A lot of good stuff happened in the smartwatch world this year, from the Pixel Watch finally getting two sizes to the first Fan Edition of the Galaxy Watch . However, there’s more work to be done and these are my three big wishes. Better battery life It’s a wish list item for just about any tech device with a battery, but if smartwatches could last longer that would be much appreciated....

Robot vacuums have become indispensable in our homes. From pet hair to daily dust, these devices keep floors clean with minimal hands-on help. But like any tool, a robot vacuum needs regular upkeep to keep running at peak performance—and to avoid early retirement. Fortunately, the steps to extending your vacuum’s lifespan are simple, and many are directly recommended by manufacturers. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your robo-cleaner....

When Zoom exploded in popularity in 2020 because of the pandemic, many people installed and used it for the first time. This necessity led to virtually everyone sticking to the basics of virtual meetings. But if you’re still only using the core Zoom features, you’re missing out. There are loads of ways to make your calls much more fun and useful, though it’s not always obvious that they exist. And that’s why we’ve highlighted eight of the best here....

It’s important to be aware that many people online could have access to something related to your identity, be it your name, appearance, address, job, date of birth or something else. This is especially alarming given that identity fraud accounted for 64% of cases filed to the National Fraud Database in 2023, with 77% of those involving a current address. With enough of your information, criminals can open bank accounts in your name for money laundering or apply for loans, leaving you responsible for debts and potentially ruining your reputation and career....

When Microsoft announced Windows 11 in June 2021, it was hailed as “the next generation of Windows”. As recently as April, CEO Satya Nadella described enterprise adoption as happening “at a faster pace than any previous release”. However, there’s little indication of that in the latest data. According to Steam’s monthly ‘Hardware and Software Survey’ , Windows 11 accounts for just over 20% of all devices. That’s an increase of 0....

The four-part slow-burner Adolescence, created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, left viewers worldwide in shock and awe. Although it was launched as a limited series, a second season seems on the table due to the show’s viral success. As reported by Deadline , series director Philip Barantini is in talks with Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment, about the next instalment of Adolescence. The series is already one of this year’s buzziest premieres and Netflix’s fourth most popular English-language show....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Excellent feature set, Great design and build, Amazing battery life Cons Fiddly UI, Some issues with GPS on our handset Our Verdict With an amazing feature set for the price, and battery life to die for, the Amazfit Bip is a total bargain for those on the hunt for an exercise watch with GPS. It looks and feels good, and comes with an excellent companion app....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Decent battery life Comfortable fit Bright and big display Cons InConsistent exercise tracking Zepp app needs improvement No support for third-party apps Our Verdict The Amazfit GTR 4 is durable – both in its build and battery life. However, the fitness tracking has mixed results, and the OS doesn’t match up to what is offered on rivals. Best Prices Today: Amazfit GTR 4 At IFA 2022, Amazfit unveiled its fourth generation of the GTR and GTS smartwatches – fitness trackers with long-battery lives at a more affordable price point than some of those from leading brands....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros 2-year warranty Child-friendly Alexa Blocks explicit music Cons Can be hard to discover content May not appeal to older kids Kids+ requires subscription Our Verdict If your child is the right age (around 5-8), the Echo Dot Kids is a safe way to use Alexa and listen to music. The Echo Dot Kids is a smart speaker designed to be safe for children to use....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict If you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed with the latest Paperwhite but it’s worth checking out the £49 Nook GlowLight and associated book store before taking the plunge. Such facts may be relevant for the occasional reader, but for genuine bookworms, they’re not. Ereaders including the Kindle Paperwhite are designed to do just one job, and do it well. There’s really no comparison between an E Ink screen and a tablet’s LCD screen when it comes to long periods of reading....

Intelligence, simplicity and digital wellbeing are the three pillars of the new Android 9.0 Pie operating system, for which the official update is now available for Google Pixel phones and the Essential PH-1, the first non-Pixel phone to get the update. Android 15 is coming! Check out the best new features in Android 15 , which phones will receive the new Android OS , and how to download the Android 15 beta now ....

After all the hype surrounding chat GPT and AI, there were already many theories as to how Apple would react. Apple has decided in favour of a dual solution: Apple is relying on both a partnership with OpenAI and an in-house development. The most important role will be played by its own AI, called “ Apple Intelligence “. AI functions in the form of image and voice processing will be fully integrated into iOS 18 , iPadOS and macOS Sequoia ( not watchOS ) and will significantly improve convenience and productivity....

iPhone foldable: In summary Suggested September 2026 release date A book-style foldable is expected The inner screen will look similar to an iPad mini Price estimated between $1,999 and $2,500 The likes of Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Motorola and Honor have all made foldable devices. In fact, Apple is the only major manufacturer not to have a model on the market. Rumours about a foldable Apple phone have been swirling for some time but they’re now coalescing into something more solid – very solid, in fact, as dummy models of the foldable have now been leaked online....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Arcam MusicBoost is an iPhone battery case with a mission – to improve the audio quality of music (or gameplay audio) from your smartphone. It succeeds on improving audio quality (although maybe not to such a degree as Arcam suggests) so is a good choice for audiophiles who use their iPhone to listen to music. It’s good-looking and lightweight for a battery case, and can extend your daily iPhone usage through its decent added power....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Modern interface Easy to use Packed with tools Cons No single license option Single scan didn’t find everything Our Verdict A solid all-round option for beginners and pros alike, especially if you want to use a PC cleaner on lots of machines. Best Prices Today: Ashampoo WinOptimizer 19 Need to free up some space on your laptop or PC and speed things up while you’re at it?...

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Asus has put some attractive options in the MZ27AQ that would work well for occasional gamers and weekend photographers alike. The Harman Kardon tweaked speakers are especially impressive, give how abysmal monitor audio can often be. The asking price is a little on the high side. But as we’d expect from Asus, this is a high-quality device. Best Prices Today: ASUS Designo MZ27AQ There are lots of people that don’t use their computer for a specific role....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Asus has assembled a fast and lightweight gaming laptop with good results. The 4K-UHD screen is perhaps more about pose than performance, but at full-HD resolution this machine takes Windows games in its stride at high detail. Best Prices Today: Asus G501JW If you like the style of Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro but need a laptop for Windows gaming, the G501JW could be the very machine....

Keen not to compete with other manufacturers for the Computex 2022 spotlight later this month, Asus has taken to the virtual stage ahead of the show to reveal a whole host of upgrades for its laptop range, including its updated Vivobook offering for 2022. Comprised of the Vivobook S and Vivobook Pro, the Vivobook S offers great performance in a lightweight form factor, while the upgraded Vivobook Pro series offers creative-focused features like a dedicated GPU for more power and Asus’ DialPad....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Asus RoG GL552 is a more affordable, lower-spec take on the RoG G752, which is one of the best gaming laptops money can buy right now. Any resemblance is mostly visual, though. Superficial parts of the build are worse, the screen is nowhere near as good and the trackpad is typical slightly annoying Windows laptop fodder. It’s definitely not the perfect laptop. However, in terms of providing a solid gaming experience for your cash, it’s a decent buy....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Asus X102BA only offers modest performance, but could still be good value for money. Its screen and build quality are above average for a cheap Windows laptop, and added extras such MS Office mean that it provides a basic, but functional laptop at a very competitive price. Battery life needs to double though to keep up with modern laptops and tablets. Best Prices Today: Asus X102BA In fact, its 10....