Primate Labs has announced Geekbench 6, an updated version of its popular cross-platform benchmarking app. In line with the increasing power of modern phones and computers, the company has updated the tests it uses in the benchmark to put more stress on these devices’ chipsets. This includes processing larger photo file sizes, larger maps for navigation tests, and bigger PDF samples, plus new tests such as video call background blur, photo filters, and AI object detection....

GiffGaff is one of our favourite mobile networks for teenagers and young adults, offering excellent-value SIM-only plans that have contract-like allowances at PAYG prices, on which it’s impossible to overspend. But GiffGaff isn’t only a purveyor of minutes, messages and data, it also stocks new and refurbished smartphones at some attractive prices. For the Black Friday sale , which runs until Thursday 5 December, GiffGaff is offering up to £100 off smartphones....

The Mini features less audio muscle-power than the full Home, but all the Google Assistant features we know and love, including recent additions such as Bluetooth audio, and support for multiple user accounts and Spotify Free. Sadly, one of its key features has just been removed ahead of release: the ability to wake the Google Assistant by touching the top of the device. This is due to a malfunction with the sensor which has – in a small number of devices – led the Google Assistant to wake and start listening in on conversations when it was not supposed to....

Google made the switch from Nexus to Pixel back in October 2016, and since then has produced some amazing phones, especially for photography . But it has also made some very expensive phones, and part of what consumers loved about Google Nexus was its incredible value for money and affordable price tags. With today’s announcement of the Pixel 3a ( reviewed here ) and 3a XL ( reviewed here ) at I/O 2019 the company has sort of taken a step back....

The Pixel 5a 5G is the latest in Google’s line of mid-range smartphones, offering some of the flagship Pixels’ best features for a whole lot less. Once rumoured to be cancelled entirely, the Pixel 5a is instead only launching in the US and Japan – but we now have the full details on the phone, which is on sale now. Here’s what you need to know. A new generation of Pixel phone is coming....

At its I/O developer conference in 2023, Google released two brand-new products. Alongside its first attempt at a foldable in the form of the Pixel Fold , we also got the Pixel Tablet – an Android tablet with dedicated dock, allowing it to potentially replace your smart display. However, while a decent tablet in its own right, the mandatory dock accessory flattered to deceive. Therefore, it may come as no surprise to learn that Google has now launched a version without the dock, reducing the starting price significantly in the process....

At a Glance Our Verdict The Haier Watch is one of the surprise wearables of MWC 2016 with is gorgeous design (although it does seem like s Huawei Watch copy to some extent) and impressive specs. All for a cheaper price than rivals but we’re keen to see how running regular Android works day-to-day in terms of installing any app you want before giving it our full approval. Best Prices Today: Haier Watch Haier Watch review: Release date and price The Haier Watch is certainly one of the surprise wearables at MWC this year and it will be launching across in Europe in April with a price of €200 which is cheaper than a lot of rivals....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Tight gunplay and a solid, ambitious crack at AAA VR mean that Half-Life: Alyx is one of the big hits of virtual reality. While the combat could be a little too mellow for some, the ambulatory opening is dripping with atmosphere and provides a nice way for players new to VR to get familiar. Best Prices Today: Half-Life: Alyx Virtual reality is in a weird place....

When it comes to content, HBO Max is in a very solid place right now. It’s the home of one of the biggest shows on TV right now, The Last of Us , which was the network’s second-most watched series premiere in over ten years. It has more to come too, with the imminent return of the critically acclaimed Succession for its fourth season. Both series are in line with what HBO is known for: high-quality drama with bulky budgets, just as we’ve seen with Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and The Wire....

Deities, fairies, demons of Hell and other unlikely beings arrived on Netflix with the second season of The Sandman, the dark fantasy following Morpheus, aka Dream. Many fans of the best-selling comic book series have been clamouring for an adaptation for over 30 years. When the dark fantasy finally arrived, the critical reception was positive, and the show was a big hit for Netflix. Therefore, the news of the series’ cancellation came as a painful blow to many viewers....

A big question this time of year is whether you can cook your Christmas dinner in an air fryer. We’ve tested it out and you absolutely can – but that doesn’t mean you should. I’ll explain why below, and suggest some better ways to use your air fryer over Christmas. How to cook Christmas dinner in an air fryer First of all, it’s perfectly possible to cook a Christmas dinner – or any roast – in an air fryer and get excellent results....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Huge battery Striking design Good camera for close-ups Cons No Google services Wide-angled lens No USB-C Our Verdict The big battery is the seller of the budget Honor 9A, but the lack of Google may prove a challenge for many. Best Prices Today: Honor 9A Honor is back with yet another budget smartphone, this time with the Honor 9A. The successor to the Honor 8A comes with some great plus points like long battery life and a decent camera for macro shots, but you’ll have to go without Google Mobile Services....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Stylish design Smooth and easy-to-use software Good battery life Cons Software has a cheap look ECG functionality not live Just the one size option Our Verdict The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is a good-looking smartwatch that offers a nice mix of smarts along with strong battery life, but deserves much nicer software to tie things all together. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined...

In summary: Tech Advisor explores using Google Gemini AI to support elderly relatives through medication management, scam protection, and daily assistance features. The AI assistant offers voice interaction, calendar integration for reminders, and screen sharing to detect fraudulent emails targeting vulnerable seniors. Gemini Live provides accessible communication for older users while helping combat the $3.4 billion lost annually to elder scams. AI is still finding its feet in the world. It has its issues, it’s overhyped in parts, and it’s mindblowingly amazing in others....

When choosing a phone contract, a very important factor is the amount of data available. You definitely don’t want too little, as it could mean you’ll run out long before your monthly allowance renews, but too much will mean you pay for more than you need for the duration of your contract. Here’s our guide on how to work out the amount of data you really need. What uses up the most mobile data?...

We all know ads can be annoying but you don’t have to put up with them if you don’t want to. Here’s how to block ads on Android. Most people know how easy it is to install an adblocker for your desktop or laptop, though not as many know that you can block ads on your Android phone or tablet too. In fact it’s often even easier, with ad-blocking built right into some mobile web browsers, so you don’t need to install anything extra....

If you find that particular people or organisations are bothering you with unwanted emails, you can block them. It won’t stop them from sending any more to you, but you’ll never see them. We show you how to do this on the most popular email services, ensuring that you no longer have to dread opening your inbox. If you’re thinking about switching to a new provider, then see our current pick of the best free email services ....

One of key attractions of Windows 10 is how customisable it is. With a bit of tech know-how, almost every area of the operating system can be modified to your liking. However, one area that is often left relatively untouched is the Start Menu. It’s probably the first thing you click on once your PC or laptop has booted up, but many choose to stick with Microsoft’s default layout. If you’d like to spice up what you see when you click the Windows icon, here are five aspects of the Windows 10 Start Menu that you can customise....

One of the great new features in Android N is Direct Reply, which lets you reply to messages from a notification without opening the app. Here’s how to Direct Reply in Android N. (Also see how to Direct Reply in Android Lollipop and Marshmallow .) Directly replying to a notification couldn’t be simpler, although it doesn’t work with all apps. For example, if you hit Reply on a Gmail message notification Android N will open Gmail for you to draft your message....

If you use the Windows 8.1 Start screen a lot, you’ll know how quickly it can fill up with tiles. When you’ve filled the screen, you’ll have to scroll to the right to see more. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s possible to show more tiles in Windows 8.1 and display extra ones in the same space. We’ll show you how to do just that, with a mixture of system settings and simple resizing....