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Reolink OMVI 3i: two-minute review

Shenzhen-based firm Reolink is a well-established brand in the home security market having gained a solid reputation for well-built, user-friendly cameras and video doorbells at an affordable price. I’ve reviewed quite a few models for TechRadar in my time and have generally been very impressed. One particular favourite is the recently launched Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam which combines a solar panel with two powerful spotlights either side of the main unit, as well as a loud onboard siren.

Like the Solar Floodlight Cam, the OMVI 3i also features powerful spotlights (there are eight in total) plus an ear-piercing 110dB siren. However, the key difference is that rather than relying on solar power combined with a built-in lithium-ion battery that can be recharged, the much bulkier Reolink OMVI 3i is mains-operated only and can’t be powered by battery or solar. This means it will have to be located near an AC power supply which isn’t always possible outdoors.

Two versions are available, a wired Power of Ethernet (PoE) version and the Wi-Fi model that we tested. Unlike some cheaper models, the OMVI 3i supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi — though the 5GHz frequencies are recommended for outdoor use. Practically identical to one another, both models are very bulky, requiring careful mounting on a wall using a drill in conjunction with brackets, screws and wall plugs provided.

(Image credit: Future)

Whereas most security cameras rely on cloud-based processing to identify objects, this latest Reolink features powerful integrated edge AI. This onboard intelligence allows the camera to easily distinguish between people, animals, and vehicles, letting you independently adjust sensitivity settings for each category to help dramatically reduce false alarms. Particularly clever is the smart tracking option alongside advanced package detection, which can alert you if a parcel is removed from a specific zone - making it a potentially useful tool in the fight against porch pirates.

When viewing footage via the easy-to-use app, two screens are displayed – one from the top panoramic camera producing a 180-degree image from two separate lenses and the other from a motorized pan-and-tilt camera that can rotate horizontally up to 355 degrees and vertically up to 50 degrees. Rather usefully, if you spot something untoward on the panoramic display such as an intruder, you can simply identify the area with your finger and it will then hone in on that area using the pan-and-tilt camera underneath.

Finally, where security camera manufacturers usually make their money is in selling you a monthly subscription to store your video footage in the cloud. Not only is this a potential cybersecurity risk, it can also get very expensive over time. With the Reolink OMVI 3i, there’s the choice between storing on a MicroSD card slot (not supplied) or subscribing to Reolink’s cloud service from just £2.71 (about $3.60 / AU$5.10) per month (yes it’s a strange amount). And because this OMVI 3i is mains-operated, the camera can record 24/7 if you want it to without having to worry about the battery losing its charge. This makes it ideal for business as well as consumer use.

Reolink OMVI 3i: subscription options

Reolink Cloud, Single Device Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, one camera, unlimited cloud storage, unlimited rich notifications, AI Video Search. £2.71 (about $3.60 / AU$5.10) per month.

Reolink Cloud, Standard Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to five cameras supported, unlimited cloud storage, unlimited rich notifications. £2.87 (about $2.80 / AU$5.40) per month.

See https://cloud.reolink.com/cloud-plan for further details

Reolink OMVI 3i: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $329.99 / £259.99 / AU$439
• When is it available? Available since June / July 2026
• Where is it available? UK, US, Australia, and select global markets via Amazon and Reolink’s official store.

When you consider everything that the Reolink OMVI 3i camera has to offer, including dual panoramic lenses, a 4K pan-and-tilt mechanism, integrated edge AI and powerful spotlights, this security camera simply is fantastic value for money — especially as it’s pretty well built too. A few years ago, a device like this would have set you back nearer to £400 in the UK where I'm reviewing it, yet at the time of writing Amazon is offering it for just £220.

And while there are of course cheaper models on the market, none that I’ve seen offer anywhere near the same levels of performance. In fact, the Reolink OMVI 3i substantially undercuts commercial-grade monitoring systems, making it the ideal choice for small businesses/shops that want to use it for monitoring their premises.

Furthermore, even if you opt for cloud storage, the subscription fee isn't that bad coming in at under £3 a month. Better still, you can avoid ongoing costs completely by buying your own MicroSD card for local event logging, 24/7 continuous recording, or audio capture, making it a remarkably cost-effective long-term investment.

• Value score: 5/5

Reolink OMVI 3i: design

• Triple-lens configuration (10MP panoramic top lenses + 4K 8MP PTZ bottom lens)
• Heavy-duty weatherproof (IP66) housing with drilling template included
• Mains-powered only

Unlike many modern compact outdoor security cameras, the OMVI 3i is one heck of a big beast! Tipping up the scales at 2.4lbs / 1.1kg for the Wi-Fi variant and 2.9lbs / 1.3kg for the PoE version, it’s a really bulky unit. Installation isn't the easiest either. Because of its weight and the way it protrudes from the wall, it requires a very secure mount. It’s not a camera you can casually stick up with a couple of small screws. Instead, you’ll need a drill, screws, wall plugs and the mount to ensure it stays firmly anchored.

FutureFuture

Using the template provided I drilled holes for the sturdy mounting bracket, placing the unit high up on my outside wall overlooking the garden. But there’s no getting away from the fact this is a big unit designed for high performance rather than looks. Another major problem is that it needs to be plugged into the mains. Thankfully I already have a mains socket outdoors, but if you don’t, you will run have to connect the cabling to a plug indoors.

(Image credit: Future)

Essentially the design comprises two main elements — the upper part with twin lenses for panorama mode and the single lens pan-and-tilt camera underneath. Round the back of the unit is a waterproof rubber flap housing a MicroSD card slot and reset button. The maximum supported MicroSD card size for the Reolink OMVI 3i (both WiFi and PoE versions) is 512 GB. Alternatively you can subscribe to store recorded footage in the cloud or buy a Reolink NVR (network video recorder).

• Design score: 3.5/5

Reolink OMVI 3i: performance

• SyncTrack enables the Pan-Tilt camera to automatically lock on and follow subjects
• Integrated edge AI for people, animals and vehicles
• Removed item alerts and 24/7 continuous recording capability

When it comes to performance, the Reolink OMVI 3i Wi-Fi is certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen. Freed from battery limitations, it can focus completely on offering high-definition recordings from the triple-lens set up, rather than having to compromise on image quality to save battery power.

Indeed, visual performance is exceptionally strong. The 4K 8-megapixel pan-and-tilt camera delivers crisp, high-definition clarity that lets you easily zoom in on distant facial features or car number plates. Furthermore, the 10MP panoramic lenses on top provide an ultra-wide 180-degree overview, delivering the ultimate 'best of both worlds' setup where nothing escapes your field of vision. When an event occurs in the panoramic overview, you can simply tap or click on a specific area within the wide feed, and the 4K PTZ camera will instantly 'pinpoint' and swivel to that exact spot, zooming in to provide close-up detail without losing track of the broader context.

(Image credit: Future)

Even at night, picture quality remains exceptional. Infra-red night vision provides sharp monochrome clarity, while the multiple integrated spotlights proved amazingly powerful, bathing my garden in light late at night to ensure color recordings. Also on board is a powerful 110dB siren for startling unwanted trespassers, as well as two-way audio so you can tell intruders to get off your land!

But that’s not all. Particularly impressive is OMVI 3i’s built-in local AI processing. Rather than relying on sluggish or privacy-invasive cloud servers, the camera runs intelligence directly on the device. This allows it to distinguish between people, animals and vehicles with impressive accuracy. You can also independently fine-tune the motion sensitivity for each category, which dramatically cuts down on the nuisance false alarms that plague many security cameras.

(Image credit: Future)

Although I didn’t test the feature, removed-item alerts enable you to get a notification if a parcel is lifted from a marked doorway zone (handy in the fight against porch pirates!) while if you want continuous coverage, you can set the camera to record 24/7 or configure it to record audio by default.

Yet despite these standout strengths, the camera’s performance is not entirely without flaws. One small issue I encountered during testing is that the software stitching between the two top cameras for the 180-degree panorama occasionally fails, disrupting the seamless wide-angle view (this can be corrected with software within the app). Additionally, while the automated tracking of people, vehicles and animals is generally smooth, fast-moving targets can cause the pan-and-tilt mechanism to stutter or momentarily lose tracking if they dart across the frame too quickly.

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, because the camera captures such a massive, wide-angle view, it does demand careful positioning. If you have limited private space, its lenses can easily spill over into neighboring properties or public walkways, requiring you to use the detection exclusion zones software provided.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Reolink OMVI 3i?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

The Reolink is excellent value for money considering its triple-lens hardware, local AI and flexible storage options.

5/5

Design

Heavy and bulky, requiring wall plugs and a drill for secure mounting. Also runs on mains power and is unsuited for tight private spaces due to large field of view.

3.5/5

Performance

Combines crisp 4K resolution, Pinpoint synchronized tracking, a 180-degree panoramic overview, 355-degree PTZ tracking, powerful spotlights, and a loud siren.

4.5/5

Buy it if

You have a large estate or a small business with plenty of space

If you need to monitor sprawling grounds, wide perimeters, or extensive outdoor areas, this is an ideal high-end security solution.

You want total coverage without blind spots

The combination of dual panoramic lenses on top and a 355-degree pan-and-tilt camera underneath ensure a ‘best of both worlds’ solution.

Don’t buy it if

You want a discreet, easy-to-install solution

The Reolink OMVI 3i is very bulky and heavy, requiring proper wall mounting with a drill and wall plugs, making it unsuited for casual setup.

You have limited private space or no mains power

Because it captures such a wide angle, it can easily spill over into neighboring areas, while its mains-power requirements means running cabling outdoors.

Reolink OMVI 3i: also consider

Reolink OMVI 3i Wi-Fi

IMOU AOV PT

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam

Subscription price

Optional cloud from £2.71 a month (or MicroSD storage)

Optional subscription from £3 a month

None. Optional subscription from £2.71 a month

Viewing angle

180-degree panoramic dual lens and 355-degree pan and tilt camera

360-degree pan and tilt lens

150-degree ultra-wide diagonal

Network connection

Wi-Fi/ PoE versions (2.5GHz/5GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)/4G cellular

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)

Audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Video

4K 8MP PTZ + 10MP panoramic resolution

3K (5MP) video resolution

2K (1440p) video resolution

Power

Mains power (with waterproof cable design)

Battery/Solar

Battery/Solar

Hardware price

£220-£250

£129 (with separate solar panel)

£85 (with built in solar panel)

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam

Looking for a decent security camera with powerful spotlights that you don’t have to keep recharging every few months? Then the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is a good option, especially given its competitive price tag.

Read our full Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam review

IMOU AOV PT

Thanks to 4G cellular connectivity, the IMOU AOV PT is a great choice for those living in a remote location where Wi-Fi is a little patchy or even non-existent. Also boasts a separate solar panel so you don’t need to recharge the battery quite so often.

Read our full IMOU AOV PT review

How I tested the Reolink OMVI 3i

• I used the camera outdoors for seven days
• I set it up myself using the fittings provided by the manufacturer
• The security camera was installed facing my back garden.

Usually when testing outdoor security cameras, I like to install them on my summer house which doubles as a home office and gym. This gives me a great view of the garden back towards the house. However, for the Reolink OMVI 3i I had to change things around for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the size of the camera meant that I couldn’t be sure that the wooden-built summer house would hold the weight. Secondly, although I have power inside the summer house I would have needed to run power quite a long way to the outside of the building which wasn’t possible with the cable provided.

So, instead, I opted to drill the camera bracket into the wall outside my kitchen and face the camera the other way towards the end of the garden. This had the added advantage of the camera not being visible to the neighbors. I tested the camera for several days and nights, using the onboard AI to capture people and animals in the garden, though thankfully no intruders made it into my heavily fortified property.

First reviewed September 2026

INNOCN E49M1R: 30-second review

The 49-inch ultrawide market has always demanded a compromise. Curve the panel, and you gain immersion but lose straight lines along your windows' edges. Keep it flat, and those two features simply swap places. Innocn has decided that trade-off is no longer guaranteed, and the E49M1R is the result.

By the maker's own description, this is the world's first 49-inch flat Mini LED ultrawide monitor. That single design choice sets it apart from almost every other super ultrawide currently on sale, since curved panels have dominated this size class for years. Traders, video editors, developers and anyone who values straight lines over cinematic curvature now have a genuine flat alternative at this scale.

Underneath that flat glass sits a 5120 x 1440 VA panel, often marketed as DQHD, which is effectively two 27-inch QHD monitors joined without a centre bezel. Add a 165Hz refresh rate and a 2ms overdrive response time, and you have a display built to appeal equally to people juggling financial dashboards, editors scrubbing long timelines, and gamers who want peripheral vision without warped geometry.

Backlighting comes from 1760 local dimming zones, a genuinely high number for a monitor at this size and this price. INNOCN pairs that with HDR1000 certification, a typical brightness of 450 nits, and a claimed peak that reaches four figures in HDR content. On paper, that combination should deliver punchy highlights alongside properly dark shadows, rather than the washed-out grey blacks that cheaper Mini LED panels sometimes produce.

Colour coverage looks strong too, with sRGB essentially maxed out and comfortable coverage claimed of the wider Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 spaces. Either way, the combination suggests this panel was built with more than gaming in mind, rather than for design work.

Connectivity runs to two HDMI 2.1 ports and two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, a sensible spread for switching between a desktop and a laptop, or a work machine and a console, without reaching for an adapter. You can display all four inputs at once, or use a range of picture-in-picture options.

A USB hub, twin 5W speakers and support for AMD FreeSync round out the feature list.

The stand offers 120mm of height adjustment along with tilt from minus five to plus fifteen degrees and a modest fifteen degrees of swivel. There is no mention of pivot, which is hardly surprising given the sheer width involved. At 13.3kg with the stand attached, this design rewards a permanent spot on a desk rather than regular repositioning.

Pricing in the US sits at $999.99, which places the E49M1R against established 49-inch rivals from Samsung and LG, several of which still rely on curved panels at similar or higher price points.

The core promise here, a genuinely flat super ultrawide with Mini LED backlighting and a proper refresh rate, is compelling enough that INNOCN deserves the benefit of the doubt until testing confirms whether the numbers hold up on a desk rather than on a spec sheet.

INNOCN E49M1R: Price and availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? $999
• When is it out? Available now in the US and Japan
• Where can you get it? Direct from Innocn

Innocn lists the E49M1R at $999.99 on its US store, with free shipping, a 30-day return window and a standard 12-month warranty. Orders placed before 1 October 2026 qualify for an extended three-year warranty as a launch promotion.

The monitor also launched in Japan on 10 September 2026 at 159,999 yen, roughly $1,044, with an introductory price of 135,990 yen, roughly $887, running for a limited period around launch.

Is this a good price? It’s hard to say, since no other monitor brand has anything like this available to compare.

• Value: 5 / 5

INNOCN E49M1R: Specs

Specification

Detail

Model

E49M1R

Panel size

49 inches, flat

Panel type

VA, Mini LED backlit

Resolution

5120 x 1440 (5K DQHD)

Aspect ratio

32:9

Refresh rate

165Hz

Response time

8ms GtG, 2ms with overdrive

Local dimming zones

1760

HDR

HDR1000

Brightness

450 nits quoted

Contrast ratio

3000:1

Colour depth

8bit

Colour coverage

100% sRGB claimed, 98% tested

Connectivity

2x HDMI 2.1, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, USB hub, 1x audio out

Adaptive sync

AMD FreeSync

Speakers

2x 5W

Stand adjustment

120mm height, tilt -5 to +15 degrees, 15 degree swivel

VESA mount

100 x 100mm

Power consumption

95W typical, 240W maximum

Weight with stand

13.3kg

Warranty

3-year (launch offer)

INNOCN E49M1R: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Flat panel, not curved
• Minimal bezel across a 32:9 frame
• Height-adjustable stand but modest rotation

Where most 49-inch ultrawides curve their panel to keep the far edges within easy view, the E49M1R stays flat.

Innocn calls it the first monitor of its kind at this size, and it is a genuine point of difference rather than a marketing flourish. A flat panel keeps straight lines straight, which matters for anyone lining up spreadsheet columns, CAD drawings or video timelines across the full width of the screen.

You can get the same 5120 x 1440 resolution at this scale by combining two 27-inch 1440p displays, and that would be cheaper. But for those who want a single seamless experience, this is the way.

However, that creates an entirely different issue: the sides of the screen are significantly farther from a centrally placed viewer than the middle.

How much further? Well, if you are 75cm from the middle of the panel then the left and right edges are another 20cm away.

Depending on the flexibility of your eyesight, this is either not a problem or a major snag.

You might want to consider a desk you can slide sideways so that, if you are working at one side, you can bring it nearer, then roll your chair to the other when needed. This might seem silly, but if you are using this panel to monitor things, you'll need to make some adjustments.

What’s impressive is how narrow the bezel is on the top and sides, making the display the predominant aspect of this screen.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The stand provides 120mm of height travel, a tilt range from minus five to fifteen degrees, and also fifteen degrees of swivel. No pivot option is listed, which makes sense given the panel's width. It has a VESA 100 mounting point in the centre, but you need to consider that any support will need to handle the not insignificant weight of the E49M1R.

At 13.3kg with the stand fitted, this is not a monitor you will want to move often, or possibly without some help.

Settings on this monitor are slightly old-school, with five buttons under the central Innocn logo being used to control an on-screen menu.

I’ll be honest and say I hate these menus, because six clicks to make a change when it would be one with a mouse and an app seems bonkers. However, all the interesting features are on this menu, if you can be bothered to click through them.

Overall, there isn’t much that’s revolutionary here in the design; most of that showboating is reserved for the underlying technology.

However, despite the obvious awkwardness of having a monitor this large, in most respects it works as intended, and for some applications is something of a joy.

The trick I think Innocn missed is that this screen is perfect for controlling multiple systems, since you can display each input simultaneously. What’s required to make this perfect is a KVM, and since Innocn put a USB hub into the monitor, why did they not make this a KVM?

Even if it only supported two computers, splitting the screen for two systems, and tracking a hotkey switch (like a SCRL LOCK double tap) to flip the USB port over for mouse and keyboard, this would be terrific. Yes, you can get the same effect with a separate KVM, as I have, but if it were all in one package, it would be brilliant.

The key weaknesses are the lack of motion on the stand and the lack of a software control panel, which forces you to use tiny buttons to change modes.

But these flaws don’t undermine what is a solid product in most respects.

• Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)INNOCN E49M1R: Performance

• Up to 480 nits
• 98% sRGB
• 72% AdobeRGB

Colour Gamut

Percentage

sRGB

98%

AdobeRGB

72%

P3

74%

NTSC

68%

Rec2020

53%

Gamma

1.8

Maximum Brightness

481.5

Maximum Contrast

4180 : 1

This design has a weird dichotomy I’ve never seen before: some of it comes from the design choices, and some from the panel's technology.

But first, let’s talk about what’s good about this screen, because in many respects the positive aspects outweigh the negative ones.

Two aspects are 5/5 in my opinion: color gamut and contrast. Being able to display lots of colours and a decent contrast between the brightest and darkest makes this an extremely readable display, and a punchy chromatic experience. I’m not sure how that fits with the Innocn specification that this is an 8-bit VA panel underneath.

The brightness is also greater than the 450nits that the maker quotes, and typically that number is overstated.

On paper, the E49M1R's performance case rests on three pillars. The first is contrast, delivered by 1760 local dimming zones feeding a VA panel with a quoted 3000:1 native contrast ratio. That is a considerably more granular backlight than the edge-lit arrangements found on cheaper ultrawides, and it should translate into deeper blacks alongside bright highlights in HDR content, rather than the obvious blooming that coarser dimming grids produce.

The second is color. Innocn claims essentially full sRGB coverage, with wide claimed coverage of Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 as well, alongside a Delta E accuracy target below two. Those numbers would put the E49M1R comfortably ahead of most gaming-focused ultrawides for colour-critical work, but it’s more nuanced than that.

While the gamut is great, color accuracy isn’t wonderful, making this design less than ideal for designers working with color. You might be able to tweak settings to improve colour accuracy, but this screen will never compete with an OLED panel.

The third pillar is motion. A 165Hz refresh rate, 2ms overdrive response time, and AMD FreeSync support should keep fast-moving content smooth, though the product page makes no G-Sync compatibility claim, which is worth noting for Nvidia users who rely on that certification.

In conclusion, if you need an ultrawide display for monitoring multiple systems, huge spreadsheets, motion graphics, a flight or racing simulator, then this is an excellent choice.

The lack of accuracy here is an issue for color-critical jobs, but that’s not something most people buy an ultrawide monitor for.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Performance: 4 / 5

INNOCN E49M1R: Final verdict

On specification alone, the E49M1R makes a compelling case. Innocn has combined a genuinely novel flat panel with a dense Mini LED backlight, a proper 165Hz refresh rate and colour coverage that reaches well beyond sRGB.

For traders, editors, developers and anyone tired of curved screens distorting their straight lines, this looks like the ultrawide the category has been missing.

I do wonder if Innocn has another E49M1 design in development that uses OLED and would address the color accuracy issues I detected, but for now this VA design with Mini LED backlighting is a dramatic improvement over any single-source backlight hardware.

With the hardware available today, the E49M1R could be one of the year's most significant ultrawide launches. And, at less than $1000, this is a huge monitor for a modest asking price. If you don’t need such a high resolution, Innocn also offers the slightly cheaper E49M1G with a 3840 x 1080 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate.

On a personal note, I’ve been using this panel this week, and having my PC desktop on one side and a mini PC I’m benchmarking on the other makes for a great workflow. Similarly, when I transfer my work from Word to the publishing system, being able to extend my desktop is equally helpful.

While the E49M1R isn’t for everyone, for those who can use its abilities, it's genuinely revolutionary.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)InnoCN GA27S1Q: Report card

Value

When only a company makes something, the price is the price

5 / 5

Design

Massive display with a restrictive stand, but plenty of good features

4 / 5

Performance

Large gamut and incredible contrast, but not color accurate

4 / 5

Total

Easily worth what the maker is asking for an Mini LED this big

4.5 / 5

Should you buy a INNOCN E49M1R?

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Buy it if...

You need screen space
Having the equivalent of two 1440p monitors in a single 49-inch wide panel provides plenty of space for multiple apps to share that area comfortably. Yes, you can get the same space or even more with multiple monitors, but this allows you to have them without the separation of a bezel.

You monitor multiple computers
Each of the four inputs can be displayed simultaneously, either using PiP or by splitting the screen zonally. This has security and system uses, and you can change the arrangement to give a single or two sources larger displays when needed.

Don’t buy if...

You have limited space
A monitor this large needs space to be installed and adjusted for optimal viewing. And not every desk has that much space. If you work with limited space, the E49M1R isn’t for you.

You need colour accuracy
While it has a great colour gamut, having plenty of colours doesn’t guarantee that they’re the right ones. And on this design, the colour accuracy isn’t high, so it wouldn’t be suitable for picking the colours for your new spring collection.

For more options, we've tested the best business monitors.

The storage space on your phone can quickly fill up, what with movies, music, photos, videos, games, and apps to consider, and you don't want your handset to get close to running out of room — what if you need to download some movies for a flight or record a moment with the kids and there's not enough space on your phone for it?

Among the many tricks you can turn to to free up some space on your device, one of the lesser-known options is reducing the room taken up by apps you're not really using any more. You can do it on any phone model: Android calls it archiving, and iOS calls it offloading, but the process works in a similar way.

This isn't uninstalling apps (which is also an option for freeing up space): it's stripping them down to the bare bones. It works best for those apps that you're not using regularly, but that you think you might come back to at some point, such as apps you only use on vacation or at events such as festivals, or games you haven't played in a while but still enjoy.

What archiving and offloading does

You can archive apps manually if needed (Image credit: Future)

There's a good chance you've got a bunch of apps on your phone that you don't actually use that much: you installed them to test something, or try something out, or as an alternative to another app, and they just didn't stick. If you're not using these apps though, they're really just taking up room.

Uninstalling these apps is one option you've got, and will maximize the amount of storage space you get back. On Android, open the app drawer, tap and hold on an app, then drag it up to the Uninstall button at the top; on iOS, find the app on one of your home screens, press and hold on it, then tap Remove App > Delete App.

You can of course reinstall these apps whenever you like, but it's not a particularly quick or easy process. You need to find it again on the app store on your phone, wait for it to download, enter all your login details again, and customize it the same way you had it set up before. You might also lose some account data along the way, depending on the app.

Archiving or offloading is a middle ground. The bulk of the app gets removed from your phone, which helps with storage space, but key files stay in place — and the app icon stays in the app drawer or on the home screen. When you need the app again you just tap its icon, and after a few moments the necessary files are downloaded, and you're able to pick up from where you left off.

Archiving apps on Android

You'll find the relevant setting in the Play Store app (Image credit: Future)

This feature is called Auto Archive on Android, and Google promises it can free up as much as 60% of the storage that an app is using, without removing the actual app or deleting your user data. It isn't turned on by default, but you can enable it yourself.

Open up the Play Store on your phone, tap your profile picture (top right), then choose Settings > General. Turn on the toggle switch labeled Automatically archive apps, and when storage space starts to run low, certain apps will be archived for you.

You can let Google choose the apps that are archived when space runs low, or archive them yourself. To archive an app, open Settings then Apps: Select the app you want, then tap Archive on the app details screen.

Android might prompt you to turn on Auto Archive if space is running low on your phone and you try and install something new from the Play Store: if this happens, tap Turn on to enable the feature, or No thanks if you want to clear some space manually.

Offloading apps on iOS

The Offload Unused Apps option in iOS (Image credit: Future)

Over on iOS, the feature is called Offload Unused Apps, and it was introduced all the way back in 2017 with iOS 11. As on Android, the feature is off by default, but Apple will prompt you to turn it on when storage is low, or you can just turn it on preemptively: From Settings, select Apps > App Store, then turn on the Offload Unused Apps toggle switch.

Apple doesn't explain much about which apps are picked to be offloaded, so we're presuming that iOS chooses the ones you've left dormant for the longest when space starts to run out. Offloaded apps have a small arrow next to their name below their home screen icons.

You can opt to offload specific apps manually too, whether or not you've enabled the feature for iOS as a whole. From Settings in iOS, tap General > iPhone Storage, then select an app, and pick Offload App. The same screen lets you uninstall the app too.

How much space you're going to save using this method is obviously going to vary, but you might be able to free up more room than you thought. Whenever you need one of your offloaded apps back again, tap on its home screen icon to reinstate it.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5: Two-minute review

Sennheiser doesn’t rush its new products — especially within the best earbuds market. It’s been over two years since the launch of the Momentum True Wireless 4 and, even back then, I remember the brand saying at my product briefing that they were already at work planning ahead for potential EU regulations. Which regulations specifically? That the batteries within these tiny earpieces may well need to be user-replaceable in coming launches.

Those laws are still on the horizon… sort of. Other brands have had their complaints, saying the rules force tiny devices to be bulkier and less waterproof, so there are now various exceptions. Sennheiser, though, stuck to its plan. With the launch of the Momentum True Wireless 5, the company is proving that user-replaceable batteries are possible even in products as small as wireless earbuds.

Longevity is only one part of the story when it comes to these new buds though. Much like the new Momentum 5 over-ear headphones, they’re stuffed full of upgrades. They’ve now got a refreshed premium design, a different shape and fit, improved noise-cancelling and transparency, refined sound, and extra features, such as immersive Dolby Atmos audio and aptX Lossless high-res streaming. Spoiler alert for the rest of this review, but they’re the complete package.

After more than two weeks of use, the Momentum True Wireless 5 (or MTW5) have quickly become my new favorite wireless buds for just about anything and everything. They’re quite clearly the flagship to beat in 2026.

To my ears, they’re better-sounding than the top rivals from Technics and JBL, with an enjoyable, neutral, yet non-fatiguing sound that caters to critical listening. The improved ANC is now only a slight step behind Apple, Bose and Sony’s best, and that gap is close enough to barely matter for most of us.

Crucially, the Sennheiser buds are highly customizable with the Smart Control Plus app, an intuitive platform that I find to be one of the best companion apps in the business. Should you want to, you can adjust the sound, tap controls, ANC levels, codecs in use, battery preservation, and more.

The sustainability credentials and long-term usability make them easy to recommend. But once you add in their natural audio on a wide soundstage, high-end style, comfortable fit, and smart companion app features, the Momentum True Wireless 5 might just be the best buds out there for the money.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5: price & release date

• Launched in September 2026
• Sells for $300 / £250 / AU$499

How much money, though? For high-end earbuds, you expect a high cost, and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 are launching at the competitive price of $300 / £250 / AU$499.

Unsurprisingly, that puts the MTW5 pretty much in the mix with the rest of the flagships. Apple’s AirPods Pro are $50 cheaper at $249, but these directly compete with Sony’s WF-1000XM6 — costing $329 / £250 / AU$499.95 — and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) – for $299 / £299 / AU$450. And, of course, luxury or boutique pairs such as the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 ($399 / £349 / AU$599) or Master & Dynamic MW09 ($349 / £319 / AU$599) will still cost a fair chunk of cash more.

No matter how you look at it though, these are pricey for most of us. But once you factor in the replaceable batteries, it’s easy to see how these could keep you going for longer than others on the market. And these are the first premium buds from an audio brand to have this repairability feature, with Fairphone's Fairbuds being essentially the only other rival even attempting it. So, kudos there.

Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: specs

Drivers

7mm dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

Up to 12 hours per earbud, 40 hours in total

Weight

7g (per bud)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Frequency range

5 Hz-21 kHz

Waterproofing

IP54

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Features

• User-replaceable batteries (for both the buds and the case)
• Bluetooth 6.0 with seamless multipoint switching
• Head-tracked Dolby Atmos spatial audio

The replaceable battery is the headline feature here, of course. It’s a big deal because the batteries are what's most likely to degrade first in your earphones. Until recently, the glued-in cells in wireless buds have meant that, one way or another, they’re destined to be e-waste in only a matter of years.

Sennheiser includes a battery replacement tool for the buds in the case, and you can access the case battery and the bud batteries with the help of a tiny screwdriver. Luckily, the required screwdriver is the one I have on hand to adjust my glasses. To do my due diligence for this review (even though these fresh buds would be a long way away from needing their batteries replaced) I’ve gone through the process of opening up both the case and buds, and can confirm it’s easy enough as long as you follow the instructions on how to use the included tool. Just be careful as you’re dealing with delicate, small parts.

I also spoke with Frank Foppe, the product manager for the MTW5, and I asked how long they’re made to last before a battery replacement might be needed. He confirmed that about 80-90% of the capacity should remain after 500 charge cycles. That’d mean you could use them every single day for two hours and get to four years of use before you notice much of a difference.

And, while Sennheiser isn’t yet able to confirm the cost of replacement batteries, once those are available, they should make a big difference to the longevity of the MTW5. You could realistically buy these earbuds, take care of them, replace the batteries and keep them working for well over five years or much more (as long as all other parts remain functional).

Right now, you should get 6 hours of playtime with ANC on, and up to 12 hours with it off. Sennheiser claims an ANC-off battery life totalling 40 hours once you factor in the charging case, which seems to be about right in my testing. I ran a test playing a Spotify playlist for three hours at 50% volume with ANC on, and had 60% remaining, which confirms a single-charge runtime of around 7.5 hours, a little better than Sennheiser’s estimate. Recharging is via the USB-C port on the case or wireless charging, and a quick charge of eight minutes gives you an hour of use.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )

Much like the MTW4, Sennheiser has also made these a “future-proof” pair of earbuds when it comes to the feature set. They include several abilities other current launches still lack, and they have the brand’s excellent battery protection feature (to slow down charging and limit the charge level to 80%), which is another way they’re designed for long-term use.

You’ve got Bluetooth 6.0 with Snapdragon sound, a low-latency mode, support for lossless audio and 24-bit/96kHz streaming, Dolby Atmos head-tracked immersive audio, reliable wear detection, excellent multipoint switching, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and upgraded microphones for better noise-cancelling and transparency, along with LE audio and Auracast (not at launch, but promised for a future firmware update).

While I’d found ANC on the MTW4 “effective”, I’d say the new version definitely takes things a step further. We’ve now got four microphones per earbud (plus bone-conduction voice sensors for calls), which is up from three per bud on the predecessor. In all the environments where I’ve used noise-cancelling – including coffee shops, city streets and the London Underground – I’ve found my music or podcasts still audible at reasonable volumes without needing to turn it up to overpower the noise.

The wind-noise reduction kicks in quickly and is also excellent, and I should know, as it’s been particularly windy on my walks lately! Noise-cancelling, overall, feels quite natural while still being capable enough to silence a great range of outside sounds, adapting well to changes in your environment.

But it still isn’t quite the “bubble of silence” ANC that you can get from the AirPods Pro 3 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds! I don’t find that it’s a difference that matters that much anymore, but it’s worth knowing that there’s even more powerful ANC out there.

Transparency is brilliant, though, and up there with AirPod models for how natural its passthrough of the outside world is. I also love that turning on transparency pauses your audio. I listen to podcasts a lot, and having a one-tap way to pause and get awareness is fantastic for quickly saying hi to the cashier at my local corner shop. I also tested the microphones with calls and voice notes. They’re decent at isolating my voice when playing loud, busy cafe background noise, but with the occasional missed word or two. That said, they’re good for outdoor calls and great in a quiet room.

• Features score: 4 / 5

Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Sound quality

• Neutral sound on a wide soundstage
• Excellent detail and warmth for a non-fatiguing listen
• Highly customizable in the app

Sennheiser markets these as “engineered for serious listeners” and I don't disagree. They’re not really made with bass-heads in mind, and have more of a neutral approach when compared to some consumer sound profiles. But they’re also not sterile, offering warmth, depth and smoothness. You get just enough weight and control to the bass, a natural midrange and crisp highs, plus a lot of flexibility to adjust the sound to your liking.

If you know much about the previous generations of these earbuds, all that I’ve just said won’t come as a big surprise. While there are slight refinements to the sound, these essentially sound about the same as the MTW4 and MTW3 before them. They use the same 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers from the predecessors, and one notable benefit over rivals is a greater width to the soundstage and a palpable sense of instrumental separation.

Billie Eilish’s Oxytocin is a fantastic test track for these buds — with effects zipping across the mix, perfectly centered lead vocals, and breathy backing vocals coming at you from all sides. I played the spatial mix from Apple Music and switched on Dolby Atmos, and it’s definitely a convincing implementation of the processing. As my playlist went on, I began to encounter tracks not mixed for spatial audio, though, and you’d need to manually turn off Atmos so those don’t sound a bit weird.

I far prefer Dolby Atmos over most proprietary spatial options, so I appreciate its presence here, but I’d make sure you only use it when listening to playlists or albums full of tracks optimized for Atmos. It works best with Atmos-certified content, and in those cases much of the processing will be done on the source device.

Head tracking works, but it’s still not essential. The fixed spatial audio is plenty, and I still recommend mostly using this mode with films and TV shows designed for immersion, rather than music, which can be a little more hit-and-miss. I tested it with Severance on Apple TV and found it enhanced the eeriness of the quiet sound design and the dialogue clarity.

I tested bass with my go-to low-end thump test, the slow-burn sub-bass of Massive Attack’s Angel. The MTW5 excel, not coming off as overly bloated or boomy, but instead clear and textured. Vocal and midrange realism is where Sennheiser’s natural tuning pays off most. Listening to Coldplay’s Clocks reveals more detail and subtleties I don’t usually hear. And I moved on to the busy mix of Muse's Supermassive Black Hole, where every element feels defined, without the smearing you so often hear from lesser drivers. The width of the soundstage makes for a more engaging listen and, when combined with the tightness of the bass and detail in vocals, I’d say they’re a pair that’s ideal for a relaxed listening experience.

They’re so non-fatiguing that I can keep listening for hours and hours. The most intense audiophiles may still have their nitpicks, as these are tuned more for musical enjoyment than they are for being analytical, but I really think there’s very little that can’t be solved with the 8-band EQ. A full parametric equaliser (as on the HDB630 over-ears) would’ve been a great customization feature, but it’s also one that many users wouldn’t find intuitive.

Sennheiser’s Sound Personalization is a companion to EQ, and is a blend between a preference test and hearing evaluation, where you tweak the volume of different instruments to your liking, and then use a slider to find the lowest level at which you can hear the sample track. The result still sounded great for me, but I ultimately found that I prefer the default “Neutral” after comparing the two.

My honest view on the codec support is that it’s very easy to get lost in the weeds with it all, and far more of this is marketing than most of us tend to admit. The high-res aptX Lossless codec is present, but only kicks in with compatible Android sources, so you may not be able to engage this mode anyway.

I tested it with the Fairphone 6 Plus, which supports the full aptX suite, but it wouldn’t shift out of Adaptive. But this isn’t surprising given that “Lossless” is more of a “mode” hiding inside aptX Adaptive. Basically, this can all get a bit confusing, and there isn’t a substantial difference. A competent codec like AAC will give you quality with virtually no audible difference from aptX, thanks to Sennheiser’s great tuning and driver design. If you have a phone supporting aptX Adaptive, you may hear a tiny difference, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

These sound superb, so you’re not losing anything by choosing “Robust connection” instead of the “Advanced sound quality” mode. You won’t be able to tell them apart, and you’ll get to use every feature (Atmos is unavailable if you turn on high-res, for example).

• Sound quality score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Design

• New, premium design with a shallow fit and slim case
• Comfortable to wear all day
• Screws for the user-replaceable batteries

Fans of the fabric-wrapped case may be disappointed to see how Sennheiser changed things up with the MTW5. The buds now live in a slim and lightweight, textured plastic casing with a shiny circular logo on top. This case has a sturdy metal hinge, one of the best I’ve tried, and the USB-C port is now at the bottom left (it used to be on the front of the older design). On the case and buds, you’ll see the screws needed for changing batteries, but the earphones are still IP54 dust- and splash-resistant.

The fabric case of the MTW4 I tested quickly picked up a big scuff, so I’m hardly mourning its departure. In fact, everything about the MTW5 feels significantly more premium to me. Another added benefit? This svelte approach is far more pocket-friendly.

The buds themselves are very shiny, which I quite like but may divide opinions, and they’ve got a different form factor, at a similar size and weight (7g per bud vs 6.2g for the MTW4). They’re on the chunkier side, so are harder to recommend for those with the smallest ears. They now fit in a totally different way from the predecessor, too, with a much shallower fit and no stability fins. Despite lacking the fins, they actually fit me slightly better.

Even more than with other buds I’ve tried, you absolutely must double-check your ear tip sizes with the four options in the box (I needed a larger tip size in my right ear than in my left). And try not to twist them too much, as I’ve found that can break the seal and introduce friction noise when you walk while ANC is on. A gentle turn is all you need to lock them in place, and with the new thicker silicone tip material Sennheiser uses, they shouldn’t budge. With a good fit, it’s a secure seal that offers great passive noise isolation.

Aside from being shiny, the buds have a more curved look (a bit reminiscent of the Sony WF-1000XM5) and an “anti-wind” design, with a visible grille covering the mics at the front. They’re still controlled with customizable tap gestures, but the touch target is now noticeably smaller, and it’s one of my few (minor) negative points. I find you have to be pretty intentional about where you tap, because it’s easy to miss and do a single tap when you intend to double-tap.

Overall, I’m a big fan of the rounded, stylish new design, and I love that it comes in a more expansive range of colors (Graphite, Copper, Denim, Lavender and the Cream shade reviewed here) than the likes of AirPods or Sony buds. But you might find these distractingly shiny and not suit the shallow fit or chunky body. How much you like them will come down to personal preference.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Value

• Competitive with other high-end buds
• Feature-packed and premium
• Loads of rivals, but very few offer replaceable batteries

Sennheiser is not short of competition. The key rivals are the AirPods Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), JBL Tour Pro 3 and Technics EAH-AZ100. In direct comparison, though, the MTW5 is packed full of features that some of these lack, and they deliver a natural and clear sound instead of the bass-forward sound of many other buds.

Ultimately, though, Sennheiser’s value argument comes down to how it offers user-replaceable batteries. Assuming these batteries are under $50, you won’t be forced to throw away your $300 pair when the cells naturally degrade in about three to four years or so. That’ll help if you consider them as a long-term investment.

With that said, the landscape won’t stay the same. New buds with replaceable batteries will eventually launch, and many will surely be cheaper than this too. For flagship quality in sound, design, comfort, and battery life, though, I’d bet Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 5 will remain some of the best buds you can buy for years to come.

• Value score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5?

Section

Notes

Score

Features

The app gives you loads of ways to customize the buds to suit you, and they have all the features you could want.

5/5

Sound quality

These are a fantastic-sounding pair of buds, prioritizing detail, clarity and smoothness on a wide soundstage.

5/5

Design

I’m a fan of the new look and fit, which is sleeker and shinier, but may still be a little bulky for small ears.

4.5/5

Value

They’re an investment, but offer a lot to compete with flagship rivals, and have replaceable batteries that other pairs lack.

5/5

Buy them if…

You want earbuds for the long run
Switching out batteries for fresh ones after years of use means you should be able to own these for far longer than others, so they’re ideal for anyone hoping to escape the upgrade cycle.

You like a balanced and natural sound
Sennheiser is known for its trademark natural sound, wide soundstage and relaxed listening experience – these impress on all counts.

You want a premium and comfortable design
The new subtly rounded bud design and slimmer charging case are much more premium than Sennheiser’s old buds and much of the competition.

Don’t buy them if…

You need the absolute best ANC around
This is a minor but notable shortcoming, so if you want top-tier noise-cancelling, you’ll still need to go with Apple, Bose or Sony, as these are still a step or two behind the class leaders.

You’re on a budget
I can argue that they’re good value and competitive with other flagship wireless earbuds, but this is still a lot to spend on buds, even if they’re some of the best around.

You don’t like shiny earbuds
There’s no getting around it; whichever color you pick, they’re eye-catching and shiny, and that’s an unavoidable aspect of the design.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
If superior noise-cancelling is your top requirement, these are some of the best options out there; it helps that they’re also comfortable, immersive, and offer dynamic and powerful audio that adapts to your unique ear anatomy. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
The older model is still stacked with features even when compared to today’s rivals, so it’s worth considering if you can pick up the MTW4 at a discount – they’re great all-rounders with detailed and balanced sound, strong battery life and future-proof Bluetooth support including aptX Lossless, LE audio and Auracast. Read our full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review.

Technics EAH-AZ100
Our current top pick for wireless earbuds overall, the Technics flagship won’t disappoint with its secure and comfortable fit, nuanced and customizable sound and control, and excellent triple-device multipoint connectivity. Read our full Technics EAH-AZ100 review.

How I tested the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5

• Tested for over two weeks
• Paired with Android, iOS and macOS devices
• Used during multiple activities

I tested the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 for over two weeks, pairing them with my iPhone 17 Pro, MacBook Air, Fairphone 6 Plus and Activo P1 music player, all of which allowed me to thoroughly test different codecs and multipoint connectivity.

I took them with me everywhere and I used the earbuds while on the London Underground, at coffee shops and while walking on city streets to test the active noise-cancelling capabilities, and I used them for long listening sessions while working to evaluate battery life. I tested calls and microphone recordings, and ran a controlled battery test to see how much they drained over the course of three hours. While testing, I listened to podcasts and music from a wide variety of genres, mostly streamed from Apple Music but also on Spotify and Deezer.

I've been testing gadgets since 2020, and I've reviewed countless headphones and earbuds, including several flagship earbuds including those from Bose, Apple, Technics, JBL and Sennheiser, and I previously tested out the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 and Momentum True Wireless 4.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: September 2026

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5: Two-minute review

Sennheiser doesn’t rush its new products — especially within the best earbuds market. It’s been over two years since the launch of the Momentum True Wireless 4 and, even back then, I remember the brand saying at my product briefing that they were already at work planning ahead for potential EU regulations. Which regulations specifically? That the batteries within these tiny earpieces may well need to be user-replaceable in coming launches.

Those laws are still on the horizon… sort of. Other brands have had their complaints, saying the rules force tiny devices to be bulkier and less waterproof, so there are now various exceptions. Sennheiser, though, stuck to its plan. With the launch of the Momentum True Wireless 5, the company is proving that user-replaceable batteries are possible even in products as small as wireless earbuds.

Longevity is only one part of the story when it comes to these new buds though. Much like the new Momentum 5 over-ear headphones, they’re stuffed full of upgrades. They’ve now got a refreshed premium design, a different shape and fit, improved noise-cancelling and transparency, refined sound, and extra features, such as immersive Dolby Atmos audio and aptX Lossless high-res streaming. Spoiler alert for the rest of this review, but they’re the complete package.

After more than two weeks of use, the Momentum True Wireless 5 (or MTW5) have quickly become my new favorite wireless buds for just about anything and everything. They’re quite clearly the flagship to beat in 2026.

To my ears, they’re better-sounding than the top rivals from Technics and JBL, with an enjoyable, neutral, yet non-fatiguing sound that caters to critical listening. The improved ANC is now only a slight step behind Apple, Bose and Sony’s best, and that gap is close enough to barely matter for most of us.

Crucially, the Sennheiser buds are highly customizable with the Smart Control Plus app, an intuitive platform that I find to be one of the best companion apps in the business. Should you want to, you can adjust the sound, tap controls, ANC levels, codecs in use, battery preservation, and more.

The sustainability credentials and long-term usability make them easy to recommend. But once you add in their natural audio on a wide soundstage, high-end style, comfortable fit, and smart companion app features, the Momentum True Wireless 5 might just be the best buds out there for the money.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5: price & release date

• Launched in September 2026
• Sells for $300 / £250 / AU$499

How much money, though? For high-end earbuds, you expect a high cost, and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 are launching at the competitive price of $300 / £250 / AU$499.

Unsurprisingly, that puts the MTW5 pretty much in the mix with the rest of the flagships. Apple’s AirPods Pro are $50 cheaper at $249, but these directly compete with Sony’s WF-1000XM6 — costing $329 / £250 / AU$499.95 — and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) – for $299 / £299 / AU$450. And, of course, luxury or boutique pairs such as the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 ($399 / £349 / AU$599) or Master & Dynamic MW09 ($349 / £319 / AU$599) will still cost a fair chunk of cash more.

No matter how you look at it though, these are pricey for most of us. But once you factor in the replaceable batteries, it’s easy to see how these could keep you going for longer than others on the market. And these are the first premium buds from an audio brand to have this repairability feature, with Fairphone's Fairbuds being essentially the only other rival even attempting it. So, kudos there.

Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: specs

Drivers

7mm dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

Up to 12 hours per earbud, 40 hours in total

Weight

7g (per bud)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Frequency range

5 Hz-21 kHz

Waterproofing

IP54

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Features

• User-replaceable batteries (for both the buds and the case)
• Bluetooth 6.0 with seamless multipoint switching
• Head-tracked Dolby Atmos spatial audio

The replaceable battery is the headline feature here, of course. It’s a big deal because the batteries are what's most likely to degrade first in your earphones. Until recently, the glued-in cells in wireless buds have meant that, one way or another, they’re destined to be e-waste in only a matter of years.

Sennheiser includes a battery replacement tool for the buds in the case, and you can access the case battery and the bud batteries with the help of a tiny screwdriver. Luckily, the required screwdriver is the one I have on hand to adjust my glasses. To do my due diligence for this review (even though these fresh buds would be a long way away from needing their batteries replaced) I’ve gone through the process of opening up both the case and buds, and can confirm it’s easy enough as long as you follow the instructions on how to use the included tool. Just be careful as you’re dealing with delicate, small parts.

I also spoke with Frank Foppe, the product manager for the MTW5, and I asked how long they’re made to last before a battery replacement might be needed. He confirmed that about 80-90% of the capacity should remain after 500 charge cycles. That’d mean you could use them every single day for two hours and get to four years of use before you notice much of a difference.

And, while Sennheiser isn’t yet able to confirm the cost of replacement batteries, once those are available, they should make a big difference to the longevity of the MTW5. You could realistically buy these earbuds, take care of them, replace the batteries and keep them working for well over five years or much more (as long as all other parts remain functional).

Right now, you should get 6 hours of playtime with ANC on, and up to 12 hours with it off. Sennheiser claims an ANC-off battery life totalling 40 hours once you factor in the charging case, which seems to be about right in my testing. I ran a test playing a Spotify playlist for three hours at 50% volume with ANC on, and had 60% remaining, which confirms a single-charge runtime of around 7.5 hours, a little better than Sennheiser’s estimate. Recharging is via the USB-C port on the case or wireless charging, and a quick charge of eight minutes gives you an hour of use.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )

Much like the MTW4, Sennheiser has also made these a “future-proof” pair of earbuds when it comes to the feature set. They include several abilities other current launches still lack, and they have the brand’s excellent battery protection feature (to slow down charging and limit the charge level to 80%), which is another way they’re designed for long-term use.

You’ve got Bluetooth 6.0 with Snapdragon sound, a low-latency mode, support for lossless audio and 24-bit/96kHz streaming, Dolby Atmos head-tracked immersive audio, reliable wear detection, excellent multipoint switching, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and upgraded microphones for better noise-cancelling and transparency, along with LE audio and Auracast (not at launch, but promised for a future firmware update).

While I’d found ANC on the MTW4 “effective”, I’d say the new version definitely takes things a step further. We’ve now got four microphones per earbud (plus bone-conduction voice sensors for calls), which is up from three per bud on the predecessor. In all the environments where I’ve used noise-cancelling – including coffee shops, city streets and the London Underground – I’ve found my music or podcasts still audible at reasonable volumes without needing to turn it up to overpower the noise.

The wind-noise reduction kicks in quickly and is also excellent, and I should know, as it’s been particularly windy on my walks lately! Noise-cancelling, overall, feels quite natural while still being capable enough to silence a great range of outside sounds, adapting well to changes in your environment.

But it still isn’t quite the “bubble of silence” ANC that you can get from the AirPods Pro 3 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds! I don’t find that it’s a difference that matters that much anymore, but it’s worth knowing that there’s even more powerful ANC out there.

Transparency is brilliant, though, and up there with AirPod models for how natural its passthrough of the outside world is. I also love that turning on transparency pauses your audio. I listen to podcasts a lot, and having a one-tap way to pause and get awareness is fantastic for quickly saying hi to the cashier at my local corner shop. I also tested the microphones with calls and voice notes. They’re decent at isolating my voice when playing loud, busy cafe background noise, but with the occasional missed word or two. That said, they’re good for outdoor calls and great in a quiet room.

• Features score: 4 / 5

Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Future / Simon Cocks Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Sound quality

• Neutral sound on a wide soundstage
• Excellent detail and warmth for a non-fatiguing listen
• Highly customizable in the app

Sennheiser markets these as “engineered for serious listeners” and I don't disagree. They’re not really made with bass-heads in mind, and have more of a neutral approach when compared to some consumer sound profiles. But they’re also not sterile, offering warmth, depth and smoothness. You get just enough weight and control to the bass, a natural midrange and crisp highs, plus a lot of flexibility to adjust the sound to your liking.

If you know much about the previous generations of these earbuds, all that I’ve just said won’t come as a big surprise. While there are slight refinements to the sound, these essentially sound about the same as the MTW4 and MTW3 before them. They use the same 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers from the predecessors, and one notable benefit over rivals is a greater width to the soundstage and a palpable sense of instrumental separation.

Billie Eilish’s Oxytocin is a fantastic test track for these buds — with effects zipping across the mix, perfectly centered lead vocals, and breathy backing vocals coming at you from all sides. I played the spatial mix from Apple Music and switched on Dolby Atmos, and it’s definitely a convincing implementation of the processing. As my playlist went on, I began to encounter tracks not mixed for spatial audio, though, and you’d need to manually turn off Atmos so those don’t sound a bit weird.

I far prefer Dolby Atmos over most proprietary spatial options, so I appreciate its presence here, but I’d make sure you only use it when listening to playlists or albums full of tracks optimized for Atmos. It works best with Atmos-certified content, and in those cases much of the processing will be done on the source device.

Head tracking works, but it’s still not essential. The fixed spatial audio is plenty, and I still recommend mostly using this mode with films and TV shows designed for immersion, rather than music, which can be a little more hit-and-miss. I tested it with Severance on Apple TV and found it enhanced the eeriness of the quiet sound design and the dialogue clarity.

I tested bass with my go-to low-end thump test, the slow-burn sub-bass of Massive Attack’s Angel. The MTW5 excel, not coming off as overly bloated or boomy, but instead clear and textured. Vocal and midrange realism is where Sennheiser’s natural tuning pays off most. Listening to Coldplay’s Clocks reveals more detail and subtleties I don’t usually hear. And I moved on to the busy mix of Muse's Supermassive Black Hole, where every element feels defined, without the smearing you so often hear from lesser drivers. The width of the soundstage makes for a more engaging listen and, when combined with the tightness of the bass and detail in vocals, I’d say they’re a pair that’s ideal for a relaxed listening experience.

They’re so non-fatiguing that I can keep listening for hours and hours. The most intense audiophiles may still have their nitpicks, as these are tuned more for musical enjoyment than they are for being analytical, but I really think there’s very little that can’t be solved with the 8-band EQ. A full parametric equaliser (as on the HDB630 over-ears) would’ve been a great customization feature, but it’s also one that many users wouldn’t find intuitive.

Sennheiser’s Sound Personalization is a companion to EQ, and is a blend between a preference test and hearing evaluation, where you tweak the volume of different instruments to your liking, and then use a slider to find the lowest level at which you can hear the sample track. The result still sounded great for me, but I ultimately found that I prefer the default “Neutral” after comparing the two.

My honest view on the codec support is that it’s very easy to get lost in the weeds with it all, and far more of this is marketing than most of us tend to admit. The high-res aptX Lossless codec is present, but only kicks in with compatible Android sources, so you may not be able to engage this mode anyway.

I tested it with the Fairphone 6 Plus, which supports the full aptX suite, but it wouldn’t shift out of Adaptive. But this isn’t surprising given that “Lossless” is more of a “mode” hiding inside aptX Adaptive. Basically, this can all get a bit confusing, and there isn’t a substantial difference. A competent codec like AAC will give you quality with virtually no audible difference from aptX, thanks to Sennheiser’s great tuning and driver design. If you have a phone supporting aptX Adaptive, you may hear a tiny difference, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

These sound superb, so you’re not losing anything by choosing “Robust connection” instead of the “Advanced sound quality” mode. You won’t be able to tell them apart, and you’ll get to use every feature (Atmos is unavailable if you turn on high-res, for example).

• Sound quality score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Design

• New, premium design with a shallow fit and slim case
• Comfortable to wear all day
• Screws for the user-replaceable batteries

Fans of the fabric-wrapped case may be disappointed to see how Sennheiser changed things up with the MTW5. The buds now live in a slim and lightweight, textured plastic casing with a shiny circular logo on top. This case has a sturdy metal hinge, one of the best I’ve tried, and the USB-C port is now at the bottom left (it used to be on the front of the older design). On the case and buds, you’ll see the screws needed for changing batteries, but the earphones are still IP54 dust- and splash-resistant.

The fabric case of the MTW4 I tested quickly picked up a big scuff, so I’m hardly mourning its departure. In fact, everything about the MTW5 feels significantly more premium to me. Another added benefit? This svelte approach is far more pocket-friendly.

The buds themselves are very shiny, which I quite like but may divide opinions, and they’ve got a different form factor, at a similar size and weight (7g per bud vs 6.2g for the MTW4). They’re on the chunkier side, so are harder to recommend for those with the smallest ears. They now fit in a totally different way from the predecessor, too, with a much shallower fit and no stability fins. Despite lacking the fins, they actually fit me slightly better.

Even more than with other buds I’ve tried, you absolutely must double-check your ear tip sizes with the four options in the box (I needed a larger tip size in my right ear than in my left). And try not to twist them too much, as I’ve found that can break the seal and introduce friction noise when you walk while ANC is on. A gentle turn is all you need to lock them in place, and with the new thicker silicone tip material Sennheiser uses, they shouldn’t budge. With a good fit, it’s a secure seal that offers great passive noise isolation.

Aside from being shiny, the buds have a more curved look (a bit reminiscent of the Sony WF-1000XM5) and an “anti-wind” design, with a visible grille covering the mics at the front. They’re still controlled with customizable tap gestures, but the touch target is now noticeably smaller, and it’s one of my few (minor) negative points. I find you have to be pretty intentional about where you tap, because it’s easy to miss and do a single tap when you intend to double-tap.

Overall, I’m a big fan of the rounded, stylish new design, and I love that it comes in a more expansive range of colors (Graphite, Copper, Denim, Lavender and the Cream shade reviewed here) than the likes of AirPods or Sony buds. But you might find these distractingly shiny and not suit the shallow fit or chunky body. How much you like them will come down to personal preference.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks )Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Value

• Competitive with other high-end buds
• Feature-packed and premium
• Loads of rivals, but very few offer replaceable batteries

Sennheiser is not short of competition. The key rivals are the AirPods Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), JBL Tour Pro 3 and Technics EAH-AZ100. In direct comparison, though, the MTW5 is packed full of features that some of these lack, and they deliver a natural and clear sound instead of the bass-forward sound of many other buds.

Ultimately, though, Sennheiser’s value argument comes down to how it offers user-replaceable batteries. Assuming these batteries are under $50, you won’t be forced to throw away your $300 pair when the cells naturally degrade in about three to four years or so. That’ll help if you consider them as a long-term investment.

With that said, the landscape won’t stay the same. New buds with replaceable batteries will eventually launch, and many will surely be cheaper than this too. For flagship quality in sound, design, comfort, and battery life, though, I’d bet Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 5 will remain some of the best buds you can buy for years to come.

• Value score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5?

Section

Notes

Score

Features

The app gives you loads of ways to customize the buds to suit you, and they have all the features you could want.

5/5

Sound quality

These are a fantastic-sounding pair of buds, prioritizing detail, clarity and smoothness on a wide soundstage.

5/5

Design

I’m a fan of the new look and fit, which is sleeker and shinier, but may still be a little bulky for small ears.

4.5/5

Value

They’re an investment, but offer a lot to compete with flagship rivals, and have replaceable batteries that other pairs lack.

5/5

Buy them if…

You want earbuds for the long run
Switching out batteries for fresh ones after years of use means you should be able to own these for far longer than others, so they’re ideal for anyone hoping to escape the upgrade cycle.

You like a balanced and natural sound
Sennheiser is known for its trademark natural sound, wide soundstage and relaxed listening experience – these impress on all counts.

You want a premium and comfortable design
The new subtly rounded bud design and slimmer charging case are much more premium than Sennheiser’s old buds and much of the competition.

Don’t buy them if…

You need the absolute best ANC around
This is a minor but notable shortcoming, so if you want top-tier noise-cancelling, you’ll still need to go with Apple, Bose or Sony, as these are still a step or two behind the class leaders.

You’re on a budget
I can argue that they’re good value and competitive with other flagship wireless earbuds, but this is still a lot to spend on buds, even if they’re some of the best around.

You don’t like shiny earbuds
There’s no getting around it; whichever color you pick, they’re eye-catching and shiny, and that’s an unavoidable aspect of the design.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
If superior noise-cancelling is your top requirement, these are some of the best options out there; it helps that they’re also comfortable, immersive, and offer dynamic and powerful audio that adapts to your unique ear anatomy. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
The older model is still stacked with features even when compared to today’s rivals, so it’s worth considering if you can pick up the MTW4 at a discount – they’re great all-rounders with detailed and balanced sound, strong battery life and future-proof Bluetooth support including aptX Lossless, LE audio and Auracast. Read our full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review.

Technics EAH-AZ100
Our current top pick for wireless earbuds overall, the Technics flagship won’t disappoint with its secure and comfortable fit, nuanced and customizable sound and control, and excellent triple-device multipoint connectivity. Read our full Technics EAH-AZ100 review.

How I tested the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5

• Tested for over two weeks
• Paired with Android, iOS and macOS devices
• Used during multiple activities

I tested the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 for over two weeks, pairing them with my iPhone 17 Pro, MacBook Air, Fairphone 6 Plus and Activo P1 music player, all of which allowed me to thoroughly test different codecs and multipoint connectivity.

I took them with me everywhere and I used the earbuds while on the London Underground, at coffee shops and while walking on city streets to test the active noise-cancelling capabilities, and I used them for long listening sessions while working to evaluate battery life. I tested calls and microphone recordings, and ran a controlled battery test to see how much they drained over the course of three hours. While testing, I listened to podcasts and music from a wide variety of genres, mostly streamed from Apple Music but also on Spotify and Deezer.

I've been testing gadgets since 2020, and I've reviewed countless headphones and earbuds, including several flagship earbuds including those from Bose, Apple, Technics, JBL and Sennheiser, and I previously tested out the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 and Momentum True Wireless 4.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: September 2026

• Ukrainian bombers dropped ground robots more than ten kilometers behind Russian lines
• Gryphon robots reached positions Ukrainian forces could not easily access
• Ukraine is increasingly using machines to reduce soldiers' frontline exposure

Ukraine's Third Army Corps has carried out a first-of-its-kind attack, using heavy bomber drones to deploy ground robots directly behind Russian positions.

The operation formed part of the ongoing Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive, which launched in May 2026 across the northern Donetsk region.

According to the Ukrainian military, soldiers from the corps' unmanned systems units developed this specific tactic entirely on their own initiative.

How bombers delivered strike robots past enemy defenses

Heavy bomber drones operated by the Third Assault Brigade dropped NC13 strike ground vehicles, nicknamed Gryphons, more than 10 kilometers behind Russian lines.

These wheeled robots carried cameras that recorded the entire operation, which allegedly resulted in casualties on the Russian side.

Attacking troops in a location where they had not anticipated ground-level assault reportedly gave Ukrainian forces a clear tactical advantage.

The name Gryphon honors Hryhorii Bach, a machine gunner who went missing during earlier fighting for the settlement of Andriivka.

"Now, even more of our infantry soldiers' lives can be saved, while more enemy personnel and resources are destroyed," said the Third Army Corps in a public statement.

Separately, Ukrainian ground robots cleared antipersonnel mines across more than 18 miles of routes without requiring human sapper teams onsite.

That same clearance task would normally have needed two full engineering companies working manually across multiple days.

Remote-controlled robots and their operators already handle roughly 60% of mine clearance within the corps' entire area of operations.

Electronic warfare units attached to the operation reportedly disrupted more than 20,000 Russian drone missions throughout the wider counteroffensive campaign.

Vivaldi's broader gains and what comes next this autumn

Since its launch, the Ukrainian military claims that Operation Vivaldi has reclaimed up to 96 square miles of territory while defeating one arm of a Russian pincer movement.

“Our operation is called ‘Vivaldi,’ and Vivaldi, as we know, has four seasons. And this is only the first of them. […] There will be good news, but for now our actions require silence,” said Andrii Biletskyi, Commander of the Third Army Corps.

Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian fuel supplies has reportedly limited diesel availability for generators powering enemy electronic warfare systems nearby.

Russia's elite drone unit, known as Rubicon, reportedly withdrew from the region after suffering losses inflicted by Ukrainian forces.

Russian commanders are now redirecting armored vehicles and drone units toward Dobropillya, preparing for expected mechanized assaults later this autumn season.

During the summer months, Russian forces tested a new anti-drone protection system on their most modern tanks.

Ukrainian drones reportedly still overwhelmed those defensive systems despite the added protective measures fitted to the vehicles.

Ukraine's growing reliance on ground and aerial robots signals a broader shift toward reducing human exposure along the most dangerous frontline positions.

As winter approaches, both militaries appear likely to keep adapting their drone tactics in response to each other's latest countermeasures.

Via ArsTechnica

• Google is testing whether AI hardware can survive repeated exposure to space
• The experimental satellite carries four custom Tensor Processing Units into orbit
• Radiation testing showed the TPUs could withstand demanding orbital exposure levels

Google will launch its first experimental orbital data center satellite on October 1 2026, marking an early test for Project Suncatcher, its long-term research initiative.

This moonshot effort explores whether low Earth orbit could eventually host scalable machine learning infrastructure powered largely by sunlight.

The satellite, called MVP, carries four of Google's custom Tensor Processing Units inside a spacecraft roughly the size of a refrigerator.

Testing hardware survival before scaling any further

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will carry the satellite into orbit as part of the Transporter-18 rideshare mission alongside other payloads.

Satellites in low Earth orbit can generate up to eight times more solar power than equivalent panels positioned on Earth's surface.

Google did not build MVP from scratch; instead, it integrated its chips into a satellite that Planet Labs, a satellite imagery company, had already built, helping Google accelerate its original 2027 timeline for launching two custom-built satellites into orbit.

During a rocket launch, spacecraft experience vibration and acceleration loads reaching up to ten times normal gravity throughout the flight.

Individual chip components can experience even greater forces, ranging between fifty and one hundred times normal gravity during ascent.

Engineers tested the satellite by shaking it along three separate axes to simulate those exact launch conditions beforehand, and that vibration testing confirmed the hardware withstood the simulated launch forces without any structural or functional failure.

"Tests like this rarely go as planned, so we were pleasantly surprised that the hardware held up to the force," said Travis Beals, Senior Director, Paradigms of Intelligence at Google.

Radiation exposure presented another concern, so Google tested its Trillium TPUs inside a proton beam facility at UC Davis.

Those tests showed the chips survived radiation doses exceeding what a five-year orbital mission would typically deliver.

Cooling remains the biggest unresolved engineering challenge

Cooling presents perhaps the most difficult problem, since space offers no airflow for dissipating heat the way Earth's atmosphere does.

Google's solution relies on thermal interface material connecting the chips to aluminum and copper heat pipes leading outward.

Those components funnel heat toward radiators capable of projecting it directly into the surrounding vacuum of space.

Because of this limitation, the TPUs will only run continuously for about fifteen minutes before requiring a shutdown period.

After each fifteen-minute session, the chips must pause completely while the radiator system catches up on cooling.

Future satellite designs will carry dozens of TPU chips each, communicating across the constellation using precise high-speed laser connections.

Google plans to test two satellites communicating this way sometime in 2027, alongside its previously planned custom satellite launches.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, September 26 (game #1706).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 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 #1707) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

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

Quordle today (game #1707) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1707) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1707) — 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 2.

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 #1707) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• V

• C

• V

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1707) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1707, are…

• VALET
• CHEST
• VIGIL
• PUREE

I took this game very slowly and it paid off. I was particularly pleased about getting VALET, as the letter V is one I’ve suffered a strange blindness to in the past.

My only risk was guessing PUREE instead of “purge”, a good one as it turned out.

Daily Sequence today (game #1707) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1707, are…

• STRAW
• OVERT
• FEWER
• SAINT

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1706, Saturday, 26 September: SNORT, BIBLE, LAPSE, CRANE
• Quordle #1705, Friday, 25 September: SWEAR, FLOOD, GUPPY, GROAN
• Quordle #1704, Thursday, 24 September: TOPIC, METRO, SCALP, FREED
• Quordle #1703, Wednesday, 23 September: SHEET, BLAND, JOIST, GUAVA
• Quordle #1702, Tuesday, 22 September: COMFY, LOBBY, DRESS, PANEL
• Quordle #1701, Monday, 21 September: WAXEN, HIPPO, PETAL, LEASH
• Quordle #1700, Sunday, 20 September: DERBY, LIMBO, GAWKY, REIGN
• Quordle #1699, Saturday, 19 September: SCOPE, HEIST, PULSE, CHAMP
• Quordle #1698, Friday, 18 September: MUCUS, MIRTH, APPLE, TILDE
• Quordle #1697, Thursday, 17 September: CRIER, CHIRP, NEIGH, FREER
• Quordle #1696, Wednesday, 16 September: SPEAR, PRICE, BLUNT, FISHY
• Quordle #1695, Tuesday, 15 September: SHUSH, LITHE, DELTA, BUGLE
• Quordle #1694, Monday, 14 September: ZEBRA, LEGAL, RATIO, TROLL
• Quordle #1693, Sunday, 13 September: LUCID, SPRAY, MANGE, EMAIL
• Quordle #1692, Saturday, 12 September: SUPER, BRUSH, RESET, SOWER
• Quordle #1691, Friday, 11 September: PLUSH, PAINT, RIVAL, AFOUL
• Quordle #1690, Thursday, 10 September: AGENT, EXILE, TITAN, PUREE
• Quordle #1689, Wednesday, 9 September: HAPPY, GONER, SMACK, MOTIF
• Quordle #1688, Tuesday, 8 September: FLUNG, DIARY, HALVE, BERTH
• Quordle #1687, Monday, 7 September: VISIT, CLANK, FEVER, OCEAN

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, September 26 (game #1203).

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 #1204) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• WU-TANG
• CARRIER
• HOMING
• BOOTH
• STOOL
• MARBLE
• BBQING
• OPERATOR
• CLAY
• BANQUETTE
• NETWORK
• CHAIR
• LOHAN
• BRONZE
• PROVIDER
• PLASTER

NYT Connections today (game #1204) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Statue materials
• GREEN: Sit to eat
• BLUE: Phone energy
• PURPLE: The end for hereditary rulers

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 #1204) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SCULPTURE MEDIA
• GREEN: RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS
• BLUE: TELECOM
• PURPLE: ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES

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

NYT Connections today (game #1204) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1204, are…

• YELLOW: SCULPTURE MEDIA: BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE, PLASTER
• GREEN: RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS: BANQUETTE, BOOTH, CHAIR, STOOL
• BLUE: TELECOM: CARRIER, NETWORK, OPERATOR, PROVIDER
• PURPLE: ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES: BBQING, HOMING, LOHAN, WU-TANG

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The NYT gives us a relaxing end to the weekend with a simple controversy-free game.

It’s hard to see any red herrings in this game, although I did waste some time wondering if Lindsey LOHAN had any connections to the WU-TANG Clan — maybe she has 36 chambers at home, or perhaps she used to work at a gravel pit?

I began with RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS, as it contains one of my favorite words — and the seating option everyone would plump for given the choice — the BANQUETTE. The STOOL, on the other hand, is something you’d only select if you had no other pick or if your name was Arthur Fonzarelli.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, September 26, 2026, game #1203)

• YELLOW: BREATH FRESHENERS: GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, SPRAY
• GREEN: THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY: FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, WASH
• BLUE: FEATURES OF WOOD: BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, RINGS
• PURPLE: "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS: BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, CUSTOMER

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, September 26 (game #937).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It’s skin deep

NYT Strands today (game #938) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SUET
• CLEAR
• TRACE
• STIR
• RAISE
• ROUTE
• NOSE

NYT Strands today (game #938) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #938) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 5th row

• Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #938) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #938, are…

• SUNSCREEN
• MOISTURIZER
• CLEANSER
• SERUM
• TONER
• SPANGRAM: BEAUTYCARE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I would normally begin by finding words connected to any rare letters or double-letter combinations, but in today’s game it was impossible to ignore SUNSCREEN in the top left-hand corner.

From here I moved on to MOISTURIZER and then realised with these two finds I had exhausted my knowledge of skincare products.

Fortunately, these two spots opened up the spangram and CLEANSER. I did get the final two words without a hint, but even though they were both just five letters long it took me a stupidly long time to uncover SERUM and TONER.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, September 26, game #937)

• BREEZE
• ZEPHYR
• GUST
• WHIFF
• PUFF
• FLURRY
• CURRENT
• SPANGRAM: GENTLEWIND

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.

• Each LTO-10 cartridge natively holds 40 TB, expanding to 100 TB when compressed
• Fujifilm uses Barium Ferrite particles for improved magnetic stability and lifespan
• Uncompressed transfer speed reaches 440MB per second — higher when compressed

Fujifilm has begun selling its newest LTO-10 Ultrium tape cartridge, a storage format built specifically for enterprise archival and long-term backup needs.

Each cartridge holds 40TB of native capacity, expanding to as much as 100TB once standard 2.5 to 1 compression gets applied.

At that capacity, a single tape could theoretically hold roughly 13,000,000 songs, assuming an average file size of 3MB per song.

Massive capacity built for data centers and long-term archives

Fujifilm built this cartridge using Barium Ferrite particle technology, a magnetic material chosen specifically for improved stability and extended archival lifespan.

The company rates uncompressed data transfer at 440MB per second, rising to 1,100MB per second once compression gets factored into daily performance.

That places LTO-10 well ahead of most enterprise SATA hard drives, which typically max out around 250 to 290MB/s.

Fujifilm also built in AES-256 encryption that meets FIPS 197 compliance standards, a requirement common among government and financial sector storage buyers.

The cartridge carries 15,105 individual tracks across its tape surface, supporting the dense data layout needed for such massive total capacity.

The company rates the bit error rate at 1 in 10 to the 20th power, a figure the company claims is roughly 100,000x more reliable than typical enterprise SATA hard drives.

Archival life is up to 30 years under proper storage conditions, considerably longer than most spinning drives or SSDs typically last.

Reliability claims and where this format fits today

This cartridge only works with LTO-10 tape drives and libraries, meaning buyers need compatible hardware already installed before adopting this specific format.

That requirement limits LTO-10 largely to data centers, media archives, and institutions already running established tape backup infrastructure at scale.

Fujifilm claims this format is ideal for disaster recovery scenarios, where long shelf life matters more than instant retrieval speed for most files.

Unlike hard drives, magnetic tape degrades slowly when stored correctly, making it a common choice for cold storage across many industries.

The format remains rewritable, letting institutions reuse cartridges across multiple backup cycles rather than treating each tape as single-use only.

Tape storage has persisted for decades despite predictions of its decline, largely because no cheaper alternative matches its capacity per dollar.

Whether LTO-10 sees wide adoption outside specialized enterprise environments remains uncertain, given how few consumer devices support tape drives at all.

Fujifilm backs the cartridge with a limited lifetime warranty, a guarantee uncommon among comparable storage formats sold at similar price points.

This cartridge is currently selling for $494, discounted from a suggested retail price of $888.89 listed by the manufacturer.

For organizations managing petabytes of infrequently accessed data, a cartridge holding 100TB of compressed data may be worth considering.

Via Tape and Media

Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case review

With Grand Theft Auto 6 right around the corner, I imagine that quite a few PlayStation players will be dusting off their PlayStation Portal — or even newly buying one — to enjoy 2026’s biggest game on the go. But if you’re planning to take your Portal on the go, it’s important to keep it safe, and the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case can do just that.

I’ve spent a few weeks using Venom’s PS Portal case, and honestly it impressed me. I used to be the type of person who would just wrap my Portal or Nintendo Switch in a sweater, throw it in my bag, and hope for the best — what can I say, I just didn’t want to spend my money on something as unexciting as a case.

But the Venom makes the outlay feel a bit easier to swallow, as it comes in at an exceptionally modest price of $25.99 / £14.99 / AU$49.95. Given that it also comes with a tempered glass screen protector, cleaning tools, and thumbstick grips, that’s really not bad, is it? Don’t be fooled, though, despite its low price tag, Venom’s case still rivals some of the very best PS5 accessories.

This comes down to one main thing: its durability. For such a cheap case, the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case is surprisingly rough and ready. It has a hard outer shell, and when dropping the case now and then, or throwing it into my bag, it never showed any signs of wear and tear, and my console survived without issue. The exterior was not damaged during a scratch test, either, and its textured look is pretty appealing.

My system also sat pretty snug inside the case, which has a molded interior to slide your PlayStation Portal into. There’s also a hook-and-loop strap which fastens it in place, and although it's a bit cheap, it serves its purpose well.

My only complaint is that there’s no fabric pad to sit over the screen, so the fastener rubs up against the screen. I’ve not seen any scratch marks or anything, but PowerA’s case — which I’ve slid into the ‘also consider’ section — offers more secure protection with fabric padding and dual fasteners.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a second compartment inside the case too, and this has a zip-locked net that can hold accessories like earbuds, cleaning tools, and cables. It was plenty big enough to house my accessories, although the zip isn’t very high quality, and it came undone at one point — though I was able to fix it very easily. Luckily, the zip on the exterior is a bit stronger, and I found it to be secure at all times.

The Venom case also has a solid handle which has a rubber grip, which is pleasant to the touch and tall enough to fit my relatively large hands.

In honesty, this model is more like a starter kit for PS Portal owners than just a case, though. It comes with a tempered glass screen protector, which is basic, sure, but easy to fit and decently durable. There are also a couple of cleaning wipes and some neat thumbstick grips which seamlessly fit on and feel satisfyingly textured.

So, should you buy the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case? If you don’t want to spend all too much, and want a durable piece of kit with some nice extras thrown in, then the answer is yes. I think PowerA’s case is marginally better, thanks to its stylish design, USB-C charging passthrough slot, and fabric padding.

But Venom’s case does offer a bit more storage. I’d argue that Venom’s model is on the bulky side, and it did take up a lot of room in my bag, but if that’s not a dealbreaker for you and you need a quality, affordable case, then look no further.

(Image credit: Future)Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case review: price & specs

Price

$25.99 / £14.99 / AU$49.95

Dimensions

6.2 x 13.2 x 3.9in / 158 x 335 x 98mm

Weight

0.9lbs / 403g

Compartments

2

Handle

Yes

Color

Black

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Design

Durable exterior, decent looks, solid extras thrown in, a bit bulky.

4/5

Storage

Good amount of space for accessories, net compartment zip a bit flimsy.

4/5

Value

Great price for the case and accessories combined.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want an affordable protective bundle
With a case, screen protector, cleaning wipes, and thumbstick grips, this product has everything you need to keep your Portal safe when out and about. It's also available at a highly affordable price point, making it ideal for those on a budget.

You need storage space for accessories
Unlike some rivals, Venom included plenty of space here for you to store accessories like earbuds, cables, and cleaning gear. Just throw everything you need in the zip-locked compartment, and you’re good to go.

Don’t buy it if…

You want top-tier build quality
If you want a premium standard of build, then Venom’s case may not be for you. It's durable on the outside, sure, but the inside zip is a bit flimsy, and there’s no padding for your Portal’s screen.

You’re looking for something slim
Due to its storage compartment, Venom’s carrying case is a bit on the bulky side. Slimmer options are available if you don’t want to take up too much space in your bag — even PowerA’s option below is considerably flatter (though still pretty broad).

Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case review: also consider

PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal
I use PowerA’s PS Portal case all the time, and it's a truly brilliant model in all aspects. It has a hard, rugged exterior, a molded interior with fabric padding for the screen, and a charging slot so you can juice your portal up while it’s in the case. It's also stylized to look a bit like the PS Portal and is very affordable. You can’t really go wrong with this one.

Read my full PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review.

How I tested the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested across multiple weeks
• Directly compared to rival models
• Tested by a seasoned gaming accessories reviewer

I spent a couple of weeks testing the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case, using it as the main mode of transport for my precious remote player. I took it with me on the go and made sure to try housing it alongside various accessories and assess it for any damage afterward.

To judge how durable Venom’s case was, I tried dropping it from a controlled height, performed some scratch tests, and then checked for any signs of wear and tear. I also compared the Venom case against rivals, mainly the PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal, which is my usual go-to.

More generally, I’ve been reviewing gadgets for years here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested a whole lot of gaming accessories, including cases for the PS Portal and Nintendo Switch 2, as well as controllers, screen protectors, and audio gear.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: September 2026

Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case review

With Grand Theft Auto 6 right around the corner, I imagine that quite a few PlayStation players will be dusting off their PlayStation Portal — or even newly buying one — to enjoy 2026’s biggest game on the go. But if you’re planning to take your Portal on the go, it’s important to keep it safe, and the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case can do just that.

I’ve spent a few weeks using Venom’s PS Portal case, and honestly it impressed me. I used to be the type of person who would just wrap my Portal or Nintendo Switch in a sweater, throw it in my bag, and hope for the best — what can I say, I just didn’t want to spend my money on something as unexciting as a case.

But the Venom makes the outlay feel a bit easier to swallow, as it comes in at an exceptionally modest price of $25.99 / £14.99 / AU$49.95. Given that it also comes with a tempered glass screen protector, cleaning tools, and thumbstick grips, that’s really not bad, is it? Don’t be fooled, though, despite its low price tag, Venom’s case still rivals some of the very best PS5 accessories.

This comes down to one main thing: its durability. For such a cheap case, the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case is surprisingly rough and ready. It has a hard outer shell, and when dropping the case now and then, or throwing it into my bag, it never showed any signs of wear and tear, and my console survived without issue. The exterior was not damaged during a scratch test, either, and its textured look is pretty appealing.

My system also sat pretty snug inside the case, which has a molded interior to slide your PlayStation Portal into. There’s also a hook-and-loop strap which fastens it in place, and although it's a bit cheap, it serves its purpose well.

My only complaint is that there’s no fabric pad to sit over the screen, so the fastener rubs up against the screen. I’ve not seen any scratch marks or anything, but PowerA’s case — which I’ve slid into the ‘also consider’ section — offers more secure protection with fabric padding and dual fasteners.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a second compartment inside the case too, and this has a zip-locked net that can hold accessories like earbuds, cleaning tools, and cables. It was plenty big enough to house my accessories, although the zip isn’t very high quality, and it came undone at one point — though I was able to fix it very easily. Luckily, the zip on the exterior is a bit stronger, and I found it to be secure at all times.

The Venom case also has a solid handle which has a rubber grip, which is pleasant to the touch and tall enough to fit my relatively large hands.

In honesty, this model is more like a starter kit for PS Portal owners than just a case, though. It comes with a tempered glass screen protector, which is basic, sure, but easy to fit and decently durable. There are also a couple of cleaning wipes and some neat thumbstick grips which seamlessly fit on and feel satisfyingly textured.

So, should you buy the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case? If you don’t want to spend all too much, and want a durable piece of kit with some nice extras thrown in, then the answer is yes. I think PowerA’s case is marginally better, thanks to its stylish design, USB-C charging passthrough slot, and fabric padding.

But Venom’s case does offer a bit more storage. I’d argue that Venom’s model is on the bulky side, and it did take up a lot of room in my bag, but if that’s not a dealbreaker for you and you need a quality, affordable case, then look no further.

(Image credit: Future)Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case review: price & specs

Price

$25.99 / £14.99 / AU$49.95

Dimensions

6.2 x 13.2 x 3.9in / 158 x 335 x 98mm

Weight

0.9lbs / 403g

Compartments

2

Handle

Yes

Color

Black

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Design

Durable exterior, decent looks, solid extras thrown in, a bit bulky.

4/5

Storage

Good amount of space for accessories, net compartment zip a bit flimsy.

4/5

Value

Great price for the case and accessories combined.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want an affordable protective bundle
With a case, screen protector, cleaning wipes, and thumbstick grips, this product has everything you need to keep your Portal safe when out and about. It's also available at a highly affordable price point, making it ideal for those on a budget.

You need storage space for accessories
Unlike some rivals, Venom included plenty of space here for you to store accessories like earbuds, cables, and cleaning gear. Just throw everything you need in the zip-locked compartment, and you’re good to go.

Don’t buy it if…

You want top-tier build quality
If you want a premium standard of build, then Venom’s case may not be for you. It's durable on the outside, sure, but the inside zip is a bit flimsy, and there’s no padding for your Portal’s screen.

You’re looking for something slim
Due to its storage compartment, Venom’s carrying case is a bit on the bulky side. Slimmer options are available if you don’t want to take up too much space in your bag — even PowerA’s option below is considerably flatter (though still pretty broad).

Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case review: also consider

PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal
I use PowerA’s PS Portal case all the time, and it's a truly brilliant model in all aspects. It has a hard, rugged exterior, a molded interior with fabric padding for the screen, and a charging slot so you can juice your portal up while it’s in the case. It's also stylized to look a bit like the PS Portal and is very affordable. You can’t really go wrong with this one.

Read my full PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review.

How I tested the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested across multiple weeks
• Directly compared to rival models
• Tested by a seasoned gaming accessories reviewer

I spent a couple of weeks testing the Venom PlayStation Portal Carry Case, using it as the main mode of transport for my precious remote player. I took it with me on the go and made sure to try housing it alongside various accessories and assess it for any damage afterward.

To judge how durable Venom’s case was, I tried dropping it from a controlled height, performed some scratch tests, and then checked for any signs of wear and tear. I also compared the Venom case against rivals, mainly the PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal, which is my usual go-to.

More generally, I’ve been reviewing gadgets for years here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested a whole lot of gaming accessories, including cases for the PS Portal and Nintendo Switch 2, as well as controllers, screen protectors, and audio gear.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: September 2026

From the National Archives to the state dinner, President Trump and Xi Jinping looked comfortable together in Washington. Two former NPR China correspondents on what the visit did and didn't deliver.

President Trump said he was rejecting an Iranian plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian proposal is similar to a memorandum of understanding agreed upon by the U.S. and Iran back in June.

(Image credit: Aaron Schwartz)

• Panasonic Let's Note SC7 weighs just 919 grams but passed drop tests from both 76 and 30 cm
• The chassis meets the US military's MIL-STD-810H toughness standard
• Battery testing returned nearly 23 hours of continuous everyday use

Japanese manufacturers have long built a reputation for producing remarkably light business notebooks, with some models weighing under a kilogram entirely.

Panasonic has now expanded that lightweight lineup with the Let's Note SC7, a compact notebook weighing just 919 grams total.

The company also carried over its distinct circular wheel pad, letting users scroll by tracing a finger along the pointing device's outer rim.

Packs a full-day power into a small frame

The SC7 features a 12.4-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, taller than the widescreen format common on most rival laptops today, showing more vertical content at once, improving efficiency when editing spreadsheets, documents, or browsing lengthy web pages daily.

Inside sits an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 processor paired with a 47 TOPS neural processing unit for on-device AI tasks.

The low-end version of this device comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of internal storage - however, users can choose models with 32GB or 64GB of RAM and 1TB or 2TB of internal storage depending on the buyer's needs.

Let's Note SC7 ships with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, HDMI, and Gigabit Ethernet.

Under the hood, this notebook uses a 56Wh removable battery, which is attached with two screws rather than a latch.

According to Panasonic, this battery lasts roughly 17.7 hours during video playback and 32.4 hours in idle mode under JEITA 3.0 standards, and charging through the bundled 65W USB PD adapter reaches about 46% capacity within 30 minutes.

A magnesium alloy body measuring 273.2 x 208.9 x 19.9 mm combined with internal ribbing keeps the notebook sturdy, though it still appears slim.

Sturdiness, software, and benchmark results that support the design

Panasonic subjected the SC7 to internal drop tests from 76 centimeters and 30 centimeters across 26 separate directions during development.

The chassis also passed a 100 kgf pressure vibration test and met the US Department of Defense's MIL-STD-810H toughness standard - few compact business notebooks built outside Japan undergo this level of physical stress testing before reaching commercial release.

The built-in NPU meets requirements for Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program, enabling both cloud-based and local artificial intelligence processing directly on device.

PCMark 10 testing showed the processor performing at full capacity, aided by Panasonic's proprietary MaxPerformer heat and power tuning system.

On Geekbench 7, the Let's Note SC7 scored 2354 points on single-core tasks and 10437 points on multi-core benchmarks.

Battery testing under PCMark 10's Modern Office profile returned roughly 22 hours and 59 minutes of continuous everyday use.

For security, this device includes facial recognition through an infrared camera alongside a fingerprint sensor built into the power button.

It is currently available in gray, black, rose, and deep indigo, but there is no indication that this device will sell outside Japan.

All these capabilities do not come for cheap, as Panasonic lists this device for 298,100 yen, which is about $1,880.

Via PC Watch (originally in Japanese)

There are many audacious and commendable feats in gaming. Taking down Consort Radahn, platforming through the Path of Pain, filling your entire Pokedex, to name but a few. However, despite personally doing all these things, one task chewed me up and spat me out repeatedly. One that, on paper, isn't all that tough at all.

From the Backlog

Every gamer has a backlog — and that’s no different for us at TechRadar Gaming. From the Backlog is a series about overdue first plays, revisiting classics, returning to online experiences, or rediscovering and appreciating established favorites in new ways. Read the full series here.

The task: To get through Act One of the mammoth CRPG, Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3).

The 'act one syndrome' brought on by the sheer volume of content and the steep learning curve of BG3 is something that just about everyone has endured at some point when exploring Faerûn.

However, I feel I have been wearing this albatross around my neck for quite some time. While watching others take second laps around Faerûn for a Dark Urge run, unburdened by this plight of mine.

BG3 has been the loud, obnoxious gnawing at the back of my mind. The bane of my backlog, and at some point, I snapped.

Operation: get act one done

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

On paper, it's far from a Herculean task. After all, if you really want to, you can hop off the Nautiloid and head straight for the Githyanki Crèche if you choose. But ignoring the slew of content and the abundant, overlapping 'what ifs' is just too tall a task for a completionist such as myself.

I've gone back to the BG3 well a grand total of seven times. Each time, I fell at the first-act hurdle, but for different reasons.

At first, it was simply overzealous confidence and ineptitude. There was an underlying issue in that my understanding of Dungeons & Dragons principles was severely lacking.

As a result, there were many hour-long battles that inevitably led to a full party KO and a painful restart. Poor decisions compounded with each new dialogue exchange. This culminated in a heated exchange with a deceptively powerful frog, and the first of many save files to be abandoned. RIP Ignacius, my first Tav to fall.

Then came the attempts to right that wrong. A YouTube brush-up on DND systems here and there, a few tweaks to the starting build, and it would all surely work out fine.

It did not.

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

There was an inevitable and foolish overcorrection, a choice to play a build that simply wasn't fun to use, especially for a novice like myself. Monks sound great on paper, as you can let your fists solve all problems. Until you’re starved for Ki and left helpless. So, with that, another save file bit the bullet. RIP Falconhoof.

You would think at this point, with so much Baldur's Gate 3 act one experience behind me, success was all but guaranteed. But then, like a pesky Kobold leering from the shadows, a menacing creature I call my wife said, in hushed tones, 'That looks fun; will you show me how to play?' Thus beginning a co-op campaign led by a D&D novice, acting as a sage for an even bigger novice.

Safe to say, this blind leading the blind dynamic was about as successful as Lae’zel would be headlining at the Comedy Cellar. So, we dug a twin grave for my wife's Tav and poor, unfortunate Arcane Michael.

It was these constant setbacks that set the wheels in motion for even more attempts to go awry. Because the dynamic shifted from a state of wonderment and curiosity to an attritional, transactional slog, as scenarios, battles, and pivotal choices repeated again and again, lacking the weight they once had.

Much like Tav, I too was infected with a parasite acting as a ticking time bomb. At some point, the tedium, or the ennui, would set in, and I would succumb to that parasite's mind control. Forcing me to exit the game, uninstall it, and relegate BG3 to the back of the backlog again.

Mercifully, this affliction doesn't come part and parcel with a tadpole insertion through the eye socket, but it’s unpleasant nonetheless.

Finding my Faerûn flow state

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

Returning for my eighth crack, things had to be different. So, I put those wheels in motion. I cooled off for an entire year, forgetting large portions of the opening act in the process. I researched the most fun, accessible build to play relative to the most recent patch. I even passed on some hot and fresh releases, devoting all my time and energy to breaking through.

But above all, I knew that if this was ever going to work, I would need to learn how to let go. To let decisions shape the experience rather than relying on save-scumming, embrace the rough and the smooth in equal measure, and find the mental fortitude to push on towards new and exciting things.

As someone who wants to see everything a game has to offer, ponder over every decision, min-max at every opportunity, and somehow manage to accurately roleplay while juggling all of this. I was still skeptical that it would all click into place. But against all odds, in honor of my newborn son, my Halfling Rogue, Lorcàn, was born, and before long, I could see the Shadow-Cursed Lands on the horizon.

With a streamlined build that allowed me to rely on Luck, overpowered stealth, and flexibility to multiclass. No combat encounter felt like an insurmountable task, and no conversation felt like an inevitable road to a failed dice roll. My half-pint Halfling fittingly gave me the glass-half-full mindset I needed.

Minthara and her goblins were vanquished: shoved down a chasm to their doom. The party shone a light on the Underdark's mysteries. I left that demonic frog to their own devices. But above all, the insurmountable pressure to finally leave Act One had dissipated and this is an accolade I place in my personal trophy cabinet of gaming feats.

The city of Baldur's Gate awaits, and finally, I feel that curiosity and magic again.