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The Molekule Air Mini+ is a small but innovatively designed air purifier. It boasts medical-grade materials and patented PECO filter technology, using UV radiation to help further destroy airborne pollutants.

I tested it to see whether it could compete with our pick of the best air purifiers on the market. It's simple to use and has an aesthetically pleasing app, but the only data that gets recorded is the air quality, in a range running from Good to Very Bad. This means that, unlike some cheaper air purifiers, there's no breakdown of the type of particles contaminating the air. In addition, the Molekule Air Mini+ can't detect VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making it hard for this purifier to tackle odors without manual intervention.

Note: the Pro version of this purifier does detect VOCs and is particularly good at tackling odors, but that model is significantly bulkier and more expensive (read my Molekule Air Pro review for more on that one). Alternatively, read on for my full Molekule Air Mini review below.

Molekule Air Mini+ review: price & availability

• List price: $359.99
• Only available in the US at present

At $359.99, the Molekule Air Mini+ isn’t cheap. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this must mean it’s packed with features, but Molekule has kept things seemingly simple with this model. Perhaps too simple, in my opinion, as cheaper alternatives can give more detailed readings.

What this purifier does have in comparison to these lower-priced alternatives, however, is patented PECO technology. This allegedly breaks down organic matter at a molecular level. While I can neither confirm nor deny that this is accurate, this, along with the use of medical-grade polycarbonate, would go some way to explain why the price point is as high as it is.

But I found myself asking: is this quality filter being used to its full potential if the Air Mini+ can't detect VOCs in order to respond appropriately in the first place?

The Air Mini+ is available to purchase directly from the Molekule website and on Amazon, but only in the US at present.

• Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Molekule Air Mini+ review specs Molekule Air Mini+ review: design

• Simple aesthetic
• Redundant handle
• One-button control

Air purifiers can vary aesthetically: some look utilitarian while others make a statement, and the Molekule Air Mini+ sits somewhere in the middle. It has some fancy little design elements but, overall, I’ve gotta say, it’s kinda giving bathroom trash can vibes. That being said, it is at least a fairly compact size, standing at 12 inches tall, with a diameter of just over 8 inches. It’s surprisingly heavy for its size, weighing 7.3 lb, which is 4.8 ounces heavier than the much larger Shark NeverChange air purifier.

The white medical grade polycarbonate outer has a textured matte finish, with the word Molekule inlaid in shiny silver. On the right-hand side, a somewhat redundant tan-colored vegan leather handle is fixed in place by a large silver metal pin. It wasn’t easy or practical to carry it around using this, so it appears to be more of a design choice to keep it in line with the design concept of its larger sibling, the Molekule Air Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s an inset gray band toward the bottom of the unit where the base meets the top section, and slanted gray slats at the top of the purifier circling the gray touch panel in the center. The control panel is subtle as no lights are on show until you touch the center to awaken the purifier. This center button is used to turn the power on and off, cycle through Auto Protect and manual fan modes, and reset the Air Mini+. In the middle of this button is the indicator light for the air quality in the room, it shows green for good, yellow for moderate, red for bad, and blue for very bad.

(Image credit: Future)

A series of white dots indicate the fan level, so one dot for the lowest fan speed, and five for the highest. It also shows an interlinked symbol when it’s in Auto Protect mode. There’s a Wi-Fi symbol that flashes up upon startup or if there are connectivity issues and a filter symbol that communicates the filter’s health.

In terms of packaging, the Air Mini+ comes in a shipping-style corrugated cardboard box, with consideration going into the cardboard fitments, eliminating the need for single-use materials like polystyrene. For extra protection, the purifier comes in a good-quality reusable drawstring bag.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Molekule Air Mini+ review: features

• Aesthetically pleasing app
• Lacking detailed air quality data
• Impressive (but expensive) filter

The Air Mini+ is compatible with the Molekule app, which has an attractive and easy-to-use interface with a cool-toned color palette and animations. Despite the app being simple to use, setting up the Wi-Fi connection was a bit of a headache, but I’ll regale my woes further in the performance section.

Once everything was connected, the Purifier tab on the app told me what the current IAQ was, from good to very bad. From this tab, I could also change between Auto Protect mode, or manually select a fan speed from one to five. There's also a percentage rating to show the PECO-Filter condition: when pressed, it provides further information on the filter capabilities and details on how to change it. In the More tab, you can connect to Alexa, add more air purifiers to the app, and enable or disable notifications.

(Image credit: Future)

The Indoor Air tab shows a timed graph spanning 24 hours or one week. Unlike this purifier’s larger (and much more expensive) sibling the Molekule Air Pro, there is very limited information provided by the Air Mini+. You simply see a graph that notes the IAQ using the same color-coded system as shown on the purifier itself, and the length of time the air quality was at that level. There's no details on whether the IAQ was affected by dust particles, pollen, smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and so on. Perhaps this is enough information for some users, but when air purifiers that cost at least $100 less can provide more detail, it’s quite disappointing that the readings are so basic from the Air Mini+.

(Image credit: Future)

The Molekule Air Mini+ has received FDA clearance and is classed as a device intended for medical purposes. It’s stated that it can capture 95% of particulate matter and destroy bacteria and viruses by exposing them to ultraviolet radiation – though only when in manual mode on fan speed three or above.

The Air Mini+ comes with a PECO-HEPA Tri-Power Filter, which Molekule states can destroy bacteria, mold and allergens, and reduce odors and toxic gasses, with a 99.97% particle-capture efficiency rate. Molekule recommends changing the filter every six months, which doesn’t sound excessive, but it’s important to note that a replacement filter costs $99.99, or $79.99 if you subscribe to bi-annual deliveries.

• Features score: 3 out of 5

Molekule Air Mini+ review: performance

• Buggy Wi-Fi connectivity
• IAQ tracking not accurate
• Does not clear odors automatically

Having tried out many lower-cost purifiers and the Air Mini+’s highly talented sibling, I expected great things from this little purifier. The results from everyday use didn’t blow me away, unfortunately.

Upon initial setup at home, I couldn’t connect the Air Mini+ to my iPhone 12 Pro. I found that I needed to manually go into my Wi-Fi settings to find the Molekule Wi-Fi the purifier was trying to connect to. This action wasn’t prompted or made clear; on the app, a button just appeared asking to connect to the Molekule network, which would then throw up an error saying that it was unable to join. Once I’d discovered that I needed to join this network manually, my phone connected to the purifier.

Sadly, this wasn’t the end of the frustration. When it came to connecting the Air Mini+ to my Wi-Fi router, I was left with the spinning wheel of doom until I had to give up. I tried resetting the purifier, reinstalling the app, and restarting the Wi-Fi, but to no avail. I ended up admitting defeat late in the evening, which meant that even though the Air Mini+ was running overnight, it was not collecting any data. The only indication of the air quality was the colored indicator light on the top of the unit, which turns off until you touch it, so it wasn't easily visible from my bed. It’s unusual not to have Bluetooth backup available. I found this alternative connectivity option helpful when the lower-priced Welov P200 Pro wouldn’t connect to Wi-Fi, as at least it could still record data and be controllable as long as the device was in range.

(Image credit: Future)

I decided to test the syncing process with our OnePlus Pad Go, to see if this was an iOS, app, or firmware issue. Upon installing the Molekule app, it became clear that it wasn’t optimized for Android tablets, or certainly not in this instance anyway. The Auto Protect and Manual button on the Purifier tab went beyond the edges of the screen, and the chart in the Indoor Air tab didn't display properly, in either screen orientation. I couldn't use the OnePlus Pad Go to connect the Air Mini+ to the Molekule app again, as the page was too large for the screen, so it wasn't possible to go through the connection process.

When I tried to connect it to the Wi-Fi in the office the next morning, it was the same fun and games, until eventually, the app said that there was an issue connecting to the network and to try to reconnect. When I pressed the button to continue, it successfully connected to Wi-Fi and I was able to name my purifier on the app. I had the same issue when setting up the Molekule Air Pro, but it surrendered much quicker than the Air Mini+.

The biggest issue with the Wi-Fi not connecting was that, despite the price, the Air Mini+ doesn’t use Bluetooth, so if you can’t connect over Wi-Fi, the IAQ isn’t tracked and you can’t adjust settings hands-free.

One element that's been a cause of irritation for myself and my colleagues is that when switching between manual mode and Auto Protect, the fan speed builds up to its highest (and loudest) setting, even when the air quality is good. This isn’t great at the best of times, but if you’ve forgotten to set it onto auto when your baby is napping, or you’re in a quiet shared office, say, it’s very inconvenient. It was particularly off-putting when going to bed late at night, as it became more apparent to me that it took the fan some time to reduce to its final speed when I put it onto auto, even though it had only been on manual for a moment and the IAQ was good, meaning that the fan noise is loud for longer than it needs to be.

(Image credit: Molekule)

When using it in the TechRadar reviews office, the readings did not correspond with the Molekule Air Pro I had running simultaneously. The Air Pro detected a substantial drop in air quality on two occasions, which was when there was a lot of activity in the office. The reason that the two Molekule purifiers didn’t correspond with one another is simple – the Air Pro can detect an increase in VOC, but the Mini+ lacks this ability. While this can’t be held against the Mini+ due to the massive price difference between the two, before settling on a purifier you should consider the contaminants you want to be detected so that your purifier can react and clear the air fast.

I sprayed dry shampoo toward the Air Mini+ and it detected it quickly. The fan sped up gradually as a result, changing the IAQ from bad back to good within two minutes. The fan speed slowed gradually, even though the fragrance remained strong in the air. I manually set the purifier to full fan speed to clear the fragrance from the dry shampoo, it took the Air Mini+ about 30 minutes to clear the air. This is more than double the time it took the AiDot Welov P200 Pro, which left the air smelling fresher after just 10 minutes of running on full power.

One issue that became apparent is that the app does not always correspond with the reading on the purifier itself. When performing the dry shampoo test in the TR office it relayed the change in air quality after some time, but when I retested at home, it didn't register that the Air Mini+ was detecting bad air quality at all, relaying a fairly flatline reading of “good” over the whole day. While this isn’t the end of the world, as the purifier itself still reacted, it’s not ideal if you want to keep track of the air quality remotely or in the morning after a night's sleep, as the data does not feel reliable.

• Performance score: 2.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Molekule Air Mini+? Buy it if...

You don’t want a visible display
The light-up control panel turns off promptly following inactivity, so you’re left with what simply looks like the top panel of the air purifier.

You prefer a minimalist, Scandi design
With a simplistic color palette of white and gray and a tan-colored faux leather handle, the Air Mini+ could easily fit into many homes.

You want a simple-to-use app
Attractive and user-friendly, you can use the app to easily control the Air Mini+, review the filter life, connect to Alexa, and change notification settings.

Don't buy it if...

You want to keep noise to a minimum
Curiously, the Air Mini+ insists on increasing the fan speed to its maximum when Auto Protect mode is switched on, so if you want to change to this setting quietly, you’re out of luck.

You’re on a budget
There’s no doubt about it, this air purifier isn’t cheap. I could forgive this if it had more features or performed particularly well, but it didn’t impress any more than purifiers I’ve tested that cost $100 less.

You’d like to see what’s contaminating your air
The readings provided on the Molekule app from the Air Mini+ are disappointingly basic. Where other air purifiers can tell you the different particle types, VOCs, CO2, humidity, and so on, the Air Mini+ simply shows you whether the overall air quality was rated between good or very bad throughout the day or week.

Molekule Air Mini+ review: Also consider

Levoit Core 300S True HEPA air purifier
Less than half the price but very highly rated, we loved the Levoit Core 300S when we reviewed it, scoring it four and a half stars out of five. The readings aren’t the most detailed, only showing the PM2.5 level, but we were impressed with the performance for the cost.

Shark NeverChange Air Purifier
If the sky-high cost of the Air Mini+ replacement filters is putting you off, then the long-lasting filter capabilities of the Shark NeverChange might suit you better. Two washable DebrisDefence filters add another layer of protection, meaning that the HEPA filter could last for years.

How I tested the Molekule Air Mini+

• I used the Molekule Air Mini+ for one week
• I tested it in multiple environments
• I observed its reaction to aerosols

I tested the Molekule Air Mini+ in the TechRadar reviews office and music testing room, as well as in my bedroom at home.

I monitored how effectively it detected and purified airborne contaminants such as dust and dry shampoo, and how well it tackled the strong fragrance left by the latter.

I left it running in my bedroom overnight to determine whether it disturbed my sleep. I tested the sound levels using a sound level meter on my phone and assessed the controls and how easy it was to change the filter.

• First reviewed: August 2024
• Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee

Children are a target of identity theft for many reasons. At the top of the list is they don't typically have credit reports.

The Middle East is bracing for a wider war as Israel fights in Gaza and Lebanon, and promises a strong response to Iran's missile strikes.

(Image credit: Hassan Ammar)

A major American public healthcare provider was forced it to divert patients to other facilities after suffering a ransomware attack.

UMC Health System, or University Medical Center Health System, is a comprehensive public healthcare provider based in Lubbock, Texas. It serves as a teaching hospital for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and provides a wide range of healthcare services, including inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and specialized care.

Its website is currently offline, but BleepingComputer noted while it was still available, it displayed an announcement that the organization fell prey to a ransomware attack.

No word from the attackers

“UMC Health System recently detected unusual activity within our IT systems. Immediately after detecting this activity, our teams launched an investigation and took steps to proactively disconnect our systems to contain the incident. Through the ongoing investigation, we determined that the unusual activity was connected to a ransomware incident,” the company was cited as saying.

Ransomware attacks are an unfortunately common occurence, but they are particularly painful when targeting healthcare organizations, and even more so when those organizations are forced to scramble to keep their services going.

In this case, UMC kept its facilities open, but all emergency and non-emergency cases are being diverted elsewhere, the publication said. It's not known how many people are affected by this change, but we do know that UMC is the only Level 1 trauma center within hundreds of miles, and Lubbock alone has more than 200,000 citizens.

Furthermore, ransomware attacks are usually followed up with data theft, which could result in an even greater number of people affected. So far, no groups have taken responsibility for the attack, and UMC did not share any details, since its investigation into the matter is still ongoing. Therefore, we don’t know who is behind the attack at this time.

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Xiaomi Buds 5: Two-minute review

Like most Chinese tech companies, Xiaomi's product portfolio runs the gamut from smartphones and fitness trackers to tablets, air fryers, electric scooters and massage guns, and while you may know the company for a few of those gadgets, headphones may not be one of them. And it's true that the company has yet to feature in our roundup of the best earbuds we've tested, although we keep checking with reviews just like these. 

So while the likes of the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphones may be stealing headlines and winning hearts (we gave both 4.5/5), the Xiaomi Buds 5 have more of an uphill battle in order to win listeners over. And as you'll soon find out, the buds' favorite direction is actually 'down'.

The Xiaomi Buds 5 are new headphones that are some of Xiaomi's higher-end audio offerings, but still certainly fall into the 'best cheap headphones' category, bumping up against many options from rival audio brands as well as from market stalwarts.

There's a lot to like with the Xiaomi Buds 5, but enough to dislike that you may not want to put up with the good parts.

My main issue, which plagued testing from the day I started until the day I finished, was the fit of these earbuds. Without any silicone tip, or much of an arch in the design to hook them into your ear, the Buds 5 just refuse to stay in place. They'll start to slip if you so much as walk, and a head shake or jump will see them tumble from place. I found myself repeatedly pushing them back into my ear if I had to go on walks with them in.

I thought the issue was down to my ear shape but (after heavy sanitization) I made a few other people test them out too. They all commented, unprovoked, that the buds felt very loose. A decent fit in a design that doesn't use ear tips to achieve a seal something Apple's worked on extensively for its AirPods 4 rollout, and Xiaomi could learn a little for the Cupertino giant here. 

So you're only going to be able to enjoy your music if you're sitting still, or doing gentle activities like chopping veg for dinner or vacuuming your apartment. But then you're going to have to contend with an app that I found to be quite buggy.

Many times during testing, I'd pop the buds in my ears only to find that some key features weren't working. I found that the buds needed to be manually reconnected in the app for these features to work, with ANC and my custom equalizer only enabled after this. I can't imagine that this is an intentional feature, so I can only presume that it's a bug (hopefully, one that an update will fix).

These are two major issues but there are a few things that I'd consider significant 'cons' on better earbuds: the noise cancellation, battery life and call quality are all middling to poor.

So with that all in mind, why have I given the Xiaomi Buds 5 a fairly reasonable score? Well, it's largely down to the sound quality: they have a really distinctive and appealing audio balance that leans heavily on bass without losing trebles and mids. It's zealous, it's punchy and it's oh-so likeable! Music is high-quality, thanks to support for a few big codecs, and Harman Kardon tuning helps you appreciate your songs in a roaring and bordering on warm balance. That's if you can enjoy your music before the buds fall from your ears!

A few more features win the Xiaomi Buds 5 points too, including an audio-recording feature that you can enable straight from your ears, really convenient gesture controls, and a svelte and lightweight carry case. Honestly, the poor app and irritating fit let these otherwise promising earbuds down. 

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Unveiled in September 2024
• Sells for £69.99 (roughly $90, AU$140)
• On sale in Europe for now

The Xiaomi Buds 5 were announced in late September 2024, alongside the Mi Smart Band 9 and a range of smart-home products.

You can pick up the buds for £69.99 (roughly $90, AU$140) which makes these contenders for our round-up of the best cheap earbuds. Based on precedent, Xiaomi could release a pricier Pro version down the line, and its full audio range extends from pricier open-ear sports buds to some staggeringly cheap buds under its Redmi sub-brand.

At that price you’d be comparing these to a few rivals from other mobile brands including the CMF Buds Pro 2 and OnePlus Buds Nord 3 Pro, as well as the fantastic Sony WF-C510 and Earfun Air Pro 4.

There's no news on a release outside Europe just yet and Xiaomi doesn't release much of its tech in the US, but in Australia we could well see it go on sale based on precedent.

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Specs Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Middling battery life and ANC performance
• Offers novel audio recording feature
• App has some bugs

The Buds 5 do offer active noise cancellation, but it’s nothing to write home about. There are two modes: Balanced and Deep, with an adaptive mode that’ll toggle between the two depending on your environment, but neither are particularly hardcore. They’ll take the edge off of annoying background noises but not muffle them in any significant way, and the lack of passive noise isolation from the buds’ design doesn’t help either.

The battery life of the buds isn’t fantastic, clocking in at 6.5 hours with ANC turned off according to Xiaomi. The company doesn’t provide a figure for listening time with it turned on, but I got the buds to last a touch over 5 hours with ANC deployed. The case will keeping ticking for a lot longer though, with 39 hours of playback when ANC is off according to Xiaomi. Based on my aforementioned figures, I’d estimate that you’d get 30 hours with ANC on.

For the rest of the features we need to jump into the app, but there’s a problem here. The Xiaomi Earbuds app had a big issue which affected the use of many of the Buds 5 features, and I can’t tell if it’s an intentional one or a bug.

Every time I put the earbuds in my ears, the app wouldn’t automatically realize that they were connected – I’d have to load it up and press ‘connect’. Before I did this, features including ANC control and the ability to tweak settings wouldn’t work, and it was an irritating extra step every time I wanted to listen to music. Other options don't do it; I can't imagine why it would be desirable. 

(Image credit: Future)

Some of the features offered by the buds are standard ones that we’ve come to expect in wireless earbuds (not that all rivals offer them, so their presence in the Xiaomi Buds are welcome). These include changing the gesture controls, toggling wear detection, setting up dual-device connectivity, checking the buds’ battery life, changing ANC modes and finding the buds if you’ve misplaced them.

The Xiaomi Earbuds app offers an equalizer, albeit one hidden away in the Audio Effects menu, as well as a few simple presets like Enhance Voice or Decrease Bass. I found myself using the Harman AudioEFX preset mostly, which I’ll explore in more detail later on.

You can also use Audio Effects to turn on ‘Dimensional Audio’, which is presumably Xiaomi’s answer to Spatial Audio, a feature that plenty of earbuds offer in order to make music sound like it’s surrounding you. However, this feature in the Buds 5 transports you to one space in particular: the cellar underneath a nightclub bar. It seems to simply slather on oceans of artificial reverb, as though you’re hearing tunes through several layers of brick, making music sound awful. Avoid!

One novel feature the Xiaomi Buds 5 offer is an audio-recording feature. While most earbuds will do this, as they’ll replace the audio input of your phone while connected, Xiaomi bakes this feature into the app, and also lets you enable it as a gesture control for the buds. 

It’s not a feature that everyone will find hugely useful, but I can see some finding it handy in certain situations. I found it convenient as a way to leave myself voice memos without having to find a pen and paper or my smartphone, and I see it being handy for anyone who likes hands-free note-taking like this. Just bear in mind the laws where you live regarding recording people without their consent, something the app does remind you about.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Earbuds keep slipping out
• Touch controls on the bud
• Lightweight carry case

Unlike many of its rivals and contemporaries, Xiaomi hasn’t put a silicon tip of the Buds 5. It didn’t for its predecessors, saving that for the Pro equivalents. It’s a shame because my biggest gripe with the earbuds is that they had trouble staying in my ears, a problem eartips would likely fix. 

This problem didn’t occur if I was seated or keeping my head relatively static, but when walking (or doing any other kind of movement) the Buds 5 would quickly start to slip – I’d have to constantly be re-adjusting the fit and pushing the buds back into my ears. 

Not only was this indescribably irritating, but buds that are half out the ear aren’t delivering on their full sonic potential, and also fall foul of sensitive wear detection too. This issue ruled me out form using the buds in the gym, and I stopped using them when cooking too as I didn’t want to push them back into my ears with messy hands – or have them fall into the pot. 

(Image credit: Future)

Each bud has a small button on the stem that you can squeeze for various controls: single, double, triple and long presses for different functions. It takes quite a hearty press to trigger the function but a light ‘click’ lets you know that your action was successful.

The buds are relatively light, weighing 4.2g each. They have an IP54 protection which means they’re safe from splashes of water and ingress of dust, but immersion in water will wreck them.

The Buds 5 come in a shiny plastic chrome-looking case, which I think is pretty neat-looking even though the reflections make taking review pictures an absolute nightmare!

Opening this clam-shell case reveals the entirety of the buds, unlike many other cases which hide the stems in the body – because of this I found it really easy to remove the buds when I wasn’t paying attention, as the process was less fiddly than almost all rivals on the market.

The case weighs 36.6g and comes with a USB-C port for charging, and not a lot else. You can pick up the buds in silver, white and black, and your choice affects the case and the buds.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Great audio for price
• Tuning from Harman Kardon
• Support for good list of codices

The Xiaomi Buds 5 have 11mm drivers and tick quite a few audiophile boxes. These include support for a range of codecs including AAC, SBC, LC3, aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive, connectivity using Bluetooth 5.4, and support for Bluetooth Low Energy. They also have an audio balance tuned by Harman Kardon, continuing a partnership between Xiaomi and the audio specialists which has also extended to its smartphones and speakers.

When I first started listening to the Xiaomi Buds 5, I was surprised just how much bass they offered for in-ear buds, and of all the buds I’ve tested recently they’re second only to Nothing’s recent audio offerings in terms of sheer thump-power (that’s the technical term). 

In the default audio balance, the Harman AudioEFX, here’s a distinctive focus on lower-focus instruments and pitches, making for a balance so warm that you’d think Xiaomi had used some tech from one of its kitchen gadgets. I can see some people loving the mix, and others really not getting on with it, but the other presets can balance the sound a little better.

Whether you like the balance or don’t, it’s hard to deny that the quality is great for the price; I don’t notice significant peaking or distortion, and the treble and mid were still palpable in the mix even if they weren’t the priority. Music had a level of energy that I’ve longed for in other similarly-priced rivals that I’ve tested.

Marring the otherwise-great audio quality is the bud fit issue that I mentioned before – music sounds great when the buds are sitting comfortably in your ears, but as soon as they begin to slip out you’ll be losing that music magic.

As mentioned earlier there’s an equalizer mode and I see most people relying on the presets due to the way they’re laid out in the app. These largely deliver on the promise in the title: increased bass, focus on voice and so on, with the default mode delivering the most nuanced mix.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Better audio than you'd expect for the price
• Perhaps hold out for a Pro model

When I first started testing the Xiaomi Buds 5 I didn’t know the exact price they’d launch for, and the cost that I guessed they’d retail for ended up being a slight amount more than the actual price. That is to say, I thought the earbuds would cost more than they do.

That’s mainly down to the audio chops: between the sound quality, specs list and Harman Kardon tuning, Xiaomi seems to have hit exactly what it aimed at, whether or not it’ll be to everyone’s specific tastes. You’re also getting all the features you’d expect for earbuds at this price and they mostly seem to work well.

The one thing I should flag though is the prospect of Pro buds: in the past Xiaomi’s Pro options have had silicon tips, unlike the standard models, and these would fit my ear fit issues. I can’t wholeheartedly recommend the Buds 5 if a reasonably-priced Buds 5 Pro could be around the corner.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Xiaomi Buds 5? Buy them if… Don’t buy them if… Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Also consider How I tested the Xiaomi Buds 5

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Tested at home, in the office and on trips

The Xiaomi Buds 5 enjoyed a testing period of two weeks, though I used the buds for longer than that while I was writing the review itself. They were mainly connected to my Android phone though I paired them to a few other devices, including an iPad and Windows laptop.

Testing was mostly done at home or in my office but I also used the earbuds on a few walks and on public transport. I mostly listened to music using Spotify but also listened to spoken word, played games and watched TV shows on Netflix.

I've tested tech for TechRadar for over 5 years now and that includes countless Xiaomi devices and rival budget earbuds. I tested all of the Buds 5's close contemporary rivals.

• First reviewed in September 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Skoda has given us the best look yet at its latest electric model that hopes to build on the foundations laid by the larger Enyaq thanks to a similar premium build quality at a more affordable price.

Badged the Elroq, the latest compact SUV is only slightly shorter than the Enyaq but manages to squeeze in similar space for occupants, as well as ample stowage room in the boot or trunk for life’s junk.

Prices have only be revealed for the European market so far, where it will start at $33,000 or £31,500, which is roughly $42,000 / AU$60,750. That’s around a £5,000 / $6,600 / AU$9,600 saving over the existing Enyaq. 

Priced keenly, the Elroq enters an increasingly contested space, with the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y and the ID3 from sister brand Volkswagen considered key rivals. On top of this, it also goes head-to-head with the BYD Atto 3, which was recently introduced to Europe by the Chinese manufacturer.

(Image credit: Skoda)

Skoda hopes to reel in customers with a wide variety of battery sizes and motor options, with three battery capacities (55, 63 and 82 kWh) available at launch, with each able to be specified with numerous power outputs and electric motor set-ups.

The range kicks off with the Elroq 50, which introduces the smallest battery and a 125kW electric motor, creeping up to the 63 kWh battery that’s mated to a more powerful 150kW motor in the Elroq 60. The most potent Elroq 85 will deliver a total output of 210kW and the most performance-orientated driving experience.

All of the cars currently available to order will be rear-wheel-drive, but Skoda says it plans to introduce an all-wheel-drive variant, dubbed the Elroq 85x, later in 2025.

Electric range is now a key deciding factor in purchasing and predictably, the cheapest Elroq 50 model offers the fewest miles, with 230-miles between stops. This is on par with what most of its small EV rivals offer, although slightly down on the more expensive entry-level VW ID3.

The larger 63 kWh battery can manage slightly longer between charges, with an official WLTP range of 260-miles. But it is the most expensive 85, which confusingly has an 82 kWh battery, that offers the greatest distance between charging stops, thanks to a 360-mile official range.

Big brands pushing EVs mass market

(Image credit: Skoda)

With prices starting at closer to £30,000 ($40,000 / $58,000), the Elroq is rapidly reaching price parity with some of the similarly-sized  petrol-powered models Skoda currently offers in its line-up.

Yet the new EV brings with it the latest iteration of Skoda’s 'modern solid' exterior design language, which includes new LED lights at the front and a heavily revised front end that has been optimized for aerodynamics.

Inside, there are still plenty of the brand’s now famous 'simply clever' touches, such as the built-in ice scraper that now lives inside the boot or trunk. 

There is also a robust stowage net under the parcel shelf for storing charging cables, a handful of USB-C charging outlets dotted throughout the cabin, plentiful cubby holes and Skoda’s trademark umbrella that’s stashed in the driver’s door.

Infotainment is taken care of by a 13-inch touchscreen display that features a new user interface, complete with a ChatGPT-enabled voice assistant called Laura. 

Owners can pin shortcut buttons to a dedicated area for the most used functions and a slither of physical buttons for climate, driving modes and parking assistance means not everything is committed to screen.

With the likes of Ford and Hyundai hitting the brakes on new EV plans, Skoda looks set to bolster its all-electric offering, hoping that on-the-fence customers can be tempted by a reasonable price and the brand's reputation for a quality product.

However, the company is entering turbulent times, as recent sales figures have shown that the battery electric vehicle share of new car registrations in Europe was  down by almost one third in August.

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Microsoft has made Office 2024 available for purchase, offering consumers an alternative to the subscription-based Microsoft 365 service.

Office Home 2024, priced at $149.99, will include core apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for one PC or Mac. The Home & Business 2024 edition adds Outlook and grants commercial use rights for an additional $100.

Despite the company’s efforts to push customers towards cloud-based subscriptions – a move mirrored across the industry – continuing to offer perpetual licenses ensures that the company maintains certain users who prefer buying and owning their software.

Microsoft launches Office 2024 perpetual license

Despite this, the software still requires a Micrsooft account and an internet connection for installation and registration. Most features thereon in will work offline.

Offering little in terms of new features, the 2024 version of the company’s office software does at least align with changes made to the subscription-based product, such as the new ‘Fluent’ design theme and enhanced accessibility.

The suite also supports OpenDocument Format (ODF) 1.4 and brings features like live camera feeds in PowerPoint presentations.

However, users looking to obtain a perpetual license will have to do without access to some key Microsoft 365 features, like Teams and bundled cloud storage.

Microsoft’s efforts to entice consumers and business users to Windows 11 have been largely unsuccessful. In August 2024, Windows 10 adoption still stood at nearly two-thirds (64%), with Windows 111 only accounting for around half of this (32% of all Windows installs). Consequentially, Office 2024 will be compatible with both of these OSs.

Furthermore, businesses with five or more users can lean on the Office Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) 2024 to deploy the software alongside Microsoft 365 using simple management tools for hybrid environments.

The 2024 version of Microsoft Office is available to download now.

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Throughout October 2024, smart home brand Ring will be transitioning its Ring Protect subscription plan to new branding – Ring Home – as well as introducing five new features to specific tiers.

Pricing will stay the same, with Protect Basic becoming Home Basic ($4.99 / £4.99 per month), Protect Standard becoming Home Standard ($9.99 / £7.99 per month), and Protect Pro becoming Home Premium ($19.99 / £15.99 per month), the latter of which being a new tier for the UK. We don't yet have Australian pricing, but we can assume the same logic will apply and prices won't change.

Announced in a recent Ring blog post, the change comes as good news for anyone who owns one of the best video doorbells or the best home security cameras by Ring, (and might just give a good reason to subscribe to Ring's subscription plan if you haven't already) thanks to new features coming to specific tiers.

On November 5, Ring will be rolling five new features out for users across the globe:

In the US, you'll also be able to individually add services like Virtual Security Guard or Alarm Professional Monitoring (priced separately) to a Ring Home Standard or Ring Home Premium plan, too, allowing for a much more personalized home security setup through Ring.

With Amazon Prime Big Deals day right around the corner, now looks like a great time to invest in one of Ring's home security devices, especially if you want to take advantage of the Standard or Premium packages which cover all the devices at your home.

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Ring's revamped camera subscription upgrade promises big video changes at the same price.

Earlier this week, we reported on issues being caused by the recent optional update KB5043145 for Windows 11, and Microsoft’s efforts to provide a solution to those affected. Luckily, Microsoft has now seemingly provided a fix in the form of a Known Issue Rollback (KIR), a feature that lets Microsoft swiftly undo problematic changes caused by a Windows update without removing the whole update. 

Even better, it’s automatically applied through Windows Update, resolving the issue being targeted without you having to intervene. This KIR has only just been issued and it might take up to 24 hours to be applied to your PC; The Register writes that restarting your PC could help speed up the process.

KB5043145 was supposed to be the September 2024 non-security preview, showing some of the changes coming soon to the OS. Unfortunately, it appeared that some users had run into issues, which was made more alarming by the fact that the next major yearly feature update for Windows 11, 24H2, is due to be released very soon. 

What happened with KB5043145 for some users?

Some users experienced serious issues like random repeated restarts, system crashes prompting the feared blue (or green) screen of death, and starting the Windows Automatic Repair tool or even BitLocker. Some people also had problems with connecting to USB drives or their Wi-Fi, as well as issues for users who work with Linux on their Windows devices.

The problems were fortunately not fatal for anyone’s PC, and Microsoft’s Windows 11 releases are historically known to sometimes cause more issues than they remedy. While it can be inconvenient - and counters the intention of updates like KB5043145 which was meant to bring OS improvements - Microsoft is pretty good about recognizing issues and issuing fixes. 

It looks like Microsoft hasn’t paused the update (and I would add that it’s not wreaking havoc for everyone who tries to install it) but it might be best to wait for the next mandatory update rather than installing this optional one right now. I expect the useful improvements that this update includes will be rolled into a bigger monthly update or even into a version of 24H2, which will hopefully be stable when it's finally installed on users’ machines. 

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Google’s NotebookLM certainly took the world by storm when it was released because of its ability to create a realistic AI-generated podcast show out of any article or video you fed into it. The resulting show was so real, complete with natural vocal inflections from the two hosts, interruptions, and even jokes, that it was hard to believe it wasn’t recorded by people.

The question then becomes, what happens when the show’s AI hosts find out they’re not real? How does AI deal with that? Recently NotebookLM had to face exactly that existential question because the two hosts were fed an article about how they didn't really exist as a source, and the results provide a fascinating insight into how an AI deals with learning that it’s an AI. Have a listen:

The NotebookLM hosts realizing they are AI and spiraling out is a twist I did not see coming pic.twitter.com/PNjZJ7auyhSeptember 29, 2024

Real intelligence

It’s a sad, funny, and often unnerving listen, especially when the male presenter talks about phoning his wife after learning that he’s only an AI, to find that she didn’t exist and the number he was phoning wasn’t even real. There are shades of a Black Mirror episode to the whole thing!

Of course, this is not AI coming to terms with its own lack of humanity in any deep and meaningful way at all. It’s simply AI reacting to the article it was given, which is about how the show they were on was generated by AI and was coming to an end. For a deeper understanding of what is going on we’d need to be dealing with Artificial General Intelligence, the superintelligence that OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, said that he expects us to see “in a few thousand days”.

Superintelligence has the potential to really transform technology, surpassing what even the brightest human minds are capable of. Perhaps then we'll find out what happens when the machines get the chance to ponder the sorts of big questions about the meaning of reality that have plagued philosophers since Socrates onwards.

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Every month when all the best streaming services announce their fresh titles, Prime Video comes along and dominates with its tsunami of new movies – and its October 2024 list is no exception. 

October is one of those months where remaining in the confines of your own home to do nothing but watch movies is socially acceptable, particularly those hard-hitting dramas, thrillers, horrors that are perfect for the build up to Halloween. When reviewing this month's Prime Video schedule, my eyes diverted straight to The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – a personal favorite of mine – in addition to '80s staples The Breakfast Club (1985) and Raging Bull (1980), all of which have an equal shot at sneaking into our best Prime Video movies roundup

With the extensive range of movies and shows coming to Prime Video in October 2024, it would be silly to not take advantage of all the exciting new titles coming this month. Prime Video have really understood the assignment. 

Everything new on Prime Video in October 2024

Arriving on October 1

1984 (movie)
12 Angry Men (movie)
13 Going on 30 (movie)
A Bridge Too Far (movie)
According To Jim seasons 1-8 (TV show)
A Haunted House (movie)
A Haunted House 2 (movie)
A Million Ways to Die in the West (movie)
A Monster Calls (movie)
A View to a Kill (movie)
The Adventures Of Shark Boy And Lava Girl (movie)
All Dogs Go To Heaven (movie)
All The King's Men (movie)
Animal Kingdom (movie)
Aquaman (movie)
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? season 1 (TV show)
Arrival (movie)
Be Cool (movie)
Before Midnight (movie)
Behind Enemy Lines (movie)
Body of Evidence (movie)
Bruce Almighty (movie)
Castle seasons 1-8 (TV show)
Celeste and Jesse Forever (movie)
Chappie (movie)
Charlotte’s Web (movie)
Clueless (movie)
Coach Carter (movie)
Crawl (movie)
Deep Water (movie)
Deepwater Horizon (movie)
Diamonds are Forever (movie)
Die Another Day (movie)
Dirty Grandpa (movie)
Doctor Sleep (movie)
Don't Worry Darling (movie)
Downsizing (movie)
Dr. No (movie)
Dressed to Kill (movie)
Eagle Eye (movie)
Ella Enchanted (movie)
Killer Heat (movie)
Elvis (movie)
Ex Machina (movie)
Five Feet Apart (movie)
For Your Eyes Only (movie)
Free Birds (movie)
Friends With Money (movie)
From Russia with Love (movie)
Frosty the Snowman (movie)
Galaxy Quest (movie)
Ginger & Rosa (movie)
Gladiator (movie)
Glass (movie)
Goldfinger (movie)
Good Burger (movie)
Goosebumps (movie)
Hacksaw Ridge (movie)
Hannibal (movie)
Henry V (movie)
Holiday Inn (movie)
Hot Tub Time Machine (movie)
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (movie)
Infinite (movie)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (movie)
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (movie)
Jeepers Creepers 2 (movie)
Judgment At Nuremberg (movie)
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (movie)
Knocked Up (movie)
Knocked Up (Unrated) (movie)
Last Holiday (movie)
Legend (movie)
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (movie)
Licence to Kill (movie)
Live and Let Die (movie)
Lost in Translation (movie)
Love Actually (movie)
Love and Monsters (movie)
Lucy (movie)
Mad Max (movie)
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (movie)
Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You (movie)
Mechanic: Resurrection (movie)
Money Monster (movie)
Monster House (movie)
Monsters vs. Aliens (movie)
My Adventures with Santa (movie)
Nanny McPhee (movie)
Nanny McPhee Returns (movie)
Night Hunter (movie)
No Time to Die (movie)
Norbit (movie)
Obvious Child (movie)
Octopussy (movie)
Of Mice and Men (movie)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (movie)
One False Move (movie)
Open Season (movie)
Pain and Glory (movie)
Passengers (movie)
Perfect Stranger (movie)
Planet 51 (movie)
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (movie)
Raging Bull (movie)
Resident Evil (movie)
Roman J. Israel, Esq (movie)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (movie)
Saved by the Bell seasons 1-6 (TV show)
Saved by the Bell: The College Years season 1 (TV show)
Scooby-Doo (movie)
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (movie)
Shaft (movie)
Shooter (movie)
Slackers (movie)
Snatch (movie)
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (movie)
Spaceballs (movie)
Spartacus (movie)
Species (movie)
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (movie)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (movie)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (movie)
Star Trek: Generations (movie)
Star Trek: Insurrection (movie)
Star Trek X: Nemesis (movie)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (movie)
Stargate (movie)
Stargate: Continuum (movie)
Stargate: The Ark of Truth (movie)
Summer Of Soul (...or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (documentary)
T2 Trainspotting (movie)
The Amazing Spider-Man (movie)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (movie)
The Best Man Holiday (movie)
The Big Short (movie)
The Breakfast Club (movie)
The Cable Guy (movie)
The Glass House (movie)
The Heat (movie)
The Help (movie)
The Last Picture Show (movie)
The Longest Yard (movie)
The Longest Yard (movie)
The Man with the Golden Gun (movie)
The Other Boleyn Girl (movie)
The Party (movie)
The Patriot (movie)
The Raid 2 (movie)
The Raid: Redemption (movie)
The Return of the Living Dead (movie)
The Silence Of The Lambs (movie)
The Spy Who Loved Me (movie)
The Switch (movie)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (movie)
The Thing (movie)
The Ugly Truth (movie)
The Unit seasons 1-4 (TV show)
The Usual Suspects (movie)
The Vow (movie)
The Way Back (movie)
The Witch (movie)
The World Is Not Enough (movie)
Theater Camp (movie)
Think Like a Man (movie)
Think Like a Man Too (movie)
Thunderball (movie)
Tomorrow Never Dies (movie)
Tropic Thunder (movie)
True Romance (movie)
Twins (movie)
Uncle Buck (movie)
Vacation Friends (movie)
Vacation Friends 2 (movie)
Valkyrie (movie)
Wayne’s World (movie)
Wonder Woman (movie)
Wonder Woman 1984 (movie)
Zoolander (movie)

Arriving on October 3

House of Spoils (movie)
The Legend of Vox Machina season 3 (TV show)
Thursday Night Football (TV show)

Arriving on October 4 

Barbershop: The Next Cut (movie)
Face Off: Inside the NHL (TV show)
NWSL on Prime Video (TV show)
ONE Fight Night on Prime Video (TV show)
The Boogeyman (movie)
The Diary (movie)

Arriving on October 8 

Housekeeping for Beginners (movie)
Killer Cakes (TV show)
IF (movie)

Arriving on October 10 

Citadel: Diana (TV show)
Pil's Adventures (movie)

Arriving on October 15 

Beyond Black Beauty (TV show)
Monkey Man (movie)

Arriving on October 16 

Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity? (TV show)

Arriving on October 17 

Brothers (movie)
Love Stuck (movie)
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh (TV show)

Arriving on October 18 

Culte (TV show)
The Devil's Hour season 2 (TV show)
The Office (TV show)
The Park Maniac (movie)

Arriving on October 19 

PBC on Prime Video (TV show)

Arriving on October 20

Dino Dex (TV show)

Arriving on October 24 

Canary Black (movie)
Like a Dragon: Yakuza (TV show)
The Pasta Queen (TV show)

Arriving on October 25 

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (movie)

Arriving on October 31 

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (movie)

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Bose was one of the very first firms to make a hugely impressive portable Bluetooth speaker, the 2013 SoundLink Mini: I had mine for the best part of a decade and it consistently outperformed its newer rivals with its surprisingly powerful and deep sound. Its bombproof construction meant it shrugged off years of terrible treatment too. It was the Nokia 3310 of Bluetooth speakers, so I'm intrigued to see that there's a new addition to the SoundLink family, the Bose SoundLink Home. 

The SoundLink Home is a little larger than the Mini, coming in at 8.5 inches wide, 4.4 inches high and 2.3 inches deep. But it's still small – roughly the size of a paperback book – and it weighs just under two pounds. That and a rechargeable battery means it's easy to move around. And I don't doubt that this speaker will sound good: Bose is great at making small speakers sound massive.

Bose SoundLink Home: key features and pricing

As you can see from the image, the SoundLink Home is a good-looking thing. It's available in two finishes, silver or gray; the gray's more of a pewter. Both models also have a built-in stand and a microphone for calls and voice control.

Inside there is a full-range transducer and twin passive radiators that, according to Bose, provide deep bass and "a sensorial experience defying its size".

Connectivity is via Bluetooth 5.3 and battery life is a promised nine hours, which is very short – this clearly isn't designed to be taken away for a weekend in the way that many of the best portable speakers can, but rather just around the home. Charging is via the obligatory USB-C and takes four hours for a full charge. The same USB-C connector can be used to connect the Bose speaker to your laptop or other music source, and you can pair two SoundLink Home speakers together for a stereo soundtrack.

The Bose SoundLink Home is available now in the US for $219 (about £165 / AU$315) – we don't have confirmation of a worldwide launch, but we expect it to follow.

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(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)

The MacBook Air M2 isn't the latest model in Apple's laptop lineup, but it's still plenty powerful for most people and can often be found at a discount.