A good monitor can be a complicated thing to pick out from the crowd, not least because we all have slightly different priorities and requirements, even within the gaming monitor market. Are you all about resolution, needing 4K at a minimum? Or is a sky-high refresh rate higher up the wishlist?

Well, I can't say that LG's new GX7 UltraGear monitor fits every single brief on the planet, but for those who know they're happy with 1440p gaming it's extremely hard to fault. Its picture quality is something to behold, and its simple, clean design makes it a graceful addition to any desk, while its refresh rate specification is enviable. Using it on loan from LG for a couple of weeks has been quite the ride.

Price and Availability

This version of the GX7 is a complicated one from the availability side of things. While LG has been selling it for some months now, it has only just made a review sample available, so it's in plenty of people's hands (and in their setups) already.

That also means that pricing is a little flexible. At full price, the monitor costs £899.99 here in the UK, $999.99 in the US and €849.99 in the EU. However, thanks to it being on the market for a while, deals abound now; here it is from LG for £599.98 in the UK, or on Amazon for $679.99 in the US, and for €754.23 in France.

That makes assessing the monitor at this point a little different from what it would have been at launch – it already looks like substantially better value now.

Design and Specs

This GX7 isn't exactly a monitor that rips up the rulebook from LG, and I think there's very little wrong with that. From a design standpoint, it leans on subtlety, at least when you're sat in front of it.

A hexagonal stand has a decent footprint on your desk, but nothing egregious at all, and the monitor's stand is quite slimline compared to others I've tested. That said, it lacks cable management solutions, which does impact the tidiness of a desk setup with multiple inputs connected.

The back of the monitor is a little less minimalistic, with an UltraGear logo and some RGB lighting that you can turn off if you don't fancy it. I think it looks decent enough, though.

I/O is relatively easy to access, too, and comprises one DisplayPort 2.1 port, two HDMI 2.1 ports, one USB Type-C port with passthrough charging power, and one USB 3.0 port to round things out (along with the power delivery port).

Under the display you'll find a single button that toggles between Dual Mode (for higher refresh rates), normal output and powering off. Next to it is a small control nub that acts as a little joystick for navigating the monitor's menus and controls. It works a treat, and those menus are relatively straightforward to get through.

The display itself has slim bezels on all sides and is impressively shallow, so it's not too difficult to fit on your desk. That said, it does sit quite far forward from the back of the stand, so it's not necessarily the easiest to push further back if it's against a wall.

Adjustments are available, including easily changing its height and turning it left and right without moving the stand, along with both tilting and pivoting options. So, you can pretty straightforwardly arrange it exactly as you wish.

On the technical side, this is a 2560 x 1440, 26.5-inch monitor, and it's an OLED panel that brings all the benefits of that tech.

You get a maximum refresh rate of 540Hz at maximum resolution, but you can drop down to 1080p for a boost to 720Hz. Response times sit at 0.02ms, and the monitor has DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification for really inky blacks.

It works with both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, but doesn't have any built-in speakers. The volume control that can be easily accessed is for whatever output source you connect to the monitor.

Performance

Of course, not many of us buy a monitor with the aim of sitting back and admiring its design – it's one of the more functional pieces of tech you could shop for, and the real test is how it looks in regular use.

I used the GX7 as my daily monitor for a couple of weeks, and that meant long days at the coalface of online media, but also evenings and lunchtimes gaming. It's been a busy few weeks for gaming releases, too, so I've been able to put quite a lot of variety through the screen.

I played hours of Battlefield 6, as usual, and the monitor's refresh rate came in handy for that, ensuring smooth responsiveness and crystal-clear details, including when playing on my PS5 Pro. Rocket League was even more legible, since it's simpler, and the frame rate limit again was useful and reliable.

I never really felt the urge to get a higher ceiling by going down to 1080p, but it's good to know that option is there for the competitive gamers among us. On PC, meanwhile, I've been enjoying the opening hours of The Blood of Dawnwalker, and its moody landscape looks lush and realistic on the GX7.

That's helped by the OLED panel bringing out really vivid colours and contrast. We all know that this technology makes for deeper blacks, but LG's panel feels really mature and consistent across the colour gamut.

Swapping between inputs isn't always the smoothest, though – the monitor doesn't seem to detect when a connected device powers on, to prompt you with the option of a swap. I've found that feature handy on other monitors, so it would have been nice here.

However, changing between display presets is really easy, and you get some loaded out of the box to help you ensure the monitor is matching its features to the type of game you're playing.

Outside of gaming, I've found the monitor really easy to use for work – it doesn't suffer from fringed text or blurriness, in my experience, and is bright enough to power through even direct sunlight into my study. Its anti-reflective coating is also terrific, making for really muted reflections.

I'm always an advocate for a third HDMI 2.1 slot where possible, since I think there's never any harm in having an extra port, but I should obviously point out that LG is one of many, many monitor makers sticking to just two there.

Verdict

The 27GX790B-B proves that you don't need a catchy name to make it as a successful gaming monitor – being extremely reliable on every meaningful feature is the best way to do that. The GX7 (to call it by its more obvious nickname) is a great performer that works just as well for productivity as it does for excellent gaming in your downtime.

At full price, it looks like a tall order for a 1440p panel, and that's a fair stick to beat it with. However, now that it's been out for a little while, you can find deals that make it far more approachable, and which might make the competition squirm a little. This is another great OLED panel in a year full of excellent monitors.

Also consider

It's not really in the same bracket in terms of size, but I can't stop thinking about the Alienware AW3926QW that I tested earlier this summer – as that's a genuine blockbuster of an ultrawide monitor. Its RRP is the same as this LG monitor, but it fulfils a very different brief; still, I think people should consider it as an ultrawide that really makes the format more user-friendly.

If you're keen to stick with a flat panel and want something that's in direct competition with LG's monitor, consider the Sony Inzone M10S – which now has a second-gen version. It's another stunning 1440p monitor, but will play slightly nicer with your PS5 if you connect that, too.

The announcement of the iPhone Duo has bought folding phones into the public consciousness in a way that's escaped the segment previously. That's the Apple effect, because people now care that folding phones exist, whereas previously, they didn't.

Apple's launch hasn't happened in a vacuum, with the impact of the announcement reaching wider than anyone expected, leading to a surprising reaction. That's right, Samsung has sold more folding phones as a result.

According to ETNews, Samsung saw an immediate uplift of 10% in domestic sales (that's in Korea), an unexpected boon for the company.

It's believed that some had been holding off to see what Apple offered before making a buying decision. Factors like price and availability surely factor, while there's the suggestion that weight and thickness could also play a part.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 is 201g and 4.5mm thick (when open), while Apple's device is 254g and 5.2mm thick. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at £1699, while the Apple device is £1999, so it's easy to call out those differences.

Samsung has been enjoying bumper sales thanks to the introduction of the new format of device, with the wider folding phone seen as a better option than the taller format found in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

While the Ultra remains the more powerful device, the decision isn't about power - it's about novelty and the fact that the interior display appears to be more useful, better suited to watching movies or reading books.

Apple isn't short of interesting features on the iPhone Duo, with the screen finish being the most talked about. Apple didn't follow the pack here, instead using a matte finish, avoiding the plastic film that sits on the surface of most rival devices.

Reducing the reflectivity of the screen helps to damp down on the telltale reflections that sit either side of the crease, so even though the crease is still there, it's visibly less obvious. The overall reduction in reflections is also great on a larger display and although the Duo hasn't yet been reviewed, there are high hopes for its performance.

It looks like folding phones are having their moment: there are more options than ever, with more to come. Exactly how that will affect the sales of traditional devices - like the iPhone 18 Pro Max - and if there will be significant drift from Android to Apple, remains to be seen.

What do you get if you cross Doctor Who with Fallout – and throw a spot of Clockwork Orange, The Wicker Man and Monty Python in for good measure? Atomfall is a quaint and rather different action-adventure from British developer/publisher Rebellion, and it's well worth a play through.

If you have Xbox Game Pass Premium or Ultimate, you can do so as part of your subscription. But be warned, that will soon change.

The first-person sci-fi game is leaving the platform on 30 September, alongside several other titles, so you only have until then to check it out.

You can currently play it on Xbox consoles, PC and through Xbox Cloud Gaming, but you'll have to pay for a full copy if you want to continue after the end of the month. The same is true with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Little Nightmares 2 Enhanced Edition, Little Rocket Lab, Sifu, SOPA Tale of the Stolen Potato, Sworn, and Terminull Brigade. So download them now – there's still enough time to play one or two of them through to completion.

In better news, a number of big name games will be heading to Xbox Game Pass over the next couple of weeks. They include Dune: Awakening, the single- or multi-player survival game/RPG set in the cinematic Dune universe. That's coming on 22 September, with Well Dweller also being added on the same day.

Mad King Redemption will be available a day later, while Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will finally be made available to Game Pass Premium members on 25 September.

Minecraft Dungeons II will follow for Ultimate and PC Game Pass members on 29 September, with Gears of War: E-Day arriving for the same subscribers a week later.

Honor will soon unleash its latest flagship phone, with the rear camera being the main focus for the refresh. However, before the Magic 9 Pro Max and its Arri-developed cam arrive during a launch event in China on 28 September, another device is coming from the brand with an alternative headline feature.

The Honor X9e Pro will launch next week, prior to its even more capable stablemate. And while it too will have an impressive camera (on paper at least), it's the 11,000mAh battery that's garnering the most attention.

According to Wiser.My, it will be officially announced on 24 September 2026 and it'll see a generational bump in battery size. The last model came with an 8,300mAh cell, but the replacement will offer one of the largest batteries Honor has ever crammed into a handset.

For context, the 11,000mAh battery has at least twice the capacity of the one in the new iPhone 18 Pro Max. And Apple claims that can last up to 29 hours. If the Honor phone's optimisation is spot on, you can therefore expect the X9e Pro to last three days between charges (with reasonable use).

In addition, Honor is including 80W SuperCharge wired fast charging, as well as 27W reverse charging, so you can use the phone as a remote charger for a different device.

There is a catch, however. As things stand, it looks like the Honor X9e Pro is destined for the Malaysian market exclusively – it will launch there next Thursday. There's currently no indication that it will arrive in the UK, US or Europe as well.

Still, Honor tends to test its technologies in some devices before rolling them out to others, so maybe we'll see much bigger battery sizes in more universally available models soon.

We can but hope.

Samsung has flicked the switch on the One UI 9 update, pushing out a full range of new features for those with older Galaxy devices.

One UI 9 made its debut on the Galaxy Z devices in the summer, but as from 16 September, the update is rolling out to older phones. The Galaxy S26 family is the first in line, with other eligible devices to follow.

The update means that there's feature parity between Samsung's latest phones, with new features including My FanCam, new Now Brief cards and additional privacy controls.

Samsung's One UI 9 sits on Android 17, so those updating will move to the latest version of Google's software too, but with a range of additions that Samsung layers in.

Highlights include Now Nudge to help you find relevant information from messages, Creative Studio that now suggests image generation ideas, Interpreter with a new threaded view to make it even easier to follow translated conversations and a better structure to Voice Recorder.

The headline feature here is really My FanCam, which will probably be the thing that people notice the most. This allows you to select a person in a video and the focus tracks that person, keeping them centred.

It's really a social content factory, meaning you can record something like a show or performance, and then use AI to just follow one person in that video. It means you can basically create a highlight reel that's all about that one person, rather than everything else that was going on.

It's perfect for the school performance where you're only interested in your own child, but it's likely to result in plenty of videos from bands where someone is just sharing one person in that band.

Samsung has a 7-year update policy on a lot of its devices, so many will be in line for an update - but the roll-out is expected to take place across the rest of 2026. Normally the update is just about done when Samsung's next phone - with One UI 9.5 - launches.

However, there aren’t a lot of new features in this update, with most of the focus on AI features. That's drawn the ire of commentators on Reddit, with some comparing it to the fairly substantial update that came with iOS 27.

Samsung's 'Fan Edition' model for 2026 is a phone that I've been using on the side whilst travelling for work for this short-form review.

It's a solid flagship alternative, replete with eye-catching colours and solid build quality – but it's almost identical to the previous S25 FE, yet is even pricier.

Where does the S26 FE fit in Samsung's Galaxy range?

Samsung's range goes as so: Galaxy S26 Ultra at the top of the stack, then the step-down S26 Plus and smaller base S26 to address format and smaller-size demands.

The Galaxy S26 FE, while it sits below that trio of handsets, is more akin to the Plus in terms of scale, with a 6.7-inch display size. It's a typical tall-and-narrow design.

How much does the FE cost?

The S26 FE went on sale on 18 September, completing Samsung's core Galaxy range line-up for 2026.

It's available in Blueberry, Pistachio or Graphite finishes, starting at £699 / $699 / €799 for the 128GB storage model. That's a £50/$100 rise over the previous S25 FE model.

What's actually different from the S25 FE?

In summary: not much. There's a new processor to justify that price rise, while the ultra-wide camera sensor changes to a new type for marginally better performance.

So who's the S26 FE aimed at?

What's always been key to the S26 FE is that its asking price undercuts the flagship range – making it a potentially great outright purchase rather than necessarily an on-contract buy.

That's especially true if you're looking for a flagship quality product, as this glass-sandwich design doesn't compromise, from the finish to the display's clarity, and all the important factors in between.

That target customer has a lot of choice in looking for an affordable Android handset, however, so for the Fan Edition model to push this price ceiling is going to challenge its appeal somewhat.

How does the S26 FE perform?

As an everyday Galaxy Z Fold 8 user myself – that's Samsung's new foldable, if you're unfamiliar – the S26 FE's similar software delivers a solid experience.

What I've found better in the S26 FE, however, is the addition of the zoom camera – which is one of the three on the rear. That's been super-handy when shooting during my travels, despite its moderate resolution.

The move to Samsung's own Exynos chip is a key hardware aspect of this Fan Edition phone, but I've found it can run games and multi-task no problems. Battery life is decent, too, getting beyond a typical day of use with no drama.

Should you buy the S26 FE?

If I had to keep using the Galaxy S26 FE as my daily phone then I'd be more than happy. From the way it looks, to the way it performs, in isolation it's a great Android option – and, from that point of view, recommendable.

That said, the year-on-year improvements are so minor that last year's S25 FE is a no-brainer purchase for even less cash. And with increasing competition, I've got to wonder if the Fan Edition has run its course in among Samsung's broader line-up.

Also Consider

At risk of repeating myself: the Galaxy S25 FE is almost the same device, but even cheaper. Even the Galaxy S25 Plus would be a viable option, if priced right.

Otherwise, should cutting the cost be your core goal, then looking to Nothing's Phone (4a) Pro delivers a distinctive metal-finished alternative with some cash savings.

There's been no shortage of criticism of Meta's smart glasses recently, after reports of men using the cameras for nefarious pursuits came to light. But perhaps this is the solution: Meta's next glasses might remove the cameras.

Thought to be codenamed Luna, the glasses are said to keep the features of existing Meta glasses, with microphones for voice controls and speakers in the arms, but forego the cameras to assuage those privacy concerns, according to The Information (via Road to VR).

That will mean that Meta gets to stay on people's faces, Meta AI gets to respond to user requests and the ear speakers can still pipe in music and calls, as well as provide the spoken interactions for users.

Meta then misses out on visual data, while wearers will lack the ability to ask about what they are looking at. At the same time, the ability to take photos and video will be removed - and that should address privacy concerns that people might be sneakily recording you.

While that might address the issue, it still means that Meta has some sort of recording device and there's a chance that if could fall foul of the industry's next privacy hot potato - voice recording without consent.

With the launch of the Apple Watch Series 12, the inclusion of the Audio Intelligence features put audio privacy on the agenda, with Bloomberg highlighting that such listening features could fall foul of eavesdropping laws.

With all that said, there hasn't been a concern around smartphones with voice triggers so far, so it could be that microphone-equipped glasses aren't seen as a threat.

It's said that Meta's new glasses will be launched at the next Meta Connect conference which is taking place in September, meaning that they are on the verge of launching.

Smart glasses are in a tough place right now. The "pervert glasses" name has stuck, the public are aware and a number of venues and businesses have now explicitly banned wearing them. But for many, the best feature of smart glasses is the open-ear style listening and the ability to talk to AI without having to reach for a phone.

It might just be that Meta glasses without a camera are really popular.

With all the fanfare around the iPhone Duo, you could be forgiven for thinking that's the only new iPhone to have launched this month. However, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available from tomorrow, and while neither handset sports a sexy second screen, there's now a way to add one.

Ugreen has introduced what it calls the Magic E Ink Screen Case for both of the Pro models, and as well as provide traditional protection it adds an additional display to the rear of the phone.

You get a full colour E Ink display, as the name suggests, which can be used to show photos stored on your iPhone. You sync the case to the device and can then send digital images to the extra screen.

That's about it, to be honest. It's more a way of customising the case with your own artwork or pictures, so hardly a replacement for the additional display on a Duo, but it's a bit of fun and looks decent enough.

It was announced on Ugreen's Weibo feed alongside several other iPhone accessories, so we're not entirely sure how much it costs or even it'll make its way to other regions outside China. But there do seem to be different colour options to match the new iPhones, including a burgundy version.

The other add-ons and accessories include a super tough screen protector, which is claimed to survive a drop of up to three metres, and a 45W fast charger designed specifically to work with iPhone.

Again, we don't yet know if they'll make it to the UK, US or Europe. Here's hoping.

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 / £1,199 and will be available to buy from tomorrow, Friday 18 November. The iPhone Duo will be available to pre-order from 16 October, with sales starting on 23 October 2026.

There was a bit of a hoo-hah when pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI opened in June, around the lack of a physical edition. While boxed copies can be ordered in advance, they do not contain an actual disc – just a download code.

It's become part of a wider debate about physical copies of games and game ownership in general. And that is going to rage on for the next year or so, I'd imagine, as we creep towards PlayStation's own cut off point for disc versions.

That's an argument and issue for another time. In the here and no, it seems like Rockstar has decided to release physical GTA 6 discs after all – just not the ones we expected.

It has announced the forthcoming release of the official soundtrack album for the game, which will be available on vinyl and CD, not just digitally.

Also available to pre-order now, for the full release on 20 November, are Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album on vinyl, CD and in a limited edition vinyl box set. Prices start at $19.98 for the CD version, rising to $124.98 for the collectors' set.

They each include 34 original tracks used in the game, with tracks from the likes of Yung Lean, Travis Scott and Keith Richards.

The limited edition vinyl collection comes with two transparent magenta LPs filled with blue liquid. You also get exclusive artwork in this version.

You'll also be able to listen to the entire album on digitals streaming services, of course, and can even check out some of the tracks now, as they've been released early. You can pre-save the album across just about every service out there.

As for the game itself, it is still well on track for its 19 November release date on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It's also on track to being one of the highest grossing games of all times. Even without a physical disc copy.

Bose has announced the expansion of its open-ear range, building on the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds that launched in 2024. The additions expand on the trend for earbuds that don't cut you off from the outside world, without compromising on sound quality.

While the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) build on the predecessor, Bose is introducing an entirely new option, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds. As the name suggests, they are specifically designed for those exercising.

This lands exactly where the open-ear trend is so popular, with those running or working out who want to listen to music, but don't want to be cut off from the world around them.

The Sport Open Ultra retain the cuff design, leaving the ear canal clear, but have a softer design finished in silicone for a stable fit while active, while offering an IP54 rating to protect against sweat or that occasional rain shower.

There are custom drivers promising rich audio, with automatic volume to adapt to ambient noise levels. The battery is said to last for 7 hours, while the case will provide an additional 22 hours.

Textured buttons provide control with sweaty fingers, whether that's taking a call or switching workout tracks.

The Bose Sport Open Earbuds will be available for £179.59, on sale from 15 October.

Expanding on the flagship offering, the new 2nd Gen Bose Ultra Open Earbuds promise improved sound performance and call quality, while also addressing one of our criticisms of the originals by extending the battery life.

That results in up to 9 hours of playback, with the case offering an additional 19.5 hours. There are new drivers for deeper bass and increased volume, again with auto volume that will adjust to the ambient sound levels.

Adding to the feature set is Cinema Mode, which is designed to expand the spatial soundstage, boosting the experience of podcasts and video for more immersive audio. That's on top of support for aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound for a great experience with compatible Android devices.

The design gets a tweak but sticks to the same overall aesthetic, but with a premium lift so they look a little better.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) cost £299.95 and will be available from 1 October.

Both new pairs of Bose Open Earbuds use Bluetooth Core 5.4, with support for SBC and AAC, while also offering Google Fast Pair for Android devices. There's support for Spotify Tap, while support for Google Find Hub and, Alexa+ and a shortcut for Apple Music will arrive via a future software update.

The term "smart glasses" has different connotations, depending on a person's perspective. Some might associate it with audio-based, AI eyewear, like the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, others might consider the glasses with a heads-up display, recently made famous by the likes of Even Realities and Rokid.

But a decade or so ago, the same term might have conjured up different image – of a pair of glasses that project augmented graphics onto the real world, enhancing the surroundings with interactive experiences. Those were the smart glasses of sci-fi.

And that's where Snap comes in. After many years of development and numerous prototypes, the owner of Snapchat has finally unleashed its first AR glasses and I was one of the first journalists in the world to try them. One thing's for sure, they are no mere smart glasses.

It's not my first time with the concept. I wore a previous, development pair in early 2025, but they've come a long way since then. And the Snap Specs that were demo'ed at the company's office in Santa Monica, California are the first pair truly fit for public use.

Let's talk about that design

They are chunky and admittedly not to everyone's taste (a bit like an exaggerated pair of Guccis) but genuinely comfortable. There are two sizes – narrow at 47mm and wide at 52mm – although the maximum weight is just 136g.

That's remarkable considering everything is contained within the frame – the processing, battery, communications hardware, speakers and waveguide display technology. You don't even need to connect them to a smartphone to operate. You can – to receive calls and notifications – but it's not necessary.

It's why I can forgive a bit of chonk in the arms... all that tech has to go somewhere. And when you see what Specs are capable of, it's a necessary compromise.

The glasses are see-through (although not quite as crystal clear as a normal pair of spectacles) but can "project" full colour, high-resolution graphics within a virtual space around you, depending on the experience. They are placed onto the real world and you see them through a 51-degree window.

Sometimes this cuts off the image a little, as it's not as wide a field of view as, say, an Apple Vision Pro or Samsung Galaxy XR, but similarly you're not wearing the equivalent of a shoebox on your face. It's also dramatically improved over the development version I tested previously, so there is likely further room for improvement in future.

Life through a lens

As with Snapchat, the apps you interact with are called Lenses and they are varied.

For example, in my 30-minute demo I played dominoes with another Specs wearer, placing virtual pieces onto a real table. I also used a real keyboard to type on a heads-up version of Google Docs, started a kick-about in a Soccer Skills Lens, and watched some of The Pitt on HBO Max in the back of a car.

Occasionally I had to move my head a bit to see everything within the 51-degree window, but it was never too restrictive. Watching the video was fine as I could move the virtual screen backwards a touch using simple gesture controls to see it all within frame.

Indeed, one of the most impressive aspects of Specs is its control method and ease-of-use. You only need your hands to operate everything within the platform. A menu appears on either palm when you hold it up and you can use a finger to press the buttons that appear.

Other than that, pinches can expand, contract and select windows and functions. Different Lenses will require alternative motions, but you really only need the glasses and your own digits to get going.

The latency (and lack thereof) was excellent, while the software was largely speedy to start up and switch between. There were some loading delays, but that was understandable when you consider everything is being actioned in the glasses themselves.

Self-contained skills

Again, this cannot be stressed enough, Snap Specs are the first pair of AR glasses that I've tried that work truly autonomously. All of the computing is performed within the product itself, and while I only had 30 minutes with them, they never once ran hot and worked smoothly.

Even more impressive is that battery life is claimed to last around four hours in general use, with another four full charges available in an optional charging case (which also adds mobile data connectivity). That can be extended if you're just listening to music, say, but four hours is a feat in itself considering there's no separate battery pack.

Some might argue that glasses are designed to be worn all day – especially if matched with a prescription – and they'd be right. But that, for me, is where Snap Specs might be misunderstood.

It is my belief, based on my experience so far, that the glasses aren't really for everyday use. I don't consider them in the same vein as the Ray-Ban Metas or other smart glasses on the market today. Not at all.

These are instead a smaller, more convenient alternative to Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest and Samsung Galaxy XR. They are a mixed reality headset without the headset. And in that they represent a glimpse into the future of wearable computing.

You are likely to get them out for specific use cases, such as golf training, watching a movie on a larger screen when travelling, or accessing a virtual desktop for work. In that they show great promise – more than any other product I've seen before. You won't be wearing them when grocery shopping, but you might when you want to visualise how a new sofa will look in your home. And you won't have to slap on a heavy, cumbersome face mask to do so.

I'll have to spend more time with Snap Specs to get a real grip on how I'd use them over a longer period of time, but I can see the potential even after just 30 minutes. They feel new and fresh – carving their own niche in an emerging category. And while not perfect (and expensive, at $2,200 / £2,000) this is a bold, bright beginning for a company with a clear head start.

Snap is preparing to ship its first consumer AR glasses and in preparation, it has launched a new, currently free app for iOS and Mac that adds a new anticipatory AI service to your device.

Initially available in early access and as part of a preview, Specs Intelligence runs independently to the firm's new glasses (although it will also work through them too, when they become available). It builds a profile of you across your Apple devices and can help manage your life across supported apps you enable it to access.

That can include Google Calendar and Gmail, to help you plan a trip, say, and book flights and a hotel for you. Or it can track goals and achievements to advise you on tasks you should undertake.

This all works on iPhone and Mac now, while the experience can be expanded upon should you acquire a pair of Snap Specs down the line. They aren't necessary for the new service to work, but do enhance it if also used.

“Computers should fit into our lives, not the other way around,” said Snap's co-founder and CEO, Evan Spiegel.

“Specs Intelligence is designed to help you spend less time managing your life and more time living it.”

The new service was demonstrated during the major Specs launch event in Beverly Hills, California today, where Spiegel also unveiled new experiences available in the brand's new AR glasses.

Snap Specs are no mere smart glasses – as we detail in our hands-on with them also available to read on T3.

Priced at $2,200 / £2,000 and available to pre-order now for release in the fall, they project AR graphics onto the real world in a glasses-like form factor. In many ways, they are similar in their capabilities to Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro and Samsung Galaxy XR headsets, but are much lighter, more convenient and comfortable.

Where they also differ to many rivals is that all of the computing power, battery and speakers are contained within the frame itself. You do not even need to connect them to a smartphone.

However, Snap also announced an optional charging case today which includes cellular connectivity, with partnering carriers Verizon (US), EE (UK) and Orange (France). Their data plan prices are yet to be revealed.

When it was first unveiled, there was more than a heavy whiff of The Witcher 3 about The Blood of Dawnwalker, a game that basically feels like a top-quality spinoff from that titanically successful dark RPG. Its developer, Rebel Wolves, features a host of developers who worked on Geralt's last big adventure, so the connection is far from a stretch.

I've stuck around 15 hours into the game over the last couple of weeks, since its launch at the start of September, and I'm loving it way more than I expected, largely thanks to one little choice I made when Bandai Namco offered a review code. I decided to play the game on my PC, complete with its Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, rather than on my PS5 Pro, after some pre-release news indicated that console performance might be a little lopsided.

Well, I've been super glad of that; it seems like a higher-framerate performance mode was a really late addition to the plan for Dawnwalker, and most likely will be refined over time to cut back less than it currently does on PS5 Pro in particular. That console is impressively powerful, but if a developer doesn't cater to it specifically, then it's always going to be at a disadvantage compared to a PC.

Dawnwalker sees you step into the shoes of Coen, a young man growing up in a secluded valley in 14th-century Europe, a historical setting that has a major twist. The valley has been taken over by a violent vampire warlord, a Vrakhir, as they're called in this universe.

He's taking taxes from the valley in the form of monthly blood donations from its denizens, but when Coen's village has its turn, things go wrong, and Coen soon wakes up with his family kidnapped and having been turned into a mysterious semi-vampire. He becomes a Vrakhir at night, but spends the days as a human.

This sets up both of Dawnwalker's most unique gameplay systems. First, a ticking clock that sits on your screen at all times, along with a reminder that you have 30 days to rescue your family before they're executed. As you journey around the valley sniffing out allies and ways to grow your power, your actions will often consume the time slots that make up each in-game day.

So, completing quests or side activities drains from a finite pool, encouraging you to prioritise what you're doing and what will make the biggest difference to your story and path.

The other big system is that you have very different powers during the days and nights. In the former, more humans and allies will be accessible for quests, and you'll be able to use hex-based witchcraft powers. At night, meanwhile, you'll gain the ability to teleport short distances, hugely helpful for exploration; however, you'll also have to manage your health more carefully to avoid losing your resistance and draining the blood of whoever you happen to be talking to.

These systems are great fun to work with because they force you to think about your decisions and plans at almost all times. You'll find yourself shuffling around your quests because some can only be progressed at night, for instance, but you'll also need to keep on top of others that will have different outcomes if you wait too long to complete them.

Making me make meaningful choices is something that more games should really be doing, and Dawnwalker is managing to make me feel that peril pretty regularly, which is no mean feat.

It's also looking great while doing it, and I've been playing on maxed-out settings at 1440p with impressive smoothness. Bumping this up to 4K has proved more taxing, and given the strength of my setup, that underlines that this is a bit of a performance hog for more mid-range systems.

It's also an Unreal Engine 5 game, which means you get stutters in the open world basically no matter how good your rig. These are minor inconveniences, though, and I'm just glad not to be playing at 30fps on console.

If you're craving a story-driven RPG with pretty slick combat (albeit combat that doesn't necessarily feel all that dynamic), and a narrative that feels reminiscent of the most memorable material from The Witcher's world, I'd definitely give Dawnwalker a look. If you can do so on a powerful PC, happy days – but don't overlook it on console just because of a few early performance jitters.

PlayStation only updated its official PS5 headset a couple of years ago, but has now announced a couple of new replacements.

Like the currently-available PlayStation Pulse Elite, the new PlayStation Pulse and Pulse Edge Wireless Headsets utilise planar magnetic drivers for better sound performance, but they are larger in this generation, so are capable of increased bass response too.

Also changed is the design. Gone is the thick headband of the last and original gen models, replaced by what looks to be a more comfortable alternative. The earcups look more rounded and larger too.

The cups can also now rotate to allow you to lay each headset flat.

They again connect to your PS5 or PS5 Pro wirelessly via an included PlayStation Link adapter (USB-C in this instance). This enables lossless, ultra low latency streaming. The Link device can also be connected to a PC, Mac or PlayStation Portal, to expand the use of the headset.

Although we don't yet have costing details or exact release information (beyond "holiday season"), the two models will be at two different price points. The entry level option – the Pulse – features four magnets per planar driver (ie. in each ear), has an integrated microphone with AI noise reduction, and a built-in volume control,

The Pulse Edge ups the magnets per driver to eight, includes a hidden/removable boom mic, volume controls, built-in game audio and chat balance control, and active noise cancellation. You also get a carry case with the Edge.

We should find out more about each of the headsets in the coming weeks, so will update when there are further details – including pre-order information.

Xbox Game Pass could see more changes in the near future resulting in a price reduction for some - but not without a compromise.

Game Pass has been fluctuating recently: following a price increase in 2025, it was reduced again in 2026, along with a catch: Call of Duty was removed from day one releases.

A new leak suggests that there are further revisions coming to Xbox Game Pass. The source is Slayven (via NotebookCheck) who previously detailed the last set of changes in 2025. It's said that Xbox Game Pass could move to an ad-supported option at $12.99 a month, with the full ad-free version at $19.99 a month.

That would be a replacement for Ultimate, which is currently $22.99 (£16.99) a month, representing a drop in price.

That's not just kindness, however, there's more going on. Slayven says that day one releases could come to an end (as soon as February 2027), seeing a major part of the Game Pass removed.

Just as we've seen with Call of Duty, there's precedent here. The move isn't one that will be popular with gamers, with many seeing day one access as one of the major benefits of Game Pass.

It's also not unexpected. Many saw the inclusion of day one releases as an unsustainable model. While some games have thrived with the exposure, others have seen lucrative sales vanish as gamers got access through Game Pass instead.

This decision will divide the community, with some gamers on Reddit saying that they will end their Game Pass subscription, but others emphasising that buying games is a better way to support developers.

The story doesn't end there. All plans could lose access to Cloud Gaming, something that's already attracting restrictions, with Microsoft saying that the cost of providing access to Cloud Gaming is getting more expensive.

Cloud Gaming could split off into a separate add-on, with 25 hours for $5.99 a month.

Beyond that, there's talk of a $14.99 option, while online multiplayer could be a separate element charged at $10.99 every 30 days - although these parts of the rumour are less certain, according to the source.

There's a lot to digest here and there are likely to be winners and losers, but those who are used to having everything through Ultimate could find that they now see less value. Some might take the lower prices and see little difference, especially if they're already buying the majority of their games.

But changes to Game Pass will cause a reaction from the community, so it could be an interesting couple of months as these changes become clear.

The router is one of the most useful bits of technology in your home. Likely hidden out of sight, but doing the legwork to keep your gadgets connected to the web without you needing to think about it.

A few years ago, ExpressVPN ventured into its first VPN-embedded router product, adding a layer of protection to all those connected devices. Now, however, the next product line is revealed in Fortify – a faster, more capable product.

Fortify's introduction does, however, see the end of the line for previous Aircove and Aircove Go products, which will receive ongoing support through 2027 and 2028, respectively. Those customers may wish to consider a hardware upgrade, therefore.

And, I must say, ExpressVPN Fortify does give a lot of good reasons to consider. It's capable of far quicker speeds, for starters, with its VPN-enabled maximum 900Mbps connection nearly tripling the 330Mbps of the outgoing models.

That'll be essential for those who want the protections of a Virtual Private Network, without foregoing the sorts of speeds that fibre-based internet connections can offer. And with the UK's map of connectivity expanding for the better, that'll benefit more people now.

The Fortify is a Wi-Fi 6 router, so it's not the most up-to-date in those terms – now that increasing volumes of Wi-Fi 7 products are available. However, the newer tech is far, far more expensive – and Fortify costs $199.99 in the States (UK and other pricing TBC at this stage).

Wrapped into the router's purchase price is a 12-month ExpressVPN Advanced subscription – and that'll apply even if you're already an ExpressVPN customer. Seeing as that costs $119.95 (£85.95) per year, it offsets a good portion of the hardware purchase.

The Fortify VPN router does some other clever stuff – not that most customers will notice. As it's produced and also sold by GL.iNet, which uses an open-source networking platform, there are improved point-to-point protocols such as WireGuard.

Apple announced the iPhone Duo - its first folding phone - alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. But for those wanting the new folding iPhone, there's a wait until October for it to go on sale. According to a recent report, customers may have to wait even longer to get one.

The iPhone Duo isn't expected to ship until 23 October, but a report from analyst Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac) suggests that Apple might not have the stock to fulfil orders. The reason is "hinge constraints".

According to the report, only 6 million iPhone Duo models will be shipped in 2026 rather than the original 7 million estimate, because the hinge is slowing production.

There are no details on exactly what the problem is and there's no verification, just an adjustment to the levels of stock that are expected for the rest of 2026.

Further, Jeff Pu says that early feedback is positive, with a smooth folding action, great display and great multitasking in iOS 27. The reported downsides are that it's thicker, only has a dual camera and that the crease is visible.

That last element is interesting, because many of the early voices said that the crease wasn't visible. But as we noted in our first impressions of the iPhone Duo, the crease is still there, it's just that the matte finish to the display reduces the reflections that typically highlight the crease on folding phones.

It's likely that short supply will do no reputational damage to the iPhone Duo: I'm expecting it to sell out and carry cult status for the next 6 months until it becomes more commonplace.

Even so, given the high price, it's likely that many will stick to the iPhone 18 Pro, or even wait for a cheaper iPhone 18 to launch in 2027. With all that said, short supply might see the iPhone Duo selling above its original retail price through online marketplaces, as fans rush to get their hands on the latest bit of Apple kit.

While the iPhone Duo has dragged folding phones into the wider consciousness, there are plenty of other options. Samsung is well established with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Xiaomi will be launching the Xiaomi 18 Fold, there's a folding Pixel and rumour has it that Honor will soon launch a new folding model, with Motorola also looking at adding another Razr to its lineup.

Pretty soon, we'll be awash with folding phones.

The Steam Frame is Valve's latest VR headset, offering a wireless experience primarily focused on gaming. It's pitched as a lightweight VR headset for your Steam library, able to play games either standalone or running on your PC, Steam Deck, Steam Machine or laptop.

When the Steam Frame prices leaked in early August 2026, we remarked on what looked like a high price of $1100-1500. Now we have the official prices and it starts at £889 ($1059) for the 256GB kit, swelling to £1089 ($1299) for the 1TB version.

That makes it an expensive headset, almost double the price of rival Meta headsets, although cheaper than Samsung or Apple's offering. But, consider that most people will also use it with a PC and it's part of a larger, more expensive, package.

The Steam Frame runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 16GB RAM and rechargeable batteries. There's a resolution of 2160 x 2160 per eye, with a refresh rate up to 144Hz. It runs SteamOS.

There's Wi-Fi 7 to keep you connected, as well as a Wi-Fi 6e adapter, with the Steam Frame Controllers offering motion and gamepad controls. The weight is distributed between the front and rear of the headset, designed for better balance so it doesn't feel so front-heavy. It weighs 440g.

The Stream Frame comes with Half-Life: Alyx, but it's designed for both VR and non-VR games, with the suggestion that you can just use this as an immersive display to play regular games. It's designed basically to play everything in your Steam library, with a wide selection that will run directly on the headset.

There's currently a waitlist arrangement for Steam Frame, so you can register your interest in a particular model. You'll be emailed to tell you whether you have a model reserved or if you're still on the waitlist, so it's likely that it will be a slightly slow roll-out.

One of the key features that's been highlighted for the Steam Frame is foveated streaming. This means that the resolution of the content that you're looking at is great, while peripheral areas drop in quality to reduce the bandwidth needed.

The aim is to reduce lag and stutter when streaming for a smoother experience, without losing that sense of immersion. Because the lower quality content isn't where you'll be focused, you shouldn't notice that it's rendered in lower quality.

There are high hopes for Steam Frame and early reviews suggest that this it offers a great gaming experience.

Samsung is reported to be considering releasing the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 "early", with launch of this next-gen foldable stepping up a gear.

We'd previously reported that Samsung was working on a new version of its three-panel folding phone with a potential launch in 2027. While the 2027 date remains, it could appear earlier in the year than predicted.

The move comes following the launch of the iPhone Duo, with many seeing the Apple announcement as bringing more energy and excitement to the folding phone segment.

While Apple is launching its first folding phone some 7 years after they first made their debut, attention on folding phones moves from the niche to the mainstream. That's likely behind Samsung's decision to push on with development of the new TriFold model.

Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Z TriFold in 2025, but it was a limited run, really expensive and soon discontinued. But it also sold out quickly, thanks to the limited numbers that went into production.

According to the source - Lanzuk on Naver (via 9to5Google), the new device will be thinner, lighter and more durable with a new hinge, while the price is expected to stay the same.

The price - $2899 at launch in the US - is said to be remaining the same. On one hand, it's great that Samsung isn't going to bump the price up, but on the other, it's still the most expensive phone around.

That's all we know about the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 at the moment: we don't know anything about what will power the device or what the specification might be, but it's unlikely to change that much compared to the original version.

But Samsung will have to really prove that a three-panel device has something to offer and isn't just an expensive compromise when a phone and tablet would be cheaper.

So when might Samsung launch the new device? Samsung's first Z TriFold was shown off at APEC Summit in Korea, before the official announcement and showcase in the Gangnam store. This saw the announcements made from October through to December.

Samsung's next focus will be the Galaxy S27, with the introduction of a new Pro tier of device, and a launch likely in February 2027. Galaxy Unpacked might be a time to showcase the new model, but it could equally be a distraction.

There's every chance that the TriFold 2 would get its own announcement, perhaps in Korea first, as the target market would likely be Korea, China and USA in that order. We will have to wait and see, but expect plenty of leaks before launch day.

Oppo has confirmed that the Find X10 series - its next flagship phones - will be announced on 22 September in China, before a global launch in October 2026.

We'd previously heard that the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max, the top device, will feature three 200-megapixel cameras, while the partnership with Hasselblad continues, but we now know the other devices that will make up the series.

Sharing the details on Weibo (via 9to5Google), Oppo has confirmed that alongside the Find X10 Pro Max will be the Find X10 and the Find X10 E. It's interesting that Oppo seems to be leaning into similar naming as the iPhone, with the Pro Max as the "ultra" device, and the E has the more affordable model.

Oppo has been kind enough to provide a description of each device (translated), saying that the Pro Max is "a flagship imaging device with full-featured photos and videos", while the Find X10 is "a flagship imaging device that delivers all-in-one performance".

That leaves the Find X10 E, which Oppo calls "an entry-level flagship imaging device". It's clear that Oppo's focus is on photography, with the Find X10 Pro Max design revealed thanks to the pre-order imagery that Oppo attached to its post.

Currently, it's not clear if all the devices will get a global launch.

The Find X10 Pro Max is going to feature a dual island arrangement for the camera, a large square unit to the left, a feature that all the cameras have, but with a second island over to the right with the flash and a fourth sensor or lens.

It looks like the Find X10 will have a slightly wider island covering the width of the phone - seen here on the left of the image, while the Find X10 E is to the right and appears to lack a periscope telephoto lens, but looks a little more like the old Find X9.

The Find X10 Pro Max will come in Moon White, Light Titanium and Warm Orange colours, while the Find X10 will offer Ice Blue, Light Titanium and Clear Orange.

It has also been confirmed that the Find X10 Pro Max will be powered by the new MediaTek 9600 Pro, a new 2nm chip that's just been announced. The new chip promises a 61% improvment in CPU efficiency, while featuring a dual NPU arrangment to support more enhanced AI features on device.

Full details of the device will be revealed on 22 September, with a further global launch in October.

Apple has released the full version of iOS 27 for the iPhone. While the public beta of iOS 27 has been available since July, this is now the final finished version, which means it's freely available for everyone to upgrade – as long as you have a compatible handset.

As long as you have an iPhone 11 or newer, including the iPhone SE 2nd generation, then iOS 27 will work on your handset. That means phones up to seven years old can benefit from a range of new features.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will ship with iOS 27 when they go on sale on Friday 18 September. For older phones, however, you will need to go into your settings to accept the upgrade for the time being.

How to upgrade to iOS 27

To try it for yourself, simply go to Settings > General > Software Update. You may see two options, the first to upgrade to iOS 26.7, and then lower down, an option to upgrade to iOS 27. You don't need to upgrade to iOS 26.7 first, you can just select the iOS 27 option.

Even though this is a full release, it's still recommended to do a backup of your phone before you start the update. This can be done using your iCloud Backup, or by connecting your phone to your computer.

You'll ideally want to have your phone plugged in to a power source and using WiFi before starting the update too. The iOS 27 download is just under 23GB in size, so will take a long time over a data connection.

What are the big changes on iOS 27?

The big change with iOS 27 is the introduction of the new Siri AI, the next generation of Apple's voice assistant, which now goes way beyond just voice control. Siri AI is integrated into every part of iOS 27, providing contextual responses and suggestions to make tasks quicker and easier.

The voice responses have a more conversational tone and allow follow-up questions or it to take the context of what you're doing at the time. Siri AI is now also available in its own app, which means you can review past conversations and pick them up again at any time.

Siri AI will also provide quick actions for you to help speed up tasks. for instance, in messaging it may offer to set a reminder or a calendar event for something you're planning. Meanwhile, the call context can bring up booking references from emails while you're calling your hotel or enquiring about a flight.

Other big changes include improvements to the photo editing features, with new extend and reframe features, as well as an improved image cleanup, to help you remove unwanted elements of a picture. Image Playground has also been expanded to offer more features.

Liquid Glass has an a refresh and there are stronger child safety features, so you can control exactly what your kids access on their phones.

Full list of compatible models

• iPhone 17 Pro Max
• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 17
• iPhone 17e
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11
• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

The focus of Google's phones is normally directed at the top with the Pixel 11 Pro, or at the bottom, with the great value Pixel 10a. Rarely does interest veer into the middle of the pack where the standard Pixel 11 lies.

That might have something to do with the reason that people choose the Pixel. With this series' camera famous for its easy and reliable performance, the drop in specification for the standard Pixel 11 might make it less desirable.

But with prices increasing, 2026 might be the year when people decide to forego the Pro, safe in the knowledge that they get just as much power in this phone. Does that make the Pixel 11 a surprise winner?

Price & Availability

The Pixel 11 is widely available, launching with 256GB storage for £879 in the UK.

That feels like a big jump over the £699 starting price for the Pixel 10. In reality, however, the Pixel 11 is 'cheaper', as the Pixel 10 was £899 for the 256GB version.

Those prices come in at $899 in the US, €979 in Europe and AU$1499 in Australia. Again, the entry-point has shifted upwards, but the prices are the same generation on generation for this amount of storage. So, effectively, there's no increase in price.

The Pixel 11 comes in four colours: Frost (per my review model and the pictures you see here), Hibiscus, Pistachio and Obsidian.

Pixel 11 vs Pixel 10: What's new?

The Pixel 11 slims down the camera bump compared to the Pixel 10 for a flatter finish, although the phone body itself has the same dimensions. It's a few grammes lighter, for a design that's basically the same.

The big change is the move to the Tensor G6 over the G5, while the battery is a little higher capacity, but claims longer life thanks to greater efficiency. Charging remains the same, except for wireless charging, which jumps with 25W thanks to full Qi2.2 support.

There's a new main sensor, slightly larger than on the Pixel 10, which should boost quality. Most new photography features otherwise come in on the software side – and are likely to appear on the older phone, but include Magic Capture and Camera Looks, and the new Creator suite.

Design & Display

• Colours: Frost, Hibiscus, Pistachio, Obsidian
• Glass rear (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminium frame
• 6.3-inch OLED display
  • 1080 x 2424 resolution
  • 60-120Hz variable refresh
  • 2000-3000 nits brightness
  • Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Google is leaning into the classic Pixel design, sticking to the camera bar that it established with the Pixel 6 and has evolved ever since. On the Pixel 11 this is slightly shallower than the Pixel 10 and the Pixel 11 Pro, for a more refined look. The best thing about the camera bar is that the phone doesn't wobble when you put it on a table – which almost every other phone does.

There's also a change to the covering of the camera compared to the Pixel 10 models, covering the whole thing in one sheet of glass, rather than the partially metal effect Google used previously. The LED flash is a distinct white blob that looks strange and lacks the (somewhat) pointless HiLight feature found on the Pro – which will use colours to basically show when you're talking to Gemini.

In the back of my head I'm wondering if Google's aim is to sink the camera into the body as it did with the Pixel 10a, drawing out a larger distinction between the Pro and non-Pro models. As it is, slipping it into a case means there's no bump, but visually, it's instantly recognisable as a Pixel.

The display hasn't changed from the Pixel 10, sticking to the Full HD+ arrangement, with brightness up to a 3000 nits peak. That's reasonable by modern standards, albeit far from the brightest, but I noticed a welcome kick to highlights in Google Photos.

This comes from Ultra HDR, a format Google uses on its camera, and I like the effect as it just adds a bit more bite to photos. There's still a bit of a wide bezel on this phone and that makes it look a little cheap, while the curvature of the corners means that sometimes content can be obscured, although the Pixel isn't unique in this.

I have found it to be plenty capable in bright conditions, although in lower light I've found myself tweaking the brightness up a little to make the content a little more impactful.

There's protection from Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back on this phone, with IP68 to keep water and dust out. It feels like a solid phone, although the glossy rear is a fingerprint magnet, constantly needing wiping clean.

Performance & Battery

• 4985mAh battery, 30W wired / 25W wireless charging (magnetic)
• Google Tensor G6 processor, 12GB RAM
• Android 17 software

Starting from the top, the Pixel 11 gets the same core hardware as the Pixel 11 Pro – and to its credit. Sitting on the new Tensor G6 with 12GB RAM, it's the same loadout as the entry-level Pro. This new chip changes to more recent cores and there's a new Titan security chip, while the TPU – which handles AI functions – sees a big boost.

Sadly, the vapour chamber used for cooling is only in the Pro model, so this regular device is less efficient at cooling itself down. Google also decided to use an older PowerVR GPU, which can't really compete with existing hardware graphically. It's clear where Google's intent lies: it's building an AI phone, not a gaming phone.

So how much does all this matter? Well, you're being asked to compromise on the experience that you get. Google wants to push Gemini and all the associated tasks and services. That's where Google is heading across all its platforms, so that's what defines the experience. While the day-to-day performance in the Pixel 11 is good, it can't compete when it comes to gaming.

On release day some support was lacking – Genshin Impact didn't render properly, for example – but those teething problems have been updated away. The Pixel 11 gets a little warm under load – including for big downloads – but it's a device for a job, and that job is delivering Google's AI experience.

With Gemini at the heart, it's no surprise that many of the updates focus on this AI tool. Gemini Intelligence isn't available in the UK, so I wasn't able to test that, while Pixel Cue primary only works in Google Messages, which no one uses, because we all have friends with iPhones, so use WhatsApp instead.

We do have Rambler though, which will let you dictate and have AI clean it up to get rid of some of the stutters along the way. It works, but I struggle to find it especially useful, taking longer than just swiping in the message you want to send.

All this plays out within Android 17 and, mercifully, Google keeps its phone software clean, while putting its devices at the front of the update queue. With 7-years of updates, I maintain that this is the most cohesive experience on Android. It's doesn’t have the same level of customisation as some rival brands, but if you mostly use Google apps, this is the best way to experience them.

Then we come to battery life. The Pixel 11 has a 4985mAh battery which is small by modern standards; it offers 30W charging which is slow, while wireless charging – via Pixel Snap – at least comes in at 25W with magnetic connection in the phone.

My first couple of weeks using this phone saw average battery life. That's not unusual for the first week while a phone finds its feet, but I arrived at week three when writing this review and the battery hadn't raised itself any further than average. It's fine, but lacks both the capacity and the charging speeds to compete with rivals.

That's likely because Google is looking towards longevity for its batteries. While I can't speak to the long-term performance of the Pixel 11's battery, previous Pixel devices suggest that by the end of the first year, the performance will have dipped considerably. That’s certainly the case for my Pixel 10 Pro.

Cameras

• Triple rear:
  • Main (24mm): 48-megapixel, f/1.7 aperture, OIS, macro focus
  • Tele (112mm): 10.8MP, f/3.1, OIS
  • Wide (13mm): 13MP, f/2.2
• Selfie:
  • 10.5MP, f/2.2, autofocus

The Pixel 11 sits below the Pixel 11 Pro in terms of the camera hardware that's offered, with each sensor and lens less capable. That means the results from the wide angle and telephoto especially aren't as good as the Pixel 11 Pro.

However, Google positions the Pixel as a master of computational photography rather than a substitute for a proper camera, which is how many rivals are pitched. The Pixel wants you to point and shoot – and that's what it's good at. On the Pixel 11 there are no Pro options and even things like managing white balance in video is tricky.

Part of that point-and-shoot ethos brings with it the desire to keep faces in focus, which is both a pro and a con. When taking pictures of people it works a treat, but taking pictures of things become problematic, because it always defaults focus to any faces it sees. In a crowded space, it means constantly tapping to focus – when I just wish I could disable the face priority.

With all that said, for the target market that Google wants to appeal to, the Pixel 11 acquits itself well. Across all three cameras the daylight results are generally good, but photos can feel a little flat compared to the best camera phones out there.

Low-light images are typically processed to be brighter, which can make things look a little unrealistic, with contrast lost for the sake of balancing out the highs and lows across a scene. Corners can be a little dark and noisy and the ultrawide and telephoto aren't great in low light.

Some of this feels a little unfair: what was a £699 phone is now judged as a £879 phone and that highlights some of the challenges we face at the moment. Where the 5x telephoto was good on that £699 phone, it's more common on a £879 phone, so it feels less special now, even though the performance remains good.

I've found the Pixel 11 to be a good camera overall, but with the last-generation Pixel 10 Pro available for even less right now, if you want a better camera experience, there's a cheaper way to get it. And that's what will make more sense for more people.

The big addition in the Pixel camera from the software side is Magic Capture. This basically works by capturing video and identifying interesting moments and saving them as photos. The idea is you don't have to worry about tapping the button, you just stream a whole scene into your phone and let it sort out the great photos from it.

It's fun, it's clever – and it means you don't miss the moment. You also don't have to save frames from video, as it's all done for you. That's the 'Magic' of it.

Pixel also nods to Gen Z with a suite of creator tools, throwing a frame around video camera so you can avoid the social icons at the side, while also offering a teleprompter so you can write a script and get your vlogging on point.

Google Pixel 11 review: verdict

Google's Pixel 11 family feel like a sub-step along a pathway to Pixel perfection. Google's mission to streamline its Gemini AI into a useful experience is obvious here, but that software push is incomplete outside the US thanks to the lack of Gemini Intelligence at the time of review.

With the low entry price now gone – and discounts on older devices – the Pixel 11 feels expensive. It's a good phone, but it doesn't really break new ground from a hardware point of view, so I wouldn't blame anyone for picking up the Pixel 10 Pro instead – and saving money in the process.

But there's a full range of positives here. The Pixel 11's design is quality and the power matches the Pixel 11 Pro. The support for MagSafe-style charging at 25W is welcomed. And the camera is dependable for point-and-shooters. All wrapped up in the best Android software experience and support in the business.

Also consider

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the obvious competitor to the Pixel 11. It's an older device now which brings pricing advantages, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy is more powerful, especially for gaming. The Samsung battery is smaller, while there's no magnets for the 15W wireless charging. Both offer a good camera experience, but the Pixel is better out of the box.

As I've suggested a few times, the Pixel 10 Pro is the most viable (and cheaper) alternative to the Pixel 11. It doesn't have the latest Tensor chip, but it offers a slightly better display, more storage options, better cameras across the board, and still delivers 6 years of software support. About the only downside is the wireless charging is limited to 15W.

Apple has finally joined the foldable phone party with the iPhone Duo. The passport-sized device will arrive in mid-October, with a headline-grabbing starting price of $1,999 (or £1,999 for those on this side of the pond).

While that’s punchy (putting it politely, given Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is £400 cheaper and equally cute in its format), here are a few reasons why the iPhone Duo might justify its cost, having seen it in the flesh at Apple’s September event last week.

The screen solves a big foldable phones problem

Every folding phone before the Apple iPhone Duo has suffered from the same problem: shiny, plasticky inner displays that feel far cheaper than their prices suggest, show every fingerprint, and reflect at every opportunity.

But the iPhone Duo borrows the nano-texture matte coating from the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro for the internal panel, and the difference is night and day.

Reflections are dramatically reduced, smudges are far less visible, and the crease down the middle all but disappears under normal lighting – something even excellent rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 still haven't managed.

The software doesn't feel like an afterthought

Many folding phones treat the external screen and the internal display as two separate experiences bolted together. Apple's approach with the iPhone Duo is considerably smoother and more fluid, resulting in a much more polished interface.

Whoever designed the animation that flows between the inner and outer displays deserves a pay rise. But more than that, content moves seamlessly between the 5.4-inch outer display and the 7.6-inch inner screen.

The keyboard adapts to whatever orientation you hold the Duo in (even when half-folded), and there are plenty of tricks for propping the phone up too, from playback controls to intentional reflections when watching Netflix.

Multitasking works properly too, with side-by-side apps you can pin together as a pair to reopen later, making for a great trick.

The build quality feels like a premium device

At just 5.2mm thick when unfolded, the iPhone Duo could easily have felt flimsy. Instead, my early impressions were of a reassuringly solid titanium frame and great weight distribution. It’s also a lovely, pocketable format that is a pleasure to use both folded and unfolded.

There is an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, too, a feature previously offered only by Google's Pixel Pro Fold in this category. It means you won't need to wrap cotton wool around the Duo when drinks are around or when you head to the beach.

There are some clever camera tricks

The Duo’s camera department has some compromises: it drops to two rear cameras instead of three, as on the iPhone 18 Pro models, and it has no dedicated telephoto lens or variable aperture. However, like many folding phones, Apple has also leaned into features unique to having two screens.

The first is a live preview on the cover display, so your subject can see the shot you’re taking and pose accordingly – similar to what you’ll find on other folding phones, such as Samsung’s. But the second is my favourite.

Kid Cue pops Snoopy on the cover display to win over anyone reluctant to smile when you’re taking their picture. There’s also an AI-driven Smart Take mode that fires off a burst of shots and automatically selects the best-timed frame.

There’s not one, but two, Dynamic Islands

Along with the camera, there are a couple of other compromises in the iPhone Duo. One is Touch ID instead of Face ID, and the other is the absence of an Action Button.

Despite the lack of Face ID, though, Apple has carried Dynamic Island – the feature that originally launched on the iPhone 14 Pro back in 2022 – over to both the external and internal displays, offering quick access to music, timers and live activities no matter which screen you're using.

On its own, Dynamic Island might not justify the $2,000 / £2,000 price tag, but pair it with the great software, premium design, and matte internal display, and you have a foldable well worth your attention.

Google is preparing to give Googlebook its full launch, having first been announced during The Android Show in May 2026. Prior to launch, comprehensive specifications have leaked for the Lenovo Googlebook 15.

The Googlebook promise is that the best of Chrome and Android will come together in the operating system, while various manufacturers will be making the new models.

From the leak (via MacObserver), we can see that Lenovo will be offering a Googlebook with a 15-inch touchscreen OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 5 power, up to 32GB RAM and 512GB storage and a huge swathe of connections. It appears there will also be a matching mouse.

This outlines that Googlebook isn't a budget replacement for Chromebook, instead offering premium features: the display, especially, is something that's associated with premium models, as is the haptic trackpad and fingerprint sensor.

We also see that "Google facial authentication" is listed, suggesting that it will offer face unlocking and authentication for payments. That makes sense: with the industry encouraging people move to passkeys and biometrics, this makes sense.

Exactly how the facial authentication works is something we don't yet know, but it seems that Googlebook is going to introduce it. It will probably be similar to the seamless experience currently offered on Pixel phones.

The other detail is that the design looks a lot like existing Lenovo laptops, but with the coloured "Pixel Glow" detail on the lid. This, like the HiLight feature on the Pixel 11 Pro, is designed to provide a little more interactivity, perhaps to show when you're talking to Gemini - and something we've seen in previous leaks, as is the dedicated "G" Google key.

Google has previously said that its aim is to bring together Chrome OS and Android elements, specifically calling out the integration of AI in the Android stack - so Gemini will be front and centre in the Googlebook offering.

The launch of Googlebook isn't the end of Chromebook, with Google committed to ongoing support for its existing laptops, while some will have the option to move over to the Googlebook platform.

It does, however, mark the beginning of a new Google platform for laptops and tablets. The focus is likely to be on productivity, with heavily integrated Google services and AI at its core.

That's going to see some unique features, like the Magic Pointer that can instantly tell you what you're pointing at, the ability to quickly create the widgets you want, and seamless connectivity across your laptop and your Android devices.

It's confirmed that Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo will provide the first Googlebooks, with a date of Autumn 2026, suggesting it's going to happen imminently.

What we still don't know, however, is the price.

Apple doesn't rush into new form factors lightly. Take the Apple Watch – it might have seen some design tweaks over the last decade, but it has retained the same squircle shape since the original arrived in 2015. Even the straps remaining compatible across the last 12 generations.

Meanwhile, for the iPhone, it took 10 years for Apple to move the home button from below the screen, with 2017’s iPhone X marking a new era for the series.

Well, the iPhone Duo is another era-defining moment for the iPhone. It might have taken Apple several years longer than others to join the foldable phone party, but after spending time with the iPhone Duo at Apple’s September event, it seems the company learned some valuable lessons while waiting. Here’s what I loved about the iPhone Duo and what I thought was missing.

A premium, pocketable design

When closed, the iPhone Duo behaves exactly like a shorter, slightly stockier version of a normal iPhone, with a 5.4-inch cover screen that's compact enough for one-handed use.

It offers a similar format to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Xiaomi 18 Fold, with an asymmetrical design that rounds the right-hand corners while keeping the left corners square. This might split opinion, depending on whether you’re a fan of symmetry, but I was pleased not to see a carbon copy of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 even though I love that phone, too.

Unfold the iPhone Duo, and you're greeted by a 7.6-inch panel that approaches iPad mini proportions, all packed into a chassis that measures just 5.2mm at its thinnest point and has IP68 water and dust resistance.

It’s the thinnest iPhone Apple has made, even thinner than the iPhone Air, which was the talk of the town last year for its slim profile.

That slimness could easily have made it feel fragile, but that wasn’t the impression I got when I played with it during Apple’s event. The titanium build felt solid and well-balanced in the hand, whether open or closed, and in whatever orientation I used it.

Functionally, the placement of the Touch ID button worked well during my time with the iPhone Duo, though I wasn’t convinced by the position of the volume controls, which sit along the top edge. No doubt you’d get used to them, but I’d rather they had been on the right edge, alongside the Touch ID power button and the Camera Control. And as you’ll read in a second, I’m disappointed by the lack of an Action Button.

A distinguishable display finish

What I was far from disappointed by, however, was the texture of the internal screen. Rather than the plasticky, reflective coating typical of most folding phones (something I really dislike about them), Apple has applied nano-texture – the matte, glare-resistant finish that’s been an option on its MacBook Pro and iPad Pro ranges since 2024.

It results in far less glare, a crease that's tricky to spot unless you really look for it, and a surface that is nowhere near as fingerprint-prone as rival folding phones. It immediately separates the Duo from its competitors, and I won’t be surprised if future generations of folding phones go the same route, if only to help hide the fold line.

The nano-texture finish is lovely to use too, being smooth under the finger. While blacks might not be quite as deep as you’ll see on the glossy plastic displays, this wasn’t something I noticed when navigating the interface. There’s also a Dynamic Island on both the external and internal displays, which I was thrilled to see, and Apple Pencil support is coming, allowing you to use Apple’s stylus for notes or drawing.

Software built for the format

The interface is where the iPhone Duo really stands out, though. Some foldables feel like they just stretch to fill a bigger canvas when open, without much thought (usually just adding another column and being down with it). Apple's software transitions between the two Duo displays with real polish, helped by the animation that appears when moving from open to closed and back again.

Content picks up exactly where you left it when moving between the outer screen and the larger one (or vice versa). The on-screen keyboard adjusts intelligently around the hinge, and propping the device up in a tent-like position triggers a couple of tricks.

When locked, it goes into standby, showing the time, date or your photos, as standard iPhones do when locked and charging. When watching content, playback controls appear in the bottom half of the display. For Netflix, when these disappear, software-generated reflections of what you are watching appear until you tap again to bring back the controls.

Running two apps side by side felt intuitive too, with a handy option to bookmark that pairing for quick access later by tapping once in the centre to lock the two apps together, and tapping again to unlock them.

Not without compromises

It's worth noting though that the iPhone Duo isn't a clean sweep. Face ID has been replaced by Touch ID. It's a change Apple says keeps screen unlocking consistent across both displays, but longtime iPhone users may miss it.

You can unlock the Duo with an Apple Watch, but that requires you to have Apple’s smartwatch, and it’s still not the same as simply glancing at your phone for authentication, whether unlocking, paying with Apple Pay or opening Passwords.

There’s also no Action Button, as I mentioned, which will likely irk anyone (like me) who’s built it into their daily routine. On the camera front, the Duo skips a dedicated telephoto lens entirely, relying instead on a cropped zoom from its main sensor, similar to the iPhone Air.

You do at least get the ultra-wide camera here, unlike the iPhone Air, but despite its price being nearly double that of the iPhone 18 Pro, you aren’t getting the same advanced camera system (which now includes variable aperture on the Pro).

Early verdict

Based on what I have seen so far, the iPhone Duo feels like a considered first attempt at a foldable phone rather than a rushed response to market pressure. The screen finish alone addresses a problem the entire foldable category has struggled with for years; the software feels tailored rather than adapted; and the design is premium and dust-resistant.

Whether that's enough to justify a starting price north of £2,000 / $2,000 will depend on how badly you want a folding iPhone. However, my first impressions strongly suggest Apple arrived late yet has largely delivered with the iPhone Duo.

Motorola recently teased that something new is coming, revealing a silhouetted device that that appears to be a wide folding phone. That's on the official side of the equation, but over in leak land, sketches that appear to show a third folding phone have been revealed.

These images have fallen into the hands of 9to5Google, showing the Razr, Razr Fold and the mysterious third device.

From these sketches, which have a Motorola watermark in the background that provides some authenticity, we get an idea of how Motorola is going to tie together the design of the Razr devices with a familial feel.

This is something that goes beyond Pantone colours and unique finishes, although it's highly likely that any new folding phone from Motorola will lean on those aesthetics to differentiate itself from the rest of the wide folding phone options.

Those options now run to Apple, Samsung and now Xiaomi and it seems that Motorola is going for a slightly softer look - more like Apple - and less like Samsung's slim and flat industrial design.

That fits with Motorola's existing designs: it's still curving frame edges (such as in the Razr 70 Ultra), it's still using 3D glass where the sides curve into the frame and that's what we see in these sketches.

One of these images contains some useful wording too, saying that there's a "creaseless display", "diamond cut" bevel, a "polished/hairline brush" on the frame, while also saying "easy open profile", "ultra slim housing" and "3D glass".

These annotations don't really tell us much, because they're exactly what we expect from a Motorola device.

That also suggests that being the absolute slimmest device won't be top priority, because Motorola is often more focused on delivering a lifestyle product rather an something that's aggressively chasing the top specs.

It appears from these sketches that the intention is for a dual camera device and it's likely that those cameras will be similar to the Razr flip phone.

The sketches that these images are drawn from appear to have been sent to a couple of outlets - Android Headlines is also running them as an "exclusive" - and it's difficult to know if someone on the inside wanted to leak, or if this is Motorola looking to be part of the folding phone conversation around the launch of the iPhone Duo.

What's likely, however, is that Motorola will have something attractive to offer. The lifestyle approach with a unique Pantone colour and finish, combined with a lower price, could land well.

The Razr Fold - Motorola's flagship - is £1799 (512GB) compared to Samsung's £1899 Z Fold 8 Ultra (256GB). There's every chance that it will land with more storage, at a lower price, than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 - and that would definitely be attractive.

Apple could be about to make a more serious move into gaming, with the appearance of two gaming controllers in recent code.

Discovered in the macOS 26.7 release candidate, a user at MacRumours discovered references to two GameController hardware profiles, for devices with the numbers T6502 and T1057. This points to Apple developing its own hardware controllers.

The two controllers are said to have different haptic designs, with common features like thumb sticks, D-pads, shoulder buttons and everything else you expect from a controller.

Another difference between the two model appears to be that T1057 supports gyroscopic control and the other doesn't. It's the gyroscope that you'd use for tilt to steer or to bring a crosshair onto a target when gaming, for example.

Building on this, Mark Gurman has confirmed via his PowerOn newsletter that Apple is developing these game controllers with plans to launch them under the Beats brand.

The controllers have been in development for the past year, with Apple seeing the opportunity to break into the accessories market, with a controller for gaming across Apple devices. With the recent launch of the iPhone Duo, perhaps a controller for that larger screen would be welcomed.

However, Apple already supports controllers from a number of third-party manufacturers, including major players like Microsoft and Sony, so this isn't going to fill a gap, it's going to expand its own native offering.

Why launch this under the Beats brand?

Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is experimenting with accessories that deviate from Apple's design ethos by using Beats instead. Considering that, I can't imagine what a minimalist aluminium controller might look like and Gurman has a point: Beats allows flexibility that the Apple brand doesn't.

That probably also relates to price. Launching a cheap controller to appeal to the accessories market isn't something that matches Apple prices, especially with so much competition. Beats has a trendy image that Apple can use and no one will question a plastic Beats controller with whacky graphics on it.

It's unlikely that Apple can do anything to improve the ergonomics, but it's likely that it will offer seamless pairing with Apple devices, to game on Apple TV, iPhone and Mac. But Beats also allows wider compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem, so equally could provide a Bluetooth connection for Windows or Android.

There's no telling when these might appear, but profile support in macOS suggests it might happen soon.

Ever watched a TV show and thought, “I quite like that jacket”? Amazon Prime Video now helps you get it.

This new Shop the Scene feature can identify products inspired by what you're watching, including clothes worn by characters, and then show you similar things you can buy through the Amazon Shopping app.

Shop the Scene uses Amazon Lens to recognise products from scenes as they appear on screen. Open the Amazon Shopping app while watching a supported title and it can automatically sync with what's playing, allowing you to tap into a scene and browse similar products.

So, if you spot a jumper you like on one of your favourite characters, you can find similar options without having to pause the show and spend 20 minutes Googling increasingly vague descriptions of what you're looking for.

Amazon gives the example of Off Campus, where viewers can spot a sweater worn by Hannah, open the relevant storefront in the Amazon app and use Amazon Lens to find similar options.

And it's not limited to clothing. Amazon says the feature can identify products inspired by home décor and other items appearing in scenes.

There's also a new Shop tab built into Prime Video's X-Ray experience. Press up on a supported device to open it and you can browse products related to what you're watching, before using the Amazon Shopping app on your phone to complete the purchase.

Amazon is also dramatically expanding the existing Shop the Show feature, from around 1,300 titles to more than 8,000 in the US.

That includes Prime Originals, licensed shows and movies, and live sports. The new Shop the Scene feature is currently available across more than 600 titles through the Amazon Shopping app on iOS and Android.

There's a fairly obvious commercial angle here, of course. Amazon is turning the things you see while streaming into things you can potentially buy, removing one more step between spotting something you like and putting it in your basket.

For viewers, though, it could be genuinely handy. Costume departments spend a lot of time making characters look good, and being able to find something similar without hunting around the internet is considerably easier than it used to be.

There's just one catch for UK viewers: Amazon's announcement currently describes the new features as being available in the US, so there's no word yet on when Shop the Scene will make its way across the pond.

It might be overly simplistic to view the entire wireless earbud market as one big attempt to rival Apple's AirPods Pro, but as someone who returns to his AirPods Pro 3, I do sort of look at it that way. If you can rival Apple's convenience and at least match its sound quality and ergonomics, you're off to a good start.

Probably my favourite non-Apple earbuds ever are the Technics EAH-AZ100, and I think it's a little surprising that it's taken this long for another brand to get close to the high-water mark they set.

Sennheiser has done just that, though, with the Momentum True Wireless 5, a truly excellent new set of earbuds that deserve your attention. I've used them nonstop for a couple of weeks for this review – and they've made a lasting impression.

Price and Availability

The Momentum True Wireless 5 can be yours right now, having been revealed and released in late August 2026.

The asking price is £249.99 in the UK, $299.95 in the US, €299 in the EU and AU$499 in Australia. That means it's a chunk more expensive than getting a pair of AirPods Pro 3, and puts the earbuds on a par with flagships from Sony and a bunch of others.

That means these are obviously premium earbuds, as reflected in the fact that Sennheiser makes a fair few more affordable pairs you could also consider, including the Accentum True Wireless model from a couple of years ago.

Design and Features

There seems to be a bit of a rule in the audio industry about major redesigns of earbuds and headphones – each design gets at least a couple of outings before it's changed in a major way.

That's how I'd look at the Momentum True Wireless 3 and True Wireless 4, which were really similar to each other, and have now been completely rewritten in the form of these earbuds, the Momentum True Wireless 5.

Where those older earbuds tried to stand out from the crowd with a fabric-covered case that was quite interesting, Sennheiser has gone more mainstream this time around. That case is instead finished in matte plastic with a slight speckle finish, topped with Sennheiser's logo. It's also taller rather than flat and squat like the older one.

The earbuds themselves are also very different. The last two generations were quite square in their shape, but that shape has been shaved down into a far more bean-like look that's a little more obvious in its ergonomics. Sennheiser told me this didn't necessarily make each earbud smaller than last time, but that it would make them more comfortable.

Each earbud also has a circular Sennheiser logo on its outer edge, and this is the touch-sensitive zone for some customisable controls. You can tap up to three times on each side, with each of those being mapped to a different control.

As befits their price, active noise-cancelling (ANC) is present and correct, and probably the setting I've been cycling the most using those touch controls.

The earbuds and case have one massive trick up their sleeve that I want to spotlight and praise, too: repairability. We've heard a lot about the EU requirements around user-replaceable batteries recently, and indeed the number of exemptions that are going to be flying around (here's looking at you, Apple).

Sennheiser has embraced the opportunity, though, and that means the Momentum True Wireless 5 is hugely future-proof. Each earbud sports a couple of recessed screws to let you take them apart for battery replacement, while the case needs only one screw to do the same.

This is massive for longevity, with battery degradation being one of the very few flaws that can affect this sort of higher-end earbud over time. Once your earbuds no longer last a satisfactory span, Sennheiser will sell you a replacement you can fit yourself – what a step forward, and here's hoping it pressures other brands into following suit.

Out of the box, though, you can expect around 12 hours of use on a charge, with nearly three more full charges in the case making for about 40 hours without needing to plug it in. You also get IP54 dust and weather protection, meaning they're safe for use in workouts or bad weather.

Sound and Performance

It's nice to see Sennheiser putting the R&D work into adding repairability to its earbuds, but you wouldn't necessarily want that to come at the expense of sound quality. Luckily, I can't find much to fault in terms of how the Momentum True Wireless 5 perform sonically.

I've long been a fan of Sennheiser's neutrality and its calm approach to sound signatures – it avoids the temptation to pump the bass past reasonable limits, and tends to keep things sensible on a few fronts. That trend has continued with the Momentum True Wireless 5, which sounds pretty exemplary.

I've used the earbuds as my daily driver for multiple weeks, including on an overseas trip, so I'll cover off their ANC ability first. It's extremely solid, dulling the hum of a plane cabin really well for a few hours, but also making the London Underground far less of a sensory overload.

This was an area where there was improvement to be had from the Momentum True Wireless 4, so it's great to see a decent stride be made. It's probably still not quite up there with the AirPods Pro 3 in my experience, but I'd feel comfortable putting it in the same bracket, which is more than enough.

How do the Momentum True Wireless 5 fare with music? It's impressive. I've been genre-hopping with the earbuds, including quite a lot of mellow material like J.J. Cale's album Naturally and Green River from Creedence Clearwater Revival. The acoustic texture of both came across really clearly and characterfully with Sennheiser's default tuning.

Jungle's new album Sunshine is a warm delight, meanwhile, and its hints of bass were nicely nuanced and detailed. Going back to my most familiar ground, Justice's debut album Cross is a monster of bass deployed tactically, and it too was a punchy success on these Momentum earbuds.

That's a pretty great outlook, and the picture's further rounded out by Sennheiser's Control+ app, which gives you a bunch of tweaks to make and settings to figure out.

Being able to swap what the touch controls do is a great touch, although I can't pretend to love the controls themselves that much. They're a little finicky, and the reality is that few brands have nailed on-earbud controls at this point.

Verdict

I'm hugely impressed by the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 – just as I was with the over-ear Momentum Wireless 5 a few months ago. These are earbuds that do exactly what I need, whether that's because of rock-solid ANC or superbly balanced sound.

After a lot of noise about whether Sennheiser had a future at all around the turn of the year, this is a pretty phenomenal way to silence the crowd. The brand now has 5-star headphones and earbuds fresh out of the gate, and retains a pretty loyal following thanks to the work of previous generations.

If you need some new wireless earbuds, I think it would be crazy to ignore the Momentum True Wireless 5 moving forward – and I can only hope that they usher in a new era of user-replaceable batteries in earbuds.

Also Consider

I've mentioned them in this review already, and Technics still just about retains my personal award for "best non-AirPods earbuds", but it's by the merest sliver over the Momentum on review. The AZ100s are brilliant, comfortable, and because of their age, they're now cheaper – but they don't have those replaceable batteries.

Meanwhile, the obvious other point to make is that the AirPods Pro 3 remain phenomenally convenient and reliable, and if you're a big Apple user then their device-swapping smarts can't really be beaten. I still use them every day for music, media and when out running – and that probably won't change unless something big happens.

Ever reached for a portable speaker only to discover that you forgot to charge it? This is a pretty clever solution to that. The Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers don't have a battery, Bluetooth or even a power cable, they simply make your phone louder using acoustics.

And that's it. No pairing, no app and no battery indicator to worry about. Just slot in your phone.

Designed by Ooi Masato and made in Japan, the iSpeakers use a precision-machined slot that holds your phone in place and channels the sound from its built-in speaker.

That means it works with virtually any phone, without worrying about compatibility or software updates. You simply put the phone into the slot and the acoustic chamber does the rest.

It's small enough to throw into a bag, too, so you could take it to a picnic, hotel room or even just keep it on your desk. There's no charging port because, obviously, there's nothing to charge.

The body is machined from Duralumin, a lightweight and vibration-resistant aluminium alloy, while the design follows the golden ratio. It certainly looks more like a piece of Japanese design than a conventional portable speaker.

There is an obvious trade-off here. Without an amplifier, battery or Bluetooth connection, this isn't going to compete with a proper portable Bluetooth speaker for sheer volume or bass.

That's not really what it's trying to do. The appeal is having something that can make your phone sound better without adding another electronic device to charge.

There are also optional +Bloom and +Jet attachments that change the direction of the sound, giving you more control over how it projects.

At $179, it's certainly not cheap for something that is essentially an acoustic amplifier. But unlike a Bluetooth speaker, there's no battery to degrade, no charging cable to lose and no wireless connection to set up.

In theory, it should sound exactly the same years from now as it does today.

Four weeks ago I made a cycling blunder that still leaves me with regret. What if I'd not manoeuvred into that gravel patch and didn't come down on a jutting edge of Tarmac, breaking two ribs and bruising some organs?

Well, there's no time for 'what-ifs' now, just time to focus on the road to recovery. As anyone who's ever had a similar incident will know, not much can be done for cracked ribs, except letting your body heal. But even when it's difficult to get out of bed, there's still that itch and want to exercise.

Walking cut it for the first couple of weeks; I'd go out before work and after, clocking in a total of 5 miles per day for my mental sanity above all else – as too much physical motion remained an issue.

Indoor road to recovery

As I've become more mobile, however, and knowing that getting onto my road bike would be implausible until at least the six-week mark, I've found indoor training has become a minor saviour.

I'm extremely fortunate to possess a Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro – which I'm in the process of reviewing – which has typically been used for winter training when it's so cold and/or icy outside that sweaty sessions in my garage are the only obvious option.

Now, however, almost four weeks into my recovery, and with a slightly adjusted position that doesn't stress my damaged areas, I'm able to get back on that indoor trainer. As it's static, it's actually been of benef: I needn't bother my midsection in such a fixed position, with limited motion, therefore avoiding aggravating any sore areas.

That's been a godsend for keeping my legs in check. When I do eventually get back to road cycling proper, I've been warned by bike club members who've had similar incidents in the past that an inevitable lack of fitness would be the first hurdle to clear. These Wahoo sessions, however, are hopefully going to help me mitigate that burden.

Zwift's year-round value

I'm not doing huge amounts at the moment, as I build up and test out my limitations. While on a Saturday club ride I'd typically be doing 40-50 miles on the road, on Zwift I began with 10 miles, then 12, then 15 and so forth – with a mix of terrain, nothing with too much ascent! It's reinvigorated my calves, that's for sure.

Zwift is the other major component among all this. The Kickr Bike Pro interacts with the software so well – including route-relevant real-time rise and fall – and I've been slowly levelling up over the years of use. It's just that I've rarely remained subscribed during the summer months, due to the ongoing costs.

This change in my circumstances brings so much value from Zwift's membership, though, even when it's nice and light and sunny outside – much as I long to be on the country backroads, logging into this virtual world has become a little evening haven.

Social benefits

Part of that is down to the social factor. Some days I've joined random C groups who are out for a ride. People from all across Europe and beyond – Brits, Germans, Japanese, Italians, South Africans. Everyone drops a little conversation in the chat here and there, supporting breakaway group wants, sometimes offering up a little conversation.

I don't have much time – or, indeed, breath! – to be a keyboard warrior in Zwift when I'm mid-session, mind, but the Companion app runs on my phone in tandem, where I can give emoji praise to co-riders, have a bit of fun with it, and just feel a bit more human and interactive in the process.

It's made me see a whole other value to Zwift, which I never really thought I'd be using in the late summertime, yet find myself here and actively engaged. My gym membership is on pause, as free weights are an absolute no-no for the time being. I've doubled down on bone-beneficial supplements in the interim, though, in the hope they'll assist recovery.

The mental health value

Zwift's annual membership is the same price as buying 10 individual months. While I'd tended to assume my road rides would negate the need for a subscription from April to September, this whole incident has proved otherwise.

Zwift is also useful for different types of training. Beyond endurance riding, the more I dig into the available programmes, the more I can see structured options for sprint training, VO2 max enhancements, race tactics, and so forth. Which sometimes will be a better late-evening option than going outside.

While I'm still mid-recovery and there's a fair road to travel yet, having a garage with a dedicated static bike has shown me an unexpected seasonal benefit in the kit I own. These are costly items to purchase up front, no doubt, but their value to my recovery process and mental health is invaluable.

If you’re going to make a robot dog, you might as well make it cute. Samsung’s Lassie certainly looks the part, wrapping its mechanical body in a soft knitted suit and giving it a friendly way of interacting with its owner. And yes, I want to take it for a walk.

Lassie is a concept from Samsung Design Membership, designed around the idea that a robot companion could encourage some of the same behaviours as a real dog. Samsung’s designers surveyed more than 50 dog owners and found that dogs can encourage people to walk for longer, explore unfamiliar routes and even start conversations with strangers.

The robot is designed to accompany you indoors and outdoors, with a removable knitted suit covering much of its mechanical body. The material uses water- and stain-resistant CORDURA yarn, while the more exposed areas retain harder surfaces to protect against knocks and dirt.

That suit isn't just there to make Lassie look adorable, either. It can be removed and replaced, meaning the robot could have different outfits depending on where you're taking it.

Then there are the legs. Lassie has interchangeable leg modules for different jobs, with Basic legs for everyday walking, Explore legs for trails, Running legs for, well, running, and Wheel legs designed for quieter indoor movement.

Perhaps the cleverest part is how Lassie communicates. Rather than sticking a screen on its face or giving it a voice, the robot uses movement, gestures and subtle lighting to convey what it is doing. Its head light has a breathing effect, creating something that resembles eye contact without actually giving it eyes.

There's even a nose-touch interaction. Touch Lassie's nose and it can register your fingerprint as its owner, while two Lassies touching noses can trigger light spreading across their faces to signal a new connection.

The idea is that Lassie becomes a companion without trying too hard to look like an actual dog. It still looks like a machine, but the knitted covering and gentle movements make it considerably less intimidating than your average industrial robot.

There's even a concept for Lassie cleaning its own paws after an outing before coming back inside, followed by a charging bed where it can rest.

It's a lovely idea, although there's a fairly important catch. This is a design concept rather than a Samsung product you can actually buy.

There are no details on pricing, battery life, speed or when - or indeed whether - Lassie might become a real product.

Still, I think Samsung has got the look of this one pretty much spot on. Robot dogs have traditionally looked like machines first and pets second. Lassie feels like the first one I'd actually be tempted to have following me around. Now, Samsung, about that price...

If you’ve ever tried to take a keyboard on the road with you, it becomes pretty clear that keyboards are annoyingly big. Pianni’s Orphea solves this by shrinking a playable piano down to something only slightly larger than a smartphone. And now, I want one.

Orphea has 13 physical keys covering a full chromatic octave from C to C, including the black keys that tend to disappear on ultra-portable keyboards. You can then shift the octave up or down, with seven octave positions in total, so you’re not limited to the notes physically under your fingers.

It measures 170 x 78 x 28mm and weighs just 130g, making it actually pocketable rather than merely "portable" in the way that a 61-key keyboard technically is. There’s a built-in speaker too, alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack for quieter playing.

The rechargeable 1,200mAh battery is rated for up to eight hours of continuous use, while USB-C handles charging. There’s also MIDI In/Out, meaning Orphea can double as a tiny controller for other music hardware and software.

The obvious catch is that 13 keys aren't going to replace a proper piano. Orphea's keys aren't velocity-sensitive either, so this isn't going to give a pianist the expressive control of a full-size digital piano.

That's not really the point, though. Pianni describes Orphea as a portable musical sketchbook, designed for getting ideas down, practising or simply playing when you're away from a proper instrument.

The company says its founder Jordan Daniels has even tested the prototype with a three-voice Bach fugue, making it a seriously well thought out bit of kit.

There are still some unanswered questions. Orphea is currently a prototype, with Pianni continuing to refine the hardware before production, and there's no confirmed price yet. The company says it is preparing to launch the piano through Kickstarter.

But as a concept, I can see this working well. It's small enough that you might actually take it with you, rather than leaving it at home because carrying it is a pain.

Now all we need is a price that doesn't make that pocket look quite so much like a wallet.

Apple's mega-keynote this week – the first for the company's new CEO, John Ternus – saw the Cupertino company reveal its first-ever foldable, the iPhone Duo.

As someone who's seen and tested the majority of the bbest folding phones ever made over the past seven-or-so years, I must say I was even more impressed with Apple's first foray than I'd expected.

I use the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 every day, by choice, as I really love the passport-sized foldable and everything it offers – even the wider-than-average format has made other phones feel too tall and narrow for me now.

That "passport" scale is exactly what the iPhone Duo opts for, too, as both it and the Samsung house a 5.4-inch external and 7.6-inch internal foldable display. They're very similar, therefore, yet by no means the same.

Apple's first attempt in this space, however, highlighted some particularly stand-out features for me – and left some lingering questions, too – that are key points I wish the wider Android market would note down to further improve in generations to come.

1. Titanium and ceramic

One of the big problems that foldables have faced is inherent in their very designs: that folding part of the display has to sit over a hinge, which 'dips' by a marginal amount and, further emphasised by it being the bending point, leaves a visible 'crease' to the centre of the display.

Now, no folding phone has countered this issue entirely, but there have been various positive steps towards mitigating it. The current best is the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which uses a titanium plate for rigidity – except Samsung's 'Flex Titanium' solution is etched so it can fold, benefitting the full display.

Outside of the UK and USA there's the Oppo Find N6, which arguably has an even better solution – microscopic 3D-printed relief, delivered per phone, to offset the dip between hinge and display for the flattest solution going.

Now, Apple has gone with a multitude of solutions. It, too, uses AI to map the hinge per product, while applying support ribs for added stiffness – and ceramic fibres that can bend are used to ensure strong antenna connectivity.

It, too, uses a titanium base plate for rigidity. But all of these layers have been applied in a way that unfold similar to a spine-bound book, giving flexibility yet simultaneous rigidity. All of which suggests Apple's very first folding phone attempt will be up there among the best.

2. Stylus support incoming

Controversially, Samsung sacked off any stylus compatibility with its folding devices a couple of generations ago. It meant no need for the additional layer required in the screen for such functionality.

Apple, however, declared its intent for the absolute opposite: its Pencil (with USB-C) stylus will be compatible with the iPhone Duo – on both its external and internal displays.

While that's not a feature that I'd rush to use personally, I suspect there are plenty who will revel in the opportunity – especially when using the internal display. That's one feature that bridges the gap between iPhone and iPad in this Duo design.

Other Android makers do offer stylus compatibility in their foldables, mind, with Honor's Magic V6 one prime example. Buy the brand's Magic Pen and you'll have the feature available right now – no time to wait, per Apple's "later this year" feature.

3. Software continuity

This could be the biggest one of the lot, though. Much as I love my Galaxy Z Fold 8's dual-screen formats, switching between those can cause some hiccups with loaded apps.

Now, I'm not saying iOS will solve that for third-party apps. I suspect you'll still have to reload your game app if you wish to switch between displays mid-session, for example, unless a specific version is made for the iPhone Duo.

That has already begun, though, with Apple showing off examples in Zoom, Slack, Netflix and more to benefit from the larger display. I suspect that's only the beginning, given Apple's considerable market share, so watch this space.

That said, Samsung's One UI 9 setup on the Z Fold 8 is solid. The split-screen and multi-window functionality works well, it's just greater fluidity with all apps and scaling that would be top of my wishlist.

4. There's an under-display camera

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a selfie camera on the external display and another on the internal folding display. So does the iPhone Duo – just that its latter one you can't see clearly all of the time, as it's an under-display solution.

I suspect this will divide the crowds when they get to see it in person, mind, as under-display options have been used in various Android devices for many years. If anything, they've largely ceased to be used – because the mottled 'half resolution' pattern over the camera area can look a little distracting.

In the iPhone Duo, however, I can see the benefit in having that full and uninterrupted display. You really won't notice it much when watching media, for example, and given the size of the punch-hole one on the front of the device, avoiding a second one seems like a savvy solution.

5. But it's not all perfect

For all those positives, however, there are some undeniable downsides and lingering questions around Apple's first foldable.

Heavily rounded corners

As you can see from the device's front-on silhouette, the top and bottom right corners are heavily rounded. That may cause issues in some apps – similar to with Google's Pixel phones – in blocking visibility.

Camera position

While I've highlighted the potential positives of the under-display camera, it's not all golden – the off-centre position and lack of resolution information (I'd wager 'low', therefore) are points against this solution.

The rear cameras may also fall into a classic 'problem' that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 experiences: 'desk wobble'. Placed flat on a surface and the rear protrusion means the phone will rock about when you use it not in hand – and the Duo seems to present a similar potential trouble.

eSIM won't suit all

When Apple announced it was eSIM worldwide – a first for any smartphone device that I can recall – I let out a little gasp. It's futuristic, sure, and it allows for more battery and component space within.

But eSIM just won't suit everyone at this stage. Progressing from physical to virtual is happening at pace, but this bold move will be an irksome switch-over for others.

Asking price is huge

This one is fairly obvious: but the iPhone Duo is horribly expensive. It looks amazing, it looks 'worth it' – however you wish to gauge that – but it's a lot of money.

The £/$1,999 starting price for the 256GB model is considerably more than the Galaxy Z Fold 8's £/$1,699 price. Both are a lot of money, no doubt, but Apple wants almost 18% more cash for its Duo to be in your pocket.

Oppo is preparing to launch one of the most ambitious smartphone cameras to date, packing in three 200-megapixel sensors.

It will announce the Find X10 fully later in September as flagship phones move into their next chapter, but some details are starting to be revealed – for both the Find X10 and Find X10 Pro Max – with many coming from Oppo itself.

For example, thanks to a series of posts from Oppo's Zhuo Shijie on Weibo, we now know a lot more about what to expect from the cameras.

The big takeaway is that the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max will use three 200-megapixel cameras, developed with Hasselblad. The primary camera will have an f/1.5 aperture, the ultrawide will have an f/2.2 aperture and the telephoto camera – also packing a 200-megapixel sensor – will have an f/2.1 aperture, with CIPA 7.5 stabilisation.

There's also talk of a new colour sensor, offering improved dynamic range. All-in, it should be a photography powerhouse.

Supporting OpenGate capture, videographers will be able use the entire sensor for 4:3 video, and it will be compatible with the Blackmagic Camera app and offer O-Log2 and Dolby Vision capture. While these features will be beyond most normal users, it takes the video options to a new professional level.

All three cameras will support 8K and there's going to be a full range of accessories available, with a real focus on photo and video capture.

The regular Find X10 will have two 200-megapixel cameras with different lenses, the main with f/1.6 and the telephoto with f/2.6, while the rest of the phone will likely be similar.

It's been confirmed that there will be an 8,000mAh battery in both models, while the bezel around the display has shrunk to 0.99mm.

Also, thanks to a leak from Digital Chat Station, we can add the expectation for the Dimensity 9600 Pro – the new 2nm chip from MediaTek – plus 80W wired and 50W wireless charging added to the picture.

In China, the Find X10 is already available for pre-order, and the timing of the launch is likely to coincide with the reveal of that new core hardware. The MediaTek 9600 is expected to be revealed on 15 September, while next-gen Snapdragon hardware is expected on 22 September.

We've previously reported that a new Honor phone will be revealed within the same timeframe, and we'd expect Xiaomi to unveil the Xiaomi 18 Pro as the first device available with the new Snapdragon hardware.

Most of these phones will be launched in China first, but availability for the rest of the world is likely to come from February 2027 onwards.

Apple has extended access to its satellite features, meaning those with an iPhone can continue to enjoy the peace of mind that there will be an emergency connection when you're off the grid.

Apple designed the suite of satellite features for emergency connectivity, originally allowing users an SOS function, but evolving the service to include roadside assistance and messaging.

The service launched in 2022, initially with a two-year trial period, but Apple keeps extending it – including a new extension that was quietly added with the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro.

Sitting at the bottom of the press release for the new phone is a footnote that says: "Apple is extending free access to satellite features for an additional year for existing iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 users."

So that trial seems to be turning into a standard feature, although the fact that Apple is referring to it as an extension leaves it with the option for a paid-for service in the future.

How does Apple's satellite service work?

Apple's iPhone communicates with Globalstar satellites and was one of the first consumer satellite offerings in a smartphone. Of course, satellite calling already existed, and devices like Garmin's InReach were offering satellite communications back in 2011, but Apple generally helped start a new era of satellite connectivity.

That's not quite the end of the story: while satellite connectivity offers limited features right now, there's a bigger push for non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) to expand coverage to areas that don't have traditional masts to provide greater connectivity.

With the adoption of NTNs by traditional mobile carriers, it might be that blanket coverage is more widely available, reducing the need for bespoke SOS functions. Simply put, once satellites are offering 5G themselves, you might never find yourself without mobile signal.

T-Mobile in the US has already partnered with Starlink, while the O2 Satellite service in the UK is available as a Bolt On for £3 a month. It's not a perfect solution: you need line of sight to the sky and there's limited bandwidth, but we're at the start of the move into space connectivity with a lot of development coming over the next five years.

For now, those with an older iPhone can rest assured that the emergency SOS functions are still available and you still don't have to pay for them.

LG has been making consumer OLED TVs for a long while now – since 2013, in fact – and it shows no sign in slowing down. There's just one kink in the road – the ongoing RAM crisis.

As with just about every tech firm right now, LG is forced to navigate its way around the rising prices and scarcity of components due to AI data centres gobbling them up like Hungry Hippos. Anything that requires RAM or storage has been affected, and that includes TVs.

"That is a very big challenge," revealed the company's head of customer display experience, Baek Sun-pil, to T3 during IFA in Germany.

However, he also explained that LG is managing to counter some hardware barriers with software optimisation: "From our side, our homework was, 'how can you make our operating system more optimised?'

"We managed to get the same performance from lower memory. Higher performance, even."

LG has also been working further with its hardware partners to lessen the impact: "We are in free discussion with the memory guys," he added.

"We are in discussion for the next year and the years later. So we are well prepared."

But like everyone in the tech industry, Baek is looking forward to when the crisis finally abates. Something he told us could happen in a year or so: "I think it's not because of the TV industry, but because of HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and other things.

"But end of next year or early 2028," he predicted as a possible timescale for the industry to start to normalise again.

Future OLED TV innovation

Thankfully, reducing the costs of components isn't LG's only drive to make OLED TVs more accessible.

The display executive also explained to us that he wants to see larger screen sizes reduce in price in the coming years: "How can we deliver a bigger screen size for a more affordable price?" he asked.

"I think that's also very challenging. For example, the 97-inch OLED is something like £20,000, while a normal OLED TV is just £1,000. That's too much of a gap."

Certainly, it could be the next bastion for OLED development, to help encourage existing OLED TV owners to upgrade: "When changing, we see them changing from 65 (inches) to 75, 75 changing to 80, so bigger screen sizes.

"And AI will help drive [upgrading] too, of course. We support AI functions and TVs will soon include more agentic AI features."

But what about 8K? The industry has largely gone quiet on the next-gen resolution: "4K is the major stream. Hollywood studios currently have greater interest in 4K than 8K, as content production and distribution remain largely centred on 4K."

The upshot of this is that, buy a new 4K HDR OLED TV today – such as the LG C6 or new Wallpaper TV for 2026 – and you shouldn't need to worry about an upgrade for half a decade or more.

There's no sign of 4K being superseded anytime soon, while LG is doing everything in its power to keep the impact of RAMageddon away from consumers. The only question you'll likely still have is, "Will my wall fit an 80-inch TV or above?" Especially when prices start to come down.

And that's not a bad quandary to face.

Each week, Xbox offers a selection of games to play free across the weekend as part of its FreePlayDays perk, but often you'll need to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass to redeem them.

Not so this week, as two of the six games listed this weekend are available to play without needing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential.

The single-player Dustborn is waiting for all Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One owners to download and play for up to two hours. Released by Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain, Detroit: Become Human), it's a stylised, story-driven action-adventure that's largely gone under the radar.

However, you can check it out for yourself and, if you like it, Xbox is currently offering a big discount on a full purchase – it's just $4.49 / £3.74 for a limited period.

Also available to all Xbox owners this weekend, not just Game Pass members, is Madden NFL 27. The latest iteration of EA Sports' American football franchise is complete free to play across the next few days, not just on trial.

This year's game adds a few bells and whistles, including a more dynamic Franchise mode, and more precise controls over the athletes during games.

There's more for Xbox Game Pass members

Those two games don't require Game Pass membership to play, but if you are an Ultimate, Premium or Essential subscriber, you can also check out four additional games this weekend.

The FreePlayDays lineup this week includes Borderlands 4, F1 25 2026 Edition, Surviving Mars: Relaunched, and CarX Drift Racing Online.

Borderlands 4 in particular is one of my favourite FPS games released in the last year (it hit stores almost exactly 12 months ago). And the 2026 Edition patch of F1 25 is arguably one of the best DLC add-ons ever released for a driving game. It totally changes the original F1 25 to be up-to-date with the latest rule changes, liveries, teams and races.

One thing to note though, all six games will only be available until the end of play on Sunday 13 September, so make sure you get your time in while you can.

Ever since British tech startup Nothing sprang up five years ago, its focus has largely been on releasing quality devices, with high-level components but at very competitive prices.

That has permeated its Android phones, earbuds and, more recently, over-ear headphones. The Nothing Headphone (1) was slightly different, in that it was more at the premium end of the spectrum – not least thanks to its partnership with audiophile brand KEF. But ultimately Nothing still managed to undercut similarly spec'ed rivals.

Now it looks like it's back for another stab, but this time it seems to be taking on the big boys directly.

The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro has leaked, with a report by Dealabs claiming that a follow-up is imminent. And considering it's specifications and, most significantly, the suggested price, we could be looking at the brand taking the next step.

According to the French tech site's sources, the Headphone (1) Pro will feature a triple-driver architecture, with bass, precision and XMEMS type treble drivers. This has the potential for a more refined and solid sound performance, to compete with the likes of Sony, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins.

It'll have Hi-Res Audio and LDAC support, it's claimed, along with spatial audio and sound customisation capabilities. And there will be improved noise cancellation, with real-time ANC using 10 microphones to block ambient sounds more effectively.

Battery life is said to last up to 60 hours of playback in the headphones themselves, while Bluetooth 6.1 will be on board for wireless streaming. Physical touch controls will also feature on the headset's aluminium shell, the the earcups will be covered by scratch-resistant glass. IP52 water and dust proofing rounds up the leaked specs.

Perhaps the most surprising element to the early information is its price. It is claimed that the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro will cost $399 / €349. That's also likely to translate to £349 in the UK too.

That's naturally a step up on the £299 of the original Headphone (1) and is considerably more than the Headphone (a) price, which started at £149.

Indeed, if genuine, it puts the Headphone (1) Pro on a par with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QC Ultra 2 alternatives. So it'll be interesting to hear them in action to find out whether they can match or even beat those hugely popular pairs.

We have a few weeks to wait before then though – Dealabs says that the launch won't be until 29 September. We'll keep our ears to the ground until then.

Apple introduced variable aperture as the highlight feature of the new iPhone 18 Pro, underlining that the camera is still a hugely important part of a smartphone. You don't need to tell Honor that though, as it has started teasing its next flagship phone with some new camera features of its own.

Introducing the Magic 9 Pro Max, which is due to be officially launched on 28 September in China, Honor is leaning into its partnership with Arri – a veteran of the cinema industry. Its camera systems were used for films like The Revenant, 1917, Gravity, and more.

The pairing first came to light with the development of Honor's Robot Phone, but it seems that Arri's experience will also benefit the 2027 flagship phone too.

The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max was shown off at the Venice International Film Festival, with Arri branding on the back of the device in the camera array, while it has also been teased on Weibo.

Although the phone physically has adopted the rear segmentation that was ushered in for the iPhone 17 Pro, using a separate rear panel and huge camera island, the layout of the camera's lenses seems to have drawn inspiration from an old Arriflex camera.

The result is a massive round blob of camera sitting next to two other lenses. It's bold, but I have to say I kind of like it. Looking closer, it seems that much of that larger surround is just there to decorate the telephoto.

From the video on Weibo we learn a little more about Honor's accessories for this camera, with what looks like a clip on cover to support a larger telephoto extension – the sort of thing we've seen from Vivo with the X300 Ultra or the Oppo Find X9 Pro.

We know that the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max will have three cameras developed with Arri, and what it looks like. And we also know there will be a fetching green colour. That's about the end of the official information that we currently have.

So let's move onto speculation: the timing of the launch suggests that it will be equipped with Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon hardware, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 – or the rumoured "pro" version of the chip that might also appear.

That hardware is expected later in September and typically Chinese brands immediately announce new phones using it straight after launch.

A wider global launch is likely to follow, probably around February 2027.

An additional leak from Digital Chat Station suggests that the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max has an 8,800mAh battery, which is absolutely huge.

Elsewhere, a video of the new phone has also been shared, which appears to be official, showing the design a little more, while there seem to be plenty sharing the design online already, likely part of Honor's teaser campaign.

Included around the lenses of the camera, it's revealed that there's a 200-megapixel cam, with a 1/1.28in type sensor and 3 degrees of OIS, while it also says there will be a 200-megapixel, 1/1.4in sensor with 4 degrees OIS – it's not clear which cameras the details apply to, but it's likely to be the main and the telephoto.

All will be revealed on 28 September, but it looks like the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max is going to be a serious phone. Especially for fans of photography.

Motorola could be the next brand to release a wider folding phone, looking to quickly shift its strategy from flip to fold.

It launched its first book-type folding phone in 2026, the Motorola Razr Fold, having first re-entered the folding phone phone market in 2019 with the rebirth of its iconic Razr line.

While Samsung has led the charge in larger format devices, Motorola has been reluctant to move from flip to fold – and has seen success with its Razr models in some markets, particularly the US.

But as Apple has just announced the iPhone Duo, its £2,000 folding phone, Motorola hasn't missed the chance to point out that it's been in the folding phone game for a long time, and highlight its "next move".

Posting on social channels, the brand has run with the tagline "New in their hands. Iconic in ours", leading with the V3 Razr from 2004, before jumping to the 2019 version and then through iterations of the flip phone until the 2026 Razr Fold.

At that point something interesting happens, because a silhouette of a device appears which is a fold style, but shorter, looking like an obvious tease for Motorola's next folding phone.

With Apple joining the folding phone market, it's likely that everyone in the folding phone segment will adopt the format.

Samsung launched its wider folding phone in July 2026 – the Galaxy Z Fold 8 – while Huawei was there slightly earlier with the Pura X, and Xiaomi is also entering the fray with the Xiaomi 18 Fold.

Motorola, having just made the transition to a larger folding device, doesn't want to be left behind.

Samsung currently dominates the global market for folding phones with a 40% share, according to recent Counterpoint research. Huawei – thanks to its profile in China – took 30% of the share in 2025, Motorola, Honor and Google all had a slice of the pie.

It's expected that Apple's entry into the folding phone market will not only drive a lot of attention to folding phones, but reinforce the advantages of a wider device, rather than the larger-format devices that open with an almost square display.

With expansion expected across the segment, brands will want to make sure they have an iPhone Duo alternative to benefit from the wave of enthusiasm that's likely to come.

It's not clear when Motorola might launch this new phone. Typical launch windows – like Lenovo Innovation World that just took place in Berlin – have passed. It's likely then that Motorola will cast its eye on CES 2027.

In 2026, Motorola showcased the new Signature and Fold models in Las Vegas, before releasing them a few months later.

Building a compact laptop in 2026 is a complicated thing. Spikes in component prices have turned overall pricing into a nightmarish gauntlet. Consumers are now more demanding than ever in an age of AI agents that hoover up computing capacity and browsers that chew up RAM like there's no tomorrow.

I've tested a few of the best laptops this year that already feel as though a last-minute price hike killed off their potential, but I think Asus has just about avoided that fate with this Snapdragon-powered Zenbook 14. This is a great laptop that I think stands pretty proud in its entry-level specification, with a design that makes it super easy to cart about too.

Price and Availability

The Zenbook 14 comes in quite a few flavours, which is no surprise based on previous models, but I've had the Qualcomm Snapdragon X version, which is available to order now, with shipping generally estimated for late September 2026.

That version starts nice and competitively at £799 here in the UK and $799 in the US, although it's worth knowing this comes with 8GB of RAM; to up that to 16GB you have to jump to £/$1,199.99, which is quite sizeable. I'll expand more on the specs below.

Design and Specs

The Zenbook 14 is a familiar machine in most main ways – Asus hasn't ripped up the design principles it's been working from for the last few years. In fact, it shouldn't shock anyone to learn that the Zenbook 14 is exactly like a smaller version of the Zenbook A16 that I tested earlier this year.

This means that Ceraluminum takes centre stage again – Asus' in-house branding for ceramic aluminium, the main material on the outside of the laptop's casing. It's a really interesting material that has grown on me over time, and in a weird way I like it better on this smaller laptop than I did on the larger one.

It's miles lighter than most metal finishes, but with a matte, almost dusty finish that I think looks really attractive in the blue colour of the model that I've been testing. It also doesn't attract fingerprints too badly, unlike most other laptops on the market. This also keeps the laptop super light at just 1.15kg by my scale.

In terms of design, once you open up the laptop, you'll be greeted by a 14-inch OLED display running a 1080p resolution – which is a panel type that I'm really pleased to see at this starting price.

It also has a generously proportioned keyboard with decent spacing between the keys, and a big trackpad to go with it.

The left edge of the laptop houses a few ports – an HDMI, two USB-C with power delivery, and a 3.5mm jack for audio. The right edge, meanwhile, has a single USB-A port. I'd have loved to see an SD card slot here, too, but I'm sure there are a whole heap of people who don't mind that omission, either.

The laptop runs on a Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) 8-core chipset, which is far from the newest of Qualcomm's chips, but remains a reliable performer. At this price, I think it's a fair choice from Asus.

To go with that, you'll start with 8GB of RAM, as mentioned, and that's a little stingy, for all that RAM is a particularly sticky subject right now where pricing is concerned. The starting spec also has a 256GB SSD, and upgrading to 16GB of RAM does at least bump this to 512GB, too.

I tested that beefier, specced-up version, so I can't speak directly to the performance of the 8GB variant, but we realistically know that 8GB is starting to feel like a stretch for the AI age on Windows.

Regardless, the Zenbook 14 comes with just about the precise specs that I'd expect at this point in 2026, and a design that I think succeeds in some ways that other more heavyweight rivals don't quite match.

Performance and Display

How does that Snapdragon chipset actually fare when in use, then? Well, with a 16GB configuration, I've found the Zenbook 14 a super zippy performer that's happily coped with everything I've thrown its way as part of my working day.

That's included plenty of image editing, juggling multiple browsers with a dozen or so tabs, streaming video and letting all of these run in the background the whole time. That's a pretty good indication of the multi-tasking potential that this machine harbours.

I've also been impressed by its cooling, which really hasn't been too loud and hasn't stopped the laptop from getting burning hot like some others I've used in the last couple of years.

Perhaps the laptop's biggest strength, especially in that entry-price configuration, is the OLED display. It's a real looker, elevating this laptop nicely into a more premium-feeling bracket. The bezels are impressively slim on the right and left, too.

One slight downside is that it's only a 60Hz panel, but that's not much of a gripe for regular productivity use, even if it's still worth knowing about before you take the plunge on buying.

Battery life is really solid here, too – Asus says it can stretch to 30+ hours, and while I haven't eked out quite that much from it, it's consistently gone through a workday happily enough, which is the most important threshold.

Sound is also impressively solid – the stereo speaker system won't have you writing home, but it's better than it could have been, and ensures you won't be wincing while watching videos, either.

Verdict

It's hard to poke many holes in the Zenbook 14, which does exactly what it says on the tin – and makes a lot of sense as a result.

It's a great little laptop for those who need something to power their productivity and work, with a lightweight design that's a little unlike the majority of alternatives (in a good way).

It's a shame that upping the ante from 8GB base to 16GB RAM requires such a steep jump in price, because that configuration is the more attractive for future-proofing against further Windows performance issues.

Still, the entry asking price of the 8GB variant means that Asus is neither embarrassing any of the competition nor itself – it's basically exactly the price you'd expect to pay right now. Which marks this out as a very viable option for your shopping list.

Also consider

If you want a Windows laptop that's light and sleek, and you have similar money to spend on it, you'd probably better check out the Dell XPS 13 that launched recently. Its starting price has already dipped lower thanks to an early sale, which makes this design marvel even more tempting.

Of course, to spend a little less and jump into the Apple ecosystem, you could also turn to the MacBook Neo, which promised to tear up the market before getting a price hike of its own. Even with that, it's still a very solid buy for a MacBook that should be good for quite some time, at a price that doesn't cause too much stress.

I've always been a massive fan of rhythm games over the years, kickstarted mainly by a 90s infatuation with PaRappa the Rapper. So when the Guitar Hero and Rock Band phase kicked off in the mid-2000s, I was really in my element.

I even have my original and special edition guitars, still.

However, like most gaming trends, it was bound to trail off eventually, and while Activision had a second stab at it in 2015, the days of wanging around a truncated plastic axe were over. Until now.

It seems we are about to enter a new era of physical gaming. The free, open source PC game Clone Hero is gaining traction and this December, a brand new release will arrive for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2 to get you rocking again.

Stage Tour is a bone fide successor to the guitar and band games of the 2000s. Indeed, it's from RedOctane Games – the team behind the original Guitar Hero – and the heritage is right there on the screen and in your hands.

I got to play a few tracks during Gamescom a couple of weeks ago and can safely say that, even on an early build, it has all the hallmarks of an excellent revival for the genre.

I chose to play using the Kramer wireless guitar controller that comes bundled with the game, but was told that you can also use older Guitar Hero and Rock Band alternatives if you can connect them to your system. That should be easy on PC, maybe not so much on PS5, say.

There will be additional compatible controllers too, made by CRKD (the accessory manufacturer behind the Switch Nitro Deck). They're licensed by Gibson too, and have different designs depending on your system.

And that's not all... Stage Tour also works with drums, and the official kit to be released was in my demo as well. It can even come with symbols, and thanks to a modular design, you can replace any element if it wears out.

But I digress – I'm useless on the drums (always have been), so I stuck to what I remembered most fondly and strummed along to Smash Mouth's All Star like it was the noughties all over again.

Needless to say, I was rusty. Choosing a medium level was foolhardy for my first such play in over a decade, and I soon remembered how difficult it can be to whip my fingers across four fret buttons (let alone the five on offer). One thing I noticed though, that was markedly different this time around, is that the trademark latency and lag of yesteryear has seemingly vanished.

TVs and wireless technologies have dramatically improved in just a few years, let along 20 or so. The game therefore felt significantly more responsive. I was still rubbish, but I couldn't blame my tools anymore.

Also impressive was that you can play the game using a conventional gamepad, too. So if you have friends over but just one guitar, you can still play multiplayer. Not that it's any easier – or as much fun – but it does work effectively.

I didn't get to see many of the game modes that are promised for launch, including the single-player campaign, but there's certainly a lot of hindsight being employed in the development of Stage Tour. It will seemingly be packed with so much content, I can see it appealing for a long while.

And there's no Guitar Hero Live subscription element, hurrah! You get scores of tracks available at launch – with 48 already announced and many more to come. There's also something for everyone, from the recently revealed Parklife by Blur, through the pop of Olivia Rodrigo's Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl and Ed Sheeran's Bad Habits, all the way to classic rock from the likes of Def Leppard and Metallica.

From what I've seen so far, Stage Tour is packed with potential and, most importantly, fun. It will be interesting to see if the modern gamer is willing once more to pick up a plastic accessory and wiggle around in front of the telly, but one thing's for sure – from my brief demo play – the joy while doing so is thoroughly rewarding.

Stage Tour will be available from 10 December 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. You will be able to buy the game separately or with a guitar bundle from multiple retailers.

Sony has announced the new batch of games coming to the PS Plus game catalogue over the next few weeks, and it's a very solid lineup.

PS Plus Premium and Extra members will be able to play WWE 2K26 at no extra cost from Tuesday 15 September, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

As well as the best WWE wrestling game in years, which is exclusive to PS5 and PS5 Pro, subscribers will also be able to download and play Ball x Pit – one of my absolute favourite indie games right now.

A cunning blend of Arkanoid, tower defence, shoot-em-up and town building, the roguelite sees to take on ever increasing waves of monsters using charged, bouncing balls.

It's crazily addictive and simple to pick up and play, so is a must for every collection, I feel. It'll be available in the game catalogue from 22 September in the UK, US and Japan (15 September everywhere else).

Also coming to PS5 is Runescape: Dragonwilds (15 September). It's an open-world co-op survival game set in the Runescape universe and is brand new to PlayStation.

Another particular favourite, Dungeons of Hinterberg, will arrive on 29 September in the UK, US and Japan. The action-RPG is packed with puzzles and dungeon quests, and is something of an unsung hero in my eyes.

And then there's Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound – the 2D action-platformer that we've raved about in the past. That'll also be available on the same day.

Finally, PS Plus Premium and Extra members will also soon gain access to Sniper Elite: Resistance, and Slitterhead. While Date Everything! has recently been added, too.

Premium members with a PS5 or PS4 will also get Mega Man X Command Mission, and Metro Redux from 15 September, as part of the classics catalogue.

Although Apple didn't mention it during its iPhone Duo launch presentation, the release date for iOS 27 has been officially revealed.

It appears in the footnotes under the press release for the iPhone 18 Pro, but will be made available for all supported iPhones before that device is made available. It'll be downloadable from next Monday 14 September, in fact.

This includes the new Apple Intelligence features, which will be available for "users with an Apple Intelligence-enabled device set to a supported language". That includes devices in English-speaking countries, plus multiple other regions and languages across Europe and the rest of the world.

The new Siri AI is slightly different. While also available from 14 September, it will launch in beta form for English-language devices only. Apple will then roll out the AI-powered assistant in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish from October.

Is iPadOS 27 coming too?

It hasn't yet been confirmed, but it is more than likely that iPadOS 27 will also roll out on Monday for iPads, with Apple's other operating systems potentially joining it. Some of them have been known to be staggered in the past though, such as macOS.

As for the new iPhones, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models will be available to pre-order from Saturday 12 September, with an on-sale date of 18 September.

Apple's first foldable iPhone – the iPhone Duo – will follow, with pre-orders opening on 16 October for a 23 October release date.

All of the new iPhones will come with iOS 27, Siri AI and Apple Intelligence pre-installed.

Apple has officially unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12, and while it looks broadly familiar, there are some significant changes underneath.

The biggest upgrades focus on health, fitness and Apple Intelligence, with a new sensor system, much more frequent heart-rate tracking, and a Readiness score finally joining the mix.

Here are the six biggest things you need to know.

1. Heart-rate tracking is much more frequent

Series 12 introduces Apple's new Health Sensing System, with larger green LEDs, redesigned photodiodes and an increased electrode surface for ECG readings.

Background heart-rate readings can now be taken every five seconds, which Apple says is 60 times more frequent than before, while HRV can be sampled as often as every five minutes.

Apple also claims the new system offers the “most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable”, based on its own testing against an ECG chest strap.

2. Readiness finally arrives

Apple is also introducing Readiness, which combines recent activity, sleep and vital signs into a daily score.

Apple categorises your status as Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready or Go For It, and the score can change during the day as new data comes in.

3. The S11 chip powers new AI features

Series 12 gets Apple's new S11 chip, which includes CPU, GPU and Neural Engine technology derived from the A20 Pro.

Its always-on processor powers a new group of Audio Intelligence features designed to work directly from your wrist.

4. Siri can rewind conversations

One of the strangest additions is Live Rewind, which lets you double-press the Digital Crown to retrieve and transcribe the previous 15 seconds of speech.

There's also Siri Recap, which can generate summaries and key points from conversations such as meetings, while Sound Recognition can identify things like alarms, sirens and doorbells.

5. Ceramic Apple Watch is back

Series 12 is available in aluminium, titanium and, surprisingly, ceramic.

Aluminium colours include Space Grey, black, light gold and new dark bronze, while ceramic comes in pearl white and night blue.

6. The screen is tougher, but battery life is unchanged

Aluminium Series 12 models now use Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says makes the front glass 60% tougher than the previous Ion-X glass.

Battery life remains rated at up to 24 hours, however, so the standard Apple Watch still isn't becoming a proper multi-day smartwatch.

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 / AU$649, with pre-orders open now and availability from 18 September.

Announced alongside the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, Health Age is one of the headline additions to Apple's completely redesigned Health app.

It takes metrics collected by Apple Watch and turns them into an estimate of how your health compares with your chronological age.

It puts Apple in territory already explored by Garmin, which has offered Fitness Age for years.

Oura also provides what's called Cardiovascular Age, and Whoop also has its own version called Whoop Age.

Apple's approach looks particularly comprehensive, though, because Health Age isn't built around a single measurement.

Apple says metrics including VO2 max and sleep can contribute to the calculation, while users can go deeper by adding biomarkers from recent blood tests.

The app shows your Health Age history and breaks down which factors push the figure in either direction.

Apple is going all-in on longevity

Health Age sits in a new Longevity section of the Health app, bringing together information on sleep, movement, and heart health.

The interface uses coloured segments to show how you're performing across different areas, while Apple Intelligence generates summaries and personalised recommendations based on your data.

In the US, Apple Watch users will be able to order a Quest laboratory panel with more than 50 biomarkers for $119, with the results integrated alongside Apple Watch and iPhone data.

Given the sheer number of Apple Watches already sitting on people's wrists, Apple's move into longevity could be the one that pushes the concept firmly into the mainstream.

The redesigned Health app is due to arrive later this year, initially in US English, with additional languages set to follow.

Apple has unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12, and while it looks similar to its predecessors – which was to be expected – there are some exciting updates for the fans of Apple's mainline wearable.

The biggest upgrade is the Health Sensing System, a redesigned sensor array shared with the Apple Watch Ultra 4 that Apple claims significantly increases the amount of heart-rate data the watch can collect throughout the day.

Background heart-rate readings are now taken every five seconds, including while you’re moving around, which Apple says is 60 times more frequent than before.

Heart-rate variability, or HRV, can meanwhile be sampled as often as every five minutes, 24 times more frequently than previously.

Apple has also redesigned the hardware sitting against your wrist, increasing the surface area of the electrodes to improve skin contact during ECG readings.

The photodiodes are now arranged in a ring to capture light more efficiently, using larger, more power-efficient green LEDs for optical heart-rate sensing.

Apple is making a fairly substantial claim about the results, too, saying the new system delivers the “most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable.”

The company says it reached that conclusion after testing the Apple Watch head-to-head against other wearables, using an ECG chest strap as the reference while hundreds of participants ran, cycled and completed HIIT workouts.

It is an Apple study rather than an independent comparison, of course, so we'll see how the Series 12 performs against the latest Garmin, Coros and Polar watches in real-life tests.

Apple Watch finally gets Readiness

More frequent heart-rate and HRV measurements also feed into one of the most significant new fitness features Apple has introduced in years.

Readiness may already be familiar to Garmin, Oura, and Whoop users, but it's a brand-new addition to the Apple Watch.

Each morning, Apple Watch analyses your recent activity, sleep, and vital signs before producing a single score that indicates how much capacity your body has for exercise and everything else the day might throw at it.

Apple groups the results into straightforward recommendations, including Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, and Go For It.

Apple says your Readiness can change throughout the day as new information comes in, and the result can be viewed either directly on Apple Watch or through the Fitness app on iPhone.

HRV is also being added to the Vitals app, where users will be able to see both overnight and daytime information.

Apple says this should make it easier to spot changes in your physiological state before they show up in your overnight metrics.

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 / AU$649, with pre-orders opening today ahead of availability from 18 September. Apple has not yet given UK or EU pricing in the presentation.

Apple has announced the iPhone Duo at last. Previously dubbed the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra in speculation over the last year, it is the company's first foldable smartphone and it's everything we expected and more.

A similar shape and size to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, the iPhone Duo is small and squat but has a 7.6-inch 4:3 OLED display when unfolded. This allows for better viewing of video content and is more like an iPad mini than a traditional book-style folding device.

There are some caveats to the new form factor. It only has two camera units on the rear, without the telephoto lens you'll find on the new iPhone 18 Pro, and it doesn't support Face ID. However, you do get Touch ID on the power button and when open, this is the slimmest iPhone ever made (even thinner than last year's iPhone Air).

Also, you do still get a FaceTime camera behind the inner display, with a small lens in the top right of the front screen too.

The software has been tweaked especially for the device, to seamlessly work across the front display and its unfolded equivalent. There are multitasking capabilities, app swiping to swap between screens and dedicated features that work when the device is partially folded or when set down on a desktop.

The outer screen is 5.4-inches and has the same aspect ratio as the inner version. While the build quality is typically Apple – grade 5 titanium has been used for the frame, with ceramic on the back and front.

We're yet to see the display ourselves, but Apple claims that it has one of the strongest bendable displays in the industry. And it suggests that the crease is almost eliminated.

In terms of the other specs, the Duo runs on the A20 Pro chip, much like the iPhone 18 Pro also just announced. It also includes a vapour chamber to keep the chip cool, as well as a C2 5G modem for cellular reliability.

Battery life is claimed to be up to 22 hours when using both screens simultaneously, while fast charging (through USB-C) allows for 50% charge in just 15 minutes.

There are two cameras on the rear, with the main camera capable of up to 4K 120fps video recording, and the 48-megapixel Fusion ultrawide is the same as on the Pro models. As mentioned though, there is no telephoto here.

It will also run Siri AI and the latest Apple Intelligence, of course. And one extra surprise is that the foldable will be compatible with Apple Pencil post launch. That's a big win for those with the stylus already.

The iPhone Duo will be priced from $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,499 for the 256GB model (as previously rumoured) with larger storage options up to 2TB becoming available too. Pre-orders open on 16 October for a 23 October release date.

Apple has announced its fifth generation AirPods and they blur the line between the entry and pro models more than ever before.

More durable and with live translation capabilities – much like the AirPods Pro – the AirPods 5 also feature better active noise cancellation. Apple claims that it works 50% more effectively than the last-gen, and with improved audio playback.

The design is largely the same, but the new AirPods are now rated IP57 for dust and water resistance. There's a bigger battery offering up to five hours of playback time with ANC activated, while the USB-C charging case expands that to up to 20 hours.

Another new feature of the upgraded buds is that they support the new Siri AI functionality coming with iOS 27. And there are two models that will be available – with a standard variant and a step-up pair that come with a wireless charging case.

This additional version also features volume controls on the stem of the right AirPod – a feature also migrated from the AirPods Pro.

The standard Apple AirPods 5. are priced at $129 / £129 and they're available to pre-order from today. They'll ship on 18 September 2026.

The step-up model with on stem audio controls, wireless charging case and longer battery life are priced at $149 / £149.

There is no new AirPods Pro version announced as yet, but with the features added to these entry buds, you have to wonder whether we need a new Pro. At least until the variant with an AI camera in the buds arrives (likely early next year).

T3 is covering all of the new Apple announcements live – just follow the news as it happens in our regularly updated blog.