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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, March 15 (game #1146).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 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 #1147) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1147) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1147) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do 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 #1147) - 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 #1147) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• R

• E

• B

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

Quordle today (game #1147) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1147, are…

• INPUT
• RUMBA
• ELUDE
• BLANK

After back-to-back losses I was happy to complete today’s Quordle, but it was far from straightforward – or quick, as it took me ages to think of words containing U, A and R. Thankfully, guessing MURAL narrowed things down sufficiently.

Woo-hoo, back in the game!

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1147) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1147, are…

• MUMMY
• EXERT
• SCION
• TRIAD

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE
• Quordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBE
• Quordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORT
• Quordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF
• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR
• Quordle #1131, Friday 28 February: PASTA, RAZOR, PLUMB, DROOL
• Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME
• Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER
• Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR
• Quordle #1127, Monday 24 February: LEASH, LEVER, TOTEM, CREME

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, March 15 (game #1146).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 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 #1147) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1147) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1147) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do 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 #1147) - 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 #1147) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• R

• E

• B

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

Quordle today (game #1147) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1147, are…

• INPUT
• RUMBA
• ELUDE
• BLANK

After back-to-back losses I was happy to complete today’s Quordle, but it was far from straightforward – or quick, as it took me ages to think of words containing U, A and R. Thankfully, guessing MURAL narrowed things down sufficiently.

Woo-hoo, back in the game!

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1147) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1147, are…

• MUMMY
• EXERT
• SCION
• TRIAD

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE
• Quordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBE
• Quordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORT
• Quordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF
• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR
• Quordle #1131, Friday 28 February: PASTA, RAZOR, PLUMB, DROOL
• Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME
• Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER
• Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR
• Quordle #1127, Monday 24 February: LEASH, LEVER, TOTEM, CREME

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, March 15 (game #377).

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 #378) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Drive to survive

NYT Strands today (game #378) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SPENT
• MILE
• TIME
• QUINT
• CART 
• LIFE

NYT Strands today (game #378) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #378) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #378) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #378, are…

• RACE
• QUALIFYING
• PITS
• PODIUM
• PRACTICE
• SPRINT
• SPANGRAM: FORMULA ONE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Today’s search was all about the many components of a FORMULA ONE event and rather like a Grand Prix circuit it was very quick, very dull and very straight, with hardly any twists and turns.

FORMULA ONE has many things going for it. It’s one of few truly global sporting events, traveling from city to city across continents each week, like an upscale traveling circus – truly the Bond movie of sports.

There are also plenty of elements to enjoy beyond the racing: the high-end technology, the team tactics (how quickly you can take off the tires and put them on again), the glamor and the rivalries (Max Verstappen vs everyone else).

Sadly, though, I can’t watch it because of the annoying noise of the cars. I’d prefer less of the 20-house-flies-trapped-in-a-jam-jar sensation and I’d also prefer it if it reflected real driving, rather than PlayStation driving. Maybe I could suggest a top speed of 20 miles an hour, the occasional speed bump to slow everyone down and stop lights every 400 yards. [Editor's note: Johnny is entirely wrong in his assessment of F1, but I will let it slide]

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 15 March, game #377)

• NOTEBOOK
• LANYARD
• TOTE
• DECAL
• SHIRT
• BOTTLE
• PENCIL
• SPANGRAM: SWAG BAG

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.

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, March 15 (game #377).

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 #378) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Drive to survive

NYT Strands today (game #378) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SPENT
• MILE
• TIME
• QUINT
• CART 
• LIFE

NYT Strands today (game #378) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #378) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #378) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #378, are…

• RACE
• QUALIFYING
• PITS
• PODIUM
• PRACTICE
• SPRINT
• SPANGRAM: FORMULA ONE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Today’s search was all about the many components of a FORMULA ONE event and rather like a Grand Prix circuit it was very quick, very dull and very straight, with hardly any twists and turns.

FORMULA ONE has many things going for it. It’s one of few truly global sporting events, traveling from city to city across continents each week, like an upscale traveling circus – truly the Bond movie of sports.

There are also plenty of elements to enjoy beyond the racing: the high-end technology, the team tactics (how quickly you can take off the tires and put them on again), the glamor and the rivalries (Max Verstappen vs everyone else).

Sadly, though, I can’t watch it because of the annoying noise of the cars. I’d prefer less of the 20-house-flies-trapped-in-a-jam-jar sensation and I’d also prefer it if it reflected real driving, rather than PlayStation driving. Maybe I could suggest a top speed of 20 miles an hour, the occasional speed bump to slow everyone down and stop lights every 400 yards. [Editor's note: Johnny is entirely wrong in his assessment of F1, but I will let it slide]

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 15 March, game #377)

• NOTEBOOK
• LANYARD
• TOTE
• DECAL
• SHIRT
• BOTTLE
• PENCIL
• SPANGRAM: SWAG BAG

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.

• Japan’s Gachapon machines now offer detailed miniature rack server collectibles
• Each 1/12 scale server model replicates real brands like Cisco, Dell and A10
• They feature tiny cables, ports, fans, and stackable racks, but they're only toys

If you live in the United States or the UK, you’re probably familiar with vending machines in grocery stores and shopping malls that dispense tiny toys or collectibles in plastic capsules. You insert your money, turn the handle, and out pops a prize, typically something like bouncy balls, fidget toys, collectible characters, and so on.

Japan offers something similar, but with genuinely desirable products that are of far better quality. Gachapon machines are a part of everyday life there and can be found everywhere, including train stations, shopping centers, arcades, and even on the sidewalk. The name Gachapon comes from two Japanese sounds: “gacha,” the cranking of the machine’s handle, and “pon,” the sound the capsule makes when it drops.

These machines offer an enormous range of themed products. As you’d expect from Japan, they include everything from the cute and quirky to the oddly specific or completely bizarre, including tiny versions of animals, people, food, or characters from anime and manga. MiniMachines recently spotted Gachapon machines (via @Kalleboo) dispensing miniature rack servers.

Just like the real thing

The rack servers don’t serve any practical purpose - you can’t actually use them, so banish any ideas you might have of creating a shoebox-sized data center - but the attention to detail is remarkable.

Made for collectors "aged 15 and up", each “Palm-Sized Network Device” is just 105mm tall and built to a 1/12 scale. The server blades are only a few millimeters thick and are modeled after real products from Dell, Cisco, A10 Networks, Furukawa Electric, and Fortinet. You can build them, take them apart, and connect the different elements. Ethernet ports, cables, rack-mount cooling systems, power strips, logos, vents, and other details are all meticulously replicated.

If you happen to be in Japan and you’re lucky enough to find a Gachapon machine offering these, you can get the tiny rack server of your dreams for 500 yen each (about $3.50). Keep an eye on eBay too though as Gachapon collections do get sold there, but you’ll pay a premium.

They may not do anything, but for IT enthusiasts or anyone who loves oddly specific, incredibly detailed miniatures, they’re weirdly tempting. I’m not much of a collector personally, but these might just change that.

(Image credit: Karl Baron) You might also like

• This is how small businesses can choose the right server
• This has to be one of the weirdest PCIe cards ever sold
• Someone turned a $10 discarded monitor into a transparent LCD screen

• Japan’s Gachapon machines now offer detailed miniature rack server collectibles
• Each 1/12 scale server model replicates real brands like Cisco, Dell and A10
• They feature tiny cables, ports, fans, and stackable racks, but they're only toys

If you live in the United States or the UK, you’re probably familiar with vending machines in grocery stores and shopping malls that dispense tiny toys or collectibles in plastic capsules. You insert your money, turn the handle, and out pops a prize, typically something like bouncy balls, fidget toys, collectible characters, and so on.

Japan offers something similar, but with genuinely desirable products that are of far better quality. Gachapon machines are a part of everyday life there and can be found everywhere, including train stations, shopping centers, arcades, and even on the sidewalk. The name Gachapon comes from two Japanese sounds: “gacha,” the cranking of the machine’s handle, and “pon,” the sound the capsule makes when it drops.

These machines offer an enormous range of themed products. As you’d expect from Japan, they include everything from the cute and quirky to the oddly specific or completely bizarre, including tiny versions of animals, people, food, or characters from anime and manga. MiniMachines recently spotted Gachapon machines (via @Kalleboo) dispensing miniature rack servers.

Just like the real thing

The rack servers don’t serve any practical purpose - you can’t actually use them, so banish any ideas you might have of creating a shoebox-sized data center - but the attention to detail is remarkable.

Made for collectors "aged 15 and up", each “Palm-Sized Network Device” is just 105mm tall and built to a 1/12 scale. The server blades are only a few millimeters thick and are modeled after real products from Dell, Cisco, A10 Networks, Furukawa Electric, and Fortinet. You can build them, take them apart, and connect the different elements. Ethernet ports, cables, rack-mount cooling systems, power strips, logos, vents, and other details are all meticulously replicated.

If you happen to be in Japan and you’re lucky enough to find a Gachapon machine offering these, you can get the tiny rack server of your dreams for 500 yen each (about $3.50). Keep an eye on eBay too though as Gachapon collections do get sold there, but you’ll pay a premium.

They may not do anything, but for IT enthusiasts or anyone who loves oddly specific, incredibly detailed miniatures, they’re weirdly tempting. I’m not much of a collector personally, but these might just change that.

(Image credit: Karl Baron) You might also like

• This is how small businesses can choose the right server
• This has to be one of the weirdest PCIe cards ever sold
• Someone turned a $10 discarded monitor into a transparent LCD screen

Invincible season 4: key information

- In development for Prime Video
- No release date announced
- Co-creator wants new seasons to air annually
- No footage or trailers released so far
- Most of its ensemble cast expected to return
- Comic book namesake teases what to expect from a story standpoint
- Season 5 hasn't been greenlit yet

Invincible season 4 is on the way, but it'll be a while before the critically acclaimed show's next installment makes its debut on Prime Video.

With the Amazon TV series' third season only ending on March 13, you and I have a long wait on our hands for its follow-up. To pass the time, then, let's talk about what you can expect from Invincible's fourth season, including its likely cast and plot details, and speculate on its possible release date.

Full spoilers follow for Invincible season 3 and the graphic novel series it's based on. Proceed with caution if you're actively avoiding them ahead of the show's return.

Invincible season 4 release date: what we know

Good news, there will be MORE [slam to Invincible title card] pic.twitter.com/E6fY3qvfADJuly 26, 2024

Invincible was renewed for a fourth season last July. Indeed, it was one of nine huge announcements that excited us most at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

Work is well underway, too. Chatting to Collider, J.K. Simmons, who voices Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man, revealed he'd already recorded lines for Invincible season 4. As for when it might be released, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of the Invincible TV adaptation and comic book, indicated (via The Direct) that he'd like new seasons to air annually.

Depending on how much work has been completed on season 4, that means it could arrive sometime in 2026. That's a lofty goal for any kind of animated show, though, which typically take two to three years to make. I'm all for a 2026 release window but, if its crew is forced to crunch to get season 4 finished for next year, I'd be happy to wait until 2027 and let them make it as good as possible.

Is there a trailer for Invincible season 4?

Staring at your computer or phone screen waiting for that season 4 trailer to drop like... (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

No. There won't be an Invincible season 4 trailer for a long time, either. Once one is released, I'll update this section.

Invincible season 4 cast: confirmed and rumored

Oliver and Mark are all but certain to return for season 4 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Full spoilers follow for Invincible's third season.

There's no official word on who'll be back for Invincible season 4. Based on its predecessor's ending, though here's who I expect to see (or, rather, hear) again:

• Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson/Invincible
• J.K. Simmons as Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man
• Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson
• Gillian Jacobs as Samantha Eve Wilkins/Atom Eve
• Walton Goggins as Cecil Stedman
• Chris Diamantopoulos as Donald Ferguson and Isotope
• Seth Rogen as Allen the Alien
• Christian Convery as Oliver Grayson/Kid-Omni-Man
• Ross Marquand as Rudy 'Rex' Connors and The Immortal
• Zachary Quinto as Robot
• Malese Jow as Kate Chas/Dupli-Kate
• Grey Griffin as Amanda, Betsy Wilkins, and Shrinking Rae
• Kevin Michael Richardson as Monster Girl
• Khary Payton as Markus Grimshaw/Black Sansom
• Jay Pharoah as Zandale Randolph/Bulletproof
• Ben Schwartz as The Shapesmith and Rus Livingston
• Andrew Rannells as William Clockwell
• Luke Macfarlane as Rick Sheridan
• Calista Flockhart as April Howsam
• Sterling K. Brown as Angstrom Levy
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Conquest
• Mark Hamill as Art Rosenbaum
• Eric Bauza as D.A. Sinclair
• Clancy Brown as Damien Darkblood, General Kregg, and Ka-Hor
• Peter Cullen as Thaedus
• Tatiana Maslany as Telia
• Shantel van Shanten as Anissa
• Tzi Mas as Mister Liu
• Todd Williams as Titan
• Jeffrey Donovan as Machine Head
• Simu Liu as Paul Cha/Multi-Paul
• Aaron Paul as Scott Duvall/Powerplex
• Jonathan Banks as Brit
• Michael Dorn as Battle Beast
• Cliff Curtis as Paul
• Zazie Beets as Amber
• Fred Tatasciore as Adam Wilkins
• Doug Bradley as The Technician
• Bruce Campbell as Damien Darkblood's demonic superior

That's an absolutely stacked voice cast, but there'll be many more characters to meet in season 4. Among that number are Dinosaurus, Grand Regent Thragg, Space Racer, and Universa, who are all introduced in the next 12 to 15 issues of the comics.

Meanwhile, Tech Jacket, who made his silent debut in Invincible season 3 episode 7 and will play a big role moving forward, will also require a voice actor. And with Oliver continuing to grow at an accelerated rate, it's possible Convery may be replaced by an adult voice actor, too. There are plenty of opportunities, then, to add more big-name stars to the series' huge ensemble. I wonder if Bryan Cranston will finally stop saying no to Kirkman's requests to play someone...

Rex Splode was one of last season's casualties (Image credit: Prime Video)

There are a few characters – and voice actors – who won't return for season 4.

Jason Mantzoukas' time as Rex Sloan/Rex Splode is over following his character's death in last season's seventh episode, aka the one with the brutal Invincible War that was first teased in season 3 episode 1 and then all but revealed in the post-credits scene of season 3's sixth episode. Darkwing II also seemingly perished in that battle, so Cleveland Berto isn't likely to be back in the recording booth.

Richardson's time as The Mauler Twins is similarly over after they were killed by Oliver Grayson in season 3 episode 3. He'll be back to voice Monster Girl, though, so at least he's not been fully dropped from the cast roster.

Invincible season 4 story speculation

Invincible season 4 will continue to send its titular hero down a dark path (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Huge spoilers follow for Invincible season 3's finale and Image Comics' graphic novel series.

Invincible season 4 doesn't have an official story synopsis yet. However, you can remind yourself what happened in its forebear's final episode in my Invincible season 3 ending explained piece.

That article doesn't reveal everything that happened after Mark Grayson defeated Conquest (with more than a little help from Atom Eve, FYI), though. If you want some clues about where things will go next, I'll provide some details after the image below. So, skip to the next section if you haven't read the comics and don't want any big plot beats ruined ahead of season 4's release.

The Sequids storyline should reach its conclusion early on in season 4 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

One of the first big storylines that season 4 should cover revolves around the sequids. The parasitic lifeforms made their animated debut in season 1 episode 4 and have been a regular thorn in Mark's side ever since.

With the alien race making their way to Earth in season 2 part 2's finale – read my Invincible season 2 part 2 ending explained article for more on how they did so – they pose a huge threat to Earth's human population. Expect this to be the first big test for Mark and his fellow heroes post-Conquest.

That won't be the only problem Mark has to contend with. Despite being shown Conquest's corpse after Mark seemingly killed him in season 3 episode 8, the second-most powerful Viltrumite warrior is still alive. He's being kept in a secure and secret Global Defence Agency (GDA) location miles beneath the Earth's surface. The reason? Once Conquest wakes up from his coma, Cecil wants information on the Viltrum Empire and how it can be defeated. I can't see that going badly for Cecil and company...

Conquest will return – and he'll have reinforcements next time around (Image credit: Prime Video)

So, yes, Conquest will return, but I won't reveal when or what awaits Mark when he does. Let's just say if Mark was mad that Cecil lied to him over D.A. Sinclair's reformation and continuing work on the ReAnimen, he's going to be apoplectic when he learns Conquest isn't dead.

Moving away from the titular superhero, Invincible season 4 will let us spend more time with everyone's favorite interracial bromance: Allen the Alien and Nolan Grayson. The pair didn't have much screen time in seasons 2 and 3, but that'll change next time around. Indeed, they'll have much more prominent roles as they attempt to track down allies and weapons to help them and the Coalition of Planets (CoP) in their upcoming fight against the Viltrum Empire.

Allen and Nolan Grayson should get more screen time next season (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

They'll need all the help they can get, too, because season 4 is likely to end with another conflict – larger and more devastating than the Invincible War – between the CoP and Viltrumites. Again, no huge spoilers here, but you best prepare yourself for an almighty showdown.

There'll be lots of other subplots to be resolved and new ones to be introduced in season 4 as well. There's going to be more melodrama for Mark and Eve to deal with, the return of villains the pair and Earth's other heroes will have to tackle, Immortal and Dupli-Kate settling down to start a family, another reboot of the Guardians of the Globe's line-up, and so much more.

Damien Darkblood is part of a completely new storyline in Invincible's TV adaptation (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

As for new plot points that are exclusive to Amazon's adult animated adaptation, we already know there'll be one of those in Invincible season 4. It'll be centered on Damien Darkblood, the demon detective who was banished from Earth by Cecil midway through the show's first season.

That's where his story ends in the source material, but the Invincible season 3 finale confirms Darkblood will be back in some capacity next season. Nobody knows how it'll factor into the overarching narrative, but it's nevertheless pleasing to see Kirkman expand on his literary works where he can.

Where can I watch seasons 1 to 3 of Invincible?

Let Atom Eve be your guide to finding out where you can stream Invincible seasons 1 through 3 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

The only place you can stream Invincible is on Prime Video. After all, it's an Amazon TV Original, so you won't find it on any other of the world's best streaming services.

All three seasons of one of the best Prime Video shows are available to watch in full on the platform now, too. If you don't have an Amazon Prime account but want to sign up for one, use the widget below to see how much it'll cost in your world region first.

Will Invincible return for a fifth season on Prime Video?

Don't be surprised if Mark and Oliver are forced to endure more bloody battles post-season 4 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Invincible season 5 hasn't been announced yet. It probably won't be until work has ended on the series' fourth chapter, either.

Responding to a question from The Direct about his future plans for the show, Kirkman said the entire team's focus was on ensuring season 4 is as good as it can be. In short: any talk on a fifth season and one-off specials that star characters other than Mark, such as the Atom Eve TV Special that aired in mid-20224, is off the table for the time being.

Kirkman hopes that Invincible runs for many more seasons, though. Adding to the answer he gave to The Direct, he said, "the goal is to adapt the entire comic", but wouldn't put a definitive number on how many seasons it'll take to do that.

Currently, each eight-episode season is adapting between 15 and 20 comic book issues. Invincible ran for 144 issues so, if the show maintains that output with each new installment, it should take seven to nine seasons to tell the full story. As an Invincible devotee, I'd be okay with another five or six seasons of it, too!

For more Prime Video TV-based coverage, read our guides on Mr and Mrs Smith season 2, The Boys season 5, Fallout season 2, and The Rings of Power season 3.

Invincible season 4: key information

- In development for Prime Video
- No release date announced
- Co-creator wants new seasons to air annually
- No footage or trailers released so far
- Most of its ensemble cast expected to return
- Comic book namesake teases what to expect from a story standpoint
- Season 5 hasn't been greenlit yet

Invincible season 4 is on the way, but it'll be a while before the critically acclaimed show's next installment makes its debut on Prime Video.

With the Amazon TV series' third season only ending on March 13, you and I have a long wait on our hands for its follow-up. To pass the time, then, let's talk about what you can expect from Invincible's fourth season, including its likely cast and plot details, and speculate on its possible release date.

Full spoilers follow for Invincible season 3 and the graphic novel series it's based on. Proceed with caution if you're actively avoiding them ahead of the show's return.

Invincible season 4 release date: what we know

Good news, there will be MORE [slam to Invincible title card] pic.twitter.com/E6fY3qvfADJuly 26, 2024

Invincible was renewed for a fourth season last July. Indeed, it was one of nine huge announcements that excited us most at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

Work is well underway, too. Chatting to Collider, J.K. Simmons, who voices Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man, revealed he'd already recorded lines for Invincible season 4. As for when it might be released, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of the Invincible TV adaptation and comic book, indicated (via The Direct) that he'd like new seasons to air annually.

Depending on how much work has been completed on season 4, that means it could arrive sometime in 2026. That's a lofty goal for any kind of animated show, though, which typically take two to three years to make. I'm all for a 2026 release window but, if its crew is forced to crunch to get season 4 finished for next year, I'd be happy to wait until 2027 and let them make it as good as possible.

Is there a trailer for Invincible season 4?

Staring at your computer or phone screen waiting for that season 4 trailer to drop like... (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

No. There won't be an Invincible season 4 trailer for a long time, either. Once one is released, I'll update this section.

Invincible season 4 cast: confirmed and rumored

Oliver and Mark are all but certain to return for season 4 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Full spoilers follow for Invincible's third season.

There's no official word on who'll be back for Invincible season 4. Based on its predecessor's ending, though here's who I expect to see (or, rather, hear) again:

• Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson/Invincible
• J.K. Simmons as Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man
• Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson
• Gillian Jacobs as Samantha Eve Wilkins/Atom Eve
• Walton Goggins as Cecil Stedman
• Chris Diamantopoulos as Donald Ferguson and Isotope
• Seth Rogen as Allen the Alien
• Christian Convery as Oliver Grayson/Kid-Omni-Man
• Ross Marquand as Rudy 'Rex' Connors and The Immortal
• Zachary Quinto as Robot
• Malese Jow as Kate Chas/Dupli-Kate
• Grey Griffin as Amanda, Betsy Wilkins, and Shrinking Rae
• Kevin Michael Richardson as Monster Girl
• Khary Payton as Markus Grimshaw/Black Sansom
• Jay Pharoah as Zandale Randolph/Bulletproof
• Ben Schwartz as The Shapesmith and Rus Livingston
• Andrew Rannells as William Clockwell
• Luke Macfarlane as Rick Sheridan
• Calista Flockhart as April Howsam
• Sterling K. Brown as Angstrom Levy
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Conquest
• Mark Hamill as Art Rosenbaum
• Eric Bauza as D.A. Sinclair
• Clancy Brown as Damien Darkblood, General Kregg, and Ka-Hor
• Peter Cullen as Thaedus
• Tatiana Maslany as Telia
• Shantel van Shanten as Anissa
• Tzi Mas as Mister Liu
• Todd Williams as Titan
• Jeffrey Donovan as Machine Head
• Simu Liu as Paul Cha/Multi-Paul
• Aaron Paul as Scott Duvall/Powerplex
• Jonathan Banks as Brit
• Michael Dorn as Battle Beast
• Cliff Curtis as Paul
• Zazie Beets as Amber
• Fred Tatasciore as Adam Wilkins
• Doug Bradley as The Technician
• Bruce Campbell as Damien Darkblood's demonic superior

That's an absolutely stacked voice cast, but there'll be many more characters to meet in season 4. Among that number are Dinosaurus, Grand Regent Thragg, Space Racer, and Universa, who are all introduced in the next 12 to 15 issues of the comics.

Meanwhile, Tech Jacket, who made his silent debut in Invincible season 3 episode 7 and will play a big role moving forward, will also require a voice actor. And with Oliver continuing to grow at an accelerated rate, it's possible Convery may be replaced by an adult voice actor, too. There are plenty of opportunities, then, to add more big-name stars to the series' huge ensemble. I wonder if Bryan Cranston will finally stop saying no to Kirkman's requests to play someone...

Rex Splode was one of last season's casualties (Image credit: Prime Video)

There are a few characters – and voice actors – who won't return for season 4.

Jason Mantzoukas' time as Rex Sloan/Rex Splode is over following his character's death in last season's seventh episode, aka the one with the brutal Invincible War that was first teased in season 3 episode 1 and then all but revealed in the post-credits scene of season 3's sixth episode. Darkwing II also seemingly perished in that battle, so Cleveland Berto isn't likely to be back in the recording booth.

Richardson's time as The Mauler Twins is similarly over after they were killed by Oliver Grayson in season 3 episode 3. He'll be back to voice Monster Girl, though, so at least he's not been fully dropped from the cast roster.

Invincible season 4 story speculation

Invincible season 4 will continue to send its titular hero down a dark path (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Huge spoilers follow for Invincible season 3's finale and Image Comics' graphic novel series.

Invincible season 4 doesn't have an official story synopsis yet. However, you can remind yourself what happened in its forebear's final episode in my Invincible season 3 ending explained piece.

That article doesn't reveal everything that happened after Mark Grayson defeated Conquest (with more than a little help from Atom Eve, FYI), though. If you want some clues about where things will go next, I'll provide some details after the image below. So, skip to the next section if you haven't read the comics and don't want any big plot beats ruined ahead of season 4's release.

The Sequids storyline should reach its conclusion early on in season 4 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

One of the first big storylines that season 4 should cover revolves around the sequids. The parasitic lifeforms made their animated debut in season 1 episode 4 and have been a regular thorn in Mark's side ever since.

With the alien race making their way to Earth in season 2 part 2's finale – read my Invincible season 2 part 2 ending explained article for more on how they did so – they pose a huge threat to Earth's human population. Expect this to be the first big test for Mark and his fellow heroes post-Conquest.

That won't be the only problem Mark has to contend with. Despite being shown Conquest's corpse after Mark seemingly killed him in season 3 episode 8, the second-most powerful Viltrumite warrior is still alive. He's being kept in a secure and secret Global Defence Agency (GDA) location miles beneath the Earth's surface. The reason? Once Conquest wakes up from his coma, Cecil wants information on the Viltrum Empire and how it can be defeated. I can't see that going badly for Cecil and company...

Conquest will return – and he'll have reinforcements next time around (Image credit: Prime Video)

So, yes, Conquest will return, but I won't reveal when or what awaits Mark when he does. Let's just say if Mark was mad that Cecil lied to him over D.A. Sinclair's reformation and continuing work on the ReAnimen, he's going to be apoplectic when he learns Conquest isn't dead.

Moving away from the titular superhero, Invincible season 4 will let us spend more time with everyone's favorite interracial bromance: Allen the Alien and Nolan Grayson. The pair didn't have much screen time in seasons 2 and 3, but that'll change next time around. Indeed, they'll have much more prominent roles as they attempt to track down allies and weapons to help them and the Coalition of Planets (CoP) in their upcoming fight against the Viltrum Empire.

Allen and Nolan Grayson should get more screen time next season (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

They'll need all the help they can get, too, because season 4 is likely to end with another conflict – larger and more devastating than the Invincible War – between the CoP and Viltrumites. Again, no huge spoilers here, but you best prepare yourself for an almighty showdown.

There'll be lots of other subplots to be resolved and new ones to be introduced in season 4 as well. There's going to be more melodrama for Mark and Eve to deal with, the return of villains the pair and Earth's other heroes will have to tackle, Immortal and Dupli-Kate settling down to start a family, another reboot of the Guardians of the Globe's line-up, and so much more.

Damien Darkblood is part of a completely new storyline in Invincible's TV adaptation (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

As for new plot points that are exclusive to Amazon's adult animated adaptation, we already know there'll be one of those in Invincible season 4. It'll be centered on Damien Darkblood, the demon detective who was banished from Earth by Cecil midway through the show's first season.

That's where his story ends in the source material, but the Invincible season 3 finale confirms Darkblood will be back in some capacity next season. Nobody knows how it'll factor into the overarching narrative, but it's nevertheless pleasing to see Kirkman expand on his literary works where he can.

Where can I watch seasons 1 to 3 of Invincible?

Let Atom Eve be your guide to finding out where you can stream Invincible seasons 1 through 3 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

The only place you can stream Invincible is on Prime Video. After all, it's an Amazon TV Original, so you won't find it on any other of the world's best streaming services.

All three seasons of one of the best Prime Video shows are available to watch in full on the platform now, too. If you don't have an Amazon Prime account but want to sign up for one, use the widget below to see how much it'll cost in your world region first.

Will Invincible return for a fifth season on Prime Video?

Don't be surprised if Mark and Oliver are forced to endure more bloody battles post-season 4 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Invincible season 5 hasn't been announced yet. It probably won't be until work has ended on the series' fourth chapter, either.

Responding to a question from The Direct about his future plans for the show, Kirkman said the entire team's focus was on ensuring season 4 is as good as it can be. In short: any talk on a fifth season and one-off specials that star characters other than Mark, such as the Atom Eve TV Special that aired in mid-20224, is off the table for the time being.

Kirkman hopes that Invincible runs for many more seasons, though. Adding to the answer he gave to The Direct, he said, "the goal is to adapt the entire comic", but wouldn't put a definitive number on how many seasons it'll take to do that.

Currently, each eight-episode season is adapting between 15 and 20 comic book issues. Invincible ran for 144 issues so, if the show maintains that output with each new installment, it should take seven to nine seasons to tell the full story. As an Invincible devotee, I'd be okay with another five or six seasons of it, too!

For more Prime Video TV-based coverage, read our guides on Mr and Mrs Smith season 2, The Boys season 5, Fallout season 2, and The Rings of Power season 3.

• The iPhone 16 Pro Max could be followed by the iPhone 17 Ultra
• We've also heard the 'Ultra' rumor in previous years
• The iPhone 17 Ultra may feature a bigger battery and more cooling

We're expecting Apple to unveil the iPhone 17 range in September, and a new rumor points to a name change for the most expensive model in the line-up – a rumor that has actually been swirling for a couple of years now.

According to well-known tipster Yeux1122 (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Pro Max is in fact going to be called the iPhone 17 Ultra. That's apparently based on information from investors and sources inside the supply chain.

If the phone previously known as the iPhone 17 Pro Max does indeed get a name change, it would be the first Ultra phone released by Apple – though it has already used the Ultra label for some of its Apple Silicon chips, and of course the Apple Watch Ultra series.

We've heard this rumor before, however, both for the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 – and in those cases, the names didn't change. Maybe this will be the year when Apple finally decides to shake up its approach to iPhone naming.

Hardware and software

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

In theory then, we could be looking at a line-up that features the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Ultra. There is a certain neatness to having a single extra word after each of the three additional variants.

That said, the same tipster also suggests that the iPhone 17 Air name isn't yet fixed. This super-slim model, replacing the iPhone 16 Plus, has been featured in a lot of leaks – but it sounds as though Apple hasn't decided what to call it yet.

The iPhone 17 Ultra (if indeed that is its name) is also tipped to be coming with a smaller Dynamic Island, a vapor chamber for additional cooling (and improved performance), and an increased battery capacity – which will add to its thickness.

We've already heard that iOS 19 is set for a major revamp too, so it looks as though it's going to be quite the year for Apple in terms of both hardware and software. We should get our first look at iOS 19 sometime in June at Apple WWDC 2025.

You might also like

• iPhone 17 Pro Max leak reveals its upcoming redesign
• The 3 biggest rumors around iOS 19 so far
• Video recording could be a big feature of the iPhone 17

• The iPhone 16 Pro Max could be followed by the iPhone 17 Ultra
• We've also heard the 'Ultra' rumor in previous years
• The iPhone 17 Ultra may feature a bigger battery and more cooling

We're expecting Apple to unveil the iPhone 17 range in September, and a new rumor points to a name change for the most expensive model in the line-up – a rumor that has actually been swirling for a couple of years now.

According to well-known tipster Yeux1122 (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Pro Max is in fact going to be called the iPhone 17 Ultra. That's apparently based on information from investors and sources inside the supply chain.

If the phone previously known as the iPhone 17 Pro Max does indeed get a name change, it would be the first Ultra phone released by Apple – though it has already used the Ultra label for some of its Apple Silicon chips, and of course the Apple Watch Ultra series.

We've heard this rumor before, however, both for the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 – and in those cases, the names didn't change. Maybe this will be the year when Apple finally decides to shake up its approach to iPhone naming.

Hardware and software

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

In theory then, we could be looking at a line-up that features the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Ultra. There is a certain neatness to having a single extra word after each of the three additional variants.

That said, the same tipster also suggests that the iPhone 17 Air name isn't yet fixed. This super-slim model, replacing the iPhone 16 Plus, has been featured in a lot of leaks – but it sounds as though Apple hasn't decided what to call it yet.

The iPhone 17 Ultra (if indeed that is its name) is also tipped to be coming with a smaller Dynamic Island, a vapor chamber for additional cooling (and improved performance), and an increased battery capacity – which will add to its thickness.

We've already heard that iOS 19 is set for a major revamp too, so it looks as though it's going to be quite the year for Apple in terms of both hardware and software. We should get our first look at iOS 19 sometime in June at Apple WWDC 2025.

You might also like

• iPhone 17 Pro Max leak reveals its upcoming redesign
• The 3 biggest rumors around iOS 19 so far
• Video recording could be a big feature of the iPhone 17

• Apple's appeal against the British Government to be heard in secret
• The tech giant is fighting a request to build a back door into its encryption
• We polled TechRadar users for their thoughts - here's what you said

It looks likely Apple’s legal appeal against the UK government will be heard at a secret hearing at the High Court, the BBC reports, following Apple’s promise to ‘never build a back door.’

Apple recently pulled its end-to-end encryption service, Advanced Data Protection (ADP) from UK devices following an alleged request from the British government to build a backdoor into the encryption, which would allow access for law enforcement agencies.

As we await the result of the appeal, we asked our TechRadar readers their thoughts via our WhatsApp channel (if you’re interested, you can join here) - and the results might surprise you...

Results are in

When asked, “Would you want your government to have access” to private encrypted data, our readers voted overwhelmingly in favor of Apple’s decision, with 67% choosing the option “My data is private - I wouldn't want my Government to have access”.

A small number of our readers (8%) said they had no issue with their government having a master key to their encryption, choosing the option, “I would not care as I have nothing to hide” - but a quarter of respondents felt law enforcement should have access only in extreme circumstances.

The US Director of National Intelligence called the request a ‘clear and egregious violation of American’s privacy and civil liberties’, since the request would have extraterritorial powers - sparking ‘grave concern’ not just for privacy, but for fears that this would “open up a serious vulnerability for cyber exploitation by adversarial actors”.

The tech giant’s appeal is due to be considered by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which is an independent court with the power to investigate claims against the UK intelligence services.

“There is no easy answer to this conundrum,” said Matt Aldridge, Senior Principal Solutions Consultant at OpenText Cybersecurity.

“Either a system has “trust no one” end-to-end encryption or it doesn’t, there are no halfway houses here, so Apple are taking a pragmatic approach by removing the service for UK users, rather than effectively putting a backdoor into their systems which could impact the privacy of their over 1 billion other users around the world.”

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• Check out our recommendations for the best encrypted messaging apps for Android
• Apple to take legal action against British Government over backdoor request

• Apple's appeal against the British Government to be heard in secret
• The tech giant is fighting a request to build a back door into its encryption
• We polled TechRadar users for their thoughts - here's what you said

It looks likely Apple’s legal appeal against the UK government will be heard at a secret hearing at the High Court, the BBC reports, following Apple’s promise to ‘never build a back door.’

Apple recently pulled its end-to-end encryption service, Advanced Data Protection (ADP) from UK devices following an alleged request from the British government to build a backdoor into the encryption, which would allow access for law enforcement agencies.

As we await the result of the appeal, we asked our TechRadar readers their thoughts via our WhatsApp channel (if you’re interested, you can join here) - and the results might surprise you...

Results are in

When asked, “Would you want your government to have access” to private encrypted data, our readers voted overwhelmingly in favor of Apple’s decision, with 67% choosing the option “My data is private - I wouldn't want my Government to have access”.

A small number of our readers (8%) said they had no issue with their government having a master key to their encryption, choosing the option, “I would not care as I have nothing to hide” - but a quarter of respondents felt law enforcement should have access only in extreme circumstances.

The US Director of National Intelligence called the request a ‘clear and egregious violation of American’s privacy and civil liberties’, since the request would have extraterritorial powers - sparking ‘grave concern’ not just for privacy, but for fears that this would “open up a serious vulnerability for cyber exploitation by adversarial actors”.

The tech giant’s appeal is due to be considered by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which is an independent court with the power to investigate claims against the UK intelligence services.

“There is no easy answer to this conundrum,” said Matt Aldridge, Senior Principal Solutions Consultant at OpenText Cybersecurity.

“Either a system has “trust no one” end-to-end encryption or it doesn’t, there are no halfway houses here, so Apple are taking a pragmatic approach by removing the service for UK users, rather than effectively putting a backdoor into their systems which could impact the privacy of their over 1 billion other users around the world.”

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best VPN around
• Check out our recommendations for the best encrypted messaging apps for Android
• Apple to take legal action against British Government over backdoor request

• US smishing scam claims that unpaid toll service fees are due
• SMS messages include a bogus link to make an online payment
• Cybercriminals are using more than 10,000 domains to trick recipients

A widespread SMS scam is targeting thousands of smartphone users in the US. Fraudsters are sending bogus texts demanding payment for unpaid road tolls. Their goal isn’t just to swindle innocent recipients out of their money, but also their personal and financial information.

Reports of the smishing scam first surfaced last year. In April 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a notice about fake toll service text messages, after receiving more than 2,000 complaints from US citizens.

Since then, the scale of the scheme appears to have grown. Cities in several US states have now issued warnings, including Boston, Denver and San Francisco. McAfee has also highlighted cities most affected by the scheme: the top three are Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

How the smishing scam works

An example of the kind of texts used in this widespread SMS scam (Image credit: Future / Unit 42)

Based on screenshots we’ve seen, text messages in the toll scam all appear to follow a similar structure. Each SMS claims to be from a legitimate toll service and states that there is an unpaid fee. It then instructs the recipient to pay the outstanding toll within a set time period to avoid late fees and a referral to the DMV. A URL is then provided, which directs uses to a bogus payment page.

This page is designed to look convincingly like a legitimate toll service payment website. It will often feature a logo, business name and street address. It will also state the supposed time and date of the unpaid fee.

A threat actor leveraging the same naming pattern has registered 10K+ domains for various #smishing scams. They pose as toll services for US states and package delivery services. Root domain names start with "com-" as a way to trick victims. More info at https://t.co/drBEuvGoJj pic.twitter.com/7CBkvwYWxoMarch 7, 2025

If you click the payment link, the website will then ask for payment information. Sometimes it will also request sensitive personal information, such as your driving license number. If you submit this information, you’re actually giving it to the fraudsters, exposing yourself to identity theft.

The scam uses the same tactics as most phishing scams, creating a sense of urgency by demanding payment within a short time period. The threat of legal action increases the likelihood of an emotional reaction, which could cause users to overlook inconsistencies in the original SMS or linked payment page.

The scam uses the same tactics as most phishing scams, creating a sense of urgency by demanding payment within a short time period.

Reports also suggest that there are variations of the scam. In some instances, it appears that cybercriminals have varied the contents of the SMS and payment page to target users in specific states. One screenshot we’ve seen claims to be from the City of New York. For some recipients, this could make the message more believable than a generic alert.

Recent intelligence from Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 reports that scammers have registered more than 10,000 domain names. Each of these is designed to be ambiguous enough that a casual glance might not reveal the deceit. Not only do the new domains suggest that the scam is still ongoing, but certain URLs indicate that it could be expanding to include fake messages from delivery companies – an increasingly common tactic.

Here are a few of the domains listed in the notice:

• dhl.com-new[.]xin
• driveks.com-jds[.]xin
• ezdrive.com-2h98[.]xin
• ezdrivema.com-citations-etc[.]xin
• ezdrivema.com-securetta[.]xin
• e-zpassiag.com-courtfees[.]xin
• e-zpassny.com-ticketd[.]xin
• fedex.com-fedexl[.]xin
• getipass.com-tickeuz[.]xin
• sunpass.com-ticketap[.]xin
• thetollroads.com-fastrakeu[.]xin
• usps.com-tracking-helpsomg[.]xin

How to stay safe

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

As with any smishing or phishing scam, the best way to stay safe is to practice caution. If you receive an unexpected SMS about unpaid toll fees, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. Pause before you act on any information in the message and don’t click on any links.

Pay attention to details in the message. Scam texts will often feature grammatical errors or formatting inconsistencies, such as the placement of punctation. A closer look at the URL will often reveal that it’s illegitimate, too.

If in doubt, contact the genuine toll service in question. Never click the link in the SMS. Instead, find the service’s real website or contact number using a trusted search engine and reach out for clarification.

The scam is now so extensive that the US Federal Trade Commission has issued advice to the same effect, as has the FBI. If you do discover a bogus or suspicious SMS, the instructions of both agencies are the same: report and delete the messages. You can do this on the IC3 website.

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• US smishing scam claims that unpaid toll service fees are due
• SMS messages include a bogus link to make an online payment
• Cybercriminals are using more than 10,000 domains to trick recipients

A widespread SMS scam is targeting thousands of smartphone users in the US. Fraudsters are sending bogus texts demanding payment for unpaid road tolls. Their goal isn’t just to swindle innocent recipients out of their money, but also their personal and financial information.

Reports of the smishing scam first surfaced last year. In April 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a notice about fake toll service text messages, after receiving more than 2,000 complaints from US citizens.

Since then, the scale of the scheme appears to have grown. Cities in several US states have now issued warnings, including Boston, Denver and San Francisco. McAfee has also highlighted cities most affected by the scheme: the top three are Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

How the smishing scam works

An example of the kind of texts used in this widespread SMS scam (Image credit: Future / Unit 42)

Based on screenshots we’ve seen, text messages in the toll scam all appear to follow a similar structure. Each SMS claims to be from a legitimate toll service and states that there is an unpaid fee. It then instructs the recipient to pay the outstanding toll within a set time period to avoid late fees and a referral to the DMV. A URL is then provided, which directs uses to a bogus payment page.

This page is designed to look convincingly like a legitimate toll service payment website. It will often feature a logo, business name and street address. It will also state the supposed time and date of the unpaid fee.

A threat actor leveraging the same naming pattern has registered 10K+ domains for various #smishing scams. They pose as toll services for US states and package delivery services. Root domain names start with "com-" as a way to trick victims. More info at https://t.co/drBEuvGoJj pic.twitter.com/7CBkvwYWxoMarch 7, 2025

If you click the payment link, the website will then ask for payment information. Sometimes it will also request sensitive personal information, such as your driving license number. If you submit this information, you’re actually giving it to the fraudsters, exposing yourself to identity theft.

The scam uses the same tactics as most phishing scams, creating a sense of urgency by demanding payment within a short time period. The threat of legal action increases the likelihood of an emotional reaction, which could cause users to overlook inconsistencies in the original SMS or linked payment page.

The scam uses the same tactics as most phishing scams, creating a sense of urgency by demanding payment within a short time period.

Reports also suggest that there are variations of the scam. In some instances, it appears that cybercriminals have varied the contents of the SMS and payment page to target users in specific states. One screenshot we’ve seen claims to be from the City of New York. For some recipients, this could make the message more believable than a generic alert.

Recent intelligence from Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 reports that scammers have registered more than 10,000 domain names. Each of these is designed to be ambiguous enough that a casual glance might not reveal the deceit. Not only do the new domains suggest that the scam is still ongoing, but certain URLs indicate that it could be expanding to include fake messages from delivery companies – an increasingly common tactic.

Here are a few of the domains listed in the notice:

• dhl.com-new[.]xin
• driveks.com-jds[.]xin
• ezdrive.com-2h98[.]xin
• ezdrivema.com-citations-etc[.]xin
• ezdrivema.com-securetta[.]xin
• e-zpassiag.com-courtfees[.]xin
• e-zpassny.com-ticketd[.]xin
• fedex.com-fedexl[.]xin
• getipass.com-tickeuz[.]xin
• sunpass.com-ticketap[.]xin
• thetollroads.com-fastrakeu[.]xin
• usps.com-tracking-helpsomg[.]xin

How to stay safe

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

As with any smishing or phishing scam, the best way to stay safe is to practice caution. If you receive an unexpected SMS about unpaid toll fees, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. Pause before you act on any information in the message and don’t click on any links.

Pay attention to details in the message. Scam texts will often feature grammatical errors or formatting inconsistencies, such as the placement of punctation. A closer look at the URL will often reveal that it’s illegitimate, too.

If in doubt, contact the genuine toll service in question. Never click the link in the SMS. Instead, find the service’s real website or contact number using a trusted search engine and reach out for clarification.

The scam is now so extensive that the US Federal Trade Commission has issued advice to the same effect, as has the FBI. If you do discover a bogus or suspicious SMS, the instructions of both agencies are the same: report and delete the messages. You can do this on the IC3 website.

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This week has been a rollercoaster in the world of tech. Twitter shut down thanks to its biggest outage in years, giving us all a moment of peace, Google unveiled Gemini-infused robots, which feels like the start of a robot revolution, and we tested Apple's new Macbook and iPad Air.

To catch up on all that and more, scroll down for our in case you missed it and catch up on the week's seven biggest tech news stories.

Once you're caught up on the week's news, check out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (March 14).

X had its biggest outage in years

(Image credit: X / Future)

The social media giant formerly known as Twitter has had a tumultuous few years – but even compared to Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022, this week was a turbulent one. X was taken completely offline several times on Monday, with Musk later claiming that this was due to a “massive cyberattack”.

Given X is attacked “every day”, according to Musk, this enormous outage was explained by the culprit having “a lot of resources”. Cue some inevitable political finger-pointing and a lot of people discovering what DDOS stands for (spoiler for your trivia quiz, it’s ‘Distributed Denial of Service’). X is back to its old self now with its trademark mix of memes and outrage, but it might not be long before its next big outage.

• Read more: X is back – here's what we know about the 'massive cyberattack' that caused Twitter to go down multiple times

We saw Sony’s next-gen TV tech in action

(Image credit: Sony)

OLED is generally regarded as the best-performing TV tech, and for good reason, since OLED TVs deliver perfectly uniform pictures with “infinite” contrast and rich color. OLED’s primacy has mostly gone unchallenged, but a new RGB LED backlight technology for TVs that Sony just announced could finally make mini-LED TVs competitive.

Sony’s “next-generation display system” replaces the quantum dot layer used for higher-end mini-LED TVs with a “high density LED backlight” with individual control over the red, green and blue primary colors. Its benefits include high brightness, extended color, and OLED-like contrast, and Sony also claims it can be cost-effectively scaled up to larger screen sizes than OLED TVs, which max out at 97 inches.

TV makers regularly issue chest-beating announcements of new tech in development, but in this case, TechRadar was invited to Sony’s headquarters for a preview, and it’s every bit as good as they claim. Watch your back, OLED!

• Read more: I saw Sony’s next-gen RGB mini-LED TV tech, and OLED TVs should be worried

We reviewed the new MacBooks and iPads

(Image credit: Future)

Apple recently launched some new tech and we’ve had the chance to try it all out. Long story short, it’s all great.

The iPad Air with M3 earned four-and-a-half-stars thanks to its new chipset offering a solid power boost without a price bump. The screen is just as vibrant as ever, the battery life and audio are great, and thanks to support from the new Magic Keyboard, it’s more laptop-like than ever before. Our only gripe is Apple's new slate is a little too similar to last year’s model in the camera and display department – with still only a pair of 12MP snappers (one facing each direction) and a screen lacking smooth ProMotion refresh rates you’ll still only get on more premium models.

As for the new MacBook Airs with M4, they wowed us yet again as not only do they boast excellent performance – helped by the upgraded chipset they just received – but they’re less pricey to boot. Instead of $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199 you can pick the laptop up for $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099 cementing this sleek machine as one of the best value for money laptops on the market.

• Read more: I tested the 11-inch iPad Air with M3 for five days, and it stretches the value even further
• Read more: I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people

iRobot replaced almost its entire Roomba range

(Image credit: iRobot)

This week we learned that iRobot was scrapping almost its entire range of Roomba robot vacuums, and replacing them with four shiny new models. It's a bold move, but feels necessary given how far the brand was starting to slip behind competitors.

New features include LiDAR navigation (at long last), spinning mop pads, a cool design aesthetic, and a naming system that actually makes some sort of sense. Perhaps the most interesting model is the Roomba 205, which boasts a dust-compacting onboard bin, and looks perfect for those with small homes who don't have space for a bulky dock.

They might not be the flashiest innovations we've seen in the market of late, but we think iRobot has nailed what customers are actually looking for in a robot vacuum. Here's hoping it can help the original robovac brand catch up to the competition.

• Read more: iRobot is overhauling its robovac range, and for the first time in years I'm excited about a new Roomba

New limited Ray-Ban smart glasses disappointed us

(Image credit: Ray-Ban / Meta / COperni)

Meta launched new Ray-Ban smart glasses this week – well, it launched a new design of glasses, which are available for a limited time in collaboration with fashion brand Coperni.

They’re undeniably stylish with a translucent black frame (which lets you see their inner workings) and mirrored lenses, but beyond the Coperni logo stamped at the end of each arm there’s nothing particularly special about this limited run. What’s more not only are these specs more limited than Meta’s previous clear frame drop – only 3,600 Coperni smart glasses are available instead of 7,500 like before – they’re also pricier.

Meta’s glasses normally start at $299 / £299 / AU$449, and its last limited drop was $429 / £429 (it wasn’t available in Australia). These Coperni specs are selling for $549 / £519 / AU$859. Some commenters on the original story love the design, but for us it’s not enough to justify the hype and cost of Meta and Ray-Ban’s first-ever smart glasses collab.

• Read more: The new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses design is an expensive disappointment

Disney+ is making Andor free to stream on YouTube

Did you miss out on seeing what’s come to be considered as the best Star Wars show ever made? Well, you don’t have to worry about having FOMO anymore because Disney has decided to publish the first three episodes of Andor on YouTube for free.

It has also made the entire first season of one of the best Disney+ shows available on Hulu in the US ahead of the highly-anticipated premiere of Andor season 2 on April 22, giving any non-Disney+ subscribers even more ways to get in on the action.

That’s a smart move to hook more fans on the show and if you’ve become one of them (welcome) then you’ll no doubt want to take advantage of this great streaming deal that brings down the Disney+ and Hulu bundle cost back down to its awesome Black Friday price – come join the rebels!

• Read more: Disney+ is making Andor free to stream on YouTube, and now you have no excuse not to watch the best Star Wars show

Google Gemini just got physical

(Image credit: Google)

Google Gemini is one of the most powerful AI platforms, but up until this week, it was mostly about text, images and did not connect directly to the physical world. That changes with Gemini Robotics and its counterpart, Gemini Robotics-ER (embodied reasoning). Together, these platforms will connect the dots between Gemini’s powerful models and robots.

The long-term goal is humanoid robots running Gemini models (many major robot companies, like Boston Dynamics, are already on-board) to assist them in interacting with the real world, and especially unfamiliar situations. Our personal favorite was a pair of robot arms that quickly figured out how to slam dunk a toy basketball without any specific training. The race to our robot revolution is accelerating.

• Read more: You should prepare for a robot revolution

I spent nearly a decade with iPhones until I switched to the Google Pixel 6a in 2022, and have not looked back. Android sucked me in. But I was curious about how the Apple experience has changed since I left, so I decided to go back to iOS with the iPhone 16e.

Apple's latest is the exact iPhone I wanted three years ago, leaps and bounds ahead of the iPhone SE it replaces. It’s not a 'budget' phone, but it’s far from being a flagship, too.

Among its rivals, it holds up exceptionally well in benchmarks, but has significant tradeoffs compared to some phones that are half its price.

Having been out of Camp Apple for so long, I’ve seen what it’s like on the other side – and coming back, I’m both impressed and puzzled with the hands-on experience.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

There is an assured certainty and comfort when the manufacturer has complete control over an ecosystem – ie, having hardware, software, cloud and content management (via apps like Home and Music) talk to each other seamlessly. And when this comes from Cupertino, it's more about the experience rather than the performance of the device.

It’s also why the Google Pixel range remains my most recommended Android family of devices, and that's despite Samsung offering better tech on all fronts and at all price points – Google’s range feels more like Apple. The Pixels feel more mastered and uniform: again, because it's about the experience rather than the performance.

The iPhone 16e makes the experience more accessible than the standard range, offering shaved-off specs at a lower (but still considerable) price.

So turning to the iPhone 16e, knowing how comfortable I’ve gotten with the Android ecosystem, I’m left asking if this is enough. Many of the spec choices are baffling, but others are still ones that I wish more Android manufacturers would learn from.

An Androider’s take on the iPhone 16e

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

I’m impressed with how well Apple continues to make all this stuff simply work together – from FaceID biometrics to allowing purchases and app downloads, to the instantly recognizable and understandable Home, Lock and Control Center screens, they all make for an experience that’s instantly operable.

Performance is in line with the base iPhone 16 (which I consider to be Apple’s best handset in years) and far ahead of similarly positioned Android phones. It's great for a mixed use of gaming, social media, messaging and note-writing.

Coming from Android, I'm also drawn to the simplicity. The cuteness of FaceTime, the ability to share contacts with a tap of an NFC sensor between iPhones, and the more user-friendly approach to home screen customization (focused on colors instead of palettes) give off a great feeling of coziness. It’s cute, it works, and it’s fun!

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

What on Earth is up with this screen, though? 60Hz on such a pricey unit, and the same goes for the standard iPhone 16. This is grating as I don't like the scrolling and app-opening experience.

That makes the 16 and 16e seem like they perform worse than they do, and look less smooth than much cheaper Androids.

There’s nothing stopping these phones from operating a 120Hz display like the Pro counterparts, apart from Apple’s unwillingness to provide such screens. It breaks the seamlessness I referred to earlier.

Moving on: something I’ve been quite jealous of while using an Android phone has been Apple’s Action Button. I love the idea of an extra button with customizable functionality, but I'm not sold on its usability. I wish it had more than just a 'hold to open' trigger, but rather more like the stand-by button that works with a single or a double press.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)

I still appreciate the Action Button though. An extra physical control on Android handsets would enable so much flexibility, say to quickly open a messaging app, use Google Lens, or quickly pull up your favorite contact list.

Finally, and this is a gripe specific to the iPhone 16e, but only offering a single camera at this price point feels like a huge step backwards for Apple. There are competing phones available at half the price of this handset that have two lenses, enabling more impressive zoom capabilities or greater detail up close.

Don’t get me wrong; the iPhone 16e can produce great photos, but a native zoom that maxes out at 2x is meager compared to what the Pixel 8a and Galaxy A56 are capable of – at a lower price point.

'e' is for...

When I first saw this phone's name, I assumed that the 'e' meant 'essential'. There's no official word from Apple on what it means, but I think I may have hit the mark.

Firstly, it's price tag – while still expensive, it strips back some non-essentials from the premium range but includes the Apple A18 chip, an IP68 resistance rating, an extremely impressive 30-hour battery life, and even Apple-specific features like its advanced biometric FaceID sensor and Action Button. In other words, the 'essentials'.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

It fits the sweetspot between the now grandfathered SE and the base model 16 – more expensive than the former but offering the essentials of the latter, probably filling a crucial marketshare goal. I can absolutely see it being a hit in markets like India, where Apple has only just managed to become one of the country’s top five smartphone brands.

Paradoxically restrictive and freeing, the iPhone 16e is a comfortable phone. It’s the right pick if you’ve been holding out for an entry-level device to upgrade to in the Apple family, but it’s not great value if you’ve broken out of the Apple ecosystem.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

At this end of the phone market, Apple has the competitive edge on raw benchmarking performance – but its rivals are far less expensive with cameras easily outpacing the single lens on the iPhone 16e.

Performance benchmarks be damned, the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Google Pixel 8a feel much more general purpose and suitable for day-to-day use, with more impressive cameras to boot. Not to mention the larger screens on both.

It’s an awkward spot for Apple to place such a great phone – it’s more powerful, but it’s not as practical as cheaper rivals. That said, it will be a brilliant handset to pick up on sale, otherwise its standard price is perhaps a little too high.

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• I tested the iPhone 16e for a week and found it's a good phone that stretches the definition of 'budget'
• New iPhone 17 Air leak may have revealed some key specs – and how it compares to the iPhone 17 Pro Max
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