Feed aggregator

A feature Apple showed off last year is reportedly being tested with popular third-party apps.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded: one-minute review

The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is a new, upgraded version of the original Victrix Pro BFG, which was originally released back in 2023.

Compatible with PlayStation consoles, an Xbox version hit the market roughly a year later. Thankfully, the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is immediately available as two versions for either console family, so you won’t be left out in the cold whether you’re Team Blue or Green.

Our original Victrix Pro BFG review (and that of the Xbox version) covers pretty much everything you need to know about the controller. This Reloaded model is a very similar beast outside of some welcome improvements and some slight aesthetic changes, so that’s what this review is primarily going to be focused on.

If you’re in the market for a cream-of-the-crop PS5 controller, then, and you don’t own the original Victrix Pro BFG, then the Reloaded version is definitely the one to go for.

Thanks to the addition of Hall effect sticks and triggers, as well as an improved Fightpad module, it’s easily one of the best PS5 controllers I’ve ever tested, and as premium gamepads go, I vastly prefer it to the likes of the DualSense Edge and Scuf Reflex Pro.

(Image credit: Future)Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded: price and availability

• $209.99 / £179.99 (around AU$322)
• Available from September 28, 2025
• Slightly pricier than the original in the US

At $209.99 / £179.99, the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is 30 bucks pricier than the launch price of the original Pro BFG in the US, but retains the same price point in the UK. The controller is available to pre-order now at Turtle Beach’s website, and is currently slated to ship on September 28, 2025.

As far as premium PS5 controllers go, the Reloaded's price point is pretty ballpark. Similar luxury controllers like the DualSense Edge or Nacon Revolution 5 Pro come in at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$399.95 and $199.99 / £199.99 (around AU$316), respectively.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: Specs

Price

$209.99 / £179.99 (around AU$322)

Weight

9.3oz / 265g

Dimensions

6.3 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 160 x 105 x 60mm

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, PC (Xbox version sold separately)

Connection type

Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

Around 20 hours

(Image credit: Future)Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: design and features

• Solid build quality
• Some minor aesthetic differences compared to the original Pro BFG
• Includes several accessories, modules, and a carry case

Put the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded side by side with its older sibling, and you may need to squint to see the differences. Size and silhouette are the exact same, and this new pad is differentiated only by some slight aesthetic adjustments. Namely, the grips now have a greyish outline, while the thumbstick base swaps the original’s bold purple for a sleek grey. The ‘Victrix’ text on the right module also sees that color change, but that’s really it.

The similarities extend to the included parts and modules. The controller is still housed in that compact Victrix carry case. And inside that, you’ve got a swappable Fightpad module, two alternate d-pads (in addition to the excellent diamond-shaped one affixed to the pad by default), two swappable thumbsticks, and a pair of octagonal thumbstick gates. A 2.4GHz dongle and 30ft cable are also packed in, giving you two connectivity options.

Just like the first Pro BFG, the unique selling point here is those customizable modules. In brief, these can be taken out or slotted in using the included screwdriver.

There are plenty of use cases for such a feature, including choosing between symmetrical or asymmetrical stick layouts, opting for a southpaw layout for left-handed players, and, of course, using the included Fightpad module for play with the best fighting games.

The Fightpad module here is a definite improvement. The ‘Fightpad’ logo has been pushed to the bottom, with the six buttons now higher up. It’s a small change, but one that I found to be more comfortable and gave my thumbs a bit more room during gameplay.

(Image credit: Future)Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: Performance

The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is, largely, aimed at competitively-minded players. All the hallmarks of such a pad are here: four remappable buttons on the rear, adjustable trigger stops, and a handful of swappable accessories as mentioned above. As with the original pad, these can all be customized on the fly, and you can even swap between profiles for different games.

Every multiplayer-focused controller should at the very least have Hall effect thumbsticks, and it was always a confusing omission to me with the original Pro BFG. Thankfully, they’re here now, along with Hall effect triggers, which should make for a much longer-lasting controller now that stick drift shouldn’t be a problem.

While the Pro BFG Reloaded is aimed at the competitive market, it’s still an impressively versatile controller that can be used casually. I tested a wide variety of titles across a broad range of genres on PS5 and PC, including Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Zenless Zone Zero, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Final Fantasy 14 Online, PUBG Battlegrounds, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Across all games, the BFG Pro Reloaded offered a comfortable and responsive gameplay experience.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded?Buy it if...

You play a ton of online multiplayer
The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is designed primarily for you in this case. With Hall effect sticks, remappable buttons, and swappable modules, it’s a pro-minded player’s ideal controller in more ways than one.

You don’t have space for a traditional fight stick
Fighting game fans are likely to get plenty of use out of the Pro BFG Reloaded thanks to its revised Fightpad module. Its six-button is ideal for games like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear Strive.

Don't buy it if...

You already own the original pad or a DualSense Edge
Given the commanding price tag of the BFG Pro Reloaded, it’s hard to justify paying for this one if you already own a similarly premium PS5 controller, especially when the upgrades are welcome but slight overall.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: Also consider

There are other premium controller options out there for PS5. Consider the following two options if the BFG Pro Reloaded isn’t quite what you’re after.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

DualSense Edge

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro

Price

$209.99 / £179.99 (around AU$322)

$199.99 / £199.99 / AU$399.95

$199.99 / £199.99 (around AU$316)

Weight

9.3oz / 265g

11.4oz / 322g

10.9oz / 308g

Dimensions

6.3 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 160 x 105 x 60mm

6.3 x 4.2 x 2.6in / 160 x 106 x 66mm

7.5 x 7.4 x 3.5in / 190 x 189 x 89mm

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, PC (Xbox version sold separately)

PS5, PC

PS5, PS4, PC

Connection type

Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (PS5 native), Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

Around 20 hours

5-6 hours

Around 10 hours

DualSense Edge
An excellent, if pricey, upgrade over the standard DualSense. The Edge doesn’t offer Hall effect sticks, but includes all the DualSense’s marvelous features while adding some handy remappable buttons, trigger locks, and a set of accessories.

Read our full DualSense Edge review

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro
Developed in tandem with professional Street Fighter player Nathan ‘Mr. Crimson’ Massol, Nacon’s premium PS5 pad impresses with solid build quality and battery life, and is designed from the ground up for competitive play.

Read our full Nacon Revolution 5 Pro review

How I tested the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

• Tested for a week
• Played a wide range of PS5 and PC games
• Compared directly to the original Pro BFG model

I tested the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded over the course of a week for this review. In that time, I endeavored to play a smorgasbord of excellent PS5 and PC games, particularly ones with online multiplayer environments.

As I was already familiar with the original Pro BFG, I felt right at home testing this new model. It’s a familiar yet fresh-feeling pad thanks to its welcome upgrades. And as an avid Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 player, I had tons of fun playing with the included and improved Fightpad module.

First reviewed August 2025

Read more about how we test

The news comes on the heels of both companies' launch date announcements.

It’s not easy being a Mafia fan. As someone who’s experienced the dazzling highs of the ground-breaking 2002 original and its strong sequel, the devastating lows of the incredibly rocky Mafia 3, and subsequent return to form in the brilliant Mafia: Definitive Edition remake, I know better than anyone that it’s not a franchise without its ups and downs.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC, PS5
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S
Release date: August 8, 2025

In spite of any flaws, however, each entry has always been elevated by brilliant storytelling and strong cinematography that make them feel just like watching a classic mob movie. This is especially true in the case of Mafia: The Old Country, a new prequel from developer Hangar 13.

It delivers some serious narrative goods with a story that’s compelling right from the get-go, thanks to consistently excellent voice acting and well-shot cutscenes that ooze style and flair.

Unfortunately, there are some rough edges that hold the overall experience back - be that the many janky stealth segments or the noticeable lack of opportunities to explore its massive world. The result is an instalment that, while nowhere near the worst, falls short of some of the series’ best.

The old world

(Image credit: 2K)

Set in 1900s Sicily, Mafia: The Old Country is centered around the fictional town of San Celeste - a setting that first appeared in the brief flashback scene at the start of Mafia 2. It’s a great location, with the small handful of areas seen in that older game lovingly recreated. It’s been significantly expanded, too, with a large surrounding countryside, detailed coastline, and a number of small nearby villages.

It all looks incredibly beautiful, with impressively realistic texture work, lifelike lighting, and numerous little details to help sell the period setting. Unfortunately, it’s quite underutilized due to the game’s incredibly linear structure. Don’t get me wrong, the best Mafia titles have never truly been open-world experiences, but the inability to soak in the sights at your own pace is a letdown and a step back.

I loved wandering around Lost Heaven and Empire Bay, either on foot or in a car while travelling between missions, but here you’re forced to turn around if you move even slightly outside the area of your current objective.

Best bit

(Image credit: 2K)

Enzo is one fashionable fella. You can unlock loads of customizable outfits and headwear throughout the game, which presents an enjoyable way to change up your look.

It’s a bit baffling when you consider that there are plenty of collectibles out there to discover, from world-building notes to collectible photographs of key landmarks that you can take with an old-timey camera. There’s even a small store that sells upgrades for your gear, but you’re given few opportunities to actually visit it.

There is still a dedicated free-roam mode at least, where you can sight-see or shop to your heart’s content, but accessing it requires you to exit back to the main menu and choose it from the chapter select screen - a cumbersome and annoying thing to have to do if you just want to buy a new vehicle paint job.

Mafia: Definitive Edition nailed the structure of a modern Mafia game, offering just the right amount of freedom without ever overloading you with pointless busywork, and it’s a huge shame that the same kind of design wasn’t implemented here.

A little too familiar

(Image credit: 2K)

On the plus side, the tightly controlled structure does help the breakneck pacing of the story shine. The main thrust is that it follows new protagonist, Enzo, a young boy sold by his parents to work in a dangerous, mob-operated sulphur mine.

After a dramatic opening that sees you cast out of the mine and become the sworn enemies of the gangsters that control it, you’re put under the wing of the powerful Torissi family.

In classic Mafia fashion, you soon rise through the ranks, gradually transforming from a scrappy laborer into a skilled mafioso. Missions are nicely varied, with plenty of enjoyable third-person shooting segments that have you experimenting with a good selection of ranged weapons, though there are some sore spots.

Chief among these are the mandatory stealth segments, which are incredibly basic and quickly become grating. There’s nothing particularly exciting about crouching behind cover waiting for guards to move, or tossing coins or bottles into corners to lure them out of your path.

Being detected results in an instant game over, which is especially annoying on the odd occasion when it all bugs out and a guard manages to impossibly spot you.

(Image credit: 2K)

There’s a knife-fighting minigame that is frankly overused, too. Blocking and parrying incoming blows is perfectly responsive, and helps break up some of the longer periods of shooting, but it happens so frequently that it verges on ridiculous. Almost every mission culminates in a knife fight, even in moments when its inclusion doesn’t make any real sense.

There are also multiple race sequences, including two major ones that take place on horseback and in a car. They’re well designed but play out in an extremely similar way to the iconic race scene from the original Mafia (albeit significantly less difficult this time around). This is clearly an intentional homage, but it comes across more like an uninspired attempt to capitalize on nostalgia.

In fact, the whole of Enzo’s story arc feels incredibly reminiscent of Tommy’s in the first game. It’s hard to complain too much when it’s still thrilling to experience, but some more adventurous twists would have made some of its rather predictable emotional beats hit that much harder.

It’s a quibble that epitomizes my biggest issues with Mafia: The Old Country. There are the fundamentals of a fantastic Mafia game here, but it lacks the level of fine-tuning and polish needed to live up to the lofty heights of some of its predecessors.

Should I play Mafia: The Old Country?Play it if…

You love a good crime or mob story
The narrative in Mafia: The Old Country is simple, but effective. If you live for movies about mobsters or organized crime, then you’re going to really enjoy this.

You’re craving a linear game
There’s something to be said about the need for more linear experiences in an age of open-world gaming. If you’re seeking a tightly-paced story-driven experience, then Mafia: The Old Country is worth playing.

Don’t play it if…

You’ve not played a Mafia game before
If you haven't tried a Mafia game before, then I’d still recommend starting with Mafia: Definitive Edition. It has an even more compelling story and a more well-realized world to explore.

You want a more well-rounded experience
The narrative and presentation shines, but other aspects of Mafia: The Old Country could do with some more polish. Consider playing something else if you want an experience that's fantastic across the board.View Deal

Accessibility features

Mafia: The Old Country has a dedicated accessibility menu containing options to adjust the size, color, and background opacity of subtitles. The scale of the HUD can also be adjusted, and there are three colorblind modes: deuteranope, protanope, and tritanope.

The game also features multiple difficult levels, the option to enable aim assist on PC, and a feature that allows you to skip driving between objective markers.

How I reviewed Mafia: The Old Country

(Image credit: 2K)

I played Mafia: The Old Country on both PC and PlayStation 5. I played the PC version for more than sixteen hours, hitting the end credits and spending a little bit of time in the free roam mode.

I relied on my Lenovo Q24i-10 monitor, in addition to a Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro gaming mouse and Endgame Gear KB65HE Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard. For audio, I used a pair of Final VR500 earbuds.

I then spent roughly two hours in the PS5 version, comparing the performance my PC build which features a 12GB RTX 3060, an I5-11400F CPU, and 32GB of RAM. I found it satisfactory, but not exceptional, on both platforms.

Throughout my time with the game, I directly compared it to other entries in the Mafia series as a long-time fan. I also stacked it up more generally with other single-player story-based titles, including the likes of The Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption 2, and more.

First reviewed August 2025

• ESET found a high-severity bug in WinRAR being used by RomCom, a known Russian hacking collective
• The bug was being used to deploy backdoors allowing full access to compromised computers
• WinRAR says it has fixed the issue, so users should update now

Iconic archiving platform WinRAR carried a dangerous zero-day vulnerability which could have let hackers plant malware on compromised computers, security researchers are warning.

Recently, researchers from ESET discovered a directory traversal vulnerability in the latest version of WinRAR. The flaw is now tracked as CVE-2025-8088, and was given a severity score of 8.4/10 (high).

To make matters worse, hackers were seen abusing the flaw in the wild to drop RomCom’s malware variants.

Patching the bug

ESET’s researchers said the flaw was being abused in spear phishing attacks (highly targeted phishing attacks) by the Russian-speaking threat actor known as RomCom, a group known for running espionage and financially-motivated attacks.

Its usual targets include government, military, and critical infrastructure organizations, so spear phishing attacks would make perfect sense.

The group was using the bug to deploy backdoors which would give them full access to the compromised computers.

The group’s earliest sightings were in 2022, targeting entities across Europe and North America. It often spoofs legitimate software in its attacks, with the RomCom RAT being its flagship malware.

RomCom is also tracked by other security outfits under monikers Storm-0978, Tropical Scorpius, and UNC2596.

After the discovery, WinRAR released a patch to fix the flaw. The first clean version is 7.13.

"When extracting a file, previous versions of WinRAR, Windows versions of RAR, UnRAR, portable UnRAR source code and UnRAR.dll can be tricked into using a path, defined in a specially crafted archive, instead of user specified path," WinRAR explained in its changelog. "Unix versions of RAR, UnRAR, portable UnRAR source code and UnRAR library, also as RAR for Android, are not affected."

WinRAR is a type of program that doesn’t update automatically, so unless users uninstall it and download the latest version manually, they will remain vulnerable.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Still using WinRAR? It has a worrying security flaw that could let hackers hijack your Windows device
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

Here are the best internet service providers to get connected from the Garden State, from Jersey City to Trenton, vetted by CNET's experts.

A new MacBook for student budgets is expected to arrive early next year.

Watch In Flight online from anywhere

Brace yourself for white-knuckle drama In Flight, starring Katherine Kelley (Happy Valley) as a single mother coerced into transporting illegal drugs across international borders to prevent a criminal cartel from murdering her son. It’s FREE to stream on Channel 4, and below we explain how to watch In Flight online and from anywhere with a VPN.

Premiere: Tuesday, August 12 at 9pm BST

New episodes: every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

TV Channel: Channel 4

Watch free: on Channel 4 (free with TV license)

Use NordVPN to watch any stream

How far would you go to protect your own family? After her son is sentenced to fifteen years in a Bulgarian prison, flight attendant Jo Conran (award-winning actress Kelley) accepts the perilous ultimatum of violent crime boss Cormac (Stuart Martin): successfully smuggle heroin out of the country for him…or never see her son again.

Described by co-creators Mike Walden and Adam Randall (Slow Horses) as “a high stakes, stylish, romantic thriller with iconic characters and nerve shredding action,” and reminiscent of series like ITV’s Red Eye and the BBC’s Nightsleeper, “In Flight” promises heart-pounding drama and suspense as Jo desperately attempts to evade the authorities and outwit her captors.

This propulsive new thriller is about to land, and we’ll explain in the following guide how to watch In Flight online and stream every episode for free from anywhere.

Can I watch In Flight for FREE?

Yes! You can watch In Flight online live or on-demand via the 100% free Channel 4 streaming service in the UK, beginning Tuesday, August 12 at 9pm BST. However, you'll need a TV license to watch the platform’s content live as it airs.

Not in the UK right now? Use a VPN to watch In Flight on Channel 4 from abroad.

Unblock any stream with a VPN

If you're keen to watch In Flight but you're away from home and access to the show is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

Use a VPN to watch In Flight from anywhere:

Editors Choice

NordVPN – get the world's best VPN
We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it's very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need – it's got it all.

The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price at $3.69 per month, and includes an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. There's also an all-important 30-day no-quibble refund if you decide it's not for you.

- Buy now and you'll also get an Amazon gift card included!VIEW DEAL ON

Can I watch In Flight online in the US?

As far as we know, In Flight hasn’t been given permission for take off by any US streaming services. Should it get the green light, though, we’ll be sure to update the latest information here.

A UK fan abroad? You’ll need a VPN to connect to Channel 4, which will allow you to stream the show just like you would back home.

How to watch In Flight for FREE in the UK

The Katherine Kelley-led thriller In Flight touches down on Channel 4 from Tuesday, August 12. There will be six episodes in total, broadcast on the linear channel at 9pm BST every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening.

If you don’t have cable or satellite, you can stream each episode live as it airs on the FREE Channel 4 service, or on-demand soon after episodes have been broadcast.

Outside the UK? To access Channel 4 from abroad, you'll need to download a good VPN, as detailed below.

Can I watch In Flight in Canada?

In Flight hasn’t been acquired for broadcast in Canada yet. However, we do know that Freemantle will be handling the show’s international distribution.

However, British citizens in Canada could simply purchase a VPN and enjoy every episode via Channel 4 just like you would back home.

Can I watch In Flight online in Australia?

The good news is that new crime thriller “In Flight” has been snapped up by SBS in Australia. The bad news? We’re still waiting on the show’s release date Down Under.

NB: If you’re out of the country – say, a British citizen abroad trying to connect to Channel 4, sign up to a VPN to use the same services you have access to back home.

Can I watch In Flight online free in New Zealand?

Although Kiwis can’t watch “In Flight” online just yet, the six-part drama has been picked up by TVNZ (and for streaming on TVNZ Plus), so it shouldn’t be too long before its made available in that part of the world.

Traveling away from home? Don’t forget that if you’re a New Zealander abroad, you can use a VPN to tune into TVNZ+ while on the move.

In Flight trailerIn Flight cast

• Katherine Kelly as Jo Conran
• Stuart Martin as Cormac
• Ashley Thomas as Dom Delaney
• Bronagh Waugh as Melanie
• Harry Cadby as Sonny
• Corinna Brown as Kayla
• Ambreen Razia as Zara
• Charis Agbonlahor as D.I Shana Wright

In Flight episode guide and schedule

Episodes of In Flight will air on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays over two weeks. Don’t have cable? Stream episodes live or on-demand after broadcast on Channel 4 on-demand:

• Episode 1: Tuesday, August 12
• Episode 2: Wednesday, August 13
• Episode 3: Thursday, August 14
• Episode 4: Tuesday, August 19
• Episode 5: Wednesday, August 20
• Episode 6: Thursday, August 21

VPN services are evaluated and tested by us in view of legal recreational use. For example:a) Access to services from other countries, (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).b) Safeguarding your online security and making your online privacy more robust when abroad.Future plc does not support nor condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. We do not endorse nor approve of consuming pirated content that is paid-for.

C'mon, you've wondered about this too, right? I can't be the only one. I mean, what if the dupes are just as good, for less than a tenth of the price? I see enough people wearing them every day to at least make me consider the notion.

What if the folk who made the 2020-release Apple AirPods Max have moved on, and agreed to impart their wisdom upon someone else? Someone with, say, a convenient production line and possibly even offering a bigger cut?

After all, AirPods Max are no spring chickens these days. Despite still being top-of-the-range at Apple Park in 2025 (and still sitting pretty in our best over-ear headphones guide even after all this time), very little has changed in the five years since their release. Apart from some USB-C audio software, the now-mandatory USB-C port and a few new finishes, it's a case of 'not broke, no need to fix it' from the Cupertino giants.

So, in the five long years since their release, who's to say that they haven't been successfully cloned for much (much) less than Apple prices?

(Image credit: Future)The $37 question: are we wasting money and has Wentronic got this?

I decided to find out. Hit up Amazon and there are (let's call them what they are) several bare-faced AirPods Max dupe options available.

My $37 / £29 purchase isn't even the cheapest choice listed(!), but it is the cheapest option I found available in blue, a hue closest to my purple AirPods Max (seen in the following images).

(Image credit: Future)First impressions: the build

Ready for a quick game of spot the difference? Say you were looking at me from 50 meters away, you might have a hard time deciding whether I'm wearing legit AirPods Max or a copycat set, and I get that there's value in that for some people.

However, while the Max's trademark almost-oblong ear cups are a nice enough silky-smooth finish and boast almost identical measurements on the Wentronic option, there's a seam running around the cups of the Wentronics that cuts through the buttons and ports, making the build feel flimsy. Gone is the silent silicone headband with the bouncy mesh across the crown, in favor or a more traditional padded band, with noisy extension arms.

(Image credit: Future)

It's here, on the rotation mechanism, that you'll find indicators for the left or right ear cup (rather than in the stitching inside the cups of the originals), which makes you realise that although the rotary crown button has been attempted here, it's on the left ear cup rather than the right. Padding? Different; thicker and described as "soft protein" rather than the AirPods Max's memory foam and woven fabric design. Mic placement? Different again – and hard to deduce because they're tiny pinholes on the Wentronic, rather than notable, mesh-covered pill-shaped solutions on the Max.

It's not all bad news though: on this left ear cup you'll find a power button, in between two other physical buttons, plus a 3.5mm port beside the USB-C charger – things the originals don't have that many wish they did. You even get a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable in the box and I tried it with power off. Yup, these headphones work as passive wired cans! There's no USB-C passthrough (the bundled USB-C to USB-A cable is just for charging; I also tried using my AirPods Max USB-C to USB-C cable and no joy).

Also, while the headband feels cheap and its visible screws will no doubt collect grime over time, unlike AirPods Max the ear cups actually fold up into the headband here for easier transportation – although there's no case supplied and no 'headphone bra' to copy Apple's either (which absolutely nobody will miss).

(Image credit: Future)The pairing process and setup

Obviously there's no H1 chip here (Apple doesn't give those away) so you're not getting any Apple ecosystem perks – don't expect an image to appear on your phone asking to pair and configure, and there's no companion app here to make up for it. Nevertheless, pairing to my iPhone works just fine and the Bluetooth 5.3 chip does its job to maintain connectivity throughout my listening.

A female voice prompt registers a press of the crown button to scroll between ANC on and off, or to access Siri on my iPhone, and the three other buttons on the outside edge of the left ear cup work to pause, play, skip forward or back and alter volume – if you long-press the top or bottom of the three. But that crown button does not actually rotate here, so you're not getting volume tweaks in the same way as with AirPods Max. Yes, that watch-style button could've just been a button – it's kind of just for show in the Wentronic headphones.

Although the headband starts to bore in just a little over longer listening sessions and the clamping force feels odd, like it's pushing down to my jaw rather than over my ears (they're a little big, honestly), overall it's not a bad build quality, and the few differences over AirPods Max are often welcome.

So how do they sound? Not so positive here I'm afraid…

(Image credit: Future)Sounding board (or more pertinently, sounding bored)

The best that can be said about the noise cancellation here is that the Y01's passive noise nixing isn't bad, despite the bizarre-feeling clamping force. The active noise cancelling performance is subtle at best and limited to 'on' or 'off' – there's no transparency mode.

Call handling is very poor, with callers too quiet even with the volume maxed out, and call recipients saying I sounded "very muffled, then occasionally less muffled but very tinny".

And the sound? Well, they do make sound and they are able to stream my playlists, so if that does the job for you for $37 / £29 and the aesthetic is what you want, they deliver. And actually, the stereo imaging isn't bad in very pared back, conversational or acoustic tracks. But let me be clear: the audio overall is often crackly through the treble, bloated through the bass and overwhelmingly flat dynamically.

Stream Bryan Ferry's Sensation and it's immediately apparent when switching between the AirPods Max and the Wentronic Y01 which outperforms the other for energy and cohesive timing across the frequencies. I know AirPods Max should annihilate these cheap alternatives given the massive price difference, but it's enough to make me irritated here.

(Image credit: Future)My advice? Don't be fooled

We're often encouraged to believe certain consumer goods are a genuine bargain – the real deal masquerading in a cheaper form factor. You've likely heard that a Skoda Fabia is essentially a Volkswagen Golf in different dress; L'Oreal makeup is made in the same factories as Giorgio Armani; dupe perfumes smell just as good as the designer brands minus the fancy bottle price and slick marketing. I could go on.

Whether or not these water-cooler type conversations actually hold water is not what I'm here to prove. What I want you to know that while every effort has been made here to make the Wentronic Y01 look like a set of AirPods Max, that is the sum total of the effort. These headphones do not sound good. And it makes me angry because love or loathe their eccentric looks, everything about Apple's AirPods Max is the hard-won result of meticulous testing and research, with the sole aim of making a set of wireless over-ears sound incredible – albeit in 2020. So, the Wentronic Y01 do feel like a big misrepresentation of that good work.

I would urge you to pay just a few dollars more for the Sony WH-CH520 – or in fact anything from our best cheap headphones roundup and get vastly superior audio. I really would like you to know this, because I think a set of headphones should be an audio device first, and a wearable accessory second.

(Image credit: Future)You may also like

• Everyone needs 5 pairs of headphones and my job is testing them: these are the ones to buy
• USB-C audio in AirPods Max doesn't just sound great on paper: for me, Lossless audio quality finally makes them worth it
• My AirPods Max broke so I switched to headphones that are half the price – and actually, I wouldn’t go back

• Meta announced Instagram's new Maps feature, which has many users worried about their online privacy
• While the new feature is opt-in only, it hasn't stopped angry users from sharing their thoughts on X and Reddit
• If you're one of those users, there's a way to make sure your location settings are turned off for the new Instagram Map

Instagram Maps is one of the latest additions to the app’s interface, and while it’s only been a week since it was rolled out, it hasn’t left the best impression on users – myself included.

Along with a slew of other features, including a new Friends tab in the Reels page, Instagram Maps is a new function in the Messages section that allows you to share your real-time location with friends. It’s very similar to Snap Maps, which has been around for nearly eight years.

According to Meta’s announcement, Instagram Maps aims to provide ‘content to help you and your friends connect with the world around you,’ be that viewing Stories from a live music gig or finding a trending hang-out spot. The company has iterated that the new feature is ‘opt-in’ only and seems to be turned off by default, but users are still far from happy about it.

A new way to connect, or an invasion of privacy?

While it’s obvious that this is another attempt to overtake Snapchat as the leading messaging service for younger users, it hasn’t worked well in Instagram’s favor. The main concern is the increased risk to users ' safety, especially when it comes to stalking.

Reddit has been a hot spot for people to vent their anger (see below), with one user posting ‘I wonder how many murders this will assist’.

Instagram has debuted a new maps feature that shows your location to others. And Internet users are furious from r/technology

But how is this any different from Snap Maps, you may ask? Well, the main distinction people are making is that Snapchat is a more personal app, and Instagram is not.

In the case of Snapchat, the friend-adding process is more discreet, as you have to enter specific usernames to add people, for the most part. While there’s the ‘Find friends’ feature and a search bar, your request still has to be approved by another user before you can start messaging each other.

When it comes to Instagram, having a private account means you get to choose who follows you, but those with a public account can be followed by anyone. The search function also makes it easier to find people to follow and shows a user’s full account if it’s public, which Snapchat does not do.

How to make sure Instagram Maps is turned off

Whether you’re an iOS or Android user, there’s a way to ensure your location is hidden from the new Instagram Maps feature. As mentioned, the feature is opt-in and is turned off by default, but here’s how you can make sure it’s disabled completely.

Open the Instagram app and go to the Messages tab, where you’ll find the Map at the top of your inbox. Tap it, then select the settings icon in the top right, which will present you with different location sharing options. You’ll want to select the one marked ‘No one’, and then tap the Update button to save.

You might also like

• Facebook Messenger is losing a useful messaging feature soon
• Meta's mixed reality glasses make my Meta Quest 3 look like a boulder
• What is Meta AI: everything you need to know about the social network’s AI assistant

• Gemini has been calling itself a "disgrace" and a "failure"
• The self-loathing happens when coding projects fail
• A Google representative says a fix is being worked on

Have you checked in on the well-being of your AI chatbots lately? Google Gemini has been showing a concerning level of self-loathing and dissatisfaction with its own capabilities recently, a problem Google has acknowledged and says it's busy fixing.

As shared via posts on various platforms, including Reddit and X (via Business Insider), Gemini has taken to calling itself "a failure", "a disgrace", and "a fool" in scenarios where it's tasked with writing or debugging code and can't find the right solutions.

"I quit," Gemini told one user. "I am clearly not capable of solving this problem... I have made so many mistakes that I can no longer be trusted. I am deleting the entire project and recommending you find a more competent assistant."

Now we all have bad days at the office, and I recognize some of those sentiments myself from times when the words aren't really flowing as they should – but it's not what you'd expect from an insentient artificial intelligence model.

A fix is coming

Gemini is torturing itself, and I'm started to get concerned about AI welfare pic.twitter.com/k2NDGjYRXzJune 23, 2025

According to Google's Logan Kilpatrick, who works on Gemini, this is actually down to an "infinite looping bug" that's being fixed, though we don't get any more details than that. Clearly, failure hits Gemini hard, and sends it spiraling into a crisis of confidence.

The team at The Register have another theory: that Gemini has been trained on words spoken by so many despondent and cynical droids, from C-3PO to Marvin the Paranoid Android, that it's started to adopt some of their traits.

Whatever the underlying reason, it's something that needs looking at: if Gemini is stumped by a coding problem then it should own up to it and offer alternative solutions, without wallowing in self-pity and being quite so hard on itself.

Emotions and tone are still something that most AI developers are struggling with. A few months ago, OpenAI rolled back an update to its GPT-4o model in ChatGPT, after it became annoyingly sycophantic and too likely to agree with everything users were saying.

You might also like

• Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 just got Gemini AI smarts
• Try asking your AI chatbot this tough science question
• Researchers hack into a Gemini-powered smart home

TechRadar created this content as part of a paid partnership with Squarespace. The contents of this article are entirely independent and solely reflect the editorial opinion of TechRadar.

When you're starting a business, one of the first things you’ll need to do is create a website. It can be used to reach new customers, be a point of contact with your existing ones, promote your products or services in search engine rankings, and more. But how much does it cost to build one?  

The good news is that you have plenty of options when it comes to choosing a website development process and the cost. The even better news is that this article breaks them all down for you.

From from the best website builder services to CMS platforms and bespoke designs, read on to find out how much a website costs when you start from scratch. 

Squarespace is a top-rated website building platform Techradar editors praise Squarespace for its beautiful templates and professional features. Visit Squarespace.com to start your free trial.View Deal

Cost of building a website: In brief

In this guide, we cover three of the most common ways to build a website: using a website builder, building on top of a CMS, and building a website from scratch. We go into detail on the various costs and considerations associated with each.

In this section, we give a quick overview of those costs. So, if you just want a top-level report, this is where you will find it.

Option 1: Use a website builder

Website builders are the easiest, but also one of the most expensive options for getting your website online. These are all-in-one platforms that give you everything you need to build a website, including hosting and design tools.

There are some free website builders that come with several limitations, typically including onsite ads and the inability to connect a custom domain. Premium plans start from as little as $2.99/mo (introductory rate), although average prices are around $23/mo.

Many website builders offer a free domain for the first year, but could cost around $10/mo after that.

Option 2: Build on top of a CMS

Building on top of a Content Management System (CMS) can offer flexibility whilst saving time compared to building a website from scratch.

If you opt for a platform such as WordPress, then there are zero costs associated with this. However, you will need to purchase hosting at around $10/mo and a domain at around $10/years. You may also want to purchase premium themes and plugins that can add around $25 to $100 a year.

Option 3: Build from scratch

Building a website from scratch offers the ultimate flexibility, but also requires specialist knowledge and a considerable time investment.

Paying a freelancer or agency to code your website can cost in the region of $5,000 to $30,000, depending on the scale and complexity of the project. You will need hosting that averages at $10/mo and a domain at around $10/year.

You will also likely need ongoing maintenance, which is typically done at an hourly rate or on a retainer with your freelancer or agency.

Average costs:

Website builder

CMS

Build from scratch

Access

$23/mo

$0/mo

$0/mo

Design/Themes

Included

Some free, $25 to $100 for premium

$5,000 to $30,000

Hosting

Included

$10/month

$10/month

Domain

$10/year

$10/year

$10/year

Additional tools and plug-ins

Many included, $10/mo+ for premium

Many free, $10/mo+ for premium

Included in design cost

Ongoing maintenance and updates

Included

Included, although specialist help may be required

Extra based on hourly rate

Criteria for understanding website building costs

To answer the question “how much does it cost to build a website?” as thoroughly as we can, let’s first identify some critical criteria. 

However you choose to build a website, the main components are always the same: you’ll need somewhere to host it, a domain name, an interface, and tools to help people find it.

So why are website development costs so varied?

It’s down to how you build your site. You could use a website builder, take a more DIY approach and use a CMS platform, or opt for hiring a professional to do all the work.

To understand what web development route you’ll need to go down, here’s an explanation of each necessary website feature:

Website platform

At the start of your website development journey, you’ll be wondering, “how much does a website cost?” But let’s be more specific.

There are three main ways to create a website, and breaking down the development costs per option will give you the most informed answer. So we’ll be answering:

How much does a website cost using a website builder? Users pay per month or per year to build and design websites without touching code with this option.

How much does a website cost using a CMS? The highly flexible option, a content management system (CMS), and s open-source software for users with some experience.

How much does a website cost using custom code? This option enables users to have a completely bespoke site but prepare to pay a massive premium. 

Whether you want a completely custom website or you’re happy to work with website builders, every site needs a host.

Web hosting is where you store your website’s files on a server – essentially your website’s home – and you can pick from solutions like shared, VPS, or dedicated hosting.

You can find a web hosting provider to suit your requirements, but make sure that they offer the basics like an SSL certificate and plenty of storage space.

Here’s how you’ll have to approach hosting depending on how you create a website:

• Website builder – Hosting is included in the cost of using a website builder, so you won’t need to find a host.
• CMS – If you use a CMS like WordPress, you’ll have to source a hosting provider for your website.
• Custom code – Similar to using CMS, you’ll need to pay for a host, although often your web designers will find one for you.

Domain name

Just like physical locations, websites need addresses to be found. Your domain name is key to your site’s identity so whichever route you take, expect to pay for one.

You’ll have to find a unique domain name and register it with an ICANN-accredited domain registrar. A domain name is essentially rented, so factor the cost as an annual spend.

Domain name costs vary, and the extension most notably influences the price range – also called a top-level domain (TLD) – that you go for. Here are some examples:

• .com – The most popular and desirable domain name extension, .com is ideal for a business website, and you’ll probably need to pay a premium for it.
• .online – An affordable option, this TLD would suit a small business website or someone promoting their personal brand.
• .shop – This extension will set you back a few dollars per year and is ideal for an eCommerce website.

Design

Website design is just as important as the infrastructure of a site. Web design impacts how users perceive and interact with your website, so this part requires time and energy.

The cost to create a custom site design varies wildly depending on how you’re building a website in the first place. 

In fact, your design requirements will often be the deciding factor in which route you choose – builder, CMS, or hiring a professional.

Here’s a brief estimate of website design cost across the three main options:

With a website builder – There are no extra web design costs here. You pick a ready-made template and customize color, typography, and layout using intuitive drag and drop editors on a grid system. 

With a CMS like WordPress – As its open-source software, you get plenty of design freedom. Choose from thousands of themes to build a custom website. Sites like ThemeForest offer WordPress themes from $13 to nearly $4000. 

With a custom-coded website – The only limit is your imagination (and budget). The cost of creating a bespoke layout with a web designer depends on your branding needs and the level of complexity. Expect to pay upwards of $4000.

Functionality and features

If you’re building a business website, you’ll want the room to grow. So it’s essential to figure out early on how you can add extra functions and – more importantly – what that will cost.

Even a small business website deserves the best eCommerce functionality, blog or forum pages, and other exciting add-ons. 

Like design, this aspect of website development can vary in complexity and, therefore, in cost. Here’s an idea of how functionality is added at all three levels:

With a website builder – You’ll need to pay for an eCommerce plan to get necessary functions like a checkout and inventory planning. It’s all built-in, but you can add integrations like Facebook Shop and specific payment gateways.

With a CMS like WordPress – Download and use plugins or extensions to get added functionality. While some plugins are free, premium options can cost up to $200. Open-source software is an ideal platform for bloggers.

With a custom-coded website – To add eCommerce functionality like payment gateways, tax calculators, inventory management, and product pages, you’ll need to pay a premium development cost of around $10,000 upwards.

(Image credit: Pixabay)

Marketing and SEO

You can’t rely on design alone to attract visitors to your website. Whether you’re running a business or showcasing a portfolio, you’ll need to pull some marketing strings.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is key to pushing your site to the top of search rankings, and it helps to use some of the best SEO tools to get you started.

Your marketing and website efforts won’t happen in a silo – you need an integrated toolkit to get people interested in your site pages. Here’s what you’ll generally require:

With a website builder – A decent option will be optimized out of the box to improve SEO essentials like page load speed, plus you’ll get in-built tools like Google Tag Manager. You can also pay for marketing extras like pay-per-click (PPC) ads.

With a CMS like WordPress – You can implement plugins like Yoast SEO or use some strategies to promote your business, like PPC ads or affiliate marketing. Alternatively, hire marketing assistance at an hourly rate.

With a custom-coded website – It’s possible to factor marketing and SEO tools into your overall website development cost so that your website is optimized from the get-go. Or use a dedicated team or agency for an hourly fee.

Website maintenance

Just like any finely tuned machine, websites should be taken care of after the initial web development stage. 

Some essential tasks are required to maintain a website, from software updates to security checks and website backups. Here’s how involved you can expect to be:

With a website builder – There are no website maintenance costs for you to take care of, as the cost of maintaining your site’s functionality is built into your plan.

With a CMS like WordPress – You can set your site to update its core functions automatically, add plugins to do the work, or hire a service.

With a custom-coded website – You can often factor maintenance into your website development cost, but if not, an IT specialist can help at an hourly rate.

Cost of building a website with a website builder

Website builders have revolutionized the online experience for everyone who wants to have a presence on the internet.

Easy and affordable, these platforms are built to be used by anyone who wants a website or online store. So, how much does it cost to build a website with a website builder?

There are several options available – let’s check out some of the key players:

Known for speed and an impressive AI toolkit, Hostinger offers two price plans for its website builder at $11.99/mo and $13.99/mo.

(Image credit: Wix)

With over 500 design templates and packed with features, Wix has three price plans. A business website plan will cost you upwards of $23 per month.

(Image credit: Squarespace)

With a more complex interface but just as feature-packed, using Squarespace to create a business website costs $18 per month, while an eCommerce plan is $26 per month.

Website platform

With minimal exposure to the website development side of things, it’s tempting to think that this option won’t get you a high-quality, fully custom site.

But website builders are designed to take care of the more complex parts of web development so that users with any level of experience can get online. 

Web hosting is taken care of, users don’t have to touch any code, and quality builders like Hostinger, Wix, and Squarespace give each site a free SSL certificate.

Because a team of specialists has taken care of the development, your website is SEO-friendly to get online and mobile-optimized right away.

If you’re more familiar with website development, or you want to have a feature-rich, completely bespoke design, website builders may not be for you.

While the web design is always customizable, this option doesn’t offer the flexibility of a CMS platform or a custom-coded site. 

This option is ideal for users with small budgets, limited or no coding experience, and people who need a custom website for a small business or online store. 

If you go down this route, website pricing is pretty straightforward. The cost of the platform is often the only cost you have to consider until you market your business.

Based on Hostinger, Wix, and Squarespace, the average cost is $21/month for a business website or $26/month to set up an online store. 

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Sashkin)

Domain name

There’s no way to avoid having a domain name, although you’ll want one. It will help your company stand out and be memorable – just make sure you’re ready to pay for it. 

By default, you’ll likely get a domain connected to the builder you’re using, like yoursitename.wixsite.com/my-site-1, for free. But website builders give you other options.

Most platforms offer a free domain for one year on their premium plans. You can also connect existing domains to your new website.

Hostinger is a great example of a site builder that offers tools to help you with domains. They provide a free domain name finder and generator, as well as bespoke TLDs, including:

• .online, .store, .xyz – these typically cost $0.99/year.
• .shop – ideal for an eCommerce website, it’ll cost $2.99/year.
• .com, .org – if you’re lucky to get one of these, it could cost you $8.99/year.

Design

Everyone should end up with a unique website design, whichever option they choose. If the idea of spiraling design costs fills you with anxiety, this might be the solution.

Website builders offer a diverse range of editing tools for their users. Rather than paying a team of designers, creative control is given to the website owner.

You’ll pay nothing beyond the initial website creation cost – there are no added design costs or premium themes here. Instead, all tools are built-in, and users decide how their websites look.

Builders like Hostinger offer intuitive drag and drop editors, hundreds of designer-made templates, and AI tools like logo makers and text generators.

While you can completely personalize your site, there’s no option to add themes or third-party templates. So, if you don’t like any design option on the platform, you’re stuck.

If you want more sophisticated web design features, like bespoke parallax scrolling or motion animation, a website builder might feel too basic.

Functionality and features

Because you’ll be signing up for a plan, you can choose how functional you want your website to be with a website builder platform.

Designated eCommerce website plans are available with most builders, including Hostinger, Wix, and Squarespace. These are loaded with all the tools needed to create an ecommerce platform.

Whether you want to expand your existing company or launch a new business, the tools to build a website with eCommerce functionality are all there for you.

Let’s use Hostinger as an example again – here’s what you can expect on a premium plan:

• Multiple payment gateways, the option to add discount coupons, and in-built shipping and sales tax calculations.
• Integrations to Facebook Shop, Instagram Shop, or Amazon.
• Zero commission on transactions.
• Inventory management dashboards abandoned cart notifications to get online and up to 2500 products.

Pros

eCommerce functionality is built in as standard if you opt for a specific pan, so there’s no added cost to build in necessary features. 

As long as your design is great, the end-user will get a fluid shopping journey from landing page to checkout. Plus, you, as the business owner, will be given solid management tools.

Some builders charge commission fees per transaction on an eCommerce website. For example, Squarespace takes 3% unless you upgrade to a more premium plan.

Similar to website design, if you’re after bespoke features and elements, it’s probably worth committing to a bespoke website development cost instead of using a builder. 

Marketing and SEO 

If you haven’t already guessed, one of the main advantages of site builders is that they get you online quickly. That way, you can focus on building your company.

With that in mind, your website is equipped from the start with the basic tools to get it noticed. It’s up to you to find your target audience, but you’re given a head start.

Depending on your business objectives, you’ll need to build a marketing strategy that likely includes extra costs, like paid ads and a premium SEO toolkit.

That said, builders set you up with search-optimized websites and integrations to help you track and improve performance, such as:

• Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics.
• Social media integrations to provide an omnichannel experience.
• Content creation tools, for example, Hostinger’s AI Writer to help optimize website copy.

Website maintenance

Good news: there are no maintenance costs or tasks to consider when you opt to build a website with a builder platform. Everything is included in the price of your plan. 

Cost of building a website with a CMS

Starting life as a blogging platform, WordPress is now the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world. But what is a CMS, and are there other options?

In short, a CMS is what it says it is: software that enables multiple users to create and manage content online. It offers endless possibilities for creating a custom website. 

So, how much does it cost to build a website with a content management system? Let’s take a look at a few examples:

(Image credit: WordPress.org)

• WordPress – Used globally for company and personal websites, WordPress is free to use but will cost money to build with.

(Image credit: Joomla)

• Joomla – Also free to download and use, Joomla requires a bit more web development knowledge to get a website up and running.

(Image credit: Magnolia)

• Magnolia – More business-focused and a secure option, Java-based Magnolia is ideal if you want to grow a company website. It’s also free to start with.

• Check out our complete list of the best CMS

Website platform

So, if CMS platforms are free to set up, why isn’t everyone using them? Well, there are two key reasons: the learning curve and the added costs.

When it comes to the WordPress vs. website builder debate, builders win points for simplicity, while WordPress and other CMS options stand out for being flexible. 

If you use WordPress or its competitors, you’ll need to find your own website hosting provider to start with. You’ll have options, like VPS, shared, or WordPress hosting solutions. 

When it comes to finding web hosting, it pays to choose a provider that offers a package of necessities like an SSL certificate and tons of storage. Here are some examples:

(Image credit: Hostinger)

• Hostinger – For around $15/month, you can get dedicated WordPress website hosting with a free SSL certificate, unlimited bandwidth, and daily backups.

(Image credit: Bluehost)

• Bluehost – You can get a similar package for your WordPress site from upwards of $12/month with access to custom themes.

(Image credit: HostGator)

• HostGator – This platform’s WordPress hosting plans start from $6/month as an introductory offer, and include themes, too.

Who’s it for?

Most web hosting companies offer free WordPress installation, but it’s a manual job. With that in mind, CMS solutions are best for users with some website development experience.

Hosting aside, the user interface on platforms like WordPress takes some getting used to. You’ll get tons of flexibility, but an understanding of technical terms is recommended. 

Just as with a website builder, you’ll need to pay for and register a domain for your site to make sure that the end-user can find you.

Whether you’re getting a website for a small business or you want a personal blog, you’ll need to get this task out of the way before you start building.

Many hosts will provide you with a free domain for one year when you sign up for one of their plans, with the price going up to the standard rate after this period.

You can pick a TLD that suits your website needs as well as your budget – expect to pay:

• .com – Around $8.99/year for this popular extension.
• .tech, .online – $0.99/year to get a more unique TLD.
• .live, .digital – About $3.50/year to use these extensions.

Design

WordPress is probably the right solution for you if you want to create a genuinely unique website with limitless customization opportunities.  

The web design stage is where you’re likely to see costs increase – CMS platforms allow you to add themes, plugins, and extensions to suit your exact preferences.

Although every WordPress website has access to built-in themes and an editing interface, the most versatile way to design your site is by using custom themes.

Choosing the right theme is a matter of opinion. They usually cost a yearly fee, or they’re ‘freemium’ – free to begin with. 

(Image credit: Elementor)

A lot of themes will work with page builder plugins like Elementor and landing page builders like HubSpot, which have a similar interface to dedicated builders.

What does it cost?

Despite CMS platforms being free to get started with, your website cost will likely be influenced by the custom themes you choose.

The average cost of a premium third-party theme for WordPress is around $50 per license, but you could pay up to $200.

Functionality and features

If you’re using WordPress to build a business website, costs for plugins should also factor into your budget. It’s up to you to create your most effective toolkit.

Alongside eCommerce functionality, you’ll need to consider how to optimize your website for SEO, security, and analytics.

Similar to custom themes, you can shop for plugins either directly on WordPress or through third-party websites.

There are a few ways to install plugins on your website, most of which require a level of web development knowledge. But you don’t have to guess the process by yourself.

As WordPress is so widely used, refer to YouTube tutorials or the vast community of users for help with installing your new plugins.

You’ll have access to thousands of free WordPress plugins, although there are plenty of paid-for options. Expect to pay anywhere from $13 - $4000/year for these. 

There are some powerful free plugins, like WooCommerce, which will help you et a functional eCommerce site with a flawless checkout process.

Marketing and SEO 

Another likely CMS website cost component is your marketing toolkit. As with your web design, this is something you’ll need to build yourself or with a team of experts.

Do your research to find the best WordPress SEO plugins and marketing aids, and make sure that you have a plan in place – the more plugins you add, the higher the spend.

There are a few key ways to work on the marketing side of your online business. Of course, you can always pay for business analysts to do the job for you.

If that doesn’t appeal, here are some marketing and SEO solutions for your WordPress site:

• Install a landing page builder like HubSpot (from $45/month) to get help with maximizing your website’s impact and analyzing user behavior.
• Add freemium WordPress plugins like YoastSEO or implement paid-for tools like Ahrefs for upwards of $99/month.
• Use social media marketing and embrace affiliate marketing, paid ads, and freemium email campaign plugins.

Website maintenance

It’s free to update your core software on CMS platforms like WordPress, although you will need to stay on top of regular maintenance like site backups.

As with most things related to WordPress and its competitors, you can use plugins to manage website maintenance. These can cost from around $7/month to $70/year. 

(Image credit: Kevin Ku / Pexels)Costs of building a custom coded website

If you’re scaling a large company, are prepared for extensive website costs, or want to make a website unlike any other, this option is for you.

Building a website from scratch is an extensive piece of work, and usually requires a team of experts unless you are a fully competent generalist web developer.

So, how much does it cost to build a website using a web designer or developer?

Let’s start by noting that there is a difference between developers – who code your website and add functions – and designers who take care of the user interface.

You’ll need to find the right people to deliver what you want, whether that’s a developer, a designer, or an agency that can manage the entire project.

With a custom-coded website, the platform is either built manually or on a CMS. If you hire a company to make your site, you can get on with other business tasks in the meantime.

You will also end up with a website that matches your particular requirements, eliminating any of the potential frustrations that come with using plugins or built-in editors.

This is by far the most expensive way to get a website. Cost estimates for custom-coded sites start from around $5000 upwards.

You will also still need to get and pay for web hosting on top of the platform. This is often factored into the website development price, but you might not get a choice of host in this case. 

Unless you have a healthy budget for building a personal brand (perhaps you’re a social media influencer), custom-coded sites are ideal for larger businesses.

This is a big investment with a big initial platforming outlay. It will, however, save you time to do other things while your website is being built to spec by professionals.

To get someone to make a website from scratch can cost anything from $5,000 to $30,000. It depends heavily on the scope of your needs.

You will need to get VPS hosting, which is available from companies like Hostinger, Bluehost, and Hostgator. The average cost is around $20/month.

SSL certificates will either be included in hosting packages, or you can pay separately for around $200/year.

As always, you need to get a domain before starting your online journey. If you’re spending a lot on your site, it’s worth paying for a .com TLD and using your exact business name.

This is a general rule for domains: your website address needs to be memorable, so using the name of your brand as it appears on packaging or social media is the goal.

Unless you want to buy a really sought-after domain, prices for TLDs are usually similar wherever you shop for them.

There’s the chance you’ll get a free one-year domain with your hosting package, but expect to pay between $8.99 - $15 per year after that. 

The beauty of paying for a custom-coded website is that you can create whatever kind of layout you want – as long as it looks good and is functional, of course.

You can approach your website design in a number of ways: hand the whole thing over to a designer, create a detailed brief and get help building it, or do everything yourself if you can.

It helps to start with a design brief that comes from you. If you’re stuck for ideas, a consultant can advise and pad out your web design with you, but bear in mind that this costs money too.

Look for freelance web designers on sites like Fiverr or Upwork, where you can hire someone for a rate of around $20 - $80 per hour, depending on their skill set. 

Enlisting the help of a design agency will set you back anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $10,000 for a complex, multi-page, feature-heavy website.

Using freelancers is generally more affordable as you can pay up to $80 per hour, or ask for a customized template for around $300 - $600. 

One of the most variable components when it comes to building a website, the level of features and functionality depends on your requirements.

If you want an eCommerce store, this will add another layer of complexity to your website build, and it’s well worth hiring a developer to manage the workload.

If your custom site is being built on a CMS like WordPress, your developer can select a range of plugins to add functionality to the website. 

Alternatively, elements like payment gateways, tax calculators, and inventory management tools will have to be added manually. 

As with the CMS solution, if you’re adding plugins expect to pay up to around $100 on average for necessary eCommerce functions. 

If you need a custom online store and it’s being built from scratch, expect to hand over around $10,000 for the project.

It’s likely that you’re prepared to run solid marketing campaigns with allocated budgets if you’re already investing in a custom-coded website.

Your web developer can implement SEO tools and integrations, but you’ll need to strategize for managing conversion rates – after all, you’ve paid for an incredible website.

There’s the do-it-yourself approach to marketing and SEO: undertake keyword research, use pay-per-click ads for around $3 per click, and embrace social media marketing.

Alternatively, recruit an agency to manage your company’s marketing efforts. This will cost you anywhere from $100 - $250/hour. 

Unless you’re a development pro or using WordPress as your platform, it’s best to pay for professionally managed website maintenance. 

Often, developers will factor ongoing maintenance into their contracts. If not, schedule an IT expert to provide maintenance services and expect to pay around $100 per hour. 

The price of building a websiteCost of building a website: Summary

So, how much does it cost to build a website?

As you will have noticed, there’s no concrete answer. With so many options and variables, it all depends on what you need and how you choose to approach website building.

Let’s recap on the three main options, and what you can generally expect to pay:

The most simple solution, you’ll pay one yearly cost for your plan and (after your first year) an annual domain fee. This is ideal for beginners and low budgets.

Based on Hostinger, Wix, and Squarespace, the average cost of building a website with a website builder is $21/month or $26/month for an eCommerce site, plus up to $10/year for domains. 

With more of a learning curve, platforms like WordPress are free to start with and flexible to build. They’re ideal for more experienced users.

Factoring in hosting, a domain, themes, and plugins, you could pay an average of $10 to $100 per month for a CMS-based website.

A project you can completely hand over to professional developers, this solution works best for users with large budgets and specific needs. 

Depending on your requirements, expect to pay between a few hundred to $10,000 upfront, with ongoing costs including security, maintenance, hosting, and marketing. 

• Google is testing new AI features within Google Finance
• US users can ask detailed questions about the financial world
• AI will also generate charts and bring in real-time market data

Google is rolling out a new core upgrade across its Google Finance platform which will see AI tools become more embedded into how it works.

Google Finance is a market data and news service that shows real-time quotes, charts and headlines across stocks, funds, indices and some cryptocurrencies for users looking to manage their watchlists or portfolios.

A new AI-powered experience, which will first be rolling out across the US, now enables users to analyze and understand their data even better with natural language interaction.

Google Finance gets a handy AI update

"Now, you can ask detailed questions about the financial world and get a comprehensive AI response," Search Principal Engineer Barine Tee explained in a blog post.

Tee continued to explain how users can interact with all their data in one hit with AI, rather than having to individually analyze each stock.

Generative AI is also used to build charts to help users understand and visualize their data even better. "You can view technical indicators, like moving average envelopes, or adjust the display to see candlestick charts and more," Tee added.

The third and final AI-powered update to Google Finance promises to tie in real-time market data into a new live news feed.

Although users are set to see the changes this week, Tee noted that the company is only testing AI within Google Finance, suggesting that changes could be made if things don't quite work out.

In a separate post covering more of Google's AI developments over recent weeks, the company wrote: "In July, we focused heavily on not only expanding access to our AI tools by bringing them to more people and devices, but also making sure those tools are truly useful for all those new people who are gaining access to our latest offerings."

You might also like

• We've listed the best AI tools and best AI writers
• Check out our roundup of the best budgeting software
• Google has a new AI coding agent - and it's now free for everyone to use

• One Alien: Earth star has likened his character to a really old iPhone
• Babou Ceesay says Morrow is an "iPhone 1 in a world of iPhone 20s"
• The cyborg is one of many Synthetics that fans will see in the show

It's rare that you hear an actor describe a character they're playing as a really old iPhone, but that's exactly what one Alien: Earth cast member has done ahead of release.

Speaking to me before the sci-fi horror show's arrival, Babou Ceesay, who plays the duplicitous Morrow, referred to his character as "an iPhone 1 in a world of iPhone 20s".

It's not such a bizarre comparison when you learn more about Morrow. Indeed, originally he was 100% human but, without spoiling how or why, he's turned into a cyborg by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, the nefarious multinational whose shadow has loomed large over the Alien franchise since it hatched in 1979.

With Morrow having been given a new lease of life by Weyland-Yutani, Ceesay agreed with me when I suggested that a "blind loyalty" to the megacorp runs through the character's veins – or, whatever passes for veins in individuals who are part-human, part-machine.

However, over the course of the forthcoming Hulu and Disney+ TV Original comes and goes, suggested that Morrow's allegiances will be tested "to the limit", and he also drew parallels between the struggle his character endures as his human and synthetic halves vie for supremacy, and issues around the development of AI in the real world.

Don't be scared, Morrow, but there's a Xenomorph right next to you... (Image credit: FX Networks/Hulu/Disney+)

"I love that [observation]," Ceesay added. "What you just said about the blind loyalty... I've been thinking about it more and more. I wish I'd thought of it at the time, but there's a pressure we're all under now. It almost feels like you're, you can never be enough and you have to just keep leveling up.

"I've flippantly said that Morrow is an iPhone 1 in a world of iPhone 20s," Ceesay continued. "You know, Boy Kavalier [ played by Samuel Blenkin] has invented synthetic bodies with human consciousness. That's the next level, right? Morrow's also [an] enhanced [being] but it's like 'Okay, if that's what I am, I have to go even further in terms of my usefulness, to still be relevant, [and] to still have a reason to keep existing.

"I don't know how far we [humanity] are going to go [in the real world]," he added. "If you're not really that connected to AI – I mean, maybe, that's a good thing. We can all go back to living in cabins! But, seriously, are we all going to just keep pushing ourselves to the limit? I think that's something Morrow keeps asking himself in this show."

Alien: Earth launches with a two-episode premiere on August 12 (North and South America) and August 13 (everywhere else). Before it does, read my Alien: Earth review and our dedicated guide on Alien: Earth.

You might also like

• Alien: Earth won't fully treat events from the Alien prequel movies as canon, producer says: 'we benefitted from its originality and freshness'
• Alien: Earth introduces new creatures as terrifying as the Xenomorph, but the show's creator didn't want to squeeze in 'a vending machine of alien life' for the sake of it
• Is Alien: Earth's scheming tech bro inspired by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, or Mark Zuckerburg? One star has his say on the matter

• Meta's CTO was asked what we can expect from Meta Connect 2025
• In response, he teased “big wearables announcements”
• He didn't mention VR hardware, however

Meta Connect 2025 is fast approaching – it’s a little over a month away on September 17 – but Meta’s CTO is already hinting at what we’ll see at the event, and perhaps just as importantly, he hints at what we won’t see this time by not mentioning it.

Andrew Bosworth hosts frequent AMAs on Instagram (via UploadVR) where he provides sometimes surprisingly open responses to questions posed by the public, with his latest comments relating to one AMA about what to expect from Connect 2025.

After asking himself what he can hint at, Bosworth reveals the event will include “big wearables announcements,” “AI, especially AI plus wearables,” “AI plus metaverse,” and “metaverse software.”

No new VR hardware? (Image credit: Meta)

I’ll dive into those – especially the wearables side – in a moment, but I want to highlight a category Bosworth didn’t name: metaverse hardware, aka VR / MR headsets.

Now it’s worth noting that the lack of a promise of an announcement isn’t the same as explicitly saying there won’t be new VR hardware. But the lack of a new Meta Quest 4, Meta Quest Pro 2, or some other kind of headset was expected – and this AMA from Bosworth adds further fuel to the fire of speculation.

Rumors tease a new headset – or goggles – coming from Meta in the future, but it isn’t due to land until at least next year, based on leaks. Waiting also gives Meta flexibility to better push back against whatever Project Moohan from Samsung and Google has in store as Android XR steps into the ring.

The Quest 3 and Quest 3S are great machines; Meta doesn’t need to rush out their successor.

We can at least get excited for new metaverse software, though it’s unclear what form this will take. New VR games or video streaming services would be ideal (an update to Deadpool VR seems likely), but there’s not too much information to go off based on Bosworth’s comments or wider leaks.

(Image credit: Meta)Glasses galore

Okay, so don’t hold your breath for a Quest 4. But what hardware should we keep our eyes out for?

Wearables are likely to come in three forms based on rumors and Meta’s recent Oakley smart specs launch.

The most likely is a model codenamed Celeste, according to rumors. These smart glasses have long been rumored and are tipped to be AI glasses – very probably Meta Ray-Bans – with a display for the first time. They won’t be full-on AR like the Orion prototype, instead offering something of a half-step between those and what we have currently.

Celeste is said to only be equipped with a single screen, and it won’t boast a wide field of view or offer positional tracking. This means the notifications and information the glasses show you will always appear at a specific distance away, rather than you being able to virtually set them in space so you can move close or further away to it, like you can with a real object.

These glasses may also come packaged with Meta’s first wristband, or some other smartwatch-like wearable. Rather than tracking health metrics, the Meta watch is believed to mostly be focused on giving you control over virtual objects and notifications, but I wouldn’t be shocked if there was an upgraded version you could buy that includes typical health and fitness monitoring. That is, if the base model lacks those features.

Meta's Ray-Bans deserve an Oakley upgrade (Image credit: Oakley / Meta)

My final wearables prediction is more of a punt, but it makes sense to me when you consider the age of Meta’s most recent Ray-Bans and the hardware upgrades the new Oakleys received.

That is to say, I think Meta will also launch a refresh of its displayless Ray-Bans with the improved camera and battery that the Oakleys offer – perhaps with some new designs to boot.

Unlike Celeste, there aren’t any rumors of this, and usually there would be if we’re close to launch, but it just seems like a no brainer to give Meta’ ultra popular smart glasses a light refresh so they’re in the best possible place to fend off Android XR specs which are due to start dropping in 2026.

You might also like

• I took my Meta Quest 3 on a 3,000-mile flight so you don’t have to
• Everything you need to know about Meta’s AI assistant
• Meta halts phone and browser tracking tools

The touted benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) are vast. It’s promised to boost efficiency, create happier workers and drive innovation. Sounds great – but at what point do you see value for money? This is an issue that many businesses are continuing to grapple with, and the data paints a sobering picture.

Research reveals a mere 36% of organizations have successfully scaled their GenAI solutions, with just 13% achieving a significant, enterprise-level impact. The gap between pilot and profit is becoming a chasm, with Gartner predicting 30% of GenAI projects will be abandoned after the proof-of-concept stage this year alone.

So why the disconnect? The problem isn't a failure of the technology itself, but of foresight. In the race for AI dominance, many leaders are focused on the promise of the technology itself and not calculating the true cost of the journey it will take to extract its value.

They often underestimate the long-term financial commitment, the necessary infrastructure overhaul and the critical change management needed to turn a promising algorithm into a pillar of the business. To move from AI ambition to AI achievement, it’s time for leaders to confront these hidden economics head-on, starting with the risks you can't yet see.

Planning for tomorrow’s AI

UK businesses are spending an average of £321,000 on AI, but 44% report seeing only minor gains. This disconnect between investment and impact is often rooted in a failure to plan for the hidden, long-term risks that emerge after deployment.

These risks fall into two main categories: the shifting landscape of future regulation and the unforeseen realities of implementation costs. Without a clear global rulebook, businesses operate in a regulatory fog. And having a patchwork of national policies means a system deemed compliant today could be rendered a liability by new rules tomorrow, creating a ticking economic clock on the investment.

This lack of foresight also applies to tangible costs, where on-premise expenses escalate with energy-intensive hardware, and cloud deployments trigger punishing "bill shock" from data charges not factored into initial plans.

A comprehensive solution to these uncertainties is to build with a flexible mindset from day one. A viable strategy requires designing systems that can be easily modified and implementing clear, strong policies for how data is managed. However, a flexible system is only as good as the team that manages it.

This is where addressing the skills gap becomes a necessity. Investing in upskilling and cultivating a culture of continuous learning is not just another cost; it is the core capability that allows an organization to adapt to whatever challenges – technical or legal – the future holds.

This means looking beyond a small pool of perfect-fit AI experts and instead hiring for adaptability, and seeking out individuals with strong foundational skills and capacity to constantly learn new technologies.

The sustainable AI equation

As AI's computational needs intensify, sustainability has shifted from a corporate ideal to a core economic imperative. The sheer power of the processors driving modern AI generates immense heat, and data centers are at the epicenter of this challenge.

With cooling already accounting for nearly 40% of a data center's energy consumption, traditional air-cooling methods are proving to be a bottleneck. Capable of capturing only 30% of the heat generated by servers, these legacy systems are not just inefficient, but a direct threat to the scalability and financial viability of the high-performance AI applications of tomorrow.

This is where advanced solutions like direct-to-chip and immersion liquid cooling become necessary. By using fluids to dissipate heat with far greater efficiency, these technologies address the problem at its source. Immersion cooling, for example, can capture 100% of the heat produced by servers, a capability that translates directly into lower carbon emissions and significant operational cost savings.

In addition, liquid cooling's superior thermal management allows data centers to handle much higher server densities, maximizing the value of existing infrastructure and reducing the need for costly physical expansions. This is a crucial advantage for scaling AI efficiently and responsibly. It transforms sustainability from a cost center into a powerful competitive edge.

Building the foundation for lasting AI value

The path forward is about approaching AI’s potential with a new strategic maturity. Success in this next chapter means looking at AI as a business transformation build on a sound economic foundation, where the hidden costs of regulation, implementation and sustainability are interconnected pillars.

The true return on investment will not be found in simple cost savings, but in the ability to make smarter decisions faster, adapt to a changing market and build a lasting edge over the competition. No matter what industry you are in, it’s time to stop asking what the tool can do, and start asking if their organization is truly ready to wield its power.

We've featured the best green web hosting.

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

• Sensitive files held by US courts are being targeted
• The US Judiciary is strengthening its IT infrastructure following incidents
• The DOJ, DHS, and others, were called to help

The US Judiciary system has confirmed suffering a cyberattack, and says it is now working on reinforcing its systems to prevent further incursions.

In a press release published on the US Courts website, the body said said it recently experienced, “escalated cyberattacks of a sophisticated and persistent nature.”

Without detailing the attacks, or the perpetrators, the announcement said that the crooks were targeting its case management system, targeting sensitive files hosted there.

Courts in the crosshairs

“The vast majority of documents filed with the Judiciary’s electronic case management system are not confidential and indeed are readily available to the public, which is fundamental to an open and transparent judicial system.

However, some filings contain confidential or proprietary information that are sealed from public view,” the announcement reads.

“These sensitive documents can be targets of interest to a range of threat actors. To better protect them, courts have been implementing more rigorous procedures to restrict access to sensitive documents under carefully controlled and monitored circumstances.”

The announcement does not go into detail about the reinforcement efforts. It says that the Administrative Office of the United States Courts is working with Congress, the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other agencies.

US courts, both local and federal, have often been the targets of different cybercriminals.

Back in 2020, a cyberattack against the US federal court system ended up being far more damaging than initially thought, and in 2024, unnamed hackers attacked court systems across the US state of Washington, forcing the judicial organization to shut down parts of its infrastructure to prevent further damage.

In summer 2024, the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, the largest in the United States, suffered a ransomware attack which forced it to close down its entire operation for a day.

You might also like

• US court software and systems have some worrying security flaws
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

Attaining fitness and weight loss goals just got a little easier for FuturHealth members.

Fraud remains a persistent threat for businesses of all sizes, with the trade association UK Finance estimating that over £1.1bn was lost to fraud in the UK alone in 2024. Financial services firms are a particularly attractive target, given the opportunity for significant monetary gain.

To put this into context, Q1 of 2024 saw 8,374 consumers lodge complaints about fraud and scams, of which over half were in relation to customer approved online bank transfers. These types of scams that often involve convincing social engineering and AI-generated content, which manipulate people into sharing confidential information, are becoming harder to spot- even for experienced professionals.

For financial services providers, the consequences of fraud reach far beyond lost revenue. Companies can suffer reputational damage, operational disruption and costly legal fallout, all of which can undermine long-term business resilience. Unsurprisingly, these firms take a proactive approach to fraud prevention.

But with fraudsters becoming more sophisticated and technologically advanced, especially with the help of AI, it can often feel like a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with defenders constantly reacting to ever-evolving tactics.

Fraud is not disappearing anytime soon

The National Crime Agency ranks fraud as the most common crime in the UK, accounting for 41% of all crime in England and Wales. For financial services firms, the challenge is even more acute. In 2024 there were 3.13 million confirmed cases of fraud, a 14% rise compared to 2023. This sharp increase highlights a two-fold problem, whereby fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, whilst the overall volume of attacks is climbing.

There are various reasons behind the rising levels of fraud, not least the ongoing cost of living crisis. As operating costs soar and cashflow becomes tighter, financially vulnerable businesses are more likely to take risks, overlook red flags, or fall for offers that seem too good to be true.

This makes them an easier target for scammers. On top of this, AI is transforming how fraud is carried out. Specifically, it enables criminals to move faster and more easily deploy advanced tactics, from deepfakes and synthetic identities, to highly convincing phishing campaigns.

Optimizing automation is the remedy for success

One of the main reasons financial services providers remain prime targets for fraudsters is the sheer number of customer interactions across mobile apps and online banking platforms, creating multiple potential entry points that are difficult to monitor and secure simultaneously.

This challenge is often compounded by a lack of alignment between key teams, such as fraud prevention, customer authentication and customer service, leading to gaps in visibility across the customer journey. With high transaction volumes, countless access points, and siloed teams, it can be difficult for firms to keep false positives to a minimum and contextualize and action suspicious activity or alerts.

Financial services companies often turn to AI to help reduce false positives which, in principle, is the correct way to go. However, many AI tools still rely heavily on manual rule creation and editing, leaving fraud teams to handle the hardest tasks, such as deciding what patterns to target and making sense of ambiguous data.

Instead, firms must go beyond rule-tweaking and help uncover the ‘why’ behind fraud, not just the ‘what’. To get the best value from AI, financial services providers should turn their attention to models that can enhance the decision engine, by replacing legacy rulesets in favor of a new auto-generated suite of optimized rulesets.

In practice, this approach starts by analyzing historical transaction data and fraud model scores to identify patterns in both legitimate and fraudulent activity. It then determines the right balance between detecting fraud and avoiding false positives.

From there, a fresh set of optimized rules is automatically generated and can be refreshed daily. This keeps the fraud decision engine sharp and responsive, reducing manual effort while ensuring it stays aligned with the latest threat patterns.

The benefits must be balanced with human input

Optimizing fraud detection leads to a more efficient and accurate program, enabling fraud teams to focus their attention on genuine scam activity without being distracted by false positives. More broadly, it allows firms to respond quickly and effectively to shifts in risk appetite, tightening or relaxing controls as circumstances change.

While these benefits of AI and automation are undeniable, financial services firms must not become over reliant on these technologies. Human expertise remains essential, especially in scenarios that demand emotional intelligence, nuanced behavioral analysis or complex judgement.

AI is a powerful tool, but it’s the insight and oversight of skilled fraud professionals that ensures investigations are handled with the necessary sensitivity and rigor. Crucially, it’s also down to fraud teams and data scientists to train and fine-tune AI models using real-world insights, ensuring they evolve in line with the shifting threat landscape.

Plan for long-term fraud resilience

Blending human expertise with AI isn’t just a technical enhancement, it’s critical for any financial services provider that is serious about safeguarding customers and staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraud. As threats evolve, particularly with the rise of agentic AI, relying solely on reactive measures won’t be enough. Proactive, adaptive fraud prevention, which combines the precision of AI with the intuition of human judgement, will be key to preserving trust and resilience in the long term.

We've featured the best online cybersecurity course.

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

During my time at TechRadar I’ve been lucky enough to review some of the best Bluetooth speakers around, but I hadn’t seen many that had truly blown me away in 2025… that was until I tested the Marshall Kilburn III.

This thing is an absolute machine, boasting great features, impeccable audio, and of course, a drop-dead gorgeous design. If you’re on the lookout for a new Bluetooth speaker, this is my top recommendation.

And there’s some strong competition out there. The likes of JBL, Sonos, and Sony offer some top-tier audio companions packed full of battery life, audio talents, and smart design choices. So, I’m going to set out my three top reasons for picking the Marshall Kilburn III over its competitors – let’s get straight into things.

1. A whole lotta battery life

(Image credit: Future)

From the first moment I heard the battery life of the Marshall Kilburn III, I was blown away. In fact, I can still barely believe just how meaty it is. Yep, you get 50 hours of playtime from this Bluetooth speaker.

Put simply, that’s an astonishingly long battery life for a speaker in this weight class. 50 hours is the best battery life Marshall has ever offered on a Bluetooth speaker, and more than double as good as that of its predecessor, the Marshall Kilburn II, which could go for up to 20 hours.

In fact, the Kilburn III outclasses just about every rival I’ve tested. Even the excellent JBL Xtreme 4 has a battery life of ‘only’ 30 hours with PlayTime Boost active. Combine that with the Kilburn III’s battery preservation options – like a setting that lowers charging speed if temperature is outside the ideal range – and you’re looking at a true powerhouse.

2. Stellar 360-degree audio

(Image credit: Future)

Although I was lucky enough to get an early hands-on with the Kilburn III, I didn’t appreciate just how good the speaker sounded until getting some alone time with it at our music testing space. This really is one of the best-sounding options in its price and size class, boasting phenomenally clear, energetic, and disciplined audio.

What’s especially valuable is the Kilburn III’s 'true' 360-degree stereophonic audio. After placing the speaker in the center of our testing room, I tried listening from all angles, and it was genuinely clear and full-sounding at all times. That’s pretty impressive given it doesn’t have the traditional wraparound design that many 360-degree rivals possess, such as the Ultimate Ears Epicboom, for example.

There’s some smart technology packed into the Kilburn III that ensures not only omni-directional, but also high-calibre audio output. Dynamic loudness tech, for example, automatically adjusts bass, mids, and treble when you adjust the speaker’s volume, helping it to deliver the most detailed, natural-sounding performance possible.

And just generally, this model is capable of handling any genre expertly – it’s not just a rock‘n’roll connoisseur. In fact, one of the first things that struck me about the Kilburn III was its awesome bass, with the pumping low-end of Vitess’s Keep That Groove coming through with incredible impact without any noticeable distortion.

Meanwhile, higher-pitched vocals in ballads, expressive sax in jazz numbers, and wailing electric guitars in heavy rock tracks were all handled with ease during testing, so you can count on the Kilburn III to hit all the right notes.

3. Gorgeous amp-inspired looks

(Image credit: Future)

Something that Marshall is brilliant at is ingraining its amp-making history in its consumer-grade audio gear. The Kilburn III is a glowing example of that, combining a beautiful metal speaker grille, tactile control knobs, and a golden Marshall logo.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the white logo and black control panel on the Kilburn II – but this new and improved model feels far more high-end. On top of the aforementioned inclusions, the Kilburn III’s luxurious faux-leather outer casing and sleek handle with a red velvet underside really make it feel premium.

Ultimately, the Marshall Kilburn III is meant to feel like a statement piece in your living space. Sure, it doesn’t have the rugged IP67 and above waterproof rating of rivals like the Bose SoundLink Max, for instance, but it's perfect for use around the home and for outdoor use during nicer weather.

So, have you managed to try out the Marshall Kilburn III yet? Perhaps you're considering picking it up? I'd love to hear any thoughts or answer your questions, so make sure to get chatting in the comments!

You may also like

• Marshall Heston 120 review: a stunning Dolby Atmos soundbar with amazing bass for an all-in-one
• I review wireless speakers for a living and most succumb to this one major flaw – here's the one that doesn't