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This phenomenon known as a "planet parade," will feature Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all present at the same time along a line in the night sky on Friday, NASA says.

(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

• Elon Musk's DOGE is a Slack customer, Marc Benioff reveals
• Salesforce CEO says partnership shows closeness to US government
• Salesforce reports another successful financial quarter, with $10bn in quarterly revenues

The major recent cuts to the US government by Elon Musk's DOGE department are being co-ordinated using Slack, the CEO of parent company Salesforce has declared.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff confirmed DOGE is using the company's online collaboration platform to communicate and stay in touch.

“We have a lot to offer the government in terms of giving them opportunities to operate with more efficiency,” Benioff said in an interview held to mark the company's latest financial results. “The DOGE team is using Slack, which is very exciting.”

DOGE and Slack

Benioff, who said he is yet to meet Musk or President Trump, added DOGE offers a chance to “create a more automated and more efficient government over time.”

Salesforce has long been a significant software provider for the US government, with a recent report from the US Government Accountability Office claiming it is responsible for 8.70% of licences.

This is someway behind Microsoft, with 31.30%, but ahead of the likes of Oracle (6.96%), VMware (3.48%) and Cisco (3.48%).

Stephen Ehikian, currently acting administrator of the US General Services Administration, is a former Salesforce executive, and has said he will work closely with DOGE, suggesting further tie-ups could launch soon.

Benioff was speaking as Salesforce announced its results for Q4 2024 and full fiscal year ended January 31, 2025.

The company announced fourth quarter revenues of $10.0 billion, up 8% year on year, for a total FY25 revenues of $37.9 billion, up 9% year on year.

“We had an incredible quarter and year, with strong performance across all our key metrics, including the highest cash flow in our company’s history and more than $60 billion in RPO,” Benioff said in a press release accompanying the results.

“No company is better positioned than Salesforce to lead customers through the digital labor revolution. With our deeply unified platform, seamlessly integrating our Customer 360 apps, Data Cloud and Agentforce, we’re already delivering unprecedented levels of productivity, efficiency and cost savings for thousands of companies.”

Via Bloomberg

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Oscar Wilde once said, "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." Let’s hope that isn’t true when it comes to the Netflix series Zero Day, which has just started airing. This political thriller stars Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett, whose characters lead the investigation and response efforts after a devastating cyberattack causes massive casualties, chaos and hardship across the United States.

Hollywood Taps into Our Fears

While audiences often joke that Hollywood keeps recycling the same storylines, writers have no trouble tapping into the public’s deepest fears. Over the past decade, we’ve seen countless films and TV shows explore unsettling topics like pandemics, EMP attacks and the existential threat of AI. As humans, we fear things that we don’t fully understand but that could pose a threat. That is because uncertainty breeds fear.

It’s only natural, then, that cyberattacks have become the latest fodder for gripping on-screen dramas. Even if the average Netflix viewer isn’t familiar with the technical details of how cyberattacks are carried out, they’re acutely aware of their growing frequency and severity. Millions of Americans have had their data exposed in attacks, and while they may not fully understand what ransomware is, they know it isn’t good.

Could Such an Attack Really Happen?

While the critical reception of Zero Day remains to be seen, one thing is certain: viewers will debate the plausibility of the events unfolding on their screens. Could a devastating attack like that actually happen? It’s technically possible, but the risk is similar to the remote chance of a civilization-ending asteroid strike (a scenario that has itself inspired more than one movie).

Why? Well, while it is one thing to bring down the business operations of a single entity such as Colonial Pipeline, MGM Resorts or Halliburton, executing a coordinated attack on an entire nation's critical infrastructure is an entirely different challenge. There are multiple reasons:

1. A broadscale attack would require a vastly more complex and coordinated effort. Critical infrastructure organizations include everything from power plants to transportation networks to healthcare providers, and these sectors employ different security protocols, procedures and technologies. Therefore, it would be very difficult for attackers to develop a one-size-fits-all approach.

2. Unlike a single organization, national infrastructure is managed by a mix of public and private entities, making it harder to exploit a common vulnerability.

3. Many critical infrastructure systems have built-in redundancies and resilience measures to withstand localized failures or attacks, making it more difficult to cause widespread disruption.

Other Deterrents: Time, Scale and Retaliation

Let's consider possible initiators for such an attack. Today, only the largest cybercriminal groups may have the skills and resources for it. However, they are driven by financial gain. They would see no sense in investing their efforts with seemingly no future benefit while having dozens of proven methods to monetize their activities, from business email compromise to ransomware attacks.

Another possible threat actor, hacktivists driven by social or political agendas, may have enough motivation, but they have no resources for a large-scale coordinated effort spanning multiple years. The Netflix screenplay writers will surely come up with an unexpected twist in the plot, but in reality, it could only be a nation-state cyber operation.

Cyberattacking another nation’s civilian infrastructure is an assault on all its citizens. In today's digital world, such a move would be considered an act of war and spur an intense global manhunt for the perpetrators. While some nation-states eagerly perform espionage and reconnaissance campaigns, the stakes would be too high for any of them to risk the wrath of a superpower with a wealth of responses in their arsenal. The potential for escalation to conventional warfare serves as a powerful deterrent against any large-scale cyberattacks.

Reducing Risk Remains Imperative

Even though the odds of a devastating asteroid collision are remote, NASA still actively works to mitigate the risk through planetary defense initiatives. Similarly, even though a cyberattack like the one depicted in Zero Day is unrealistic, it’s essential for critical infrastructure organizations to continue bolstering their defense and response postures.

Fortunately, governments worldwide are not leaving these organizations to fend for themselves when it comes to cybersecurity. National-level critical infrastructure is now under continuous monitoring by government agencies and specialized security organizations to speed threat detection and response. In the U.S., the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) plays a key role in overseeing cybersecurity efforts and coordinating protections across both public and private sectors, helping to ensure that critical systems are fortified against evolving threats.

In addition, government agencies and critical infrastructure organizations have worked together to establish emergency response teams capable of quickly isolating and neutralizing widespread cyber threats.

The Bottom Line

Hollywood excels at creating TV shows and movies that explore “what if” scenarios, and cybersecurity is a natural topic to inspire writers today. There’s an old adage that “TV holds up a mirror to our society.” In the case of Zero Day, this is only partly true: The show does provide a solid representation of public fear around cyberattacks, but it does not accurately reflect the reality that such a devastating incident is actually highly improbable.

Learn more about cybersecurity with the best online cybersecurity courses.

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

• Invincible season 3's final two episodes could be the show's most brutal entries yet
• Episode 6's mid-credits scene teases why this will be the case
• Long-time Invincible fans will know what to expect from episodes 7 and 8

Invincible season 3's final two episodes are fast approaching, and it appears that its seventh and eighth chapters will be the show's most devastating since the show's season 1 finale.

I'm not being hyperbolic, either. The adult animated series' latest episode, titled 'All I Can Say Is I'm Sorry', is one of the numerous Invincible episodes that have a mid- and/or post-credits scene. But, while many of its siblings' mid- and post-credits scenes have teased calamitous incidents to come, season 3 episode 6's mid-credits stinger hints that two of the graphic novel series' most brutal events will play out before this season ends.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Invincible season 3 and the comic books it's based on.

If Mark thought he already had it bad in season 3, he's seen nothing yet (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

Let's start with episode 6's mid-credits sequence. As Eve consoles Mark for what seems like the umpteenth time this season, the camera pulls back to reveal that the pair are being watched. Indeed, a spherical drone, one that's identical in design to the one that was spying on Mark and his family in season 3 episode 3, is seen hovering at a distance.

That episode already dropped a huge clue that one of Mark's biggest nemeses would return in one of the best Prime Video shows' third season. It's not until 'All I Can Say Is I'm Sorry', though, that the the shock reveal is made: yep, none other than Angstrom Levy is the individual who's been surveilling Mark and his loved ones.

*SPOILERS* #INVINCIBLE #InvincibleSeason3 Angstrom Levy tease at the end of Episode 3! pic.twitter.com/ZHjxMuQOv6February 7, 2025

Non-comic book readers may be stunned that Levy is back from the dead. However, as I discussed in my Invincible season 2 part 2 ending explainer piece, Mark didn't kill him. I mean, that much is obvious now, isn't it?

Anyway, you might be thinking that Levy's return (you'll most likely find out how he survived in season 3 episode 7) spells danger for Mark and all those he holds dear in the Amazon TV Original – and you'd be right. However, they're not the only ones whose lives may be at risk from the cybernetically-enhanced Levy because of the company he now keeps.

*SPOILERS* #INVINCIBLESeason3The Alternate Mark Graysons are finally here! #INVINCIBLE pic.twitter.com/89t5p52jJ9February 27, 2025

After Angstrom rises from the seat of his secret lair, he walks towards a group of individuals who look exactly like Mark Grayson, aka the eponymous superhero. Levy utters the line "this will do" as a wide shot reveals a bunch of multiversal Invincibles.

Invincible devotees, myself included, have known this reveal has been coming. For those who have been introduced to the Invincible franchise via its Prime Video adaptation, though, the signs have been there since season 3 began. Indeed, Invincible's third season has been laying the groundwork for one of the comics' bloodiest battles since its premiere. The evidence for Mark's multiversal variants' arrival? Season 3's new title sequence, which you can remind yourself of in the X/Twitter post above.

So, what's all of this leading to? For one, The Invincible War. You can read more about that cataclysmic event in the article I linked to in the previous paragraph.

"If you choose to oppose me, you will not survive" (Image credit: Image Comics)

That's not all, though. In the immediate aftermath of that potentially world-ending incident that claims the lives of millions, including some of Mark's fellow heroes – now you know why I'm worried for Rex and Rae after that sweet episode 5 scene – an injured and distraught Mark is forced to defend planet Earth from another terrifying and destructive threat. That'll be the monstrous Viltrumite warrior known as Conquest, who's rumored to be voiced by Breaking Bad alumnus Jonathan Banks, i.e. one of nine new actors who were officially announced as part of Invincible season 3's voice cast in January.

I'll refrain from spoiling anything else about The Invincible War and the Mark-Conquest showdown because, for non-graphic novel readers, they're best experienced without knowing what'll happen. One last piece of advice, though: have a box of tissues ready, because you're going to need them.

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• Final ZE3000 SV launch today, for $99.99 / £89.99 (about AU$180)
• New 10mm dynamic drivers with pressure optimization and ANC
• 7-band EQ, gaming mode and multi-point pairing

Underrated audio expert Final Audio has announced a new version of its ZE3000 true wireless earbuds, the Final ZE3000 SV. These aren't just a minor refresh: they've got brand new drivers and active noise cancelling too.

We like Final's headphones a lot, but they're not as well-known as they should be. The Final Audio UX3000 over-ears got the full five stars in our review and so did the affordable wired in-ears, the Final VR500. And we gave the Final ZE8000 MK2 earbuds four and a half stars out of five. So I'm intrigued by these, because they're promising a lot of performance for not very much money.

The new earbuds feature new 10mm drivers, Final's f-Core SV. (Image credit: Final Audio) Final ZE3000 SV: key features and pricing

There are three key new features in these buds. The first is the new f-Core SV drivers, which are 10mm dynamic drivers – a significant increase from the previous 6mm drivers. Final says that the drivers have been designed to fully utilize the acoustic space inside the earbuds "without the need for equalization."

The second new feature is called the f-LINK Port. It's been carefully created to optimize the pressure inside the earbuds while still retaining waterproofing, and Final promises serious bass as a result.

And thirdly there's Comfort ANC, Final's latest version of active noise cancellation. The promise here is effective ANC without that weird pressure feeling you can sometimes get from ANC buds.

There's also a sub-60ms low latency gaming mode, multi-point connectivity and a seven-band equalizer in the companion app. There's support for LDAC hi-res audio up to 96kHz/24-bit, and battery life is a promised seven hours from the buds and 28 including the charging case. That's with ANC on, so is above average.

The new buds will be available from today, February 27, with a price tag of $99.99 / £89.99 / about AU$180 – we look forward to seeing how they compare to the best budget earbuds soon.

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Both sides agreed there would be no Hamas ceremonies for the hostage bodies and in exchange Israel would release the Palestinian detainees and prisoners whose freedom had been held up since Saturday.

(Image credit: Jehad Alshrafi)

Ransomware has been becoming an increasingly common problem in recent years for organizations, regardless of size, sector or location. Indeed, Netwrix’s 2024 Hybrid Security Trends Report revealed that malware attacks like ransomware are one the three most common types of security incidents that organizations experienced in the last year. According to the Information Commissioner’s Office report, in 2023 organizations in Britain reported more data breaches due to ransomware attacks than ever before.

In response to this threat, proposals to make ransomware payments illegal have been gaining traction. For example, earlier this year, Ciaran Martin, ex-CEO of the UK National Cyber Security Centre, called for a ransomware payment ban. The reasoning is that if ransomware payments were illegal, organizations would stop making them, so malicious actors would no longer have an incentive to carry out ransomware attacks.

But is this approach really a viable solution to the scourge of ransomware?

The moral imperative in some ransomware situations

Ransomware is clearly different from cases of physical extortion like kidnapping and hostage situations. But a ransomware attack can still pose a serious danger to human lives. Notably, an attack on critical national infrastructure (CNI), such as hospitals and other healthcare facilities, can put patients’ lives at risk. In June 2024, Synnovis, a blood test provider for major London hospitals, fell victim to a ransomware attack that resulted in cancellation or postponing over 1600 operations and outpatient appointments. In such cases, it’s much harder to say that paying the ransom should be prohibited by law.

Moreover, cybercriminals quickly adapt to changing circumstances. If legal limitations are put into effect, threat actors will likely find ways to overcome them quite swiftly. Ultimately, banning ransom payments could push business leaders into further moral conundrums while under pressure.

The possibility of reduced reporting of ransomware incidents

In July the UK Government announced their intention to introduce mandatory reporting of all ransomware incidents as a part of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. Thus, the Government prioritized transparency of the ransomware incidents over an attempt to completely ban them.

Indeed, a well-executed ransomware attack can potentially hinder the victim’s business operations to the point of near bankruptcy. Under the proposed new regulations, decision-makers would be expected to report the incident and not pay the ransom. But would they take that path, given that their livelihood, and the livelihood of many others within the organization, hang in the balance? Or might some organizations choose to pay the ransom without informing government agencies of the attack?

We have to remember that the latter option is a viable choice, and it has ramifications beyond the organization that makes it. Not reporting the incident reduces visibility in cybercriminals' activity, which in turn affects the ability of law enforcement and software vendors to take appropriate steps in response. Without all the information, addressing the challenge of ransomware will become much more difficult.

The banking industry experience — a better way forward?

Various risks are inherent in the nature of the banking industry, and the sector has developed ways to mitigate them. For example, years ago, the main threat was a physical bank robbery, so banks reduced cash handling and installed security cameras, alarm systems and, finally, time-lock safes. Adopting the right security measures is still essential for banks to keep their licenses today.

Following this example, governments could create cybersecurity benchmarks and make risk mitigation strategies the norm for other high-risk industries like energy, manufacturing and healthcare. With standards in place, organizations would have appropriate guidance for establishing an efficient strategy against the threat of ransomware.

Additionally, law enforcement worldwide has a crucial role to play when it comes to collaborating to take down ransomware networks. The recent dismantling of the ransomware gang LockBit performed by the National Crime Agency, FBI, and international partners from nine other countries proves the effectiveness of such collaboration. Government institutions from all over the world released a cybersecurity advisory that summarized LockBit’s tools and tactics. That work resulted in the group's attack assets being seized, which has made it difficult for them to operate.

Looking ahead: how to combat the threat of ransomware

Ransomware continues to cause significant damage to organizations worldwide, and it is natural for governments to consider legislation that could help reduce the threat. However, denying victim companies the option of paying a ransom to restore their data and operations is not a practical solution. Instead, organizations must prioritize improving their cybersecurity measures, while government departments should increase their vigilance, assistance and investigations.

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

Staying in shape and multitasking at home is easier than ever. Here are my thoughts on under-desk treadmills.

Taiwan said in a 24-hour period it detected 45 aircraft, 14 navy vessels and one ship from the Chinese military operating around Taiwan, of which 34 had crossed into its waters and airspace.

(Image credit: AP)

Trump's accused the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of not meeting democratic conditions for last year's July presidential election as well as of not moving fast enough to transport back immigrants set for deportation.

(Image credit: Matias Delacroix)

Trapped in virtual slavery, many are lured to work in scam centers where they exploit people around the world through false romances, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes.

(Image credit: Thanaphon Wuttison)

US adults are also using VPNs to save money, and access streaming content and banned apps.

The Trump administration is terminating thousands of foreign assistance grants and awards, according to a court filing. The move effectively guts the six-decade-old agency.

(Image credit: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 27.

Asus ROG Pelta: one-minute review

The ROG Pelta is another banger device from Asus’ gaming division. Compatible across most platforms with wired (via USB-C, no 3.5mm in-line sound) and wireless (Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle) connectivity, the Pelta gets the important things right and skips the over-the-top extras.

The headphones, which are a step down in price and features from the flagship ROG Delta II, axe things like an extensive battery life, full-range size adjustment, extra cushioning and excessive RGB (though you’ll still find a programmable, glowing ROG logo on both sides).

Simplifying the things that made the Delta II such an attractive headset into a more affordable unit makes sense when it feels like everything is getting expensive around us. The same microphone and 50mm audio drivers are used between the Delta II and the Pelta, so you’re not missing out on sound and performance, but perhaps you’ll miss the comfort and battery life boasted by the top model.

Moreover, the greater points of adjustment present on the Delta II would have been welcome on the Pelta, as it can be difficult to find that comfort sweet spot when you only have three size options instead of telescopic arms. The microphone will also be tiresome if you’re the type to remove it when it’s not in use, as its plastic exterior needs to align perfectly with that of the headset if it’s to make a successful connection.

Finally, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack for audio between your machine and your headphones (again, unlike the Delta II), so if you want to connect this thing over a wired connection, you’ll need to settle for a USB-C cable. Not a huge issue, but it may be a dealbreaker for some users.

For me, though, I’ve been very satisfied with this headset and its feature set. I’ve enjoyed it for the features it offers, including a useful pause/play button on the side and a slider that toggles between Bluetooth/off/2.4GHz, and I’d happily continue to use it instead of my Logitech G Pro X2 headset.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Asus ROG Pelta: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $129.99 / £124.99 / AU$269
• When is it available? Available now in US/UK, coming soon to Australia
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, Australia and other regions

Coming in at a much lower price point than the ROG Delta II headphones (those were priced at $229 / £219 / AU$369 when they released late last year), the Pelta streamlines a lot of what made the top-end ROG headset so good. In our ROG Delta II review, we criticized the headphones for perhaps being a bit feature light, and the Pelta keeps this up but at a much more attractive cost.

That being said, even the ROG Pelta is in hot competition with more feature-rich rivals, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 ($129.99 / £129.99 / AU$299) and its companion app. The Pelta, though, doesn't give the impression it's losing out on the features front.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Asus ROG Pelta: Specs Asus ROG Pelta: Features

• 50mm titanium-Plated Diaphragm Drivers
• Immersive stereo sound
• Great physical buttons on the left cup

The Pelta recontextualizes the ROG headset offering. The Delta II was already skimping on extras when it was released last year, but the Pelta adapts the Delta II’s impressive upgrades (in particular its titanium drivers) into a much more affordable package.

That means, for the most part, you’re getting the same high-end beast but cheaper. The 20Hz - 20KHz audio frequency response is the same across both units, as is the 100Hz - 10KHz microphone.

I’ll swear by the sound quality and microphone quality of the Pelta. It’s rich, deep and loud, maintaining high-quality sound to its loudest volume and allowing for a lot of customization in ROG’s Armory Crate application. Though heavy bass does suffer compared to a headset like the Logitech G Pro X2.

The 900mAh battery capacity is impressive, offering up to 90 hours with lighting off and 60 hours with it on. Using the headset casually across four weeks, between games and watching TV shows and Twitch streams, I only needed to charge it twice while having the RGB enabled. It’s an acceptable battery life and a welcome downsize from the enormous 1,800mAh battery in the Delta II.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The microphone is removable and can be bent around freely, though I found putting the microphone back into the jack could be a pain if you don’t align it just right, due to its unique triangular shape.

Finally, the buttons present on the headset feel very sensible. A volume wheel is there with a decent amount of travel for your fingertip, alongside a microphone off/on button and, my favorite, a pause/play button. Given I'd been using a keyboard that doesn’t have media controls during my testing period, this has been a fairly useful feature and one that I hope more headsets adopt. The off/on slider is mixed with a connection toggle – the central position selects off, sliding up selects Bluetooth, and down selects 2.4GHz. A soundbite played through the headset will indicate if it’s turning on or off and if it’s connecting to either the dongle or Bluetooth.

Just keep in mind that the ROG Pelta uses a USB-C dongle – in case you don’t have a free USB-C port on your device, this may present itself as an issue.

• Features: 5/5

Asus ROG Pelta: Sound quality

• High-end audio in a cheap unit
• Terrific adjustment options
• Good but not the best deep bass

Carrying over the audio quality from Asus’ top gaming headset, the ROG Pelta doesn’t disappoint where it matters. The standard stereo sound profile is well balanced for all kinds of audio-visual media, which of course includes games, but it’s also fit for music streaming, TV shows and movies. Sound is crystal clear even with the volume cranked to maximum, though bass depth may leave you craving something with a bit more punch.

Asus’ ROG Armory Crate app offers a decent user experience for making sound quality adjustments. For the most part, I set the headset to the ‘communication’ sound profile as it offered the balanced mix I preferred the most (as I switch between a racing, shooting, RPG and sim game quite readily), though I was pretty blown away with the depth of the FPS preset, which made projectiles and explosions in Marvel Rivals really jump out at me. Still, finding the mode that set the best experience across all uses kept me from constantly dipping in and out of Armory Crate, so that’s what I did.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Of course, you don’t merely have to use a preset. There are plenty of sliders to fiddle with so you can tailor the sound to your ears, and there’s also some useful sliders for bass boosting, voice clarity and voice compression.

The microphone quality was a bit middle-of-the-road, but I didn’t expect breathtaking clarity. The much more expensive Logitech G Pro X2 has the same microphone arrangement and produces similar results. You’ll have no problem being understood with this microphone, but it’s certainly not broadcast spec.

On the whole, the headset's sound quality is immersive and had no trouble bringing the worlds of Avowed, Marvel Rivals, Forza Horizon 5, The Headliners and other games to life.

• Sound quality: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Asus ROG Pelta: Design

• Comfortable ear cushions
• Only three points of adjustment
• Microphone can get a bit annoying

I’m content saying that these are extremely comfortable headphones, particularly for long gameplay sessions in the summer. My home doesn’t have air conditioning, and I’ll typically play games at my computer for hours, often leading to discomfort in and around my ears from the sweat and the constant contact. The ROG Pelta headset hasn’t been irritating my skin as much as other headsets have in the past, and I feel like I can play for longer durations with its comfortable cushioning.

Still, design is another area where the Pelta took a noticeable step down from the Delta II. It features slightly lower-end mesh fabric cushioning around the ears (as above, I personally found this fine), along with only three points of size adjustment for the headband as opposed to the telescoped design you’ll find on many other high-end headsets. This means that it can be difficult to find that comfort sweet spot and, unlike telescoping headsets, you’re stuck with the one size you’ve selected unless you go through the (admittedly easy) process of removing and reapplying the headband. This is no dealbreaker and, indeed, the sizing options are far reaching enough to satisfy a good range of users.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The only other thing that irked me on the design front was the microphone. It’s surrounded by a triangular plastic casing and needs to be inserted at the exact angle. It’s not easy if you aren't looking at the port while plugging it in, and it’ll feel firmly inserted even if the jack isn’t making proper contact with the port. This led to some audio technical difficulties on Discord a couple of times, but once you catch it, it’s easy to identify.

The inclusion of a red light on the end of the microphone boom to indicate if you’re muted or not is also a great feature and I appreciated it being there.

• Design: 4/5

Should you buy the Asus ROG Pelta? Buy them if...

You want high-quality sound without the price tag

Sporting the same drivers as the ROG Delta II, you’ll likely be comfortable with the sound achieved by the Pelta.

You’re already in the ROG-o-sphere

For the sake of lowering the amount of peripheral programs on your computer, you may want to skip these if you don’t want Armory Crate.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re an Xbox gamer

Due to the lack of a 3.5mm jack, the Pelta isn’t natively compatible with Xbox consoles.

You’re concerned about it fitting on your head

The three size options may be a bit limiting if you tend to take some time to find the perfect fit for your head.

Also Consider

Asus ROG Delta II

More premium and more expensive, the ROG Delta II might be attractive for its longer battery life, greater comfort and more flashy RGB.

Read our full Asus ROG Delta II review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5

Available at the same price in many markets, the Arctis Nova 5 is considerable for its great battery life, build quality and brilliant companion app.

Read our full Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 review

Razer Barracuda X Chroma

Similar to the ROG Pelta, the Barracuda X Chroma offers top-end audio quality as a more budget-friendly model.

Read our full Razer Barracuda X Chroma review

How I tested the Asus ROG Pelta

• Tested for four weeks
• Used across various Windows PCs
• Mostly used for gaming, also used for watching TV and music streaming

From the moment I received the Asus ROG Pelta for review, I immediately got to work testing them. I used the headset across a mix of Windows devices and my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra phone, but I primarily used them for gaming.

The games I tested the headset with include Marvel Rivals, Avowed, The Headliners, Forza Horizon 5. Across these games, I changed up my audio settings with the ROG Armory Crate app, and used both the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, along with the wired connection. I would play games and watch shows for hours on end with the Pelta headset and often wear them while doing housework and cooking.

• First tested in February 2025

• xAI’s Grok 3 chatbot has added a voice mode with multiple personalities
• One personality is called “unhinged” and will scream and insult you
• Grok also has personalities for NSFW roleplay, crazy conspiracies, and an “Unlicensed Therapist” mode

AI voice assistants are usually polite, informative, and calm when they respond to you. xAI’s Grok 3 has apparently decided to set that strategy on fire, sending it literally screaming into the void.

Grok 3 has multiple voice options, each with a distinct personality, including an “unhinged” option that will yell, insult, and indeed scream at you before shutting down in the right circumstances.

AI developer Riley Goodside showcased just how wild the unhinged voice for Grok 3 can be in a recording where he repeatedly interrupts Grok’s responses. The AI soon becomes frustrated and finally snaps, letting out a disturbingly long, horror-movie-worthy shriek. It then throws in a final insult before cutting the call. A masterpiece of customer service, this is not. You can hear it in the clip below.

Grok 3 Voice Mode, following repeated, interrupting requests to yell louder, lets out an inhuman 30-second scream, insults me, and hangs up pic.twitter.com/5GtdDtpKceFebruary 24, 2025

Voice of the unhinged

The “unhinged” personality is just one of several that Grok’s new voice mode offers. There’s also “Storyteller,” which does exactly what it sounds like; “Conspiracy,” which is really into Sasquatch and alien abductions; and “Unlicensed Therapist,” a personality that apparently failed the exams, possibly over a lack of empathy.

Then there’s “Sexy” mode, which is labeled 18+ and, unlike the voice settings of competitors like ChatGPT, does not shy away from full-on roleplaying NSFW scenarios. So, Grok will scream at you or whisper sweet nothings into your ear, depending on your preference.

It's a vision of AI that may not appeal to everyone. That said, it completely aligns with how CEO Elon Musk described xAI's goals in countering what he claims are overly sanitized and politically correct AI models from companies like OpenAI. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT has a voice feature, it’s still programmed to maintain a neutral, controlled demeanor. Grok, on the other hand, is unpredictable. It doesn’t just let you talk over it; it may react aggressively or emotionally. Not that you'd notice in the official promotions, however.

Try Grok voice conversation mode!Requires a Premium+ or SuperGrok subscription. pic.twitter.com/247Ev60DoJFebruary 24, 2025

Most mainstream AI tools have strict guidelines about content, particularly around "adult" topics. Grok 3 has seemingly been programmed with the opposite philosophy, except for when the company decides the model needs to be "corrected" in claims about the CEO.

Of course, this approach isn’t without controversy. AI personalities like “Unlicensed Therapist” could easily give people misleading or unhelpful advice, while a chatbot that openly encourages conspiracy theories seems like it could go off the rails quickly. And the “Sexy” mode? Well, that’s another ethical discussion that few would expect to have regarding mainstream AI tools. There’s also the question of how much of this is genuinely useful versus just pure spectacle. Very loud spectacle.

You might also like

• Elon Musk says Grok 2 is going open source as he rolls out Grok 3 for Premium+ X subscribers only
• Grok steps out to mobile with new standalone iOS app
• Grok-2 arrives on X with AI image creation, precious few guardrails, and lots of questions

As you celebrate Pokemon Day this year you might want to catch 'em all, enter a multiplayer online battle arena or solve an engrossing mystery. Whatever you want to play -- the Pokemon series has you covered.

Apple didn't include every bell and whistle, but the company wisely incorporated many of the best ones

Apple iPhone 16e: Two-Minute Review

The iPhone 16e is a good phone. It has a pleasing design, and it feels like a true member of the iPhone 16 family. It is not a great phone, though – how could it be with a retro notch in the Super Retina XDR display and just a single 48MP camera?

There are 'budget' phones that cost far less and which have larger screens and multiple rear cameras. They're not iOS handsets, and that counts for something – any new iPhone joins an expansive and well-designed ecosystem offering connective tissue between excellent Apple services and other Apple hardware. I mostly live in that world now, and I appreciate how well my iPhone 16 Pro Max works with, for instance, my Mac, and how all my cloud-connected services know it's me on the line.

It's been a while since I've had such conflicting feelings about an iPhone. I appreciate that Apple thought it was time to move away from the iPhone SE design language, one that owed most of its look and feel to 2017's iPhone 8. I'm sure Apple couldn't wait to do away with the Lightning port and the Home button with Touch ID (which lives on in Macs and some iPads). But instead of giving us something fresh, Apple took a bit of this and a bit of that to cobble together the iPhone 16e.

The display is almost the best Apple has to offer if you can ignore the notch, aren't bothered by larger bezels, and don't miss the Dynamic Island too much. The main 48MP Fusion camera is very good and shoots high-quality stills and videos, but don't be fooled by the claims of 2x zoom, which is actually a 12MP crop on the middle of the 48MP sensor. I worry that people paying $599 / £599 / AU$999 for this phone will be a little frustrated that they're not at least getting a dedicated ultra-wide camera at that price.

Conversely, there is one bit of this iPhone 16e that's not only new but is, for the moment, unique among iPhone 16 devices: the C1 chip. I don't know why Apple's cheapest iPhone got this brand-new bit of Apple silicon, but it does a good job of delivering 5G and even satellite connectivity. Plus, it starts moving Apple out from under the yolk of Qualcomm, Apple's cellular modem chip frenemy. That relationship has been fraught for years, and I wonder if Apple had originally hoped to put the C1 in all iPhone 16 models but the development schedule slipped.

The iPhone 16e (center) with the iPhone 16 (right) and iPhone SE 3 (left). (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

In any case, while it's hard to measure the connectivity benefits (it's another good 5G modem), Apple says this is the most efficient cellular modem it's ever put in an iPhone (that seems like a swipe at Qualcomm), and helps to deliver stellar battery life: a claimed 26 hours of video streaming. Battery life in real-world use will, naturally, be a different story.

On balance, I like this phone's performance (courtesy of the A18 chip and 8GB of RAM), its looks, and how it feels in the hand (a matte glass back and Ceramic Shield front), and I think iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence is well-thought-out and increasingly intelligent (though Siri remains a bit of a disappointment); but if you're shopping for a sub-$600 phone, there may be other even better choices from the likes of Google (Pixel 8a), OnePlus (OnePlus 13R) and the anticipated Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. You just have to be willing to leave the Apple bubble.

Apple iPhone 16e: Price and availability

Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e on February 19, 2025. It joins the iPhone 16 lineup, and starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999 with 128GB of storage, making it the most affordable smartphone of the bunch. It's available in black or white.

While some might consider the iPhone 16e to be the successor to the iPhone SE 3, it has little in common with that device. In particular, that was a $429 phone. At $599, Apple might be stretching the definition of budget, but it is $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16. The phone's price compares somewhat less favorably outside the iOS sphere. The OnePlus 13R for instance is a 6.7-inch handset with three cameras, and the Google Pixel 8a matches the iPhone 16e's 6.1-inch screen size (though at a lower resolution), but also includes two rear cameras.

You won't find more affordable new phones in the iOS space. The iPhone 15 has the main and ultra-wide camera and the Dynamic Island, but it costs $699 / £699 / AU$1,249. A refurbished iPhone 14 costs $529, but neither it nor the iPhone 15 supports Apple Intelligence.

• Value score: 4/5

Apple iPhone 16: Specs Apple iPhone 16e: Design

• No trace of the iPhone SE design remains
• Hybrid iPhone 14/15 design
• Sharper edges than the current iPhone 16 design

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There's no question that the iPhone 16e is a part of the iPhone 16 family. At a glance, especially when the screen is off, it's almost a dead ringer for the base model; the aerospace aluminum fame is only slightly smaller.

Upon closer examination, those similarities recede, and I can see the myriad differences that make this a true hybrid design. This is now the only iPhone with a single camera, which almost looks a little lonely on the matte glass back. The edges of the metal band that wraps around the body are noticeably sharper than those of any other iPhone 16, but the phone still feels good in the hand.

The button configuration is essentially what you'd find on an iPhone 15. There's the power / sleep / Siri button on the right, and on the left are the two volume buttons and the Action button. Unlike the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup the 16e doesn't get the Camera Control, but at least the Action button is configurable, so you can set it to activate the camera or toggle the Flashlight, Silent Mode, Voice Memo, and more. I set mine to launch Visual Intelligence, an Apple Intelligence feature: you press and hold the Action button once to open it, and press again to grab a photo, and then you can select on-screen if you want ChatGPT or Google Search to handle the query. Apple Intelligence can also analyze the image directly and identify the subject.

The phone is iP68 rated to handle water and dust, including a dunk in six meters of water for 30 minutes. The screen is protected with a Ceramic Shield to better protect it from drops, though I'm not sure it does much to prevent scratches.

I put a case on the phone, never dropped it, and handled it gingerly, and yet within a day I noticed a long scratch on the screen, although I have no recollection of brushing the display against anything. I had a similar situation with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra; I await the phone that can handle life in my pocket (empty other than the phone) without sustaining a scratch.

Overall, if you like the looks of the iPhone 16 lineup (or even the iPhone 14 and 15 lineups) the iPhone 16e will not disappoint.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Display

• Almost Apple's best smartphone display
• The notch is back
• The bezels are a little bigger

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If you're coming from the iPhone SE to the iPhone 16E, you're in for quite a shock. This 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen is nothing like the 4.7-inch LCD display on that now-retired design.

The iPhone 16e features a lovely edge-to-edge design – with slightly larger bezels than you'll find on other iPhone 16 phones – that leaves no room for the dearly departed Touch ID Home button. Instead, this phone adopts the Face ID biometric security, which is, as far as I'm concerned, probably the best smartphone face recognition in the business. Face ID lives in the TrueDepth camera system notch, which also accommodates, among other things, the 12MP front-facing camera, microphone, and proximity sensor.

While I never had a big problem with the notch, I can't say I'm thrilled to see it return here. The rest of the iPhone 16 lineup features the versatile Dynamic Island, which I think most would agree is preferable to this cutout.

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The iPhone 16e shares the iPhone 16's 460ppi resolution, but it does lose a few pixels (2532 x 1170 versus 2556 x 1179 for the iPhone 16). It still supports True Tone, Wide color (P3), and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The only area where it loses a bit of oomph is on the brightness front. Peak brightness for HDR content is 1,200 nits, and all other content is 800nits. The iPhone 16's peak outdoor brightness is 2,000 nits. As with other non-pro models, the refresh rate on the iPhone 16e sits at a fixed 60Hz.

Even so, I had no trouble viewing the iPhone 16e screen in a wide variety of lighting situations, and any shortcomings are only evident in the brightest, direct sunlight.

In day-to-day use, everything from photos and video to AAA games, apps, and websites looks great on this display. Colors are bright and punchy, and the blacks are inky. I'm not distracted by the notch on games, where it can cut a bit into the gameplay view, and most video streaming defaults to a letterbox format that steers clear of it, with black bars on the left and right sides of the screen.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Software and Apple Intelligence

• iOS 18 is a rich and well-thought-out platform
• Apple Intelligence has some impressive features, but we await the Siri of our dreams
• Mail and photo redesigns leave something to be desired

iOS 18 is now smarter, more proactive, and more customizable than ever before. I can transform every app icon from 'Light' to 'Tinted' (monochromatic), fill my home screen with widgets, and expand them until they almost fill the screen. This customizability carries through to the Control Center, which is now a multi-page affair that I can leave alone, or completely reorganize so the tools I care about are available with a quick swipe down from the upper-right corner.

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Apple Intelligence, which Apple unveiled last June, is growing in prominence and utility. It lives across apps like Messages and Email in Writing Tools, which is a bit buried so I often forget it exists. It's in notification summaries that can be useful for at-a-glance action but which are sometimes a bit confusing, and in image-generation tools like Image Playground and Genmojis.

It's also in Visual intelligence, which, as have it set up, gives me one-button access to ChatGPT and Google Search.

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Apple Intelligence Clean Up does an excellent job of removing those big lights (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)Image 2 of 2

See? (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

I think I prefer the more utilitarian features of Apple Intelligence. like Clean Up and Audio Mix. The former lets you quickly remove people and objects from photos as if they were never there in the first place. Audio Mix is a powerful way to clean up the messiest audio to make it usable in social media, podcasts, or just for sharing with friends.

iOS 18 also features updated Photos and Mail apps with Apple Intelligence. I've struggled a bit with how Photos reorganized my images, and I've had similar issues with how Mail is now reorganizing my emails. I hope Apple takes another run at these apps in iOS 19.

Siri is smarter and more aware of iPhone features than before. It can handle my vocal missteps, and still knows what I want, but remains mostly unaware of my on-device information, and feels far less conversational and powerful as a chatbot than Google Gemini and ChatGPT.

• Software score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Camera

• 48MP Fusion is a good camera
• The front-facing camera shines as well
• A single rear camera at this price is disappointing

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

With a more powerful CPU, a bigger screen, and the new C1 chip, I can almost understand why Apple set the iPhone 16e price as high as it did. Almost… until I consider the single, rear 48MP Fusion camera. Most smartphones in this price range feature at least two lenses, and usually the second one is an ultra-wide – without that lens you miss out on not only dramatic ultra-wide shots but also macro photography capabilities. Had Apple priced this camera at $499, I might understand.

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Still, I like this camera. It defaults to shooting in 24MP, which is a bin of the 48MP available on the sensor (two pixels for each single image pixel to double the image information). There's a 2x zoom option, which is useful, but it's only shooting at 12MP because it's only using the central 12 megapixels from the full 48MP frame. These images are still good, but just not the same resolution as the default or what you could get shooting full-frame.

Overall, the camera shoots lovely photos with exquisite detail and the kind of color fidelity I appreciate (in people and skies especially) in a wide variety of scenarios. I captured excellent still lifes, portraits, and night-mode shots. I was also impressed with the front camera, which is especially good for portrait-mode selfies. Much of this image quality is thanks to the work Apple has done on its Photonic Engine. Apple's computational image pipeline pulls out extraordinary detail and nuance in most photographic situations, even if it is for just these two cameras.

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• Camera score: 4 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Performance

• The A18 is an excellent and powerful CPU
• It's ready for Apple Intelligence
• C1, Apple's first cellular modem, is effective for 5G and satellite connectivity

If you're wondering why the successor to the iPhone SE is not a $429 smartphone, you might look at the processing combo of the powerful A18 and the new C1.

The A18 is the same chip you'll find in the iPhone 16, with the exception of one fewer GPU core. I promise you'll never notice the difference.

Performance scores are excellent, and in line with the numbers we got for other A18 chips (and slightly lower than what you get from the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max).

The A18 has more than enough power not just for day-to-day tasks like email and web browsing, but for 4K video editing (which I did in CapCut) and AAA gaming (game mode turns on automatically to divert more resources toward gaming). I played Asphalt 9 United, Resident Evil 4, and Call of Duty Mobile, and made things easier for myself by connecting my Xbox controller. My only criticism would be that a 6.1-inch screen is a little tight for these games. The audio from the stereo speakers, by the way, is excellent – I get an impressive spatial audio experience with Resident Evil 4.

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There's also the new C1 chip, which is notable because it's Apple's first custom cellular mobile chip. Previously Apple relied on, among other partners, Qualcomm for this silicon. I didn't notice any difference in connectivity with the new chip, which is a good thing – and I was impressed that I could use text via satellite.

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I didn't think I'd get to test this feature, but AT&T connectivity is so bad in my New York neighborhood that the SOS icon appeared at the top of my iPhone 16e screen, and next to it I noticed the satellite icon. I opened messages, and the phone asked if I wanted to use the Satellite texting feature. I held the phone near my screen door to get a clear view of the sky, and followed the on-display guide that told me which way to point the phone. I got a 'Connected' notification, and then sent a few SMS texts over satellite. It's a nifty feature, and it was a nice little test of the C1's capabilities.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Battery

• Long lasting
• Wireless charging
• No MagSafe

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

It's clear that Apple has prioritized battery life on the iPhone 16e over some other features. That would likely explain, for instance, why we have wireless charging but not MagSafe support – adding that magnetic ring might have eaten into battery space. The C1 chip is apparently smaller than the modem chip in other iPhone 16 models, and even the decision to include one camera instead of two probably helped make room for what is a larger battery than even the one in the iPhone 16.

Apple rates the iPhone 16e for 26 hours of video-rundown battery life – that's about four hours more than the iPhone 16. In my real-world testing the battery life has been very good, but varied use can run the battery down in far fewer than 26 hours.

On one day when I did everything from email and web browsing to social media consumption and then a lot of gaming, battery life was about 12 hours – gaming in particular really chewed through the battery and made the phone pretty warm.

My own video rundown test (I played through episodes of Better Call Saul on Netflix) returned about 24 hours of battery life.

I used a 65W USB-C charger to charge the phone to 57% in 30 minutes, with a full charge taking about one hour and 50 minutes. I also tried a 20W charger, which charged the phone to 50% in 30 minutes.

• Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Apple iPhone 16e? iPhone 16e score card Buy it if..

You want an affordable, smaller iPhone

This is now your only brand-new 'budget' iPhone choice.

You want sub-$600 access to Apple Intelligence

Apple squeezed a A18 chip inside this affordable iPhone to give you access to Apple's own brand of AI.

Don’t buy it if...

You're a photographer

A single, albeit excellent, rear lens won't be enough for people who like to shoot wide-angle and macros.

You never liked the notch

Apple bringing back a none-too-loved display feature doesn't make a lot of sense. If you want the Dynamic Island at a more affordable price than the iPhone 16, take a look at the iPhone 15.

You want a real zoom lens

The 2x zoom on the iPhone 16e is not a true optical zoom; instead, it's a full-frame sensor crop. If a big optical zoom is your thing, look elsewhere.

Apple iPhone 16: Also consider

iPhone 15

For $100 more you get two cameras, the Dynamic Island, and the Camera Control.

Read TechRadar's iPhone 15 review.

Google Pixel 8a

As soon as you step outside the Apple ecosystem you'll find more affordable phones with more features. The Pixel 8a is not as powerful as the iPhone 16e, but it has a nice build, two cameras, excellent Google services integration, and affordable access to Gemini AI features.

Read TechRadar's Google Pixel 8a review.

Apple iPhone 16: How I tested

I've reviewed countless smartphones ranging from the most affordable models to flagships and foldables. I put every phone through as many rigorous tests and everyday tasks as possible.

I had the iPhone 16e for just under a week, and after receiving it I immediately started taking photos, running benchmarks, and using it as an everyday device for photos, videos, email, social media, messaging, streaming video, and gaming.

First reviewed February 26, 2025

Apple’s latest $599 iPhone isn’t the best bang for your buck.