More than four years after Samsung’s first Galaxy Z Flip was released, it finally feels like modern flip phones are worth buying. The reduction in price has played a big role in that, but also a closing of the hardware gap to flagship phones and genuinely innovative cover displays. You have more choice in 2024 than ever before, too. However, if you buy a new flip phone right now, you’ll almost certainly regret it....

Though the days of Game of Thrones are over, the show hasn’t been erased from existence. Select streaming channels still have all eight seasons available, plus some bonus behind-the-scenes footage. If you’ve never followed the tales of Westeros – or simply want to relive everything once again – here’s everything you need to know about how to catch up on the fantasy epic. If you’re looking for another show to binge, we suggest taking a look at our news round-ups of The Witcher and Star Trek: Picard ....

After a stunning performance in Mare of Easttown, Kate Winslet is back again to make her mark on the small screen. But this time, she’s playing someone far more ridiculous and awful. The A-lister steps into the shoes of Chancellor Elena Vernham, a dictator in charge of a fictional, unnamed country based in the mountains of Central Europe. With a hoity-toity accent and a permanent snoot, she orders her staff around like dogs one minute and then croons to a camera to address her nation (or her “loves”) the next....

For most students, a laptop they can rely on is an indispensable tool. The value of a computer that can go anywhere and run for hours away from mains power can’t be understated – it’s one of the few big purchases you won’t regret. But if recent research from Nvidia and UCAS is to be believed, plenty of students do wish they’d chosen more wisely and spent a bit more. More than a third (37%) of 600 UK students surveyed said they regretted buying the laptop that they ended up choosing, with close to half (48%) believing they hadn’t done enough research before buying....

If you find that your phone takes longer to recharge than it used to or just wonder why other people’s devices charge faster than yours, there are several things that might be causing your device to stick to the slow lane. Here are a quick collection of tips to try if you want to put the spring back into your smartphone’s step – charging-wise. Check your cables The first place to start – as it’s often a culprit – is with the cable you use to charge the device....

Each year on May 4th, people celebrate Star Wars, but the day is also marked annually by World Password Day. Far more boring, yes, but also much more important. Important, that is, for the security of any account you happen to hold online. It’s a well-known fact that far too many people still use the same password for different accounts – maybe even all of them. It doesn’t take a tech expert to figure out that this is extremely risky....

The Surface Duo – a foldable Android phone – was first unveiled almost three years ago, but Microsoft has taken a cautious approach to new hardware since then. Just one follow-up – the Duo 2 – was released, and it looks like there’ll be no third generation until 2023. However, that’s only been the plan for the last few months. According to Windows Central , Microsoft scrapped plans for a cheaper version of the Surface Duo in late 2021, but that didn’t stop it leaking on eBay recently....

The first episode of Digital Defenders is available to listen on Spotify and iTunes Slowly but surely VPN is becoming a household word. There are three main reasons why you’d want to use a VPN: to browse the web anonymously without being tracked, to make it safe to use public Wi-Fi which isn’t protected by a password and, third, to unblock websites or content that you can’t otherwise access. When we asked Tech Advisor readers about using a VPN, we found that the majority – 67 percent – of those who already used one did so for privacy online....

Microsoft has announced that it will temporarily stop delivering previews of upcoming Windows 10 updates. These are usually released weekly to members of the Windows Insider Program , allowing users to road test new features before they’re officially rolled out. The Beta and Release Preview channels are being temporarily suspended, with Microsoft concentrating on smaller cumulative updates in the more experimental Dev channel. Microsoft confirmed the news in an official blog post detailing Build 21390....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Solid performance Great cameras for the price 120W fast charging Impressively affordable Cons Underwhelming battery life MIUI not for everyone No wireless charging Our Verdict With the 12T, Xiaomi has managed to deliver flagship performance and cameras at a mid-range price. But patchy battery life and MIUI prevent it from being an easy recommendation. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi 12T Xiaomi releases dozens of phones every year, so it can be hard to figure out where new releases fit in the company’s lineup....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Having high blood pressure can kill you, and keeping tabs on it is hugely important. The Xiaomi iHealth Smart Blood Pressure Monitor makes doing so easy, and over standard blood pressure monitors allows you to track data over time. At £30 it’s well-made, affordable, and it might just help to save your life. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi iHealth Smart Blood Pressure Dock (Bluetooth) High blood pressure can lead to serious health problems....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict With a tougher band addressing our issues with the original, and a new heart-rate sensor bringing it into line with rival activity trackers, you quite simply won’t find a better-value fitness band than the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse. It still falls down on social interaction, apps and its use of a proprietary charging cable, but given the price we can accept these shortcomings....

The Xiaomi Mix 4 was a flagship device from the Chinese company that didn’t make it to many territories outside of Asia. Now, a year or so later, there’s plenty of expectation about what Xiaomi will do with its successor the Mix 5. Could we see it in the West or do the rumours about its cancellation have any merit? Here’s all we know about the Xiaomi Mix 5. When will the Xiaomi Mix 5 be released?...

Those looking for an Android tablet will welcome the news that Xiaomi is releasing at least one of its new models internationally. Already available in China and India, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is now available to buy in the UK. Here’s what you need to know about the highly anticipated Xiaomi Pad 6 and Pad 6 Pro. When will the Xiaomi Pad 6 be released worldwide? Xiaomi revealed the Pad 6 and Pad 6 Pro in China on 18 April, at the same event where it unveiled the Xiaomi 13 Ultra phone and the Xiaomi Band 8 wearable....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros First AMOLED display in the M-range Improved 64MP camera Easy-to-manage design Solid battery life Cons No 5G MIUI still not fantastic Doesn’t prove exceptional in a competitive field Pointless macro lens Our Verdict The Poco M4 Pro offers another winning combination of decent specs at a budget price. If you don’t need 5G then you get a superior AMOLED display, a sharper 64Mp main camera and more memory as standard....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Excellent charging speed Very capable main camera sensor Premium design and finish Cons Performance issues Stale software with lots of bloatware Very similar to its predecessor Our Verdict The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is a capable mid-range contender with excellent charging speeds and a strong main camera, but dated secondary cameras and lack of meaningful upgrades make it feel like a half-step forward. Price When Reviewed...

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 may not be best suited to UK users out of the box, but with some simple setup tweaks it is an excellent budget Android phone with a fantastic design and performance for the price. Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Xiaomi’s phones aren’t officially sold in the UK , but while the brand may not be well known to us Brits it’s bigger than Apple and Samsung in China – and tomorrow (1 June) the Redmi Note 3 will go on open sale in India....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The 2GB RAM model we reviewed lacks features compared to the better-specced Redmi Note 5A options that cost only slightly more. There’s no fingerprint scanner, a slower processor, a less impressive selfie camera and less memory and storage. But none of this takes away from the fact this super-budget smartphone offers extraordinary value under £70. It doesn’t excel at any one particular thing, but it is capable for less demanding users and nicely designed for a plastic phone....

Xiaomi has finally announced the Mix Flip 2, a formidable-looking new flip phone. Driven by a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and with a huge 5,165mAh battery, it’s looking to outgun the Galaxy Z Flip 7 , which launches on 9 July. However, unlike Samsung’s device, the Mix Flip 2 will initially be limited to China, with no word on a potential global launch. That battery capacity is a standout spec here, as it’s quite a bit larger than any of its rivals....

To badly paraphrase The Beatles, it was 40 years ago today, that Clive Sinclair taught the world to play. Well, technically the 40 th anniversary of the ZX Spectrum was on 23 April 2022, so this will have to be a slightly belated tribute. But, such is the importance of that little metal-and-rubber wonder that I couldn’t let such a momentous occasion pass without paying my respects. On 23 April 1982, arguably the most important computer in the history of consumer electronics was launched....