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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!

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Modernizing apps isn’t always easy, but it’s fast becoming one of the smartest moves a business can make. This shift away from legacy systems is about more than just technology. It’s about staying competitive, delivering a better experience, and keeping pace with customer expectations that are changing by the day.

The reality is, legacy complexity is now the number one obstacle for leaders trying to improve the customer experience, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The costs add up. Deloitte reports that over half of a typical IT budget goes on simply maintaining outdated systems, with just a fraction left for innovation.

Making the move to modern app architecture isn’t just a cost decision, rather a growth decision. It frees up teams to focus on creating faster, smarter experiences that drive real value for the business and the people using the app.

Why app modernization matters

When companies modernize their apps, they can see immediate wins for both their teams and their users. By shifting to a cloud-native architecture, organizations reduce downtime, strengthen security and release updates faster.

Speed and scalability also come into play. With cloud-based systems, businesses can easily adjust resources in real time depending on app usage or data demands. This flexibility means teams can launch features quicker and respond to changing needs without being held back by legacy infrastructure.

Modern architectures also streamline the development process itself. Developers can build, test and deploy in environments that mirror production, helping them deliver high-quality code faster and with fewer bugs. By adopting a microservices approach, teams can update or improve parts of an app independently, without disrupting the whole system, boosting both agility and performance.

There’s also a cultural shift that happens. With the right platforms in place, collaboration becomes faster and easier. Teams across different departments can work together in real time, unlocking new ideas and accelerating innovation.

So where do we begin?

Starting small

As organizations scale, one challenge tends to surface again and again: how to maintain performance and keep latency low without driving up infrastructure costs. Growth brings complexity, and with it, pressure to deliver consistently smooth user experiences, especially as demand increases.

While a full overhaul of your architecture might seem like the only path forward, it doesn’t have to be. A simple but effective step many teams are taking is to add an in-memory caching layer to their systems.

In-memory caching works by storing frequently accessed data closer to the application, allowing it to be retrieved in milliseconds rather than repeatedly pulling from slower, more resource-intensive databases. This leads to quicker load times, lower latency, and more responsive applications, without putting additional strain on backend systems.

While often associated with gaming, the benefits of in-memory caching apply across industries. It boosts system performance, reduces the load on core infrastructure, and make scaling much more manageable. It also helps businesses better allocate resources by easing the pressure on databases and APIs, supporting smoother operations at lower cost.

Keeping it simple

A common trap in app modernizations is relying on too many specialized tools. This often leads to data sprawl, increased complexity and slower development.

Instead, organizations should focus on flexible, multi-use technologies that can handle a variety of data types and use cases. Platforms with built-in query engines and real-time data integration simplify operations, reduce manual work and help teams move faster.

Planning your cloud migration strategy

Cloud migration is a key step in modernizing applications, but it requires a thoughtful approach. Not all systems need to shift immediately and a well-sequenced migration plan can prevent unnecessary disruption. A cloud readiness assessment helps identify which workloads to move first; it’s not just about starting with the least critical ones.

Effective migration also relies on having the right expertise. Cloud projects typically need input from architects, engineers, and developers with a deep understanding of infrastructure, data, and modern tooling.

Prioritize user experience

Modernization isn’t just about systems, it’s about delivering seamless user experiences. Key areas like session management and personalization directly influence how users perceive performance and responsiveness.

Apps need to handle increasing data volumes without sacrificing speed. Modern solutions enable intelligent memory management and caching strategies that maintain performance under pressure. Personalization, meanwhile, relies on fast, real-time data access to tailor recommendations and interfaces.

Modernize or miss out

Modernizing applications is as much about the surrounding environment as it is about the strategy itself. Without the right foundation, even the most forward-looking approaches can fall short. Customers won’t wait around for apps that feel clunky or slow. Stick with outdated tech and you risk being left behind.

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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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, August 11 (game #792).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #793) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BOWLING BALL
• CITY HALL
• SUPERMARKET 
• BOWLING PINS
• GOLF COURSE
• BOWLING ALLEY
• SPONGE
• BOWLING GREEN
• DECADE
• HIGHWAY
• WALL STREET
• FINGERS
• BROOKLYN BRIDGE
• COLANDER
• SWIMMING POOL
• COMMANDMENTS

NYT Connections today (game #793) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: 2x5=
• GREEN: Change a vowel in “lines”
• BLUE: The Big Apple
• PURPLE: Hollow parts

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #793) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: GROUPS OF TEN 
• GREEN: PLACES WITH LANES 
• BLUE: LANDMARKS IN DOWNTOWN NYC 
• PURPLE: THINGS WITH HOLES 

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

NYT Connections today (game #793) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #793, are…

• YELLOW: GROUPS OF TEN BOWLING PINS, COMMANDMENTS, DECADE, FINGERS
• GREEN: PLACES WITH LANES BOWLING ALLEY, HIGHWAY, SUPERMARKET, SWIMMING POOL
• BLUE: LANDMARKS IN DOWNTOWN NYC BOWLING GREEN, BROOKLYN BRIDGE, CITY HALL, WALL STREET
• PURPLE: THINGS WITH HOLES BOWLING BALL, COLANDER, GOLF COURSE, SPONGE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

I’ll be honest, I was pretty impressed with myself when I got GROUPS OF TEN and then seconds later crushed when it revealed itself to be the yellow group.

The first of my mistakes came when assembling THINGS WITH HOLES. I saw the link, but put BROOKLYN BRIDGE instead of SPONGE. Which seems ridiculous in hindsight – but I was thinking of cleaning sponges rather than the real thing, plus the Brooklyn Bridge does have a few holes in it.

For LANDMARKS IN DOWNTOWN NYC I fudged a group together incorrectly, thinking we were searching for locations of Bob Dylan album covers.

There are several shot in New York (The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan and Highway 61 Revisited) but I was way off with BROOKLYN BRIDGE, WALL STREET, HIGHWAY and CITY HALL but it did get me "one away" and help me rethink.

I’d not heard of BOWLING GREEN before (New York’s oldest public park), but it seemed the most logical place name from the options I had left.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, August 11, game #792)

• YELLOW: ORDINARY NORMAL, PLAIN, STANDARD, VANILLA
• GREEN: ABANDON DESERT, DUMP, MAROON, STRAND
• BLUE: SPECS ON CONSUMER PACKAGING COUNT, MEASURE, VOLUME, WEIGHT
• PURPLE: DARK ____ AGES, CHOCOLATE, HORSE, MATTER

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, August 11 (game #1295).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

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

Quordle today (game #1296) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1296) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1296) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1296) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1296) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• T

• J

• O

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

Quordle today (game #1296) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1296, are…

• SPOOL
• TITLE
• JAUNT
• OVINE

Today's Quordle was notable for two rarities – the first was that the words used all five vowels, the second was an appearance by the shy letter J.

Neither of these two occurrences were the cause of my wrong guess today. Instead it was my nemesis, the letter V in OVINE, a word I had never previously heard of (it means to resemble a sheep) before getting it by putting in random guesses until one was deemed an actual word. 

Daily Sequence today (game #1296) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1296, are…

• COMFY
• BOOST
• MOURN
• HATCH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY
• Quordle #1289, Tuesday, 5 August: ROAST, SLICK, AUDIT, BILLY
• Quordle #1288, Monday, 4 August: MACAW, SINCE, COLON, CHIRP
• Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST
• Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE
• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH
• Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO
• Quordle #1280, Sunday, 27 July: TRAWL, BALER, PIANO, MINCE
• Quordle #1279, Saturday, 26 July: MUDDY, SAINT, KINKY, POLAR
• Quordle #1278, Friday, 25 July: BONUS, RESIN, CEDAR, MADAM
• Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, August 11 (game #526).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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

NYT Strands today (game #527) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Spitting image

NYT Strands today (game #527) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• PORE
• LIKE
• FELT
• SCALE
• DITCH
• PLACES

NYT Strands today (game #527) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #527) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #527) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #527, are…

• DOUBLE
• DUPLICATE
• LOOKALIKE
• REPLICA
• FACSIMILE
• SPANGRAM: COPY THAT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

Today’s Strands was fiendishly tricky, in part because of the length of the words.

The theme gave me a big clue towards what we were searching for, but I still needed a hint to get started.

After being gifted DOUBLE I spotted COPY and THAT separately as non-game words before splicing them together to make up the Spangram.

I love the idea of doppelgangers roaming the world, unaware of a REPLICA version living their lives thousands of miles away. When I was a kid, my dad bought back a holiday brochure that had what I thought was a photo of my mother and sister on the front cover – except it wasn’t.

That brochure was shown to anyone who visited for years and they were all aghast at the similarity. Recently, on a visit home I found it in a drawer and was shocked how unlike them the photo was – I’d just been seduced by the idea of it. 

I wonder if my doppelganger is playing Strands right now…

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, August 11, game #526)

• DREGS
• SOUVENIR
• TRACE
• RESIDUE
• VESTIGE
• REMNANT
• SPANGRAM: LEFTOVERS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• Apple's affordable MacBook has again been rumored
• This time we're told the price could be as cheap as $599
• The apparent idea is for Apple to 'shake up the notebook market' and also offset any price increase for the MacBook Air (caused by inflation)

Apple's affordable MacBook, which was recently rumored to be in the pipeline, is again the subject of chatter on the grapevine - and this time we've heard it could be priced as cheaply as $599.

Wccftech flagged a post from leaker Jukan on X (see below), which airs a report from DigiTimes that taps sources in the supply chain over in Asia, spilling some fresh info on said MacBook.

Report: Exclusive: Apple reportedly preparing US$599 MacBook to capture more laptop market shareApple is preparing to shake up the notebook market with an all-new ultra-low-cost MacBook, according to supply chain sources. Some components are expected to enter mass production by… pic.twitter.com/UTIC94KjsbAugust 11, 2025

We're told that the MacBook is set to be priced between $599 and $699 in the US, and some components will be made in Q3 of this year - potentially more or less right away - ahead of notebooks being put together towards the end of 2025.

This is ahead of a rumored launch in (early) 2026, although this new report even mentions the chance of a commercial launch late in 2025 - but that doesn't seem likely to me (unless it's referring to an initial reveal, perhaps).

As we've previously been told, one of the main ways in which Apple will keep the price of this purported MacBook down is by using an iPhone chip as the processor. DigiTimes reminds us that the CPU will supposedly be the A18 Pro, and the laptop will be a compact affair, smaller than the MacBook Air, in fact, with a 12.9-inch screen.

Analysis: Laptop quake

(Image credit: Future)

The report makes it clear that Apple intends to "shake up the notebook market" with this "ultra-low-cost MacBook," and if the price does land as low as $599, that'll certainly be a seismic shift in terms of the laptop landscape.

Obviously, bear in mind that this is just a rumor, and further consider that the pricing we have is a range ($599 to $699), indicating Apple hasn't decided itself yet, which is doubtless the case. If this affordable MacBook is even happening in the first place, although given that we're hearing about it once again, that seems a fair bit more likely. If the rumors around Q3 production of components are correct, there will likely be a good deal more supply chain-based spillage in the near future to back all this up.

DigiTimes makes it clear that the education sector - and Chromebooks - are not the target of this theoretical MacBook, and rather, it's the broader market, with Apple looking to offset the MacBook Air potentially going up in price (due to inflation) with this cheaper offering.

With Mac sales suffering notable wobbles last year, Apple is surely looking to ensure that trend doesn't reemerge, and instead, the company will want to keep the tide turning. (Apple's fiscal Q3 saw a turnaround with Mac sales, although that was compared to weak sales in the same quarter of 2024).

Whatever the reason for Apple producing this low-cost MacBook, if it is indeed priced at $599, it's going to be a seriously tempting product. Indeed, such a laptop might just tempt me to finally buy a macOS device - something I've mulled in recent times, despite a lifetime of buying Windows PCs and laptops.

It's either that, or an entry-level Mac mini, but until now, the cost of MacBooks has put me off, frankly - although maybe next year, that will change. I'm keen to give Apple's computing world a spin, if the price is right, bearing in mind that an MSRP of $599 is going to lead to some highly enticing discounts in sales (or with refurbs, even).

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In November last year, I wrote that the Google Pixel 9 Pro was the best-looking phone of 2024 and the only Android device that could tempt me away from my beloved iPhone. Ultimately, I still sided with the iPhone 16 Pro (the call of convenience was too hard to resist), but Google seems determined to win me over in 2025 with the Pixel 10 Pro.

Google’s next flagship is set to debut at this year’s Made by Google showcase on August 20, but it’s already been semi-unveiled in an official teaser video. The footage in question shows the back and one side of what’s purported to be the Pixel 10 Pro in a brand new ‘Moonstone’ color, and it’s heightened my excitement for the phone’s full-blown reveal.

Now, I’m not usually one to lose my head over colors, but this silverish-blue shade seemingly complements Google’s new (or rather, unchanged) flagship Pixel design perfectly. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the Google Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone is already the best-looking phone of 2025 – and yes, I’ve seen the rumored iPhone 17 Pro design.

To be clear: the Pixel 10 Pro looks almost identical to the Pixel 9 Pro. Leaked renders suggest that the phone’s metal frame will more closely resemble its rear panel glass (rather than being polished, as on the Pixel 9 Pro). But beyond that, it’s safe to expect a like-for-like handset; I don’t think this is a bad thing.

An official image of a phone believed to be the Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone (Image credit: Google)

Google hit a home run with the design of the Pixel 9 Pro, which, in my opinion, is the Android phone that’s come closest to replicating the iPhone’s unique synergy of simplicity and style. It remixed the Pixel formula with flat aluminum sides, a frosted glass rear panel, and a perfectly sized pill-shaped module, all of which made the Pixel line feel more grown-up.

Google is right to stick by this cleaner, more industrial aesthetic with the Pixel 10 Pro, and the addition of a new ‘Moonstone’ color (as opposed to something more outlandish) suggests Google wants its next flagship phone to be perceived as just that: a grown-up flagship.

Of course, design is subjective. I’m sure many people continue to prefer the uniquely Pixel aesthetic of the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, and so on. I can understand why.

But I genuinely believe that Google is one of the few – perhaps the only – smartphone manufacturers to have successfully designed a better-looking phone with each new generation. And if the below X post is anything to go by, Google thinks so too:

10 generations in the making. Look for #Pixel10 in 10 days at #MadeByGoogle: https://t.co/VxzWRaYodH pic.twitter.com/ER8qtFcDv5August 10, 2025

Will I finally switch sides and buy the Pixel 10 Pro is year? Probably not. But that’s only because a decade of investing in Apple hardware has made ditching the iPhone more trouble than it's worth. The Pixel 9 Pro was the best-looking phone of last year, and, for me, the Pixel 10 Pro has already repeated the feat in 2025.

For more on Google's next flagship, check out our roundup of the five upgrades to expect from the Google Pixel 10 Pro.

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• 5 ways the Google Pixel 10 Pro can get ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra
• The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL just got shown off in two subdued shades
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President Trump called for the release of the grand jury transcripts after growing pressure to divulge more information about Jeffrey Epstein's case, but the judge on the case said there is nothing new to release.

(Image credit: New York State Sex Offender Registry)

• President Trump set to meet with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan
• The President recently called for the CEO's immediate resignation
• Trump accused Tan of major "conflicts of interest" because of his investments in Chinese companies

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is set to meet with President Trump to discuss the former's professional and personal history, and explore ways in which the US government and Intel can work together, sources have told the Wall Street Journal.

Tan has recently faced a series of attacks from President Trump, who has demanded his resignation over alleged investments and dealing with Chinese businesses.

Trump has accused Tan of being “highly conflicted” and demanded his “immediate resignation,” stating that there is “no other solution to this problem.”

Rocky history

Intel has been steadily trimming its global workforce in recent months, leading to a 20% reduction in headcount that has seen thousands of employees lose their jobs in US factories

Tan has also recently butted heads with Intel board members over the direction of Intel’s investments in the US.

For example, the new CEO has reduced the pace of construction of a new factory in Ohio in order to meet perceived customer demands, causing issues with Republican Ohio senator Bernie Moreno.

Both the job cuts and slowed construction directly contradict President Trump’s desire to increase domestic investment from companies that have typically manufactured goods outside of the US.

What’s more, Tan’s previous position as CEO of Cadence Design Systems appears to have ruffled a few feathers in the Trump administration due to the company recently handing over $140 million in penalties after pleading guilty to unlawfully exporting chip design tools to restricted Chinese military organizations.

Tan himself also holds numerous investments in Chinese businesses, including buying $200 million worth of stakes in Chinese manufacturing and chip companies between 2012 and 2024 according to a Reuters report.

However, Tan has not only been on the board of numerous enterprises involved in chip manufacturing, but founded a venture capital firm named Walden International that focused heavily on tech startups in the Asian market.

Tan’s holdings in Chinese companies could therefore simply be a smart investment based on decades of experience, rather than the shady under-the-table dealings Trump has alleged in his Red Scare tirades on Truth Social.

Trump appears to be deaf to his own accusations of Tan’s “conflicts of interest,” with the President frequently using his position to market his own goods from the Trump Store, as well as launching the $TRUMP cryptocurrency of which the President controls 80% of the coin's supply.

(Image credit: Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In a recent letter to employees, Tan said the US had been his home for more than 40 years, and the company was communicating with the White House to make sure the President has “the facts.”

Trump has recently levied significant tariffs on countries that he perceives to have an unfair trade balance, causing the price of some goods to increase as the cost of imports are passed on to the consumer - a fact that many within the Trump administration and his MAGA base are struggling to come to terms with.

Trump’s pursuit of an America First policy has drawn significant investment from many major companies, including Nvidia, Intel, and Apple, to build factories in the US to produce goods domestically. However there is a reason that these companies have historically manufactured their goods outside of the US. It’s cheaper.

Recent studies into the costs of a US manufactured iPhone for example have theorized that the price tag could rise by between 25-100%.

In an added contradiction, Trump’s own branded handsets from Trump Mobile likely won’t be manufactured in the US, with Eric Trump claiming that “Eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America.”

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