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Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for Aug. 17, No. 1,520

Most modern robot vacuums don't just vacuum your floors – they can also mop them for you. This type of robovac is sometimes referred to as a 'hybrid robot vacuum', and it's increasingly difficult to find bots that don't offer mopping these days.

But how much should you focus on the mopping part? How does it work, and is it actually any good? I review robot vacuums for a living, and I've tested out cheap bots with the very simplest mops, right up to the very best robot vacuums on the market, with complex wet cleaning setups. Here's everything you need to know about robot vacuum mops, and if they're worth your time.

How does the mopping work on a robot vacuum?

The exact setup varies by model, but essentially, there will be a mop pad (or two) that's fed water from a tank in the main part of the robot. The robot vacuum will pull the pad(s) across your floors to clean them.

Sometimes the pad might spin, vibrate, or press down to dislodge dirt. Some robovacs will vacuum at the same time as mopping – the idea being that it cuts down on overall cleaning time. Others can be set to mop after vacuuming, or just do one or the other.

If you opt for a more advanced dock type, it might refill the bot's onboard water tank for you, so you don't need to top it off yourself as frequently. It might also wash and dry your mop pads for you. However, with cheaper, more basic bots, you'll need to take care of all this yourself.

What kinds of mop are there?

Some robot vacuums can mop much better than others. Here's a quick rundown of the main mop types, and my experience of how well each one cleans.

D-shaped pad

This is one of the most common mop types. It consists of a fixed, D-shaped pad that can be cleaned and reused. The pad is fed with water from an onboard tank as it's dragged along the floor. On more advanced bots, this pad might vibrate or press down as it goes, to help dislodge dried-on dirt.

A fixed, D-shaped pad will do a decent wipe-down job (Image credit: Future)

In general, I've found this style of mop pad pretty effective. It'll do a good job of wiping down your floors and picking up any lingering dirt. However, the dragging pad doesn't offer much by way of scrubbing – and especially so if it doesn't press down or vibrate – and because the pad isn't getting cleaned as it goes, if you have a spillage on the floor, it might end up getting dragged about a bit.

Two spinning discs

Another common type of robovac mop. Two disc-shaped pads are attached to the base of the bot and spin to scrub away dirt. They're fed with water from an onboard tank as they clean.

Spinning circular pads tend to be better at scrubbing (Image credit: Future)

This is probably my favorite mop type. It's similar to a D-shaped pad, but the rotation means these mops are a little better at scrubbing; some can even handle dried-on stains.

The pads can be removed and popped into the washing machine for a deep clean. However, because they're not getting cleaned as they go, big spillages will likely end up getting spread around, and I wouldn't use this kind of mop to tackle sticky or smelly substances.

Rotating roller

This is a less common type of robot vacuum mop, consisting of a mop pad on a track, like a tank. Fresh water is applied as the pad rotates around, but where this mop style has the edge on other setups is that there's a scraper that siphons off dirty water and any general gunk that's been picked up, too.

(Image credit: Future)

Roller mops are relatively new to the market right now, but are getting more popular. I wonder if we'll start seeing a lot more of them before long.

I haven't had a chance to test out a bot with a roller mop yet, but my reviewers who have done so have been impressed. In our Eureka J20 review, our tester found it "did a fantastic job of cleaning up spills," although noted that it wasn't as successful with dried-on dirt, suggesting that, like most robovac mops, it's more of a wiper than a scrubber.

Just a wet wipe

It's rare to see, but some budget bots just have space to attach a wet wipe, which is then dragged across the floor. This is the least effective type of mop.

The pads have a smooth surface rather than a grippy one, and do very little by way of scrubbing. They also can't be washed or reused, so you're generating waste if you opt for this style of mop, and you'll need to factor in the ongoing cost of replacing the wipes.

Wet wipe style mops are more fiddly, and only provide a light wipe (Image credit: Future)

The most high-profile brand to use this approach is Switchbot with its mini robovacs. I've yet to test one of these models out myself, and opinions differ as to whether this kind of mopping is worth the effort at all.

Our SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Robot Vacuum reviewer called it "perfunctory at best" and commented that he couldn't see anyone bothering to purchase a new set of wet wipes once the provided pack ran out.

However, my teammate Cat Ellis finds the setup useful for everyday cleaning: "It definitely isn't a substitute for proper mopping, but I've found it very handy for keeping everyday dust under control on my dark floors (which show up every speck of dirt). I'm often surprised by just how much it manages to pick up in the hallway, even when I've vacuumed recently."

Is the mopping any good?

Generally, my experience is that robot vacuum mopping is good enough to be a significant effort-saver – especially if you have lots of hard flooring that requires regular mopping. They're great for everyday maintenance cleaning, but not good enough that you won't need to resort to manual cleaning occasionally.

Regardless of mop type, I wouldn't leave one to tackle a big spill (it'll get stuck on the mop cloth and end up being spread around the floor) or a dried-on stain (the bot won't scrub hard enough to clear it).

Will my carpets get wet?

Maybe – depends which model you go for. Mid-range robot vacuums and above can often detect when they're going over carpet, and lift their mop pads so they're not dragging. Some premium bots have magnetic mops that they'll drop off in the dock when tasked with vacuuming carpet.

Some bots have a thin, removable water tank, and the mopping is 'on' whenever it's attached (Image credit: Future)

However, cheaper, more basic robot vacuums will drag their damp mop pads over carpets if you don't remove them. On some, the water is automatically 'on' when the mop pad and/or water tank is attached, so you'll need to shut the bot in the room you need mopping so it doesn't try and give your carpets and rugs the same treatment.

Will the mops start to smell?

If you leave them damp and don't clean them, yes. More basic robot vacuums will need to have their mop pads removed to dry after mopping, and you'll also want to hand-wash them or run them through the washing machine fairly regularly to keep them fresh and hygienic.

More advanced robot vacuums have docks that will take care of some mop maintenance for you. For example, they might be able to wash the mop pads – sometimes with hot water, to cut through grease – and dry them off, too. That cuts down the amount of intervention required from you. You'll pay extra for these kinds of features, though.

More advanced docks can take care cleaning the mop pads for you (Image credit: Future)Can you use floor cleaner?

Sometimes, but generally no. Most hybrid robot vacuums recommend you just use water, although it's worth checking the manufacturer's instructions as to whether it's okay to mix in cleaning solution.

The most advanced bots will let you use cleaning fluid, but they'll stress that only their proprietary cleaner is allowed, and it's invariably very expensive. Some will have a cleaning fluid tank that sits alongside the water tanks in the dock, and dispenses fluid evenly as the bot's onboard tanks are refilled.

You might also like...

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• Floppy disks were officially deemed obsolete in 2010, yet persisted in surprising places for years
• Polymatt used CNC machining and PET film to craft a functioning magnetic storage disk
• Iron oxide coating allowed the handmade disk to store and retrieve basic magnetic data

Floppy disks, once a staple of personal and professional computing, have been phased out for over a decade - but while the technology was officially declared obsolete in 2010, some organizations kept using it surprisingly long.

The Japanese government only moved away from the format in 2024, while the German Navy followed suit the same year. In the United States, the last official use of 8-inch floppy disks for nuclear launch coordination ended in 2019, with San Franciso's government also finally cutting ties with floppies in 2024.

Against this backdrop of obsolescence, a YouTuber known as polymatt decided to recreate one from scratch, using modern tools and consumer-grade equipment.

Engineering a working floppy from the ground up

Polymatt began the project by carefully measuring and modeling the disk enclosure and internal components using Shapr3D and MakeraCAM software.

He then cut aluminum parts with a Carvera Air CNC machine, ensuring precise tolerances for the mechanical structure.

For the magnetic disk surface, he laser-cut PET film and coated it with a suspension of iron oxide powder, replicating the material properties needed for magnetic data storage.

After assembling the components, he managed to magnetize the disk and write to it.

While the data handling capabilities were basic, the fact that a functioning magnetic storage medium emerged from raw materials marked a notable technical achievement.

The process was not without difficulties, but persistence and methodical experimentation allowed him to complete the build.

Today, cloud storage services allow vast amounts of data to be accessed from anywhere, without the physical limitations of older media.

SSDs deliver high-speed and durable storage in compact formats, while an external SSD offers portable capacity far exceeding what was once possible with floppy disks.

A single modern SSD can store millions of times more data than the recreated floppy, with speeds that make the older medium seem impractically slow by comparison.

While polymatt’s recreation is unlikely to be used in practical applications, it demonstrates the enduring appeal of hands-on engineering projects.

Building a floppy disk in 2025 serves more as a tribute to a pivotal era in computing than as a viable alternative to current storage methods.

For those who once relied on them, the familiar clunk of a floppy drive reading data is part of a technological heritage that shaped modern computing.

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• These are the best job site options around
• From floppy disks to fax machines: 5 obsolete piece of tech that do not want to die in 2025
• SK Hynix and Sandisk have come together to standardize High Bandwidth Flash memory

The U.S. State Department says it's halting visas for visitors from Gaza as it reviews its process for granting visas for medical evacuees.

(Image credit: Mehmet Eser)

Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station: 30-second review

The Anker Prime Docking Station is a powerful unit with plenty of ports that employ the latest standards, serving the needs of creatives and other power users.

It’s rather elegant for a docking station, thanks to the premium grey metallic finish and vibrant blue light ring, which is bright enough to notice without causing distraction.

Build quality is also impressive, rivalling the best laptop docking station constructions. Every panel is solid, and the rubber feet are robust and provide plenty of dampening and protection.

However, its tall, square form could be inconducive to certain setups, since it might not fit under monitor stands and shelves. This is less of a problem for typical docking stations with their thin, rectangular shapes.

My other gripe with the Prime Docking Station concerns its power button, which isn’t very tactile and can be awkward to use. My presses would sometimes fail to register, and I wish the hold time was shorter when powering it down.

There are plenty of ports on the Prime Docking Station (14 in total), including upstreaming and downstreaming USB-C ports at the back. Both of these employ the Thunderbolt 5 standard and can also provide charge: the former at 140W and the latter 15W.

What’s more, the two downstreaming ports can support dual 8K monitors (6K when connected to macOS devices), and either can be used in conjunction with the HDMI port or the DisplayPort. Only two external monitors can be used at the same time, though, and the HDMI and DisplayPort can’t be used simultaneously, either.

The front two USB-C ports provide a combined output of 45W, which is sufficient for fast charging numerous devices. Other ports include three USB-A ports, readers for SD and TF cards, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

All of these ports function well, providing fast and stable data transmission and multi-device charging. However, there were a few occasions where my external displays lost signal for a second or so, or failed to display altogether, usually when booting up my laptop for the first time of the day.

This required a simple re-plug of the upstreaming cable to remedy, and these occurrences weren’t frequent enough to disrupt the overall experience. What’s more, I believe at least part of the blame lies with the poor multi-display optimization of Windows 11, rather than with the dock itself.

The audio jack, on the other hand, is somewhat of a let down, failing to deliver as much bass and fidelity as when connecting my headphones directly to my laptop.

The main drawback of the Prime Docking Station, though, is the price. At $400 / £400, it’s seriously expensive, and only worth the outlay if you’ll actually be using two 8K or 6K monitors, and have multiple devices to charge and peripherals to connect at once.

Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $399.99 / £399.99 (about AU$610)
• Available now in the US and the UK
• High-end of the market

The Anker Prime Docking Station costs $399.99 / £399.99 (about AU$610) and is available via Anker's website here, as well as online retailers including Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

While there are many docking stations in the same ballpark, there are also plenty of cheaper alternatives. This includes the Kensington SD5000T5 EQ, which costs considerably less despite having a comparable spec. It also has a slimmer design to boot – no wonder we think it’s one of the best Thunderbolt 5 laptop docks around.

• Value: 3 / 5

Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station: Specs

Compatibility:

USB-C

Number of Ports:

14

Ports front:

2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x audio jack, 1x SD card reader (left side), 1x TF card reader (left side)

Ports back:

AC power input, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x 2.5GbE Ethernet

Downstream power:

2x 15W USB-C (Thunderbolt 5)

Upstream power:

140W USB-C (Thunderbolt 5)

Size:

4.6 x 4.6 x 3.0in / 116 x 116 x 75mm

Weight:

38oz / 1,086g

Accessories:

USB-C cable (Thunderbolt 5)

Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Solid build quality
• Premium looks
• Divisive boxy shape

The Prime Docking Station certainly looks sleek, with its dark grey metallic body, which is nicely complemented by the blue light ring around the top edge. This is bright enough to add interest, but dim enough to avoid being a distraction. Even the rear vents are stylishly designed, and help to make it fit for any professional environment.

While it’s pleasingly thin across its width, the Prime Docking Station is quite tall and thick across its depth. This might prove to be an issue for those looking to slot it underneath their monitor stand or similar, as I doubt it’ll fit comfortably under all of them.

There’s no denying the premium construction of the Prime Docking Station, though. It’s extremely solid and sturdy, and the four rubber feet are certainly thick enough to dampen any operating vibrations and protect your desktop surface.

The power button, however, is a slight misstep. It doesn’t feel very tactile, and it can be hard to tell when you’ve actually pressed it properly. There were numerous occasions when I thought I’d pressed it, but it failed to actuate.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• 14 ports
• Thunderbolt 5 support
• Blue light indicator

The Prime Docking Station has three Thunderbolt 5 ports, all located on the back. One is for upstreaming and also provides 140W of PD charging. The other two are for downstreaming and each supports 8K monitors (or 6K if used with a macOS device). They’re also capable of transferring data at 120Gbps and charging at 15W.

Also on the back is an HDMI port and a DisplayPort, although both can’t be used at the same time. If two connections are present, the latter will take precedent. Thankfully, either of these ports can be used in conjunction with one of the Thunderbolt 5 ports for dual-display setups. Unfortunately, though, the Prime Docking Station can’t support three external monitors.

Rounding out the rear interfaces are two USB-A ports, each of which is capable of data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps. On the left side you’ll find TF and SD card readers, the latter of which accepts most form factors.

The front of the Prime Docking Station features two more USB-C ports – each with a data transfer speed of up to 10Gbps and a combined 45W output – and one more USB-A port, again capable of transferring data at 10Gbps. A 3.5mm Aux jack is also present for connecting headphones and other output devices.

The aforementioned blue light ring isn’t just for show: it also acts as a status indicator. It remains solid when the Prime Docking Station is powered on, and flashes twice when the upstream port is connected and in Thunderbolt 5 or 4 mode.

When the Prime Docking Station is running intense workloads involving high data transmission speeds, such as when gaming with high resolution monitors, a moving pattern is displayed. The light can be turned off altogether by pressing the power button once, while holding it for five seconds turns the entire unit off, which is slightly too long to be convenient in my view.

Accompanying software is available for the Prime Docking Station, but it’s very basic, used merely to download firmware updates and view the manual, which can also be downloaded as a PDF.

• Features: 4.5 / 5

Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Seamless connectivity and charging
• Minor external monitor issues
• Awkward power button

Given the spec of the Prime Docking Station, it’s no surprise overall performance is fast and seamless. One of the immediate drawbacks of this power, though, is the fact that AC power is required at all times, so you’ll need a spare outlet nearby.

The Thunderbolt 5, HDMI and Displayport interfaces all provide stable connections to external monitors, although there were a few occasions where one of my connected displays would go black for a couple of seconds before coming back. There were also times when neither one of them was recognized, requiring me to reconnect the upstreaming cable to my laptop.

However, this could be a fault of my laptop rather than with the dock, as Windows 11 devices are known to be somewhat unreliable when handling multiple displays.

(Image credit: Future)

Connected peripherals, on the other hand, worked flawlessly in my experience. Mice and keyboards worked and charged just as well as if they were connected directly, and the same can be said of the read and write speeds of the SD card I inserted into the reader.

The audio jack, however, proved somewhat of a disappointment. Low end frequencies were noticeably weaker through my headphones, and overall fidelity seemed slightly compromised, too.

When dealing with high workloads, such as … multiple USB ports simultaneously, the Prime Docking Station does produce some fan noise. Mercifully, though, this isn’t loud enough to disturb, and neither is the small amount of heat that’s generated.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station: Report card

Value

This is one expensive docking station, and only worth it for those who’ll make the most of what it has to offer.

3 / 5

Design

It’s very well engineered, but that cube shape might prove incongruous for certain setups.

3.5 / 5

Features

With plenty of ports employing the latest standards, power users should be pleased.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Peripheral connections and multi-device charging are taken in its stride, and there are only a few minor hiccups when using multiple displays.

4 / 5

Overall

The Prime Docking Station is a powerful unit, but one with a somewhat cumbersome design and a price tag that only makes sense if you plan on using it to its fullest potential.

3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 Docking Station?Buy it if...

You want good looks and build quality
It’s certainly smart and sophisticated, and feels as premium as it should do at this price.

You want powerful interfaces
The multiple Thunderbolt 5 ports will please power hungry and 6/8K dual-monitor users.

Don't buy it if...

You want something thin
It may be compact in terms of length, but it’s quite tall and thick, which might not fit so well with certain setups.

You want to save money
The Prime Docking Station is far from cheap, and unless you really need all of its power and capabilities, there are better value alternatives.

Also consider

Kensington SD5000T5 EQ
If you need Thunderbolt 5 ports but are on a tighter budget, the SD5000T5 EQ is a sound choice. This is a fast and well-made unit, as well as being versatile thanks to its 11 ports. Like the Prime Docking Station, the SD5000T5 EQ also requires power from an outlet.

Read our full Kensington SD5000T5 EQ review.

IOGear Dock Pro
Our pick as the best docking station overall, the IOGear Dock Pro is a great all-rounder. There are no less than four HDMI/DisplayPort interfaces, and it can be powered with a PSU or via a USB-C cable. We did find it can get quite hot after a while, and there’s only one USB-C port on the entire unit, but these are about the only drawbacks.

Read our full IOGear Dock Pro review.

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innocn 40C1u: 30-second review

There's no doubt that out of the box, the Innocn 40C1U is instantly impressive with its huge 40-inch 21:9 aspect ratio screen that essentially dominates the desk once it's in place. Considering the price, I was quite surprised by just how well built the screen was, and it feels by no means cheap despite coming in at almost half the price of other monitors that are similarly specced and offering 5K resolution, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB colour spaces.

Getting set up and started was simple enough, although I would highly recommend having at least an extra pair of hands to manoeuvre the monitor into place. It's not overly heavy, but it's more the size that makes it a little difficult to place on your desk, and once situated in your workspace, it does dominate.

However, because the screen itself features a very thin bezel and the metal stand and design is relatively slimline, once it's pushed up against the wall, it blends in very nicely, still enabling plenty of room on a standard-sized desk for keyboard, mouse and other accessories and peripherals.

Getting started is as straightforward as with any monitor, with the option for either HDMI, DisplayPort or, in the case of this review, USB-C connected into either a MacBook Pro M1 Max or an Asus Prime-based PC.

As the monitor flicked to life, I felt that the factory calibration was overly warm, and sure enough, checking it out with Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra and running a quick screen calibration quickly highlighted how off the initial calibration colours were. Once the screen was cooled significantly, the visuals really started to look impressive.

Compared with some of the other monitors that I've looked at that also support DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, the one thing that was noticeable was the IPS screen lacked some of the depth of tone and colour of those more expensive screens, but if you're using this for pure productivity or media production, then that really isn't going to be an issue.

The other point is that the screen is limited to 100Hz, which to be honest at 5K is still impressive, but if you're looking at gaming and you need full depth of contrast and refresh rates, then this probably isn't the best option for you, and a curved screen of a similar size is going to give you a more immersive experience.

As I went through video editing in DaVinci Resolve and photo enhancement in Adobe Photoshop, the additional real estate definitely helps with the workflow, and I found myself using a large percentage of the screen for creative applications, whilst leaving my email browser open on the right-hand side so that I could quickly check and respond to emails. This is exactly as I would do with my two-monitor setup, but here it feels a lot cleaner with just this one single monitor.

As with any of the best business monitors, there are plenty of options to adjust the screen settings and a quick delve into the onscreen display enabled me to swap from standard RGB to Adobe RGB, so that I could quickly adjust the gamma of the screen, depending on the work I was doing.

As expected, the screen does also include speakers, although firstly these aren't greatly powerful and secondly they're extremely tinny, so if you have another form of speaker, even if that's just your MacBook Pro internal speaker, then this is going to have far better audio quality than the monitor itself.

By the end of the test, I was impressed by the quality of the screen considering the price. Whilst it might not really challenge more expensive Adobe RGB creative monitors from the likes of Eizo, ViewSonic or even Apple, for the price, what's on offer here is exceptionally good and will suit most creators and coders looking for a large-scale monitor with a high-quality, clear screen and decent refresh rate.

innocn 40C1u: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $799
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Widely available

The Innocn 40C1U is widely available and can be purchased at $780 directly from the innocn.com website by clicking here. It's also available via online retailers, including Amazon.com where it's currently $750 at time of review.

• Value: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)innocn 40C1u: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Specifications

Screen Size : 40"
Resolution : 5K UWQHD (5120 x 2160 Pixels)
Display Technology : LCD
Aspect Ratio : 21:9
Refresh Rate : 100 Hz
Panel Type : IPS
Connectivity : Type C ; 2xHDMI2.0 ; DP1.4 ; 2xUSB-A ; USB-B
Brightness (Typical) : 350cd/㎡ (typ)

The price point is by no means high, considering what you're getting with this 40-inch monitor that supports Adobe RGB and a 100Hz refresh rate. When this monitor arrived, I was expecting it to be a little plasticky and limited in features.

However, from the outset, I was impressed by the overall build quality. The bezel around the outer edges is nice and slim, and when it's all assembled and sits on the desk, it has a modern aesthetic that will suit any design studio or coding office.

The huge 40-inch screen is flat, and actually, this is much better suited than curved screens when it comes to productivity. Those curved screens are better placed for gaming, giving you a more immersive experience, whereas a flat screen is better for laying out screens and for productivity, as there's no distortion of panels or the images you're adjusting.

Likewise, if you're typing, then having a purely flat screen is far easier to use. At 40 inches, it is huge; essentially, it'll give you a similar screen real estate to three 17-inch monitors placed side-by-side, but with no interruption along the horizontal, whilst the vertical is essentially the same as a 32-inch 16:9 monitor.

Considering the size, it's worth noting the pure scale of the monitor. It measures approximately 945mm x 420mm x 55mm in depth, and these measurements don't include the stand. The stand measures 230mm x 200mm for the base that sits on your desk, and the full height can go from as low as 460mm to 580mm, with a subtle tilt upwards and down as well as to the left and right, making it extremely easy to position. The monitor and stand come in at about 12kg.

There is the option for a VESA mount with the 75 x 75 fitting, but with that weight, you might find it a little tricky to mount, although it should fit most heavyweight TV mounts without issue.

When it comes to connectivity, there is a single USB-C (65W) to enable a maximum 100Hz refresh rate, then there are two HDMI 2.0 ports (100Hz max), a DisplayPort 1.4 (100Hz max), and also a few USB ports with two USB-A 3.0 ports and a single USB-B 3.0. It's also worth noting that there are speakers built into the monitor if you want a neat solution.

• Design: 5 / 5

innocn 40C1u: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Once the screen is on the desk, the 40-inch 21:9 aspect ratio is instantly impressive, and the fact that it supports a resolution of 5K QHD 5120 x 2160 pixels really does stand out. It's also good to note that it has a refresh rate of 100Hz.

As with the monitor's design, there are several connectivity options, including those highlighted above, but it's worth also noting that the USB-C port I mostly used throughout this test also offers 65W PD passthrough. This means that under general productivity use, when you're not pushing your computer too much, that's enough power to supply a MacBook Pro M1 Max to keep the battery topped up for an entire day. For most other laptops, that 65W is perfect, meaning you just need that single cable to your machine to both power it and supply the monitor with the visual data.

The standout feature aside from its pure 40-inch scale is the ultrawide colour gamut that enables rich, bright colours, especially suited to creative applications such as photography and video editing, but also good for general productivity. The monitor supports sRGB at 99%, DCI-P3 at 97%, and offers 16.7 million colours at 8-bit. It's a shame that there's no REC 709 option. So, for those looking for the best monitor for photo editing or the best monitor for video editing, in my experience this is a solid choice with an ultrawide screen.

The panel type used is IPS (In-Plane Switching), which means that from multiple angles, you get good, vibrant colour and sharp visuals. This makes it an ideal option for anyone working in a studio where several people might need to view the monitor throughout the day as you show work and collaborate.

During this review, I used the innocn 40C1u for video and photo editing as well as general productivity. That screen real estate is ideal for anyone focused on Excel, spreadsheets or word documentation. It means you don't have to quickly switch between applications as you can have them all sat side-by-side on the screen, making it far easier to work.

The 100Hz refresh rate is great to see for a creative-based monitor and will enable you to watch most videos smoothly, whilst also allowing you to play many games, although the 100Hz is a little low for competitive gaming.

Overall, for modern design, creativity and productivity, the features of the innocn 40C1u are well balanced with a good choice of colour gamut depending on the type of work you're doing and a good range of resolutions all the way up to that 5K QHD.

• Features: 4 / 5

innocn 40C1u: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

From the outset, the innocn 40C1u was quick and easy to set up despite its large size, and whilst it is heavy, one person should be able to manoeuvre it relatively easily, although an extra set of hands is always helpful with a monitor of this size, especially when mounting it to the stand.

The stand was exceptionally simple to attach, is a really good quality metal build, and offers strong support. One of the issues I was worried about with a monitor of this width was wobble when typing on the keyboard, but thankfully, the stand and base are heavy enough to reduce vibration of the screen when working.

The aesthetics of the monitor are also spot-on, with nice slim bezels and a dark matte black finish that just gives it a really good premium feel despite its relatively low price point.

Starting the monitor up, the first thing I noticed was just how warm the colours looked. Flipping through the onscreen display options, I went from the standard mode to sRGB and then onto Adobe RGB, but still wasn't satisfied that the colours had been calibrated correctly, at least not for the environment I was in.

Everything looked overly warm, which might be fine if you're watching multimedia, but if you're doing colour-critical work, you need accuracy, especially with a monitor sold for creative use. This adjustment could be done directly using the onscreen display, which is relatively easy to navigate with plenty of options. The navigation buttons are under the bottom right-hand side of the screen.

Under the professional settings, the CT settings were set to 'Warm'. This could be quickly adjusted to 'Natural' which gave a much better look, however I found that these colour settings still weren't exactly as I wanted, so I was pleased to see that there was a user-defined mode, and through there I could adjust the RGB just to cool down some of that warmth with the blue slider.

The adjustment was small but made a big difference to the quality of the colours displayed on the screen. To ensure the monitor was completely calibrated, I ran it through the Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra to fully calibrate it to the ambient colour temperature of my environment. Once done, the colours and tone of the screen instantly became far more balanced and ready for content creation.

As I used the monitor for editing, work documents, browsing the internet, watching YouTube videos (when I should have been working), and editing video in DaVinci Resolve, I was impressed with the overall sharpness of text, detail in images, and superb colour accuracy.

Visually, without hardware analysis, the screen looked superb and really highlighted the strengths of an IPS screen for creative and productivity work. OLED screens might give you more impact for blacks and contrast, which is good for gaming, whereas for pure productivity, an IPS screen is often a better option, with decent coverage of sRGB, Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces.

For creative and productivity use, the screen excelled, and I was impressed with most aspects, especially the resolution that enabled so much real estate for applications. It essentially feels like much the same as my three 27-inch monitors side-by-side, but it takes up less space and has no bezels between each section. From a practical point of view, it also means there are fewer cables needing to be plugged into the PC and the power socket.

One area worth highlighting is the built-in speakers, which are tinny and underpowered. They also seem to be mono and biased to the left-hand side of the monitor. They are okay for video calls or the odd YouTube clip, but the audio quality doesn't match the quality of the screen, and I switched to my MacBook Pro's internal speakers or my Fostex 6301B speakers.

During testing, I ran the monitor quality tests in Spyder X2 Ultra to check screen uniformity, colour accuracy and contrast, along with a few other tests. For a monitor of this size, it performed exceptionally well.

The first tests were run in standard mode, and as expected, the overall monitor rating was modest at 3.0. However, after calibration and switching to Adobe RGB, results were far better, with gamma response and contrast both scoring 5/5, and Adobe RGB colour accuracy scoring 4.5/5, making this a solid option for photographers, with an overall score of 4/5.

It's worth noting that luminance uniformity across the screen was fair, with about a 10% variation from the base across different parts of the screen, with the best uniformity in the bottom right and the brightest area in the top left. Visually, you wouldn't really notice the difference.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)innocn 40C1u: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

At the end of the test, I was impressed with the quality, from the high-quality build, thin bezels and aesthetic styling, to the fact that this monitor would sit perfectly in any high-end studio without issue. While the monitor comes in at the budget end of the creative monitor market, there's nothing cheap about the look and style, and in fact, it feels more premium than some more expensive monitors, including two high-end models I use in the studio.

When it comes to connectivity, there's a good selection from USB-C, HDMI and DisplayPort, meaning that almost any machine you want to plug in should be catered for. It's worth noting that whilst there is a DP and a USB-C cable in the box, there is no HDMI cable.

In use, that extra real estate and 21:9 aspect ratio are a real benefit, especially for creative work. As I'm presently editing a film at 21:9 using anamorphic lenses, the ability to watch that footage at full resolution and aspect ratio really adds to the cinematic depth of the piece I'm working on.

I also like that once calibrated, the monitor's onscreen colours matched the output on our printers, with a very good match on tone and contrast.

Where this monitor falls short is with gaming and some media playback. While TV programmes and films look fine, the 100Hz refresh and lack of deep blacks you get from OLED will be a limitation for gaming. In all other situations, this monitor is spot-on and an ideal option for content creators and anyone looking for additional real estate for productivity.

Should I buy a innocn 40C1u?

Value

Very good considering the screen size, resolution and build quality

5

Design

A slimline design makes this large monitor seem less dominant in the office

4.5

Features

A good balance of features considering the price, just let down by weak built-in speakers

4

Performance

Generally superb performance with some variation in screen luminosity, but otherwise superb colour tone and vibrancy

4

Overalls

A great all-round monitor for content creators and productivity, but less suited to gaming

4

Buy it if...

You want a single massive screen for creative work

Which da Vinci would solve the open? The fact that everything was clear and easy to see on one huge screen with plenty of real estate to make adjustments just made the workflow that much easier.

You want accurate colours and wide colour gamut coverage

Adjusting images on this large screen was far easier, being able to see the image at 100% and knowing that the Adobe RGB colour space was showing you accurate onscreen colour that will be reproduced elsewhere.

Don't buy it if...

You have a small or shallow desk.

The desk in my main studio is rather small, and the size of this monitor is almost a meter, completely dominating the space.

You want ultra-high refresh rates for competitive gaming

100 Hz is a pretty good refresh rate for creativity, when it comes to gaming, you really do need to push that to at least 144 Hz to get smooth action graphics.

For more top picks, we've reviewed the best ultrawide monitors.

• A new report outlines changes to the Apple Watch 12
• We could get new sensors and an exterior redesign
• The wearable won't be launching until September 2026

It looks likely that the Apple Watch 11 will be unveiled sometime next month, if Apple sticks to its usual schedule, but a new report suggests that its 2026 successor is going to feature a pretty significant redesign.

This tip comes from a report in DigiTimes (via MacRumors), based on supply chain sources, although we don't get too much information about what it might involve – and this isn't a device that has changed much in terms of its looks through the years.

The article does mention an increased number of sensors, presumably for more accurate health and fitness tracking, or perhaps to add to the metrics that can be tracked. These additional sensors may form part of the redesign.

In the past we've heard rumors of an Apple Watch with a camera and an Apple Watch with a touch-sensitive glass frame, but these potential upgrades aren't specifically mentioned in the latest reporting from DigiTimes.

Battery boost

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Image credit: Future)

The new article also mentions improved power efficiency too, which hopefully means we can look forward to better battery life with the Apple Watch 12, and perhaps the Apple Watch Ultra 4 (the Apple Watch Ultra 3 should arrive this year).

In terms of this year's model, the report does say that the Apple Watch 11 will be getting some Apple Intelligence features. However, based on what we've seen of watchOS 26, it seems likely that these will mostly be managed on a connected iPhone.

Given what DigiTimes is predicting for 2026, it seems the Apple Watch 11 might be a more minor upgrade. The publication does have a mixed track record for Apple gadget predictions though, so bear that in mind.

We'll no doubt get plenty more leaks and rumors about the Apple Watch 12 over the course of the next year, but before that we've got the Apple Watch 11, which should appear alongside the iPhone 17 handsets at some point in September.

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• DaaS could be more effective than laptops for 95% of workers by 2027
• Hosted machines are twice as popular as they were in 2019
• DaaS spending could grow to $6bn by 2029

New Gartner research has suggested hosted PCs, otherwise known as Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS), are now cheaper to operate than on-prem business laptops.

By 2027, Gartner expects DaaS to be cost-effective for around 95% of the workforce, up from 40% in 2019, with more users set to use hosted machines as their main workspace as a result (20%, compared with 10% in 2019).

However, for the time being, most organizations only deploy DaaS to a minority of employees to assist with securing remote work. But a growing emphasis on cost, operational efficiency and sustainability could change this.

More companies are considering DaaS

Gartner predicts DaaS spending to grow from $4.3 billion in 2025 to $6.0 billion in 2029, thanks to the fact that the total cost of ownership has now dropped below laptops for many use cases, especially with thin clients.

"DaaS solutions allow remote workers, offshore workers, third-party employees, contractors, frontline workers and office workers to access virtual desktops hosted in the cloud," Gartner explained.

Microsoft was rated as a top leader, with strengths in digital workplace, cloud and AI, and products including Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Microsoft Dev Box.

For Microsoft in particular, Gartner estimates that 60% of its DaaS clients belong to mid-sized organizations (100-4,999 employees), with larger companies (5,000+ employees) accounting for 30% and just 10% coming from smaller orgs (up to 99 employees).

"Gartner rarely speaks to an organization that is planning to deploy a new on-premises VDI solution. Net-new deployments are almost exclusively using DaaS, and on-premises deployments are either migrating to DaaS or moving to a cloud control plane, except for a few land-locked use cases," the company concluded.

Looking ahead, businesses are now looking into the cost-efficiency benefits of DaaS with scaling opportunities further amplifying the potential savings.

However, as a relatively small portion of the overall PC market that's in its early stages with limited regulation, there raises some questions around vendor lock-in and licensing complexity, meaning that early adopters could have to put up with headaches until regulators weigh in.

Via The Register

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Immigration arrests falter in July after a big push for mass deportations in June. Activists in sanctuary jurisdictions hope their resistance plays a role.

(Image credit: Martin Kaste)

Campfire Audio Relay: Two-minute review

Campfire Audio of Portland, Oregon is not, on the face of it, the most likely company to start competing in the portable USB headphone amp/DAC market. After all, this is a company that revels in doing things its own way, and with a product like this, there’s little scope for individualism.

So the Relay is an unremarkable-looking device by the company’s standards, but it’s certainly compact and well-made enough to compete. Between its AKM 4493 SEQ DAC chip with wide file and resolution compatibility, and its choice of balanced or unbalanced analog outputs, though, it’s specified to a high standard, too. Its basic user interface doesn’t give any indication of the resolution of the file that’s playing, though, which looks a bit remedial against its most obvious and most capable rivals.

In action, the Relay is a revealing, organized, nicely unified listen, one that’s endlessly forthright for better or for worse. Its upfront nature suits some recordings much more than it suits others, it must be said, and while there’s always a market for a hefty dose of sonic excitement it’s not the sort of attitude that automatically lends itself to long listening sessions.

One of the best portable DACs around? Maybe more 'best of the rest', but certainly one to consider if you can road test it first.

Oh, it's red and no mistake (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Campfire Audio Relay review: Price and release date

• Release date: July 2025
• Price: $229 / £229 / AU$399

The Campfire Audio Relay USB headphone amp/DAC is on sale now, and in the company's native United States it costs $229. In the United Kingdom it's £229, while in Australia it goes for AU$399.

Of course, it’s not as if the Relay is your only choice. We’ve heard and enjoyed alternatives from the likes of Audioquest, Helm and iFi lately, so the Campfire Audio has some stiff competition.

Campfire Audio Relay review: Features

• AKM 4493 SEQ DAC
• Balanced and unbalanced outputs
• DSD and PCM 32bit/768kHz

Products such as this tend to have quite a restricted feature-set. And while this is also true of the Relay, what it’s got is right on the money.

Digital audio information comes in via the USB-C 2.0 slot on the top of the device. From there it’s delivered to an AKM 4493 SEQ DAC chipset that Campfire Audio alighted on for its “analog warmth” and “incredible tonality”. It’s capable of dealing with DSD and PCM content of up to 32bit/768kHz resolution, which really should be plenty.

Once the AKM has converted it, the analog information is output via one of two low-noise, high-output drivers – one feeds a single-ended 3.5mm output, the other a 4.4mm balanced alternative, both of which are on the bottom of the Relay.

Features score: 5 / 5

Note the 'wings' (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Campfire Audio Relay review: Design

• 57 x 23 x 10mm (HxWxD)
• Aluminum casework
• Only one finish available

In an admirable show of restraint, Campfire Audio has delivered a portable USB headphone amp/DAC that’s identifiably a portable USB headphone amp/DAC. It can’t have been easy – remember, this is a company that takes every opportunity to go to town where the design of its products is concerned.

About the Relay's only flourish is a little bit of angularity and asymmetry to the anodized aluminum casework. Campfire Audio provides a microfiber cloth and padded pouch to keep the finish in tip-top condition.

The casework itself is a usefully tidy 57 x 23 x 10mm (HxWxD) and the rear panel (which is made of plastic) features a little window affording a glimpse of the AKM DAC chip.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

Everything in its right place… (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Campfire Audio review: Sound quality

• Forward, direct presentation
• Good tonal balance
• Endlessly upfront audio balance can be fatiguing

Connected to an Apple MacBook Pro via USB-C and with a pair of Sennheiser IE900 IEMs inserted to the 4.4mm output, the Campfire Audio Relay proves – not especially surprisingly – to offer a considerable improvement over the audio performance the laptop can muster by itself. In some ways, the upgrade is quite dramatic.

A 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of My Crud Princess by No Joy delivered by the Tidal app illustrates the point explicitly. The Relay is a forward, very positive listen that’s able to reveal a lot of detail in the recording – it has a good facility for giving even the more transient, fleeting occurrences the correct amount of weighting and puts them into convincing context. Its presentation is reasonably spacious (though its direct character means there’s not the greatest amount of ‘front/back’ space on the otherwise well-defined soundstage), and it ensures every element gets the sort of elbow room it needs in order to express itself.

The tonal balance is judicious, even if Campfire Audio’s suggestion that it’s “incredible” is stretching things a bit. Frequency response, too, is very nicely judged. From the top of the frequency range down to the bottom, the Relay is even-handed and plays no favorites. Low-frequency stuff is deep and solid, with good shape to bass sounds and sufficient control to attack that momentum levels are high and rhythms are described naturalistically.

The impressive control of attack and decay applies throughout the frequency range, in fact, which allows the Relay to present recordings of all types in a convincingly unified manner. It’s especially adept through the midrange, where voices in particular are packed with information regarding character and attitude as well as tone and texture.
Problems, such as they are, stem from the Campfire Audio’s default attitude of drive, attack and endless positivity. This direct and unequivocal nature is quite exciting on first acquaintance, and undeniably so when you’re listening to something like Da Funk by Daft Punk, but over time it’s a stance that can become quite wearying.

‘A good time all the time,’ can take its toll, and the Relay’s inability to relax or even ease back just a little, even when playing something as pastoral as Peter Broderick’s And It’s Alright, means you’re likely to become fatigued sooner rather than later.

Sound quality score: 4 / 5

The bulk of my testing was done with the Sennheiser IE900 or the Austrian Audio 'The Composer' (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Campfire Audio review: Usability & setup

• Wide compatibility with source players…
• Although earlier Windows devices will require a driver
• Rudimentary user interface

On the front panel there’s a company logo that glows red when the Relay is operating, and blinks in a shade of lilac when any changes are made via the control buttons.

There’s one button on the right edge of the Relay - it deals with ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’ and can toggle between ‘high gain’ and ‘low gain’. Two buttons on the left edge handle ‘volume up’ and ‘volume down’ - press and hold both at the same time and the device begins to cycle through its six different filter settings.

Campfire Audio recommends filter #5 (super slow roll-off) for optimal performance, which does rather make me wonder what the point of the other five settings is. It also recommends setting the volume of your source device to ‘maximum’ and then using the Relay to control volume – it has 60 volume increments, so you shouldn’t have too much difficulty getting to exactly the output level you’d like.

The company includes a 6cm length of braided, branded USB-C to USB-C cable to connect the Relay to your laptop or smartphone. The Relay is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Android and iOS devices, though Windows 7/8 will require a driver to be downloaded.

Usability & setup score: 4/5

This white light (for aptX Lossless) was oddly hard to come by when using sources able to handle it… (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Campfire Audio Relay review: Value

This is a lot of money for not much stuff, it’s true, but the effect this minimal amount of stuff can have on the music you’re listening to can be quite profound.

Value score: 4/5

Note the new 'rails' on the casework to help with cooling (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Should you buy Campfire Audio Relay?Buy it if...

You have an ordinary laptop or smartphone
The Relay will turn it into a viable source of music.

You own some half-decent headphones…
…especially if they have a 4.4mm balanced connection option. The Campfire Audio will absolutely help make the most of them.

You like an upbeat kind of sound
There’s a perkiness and a forwardness to the Relay’s interpretation of music that's bordering on the relentless.

Don't buy it if...

Your iOS device has a Lightning connector
Campfire Audio says, “Lightning connection features a power-limiting mechanism that restricts the performance of your Relay.”

You’re interested in knowing the resolution of the file you’re listening to
You can find out, of course, but only by looking at your source player. The Relay won’t tell you.

You’re no Henry Ford
You can have any colour of Campfire Audio Relay you like as long as it’s black.

Campfire Audio Relay review: Also consider

Helm Audio Bolt
The Helm is not quite as impressively specified as the Relay, but it’s a very effective little device nevertheless. And it’s usefully cheaper than the Campfire Audio.
Read our in-depth Helm Audio Bolt review to learn more

iFi GO Link Max
More affordable still is the iFi GO Link Max, and on a pound-for-pound basis it remains the best USB headphone amp/DAC around. iFi knows exactly what’s what where products like this are concerned.
Read our full iFi GO Link Max review

iFi makes strong design choices and you love to see it (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)How I tested the Campfire Audio Relay review:

• Various headphones
• Various audio file types and sizes
• Various sources of music

I didn’t use it all day every day, but I kept the Campfire Audio Relay connected to either my FiiO M15S Digital Audio Player or my Apple MacBook Pro for well over a week, which is more than enough time to establish what it’s capable of.

I listened to lots of different types of music, in various file types and of lots of different resolutions, and I listened both indoors and outdoors.

I used expensive IEMs via the 4.4mm balanced output and absolutely bog-standard over-ear headphones connected to the 3.5mm unbalanced output.

• Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2025

• DeepSeek delays R2 launch due to persistent technical difficulties with Huawei Ascend chips
• Nvidia H20 systems remain more reliable for AI training than domestic Ascend hardware
• Alibaba’s Qwen3 exploits DeepSeek’s delays, incorporating core algorithms while improving efficiency and flexibility

Chinese AI giant DeepSeek has apparently encountered unexpected delays in releasing its latest model, R2, after facing persistent technical difficulties with Huawei’s Ascend chips.

The company had been encouraged by Chinese authorities to adopt domestic processors instead of relying on Nvidia’s H20 systems, which are generally regarded as more mature and reliable.

Despite Huawei engineers being on-site to assist, DeepSeek could not complete a successful training run using Ascend chips - and as a result, the company relied on Nvidia hardware for training while using Ascend for inference tasks.

Technical challenges delay R2 development

The R2 launch, originally scheduled for May 2025, was postponed due to these technical obstacles and longer-than-expected data labeling for the updated training dataset.

DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the model’s progress, emphasizing the need for additional development time to produce a model capable of maintaining DeepSeek’s competitive edge.

Meanwhile, competitors like Alibaba’s Qwen3 were able to take advantage of this delay, as it has incorporated DeepSeek’s core training algorithms while improving efficiency and flexibility, showing how rapidly AI ecosystems can evolve even when a single startup struggles.

Beijing’s broader push for AI self-sufficiency has placed pressure on domestic firms to adopt local hardware.

In practice, however, this strategy has revealed gaps in stability, inter-chip connectivity, and software maturity between Huawei chips and Nvidia products.

Developers continue to play a crucial role in shaping the success of AI ecosystems - Nvidia has emphasized maintaining access to Chinese developers is strategically important, warning that restricting technology adoption could harm economic and national security interests.

Chinese AI companies, meanwhile, must balance government pressures with practical realities in developing and deploying LLMs.

Despite these setbacks, DeepSeek’s R2 model may still be released in the coming weeks.

The model is likely to face scrutiny regarding its performance relative to rivals trained on more mature hardware, offering a clear example of the tension between political ambitions, technical capability, and real-world AI deployment.

Via Arstechnica

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Wix

Wix offers a fast yet flexible way to build your site. You get thousands of templates, an easy drag-and-drop editor, and powerful security. AI tools make setup super simple. We can see why many businesses prefer its features and freedom to customize.

Pros

• Huge template library
• Flexible drag-and-drop editor
• Powerful built-in features
• AI site builder
• Strong app market

Cons

• Higher monthly price
• Can’t change template later
• Overwhelming choices
• No email support
• Slower performance at times

Weebly

Weebly makes website building simple for everyone. It’s very affordable and its editor is easy to learn. You get free ecommerce on the basic plan, although many design features are limited as Weebly has not received updates since its acquisition by Square.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Unlimited free plan
• Free ecommerce option
• Simple drag-and-drop editor
• Easy setup process

Cons

• Fewer template choices
• Outdated design features
• Limited customization
• Mobile editing not supported
• Rarely updated platform

Building a business website today is simpler than ever. We have many accessible no-code platforms at our fingertips, designed for people who aren't coding experts. These website builders let anyone create a functional and good-looking site without needing to learn how to code.

Wix and Weebly are both popular options for beginners in 2025. But the differences matter quite a lot. Wix has endless features, flexible editing, and strong AI tools. Weebly is affordable and easier for small shops, but many features feel outdated. We’re going to break down what’s great, what’s not, and help you choose the best fit.

Wix vs Weebly: A detailed breakdown

Feature

Wix

Weebly

Starting price: USD/month

$17

$10

Free plan: Yes/No

Yes

Yes

Templates

2,000+ highly customizable

50+ basic options

Editor type

Flexible drag-and-drop, AI builder

Simple drag-and-drop

Ecommerce features

Advanced (paid plan needed)

Free on basic plan

Mobile editing

Yes

No

SEO tools

Advanced and customizable

Basic guides only

Customer support

Solid, but no email support

24/7 only on premium

Apps/Integrations

800+ options

350+ options

AI features

Yes, AI website builder

None

Customization

High design freedom

Low customization power

Performance

Sometimes slow

Fast, but very basic

Both Wix and Weebly are designed with ease of use in mind. However, Wix may have an edge when it comes to user-friendliness. The platform features an intuitive editor that makes it easy to add content and design your website exactly how you want it. Weebly’s editor is also straightforward to use, but it doesn’t offer quite as much flexibility as Wix.

When it comes to templates, both Wix and Weebly offer a good selection of modern and professional- designs. However, Wix arguably has the edge when it comes to template quality and variety. So, if you’re looking for more choices when it comes to designing your website, Wix is the better option.

Additionally, Wix and Weebly offer a good selection of features to help you build a professional-looking website. However, Wix offers more advanced features than Weebly, such as an app market, password-protected pages and the ability to sell products on your website. 

Wix vs Weebly: Features

Weebly has a traditional drag-and-drop interface that's easy to use but very restrictive. Meanwhile, Wix uses a more modern approach that relies on AI, templates, and drag-and-drop components to help you create websites. Weebly offers about 500 templates while Wix has over 2,000. Also, Wix's templates are more recent, with better design and accessibility.

Wix and Weebly both offer a wide range of features, including e-commerce, contact forms, and social media integration. However, Wix tends to have way more unique and innovative features, such as the Wix App Market and the Wix AI.

Weebly has an HTML/CSS editor for advanced customization, but very limited built-in flexibility. Wix also has an HTML/CSS editor, but it's also got many more tools for no-code development plus more recent updates to its platform. However, Weebly does have a fully free starter plan with no time restrictions and functional ecommerce features, which is absent with Wix. This is incredibly rare since most no-code tools charge for ecommerce features.

So, which platform is better? Wix has the clear higher ground here, but if youjust want an easy-to-use platform with a generous free plan, Weebly is a good choice. Just know that you won't have as much room to grow once you decide to upgrade to paid tiers for better scalability.

Wix vs Weebly: Ease of use 

Weebly is known for its ease of use. The platform’s editor makes adding content and creating pages simple. You can drag and drop elements onto your pages with ease, plus you don’t need any coding skills to create a top quality website. Since the options here are very limited, you could say that this platform is a better playground for beginners who haven't used these tools before.

Wix also has an easy-to-use editor, but it is not as simple as Weebly’s. Wix’s editor can be a bit confusing and overwhelming for first-time users, since it packs way more into its interface. It takes some time to get used to the platform, but once you do, you can create stunning websites that won't be possible with Weebly.

Wix vs Weebly: Support

Wix delivers solid support. It’s got a huge help center, tons of video walkthroughs, live chat, and phone support for premium users. Our experience shows answers are quick, especially if you pay for their higher plans. The only catch: you can’t get direct email support anymore. Social channels step in for fast fixes.

Weebly covers the basics with a detailed knowledge center and community forums. Most help comes from help articles or the integrated support button. You get live chat and phone support, but only if you pay for their upper plans. Free users might wait longer for help.

In general, Wix offers better customer support than Weebly. Both platforms are good at providing timely and helpful assistance when you need it, but the former is more complex and therefore features a more efficient support ecosystem.

Wix vs Weebly: Pricing and plans

Wix and Weebly both start free if you just want a basic site. Wix’s paid tiers begin at $17/month and go up to about $152/month. The most entry-level plan (Core) is $17/month, still giving you plenty: custom domain, lots of storage, and basic ecommerce tools. Want better features or top analytics? You’ll pay more.

Weebly makes pricing simpler. Paid plans are $10/month (Personal), $12/month (Professional), and $26/month (Performance). Even the cheapest one lets you sell products online for free, which is rare. You get fewer templates and not as many add-ons, but the website works.

We’ve found Wix offers much more for businesses wanting features and flexibility, but costs add up faster. Weebly saves you money and lets you try e-commerce without risk, yet it isn’t as robust. Serious businesses or those needing growth tools should spend for Wix, while smaller shops or simple sites will be happy with Weebly.

Weebly wins for budget users, Wix for those needing a richer site and more features.

Wix vs Weebly: Final verdict

Wix is the clear winner for 2025. It brings advanced features, powerful AI tools, and unmatched freedom to customize your site. We’ve seen Wix consistently improve its platform, staying ahead with fresh updates and solid support. If you want the best website builder for creative control, design, or scaling your business, Wix is your go-to.

Weebly still deserves a look, especially for beginners and budget-focused users. Its free eCommerce features and simple editor make it ideal if you just want a functional site with no fuss. We can say Wix wins for most, but Weebly is better if affordability and fast setup matter most to you.

Wix vs Weebly: FAQsWhich builder is easier for beginners — Wix or Weebly?

Weebly takes the crown for ease. Its editor keeps things simple, guiding you through site creation step by step. You don’t need any web know-how. Wix is more powerful but can feel overwhelming if you’re brand new to site building. Wix’s new AI builder does help, but Weebly still wins for pure UI simplicity.

Can I sell online using Wix and Weebly’s free plans?

Weebly lets you start selling products with its free plan. You get solid ecommerce basics without spending a cent. Wix, on the other hand, requires you to upgrade to a paid plan before you can open an online shop. This gives Weebly a big edge for budget-conscious sellers starting out.

Is Wix worth the higher price compared to Weebly?

If you want rich features, AI design, and lots of customization, Wix’s extra cost is justified. We know Wix isn’t cheap, but you get great value. Weebly remains the budget pick, especially for small sites or basic shops. But for most businesses aiming to grow, Wix pays off over time. For personal projects or local shops, Weebly keeps things very affordable.

Which platform offers better design flexibility?

Wix is far more flexible. Its editor lets you move anything, anywhere, no grid lock or restrictions. You can pick from thousands of templates and tweak every detail. Weebly’s templates are fewer and its editor keeps you within the lines. If creative freedom matters, Wix is the choice.

How do support options compare in 2025?

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You can stream the Marvel flick later this month.

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, August 16 (game #1300).

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 #1301) - hint #1 - VowelsHow 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 #1301) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1301) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1301) - 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 #1301) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• F

• A

• D

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1301) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1301, are…

• FUNGI
• AMITY
• DRIER
• CHECK

Another day where I struggled to find my final word and thought about entering an incorrect one – it was going to be “admit” – just to keep the game moving and attempt to turn a few letters green.

AMITY was an experiment as it sounded like a word (as well as the town in Jaws) but it turned out to be correct (it means friendly relations).

Daily Sequence today (game #1301) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1301, are…

• PUFFY
• WEIGH
• SHEIK
• STRIP

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1300, Saturday, 16 August: OWING, QUAKE, SLIDE, ELITE
• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY
• Quordle #1289, Tuesday, 5 August: ROAST, SLICK, AUDIT, BILLY
• Quordle #1288, Monday, 4 August: MACAW, SINCE, COLON, CHIRP
• Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST
• Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE
• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, August 16 (game #797).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #798) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PRESS
• CLOSE
• WELCOME
• STAMP
• OPEN
• SPEECH
• HANDY
• ADDRESS
• PETITION
• ENVELOPE
• PUSH
• ACCESSIBLE
• NAME
• NEARBY
• ASSEMBLY
• EXIT

NYT Connections today (game #798) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Local places
• GREEN: Put it in the post
• BLUE: Seen at an entrance 
• PURPLE: Protected by the US Constitution

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #798) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: CONVENIENTLY LOCATED
• GREEN: NEEDS FOR SENDING A LETTER 
• BLUE: WORDS ON A DOOR 
• PURPLE: FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS

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

NYT Connections today (game #798) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #798, are…

• YELLOW: CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ACCESSIBLE, CLOSE, HANDY, NEARBY
• GREEN: NEEDS FOR SENDING A LETTER ADDRESS, ENVELOPE, NAME, STAMP
• BLUE: WORDS ON A DOOR EXIT, OPEN, PUSH, WELCOME
• PURPLE: FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS ASSEMBLY, PETITION, PRESS, SPEECH

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 mistake

I made one mistake today and it came from rushing to put together a quartet before properly considering all 16 tiles. 

Thinking I was collecting words linked to pressure on an opposing team, I grouped together PRESS, CLOSE, PUSH and ADDRESS.

I abandoned this pursuit and studied the board a bit more carefully immediately seeing NEEDS FOR SENDING A LETTER and then FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS, something I’m surprised warranted being a purple group.

The oddity of the round for me was completely overlooking the yellow group – something on reflection I really should have seen ahead of anything else.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, August 16, game #797)

• YELLOW: INTREPIDITY FORTITUDE, GRIT, PLUCK, RESOLVE
• GREEN: RENOVATIONS CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS, UPGRADES, WORK
• BLUE: TROUNCE CREAM, CRUSH, ROUT, SHELLAC
• PURPLE: KINDS OF SOFT/LIGHTWEIGHT PAPER CREPE, ROLLING, TISSUE, TOILET

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

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, August 16 (game #531).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Think again!

NYT Strands today (game #532) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TINT
• GRAIN
• STEER
• FILTH
• TRIVIA
• TUNA

NYT Strands today (game #532) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #532) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 4th column

Last side: top, 6th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #532) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #532, are…

• CREATIVITY
• FEELINGS
• SPONTANEITY
• INTUITION
• SPANGRAM: RIGHT BRAIN

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The day after giving us the theme of left brain with a spangram running down the left of the puzzle, today Strands followed it up with RIGHT BRAIN. 

Activities associated with this side of our brains are those that involve visual-spatial processing and imagination, whereas the left involve logical, analytical, and sequential processing (I engaged the center of my brain – which I like to call 'Google' – to bring you these facts).

Despite the tricky words – SPONTANEITY always trips me up – this was a relatively easy puzzle to complete, but a worthwhile exercise all the same, as it’s always nice to be reminded about the wonder of our brains and the multitudes they contain.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, August 16, game #531)

• LOGIC
• ANALYSIS
• LANGUAGE
• NUMBERS
• ORDER 
• REASON
• SPANGRAM: LEFT BRAIN

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.

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