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The iCloud storage that comes with your Apple account can be useful for offloading large files on your iPhone, but even the cloud can get full. Here are some techniques to ease the cloud pressure.

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PowerA OPS v3 Pro: One-minute review

The PowerA OPS v3 Pro controller makes a strong case with a variety of desirable features. Those include Hall effect sticks with novel ‘quick-twist’ tech, six remappable buttons, micro switches in the face buttons and d-pad, and the brand’s patented Lumectra RGB lighting.

It’s a solid effort on paper, but there are a few things that hold the OPS v3 Pro back from becoming one of the best PC controllers out there. The gamepad simply falls short in many of its design aspects. Its remappable buttons on the rear of the controller feel awkwardly placed, and the ones at the top jut out just a little too broadly. Elsewhere, the micro switch face buttons aren’t particularly tactile, and the relatively low trigger lock sensitivity prevents the highest setting from working across most games I tested.

It’s definitely not all bad news, though, and there’s still plenty to like about the OPS v3 Pro. As ever, I’m a huge fan of PowerA’s customizable Lumectra lighting. The quick-twist thumbsticks are intuitive and a genuinely great addition, allowing you to play with taller shafts without the need to swap them out entirely. Furthermore, the clicky d-pad and bumpers are a delight, and that 30-plus hour battery life seriously impresses.

A bit of a mixed bag overall, then, but if you’re looking for a sub-$100 / £100 PC controller, the PowerA OPS v3 Pro still offers plenty of great features to offset those negatives.

(Image credit: Future) PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Price and availability

• $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179
• Cheaper than other controllers with comparable feature sets
• Available at PowerA in the US and Amazon in the UK

The PowerA OPS v3 Pro launched in August 2024, and is available to purchase for $99.99 / £99.99. In the US, it can be bought directly from PowerA, whereas UK shoppers will need to rely on Amazon to secure the gamepad. In Australia, JB Hi-Fi is your best bet.

In terms of price, the OPS v3 Pro is significantly cheaper than other controllers with comparable feature sets. Those include the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199.99 / £199.99) and the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 ($179.99 / £159.99). 

The relatively lower price point of PowerA’s controller naturally comes with some caveats, such as lesser build quality overall and a lack of polish on features like the trigger locks and textured grips. However, those looking for a competent ‘Pro’ level controller with a robust feature set will find one here.

PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Specs

(Image credit: Future) PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Design and features

• Innovative quick-twist thumbsticks
• Textured grips feel quite rough
• Lumectra RGB is still very impressive

There’s plenty to like about the PowerA OPS v3 Pro’s design. One of the controller’s headline features is its ‘quick-twist’ thumbsticks. This lets the player raise or lower the height of the stick’s shaft without needing to swap it out entirely. It’s a really handy solution that makes the controller a great option for folks who value no-fuss customization.

As was the case with the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, the v3 Pro also features the brand’s bespoke Lumectra RGB lighting. Lumectra lets players do a few fancy things with their RGB preferences. By holding the dedicated ‘LED’ button on the rear of the gamepad, you can cycle through six different RGB zones - the d-pad, face buttons, left and right sides of the controller, and both thumbsticks) and apply different colors and patterns to each. You can be quite reserved with Lumectra, or go buck wild with various RGB flavors should you choose, and I’ve always been a fan of it because of this. Above all, it’s fun to mess around with.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of features, you’re getting the usual ‘Pro’ controller setup. Micro switch face buttons and d-pad, Hall effect thumbsticks, six remappable buttons, three-stage trigger locks and textured grips. The rear of the gamepad has buttons dedicated to Lumectra customization and remappable button input assignment, as well as a three-way switch that lets you swap between 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and USB-C connectivity. A 3.5mm headphone port rounds off the feature set in terms of design. It is worth noting here that the OPS v3 Pro is strictly a PC controller and won’t work on consoles. For platform-specific pads, consider browsing our guides to the best PS5 controllers or the best Xbox controllers instead.

While there is plenty to like here, the PowerA OPS v3 Pro is hampered by a few key design weaknesses. For one, the textured grips - while usually welcome on a controller like this - feel very rough to the touch. This, along with the awkward placement of those rear remappable buttons (they’re slightly misaligned with where your fingertips naturally rest) lead to a slightly uncomfortable play experience. While it doesn’t render the v3 Pro unusable, you may want to consider a more standard Xbox Wireless Controller or even a GameSir T4 Kaleid for longer gaming sessions from a comfort perspective.

While hit and miss on design aspects, then, one thing that does boost the v3 Pro’s value is the inclusion of a charging stand. Much like the 8BitDo Ultimate, the v3 Pro’s stand is incredibly convenient; simply hook it up to your PC via USB-C, magnetically attach the gamepad to the top and you’re good to go. Charge time is a little slow at 3-4 hours from empty to full, so we’d recommend an overnight charge to avoid waiting.

PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Performance

• Sublime d-pad and bumpers
• Top notch 30-hour battery life
• Micro switch face buttons miss the mark

Much like the PowerA OPS v3 Pro’s overall design, performance has a number of hits and misses, too. The controller cannot be faulted on battery life; during my two weeks testing the controller - which included around two to three hours of gaming across most days - I never once needed to charge it. PowerA touts battery life of around 30 hours, and this appears to be accurate in my experience.

In terms of individual buttons and such, the d-pad and bumpers, powered by micro switches, are sublime. They have the perfect amount of clicky tactility and are simply a joy to use, especially with competitive games that often require rapid inputs. Games I tested that fit this criterion include Guilty Gear Strive, Final Fantasy 14 Online, and Fortnite. I found the controller to be a good fit for all three. Plus, with a 1,000Hz polling rate when wired to PC (and 500Hz via 2.4Ghz wireless), it’s fantastically responsive on its target platform. 

(Image credit: Future)

Other areas of the gamepad are a bit of a letdown when it comes to overall performance. For one, while there are three stages of trigger lock, the lowest sensitivity setting (with the shortest trigger press) failed to work across all games tested. The trigger press simply didn’t register at this setting. And for the other two, there really isn’t much difference. 

As a result, I think you’d be better off leaving the trigger lock settings entirely default. This is a shame, as the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro’s trigger lock settings are similar - with three distinct settings - and work beautifully on PC and console. It’s things like this that firmly cement the OPS v3 Pro as the more budget option with decidedly less polish.

Another problem area lies with the micro switch face buttons. While perfectly responsive, there’s a slight bump on the way down as you press the button. While certainly not a huge issue, it does take away much of the tactility and thus the novelty of having micro switch-based buttons.

Should I buy the PowerA OPS v3 Pro? Buy it if...

You’re looking for a good value PC controller
Controllers with this kind of feature set tend to push well above $100 / £100. The OPS v3 Pro comes in at just under that, making it relatively more affordable than its ‘Pro’ level competition.

You’re after a versatile and customizable PC controller
Fully customizable Lumectra RGB, delightful quick-twist thumbsticks and half a dozen remappable buttons make for a highly versatile controller.

Don't buy it if...

A top-quality level of design is a must-have in your controllers
Between awkwardly placed remappable buttons, rough textured grips and face buttons that feel slightly off, there are a lot of smaller frustrations with the OPS v3 Pro that build up to an experience that’s not as satisfying as it could be.

Also consider...

If the PowerA OPS v3 Pro isn’t quite doing it for you, we’ve got a couple of other options that we’ve tested and reviewed for your consideration below.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
This is the absolute best premium PC and Xbox controller you can buy right now. It’s much pricier, but it makes up for all the OPS v3 Pro’s shortcomings with more satisfying tactile feedback, better build quality and compatibility with Xbox.

For more information, read our full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review.

GameSir T4 Kaleid
It’s a cheaper option and doesn’t have nearly the same number of features as the OPS v3 Pro. However, this is my favorite budget-friendly PC controller, with sublime-feeling Hall effect thumbsticks, tactile micro switch buttons and a gorgeous translucent build complete with RGB lighting.

For more information read our full GameSir T4 Kaleid controller review. 

How I tested the PowerA OPS v3 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the PowerA OPS v3 Pro across a wide variety of games on PC, including some of the best fighting games like Guilty Gear Strive, Tekken 8 and the newly-released Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. Here, I found the superbly responsive d-pad and bumpers to be a perfect fit for this genre. Elsewhere, I made sure to test a wide range of titles, including Fortnite, Fall Guys, Final Fantasy 14 Online and Elden Ring.

One aspect that surprised me most about the OPS v3 Pro was its ultra-resilient battery life. During my two weeks with the gamepad, from full charge, I never once had the top up, which leads me to believe that PowerA’s estimates of 30 hours is absolutely doable here.

During my testing of the PowerA OPS v3 Pro, I integrated it into my overall gaming PC setup which includes the Razer Fujin Pro gaming chair, an AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor and Razer BlackShark V2 X wired headset.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

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Hisense PX3-Pro: two-minute review

Hisense has been has been responsible for some of the best ultra short throw projectors, and the Hisense PX3-Pro is among its latest. The PX3-Pro has a daunting task following up on the Hisense PX2-Pro, but Hisense has pulled it off with some key upgrades. 

The new Hisense PX3-Pro differs in design from the PX2-Pro, but under the hood, it gets an upgraded projection system that’s much brighter at 3,000 lumens and also boasts a 1080p/240Hz mode. This feature turns it from an exceptional ultra short throw (UST) projector into a speed demon of a gaming projector – Hisense even bills it as the "world's first designed for Xbox UST projector." And with rich color, strong contrast, and Dolby Vision HDR support, the PX3-Pro ranks up there with the best 4K projectors when it comes to picture performance. 

While the PX3-Pro’s built-in sound isn’t quite as impressive as its picture, it at least has the volume level to match the visuals, and Hisense offers plenty of ways to connect to better speaker systems. All of this comes at a higher price than its predecessor, but it seems well worth the extra expense. 

Hisense PX3-Pro review: price and release date

• First available: October 2024
• Price: $3,499 / £2,499
  

Availability of the Hisense PX3-Pro is set to begin in mid-October 2024. It is priced at $3,499 / £2,499, a marked increase over the lower brightness PX2-Pro, which launched at $2,999 in June 2023. Like the rest of the Hisense PX series, the PX3-Pro doesn’t come with a projection screen. 

The Hisense PX3-Pro comes with a full-size remote control and features the Google TV smart TV platform for streaming (Image credit: Future) Hisense PX3-Pro review: Specs

The PX3-Pro features dual HDMI 2.1 ports and supports gaming at 1080p/240Hz (Image credit: Future) Hisense PX3-Pro review: design and features

• Futuristic-looking design
• All-in-one capability plus flexibility for different setups
• Streaming and gaming benefit from hardware and software upgrades

Where the Hisense PX2-Pro was a simple under-the-hood refresh of its predecessor, The PX1-Pro, the new PX3-Pro sees some bigger changes both to its internal components and its outward appearance. The design has a stylistic resemblance to its predecessors, but it gives off more of a proper futuristic vibe than the prior models with their retro-futuristic looks. 

The whole unit is done up in gray and silver surfaces of all types: matte, shiny, smooth, and coarse. It features large grilles on either side for air intake and exhaust – generating 3,000 lumens creates some heat even when using lasers. The front also gets a perforated grille for the built-in speakers. At either side of the grille are vertical slots in shiny housing that have standby lighting built in, so when the projector is turned off, these illuminate the mirrored finish inside. This may appeal to some, but I found it a little tacky compared to the PX2-Pro’s subtler design.

Style aside, perhaps the most critical design change is the projector’s size. It’s a little wider and taller than its predecessors, but not as deep front-to-back. That combined with a shift from a 0.25:1 throw ratio to a 0:22 throw ratio means the PX3-Pro can sit closer to a wall, protruding into the room less, and still provide a massive picture.

The PX3-Pro sits on four height-adjustable feet, which helps get the picture aligned with a screen. It also offers digital image correction and adjustable focus, letting you dial in everything perfectly.

Around the back, you’ll find three HDMI ports, including one with eARC. There’s also a high-speed USB type-A port (and another on the right side), and both and optical digital and 3.5mm audio output. With Google TV onboard, the PX3-Pro can tap into plenty of streaming services, including Netflix, and has both Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet network connections. 

The Hisense PX3-Pro has comprehensive high dynamic range support, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Its built-in speakers support Dolby Atmos and IMAX Enhanced for DTS, though audio is best passed on to an outboard sound system. Unlike its predecessors, the PX3-Pro offers Active 3D support (requires optional 3D eyewear). 

There are still a few features the PX3-Pro could have benefitted from. Optical image adjustments beyond focus would be a welcome addition, especially zoom, though I’ve never seen that feature in a UST projector. A cover would be a more reasonable one, as dust can gather quickly on top of UST projectors.

• Design and features score: 4.5/5

The PX3-Pro has exceptional color, along with powerful contrast in dim lighting conditions (Image credit: Future) Hisense PX3-Pro review: picture and sound quality

• Exceptional color and brightness
• Crisp 4K picture with comprehensive HDR support
• 240Hz mode is a perk for gamers

The Hisense PX3-Pro builds on a strong picture quality foundation. The PX2-Pro offered stunning color from its tri-chroma projection system and the PX3-Pro takes that up a notch with a notably brighter picture, rated to reach 3,000 lumens. For some content, like cartoons and sports, that’ll make a very presentable picture even with high ambient room lighting. It also gives the PX3-Pro plenty of latitude in dim lighting conditions, with a bright enough picture that it can call for some dimming of the laser in a dark room.

While the projector has powerful contrast as is, a High Dynamic setting for Laser Luminance can further enhance its picture. I’m normally wary of settings like this that adjust the picture based on the content being displayed as they tend to have noticeable artifacts, but the PX3-Pro managed it admirably, with imperceptible transitions. The only odd behavior I noted was a sudden brightening when white subtitles appeared onscreen during dark scenes. Otherwise, this played out well for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, helping to punch up the bright scenes while avoiding pumping up black levels in dark ones.

The PX3-Pro’s comprehensive HDR support made the latest seasons of The Rings of Power in HDR10+ and The Avengers: Endgame in Dolby Vision both look fantastic. The wide color gamut of the triple-laser projection system played a big part in this, giving the PX3-Pro simply astounding color. One downside of this is that rainbows, a regular artifact of DLP technology, can seem a little more pronounced.

The PX3-Pro serves up a big, bright 4K picture ranging from 80 to 150 inches. While it’s possible to project images beyond these sizes, the focus range is limited and you may end up with a softer image. 

For gamers, the Hisense PX3-Pro has something extra special in store. In addition to simply switching to a game mode with lower input lag, the projector can swap over to a 1080p/240Hz mode. This sacrifices some picture detail but provides buttery smooth visuals, and the DLP system has minimal ghosting. The gameplay is highly responsive and a big perk. Though the projector will also display 4K 120Hz signals, it doesn’t appear to display every frame but rather skips every other one as checked with Blur Busters’ frame skipping tool. 

Audio on the PX3-Pro isn’t half-bad either. Its 50W Harman Kardon-designed speakers can get loud enough to match the size of the pictures the PX3-Pro projects, and the sound has an impressive range with booming bass, though it doesn’t get deep into sub-bass territory. What it really lacks is the spatial aspect. The stereo separation isn’t very wide, and there are no side, rear, or height channels. This means that even though the projector supports Dolby Atmos and Imax Enhanced for DTS, it’s best used with external speakers.

• Picture and sound quality score: 4.5/5

The PX3-Pro's Google TV smart interface (Image credit: Future) Hisense PX3-Pro review: value

• High price but a compelling picture
• Versatility adds to its value

The Hisense PX3-Pro doesn’t come cheap at $3,499. Its price puts it a ways above its predecessor and sets it up against others like the Epson Home Cinema LS800. It also raises the question of whether you should instead opt for a big TV since you can get an 83-inch OLED like the LG C4 for not too much more.

But the PX3-Pro brings a lot to the table. It has enough brightness and detail to comfortably stretch its 4K picture to massive proportions. The PX3-Pro also supports 3D content and a wide range of HDR formats, has a 240Hz refresh rate mode, and has Google TV built-in (with a fast enough processor to run it smoothly). There’s little question that the PX3-Pro UST offers a lot, and it’s a worthy rival to TVs and other projector types. 

• Value score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Hisense PX3-Pro?

(Image credit: Future) Buy it if... Don’t buy it if…  Also consider...

Epson LS800
The Epson LS800 uses a 3LCD laser light source to beam a stunningly bright 4,000 lumens image. This makes it a great option for daytime sports viewing and it also has good built-in sound. 

Read our full Epson LS800 review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Hisense PX3-Pro

• Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
• Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
• I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade

I tested the Hisense PX2 Pro at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with standard definition and 4K HDR streamed content, and PC gameplay. 

My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.

I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer. 

I measured the Premiere 9’s input lag in milliseconds using a Leo Bodnar tester with the low latency mode switch on.

First reviewed: September, 2024

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

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Lenovo has unveiled its lightest-ever ThinkPad model as it looks to prioritizes design, weight, and environmental concerns.

Weighing in at just 980g and measuring only 8.08mm at its thinnest point, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition stands as the lightest ThinkPad X1 Carbon notebook ever. Despite its size, Lenovo has incorporated two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an audio combo jack.

The materials used in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition include 90% recycled magnesium for the C cover, and the 100% plastic-free packaging is made from bamboo and sugarcane.

Lightest ThinkPad X1 Carbon notebook ever

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor with Intel Arc Xe2 graphics and an integrated NPU offering up to 48 TOPS, meaning that although it is not designed for heavy gaming or high-end 3D rendering, it should be enough for most multimedia and creative applications.

The laptop's premium Haptic TouchPad option integrates the classic three-button TrackPoint, and also includes Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.4, and an optional 5G sub-6GHz. For power, this device has a 57Whr customer-replaceable unit (CRU) battery that Lenovo says delivers more than 18 hours of battery life.

To complement the processor, this device supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM running at 8533 MT/s. In terms of storage, the X1 Carbon Gen 13 offers up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage. This next-gen storage solution provides incredibly fast read and write speeds, drastically reducing boot times and enabling rapid file access.

The 14-inch 2.8K OLED display offers 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and Dolby Vision support. It also supports 400 nits brightness, HDR True Black 500 technology, and a 120Hz refresh rate which provides smooth animations and scrolling. The inbuilt Eyesafe technology reduces blue light exposure, ensuring that users can work comfortably for extended periods without experiencing eye strain.

The device also offers intuitive Smart Modes for personalized performance, security, collaboration, and wellness, along with AI-powered Smart Share for seamless photo transfer and Smart Care for enhanced support.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition emphasizes security with features like the dTPM 2.0 chip for data encryption, a fingerprint reader, and an IR camera for facial recognition. It also includes a Nano Kensington lock slot for physical security, making it ideal for business professionals focused on data protection.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is set to be available in November 2024, starting at $1,999.

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It didn't really occur to me until now, but Apple has been selling AirPods with the same design as the original launch, back in December 2016, continuously for the eight years since then.

When AirPods 2nd Gen came out, they upgraded the internals and sound, as well as added new features, but they kept essentially the same exact design for the buds and case.

It's only now, with the arrival of AirPods 4, that this design is finally heading off for a well-earned retirement, having massively influenced and kickstarted the world of the best true wireless earbuds.

I never got on with this design at all, so I'm not exactly sorry to see it go – but it does feel like the end of an era, and I have to acknowledge that some of the best earbuds on the planet, including the ones I actually do use every day, owe a design debt to them.

AirPods were not the first Bluetooth true wireless earbuds by any means. The Bragi Dash and Earin earbuds basically fight for that honor around 2015 (it appears Bragi announced first, but Earin released first, so take your pick for the winner). I should also mention the Sennheiser MX W1 as an early pioneer in this area from back in 2008 (but those used a custom transmitter, and each earbud was the size of a gerbil).

Throughout 2016, it was clear to those around the tech world that true wireless earbuds could be a big deal. Good ol' Apple rival Samsung had beat AirPods to the punch, releasing the Samsung Gear Icon X several months before AirPods arrived.

But none of these early earbuds really mattered to the public at large. Bluetooth's standard hadn't been updated for this kind of dual transmission, so companies were using fudges to make it work. (One technique, for example, used hearing-aid transmission tech to beam from one earbud to the other, which was latency-free but was prone to interference.) Connection reliability and battery life were poor, and people weren't into the rounded bud design that was common with the early models.

AirPods were both a step forward and a step backward compared to them, and in both cases, that was an advantage.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The step forward was that they offered rock-solid connectivity compared to the competition, practical battery life, and Apple's use of its ecosystem to avoid any hassle around pairing. They were as easy to use as Apple's famous EarPods (introduced in 2012), but without the cable tangle.

And speaking of EarPods, perhaps Apple's masterstroke was using nearly the same design for the AirPods as its wired earbuds. Other companies were designing something that looked new, which can be intimidating and concerning to people. How can you be sure they'll be comfortable? Or that they'll stay in reliably? It would be a gamble to buy them as an early adopter.

So, Apple took a step backward compared to those earbuds. It made them look like older tech – like the earbuds people already owned, but with the cable cut off. You could infer how well they would fit if you'd already tried its earbuds, so no gambling was required. It enabled Apple to create a long, thin case for them that had a familiar vibe – with their white stick-like design, it was like sliding a cigarette out from a packet. You could be the audio equivalent to James Dean pulling out a smoke and slouching against a wall.

(Image credit: Future)

As I mentioned above, I didn't actually like using this design. It rubbed my ears pretty quickly and became uncomfortable. At the time, I also felt that the stick design looked silly – it was only in retrospect that I saw how smart it was. I wanted something with the cool, new, rounded designs we saw elsewhere; my first true wireless earbuds were the Bang & Olufsen E8, released in 2017.

But AirPods delivered a massive boost to the whole world of true wireless earbuds. They became the best-selling model of headphones in the world, and their visibility normalized the idea of going true wireless. The standardized technology available to other earbuds evolved rapidly in order to beat what AirPods could do and turn wireless earbuds into the dominant form of headphones. We got competition from the likes of Samsung and Sony, but also from hi-fi specialists such as Master & Dynamic and Bowers & Wilkins who simply couldn't be left behind.

And the stick design… uh, stuck around. AirPods Pro were a great improvement on the design, and a huge number of competitors took inspiration. Even in 2024, we've just had Samsung actually adopt the stick design in its Pro buds for the first time in the Samsung Buds 3 Pro, and it's being used in the fantastic Nothing Ear (a), among loads of other buds.

Samsung's latest earbuds aren't exactly un-AirPods-y, are they? (Image credit: Future)

The oddest thing about this original AirPods design is how popular it remained right up until the end, considering how far other earbuds have surpassed the AirPods 2nd Gen for value and comfort. The best cheap earbuds provide way better sound, more features, better battery life and a more comfortable fit than AirPods 2nd Gen did, for a lower price – the Nothing Ear (a) being the prime example of that.

And yet, every time we covered a sale event on TechRadar where AirPods dropped under $90, we'd discover that they were usually the most popular product we'd feature or in the top three at the least. We'd give specific examples of other earbuds we think are a better buy, but AirPods would remain the hot thing.

Maybe it's that safety and reliability I talked about before. Eight years is an incredibly long time for one design to stick around in the tech world, but you knew exactly what you were getting with them, and people at large liked them. Sure, I won't miss the design, but there's no doubt we're saying goodbye to a true modern tech icon.

Gen Z and millennial voters make up nearly half of the eligible voting population in this year’s election. In Georgia, the race is on to get them registered before early voting begins this month.

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Lotus has unveiled its latest concept car, which hints at what we can expect from the company's high-performance future – including a pared-back interior that relies on robotic textiles instead of physical buttons.

As with many concept cars, there’s a lot of hypothetical thinking here, with much of the technology and performance figures providing a suggestion of what could come, rather than a true statement of intent.

Theoretically, a rather modest 70kW battery would send power to all four wheels, producing 968bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of under 2.5 seconds. It all sounds very 'modern hyper EV' to us, but it is the tech inside the vehicle that is the most interesting.

Both designers and engineers have stripped everything back, which (much to the derision of pure Lotus fans) is not something the company has chosen to do with its current production cars, such as the large Eletre SUV and the Emeya four-door GT.

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

Peel back the reverse opening wrap-over doors of Theory 1 and you’ll find swathes of recycled carbon fibre, with the driver’s seat positioned dead centre and two small seats for flanking passengers, very much in the Gordon Murray vein of sports car design.

Adorning these seats, as well as the yoke-style steering wheel, is what the company calls LotusWear, which consists of a soft, adaptive textile that covers key sections and touch points.

Working alongside MotorSkins, which developed the technology to create dynamic clothing that can provide on-the-fly compression, thermoregulation and haptic feedback for athletes, Lotus has seen fit to use it as an innovative human machine interface.

When driving, both driver and passengers will receive notifications through the inflatable robotic textiles during the journey. This could be through a light pulsing on the left shoulder to indicate an upcoming left-hand turn, or a tap on the lower back to indicate an incoming smartphone message.

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

Similarly, inflatable pods on the steering wheel could indicate a blindspot hazard, or provide added grip as the pace quickens. The use-cases are vast, but the overall mission remains the same: to simplify the cockpit by ridding it of physical buttons.

As well as transparent screens, head-up displays and multi-use paddle switches, Lotus has also teamed up with technology company Carbon to produce 3D printed lattice structure headrests that can serve multiple purposes. 

The soft, supportive structures are there for comfort and safety, but they also house a binaural audio system from KEF.

The ability to fire sound directly to the occupant of each seat means Lotus can add to the sensation of speed with a bespoke soundtrack, act as a noise-cancelling system on more mundane journeys, or to simply allow each passenger to experience individual media without sound clash.

Analysis: This is Lotus is riffing on its core values

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

A lot of the criticism leveled at Lotus since its takeover by Chinese owners Geely is that it has strayed far from Colin and Hazel Chapman’s dream of a lightweight, affordable and purely fun sports car.

The model line-up is now large, heavy and choc full of superfluous technology that fans of the original cars seemingly detest. But sales of the Elise and Evora tanked to the point that the company almost went bust, proving that there just isn’t enough demand for a 'proper' Lotus anymore. 

Instead, the company has had to do what Porsche, Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini have in the past, and that’s create product that doesn’t traditionally fit in the line-up but sells exceedingly well (Lotus broke sales records in 2023) to ensure we are still treated to the fun stuff. Shout out to Cayenne, Bentayga, Purosangue and Urus.

However, Theory 1 appears to be hinting that Lotus is looking to go back to its roots, while not shunning future technology. 

Stripping everything back is the very ethos upon which the company is built, but it's doing so in a way that still incorporates Lidar, camera systems, in-car entertainment and even high levels of autonomous driving capabilities.

Granted, Theory 1 isn’t going to be a simple, lightweight two-seater, but like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, it looks like it is tackling what it means to be a performance car in the electric age.

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Our best dash cam guide could well need a refresh in the near future: Garmin has launched four new models to give you even more choice when it comes to picking up a camera that'll record everything that happens to you and your vehicle.

Heading up the new quartet of cams is the Garmin Dash Cam X310, which offers a 2.4-inch LCD screen, 4K Ultra HD video quality, built-in GPS and advanced driver awareness alerts – warning you about speed cameras in the vicinity, for example, or telling you when there's a risk of a forward collision.

For a little less money you can get hold of the Dash Cam X110 or the Dash Cam X210: they're the same as the Dash Cam X310 model, but the maximum resolution video quality only goes up to 1080p or 1440p respectively.

The final dash cam in the new series is the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3. This ditches the screen to offer a smaller form factor – around the size of a car key – that's easier to fit into place and less of a distraction while driving. This model offers 1080p video recording.

Voice command support

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is the cheapest of the new models (Image credit: Garmin)

One of the clever features Garmin has included here is voice command support, which means you can control various functions on the cameras (like starting and stopping video recordings) without taking your eyes off the road.

There's also what Garmin is calling a Clarity polariser lens enhancement, which apparently reduces interference from windshield glare – giving you the best chance of capturing the evidence you need in the event of an accident or criminal damage.

For more features, you can get the Garmin Drive app installed on your smartphone: this lets you sync up feeds from up to four Garmin dash cams, if you've really splashed out on the surveillance tech for your vehicle.

You can pick up all four models now from the Garmin website: pricing is $149.99/£149.99 for the Dash Cam Mini 3, $199.99/£199.99 for the X110, $299.99/£259.99 for the X210, and $399.99/£349.99 for the X310.

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It’s time to pour one out for the iPhone 13, as with the launch of the iPhone 16 series, Apple has consigned its 2021 iPhone to the tech bone orchard. But I’m here to tell you to buy one while you still can. 

That’s because the iPhone 13 was, until Apple officially retired it, our pick for the best cheap iPhone. And for good reason. 

Despite now being three generations old, the iPhone 13 is still a very capable smartphone, and a good entry point into the walled garden of iOS and the Apple ecosystem. It blends a rather sleek design with the best display for size for phones – that’s 6.1 inches – and has a pair of very capable cameras, and a chipset that I doubt you’d be able to make sweat even today unless you threw the most demanding of apps or near-console-quality games at it. 

As such, it previously prompted me to write about why it’s a phone that anyone looking to move from Android to iPhone should consider, as it’s a capable but not overly expensive first Apple handset. And for people with older iPhones, say an iPhone X or iPhone 11, it’s a perfectly good phone to get if you want to avoid the hefty prices the latest iPhones command; such is the benefit of Apple cutting the prices of its older iPhones each time a new generation comes out. 

Sure there are caveats to the iPhone 13, namely its 60Hz display, which felt dated back in 2021 for a phone of its class (and feels even more dated on the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus), and a now-defunct Lightning port. But otherwise, I think it’s a fantastic phone, with the endurance to last another generation or two if you’re not fussed about Apple Intelligence – and I'd caution against rushing to jump in this Cupertino-tinged AI train, as I’m not wholly convinced that artificial intelligence tools, even in the best AI phones, are as up to snuff as I’d like them to be. 

So I still feel the iPhone 13 is worth it, even if you perhaps just want a spare Apple phone. 

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Of course, you'll need to move quickly before the iPhone 13 disappears altogether. I’d suggest checking out retailers like Best Buy and Currys in the US and UK respectively. Equally, you could go on the hunt for a refurbished iPhone 13 – the likes of Amazon tend to offer fairly robust refurbishments. And do check out our iPhone deals page to see if any iPhone 13 models pop up there.

I’d also suggest keeping an eye out for iPhone 13 units getting decent discounts as we approach the Amazon Big Deals Days in October and enter what I’m now calling Black Friday season – basically some six-ish weeks of deals. It's during these sales events that I suspect retailers will be looking to shift old Apple stock, and the iPhone 13 will surely feature.

If you end up missing the iPhone 13 boat, then I suspect your next-best hope for an affordable but capable iPhone will come in the form of a next-generation SE model. We’ve been referring to that as the iPhone SE 4, and while the rumors are sketchy as to its potential existence, if it does eventually appear – likely next year – we could see a phone that’s not dissimilar to the iPhone 13, and which could even channel the iPhone 14 in terms of design. Watch this space.

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