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Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2+ AS6702T v2 review

TechRadar Reviews - Sun, 10/11/2026 - 01:20

Asustor AS6702T v2: 30-second review

Asustor is, for those curious, the storage arm of Asus, and for years it has sold NAS that sit between basic home boxes and full business servers. The Lockerstor range is pitched for prosumer and small-business use.

Today, I’m looking at the Lockerstor 2 Gen2+, model AS6702T v2, which refreshes the 2022 Lockerstor 2 Gen2. The biggest change is networking, where two 2.5GbE ports have become two 5GbE ports, but sadly the rest of the hardware carries over, including the Intel Celeron N5105 processor and 4GB of RAM.

That makes this a more specialised NAS than the entry-level models that most home users migrate. It has four M.2 slots alongside its two SATA bays, an HDMI output, two 10Gbps USB ports and an all-metal chassis. The x86 processor also means it can run Docker containers and virtual machines, which ARM-powered rivals can’t match. It is built for people who want speed and flexibility rather than the lowest possible price.

The obvious question is why you would pay this much when the Ugreen DXP2800 lists at $346.99 / £349.99 and the DXP2800 GT at $399.99 / £459.99. For many buyers, the honest answer is that you wouldn’t. Both Ugreen models use newer processors, and the GT adds a 10GbE port. The Asustor fights back with build quality, storage flexibility and a longer warranty, and some people will value those aspects more than a better paper specification.

Overall, the AS6702T v2 is a very capable two-bay NAS for fast networks and NVMe pools. As a pure value proposition, it is much harder to defend. It deserves a place in our best NAS device for those specific needs, but not as a bargain.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Asustor AS6702T v2: Price and availability

How much does it cost? From $517/£486/€616
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Online retailers, including Amazon and Newegg

Asustor’s suggested US price for the AS6702T v2 is $569.99, but the street prices are lower, with Amazon, Newegg and B&H all listing it at $516.99 in the US.

In the UK, Amazon.co.uk shows £504. Which, if we do the exchange rate calculation, makes it the equivalent of $673 in the UK, or 30% more expensive for UK customers. In Europe, the Amazon cost is €616.06, which is $693 in US dollars, or even more inflated. Not sure why Asustor dislikes Europeans so much, the way they price their hardware.

But to be frank, irrespective of where you source it, this is a lot for a two-bay NAS with 4GB of RAM and no drives. The Ugreen NASync DXP2800 lists at $349.99 / £349.99, which makes it well over $220 cheaper. The DXP2800 GT lists at £365.99 in the UK and $399.99 in the US, with current promotions.

Synology’s DS225+ is the other obvious rival, priced at only $310.24 on Amazon.com. It has a slower Celeron J4125, 2GB of RAM and no M.2 slots, but its DSM software is the benchmark that Asustor’s ADM is judged against.

What the AS6702T v2 delivers is speed and flexibility rather than savings. If you want four NVMe slots in a two-bay chassis, it is an unusual and relatively affordable option. If you don’t, you are paying for features you won’t use.

At these prices, the AS6702T v2 seems overpriced by at least $100 or more.

Value: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Asustor AS6702T v2: Specs

Item

Spec

CPU:

Intel Celeron N5105 (4 cores, 4 threads, 2.0GHz, 2.9GHz burst)

GPU:

Intel UHD Graphics (24 EU)

RAM:

4GB DDR4 SODIMM (two slots, expandable to 16GB)

Internal Storage:

8GB eMMC for ADM

SATA Storage:

2 bays (3.5 or 2.5 inch mechanisms), hot swappable

M.2 Storage:

4 x M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x1 each)

Ports:

2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A (10Gbps)
1 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x HDMI 2.0b

Networking:

2 x RJ45 5GbE (also 2.5GbE, 1GbE and 100Mbps)

OS:

ADM 5.1

Maximum Capacity:

2 x 18TB SATA (36TB)

RAID Modes:

Single/JBOD/RAID 0/RAID 1 on SATA
RAID 0/1/5/6/10 on M.2 volumes

PSU:

65W external adapter

Power:

21W operating, 13.5W disk hibernation (Asustor figures)

Noise:

17.7dB with drives idle (Asustor figure)

Dimensions:

H163.5 x W108 x D230 mm

Weight:

2kg

Warranty:

3 years

Asustor AS6702T v2: Design

Metal chassis
Screwed trays
Hidden slots

The AS6702T v2 is a plain, businesslike NAS. There is no flashy trim, just a black metal case with a plastic face that suits Asustor’s more business-oriented Lockerstor range. At 163.5mm tall, 108mm wide and 230mm deep, it is almost exactly the size of Synology’s DS225+, although at 2kg it is noticeably heavier.

The two drive bays sit at the front and pull out with a latch. Beside them are status lights and a single 10Gbps USB Type A port. At the back are the two 5GbE ports, a second 10Gbps USB port, an HDMI output, a USB 2.0 port and a 70mm fan.

My main ergonomic complaint is how the drives are fitted. Every 3.5-inch drive uses four screws to attach it to its tray, and Asustor supplies two bags of them in the box. Tool-free trays have been normal for years, and even Asustor’s own AS4002T had them almost a decade ago.

Does it come down to cost? Because given the price of this hardware, it shouldn’t.

The only NAS I’ve seen recently which needs screws for mounting drives came from Beelink, since all of the main players transitioned to tool-less trays years ago.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

But then, the upgrades are just as fiddly. To reach the four M.2 slots or the RAM, you have to open the case, which means removing more three more screws. Thankfully, the M.2 drives themselves need no tools once you are inside. The empty RAM slot is reasonably easy to reach, but the stock 4GB module sits on the underside of the board and needs far more disassembly to swap.

Almost every other brand, including Synology, has a removable panel or other means for accessing the memory slots without dismantling the whole NAS.

In the box, you get a 65W power adapter, two network cables and the screws. Cooling comes from a single 70mm fan, and Asustor rates the NAS at 17.7dB with the drives idle. Those numbers seem accurate, and this is a quiet NAS that won’t disturb you while you sit at the desk.

What I can’t fault is that Asustor has supreme confidence in its hardware, offering a three-year warranty. That’s a year more than Ugreen, and the same as Synology.

Design: 3.5 / 5

Asustor AS6702T v2: Features

Celeron N5105
Four M.2 slots
Dual 5GbE

The AS6702T v2 uses the same Intel Celeron N5105 as the 2022 model. This quad-core chip has four threads, runs at 2.0GHz, and turbo boosts to 2.9GHz. It includes UHD Graphics, which handles hardware video decoding and transcoding for media apps.

That was a sensible choice in 2022, when Asustor launched its predecessor. Today it looks tired. Intel’s N100, which powers the Ugreen DXP2800, arrived in 2023 with better efficiency and a higher peak clock of 3.4GHz.

The DXP2800 GT goes further with an AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514, which has four cores, eight threads and a peak of 3.7GHz. The N5105 remains perfectly capable of file serving, backups, Plex, and light containers, but it can no longer be considered a power platform unless you compare it to ARM-based NAS.

Memory is the other soft spot. The AS6702T v2 ships with a single 4GB DDR4 SODIMM and a second empty slot, allowing 16GB total from two 8GB modules. That’s the maximum this platform can support, because Intel didn’t consider that anyone would want a Celeron N5105 system with more than 16GB of memory on it.

The only positive aspect of this arrangement is that the memory will work in single-channel mode, enabling it to still function if you mix memory sizes. That allows you to put an 8GB module alongside the 4GB option and get 12GB. That is a useful upgrade, and more than the 6GB that the Synology’s DS225+ gets. But it's dramatically less than some competitor devices which come with 8GB and can be upgraded to 64GB.

The four M.2 slots are the most unusual feature, and frankly it’s slightly misleading for those thinking that they’re getting more SSD throughput than some NAS with dual slots.

They accept 2280 NVMe drives and can be used as a cache, as a storage pool, or even as the main volume for ADM and its apps. M.2 volumes also support RAID 5, 6 and 10, which the two SATA bays cannot offer, since it only has two drives.

The catch? Each slot runs at PCIe 3.0 x1, so a single drive tops out at around 1GB/s, no matter how fast the drive is rated. That still beats any hard drive several times over and is enough to feed a 5GbE link.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

But again, one of its competitors, the original Ugreen DXP2800, has two slots: one PCIe 4.0 x4 and one PCIe 3.0 x2. Therefore, its combined throughput on the two slots is 10GB/s, whereas the AS6702T v2 tops out at 4GB/s from the SSDs.

In both cases, unless you’re processing heavily on the NAS, the best use for the SSD slots is to cache the hard drives, but I’d recommend running any system with that arrangement on an uninterruptible power supply to avoid a power outage corrupting the data volumes.

Networking is where Asustor earns its premium badge. Both RJ45 ports run at 5GbE and fall back to 2.5GbE, 1GbE or 100Mbps, so they work with any switch. They support link aggregation, and with SMB Multichannel, Asustor claims up to 10Gbps of bandwidth.

However, the HDD storage in this unit can’t reach those levels, and two drives will struggle to saturate one 5Gbps LAN port even in RAID 0 mode. Without an SSD cache, you can’t make the most of the 5GbE LAN ports.

There is no 10GbE upgrade path, though, because the two-bay model doesn’t take the optional card that the larger Gen2+ models can use. In theory, you could run an M.2 to 10GbE LAN adapter if you are careful, but I’m not sure what advantages that might unlock.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Two 10Gbps USB ports support up to two four-bay AS5004U expansion units, bringing the total to ten drives. Each expansion unit works as a separate storage pool with its own RAID rather than adding to the main volume.

With these expansion options attached, the 5Gbe LAN ports do make more sense, but again SSD caching will be required to make it fully worthwhile. The issue is that if you want to have a 10-bay NAS, there are cheaper and more effective ways than buying a 2-bay NAS and adding two $320 expansion boxes to it.

A positive aspect is that power use is minimal. Asustor quotes 21W in operation and 13.5W with the disks hibernating. I estimate that the running overhead for this NAS with two hard drives and four SSDs would be about 400Wh over 24 hours, which is greater than the 275Wh you might use for a Synology DS225+. But then, this is a more powerful NAS.

Asustor’s specification page lists 36TB as the maximum, which is two 18TB drives, but that looks like the largest size tested rather than a hard limit. I’d be surprised if 40TB drives, or larger, wouldn’t work with this hardware when they become widely available.

The result is a platform that is strong on networking and storage flexibility, but short on processor and memory headroom. The choice of the Celeron N5105 was critical, as was the choice not to upgrade it in the V2 generation. This CPU can only address 16GB of RAM, has few PCIe Express lanes and can only use DDR4 memory. And in 2026, that looks a bit light on expectations.

Features: 3.5 / 5

Asustor AS6702T v2: Software

ADM 5.1
No flexible RAID
TrueNAS and UNRAID possible

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The AS6702T v2 runs ADM 5.1 (5.1.4.RM62), which Asustor originally released in late 2025. It is the first version to support post-quantum cryptography, adding hybrid TLS encryption designed to resist attacks from future quantum computers.

Setup is straightforward. You find the NAS with Asustor’s Control Center app, or by browsing to its address on port 8000, and ADM then downloads and installs in about ten minutes.

I’ve seen some reviewers declare that they had a system full of drives up and running in half an hour, but I doubt that. In my instance, it took nearly four hours to deliver an initialised machine with two 2TB hard drives in RAID 1 (Mirror) configuration and a single 1TB SSD configured for a read cache. Larger drives will take longer, so don’t assume you will be up and running the same day the hardware arrives.

ADM looks and behaves like a simple Linux desktop, and it has a good search tool for finding settings. There are around 150 official apps in App Central, including Plex Server, Download Center, EZ Sync and the LooksGood media player. Docker, VirtualBox, Btrfs snapshots and cloud backup are all included, and most are well designed.

Depth is the weakness. Surveillance Center is simple and well behind Synology’s equivalent, VirtualBox is awkward to use, and the Snapshot Center works on whole volumes rather than individual shared folders. None of the backup or sync apps offers file versioning either, which makes it harder to recover from accidental changes.

Overall, ADM 5.1 is competent but hardly revolutionary.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The file system offers Ext4 or Btrfs, and on the latter you can have WORM (Write Once, Read Many) volumes to provide immutable, tamper-proof, and ransomware-resistant data storage in shared folders.

However, there is also no equivalent of Synology Hybrid RAID. ADM supports only standard RAID options, so mixing drives of different sizes simply wastes space. This feature is also available on TerraMaster hardware, and the UNRAID platform. According to my research, it is possible to run UNRAID, TrueNAS or OpenMediaVault on this hardware and dispense with ADM, but that would probably negate your warranty to some degree or another.

Conversely, TerraMaster and, on occasion, Synology have included HDMI ports on their NAS with no means for the users to access this feature for outputting media. On ADM there is a mechanism for doing that via the Portal app, which curiously uses Firefox to create the web interface. This approach seems somewhat flaky, and it would probably be better to use JellyFin on the machine and stream it to a TV using a Firestick or Google TV dongle.

For home users and small offices, ADM is a solid foundation. It just isn’t the reason to buy this NAS.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Software: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Asustor AS6702T v2: Performance

5GbE speed
Hard drive limits
NVMe pools

Two 5GbE LAN ports promise speed, but storage determines what you will actually see. Typical drives manage about 150MB/s each depending on spec and size, so RAID 0 tops out near 300MB/s. RAID 1 should write at the speed of one drive and read marginally faster.

Configured in RAID 1 with two WD Red Plus 2TB drives and a single SSD as cache, I measured about 230MB/s reads and 181MB/s writes, limited by my 2.5GbE test network.

Without the read SSD cache, the numbers changed to 234MB/s reads and 183MB/s writes, which probably indicates RAM is being used for caching.

Switching to RAID 0 (Striped) delivered 232MB/s reads and 236MB/s writes without an SSD cache, but obviously if either drive fails, the data on it will be lost. And finally, I configured the single SSD to be a shared folder, and curiously that transfer didn’t go any faster than the RAID 0 volume. It should have saturated my 2.5GbE network, so that it didn’t was odd.

Since I’d made so many changes without a restart, I rebooted the NAS, and after that it managed sustained read and write at 280MB/s, the full capability of a 2.5GbE network.

That is why the 5GbE ports make little difference with hard drives alone. It’s also worth saying that while network switches with 2.5GbE and 10GbE LAN ports are relatively easy to find, ones with specifically 5GbE aren’t that common.

Asustor’s own figures show what 5GbE can do when the storage keeps up. Using SSDs, it quotes about 591MB/s in each direction over a single link, and around 1,050MB/s with both ports aggregated through SMB Multichannel. Those are lab results from optimised hardware, so expect less in a typical home or office.

The caveat is that getting that magical 1000MB/s+ level of performance assumes you have either dual 5GbE LAN ports on the host system or 10GbE; if it’s the latter, you might want to consider a NAS with a 10GbE port and dispense with SMB Multichannel.

Asustor AS6702T v2: Final verdict

The AS6702T v2 is a capable, well-made NAS that solves network speed issues in a two-bay chassis. The dual 5GbE ports and four M.2 slots give it options that most rivals can’t match, and the metal build and three-year warranty inspire confidence.

However, it looks like it was designed for a future where NVMe SSDs were cheap, and that’s not the multiverse we ended up in.

And, even if you have a drawer of unused SSDs, what holds it back is everything around those headline features. The Celeron N5105 is ageing, 4GB of RAM is stingy, the screwed trays and hidden slots are irritating, and ADM lacks the depth of Synology’s NAS operating system. And don’t get me started on Asustor’s naming convention, which seems to be taking its cues from German Komposita. What’s wrong with “AS6702T 2026 Edition”?

And then there is the price, which seems to assume that Asustor NAS are built to a higher quality than other brands. Where the reality is that Ugreen and Synology are equally well-made, and TerraMaster isn’t far behind.

The US cost of $516.99 is even harder to accept when the newer DXP2800 GT costs only $399.99 on Amazon.com and comes with 8GB of RAM and a 10GbE LAN port.

If you have a multigigabit network and want an NVMe pool alongside a pair of hard drives, it might be an excellent choice. Everyone else should look at the Ugreen alternatives first, or wait for a seasonal discount.

Should you buy a Asustor AS6702T v2?

Value

Seems pricey considering it uses an old CPU

3.5 / 5

Design

Straightforward, but still using screwed trays

3.5 / 5

Features

x86-based, but M.2 slots are only Gen3 x1

3.5 / 5

Software

WORM volumes and lots of apps, but no Hybrid RAID

4 / 5

Performance

Two drives limits throughput without SSDs

3.5 / 5

Overall

A great 2022 NAS, but its 2026

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You have a 5GbE or 10GbE network
The two ports negotiate down to 2.5GbE and 1GbE, and with SMB Multichannel they can combine for up to 10Gbps. With NVMe storage behind them, this NAS can use that bandwidth in a way hard drives never will.

You want NVMe in a two bay NAS
Four M.2 slots can serve as a cache, a storage pool or even the main volume, with RAID 5, 6 and 10 available on the SSD side. That flexibility is unusual at this size.

Don't buy it if...

You are watching the budget
The Ugreen DXP2800 costs well over £100 less, with a newer N100 processor and 8GB of RAM. With hard drives over 2.5GbE, you will see similar speeds.

You want a better future proofed platform
The Celeron N5105 is an older design, and 4GB of RAM won’t go far. The DXP2800 GT offers a stronger processor, 10GbE and a 64GB RAM ceiling for less money, so start there if you plan to run Docker containers or virtual machines.

For more NAS solutions we've collated the best NAS hard drives around

Categories: Reviews

A wakeup light is my secret weapon against dark and depressing mornings — here are 9 worth picking up as we head into autumn

TechRadar News - Sun, 10/11/2026 - 01:00

The mornings are just starting to draw in, and if the idea of waking up to darkness fills you with doom and gloom, perhaps it's time to invest in a sunrise alarm clock (sometimes called a wakeup light). The idea is simple: these lamps are designed to brighten gradually in the morning, to rouse you gently from your slumber in a way that mimics the sun.

They're also meant to help you dodge that groggy feeling you get when you're awoken aggressively from deep sleep, so you're more alert and better equipped to tackle the day. I've tested a few sunrise alarms, and can confirm they're a whole lot gentler and more soothing than an aggressive phone alarm bleeping you awake.

There's a wide range of options on the market. At the cheapest end of the scale you'll find wakeup lights that just have a basic, brightening setting. More advanced options let you choose the duration of brightening and can offer a range of sounds to go with the light; Lumie's priciest options offer a massive range of sounds, from rainfall to kittens purring, cafe noises, tree frogs and even ping pong. My top tip is not to pick a noise that might naturally occur in your bedroom — I chose birdsong, and mistook seagulls having a midnight chat for my call to start getting ready for work.

Many sunrise alarms also have features to help you drop off peacefully on those dark winter evenings. Look for a sunset feature — which dims gently over a period, to help you wind down — and white noise options, if that's something that helps you drop off. If you're hunting for an all-in-one solution, a number of models have radio built-in too.

Lumie's Bodyclock range is one of the most popular sunrise alarm lineups. I've tried a couple of these and was impressed, but they're not the only option on the market. Scroll down for a roundup of well-reviewed wakeup lights from respected brands including Philips Hue, Beurer and Hatch.

Rise and shine

Lumie Sunrise Alarm

Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300

Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100

Lumie BodyClock Glow 150

Hatch Restore 3

Philips Wake-up light

Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-up Light

Beurer Wl75 Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock

Dreamegg Sunrise Alarm Clock

Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700

Categories: Technology

Brits still aren't comfortable handing over too much control to AI

TechRadar News - Sun, 10/11/2026 - 01:00

84% of Brits fear handing too much control over to AI agents
Concerns about the potential for AI agents to commit fraud or other illegal acts were also expressed
2,000 British adults were surveyed, with just 9% stating they have no worries about AI

The results are in and it’s clear: most Brits are uncomfortable with AI taking the reigns, and there are even concerns that an AI agent could turn to a life of crime – in your name.

Quizzed on their comfort using AI, 84% responded that they would give AI only moderate or low access to their lives, or none at all.

Instead, 27% of the 2,000 surveyed Brits are happier for AI to prepare things and wait for approval, while 23% are okay with letting AI carry out routine tasks, preferring to hold permission for the more important tasks instead.

Agentic fear

Exploring Brit’s concerns over the use of AI, the survey (conducted by Censuswide) found that 34% wouldn’t be comfortable with any AI control. But these results don’t mean that Brits are scared of AI. While they have “rogue AI” worries (40% believe the company that created the AI should be held responsible), only 19% consider AI to be a “threat to humanity.”

Meanwhile, just 9% say they’re not worried about AI at all.

Unsurprisingly, there is a split in demographics. In the over-55 group, 47% would refuse to give an AI agent control over their lives, while 20% of 25-34 year-olds consider themselves to be comfortable with high levels of AI agent control.

AI liability

But when it comes to AI potentially committing illegal acts, things look a little different, with 14% concerned about the impact of AI on their ability to stay out of legal trouble. It’s a figure that grows to 21% among the 18-24 year old age group.

“I think it’s important that we have a debate about AI liability - and this survey is important as part of that debate,” noted Jonathan Armstrong, a Partner at legal company Punter Southall. “Too many people assume that AI is the Wild West - legally that just isn’t the case.”

Consequently, it is people – those using the AI, who will be liable for criminal acts. “In most cases you’ll be responsible for the AI you use and the consequences - and sometimes even if it took you by surprise. There are many great use cases for AI but they should all start with knowledge of the risks and doing what you can to reduce that risk."

With the growth of AI agents offering a seemingly endless stream of automation possibilities, concerns from Brits should be no surprise. The onus is the user to understand what they’re using AI for, and to use it responsibly.

Categories: Technology

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered review: Welcome (back) to China

TechRadar News - Sun, 10/11/2026 - 00:00

Revisiting one of Omega Force’s most beloved works via Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered has been interesting. I got into the series quite late, so I’ve never had the same reverence for the earlier games that many other fans do. I’m happy to say that has changed with this remastered version.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: October 1, 2026

This is a very different game compared to modern entries like Dynasty Warriors Origins or Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Objectives are straightforward, battles (for the most part) tend not to last as long, and your KO count per battle is much lower than the thousands you rack up in newer installments.

Satisfaction lies elsewhere in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered. It trades bombastic theatrics and ‘rule of cool’ battlefield domination for a more grounded approach. Instead of tearing across battlegrounds like a Category 5 hurricane, you’ll need to pick your fights more carefully and move with your army. Even basic peons are far more aggressive in this game, so ditching your allies isn’t exactly the wisest decision.

There are some cool quality-of-life additions, such as being able to counter enemy Strong and Special attacks with your own. A handy checkpoint feature lets you rewind the battle to key moments if you die, and there’s an honest-to-goodness dodge button that helps even the odds and can even be followed up with a counter if timed correctly. Alternatively, you can set the entire game to a ‘Classic’ mode, ditching all of this in favor of the original gameplay experience.

It’s an incredibly thoughtful remaster in that regard, offering options for newcomers, purists, and everyone in between. The visual facelift is nice, but not overbearing. Plus, additional content from the Xtreme Legends expansion is included here, too, making Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered an extremely beefy package for its relatively budget price tag.

Same as it ever was?

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, as ever, presents a loose interpretation of Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Which in itself is a romanticization of this turbulent wartorn era of Ancient China.

As an earlier entry, Dynasty Warriors 3 pretty much gives you the highlights rather than delving deep into character drama or motivations. It’s quite refreshingly simple, though individual playable officers do get their own cutscenes, endings, and the like.

You’ll spend the majority of your time in Musou Mode — effectively the game’s campaign. You will then choose an officer from one of four factions: Wei, Wu, Shu, or Other. The latter of which featuring officers with no set affiliation like Lu Bu, Dong Zhuo, and Diaochan.

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Each officer has their own bespoke Musou Mode route, though some are longer than others. Even so, your goal on each map typically boils down to defeating a key enemy officer, while ticking off smaller objectives to boost your side’s morale or rob the enemy of powerful weaponry.

That might sound repetitive, and it can be if played over longer sessions. However, I think Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is tailored to shorter bursts of play, and the bite-sized Musou Mode campaigns for each officer support that. Playing through a campaign will bolster that officer’s stats, as well as earn them new weapons and equippable items — the latter of which can be shared between all officers.

Part of the beauty of Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is that it feels like a snowball of unlockables. You’ll routinely be bagging new playable officers, more powerful weapons, and potent rare items should you meet their conditions during a stage.

Some stages can also grant you an officer’s fourth or fifth weapon. These are extremely strong, but are typically gated behind higher difficulties and some rather stringent objectives so be sure to bring upgraded officers and plenty of patience for these.

Old and new

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

One of my favorite things about Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is that it has options for basically everyone. You can play the entire game in either modern or classic modes. Classic is just that: Dynasty Warriors 3 as it played on the PlayStation 2, for the most part. No fancy extras. Does it feel a bit dated? Yes absolutely, but I’m happy it’s here as an option for purists.

The more modern take applies a bunch of quality-of-life changes and gameplay additions. As mentioned at the top, these include Strong and Special attack counters, a dodge, and a quick mount option for your horse. It helps the game feel a lot more fluid, in my opinion.

Was I still getting juggled to death by lowly peons for daring to take on an officer on my lonesome? Yep. More than a few times. But ultimately I did appreciate the more humbling experience here when I’m so used to treating enemy armies like mowing the lawn in more modern Musou games.

Best bit

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is a reminder of how cool unlockable content used to be in this era of gaming. You’ll have to put the work in to unlock most characters as well as their signature weapons. It’s the kind of stuff that’ll keep you busy for potentially tens of hours without feeling overly tedious.

What’s nice is that if you’re somewhere in the middle — say, wanting a hybrid modern/classic experience — Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered supports that. Quality-of-life additions can be toggled individually in the options menu, allowing for a widely customizable experience.

Additions aside, Omega Force has elected to keep the original game’s amazing soundtrack and cheeseball dialogue fully intact. I love this because there are some truly hilarious line deliveries across cutscenes, and the overt mispronunciation of officer names just adds to the charm of it all. Battles have been spiced up with combat lines from later entries like Dynasty Warriors 8, though, which is a nice touch.

Should I play Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered?Play it if…

You’re a newer Musou fan
If you’ve only recently gotten into Omega Force’s Warriors franchise, I implore you to give this one a go. It’s a great change of pace from more modern entries and very much bears a ‘substance over style’ approach.

You love unlockables
There are boatloads of officers and weapons to unlock, and most play rather differently from one another.

Don't play it if...

You’re not keen on repetition
There isn’t really any grinding to be done here, but replaying Musou Mode with many different officers can grow tiresome. Oh, and as a bonus pro tip: you only have to do a particularly aggravating objective during the Nanman campaign mission once, but my word is it a slog that first time.

Accessibility features

There aren't any dedicated accessibility toggles in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered such as subtitles or colorblind modes. However, individual game settings can be toggled based on preferences. These include target-facing assists, dodging, power guards, and strong attack counters.

How I reviewed Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

I played Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered for 15 hours on PC via Steam for this review. Being a remaster of an older title, my Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 was more than enough to run the game on maximum settings with zero hitches or issues.

My gamepad of choice was the Valve Steam Controller (2026), and I often hooked up my RIG 900 Max HS gaming headset to enjoy the game's banging soundtrack and corny dialogue sequences.

The majority of my playtime was spent in the main Musou Mode, unlocking characters, weapons, and optional rare items. Though I did delve into the Free and Challenge modes for a change of pace, too.

First reviewed October 2026

Categories: Technology

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered review: Welcome (back) to China

TechRadar Reviews - Sun, 10/11/2026 - 00:00

Revisiting one of Omega Force’s most beloved works via Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered has been interesting. I got into the series quite late, so I’ve never had the same reverence for the earlier games that many other fans do. I’m happy to say that has changed with this remastered version.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: October 1, 2026

This is a very different game compared to modern entries like Dynasty Warriors Origins or Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Objectives are straightforward, battles (for the most part) tend not to last as long, and your KO count per battle is much lower than the thousands you rack up in newer installments.

Satisfaction lies elsewhere in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered. It trades bombastic theatrics and ‘rule of cool’ battlefield domination for a more grounded approach. Instead of tearing across battlegrounds like a Category 5 hurricane, you’ll need to pick your fights more carefully and move with your army. Even basic peons are far more aggressive in this game, so ditching your allies isn’t exactly the wisest decision.

There are some cool quality-of-life additions, such as being able to counter enemy Strong and Special attacks with your own. A handy checkpoint feature lets you rewind the battle to key moments if you die, and there’s an honest-to-goodness dodge button that helps even the odds and can even be followed up with a counter if timed correctly. Alternatively, you can set the entire game to a ‘Classic’ mode, ditching all of this in favor of the original gameplay experience.

It’s an incredibly thoughtful remaster in that regard, offering options for newcomers, purists, and everyone in between. The visual facelift is nice, but not overbearing. Plus, additional content from the Xtreme Legends expansion is included here, too, making Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered an extremely beefy package for its relatively budget price tag.

Same as it ever was?

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, as ever, presents a loose interpretation of Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Which in itself is a romanticization of this turbulent wartorn era of Ancient China.

As an earlier entry, Dynasty Warriors 3 pretty much gives you the highlights rather than delving deep into character drama or motivations. It’s quite refreshingly simple, though individual playable officers do get their own cutscenes, endings, and the like.

You’ll spend the majority of your time in Musou Mode — effectively the game’s campaign. You will then choose an officer from one of four factions: Wei, Wu, Shu, or Other. The latter of which featuring officers with no set affiliation like Lu Bu, Dong Zhuo, and Diaochan.

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Each officer has their own bespoke Musou Mode route, though some are longer than others. Even so, your goal on each map typically boils down to defeating a key enemy officer, while ticking off smaller objectives to boost your side’s morale or rob the enemy of powerful weaponry.

That might sound repetitive, and it can be if played over longer sessions. However, I think Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is tailored to shorter bursts of play, and the bite-sized Musou Mode campaigns for each officer support that. Playing through a campaign will bolster that officer’s stats, as well as earn them new weapons and equippable items — the latter of which can be shared between all officers.

Part of the beauty of Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is that it feels like a snowball of unlockables. You’ll routinely be bagging new playable officers, more powerful weapons, and potent rare items should you meet their conditions during a stage.

Some stages can also grant you an officer’s fourth or fifth weapon. These are extremely strong, but are typically gated behind higher difficulties and some rather stringent objectives so be sure to bring upgraded officers and plenty of patience for these.

Old and new

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

One of my favorite things about Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is that it has options for basically everyone. You can play the entire game in either modern or classic modes. Classic is just that: Dynasty Warriors 3 as it played on the PlayStation 2, for the most part. No fancy extras. Does it feel a bit dated? Yes absolutely, but I’m happy it’s here as an option for purists.

The more modern take applies a bunch of quality-of-life changes and gameplay additions. As mentioned at the top, these include Strong and Special attack counters, a dodge, and a quick mount option for your horse. It helps the game feel a lot more fluid, in my opinion.

Was I still getting juggled to death by lowly peons for daring to take on an officer on my lonesome? Yep. More than a few times. But ultimately I did appreciate the more humbling experience here when I’m so used to treating enemy armies like mowing the lawn in more modern Musou games.

Best bit

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is a reminder of how cool unlockable content used to be in this era of gaming. You’ll have to put the work in to unlock most characters as well as their signature weapons. It’s the kind of stuff that’ll keep you busy for potentially tens of hours without feeling overly tedious.

What’s nice is that if you’re somewhere in the middle — say, wanting a hybrid modern/classic experience — Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered supports that. Quality-of-life additions can be toggled individually in the options menu, allowing for a widely customizable experience.

Additions aside, Omega Force has elected to keep the original game’s amazing soundtrack and cheeseball dialogue fully intact. I love this because there are some truly hilarious line deliveries across cutscenes, and the overt mispronunciation of officer names just adds to the charm of it all. Battles have been spiced up with combat lines from later entries like Dynasty Warriors 8, though, which is a nice touch.

Should I play Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered?Play it if…

You’re a newer Musou fan
If you’ve only recently gotten into Omega Force’s Warriors franchise, I implore you to give this one a go. It’s a great change of pace from more modern entries and very much bears a ‘substance over style’ approach.

You love unlockables
There are boatloads of officers and weapons to unlock, and most play rather differently from one another.

Don't play it if...

You’re not keen on repetition
There isn’t really any grinding to be done here, but replaying Musou Mode with many different officers can grow tiresome. Oh, and as a bonus pro tip: you only have to do a particularly aggravating objective during the Nanman campaign mission once, but my word is it a slog that first time.

Accessibility features

There aren't any dedicated accessibility toggles in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered such as subtitles or colorblind modes. However, individual game settings can be toggled based on preferences. These include target-facing assists, dodging, power guards, and strong attack counters.

How I reviewed Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

I played Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered for 15 hours on PC via Steam for this review. Being a remaster of an older title, my Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 was more than enough to run the game on maximum settings with zero hitches or issues.

My gamepad of choice was the Valve Steam Controller (2026), and I often hooked up my RIG 900 Max HS gaming headset to enjoy the game's banging soundtrack and corny dialogue sequences.

The majority of my playtime was spent in the main Musou Mode, unlocking characters, weapons, and optional rare items. Though I did delve into the Free and Challenge modes for a change of pace, too.

First reviewed October 2026

Categories: Reviews

Researchers build sailboat drone prototype that can 'fly' — we think it's more like falling with style

TechRadar News - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 19:20

ALBATROSS turns an aircraft release into a controlled ocean landing system
The 1.1 kg drone can deploy without carrying powered flight hardware
Its rotating descent slows the fall before the vehicle reaches water

ALBATROSS, a drone built by seven engineers at Singapore university SUTD, is a lightweight sailboat drone designed to reach the water successfully after an aerial release.

The 1.107 kg prototype rotates while descending, which slows its fall before landing, and then converts into a wind-propelled vessel.

Its unusual launch method gives the machine a claimed operating range above 100 km while avoiding powered flight during deployment.

A drone that drops before it sails

ALBATROSS uses rigid wingsails to control its descent, causing the craft to rotate instead of dropping directly toward the water.

That spinning motion reduces falling speed and limits landing forces, allowing the vehicle to enter the ocean without landing hardware.

After landing on the water, the craft automatically returns to an upright position before switching into sailing mode.

“ALBATROSS is designed to be released from an aircraft or UAV, passively enter autorotation for a controlled, low-impact water landing, self-right without actuation,” said the SUTD research team.

The drone does not come with a landing gear, so it uses three control actuators with three main sensors, while a rudder provides directional movement through lateral motion for steering.

That rudder functions similarly to a fish tail, generating thrust while helping the small vessel steer after reaching the water.

Range and design give the concept its edge

The researchers say ALBATROSS could cover roughly above 100 km, substantially exceeding the approximately 7km range reported for SailMAV.

Its low mass allows aircraft or UAVs to carry it into areas where rapid deployment could matter during environmental events.

It also has an advantage over autonomous sailing platforms such as Saildrone or Sailbuoy, which may require external support during some operations.

That edge comes from its design, which integrates aerial and aquatic functions without relying on the separate mechanisms typically needed to manage those modes.

"Unlike many hybrid aerial-marine systems, ALBATROSS eliminates the need for aerial propulsion, complex mechanical reconfiguration, or active stabilization during the air-water transition and can sail back to shore at the end of a mission," the team said.

That ability could make aerial deployment useful for placing sensing equipment in areas where ocean conditions change quickly.

Wind-powered movement would then allow the vehicle to remain useful without carrying a propulsion system for continued surface travel.

This operating model differs from larger sailing drones, which can require management from shore facilities or vessels during active missions.

The prototype therefore combines low mass with a descent mechanism intended to reduce hardware requirements during the transition into water.

Whether the concept works reliably outside controlled testing will depend on consistent descent, self-righting, steering, and sailing performance overall.

Via The Register

Categories: Technology

PSA: Best Buy's 'Techtober' sale ends this Sunday — here are 50+ tech deals I'd buy on Apple, TVs, laptops, Google Pixel 11, and more

TechRadar News - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 18:53

Just a quick PSA, folks. Best Buy's currently hosting a massive 'Techtober' sale until this Sunday, so there isn't long left to score what are quite possibly some of the best deals we'll see this side of Black Friday.

The retailer is currently hosting discounts on everything from the latest LG OLED TVs to cheap laptops — and I've been busy scanning through its listings to pick out the best deals. You can see a full list of recommendations based on our product testing at TechRadar just down below.

• Browse the full Best Buy Techtober sale

Highlights include this excellent value 55-inch TCL QM5K Mini LED TV for $499 (was $799), which is a fantastic price for such a premium display. There's also this HP OmniBook X Flip with an OLED display for $599 (was $799), and the Google Pixel 11 for $799 (was $899). The Pixel 11 has just been released, so this is a great little discount on an unlocked device.

That's just a small selection of highlights. You can see a full list of over 50 deals below, covering most categories. I've separated everything out into easy-to-navigate sections, so don't hesitate to skip ahead to a relevant section if you're looking for something specific.

Best Buy Techtober sale — quick links

Apple: up to $500 off MacBooks & AirPods
Appliances: up to 40% off
Cameras: up to $1,000 off Sony, DJI & Canon
Gaming: PS5 & Switch games from $19.99
Headphones: Apple, Sony & Bose from $9.99
Kitchen: up to 50% off Ninja & Breville
Laptops: from $189
Phones: up to $1,200 off iPhone & Samsung
Smart home: up to 50% off cameras & doorbells
Smartwatches: up to $200 off Apple & Google
Speakers: up to $400 off LG & JBL
Tablets: up to $100 off iPad & Lenovo
Toys: up to 50% off
TVs: from $69.98
Vacuums: up to 40% off Dyson & Shark

Attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded over 300 more, Saudi authorities say

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 18:44

Saudi authorities say the latest attack on the international airport in the capital, Riyadh, has killed 12 people and injured over 300. Their statement says the dead on Saturday included four Saudi citizens as well as two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian and a Sudanese. It said some of those injured were in critical condition. The attack — the latest of several in the past week on King Khalid International Airport — is expected to increase Saudi pressure on allies including the United States to provide military support for the kingdom.

(Image credit: AP)

Categories: News

Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, October 11 (game #1721)

TechRadar News - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 18:00

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, October 10 (game #1720).

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1721) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

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

Quordle today (game #1721) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1721) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1721) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

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

Quordle today (game #1721) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• I

• T

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1721) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1721, are…

LILAC
INLET
TRIAD
SHAPE

Despite having four letters in the correct position I held back on guessing SHAPE as there were so many options.

Fortunately my hesitance paid off and my new winning streak has kicked off without a single incorrect guess, start words aside.

Daily Sequence today (game #1721) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1721, are…

ETHIC
FLUME
SEDAN
SULLY

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP
Quordle #1719, Friday, 9 October: OLDEN, DUNCE, SWATH, HILLY
Quordle #1718, Thursday, 8 October: MINTY, ROWER, BROOD, RESET
Quordle #1717, Wednesday, 7 October: PALER, FROTH, DOZEN, ERASE
Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST
Quordle #1714, Sunday, 4 October: INFER, RAINY, THING, ARENA
Quordle #1713, Saturday, 3 October: CHORE, FLYER, STICK, PURSE
Quordle #1712, Friday, 2 October: IVORY, SADLY, ANGEL, LLAMA
Quordle #1711, Thursday, 1 October: NAVEL, SHEER, BIRTH, TACKY
Quordle #1710, Wednesday, 30 September: CHOKE, BATCH, MOSSY, EAGER
Quordle #1709, Tuesday, 29 September: BILGE, MEDAL, LODGE, PORCH
Quordle #1708, Monday, 28 September: BRUNT, TORSO, STONE, HEATH
Quordle #1707, Sunday, 27 September: VALET, CHEST, VIGIL, PUREE
Quordle #1706, Saturday, 26 September: SNORT, BIBLE, LAPSE, CRANE
Quordle #1705, Friday, 25 September: SWEAR, FLOOD, GUPPY, GROAN
Quordle #1704, Thursday, 24 September: TOPIC, METRO, SCALP, FREED
Quordle #1703, Wednesday, 23 September: SHEET, BLAND, JOIST, GUAVA
Quordle #1702, Tuesday, 22 September: COMFY, LOBBY, DRESS, PANEL
Quordle #1701, Monday, 21 September: WAXEN, HIPPO, PETAL, LEASH

Categories: Technology

NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, October 11 (game #1218)

TechRadar News - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 18:00

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, October 10 (game #1217).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #1218) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

HARNESS
MAP
PERUSE
PHONE
GLOVES
CABLE
APPLY
PATRICK
ELECTRICITY
WIELD
ICE SCRAPER
UTILIZE
EMPLOY
REGISTRATION
SYNTACTIC
INTERNET

NYT Connections today (game #1218) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: Deploy
GREEN: Paid off 12 times a year
BLUE: Hidden in your car
PURPLE: Final risks

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #1218) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: PUT TO USE
GREEN: MONTHLY BILLS
BLUE: THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT
PURPLE: ENDING IN GAMBITS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1218) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1218, are…

YELLOW: PUT TO USE: APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE, WIELD
GREEN: MONTHLY BILLS: CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET, PHONE
BLUE: THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT: GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP, REGISTRATION
PURPLE: ENDING IN GAMBITS: EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE, SYNTACTIC

My rating: Hard
My score: 3 mistakes

Congratulations if you saw ploy, trick, ruse, and tactic at the end of the four purple tiles.

This wasn’t the only thing that passed me by today.

After successfully getting the four utilities that made up MONTHLY BILLS and the THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT (I’d add a pack of mints, cheap sunglasses and a scrap of paper with an unknown phone number on it) I floundered over the yellow group, as I was convinced EMPLOY was one of the four.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, October 10, 2026, game #1217)

YELLOW: USEFUL WHEN WRITING A PAPER: DRAFT, NOTES, OUTLINE, THESIS
GREEN: PRESUME: FIGURE, GATHER, IMAGINE, SUPPOSE
BLUE: SOCIAL MEDIA SECTIONS: FEED, MESSAGES, NOTIFICATIONS, PROFILE
PURPLE: ___BOXING: BEAT, KICK, SHADOW, UN

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Categories: Technology

NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, October 11 (game #952)

TechRadar News - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 18:00

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, October 10 (game #951).

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #952) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… They don’t make ‘em like they used to

NYT Strands today (game #952) - hint #2 - clue words

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

LARGE
BOXES
PRAM
RETOLD
SLOT
GORE

NYT Strands today (game #952) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #952) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: top, 3rd column

• Last side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #952) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #952, are…

PAGER
ICEBOX
INKWELL
TYPEWRITER
TELEGRAM
SPANGRAM: OLDFASHIONED

My rating: Hard
My score: Perfect

I am old enough to remember when the heft of your Filofax demonstrated the level of your success — much as today the number of your social media followers, regardless of how many of them are AI bots, is a measure of self worth.

It’s all, of course, just a phase, as this selection is redundant — as once cutting-edge technology demonstrates.

Annoyingly I got OLDFASHIONED after spotting PAGER and ICEBOX (I really thought that X was going to be a fax machine) and regret that I didn’t spend longer trying to add to my Spangram First collection.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, October 10, game #951)

HONEY
SYRUP
TREACLE
MOLLASSES
GRENADINE
SPANGRAM: STICKYANDSWEET

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Categories: Technology

Christa Pike discharged from the hospital and back in prison

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 17:15

Pike's attorneys say she is grateful for the care of first responders and her medical team.

(Image credit: Tennessee Department of Correction)

Categories: News

Bayeux Tapestry's London tour spurs enthusiasts to Battle of Hastings reenactment

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 16:40

A reenactment of the Battle of Hastings, which took place almost a millennium ago, is drawing crowds of enthusiasts in the UK.

Categories: News

Trump weighs joining the fight against Houthis after Riyadh airport attack

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 16:32

The surge in attacks, including against other Saudi airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure, has come in the week since a Saudi-led coalition launched a major military offensive against the Houthis.

(Image credit: UGC via AP)

Categories: News

HP EliteBook X G2i laptop review

TechRadar Reviews - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 13:40

HP EliteBook X G2i: 30-second review

The EliteBook X G2i is deceptively lightweight due to the magnesium alloy that’s been used to make the outer casing, and as I’ve seen before with this material when it’s used in laptops, whilst the material itself is exceptionally strong, there is quite a bit of flex to it, which could be mistaken for a cheaper design.

However, the aesthetics back up the premium pricing of this business-focused laptop, and with its 14-inch screen and weight that comes in just below a kilo, it’s the perfect partner for anyone who travels frequently and needs a high-powered laptop to keep up with all their business dealings.

Inside is the latest Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, which is coupled with Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics, and of course there’s also an integrated NPU to enhance all the AI potential from Copilot and other applications.

This laptop is obviously business-focused. However, that B390 GPU packs in some serious power, and whilst it isn’t gaming-focused, if you do want some downtime on a business trip, then this is very capable of playing some of the latest games. Whilst you might have to dial down some of the graphics, you’ll still get decent gameplay backed up with pretty decent audio.

Checking over the body, there’s a select choice of inputs, including the full-size HDMI, so when you arrive at your destination you can plug into larger monitors or displays, including projectors for presentations. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports that offer up to 40Gbps, so you can plug in larger external drives to expand on the relatively small 1TB internal SSD. On the right-hand side, there are two more ports: standard USB-A and a slower USB Type-C 3.2.

As I ran through the tests, first of all starting off with Microsoft Office, this laptop kept pace with opening Word documents, editing and updating spreadsheets, and creating PowerPoint presentations, and this was all well within the capabilities of this powerful laptop. What was especially relevant here was that 3K-resolution screen, which just gives you that extra bit of real estate so that, when it comes to laying out your work, you’re not struggling to see palettes or the presentation at full size.

As I swapped over to some creative applications, starting in Lightroom then progressing onto Photoshop, again the speed of this laptop really stood out. It handled Photoshop without issue, and Lightroom rendered libraries quickly. As I then progressed onto CapCut and then Premiere Pro for video editing. Whilst I did need to plug in an external SSD to boost the storage, the machine itself was more than capable of handling short 4K edits without missing a frame.

The only time the machine did start to show limitations was as I swapped over to playing games, and whilst it was capable of running Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy, as I started to crank up the graphics, I could start to see the frame rates struggle and the fans kick in. However, that said, using the standard settings set through the installation for these games, the gameplay was exceptionally good.

The power of this small machine is reflected in the price, and this is by no means cheap, especially when you consider it only has a 1TB hard drive and 32GB of RAM. When you go up to the next level, the price does dramatically increase.

However, I'd rate this as one of the best business laptops for those looking for a machine that goes well beyond everyday work. Yes, it supplies far more power than most people will require, but the balance of ability and cost is exceptionally well considered, and when you take into account just how powerful it is and just how lightweight, if you travel frequently, then this is a great option.

HP EliteBook X G2i: Price and availability

How much does it cost? From £2,445 / $3,599
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Directly from HP or Amazon

At present, the HP EliteBook X G2i is available for £2,445.59 including VAT, and in the US, a similar configuration to the one that I’ve looked at here retails for around US$3,599. The laptop is widely available either directly through the HP website or through most major retailers, both on the high street and online.

Value: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)HP EliteBook X G2i: Specs

CPU: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 16 cores/16 threads, up to 4.8GHz
Graphics: Intel Arc B390 integrated GPU
RAM: 32GB LPDDR5x-9600 onboard
Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Display: 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3
Left Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4/USB-C 40Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio combo
Right Ports: USB-C 10Gbps, USB-A 5Gbps, nano security-lock slot
Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE211 (2x2), Bluetooth 6
Audio: Poly Studio, four stereo speakers, dual microphones with AI noise reduction
Camera: 5MP IR AI camera with privacy shutter

HP EliteBook X G2i: Design

When it comes to design, the EliteBook X G2i is incredibly understated. It’s finished in a dark blue, which HP has called Atmospheric Blue, which does give it a premium look, although when you first pick up the laptop, the lightweight build and the slight flex that you get with all-magnesium-alloy cases are slightly in contrast to what you expect.

However, having spent a couple of weeks fully testing the EliteBook X G2i and carrying it in my backpack, I’ve been impressed by both its durability and its lightweight design, which is far lighter than my usual MacBook Pro M1 Max, yet the power is easily equal to what the Mac is capable of.

Whilst the overall machine does look relatively small, as you open up the lid it reveals the large 14-inch screen, which is impressive with its 3K resolution, offering 2880 x 1800 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. As I sat in a café typing up this review with a bright light streaming in behind me, I was also impressed with the 500-nit brightness and the non-reflective screen that made it exceptionally easy to see the applications, where I have found in the past that some other screens are just too reflective.

Through the test, I planned a small video edit and PowerPoint presentations to create, and having to create these on the move seemed like a perfect time to put the laptop to the test. A couple of points that I noticed as I headed out the door were that the 1 TB SSD, which is fine for PowerPoint and most business-focused productivity, is still relatively small.

As I needed to also edit a video shot on the DJI OSMO Pocket 4P, I packed a Thunderbolt 4 portable SSD just to expand on the internal storage. This is where this laptop and its design really start to come into their own. The power is more than adequate for most productivity, but with that CPU and GPU combo, it’s also an ideal option for light to midweight creative applications such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The only downside is that 1 TB SSD is rather limited. However, with those two USB4/Thunderbolt 4 ports on the side of the machine, I was able to connect a larger Thunderbolt 4 SSD to expand the storage, and this is a far cheaper option than opting for the larger-capacity internal SSD when speccing out the machine. The other point that I really like is that the HDMI on the side is full-sized, so when I arrived at the office or was ready for a lecture, I was able to plug the laptop directly into the existing system without the need for any adapters.

While the laptop is small and lightweight and packs in plenty of power, the one thing that impressed me more than anything else about the laptop was the quality of the keyboard. This is one of the best typing keyboards that I have ever come across on a laptop. The actuation of the keys is precise, and it has just a feeling of absolute quality. The keyboard layout is also well thought out, and whilst the cursor keys in the bottom right are half-sized, it’s just a pleasure to use.

When it comes to design, rather than aesthetics, it has a high-quality premium look, and whilst when you pick it up it is lightweight due to the magnesium casing, which does offer a little bit of flex, it is ultimately also extremely robust, just reinforcing its price point and intended use as a high-powered business machine to be used anywhere.

Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)HP EliteBook X G2i: Features

The feature set of this business-focused laptop is impressive, with an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H at the heart of the machine. This offers 16 cores and 16 threads and a boost up to 4.8GHz, which is more than enough for any corporate work but is also good for creative use as well as a bit of light to moderate gaming. Graphics are supplied by an integrated Intel Arc B390 GPU.

This is one up from many that we see in this level and type of laptop, which does give everything a little bit more potential. My review sample was equipped with 32GB of LPDDR5X onboard RAM. This means that it’s soldered to the motherboard and can’t be upgraded, but this is plenty for most productivity and even for light to midweight creative image and video use, although you are starting to hit the limits with video editing, and 64GB is generally the preferred amount.

When it comes to storage capacity, there’s a 1 TB NVMe SSD. This is a decent balance considering the cost of the machine, and if you do need more for video or just to store data, then you can pick up a relatively large and fast portable SSD that can be plugged into the ultrafast Thunderbolt 4 ports on the side.

As I’ve seen with a lot of mini PCs and laptops recently, there’s also an integrated NPU, and this is the Intel AI Boost NPU that provides up to 50 TOPS of performance and essentially helps Copilot and Adobe applications run locally without requiring online services for their AI features. If you’re thinking of running a local LLM then you can, but at 32GB RAM the potential is limited.

Impressively, when it comes to connectivity, there’s Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, so they're the current generations for both wireless connectivity options. When it comes to more traditional wired connectivity, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which really show the premium level of this machine, and these support up to 40Gbps, ideal if you need to do some video editing.

But video and creative content aside, if you have large documents that you need to transfer to the machine or from one portable drive to another, then again that 40Gbps connection will be extremely welcome. Those ports also enable USB charging and DisplayPort 2.1. On the other side of the machine, there’s a further 10Gbps USB-C connection and a USB-A port for older devices if you need to connect them. This is really great to see on this level of machine, especially with its business focus.

Most importantly for business use is the fact that it offers HDMI 2.1, so if you need to connect up to a monitor, display or projector, then the full-size HDMI is pretty standard, so you shouldn’t need any other adapters. Essentially, you’ve got two different forms of connecting to displays: Thunderbolt 4 or the more standard HDMI.

The internal speakers for the laptop are also a bit of a surprise, and they offer really good audio clarity, both when listening back to meeting presentations and for playing games and listening to music. I also found that these were good, clear and loud for video conference calls, and those I was speaking to were able to hear me nice and clearly.

One of the big features of this new HP laptop is the HP business security suite, and as you start up, you get access to the full suite and its features, which include HP Admin, Sure Click, Sure Recover, Sure Sense and Tamper Lock. These all need to be set up by yourself or your IT team, but to have them all featured here just shows once again the focus on security and business of this laptop.

Features: 4.5 / 5

HP EliteBook X G2i: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Benchmark scores

CrystalDiskMark Read: 3,470.97 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 3,475.15 MB/s
Geekbench 7 CPU Multi: 16,654
Geekbench 7 CPU Single: 2,106
Geekbench 7 GPU: 56,062
PCMark Overall: 7,522
Cinebench 2026 CPU Multi: 3,407
Cinebench 2026 CPU Single: 411
Fire Strike Overall: 13,767
Fire Strike Graphics: 17,305
Fire Strike Physics: 25,084
Fire Strike Combined: 4,289
Time Spy Overall: 6,918
Time Spy Graphics: 6,425
Time Spy CPU: 12,241
Wild Life Overall: 46,556
Steel Nomad Overall: 1,638
Sky Diver: Not recorded
Windows Experience Overall: 8.9
Procyon: 1,667

Getting started with the HP EliteBook was all straightforward enough, and as I lifted it from the box, the first thing that struck me was just how lightweight this laptop is. With its magnesium-alloy casing, it had a nice, premium feel. There is a little bit of flex on the top of the machine, which you often get with these lightweight metals. That can be a bit deceptive, since you would normally associate that with cheaper units. However, through the two weeks of solid testing of this laptop, it was very obvious just how durable it is despite that slight flex.

Once the laptop is powered on, I ran through the usual Windows 11 Pro setup, which should take between 10 and 20 minutes depending on the options that you select. It also enables Windows Hello, so you can open and access the laptop using your face rather than needing to type in a password. It’s then a case of setting up any applications that you want, and HP has included its security suite here as well, which prompts you at various stages to complete the setup.

The HP security suite essentially offers lots of different features, including malware threat protection, credential protection, a secure browser, OS resiliency, application persistence and other features. You do need to activate it and register, but for the first year it all seems to be free.

As I started out the test, loading Microsoft Office to check out productivity, and as the Windows Experience score of 8.9 highlighted, this laptop just takes all Windows applications in its stride. Opening up Word, PowerPoint and Excel, running all three and quickly switching between each was as fast as any laptop.

But what really stood out here was that 3K-resolution screen, which just gives you far greater real estate for all the panels, and whilst everything is obviously a little bit smaller on screen, you can see an awful lot. There’s really good, high-quality clarity to the visuals.

A quick run of Geekbench 6 and 7 highlighted just how fast the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H is, and really, for all productivity, this machine is right at the top of what you would need. This was once again reinforced by the PCMark score.

As I progressed from productivity to creative applications and looked at Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, again the speed of the processor and GPU working together provided a great balance.

The extra resolution that the screen offers over the lower-resolution screens that you often see on this size of laptop really does make a difference, especially in Photoshop, where navigating panels was just that much easier. Opening multiple images open shot on the Canon EOS R5 C, the clarity of the images was exceptionally good, and I was impressed with the overall colour accuracy of the monitor.

The other point here was that, as I opened up Adobe Bridge to view the thumbnails of the images shot, the machine was able to render the thumbnails quickly. Whilst there was still some render time, it kept up with the pace of the scrolling, and there was no point where I had to wait for minutes for those thumbnails to appear.

Opening up palettes, layers and working on images with enhancements was absolutely no challenge to the CPU or GPU, and even when I utilised Generative Expand on a couple of images to take them from 16:9 to 21:9 aspect ratio, the machine was able to process those locally, and the results were exceptionally good.

My only point through editing was the lack of SSD space for images. However, that Thunderbolt port on the side, with a portable SSD connected, expanded the storage easily and cheaply. This storage was again utilised for video editing, as there’s just not enough space on that internal SSD to store much.

But with the Thunderbolt 4 connection offering 40Gbps, Premiere Pro was able to access the drive with speed for both media and caching, and short five-minute video edits were completed with absolute ease, including transitions and rendering.

The one surprise here was that the performance of the internal SSD was far slower than I expected, with read and write speeds around the 3,500MB/s mark, which, considering the premium price tag and the positioning of this laptop, was slower than I had expected, with most laptops these days offering at least 5,000 to 6,000MB/s.

However, for general productivity this speed is more than sufficient, and even for image editing and most video it will keep up with the speed. It’s only when multiple files are being accessed or transferred that you will start to see a slight slowdown.

To finish off the test, I loaded up Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and was pleased to see that, firstly, it loaded without issue, and the gameplay was pretty solid, with smooth motion and graphics, although some of the more advanced effects were turned down. Likewise, Hogwarts Legacy was equally impressive on speed, and again, whilst some of the effects were turned down, the overall quality of the animation and gameplay was superb.

This is a business-focused laptop, and that’s obvious from the aesthetics, design and weight, coming in at less than a kilo, which makes it a perfect option for travel. Whilst many lightweight laptops sit in the premium bracket they can also be underpowered, however, here the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H packs in far more power than much larger laptops, and from productivity to creative work and even gaming, this laptop was more than powerful enough to run them all.

The other point that really impressed me was the fact that there’s a good selection of ports, with Thunderbolt 4 being supplied over the usual USB4 Type-C, and full-size HDMI and a standard USB Type-A, which enable plenty of flexibility for connectivity wherever you are.

However, surprisingly, the feature that really stood out to me beyond anything else was the quality of the keyboard. It felt much nicer to type on and higher quality than I’ve seen on far more expensive laptops, and the typing experience was fluid and swift. For me, when you look at the price, specifications, and quality of the screen and keyboard, that makes this laptop an exceptionally good option for business.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

HP EliteBook X G2i: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

This ultralight 14-inch business laptop is powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra X7 358H processor and backed by Arc B390 graphics. Wow, this laptop is ultra-light. The performance has been levelled up, as there is plenty of power beyond simple office tasks, and whilst it’s perfect for all productivity, its abilities will also stretch to some relatively midweight creative use, including editing video and dealing with the latest AI tasks.

The EliteBook X G2i does sit at the premium end of the laptop range, especially when you consider that it just has 32GB of RAM and a one-terabyte internal SSD. However, the lightweight design is backed by some serious processing and graphics potential. When it comes to pure productivity, there are few other laptops at this price that can match it on power.

There are things that are limited, such as that upper limit of RAM and the storage capacity, and whilst the storage can be boosted due to the fact that it features two Thunderbolt 4 ports, the RAM will be a bit of a limitation if you are looking for a laptop that not only enables you to use all the Microsoft Office applications at the top of their performance but is also a very capable 4K video-editing machine.

Whilst it is able to edit 4K video with relative ease, the internal SSD is a limitation, as is the 32GB of RAM. However, for the lightweight use intended, it will be more than sufficient.

Essentially, what you have here is a very powerful laptop that matches the power that you would usually expect from something a lot larger and heavier, which makes this an ideal option for anybody who travels frequently and needs a powerful laptop that they can always carry with them.

Some of my early worries about the robustness of the build due to some slight flex in the casing were gradually dispelled, and it proved that the magnesium material was robust and strong after lasting out the test as I carried it around in my backpack for a couple of weeks. However, I would’ve preferred, for a laptop at this price, for that top casing just to be a little more rigid.

When you look at competitors at this end of the market, and at this price, the HP EliteBook X G2i is exceptionally well priced. But what gives it the edge is not the power but the keyboard, which I can say is one of the nicest keyboards that I’ve ever used.

Should I buy the HP EliteBook X G2i?

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Value

this is a business-focused laptop, and for its high-powered CPU and GPU, you are paying a premium.

3.5

Design

exceptionally light and slim, perfect for travel, but there is some flex in the casing

4

Features

well-balanced set of features for general use; however, for creative use I’d probably opt for the 64GB version.

4.5

Performance

all-round excellent performance from the CPU, GPU and NPU for both productivity and creative use.

4.5

Overall

if you need a robust, powerful, lightweight laptop for travel, then this is an exceptional option.

4

Buy it if...

Travel is essential

At just under a kilogram, the EliteBook is seriously lightweight, and packing in powerful components, it’s a great option for travel.

Graphics actually matter

The Intel Arc B390 graphics are exceptionally good and proved very capable for both creative use in Photoshop and Premiere Pro, as well as some 3D modelling and rendering within Blender.

Don't buy it if...

Value comes first

This is a business-focused machine, and with that focus come certain features and components that all command premium prices. You can get cheaper machines with just as powerful components for a lesser price.

Gaming is a priority

While the Arc B390 GPU is impressive for general and creative use, if you’re into gaming, then you are going to want a GPU with a little more power.

For more professional-grade desktops, we've tested the best business computers.

Categories: Reviews

The Kennedy Center names new artistic director, amid concerns

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 13:17

The center's executive director has named an agent who has worked with ZZ Top and Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee as the head of programming for the arts institution.

(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP)

Categories: News

Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: discreet passive speakers that deliver an informative sound and impeccable finish

TechRadar Reviews - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 13:00

Ruark Audio Talisman-R: Two-minute review

A couple of years on from the launch of the Sabre-R standmounting speaker, Ruark Audio is revisiting another of its Greatest Passive Loudspeaker Hits — and this Talisman-R is the result.

It’s a compact and unassuming design at first glance, but get up close and that sloping ‘double baffle’ design makes for an interesting point of visual difference and harks back to 1990’s original Talisman design. It has solid acoustic benefits, too. As has long been established Ruark Audio behavior, the Talisman-R is carefully constructed and beautifully finished, with some nice details that elevate the look.

This is a small and discreet cabinet fitted with a 27mm tweeter and a 170mm mid/bass driver, an array bolstered by a front-facing bass reflex port. As such you shouldn’t expect the largest sonic presentation this sort of money can buy, but in every other respect the Talisman-R alternates between ‘very good’ and ‘really very good indeed’. Its powers of organization and control are excellent, it is alert to even the finest details in a recording, it has a respectable amount of dynamic headroom available, and it expresses rhythms with real confidence and positivity. It’s nicely balanced where tonality is concerned, is very even when it comes to frequency response, and is never less than entertaining in its fundamental attitude.

Unless you’re trying to make an entirely different visual statement, and/or unless you’re trying to fill a large space with sound, there’s really no reason not to seek out the Ruark Audio Talisman-R and give it a good listen. A contender for the best stereo speakers on the market with good reason.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: Price & release date

Launched June, 2026
Priced $2,399 / £1,499 / AU$3,299

The Ruark Audio Talisman-R floorstanding loudspeakers are on sale now, and in the United States they sell for $2,399 per pair. In the United Kingdom the going rate is £1,499, while in Australia they will set you back AU$3,299.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: Features

27mm silk dome tweeter, 170mm natural fiber mid/bass driver
Forward-facing bass reflex port
35Hz - 20kHz frequency response

Like any sensible pair of passive loudspeakers, the Ruark Audio Talisman-R aren’t exactly overburdened with features. Those features that are present, though, are entirely fit for purpose.

Behind the magnetically attached grille there’s a 27mm silk dome tweeter driven by a neodymium motor arrangement. Beneath here (but still towards the top of the baffle) there’s a 170mm mid/bass natural fiber cone backed by a long-throw motor. And below this there’s a bass-reflex port, the forward-facing nature of which should theoretically make the Talisman-R a little more forgiving of room position than if it were at the rear of the cabinet.

Crossover is sensibly positioned at 2.2kHz, and the other numbers connected with the Ruark Audio are similarly encouraging. A nominal impedance of 6 ohms and sensitivity of 87dB/W suggests the Talisman-R are not all that difficult to drive (Ruark Audio recommends amplification power of somewhere between 75 and 200W), and the claimed frequency response is 35Hz - 20kHz.

Features score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: Sound quality

Controlled and organized (but also more fun than this might suggest)
Articulate and revealing, especially through the midrange
Not quite the out-and-out scale of some rivals

You’re no doubt aware that this sort of money spent with other loudspeaker brands will buy you bigger, more physically imposing designs with a higher driver-count and greater visual drama than the Talisman-R offers. But as I’m sure you’re also aware, it’s not what you’ve got but what you do with it that counts — and the sonic output of this small cabinet, with its unremarkable complement of drivers, is straightforwardly impressive.

The speakers are certainly an appreciably larger, more spacious listen than their appearance might suggest. Play America! by Bill Callahan and the soundstage they create is properly organized and extremely carefully focused. The ability to position a voice in the center of the stage, project it slightly without making it sound estranged from the rest of the action, and have it emanate from well above the top of the cabinets themselves is a talent that never gets old. The Talisman-R may not have the outright scale of some larger alternatives, but the coherence of the soundstage goes a very long way towards making up for it.

The positive, direct nature of the Ruark Audio attitude is very agreeable, too. Tonality is clean and consistent from the bottom of the frequency range to the top, and this goes a long way towards facilitating this level of clarity, but this sonic personality goes beyond tonal neutrality. It’s not about the amount of detail the speakers reveal, either — although their powers of detail retrieval are significant, both where the broad strokes and the more minor, more transient stuff is concerned. The candid, upfront quality of reproduction here also leans heavily on the midrange eloquence available. The articulate and revealing way the Talisman-R has with voices means everything in a vocal performance, from technique and tone to character and attitude, is made fully available.

The careful neutrality the speakers exhibit also means the overall presentation is quite tightly unified and ‘together’. There’s a sensation of singularity to the way these speakers present music that gives more than a hint of the idea of ‘performance’. Crossover between the drivers is imperceptible, the inputs of the bass reflex port are subtle and well-managed, ensuring the idea of coherent timing, that all of the frequency information is reaching your ears at the same time, is strong.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Frequency response itself is smooth and convincing. No area of the frequency range is overstated and no area is underplayed, even as the speakers give the midrange a little nudge towards the front of the stage. And its seems nigh-on impossible to fluster the Talsiman-R with the music you want to listen to — even an element-heavy and/or complex recording like If You Want Me by Cisco Cisco is properly organized on that gratifyingly well-defined soundstage, and the speakers give due weighting to the spaces and silences on the stage just as readily as they do to the actual occurrences.

Low frequencies are nicely shaped, equally nicely controlled, and the combination of punch and attack means there’s plenty of momentum available for those recordings that require it. Detail of tone and texture is readily available, there’s plenty of variation in the way the Ruark Audio presents bass sounds, and attack and decay is beautifully judged and naturalistic.

There’s ample dynamic headroom available for when the going gets particularly rowdy or intense. The Ruark Audio can track big shifts in volume and attack without sounding stressed or altering their sonic characteristics in any meaningful way. They’re generally untroubled by high volumes, either — there’s no suggestion of shoutiness or two-dimensionality to their presentation even if you listen at properly antisocial levels.

Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: Design

840 x 210 x 255mm (HxWxD)
Choice of two finishes
‘Double baffle’ has sound acoustic principles

It doesn’t do to get carried away when it comes to the design of floorstanding loudspeakers — seldom does any good come of it. The Talisman-R, though, have enough about them where design is concerned to count as ‘interesting’ while stopping well short of ‘weird’.

At 840 x 210 x 255mm (HxWxD), each speaker is usefully compact and, at 17.6kg, no kind of burden to get into position. Those dimensions, though, don’t tell the whole story.

Seen from the dead ahead, the speakers seem to lean back just a little on their plinths. View them in profile, though, and it becomes apparent that they feature an extruded front baffle that is a little larger than the main body of the cabinet and that means the overall design is mildly trapezoid (just as the original Talisman was). In fact, the Ruark Audio feature a ‘double baffle’ arrangement that’s intended to minimize resonance and the transfer of vibrational energy from the drivers into the cabinet. So, not for the first time where this company is concerned, solid acoustic principles have had a pleasant knock-on effect where industrial design is concerned.

The standard of build and finish is, as we’ve all come to expect from Ruark Audio, basically impeccable. The satin charcoal finish of my review sample is smooth and almost tactile (an alternative finish, with a fused walnut baffle in front of the satin charcoal cabinet, is also available), the magnetically attached grilles sit neatly inside the baffle edges, and there’s a small design flourish at the bottom of the front panel in the shape of some trademark walnut slats and a little badge carrying the company logo. At a part of the market when too many rivals indulge in rather shouty looks, the Talisman-R are a model of visual discretion and understatement.

Design score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: Usability & setup

Bi-wire speaker cable terminals
Forward-facing bass reflex port helps with positioning
Silicone feet or floor spikes are available

As far as ‘usability’ is concerned, well, these are passive loudspeakers so there’s really not a great deal to it. Ruark Audio recommends ensuring the speakers are somewhere between 1.5m and 2.5m apart (bear in mind you will, ideally, be further from them when you’re listening than they are from each other), 20-30cm from rear and side walls, and toed in just a little towards your listening position. Each speaker has bi-wire cable terminals that can accept banana plugs, spade connections or bare wire — they’re linked when you take them from the box, so if you intend to bi-wire don’t forget to take the links off.

When they are unblocked the Talisman-R are fitted with low-profile silicone feet for use with hard floors. There are floor spikes in the packaging, too, which are ideal if your speakers are going to be on a carpeted floor.

As with almost every loudspeaker, it’s just a question of putting some hours on them before you make a judgement on the way the Talisman-R sound. A period of running in before a speaker is ready to reveal everything it’s capable of is far from unusual, and it’s the case here.

Usability & setup score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: Value

If you’re going to judge your $2,399 floorstanding speakers by the amount of space they occupy or by the number of drivers they feature, nothing about the Ruark Audio Talisman-R is going to convince you of the value for money they represent.

But if you value discretion, build quality and, above all, sound quality — and you’re not trying to fill an especially large space with music — then there’s an awful lot of bang for your buck here.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Should I buy the Ruark Audio Talisman-R Luxe?Ruark Audio Talisman-R scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Not extensive, but entirely fit for purpose

5 / 5

Sound quality

Controlled and organized, while impressively revealing in the midrange

4.5 / 5

Design

Two finishes, with an impeccable standard of build

5 / 5

Setup & usability

Silicone feet or floor spikes available; multiple cable terminations

5 / 5

Value

Excellent all around, if you're not trying to fill a big room with music

4.5 / 5

Buy them if…

‘Compact’ and ‘discreet’ sound like just the ticket
The Talisman-R mostly draws attention for its sound.

You admire craftsmanship
The standard of build and finish on display here is unarguable.

You have the electronics to do them justice
These speakers are not too picky, but obviously their partnering kit should be up to the job.

Don’t buy them if…

You have a big room to fill with sound
The Talsiman-R are multi-talented, but outright scale is not one of their strengths.

You equate ‘quantity’ with ‘quality’
Similarly priced alternatives offer more than one tweeter and one mid/bass driver.

Ruark Audio Talisman-R review: Also consider

At either side of the asking price for a pair of Talisman-R you’ll find very worthwhile models from very credible brands.

The Q Acoustics 5050 are now available at around the $1,300 mark, and they represent excellent value for money where sound is concerned — they make a much more assertive visual statement than the Ruark Audio, too.

Go to the other end of the scale, consider spending $2,500, and the PMC Prodigy 5 can be yours. In their own way they’re just as visually unassuming as the Talisman-R, and in their own way they’re just as sonically accomplished.

How I tested the Ruark Audio Talisman-R

I used QED GA XT speaker cable to connect the Talisman-R to a Cambridge Edge W power amplifier.

The amp gets its signal from an Eversolo DAC-Z10 which is being fed by a Ruark Apollo CD player and an Arcam ST25 network streamer (both via digital optical) and a Technics SL-1300G with Goldring 1022 cartridge via a Chord Huei phono stage.

This way I’m able to listen to lots of content stored in various formats.

Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee
First reviewed: October 2026

Categories: Reviews

Elon Musk Eyes ‘Complete Phone Coverage in America’ as SpaceX Clears Hurdle

CNET News - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 12:56

Starlink Mobile satellites could eventually improve enough to pass their signals through walls, dense foliage, and hilly terrain.

Categories: Technology

At least 2 deaths attributed to Isaias after hurricane bashes Florida and Alabama

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 12:14

Hurricane Isaias is blamed for at least two deaths, after the storm made landfall on the Florida coast and ran through Alabama. There are numerous reports of downed trees, with hundreds of thousands of people without power.

(Image credit: Ronaldo Schemidt)

Categories: News

Does a VPN protect your privacy when using ChatGPT or Claude? What network encryption can and can’t hide from AI

TechRadar News - Sat, 10/10/2026 - 09:59

A VPN is great at hiding where you are and what your internet provider sees. However, when you’re chatting with ChatGPT or Claude, your privacy depends on something far more complicated than a tunnel through the internet.

Even the best VPNs won’t stop AI companies from reading, storing, and learning from everything you type. In this article, we’ll unpack exactly what data these platforms see, why encryption has limits, and what you can actually do to protect yourself.

What chatbots see (and what a VPN actually hides)

(Image credit: OpenAI / Future)

Without a VPN, OpenAI (ChatGPT) and Anthropic (Claude) can typically see a lot about your connection. Your IP address reveals your approximate geographic location. Device metadata follows alongside that, including your browser type, operating system, and unique device identifiers.

According to OpenAI’s privacy policy, the company collects your IP address; device information, including unique identifiers; cookie data; and your location, along with your email address and payment information.

Anthropic does the same. Their policy covers location, connection details, and device usage patterns, especially on the mobile app. Different wording, same result: both companies can see roughly where you are and what you’re using to talk to them.

A VPN helps with some of this. It successfully masks your real IP address from the AI platform and encrypts your traffic so your ISP can’t see that you’re using AI services. However, this is where the protection stops. Once your encrypted tunnel ends at the VPN server, the AI company still sees everything that arrives at their doorstep.

The limits of encryption: What a VPN can’t hide

(Image credit: Getty Images)

This is the critical part many people miss. A VPN protects your data while it travels across the internet, but that protection ends the moment your prompt arrives on OpenAI or Anthropic’s servers. Your message has to be decrypted for the AI to process it.

Once decrypted, your data sits on the AI company’s systems, governed by their policies rather than yours. A VPN does nothing to hide the content of your prompts, any files or images you upload, your account details and conversation history, or your payment information.

The encryption protects the connection between you and their servers, not what happens afterward. No matter how strong the VPN tunnel is, everything you type is fully readable on the other end.

What AIs remember and how to actually stay private

Here’s where things get tricky. Most consumer chatbots keep your conversations on file indefinitely and may use them to train future models. You have to manually adjust settings and delete chats yourself if you want them gone.

For ChatGPT specifically, OpenAI may use your content to improve services unless you opt out. You can navigate to Settings > Data Controls, then toggle off the option to improve the model for everyone. However, even with this disabled, chats may still be stored for safety and legal reasons.

Claude works similarly. Anthropic requires all consumer users to choose whether their chats can be used for training, and the toggle is on by default. If enabled, data can be retained for up to five years, compared to 30 days if you decline.

You can disable the setting anytime in your account preferences or use Incognito mode to keep conversations out of your saved history. Paid business tiers come with stricter privacy agreements by default.

The verdict and privacy-first alternatives

A VPN is a solid first step for network security in that it hides your location from AI providers and keeps your ISP from monitoring your activity. However, it won’t stop AI companies from reading, remembering, and learning from your prompts.

If privacy matters to you, adjust your settings by turning off data training in both ChatGPT and Claude, use ChatGPT’s temporary chats or Claude’s Incognito mode, and avoid sharing sensitive information.

For genuinely private AI interactions, consider Proton AG’s Lumo. Built by the team behind Proton Mail and Proton VPN, it uses zero-access encryption so only you can decrypt saved conversations, keeps no logs on their servers, and doesn’t train on your data unless you opt in. It runs on European infrastructure under GDPR and Swiss privacy laws.

One step further than this is to run open-source models offline with tools like Ollama or LM Studio, keeping everything local so nothing ever leaves your machine.

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Does a VPN protect your privacy when using ChatGPT or Claude? What network encryption can and can’t hide from AI

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