Man scrolling through holograms with a swipe of his hand.

4. 10-day battery life

10 days might be a big ask, but the Samsung Galaxy Ring's seven-day battery life can't compete with the eight days on offer from the Oura Ring 4. Even matching that would be a bonus, but we'd love to see double figures. As the leaks we've mentioned suggest, we can expect at least some battery life improvement with the Galaxy Ring 2, so here's hoping it's a hefty jump.

You may also like

• Samsung Galaxy Ring review: The top smart ring for Samsung users
• I spent 24 hours with the Samsung Galaxy Ring, and it's scarily good so far
• The Samsung Galaxy Ring is brilliant, but it misses the mark in three key areas

Maingear has long been a custom PC build staple for a lot of gamers, whether that's prestige products like the Maingear Turbo, the Maingear MG-1, or the dozen or so other product lines the New Jersey-based PC builder has put out over the years.

Well, you can honestly put all those aside, because the newest crop of Maingear PCs are in a class all their own.

Maingear is showing off three gaming PC product lines at CES 2025, and all three of them are stunners in their own right.

First, there's the Maingear Shroud Signature Collection, which continues Maingear's collaboration with the popular video game streamer Shroud.

The second series is the Maingear Apex Rush, and quite frankly, I'll skip over the details here for a moment, because I have a lot more to say about them in a minute.

Finally, there's the Maingear Apex Force, which is an absolute beast of a machine, complete with angled chrome piping like a bonafide hotrod.

I'll go through each in turn, so read on to learn more about why Maingear's newest gaming PCs are the best I've seen at CES this year.

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First up is the Maingear Shroud Signature Collection, which is a pair of PCs built in collaboration with professional streamer and former Valorant pro Shroud.

The PC, which features a UniSheet heat-formed glass panel to showcase the components inside from the front and the side, comes in either white or black, features a built-in LCD screen inside the case, a glass GPU airflow director emblazoned with Shroud's signature (get it?), and a special badge on the PC case listing the PC's serialized order number and date of assembly.

Given the PC's namesake, the components inside are equally impressive.

At launch, it will come with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, the top-tier Nvidia RTX 5000-series GPU (whichever is the highest you can get when you order), the ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi motherboard, 48GB T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR5-8000, 2TB T-Force Cardea PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD, a 1200W FSP PTM Pro Gen 5 80+ Cybernetics Platinum power supply, and a Maingear 420mm AIO cooler with 25mm thick radiator and liquid metal thermal interface for the CPU.

While these specs aren't expected to change, who knows what the future will bring. The above will at least serve as a baseline spec for the collection.

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Also introduced at CES 2025 is the Maingear Apex Force custom-built, fully liquid-cooled PC.

Starting with an enormous full tower case based on the Phantek NV9, cable management is kept discreetly hidden in a rear chamber of the case while the panoramic wrap-around tempered glass shows off the internals.

Inside, you'll find precision-engineered 10-degree-angled chrome tubing that matches the angle of the bottom case panel, which pumps liquid through a 420mm-long, 60mm thick AIO radiator fitted with three 140mm wide, 30mm thick fans to carry away heat from both the CPU and GPU.

The Apex Force is also customizable with Intel and AMD's latest CPUs, paired with the best Nvidia graphics cards available at the time of your order.

The custom cooling loop is also customizable, including the color of the coolant used, the type and color of the tubing, and the material and color of the tube fittings used throughout the build.

Maingear Apex Rush

OK, so I waited til the end here to talk about the Maingear Apex Rush Artwork editions, because these are simply too sick to not dig into in more detail.

There are three distinct PC designs, called 'Cyber Gamer', 'Good Fortune', and 'Vaporware Drive'.

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Cyber Gamer has a very distinct Cyberpunk 2077 vibe, including soft, braided cooling tubes, reminiscent of a cybernetic implant. There's a cyberpunk-styled woman on the case as well, giving the case some additional character. Any fans of Netflix's Edgerunners anime will probably already be drooling at this point.

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Good Fortune is an Asian-inspired design, with a distinctive charm and animal motif throughout, soft color pallete, and adorable koi fish, foxes, and cat characters on various parts of the case. Inside, brass-colored tubes and fittings blend in perfectly with the rest of the case's aesthetics.

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Vaporware Drive, however, is the design that triggered my 80's kid lizard brain, touching something primordial that I didn't even know still resided in my psyche.

OK, that might be overstating things, but my god, just look at this case. While all of the Apex Rush Artwork cases are full of interesting details, Vaporware Drive's back panel shows off a city skyline with a setting 80's sun (yes kids, the sun actually lost horizontal stripes when it set back then. Look it up), and there's a building with a neon sign that reads 14.37 DPS.

If you don't know, that's the damage per second of an upgraded StarCraft II zergling, which is the kind of absolutely unnecessary detail that makes me love this design so damned much.

It should also be noted that there is also an undecorated Apex Rush design, which features all of the same internals, but none of the extra flair beyond the already awesome-looking case, internals, and overall design.

Pricing and availability

At the moment, no pricing or availability has been specified for any of these PCs, though you can go to Maingear's website to learn more, customize your builds, and order directly from the company once the PCs are available.

Maingear is also offering a $100 reserve option for these PCs which will hold your place in the order and build queue,, a deposit that is entirely refundable and which will be put toward the final cost of the PC that Maingear builds.

Lenovo's Legion Go gaming handheld was one of the standout releases of 2024, and is arguably the best PC gaming handheld after the Steam Deck, but one thing has ultimately held it—and every other Windows-based handheld—back from truly dethroning the Steam Deck: Windows.

Windows 11 just isn't a great platform for a PC gaming handheld, it just isn't. Even the ability to install gaming stores and services other than Steam doesn't make up for how clunky the Windows 11 desktop is to navigate on an 8-inch screen without a keyboard and mouse (and the various touchscreen experiences have been very disappointing).

Now, Lenovo is launching a new PC gaming handheld at CES 2025, and it finally does away with the worst part of the PC gaming handheld experience. The Lenovo Legion Go S will be the only other handheld besides the Steam Deck to have a SteamOS license, giving you a Steam Deck-like experience on much more modern hardware.

There will also be a Windows version of the Legion Go S as well, in the Glacial White colorway (the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S will come in a color called Nebula Violet).

You will also have the choice of chips to power the new handhelds, either the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, or the new AMD Ryzen Z2 Go, which is exclusively for the Legion Go S.

Specs for the Lenovo Legion Go S Lenovo also showed off the Legion Go 2 prototype

In addition to the Lenovo Legion Go S, Lenovo also showed off a prototype for the Legion Go 2, which continues with the innovative design of its first gaming handheld, including its detachable, Joy-Con-like controllers and built-in kickstand on the game tablet itself.

The prototype is obviously just that, a prototype, so the specs on the device should it ever make it to market aren't set in stone, but the unit Lenovo showed off this week features the new Ryzen Z2 processor and includes up to 32GB of faster 7500MT/s LPDDR5X memory, up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, and a gorgeous 8.8-inch 1920 x 1200p OLED display running at 144Hz, 500 nits brightness, and 97% DCI-P3 color gamut for stunning and vivid visuals.

Should this handheld ever make it to market, it's so pretty that you might even forgive it for running on Windows 11, but hope springs eternal that Lenovo's SteamOS license eventually makes it to the rest of its PC gaming handheld portfolio.

• Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 has a 14-inch OLED that extends to 16.7-inch
• With a price tag of $3500, it will target businesses and enterprise users
• This ThinkBook is the latest innovation in form factor from Lenovo

If you want a laptop with a larger screen but don't want to sacrifice portability - and the GPD Duo, with its dual 13.3-inch OLED screens feels like overkill - the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable from Lenovo could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Part of the PC maker's lineup of AI-powered business solutions being unveiled at CES 2025, the laptop, which was originally presented as a rather unlikely concept two years ago, features a vertically expanding rollable 14-inch OLED display capable of extending to a 16.7-inch panel with the press of a key or via hand gestures to the camera. The 120Hz OLED screen offers 400 nits of brightness and 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy, delivering sharp and vibrant visuals suitable for professional workloads.

Weighing 3.73lbs (1.69kg) and measuring 19.9mm in thickness, the laptop balances a slim design with enhanced productivity features. It includes an edge-to-edge ThinkBook keyboard with a ForcePad and comes with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and Intel Wi-Fi 7 (5 Gig) for fast data transfers and connectivity.

ThinkBook Workspace

Powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor (Series 2) with Intel Arc Xe2 graphics, the Copilot+ PC supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5x memory running at 8533MT/s and offers up to 1TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage. The 66Whr battery, paired with a 65W USB Type-C GaN Nano adapter, offers reliable power for extended use.

The Copilot+ PC comes with AI-powered tools like Lenovo AI Now and Cocreator from Paint, blending on-device intelligence with cloud capabilities. These tools provide features such as task suggestions, workflow optimization, and offline creative assistance for content generation and data analysis.

The device also introduces the ThinkBook Workspace, designed to improve multitasking with split-screen capabilities and dedicated widgets for frequently used apps. Its unique vertical screen design encourages better posture, making it particularly useful for professionals working long hours.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable will be available in Q1 2025 with a starting price of $3,499.

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• Lenovo ThinkCentre neo Ultra Gen 2 adds Core Ultra CPU options and Thunderbolt
• But form factor remains the same, as does the rest of its specs
• The refresh comes at no extra cost as it keeps its retail price

At last year’s CES, Lenovo introduced the ThinkCentre neo Ultra, its first ultra-small form factor AI desktop for SMBs and a competitor to Apple’s Mac Studio.

That device launched in July 2024, and now at CES 2025, Lenovo has unveiled an upgraded version that truly wows.

The first generation of the ThinkCentre neo Ultra was powered by 14th Gen Intel processors, up to the i9-14900T. The upgraded version is now outfitted with Intel’s Core Ultra CPUs, promising a big leap in performance.

Thunderbolt 4 and much more

(Image credit: Lenovo)

The original neo Ultra featured a wide range of ports. On the front, it had two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a headphone/mic combo jack (3.5mm).

The rear panel offered four USB-A ports, two HDMI 2.1 ports, four DisplayPort 1.4a ports, and an Ethernet (GbE RJ-45) port. That meant it was capable of driving up to eight displays. The refresh doesn’t change the port arrangement but it does make a welcome switch.

Between the two rows of rear ports on the original model were two punch-out ports. The first could be configured for HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C with DisplayPort functionality, or VGA (dust off your old CRT monitor!). The second could be configured for HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, or 2.5GbE RJ-45. Both punch-outs are now gone, replaced by additional ventilation and a new Thunderbolt 4 port.

Aside from the new processor options and the addition of Thunderbolt 4, everything else remains the same.

The form factor hasn’t changed - it still measures 195 x 191 x 108mm (3.6L). All other specs, including four M.2 slots, an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, and up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, are unchanged.

Another thing that hasn’t altered, and which we’re very pleased about, is the price. The ThinkCentre neo Ultra Gen 2 will be available in February 2025, with an expected starting price of $3,099.

If you’re happy with the specs of the original (and would prefer a VGA port instead of Thunderbolt 4 – hey, we’re not judging), Lenovo is still selling the first-gen model, and it's currently 49% off at $1,580.49.

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War has changed Ukraine's workforce, especially in heavy industry and mining. With men conscripted to fight the war against Russia, women have started working in traditionally male jobs.

(Image credit: Michael Robinson Chávez for NPR)

• Sony has revealed new versions of its PS5 accessories
• The Midnight Black Collection launches on February 20, 2025
• Preorders are set to begin on January 10 at PlayStation Direct

Sony has unveiled its Midnight Black Collection, a brand new colorway for a range of PS5 accessories launching next month.

As the name suggests, the Midnight Black Collection includes new, classic black versions of the PlayStation Portal remote player, DualSense Edge wireless controller, Pulse Elite wireless headset, and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds.

The entire collection is set to be released on February 20, 2025, with pre-orders beginning on January 16 at PlayStation Direct.

Sony has already provided the prices for each piece of hardware, which you can read below, and won't cost more than the original white models, aligning with the leaks reported in November.

The PS Portal, DualSense Edge, and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds will cost $200, while the Pulse Elite wireless headset will cost $149.99.

• PlayStation Portal remote player – Midnight Black: $199.99 / £199.99 / €219.99 / 34,980 YEN
• DualSense Edge wireless controller – Midnight Black: $199.99 / £199.99 / €219.99 / 34,980 YEN
• Pulse Explore wireless earbuds – Midnight Black: $199.99 / £199.99 / €219.99 / 34,980 YEN
• Pulse Elite wireless headset – Midnight Black: $149.99 / £129.99 / €149.99 / 22,980 YEN

"Each Midnight Black accessory features a unique, rich shade of black, with sleek detailing on various buttons and accents such as the PlayStation logo," Sony said in the latest PlayStation blog post.

"The Midnight Black design extends to the included charging case for Pulse Explore earbuds, charging hanger for Pulse Elite headset, and carrying case for DualSense Edge controller. The Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds will also include a felt grey carrying case."

These new accessories will complement PlayStation's Midnight Black DualSense wireless controller and PS5 console covers, which released in 2021 and 2022.

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• Apple says your Siri data is never sold or used for marketing purposes
• The statement comes as the company settles a $95 million privacy lawsuit
• Apple settled to move on from the lawsuit and avoid further costly litigation

Apple says that data collected by Siri has never been sold to advertisers or used to build a marketing profile of its users. Instead, the company argues that its virtual assistant has been “engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning.”

The statement (via BBC News) comes as the tech giant has settled a class action lawsuit focused on its Siri assistant. The litigators had alleged that Siri had eavesdropped on Apple users without their knowledge or permission. As well as that, the lawsuit also claimed that user voice recordings were shared with advertisers.

For instance, lead plaintiff Fumiko Lopez argued that Siri recorded her and her daughter without their consent. The couple believe they were served targeted ads after discussing various products, including Nike Air Jordans.

In response, Apple said that “Siri data has never been used to build marketing profiles and it has never been sold to anyone for any purpose,” adding that collected data is only used to improve the virtual assistant.

The tech firm has settled the lawsuit for $95 million. It denied any wrongdoing and pushed back against claims that it “recorded, disclosed to third parties, or failed to delete, conversations recorded as the result of a Siri activation” without permission.

The company said it settled to “avoid additional litigation so we can move forward from concerns about third-party grading that we already addressed in 2019.”

Apple’s reputation for privacy

(Image credit: Unsplash [Omid Armin])

Apple has long built a strong reputation for user privacy. Unlike some rivals, many of its features work entirely on-device, meaning user data is not sent to Apple’s servers, while the company said that outside experts could verify the privacy controls of the Private Cloud Compute aspect of its Apple Intelligence system.

With Siri, though, some data – including audio of your requests – is sent to Apple’s servers. However, Apple’s Siri terms state that “Unless you opt in to Improve Siri and Dictation, your audio data is not stored by Apple.” In other words, your audio is processed on Apple’s servers, but the company does not keep it after the job is done.

Transcripts of your audio may be stored by Apple. However, both your audio data and transcripts are anonymized: they are assigned a random identifier and are not tied to your Apple Account. The identifier is disassociated from the data after six months, and Apple may keep the data for up to two years.

Apple’s terms lay out that Apple does not use Siri data for marketing purposes and that it is never sold to anyone else. Audio is only stored if you opt in to improve Siri but, being an opt-in process, this feature is not enabled by default.

Still, if you don’t feel comfortable with Siri collecting and processing any data at all (including transcripts), you can turn off Siri by opening the Settings app and going to Apple Intelligence & Siri > Talk & Type to Siri, tapping Off and disabling all of the toggles.

If you want to delete your Siri and dictation transcripts, go to Apple Intelligence & Siri > Siri & Dictation History in the Settings app, then select Delete Siri & Dictation History.

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• Sony Afeela 1 is slated to offer high levels of autonomous driving
• Prices will start at $89,900 / £72,000 / AU$143,000
• In-vehicle entertainment is top of the agenda

Sony’s first foray into the world of electric vehicles is arguably one of the hardest working concepts of the CES show in Las Vegas.

Starting life as the Sony Vision-S, the project has since morphed into the Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) Afeela, gradually revealed over five consecutive years of CES fanfare.

Considering the Porsche Taycan can manage 320kW charge speeds, that figure already feels old fashioned.

During that time, we have been teased with infotainment details and treated to a mock-up that has gradually evolved in design. But this year at CES 2025, the company finally announced that the $89,900 all-electric model is now available to pre-order for a fully refundable reservation fee of $200, with deliveries anticipated in mid-2026.

But there’s a catch, as Sony’s tie-in with the Japanese legacy automaker is currently only available to residents of California, although it is expected to be opened up to other US states soon.

This year’s party piece saw SHM boss Yasuhide Mizuno summon the “near production ready” Afeela 1 to the CES stage using just his smartphone, while indicating that the suite of of 40 sensors (including cameras, LiDAR, radars and ultrasonic sensors) would allow for high levels of autonomous driving.

(Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility)

Inside, all occupants are treated to a huge dose of entertainment, thanks to displays at every seat, complete with Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Technologies to offer an “immersive” in-car experience.

But Autocar states that the model is destined to ride on the same platform that will underpin the forthcoming and yet-to-be-driven Honda 0 Series, with official SHM specs clarifying that it will use a 91kWh battery pack that sends power to dual 180kW motors at the front and rear.

Total power output will be 482bhp, with the fastest charging speeds limited to just 150kW via Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector. Considering the Porsche Taycan can manage 320kW charge speeds, that figure already feels old fashioned.

According to SHM, the Afeela 1 will be available in a more expensive Signature trim level, which will set customers back around $102,900 (£82,000 / AU$165,000).

Despite the heady asking price and dazzling 'computer-on-wheels' technology, it is already falling some way behind the likes of Lucid where the important automotive stats are concerned. Lucid offers its 2025 Air Touring model with an EPA estimated range of 406 miles, as well as a total power output of around 620hp.

The more expensive Grand Touring model, which costs around $10,000 more than the range-topping Afeela 1, offers a staggering 512-mile EPA estimated range and 819hp, with a 0-60mph sprint time of just three seconds.

Entertainment takes centre stage

(Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility)

Clearly, Honda’s tie-up with Sony will major on the entertainment factor, with the two companies already promising the next generation of in-car technology. This comes courtesy of a powerful system on a chip (SoC) capable of 800 ToPs (Trillions of Operations Per Second), machine learning, advanced AI and Tesla-baiting levels of autonomy.

You can control various in-car functions via natural voice interactions thanks to the Afeela ‘Personal Agent’, which SHM says will converse with occupants and even suggest activities, while the Unreal gaming engine is used to make everything from maps to menus more interactive and visually arresting.

But Honda is responsible for how this car will ride and handle – and it's a manufacturer with a patchy EV history.

There’s also the fact that sound has been optimized for each individual seat, with Sony offering its noice-cancelling know-how to allow all of those riding aboard to enjoy entertainment from built-in apps, such as Spotify, TikTok and more.

At CES last year, then-boss Izumi Kawanishi even showcased how the vehicle could be driven with a PS5 controller, suggesting that Sony’s blockbuster games would make their way inside the car.

But Honda is responsible for how this car will ride and handle – and it's a manufacturer with a patchy EV history.

Granted, its Prologue model has been very well received in the US, but the all-electric e:Ny1 and the now-defunct Honda e haven’t been so lucky. In fact, the e:Ny1 was a massive disappointment when I drove it last year.

Honda said it would “rip up the rulebook” when it unveiled its plans for the 0 Series at last year’s CES – unofficially stating that it would essentially start afresh where EVs are concerned.

Slimmer batteries, lighter vehicles, better handling and improved efficiencies are all promised by this new platform, but we are yet to see if the Japanese marque can deliver.

So far, the pure EV specs offered by the Afeela 1 already feel a little long in the tooth, especially given that customers won’t receive their cars until 2026.

At which point, MG claims it will have released a vehicle with solid-state battery technology and all-electric ranges that could easily be in excess of 600 miles.

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As artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies continue to advance in scope and sophistication, pressure is mounting on IT teams to rapidly deploy these tools. That pressure is exacerbated by relentless resource constraints and the increasing struggles to retain talent.

These growing pressures have substantial implications for how IT professionals spend their day. Although an IT team’s initial priority resides in ensuring service availability and reliance, frequently, a substantial portion of their time is invested into crisis management – time that could be better used innovating.

This is why AIOps, the application of AI to IT operations, has gained widespread popularity when leveraged with generative AI. AIOps alleviates routine tasks and helps foster innovation by simplifying frequent problems, detecting anomalies, and accelerating automated responses.

Cutting through complexity

Contemporary IT teams are tasked with monitoring complex, hybrid environments, often depending on a wide range of tools. Among these, certain platforms stand out for their intuitive user experience and ability to integrate applications, heuristics, and workflows into a cohesive framework aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.

The purpose of these systems is to be as accessible as possible, even to less-skilled, first-level operations teams. By providing AI and machine-learning-driven insights to all skill levels, raw data can be transformed into actionable insights and recommendations.

Sophisticated causal AI can get to the root cause of complex problems when data sources and tools have been effectively consolidated. But generative AI takes this even further – it translates these causes into digestible summaries, providing proactive predictions and solutions. Simultaneously, generative AI can also leverage operational, service management, and DevOps to save time for IT teams.

Avoiding problems by proactively identifying them

The use of reactive, traditional monitoring tools leaves organizations vulnerable to an array of pain points. Many only notify teams of issues once they have already occurred, causing emergency troubleshooting, slower systems, and potential shutdowns. As systems grow in complexity, anticipating and addressing problems before they arise becomes crucial. Proactivity ensures business continuity, which should include change risk management impact (both scope and severity).

Ideally, organizations should be informed of issues before they affect operations rather than scrambling to mitigate impact after issues arise. This includes utilizing predictive AI that can identify capacity and resource issues, as well as potential service disruptions or declines, and implementing automated measures to resolve them.

Optimizing vast amounts of data to enhance business performance

Organizations are shifting towards advanced, enterprise-level tools equipped with machine learning capabilities – with the speed in which these systems evolve often exceeding human monitoring and management. These tools process and analyze a wealth of system data from complex IT environments, transforming this data into actionable insights, and driving automated responses. IT professionals can then automate actions based on a comprehensive understanding of their systems' operations and their impact on business objectives.

Organizations can better optimize valuable IT resources by leveraging their data analytics and automated actions. This allows them to prioritize tasks while improving value creation and innovation activities.

Considering the challenges

Due to the range and complexity of modern IT infrastructure, networks and applications, as well as the heterogeneity of the data the systems produce, machine learning models and AI are often seen as necessities for IT operations.

KPIs like failure prediction, mean-time-to-repair, and root cause analysis have become a typical primary focus for IT teams. However, due to the complexity and volume of the data that employees are dealing with, they struggle to keep up fast enough to make significant progress on these metrics. If an organization relies on manual, labor-intensive processes to meet these metrics, it is difficult to cost-effectively scale and standardize efforts.

Despite this, organizations will also face challenges when implementing AIOps technologies to automate these processes. These challenges may include:

• Data quality: it is crucial that the vast quantities of data sources used to fuel these tools are constantly monitored for biases and errors. Low quality data can cause issues ranging from flawed outputs to misuse.
• Scale and complexity: as IT operations grow and data and tools expand, there’s the added challenge of resolving and service modelling assets that span from cloud to mainframe and application to network.
• Silos: typically, IT teams are often isolated rather than being under a single umbrella, leading to data inconsistencies and a lack of standardization.
• Automation confidence: it can be difficult to get the right context for root cause isolation and recommended actions based on historical occurrences.

Laying the groundworks for AIOps

For AIOps to be successfully integrated, organizations must integrate existing tools, provide out-of-the-box advanced AI/ML, and accelerate automation. Business leaders must consider the use cases that are important to the organization and start small to prove the value. By doing this, AIOps can enhance the quality and speed of business decisions.

A strong AIOps strategy also requires cultural considerations. Organizations need to standardize processes to simplify automation, enhance governance to support new roles, and effectively address organizational change management. In practice, this means internal goals need to be aligned, teams must be equipped to embrace failure and grow from it, and cross-functional collaboration needs to be encouraged. A cultural shift towards open and consistent communication will assure that employee resources are effectively used and that everyone is working towards a common objective.

Ultimately, if approached strategically, AIOps can substantially streamline IT operations. It lays the groundwork for automation to be deeply ingrained into all IT activities, transforming organizational efficiency and innovation.

We've featured the best IT management tool.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• The KaraPod uses condensed atmospheric water for making coffee
• It uses a UV light, heat, and replaceable filters to clean the water
• It will be available to buy soon for $249 (about £200 / AU$400)

We've seen lots of interesting ideas at CES 2025, but this one has proved one of the most controversial among the TechRadar team: a coffee maker that works like a dehumidifier and uses water condensed from the air in your home to brew espresso.

The KaraPod is a countertop version of the KaraPure 2 – a machine that condenses atmospheric water and runs it through a purification system that includes heat treatment, UV light, and replaceable filters to produce up to 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of clean drinking water per day. Manufacturer Karawater says that the filtered water has "an unbeatable pH value of 9.2+", though there's no strong evidence that drinking alkaline water has real health benefits.

Howard E LeWine MD, Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, says: "Because the fluid in the stomach is so acidic, once regular or alkaline water gets down to your stomach there will be little difference in the resulting stomach fluid pH. You could potentially raise the stomach fluid pH by drinking a lot of alkaline water, but it would only be temporary. Even if you drank enough alkaline water to slightly raise the pH of your blood, your kidneys would quickly go into action to rebalance your blood pH."

That said, using alkaline water to make coffee will certainly change the way your finished brew tastes. Whether it's for better or worse will be a matter of personal opinion.

(Image credit: KaraPod) Water, water everywhere

As our colleagues at Live Science explain, you shouldn't drink water from a regular dehumidifier – or use it to make coffee. The dehumidifier's various parts, including its condensing coils, aren't perfectly clean, and its storage tank could provide a nice habitat for bacteria and molds to grow. That's not normally a problem, because the water collected there isn't meant to be potable – you could use it to mop your floor or flush a toilet, or just pour it down the sink.

That's not the case with the KaraPure 2 and KaraPod, which filter and clean the water they collect, and circulate it to keep it fresh. Nevertheless, we still can't help feeling somewhat uneasy. Most of us drink treated tap water all the time, but the source of water collected in our homes is a little too personal, with none of the palatable anonymity of a municipal water supply. Steam from cooking last night's dinner? Rainwater from your wet running shoes? Vapor you breathed out overnight? Rising damp? Toilet plume?

If you can get past that mental hurdle, the KaraPod could be the coffee maker for you, and you'll never need to refill its tank. As TechHive reports, the machine uses compostable coffee pods, with 6oz, 10oz, and 12oz pour sizes. It can also dispense hot or room-temperature water. It will be available to order soon direct from Karawater for an early bird price of $249 (about £200 / AU$400).

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We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor.

Le Pen was convicted numerous times of antisemitism, discrimination and inciting racial violence. But the nativist ideas that propelled his popularity remain ascendant in today's France and beyond.

(Image credit: Kamil Zihnioglu)

• Suunto has unveiled its new waterproof headphones
• The Suunto Aqua feature bone conduction and an IP68 swimproof rating
• They can store 8,000 songs and use AI technology to analyze and improve your swim stroke

2025 is only seven days old, but we might already have a contender for the best waterproof headphones of 2025, the new Suunto Aqua.

Unveiled January 7 and available to order now, the Suunto Aqua are bone conduction headphones with an IP68 waterproof rating. As such, they can be used for running, cycling, and swimming to provide non-intrusive audio whatever your discipline of choice.

The best bone conduction headphones on the market have become a mainstay audio companion of triathletes, runners, cyclists, and more thanks to their light weight, ergonomic fit, and because they leave your ear canals free so you can stay alert in your surroundings.

Suunto's Aqua headphones cost $179 / £175 (AUS availability to be confirmed) and they tick all the boxes of a great bone conduction experience. Here's the full rundown.

Suunto Aqua: All the details

(Image credit: Suunto)

Priced at around the same point as the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, the Suunto Aqua headphones weigh just 35 grams and feature 32 GB of onboard storage, the latter enough for 8,000 songs in MP3 format (a crucial feature when you're in the pool devoid of Spotify or Apple Music).

Battery life is rated for 10 hours of playtime, with an extra 20 hours available from the included charging pod, enough for even the most grueling of swims, rides, or runs. They'll also charge fully in less than an hour, and offer three hours of listening time from just 10 minutes of charging.

As you might expect from waterproof headphones, they boast a stellar waterproof rating of IP68, good for submersion in up to five meters of water for two hours. Other key features include Bluetooth 5.3 and head movement control, as well as a dual microphone array and environmental noise cancellation for taking and making calls.

Behind the specs though, the Suunto Aqua boast a formidable secret weapon: AI-powered swim stroke analysis.

Suunto's Aqua headphones can identify stroke posture, head pitch angle, breath frequency, and glide time so that you can track and improve your swim stroke, adjusting your technique through the Suunto app. Not only will they keep you entertained in the water, but they come with their very own built-in AI-powered swimming coach.

On paper, the Suunto Aqua bone conduction headphones look mightily impressive, look out for our full review to see whether they can knock the OpenSwim Pro off their perch.

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(Image credit: Future)

We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

We’re in the midst of an AI hype cycle. On either side are extremes: from solving all problems, accelerating humanity’s demise, to being massively overhyped.

In the middle is everyone else with varying degrees of awareness of both the opportunities and risks. There is still much uncertainty, partly due to the nature of the technology itself: AI systems are complex and often not fully understood, leading to significant unknowns.

It’s human nature to understand how things work, even if it is at a conceptual level. For example, you don’t need to be a Computer Scientist to understand that web-search is akin to looking up relevant keywords within a massive database for matches. The big difference here is how AI finds patterns and comes up with answers that are not readily intuitive nor explainable to the user, even for experts. So the opaqueness of AI is undermining the trust we might place in it.

It’s why we’re seeing efforts to establish ways of improving trust (such as the growing activity within the explainable AI field). For instance, the UK government has introduced an AI assurance platform, while the European Union’s AI Act aims to ensure better conditions for developing and using the technology.

And this trust is something that needs to be established soon. AI will become so pervasive that even if we tell workforces to proceed with extreme caution, most will struggle to even make a clear distinction between what is AI and what is not AI.

The AI technology cycle

Why do I think AI will become that embedded when there are still big gaps in our understanding? For one thing, AI has been successfully used for decades in business for finding patterns or making predictions. It is only within the past few years after a research paper published in 2017 cracked a problem that gave rise to the LLMs that we see (and are discussing) today. No one can predict the future, however a lot of people are investing in it: 84% of CIOs expect to increase their funding in AI by 33% in 2025; the scale of these investments necessitates that companies look at five- or ten-year cycles.

It’s a balancing act between putting initiatives in place geared towards becoming AI-first, while trying to fix today’s problems and ensuring sustainability for the next few years. It’s a situation that most technologies now considered commonplace have been through. We go from idealization and realization to finding practical applications that solve real problems, followed by hype and excitement. Eventually, we recognize the technology’s limitations and address the challenges that emerge, and the technology becomes integrated into daily life in a way that moves beyond the hype cycles.

Where AI diverges from previous technologies is its intrinsically random and opaque nature, which is very different from traditional software. This has significant implications for all aspects of deploying AI. For instance, in security, while many current practices are applicable for securing AI, they serve more as analogies than direct solutions.

The doctor will see you now

Think of it like going to a doctor. When you walk in and say, "I don’t feel well," the doctor doesn’t reply, “Give me your DNA, and I’ll tell you everything wrong.” It doesn’t work like that because, aside from cost issues, DNA is an immensely complex system that we are still trying to understand, it can only reveal certain predispositions, and doesn’t capture environmental factors. Twins, for instance, have the same DNA but can develop different ailments.

Instead, doctors look at your family history, perform some tests, ask questions, and try different approaches to figure things out. Doctors are looking at the problem – your illness – through a socio-technical lens. The investigations into family history, your lifestyle, recent activities, and the social element: what’s going on in your life that could be contributing or the cause of the problem? The technical aspect is the fix – what medicine we have available to treat you – but the social element heavily influences it.

A truly integrated socio-technical approach

As time goes by, it is increasingly apparent that we need to apply the same logic to securing AI. Cybersecurity is recognized as a socio-technical field (most security issues are resultant of people, after all). Right now, there appears to be different framings between the social and the technical. We talk about social engineering, insider threats, educating employees on the risks of opening unfamiliar attachments. Separately, we deploy technical measures to provide security or mitigate the impact of attacks.

Where securing AI will differ is in the need to embed the social and the technical within the same techniques as opposed to viewing them as separate. We’re already seeing examples of where our expectations clash with what the AI models deliver: one recent example was Google Gemini telling someone to ‘please die’.

This highlights multiple points to consider. First, the opaque nature of AI: LLMs don't think like humans do (although it can be good at fooling us to believe otherwise), so it’s hard for us to understand how it could generate such a response based on an innocuous conversation around aging.

Second, if an LLM can output such a response through what appears to be an innocent conversation, what could happen when there is a deliberate attempt to generate malicious responses?

Finally, the Gemini incident underlines the importance of looking at the context in which AI tools are being used and how they are onboarded into an organization. This has a major social dimension, not within the system itself, but rather in how people interact with it.

Further complexity with pervasive AI

How is this any different from any other tool or technology solution? We’ve noticed a tendency for people to anthropomorphize AI to the degree that they haven’t done with any recent technology. The average user is having what they think are conversations with AI. They’re not writing code to generate a response or action, but talking like they’ve used search engines or even other people to find information or do something.

The biggest mistake we could make is assuming that, as AI models become commonplace, the level of attention devoted to their risks can drop off. Even with clear warnings, most users aren’t going to distinguish what is and what is not AI. Our focus needs to be on what informs our AI tools, the models and overlays they’re composed of, and where the weak spots are.

The challenge is significant, but so is the opportunity. With the right approaches we can ensure that AI enhances our world without compromising the trust that underpins it. The journey to secure AI isn’t just about protecting systems—it’s about shaping the future.

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• Ultrahuman Rare smart ring unveiled at CES 2025
• It's a smart ring coated in precious metals: gold, rose gold, and platinum
• Other smart rings just use colored titanium

Health and wellness tech company Ultrahuman, maker of the Ultrahuman Ring Air smart ring, has unveiled its latest addition to its smart ring lineup at CES 2025: the Ultrahuman Rare, a line of ‘luxury’ smart rings plated with 18-karat gold and platinum.

The current top contenders for the title of best smart ring, the Oura Ring 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Ring, offer gold and silver colorways (while Oura also offers rose gold) but they’re not actually gold. Oura’s offering, for example, is “titanium with physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating in Gold, Silver, and Rose Gold colors” according to the Oura site, while the Samsung Galaxy Ring is similar, listing its material as titanium only in all colorways.

Real gold is a notoriously soft metal, but this is a 'luxury' smart ring more along the lines of jewelery, and less suited for bashing about. In a press release, Ultrahuman founder and CEO Mohit Kumar said: “With Rare, we’ve reimagined what a smart ring can be, creating a masterpiece that not only brings personal wellness but also embodies the pinnacle of luxury and craftsmanship.”

The ring comes in three colorways: Dune (with its outer shell wrapped in 18K gold), Desert Rose (18K rose gold) and Desert Snow (PT950 platinum), and will be on sale in luxury stores Printemps in Paris and Selfridges in London.

We don’t yet have pricing for all regions, but after reaching out to Ultrahuman, a representative confirmed “we’re looking at various locations in the US and the rest of the world. For instance - New York, Milan, Dubai and India.” We do know the cost in GBP:

(Image credit: Future)

We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

• Dune - £1,499 (around $1,900 / AU$3,000)
• Desert Rose - £1,499 (around $1,900 / AU$3,000)
• Desert Snow - £1,799 (around $2,250 / AU$3,600)

Rare users also gain a lifetime of access to Ultrahuman X, Ultrahuman’s device insurance package.

Watch the Ultrahuman Rare preview below: Analysis: Legit smart ring or PR stunt?

This sort of super-luxury stuff isn’t new to the tech-scene, whether it’s gold-plated phones or Hermes-branded versions of the best Apple Watches. There are always devices being packaged with exclusive branding or premium materials designed to add a little extra onto the price tag and generate headlines like this one.

However, given that rings occupy the jewelery space, a gold or platinum-plated smart ring makes a lot of sense. It allows people to wear them as legitimate style pieces, while enjoying the benefits that come with a smart ring – especially one as good as Ultrahuman’s. We rated the Ultrahuman Ring Air very highly in our review, scoring it four stars, and I think there could be a real market for these luxury versions.

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