The Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is an underwhelming name for an event that has hosted some of the biggest moments in Apple history — and the next installment kicks off later today.

From Steve Jobs' shock 2005 announcement that Macs would be switching to Intel chips to Tim Cook revealing the Vision Pro in 2023, the event has become a must-watch for tech fans of all stripes, whether you're a developer or not.

The first WWDC back in 1983 was a secretive event that gave insiders a first look at the Apple Lisa. But it wasn't until Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 that the event really started to build into the software and tech showcase it is today.

With outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook preparing to host his final WWDC today, before handing the reins over to John Ternus, we've made a chronological trip down memory lane showing classic photos from the event's modern era to give you a taste of its biggest moments — and also test your Apple memory...

The second Steve Jobs era

The Tim Cook era

Not enough nostalgia for you? Play our Apple quiz...

Microsoft Build is the company's annual developer conference, running every year since 2011. This year, it has a clear organizing theme: AI agents. Scheduled for June 2 and 3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, it's the first time Build has left Seattle since 2016.

Microsoft has kept in-person attendance to around 2,500 developers, with Satya Nadella delivering an opening keynote framed around "creating new opportunities for developers across our platforms in this era of AI." With a smaller attendance capacity and tight event schedule, Microsoft is hoping to make this the defining event for its AI-native products.

Last year, Microsoft Build produced more than 50 announcements across GitHub Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, and the Model Context Protocol (MCP), establishing autonomous coding agents and multi-agent orchestration as the central developer story. A year on, much of that tooling has graduated from preview to production. Build 2026 is expected to show where it goes next.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

AI-native programming at Build 2026: What to expect

Microsoft has organized the Build 2026 session catalog across seven tracks, with Agents & Apps, GitHub, and developer productivity at the top of the agenda. Developer tooling announcements are expected to reflect the company's central framing for the event: 'agents.'

GitHub Copilot's autonomous coding agent, first announced at Build 2025, has had a year in real-world deployments. The agent can pick up a GitHub Issue, spin up an isolated environment through GitHub Actions, work through the task, and open a pull request for human review. Build 2026 is expected to show the next generation of that capability, including multi-agent coding workflows and deeper integration between GitHub and Azure services.

On the platform side, Azure AI Foundry is likely to receive significant additions. Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 reached general availability in April 2026, giving .NET and Python developers a production-ready SDK for multi-agent orchestration. Sessions at Build are expected to show how that framework connects to Foundry's agent runtime, managed memory, and observability tooling at scale.

Microsoft has also been pushing AI capabilities to the device layer. Windows AI PCs carrying Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, Intel Core Ultra, and AMD Ryzen AI processors have been on the market for two years. The developer tooling is finally matching the hardware. Build sessions are expected to cover Windows Copilot Runtime APIs that target on-device NPUs, enabling a hybrid architecture where simpler inference tasks run locally and complex ones go to the cloud.

What ties these announcements together is a shared direction. You describe what you want, agents handle the execution, and the developer's role shifts toward directing and reviewing rather than writing every line. Whether that model holds up in production across complex workloads is a central question Build 2026 is expected to start answering.

What is intent-first programming?

The phrase "intent-first programming" describes a model where you express what you want a system to do, rather than writing the instructions for how to do it. Where traditional development requires authoring explicit syntax and logic, intent-first tools accept natural language descriptions and translate them into working code. That translation layer is now embedded in GitHub Copilot Agent Mode, the Copilot Studio Agentic Workflow Builder (which reached general availability on May 20, 2026), and GitHub Spark.

For you as a developer, this changes the nature of the work in specific ways. You spend less time writing boilerplate and more time reviewing, redirecting, and validating what the agent produces. Writing a precise prompt that accurately conveys scope and constraints becomes at least as important as syntax proficiency, while interpreting and auditing generated code still requires solid technical understanding.

The risks that come with this model are real and worth naming. AI-generated code can carry security vulnerabilities, performance inefficiencies, and subtle logic errors that pass visual inspection. Cybersecurity researchers have documented these problems across multiple vibe coding and AI-assisted development platforms. Intent-first programming accelerates the path from idea to running code, but it doesn't remove the need for a technically informed person in the loop.

What’s the difference between code-first and intent-first?

Everything we know of Microsoft's plans for AI at Build

Microsoft has been laying this groundwork in public across 2025 and early 2026. The tools arriving at Build 2026 aren't appearing from scratch; they've been maturing through preview cycles, with Build serving as the venue where Microsoft maps out how they fit together as a production stack.

Enterprise demand has also moved in this direction. A PwC study cited by Microsoft found that eight in ten enterprises now use some form of agent-based AI. Appetite for tooling that handles entire workflows, not just isolated code suggestions, has grown accordingly.

Agent Mode on GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot Agent Mode is now generally available and built directly into Visual Studio Code. In agent mode, you describe a task in natural language. Copilot then plans the approach, edits files across your codebase, runs terminal commands with your explicit approval, and iterates until the result matches your specification. The system supports third-party agents from providers including Anthropic and OpenAI alongside Copilot's own built-in agents.

The asynchronous coding agent adds another layer on top.

You assign a GitHub Issue to the agent. It spins up an isolated environment through GitHub Actions, works through the task in the background, and files a pull request for you to review when it's done. This capability is available on Pro, Pro+, Business, and Enterprise Copilot plans.

Build 2026 is expected to show what's next for these agents, including multi-agent coding workflows inside VS Code.

GitHub Spark , NLP, and semantic code search

GitHub Spark is a natural language app builder that lets you describe an application in plain English and receive working code with a live preview. Currently available to Pro+ and Enterprise subscribers, it's Microsoft's most direct response to dedicated vibe coding platforms. Build 2026 is a likely venue for updates on Spark's broader availability and expanded capabilities.

Semantic code search, also introduced in 2026, works on a different principle. Rather than matching keywords, it uses embeddings that understand code intent: searching for a "login bug" can surface authentication middleware and session handling logic even if those files never use the word "login." Together, Spark and semantic search point toward a development environment that understands what you mean, not just what you type.

Azure AI Foundry and Microsoft Agent Framework

Azure AI Foundry, which replaced Azure AI Studio in November 2024, has expanded steadily into a unified platform for building AI applications. The February 2026 update introduced multi-agent orchestration, MCP support, hosted agents, and sovereign local deployment options. Developers can now define agents in YAML, run two CLI commands, and have Foundry provision compute, register endpoints, and return a production-ready URL.

Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 reaching general availability in April 2026 gave .NET and Python developers a commercial-grade SDK that converges two former research projects, AutoGen and Semantic Kernel, into a single runtime. Build 2026 is expected to detail how teams can use Agent Framework to connect Foundry agents, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and external tools through standardized A2A and MCP interfaces, moving multi-agent systems from experimental territory into enterprise operations.

Windows Copilot Runtime for on-device inference

Windows Copilot Runtime provides APIs that route AI inference to the NPU in AI-capable Windows machines. Build sessions are expected to cover new capabilities within the Windows App SDK, including Vision, Language, and Speech models that run entirely offline. For you as a Windows developer, this matters because it changes what's architecturally feasible without cloud connectivity.

Microsoft is also expected to announce an "AI Foundry for Windows" SDK that bundles ONNX Runtime, DirectML, and the Copilot Runtime into a single NuGet package. That would simplify on-device AI integration considerably, removing the need to wire together separate components.

The Windows Agent Arena developer sandbox, first announced at Ignite 2025, is also expected to get its first public workshop at Build.

What you should be thinking about as a developer

The shift toward intent-first tooling doesn't mean you can step back from understanding the code. If anything, your judgment becomes more consequential, because you're now the final check on a system that can produce hundreds of lines of plausible-looking code in seconds. Knowing when generated code is correct, when it's fragile, and when it introduces risk still requires technical depth.

Prompt quality matters more than most developers currently expect. Agents interpret ambiguous instructions literally or fill gaps with assumptions. Those assumptions may not match your production environment. Writing specifications that are clear about scope, constraints, and edge cases is a skill worth developing deliberately before agent-based workflows become the default on your team.

More than anything, though, the security review is a necessary step we'd urge you not to skip. Research from cybersecurity firms has documented critical vulnerabilities in AI-generated code across multiple platforms, from authentication bypass flaws to exposed environment variables. Build 2026 has a dedicated Responsible AI track and the compliance and safety tooling arriving through Foundry and GitHub suggests Microsoft is aware that this remains an open problem.

For now, treating generated code with the same scrutiny you'd apply to a pull request from a junior developer is a reasonable baseline until these tools mature further.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

Microsoft Build 2026 takes place on June 2 and 3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, marking the first time the conference has left Seattle since 2016. With in-person tickets priced at $1,099 and capacity capped at around 2,500 developers, this year's event is deliberately compact, built around a single theme: AI agents.

Satya Nadella headlines the opening keynote, with two days of technical sessions from GitHub, Azure, and Windows teams covering the practical side of shipping AI agents and building on Windows as an inference platform.

The best way to get something practical out of Build is to show up already familiar with the tools being discussed. This article rounds up 50 products and platforms from across Microsoft's developer, productivity, and IT ecosystem that you can start using for free right now. We've organized them into eight categories so you can find what's relevant to your work and begin exploring before the June 2 keynote.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

What to expect from Build 2026

Build 2026 centers on a single argument: that shipping AI agents is no longer a specialist challenge reserved for research teams but an expected part of mainstream software development. Microsoft spent the 12 months after Build 2025 maturing the tools it announced at that event, including the general availability of Azure AI Foundry Agent Service and the merging of Semantic Kernel and AutoGen into a unified developer SDK. The session catalog reflects that shift, moving from introducing the concept of agentic AI to showing how production deployments actually work.

GitHub is set to take a prominent role at this year's event, with GitHub COO Kyle Daigle confirmed as a keynote presence. Sessions in the published catalog cover Copilot's fleet mode and autopilot capabilities, which let the Copilot CLI handle multi-step coding tasks across an entire codebase without per-step human input. Deeper integration between GitHub and Azure is also expected, along with multi-agent coding workflows running directly inside VS Code.

Azure AI Foundry headlines the cloud development story, with announcements likely to focus on combined model routing across OpenAI and open-source alternatives, small language models optimized for on-device inference on Windows NPU hardware, and tighter connections to Azure Cosmos DB and Azure AI Search. Microsoft faces a more competitive AI infrastructure market than it did a year ago, with AWS expanding Bedrock's model catalog and Google's newly announced Antigravity platform pitching itself as the developer-first agentic infrastructure option. Microsoft's response at Build 2026 appears to lean on its enterprise distribution advantages, particularly its 300-million-plus Microsoft 365 users and its deep Azure cloud commitments.

Windows also gets a new story at Build 2026, not just as an operating system but as a deployment platform for AI agents. Sessions are expected to cover the Windows AI Runtime, NPU passthrough in WSL 3, and an architecture where an agent built on a developer's laptop can scale to Azure without a separate codebase. That positions Windows against cloud-native agent platforms by turning its billion-device installed base into a deployment advantage.

Microsoft is giving Responsible AI its own dedicated track at Build 2026, covering safety frameworks, compliance tooling, and developer-facing governance controls for AI-powered systems in production. The decision to make this a named track is notable given the volume of enterprise security incidents in 2025 and the pace of AI regulation in the EU and US. If you're building AI features for enterprise customers or regulated industries, those sessions are likely to be among the most directly applicable content at the conference.

50 free Microsoft tools to try ahead of Build 2026

You don't need to wait until June 2 to start exploring what Microsoft's developer ecosystem looks like today. A significant portion of the company's tooling is either completely free or available through always-free service tiers that cover genuine workloads. Some of these tools have been around for years; others are recent additions that will likely come up directly in Build sessions.

We've organized the 50 tools into eight categories: developer tools, AI and machine learning, cloud infrastructure, productivity and collaboration, data and analytics, security and identity, IT administration, and low-code and automation platforms. The goal is to highlight what's most relevant to developers, product managers, and IT teams heading into Build 2026, not to catalogue every Microsoft product.

One quick note on what counts as "free" across this list. Some tools are completely free with no usage limits: VS Code, PowerShell, and Playwright being the most obvious examples. Others have always-free service tiers where the included quota covers real workloads, like Azure Functions (1 million executions per month) or Azure Cosmos DB (25 GB of storage). Where a free trial applies, such as Copilot Studio's 60-day offering, we've noted the time limit.

Developer tools

These are the building blocks of the Microsoft developer experience: the editors, runtimes, terminals, and testing frameworks that most developers working in the ecosystem use every day.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is Microsoft's free, open-source code editor, running on Windows, macOS, and Linux with a library of more than 50,000 extensions covering virtually every language and workflow. Its built-in Git integration, debugger, and integrated terminal let you write, test, and version your code without switching between applications.

What sets VS Code apart from other free editors is its remote development framework, which lets you connect to containers, WSL environments, and remote machines through SSH as if they were local folders. Native GitHub Copilot support is built directly into the interface, and most of Microsoft's agentic coding demos at Build events use it as the primary development surface.

If you're preparing for Build 2026 specifically, the Azure Tools extension pack is worth installing. It adds direct access to Azure resources from the editor sidebar, and the Dev Containers extension is useful for replicating the kind of containerized development environments that appear throughout Microsoft's AI tooling demos.

GitHub Free

GitHub Free gives you unlimited public and private repositories alongside basic CI/CD through GitHub Actions, with 2,000 hosted compute minutes per month on public repositories. Issues, Projects, Discussions, and the full code review toolset are all included at no cost.

The free plan is the entry point for GitHub Copilot and the natural starting point for contributing to open-source projects in the Microsoft ecosystem. If you're planning to follow the Copilot sessions at Build 2026, having a GitHub account with some repository history makes the live demos considerably more actionable.

GitHub Copilot Free

GitHub Copilot Free gives you up to 2,000 inline code completions and 50 premium chat requests per month, with access to models including GPT-4.1 and Claude Sonnet across VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and Neovim. The monthly cap makes this tier most useful as a way to decide whether AI-assisted coding changes your workflow before committing to a paid plan.

What makes the free tier informative is that the same model infrastructure powering the paid tiers runs underneath it. You're testing the real product rather than a limited preview, which means any workflow habits you form on the free tier carry over directly if you upgrade.

The model choice available on the free tier is worth paying attention to. Both GPT-4.1 and Claude Sonnet are production-grade models capable of meaningful code generation and debugging assistance, so the free tier gives you a realistic sense of what AI-assisted development feels like, not a stripped-down demo.

.NET SDK

The .NET SDK is Microsoft's free, open-source platform for building web, desktop, cloud, mobile, and game applications in C#, F#, and Visual Basic. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and bundles the runtime, core libraries, and CLI toolchain needed to compile and run .NET applications locally.

If you're coming to Build 2026 for the Azure AI Foundry sessions, having the .NET SDK installed beforehand makes a real difference. Most of Microsoft's Semantic Kernel and Azure SDK code samples ship as .NET projects, and the CLI tooling integrates directly with Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions pipelines.

ASP.NET Core, which ships with the SDK, is Microsoft's recommended framework for building HTTP APIs and lightweight backend services. If you're working on the service layer for an AI-powered application or need API endpoints for an Azure Functions-based workflow, ASP.NET Core is worth getting familiar with before the Build sessions on Azure AI Foundry integration.

Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal is a free, modern terminal for Windows with support for multiple tabs, split panes, and configurable profiles for Command Prompt, PowerShell, WSL, and SSH connections. It's available from the Microsoft Store and ships as the default terminal in Windows 11.

The practical case for switching from legacy console windows is straightforward: working across PowerShell, Azure CLI, and a WSL environment simultaneously in a single window removes friction that adds up quickly during a day of infrastructure or DevOps work. Once you've used it, managing three separate console windows feels clunky by comparison.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

WSL lets you run a full Linux environment directly on Windows without a virtual machine, with direct file system access between Windows and Linux and GPU acceleration through WSL 2. It's particularly valuable for teams whose production workloads run on Linux while developers use Windows machines.

WSL 3 is expected at Build 2026 in the context of NPU passthrough, which would allow Linux environments to access Windows PC NPU hardware for on-device AI inference. Running WSL now gives you the foundation to evaluate those capabilities as soon as Microsoft's documentation lands after the conference.

Getting comfortable with a Linux environment on Windows has also become more relevant as more developer tooling, particularly in AI and machine learning, assumes a Linux or Unix-like environment. Running Jupyter notebooks, containerized models, or Python-based agent frameworks through WSL removes the compatibility issues that otherwise surface when that tooling runs natively on Windows.

Dev Home

Dev Home is a free Windows application providing a developer dashboard for monitoring CPU, GPU, memory, and network performance in real time, alongside a guided setup flow for configuring a new machine from scratch. It connects to GitHub for cloning repositories, tracking pull requests, and monitoring CI status from the desktop.

The machine setup flow is particularly useful for teams that onboard developers regularly. Rather than maintaining a setup wiki that inevitably falls out of date, Dev Home lets you define a machine configuration as a JSON spec file and apply it to a new machine in a single step.

The GitHub integration is also worth setting up if you maintain multiple repositories. Seeing your open pull requests and CI status in a dashboard without switching to the browser reduces the context-switching overhead that accumulates quickly during a typical development day.

WinGet (Windows Package Manager)

WinGet is Microsoft's official command-line package manager for Windows, letting you install, update, and remove software from a curated repository with a single command. It's comparable in approach to Homebrew on macOS or apt on Debian Linux, with the package catalog covering developer tools, browsers, and common productivity applications.

WinGet scripts integrate directly with Dev Home's setup flow and are increasingly common in CI provisioning pipelines for configuring fresh Windows runners. If you're building automated development environment setup into your team's workflow, WinGet is where that work starts on Windows.

The package catalog is community-maintained through the winget-pkgs repository on GitHub, where new packages are added through pull requests reviewed by Microsoft. If a tool you need isn't in the catalog yet, submitting it is straightforward. Microsoft's review process ensures the catalog stays reliable.

PowerShell

PowerShell is Microsoft's cross-platform shell and scripting framework, free and open-source, running on Windows, macOS, and Linux as a consistent automation layer across different environments. PowerShell 7 is the current release and the standard choice for Azure CLI automation, infrastructure scripting, and DevOps pipeline work throughout the Microsoft ecosystem.

One of its less obvious strengths is that it works with system objects rather than plain text as command output. That makes it significantly easier to pipe data between commands without parsing strings, which matters when you're scripting against Azure APIs or automating multi-step administrative tasks where accuracy is non-negotiable.

The Az module, installed via Install-Module Az, extends PowerShell with cmdlets for every major Azure service. If you prefer cmdlet-based scripting to Azure CLI commands, the Az module gives you the same coverage through PowerShell syntax. It's the standard approach throughout Microsoft's Azure documentation for PowerShell examples.

Playwright

Playwright is Microsoft's open-source browser testing framework for end-to-end tests against Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit, with support for JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, .NET, and Java. It includes a built-in test runner, a trace viewer for debugging failures, and a code generation tool that records user interactions as test scripts.

Beyond web testing, Playwright is increasingly used to drive browser-based interactions in AI agent workflows. If you're building agents that need to navigate web interfaces as part of their task execution, Playwright provides a controlled, scriptable browser environment with a mature API and active community maintenance.

An active community project, microsoft/playwright-mcp, exposes Playwright as an MCP server, making it straightforward to add browser control as a tool available to AI agents built with Semantic Kernel or AutoGen. That pattern is directly relevant to the agentic workflow sessions at Build 2026.

AI, multi-agent systems, and machine learning

These tools reflect the direction Microsoft is taking at Build 2026. Several are worth exploring before the keynote to make the sessions more immediately actionable.

Microsoft Copilot

The free tier of Microsoft Copilot is available at copilot.microsoft.com without a Microsoft 365 subscription, built on OpenAI models and accessible in your browser for drafting, summarizing, researching, and generating code. Daily usage limits apply on the free plan, but the core capabilities are the same as in the paid tier.

Microsoft Copilot is the consumer-facing layer of the same AI infrastructure powering GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Using it regularly before Build 2026 gives you a grounded sense of where its capabilities are useful and where they fall short, which makes the Copilot architecture sessions considerably more meaningful in context.

AutoGen

AutoGen is an open-source framework from Microsoft Research for building multi-agent AI systems, where specialized agents collaborate asynchronously to complete complex tasks. It supports tool use, human-in-the-loop checkpoints, and direct agent-to-agent communication, and it's one of the most widely adopted agentic frameworks in production environments outside of Microsoft's own products.

AutoGen and Semantic Kernel have been converging over the past year into a unified developer SDK, and that integration story is expected to feature prominently at Build 2026. Running the AutoGen sample notebooks locally beforehand is one of the fastest ways to understand what Microsoft's agentic framework architecture actually looks like in practice.

The sample notebooks on GitHub walk through patterns from simple two-agent conversations to complex multi-agent pipelines with tool use and memory. Running them gives you a concrete reference point for evaluating the framework's capabilities before the Build sessions on the merged Semantic Kernel and AutoGen SDK.

Semantic Kernel

Semantic Kernel is Microsoft's open-source SDK for connecting large language models to existing application code and organizational data. It has official support for C#, Python, and Java, and covers memory management, multi-step planning, and plugin orchestration across model providers. The framework underpins Microsoft's own Copilot products internally.

Understanding Semantic Kernel gives you direct insight into the architecture behind Microsoft's first-party AI features. If you're building AI capabilities into a .NET or Python application and want a framework that mirrors how Microsoft's own teams build Copilot integrations, Semantic Kernel is the reference implementation to study.

The plugin model is its most practical feature for teams with existing codebases. You can expose any .NET or Python function as a plugin that Semantic Kernel can call as part of a multi-step AI workflow, which means your existing business logic becomes available to an AI agent without a rewrite.

Phi-4

Phi-4 is Microsoft's small language model released as open weights on Hugging Face, designed for on-device inference at 14 billion parameters and optimized for modern Windows PC hardware with an NPU. It performs competitively with much larger models on reasoning and coding benchmarks despite its smaller footprint.

The practical case for Phi-4 is latency and data privacy. Running inference locally on NPU hardware avoids the round-trip to a cloud API and keeps sensitive inputs on the device. Build 2026's Windows AI Runtime sessions are expected to focus on exactly this kind of on-device deployment pattern, so experimenting with Phi-4 beforehand gives you a concrete reference point.

Running Phi-4 locally is straightforward with Ollama, available for Windows, which takes a few minutes from download to first inference. If you want to evaluate on-device performance specifically, pulling the model through Ollama and testing it against a sample dataset gives you a realistic baseline for what Windows NPU inference is likely to deliver once WSL 3 support arrives.

Azure AI Foundry (free exploration)

Azure AI Foundry's web portal lets you browse, compare, and test models from Microsoft's catalog, including OpenAI models, Phi models, and open-source alternatives from Meta and Mistral, without a paid subscription. Some models carry usage limits at the free tier, but the catalog browsing and prompt testing features are fully accessible.

The playground interface is a fast way to compare how different models handle the same prompt, which is useful context heading into the multi-model routing sessions at Build 2026. Microsoft has been positioning Azure AI Foundry as the hub for agent development, so familiarity with its interface makes the conference sessions more immediately applicable to your own work.

ONNX Runtime

ONNX Runtime is an open-source inference engine maintained by Microsoft for running trained machine learning models across CPU, GPU, and NPU hardware with a consistent cross-platform API. It supports models exported from PyTorch, TensorFlow, and scikit-learn, and it's the runtime layer behind on-device AI features in Windows and Microsoft Office.

For developers building AI features that need to run at the edge or on client hardware rather than in the cloud, ONNX Runtime removes the hardware dependency from the model itself. You train on whatever framework you prefer, export to ONNX format, and run the same inference code across different device types without rewriting the integration layer.

Responsible AI Toolbox

The Responsible AI Toolbox is a free, open-source toolkit from Microsoft for diagnosing model errors, bias, and fairness issues in machine learning pipelines. Its components cover error analysis, fairness assessment, and model explainability, and the toolkit integrates with Azure Machine Learning while also running fully standalone.

Given that Responsible AI has its own dedicated track at Build 2026, exploring this toolkit before the conference puts you in a position to evaluate Microsoft's governance recommendations against tools you can actually use today. For teams building AI features for enterprise customers or regulated industries, the error analysis component is worth understanding before deploying anything to production.

That component is the most practically useful starting point. It surfaces cohort-based error analysis showing you not just overall model accuracy but where the model fails most often (broken down by feature values), which is exactly the kind of evidence regulators and enterprise customers are increasingly asking development teams to provide.

Prompt Flow

Prompt Flow is Microsoft's open-source toolkit for building, evaluating, and deploying LLM-based applications and prompt pipelines. It supports local development, automated evaluation against test datasets, and CI/CD integration through GitHub Actions, with a connection to Azure AI Foundry for cloud-based evaluation runs.

Where Semantic Kernel handles runtime orchestration of AI applications, Prompt Flow handles the development and testing lifecycle: defining flows as visual DAGs, running batch evaluations, and tracking quality metrics across prompt iterations. For teams building RAG pipelines or multi-step AI workflows, it fills a gap that most general-purpose frameworks leave unaddressed.

Cloud infrastructure

Azure's free tier is broader than most developers realize, covering compute, storage, databases, container platforms, and AI services. All of the tools below are directly relevant to the cloud topics at Build 2026.

Azure Free Account

New Azure accounts receive a $200 credit valid for the first 30 days, 12 months of free access to a selection of popular services including virtual machines and databases, and permanent always-free tiers across more than 65 services. It's the most direct way to get hands-on time with Azure infrastructure before Build 2026 without any financial commitment.

The distinction between the 12-month free services and the always-free services matters for planning. The 12-month tier includes Azure Virtual Machines (750 hours per month) and Azure SQL Database, which expire after a year. The always-free services (including Azure Functions, Cosmos DB, and Container Apps) have no expiration, so projects built on those tiers won't start billing when the initial credit period ends.

Azure Functions (always-free tier)

Azure Functions permanently includes 1 million free executions and 400,000 GB-seconds of resource consumption per month on the consumption plan. This is not a time-limited trial but an ongoing always-free allocation, well-suited for event-driven workloads, lightweight API backends, and scheduled automation tasks where you'd rather not manage server infrastructure.

The consumption plan charges only for the compute time your function actually uses, which makes it a natural fit for workloads with variable or intermittent traffic. For the early stages of an agentic workflow where a function handles webhook callbacks or lightweight orchestration steps, the free tier is typically sufficient.

Azure Static Web Apps (free tier)

Azure Static Web Apps offers a free tier with built-in CI/CD from GitHub and Azure DevOps, custom domain support, automatic SSL certificates, and globally distributed content delivery through Azure CDN. Deployments trigger automatically when you push to a connected GitHub branch, with no separate deployment configuration required.

It's worth considering for any project where the frontend is static and backend logic lives in Azure Functions or another API layer. The combination of Static Web Apps for hosting and Functions for compute is a common Azure pattern for serverless full-stack applications, and the free tier of both services covers it without any cost.

Azure Container Apps (free tier)

Azure Container Apps is a serverless container platform with a permanent free monthly allocation of 180,000 vCPU-seconds and 360,000 GiB-seconds of memory, enough to run a containerized service under development load without incurring costs. Scaling, service discovery, and ingress configuration are handled automatically by the platform.

The main advantage over running containers directly on Kubernetes is that Azure Container Apps removes the cluster management layer entirely. For teams deploying AI agent runtimes or microservice components that need to scale to zero when not in use, the serverless container model is a better fit than maintaining a cluster that idles between workloads.

Dapr sidecar support is worth noting for teams building distributed agent systems. Dapr adds service discovery, pub/sub messaging, and state management alongside your container, which simplifies the infrastructure code needed to connect multiple agent containers into a coordinated workflow without custom middleware.

Azure DevOps (free for small teams)

Azure DevOps gives five users free access to Boards, Repos, Pipelines, Artifacts, and Test Plans, with 1,800 CI/CD minutes per month on Microsoft-hosted agents and unlimited free users for public projects. It's a complete software delivery platform with native integration into Azure deployments and GitHub repositories.

For teams already working in the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure DevOps Pipelines integrates with GitHub Actions, Azure CLI, and Bicep in ways that reduce the configuration overhead of connecting code repositories to cloud deployments. The free tier covers a small team's CI/CD needs without requiring any third-party tooling.

Azure Artifacts, included on the free tier, hosts private npm, NuGet, Maven, and Python packages within your organization. If your team maintains internal shared libraries, Artifacts removes the overhead of running a separate package registry and connects directly with Pipelines so packages are always in sync with your build output.

Azure Cosmos DB (free tier)

Azure Cosmos DB's always-free tier provides 1,000 request units per second and 25 GB of storage per account on a permanent basis, not as a trial. It's available in one free-tier account per Azure subscription and covers real workloads for development and light production traffic.

Cosmos DB is relevant to the Build 2026 sessions in a specific way: it now includes native vector search, making it a candidate for storing and querying embeddings in RAG-based applications directly alongside operational data. The free tier is enough to prototype a vector search integration without setting up a separate vector database service.

The change feed is worth exploring for event-driven agentic architectures. It provides a persistent, ordered log of all writes to a Cosmos DB container, which you can process with an Azure Functions trigger to kick off downstream workflows whenever new data arrives. It's a pattern that appears frequently in Microsoft's agentic reference architectures published ahead of Build 2026.

Azure AI Search (free tier)

Azure AI Search's always-free tier includes one search service with one index, 50 MB of document storage, and indexing capacity for up to 10,000 documents. It supports full-text search, faceted filtering, and semantic ranking using Microsoft's pre-built language models.

The free tier is the standard starting point for prototyping RAG pipelines and vector search applications. Azure AI Search handles the retrieval side of a retrieval-augmented generation architecture, and its integration with Azure AI Foundry and Azure OpenAI makes the connection between the search index and the model straightforward to configure.

The semantic ranker is particularly worth exploring for RAG applications, as it reranks results based on language understanding rather than keyword frequency alone. That produces more contextually relevant retrieval, which directly improves the quality of generated answers when Azure AI Search feeds into an Azure OpenAI or Azure AI Foundry pipeline.

Productivity and collaboration

Microsoft's free productivity offerings have expanded significantly over the past few years. Several of them now include Copilot integration that makes them worth revisiting even if you've used them before.

Microsoft 365 Online

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote are all free in your browser with a Microsoft account, supporting real-time co-authoring, version history, and OneDrive cloud storage. The web apps handle the large majority of common document and spreadsheet tasks without a paid subscription or a desktop install.

Microsoft has been adding Copilot features progressively to the web apps, with some AI capabilities now accessible on the free tier. If you're evaluating whether Microsoft 365 Copilot justifies a paid plan, using the web apps with a free account is a reasonable way to assess the baseline before making that decision.

OneDrive

OneDrive provides 5 GB of cloud storage free with any personal Microsoft account, syncing automatically across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It's the storage layer underlying Teams file sharing and the Microsoft 365 web apps, so files you create in Word or Excel online land in OneDrive by default.

For most developer workflows, OneDrive is less central than it is for general productivity use. A free Microsoft account does give you cloud-synced storage for personal document management without a separate service, and the sync client on Windows is stable and unobtrusive enough to run in the background without any friction.

Microsoft Teams Free

Teams' free plan supports group meetings up to 60 minutes with up to 100 participants, unlimited chat, file sharing through OneDrive, and collaborative editing of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. It's a workable option for small teams that don't need extended meeting times or full Microsoft 365 integration.

The main constraint is the 60-minute meeting cap. For teams that hold regular meetings under an hour it's sufficient, but longer calls, recordings, and transcription features require a paid Microsoft 365 plan.

Outlook.com

Outlook.com is Microsoft's personal email service, free with a Microsoft account, providing 15 GB of mailbox storage alongside a calendar and contacts manager. Copilot integration is now available on the free plan for drafting and summarizing emails directly from your inbox.

It connects tightly with the rest of Microsoft's free-tier apps: calendar invitations link to Teams Free meetings, attachments go to OneDrive, and flagged emails sync automatically to Microsoft To Do. For a developer working primarily in the Microsoft ecosystem who wants a consistent identity across all services, Outlook.com is the natural anchor account.

Microsoft Loop

Loop is a collaborative workspace where teams can create shared pages containing live components (tables, task lists, and AI-generated content) that stay synchronized across Teams, Outlook, and the Loop web app. The personal and small-team tier is free.

The concept behind Loop is that a piece of collaborative content should stay live wherever it's embedded rather than becoming a static snapshot. A shared task list in a Teams chat and the same task list on a Loop page update each other in real time, which is a different model from the usual copy-paste approach.

Whether Loop replaces your existing collaboration tools depends on how deeply your team uses Microsoft 365. If most of your communication already runs through Teams and Outlook, the live component sync works well in practice. Teams that mix Slack, Notion, or Google Workspace alongside Microsoft tools will find the tight Microsoft 365 dependency limiting.

Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do is a free task management app connected to your Microsoft account, offering task lists, due dates, reminders, list sharing, and Outlook integration. It syncs across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and automatically pulls in emails you've flagged in Outlook as tasks.

It's not the most capable project management tool on the market, but for personal task management and lightweight team coordination without a paid subscription, it covers the essentials. The Outlook flag sync means your inbox and your task list stay aligned without any manual copying between applications.

Microsoft Forms

Forms is a free, browser-based tool for building surveys, quizzes, and polls with branching logic, basic response analytics, and Excel export. It's included with any free Microsoft account and integrates with Teams for sending surveys to channel members directly from a conversation.

For internal use cases like team feedback collection, event registration, or quick polls, Forms is a functional option that doesn't require a third-party service. The Excel export makes it easy to analyze response data in a tool most teams already have access to.

Microsoft Designer

Microsoft Designer is an AI-powered design tool for generating images, social media graphics, and presentation assets from text prompts, with a built-in editor for resizing, cropping, and refining generated visuals. The free tier includes a monthly allocation of AI-generated images alongside background removal and style editing tools.

For developers and product teams that need quick visual assets for documentation, presentations, or prototypes without a dedicated designer available, Designer covers that gap without requiring creative software expertise. The image generation quality is solid for presentation and communication use cases, though it's not a substitute for custom illustration or brand photography.

Data analytics

Whether you're querying a database, building a report, or tracking how users behave on a website, these Microsoft tools cover the fundamentals of the data workflow at no cost.

Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop is a free Windows application for building interactive dashboards and data reports, with connectors to hundreds of sources including Excel, Azure SQL, SharePoint, and REST APIs. Reports built locally can be published to the Power BI Service for personal use without a subscription.

The free desktop application is capable: you can build production-quality reports with complex DAX calculations, drill-through navigation, and custom visuals at no cost. The limitation arrives when you want to share those reports with other users, which requires a Power BI Pro license for recipients rather than just the report author.

Power Query, the data transformation layer built into Power BI Desktop, is also worth learning independently of the reporting side. It handles data cleaning, column transformations, and source merging through a visual interface that generates reproducible M-language scripts, and it's the same engine that powers Excel's Get and Transform feature, so skills in one transfer directly to the other.

Azure Data Studio

Azure Data Studio is a free, cross-platform database management and query tool for SQL Server, Azure SQL, and PostgreSQL, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its extension marketplace adds support for additional database types, and its notebook interface combines T-SQL queries with markdown documentation in a single file.

The notebook format is particularly useful for data exploration work you want to document alongside the queries themselves. Rather than maintaining a separate document describing what each query does, the notebook keeps the explanation and the code together in a shareable file that can run top-to-bottom.

SQL Server Express

SQL Server Express is the free edition of SQL Server, supporting databases up to 10 GB with the full T-SQL engine and integration with both SSMS and Azure Data Studio. It includes free redistribution rights for applications, making it the standard local development environment for .NET applications with relational data needs.

The 10 GB database size limit is the main practical constraint. For most development and small production workloads it's sufficient, and teams that expect their data to grow beyond that threshold can develop entirely on Express and upgrade to a paid SQL Server edition or Azure SQL when the time comes.

Microsoft Clarity

Microsoft Clarity is a free behavioral analytics tool for websites, providing session recordings, click heatmaps, and scroll maps with no data sampling, no traffic volume limits, and no monthly cost. It now includes an AI-powered summary dashboard that surfaces behavioral patterns in plain language without requiring you to review individual recordings manually.

Clarity fills a gap that Google Analytics doesn't address. Quantitative traffic metrics tell you how many users dropped off at a particular page, but session recordings and heatmaps tell you why. For product teams iterating on web interfaces, having both types of data available makes for faster diagnosis, and the lack of a traffic cap makes it practical for any sized site.

Microsoft Fabric (free trial)

Microsoft Fabric's 60-day free trial provides access to its unified data platform, combining OneLake storage, Power BI, Synapse Analytics, real-time intelligence, and data engineering pipelines in a single environment. It's Microsoft's answer to the fragmentation of the modern data stack.

The pitch is that instead of connecting five separate services for ingestion, storage, transformation, modeling, and reporting, Fabric provides all of them as a single product with shared governance and a common storage layer in OneLake. Whether that consolidation makes sense for your team depends on how much of your data infrastructure is already on Azure, but the free trial is the right way to find out.

Security and identity management

Microsoft's security tools cover identity management, endpoint protection, and system-level diagnostics. The free tiers cover most of what small teams and individual developers actually need.

Microsoft Entra ID Free

The free tier of Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) provides identity management for up to 500,000 objects, single sign-on for cloud applications, multi-factor authentication through Microsoft Authenticator, and self-service password reset. It's included automatically with any Azure or Microsoft 365 subscription at no additional cost.

For small teams setting up Azure resources, Entra ID Free covers the identity and access fundamentals without a separate identity product. User management, group-based access control, and MFA for Azure resources are all included, which handles the security baseline for most early-stage projects without any extra configuration.

Microsoft Defender (built into Windows)

Windows Defender ships built into Windows 10 and 11 at no extra cost, providing real-time malware detection, ransomware protection, and phishing filters without a third-party subscription. It consistently performs well in independent endpoint security testing from organizations like AV-Test and SE Labs.

Its main advantage is that it's already there and requires no configuration to provide a reasonable security baseline. For individual developers and small teams without a dedicated security function, Defender's built-in capabilities cover the common threat vectors without adding software overhead or license costs to the machine.

Sysinternals Suite

The Sysinternals Suite is a free collection of more than 70 advanced Windows diagnostic utilities covering process monitoring, network activity tracking, file system auditing, and system behavior analysis at a level of detail unavailable through standard Windows tools. Process Monitor, Process Explorer, and Autoruns are the most widely used among security engineers and IT administrators diagnosing unusual system behavior.

Process Monitor in particular changes how you diagnose Windows problems once you've used it. Watching file system, registry, and network activity in real time at the per-process level makes it possible to trace exactly what an application is doing at any given moment, which is invaluable when something misbehaves in ways that standard logging doesn't capture.

Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit

The Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit is a free collection of security configuration baselines and tools for hardening Windows and Microsoft 365 environments against Microsoft's recommended settings, CIS benchmarks, and DISA STIG standards. IT administrators use it to assess current configuration states and apply consistent security policies across managed devices.

If your team deploys Windows environments for regulated industries or enterprise customers with security auditing requirements, the toolkit provides a documented, replicable baseline rather than a manually assembled policy set. The policy analysis tools show exactly which settings differ from the recommended baseline, so you can understand the gap before applying any changes.

Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft Authenticator is a free mobile app for iOS and Android supporting multi-factor authentication for Microsoft accounts and any third-party service using TOTP-based verification codes. It also enables fully passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts through push notification approval, removing the password from the sign-in flow entirely.

The passwordless sign-in is worth enabling if you use Microsoft accounts regularly. Approving a push notification is faster than typing a password in practice, and removing the password from the flow eliminates the largest single credential vulnerability most accounts face. The app handles both Microsoft and non-Microsoft MFA codes in the same place, and setup takes only a few minutes.

IT administration

These tools are primarily for IT administrators, infrastructure engineers, and DevOps practitioners who maintain the environments developers work in. Most of them are free with no usage limits.

Windows Admin Center

Windows Admin Center is a free, browser-based management interface for Windows Server, Azure Arc-enabled servers, and Windows 11 client machines. It consolidates performance monitoring, event log review, storage configuration, and remote PowerShell access in a single web UI that deploys as a local gateway application without a separate management server.

The practical advantage over Server Manager and individual MMC snap-ins is that everything is accessible through a browser, meaning you can manage a server from any machine on the network without installing additional client software. Azure Arc integration means you can also bring on-premises Windows Servers into the same interface as your Azure resources.

Azure CLI

The Azure CLI is Microsoft's free command-line tool for creating, managing, and automating Azure resources, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It covers virtually every Azure service through a consistent command structure and integrates with GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps pipelines as the standard administrative tool for Azure infrastructure work.

For developers used to managing infrastructure through cloud consoles, switching to CLI commands initially feels like extra work until you realize that commands are scriptable, repeatable, and version-controllable in ways that console clicks aren't. Once you're writing Azure CLI commands in scripts or pipelines, you have an auditable, reproducible record of every change made to your infrastructure.

Bicep

Bicep is Microsoft's open-source language for declaring Azure infrastructure as code, using a cleaner syntax than raw ARM JSON templates while compiling to the same ARM format at deployment time. It's natively supported in Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and Azure CLI, and is Microsoft's recommended approach for infrastructure-as-code on Azure.

The main practical difference from ARM JSON is readability: Bicep templates are significantly shorter and easier to modify, which matters when you're maintaining infrastructure definitions alongside application code. If you're already using Terraform for multi-cloud deployments, Bicep occupies a similar conceptual space but sits closer to the Azure API surface.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

SSMS is a free, Windows-only application for administering SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics, providing a graphical environment for database configuration, query execution, index tuning, and performance monitoring. It's updated regularly alongside new SQL Server and Azure SQL releases.

For developers doing complex database administration work on SQL Server, SSMS remains the most complete GUI available. Azure Data Studio handles day-to-day query work effectively, but SSMS has deeper tooling for tasks like execution plan analysis, index maintenance, and SQL Agent job management. Both tools are free and work well alongside each other.

Low-code automation

Microsoft's low-code platform covers everything from desktop task automation to custom agent building. The free-tier options here are substantial enough to build real workflows before spending anything.

Power Automate Desktop

Power Automate Desktop comes free with Windows 11 and provides a visual designer for building automation flows that interact with web browsers, Windows applications, file systems, and system services. It handles attended automation, meaning flows that run while you're logged in and present at the machine.

For developers building process automation tools for non-technical colleagues, Power Automate Desktop provides a way to automate repetitive desktop tasks without writing code against Windows APIs. Users can record an action sequence and edit the resulting flow visually, which lowers the handoff threshold between technical and non-technical team members working on automation together.

Power Apps Developer Plan

The Power Apps Developer Plan is a free plan for individual developers to build and test apps using Power Apps, Power Automate, and Microsoft Dataverse. It includes three developer environments, 2 GB of Dataverse database storage, and up to 750 automation flow runs per month.

The plan is scoped to learning and development, so apps built under it can't be deployed to production users, so treat it as a sandbox rather than a starting point for a live application. It gives you full access to the low-code platform's capabilities, including Dataverse schema design, canvas and model-driven apps, and Power Automate flow building.

Copilot Studio (free trial)

Copilot Studio, formerly known as Power Virtual Agents, is Microsoft's platform for building AI agents through a visual no-code designer. Its 60-day free trial includes full access to the workflow designer, generative AI integration, knowledge source connections, and multi-channel agent deployment, with published agents remaining active for up to 90 days after the trial ends.

Copilot Studio is the path Microsoft has built for organizations that want to deploy AI agents without writing code against Azure AI Foundry or Semantic Kernel directly. The no-code design surface handles conversational flow, document grounding, and Teams integration through configuration rather than custom development. For teams evaluating what agent deployment looks like in the Microsoft 365 context, the trial period is more than enough time to build and test something real.

How has Microsoft evolved in the last 16 years of Build?

Microsoft Build launched in September 2011 in Anaheim, California, organized almost entirely around Windows 8 and the then-new WinRT platform for building touch-first Windows applications. The company under Steve Ballmer was still operating from the belief that Windows was the center of every developer's world, a position already being challenged by iOS, Android, and the rapid growth of cloud-hosted web applications. Those early Build editions were focused on keeping developers inside the Windows ecosystem at a moment when the industry's gravity was pulling in other directions.

Satya Nadella's appointment as CEO in February 2014 coincided with a visible and deliberate shift in how Microsoft talked to developers. The company's open-source commitments began to materialize concretely: TypeScript launched publicly in 2012 as an open-source project, the .NET compiler platform Roslyn was open-sourced at Build 2014, and Visual Studio Code arrived in 2015 under the MIT license. By Build 2018, the same year Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion, it had become plausible to describe the company as one of the largest open-source contributors in the world.

The GitHub acquisition gave Build an important new dimension. With GitHub's developer community growing toward 100 million accounts by 2023, Microsoft gained a direct relationship with developers who operated well outside the Windows and Azure context. That reach mattered when GitHub Copilot arrived: announced as a technical preview in June 2021, generally available in June 2022, and expanded into autonomous agent capabilities across Build 2023 and 2024. The Copilot product line emerged through GitHub rather than through traditional Microsoft channels, which says something about how significantly the company's developer relationships had changed since 2011.

The pandemic-era editions of Build in 2020 and 2021, held entirely online, expanded the conference's reach substantially. Free global streaming brought in audiences that would never have traveled to Seattle, and Microsoft found that recorded, asynchronous content worked at least as well for most developers as attending live sessions. That model persisted after the return to in-person events, with free keynote streaming and on-demand session recordings available worldwide.

Build 2025, held in Seattle under the banner "The Age of AI Agents," launched more than 50 announcements covering Azure AI Foundry Agent Service reaching general availability, the unified Semantic Kernel and AutoGen SDK, and protocol support for agent-to-agent communication and MCP integrations. Build 2026 carries that forward with a different kind of argument: not that the agent era is beginning, but that it's already underway, and that the real work now is shipping agent-powered systems reliably in production. That shift in framing reflects 16 years of Build evolving from a Windows developer conference into the venue where Microsoft sets the direction for its entire engineering ecosystem.

How to be prepared for Build 2026

Build 2026 runs on June 2 and 3 at Fort Mason Center on San Francisco's northern waterfront, with in-person tickets priced at $1,099 and attendance capped at around 2,500 developers. If you can't make it to San Francisco, keynotes and a large portion of the session catalog will stream free at build.microsoft.com, with on-demand recordings available afterward. The session catalog is already published on the Build site, so you can start identifying which tracks are most relevant to your work before the event starts, including AI agents, GitHub Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, Windows, and Responsible AI.

If your work involves the Microsoft developer stack, it's worth treating Build 2026 as a planning input rather than a product announcement calendar. The sessions on agentic AI maturity, multi-model Copilot updates, and Azure AI Foundry will likely shape how your team approaches automation architecture, cloud infrastructure decisions, and developer tooling over the next 12 months. Following the Build sessions alongside Microsoft's technical blog and the GitHub repositories for AutoGen, Semantic Kernel, and Prompt Flow will give you the clearest picture of what's production-ready now versus what's still on the roadmap.

The 50 tools in this article give you a head start on the topics that Build 2026 will cover. Setting up an Azure free account, running an AutoGen sample locally, or browsing the Azure AI Foundry model catalog are all things you can do before June 2. The more hands-on time you have with the platform beforehand, the easier it is to evaluate what you see in a demo against what your team actually needs to build.

The web browser has been the default interface for accessing online information for decades, but AI search is starting to change that assumption. Tools like Microsoft Copilot already let users ask plain-language questions and receive direct answers, bypassing the traditional results page entirely.

NLWeb is Microsoft's attempt to extend that shift down to the website level itself. Announced at Build 2025, it's an open protocol that lets any web property respond to natural language queries without a search engine acting as an intermediary.

Whether Build 2026 marks a meaningful step forward for NLWeb's adoption, or confirms that it's still an experiment in search of a standard, is worth paying close attention to. Here’s what we know so far.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

What is the NLWeb Protocol?

NLWeb stands for Natural Language Web. It's an open-source project from Microsoft that allows any website to accept and respond to natural language queries, turning a standard web property into what Microsoft describes as an AI-powered app.

The project was conceived and built by R.V. Guha, who joined Microsoft as CVP and Technical Fellow. Guha's background in web infrastructure matters here: he created RSS, RDF, and Schema.org, three formats that now underpin how structured content is shared and indexed across much of the web.

Microsoft introduced NLWeb at Build 2025 in May 2025 and drew a direct comparison to HTML's role in making website creation accessible. That framing is ambitious, and worth holding lightly. HTML solved the problem of publishing content; NLWeb is attempting to solve how both humans and AI agents query that content once it's published.

What distinguishes NLWeb from a standard chatbot widget is that every NLWeb endpoint also runs as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. MCP is an open standard that Anthropic originally developed in November 2024 for connecting AI systems to external data sources, and it has since gained widespread industry adoption. By building NLWeb on top of MCP, Microsoft is wiring website content directly into the broader ecosystem of AI agents.

Early adopters include Shopify, TripAdvisor, Eventbrite, O'Reilly Media, Hearst properties like Delish, Chicago Public Media, and Common Sense Media. The pattern across those names is clear: well-organized sites with structured catalogs of content, the kind that maps cleanly onto the web formats NLWeb depends on.

How does the NLWeb Protocol work?

NLWeb sits on top of structured data that most websites already publish. It reads formats like Schema.org and RSS, which are in use across more than 100 million websites according to the project's documentation, and adds a natural language layer on top of them using a large language model of the developer's choice.

The protocol exposes two endpoints. The /ask endpoint handles natural language queries from human users via JSON over REST, returning structured Schema.org JSON responses. The /mcp endpoint implements an MCP server, allowing external AI agents to connect to the site and query its content programmatically on terms the publisher controls.

When a query arrives at /ask, NLWeb doesn't hand it to a single LLM call. It breaks the query into multiple parallel processing steps: decontextualizing the query, retrieving relevant content from a vector database, and using the LLM to rank and generate the final response. This pattern of many focused model calls rather than one large prompt produces more consistent results than a single-pass approach.

The /ask endpoint also maintains chat history within a session, so follow-up questions can build on earlier ones without forcing the user to re-establish context. That's a practical difference from keyword search, where each query starts from scratch regardless of what came before.

Because NLWeb is technology-agnostic, you're not locked into any specific model, infrastructure provider, or operating system. The project's GitHub repository provides a Python reference implementation and quickstart guides, with support for all major vector databases and LLM endpoints.

NLWeb at Microsoft Build 2026: What to expect

Build 2026 takes place June 2-3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, marking a notable venue shift from the Seattle Convention Center that has hosted the conference for most of the past decade. Microsoft has described this year's event as deliberately "no-fluff," with a focus on technical depth over broad-audience announcements.

The session catalog spans over 90 entries organized across seven tracks: Agents and Apps, Azure AI Platform / Azure AI Foundry, GitHub and developer productivity, Microsoft Fabric, Responsible AI, Windows, and Working with Models. NLWeb is most directly connected to the Agents and Apps track, which is expected to cover MCP tooling updates given Microsoft's ongoing investment in that protocol.

NLWeb was announced just over a year ago, which means Build 2026 is the first major conference where the protocol can be evaluated against documented real-world deployment rather than potential. Cloudflare added native NLWeb support via its AutoRAG infrastructure in early 2026, offering a managed deployment path rather than a manual integration, which is a signal that the ecosystem is beginning to solidify.

Microsoft joined the MCP Steering Committee at Build 2025 and contributed an updated authorization specification and the design of an MCP server registry service. Any further updates to MCP governance, agent discovery, or server orchestration at Build 2026 will have direct implications for NLWeb, given how tightly the two protocols are coupled.

The opening keynote from CEO Satya Nadella is where Microsoft typically frames its platform-level priorities. At Build 2025, Nadella characterized the event as marking "the age of AI agents." Whether NLWeb receives dedicated keynote attention in 2026 or surfaces primarily through breakout sessions, it sits squarely within what the conference catalog describes as its central theme: moving AI agent development from announced to production-ready.

What this means for web developers

For developers building on the web, NLWeb creates practical pressure to audit how structured your site's data actually is. The protocol performs best with content organized as lists of items: products, events, recipes, reviews. Sites with poor or missing semantic markup will get noticeably weaker results, because NLWeb's retrieval layer depends on the Schema.org annotations many publishers have underinvested in.

But more importantly, NLWeb blurs the boundary between a website and an API. Running an NLWeb endpoint means your site becomes queryable by external AI agents, not just human visitors with a browser, which raises governance questions about which agents can access your content, at what rate, and on what terms.

On the tooling side, Microsoft has been expanding Azure AI Foundry and its MCP-related developer infrastructure, both of which are expected to feature at Build 2026. For developers who want to add NLWeb to an existing property today, the reference implementation on GitHub is the clearest starting point, with Cloudflare's AutoRAG integration now offering a more managed path to deployment for teams that don't want to handle the underlying infrastructure themselves.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

Microsoft Build has spent the last several years becoming the most important calendar event for developers working on the Microsoft platform. The 2026 edition, running June 2–3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, looks to carry that momentum further, with AI sitting at the center of almost everything on the agenda.

Whether you're attending in person or watching online for free, the session catalog has over 90 entries covering everything from agentic AI to model training. Registration for online access costs nothing, which means the full two days of content, including the opening keynote from CEO Satya Nadella, are open to anyone with an internet connection.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

Why Build 2026 is crucial to AI's future

Last year's conference set a high bar. Build 2025 produced more than 50 announcements under the theme of AI agents, including a new GitHub Copilot coding agent that could autonomously fix bugs, write tests, and open pull requests without developer prompting. That shift, from AI tools that assist to AI systems that act, is the thread running through almost every session this year.

Microsoft has moved quickly since then. Copilot Studio has gained autonomous agent capabilities, and the AutoGen multi-agent framework has matured into a platform developers are using in production. Build 2026 is where much of that work is expected to be demonstrated publicly for the first time, with the session catalog organized around six main themes: developer tools and frameworks, cloud platform and data, model training, agents and apps, responsible AI, and Windows.

The conference is also notable for its format. This year's edition is one of the more intimate Microsoft Build events in recent memory, with around 2,500 in-person attendees expected, down from the larger crowds of previous years. Microsoft and GitHub leadership have described that as a deliberate choice to keep the focus on technical depth rather than broad-audience product launches.

Azure is central to the picture as well. The Azure AI platform has expanded significantly over the past year, adding services around retrieval-augmented generation, fine-tuning, and agent orchestration. Sessions this year are expected to move past introductory concepts and address the harder question of what it actually costs to ship AI-powered applications reliably at scale.

For developers who want to understand where AI-assisted software development is heading, Build 2026 offers a clear view. You'll get a close look at what Microsoft's engineering teams are building, alongside honest takes from practitioners on what's working in production right now.

10 free Microsoft Build sessions you should attend this year

All keynotes and most breakout sessions at Build 2026 are available online at no cost, so you can follow the conference without a travel budget. For each session below, online streaming or recorded access has been confirmed through Microsoft's published session catalog.

These are the ten sessions worth blocking out on your calendar, whether you're focused on AI agents, GitHub Copilot updates, local model inference, or understanding how Microsoft is thinking about the next phase of developer AI.

You can view Microsoft's online session catalog for a complete list of keynotes and events.

Opening keynote: Creating new opportunity for developers in the era of AI

The opening session is where Microsoft sets the direction for the entire conference. Satya Nadella is headlining, and based on the session description, the focus is on what Microsoft calls "creating new opportunity for developers across our platforms in this era of AI."

Expect live product announcements and demos from Azure and Windows engineering teams, with OpenAI likely represented given how central that partnership is to Microsoft’s current direction. This is the session to watch if you want the big picture before diving into the technical tracks. It tends to be dense with news, so plan to watch it live and return to the recording to catch anything worth noting in detail.

BRK233: Software defensibility in the era of AI coding

One of the more philosophically pointed sessions in the catalog, this one is aimed at developers thinking about where their work is heading as AI agents become capable of generating code, writing tests, and deploying applications autonomously. The question of what human developers uniquely contribute in that environment is pressing for a lot of teams right now.

The session is likely to frame that challenge as an opportunity, with practical guidance on the kinds of higher-order work AI cannot easily replicate. For engineering leads and product teams, it should surface useful thinking about where to focus development effort in an AI-first environment.

BRK260: Build local AI experiences that harness the GPU, NPU and CPU on every Windows PC

Microsoft's on-device AI story has become considerably more specific in the past year.

This session covers Windows AI APIs, now expanding beyond the NPU to support GPU and CPU, alongside Foundry Local for running open-source models directly on a Windows machine. There's also new tooling for VS Code to help you optimize and prepare models for on-device deployment, and Windows ML now supports web apps through WebNN.

If you're building applications that need to run AI models locally rather than calling cloud APIs, this is the session to prioritize. On-device inference matters most where data privacy and low latency are non-negotiable, particularly in disconnected or air-gapped deployments.

BRK261: Build and ship faster with a developer-optimized experience on Windows

This session sits at the intersection of Windows platform development and AI tooling, covering how Microsoft's developer experience improvements over the past year fit together. It's likely to address the improvements to the inner-loop development experience on Windows, including how Copilot integrates into everyday workflows for developers building cloud-native and AI-powered applications.

For developers who spend most of their time on Windows machines, this one offers practical value even if autonomous AI agents aren't yet part of your day-to-day work. The faster feedback loops being added to the platform are worth tracking regardless of what you're building.

BRK222: The honest practitioner's take on agentic AI on Kubernetes

The title does most of the work here. This is positioned as a no-hype reality check from engineers who have shipped agentic AI systems in production on Kubernetes, which makes it stand out in a catalog that can sometimes lean toward polished demos over field experience.

You'll likely hear about the specific failure modes of multi-agent systems at scale and the gaps between what product announcements promise and what production deployments actually deliver. If you're already building agentic systems or planning to, this is probably the most directly useful session in the entire track.

BRK207: GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio: agents that debug, profile, and test

This demo-heavy session covers what Copilot agents inside Visual Studio can do beyond generating code. You'll see agents root-cause bugs using live runtime behavior and pinpoint performance bottlenecks with targeted fix recommendations. There's also a thread on building test coverage to catch regressions before they ship, with all of it aimed specifically at enterprise developers working in C#, .NET, and C++.

If your team uses Visual Studio for production work, this is probably the most immediately applicable session at the conference. The focus on diagnostics and code quality rather than just code generation is what makes it worth attending over the many other Copilot-adjacent sessions in the catalog.

BRK202: Azure DevOps meets GitHub, the path to AI-powered SDLC

Many development teams currently run both Azure DevOps and GitHub, managing two systems that overlap considerably but don't fully unify. This session lays out Microsoft's current integration story and the direction it's heading, with AI-powered software development lifecycle management as the connecting thread.

The AI angle here goes beyond GitHub Copilot. It also covers how hybrid patterns connecting GitHub with Azure Boards and Azure Pipelines can enable what Microsoft calls Agentic DevOps, with a first-person account from Microsoft's own engineering teams who have already adopted this approach.

For engineering managers planning a tooling consolidation or migration, this session offers a clear picture of what's actually available now.

DEM322: Smaller, faster, smarter: distilling agents with fine-tuning

Inference costs are a growing concern for teams running AI applications at scale, and this session addresses one of the more practical strategies for managing them. Model distillation, training a smaller model to replicate the outputs of a larger one, lets you hit latency and cost targets without sacrificing too much on quality.

The session covers distilling frontier models into purpose-built agents, a pattern that's gaining traction in production environments where running large models on every request isn't economically viable. Expect concrete examples of where distilled models perform well and where they fall short, which is exactly the nuance that's missing from most AI cost discussions.

BRK234: Shipping custom models at scale from fine-tuning to inference

Fine-tuning a model on Azure is relatively straightforward. Getting it into production, keeping it performant as usage grows, and managing the operational overhead is considerably less so. This session covers the end-to-end workflow, including the parts that most product demos skip over.

You'll likely hear about the infrastructure decisions that affect cost and reliability at scale, and the monitoring approaches that surface problems before users encounter them. The handoff between training and operations teams also gets coverage, which is one of the more practical topics that production teams actually care about.

DEM364: Simplify app dev with cloud-native PostgreSQL in Azure HorizonDB

The last session on this list is one of the more technically specific, but it addresses a problem a growing number of teams are hitting: AI-driven applications are sprawling across separate services for vector search, models, and retrieval pipelines, and the complexity is becoming a liability. This session introduces Azure HorizonDB, which embeds AI and search directly into a cloud-native PostgreSQL database.

You'll see how to run hybrid vector queries and call managed AI models directly from SQL, prototyping agentic workflows without stitching together a separate stack of services. For developers who want to keep their architecture tighter and ship faster, this is a session worth watching.

What to expect from Microsoft Build 2026?

Build 2026 takes place at a point where the initial wave of AI announcements has settled into something more operational. The questions this year are less about whether AI belongs in the development stack and more about making it work reliably at production scale without blowing the budget. That shift shows up clearly in the session titles, which lean toward production concerns and honest tradeoffs rather than introductory overviews.

The San Francisco venue is also worth noting. Fort Mason is a departure from the Seattle convention spaces that have hosted most recent editions. It looks like Microsoft has used the change in venue to justify a tighter event with a smaller participant capacity. Fewer attendees means fewer broad-audience sessions and more depth in the technical tracks, which should make the content more useful for developers who have found previous editions too surface-level.

Online attendance remains free, which makes Build accessible to developers who aren't in San Francisco. Keynotes and recorded breakout sessions are available through build.microsoft.com, and many sessions run simultaneously online and in person. If you want to track how AI development is evolving on the Microsoft platform, this is the clearest two-day view available.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

Microsoft Build has been running annually since 2011, and in that time it has grown into the most consequential event in the Microsoft developer calendar.

Across 15 editions, it has served as the venue where the company signals what it wants developers to build on next, sometimes through finished products and sometimes through early previews that arrive months before the software ships.

Build 2026 runs on June 2 and 3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, the first edition outside Seattle with a tighter capacity limit of 2,500 attendees.

What makes Build worth paying attention to is the company's track record of using it to surface genuinely significant products, not just announcements made for the sake of filling a keynote slot. Not everything that debuts at Build lands well, and a few have disappeared entirely.

But if you want to understand what Microsoft is betting on, Build is consistently where the company shows its hand.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

Microsoft Build: Announcements, product launches, and early previews for developers

Build sits apart from Microsoft's other major events in terms of both audience and purpose. Ignite is aimed at IT administrators and enterprise buyers, Surface hardware launches are consumer-facing, but Build targets software developers using Microsoft’s ecosystem, whether they write Windows apps, run workloads on Azure, or build with GitHub and Microsoft's AI platform.

This distinction also shapes what gets announced and how. Sessions tend to focus on APIs, SDKs, preview capabilities, and platform architecture. Microsoft is speaking directly to the people who will decide whether to build with a new technology or ignore it, which means announcements need to be practical enough to evaluate on technical merits.

The timing of Build also matters commercially. Google I/O and Apple's WWDC both take place around the same period each year, and Microsoft is competing for the same pool of developers who will decide which platforms to prioritize. The gap between an exciting Build announcement and an actual shipment date can shift that calculation in Microsoft's favor, but it can also sometimes have the opposite effect.

Build has also become increasingly open to third-party voices over the years. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined the Build 2025 keynote virtually while GitHub leadership has featured heavily in recent editions. That mix of Microsoft's own engineers and partner voices has made the event more useful as a signal of where the broader ecosystem is heading, not just where the corporation itself wants to go.

How the company uses Build has also changed noticeably since the early days. The first few conferences were dominated by Windows coverage, with Microsoft trying to rally developers around Windows 8 and the Windows Store. By the late 2010s, Azure and cloud services had largely taken over. This year, AI is the thread connecting nearly every session and product announcement on the agenda.

10 products launched at Microsoft Build (2011–2026)

Microsoft uses Build to introduce products at varying stages of readiness. Some arrive as rough developer previews with significant work still ahead; others land in preview and reach general availability within weeks. Either way, the goal is the same. To get the product in front of the developers to generate early interest before it reaches the general public.

The ten products below span the full timeline of Build announcements, from the inaugural event in 2011 to the most recent edition in 2025. Some have become fixtures of modern software development. Others serve as useful reminders that even Microsoft's highest-profile bets don't always pay off.

Windows 8 developer preview (Build 2011)

The first Build conference ran from September 13 to 16, 2011, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Windows 8 was effectively the entire reason the event existed. Microsoft released a developer preview of the operating system and handed every attendee a Samsung tablet preloaded with it so they could interact with the tile-based Metro interface first-hand.

Windows 8 launched to the general public in October 2012 to mixed user reception. The removal of the Start button, the push toward a touch-first design even on desktop, and the lack of app volume on Windows Store caused more strife than Microsoft had projected. Microsoft released Windows 8.1 in 2013 to address the most pressing complaints before launching Windows 10 in 2015 as a full course correction, restoring familiar design conventions while preserving the underlying technical work from the Windows 8 generation.

Cortana (Build 2014)

Microsoft first demonstrated Cortana at Build 2014 in San Francisco, introducing it as the company's answer to Apple's Siri and Google Now. Named after the AI character from the Halo series, Cortana launched on Windows Phone 8.1 shortly after and came to Windows 10 desktops in 2015, where it was integrated directly into the taskbar search bar.

For a few years, Cortana spread across Microsoft's product line, appearing on Xbox One, Microsoft Band, Android, and iOS. But it never achieved meaningful market penetration, in part because it was tied to a mobile platform that was already failing. But it was also in part because Amazon's Alexa had established the smart speaker market before Cortana could enter the fray.

By 2019, Microsoft had started pulling Cortana out of the Windows search bar. The standalone Windows app shut down in August 2023, with all remaining integrations discontinued by June 2024. Microsoft Copilot now occupies the space Cortana was originally meant to fill on Windows desktops.

HoloLens (Build 2015)

Microsoft gave developers their first hands-on time with HoloLens at Build 2015. The headset had been revealed a few months earlier as a holographic computing platform and hundreds of units were made available on the conference floor for attendees to try. Demos included one where developers used holographic panels projected onto walls to interact with a robot, and the show floor response was strong enough to give HoloLens a genuinely well-received debut.

A developer edition of HoloLens shipped in 2016 at $3,000; HoloLens 2 followed in 2019 with improved hand tracking and a wider field of view. However, Microsoft steadily narrowed its ambitions for the product, pivoting toward enterprise use cases in surgery, manufacturing, and training. Consumer development never materialized. In early 2023, reports confirmed Microsoft was winding down HoloLens hardware development entirely, with no third-generation device in the plans.

Azure Functions (Build 2016)

Azure Functions entered public preview at Build 2016 as Microsoft's entry into the serverless computing space. It let developers run event-driven code without provisioning or managing underlying infrastructure, paying only for the compute time actually consumed. Microsoft positioned it directly against AWS Lambda and Google Cloud Functions, framing it as part of a broader push to make Azure the default cloud for Microsoft developers.

The service reached general availability by the end of 2016, with continuous updates since. Azure Functions now integrates with Azure AI Foundry, letting developers build and trigger serverless AI agents, a use case that didn't exist when the product launched. The current stable runtime is version 4.x, with earlier versions progressively retired. Of everything Microsoft announced at Build 2016, Azure Functions has arguably had the longest shelf life.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (Build 2016)

WSL was announced at Build 2016 as a way to run Linux command-line tools natively on Windows, without a virtual machine or dual-boot setup. It was a direct response to developer frustration with Windows as a working environment compared to macOS and Linux, representing a shift in the company’s relationship with open-source software.

WSL 2, which replaced the original compatibility layer with a full Linux kernel running inside a Hyper-V virtual machine, was announced at Build 2019. Microsoft separated WSL from the Windows codebase in 2021 to let it ship updates independently. At Build 2025, WSL became open source, formally closing a GitHub issue that had been open since the project's very first day in 2016: "Will this be open source?"

Windows Terminal (Build 2019)

Windows Terminal was announced at Build 2019 as a modern, open-source replacement for the Windows Console. It supported multiple tabs, GPU-accelerated text rendering, and all major command-line environments (including PowerShell, Command Prompt, and WSL) in a single window. For developers who spent significant time at the command line, it was a long-overdue improvement to an area that had received very little attention for years.

The first stable release shipped at Build 2020, exactly one year after the announcement. Windows Terminal is now the default terminal in Windows 11, with regular updates through the Microsoft Store. The most recent stable release, v1.24, arrived in April 2026. A tool that started as a developer quality-of-life fix has since become a standard part of the Windows environment.

GitHub Copilot (Build 2022)

GitHub Copilot's general availability was announced at Build 2022, after nearly a year as a technical preview. Built with OpenAI and trained on public code repositories, it was the first mainstream AI coding assistant to reach general availability, offering context-aware code completion, function generation from comments, and full code block suggestions directly inside developers' existing editors.

The product picked up over 400,000 subscribers in its first month of release, according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during a subsequent earnings call. By early 2024, it had grown to 1.3 million paid subscribers.

Early research suggested developers using the tool completed tasks up to 55% faster than those working without it. GitHub Copilot has since expanded from code completion into chat, code review, and pull request summaries, with a fully autonomous agent mode introduced at Build 2025 that works in the background without a developer actively typing.

Windows Copilot (Build 2023)

Build 2023 was the conference where AI moved from a background theme to the central organizing principle of every product Microsoft discussed. Windows Copilot was announced as a sidebar assistant built into Windows 11, putting a Bing AI-powered chatbot into the operating system itself, accessible from the taskbar on any compatible device. At the same event, Microsoft announced that Bing would become the default search engine for ChatGPT, signaling just how deeply the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership had become embedded in Microsoft's product strategy.

Windows Copilot has since evolved significantly. The original branding was retired in late 2023 as Microsoft unified its various assistant products under the Microsoft Copilot name. The assistant is now available across Windows, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft 365, with capabilities well beyond what the Build 2023 preview showed.

Copilot+ PCs (Build 2024)

The day before Build 2024 opened, Microsoft announced Copilot+ PCs: a new hardware category defined by the presence of a dedicated neural processing unit capable of at least 40 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of on-device AI performance. The Surface Pro and Surface Laptop were the first devices to carry the designation. Microsoft framed it as the beginning of a new era of AI-capable personal computing, distinct from standard Windows devices specifically because of the on-device AI tasks the NPU enables.

The category has since expanded to include devices from Qualcomm, AMD, and Intel, with dozens of Copilot+ PC models from multiple manufacturers now on the market. AI features specific to the category include real-time captioning and on-device image generation. Recall — a searchable record of everything you have done on your PC — drew significant criticism over privacy concerns at launch and was delayed before returning under more restrictive settings.

GitHub Copilot for autonomous coding (Build 2025)

At Build 2025, Microsoft announced that GitHub Copilot was making the shift from coding assistant to autonomous agent. The new agent mode lets Copilot perform complete coding tasks independently: creating files, running tests, fixing bugs, and pushing changes to a draft pull request, all without the developer actively engaged.

At the same time, GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke emphasized that every action is logged transparently so developers can review the work after the fact and existing security rules such as branch protection remain fully in force.

Satya Nadella compared the move to other inflection points in Microsoft's history, including the transition to 64-bit Windows and the company's pivot to the cloud. Whether that framing proves accurate depends on how quickly agent-mode coding becomes standard practice, but the announcement does represent the most substantial extension of GitHub Copilot's scope since the product launched in 2022.

What to expect from Microsoft Build 2026?

Build 2026 runs on June 2 and 3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, marking the first time the conference has left Seattle since 2016. In-person tickets cost $1,099 and capacity is capped at roughly 2,500 developers, making it a more compact event than recent editions.

Keynotes and select sessions stream for free by clicking here. On-demand sessions will be available afterward for anyone unable to attend or watch live.

Satya Nadella is confirmed for the opening keynote, which Microsoft has described as being about "creating new opportunity for developers across our platforms in this era of AI."

The session catalog published in April points toward four main themes: developer tools and frameworks, cloud platform and data, model training, and agents and apps. Given the trajectory set at Build 2025, further announcements around GitHub Copilot's autonomous capabilities and Azure AI Foundry integration seem likely.

Beyond agents, Build 2026 is expected to address Windows AI tooling, MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration across Microsoft's developer platform, and updates to the Copilot+ PC category.

What gets announced will probably surprise even close watchers, which is, historically, exactly the point of the event.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

Microsoft Build 2026 takes place on June 2 and 3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, returning to the city for the first time since 2016. CEO Satya Nadella will open the event with a keynote address, and Microsoft has billed the conference as a two-day, hands-on gathering for AI developers, technical leaders, and enterprise teams, promising "no fluff." In-person tickets are priced at $1,099, with the keynote and select sessions streaming live for free.

With speculation around Windows 12 running hot despite zero official confirmation from Microsoft, Build is worth watching closely this year. The company rarely announces a new consumer OS at a developer conference, but it often uses them to lay the foundation, surfacing platform directions, new developer APIs, and architectural hints that end up defining what comes next. For developers and IT teams planning their roadmaps, spotting those signals early is often the point of attending.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

Windows 12: What we know so far

Microsoft has not officially announced Windows 12. The most recent public statement on the subject came at CES, when Microsoft EVP Yusuf Mehdi published a blog post describing 2025 as "the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh" — a clear signal that a new major OS was not on the immediate agenda.

That hasn't stopped a surge of viral speculation from filling the gap. In early March 2026, PCWorld published an article saying that Windows 12, codenamed "Hudson Valley Next," was on track to ship later this year, built on a modular CorePC architecture and requiring an NPU with at least 40 TOPS of performance for full functionality. The piece spread rapidly, but PCWorld's own executive editor has since added an editor’s note stating that a lot of these claims were unfounded. It was a translated syndication from German partner PC-Welt, published without secondary verification.

Windows Central's Zac Bowden, went further and debunked the report based on his own sources. There are no plans to ship Windows 12 in 2026, Bowden wrote, and the "Hudson Valley" codename dates to 2023, where it was tied to Windows 11 planning rather than a new OS. CorePC, likewise, was an internal 2023 project that was never shipped. As for Windows 12, Bowden's assessment is that 2027 would be the earliest realistic announcement window.

The rumor that Windows 12 would require a monthly subscription has also been thoroughly dismissed. Multiple news reports have called the claims "AI hallucinations," tracing them to AI-generated content that was scraped and republished across multiple sites as if it were original reporting. A more plausible scenario, if any subscription element ever materialises, is that it would apply to premium AI tiers rather than locking the basic Windows desktop behind a subscription paywall.

So what is Microsoft actually doing with Windows in 2026? According to Windows Central's reporting on an internal initiative codenamed Windows K2, the company assembled a concerted quality programme in late 2025, targeting the biggest complaints about Windows 11: performance, reliability, and AI feature bloat. Windows K2 is not a new OS release — it's an ongoing effort running through 2026 and into 2027, covering a rebuilt Start menu, faster File Explorer, and a pullback from unsolicited AI integrations across the shell.

None of this rules out Windows 12 as a longer-term product. The Copilot+ PC hardware tier, Microsoft's investment in on-device AI, and the natural pressure of Windows 11's support lifecycle ending in October 2027 all point toward some kind of platform evolution ahead. But for now any specific 2026 launch claims have been broadly debunked, though that does not do anything to make Build 2026 any less significant for the future of the Windows ecosystem.

Why is Build 2026 important for Windows 12?

Build is where Microsoft has historically laid the groundwork for major platform shifts, giving the developer community an early look before any public announcement. The 2011 inaugural conference introduced the Windows 8 Developer Preview, Build 2013 unveiled Windows 8.1, and Build 2015 gave developers an early look at the Universal Windows Platform months before Windows 10 reached the public in July.

The pattern has held since. Whenever there’s a major platform shift in the works, Build is where the technical community gets its first substantive look, along with the first opportunity to ask the engineers behind it how their tooling needs to change.

Build's focus has shifted somewhat in recent years, moving toward Azure, AI tooling, and Microsoft 365. But even within that shift, Windows-specific news has landed consistently, often with more long-term significance than it first appeared. Build 2023 introduced Copilot for Windows 11; Build 2025 renamed the Windows Copilot Runtime to Windows AI Foundry and added MCP (Model Context Protocol) support at the OS level. Each of those moves now reads as groundwork for whatever the next major Windows platform looks like.

There’s more. In March, Windows corporate vice president Pavan Davuluri published a detailed commitment to improving Windows quality on the Windows Insider blog, covering WinUI 3 performance, taskbar customization, and reduced Copilot clutter. Then, at Microsoft's Q3 FY2026 earnings call on April 29, Nadella said the company is doing "foundational work to win back fans" across Windows, Xbox, Bing, and Edge, with native applications and AI-optimized PCs at the center of that effort.

Will Build 2026 feature Windows 12? What we expect to see

There is no official indication of a Windows 12 announcement at Build 2026. Microsoft has positioned this event explicitly for AI developers, technical leaders, and enterprise developers, and the company has scaled back in-person attendance compared to recent years. A consumer OS reveal would be atypical for a conference this narrowly scoped.

Yet what the conference will almost certainly cover is the current state of Windows platform development, and based on what Microsoft has already shipped and announced in the weeks approaching Build, that story is substantial. Here is what we expect developers to hear about, cobbled together from Build 2026’s Session Catalog, official announcements, and recent release trajectories at Microsoft.

Native Windows development with WinUI 3

This may be the most significant ongoing Windows platform story for app developers, and it predates Build by several months. In March, Rudy Huyn, Partner Architect at Microsoft, confirmed he is forming a dedicated team to build 100% native Windows apps using WinUI 3, ending the company's reliance on WebView2 wrappers for first-party applications. That same month, Davuluri confirmed the Start menu itself is being rebuilt in WinUI to reduce latency.

A string of tooling releases followed quickly. Microsoft shipped WinUI 3 Gallery 2.9, a new Windows App Development CLI (v0.3), and a set of new WinUI templates that let you scaffold, run, and package native Windows apps from the command line without opening Visual Studio.

Most notably for AI-assisted development workflows, Microsoft also released a WinUI agent plugin for both GitHub Copilot and Claude Code, with eight built-in development skills covering UI design, code review, testing, packaging, and WPF migration. Software engineer Beth Pan published benchmarks showing a 25% performance improvement for WinUI 3's portion of File Explorer, with 41% fewer memory allocations and 45% fewer function calls.

The upcoming "Build and ship faster with a developer-optimized experience on Windows" session at Build 2026 covers this territory directly, alongside WSL and PowerToys improvements. Expect Microsoft to use Build to pull these threads together into a coherent pitch for native Windows development, especially as the industry pushback against resource-heavy Electron and web-wrapper apps continues to grow.

On-device AI and the NPU developer baseline

Build 2025 introduced Windows AI Foundry as the platform layer for local model deployment. Build 2026 looks set to deepen that story with three confirmed on-device AI sessions: a breakout covering Windows APIs for local model execution, a table talk aimed at desktop developers integrating local inference, and a demo session for Microsoft's Foundry Local tool on Windows hardware.

This area connects most directly to whatever comes after Windows 11. If the next major Windows version does set a higher NPU baseline, developers will need to understand:

• Which AI capabilities are available on-device versus cloud-routed

• How Windows AI Foundry abstracts that difference

• How to structure applications that degrade gracefully on hardware without a dedicated accelerator.

Build is the right venue for that developer guidance, regardless of whether a new OS announcement accompanies it.

A security model for agentic AI

Agent development is central to Build 2026 across every platform, and Windows is no exception. The "Claws on Windows: Designing Safe, Bounded Agent Actions" table talk addresses one of the more pressing questions in Windows development right now. How do you give an AI agent useful system access without creating a security liability? The session looks at real claw design failures and how developers can architect safer, scope-limited alternatives.

"AI & Agent-Augmented coding you can trust on Windows" examines how agents discover, reason about, and execute tasks within Windows' enforced boundaries, covering packaged app permissions, execution constraints, and lifecycle management. For developers building agentic applications targeting Windows, these sessions represent the kind of security architecture guidance that has been largely absent from the available documentation.

The security track extends further with "The Windows Security Features That Matter Most for Developers," a lightning talk covering post-quantum resilience and the platform-level foundations developers should be building on as agentic workflows become more common. Analysts following the longer-term Windows roadmap have consistently flagged tighter default security as a pillar of any next-generation OS; this session is likely to preview some of that direction.

Cross-platform developer experience and WSL

At Build 2025, Microsoft open-sourced most of WSL. The confirmed "What's new in Windows Subsystem for Linux" session at Build 2026 will show where that effort has gone since. According to Microsoft's April 2026 Windows quality roadmap, WSL is receiving many performance upgrades this year: faster file access between Linux and Windows environments, better network throughput and localhost reliability in WSL2, simplified onboarding, and stronger enterprise policy controls for managed deployments.

For the significant portion of the developer community that runs Linux toolchains on Windows hardware, these improvements speak directly to daily workflow friction. The "Elevate your developer productivity with Windows Terminal" lightning talk sits alongside this, covering improvements designed to reduce context switching for developers working across Windows and Unix environments.

Windows 365 enterprise AI deployment

The "Build, deploy, and scale agents with Windows 365" lab runs multiple times across both conference days, covering how Windows 365 provides preconfigured, governed computing environments for AI agent deployment. A digital version of the same lab is available for online attendees.

For enterprise developers and IT architects, this is worth watching closely. Windows 365 is the likely delivery mechanism for governance-sensitive Windows AI features, and the architecture on display here, covering how agents are provisioned, constrained, and monitored in managed environments, reflects how Microsoft is thinking about enterprise-scale Windows deployment more broadly.

How to attend Microsoft Build 2026?

Build 2026 is a tighter event than recent editions, running just two days with a smaller in-person attendance cap and a deliberate focus on technical depth.

For developers building on Windows or integrating AI into desktop and enterprise applications, the combination of confirmed tooling announcements, exec-level platform commitments, and a strong Windows session track makes this year's conference worth close attention.

In-person tickets are priced at $1,099, with registrations open by clicking here.

Microsoft is offering visa support for international attendees whose registrations are accepted and will refund tickets if visa applications are unsuccessful.

If you can't make it to San Francisco, the keynote and a selection of sessions stream live for free at the same address, with on-demand recordings available after the event.

Microsoft Build 2026 runs on June 2 and 3 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, a notable shift from the Seattle venues that have hosted the conference for most of the past decade.

With around 2,500 developers expected in person and keynotes streaming free online at build.microsoft.com, it is shaping up to be one of the most focused and intimate editions the event has seen.

Build has been running since 2011. Across those 16 years it has grown into Microsoft's most important venue for developer-facing news. This article walks through every edition of the conference, covering the major announcements, headline sessions, and platform shifts that have shaped both the corporation and its developer ecosystem.

• Register for Microsoft Build here

What is Microsoft Build?

Microsoft Build (officially stylised as //build/) is an annual developer conference aimed at software engineers building on Windows, Microsoft Azure, and the company's broader technology platform. Sessions range from hands-on technical workshops to product keynotes, with the opening address typically delivered by CEO Satya Nadella. It is where Microsoft previews new APIs, ships tools into preview or general availability, and signals its direction for the year ahead.

The conference sits apart from other Microsoft events in its audience and intent. Ignite targets IT professionals and enterprise administrators, and Surface hardware launches are primarily consumer-facing. Build is built specifically for software developers, whether they are writing desktop apps on Windows, running infrastructure on Azure, or working with Microsoft's AI platform.

Third-party companies and open-source contributors appear alongside Microsoft's own product teams. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined virtually at Build 2025 and GitHub leadership has been central to recent editions. That combination makes Build a useful indicator of where the Microsoft developer ecosystem is heading, not only where Microsoft itself intends to go.

How long has Microsoft Build been going for?

The first Build conference ran from September 13 to 16, 2011, in Anaheim, California, making 2026 the 16th edition. That debut event ran four days and centred on a developer preview of Windows 8. The format has changed several times since, in terms of length, location, and size — and in 2020, whether it took place in person at all.

Most editions run two to three days, though the fully virtual 2020 conference stretched across 48 hours of continuous content. In-person attendance has typically landed between 3,000 and 5,000 developers. Build 2026 is deliberately smaller, capped at roughly 2,500, with Microsoft trading scale for intensity by focusing on hands-on access to AI systems and direct time with product engineers.

Build remains relevant to anyone working within the Microsoft ecosystem. If you are developing on Windows, running workloads on Azure, building with GitHub, or integrating with Microsoft's AI tooling, the conference has a direct bearing on your day-to-day stack. That relevance has grown as Microsoft has moved deeper into cloud and AI territory, where the pace of change makes Build one of the more practical ways to stay current.

The decision to move Build 2026 back to San Francisco after nine years in Seattle came down to proximity to the Bay Area's AI and startup community. GitHub COO Kyle Daigle told The Verge that the goal was to create an event where meeting with other developers was "just as much a part of the actual conference content" as the formal announcements. That shift reflects how much the conference has changed since its opening year.

A complete history of Microsoft Build

Since its first edition in 2011, Build has tracked Microsoft's own evolution, from a company defined by Windows to one now defined by cloud computing and AI. Here is what happened at every edition.

Build 2011: The beginning

The inaugural Build conference ran September 13–16, 2011, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Windows 8 was the centrepiece: Microsoft released a developer preview of the operating system, giving attendees their first hands-on look at the tile-based Metro interface and the new app model built around it.

Developer Preview builds of Windows Server 2012 and Visual Studio 2012 were also released during the event. Every attendee received a Samsung tablet preloaded with the Windows 8 Developer Preview, custom hardware manufactured specifically for the conference at a reported cost well above the registration fee of $2,095.

Build 2012: Back to Redmond

Dates: October 30 – November 2, 2012, Microsoft Campus, Redmond

The 2012 edition arrived just weeks after Windows 8 launched commercially, so sessions shifted from previewing the platform to building on top of it. The key areas of focus were:

Windows 8: Development tools, APIs, and app model guidance for the new platform.

Windows Azure: Cloud platform updates, including new storage and compute options.

Windows Phone 8: SDK and tools for the newly launched mobile platform.

Attendees received a Surface RT with a Touch Cover, a Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone, and 100GB of free SkyDrive storage.

Build 2013: Windows 8.1 takes the stage

The 2013 conference moved to the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Microsoft used the event to unveil Windows 8.1, a significant update responding to criticism of Windows 8, most notably the removal of the Start button and the abrupt full-screen app model.

The update was the first visible output of Microsoft's "Blue" initiative, a coordinated series of updates across Windows, Windows Phone, and related services intended to bring greater consistency across the product family.

Did you know? Every attendee at Build 2013 walked away with a Surface Pro, an Acer Iconia W3 tablet (the first 8-inch Windows 8 device), one year of Adobe Creative Cloud, and 100GB of SkyDrive storage, making it one of the more generous conference giveaway packages in the event's history.

Build 2014: Nadella's first keynote

Build 2014 was the first conference under Satya Nadella as CEO, following his appointment in February 2014. He introduced Microsoft's updated strategy under the "mobile-first, cloud-first" banner, repositioning the company away from its long-standing Windows-centric identity. Windows Phone 8.1 was formally launched at the event, bringing with it the debut of Cortana, Microsoft's new voice-powered personal assistant.

On the developer side, Microsoft announced that Roslyn, its .NET compiler platform, would be fully open-sourced, a meaningful gesture toward the open-source community at a time when Microsoft was still rebuilding trust there. Azure SQL expanded to support databases up to 500GB, and a redesigned Azure portal launched in preview.

Build 2015: Windows 10, Edge, and a new code editor

Build 2015 shipped announcements across several product lines simultaneously:

Windows 10 Developer Preview released publicly during the conference.

Microsoft Edge named for the first time (previously codenamed Project Spartan).

Visual Studio Code launched as a free, cross-platform code editor for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

HoloLens demoed live at the conference to strong audience response.

Universal Windows Platform introduced, letting developers target all Windows 10 device types from a single codebase.

Visual Studio Code is now one of the most widely used development tools in the industry, which makes its quiet debut here in 2015 easy to underestimate in retrospect.

Build 2016: Bash on Windows, bots, and Xamarin goes free

Build 2016 introduced "Conversation as a Platform," Microsoft's argument that chatbots and conversational interfaces would become a central computing model. The Bot Framework gave developers a structured way to build and deploy conversational bots across messaging services, including Skype and Cortana. Microsoft also made Xamarin (acquired earlier that year) free for all Visual Studio users and open-sourced the runtime.

The most unexpected announcement was the Windows Subsystem for Linux: native Bash shell support coming directly to Windows 10, without dual-booting or a virtual machine. For developers working across Windows and Linux environments, it was a significant practical change. The conference also introduced Azure Service Fabric to general availability and launched a preview of Azure Functions for serverless computing. Registration for Build 2016 sold out within one minute of opening.

Build 2017: Fluent Design, Cosmos DB, and a new city

The 2017 edition moved the conference to Seattle for the first time, at the Washington State Convention Center. Microsoft introduced the Fluent Design System, an updated visual language replacing the older Metro/Modern approach for Windows 10 apps. Azure Cosmos DB launched as a globally distributed, multi-model database service.

Meanwhile the Cortana Skills Kit entered public preview, giving developers a formal way to extend the voice assistant with custom capabilities. Windows 10 was reported to have reached 500 million active devices at the time of the conference.

Build 2018: Live Share, IntelliCode, and Kinect returns

Several notable announcements focused around AI, IoT, and voice assistants.

Visual Studio Live Share: Real-time collaborative editing across different IDEs, regardless of language or platform.

IntelliCode: AI-assisted code completion extending Visual Studio's IntelliSense with context-aware suggestions.

Project Kinect for Azure: A new depth-sensing device intended for AI and IoT applications, reviving Kinect technology from its gaming origins.

Cortana-Alexa integration: Announced in limited preview, allowing users to invoke one assistant from within the other.

.NET Core 3.0 roadmap: Covering Windows Forms and WPF desktop apps running on .NET Core for the first time.

Build 2019: WSL 2 and Windows Terminal

Microsoft announced WSL 2 at the 2019 conference: a redesigned Windows Subsystem for Linux running on a genuine Linux kernel rather than a translation layer. It delivered full system call compatibility and substantially faster I/O performance, making it practical for a much wider range of Linux workloads.

Alongside it, the Windows Terminal launched in preview as a modern terminal application with tab support, GPU-accelerated text rendering, and deep customisation. Both tools addressed requests that had been sitting in the developer community for years.

Build 2020: Going virtual

Did you know? Build 2020 was the first entirely virtual edition of the conference, moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It ran as a free 48-hour digital experience across May 19–20, 2020, drawing a significantly larger global audience than any previous in-person edition.

Microsoft announced Project Reunion (later renamed the Windows App SDK) during the event, an effort to unify Win32 and Universal Windows Platform APIs under a single open-source package. Windows Terminal reached version 1.0, WSL 2 shipped as part of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, and winget, the new Windows Package Manager, entered public preview.

Build 2021: Teasing Windows 11

Build 2021 remained virtual, and Nadella teased a forthcoming Windows update that he described as among the most significant in a decade. That hint pointed to Windows 11, which Microsoft announced officially five weeks later. The conference otherwise concentrated on developer velocity:

Power Platform fusion development: New tools for professional developers to collaborate with low-code citizen developers.

Microsoft Teams developer APIs: Expanded support for meeting extensions, Together mode customisation, and audio/video access.

Azure Arc: Expanded to allow more Azure services to run outside of Azure's own data centres

Visual Studio 2022 roadmap: Published.

Build 2022: Azure OpenAI Service arrives

Azure OpenAI Service announced, bringing OpenAI's language models to Azure for enterprise customers.

Azure Container Apps launched, adding serverless container orchestration to Azure.

Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform introduced as a unified data and analytics layer across Azure services.

Project Volterra revealed: a developer device running Qualcomm's ARM silicon, aimed at native ARM development on Windows.

Power Apps Express Design previewed, using AI to generate app interfaces from uploaded images or sketches.

The Azure OpenAI Service announcement at Build 2022 was the most consequential of the conference's modern run. It laid the commercial infrastructure for everything Microsoft would build in the AI era over the following three years.

Build 2023: Copilot era begins

Build 2023 put AI at the front of every product line Microsoft discussed. The conference introduced Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant, across Windows 11, Microsoft 365, Edge, and GitHub in a single event. The Microsoft-OpenAI partnership became visibly central to the product strategy: Bing was announced as the default search engine for ChatGPT and developers gained tools for building and distributing AI plugins through the Microsoft Store.

For the first time, the entire conference operated around a single organising idea, with AI connecting Windows, cloud, and productivity tools rather than each receiving its own separate focus.

Build 2024: Copilot+ PCs and GPT-4o

Build 2024 introduced Copilot+ PCs, a new hardware category defined by dedicated neural processing units capable of at least 40 TOPS of AI performance. The launch was Microsoft's first attempt to define AI-capable hardware as a distinct PC tier, separate from standard Windows devices.

On the cloud side, GPT-4o, OpenAI's multimodal model, reached general availability on Azure AI during the conference. Team Copilot was announced as an expansion of Microsoft 365 Copilot designed to act as a shared AI assistant for entire teams rather than individual users. Microsoft's Phi-3 family of small language models became available through Azure AI's model catalog, and GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio Code hit general availability.

Build 2025: The age of AI agents

The 2025 conference produced more than 50 announcements under the theme of AI agents. The most widely covered was a new GitHub Copilot coding agent that could autonomously fix bugs, write tests, and open pull requests without developer prompting.

Microsoft 365 Copilot gained Researcher and Analyst, two reasoning-oriented agents built specifically for professional workflows. DeepSeek R1 models arrived on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs for local on-device inference, reducing dependence on cloud connectivity for AI tasks.

In a notable open-source move, Microsoft released the majority of the Windows Subsystem for Linux codebase publicly at the conference, nine years after WSL was first announced at Build 2016.

Build 2026: Back to San Francisco (upcoming)

The 2026 edition runs June 2–3 at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in San Francisco, the first time the conference has been held in the city since 2016. Microsoft has limited in-person attendance to around 2,500 developers at the waterfront venue, positioning the event around hands-on access to live AI systems and direct engagement with Microsoft's engineering teams.

Satya Nadella will deliver the opening keynote on June 2. Expected areas of focus include next-generation Copilot capabilities, GitHub platform developments, and new APIs across Windows and Azure AI Foundry.

How to attend Microsoft Build 2026

Build 2026 takes place on June 2–3, 2026 at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123. In-person tickets are priced at $1,099, while online is free. Registration is open on the Microsoft Build website here.

With around 2,500 in-person spots available at a smaller venue than most previous editions, tickets are expected to sell quickly. Microsoft is offering visa support letters for international attendees with approved registrations and will refund tickets if a visa is denied.

If attending in person is not an option, Microsoft streams the opening keynote and selected sessions for free starting June 2. On-demand recordings from previous Build editions, including full session libraries going back several years, are also available through Microsoft Learn and the official Build website, so you can follow the announcements and deep-dive sessions after the fact.

This year's event carries more weight than a typical edition. The return to San Francisco, the smaller format, and the explicit emphasis on hands-on AI development all signal a conference that will feel different from recent years. If the direction of GitHub Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, and Microsoft's AI agent platform is relevant to your work, Build 2026 is where those stories will start.

Last Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook took to social media to tease 'a big week ahead' for his company, and Apple has certainly delivered on that promise: we've seen six new products launched over the last few days, and they're all updates to major product lines.

If you've not been able to keep up with everything that Apple has announced — and even we've found it tricky — then let this be your one-stop catch-up for all the news. We've included the details for each new piece of hardware, and links if you want to read more.

It's fair to say there's something for everyone here, whether you're in the market for a mid-range smartphone or you're a creative professional who's after one of the best monitors money can buy. Without any further ado, here are the new devices...

1. MacBook Neo

We've long been hearing rumors about a more affordable MacBook — like an iPhone 17e but for Apple's laptops — and now it's finally here. The MacBook Neo runs on an A18 Pro processor (the same one found in the iPhone 16 Pro from 2024), sports a 13-inch screen, and is available in four colors: Apple is calling them blush, indigo, silver, and citrus.

The big headline here though is the relatively low starting price, which is $599 / £599 / AU$$899. That makes it the cheapest Apple laptop currently on the market by some distance, although there are of course some compromises along the way — if you want a keyboard with Touch ID integrated into it, for example, then you'll have to pay extra.

• Read the full story: Apple launches the MacBook Neo — and it starts at only $599

2. iPhone 17e

Apple continues to offer a more affordable option in its iPhone line, with the iPhone 17e now replacing last year's iPhone 16e and starting at the same price: $599 / £599 / AU$999 (although this time the base model offers 256GB of storage rather than 128GB). One of the key upgrades here is support for MagSafe charging, which the previous model didn't have.

Other improvements worth knowing about are the switch to the A19 chipset also featured in the iPhone 17 — so you're getting top-tier performance, even if this phone isn't much faster than the iPhone 16e. Networking speeds should be better, thanks to Apple's own C1X modem, and you can get this in soft pink as well as the standard black and white.

• Read the full story: Apple announces the iPhone 17e — here's what's new in the mid-range iPhone

3. M4 iPad Air

Apple's last iPad Air launched in March 2025 with Apple's own M3 chipset, and a year later we have its successor: the M4 iPad Air. That processor bump is the headline upgrade, and Apple is promising performance gains of up to 30% compared with the previous version — though you're probably not going to notice them if you're just swiping around on emails.

The same two sizes are available, 11 inches and 13 inches, and again there's Touch ID rather than Face ID. Wi-Fi and 5G should be faster though, with the addition of Apple's own C1X chip, and the starting prices have remained the same as last year: $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the smaller model, and $799 / £799 / AU$1249 for the larger one.

• Read the full story: Apple just announced a new iPad Air with M4 — here's what's changed

4. Studio Display and Studio Display XDR

The original Apple Studio Display has finally been given a refresh, four years on, and there are two new models for 2026. The next-gen Studio Display sticks with a 27-inch screen, but there are notable upgrades to the camera, the ports, and the sound system — while the $1,599 / £1499 / AU$2,599 starting price is the same as last time, so credit to Apple for that.

There's also a more premium version available, the Studio Display XDR, which replaces the Pro Display XDR and which will cost you a hefty $3,299 / £2,999 / AU$5,499. It has the same 27-inch screen size and 5K resolution as the standard model, while upping the refresh rate, brightness, color range, backlight tech, and improving some of the port specifications.

• Read the full story: Apple just dropped the next-gen Studio Display and Studio Display XDR — here's what's new

5. M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro

Apple has announced new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and for good measure, new laptops for them to go inside. The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros replace the M4 Pro and M4 Pro Max versions from 2025, and there are upgrades to the wireless connectivity chips inside as well — so the MacBook Pro finally supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard.

According to Apple, these new laptops and their chipsets are going to be much better at processing AI locally — so let's hope Apple Intelligence gets improved soon as well. The starting prices for these new models are $2,199 / £2,199 / AU$3,499 for the 14-inch version (with an M5 Pro) and $2,699 / £2,699 / AU$4,299 for the 16-inch (with the M5 Pro).

• Read the full story: The Apple MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max are official — here's what's new

6. M5 MacBook Air

Since it was launched in March 2025, the M4 MacBook Air has been our favorite laptop — but now there's a new-and-improved M5 model. The ports and the design remain the same, but the performance should be boosted by the new chip (especially for AI), and Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 are now supported thanks to the addition of Apple's N1 chip.

Pricing starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799 for the 13-inch version and $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,199 for the 15-inch model. That means they're slightly more expensive than their predecessors, but you do get more internal storage at those prices this time around (512GB vs 256GB), and we're happy with the trade-off that Apple's decided to make here.

• Read the full story: The MacBook Air M5 has landed — here's what's new on our favorite laptop

Every year, the biggest companies in mobile technology get together to show off their wares at MWC in Barcelona, and the 2026 event has been as packed as all the other MWC shows that have gone before it — as this best gadgets guide will help to show you.

The TechRadar team is still putting in the legwork to get around the event's various meeting rooms and conference halls, and these are the highlights from our second day in Spain. You can also catch up on our best MWC gadget picks from the first day as well.

We're not seeing any real slowdown in the pace of MWC 2026 yet, and there's been lots to look at over the last 24 hours, from phones and watches to SSDs and tablets. For the very latest announcements from the ground in Barcelona, check out our ongoing live blog.

1. TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro

If you've felt rather uninspired by smartphone designs and innovations in recent years, take a look at the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro: this handset uses the latest generation of TCL's color e-paper display, making for a gorgeous, reflection-free visual experience.

Comic books are shown off really well, but all kinds of apps and experiences shine on the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, and the display doesn't appear sluggish at all. You can even use a stylus with the handset, and it's available at a competitive price point as well.

• Read the full story: As a comic book fan, TCL showed me my dream smartphone at MWC 2026

2. Xiaomi Watch 5

The Apple Watch and the Pixel Watch have some serious competition in the form of the Xiaomi Watch 5, which packs plenty of power in a rather fine-looking casing-and-strap combination — topped off by a 1.54-inch, 1,500-nit circular AMOLED display.

Now available globally, the Xiaomi Watch 5 made a strong impression on us when we checked it out at MWC because it runs Wear OS 6 rather than Xiaomi's own HyperOS, which means you've got access to the Gemini smart AI on your wrist.

• Read the full story: Xiaomi’s Watch 5 has just launched globally, and it could be an affordable Google Pixel Watch 4 rival

3. MemoMind One

We could have another contender for our best smart glasses list: the MemoMind One from XGIMI. There are integrated speakers here as well as dual-eye displays, and of course, a sprinkling of AI, making them a complete pair of smart specs.

The MemoMind One glasses also score highly for customization options, with a variety of frame styles and temple designs to choose from — though we're not exactly sure how many. We're still waiting for details on pricing and availability, however.

4. Biwin CL100 Mini SSD

The name tells you just about everything you need to know about this device: it's an SSD made by Biwin, and it's very small and thin. In fact, it measures just 15 mm x 17 mm x 1.4 mm, so it's not the size of a postage stamp — it's smaller. We're talking microSD card size.

Despite those very compact dimensions, you don't have to make too many compromises when it comes to speed and capacity. You can buy this SSD with up to 2TB of onboard storage, and it also offers PCIe 3.0-like read and write speeds for rapid data transfer.

5. Oukitel WP63

The Oukitel WP63 isn't your ordinary smartphone, and is sure to appeal to those who want to break away from the standard Apple, Google, and Samsung formulas. It comes with a huge 20,000 mAh battery for starters, which goes some way to explaining its chunky looks.

You also get an integrated LED light for finding your way in the dark, and even an electric ignitor — how many phones do you know of that can start a fire? If you're a serious camper or keen outdoor enthusiast, this could be a handset worth checking out.

• Read the full story: Get updates on the Oukitel WP63 at MWC in our live blog

6. Huawei Watch GT Runner 2

Without making too much of a fuss about it, Huawei is actually putting out some rather impressive smartwatches, and the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 is the latest to catch our eye, here at MWC. We've actually already had some hands-on time with the wearable.

It's lightweight, it's capable, and it's reasonably priced — although you won't be able to buy it directly in the US, of course, what with the Huawei ban and everything. It scores highly for waterproofing, boasts a 1.32-inch AMOLED screen, and supports contactless payments.

• Read the full story: Huawei's new GT Runner 2 is called 'the pinnacle of professional running watches', so I went hands-on and compared its stats to a Garmin watch

7. 6G

Don't worry if you're still struggling to get reliable access to 5G in your part of the world, because 6G is very much on the way, and it's going to offer even further advances in terms of upload and download speeds, and in terms of how much capacity the networks have.

Numerous mobile companies have been talking up 6G in Barcelona, including Ericsson and Intel: the tech giants say they're going to pool their resources in a partnership that should see next-gen connectivity arrive sooner, and with a higher level of reliability.

• Read the full story: Get updates on 6G at MWC in our live blog

The MWC (Mobile World Congress) tech expo is undoubtedly one of the biggest of the year. It brings together the biggest names in technology, throngs of people working in the industry, and journalists aplenty — including the hard-working TechRadar team.

Every year the Barcelona-based event is used to show off a wide range of gadgets and other tech, and we've been busy taking in all the news and announcements. What you'll find below are our picks for the best pieces of hardware we've come across so far.

While MWC usually focuses mainly on phones, there's something here for everyone, including new wireless earbuds from Motorola and a crazy gaming handheld concept for Motorola. To keep right up to date with the happenings, check out our live blog. And if you want to see even more of our favorite finds from the show, check out our MWC day 2 roundup.

1. Nothing Phone 4a

Nothing smartphones can usually be relied upon to be affordable, innovative, and stylish, and the Nothing Phone 4a series looks set to continue those traditions. We've been given our first proper look at the handset at MWC, and the four colors it will be available in.

There's only so much you can tell about a phone when it's behind a glass case, so we're hoping that we can get some hands-on time with it sooner rather than later. In the meantime, see if you can pick your favorite shade: black, blue, white, or pink. It's due to get a full announcement on March 5.

2. Honor Robot Phone

The Honor Robot Phone is definitely one of the more unusual handsets that we've come across in Barcelona — or indeed anywhere else. It has a built-in camera on a small robotic arm, which can extend out whenever you want to capture some photos or videos.

Thanks to that robotic arm, the camera can follow you and whatever you're doing, so it's like a high-end webcam or vlogging camera you can take with you anywhere. Think a DJI Pocket 4 built into your phone. We're still waiting to find out when it'll go on sale or how much it's going to cost, however.

3. Snapdragon Wear Elite

We always get a chipset story or three at MWC, and for 2026 Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon Wear Elite. This premium bit of silicon will soon be appearing in all sorts of different wearables, most likely including smartwatches and various AI-powered gadgets.

What makes the Snapdragon Wear Elite special is the amount of processing it can do on its own, without sending anything back to the cloud — and that means faster response times for whatever it is you're doing. It also brings with it upgrades in power and efficiency.

• Read the full story: Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear Elite aims to power the next wave of AI wearables — not just smartwatches

4. Lenovo Legion Go Fold concept

We've never had it so good in terms of gaming handhelds as we do now, and Lenovo is hoping to capture a slice of the market with the new Lenovo Legion Go Fold — though for now this remains a concept product rather than something you can actually buy.

As the name gives away, this particular handheld folds: it boasts a 7.7-inch screen when it's closed, and a 11.6-inch screen when it's opened up. You then snap controllers to each side, and away you go. There are also some rather decent specs under the hood.

• Read the full story: I love my foldable phone and PC handhelds, but I don't see the appeal of this goofy Lenovo concept

5. Leica Leitzphone

Camera veteran Leica has unveiled the Leitzphone, made in partnership with Xiaomi. It's the first Leica handset to get a global release — though it looks as though the US might miss out, unfortunately — and it's sure to appeal to serious mobile photographers.

The main camera on the back of the Leitzphone has a 50-megapixel, 1-inch sensor, as well as LOFIC tech that should ensure more natural snaps. There's also a manual ring around the camera, which we really like, giving you a way to manually adjust the camera settings.

• Read the full story: Leica's Leitzphone looks like the dream phone for photographers — and I'm particularly excited about this one feature

6. Honor Magic V6

We've seen foldable phones before, but the Honor Magic V6 raises the bar again. Not only is it the thinnest foldable to launch to date, it also comes with an IP69 rating for excellent water and dust protection — no easy feat for a handset that has a folding hinge in it.

The other specs you'll want to know about are the 6,660mAh battery, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset from Qualcomm, and the support for a stylus. With an inner screen that measures 7.95 inches corner to corner, it's a genuine Samsung Galaxy Z Fold rival.

7. Moto Buds 2

Motorola has taken the opportunity of MWC in Barcelona to launch the Moto Buds 2 and Moto Buds 2 Plus wireless earbuds, and there's a lot to like about them — including the audio quality engineered in partnership with Bose that you get with the Plus earbuds.

We've got Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on both models, and these earbuds come at a price point that's very reasonable indeed (though we're still waiting on full details of availability). Battery life is another highlight, both with and without the charging cases.

• Read the full story: 'Sound by Bose' earbuds for this money?! I’ve never said 'Hello Moto' with so much conviction!

8. ThinkBook Modular AI PC concept

Back to Lenovo, and the company has also been demoing a ThinkBook Modular AI PC concept here at MWC. It comes with not one but two screens, and they're detachable — so multiple different display configurations are possible, not just the standard laptop one.

You've basically got two mini monitors to go along with your keyboard (and the rest of the laptop), and it's sure to appeal to those looking for more flexibility on the go. For the time being though, it's not certain that this intriguing concept will ever go into production.

• Read the full story: Lenovo just showed me the future of laptops at MWC 2026 — and it didn't mention AI once

Tim Cook promised us a "big week ahead" for Apple launches, and he wasn't joking — yesterday, we got a new MacBook Air, new MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and new Apple Studio Display models.

Those followed Monday's announcements of the new iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air. And now Apple just unveiled the MacBook Neo, an "all-new" Mac. We're updating live from the event as we get more details!

What we know so far is that the MacBook Neo costs just $599 / £599, comes in four colors, and is powered by the Apple A18 Pro chip, as used in the iPhone 16 Pro. Here's all the latest straight from Apple's event...

The latest news

• New $599 MacBook Neo laptop has been unveiled
• Apple unveils new MacBook Air model with M5 chip
• A MacBook Pro refresh brings new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
• New Apple Studio Display and Studio Display XDR unveiled
• The new cheaper iPhone 17e model is here
• The new M4 iPad Air has also been revealed

The iPhone 17e is here

The iPhone 17e has landed — and as expected, it's a relatively minor upgrade with the same price tag as the iPhone 16e.

The main boost is its new A19 chip, which is the same as the one you'll find in the iPhone 17 (though the iPhone 17 Pro naturally has the more powerful A19 Pro). Apple's also upgraded the phone's wireless charging, adding its own MagSafe standard — which is a step up from the iPhone 16's Qi charging (which was limited to up to 7.5W).

The iPhone 17e's main design is unchanged, and fortunately so is the price tag — it starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999 for 256GB of storage, with pre-orders starting on March 4 (or March 5 in Australia).

Perhaps the only surprise is that the iPhone 17e still doesn't have a Dynamic Island, which it was rumored to get...

• Read the full story: Apple announces the iPhone 17e — here's what's new in the mid-range iPhone

What's new in the M4 iPad Air?

The obvious answer to that question is, of course, the new M4 chip. According to Apple, that makes the new tablet “up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3".

But there are a few other additions besides the new chip. Connectivity is the main story, with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread and Apple's N1 wireless networking chip all packed into the mid-range tablet.

If you go for the cellular version of the tablet, you'll also get Apple's C1X modem — this apparently offers 50% faster cellular performance with 30% less energy use than on the M3 iPad Air.

Otherwise, this is a fairly basic update to the M3 versions, which we called "even better value than their predecessors" this time last year. That could well be the conclusion we reach here too as the M4 iPad Air's price hasn't changed, starting at $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the 11-inch version (Wi-Fi) or $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 for the 13-inch model (Wi-Fi).

• Read the full story: Apple just announced a new iPad Air with M4 — here's what's changed

The iPhone 17e looks like decent value

On paper, the iPhone 17e is looking like a very solid bet for upgraders. The base storage now starts at 256GB, which is good considering the phone's price hasn't changed.

Other bonuses include the full MagSafe support and A19 chip (the same as the iPhone 17). The lack of Dynamic Island (with the iPhone 17e retaining the old notch) might disappoint some, as will the 60Hz screen.

But overall, I think it could be popular choice at its starting price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 (256GB), with the 512GB version costing $799 / £799 / AU$1,399.

A new 'Soft Pink' color for the iPhone 17e

The iPhone 16e strangely only came in two colors (Black or White), which seemed a bit mean considering the iPhone 17 has five colors (Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black).

Well, as you can see above, the iPhone 17e does at least now come in slightly brighter Soft Pink. But will it be the new Cosmic Orange? Well, maybe not quite that ubiquitous, but I'm sure it'll get some fans who want a dash of color.

Will we get a new base iPad?

Apple has announced the new M4 iPad Air, but there's been no news about a refresh of the base iPad yet. So is it still coming?

The 11th-gen iPad was announced almost exactly a year ago, and the rumors confidently predicted that a new version was coming this week with an A18 chip. That would mean Apple's base iPad could finally support Apple Intelligence, among other benefits.

I still feel like a 12th-gen iPad is likely this week — and we do still have two days to go until Apple's official March 4 event, so there's still plenty of time for it to be announced. But with several new MacBooks also expected, it'll likely be a member of the supporting cast...

Those iPhone 17e prices

Let's just confirm those international iPhone 17e prices — as you can see in the table below, they're the same as the iPhone 16e, only this time the base storage starts at 256GB.

That's a pretty tempting deal and compares favorably to the iPhone 17 (which is also in the table below). The main differences between the two are cameras — the iPhone 17 has an 18MP Center Stage front-facing camera, which the 17e lacks, and also two rear cameras rather than one (the 17e is missing an ultra-wide lens).

The 17e also doesn't have the iPhone 17's 120Hz ProMotion display. Personally, I miss the ultra-wide camera the most, but is that worth $200 / £200? I can see why many will plump for the simpler 17e instead.

Will you be buying the iPhone 17e?

So will you be buying the iPhone 17e? Based on the pricing (see post below) and upgrades that include an A19 chip and proper MagSafe wireless charging speeds, it looks like a solid bet if you don't want to splurge on the full iPhone 17.

But let us know in the poll below what you're planning to do...

iPad Air M4 vs iPad Air M3: what's new?

The new iPad Air M4 has landed, but how exactly does it differ from its M3 predecessor?

The changes are small, and this is very much an incremental update. But there are a few worth knowing about. Beyond that new M4 chip – which Apple says will have a 30% performance boost over the M3 iPad Air – there are also some connectivity boosts, and a 4GB RAM boost (up from 8GB to 12GB).

Those wireless boosts include W-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, which are enabled by Apple's N1 networking chip. If you go for the cellular mode, you also get the C1X modem, which is also found in the iPhone Air. This will apparently give you 50% faster cellular data performance than the iPad Air M3, while using 30% less modem energy.

Pretty minor upgrades all told, but not bad considering the Air M4 is the same price as before. I'll confirm those prices and show how they compare to other iPads for you shortly.

iPad Air M4 pricing – how does it compare?

Interested in buying the new iPad Air M4? I've gathered all of its pricing in the table below, so you can see how all of the models compare. It'll be available for pre-order on March 4, with availability from March 11.

I feel like the sweet spot might be around the 11-inch (256GB, Wi-Fi) version. It's still substantially cheaper than the iPad Pro, whose equivalent 256GB, 11-inch model is $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. But you still get a powerful tablet with Apple Pencil Pro support and enough grunt for photo or video editing.

Of course, you don't get the Pro's glorious Ultra Retina XDR display or M5 chip, but it might just be enough tablet for your needs. Wondering what other discounts are available on existing Apple tech? We've rounded up all the best deals right now on AirPods, iPad and MacBooks.

New Apple Watch bands too

Alongside the iPad Air with M4 and the iPhone 17e, Apple also ushered in its new “Spring Collection” of silicone iPhone cases and crossbody straps, as well as Apple Watch bands. I’m especially fond of this most recent drop, thanks to the vibrant colors, like the pinkish-orange Bright Guava silicone case that can be paired with a matching strap.

You’ll find options for the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and the new 17e in various shades, including Electric Lavender, Vanilla, and Anchor Blue.

On the more premium end, there’s a new Néo Tricot Hermès band, as well as new colors for the existing Toile H Double Jeu, En Mer, Scub’H Diving, and Kilim Single Tour bands. You’ll also find a few new shades for the Sport Band and Sport Loop that work with all major Apple Watch models, including the SE, Series 11, and Ultra 3.

Welcome to day two

Morning, and welcome to the second day of a packed week of Apple launches. It isn't certain that we'll see new announcements today, as Apple has only officially said that there'll be a March 4 experience day for the media (including TechRadar, of course).

But Tim Cook did also promise a "a big week ahead", and there are a lot of rumors products to get through — here's what could still land today and tomorrow:

• a cheaper Apple MacBook with an A18 Pro chip
• the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and MacBook Pro M5 Max
• a new base iPad (12th-gen)
• the Apple Studio Display 2
• a MacBook Air M5

Does the Pixel 10a still beat the iPhone 17e?

Yesterday I was crowing about how the iPhone 17e looks like a great deal for upgraders. But my colleague Lance Ulanoff has raised some good points to prove that we shouldn't rule out the Pixel 10a in the mid-range phone tussle.

As he explains in a helpful pre-review comparison of the iPhone 17e and Pixel 10a, Google's phone does still beat Apple's latest iPhone in a few ways. The Pixel 10a, for example, has a larger 6.3-inch screen that's also brighter with a 3,000-nit peak brightness. It also has an ultra-wide camera, which the iPhone 17e lacks — I have to agree that I'd miss that a lot on Apple's phone.

Arguably the biggest differentiator though is in AI skills. Gemini is definitely ahead of Apple Intelligence at this stage, so that's a potential extra bonus unless Apple really pulls out the stops with iOS 27 in a few months.

Of course, the iPhone 17e has its own advantages, including its A19 chip and MagSafe support, so this is likely to be a close contest — and the deciding factor may still be your favorite OS flavor.

• Read the full story: iPhone 17e looks like a good deal, but the Google Pixel 10a might still have it beat

Will we get MacBooks today?

The big question now is what Apple might reveal in just over an hour. Yesterday, the iPhone 17e and iPad Air M4 landed at 9am ET / 2pm GMT — and as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noted above, there's potentially a lot of MacBooks to be announced.

These include the new MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max, the MacBook Air M5 and, the one I'm most interested in, the rumored cheaper MacBook with an A18 Pro chip. I'm personally more interested in the Pro series as I run processor-intensive apps like Adobe Lightroom, but I'm fascinated by the concept of a low-cost MacBook with an iPhone processor.

Apple has long kept the MacBook as a relatively premium laptop option, but the Mac mini shows it's prepared to undercut the competition with some serious value, too. If Apple gets that MacBook right, it could be a massive seller.

How might the $699 MacBook stack up?

Let's take a closer look at those low-cost MacBook rumors. As we've previously reported, it would naturally have to ditch some modern features to achieve that price — and the rumors have given us an idea of which ones.

If they're correct, this new MacBook will miss out on Apple's True Tone tech (which dynamically adjusts screen color temperature) and a 1TB storage option, which options supposedly limited to 256GB and 512GB capacities. Both of those make sense to me.

Otherwise, the low-cost MacBook will also apparently lack fast charging, keyboard backlighting and support for high-impedance headphones. Again, those are nice-to-haves, but I can see why they might not have made the cut.

For me, the screen and processor might be the two areas where people consider choosing a higher-end MacBook. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it will have a "lower-end LCD display". And while the A18 Pro will be fine for basic tasks (its single-core performance beats the M1, for example), it would likely struggle to with more intensive apps and tasks like video editing.

Of course, this is still all based on rumors — but me might not have wait long to see this new MacBook's official specs.

• Read the full story: Apple’s rumored $699 MacBook sounds like a 2017 MacBook Air with an iPhone chip, according to new code leaks

The 10-minute countdown has started...

Yesterday, Apple announced the iPhone 17e and iPad Air M4 at 9am ET / 2pm GMT on the dot — so we could be close to some new announcements.

Of course, Apple might just skip today and announce everything else tomorrow during its scheduled 'experience' day. But I feel like some MacBook news might be imminent – or maybe it'll be a new base iPad...

Today's Apple launches are here!

Apple has just announced that it's launching a new MacBook Air with the M5 chip, and you can read all about the 2026 MacBook Air right here.

It's also announced MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models that come with brand-new M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, which are Apple's most powerful yet. You can all about what's new in the 2026 MacBook Pros here.

On top of that, there are two new Apple displays to pair with your lovely MacBooks. We'll dig into the details of what's new in all these machines here over the afternoon!

First up is the MacBook Air. Unsurprisingly, there's no big design change or anything like that here – all the upgrades are internal.

The M5 chip is obviously the big upgrade, and the figure Apple is touting as an improvement is that it's up to four times faster at AI tasks than the previous Apple M4 chip. As we've written before, though, the Apple M5 chip isn't much of a leap over the M4 in most real-world use.

That's not the only internal change, though — and the other change might be the one that really piques your interest. Apple has doubled the amount of internal storage that you get by default, from 256GB to 512GB — and it now maxes out at 4TB in total, if you're willing to pay for it.

However, this change has come with a downside: prices now start at prices $1,099 / £1,099 for the 13-inch version and $1,299 / £1,299 for the 15-inch model. That's $100 more than the M4 version, which might mean that stock of the old version becomes a hot buy for a while…

Now let's move on to the new MacBook Pros. The Apple M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are the juicy part here. The new M5 Pro starts with 15 CPU cores, consisting of five "super" cores and 10 "performance" cores. Those are paired with a 16-core GPU, and Apple's latest NPU tech, which has 16 cores of its own.

That's the most basic version, though, in the 14-inch Pro. Step up to the 16-inch and you an 18-core CPU (six super and 12 performance) and a 20-core GPU. This and the above Pro both have 24GB of memory.

And then there's the Max…

The new M5 Max starts with an 18-core CPU, just like the M5 Pro, but this time it's connected to a 32-core GPU. It also starts with 36GB of unified memory, and has a memory bandwidth of 460GB/s, compared with a measly 306GB/s in the M5 Pro.

How far can you push the M5 Max, you ask? The top-end option is an 18-core CPU with a 40-core GPU, and 128GB of unified memory, with a bandwidth of 614GB/s.

You can get up to 8TB of storage with the M5 Max version, or up to 4TB with the M5 Pro.

There's one upgrade common to all these machines: Apple is throwing its N1 networking chip in, to upgrade them to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. (The pre-existing MacBook Pro M5 didn't get the N1, and stays at Wi-Fi 6E.)

As I mentioned earlier, Apple updated its displays too. You can read all about Apple's new 2026 Studio Displays at that link, or hang around and I'll dig into the changes. First and foremost, there are still two models — the Studio Display and the Studio Display XDR — and they've both changed.

When it comes to image quality, the Apple Studio Display appears to be exactly the same as before. It's still a 27-inch 5K Retina LCD display with support for P3 wide color, and up to 600 nits of brightness. It's still 60Hz, annoyingly — and it still costs a hard-to-stomach $1,599.

What Apple's changed is largely in the extra features. It has a new built-in Center Stage camera that can follow you even if you move around behind the desk, and it now includes Desk View, so you can even show things down on the desk, if it's useful.

The speakers have been upgraded to a six-speaker spatial audio system, with four woofers in a force-cancelling configuration and two tweeters. Apple says this delivers 30% more bass than the previous generation, but we're struggling to imagine that who cares this much about bass would be using the built-in speakers on their monitor…

There are also now two Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back, along with two USB-C ports with 96W power delivery.

Okay, let's move on to the Apple Studio Display XDR, which replaces the previous Apple Pro Display XDR. That was a 32-inch 6K display, but the new model is another 27-inch 5K model, like the regular Studio Display. However, this one has a more impressive panel — it's the same resolution and with P3 color gamut support, but it has a mini-LED backlight.

This makes it much brighter than the regular Studio Display, reaching 1,000 nits in SDR mode, and 2,000 nits in HDR mode. It also has over 2,000 dimming zones, so you get elite levels of contrast without a lot of light bleeding from light areas to dark ones. It's also 120Hz, unlike the regular Studio Display.

It also has the Center Stage camera, six-speaker audio system, and Thunderbolt 5 ports. And it starts from $3,299, which is… quite a lot, even for a pro-level monitor.

You can get either of Apple's new displays with its matte "nano-texture" glass finish, if you like, to avoid reflections.

How are we feeling about Apple's latest announcements? I've added a poll to see what you're thinking of buying at the top of the article. I suspect the Studio Display XDR may not come top of it, but we'll see…

Stick or twist?

Let us know which of Apple's many new launches you're most excited about in the poll at the top of this page.

Personally, I'm a bit torn between voting for the MacBook Air M5 and MacBook Pro M5 Pro. Despite the MacBook Air's price rising by $100 / £100 due the minimum storage option rising to 512GB, it looks odds-on to be replace the M4 model at the top of our best laptops guide.

As the owner of a creaking 13-inch MacBook Pro (2018), though, I'm looking at the new 14-inch M5 Pro version with worrying interest. Yes, it's theoretically a 'bad' time to buy one, with the OLED MacBook Pro rumored to be landing later this year, but it might just be the perfect (and last) version of this generation's classic design.

The 'MacBook Neo' tomorrow?

The big Apple launch we're still waiting for is the lower-cost MacBook — and it seems that much-anticipated laptop could be called the MacBook Neo. Yes, Tim Cook et al have been re-watching The Matrix trilogy, it seems.

That rumor has been started by MacRumors, who say they spotted a regulatory PDF document on Apple's website containing the name, which has been removed since they published their finding. Very mysterious.

This cheaper MacBook (expected to cost somewhere between $599-$799) is rumored to be powered by an A18 Pro or A19 Pro iPhone chip, and come in a range of bold colors. It'll almost certainly be announced tomorrow March 4.

My gut reaction is that this would be a very un-Apple and slightly tacky name, but I'm sure it's done its market research – and 'iPad' was also widely mocked when it launched. At least it isn't the iNeo, I guess...

What will Apple call its lower-cost MacBook?

The first question is why the rumor mill keeps referring to it as a 'lower-cost' MacBook? Because 'cheaper' and 'cheap' will be frowned on by Apple if it does indeed announce an A18 Pro-powered laptop tomorrow, so that's how most will likely describe it.

But more importantly, what will Apple actually call this intriguing laptop? I'm still struggling to believe the rumors (see below) that it'll be called Neo. That sounds like the name of an early 2000s MP3 player by iRiver or Rio, not a MacBook.

Still, it is the leading candidate right now, so we're putting it over to you — what do you think Apple will call it's Chromebook rival?

You're not convinced by the MacBook Neo

Well, you're not convinced by its rumored name, at least. We asked you what you think Apple's affordable MacBook might be called on our WhatsApp channel, and 58% of you said MacBook SE.

The rumored Neo name – which could ultimately turn out to be a codename – came down in third with only 15% of votes at the time of writing. Of course, Apple could go with something even more sensible like MacBook (A18 Pro).

To cast your vote (and catch up on all the latest non-Apple news) head over to the TechRadar WhatsApp channel.

Welcome to day three

Hello, and welcome to what's expected to be the final (and perhaps most interesting) day of Apple's March announcements.

The rumors are strongly pointing towards a more affordable MacBook — potentially in the $599-$799 price range — being today's colorful star. A leaked regulatory document suggests it might be called the MacBook Neo, although we still don't know if that's just a codename.

There is also an experience day taking place today, which TechRadar will of course be attending — so we'll be bringing you all of the news and our reactions straight from Apple's event.

Early iPad Air M4 benchmarks are in

We're taking a short break from MacBook Neo chat to bring you news of the iPad Air M4's early benchmarks, which have been spotted by MacRumors.

The Geekbench test results appear to be for an iPad Air M4 13-inch (Wi-Fi + Cellular) model and suggest that the M4 model's are between 13% and 22% better than its predecessor in single-core, and between 5-10% better in multi-core CPU performance.

As always, those results need to be taken with a pinch of salt. But they hint at fairly modest real-world gains — and given that we found it was almost impossible to slow down the iPad Air M3 in our tests, the M4 chip alone likely won't be a reason to upgrade from a recent model.

The Apple Studio Display has disappointed some

The new Apple Studio Display continues to be one of the best-looking monitors around, but it's unfortunately missing an important feature for gamers — as TechRadar Alex Blake has passionately explained.

The lack of a 120Hz refresh rate has left him "disappointed", particularly as Apple silicon has taken Mac gaming a long way in recent years. A 27-inch Apple display with a 5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate would have been the "holy trinity" he says, but he's sadly now looking elsewhere.

Fortunately, he's also rounded up three of the top Studio Display alternatives that are on his shortlist.

• Read more: Forget the Apple Studio Display — here are 3 better-value monitors for Macs with similar visual quality

Ten minutes and counting...

For the past two days, Apple has dropped its big announcements at 9am ET / 2pm GMT. I'm expecting the same today — and given the amount of rumors about its lower-cost MacBook, it'd be a big surprise if that doesn't get revealed.

My main question is whether or not that's going to be the only announcement — will Apple really leave its base iPad without an update? Fortunately, we won't have to wait long to find out.

We're inside Apple's event

Good news, TechRadar has successfully made it inside both the US and UK versions of Apple's event.

There aren't any more clues about what to expect yet, although those bright yellow, blue, and green colors from the invite are everywhere — a hint at the lower-cost MacBook's colors? Most likely, I think.

It's standing room only here at the event. Speaking of which, it looks like the whole unveiling will be standing, so seems like it'll be a short one. A short event for a small laptop? Maybe…

Apple's Marketing VP Greg Jozwiak just joked with our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff that he was gonna throw his phone at Lance (again). Last time these two guys met, the phone throwing was… chaotic.

Things are happening!

Apple is introducing an "all-new Mac" — it's confirmed!

MacBook Neo is official!

Headline specs coming in now

A laptop with the Apple A18 Pro chip powering, that comes in four colors. There are two USB-C ports, a headphone jack (yay!), a 1080p front camera, and speakers that support spatial audio.

Here's the info you probably really want — the price:

It starts from just $599 / £599. Yes, really. Nearly half the price of the new M5 MacBook Air!

And, in fact, it'll be even cheaper if you can get one of Apple's education discounts — just $499!

Here's a better look at its pink and yellow colors, and overall design

Have some more images

Here's some more on what you get for the price

That basic $599 price gets you 256GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM. Notably, there's no Touch ID on this model.

There's a $699 version that includes 512GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and this one has Touch ID.

Apple's just confirmed that there's no backlight in the keyboard, and the trackpad is mechanical, rather than the all-solid trackpad with haptic feedback used on its other laptops.

The display

The screen is 13 inches, with a resolution of 2408x1506, with a brightness of 500 nits. That's a very nice set of specs for something so inexpensive! It'll be interesting to see how high-quality the screen is in terms of lamination thinness and anti-reflective layers.

Let's talk about the chip

How fast will the phone chip inside this laptop be? Well, Apple says "A18 Pro is up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5", while being 3x faster for AI workloads and twice as fast for photo editing. Here's Apple's small print on how it reached those figures:

"Testing was conducted by Apple in January and February 2026 using preproduction MacBook Neo systems with Apple A18 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 8GB of unified memory, and 256GB SSD, as well as production Intel Core Ultra 5-based PC systems with Intel Graphics, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and the latest version of Windows 11 Home available at the time of testing. Bestselling PC laptop with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5 processor is based on publicly available sales data over the prior six months. Speedometer 3.1 performance benchmark tested with pre-release Safari 26.3 on macOS Tahoe, and both Chrome 144.0.7559.110 and Edge 144.0.3719.104 on Windows 11 Home. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of MacBook Neo."

As you saw above, the chip will have six cores, two of which are high-power performance cores, and four of which are more energy efficient cores. The GPU is 5-core, and supports ray tracing. There's no configuration here, just one chip on both models, so 8GB RAM is the max.

Apple says you'll get up to 16 hours of battery life from a single charge, for all-day use. It weighs 2.7lbs, which is just 1.17kg – so you really could carry it around all day.

And it's aluminum, so it should stand up to a big of rough and tumble in your bag.

The big question: the name

Why is it called MacBook Neo? Is it ushering in a 'new' era of cheaper Macs of all kinds? Is it because it will free you from The Matrix of cheap Windows laptops?

Apple told us that it chose the name… "because we like it". Which isn't quite the in-depth exploration we wanted.

Apple has made a point of saying that the MacBook Neo will be fully geared up for Apple Intelligence, of course.

Incidentally, you can pre-order it today, for its official launch on March 11th.

No charger for some

There's something UK and EU buyers should know before you buy — it won't come with a charger, or even a USB-C cable. It'll probably be able to charge from even a pretty standard phone charger given that it uses a phone chip, but bear that in mind.

I should note that the 1080p front-facing camera isn't a Center Stage camera, so it won't follow you if you move. Apple had a history of really poor cameras in its laptops until a few years ago, so we'll see how this one does…

There is a dual-mic system, though, so hopefully voices will be picked up well.

Let's have some official photos, now that Apple's made the Neo a whole thing in its site.

The keyboard is a lighter shade of the body, the trackpad is a closer match.

Let's talk about the ports! There are two USB-C ports, but don't get too excited: they're not equal.

One is full USB 3 port that does charging, USB 3 connectivity up to 10GBps, and works as a DisplayPort output for an external monitor. The other does charging and USB 2. Yes, good ol' 480Mbps USB 2. How do you know which is which? Ah, I'm not sure they're labelled…

The fact that the faster USB-C port is also the DisplayPort connections is kind of annoying – so you can have a screen or semi-decent data connection. And it supports one external display, at up to 4K 60Hz.

I expect several companies will sell hubs for this, in matching colors. It feels more like Apple just doesn't expect buyers to really care about a wired connection, though. I'm still struggling to imagine that having a whopping two USB 3 ports just in case would have broken the budget, though…

Which is the best MacBook Neo color?

Let's have a quick tour of those four MacBook Neo colors — Silver, Citrus, Indigo, Blush.

I think the Citrus could be the most popular choice, although it's also the one that shouts the loudest that you have a MacBook Neo. Silver will be for those who want their model choice to be a little more stealthy.

Which one is your favorite? Vote in our poll below.

Charging conundrums

The MacBook Neo doesn't come with MagSafe or fast-charging, so it's a little antiquated on the charging front. In the UK and EU, it also doesn't come with a power adapter in the box, just a USB-C cable, though in the US you do get a 20W charger too.

On the plus side, that 36.5‑watt‑hour lithium‑ion battery means you should be able to use any phone charger to top it up. It can also be charged using either of its two USB-C ports, although bear in mind only one of them is USB-C 3.

What's this on the side?

The photographer in me got a bit excited up seeing this part of the MacBook Neo. Is that an SD card slot? No, it's actually just one of the laptop's speakers, with another identical one on the other side. Apple says these support Spatial Audio so it'll be interesting to hear them in action.

Never mind — as we mentioned earlier, there will undoubtedly be third-party hubs made for the Neo (in matching Citrus and Blush, no doubt) to boosts its connectivity, and some of those will surely contain SD card slots. Which are still the fastest and most reliable way to get a big batch of snaps from your camera.

Hands-on impressions — the MacBook Neo will be a hit

TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff has been hands-on with the MacBook Neo at Apple's event today — and he's come away very impressed.

Unlike most plasticky budget laptops, he says that the Neo "features all the materials and tolerances you expect from an Apple product".

There's also the bigger picture here. More than just a new product, Lance Ulanoff says the MacBook Neo "is probably the most important new consumer electronics product of this still-new year".

When you consider the background of a RAM crisis and an education market that's crying out for a Chromebook alternative, a $599 / £599 / AU$899 Mac – which is only $499 / £499 / AU$749 for the education market – is very big news indeed.

• Read the full story: 'Apple's gonna sell these by the boatload': why the new MacBook Neo is already the most important product of 2026

What is the MacBook Neo missing?

We've sung the MacBook Neo's praises a lot today, and quite rightly. But what features would you be missing out on if you bough the budget MacBook?

We've rounded them all up in the handy list below. From the lack of True Tone or a P3 color gamut on the display to the absence of Center Stage on the camera, I'd say most of these are understandable given the price — but there is one particularly annoying omission (only one port has USB 3) that could become frustrating in practice.

Particularly as Apple doesn't seemed to have marked which port is which on the Neo...

• Read the full story: 7 features the MacBook Neo is missing — from display downgrades to connectivity caveats

Our hands-on video with the MacBook Neo

If you're looking for a two-minute video tour of the MacBook Neo with all of its specs, look no further — we've just published the excellent one above on YouTube.

It's a great little whistle-stop tour of everything you need to know about the budget MacBook, and it might just help you decide your favorite color. I might be coming round to that indigo one, actually...

Missed all the news?

This week has been a bit of a whirlwind — so if you've just landed here wondering what on earth Apple has been playing at over the past few days check out our roundup below.

We've gathered together all of Apple's announcements in one place, in no particular order — although the MacBook Neo is number one, so make of that what you will.

• Read the full story: 6 things Apple announced at its big March event — the full list, from the iPhone 17e to the MacBook Neo

Mobile World Congress is returning to Barcelona, Spain, next month, and TechRadar will be there, covering the most exciting gadgets and innovations from some of the biggest names in phones, tablets, computers and AI.

We’re also teaming up with our sister sites Tom’s Guide, Android Central and T3 for the ultimate ‘Best in Show’ awards at this year’s MWC, where our expert judges team up to pick the very best tech on show at the event. Kind of like a nerdy Avengers.

If you’re going to be at MWC 2026 with your product or service, then you can be involved in our Best in Show awards!

Click here to enter the TechRadar's Best in Show MWC 2026 Awards!

Entries are now open, and cost $250 per entry per publication. Each submission will be fairly and thoroughly reviewed by our team of judges (who might request an on-site demo of your product at MWC 2026). The deadline for entries is February 25, 2026.

Winners will be announced on all of our sites, including right here on TechRadar, and they’ll also be presented with an award at the show itself. Make sure you check out our winners from last year's MWC as well.

So, if you have a product at MWC that you think will blow minds and impress our judges, then make sure you enter before February 25 for a chance to win.

You can find all the information you need about how to enter — as well as the usual T&Cs — at our dedicated Best in Show MWC 2026 Awards site.

• At CES 2026, Nvidia revealed new advancements in its 'ACE' in-game AI technology
• Team Green claims 2026 will be the year we properly see AI-powered guides and teammates in games
• However, it seems like we're still a long way off from this tech being widely implemented

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nvidia had a lot to talk about. The reveal of DLSS 4.5 was the headline news, with new 6X frame generation arriving to boost framerates to even more ridiculously high numbers. We also saw new display tech, upgrades for the GeForce Now cloud gaming service, and unsurprisingly, a whole host of AI stuff.

I'll be honest – I skimmed past some of the AI-related announcements shown in Nvidia's presentation last week. A decent chunk of it isn't really my ballpark; LLM building and generative video models are the territory of my colleague Graham Barlow and the TechRadar AI team.

But there was one section that immediately piqued my interest – and not just because it was something already familiar to me. When Nvidia starts talking about its ACE tech I always listen up, but I don't always like what I hear.

ACE in the hole

For the uninitiated, Nvidia ACE is a framework for creating fully AI-powered non-player characters (NPCs) in games. It's mostly only been a theoretical thing so far – after all, Nvidia can't force developers to use it – but its few appearances have been fairly impressive. In fact, it actually outfoxed me when I tried to mess with it in a tech demo back in 2024.

Now, Nvidia is ploughing ahead with bold plans for ACE. No longer will these LLM-driven NPCs be confined to tech demos; at CES, Nvidia showcased several new use cases for ACE, including a player assistant for Total War and fully AI-driven teammates in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. ACE is also being deployed in Korean developer WeMade's upcoming MIR5 to power a 'learning boss battle', and to create dynamic interrogations in murder mystery title Dead Meat.

I've got mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, deploying AI tech like ACE specifically to make games more challenging and engaging is a potentially interesting use case. To be clear, I am not endorsing MIR5 overall here, because I was disappointed to learn that it's NFT blockchain garbage that has no place in gaming; but the general concept of an evolving boss fight that learns from your encounters and adjusts its behavior accordingly is a solid one. Just don't tell WeMade that Alien: Isolation effectively did that years before modern generative AI made its meteoric debut...

On the other hand, some of these ACE ideas are just... utterly antithetical to the goals of gaming as a form of art and entertainment. Dead Meat isn't taking you on a lovingly crafted narrative journey – it's essentially outsourcing the dialogue to a chatbot. Krafton's 'Co-Player Characters' in PUBG aren't some revelation to multiplayer gaming – they're just glorified bots, which frankly defeat the purpose of playing a competitive online game like PUBG in the first place.

With great power comes great responsibility

Nvidia might be the creator of ACE, but of course it's fundamentally down to individual developers when it comes to how it actually gets used in games. So it's fair to say that I'm more frustrated with companies like Krafton right now – sorry, but the 'Co-Player Character' thing is absolutely nuts. Personally, I'd be furious if I found out the person who just killed me in a multiplayer game was actually someone's AI ally, not a real player who beat me with their own skill.

"But Christian!" I hear the AI apologists cry, "What if someone doesn't have friends to play squad-based games like PUBG with?" And to that I say: cry me a river, you losers. It's literally never been easier to find a community to play online games. Get your ass onto Reddit or Discord. If I'm playing a multiplayer game, I want it to be with other real human beings, dammit!

The 'Pharaoh' ACE advisor for Total War is frustrating, but for different reasons. The demo video essentially shows it providing step-by-step advice on how to play the game, making the smartest possible recommendations to ensure victory. 'Depth and complexity are hallmarks of PC gaming,' proclaimed one of the slides in Nvidia's CES presentation – except the Pharaoh advisor effectively removes that depth and complexity by spelling everything out for the player.

You don't have to follow its advice, obviously, and Nvidia contends that it's a useful tool for new players who aren't familiar with the strategy genre, but come on – figuring things out through trial and error, and slowly improving as you learn how a game works is literally part of the experience. By removing that, you're essentially removing the fun of mastering a game yourself.

Hardware needs

Of course, there's another problem with ACE being implemented in games. Nvidia is championing it as an example of on-device AI, meaning it runs locally on your hardware – ideally, an RTX 5000-series GPU from Nvidia. I don't think local AI is inherently evil; it's generally better to run AI models locally where possible, as it's more secure and reduces the load on datacenters (which are becoming a real problem for gamers right now).

But if we start locking actual gameplay elements behind specific hardware requirements, that's a bridge too far for me. Graphics and performance are one thing; people might complain about tools like DLSS and Multi Frame Generation being exclusive to newer Nvidia hardware, but PC gaming has always been like that. If you've got newer hardware, your games are going to look better.

They shouldn't play better, though. If I need a next-gen graphics card to get the full experience from a game, I'm straight up just not buying that game. I do actually have an RTX 5070 in my desktop rig, but it's the principle that matters; and a dreadful irony here is that AI is currently making it harder than ever to buy a new graphics card at a reasonable price.

Still, control ultimately rests with the developers, which is why I'm not panicking too much about Nvidia ACE seeping into more projects. I spoke to Nvidia's PR recently about my concerns with ACE, and they raised the excellent point that it's simply another string to the bow of game devs; like ray-tracing, motion controls, and even 3D graphics before it, there will still be fantastic gaming experiences built without AI, and there's no guarantee that ACE will even end up being that popular with devs. When I interviewed 'GeForce Evangelist' Jacob Freeman about the tech back in 2024 he acknowledged that in some cases, deploying ACE was actually more work for developers than simply scripting a conventional NPC.

And after all, one of the biggest releases of 2025 was Hollow Knight: Silksong, a game made by three dudes with virtually none of the fancy 'innovations' of modern gaming. The development landscape might shift, but those games aren't going away – no matter how much the tech industry tries to force AI onto us.

Typically, wet-and-dry vacuums are chunky beasts. Sure, they'll get your hard floors sparkling clean, but you might need a sit-down after using one, and an XL cleaning closet to store it too.

Tineco – one of the leading brands in this area – has brought out a new model that aims to change all that. The FLOOR ONE i7 Fold is a wet-dry vacuum that looks (and moves) almost like a cordless stick vacuum. I had a chance to try one out at CES 2026, and I was impressed with how compact and nimble it was.

The only wet cleaner I've used that can beat it on lightness and maneuverability is the Dyson WashG1, and that model doesn't include any suction – quite a crucial difference.

The i7 Fold weighs just under 8lbs (3.6kg) – which is actually less than some regular stick vacuums, including the Shark PowerDetect cordless (8.38 lbs / 3.8kg). It's impressively streamlined for this type of cleaner, but the feature that really stands out when it comes to usability is that it can hinge forwards in the middle.

That means it can bend to an L-shape for easier cleaning under furniture. It's an idea borrowed from the best cordless vacuums, and it's a game-changer if you don't want to have to get right down on the floor to clean under the cabinets. This model can also lie completely flat, and Tineco has helpfully added a tiny wheel to the underside of the main body for easier maneuvering in this position.

The forward-bending body also means this cleaner can be folded in half for more compact storage.

A Tineco rep explained to me that shrinking down the body of this wet-dry vacuum was a serious feat of engineering. Impressively, there are no major compromises in terms of performance either – it has just a smidge less suction power than Tineco's full-sized options, and will typically last around 20-30 minutes per charge, too (or up to 50 in Eco mode), which is decent for this type of cleaner.

The Floor One i7 Fold is featured on the US Tineco site but is not yet available to buy. I'm confirming launch dates and pricing and will update this article when I know more.

Head over to TechRadar's CES 2026 news page for all the biggest stories and our hands-on verdicts from the event, covering everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for our highlights from the CES show floor!

On day four of CES, I was flagging. I was still waking up at 4am every day (thank you, jet lag) and the combination of dry Vegas air and dry air-con air in the convention hall meant I was starting to feel unpleasantly crispy. Then a tour of the Dreo booth managed the impossible: it perked me right up.

It was all thanks to a new series of fans called the TurboCool, six examples of which blasted me with a powerful wave of air, all while enveloping me in a dreamily cooling haze of fine mist. I could have stood there all morning.

Misting fans are having a bit of a moment right now, thanks perhaps to the popularity of the Shark FlexBreeze (which sits at the top of my best fan guide). But in many ways, Dreo's version is better – especially if misting is your priority.

There are three models in the range. My favorite is the 516S – a cheaper, more compact version designed for indoor use. However, if you want more intense indoor cooling, there's a tower version (the 765S). And you can even take the party outside with the 765S – a misting tower fan for outdoors.

All three have integrated water tanks and misting built-in as standard – although it can of course be switched off. One big USP here is how the misting is handled on the indoor options.

The outdoor version can emit large mist particles for maximum cooling impact. But indoors, there are soft furnishings to worry about.

To remove the possibility of damp sofas and carpets, Dreo has meticulously fine-tuned the mechanics here. The indoor TurboFans emit an 'ultrasonic' mist that's so fine it'll evaporate almost the instant it leaves the fan.

I can attest to its effectiveness: I stood for several minutes with my face right up to the fan display, with all models on full blast. My hair wasn't the slightest bit damp when the Dreo rep gently suggested it was time to move on.

Although the particles disappear quickly, the cooling effect is still significant – the tower version can cool a room by up to 10F (~15.5C) while the mini version can drop temperatures by up to 5F (~2.5C).

(For clarity: a regular fan doesn't actually lower the temperature in a room, but a misting fan can, so this is the type to go for if you want some genuine chilling power.)

I was also pleased to see there's plenty of control here. On the indoor tower fan you can choose from 12 speed options and 4 mist levels, and on the compact version there are 6 fan speeds and three mist levels. There's also smart control via Dreo's companion app.

The Dreo TurboCool is due to launch in the US and UK in April 2026. It'll cost $99 for the smaller indoor fan (516S), $179.99 for the outdoor tower fan (711AS), and $199.99 for the indoor tower fan (765S) – UK pricing is expected to be roughly equivalent, so around £75 for the 516S, £135 for the 711AS and £150 for the 765S.

Head over to TechRadar's CES 2026 news page for all the biggest stories and our hands-on verdicts from the event, covering everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for our highlights from the CES show floor.

I saw tons of cool gadgets at CES 2026, but the one I've been lusting after the most isn't from a traditional tech brand at all; it's from IKEA.

The Swedish homeware powerhouse made its debut at the Vegas-based product extravaganza this year, and alongside a smart version of its iconic donut lamp and a dinky, portable speaker, it launched a larger speaker that I need on my wall right now.

The SOLSKYDD range (pronunciation suggestions welcome) includes three, disc-shaped Bluetooth speakers. The biggest (11in / 29cm in diameter) is designed to be wall-mounted, but the medium (18in / 45cm) and small (8in / 19cm) come with their own removable pedestal bases, which means you can use them in a variety of ways.

You could pop one on your wall, you could leave it on its pedestal stand on a sideboard, or you could take the stand off but keep it portable. The IKEA designer I spoke to showed me it lying flat on a coffee table like a classy object d'art, with sound drifting from the top.

The press release says the range was "designed around the idea that products bringing sound into a room should also add presence and character, even when they are not in use". They certainly added something to the living room demo suite.

Listen up

Circular speakers like this aren't a new idea, but these ones have been done with IKEA's trademark flair – and at IKEA's usual reasonable prices, too. The designs went on sale globally in December 2025, and are priced at $89 / £29 for the small, $100 / £50 for the medium, and $140 / £80 for the large.

• View the SOLSKYDD range at IKEA

For that price you wouldn't expect the most premium sound quality or cutting-edge features, but they're not super-basic either. Each speaker has three sound modes you can toggle for different listening experiences (one is good for things like podcasts, for example).

The whole thing can be controlled via the companion app, or if you want to keep things old-school, there are physical buttons on the side of the speaker itself to adjust volume, play and pause, or shift between the modes. You can also pair multiple speakers (from the same range or compatible IKEA ranges) for an enveloping effect.

My favorite is the classy off-white version, but if you'd prefer a bit of color, there are two playful, patterned options designed in collaboration with designer and color specialist Teklan.

• Ecovacs has branched out from robovacs with an AI-powered, animatronic dog
• 'LilMilo' is designed to be an emotional companion robot
• He can recognize you, learn your habits, and react to petting

Ecovacs is a brand best known for its robot vacuums, but it has just unveiled something rather different at CES 2026: its first 'emotional companion' robot. The Famibot LilMilo looks like a puppy, and thanks to some AI magic, it acts like one too. Minus the messy bits, obviously.

It might look a bit like a stuffed toy from the photos, but in person Milo is impressively lifelike in his mannerisms. So much so that during my CES booth tour I accidentally spent 10 minutes petting him and left feeling a little weepy. I blame the jet lag.

LilMilo has a camera in his nose, so he can recognize his owner, as well as being able to hear your voice using a mic in his ear. Adorably, the charge station comes in the form of a dog bed.

The demo model on show could follow me about with his eyes, and responded to my petting with a contented face and a tail wag. Over time, I am told he'll adapt to your habits and develop his own AI-powered personality.

There are multiple color options available, although upsettingly only one 'breed' – so I wasn't able to find one to match my own, real dog at home (although who knows what that might have done to me in my already-fragile emotional state).

Aside from choosing your preferred color, you'll also be able to pimp your hound with various accessories – the Ecovacs rep I spoke to told me she liked to think of it like an upgraded Build-A-Bear. At the CES booth I was treated to a fashion show of several rather stylish themed hats. Milo seemed happy with his headgear, and showed no signs of wanting to tear it off and eat it, so that's good.

Although he's partly just a cute, interactive toy, I can see how LilMilo might become a soothing companion for someone who can't have a real pet. Judging by my own reaction, he's surprisingly easy to form an emotional bond with.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

We're on the show floor at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where all the biggest names in tech are showing off their latest consumer products, and smart home brands are vying for a place in your living room.

There have been some interesting developments in the world of smart lighting (such as IKEA's donut-shaped Varmblixt LED Lamp), but one that really caught my eye was a new line of budget-friendly smart light bulbs from Lifx.

These have been on sale for a couple of months already, but this is the first time Lifx has demonstrated them at a major trade show.

We've tested various Lifx products over the years here at TechRadar and been impressed by their performance. However, they tend to lean towards the expensive side, with premium prices more in line with Philips Hue's best smart lights than affordable rivals Govee or Nanoleaf.

Last year, Philips launched the Hue Essential series – a collection of everyday bulbs that work in just the same way as its regular lights, but with more modest specs and much lower prices, so it makes sense that Lifx is following its lead with a more accessible range of entry-level bulbs.

Opting for a cheaper bulb doesn't necessarily mean missing out on features or quality. I put a Philips Hue Essential E27 bulb to the test against a regular Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance one, and was surprised how well the cheaper model compared in terms of overall brightness and color reproduction. The biggest difference was that the regular Hue bulb could be dimmed to 0.2% of its maximum brightness, whereas the Hue Essential one could only drop to 2%.

Depending on how you're planning to use them, that might be something you don't even notice – particularly if you're not mixing the two bulb types within the same room.

So what does the new Lifx Everyday series bring to the table (or ceiling) compared with Hue Essential, and which smart lights should you pick if you're on a budget?

Significant specs

The table below sums up the key similarities and differences between a Philips Hue Essential and a Lifx Everyday bulb. In the interest of simplicity, I'll be comparing the standard E27 screw-fitting bulb in both collections.

I should also point out that although Hue Essential bulbs can be bought individually, Lifx Everyday bulbs are only available in packs of two, so here I'll be comparing the list price for a twin-pack of each.

As you can see, while both these bulbs are in the entry-level price bracket, the Philips Hue Essential is considerably more expensive. If you want to make the most of the Hue Essential bulb's features (beyond simply adjusting the brightness and color) then you'll also need to factor in the price of a Philips Hue Bridge, which connects to your router and links all your Hue devices in a mesh network using the Zigbee wireless protocol.

Using Zigbee does have some significant advantages over Wi-Fi though, and is ideal for low-powered devices like smart lights and switches. Connecting multiple smart lights directly to your Wi-Fi router can cause congestion, and although you can theoretically connect dozens of bulbs to a single router, doing so is likely to slow down other connected devices.

Zigbee-enabled devices also act as repeaters, which can dramatically extend their range compared to Wi-Fi connected devices.

The Hue Essential bulb has a slightly higher max brightness and the Lifx Everyday, plus a wider white light temperature range. The Lifx bulb offers deeper dimming, however, which may be helpful if you want to use your bulb as a wake-up light in the morning.

Into the apps

Both thje Lifx and Philips Hue apps let you choose from a collection of preset lighting scenes or create your own to set a particular mood. However, the Hue app also has an AI-powered assistant to make bespoke scenes for you using typed or spoken commands. Both the Philips Hue app and the Lifx app let you set custom schedules and automations.

Both apps let you connect to their respective brand's switches without using a third-party platform, but the Hue app also offers native support for the brand's huge range of sensors, cameras, doorbell, and other devices. You can not only control your lights, but also create and arm a home security system through the same app. There are also more third-party integrations for Hue products via services like IFTTT.

Conclusion

So which entry-level bulbs are right for you? The answer depends partly on your budget, and partly on what you're planning to do in the future.

The Lifx Everyday bulbs are cheaper to buy outright, and have the advantage of not needing an additional bridge to unlock features like customizable scenes and scheduling. If you want smart light bulbs for one or two rooms, they're a very reasonably priced option, with brightness, dimming, and colors to compete with premium options.

Philips Hue Essential bulbs, on the other hand, are intended as an affordable entry point to the Hue system. If you'd like to gradually change all your lights to smart ones and can see yourself building a system spanning multiple rooms with different sensors and security devices, Hue Essentials will be a better investment in the long term.

CES 2026 is well underway now, and the TechRadar team has been on the show floor – and in the many private briefing rooms dotted all over Las Vegas – to see what the most important, most innovative, and most fun gadgets coming your way in 2026 will be.

We've had our experts all over the big launches as well as the smaller stuff tucked away at the back of the halls, and we've chosen our 25 favorite products of the show. We're covering a wide gamut of consumer tech here, so make yourself a coffee and dig into what we loved, and why it stood out to us.

Want to watch along and see more of the tech we loved at CES? Check out the video below!

Best phone

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold

• A phone that really turns into a tablet
• Impressive camera system, too
• Read more: I finally tried the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and couldn't believe my eyes

We finally got to try Samsung's first double-folding phone (it may be called the TriFold, but there are two hinges…), and we called it a "remarkable feat of engineering that offers the potential of truly pocketable big-screen tablet productivity". When folded, it isn’t meaningfully thicker than regular phones, and it has a 6.5-inch screen… but then it becomes 10-inch tablet – so truly tablet-sized – in an instant when you fold its two sides out.

It's not just a one-trick pony, though – the TriFold has five cameras in total, to make sure it can deliver all the flexibility you want from a modern phone. There's Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy customized powerful processor, and a generous 5,600mAh battery. It's the clear stand-out among CES's phones this year.

Best earbuds

Shokz OpenFit Pro

• Shokz' first open earbuds with active 'noise reduction'
• Great fit and sound quality
• Read more: I’ve worn the all-new Shokz open earbuds for 4 days and the ‘noise reduction’ is so good, I forget they’re open-ear

The best open earbuds have become incredibly popular, but Shokz has making them for longer than most, and the new OpenFit Pro proves that it's good to be the veteran. Crucially, these are the company's first with active noise cancellation – even though Shokz doesn't want to call it that, because not having an in-ear seal means it's not quite as effective as what people think of for ANC. No, this is 'noise reduction'.

Well, we've tested them, and actually the noise reduction is as good as a lot of ANC earbuds. It's really effective, and paired with impressive sound and high levels of comfort, these are really impressive.

Best stereo speakers

Cambridge L/R Series

• 3 sizes of wireless stereo bookshelf speakers with huge power
• Dedicated bass drivers with passive radiators
• Read more: Cambridge has unveiled three active bookshelf speakers at CES and it’s not hard to see the KEF resemblance

British hi-fi company Cambridge launched its first wireless stereo speakers, and despite being modest in size, they are huge in sound. There are three sizes – the L/R X is the biggest, the L/R M is the medium, and the L/R S is the small – and it's amazing how much oomph they provide.

We heard the L/R X going hard, and the bass is enough to shake the room, despite not being that big. A big down-firing woofer and dual passive bass radiators get it to this point, delivering an amazingly full sound, with tons of detail and finesse to it as well. And they're great-looking, too.

Best Bluetooth speaker

Fender Audio Elie 6

• 3-way speaker system in a small body produces great sound
• Connections for guitars and mics, and great wireless options
• Read more: Fender just released new wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers

Fender Audio launched two speakers and a pair of headphones at CES, and all are interesting in various ways, but during our ears-on time it was the Elie 6 that really impressed us. It's a pretty small unit, but it packs in a tweeter, full-range speaker and down-firing bass driver, meaning the sound is amazingly full and impactful – especially in stereo mode, with two units connected wirelessly.

They have interesting features, too – a combined XLR and 1/4-inch port for connecting a mic or guitar directly, and even two wireless buttons for a specific connectivity feature Fender is planning to work with wireless mics. We like the design too, with a solid carry handle.

Best headphones

TDM Neo

• Headphones that 'twist' to become a portable speaker
• 200-hour battery life in headphones mode

We love seeing something totally new at CES. The TDM Neo work like a regular pair of on-ear wireless headphones. You put them on, you enjoy some nice bassy music. But when you take them off, you can twist the flexible headband and connect the earcups together magnetically, to form a small round device. As soon as you do this, they start playing music out loud, as a Bluetooth speaker.

They have two sets of audio drivers to make this happen: one for headphones mode, and a more powerful set for speaker mode. And they're really thoughtfully designed – the headband hinges attach to each other when you twist, so you know you've done it correctly, but then they become a flat surface you can stand the speaker on.

If you prefer, you can also change the behavior so that when you twist, they pause instead of auto-switching to speaker mode. And because the speaker mode requires more power, they have huge batteries, and can deliver a colossal 200 hours of life in headphones mode.

Best toy

Lego Smart Play

• A classic Lego brick, now with sound and light magic
• All the tech is under the hood – no screens required

At first glance, Lego’s Smart Brick looks like a regular 2x4 Lego brick. Aside from a transparent top, you’d never know it’s any different. But bring a Smart Minifigure close, and that's where the magic starts to happen. If Darth Vader approaches, the Imperial March starts up. Move R2-D2 nearby and you’re greeted with frantic boops and flashes of blue light. Same goes for a Smart Tag to identify what the Lego build is – say, an X-Wing or Tie Fighter.

All of this is powered by a custom chip hidden inside the brick, along with sensors, a gyroscope, non-invasive microphones, and a sound synthesizer. Together, they let the Smart Brick understand what’s around it and respond with the right sounds and lighting effects, without adding a screen or changing the core Lego experience. For now, it’s limited to a handful of Star Wars sets, but it’s a smart, confident foundation – one that enhances play rather than distracting from it.

Best OLED TV

LG W6 Wallpaper TV

• LG's best OLED panel, in a super-thin 9.9mm body
• Uses a wireless connections box to keep it aesthetically pure
• Read more: LG announces new OLED TVs at CES

The LG W6 is a stunner in more ways than one. It uses LG's most advanced OLED panel – the new Primary RGB Tandem 2.0 also used in the LG G6 – but in a design that's just 9.9mm thick. It's also totally uniform, meaning it can be as invisible on the wall as pretty much any TV can be these days. In the image above, you can see how well it blends in using a photo of the wall behind it. To help this minimalism, it uses a wireless connections box that's capable of full-quality 4K HDR pictures, but without the tangle of cables running to the TV.

It looks like it'll be a fantastic TV, thanks to the panel and LG's latest-gen image processing, and should only cost a little more than the G6 does. That means you'll be getting something super-impressive and premium at a still-realistic price.

Best RGB TV

Samsung R95H

• Stunningly rich color and fantastic contrast
• Available in realistic sizes, and shown in an amazing 130-inch model
• Read more: Samsung's enormous micro-RGB TV is coming to smaller screen sizes, and it borrows one great feature from Samsung OLED TVs

CES has been dominated by RGB TVs this year. These are basically mini-LED TVs with a new more colorful backlight behind the pixels, meaning they offer a greater range of colors, and can be even brighter. Having seen them in action, our pick of the bunch is the Samsung R95H. It looks so lush and colorful, with impressively inky black tones, and Samsung's anti-reflective screen ensuring you can see everything, without distractions.

More than that, this is a TV available in realistic sizes – Samsung showed off 75-inch and 85-inch versions, but overall its RGB TVs will come in sizes starting from 55 inches – while still feeling cutting edge. However, for good measure, Samsung also showed an amazing 130-inch version of this TV.

Best Mini-LED TV

TCL X11L SQD MiniLED

• A twist on traditional QLED mini-LED TV tech
• Astoundingly bright, with 20,000 dimming zones
• Read more: TCL launches next-gen SQD mini-LED TV at CES – the ‘best TV in the market’ for 2026

TCL has put a fascinating twist on its flagship TV here. It uses more traditional mini-LED tech rather than RGB mini-LED – but only sort of. TCL is employing a single-color mini-LED backlight, but has applied a layer of 'Super Quantum Dots' (the SQD part) directly over the top, which filter the color before – rather than after – it reaches the LCD layer.

This means it kind of works like an RGB TV, but TCL says this approach means it can pack in way more LEDs. It can produce 10,000 nits of brightness and 20,000 dimming zones for probably the best contrast we've ever seen from a mini-LED TV. Based on early impressions, this is the closest we've seen to mini-LED beating the blooming problem completely.

Best projector

Hisense PX4-Pro

• Ultra short throw laser 4K projector with amazing brightness and color
• Up to 200 inches projected with the device just inches from the wall
• Read more: Hisense unveils two 4K laser projectors — a 300-inch beast with huge brightness, plus the sequel to the best ultra short throw projector

The PX4-Pro is the follow-up to the projector we rate as the best ultra short throw projector overall right now, so we were excited to take a look, and it lived up to our expectations. Its picture looks beautifully bright with a good light-rejecting screen – closer than ever to TV brightness – and eye-grabbingly rich color.

But it can now project up to 200 inches in size still from right near the wall, while maintaining immersive brightness and color depth, and all still in the same size of projector package. CES is full of projectors this year, but this one popped for us.

Best soundbar

LG Sound Suite H7

• The world's first Dolby Atmos FlexConnect soundbar
• A powerful all-in-one, and you can add more speakers in any position
• Read more: LG’s 2026 TVs and soundbars get the Dolby Atmos FlexConnect treatment

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is a really interesting technology that means you can place home theater speakers wherever is convenient for your room, and the system will configure their sound to create immersive spatial audio, even if they're not in the 'ideal' spot.

LG's Sound Suite H7 is the first soundbar to include the tech, delivering 9.1.6 channels of Dolby Atmos sound on its own. However, you can add a sub and satellite speakers that are positioned anywhere in the room, and the soundbar will automatically optimize them and create the ideal immersive system. It sounds amazing, and the freedom of placement is a game-changer.

Best smartwatch

Pebble Round 2

• The original smartwatch returns!
• E-paper screen means a week of battery life
• Read more: Pebble unveils Pebble Round 2 — and fixes all the original's major pitfalls

Pebble holds a strong place in the heart of tech lovers – it was the first smartwatch that really took, and now it's back with its coolest model yet. Pebble Round 2 is a sleeker, rounder watch, and using a color e-paper helps it deliver a week of battery life per charge.

Naturally, it does some fitness and sleep tracking, and there's a big range of apps and watch faces, thanks to the ongoing commitment to having open source software on the Pebble range.

Best fitness tracker

Noise Luna Band

• A screenless health-tracking band
• No subscription needed – a rarity these days

We've enjoyed the Luna Ring models, and now the brand has the Luna Band. It's a Whoop-like fitness tracker, meaning there's no distracting screen. It doesn't really feel like tech, and that's a good thing – you just live your life, and the Luna Band will offer helpful updates on your diet, workouts, sleep, mood and more. You can use your voice to tell it what meal you ate, to log your workouts, or how you're feeling – and then you can review them later on the app. The one downside is that this function uses Apple's Siri, which means it's iPhone-only for now.

Perhaps the best part is that it doesn't require a subscription on top of the device cost to do all this – people are tired of being nickel-and-dimed, and so the Luna Band looks like it'll help you stay zen in more ways than one.

Best exercise tech

Merach W60 Walking Pad

• "Treadmill-grade engineering" for a low price
• Auto-incline or manual incline options

Walking pads are getting more and more popular, especially for people who work from home and want to get some exercise in during the work day. Merach's new model promises to help you do this more easily and reliably than ever. We love the promise of "treadmill-grade engineering" for a super-sturdy feel, and Merach says it will have a 2,000km warranty.

It's available in two options: one with an auto-incline feature, and one where you'll have to manually set an incline. There's also RGB lighting and Bluetooth speakers built in, if you want to set a mood. Starting from just $299 for the manual version and $329 for the auto-incline version, this really looks like it could be the new standout walking pad on the market.

Best wellness innovation

Nuralogix Longevity Mirror

• A smart mirror that can detect blood flow in your face to give health insights
• Everything from physiological age to mental health

This smart mirror has cameras built in that combine with an AI algorithm to work out a surprising amount of health data just from your face. It's not looking at your features – it's detecting blood-flow patterns, which it can make a variety of sophisticated estimations from.

These include your heart-rate, your physiological age (as in, is your body working as well as it should for your 'real' age?) and your mental health. It appears to be pretty accurate based on early testing – it seems like an incredibly clever system.

Best laptop

Dell XPS 14

• Smart new design with usability improvements
• Intel's new Core Ultra 3 chips inside
• Read more: Hands on: Dell XPS 14 2026 and XPS 16 2026

Without question, the most exciting laptop of CES 2026 was the Dell XPS 14. While many a reviewer and tech journalist is praising the return of the XPS brand itself, what matters most – in our opinion – is the redesign of the laptop. The last Dell XPS 14 and 2025's Dell 14 Premium (the short-lived successor to the XPS 14) were both fantastic laptops that were hamstrung by some major design flaws; namely, the virtual function keys and ‘invisible’ trackpad that turned out to be an accessibility nightmare.

Those have now been fixed with a new design that is also thinner and more modern-looking than its predecessors. And with the new Intel Core Ultra series 3 chips, it’s even more powerful and better equipped to take on the Apple MacBook Air for the 'thin and light' laptop crown.

Best gaming laptop

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable

• A 16-inch display that expands to a 24-inch display
• The flexible OLED screen literally rolls out like a scroll
• Read more: Lenovo officially unveils the rumored Legion Pro Rollable gaming laptop with expanding screen

The Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable, previously rumored but officially unveiled at CES 2026, is easily one of the most intriguing gaming laptops we’ve ever seen. Its screen expands horizontally from a 16-inch display to 21.5 inches, then once more to a 23.8-inch panel at max extension – all from a quick keyboard shortcut.

The Legion Pro Rollable is an exciting prospect for PC gamers who travel often and want desk-like levels of screen space without attempting to cram a massive laptop into their bag. Gaming aside, it also brings benefits to everyday browsing and productivity, giving you more space to organize windows at the click of a button. It’s only a proof of concept at the moment, but we'll be following it closely to see if the Legion Pro Rollable hits mainstream production.

Best computing innovation

Core Ultra series 3

• Excellent performance in thin-and-light laptops
• Particularly impressive GPU means great gaming on ultrabooks
• Read more: The Intel Core Ultra series 3 processors look impressive enough, but the Arc B390 iGPU is the real game-changer here

We’ve been waiting for the Intel Core Ultra series 3 for several months now, having seen pre-launch builds of Intel Panther Lake last year. Now the Core Ultra series 3 has launched, every laptop we’ve tried with the new chips just reinforces how well Intel has stuck the landing on this release.

This is especially true when it comes to the graphics performance of the higher-end 12 Xe core Arc B390 iGPU, which delivers high-quality 1080p PC gaming on an ultrabook – no other chipmaker even comes close in 2026. If you’re looking to upgrade to a premium thin and light Windows laptop, there’s little reason to buy anything other than a laptop with an Intel Core Ultra series 3.

Best action camera

Dreame Leaptic Cube

• Tiny modular 8K action camera
• Clip to a screen module, or just a battery

Dreame is best known for its vacuum and cleaning tech, but it used CES 2026 to announce its entry into a ton of other product categories. And one of the coolest things we saw at the show was this tiny action camera. The core here is a really small action cam with up to 8K recording, or 4K in HDR if you prefer.

But the clever part is its modular design. It has a little docking system, and Dreame showed it running into two modes: one with a clip-on battery, keeping the whole thing at a small size; and one with a touchscreen module that's larger. You can imagine all the possibilities for accessories from here, all enabling smart extra functions, not just attaching dumbly.

Best gaming accessory

Razer Project Madison

• The ultimate immersive gaming chair
• Surround speakers, haptic feedback and RGB lights all react to games

Razer has decided to throw every kind of immersive gaming chair tech into one product here. This chair uses sight, sound and touch to create something totally enveloping, taking features from Razer's products including the Freyja haptic gaming cushion and Clio headrest speakers.

This chair has speakers behind your head, which combine with front speakers to create a true 5.1 or 7.1 surround system. It has lights that react to compatible games, creating the feeling that events are happening around you, not just on the screen. And the built-in haptics deliver sensations and impacts during play. It looks like the best way to get truly lost in a game.

Best gaming innovation

Neurable / HyperX headset concept and priming software

• A brain-reading gaming headset to improve your performance
• Helps you lower reaction times and improve accuracy
• Read more: I tried a prototype brain-scanning headset designed to make you better at Valorant — and it actually works

Brain-scanning company Neurable has worked on headphones that can scan your brain activity using EEGs to help you focus and prevent burnout in the past. Now it's bringing these ideas to gaming headsets, in a collaboration with HyperX – but the focus is on improving your focus and performance in games.

We tried it out, and it really makes a difference. Using a 'priming' exercise before playing, where you have to focus your mind to shrink a cloud of dots down to nothing, we improved accuracy by a few percentage points, and the company's research has shown it can reduce reaction time by around 40 milliseconds. For esports players, this is a big deal, and the software can track your focus and cognitive load levels while playing, to potentially help with coaching and to prevent tilting.

Best robot mower

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD

• Offers ±1 cm positioning precision via an upgraded LiDAR, RTK and Vision navigation system
• Can make decisions almost instantly with a 10 TOPS AI chip
• Read more: I just watched Mammotion's new flagship lawnbot scale an astroturf mountain, and it was mesmerizing

There were a lot of incredible robot lawn mowers on show at CES this year, but the one that really stood out to us was the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD. It builds on the success of the excellent LUBA 2 AWD that precedes it, and is one of the most all-round capable lawnbots we've seen.

At the heart of the design is an upgraded 'Tri-Fusion' navigation system, where the bot will switch between LiDAR, RTK GPS and AI Vision depending on what's most appropriate for the situation. That means it's unlikely ever to get itself lost – the brand promises positioning accuracy to ±1 cm. Mammotion has also upgraded the processing system with a powerful AI chip that can handle 10 trillion operations per second, meaning it can make smart mowing decisions almost instantly.

Best robot vacuum

Roborock Saros Rover

• It's a robovac with actual, proper legs
• It can climb stairs, duck and dive, and even hop
• Read more: I saw Roborock's new robot vacuum with legs, and it promises to make no-go zones a thing of the past

This one is still in the middle of development, but is so cool already – and, admittedly, a little weird. This robot vacuum uses two extended legs that make it look like a Star Wars droid to get around your house more easily. Having articulated legs means it can climb stairs – including spiral staircases – cleaning them as it goes.

In fact, stairs are just the start. Roborock says the Rover is designed to be able to tackle any kind of terrain or home layout, no matter how awkward. Think of it like a 4x4 for cleaning.

It has some fancy object avoidance tech that means it can duck and dive, weave and jump, remaining completely stable throughout. We're not sure exactly what this is for, but it sure is impressive to watch. This maybe the most that a robovac has looked like a pet – it's got personality, it's useful, and we love it.

Best haircare tech

L'Oréal Light Straight +

• A straightener that uses infrared light tech to straighten effectively at lower temperatures
• Avoids the high temperatures that damage hair
• Read more: L'Oréal exec on why its new glass, infrared-powered hair straightener is so exciting

This innovative hair straightener promises to be three times faster at straightening hair, and yet will leave hair twice as smooth as regular plate straighteners do. And at the same time, it can do this at a lower temperature – always under 320°F / 160°C, compared to 365°F / 185°C for typical models. High temperatures break down hair, so reduction is a long-term good for your hair's health.

We got to try them out on – and this has been the first time we've ever used this phrase – human demo hair, and they certainly seemed to work incredibly well. This could be a huge change for a long-running industry, and that's what CES is all about.

Best smart light

IKEA Varmblixt LED Lamp

• It's a glowing, color-changing donut
• Works with IKEA's smart hub, or a Matter home system
• Read more: IKEA just revealed a new donut-shaped smart light – and it'll look sweet on your tables or walls

Sometimes, you've just got acknowledge when something is charming as hell, and that's what we're talking about with the new IKEA Varmblixt. It's a revamp of an ultra-popular lamp IKEA launched in 2022, but this new version is all about the color options, using an array of LEDs to create a beautiful soft toroidal glow.

It can be controlled with a remote, or you can connect it to IKEA's Dirigea home hub, but it also works with any Matter-ready smart home control option.

If our first day and second day round-ups of the best of CES 2026 weren't enough for you, we're now back with highlights of the third day from the show floor in Las Vegas – and there's still an awful lot to see.

Originally called the Consumer Electronics Show and now just CES, this event has been running since way back in 1967. In that time it's grown to be the biggest tech showcase on the calendar, happening every January in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it gives us a strong taste of the biggest tech trends that will dominate the next year.

Our CES 2026 live blog is also available to keep you right up to date with everything that's happening and being unveiled at CES 2026, but these are our picks from the third day at the show – and it's another impressively diverse and innovative list of tech.

Want to know the best of the best from our time at the show? Check out the video below!

1. Motorola Razr Fold

• Best feature: It supports a stylus

There's another book-style foldable in town: Motorola has been making flip foldables for a few years at this point, but now it has the Razr Fold to directly challenge the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold – and it's been unveiled at CES 2026.

The key specs you need to know about are the 8.1-inch main display, the 6.6-inch cover screen, and the five cameras that are attached, led by a 50MP main camera. It also apparently has something that its rivals don't offer: support for stylus input.

• Read the full story: Motorola Razr Fold is mostly a mystery, but it already outdoes the Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 in one key way

2. IKEA Varmblixt LED Lamp

• Best feature: A design that's good enough to eat

IKEA's smart home push continues at CES 2026, and the Swedish company has been showing off some new models in the Varmblixt smart light series – including a donut-shaped LED lamp with colors that you can set to softly shift over time.

You can mount the donut light on a wall or stand it on a table, and there's a remote you can use to control it instead of your phone. Also of note: a dinky new IKEA Bluetooth speaker that will cost you less than $10 in the US (that's roughly £7.45 / AU$14.85).

• Read the full story: IKEA just revealed a new donut-shaped smart light – and it'll look sweet on your tables or walls

3. Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable

• Best feature: It has a screen that rolls out!

Now this is exactly the sort of gadget that CES is made for: a laptop with a rollable display that expands when you need some more screen space. It's called the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable, and its screen size goes from 16 inches to 23.8 inches at the push of a button.

As the Legion label gives away, this is a gaming laptop, and top-tier titles should be able to make the most of that expandable display. Under the hood you can max this out with an Nvidia RTX 5090 and an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor if you want the very best spec.

• Read the full story: Lenovo officially unveils the rumored Legion Pro Rollable gaming laptop with expanding screen

4. L'Oréal Light Straight

• Best feature: Infrared light technology

The L'Oréal Light Straight + Multi-styler might be a bit of a mouthful to say, but it looks like an incredible bit of kit: a hair straightener that makes use of infrared light, so it works at lower temperatures and should in theory be a lot better for the health of your hair.

As per L'Oréal's pitch, this works three times faster than its leading competitors, and leaves hair twice as smooth – what's not to like? Well, the only bad news is that it's not expected to be available to buy until next year, but from what we've seen so far it'll be worth the wait.

• Read the full story: "It's a total reinvention of a category" – L'Oréal exec on why its new glass, infrared-powered hair straightener is so exciting

5. Roborock Saros Rover

• Best feature: A robovac with legs

Tech companies are solving all sorts of problems at CES 2026, including a long-standing robot vacuum issue: what happens when your cleaning bot reaches the stairs? Roborock now has a solution in the form of the Saros Rover, with two stair-climbing legs attached.

Those legs also enable it to turn around quickly and tackle a variety of uneven surfaces, so your home gets cleaned more thoroughly than ever before. It's not the first robovac with legs to appear, but it might be the best one yet – though it's not clear when it'll launch.

• Read the full story: I saw Roborock's new robot vacuum with legs, and it promises to make no-go zones a thing of the past

6. NuraLogix Longevity Mirror

• Best feature: No watches or wrist trackers required

In our round-up of the best health gadgets at CES 2026 you'll find mention of the impressive NuraLogix Longevity Mirror, a mirror that's able to assess a whole range of health-related metrics – including heart rate, blood pressure, and physiological age.

It does this through a combination of a built-in camera and some sophisticated AI algorithms that analyze the blood flow patterns in your face. The starting price isn't cheap though: it's said to be $899 (roughly £660 / AU$1,330), and a subscription is also needed.

• Read the full story: The top 5 health gadgets at CES this year, from Garmin nutrition-tracking to that notorious AI smart mirror

7. Sunbooster

• Best feature: Well-being while indoors

The second entry that we'd like to highlight from our CES health gadgets round-up is the Sunbooster. The idea here is that this little gizmo projects near-infrared light at your face while you're stuck indoors on a laptop, a bit like a SAD lamp in the form of a webcam.

It's based on studies that have suggested that exposure to this kind of light leads to multiple well-being benefits, and you can choose between two and four hours of exposure a day. Pricing for this has been set at €199, which is about $235 / £175 / AU$350.

• Read the full story: The top 5 health gadgets at CES this year, from Garmin nutrition-tracking to that notorious AI smart mirror

8. Dreame Leaptic Cube

• Best feature: The compact, modular design

There have been plenty of CES 2026 innovations with cameras as well, and in this vein we present to you the Dreame Leaptic Cube. Capable of up to 8K recording, it's a little action camera that you can take anywhere with you, and it has modular attachments too.

You even get built-in, AI-powered gyro stabilization, which isn't usually on offer with cameras of this size, and it can apparently last for 200 minutes between charges. We're still waiting on pricing, but it looks like an intriguing gadget that we're keen to test out.

• Read the full story: The 4 wildest camera innovations of CES 2026 – including a smarter bird feeder and a new kind of action cam

9. Klipsch Atlas Series headphones

• Best feature: The return of a legend

Over in audio land, we have the first new Kipsch over-ear headphones in more than a decade, courtesy of the Klipsch Atlas Series headphones. They've been released to help celebrate the 80th anniversary of the company behind both Klipsch and Onkyo.

These headphones look as though they'll be worth the wait, too. There are three new models, led by the flagship HP-3, and we're being promised superior levels of audio quality and battery life – though of course we'd like to try them out for ourselves.

• Read the full story: Klipsch and Onkyo celebrate 80 years of audio with the first Klipsch headphones in a decade, plus some cool new concepts

10. GameSir x Hyperkin X5 Alteron

• Best feature: The modular versatility

We've already featured a modular camera in this list, and now we've got a modular mobile controller too: the GameSir x Hyperkin X5 Alteron is the first fully modular controller we've seen go on sale, and you can switch up its components based on what you're playing.

This works with Android phones and iPhones, as well as tablets and the Nintendo Switch. As it supports Bluetooth, you can even use it with a PC if you want – taking care of all your gaming controller needs, on any device. We're still waiting on pricing details, however.

• Read the full story: The world's first fully modular mobile controller has been revealed at CES 2026

11. Tensor robocar

• Best feature: It'll do the driving for you

Car tech always features heavily at CES, and we've been taking a look at the new robocar from Tensor. This goes beyond basic self-driving capabilities – it offers level 4 autonomy, which means no need to keep your eyes on the road, and you can hide the steering wheel.

There are 13-inch screens for every passenger, plus a host of impressive features, like its own on-board AI models, self-cleaning capabilities, and proprietary sensors. Pricing for the Tensor robocar is yet to be confirmed, but production is scheduled for the end of 2026.

• Read the full story: Inside the Tensor, Earth’s first robot car for personal ownership

CES 2026 has its fair share of weird tech announcements, and while we've been excited to see what tech giants such as Samsung, Amazon, and more have had in store at this year's conference, our soft spot for wacky gadgets is still at heart.

Over the past few days we've been lucky enough to scour the booths at this year's event in sunny Las Vegas for the left-field and strange new devices on display this year. I just know our editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff has had a blast with his countless hands-on experiences, which you can see for yourselves on TechRadar's TikTok channel.

From the latest AI companions to smart headphones and an outrageously expensive massage chair, these are the seven weirdest announcements to come from CES 2026.

1. A popsicle music player

This piece of tech combines confectionery with music. Behold Lollipop Star, an edible gadget that plays a licensed song in your head when you eat or suck on it – and each one comes with a different tune, costing $8.99.

All you have to do is press the button at the bottom of the stem, and start sucking. Our editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff tested it live at CES who noted that despite some imperfections with volume, it’s one of the oddest things we’ve seen at CES 2026 so far.

I can’t imagine being urged to score one at my local corner store any time soon, unless they did an entire Taylor Swift range of musical popsicles.

2. Poketomo AI companion

AI was bound to be an integral part of CES 2026, but we weren’t expecting it in a form quite like the Poketomo AI companion robot from Sharp, designed to “always be by your side to talk with you during life's everyday moments” according to the company. It’s apparently one of the hottest tech gadgets in Japan right now, the only region where it’s currently available.

As well as being able to hear and respond to your voice, this little cutie packs Sharp’s flagship empathy engineer and ChatGPT 4. It’s a mighty brain for one small body, but it’s far from cheap.

This will set you back a hefty $200, and still requires a subscription for its voice recognition features.

3. AI Barmen

AI is everywhere, and now the robots are even mixing your drinks – say hello to AI Barmen.

With this is an all-in-one bar system, you can select a drink from its order screen or even ask its AI voice recognition system for suggestions, and voila, it will do the mixing for you. But it can do more than fix you up with a delicious beverage.

Before you place an order through its system, AI Barmen will use facial recognition to check if you’re sober enough to have an alcoholic drink. It can also determine whether it thinks you’re of the legal drinking age, and can check you have valid ID if you don't look of age. It’s already three steps ahead.

4. A robot vacuum with legs…

Roborock’s latest Saros Rover proves the classic robot vacuum concept's got legs… literally. For the first time, robot vacuums are able to hop over obstacles and even travel up a set of stairs – a revolutionary step for smart home tech.

Another example of how AI is being integrated into our homes, the Saros Rover relies on onboard AI to monitor its surroundings as it travels across the floor. There are no details on its price point or when it will be available to order, so this is more or less a prototype device as of right now.

5. … and headphones with eyes

While Roborock is busy putting legs onto robot vacuums, Razer is preoccupied with adding eyes to your headphones; say hello to the Project Motoko AI headset which sees, hears, and thinks while it plays music.

Combining AI functions with smart design choices, Project Motoko will be able to see and hear your surroundings and offer you help based on context. Its capabilities range from responding to visual cues, tracking workouts, recognizing traffic lights, noting recipes, and so much more. It’s part on-the-go assistant and part loyal audio companion.

6. This $20,000 massage chair

Bodyframe’s latest innovation is a monster massage chair with a twist. Not only does it provide a massage experience, it’s designed to help users with low mobility. It can independently move your limbs in all sorts of positions, which left our editor-at-large Lance in a fit of giggles.

The South Korean wellbeing company is set to publicly release its latest massage chair in June, but it comes with an eye-watering $20,000 price tag.

7. A kitchen knife that vibrates

Ever wanted a rechargeable kitchen knife? Culinary tool company Seattle Ultrasonics has just unveiled one at CES 2026.

The $399 knife is far from your regular knife. This one vibrates to cut through food using vibrating crystals in the blade instead of a motor system, giving you a newfound cutting power when preparing food. Apparently it only requires you to use 50% less pressure than normal, and its vibrations are invisible to the hand when it’s switched on, which is quite impressive.

What’s your favorite weird tech announcement from CES 2026? Let us know in the comments!

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all the big announcements as they happen. Head to our CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything we've seen.

You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

• L'Oréal has made an ultra-thin, flexible LED face mask
• It delivers two wavelengths of light to minimize signs of aging, and there's also a smaller under-eye version
• The company hopes to revolutionize the category

L'Oréal has developed an LED face mask that it thinks could be a game-changer in the beauty world. The internal components have been completely re-engineered to enable them to fit inside an ultra-thin, flexible silicone that's comfortable to wear.

I had a chance to check it out at CES 2026, alongside the brand's innovative infrared Light Straight + hair straightener, and I was impressed with how bendable and lightweight it was. I also spoke with Guive Balooch, Global Vice President of Tech and Open Innovation at L’Oréal Groupe, about the design process and inspiration.

He told me that the current LED face mask market was split into two types: masks that contain high-powered LEDs that are effective for what they need to do, but are contained in a chunky, solid frame that "looks like a helmet on your face", and thinner options that just don't work that well.

L’Oréal decided a third option was required. "We wanted to create something that was inspired by a sheet mask," Guive told me. "Something that could be thin, pliable, flexible, but could work as well as the masks that are at the highest level, technically. This is the solution.

"We think that this will be a game-changer in the LED mask market," he added.

To create the internal microcircuit, L’Oréal partnered with iSMART, a UK-based startup that Guive describes as a global leader in LED device innovation. "Because it's so flexible you can put it in something that's 1mm thin and it's almost like a sheet mask," explained Guive.

I wasn't able to try the mask on myself for hygiene reasons, but I held it and saw it modeled by Guive and it really is a far cry from the rigid masks I've seem previously.

It can be toggled to emit the same two wavelengths of light you'd find on a helmet-style one – red light (630 nm) and near-infrared light (830 nm), each tackling different skin issues. It's designed to combat visible signs of aging, lessening fine lines, firming and smoothing skin, and helping even out skin tone.

There are further features geared towards convenience and comfort. The mask has automatically timed 10-minute sessions, which is the amount of time it's meant to be used for each day. It's also cordless, with a lightweight battery pack that sits on one side, and charges via USB-C.

Bright eyes

Alongside the full face mask I saw two smaller versions of the mask designed for your under-eye area. They use the same microcircuit and are encased in the same pliable silicone. This version comes with a charge case (it uses induction charging) that looks almost like a mirror compact.

You could lie down with these mini pads resting on your face and they'd stay in place, but for those who don't have time for that, L’Oréal is working on adhesive pads that would enable you to walk around with them on. These are hypoallergenic and can be used around 10 times each, but are still perhaps not an ideal option. Guive says the team is also looking at localized serums that would stick the pads on without needing to use the adhesives.

The mask and its under-eye sibling versions are currently in prototype form, with launch penciled in for 2027.

• IKEA has launched a set of new smart lights as part of its Varmblixt series
• These include a donut-shaped LED lamp with softly-shifting colors
• There's also a dimmable version of the tubular Varmblixt pendant lamp

We're at CES 2026, where IKEA has just launched a fun, donut-shaped smart lamp with soft, subtly shifting colors. The lamp (which can be mounted on a wall or used on a table) is a new addition to the Varmblixt series, which first launched in 2022 and is a collaboration with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis.

The original 2022 range included tableware, pendant lights, an illuminated mirror, and the classic Varmblixt LED Lamp, which had glossy orange glass to reflect the ambient light in your room while projecting a warm glow.

IKEA has now revamped the LED Lamp for 2026 with matt white glass and and color-shifting lights. The lamp comes with a Bilresa remote that lets you cycle through 12 preset colors – from pink and lavender to soft yellow. Each hue was picked by Sabine Marcelis, and blends smoothly with the next.

TechRadar's Editor at Large, Lance Ulanoff, has had his hands on the new Varmblixt LED Lamp on the CES show floor. See it in action in the video below.

If you like, you can skip the remote and connect the lamp to IKEA's Dirigea Wi-Fi hub, which will let you control the lamp using the company's mobile app or any other Matter-compatible smart home system. Operating the lamp this way lets you choose from a wider palette of over 40 colors.

If you like the shape of the lamp but aren't interested in smart home tech, worry not – the original orange version without smart controls will still be available to buy.

IKEA is also launching a smart version of the tubular Varmblixt LED Pendent Light, with dimmable white light. Like the LED Lamp it can be controlled using the remote included in the box, or be connected to the Dirigea hub and integrated into a larger smart home system.

Both lights will go on sale in April. The Varmblixt LED Lamp will be priced at $99.99 (about £80 / AU$150), while the LED Pendant Light will cost $149.99 (about £110 / AU$220).

IKEA has become a big name in affordable smart home tech, and in November it released 21 new connected devices, including light bulbs, sensors, and smart plugs. It'll be interesting to see what else its engineers and designers have up their sleeves in 2026, particularly as it bids to catch up with bigger names like Philips Hue. Watch this space...

• Ring cameras can now notify you about unusual activity
• The new tool uses AI to 'learn' what's normal for your home
• There are new sensors to detect safety and security problems, too

We're at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where Ring has just announced a set of new AI-powered upgrades that should make your video doorbell and security cameras even better at keeping your home and family safe.

One of the most interesting additions, AI Unusual Event Alerts, sends you a notification when your camera or doorbell spots something that looks out of the ordinary. It uses the Video Descriptions tech that launched in June last year, which analyzes the event that's triggered your camera to start recording and sends a text description to your phone so you can decide whether it's something that needs your attention.

What's ordinary for one person's home might be unusual for another, so this isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, AI Unusual Event Alerts 'learns' what's normal for your home by monitoring everyday activity, then warns you when something happens that doesn't fit with the regular pattern.

If you currently find that you're receiving too many alerts, you can choose to only be notified when something out of the ordinary happens.

Active Warnings are another new AI-powered tool for your Ring cameras, and are intended to deter potential threats to your property as soon as they're spotted.

This feature, which is available if you're currently enrolled in Ring's Virtual Security Guard program, will deliver warnings to potential burglars or other threats through your camera's speaker straight away, while a trained security expert takes a closer look at what's happened to see whether further action is needed (such as initiating two-way talk or contacting emergency services).

Sensors and switches

Ring also used its CES stand to unveil a new set of sensors and other devices that are based on Amazon Sidewalk (a low-power network that can transfer small amounts of data much further than your home Wi-F) and don't need a separate hub.

Until now, Sidewalk was only been available in the US, but it's now rolling out in Canada and Mexico too, with the EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan all due to follow later this year.

The new Sidewalk-enabled hardware includes:

• Door and window contact sensors
• Motion detectors
• A panic button
• Glass break sensors
• Outside door sensor
• Smoke and carbon monoxide sensors
• Flood and freeze sensors
• Temperature and humidity sensors
• Air quality sensors
• A sump pump sensor

There's also a bundle of new controllers that make it easier to operate your Ring smart home devices manually, including a fan control, smart plug, a single light switch, and a smart light remote.

Grab some apps

Finally, Ring has thrown open the doors to a new app store, where you'll download heaps of third-party tools to help you get more from your Ring devices. It's currently only available in the US, but will hopefully roll out in other locations soon.

You'll need a compatible Ring subscription to use these apps, and depending on the tool you want to use, you might need to sign up with a third-party service and connect it to your Ring account.

The selection of apps is expected to grow in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on what's available through the Ring app or at Ring.com.

We've already seen plenty at CES 2026 – check out our day one round-up for details – but there's been lots more to wonder and marvel at today, on the second day of the biggest tech exhibition in the calendar.

If you're new to CES (which originally stood for the Consumer Electronics Show), it's the Las Vegas-based expo where the biggest names in tech get to demonstrate their wares for the coming year, and it also gives us a good glimpse of the biggest tech trends of 2026.

Want to know the best of the best from our time at the show? Check out the video below!

As you'll see from our CES 2026 live blog though, there are also lots of smaller, niche bits of tech to check out as well. It really does include everything from kitchen appliances to giant rollerblades, and the TechRadar team is covering it all.

Here are the highlights from our second day at CES 2026, and it's another bumper selection of beautiful and bonkers tech. And if that isn't enough, you can also now head to our CES 2026 day three roundup for even more picks from the likes of IKEA and Motorola...

1. Clicks Communicator

• Best feature: The BlackBerry-style keyboard

BlackBerry is back! Sort of. Clicks has been providing physical keyboard accessories for phones for a while, but now it has its very own phone, called the Clicks Communicator. If you've been missing having a BlackBerry by your side, this could be the next best thing.

As well as the keyboard, the Communicator comes with a customizable side button for quickly recording voice notes, and it even has a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. It can be reserved now for $399 (about £295 / AU$595), and will be shipping later this year.

• Read the full story: Missing your BlackBerry? The Clicks Communicator brings back the physical keyboard – and a 3.5mm headphone jack

2. Dell XPS 14 2026

• Best feature: The gorgeous redesign

Dell is bringing its XPS branding back, and we've already had some hands-on time with both the 14-inch and 16-inch XPS laptops that are new for 2026. It's the smaller version that's arguably the most appealing of the two, though they both look pretty fantastic.

Alongside its lightweight and solid build quality, the Dell XPS 14 for 2026 comes with Intel Core Ultra chipsets, up to 64GB of memory, and up to 4TB of internal SSD storage. It's a great all-round package, and pricing starts at $2,049.99 (about £1,520 / AU$3,045).

• Read the full story: Hands-on with the Dell XPS 14 2026 and XPS 16 2026

3. Birdbuddy 2 Mini

• Best feature: AI bird detection

The smart bird feeder experts at Birdbuddy are back with the Birdbuddy 2 Mini, and no prizes for guessing what's different about the new model: it's smaller. It's also more affordable, while matching the specs of the larger version that was launched last year.

There's a 2K camera installed here alongside the bird feed holder, as well as AI-powered bird detection that works from both audio and visual cues. Preorders and shipping are expected this year, and the price is a not unreasonable $129 (about £95 / AU$190).

• Read the full story: Birdbuddy unveils its most affordable 'mini' bird feeder camera — and it can identify birds by their song

4. Luna Band

• Best feature: There's no subscription fee

Screen-free fitness trackers are lightweight and discreet, but the market leader in this field – Whoop – asks for a subscription fee. The new Luna Band is hoping to provide an alternative that only asks for one up-front payment when you actually buy the device.

It certainly looks the part, and comes with support for a variety of voice commands to replace on-screen taps – and you can of course operate everything through the accompanying mobile app too. We're still waiting on pricing to be confirmed though.

• Read the full story: Looking for a subscription-free Whoop band? This screenless rival could be the voice-led wearable you’re looking for

5. Samsung Galaxy Book6

• Best feature: Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs

Samsung is ready to take on the best Mac and Windows laptops again with the new Galaxy Book6 laptop series. They're packed with the latest Intel chipset tech, are impressively sleek and light, and they of course come with plenty of AI-related features attached too.

Based on what Samsung has shown off at CES 2026 so far, we have high hopes for the Samsung Galaxy Book6 series, and they promise to combine top-tier performance with excellent battery life between charges – something we all want from our laptops.

• Read the full story: ‘Performance defines the PC experience’ — Samsung aims to take down Apple with its new Galaxy Book6 laptops and Intel’s latest tech

6. Lego Smart Brick

• Best feature: Next-level Lego interactivity

In one of the biggest upgrades we've seen rolled out to Lego bricks in recent years, we're getting a series of Smart Bricks that come with intelligence built in: these blocks are able to sense other Smart Bricks, make noises (such as space battle sounds), and more.

From the outside though, these bricks look very much like the existing ones. We've written a comprehensive explainer on how Smart Bricks can upgrade your Lego experience, and they're coming to Star Wars sets first. They're also naturally a little pricier than the normal bricks.

• Read the full story: The Lego brick just got its biggest upgrade yet with Smart Play — and it's coming to Star Wars sets first

7. Shokz OpenFit Pro

• Best feature: The exceptional noise reduction

If you want effective noise reduction from your wireless earbuds without feeling like your ear canal is completely sealed off, check out the Shokz OpenFit Pro. The newly unveiled earbuds promise a high level of noise cancellation while still using an open ear design.

Having already tested the Shokz OpenFit Pro, we can confirm they work as advertised – and with high-quality materials, premium sound, and Dolby Atmos support, they're an appealing proposition. These earbuds will set you back £219 (about $295 / AU$440).

• Read the full story: I've worn the all-new Shokz open earbuds for 4 days and the 'noise reduction' is so good, I forget they're open-ear

8. Timeli Flashlight

• Best feature: Get help whenever you need it

The Timeli Flashlight does the main job you'd expect – with an impressive level of brightness – but it's so much more as well. It comes with GPS, video recording, and a button that will get in touch with emergency dispatchers if you feel you're in trouble.

In other words, this could quite literally save your life, which isn't bad for $299 (about £220 / AU$445). The emergency dispatch features do cost you extra in the form of a subscription fee, but you get a full year of service for free included in the cost of the flashlight.

• Read the full story: Could this flashlight save your life? The Timeli is a smart personal safety system that comes in the form of a flashlight

9. Victrola Soundstage

• Best feature: An all-in-one solution without the bulk

Audio lovers definitely haven't been left out at CES 2026 this year, and the Victrola Soundstage is proof of it. The main selling point is the way the record player itself sits on top of its soundbase speaker to provide a compact, all-in-one vinyl listening experience.

It's relatively affordable too, yours for $349.99 (about £260 / AU$500) when it becomes available around the middle of this year. If you're looking to take your first steps into a vinyl collection and a quality record player, the Victrola Soundstage could be perfect.

• Read the full story: This new turntable speaker is a perfect space-saving buy for new vinyl owners

10. HP Eliteboard G1a

• Best feature: Its on-the-go appeal

There are always plenty of innovative ideas on show at CES every year, and the HP Eliteboard G1a certainly fits that description. It's an entire PC built into a keyboard, so all you need to do is attach a mouse and an external monitor, and you're up and running.

It's a pretty powerful PC too, with enough grunt to get the Copilot+ label. We're still waiting for confirmation on pricing, but this is sure to appeal to people who spend a lot of time jumping between desks – as all you'll need to take with you as you move is the keyboard.

• Read the full story: HP just squeezed a desktop computer into a keyboard – and it's powerful enough to be a Copilot+ PC

11. Audio-Technica AT-LP7X

• Best feature: A stunning design

Our second turntable in this list is a finely-crafted piece of tech, which offers a fully manual belt drive, a built-in phono preamp, and wide cartridge compatibility. The Audio-Technica AT-LP7X also looks rather sensational, following the aesthetics of its predecessor.

That predecessor, the Audio-Technica AT-LP7 from 2019, was a really impressive model too, so we're looking forward to testing this one and weighing up the upgrades on offer. The record player is available to buy now, retailing for £679 (about $920 / AU$1,370).

• Read the full story: Audio-Technica just updated one of its best ever turntables at CES 2026, and I want it

• Dolby Vision 2 is coming to select Hisense, TCL and Philips TVs in 2026
• This follows news that Peacock will be the first streamer to support Dolby Vision 2
• There will be two versions of Dolby Vision 2: Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max

Select Hisense, TCL and Philips will be the first to support Dolby Vision 2, Dolby has confirmed at CES 2026.

Dolby Vision 2 is the next generation of and successor to the popular HDR format Dolby Vision, which is used by some of the best TVs and best 4K Blu-ray players. Dolby Vision enhances color, detail, and contrast compared to regular HDR10 by using dynamic metadata to improve picture quality.

At IFA 2025, it was confirmed that Hisense would be the first TVs to support Dolby Vision 2, but specific models weren't confirmed at the time.

Dolby has now verified that Hisense's 2026 RGB mini-LED TVs including the UX, UR9 and UR8 models will all support Dolby Vision 2, while its cheaper mini-LED TVs should receive support via a future software update.

TCL's 2026 X QD-mini LED TV series and C series TVs will also get a future software update to support Dolby Vision 2.

Finally, TP Vision's Philips 2026 OLED TVs will support Dolby Vision 2 in their OLED811, OLED911 and OLED951 models.

This follows the news, first announced at CES 2026, that Peacock is the first streaming service to support Dolby Vision 2 and next-gen Dolby Atmos audio encoding.

There will in fact be two versions of Dolby Vision 2 on offer: Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max (more on that below). It's not clear which of the above TVs will support which version yet, but we'll be keeping an eye out.

Dolby Vision 2: the new generation

We've actually seen Dolby Vision 2 in action on cheap TVs and were impressed by how much perceived difference it made to black tone handling, contrast, and color. It seemed like a clear step up from its predecessor, Dolby Vision.

Dolby Vision 2 will have several new features in its arsenal. Firstly, Precision Black, which is designed to make blacks more natural and answer consumer frustration with 'too dark' scenes on streaming services. Next is Light Sense, which will adapt the picture on screen to suit the ambient light conditions of the room. And, live sport optimization for more accurate motion processing and picture.

Dolby Vision 2 Max will have these features, plus an even more optimized image engine and Authentic Motion. This is a tool designed to reduce judder, but maintain natural and authentic motion by having filmmakers adjust motion themselves rather than relying purely on the TV's motion settings. We've seen Authentic Motion in action, and were again impressed.

Dolby Vision 2 looks to be an exciting upgrade over its widely used predecessor. The fact that it's coming to Hisense's RGB mini-LED TVs, which could be a real threat to OLED now it's set to be used in smaller sets, is an exciting development for 2026, and I for one can't wait to get some real testing time with Dolby Vision 2.

If, like me, you're not in the US and have been patiently waiting to get your hands on the new Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses then I have some bad news: the global rollout has been put on “pause” according to Meta itself.

Dropped halfway down an otherwise run-of-the-mill CES 2026 blog post as if it were a nonchalant aside comment in Meta’s conversation, this frustrating detail means that the “early 2026” launch of the Meta specs outside of the US won’t be happening – or at least it won't be as early as we'd hoped.

Instead, Meta explains that us folks in the UK, Canada, France, and Italy (as well as other regions Meta said it would expand availability to) will have to wait while it focuses on “fulfilling orders in the US”. Worst of all for those of us outside the US, it doesn’t say when the rollout will resume.

I reached out to Meta directly, and a representative told me: “We’re really pleased with the reception of our new wearables products,” however, at this time they “don’t have anything further to share” with respect to the international expansion pause, nor its plans to improve US fulfillment of the Display glasses.

Not the start to 2026 I wanted

Meta’s pause to its international Display glasses distribution is not how I hoped 2026 would kick off in the XR field. I was genuinely looking forward to trying a pair out in the next few months, and I'm devastated that I'll need to wait for some unknown amount of time before that’ll change.

It’s surprising that Meta would tease a rollout only to go back on its word, though that would speak to the unprecedented level of interest in its Meta Ray-Ban Display specs it described in its blog post.

While impressive, the Display specs aren’t cheap – before applying extra costs like prescriptions they’ll set you back $799, over double the cost of the standard $379 / £379 / AU$599 Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses. What’s more, we know the last consumer wearable truly comparable to Meta’s Display glasses, Google Glass, was something of a flop.

With both points in mind, it’s not a surprise that Meta would be conservative about the level of interest in its new Display-equipped glasses. Sure, lots of people might book up free demo slots, but then they might instead just buy the much cheaper display-less smart specs, if they buy anything at all.

I imagine most people do still opt for one of those latter two options, but clearly far more people than expected have decided to splash out on the Meta Ray-Ban Displays. Long wait times will only frustrate customers, so it makes sense for Meta to focus on its one existing market while it ramps up production – as the alternative would be to launch them globally and end up making a much larger group of people annoyed that they can’t get the smart glasses they’ve ordered.

Of course, understanding Meta’s reasoning does nothing to alleviate the annoyance I, and I’m sure others, are feeling about the pause.

The only silver lining I can offer is that I imagine Meta won’t want to delay things for too long. With Google's Android XR glasses snapping at its heels there’s a risk that, if it holds off for too long on a global launch, one of Google's glasses partners – who are working on both display and display-less smart specs – could swoop in and steal the international market from under Meta’s nose.

We’ll have to wait and see how things progress, but I have a feeling (read: desperate hope) us non-US folks will get our hands on the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses before too long. Let's hope I'm not still saying that this time next year.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything we've seen.

You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

We're checking out all the latest smart home tech at CES 2026, and it looks like this is the year of the smart lock. With built-in video doorbells, wireless charging, and 3D facial recognition, the new generation of locks make it easier than ever to unlock your door without rummaging through your bag for keys, or even touching a control panel.

The latest locks are easier to install as well, with many requiring nothing more than a couple of minutes with a screwdriver. Home security companies have realized that replacing your existing lock can be a daunting prospect, and have responded with simple guides and interactive tutorials to make the process as painless as possible.

Connecting your new smart lock to your existing smart home tech should be a breeze as well. Almost all of the new locks being shown off at CES are Matter-certified, meaning they should work seamlessly whichever other devices you're using.

As TechRadar's smart home tech editor, here's my pick of the six best smart locks from this year's show. Which one deserves a place on your door?

1. Easy to use

Yale has launched a smart lock featuring a new technology called KeySense, which lets you unlock your door from the inside with a short press of a button, or set it to lock after a short customizable delay when you leave the house.

When you come home, the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite uses your phone's location to automatically unlock the door as you get close, so you don't need to fumble for keys when your hands are full.

Unlike some new locks, there's no palm recognition, fingerprint, or other biometric tech here. Instead, Yale has concentrated its efforts on making the Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite beginner-friendly. Guests and kids can let themselves in using their own unique passcode, and the lock will send you a notification to let you know they've arrived safely.

The lock can be installed on most European doors without the need for drilling, so renters can fit it without upsetting their landlord.

The Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite doesn't have Wi-Fi built in, so you'll need a separate Yale Wi-Fi Bridge to check its status, open it remotely, and review activity logs via the Yale Home app, though Matter over Thread means it'll work with smart home ecosystems including Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings.

The lock is on sale now for £129.98 in the UK (about $175 / AU$260). Prices and release dates outside Europe are yet to be announced.

2. No accidental unlocking

If you want a lock that knows exactly where you are, take a look at the new Aqara Smart Lock U400, which uses UWB (ultra-wideband) technology to ensure your door only unlocks when you're ready to enter – but doesn't keep you waiting.

According to Aqara, the Smart Lock U400 can pinpoint your location to within a centimeter, measuring both distance and angle of approach. This means it can tell if you're approaching the door or just passing by, and identify which side of the door you're on, so it won't unlock itself when you're inside.

In addition to remote unlocking via UWB, the Smart Lock U400 can also be opened using a fingerprint, personal passcode (either one-time or recurring), NFC, a mobile app, or Apple Home Key on an iPhone or Apple Watch.

Like Yale's latest smart lock, the new Aqara model uses the Matter over Thread system for compatibility with all the main smart home ecosystems (provided you have a Thread border router and Matter controller). There's no need for a separate Aqara hub.

Aqara has yet to announce a release date or price for the new lock, but its smart home devices tend to be quite affordable, so I've got my fingers crossed for a reasonable price tag.

3. Super simple installation

If you like the idea of having a smart lock, but you're intimidated by the idea of actually fitting one, take a look at the new Kwikset Aura Reach Smart Lock, which offers interactive guided installation to take you through each step of the process. All you need is a screwdriver, The Kwikset app also helps you connect the lock to your smart home platform of choice, again via Matter over Thread.

The Aura Reach uses Bluetooth to illuminate the keypad when your phone comes within range. Unlike other locks featured here, however, there's no contactless entry. Instead, the Aura Reach relies on passcodes, with up to 250 unique codes that you can manage through the Kwikset app.

The Aura Reach will be available towards the end of this year, with a list price of $189 in the US (about £140 / AU$280).

4. Built-in video doorbell

The Lockly Affirm Series Smart Lock does a lot more than just secure your door – it also includes a video doorbell, so you can see who's calling and choose whether to let them in remotely. Built-in Wi-Fi means there's no need for a separate hub, and (naturally) there's Matter support so it's compatible with your smart speakers and other Matter-enabled devices.

This particular model has a lever latch handle, plus a numbered keypad that supports up to 300 PIN codes (including a one-time or recurring offline code when there's no internet connectivity). You can also unlock your door via NFC using your phone, smartwatch, or an NFC tag key, though there are no biometric options.

We don't yet have a price or release date for this particular lock, so stay tuned for further details.

5. Solar charging and AI

Desloc has launched three new smart locks for CES 2026. The first, the Desloc V150 Plus, has a solar panel to keep its rechargeable battery topped up, plus a selection of touch-free entry options. The V150 Plus can be unlocked using gestures and palm-recognition – a system that identifies you by the unique pattern of blood vessels in your hand.

There's also built-in Wi-Fi, and although this particular lock isn't Matter-certified, it's compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control via your smart speakers. The Desloc V150 Plus will be available in the US later this year, with a price tag under $300 (about £220 / AU$450).

Desloc's second new offering, the S150 Max, includes a video doorbell with dual 2K cameras so you can see visitors and packages before deciding whether to unlock your door. AI subject-recognition can differentiate between family members, pets, packages, and unknown visitors, and will deliver smart alerts to your phone depending on who or what has been detected.

The S150 Max can be unlocked using 3D facial recognition, or a curved fingerprint sensor that Desloc claims will open your door in just 1.5 seconds. The Desloc S150 Max will go on sale a little later than the K140 Plus, with a price tag below $400 (about £370 / AU$750).

Finally, there's the Desloc K140 Plus, with palm vein recognition, built-in Wi-Fi, and gesture unlocking. It will be available in the US from February, and will be the most affordable of the three new locks at under $200 (about £150 / AU$300).

6. Wireless charging

The Lockin V7 Max has already received a CES 2026 Innovation Award thanks to its AuraCharge wireless charging technology, which operates within a four-meter range, and means there's no need to recharge or replace its batteries.

The Lockin V7 Max also offers contactless entry via finger vein, palm vein, and 3D facial recognition, and has an integrated video doorbell with five-inch touchscreens on both sides of the door. It's compatible with all major smart home platforms via Matter.

It's expected to begin shipping soon, though we don't yet have an estimated retail price.

• Birdbuddy debuts the Birdbuddy 2 Mini bird feeder camera at CES
• The 2 Mini is Birdbuddy's smallest and most affordable bird feeder camera to date
• It has the same core features as the pricier Birdbuddy 2

Birdbuddy is a leading name in bird feeder cameras, and it has just unveiled its latest model at CES 2026 – the Birdbuddy 2 Mini.

The 2 Mini has the same core specs as the Birdbuddy 2, which was announced last year (and which we are currently testing), including an upgraded camera with 2K video in horizontal or vertical format, slow motion recording, plus smart AI bird detection that's now based on visual and audio cues. That's right, Birdbuddy can identify birdsong.

Where the two latest generation of smart bird feeder cameras differ is in design. As its name suggests, the new 2 Mini has a smaller form factor and seed capacity, while it's powered by a (rechargeable) internal battery only – the Birdbuddy 2 has built-in solar panels for continuous power. There is an optional solar panel for the 2 Mini, but that does add to the cost.

Even with its simpler design, the 2 Mini could even be a better option than the flagship model thanks to its smaller housing – I'm thinking for tight spaces, apartments and balconies.

It's also Birdbuddy's most affordable bird feeder camera to date, being around 35% cheaper than the Birdbuddy 2.

The Birdbuddy 2 Mini costs $129 (compared to $199 for the Birdbuddy 2), and pre-orders are expected to open mid-2026 and shipped later on this year (UK and Australia pricing TBC). The sold-out pre-orders for the Birdbuddy 2 from last year are set to be shipped next month.

Getting you closer to your backyard wildlife

I've tested some of the best bird feeder cameras, and can testify just how enjoyable these gadgets are.

Like most bird feeder cameras, Birdbuddy's latest models activate when birds are detected by motion sensing, but they up the game by adding audio cues to give you a remote live feed of the birdlife visiting the feeder.

Whether you're miles away or in your front room, seeing the visiting birds in your backyard in real time, with the option to record 2K video is a novelty that doesn't wear off – especially with smart bird detection skills helping you identify any species you're unfamiliar with.

And I love the idea of the Birdbuddy 2 Mini – being a smaller and affordable package that brings this delightful experience to more people.

Birdbuddy certainly ranks among the best in this space, and I'm looking forward to seeing how far it has been able to improve the experience with its second generation of bird feeder cameras. It says the new cameras wake up faster than the first generation models, and feature Gorilla Glass-protected lenses and upgraded built-in mics.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

• New range of Galaxy Book6 laptops announced
• Powered by Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors
• AI features remain a key selling point (or so Samsung thinks)

CES 2026 is shaping up to be a great showcase for upcoming laptops, and Samsung has joined in the fun by announcing the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, Galaxy Book6 Pro and Galaxy Book6, which the company claims are the “most advanced Galaxy Book series yet.”

Despite Samsung being one of the biggest tech companies in the world, only a few years ago, its laptops felt a bit like an afterthought. Solid, sure, but nothing to get too excited about.

I’m glad to say that’s changed, with its sleek and stylish Galaxy Book series often appearing in our best laptops list, so I have high hopes for the new Galaxy Book6 range.

From what Samsung showed off at CES 2026, which is currently taking place in Las Vegas, these laptops could indeed be something to get excited about. They will be powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processors, which have also just been announced at CES, so expect excellent performance and long battery life.

Samsung is one of the biggest proponents of AI, so it’ll come as no surprise to learn that its Galaxy AI features are front and center with these laptops, and thanks to Intel’s new chips coming with an NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS (trillion operations per second), on-device AI tasks should be impressively speedy.

Don’t care for AI?

If you’re not that bothered about AI on your laptop (I’ve yet to be convinced, personally), there’s still lots to be excited about with the Galaxy Book6 laptops, as they come with the stylish designs and stunning screens we’ve come to expect from the line.

If you own other Samsung devices, such as a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, then also expect some nifty features that allow the devices to work together in an ecosystem that is slowly catching up to Apple’s.

In fact, thanks to the stylish looks, powerful performance and aforementioned ecosystem (which also includes tablets, smartwatches and earphones), the Samsung Galaxy Book6 could be the best way to get an Apple-like experience with Android and Windows 11 devices.

Check out the full specs below:

We don’t currently have price information for the new Galaxy Book6 laptops, but hopefully Samsung doesn’t follow Apple’s premium pricing for its MacBooks too closely. That said, Samsung’s ‘Galaxy’ brand is for its high-end premium devices, and considering the cutting-edge tech included, plus RAM price rises affecting all manner of devices, so I wouldn’t expect any of these to be budget laptops – though I’d be very happy to be wrong.

They’ll go on sale soon, and hopefully we’ll be getting our hands on each model to fully review and rate at TechRadar.

I'm eating cold, fizzy, blue shaved ice, savoring the chill and surprisingly-sweet sugar-free raspberry blueness, wondering, as I often do at CES, "How did I get here?"

CES 2026 kicked off last night – and for the uninitiated who are quick to tell me I got my dates wrong, I'm talking about the firehose of product releases and carnival atmosphere that kicks off two days before the big show floors open. The event, known as CES Unveiled, serves as the official launch gathering for the media, and our first opportunity to take the temperature of the world's biggest tech event.

As I expected, there were a lot of tech companies showing off the "AI of this and the "AI of that." But sandwiched in between (and on top of) all that artificial intelligence were some truly unusual and entertaining devices and ideas.

Like the blue ice I ate from Iceplosion, which is making the world's first fizzy 'Slurpee'-style machine for the home. It'll cost you $700 and another $1 per syrup packet, but from where I stand, that's a small price to pay for semi-sweet iced goodness.

Fake skiing and sharp edges

Perhaps emboldened by the saccarin, I then found myself 'skiing' across the cement floor, adjacent to the largely carpeted CES Unveiled ballroom.

Skwheel's Peak and Peak S are best described as giant, powered rollerblades that are designed to recreate the feeling of skiing but on virtually any surface (other than snow). Company reps explained how they created the Peak boots initially as a way to keep people 'skiing' during the off-season, but quickly found that people really enjoyed the feeling of skiing on roads and hills, and in parks.

So, yes, against my better judgment, I strapped them on, grabbed the remote that allowed me to control speed and braking, and took off... at maybe three miles per hour, and doing my best to lean into imaginary slaloms. The Peak S can travel at up to 20mph and for distances of up to 37 miles, but I couldn't afford to take a spill and ruin the rest of my CES.

It's a fun take on mobility, but if you plan to spend between $990 and $1,490 for a Peak or Peak S, you'd better be serious about hard-surface skiing.

With my adrenaline cooking and my mouth still slightly blue from the slushie, I sauntered over to have a look at the C-200 Ultrasonic Chef's Knife. It's $300 worth of silently vibrating, slicing excitement.

I liked the look of the rechargeable blade, but was a little underwhelmed when I tried to use it to cut a tomato. It seems that even a piezo crystal-inflused knife vibrating at 30,000 times per second needs some finesse if you are to use it properly.

A home allergy lab

Nearby, I spotted a cluster of French-speaking technologists who were explaining their hand-sized device, Allergen Alert, which can smash up your food, squeeze it, and then test it for allergens like milk and gluten, and show the results on a connected iPhone app.

It might be the first consumer device that could bring such testing into the home, but it won't be cheap: $200 to start and then $25 for six pouches, in which the food gets mashed, then tested, and then discarded. But, hey, you can't put a price on peace of mind.

As for the AI, it was on display in Nosh, a $2,000 robotic cooking device that has 500 on-board recipes, mixes ingredients, and then uses AI and a camera to watch the food in real time and assess how meal prep is going.

Sadly, they weren't allowed to cook in the ballroom, so Nosh went through the motions, but no one was snacking on its Asian cuisine.

Any way the wind blows

There were other interesting discoveries, like the man who made GeoWind, a geodesic-like wind turbine that he insisted is far more efficient and rugged than a standard turbine. I loved his passion.

Then there was the Ascentiz team, who descended on me like my own personal cotiere, quickly strapping me into their robotic assistive walking device, which starts at $1,500.

I strutted around for a few minutes, waiting for the "Aha!" moment of feeling like I no longer needed to move my own legs, the robot could do it for me, but it never came (to be fair, it's an "assistive" device, not a walking replacement). Instead, I felt a few pulls as I awkwardly tried not to fall on my face and look even more ridiculous.

Finally, I squeezed myself into Bodyfriend's $20,000 robotic massage chair, which tugged on my arms and legs as it aggressively massaged my back and butt.

At least I left the evening feeling both stretched and relaxed, and perhaps ready for the rest of CES 2026.

• Nvidia has announced its new DLSS 4.5 upscaling tech at CES 2026
• The upgrade comes free for RTX 5000 GPU owners
• Other announcements included improvements to GeForce Now and new G-Sync Pulsar gaming monitors

We're at CES 2026, and it's unsurprisingly another big one for Nvidia. Team Green had a staggeringly good year in 2025, now sitting pretty as the most valuable company in the world (worth a mind-blowing $4.5 trillion). It's no shock, then, that Nvidia has a lot to show off at CES this year.

Leading the presentation was the reveal of an upgrade to Nvidia's DLSS upscaling tech for PC gamers, but don't get too excited; DLSS 5 isn't here just yet, but rather DLSS 4.5. It's an iterative upgrade, delivering a 2nd-generation transformer model (which was originally introduced with DLSS 4) and general improvements to ghosting, pixel sampling, and temporal stability.

Most interesting is a boost to the Multi Frame Generation feature (MFG), which takes the maximum mode from 4x frame-gen to 6x - a significant leap, though my current experiences with the 4x mode on an RTX 5060 and 5070 have been spotty (I've been sticking to the original 2x mode in most games). That being said, if the new transformer model makes the 4x mode more stable, it could be a huge step forward for DLSS. The new-and-improved MFG will be able to intelligently target a framerate that matches your monitor's refresh rate, further optimizing performance.

The time is Now

Hot on the heels of the DLSS 4.5 announcement, Nvidia also unveiled some sweeping improvements to the GeForce Now game-streaming platform, which allows users to pay a subscription to play their own games with the power of RTX graphics via cloud streaming.

A new top tier, featuring RTX 5080-level performance, will effectively replace the existing $19.99 a month RTX 4080 tier for the same price (regional pricing has yet to be confirmed, but will likely remain the same as the existing top tier). Nvidia is advertising up to 5K at 120 FPS or 1080p at 360 FPS for this new tier.

GeForce Now will also be getting native clients for Linux and Fire TV, the latter of which is likely to be of interest to couch gamers who want to play PC titles but don't have a living-room PC. Expanded controller support is also on the way; racing wheel and flight stick controls are first in line.

Additionally, Nvidia G-Sync is getting an upgrade. The new G-Sync Pulsar technology offers improved sharpness and smoother gameplay compared to existing G-Sync displays, and will be available from January 7th in a select number of monitors from Acer, Asus, AOC, and MSI.

These new monitors will reportedly be 27-inch 1440p 360Hz displays, targeted towards serious esports gamers, and are claimed by Nvidia to offer "1000Hz+ Perceived Motion Clarity," which I'm sure will mean something to the aforementioned serious esports gamers. 360Hz sounded high enough to me, but then again, I'm absolute dogwater at Counter-Strike.

The GPU problem

Of course, those fancy DLSS 4.5 upgrades won't mean jack to the average PC gamer if they can't get their hands on an RTX 5000 graphics card, and the current RAM crisis is already having a significant impact on GPU pricing. Needless to say, it's not looking great - prices are skyrocketing, stock is thin, and it's not been harder to pick up a high-end GPU since the crypto craze.

Nvidia is part of the problem, unfortunately. The recent spike in component demand has been largely driven by a fresh need for AI datacenter hardware, and Team Green is deeply entrenched in the AI market at this stage.

Indeed, the company's CES presentation was also chock-full of AI advancements, with half of the slides dedicated to how RTX 5000 benefits AI-powered content creation, LLM performance, and other AI tools. It's no doubt going to be another profitable year for Nvidia, but I can't help but worry that PC gamers will end up being left in the dust - and with GeForce now providing a tempting alternative for those without their own hardware, Nvidia is poised to win either way.

• Asus announces ROG XREAL R1 AR gaming glasses at CES 2026
• These glasses will pair with its ROG Ally handhelds, plus PCs and consoles
• They'll land in the first half of 2026, but no price has been announced yet

Reports of the death of Asus' XR plans have been greatly exaggerated, and at CES 2026 it announced a partnership with XREAL to deliver the ROG XREAL R1 AR gaming glasses – giving the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X a run for its money in the naming department.

These smart glasses are what we’ve come to know from XREAL, but this time there's a focus on Asus’ PC tech. You can connect them directly to a compatible device (such as a ROG Ally) using the USB-C cable to have that device’s display shown on a giant virtual screen (171 inches at 4m), or use the included ROG Control Dock.

This dock includes DisplayPortTM 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports so you can seamlessly switch between using the glasses with your PC or your console. Asus promises this will happen with a “single click”.

As for the glasses themselves, it looks like we’re in for a treat. They boast full-HD (1,920 x 1,080) Sony 0.55-inch micro-OLED displays with a 700 nits peak brightness and 57-degree field of view. This is identical to the XREAL One Pro glasses I loved, so I imagine the XREAL R1 glasses also rely on the same optical engine which is sleek and boasts a crystal clear image better than other similar smart specs I’ve tried – I’ve contacted XREAL to clarify this however as the press release I’ve been sent doesn’t confirm my suspicion.

The big upgrade for these specs, however, is their 240Hz refresh rate – the highest so far from this kind of wearable display. This plants the specs firmly in the 'made for gamers' camp, as a buttery smooth frame rate is required for any kind of elite-level player.

You’ll also get the usual Bose-tuned audio and the electrochromically dimmable lenses we’re used to seeing from XREAL. Based on my experience that means headphones are useful but not a must-have unless you’re travelling, and these specs should be suitable to a wide range of environments.

Lastly, we know the new Asus ROG XREAL R1 AR gaming glasses will “ship globally in the first half of 2026,” but neither XREAL nor Asus has revealed how much they'll cost when they do. Based on their similarity to the XREAL One Pro specs, I wouldn’t hold my breath for anything less than $649 / £579, but we’ll have to wait and see.

And that’s not all we might have to wait and see about when it comes to Asus’ XR plans…

A sign of more to come?

The press release I received ahead of today’s Asus XREAL announcement makes no mention of “Android XR” at all – so there isn’t yet a link between Asus and the ‘new’ kid on the block in the XR space – but the degree of separation between Asus and Android XR is a lot less than it was.

That’s because XREAL has announced Android XR specs are on the way, and given the utility Android XR looks set to bring to smart glasses of all kinds I wouldn’t be surprised if Asus has some Android specs on the way – either through working with XREAL on another ROG-branded pair, or a more in-house design.

While we can only speculate, it wouldn’t be surprising if this ROG Xreal R1 product is what played a part in the divorce of Asus and Meta’s Horizon OS. For Asus, glasses perhaps make better sense as an addition to its ecosystem than a whole VR headset – existing as an upgrade for its ROG handhelds rather than a headset replacing them in some way (kinda like how the Steam Frame headset is sort of a wearable Steam Deck).

For Meta, it could be that the Asus Xreal partnership – especially due to the Xreal’s proximity to Android XR – stepped over a line where was no longer comfortable.

We likely won’t ever know why Asus and Meta split up. Instead, we can just get excited for the Asus ROG XREAL R1 AR gaming glasses, and patiently hope this is the first of many Asus smart specs.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

• Acer has revealed a range of new products at CEs 2026
• The main announcement is a fresh line of laptops featuring the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors
• Other reveals included an esports monitor and a Predator-branded e-scooter

The ball is rolling on CES 2026, and that means lots of new hardware reveals. It's an exciting time of year for us here at TechRadar, and it looks like Acer hasn't disappointed, with a range of new products coming in hot.

Leading the pack are several new laptops equipped with Intel's new 3rd-gen Core Ultra CPUs, including the Aspire AI, Swift AI, Swift Edge AI, Swift Go AI, and several new gaming laptops in the Predator and Nitro ranges. Yes, those have 'AI' tacked onto the end of the product name for no good reason, too.

I'm only gently chiding Acer for this, though, as it's become common practice across multiple laptop brands in recent years to include 'AI' in the name. In my inquiries, nobody has been particularly forthcoming about why they're doing this, but it's likely a combination of desire to demonstrate these new laptops' AI capabilities (thanks to the new Intel Core Ultra 300 chips powering them, which boast superior AI performance compared to the previous 200 generation) and pressure from Microsoft to champion Copilot, its AI assistant that now comes baked into Windows 11.

Overall, though? I have to say that these new laptops look good. The Aspire and Swift models come in both 14- and 16-inch display sizes, with the super-premium Swift Edge 14 AI weighing in at less than 1kg with a thickness of 13.95mm, making it one of the thinnest and lightest laptops in its performance class. The new Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is also impressively thin and light for a gaming laptop, packing an RTX 5070 GPU but with a chassis less than 19mm thick.

New visuals

The reveals didn't stop there, though. New monitors are up next: we saw two gaming-focused models under the Predator brand, one curved and one esports-oriented (with a ludicrous '1000 Hz dynamic mode' for maximizing your framerate), along with another gaming monitor from the Nitro family, which offers a 27-inch 5K panel. Meanwhile, digital creatives were served by the new ProDesigner PE320QX, which delivers a stunning 6K resolution and 1.07 billion color support.

Elsewhere in the display space, we saw a new projector, the Vero HL1820. Side note: did you know Acer makes home cinema projectors? I did, but several of my coworkers didn't! As part of the eco-friendly Vero product line, it's constructed with a chassis composed of 50% post-consumer-recycled materials.

There was also a host of connectivity products, primarily some new routers, including the Predator Connect X7S 5G CPE: a wireless router that uses 5G and 4G connectivity to deliver lightning-fast Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for gaming and streaming wherever you may go. Peripherals were included too, with the new Predator Cestus 530 gaming mouse and Galea 570 headset.

Get scootin'

The most unusual reveal, however, was the Predator ES Storm Pro E-scooter. Described as a 'performance-focused e-scooter designed for varied urban conditions', it features a foldable aluminum frame, ten-inch tubeless tires, and of course, RGB lighting. It's a Predator-branded product, after all.

Now, this isn't the first electric scooter Acer has produced; the ES series has been kicking around for a little while now, so it's not surprising to see Acer wheel out a new one at an event like CES. What is surprising is that this model proudly bears the Predator branding. I don't know if there's a lot of crossover between the PC gaming and e-scooter markets, but clearly Acer thinks so.

With IPX5 water resistance and a riding range of approximately 60km on a single charge thanks to regenerative braking technology, it certainly looks pretty sweet. But I don't really know a damn thing about e-scooters, so that's just about all the analysis I can offer on this particular product reveal!

It's CES time again: the event formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show is now just CES, but still the biggest tech expo in the calendar. The 2026 edition is now underway in Las Vegas, and the TechRadar team has been checking out everything on show.

CES is an opportunity for tech companies huge and small to parade some of the products they've got coming across the rest of the year. Everything from laptops and smartwatches to fridges and smart lights appear at CES, and we quite often get some quirky and unusual tech at the same time. It also gives us a glimpse of the biggest tech trends of 2026.

Want to know the best of the best from our time at the show? Check out the video below!

Here's our round-up of the highlights we've seen on the first day of CES. Technically, it's 'day zero' – the day when a lot of media briefings are given and a lot of press releases are issued – but here's what caught our eye, in no particular order. And if you want to see our pick from the second day from the show, you can also now head to our CES 2026 Day 2 roundup...

1. Pebble Round 2

• Best feature: The 1.3-inch e-paper display

Pebble smartwatches are back, and the Round 2 is looking to fix some of the problems that held back the original Time Round (all the way back in 2015). Specifically, it brings with it a larger, e-paper display, and much improved battery life, at a cheaper price.

Smart features include the ability to track steps and sleep, and there's even some basic water resistance here as well. You can pair this with both iPhones and Android devices, and you can pick one up for $199 (that's about £145 / AU$295), with shipping in May.

• Read the full story: Pebble unveils Pebble Round 2 – and fixes all the original's major pitfalls

2. JBL Soundgear Clips

• Best feature: That 'ear cuff' design

There are plenty of earbuds and headphones on show at CES 2026, but the JBL Soundgear Clips have caught our eyes – or ears? As the name suggests, they're the first JBL earbuds to use the clip-on design, and they come in a variety of bold colors like purple and copper.

We haven't used them yet, but we do know that they offer up to 32 hours of playback time on a single battery charge (if you include the case), and that they offer IP54 water and dust resistance. As for pricing, they're expected to set you back $149.95 (about £110 / AU$225).

• Read the full story: JBL is going all-in on open earbuds at CES 2026 – meet the firm's 3 new open-fit options

3. Govee Ceiling Light Ultra

• Best feature: Customized lighting patterns

Govee has shown up at CES 2026, with some brand new smart lights in tow. The pick of the bunch as far as we're concerned is the Ceiling Light Ultra, and you may be able to guess where in the room it goes based on the name. Yes, that's right, you fix it to the ceiling.

That positioning means it can cast an ambient aura of illumination all across the space it's fitted into, and with a choice of more than 20 color presets as well as extra customization controls, there's lots you can do with this. It also offers a decent 5,000 lumens brightness.

• Read the full story: Govee unveils 3 new smart lights, plus a host of new features to help you create the perfect mood

4. Seattle Ultrasonics C200 knife

• Best feature: Effortless fruit and veg slicing

CES always plays host to a variety of more unusual and obscure gadgets, and in this spirit, we give you the Seattle Ultrasonics C200 knife. It uses a carefully calibrated array of vibrating crystals to make slicing easier, with a minimal amount of force needed.

Think of it like bikes and e-bikes: you're using tech to do more with less effort. We've actually given this a try on the show floor, and it makes short work of cutting through a tomato. Shipping is set for later this year, with a price of around $399 (about £295 / AU$595).

• Read the full story: The C200 Ultrasonic Knife vibrates to cut through things, not with a motor but with micro vibrations to give you a new kitchen superpower to zip through vegetables

5. Samsung Galaxy TriFold

• Best feature: It has an extra fold

The Samsung Galaxy TriFold was announced before CES, but with a US launch getting closer, we've been able to get some hands-on time with the tri-fold – it's like a normal book-style foldable, but with an extra screen segment and hinge.

Our first impressions are very good, with Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff describing it as "unquestionably a remarkable design achievement" and a device that offers "truly pocketable big-screen tablet productivity". Check out the full story for more details.

• Read the full story: I finally tried the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and couldn't believe my eyes and hands – I just hope it doesn't cost a fortune

6. Anker Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro

• Best feature: An adjustable ear hook

Back to the wireless earbuds and we have the Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro from Anker, yours for $179.99 (about £135 / AU$270). You've got a number of premium features to enjoy with these, including active noise cancellation, water and sweat resistance, and hi-res support.

Most interestingly though, the earbuds come with an adjustable ear hook, which goes some way to solving the problem of finding the right fit for the buds you're stuffing into your ears. The audio balance is automatically adjusted to match the hook position too.

• Read the full story: Roborock’s new robovac has a mechanical arm that can pick up your socks and maybe also play with your cat

7. LG W6 'Wallpaper' TV / LG C6H OLED

• Best feature: Super-slim profile

LG of course makes some of the very best TVs on the market, and it's looking to repeat the trick in 2026. The new LG W6 'Wallpaper' TV, for example, comes in a super-slim frame and uses the Zero Connect box to try and be as wallpaper-y as it possibly can be.

There's a lot more from LG this year too, including the LG C6H OLED: this brings with it a major bump in brightness thanks to brand new display tech, and you can pick it up in both 77-inch and 83-inch sizes. We're still waiting to hear how much these TVs will cost, though.

• Read the full story: LG announces new OLED TVs at CES – brighter G6, the C6 splits in two, ultra-thin Wallpaper OLED, and the world's first 4K 120Hz cloud gaming TVs

8. Samsung S95H OLED / 130-inch Micro RGB TV

• Best feature: Significantly better brightness

Speaking of TVs, Samsung has its own models to demo at CES 2026, starting with the Samsung S95H OLED. This flagship television comes with something of a design revamp, improved brightness, powerful upscaling, and better anti-glare tech for the display.

It's also worth mentioning the gigantic 130-inch Micro RGB TV that Samsung has brought to the show floor as well. It's so big it comes with its own bespoke stand, so you don't need to worry about wall mounting it, although you might need to worry about the cost.

• Read the full story: Samsung reveals upgraded OLED TVs and super-sized screens at CES 2026

9. Withings Body Scan 2

• Best feature: Tracking 60+ different biomarkers

Smart scales are getting smarter, and the Withings Body Scan 2 is a case in point. The device is capable of measuring more than 60 different biomarkers for a full picture look at your overall health, and all you need to do is stand on it briefly every day or so.

There's an LCD display here for at-a-glance results, plus of course a dedicated companion app for digging into your metrics. You might have to save up for this though, as the smart scale launches later in the year for $599.95 (that's currently around £445 / AU$895).

• Read the full story: The Withings Body Scan 2 smart scale promises to be your 'longevity station' – thanks to over 60 biomarkers that predict your future health

10. Clicks Power Keyboard

• Best feature: The slide-out form factor

The latest BlackBerry-style phone keyboard attachment from Clicks brings with it some useful upgrades over its predecessor. First, it adopts a slide-out form factor, so you can neatly tuck the keyboard away when you're not using it, reducing the overall bulk.

Second, there's an integrated wireless charger here that you can use to power up your phone, as long as it's compatible with MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging. We can see these $79 / £60 / AU$120 devices proving very popular with phone owners as the year goes on.

• Read the full story: The new Clicks Power Keyboard can turn your phone into a BlackBerry – and it doubles as a wireless charger too

11. SwitchBot Onero H1 robot

• Best feature: Learning on the job

There are robots at CES 2026, and they're coming with AI on board, ready to take care of time-consuming and tedious household tasks for you. The SwitchBot Onero H1, for example, can fold laundry, load up the dishwasher, and even fetch you a drink.

The full capabilities of the Onero H1 are a bit vague though – SwitchBot says that the robot is smart and versatile enough to learn how to do a variety of tasks, if you show it how, but we're not sure we're ready to trust it around kitchen appliances or kids at the moment.

• Read the full story: SwitchBot demonstrates Onero H1, the most accessible AI household robot

CES 2026 is the most exciting event of the year for tech fans, setting the scene for everything to come over the next 12 months and introducing us to a host of new gadgets, gizmos and groundbreaking technologies.

We're on the show floor in Las Vegas and have already been hands-on with several devices including Samsung's world-first 130-inch Micro RGB TV. We'll be bringing you all of the big news as it happens in our CES 2026 news live blog and on our TikTok and WhatsApp channels.

But with so much on show at CES, it's not always easy to separate the truly innovative from the gimmicky. Plus, some of the things unveiled at CES may not be due to launch soon, so detail is sometimes a little scarce.

And that's where we can help. Throughout the show we'll be running a CES 2026 live Q&A with our editors so that you can ask questions about anything revealed in Vegas and get answers direct from our team on the show floor.

Here's how it works:

TechRadar CES 2026 LIVE Q&A – FAQs

1. Jump to the comments section at the bottom of this page to post your question
2. If you've not already registered, you'll need to do that – but don't worry, it doesn't cost anything!
3. You can ask a question about anything on show at CES – whether it's a new technology, a new device, or a general question about the event.
4. We'll reply with an answer as soon as we can. Just please bear in mind that there may be a delay of some hours before we get back to you, because we'll be busily running around going hands-on with things (plus the Wi-Fi is not always great in the event halls!)
5. Please remember that, like all our social media pages, TechRadar is an inclusive publication with a strict code of conduct and community guidelines.

We'll have eight editors out in Vegas available to answer questions, as follows: Lance Ulanoff (general CES questions), Jacob Krol (general CES questions), Matt Bolton (TV and audio), Al Griffin (TV and audio), Ruth Hamilton (home/smart home), John Loeffler (computing) and Marcus Mears III (computing), plus Mark Wilson and myself will be available to help out in the UK.

You can feel free to direct your question to a specific person (particularly if you know they've gone hands-on with something you're interested in), or just leave us to find the best person to answer your query.

And that's it! Simple, eh? So post your questions below as soon as you have them and we'll answer them all as soon as we can. Enjoy!

CES 2026 is now over another year – and after scouring its vast halls for days, we've learned a lot about how tech will evolve over the next twelve months.

We saw so much that it's hard to know where to start. To get a taste of the biggest announcements, check out our CES 2026 day 1, CES day 2 and CES day 3 roundups – each features the 11 best gadgets we saw on that day. Or you can jump straight to our roundup of the 25 best gadgets we saw at the show.

Want the bigger picture? Make sure to read our summary of the 11 biggest tech trends of CES 2026. You should also check out our hands-on review of the new Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, our coverage of Nvidia's CES 2026 keynote and – in what may be the most exciting announcement so far – the news of Lego's new smart bricks!

Here's how the world's biggest tech show played out – and what we learned along the way.

CES 2026: the latest news

• I just saw L'Oréal's ultra-flexible silicone LED mask, and it's about to seriously shake up the beauty market
• The 4 wildest camera innovations of CES 2026 — including a smarter bird feeder and a new kind of action cam
• Wearable AI is coming — and Razer’s Project Motoko is leading the charge with smart headphones
• IKEA just revealed a new donut-shaped smart light – and it'll look sweet on your tables or walls
• Your Ring doorbell and cameras are getting a huge upgrade with AI-powered warnings when something looks unusual
• I love that Lenovo has finally chosen SteamOS for the Legion Go 2, but it's kidding itself with that price tag
• CES 2026 day 2: the 11 best gadgets we've seen today, from smart flashlights to new Dell XPS laptops
• I just saw Roborock's new robot vacuum with legs, and it's going to make no-go zones a thing of the past
• Lenovo officially unveils the rumored Legion Pro Rollable gaming laptop with expanding screen
• Motorola Razr Fold is mostly a mystery, but it already outdoes the Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 in one key way
• The Motorola Signature is a stunning, rugged Samsung Galaxy S25 rival with one unfortunate weakness
• "It's a total reinvention of a category" – L'Oréal exec on why its new glass, infrared-powered hair straightener is so exciting
• The Intel Core Ultra series 3 processors look impressive enough, but the Arc B390 iGPU is the real game-changer here
• The top 5 health gadgets at CES this year, from Garmin nutrition tracking to that notorious AI smart mirror
• I had my hormones checked at CES 2026 — and it turns out I'm doing great
• We now know the first TV brands that will support Dolby Vision 2 – and one has been very prolific at CES 2026
• ‘We’re really pleased with the reception.’ Meta’s Display smart glasses are a hit — but that’s not good news if you want a pair
• Lenovo Tech World at CES 2026 - all the news and updates as it happened at the Las Vegas Sphere
• Wireless charging, super-fast unlocking, and built-in solar panels – the next generation of smart locks from CES 2026
• What does the new Lego Smart Brick actually do? Here are 3 ways it seriously upgrades your models
• Missing your BlackBerry? The Clicks Communicator brings back the physical keyboard – and a 3.5mm headphone jack
• ‘Performance defines the PC experience’ — Samsung aims to take down Apple with its new Galaxy Book6 laptops and Intel’s latest tech
• Samsung just revealed the first creaseless foldable screen – and it could be a serious hint towards the iPhone Fold
• LG's and Samsung's 2026 mid-range OLED TVs both look great, but I know which one I'm more excited for
• Audio-Technica just updated one of its best ever turntables at CES 2026, and I want it
• I got blue lips and weak knees on my first day at CES 2026, and I couldn't be happier
• Birdbuddy unveils its most affordable 'mini' bird feeder camera — and it can identify birds by their song
• Looking for a subscription-free Whoop band? This screenless rival could be the voice-led wearable you’re looking for
• CES 2026 day 1: the 11 best gadgets we've seen so far, from smart lights to LG's new OLEDs
• I finally tried the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and couldn't believe my eyes and hands — I just hope it doesn't cost a fortune
• Nvidia's CES 2026 keynote live - all the latest news from the GPU and AI superpower
• The Lego brick just got its biggest upgrade yet with Smart Play — and it's coming to Star Wars sets first
• I’ve worn the all-new Shokz open earbuds for 4 days and the ‘noise reduction’ is so good, I forget they’re open-ear
• Verge announces world-first motorcycle with solid-state batteries – and it promises a 370-mile range with 10-minute charge times
• Hisense unveils 3 new TV innovations at CES 2026 — and they’re all about mind-blowing color
• Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot is now a product and heading to factories in 2028
• Dell un-retires its iconic XPS brand at CES 2026: "We're getting back to our roots"
• Hands on: Dell XPS 14 2026 and XPS 16 2026
• The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is only one of the chips Team Red announced at CES 2026—and the others might have Intel sweating

Hello and welcome to TechRadar's CES 2026 live blog. I'm your host, Jacob Krol, and I'm out in Vegas right now. I'll be bringing you the first updates from the show ahead of the official opening on Tuesday – starting with all of the news from CES 2026 Unveiled and Samsung's First Look event.

Plus, we’ve already seen a wave of product drops and announcements before the show has even officially kicked off — so let’s go!

First, let's start with one of the first products that stood out to Lance Ulanoff at CES Unveiled. You can see his first look TikTok below, but SkyWheel Peak S is basically a wearable that will let you feel like you're skiing on almost any surface.

Pretty neat, I'd say.

We'll have more from CES Unveiled shortly, but Samsung's big First Look 2025 event is about to kick off. Given that the tech giant isn't doing a formal keynote this year, this will be Samsung's big presentation. Historically, this has been the place for Samsung to unveil new TVs, home audio, and monitors, but in more recent years, it's all also been about AI, AI, and more AI.

Samsung's already teased and even pre-announced some key things – including an expansion of its microRGB lineup – so it'll likely be a full presentation.

Samsung stuns with new TVS – OLED, Frame, and Micro RGB included

Samsung's First Look might be wrapped, but TechRadar is the place to be, thanks to our team of experts breaking down all that was unveiled. And the star of the show is a new concept, but one that we viewed with our own eyes – Samsung's new 130-inch Micro RGB TV. It not only stretches farther than the 115-inch model Samsung's been selling since last year, but it can also be wall-mounted or sat on a pretty incredible stand.

Similarly, the major-sized 98-inch standard Frame TV ... might well just be the TV of my dreams. Though I'm a bit scared for the eventual price reveal.

Meanwhile, Samsung also made some updates to its lineup of OLED TVs. Yes, even with the arrival of Micro RGB TVs in various sizes, Samsung's still offering QLED, Neo QLED, and OLED. Notably, the flagship OLED is brighter, includes a metal stand, and will display works of art via Art Mode.

• Samsung reveals upgraded OLED TVs and super-sized screens at CES 2026

Here's one peek behind the scenes, and I bet you'll see it trending on TikTok from folks visiting Samsung's space at The Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas for CES 2026. They set up a sort of tunnel within a ballroom filled with speakers and numerous projectors to change the environment and, at times, immerse you in color.

It's really neat and got folks talking before they even saw all the new TVs and other gadgets. I especially like the mirror entrances at the front and back, which give the illusion that this goes on for miles.

We saw the Pebble Round 2

Thanks to a suprise announcement last week, we knew we'd get the chance to see the Pebble Round 2 at CES, and our first look at the new smartwatch has arrived on TechRadar's TikTok.

Now back to life thanks to Core Devices, the Pebble Round 2 is boasting an edge-to-edge, round color e-paper display and promises one week of battery life. That's a big difference compared to the other leading smartwatches, and the Round 2 arrives a decade after the previous Round watch hit the market.

Beyond the massive TVs – looking at you, Samsung's 130-inch Micro RGB TV – we spotted a unique take on a classic kitchen gadget at CES Unveiled.

What looks like a standard knife for cutting vegetables actually uses microvibrations to make slicing and dicing much easier.

Good morning from the UK. Marc McLaren here, taking over for a post or two – but from cold, snowy London, not warm, sunny Las Vegas.

Meet the LG C6H…

Many of the big announcements so far have been around TVs, with Samsung and LG's efforts in particular standing out.

Let's start with LG – because it's making a big change for its almost-flagship 'C' series OLED for 2026, with the C6 coming in not one but two versions.

Yes, that's right: you'll be able to buy either the standard C6, or the new C6H model, with the latter using a fancy Primary RGB Tandem panel, as seen in last year's flagship G5 set. This should make for better brightness and color – with the downside being that it'll only be available in 77- and 83-inch sizes.

You can get more detail on the new LG C6 and C6H here, and stay tuned for further updates as we get them.

Morning everyone, it's Matt Hanson, Managing Editor of Core Tech, and I'll be covering CES announcements here for an hour or so. Like my boss, Marc, I am not in warm Las Vegas, but in chilly and slightly snowy Bath, UK, and the image above is an accurate depiction of how I am dressed today. Fraggle-chic, I call it.

Lance, our Editor-at-Large, is at CES in Las Vegas, and he's been posting some great videos of all the cool gadgets he's seen so far on our TikTok channel. This has led to a nice jump-scare this morning for me as I scrolled our live blog and saw a video of Lance waving a knife around.

For a slightly less concerning video, here's Lance testing out what at first looks like one of Tony Stark's prototypes, but is actually a massage chair.

Hi there! Homes editor Cat Ellis here, taking over the live blog for a moment to bring you some interesting musings on the latest developments in TV tech.

We've seen some very exciting new screens at CES, but our writer Carrie Marshall thinks the latest panels might not be all they seem. New TVs from LG and Samsung promise up to 4,500 nits at peak brightness, but Carrie points out that those results would have been achieved in very specific controlled conditions, so you're not likely to need shades to watch The Night Manager any time soon.

It's not all big-ticket tech at CES – our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff has had his hands on a new digital fidget toy with clickable buttons and a collection of pre-installed games. You also get the fun of building it, because it comes as a little kit to keep your hands busy. Check it out!

It's Matt again (you'll probably see a few of us take turns on this blog), and my colleague John Loeffler is at CES 2026 helping to cover all the computing news that will come out of the huge tech show. As with previous years, we'll be hearing from some of the biggest brands in computing, including Asus, Acer, Nvidia and Intel.

Before that, however, what is John looking forward to seeing at this year's show? Well, you can read his early hopes, which include wanting to see AI (artificial intelligence) features that are actually impressive.

Like John, I've so far not been too impressed with AI, despite many companies promising that it will revolutionise our gadgets - and our lives. Hopefully, CES 2026 changes that, as there's no doubt there'll be plenty of talk about AI at Las Vegas this year.

CES is a great show for smart home products, and Govee has just announced some great new smart lights, and we have all the information you need.

I particularly like the look of the Ceiling Light Ultra, which comes with a 616-pixel LED matrix that can show animated scenes, though I'm slightly concerned that the price will be very expensive. Hopefully we'll get pricing information soon as well.

At CES 2026 we're trying something new: a live Q&A that allows you to ask our team of experts who are on the ground in Las Vegas about what new and exciting gadgets they're seeing.

All you need to do is sign in or sign up (it's free!) to our commenting system, then post your questions and one of the team will answer it. Seen a cool-looking TV you want to know more about? Fancy the look of a laptop but want to know more about the specs? Then this is your chance to ask us directly. We'll try to get back to every question as soon as possible, though due to time zone differences and inevitable Wi-Fi wonkiness, there might be a bit of a delay, but hopefully we'll keep that to a minimum.

Straight from the halls of CES 2026 comes this report from our TV expert Al Griffin, who has seen TCL's next-generation SQD mini-LED TV, which the firm is hyping up as the 'best TV in the market.'

As Al explains, SQD stands for Super Quantum Dots, and the tech alongside TCL's Deep Color System should make for some very impressive images, and will look particularly good in large TVs. That's good to hear, as the TCL X11L SQD mini-LED TV will go on sale later this month in 98 and 85-inch screens, with a 75-incher coming later.

Josie here now to fill you in on the latest CES news.

Oh, looks like Samsung’s The Frame and LG W6 'Wallpaper' have some competition in the discrete screen category, with Amazon announcing the Amazon Ember Artline, a 4K QLED TV with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision finished with a matte coating to block reflections on the screen and ultimately reduce glare.

At just 1.5 inches, it's impressively thin, and comes with over 2,000 pre-loaded artworks to spruce up your home — or you can connect it to your Amazon Photos to choose from your favorite shots. Better yet, if you're spoiled for choice, Amazon's AI has the power to help you; simply share four pictures of where the Ember Artline is hung and it'll analyze the space to recommend photos or artworks that match your decor. It also features Amazon’s Omnisense Technology for intelligent screen activation when you enter (or leave) a room.

Hot off the press! We've shared our first impression of Samsung's new Galaxy Z Trifold phone, and it's a doozy.

Naturally, we're impressed by its thinness and screen real estate, but time will tell how performance, battery and user experience will factor in to this incredible feat of design. We've thus far only spent a few minutes with the device, so hold your horses if you're expecting a full review; that'll come in time.

What's that? Why, it's an itty-bitty teeny-weeny mini action camerini!

DJI has some competition from newcomer Leaptic, a brand releasing a new kind of tiny action cam at CES.

It's strikingly similar in design to the Osmo Nano, but otherwise we don't know much, only that it will shoot video at a higher 8K resolution and weighs just 35g. Stay tuned for more news this week!

"Only 5 days in, the best fitness headphones of 2026 have already been announced" – bold claims from one of our regular contributors, Tom Bedford, as he's got his sights set on Anker's new kind-of-sort-of open earbuds.

So what's the source of the ambiguity? Well, the Aerofit 2 Pro are hybrid headphones with different modes that adjust the depth of the earbud itself extends into your ear, meaning you can benefit from both ANC and open ear audio.

Let's briefly head back to Lance on the show floor, where he's been trying out Fraimic, a new e-ink photo frame that creates bespoke artwork for your walls.

With the power of voice prompts, WhisperAI and ChatGPT, this makes for a fun addition to your home. Just be careful you don't accidentally prompt the creation of some Eldrich horror while you're chatting about Hallowe'en plans at home.

Another exciting AI-powered gadget from the show floor is Nosh, a robot chef that uses AI to select ingredients, prep and make a meal.

With 500 recipes onboard spanning various cultures, cuisines and even beverages, there's a lot to love about this home assistant, especially for those with accessibility needs.

Behold, the robots of CES 2026

Hello, Mark Wilson (TechRadar's UK news editor) here and I'm taking over this liveblog for the next hour.

For me, CES is mainly about robots. And you know, sensible things like Qi2 phone chargers. But mainly robots. And fortunately, we've already seen a couple of promising new ones make their debuts in Las Vegas.

Hot on the heels of the laundry-folding heels of the SwitchBot Onero H1 (above) is the LG CLOiD humanoid robot. Yes, it takes 45 seconds to put a wet towel into a washing machine, but one day (maybe CES 2046) that'll be down to five seconds and we'll be living in laundry dreamland.

Hands-on with the Galaxy Z TriFold

Samsung's first tri-folding phone just made its US debut at CES 2026 – and TechRadar's Editor At Large has just spent some quality time with it.

Our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold review has all the details, but the takeaway is that it's a "remarkable feat of engineering" that gives you "truly pocketable big-screen tablet productivity".

Its 10-inch screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio also makes a lot of sense for watching movies on the move. The only question now is how much it'll cost – in Korea, it starts at 3.59 million KRW (about $2,500) but we still don't know its official global pricing.

Withings reveals its 'longevity station'

I have to applaud Withings for dreaming up a more exciting name for smart scales at CES 2026. It's billing its new Body Scan 2 as a "longevity station", because it can apparently measure your current (and future) health with greater accuracy than before.

That's because its smart scale – which includes a retractable handle – can now track over 60 biomarkers, including your body composition, artery health, hypertension risk and more.

Actually, after spending two weeks eating chocolate and cheese, I'm not sure I want its 90-second "longevity assessment", but it certainly sounds like a new contender for our guide to the best smart scales (if you can stomach the $599 price tag, which converts to around £445 / AU$895).

The biggest Lego upgrade ever

We've gotten our first look at the new Lego Smart Brick, and you can check it out on our TechRadar TikTok! All of that technology packed into the size of a single small Lego brick, it truly is the future for smart toys and building blocks.

Read all about the new Smart Brick and Lego Smart Play, the biggest Lego upgrade maybe ever!

Lego sets and Lego building are huge right now, whether you build in person or tear things apart in Lego Star Wars. So, it's worth spending more time looking at the latest Lego innovation. Check out our first look at this Lego Smart Brick can do, live from CES in Las Vegas, where our editors are playing and getting hands-on with all the latest!

We round up the best gadgets of CES 2026 that we saw on day one!

It's only Day 1 of CES 2026, so how much could we have possibly seen? Enough to make a list of the 11 best gadgets we saw at CES already, with some seriously cool new, retro, and upcoming technology.

Have you been curious about the revenant Pebble Watch? We got hands-on in Las Vegas. Want to see the famous Samsung Galaxy Trifold live and in the flex? We flexed it for you. How about an ultrasonic knife?! I'm not joking, it's in there.

Check out our list of the coolest things we've seen, and keep reading because TechRadar never sleeps, so we'll have more cool gadgets when you check back.

It's not all fun and games at CES 2026, we've also seen some seriously powerful computing machines, including Samsung's new Galaxy Book 6. This huge, powerhouse laptop is built on Intel's latest chip architecture, and it can handle up to 30 hours of video playback. Check out the video below, and these laptops will be coming soon, though we don't know exactly when.

Watch LG TVs do magic tricks in Las Vegas

You can't spell CES without TVs, and the biggest name in TVs - LG - has some big new sets on display in Las Vegas. We got to spend some time with these high-quality displays, including one of the thinnest TV's we've ever seen - a 'Wallpaper' OLED that you have to see to believe.

We're covering all the CES 2026 news here, but if you want to focus on just NVIDIA and its gaming and graphics card news (among its many endeavors), we'll be going live once Jensen Huang takes the stage for the NVIDIA CES Keynote at 9pm PT in Las Vegas. You can follow along at that attached link.

Good morning and welcome to day 1 day 2 day 3 of CES 2026. Actually, I'm not really sure what day it is. Technically CES opens today, but the media day was yesterday and our coverage started fully on Sunday. Anyway, the key thing is that CES IS FULLY UNDERWAY and there are loads of massive stories coming out from it.

Here's a fun one to start with – an AI-powered bartender. Yes, really. You can watch Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff give it a go below 👇

The new king of turntables?

Nothing beats the warm sound of vinyl, whatever your music tastes – so the fact that Audio-Technica has launched a new turntable at CES 2026 is good news.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP7X is the replacement for the esteemed AT-LP7, which has been around for years now and so probably was due an update. It's a fully manual belt-driven model that focuses more on audio fidelity than fancy gimmicks, and it will set you back £679 / €799 (about $920 / AU$1,369).

FULL STORY: Audio-Technica just updated one of its best ever turntables at CES 2026, and I want it

We've tried Shokz' new open earbuds

Open earbuds have experienced massive growth over the past few years, and are now the listening device of choice for many runners, cyclists and sporty types in general.

Shokz makes some of the best – so we were eager to go ears-on with its new OpenFit Pro. And the good news is that we very much like what we've heard so far.

The big story here is that these are the first Shokz earbuds to feature a "synchronized dual-diaphragm driver and noise reduction" – which, for the layperson, means they offer a form of noise cancellation despite their open-ear design. Get the full details below…

FULL STORY: I’ve worn the all-new Shokz open earbuds for 4 days and the ‘noise reduction’ is so good, I forget they’re open-ear

Hi all, it's Matt Hanson taking over this live blog for a while! I've just written up a report on Samsung's latest laptops, which it launched at CES.

I've been really impressed with Samsung's laptops recently, so I'm really keen to try out these new models, especially as they are powered by Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors, which are shaping up to be a real return to form.

"I got blue lips and weak knees on my first day at CES 2026" is a heck of a headline, so definitely check out our Editor-at-Large, Lance Ulanoff's recap of his first day at this year's CES, including a cutting-edge knife (pun intended), and a $20,000 robotic massage chair that "aggressively massaged my back and butt."

After many years of showcasing their humanoid robots get kicked, pushed and otherwise roughed up in many viral stress-test videos, Boston Dynamics is ready to enter the workforce with its Atlas humanoid in 2028.

Designed for a factory environment, it boasts freedom of movement to help it find more efficient movement pathways than a human is capable of (we were mesmerized watching its joints swivel, both creepy and cool) along with self-battery replacement, the ability to lift up to 110 pounds, and even weatherproofing. It's starting its journey at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Savannah, Georgia, and will probably be assembling cars by 2030. Read all about it here.

The Blackberry strikes back

Well, kind of. It's not strictly a Blackberry, but the Clicks Communicator shows, along with the Pebble Round 2, that people are getting fed up of their black mirrors and yearn to return to the days when gadgetry was all about fun, not data collection.

With Android 16, the Google Play Store on tap, along with modern innovations like wireless charging and 256GB of internal storage, the Clicks Communicator is a Blackberry-style PDA with a physical keyboard fit for 2026. A single rear camera lens and a 3.5mm headphone jack shows it means business about being a stripped-back, retro comms device. Best of all, it's very affordable, with pre-orders from $399 (around £295 / AU$595).

Talk to the band

The latest fitness tracker debuting at CES presents a new alternative to clumsy interfaces on tiny screens. The Luna Band is a fitness tracker without a screen, like Whoop (without a subscription) or the new Polar Loop, and it's designed to be operated via voice. It specializes in “real-time, voice-led health guidance”, the idea being that you can log your meals, mood and emotions by speaking to the device, and view it all in the app at a later date. This is apparently done via Siri, but there's no word on Android compatibility. It sounds elegant: here's hoping it works in practice.

Back to laptops now, and our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff has gone hands on with the new Snapdragon X2 Plus, Qualcomm's new 3-nanometer AI chipset designed to bring ultra-powerful performance to everyone from business owners to gamers. Check out the video for more juicy details.

When is a processor exciting? When it's a Snapdragon

Qualcomm shook up the laptop world with its first Snapdragon X chips, offering incredible battery life and top-notch performance at a lower price than Intel's iron. We've already seen the sequel in the Snapdragon X2 Elite high-performance chip, and at CES 2026 the chipmaker is showing off a more affordable version of its next-gen laptop chipset: the Snapdragon X2 Plus.

The new X2 Plus chip offers fewer processor cores than the Snapdragon X2 Elite chip we already knew about, so this should be an even more affordable processor to pack ultrathin laptops and hybrid tablets running Windows.

Our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff got hands-on with Qualcomm's reference design laptops housing the latest processor inside:

Is AI getting a bit too serious for your liking? Do you wish you could just escape all of the AI news and developments? Do you need a drink? Good news! Here's a new AI bartender, ready to serve... booze. Our team in Las Vegas got a chance to check out this new AI robot that can make your favorite libations (or whatever it decides your favorite should be), and we walked away thirsty for more.

The ultimate flashlight?

Mark Wilson (TechRadar's news editor) taking over for the liveblog for a while here – and I've just spotted a gadget on our TikTok channel that's pure CES.

The Timeli smart personal safety system (watch our hands-on below) is a cross between a flashlight and a personal GPS safety system. Alongside being blindingly bright, it has live GPS tracking, a loud alarm, and two-way voice communication with emergency dispatch. A satisfying red button also helps to trigger the latter.

Is the Timeli completely unnecessary overkill, or a new essential for your off-grid adventures? I'll let you decide, but one thing that could sway you is the price – it'll be $299 when it lands in February, which gives you a year of free service, after which you'll pay $9.95 a month. There's no escaping those subscriptions in 2026, after all...

HP just shoehorned a PC into a keyboard

Staying on the subject of convergence, HP has pulled out its shrink ray at CES 2026 and squeezed a Copilot+ PC into this pretty slimline keyboard.

The EliteBoard G1a (product names have never been HP's thing) is only 12mm thick and weighs 750 grams, but manages to pack in an AMD Ryzen AI 300 series chip, built-in speakers and dual mics. Another tick is the user-replaceable 35Wh battery, and you can add a fingerprint sensor for biometric logins, too.

Of course, this isn't the first PC-in-a-keyboard we've seen (if you're old like me, you'll remember Commodore Amigas in the 1980s), but it is an elegant bit of computing design. Unfortunately, we don't yet know how much that design will set you back when it lands in March 2026...

Confirmed: the first TV brands supporting Dolby Vision 2

Some hot-off-the-press AV news for you – we've just heard which TV brands are going to support Dolby Vision 2, the next version of the popular HDR format.

Announced at CES 2026, the big three (for now) are Hisense, TCL and Philips, which will all support Dolby Vision 2 in some of their upcoming sets this year. You can find out exactly which models in our story about Dolby's news.

So what about the other big TV brands? Well, some are likely to announce support for the format later this year alongside their new sets – we can expect Sony to among those. Samsung, meanwhile, has never supported Dolby Vision.

But the surprise missing name is LG, which has so far proved non-committal on the subject. Still, its new OLED TVs look pretty fantastic regardless...

A vacuum robot that can walk? That's an idea with... potential

Do you have stairs in your house and a healthy envy of vacuum robots? Do you wish that your vacuum could just kick stuff out of the way? Enter the Roborock Saros Rover vacuum, a robot vacuum with <checks notes> legs?! Seriously?! A robot vacuum with legs?

Okay, this is one you just have to see to believe. In any case, weird CES is back in 2026, and we're live on the scene checking out all the coolest gadgets in Las Vegas. Check out the walking vacuum robot below, or at TikTok.

There's always some new health testing kits at CES

It's not all fun and games and walking robots at CES 2026, there are plenty of consumer health gadgets on display as well. The home testing market especially is always good for new innovations in Vegas.

A few years back, we saw the first home urine analysis gear from Withings at CES. This year we're seeing the first home hormone testing kit. Health company Eli is launching its hormometer for all of your home hormone testing needs. It reads your saliva (and you need to produce quite the quantity) for testing, and you can read all about it - including hormone test results from our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff.

The first Dolby Vision 2 sets from one of the biggest names in affordable home theater

Are you a fan of home theater? If so, you've probably been waiting anxiously for Dolby Vision 2 equipment to finally hit the market. We've got our eyes on Dolby's newest standard for TV's and video equipment, and here at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, we can even see Dolby Vision 2 in action on Hisense TVs.

Hisense was long-rumored to be one of the first approved TV-makers to support Vision 2, but of course the sets had to actually go through the testing and approval process. We're hearing that some of the TVs that are with us live in Vegas have finally met with Dolby approval. Will we be able to buy them and install them before the next big game? We'll know soon.

The phone you'd make if your Threads handle was Captain2Phones

We get up mighty early here at TechRadar, so we've already compiled our CES 2026 Day 2 round-up, featuring 11 of the best gadgets we saw on our second day at the big show in Las Vegas. We've got cool new toys like the Lego Smart Brick, some retro turntables with amazing sound quality for vinyl enthusiasts, and...

Wait... is that a BlackBerry phone?! Nope, but it's pretty close. Check out the Clicks Communicator, a real Android device that looks like a retro BlackBerry, launching at CES from our friends at Clicks.

We're still going because the TechRadar CES party never stops!

CES 2026 is a big show, and that means it's a great time for big TVs!

If you're a deep diver in the world of gaming technology, you'll be interested to know that NVIDIA has announced the latest version of its incredible upscaling technology at CES 2026. The next DLSS 4.5 update will be available for free if you own a GTX 5000-series card, and it could silence complaints from gamers who claimed NVIDIA was skipping frames to maximize performance. Our Computing Editor Christian Guyton learned all about DLSS 4.5 in Las Vegas and he can tell you more.

Good morning, everyone. Las Vegas is still asleep – or at least some people in Vegas are asleep, I suspect others will be in casinos and bars. But the show is dormant for a while, so let's recap some of the highlights from day 2 of the show.

Our day 2 highlights are here

To get you up to speed quickly, let's start with an easy one: here's our roundup of the 11 best gadgets we saw at CES day 2.

I won't list them all here, but as you can see in the picture above, one of them is a BlackBerry. Well, okay, not an actual BlackBerry – but arguably the closest thing you can get today, in the form of the Clicks Communicator – a new phone, in 2026, with a keyboard. Yes, really. It'll be shipping later this year if that sounds exciting to you.

This new gadget identifies birds by their song

Hear that? Well, maybe you can't, but Birdbuddy's newest bird feeder camera being launched in Las Vegas can. The all-new Birdbuddy 2 Mini is smaller and more affordable, but it also brings a major upgrade to its smart AI detection. Along with identifying birds from recordings and photos, it can now recognize them by their birdsong too.

Read more: Birdbuddy unveils its most affordable 'mini' bird feeder camera — and it can identify birds by their song

Lenovo rolls out the red carpet for gamers

Have you been keeping up with our latest CES 2026 videos on TikTok? If not, head over to our channel to see what’s caught our eye, including a first glimpse of the rumored Legion Pro Rollable gaming laptop out in the wild. This 16-inch laptop features Lenovo’s first horizontally rolling display for gamers, expanding to a generous 23.8 inches of screen space.

Read more: Lenovo officially unveils the rumored Legion Pro Rollable gaming laptop with expanding screen

A new subscription-free fitness wearable? Finally!

It’s rare to find a tech product that doesn’t require a subscription these days, which is why the new Luna Band stands out. This screenless, voice-activated fitness wearable promises to deliver health updates on your diet, workouts, sleep, mood and more. The only catch? We don’t yet know the price or release date...

Read more: Looking for a subscription-free Whoop band? This screenless rival could be the voice-led wearable you’re looking for

Victrola’s new soundbase is perfect for vinyl beginners

There's never been a better time to be getting into vinyl, especially with all the new gear available these days. If you're not quite ready to splurge on a full hi-fi system, then Victrola has the perfect solution: the Victrola Soundstage. This soundbase doubles as an all-in-one speaker system and a stand to prop up your turntable. It’s set to go on sale sometime from June for $349.99, which is around £260 in the UK and AU$500 in Australia – although we don't yet know if it will launch in these markets.

Read more: This new turntable speaker is a perfect space-saving buy for new vinyl owners

Lenovo's making Friends

Another gem from our TikTok channel, we were on the ground as Lenovo unveiled its new AI pendant concept housing Qira, its personal AI agent. Qira can take notes in meetings and record conversations, playing them back on request when spoken to in natural language.

It's a little similar to that eerie AI Friend concept that did the rounds last year, although this pendant seems more functional, aimed at businesspeople rather than those after a companion. It joins the Plaud AI Pin, Switchbot AI Mindclip and previously-announced Pebble Index 01 as the latest "second brain" AI wearable on the show floor.

Read more: Lenovo Tech World at CES 2026: all the news and updates as it happened at the Las Vegas Sphere

One of the main themes emerging at the conference this year is health tech, specifically longevity. The big gadget getting tongues wagging (and top of our list of 5 health gadgets you need to know about at CES 2026) is the NuraLogix Longevity Mirror. Using AI-powered cameras, the mirror analyses the blood flow in your face to tell you about your blood pressure, aging and a host of other metrics. Truly wild stuff, even if we didn't think the humble mirror could get any more honest with us.

Read more: The top 5 health gadgets at CES this year, from Garmin nutrition-tracking to that notorious AI smart mirror

Headphones now have eyes

I'm not sure how to feel about this one – Razer has just revealed a new concept gaming headset that combines cameras, microphones and AI to help it act like a background assistant.

The Project Motoko headset has dual, forward-facing cameras that share information with AI models to help it recognize whatever you're looking at. Apparently, this means it can respond to visual cues, translate signs, track workouts and even summarize documents.

Clearly, the AI wearables battle is heating up in 2026, and few tech companies can resist getting involved. But does this mean literally everything has to have cameras? The only solution for privacy might soon be walking around wearing one of those weird LED face masks...

• Read the full story: Wearable AI is coming — and Razer’s Project Motoko is leading the charge with smart headphones

The world's first 'personal robocar'

Robotaxis are on the rise, but what if you want to buy your own fully autonomous car? Tensor claims to be the only level 4 autonomous car you can buy (well, when it goes into production later this year), and it's packed with some pretty sci-fi features.

The first is that it doesn't have a steering wheel, or at least one that's immediately obvious. Skip to 4:20 in our video tour below to see how the wheel slowly appears from behind a screen (which is the default in its hands-off, eyes-off driving mode).

Inside the car, everyone gets 13-inch screens and there's also a powerful computer with an agentic AI assistant. Tensor is promising that the car has about 300 miles of range, but has been suspiciously quiet on pricing (aside from saying it'll be "in the luxury segment").

Ah well, my dream of a real KITT car was never going to come cheap...

Somehow the RTX 4090 returned?

Is Nvidia about to rerelease its older GPUs (like the RTX 4090) to help relieve pressure on the gaming market as component costs rise? "Possibly" according to CEO Jenson Huang.

That's according to an answer he gave during a live Q&A at CES 2026, though if you read his full statement and listen to his tone it feels like this might be a remote possibility at besty.

Instead, in a latter part of his answer to the Tom's Hardware question , Huang suggested an alternate route could see Nvidia engineer its "latest-generation AI technology" to work with older ranges of GeForce graphics cards. Potentially bringing RTX 5000 series exclusives like DLSS 4 to older compatible models.

This move could help Nvidia regain some of its lost popularity with gamers who feel like they've been sidelined while the company puts all of its GPU eggs in the AI basket. It would unfortunantely "require a fair amount of engineering" to get these tools working on older cards Huang admits, but in the sea of negativity that is PC compoennt prices at least Nvidia is making some positive noises.

Let's hope it takes some positive actions soon too.

• Read the full story: Jensen Huang hints that Nvidia could consider bringing back older graphics cards to solve GPU pricing crisis

Bane never looked so beautiful

LED face masks are all the rage, and at CES L'Oréal showcased an ultra-thin, flexible silicone one that should be a lot more comfortable to wear.

We had the hance to check it out, alongside the brand's innovative infrared Light Straight + hair straightener, and were impressed with how bendable and lightweight it was.

Unfortunatley due to hygeine reasons we couldn't actually wear the mask (who would want to share a mask you thousands of other people), but we could hold it and it really is a far cry from the rigid masks we've seen previously.

Unfortunately we'll have to wait a while before we can test it properly too, as it isn't scheduled for launch until 2027.

• Read more: I just saw L'Oréal's ultra-flexible silicone LED mask, and it's about to seriously shake up the beauty market

Motorola takes on Samsung's most expensive phone with the new Razr Fold

Maybe it's because I'm a Phones Guy, but the Motorola Razr Fold might be the most exciting new product I've seen at CES 2026 so far. We don't know much about this Galaxy Z Fold 7 (and Pixel 10 Pro Fold) competitor, but Motorola's Razr phones beat Samsung's Z Flip clamshells when it comes to design and color options. I'm hoping the Razr Fold offers the same advantages.

It looks more like Motorola will be competing on price, which is a good move considering the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the most expensive phone you can buy in most regions right now (until that Galaxy Z Trifold appears). I'll be looking out for this cool new foldable phone until we learn more.

As the US Mobiles Editor, I have a bit of a phone bias, but this Clicks Communicator might be the coolest thing I've seen coming out of Las Vegas during CES 2026. This is the company - with Future alumnus Michael Fisher, aka Mr. Mobile, and CrackBerry Kevin at the helm - that created a keyboard that snaps onto your iPhones, then onto your Motorola Razr.

Now the company is back with a proper BlackBerr..., err, Android phone with a keyboard. I'll be excited to get this in my hands and in Future Labs for a full review. In the meantime, check out our hands-on video from the show floor of the Clicks Communicator, and all our great TikTok video content.

CES is so old that it goes out of style and comes back again

Technology enthusiasts know CES has been around for a long time, so long that technology we used to love seeing in Las Vegas has gone out of style and come back again - like record turntables and Hi-Fi gear. We saw cool turntables and a ton of Bluetooth speakers, including a special new kit from Ikea that will let you pair up to 100 small speaker boxes in unison.

Our Audio Editor Becky Scarrott has the full rundown in her take on the best hi-fi equipment we saw at CES 2026. Come for the sleek new Audio Technica turntable, but stay for the colorful new Ikea Kallsup speakers.

The 11 best gadgets we've seen today, all in one convenient package

We're closing the lid on Day 3 of CES 2026 here in Las Vegas. We'll keep rounding up all the news here - there's so much to show you! But if you want the highlights, check out our CES 2026 Day 3 round-up with the 11 best things we saw on the show floor on our third day at the Las Vegas Convention Center and beyond.

We got to check out a robocar from Tensor! Of course we spent time with the new Motorola Razr Fold handset, as well as all the new electronics gear from Ikea. There were speakers and headphones, gear for health and wellness, and new controllers for gamers. Pretty much everything exciting about Consumer Electronics, all in one story.

We're still wandering the halls and peeking into booths, so check back often for the latest CES 2026 news and highlights.

I wanna feed the birdies without breaking my budget

If you're like me, you've seen bird feeder videos and thought about buying a feeder + camera to hang near your home. Then the sticker shock hits. In flies Birdbuddy with its new, smaller and more affordable Birdbuddy 2. This is a feeder plus camera in one, and it's the cheapest version yet from one of the established names in electronic birding.

You can check out our impressions of Birdbuddy 2 from CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff is on the scene surveying all the newest gadgets. We'll have more here, or watch all the new videos on our TechRadar TikTok

Need a bigger laptop screen? Lenovo is ready to roll

One of the coolest things we're seeing at CES 2026 is the new rollable display technology from Lenovo. We've seen prototypes from Lenovo and its wholly-owned Motorola division of phones and laptops that can roll-up a display to become more compact, or roll out the display to offer more screen area. This year, we're seeing laptops with huge displays that grow vertically or horizontally - depending on whether you want to be productive (vertical) or play a bunch of games (horizontal).

Check out our hands-on look at the latest Lenovo Legion Pro rollable laptop for road warriors who work with very big spreadsheets. And click through for the rest of the YouTube videos our TechRadar team has put together at the big Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas.

'The best mopping system I've seen'

Robot vacuums are now a CES staple, and Homes Editor Ruth Hamilton has seen many of the latest models on show. One standout is the new Roborock Saros 20 Sonic, which she says "made me do a double-take when I saw it in action".

That's because of its rather clever mopping system. It has a flat, D-shaped pad (rather than the traditional twin spinning discs), which means it promises to get into places other robovacs can't.

Like many things at CES, there's no pricing yet, but the Saros 20 Sonic will get a global rollout this year – and as someone who's looking for a robot vacuum with powerful mopping powers, I'll be keeping a close eye on it.

• Read the full story: Roborock just introduced an innovative new robot vac mopping system — and it looks seriously good

Our pick of the best of CES 2026

We've now spent many hours dashing around the vast halls of CES 2026 over the past few days – and our tech experts are finally ready to commit to their favorite tech from this year's show.

You can read their conclusions in our pick of the 25 best gadgets we saw at CES 2026 – which covers everything from TVs to robovacs and headphones, via smart Lego bricks.

I personally love the look of the Pebble Round 2, IKEA Varmblixt LED Lamp and Luna Band (if the price isn't too painful), but it's well worth reading the whole roundup to get a flavor of some of the most exciting tech of 2026.

• Read the full story: The 25 best gadgets we saw at CES 2026 — smart Lego, big TV innovation, a robovac with legs, and much more

Did Samsung win CES 2025?

Jamie Richards, our Phones Staff Writer thinks there's one big winner at CES 2026 above all the others: Samsung. That's all thanks to its creaseless folding OLED display, which he syas nothing else is quite as cool as.

While it isn't yet fetaured in any phone that's no issue to Jamie, because the promise of a creaseless foldable is too good to pass up on. Even if it isn't in our hands yet.

And I mean, c'mon, we all know this tech will be introduced to foldables soon. Be that the Samsung Galaxt Z Fold 8, or the iPhone Fold, or something that launches down the line this panel will be with us eventually.

When it does this creaseless diusplay will turn foldables into the true pocket-sized tablets they were always pretending to be.

Read more: Samsung just won CES 2026 with its creaseless folding OLED – but I hope the iPhone Fold gets it first

Mesmerizing mowers

When at a tech show if I ever need a little relax I love to sit and watch robot mowers wander around their patches of grass. It's almost meditative, and it turns out I'm not alone because Ruth Hamilton has been mesmerized by Mammotion's new flagship lawnbot at CES.

The LUBA 3 AWD series sits at the head of the lineup, and it's one of the most capable lawnbots on the market. It boasts all wheel drive, a Tri-Fusion Navigation System with a ±1 cm positioning precision using 360-degree LiDAR, RTK, and AI Vision, a 15.8-inch wide cutting width across two six-blade discs, two 165W high-torque motors and a 15Ah battery.

Mammotion says it can mow up to 7,000 sq ft per hour or up to 1.75 acres per day, and there's a new smart power management system that gives users more control over the lawnbot's power use – you can now set charge limits and schedule off-peak charging to reduce costs.

Of course theis mower isn't cheap, prices start at $2,299.

Read more: This is one of the most capable robo-mowers on the market

Hands-on with BMW's new iDrive

BMW revealed its new iDrive system at CES last year, and it didn't exactly get universal acclaim – mostly because it ditched the system's popular rotary dial. Well, now shown off its new infotainment system properly and we were at the front of the queue to see it in action.

The big news is that iDrive now has Alexa Plus integration, and we found that to be a solid upgrade in our demo (even if it wasn't 100% perfect). The main benefit is that it doesn't need multiple wake-up phrases and instead carries on listening to you so you can ask follow-up questions.

Expect to see the new iDrive in the new iX3 when it lands this year...

• Read the full story: I’ve tried BMW’s latest iDrive system – and its Amazon Alexa Plus voice assistant is a game-changer

You know that AI can help you write email, or edit photos, or summarize news stories, but isn't there something much more... personal that AI could do for us? How about AI smells? Our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff at CES 2026 found a fascinating company that is using AI tools to create bespoke fragrances, and you can see it (sorry, no SmellTok yet) all on TikTok.

The next tech revolution will happen on your face

I've been saying for years that the next big thing in consumer electronics will be mounted on our faces, and CES 2026 brings the heat with tons of new smart glasses and wearable displays. How many? So many that we could pick our five favorites and make a tidy list.

Here are our five favorite smart glasses from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. We've seen gaming glasses from the Asus ROG brand; we got a couple of new pairs from stalwart RayNeo; and we even saw smart glasses that almost look like normal glasses.

And for a quick bonus hit, check out below another stylish pair that we got to wear and check out for our TechRadar TikTok.

That's no moon, it's a Lego Death Star trench run on the side of The Sphere!

If you watch only one video from CES, make it this one. Our News Chief Jake Krol is live in Las Vegas, and Lego gave him a chance to play the coolest round of Lego Star Wars ever. You really have to see it to believe it.

It's not enough that he's sitting in a life-sized Lego X-Wing fighter, with a realistic Lego R2-D2 behind him. This is Las Vegas, after all, where no spectacle is too big.

That's why Jake is playing Lego Star Wars on The Sphere! That's right, Lego connected its game to the exterior of the massive Sphere omnitheater in Las Vegas, and you can watch Jake's game live from anywhere in the city as he play.

Check out the video of Jake flying an X-Wing on the Death Star trench run, shown on the side of The Sphere in Las Vegas at CES 2026, or learn more about the Lego Smart Brick on Star Wars playsets on our TikTok below.

What were the biggest trends of CES 2026?

Now CES 2026 is over, it's time to take the wider view – what exactly did it tell us about how tech is going evolve this year?

We've rounded up everything we learned in our guide to the 11 biggest tech trends of CES 2026. Don't worry, it's not all about AI either – we cover everything from the next big thing in TVs (RGB LED backlighting) to the solid-state batteries and a surprising fight back from Intel.

Plus, of course, the emotional support robots the TechRadar team needs after a week in Las Vegas...

• Read the full story: These will be the 11 biggest tech trends of 2026, according to CES 2026

If there is an overarching theme to CES 2026, it’s AI, which will weave itself into every product, conversation, or prognostication about the future of consumer electronics, but it will be far from the only story at what’s expected to be the world’s largest technology trade show.

If the recent past, where CES 2025 pulled in 142,4654 attendees and 4,500 exhibitors, is prologue, we expect this year’s event, which runs January 4-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to host thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees.

They’ll arrive at a convention center that was expanded in recent years and underwent another major upgrade last year during the event. This year, we’ll see the fruits of that labor and expanded passageways that hopefully help us all digest this monumental show.

The iconic Sphere will also once again play a role. Last year, it hosted Delta’s impressive 100-year celebration and innovation update. This year, Lenovo takes the stage to showcase updates in PCs and mobile (via Motorola) and is expected to follow with a performance by Gwen Stefani.

As for what attendees will see through the main show. Well, leaving aside AI this and AI that, there’ll be clusters around:

• Health and Longevity
• Mobility and transportation
• PCs and chips
• TVs and Display Tech
• Smart home
• Food Tech
• Entertainment
• Robotics
• Startups
• More AI

A mix of new and familiar

In some ways, the story this year is the same as the dozens that have come before it. CES is a mix of consumer-facing products, business, and even enterprise solutions. It covers the 4K and 8K TVs you’ll put in your home next year, the laptops you’ll take to school, the LED facemask you’ll wear to look younger, the translation device you’ll wear on your face to seem smarter, and the exoskeleton you’ll wear on your body to walk further.

While many of the products will be somewhat familiar from previous events, many will now be infused with AI to make them more intelligent and maybe more useful.

Wearable AI should be a significant trend, with AI and AR Glasses and AI chatbots likely showing up in other wearable options.

There will be a wide range of audio products from all the major players, in all the most recognizable form factors, from speakers and sound bars to over-the-ear headphones and earbuds. Yes, some will include AI, and there may be some surprising mashups.

Health and living

CES has long focused on health, wellness, and even beauty, but now it’s codifying around “Longevity,” which is likely a response to the aging population, especially in the US.

Aside from anti-wrinkle masks and exoskeletons, it’s unclear what kinds of products might show up here. Could there be some cognition-enhancing apps, and even robots that can quiz you daily? Maybe.

Mobile technology, including tablets, laptops, e-readers, and phones (though not from the big names like Apple, Samsung, and Google), should be on display with the latest mobile chips and some exciting cameras. We hope, though, to see a fair number of unusual form factors, including more foldable devices.

Similarly, while we expect more consumer and office laptops, CES is often a good place to spot wild flights of design fancy, like roll-out or expandable screens and keyboards.

Big TVs and bigger equipment

Some of the gear at CES gets big. Really big: In the past, we’ve had farming robots from Caterpillar and John Deere. But we’ll also expect smaller worker bots like pool clearers and, of course, so many robot vacuums. We do hope that at least one of them can beat last year’s arm-toting Roborock Saros Z70.

TVs will be bigger and maybe brighter, thanks to Micro RGB LED, and we’ll see even more transparent and flexible displays, but there may not be any major TV updates, and fewer TV manufacturers will be talking about 8K — since there’s still virtually no 8K content.

Speaking of content, Netflix won’t be on the show floor, and we’re not expecting as much star power as in recent years. Perhaps there’s just too much uncertainty about these big media companies (who will gobble who) and how AI will impact the future of content and creativity.

Getting smarter

Smart home technology will be everywhere, though we expect most companies to talk about how their platforms are now supercharged through AI or at least work with the major platforms for easier integration and automation. Perhaps Matter will show us this year how it's finally achieving its promise.

There will be robots, including humanoids, though no one expects to see 2025 breakout stars, Figure 03 from Figure AI and Neo Beta from X1. Hyundai is expected to show off some mobility robots, and Unitree will again display its G1 and other robot updates.

Also expect untold startups with countless eye-opening and weird ideas in every major category. Many will be impractical or at least not market-ready, but they all point to the future, and that’s why we’re here, isn’t it?

• Tariff roulette is proving challenging for tech companies
• CES 2026 is navigating the change and plans a big show
• AI will play a starring role

Pivot or die – that was the message Consumer Technology Association (CTA) CEO Gary Shapiro and the organization he runs, and which hosts CES every year, delivered almost a year ago, just days after President Donald Trump was elected for a second term.

It was also the name of Shapiro's then-new book, and was effectively marching orders for the tech industry.

"The President took action so quickly in so many different areas, that the book’s done really well because everyone is pivoting," Shapiro told me this week, during a CES 2026 preview luncheon.

The luncheon was in some ways a replay of the one we had a year ago, where Shaprio warned that Trump's tariff plan, particularly as it related to China, could be devastating. Nine months into that presidency and with many tariffs in (and out of) place, the true impact of the landscape of US tariffs is unclear, partially because it keeps changing so much.

"It’s been very distracting and very difficult. You see the places where the President of the United States has basically changed tariffs or imposed tariffs over one hundred times since he was sworn in in January," Shapiro told us.

Even so, CES 2026 sounds, in some ways, as robust as any year. We do not yet have exhibitors or attendee projections, but Shapiro noted how even visa issues were worked out well in advance of the Las Vegas tech expo, and he expects attendees from around the world. Sharpiro said they expect 160 countries – including, yes, China – at the event.

But Shapiro and his counterpart, CTA president Kinsey Fabrizio, have traveled the world talking to businesses that are trying to navigate these changes and pivot where necessary.

"It's affected our partners and our supply chains dramatically as well," he told me. "We spent a lot of time meeting with ambassadors and traveling the world, and regarding the pulse of our European, Asian friends, and in Canada as well, right? I was just there like two weeks ago. The world is wondering what’s going on. That’s taken time."

The level of confusion has, as Shapiro sees it, affected companies.

"It’s been a challenging time. They probably spend more time than they ever have on what I’ll call legal and regulatory issues, rather than on focusing on the next big thing. So, definitely, there’s been time stolen from focusing on innovation."

Anything that detracts from companies' ability to innovate should be a cause of concern for Shapiro, given that innovation is arguably the beating heart of CES, which this year runs from January 6-9. But he insists there's also a sense of optimism.

"There's a spirit of possibilities of what can happen with AI. There's something like, ‘We gotta really do things differently,'” he said.

And the show has navigated significant change in the recent past. The Covid pandemic pushed CES into virtual territory and then partial operation for a couple of years.

"It was a challenging new situation that had never happened before, and companies had to change what they were doing very quickly," Shapiro recalled, "I think we’re seeing that now; how companies position themselves…"

The economy, tariffs, and myriad other global crises will not, though, be the center of attention at this year's event. Instead, the show is adding tracks for longevity, women's health, electrification and grid modernization, something called the CES Foundry which will focus on quantum computing, and a much deeper focus on AI. We should see hundreds of companies with new AI integrations and innovations, along with AI training courses for attendees. Even CES's app will get an AI upgrade.

Shapiro, who called Trump "a very unique President, and praised his recent speech on AI, calling it "the best speech by the head of a country I've ever heard on technology and innovation," said that despite the uncertainty and changing tariff landscape, some companies have changed in positive ways. "A lot of them have actually done quite well. I mean, it's no secret that bigger tech companies are fueling the stock market.

"The good news for us is that, for CES, which is our showcase to the world, innovation is very alive, and companies are extremely interested."

Whatever happens with tariffs, the ongoing US government shutdown, and the rapid development of AI, TechRadar will be on the ground at CES 2026, bringing you all the latest gadgets, gear, and innovation news from the show floor.

Amazon's big 2025 hardware launch has just finished – and as usual, there was an avalanche of new launches across its range of Echos, Ring doorbells, Kindles, Fire TVs and more.

There were so many announcements, it's actually tricky to pick a standout headliner. Amazon said its four new Echo devices – the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11 – are the most powerful it's ever made, so they certainly have a good shout for the title.

But if you're a Kindle fan, you might instead be most excited about the new Kindle Scribe range, which includes the first-ever color model. Elsewhere, we also saw a new Fire TV lineup, along with a new 4K streaming stick, plus more Ring doorbells than we've seen in our lives – including the first 4K models.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure which to add to your Black Friday shopping list? Here are all of the big announcements in one handy place…

1. We met the Echo Dot Max

It's been a while since Amazon really gave its Echo Dot line a shake up, but it did so today with the arrival of the Dot Max.

As the name implies, this is a bigger, more powerful Dot – it has two drivers and Amazon says it has "nearly 3x the bass" of the existing Echo Dot (5th gen). It also runs on more powerful silicon in the form of the new AZ3 chip, which will apparently allow for better microphones and improved conversations.

But what really stands out right away is the classy new design: the 3D knit fabric mesh is effectively seamless, and looks great.

It'll ship with Alexa+ inside it too, of course, and will cost a reasonable-sounding $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$199 when it arrives on October 29.

• Read more: I heard the Amazon Echo Dot Max and instantly forgot the original Dot ever existed

2. There's a new Amazon Echo Studio too

Amazon launched four new Echo devices at its big hardware-fest – and the audiophile-friendly Echo Studio could end up being the most popular.

A successor to the old Echo Studio from 2019 (which won a TechRadar 'product of the year' gong that year), it's now 40% smaller and looks rather like an oversized Echo Dot Max.

Like before, the Echo Studio ($219.99 / £219.99 / AU$429) is packed with audio tech – including Dolby Atmos support, Spatial audio, and a high-excursion woofer with three full-range drivers.

It can also act as part of your TV's surround sound system alongside four other Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max devices.

• Read more: Amazon’s new Echo Studio looks way better — and from my first listen, it still brings the oomph

3. The new Echo Show devices look ideal for Alexa+

Prefer your smart speakers to have touchscreens? Good news, Amazon has also refreshed its smaller Echo Show devices, which promise to be fine hubs for Alexa+. In fact, Amazon says they’re the best way to experience its next-gen voice assistant.

There are two models available, an 8-inch one costing $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$349 and an 11-inch version (a new screen size for the series) available for $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$429.

Amazon says the touchscreens have been improved with better viewing angles, while the 13MP camera will apparently recognize who’s using it to serve up relevant info.

The real potential, though, could come from the Alexa+ Store, which will help the Echo Show connect to thousands of services like Uber and now Oura for your health and wellness data.

If you don’t mind your smart speakers knowing a lot about you, the new Echo Shows could be the home hubs you’ve been waiting a while for.

• Read more: Amazon just unveiled 4 new AI-powered, Echo speakers – here's the full lineup and how much they cost

4. We got our first-ever color Kindle Scribe

We're big fans of the Kindle Scribe series, which are like e-readers with the note-taking powers of a Remarkable tablet. And now Amazon has given them their biggest overhaul yet, revealing three new models including the first color version.

The new Kindle Scribes have larger 11-inch screens with a more paper-like texture and a new front-light system to help reduce the size of the bezels. But the star of the series is that new Colorsoft version, which uses Amazon's own display tech and promises weeks of battery life.

Naturally, it doesn't come cheap at $629.99 / £569.99 (Australian pricing tbc), but it looks like a blast for brainstorming and reading comics. It'll be available "later this year" in the US, and in 2026 elsewhere, including the UK.

• Read more: The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is the most exciting Kindle in ages, and I have the sketches to prove it

5. The first 4K Ring video doorbells arrived

Amazon's hardware show kicked off with some big Ring doorbell news – its first-ever 4K models, and some new image-boosting software (AI-powered, of course) called Retinal Vision.

Those first 4K models include the Wired Doorbell Pro, Spotlight Cam Pro, Floodlight Cam Pro, and Outdoor Cam Pro, which get Retinal 4K tech. Amazon is promising better low-light performance and 10x zoom from that software, which also comes to other models in the form of Retinal 2K.

There are seven new models in total, and all are available for pre-order today.

• Read more: Amazon has just announced its first-ever 4K Ring video doorbells with Alexa+ features – here's what we know so far

6. Search Party melted our hearts

Amazon knows the way to our hearts – dogs. Specifically: lost dogs. So its new Search Party feature was guaranteed to have us welling up.

This is an AI-powered feature for Ring cameras that promises to reunite lost dogs with their families once they've been reported, by crowdsourcing nearby doorbells.

The way it will work is that if someone reports a lost dog in the Ring app, anyone with nearby outdoor Ring cams can start a search party. This will use AI to look for possible matches and the camera will in turn notify the owner (of the camera, not the dog) if it gets a positive result. They'll then be able to share the good news with the dog owner.

With Familiar Faces (face recognition tech to help reduce your number of notifications) and Alexa+ Greetings (automated responses to manage deliveries and more) also announced, Ring devices have definitely stepped up their game.

Search Party for dogs will start rolling out in November, followed by cats and other pets, and Alexa+ Greetings and Familiar Faces available in December.

7. There's a slew of new Fire TVs

Amazon's gone all in on TVs today – which makes sense, given that its Fire TV sets sell by the bucketload over Black Friday.

There are new Fire TV 2-Series models, 4-Series models, and Omni QLED Series models, all in various sizes ranging from 32in for the 2-Series up to 75-inch for the Omni, and most sizes in-between.

As you'd expect, the prices vary wildly too. That 32-inch 2-Series costs a mere $159 / £249.99, whereas the Omni QLED Series starts at $479.99 for the 50-inch model, rising to $1,199 for the 75-incher, with 55in and 65in models falling between those extremes.

All will have Amazon's Omnisense tech – which turns on the TV when you enter the room and turns it off when you leaves – plus a new Dialogue Boost mode. The Omni is also said to be 40% faster and 60% brighter, and has Dolby Vision and HDR10+ Adaptive support, among other features.

You can pre-order the new sets now, with availability starting in October.

8. And there's a new cheaper 4K Fire TV Stick

Amazon says the new Fire TV 4K Select is "the fastest 4K stick under $40" – which is not something that we can test until we get our hands on it, but which is welcome if true.

That speed is at least in part due to its new operating system Vega OS, the same platform that will power the new Echo devices too. And as you'd expect, it also makes for plenty of AI skills; it will support Alexa+, and can carry out nifty tricks such as jumping you to a specific scene in a movie if you ask it to do so.

It'll come with all of the major streaming services on board and is available to order now and shipping next month for $39.99 / £49.99 / AU$89.

• Read more: Amazon unveils new cheaper Fire TV 4K stick with new-gen software, plus new very affordable Fire TV sets

9. We got two new Blink cameras

We’re rather fond of Blink’s home-watching cameras, with the Mini 2 and Outdoor 4 both riding high in our guide to the best home security cameras. So we’re looking forward to having a closer look at its two new arrivals, both announced today at Amazon’s event.

The Outdoor 2K Plus is, as the name suggests, a battery-powered camera that can keep an eye on the outside of your property. It has 2K resolution and apparently comes with improved low-light performance. It’s also temptingly affordable at only $89.99 in the US (there’s no news on international availability), but bear in mind that some features like person and vehicle detection need a Blink Plus Subscription.

If it’s an indoor cam you’re after, there’s also the Mini 2K+ ($49.99 / £39.99 / AU$59). It’s even cheaper and offers similar features to its Outdoor sibling, but needs wired power instead.

Both will begin shipping from mid-October, but it could be worth holding fire and looking out for Black Friday bargains.

10. The Blink Arc does something rather different

Behold, something new in the world of home security cameras – the Blink Arc is like a bug-eyed chameleon, offering 180-degree coverage from one spot (and a single charging point).

The two cameras handily stitch their footage together to give you one panoramic view of your yard. The downside is that in order to get that full 180-degree view, you need a Blink Subscription Plus Plan. You’ll also need Blink’s weather-resistant power adapter to use it outdoors.

Still, if you have an annoying blind spot in your security cam coverage, it could be a handy solution. The Arc costs $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$109, and if you already have two cameras you can also buy the mount separately.

11. Alexa+ finally got some more homes

Yes, Alexa+ was announced back in February, but the voice assistant is slowly edging towards the mainstream.

Not a lot has changed in terms of the rollout – it’s still launching in slow-motion across the US in an “early access period”, before launching more widely over the coming months”.

It’s a shame Amazon didn’t have much more to share in terms of the global rollout of Alexa+, but at least we have a bunch of new devices that have been designed to play nice with it.

Some of these, like the Echo Dot Max, are relatively affordable at $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$199. And while Alexa+ itself costs $19.99 per month, it’s also free for all Prime members – another nice perk to keep you hopelessly locked in.

You might also like

• Inside the big Amazon hardware update with one of the execs who made it happen
• Kindle vs Kobo: which ebook reader is best for you?
• 4 ways my Amazon Echo Dot makes my day easier – from waking up to winding down
• Peacock’s new ad-free streaming channel on Prime Video is one I'll be keeping my eye on for a great streaming deal

Apple's big iPhone 17 launch event is over – and now the dust has settled on a flurry of announcements, it's time for us to recap all of the big highlights.

As the event's 'Awe Dropping' name suggested, there was a lot of news. We got four new iPhones, including the long-rumored iPhone Air, plus three new models for Apple Watch fans, including the flagship Apple Watch Ultra 3.

With the AirPods Pro 3 also shown off at Apple's big shindig, there's a lot to catch up on – fortunately, we've done all of the hard work and gathered all of the highlights in one place below...

1. The iPhone just got thinner

After months of rumors, the iPhone Air is here, replacing the iPhone 16 Plus with a new thin-and-light design.

And oh how thin it is – just 5.6mm, making it the slimmest iPhone ever.

Nor has Apple had to make big compromises to slim it down to that size; the iPhone Air packs the same A19 Pro chipset as the iPhone 17 Pro, a 6.5-inch display with ProMotion, a single 48MP rear camera, and a new 18MP main camera with Center Stage.

As for battery life, Apple only says it lasts “all day” – but we’re keen to test that claim for ourselves.

How much will you pay for this svelte form factor? The iPhone Air starts at $999 / £999 / A$1,799 for the base model, which has 256GB of storage, but you can upgrade to 512GB or 1TB if you have deeper pockets.

As with the other iPhone 17 models, it will be available for preorder on September 12, and to buy from stores on September 19, and you can check out all of the best iPhone 17 preorder deals with us already.

• Read more: Everything you need to know about the iPhone Air

2. And the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max levelled up too

Apple is very proud of its Pro-level iPhones this year, with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max bringing seemingly meaningful upgrades to the table in almost every department.

The most obvious change is the new phones’ design. Both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max feature a large camera block that runs horizontally across their respective rear panels, which Apple is calling a "full-width camera plateau."

This re-jigged module is important for two reasons: first, it’s allowed Apple to introduce a 48MP telephoto camera, and second, it’s freed up space for “the largest ever battery in an iPhone.”

Other upgrades for this year’s Pro models include a vapor chamber cooling system and an A19 Pro chipset, both of which will help the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max live up to their billing as the best iPhones Apple has ever made.

Pricing-wise, you're looking at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,999 for the Pro, and $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149 for the Pro Max – so unchanged from the previous models, although there is now a 2TB version of the Pro Max, which will cost $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,799 and which is therefore the most expensive iPhone ever.

• Read more: iPhone 17 Pro revealed – here's what you need to know

2. While the standard iPhone 17 got more powerful

Mixing things up a little this year, Apple’s new standard iPhone, the iPhone 17, has a suite of upgrades that might just make it a proper generational step up from its predecessor.

Naturally, you get a more powerful chip in the form of the A19, but that chip helps get an extra eight hours of video playback out of the battery.

And battery life doesn’t appear to suffer from the final inclusion of a 120hz ProMotion display, either, with a coating of Ceramic Shield 2 glass to keep the high refresh-rate display away from scratch damage.

The new 48-megapixel ‘Fusion’ camera system lets two rear cameras provide main, 2x optical zoom telephoto, 48MP ultra-wide, and 1x macro photography. If this system yields impressive photos, it could be the one to beat this year and into next.

As icing on the smartphone cake, Apple hasn’t increased the price of the standard iPhone, with it starting at $799 / £799 / AU$1,299; a minor blessing in the face of turbulent tariffs.

• Read more: 7 core iPhone 17 upgrades you need to know about

4. Center Stage has arrived on the iPhone 17’s front camera

Selfie cameras may not be the most glamorous phone feature, but Apple went big on them this year – giving all of its new iPhones front-facing cameras with new square sensors and handy Center Stage tricks.

Center Stage works much like its Mac equivalent, automatically keeping you in the middle of the frame during video calls and zooming out if you’re doing a group selfie. That square sensor also means you won’t have to turn your iPhone sideways to take a landscape selfie, as it can just switch to the best aspect ratio.

Naturally, there’ll be some cropping involved, but Apple’s bumped the front camera resolution to 18MP to help compensate. It’s a small but helpful quality-of-life upgrade for selfie fans.

5. But there's no sign yet of the fabled iPhone Fold

Other tech companies are fond of teasing forthcoming devices before they're ready for their full unveiling – and indeed, Apple initially showed off its Vision Pro a full six months before its release. But sadly, there was not a hint of the much-rumored iPhone Fold and today's Apple event.

Is it real? When will it arrive? How much will it cost? We have no more idea now than we had 10 minutes before the 'Awe Dropping' event.

Except… those new iPhone Airs do look like the kind of slim phones you'd need to make if you were going to release a slim foldable in the near future… so watch this space.

6. The AirPods Pro 3 look like a proper upgrade

Our 5 things you need to know about Apple's all-new AirPods Pro 3 feature is the place to go to get the full scoop, but in a nutshell: AirPods Pro 3 are here, bringing Live Translation and heart-rate monitoring to Apple’s ice-white buds.

Said buds are now smaller than before and boast five ‘foam-infused’ ear tip options. Pricing has changed a little, depending on territory. In the US, they're launching at the same $249. In the UK, they're actually cheaper, launching at £219 (down from £249) whereas in Australia they're actually getting more expensive – up from AU$399 to AU$429.

There are also claimed improvements to the battery life, ANC and waterproofing, which is now listed as IP57.

Any disappointments? No temperature sensing was mentioned and no IR cameras, but still, that Live Translation feature looks very interesting indeed…

Tempted? Check out the best AirPods Pro 3 preorder deals now and start saving…

• Read more: 5 things you need to know about Apple's all-new AirPods Pro 3 – including the price

7. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 got a bigger screen

Yes, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 looks the same at first glance as the Ultra 2, but a new wide-angle OLED display means a bigger screen and slimmer bezels without changing the case size, making it the biggest Apple Watch display yet.

Like the Series 11 (below), it offers 5G cellular connectivity, and new to the Ultra is satellite emergency messaging features. Ultra 3 also gets a battery life boost, this time from 36 to 42 hours of battery life in smartwatch mode.

It also gets all the new metrics, including Hypertension, Sleep Score and watchOS 26’s new AI Workout Buddy.

It won't come cheap, though: prices start at $799 / £749 / AU$1,399. Still, we've got an Apple Watch Ultra 3 preorders page to help you find the best deals.

8. Apple Watch Series 11 has gone 5G

The Apple Watch Series 11, meanwhile, was treated to a few new landmark features of its own.

The Series 11 gets 5G connectivity for LTE models, made possible by a new antenna architecture, and a scratch-resistant ceramic screen coating. Plus, the long-rumored LED blood pressure monitoring feature has landed, in the form of Hypertension, and sleep tracking is improved with the new Sleep Score.

Finally, the standout feature: 24 hours of battery life means an upgrade, at last, from the old paltry 18 hours.

Prices start at $399 / £369 for the GPS-only, 42mm model, rising all the way up to $529 / £499 for the cellular 46mm size. We've got an Apple Watch 11 preorders page if you're looking for a good deal on Apple's new models.

9. And there's an Apple Watch SE 3 too

The new cheap Apple Watch rounds out the range, with the same S10 chipset as its sibling watches – enabling the SE 3 to replicate a lot of the tricks of last year’s Series 10, such as Double-Tap and Wrist Flick hands-free gestures.

You can also play media from your new, cheaper watch, assuming you want to. No battery life increase for the SE 3, but it does get Fast Charging as a consolation prize.

• Read more: Apple Watch Ultra 3, Series 11, SE 3, AirPods Pro 3 – all the fitness wearables launched during Apple's mammoth September event

You might also like

• AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: here's how Apple's new earbuds compare to the current model
• It's official, the iPhone 17 will be available to preorder this Friday - here's what time and the confirmed deals
• Apple didn’t even mention the AirPods Pro 3 upgrade I’m most excited by in its livestream: a case that's even harder to lose

IFA 2025 has seen a whole load of new devices unveiled, from some of the best laptops to brand-new smart home products. The trade show has been absolutely packed with fantastic technology, and AI has certainly been the main topic of conversation this year, which is no surprise.

But what about some of the weirder devices - the products that literally made me do a double take as I walked past them on the show floor?

I’ve rounded up five of the weirdest tech gadgets I came across during my time at IFA 2025 and - spoiler alert - there’s a whole load of robots.

Chess playing robot

When first walking past the X Sense stand, I didn’t even know what I was looking at - it seemed like a sea of robots with chess or checkers sets in front of them. I walked up to one as it reorganised the board from its previous match and pressed Go and low and behold, I was in a chess match with a robot.

Despite sounding intimidating, the SenseRobot - a chess and board game-playing robot - actually wasn’t dominating the game and obliterating me like I was expecting. Instead it gave up its bishop for a measly pawn. Does that mean I can technically say I’m smarter than a robot?

The robot has an arm which it uses to move pieces, as well as a camera sticking up and over the board so it can see everything that's going on.

The small screen, which can be used to display stats about the game or navigate menus also turns into a little face when not being used - which is very adorable.

AI ironing machine

For those who truly want to live a life of luxury, then the AI smart ironing machine from Aivive would be a pretty weird but useful addition to your home. Just hang up one single garment in the device, whether it be a shirt, jacket, trousers - whatever you might need - and it will dry and iron it.

The machine blasts 750 km/h winds at your shirt, around the speed of a cruising Boeing 737, to get rid of any creases. The entire process takes around 90 seconds, which is probably around the same amount of time it would take you to actually iron your shirt, but with this device you can leave your shirt in and go and do something else… for 90 seconds.

Aivive suggested use cases to me such as luxury department stores, airport lounges or high end-hotels, which means this is likely going to be a premium product.

Self-flushing cat toilet

I’m a cat person, probably the most cat-person cat-person you’ll ever meet. I currently have 10 (yes, 10) cats at home. Yet I thought a self-flushing cat toilet would be too much even for me, but somehow after having a gander at the Self-flushing smart cat toilet from Petgugu (cat not included) I might just be convinced otherwise.

This device connects up to the sewage system in your home to make scooping cat litter an issue of the past. Each time your cat goes to the loo, the device then discards any waste, washes the cat litter to refresh it and then resets so your cat is greeted with a fresh litter box after every use.

You get the benefit of a spacious interior to allow for even some of our more chunky feline friends as well as a 15L litter storage capacity to top up litter automatically when it runs low. It also has an infrared sensor and weight sensor so the device will never begin cleaning while your cat is still inside.

Stair climbing robot for your vacuum

Anyone who has a robot vacuum and a home with more than two stories will tell you that having your device get stuck on an edge and start screaming because it thinks it's about to fall off a cliff is one of the biggest downfalls of this category of products. Having to move your vacuum upstairs yourself starts to feel tedious and defeats the point.

In comes the Eufy MarsWalker, a brand new device that carries your robot vacuum up the stairs for you. Just to clarify, this isn’t a vacuum itself, just a whole other robot to have in your house to carry your robot vacuum to other floors of your home.

Your Eufy robot vacuum can park itself in the MarsWalker, which can then travel up the stairs in your home, drop your robot vacuum off, and then bring it back down later when it's done before parking itself up in its own little dock.

Watching this all unfold in front of me actually freaked me out just a little bit. The robots are evolving.

Robot pets

Last but certainly not least are Switchbot’s brand new robot AI companions, Noa and Niko. These are AI pets which are designed purely for companionship as they waddle around your home, greet you and flap their arms.

The robots can recognise different family members and actually respond to gestures and emotions. Switchbot has stated that they can display emotions such as happiness, sadness, or even jealousy - which is a horrifying thought. They can also learn your household routine.

While they don’t serve any practical purpose, these two robots were absolutely adorable as they wandered around together at IFA.

You may also like

• The 5 coolest TVs at IFA 2025
• The 7 coolest projectors at IFA 2025
• Ecovacs' new robovac speed-charges its battery while it's cleaning its mop pads, so it never runs out of juice

Update: We've extended the deadline for entries for this year's awards until August 22nd, 2025! You can nominate a product for the awards here.

The TechRadar team is delighted to announce that the TechRadar Choice Awards 2025 are coming later this year, and as always, they'll give our reader the chance to help select the best technology and services of the last year. And these awards are bigger and better than ever, now including over 100 categories!

The final awards will be revealed later in the year, and before then, we'll give our readers the chance to vote for their favorite from a shortlist of options, which will be combined with our expert judges' votes to create the final winners.

At this time, we're accepting nominations from anyone who wants to suggest a product that should be on our voting shortlists when the time comes. Maybe you represent a product professionally, or maybe it's just something you've bought and love – your nomination is welcome either way! Our shortlists will be compiled by our editors who are the experts in each topic, but these nominations are your opportunity to ensure that a product you like or want to promote gets their attention.

You can fill out the form on our nominations page below to submit your suggestion. We'll be accepting nominations until August 8, 2025 August 22nd, 2025.

• Nominate your products for the TechRadar Choice Awards 2025

With more categories than ever before, that means more chances for our readers to choose their favorites than ever before! In some cases, we've added new categories to reflect the growing popularity of new types of product; in other cases, we've reworked existing categories to better reflect the current market. You can see all the main TechRadar Choice Awards 2025 categories here.

We'll also have some Editor's Choice categories not listed above, which are chosen solely by the TechRadar team.

To be eligible for the TechRadar Choice Awards 2025, products must have been released after September 1, 2024 and before September 30, 2025 – with some exceptions, which you can find here in our explanation of the TechRadar Choice Awards process.

If you want to see which products won in last year's awards, take a look at the TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 winners list. We look forward to seeing your nominations for this year's awards!

WWDC 2025 is underway, and the keynote has wrapped up. We were on scene at Apple Park live, capturing video and our impressions of the news as it happened. We were also following around the world, with our experts in all things Apple applying their judgment and opinions. You can read the live blog as it happened here, completely unedited and presented as it happened.

Apple's developer conference is all about software, and we're getting our first look at the next big updates for everything from iPhones to Macs. This year's show marked the introduction of rebranded platforms like iOS 26 and macOS 26 Tahoe – just as we predicted.

Our editors are still on scene at Apple Park, so you can follow along all the news stories and we will definitely have hands on and interviews with Apple's top executives. Here's the news so far:

• Apple reveals major visual redesign for iOS 26, macOS 26, and more
• Every Apple Intelligence upgrade coming to your Apple devices
• iPadOS 26 has landed, here are the 10 biggest upgrades
• iPad just won WWDC 2025 – here’s why the iPadOS upgrades made me cry
• iOS 26 is official – here are the 5 biggest new features coming to your iPhone
• iOS 26 compatibility – Here's the full list of supported devices
• How to download the iOS 26 developer beta
• macOS Tahoe 26 announced at WWDC 2025: these are the best features
• Does your Mac support macOS Tahoe 26? Here’s the full list
• Apple CarPlay just got 4 big free upgrades – here's what you need to know

All of the WWDC 2025 news

• Apple introduced Liquid Glass as a foundational design element
• Every OS gets an update: iOS 26, macOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26
• iPadOS 26 is the biggest iPad update ever
• Apple Intelligence plays a major role in every new update
• Developers can download the updates now in beta

Welcome to our WWDC 2025 liveblog

Good mooorning! As Tim Cook would say. I'm Mark Wilson (TechRadar's Managing Editor, News) and I'll be taking you through the build-up to WWDC 2025 – which feels like one of the most significant Apple software shows for years.

It's a big one because I can't remember Apple being on the back foot before a WWDC event as much as it is today. From its bodged Apple Intelligence rollout to the recent barrage of wrist-slaps from regulators, Apple has had a rough twelve months since WWDC 2024 – so it's going to be fascinating to see how it responds.

I'm almost as interested in how it plans to Houdini itself from some awkward situations (next-gen Siri?) as I am in the software announcements themselves. Whatever we get, it's going to be essential viewing for Apple fans...

Rewind: what happened at WWDC 2024?

A year ago, Apple Intelligence didn’t exist. And twelve months on… well, it kind of still doesn’t, at least not to the extent that Apple promised at WWDC 2024. There’s no doubt that AI is going to be the elephant in the room at this year’s event – and Apple needs to make sure it’s a cute, Genmoji-style Dumbo rather than a shadow that hovers over the whole event.

Still, WWDC 2024 wasn’t all about Apple Intelligence. The Apple Vision Pro got a worldwide launch, iPadOS got a calculator app (gasp), AirPods Pro 2 owners got a handy Voice Isolation feature, and Apple TVs got a modest equivalent of Amazon’s X-Ray feature.

If, as has been rumored, there’s little in the way of concrete Apple Intelligence news at WWDC 2025, I’m hoping Apple serves up a bigger platter of software upgrades than the slightly meager selection of luke-warm canapés we got last year…

WWDC 2025 – our predictions

Here at TechRadar, we have experts in every Apple field, from AirPods to Apple Watches. So if you want a quick catchup on everything that our editors expect (and hope) to see at WWDC 2025, I’ve included some handy links below.

The overall vibe is cautious optimism – yes, Apple's recent software upgrades have been underwhelming by its standards, but the added competition and pressure from Google (fresh from an impressive Google IO 2025) and OpenAI could force it to step up its game.

• iOS 19: the 5 upgrades I'm really hoping for at WWDC 2025
• I've used iPads for 10 years – here are the iPadOS 19 features I want to see from WWDC 2025
• macOS 16 Tahoe is imminent – here’s what to expect from Apple’s next desktop OS
• watchOS 12: 3 things I expect to see Tim Cook announce at this year's WWDC 2025
• The rumored Apple TV 4K software redesign could be amazing, as long as it avoids the biggest pitfall of streaming devices
• AirPods said to get some nice free upgrades at WWDC 2025, including more gesture control and sleep detection

What’s the big theme of WWDC 2025?

The two words for your WWDC 2025 bingo card are ‘Liquid Glass’.

That’s according to Apple soothsayer Mark Gurman, who’s just followed up his prediction that we’ll see a switch to year-based software names (iOS 26, macOS 26 and, hilariously, visionOS 26) with some specific details about the rumored software facelift.

This new interface will apparently be the biggest visual change since iOS 7, which swapped a literal form of skeuomorphism for a then-modern ‘flat’ look. iOS 26 has apparently also been designed to set the stage for a 20th anniversary iPhone that will launch in 2027 with curved glass sides, no cutout section, and “extraordinarily slim bezels”.

For me, the rumored redesign sounds a bit like a ‘look over here’ distraction from Apple’s lack of progress on AI features. But it’s also something Apple is typically very good at pulling off without royally screwing it up – in theory, at least.

How convenient: Apple pops the AI hype bubble

As spotted by the ChatGPT subreddit, an interesting new paper about AI has just emerged on the eve of WWDC 2025 from Apple’s Machine Learning Research division, called “The Illusion of Thinking”.

It appears to cast doubt on the logic and puzzle-solving abilities of today’s LRMs (large reasoning models) and their ability to get close to the AGI heights promised in some quarters.

I haven’t read the full paper yet, but its raising of “crucial questions” about the “true reasoning capabilities” of some AI models does feel conveniently timed, given Apple’s struggles (so far) to deliver on the lofty Apple Intelligence promises of WWDC 2024.

Seeing how it addresses those is going to be one of the most interesting parts of WWDC.

The most important person of WWDC 2025?

Apple’s cast of WWDC execs have become a bit stale in recent years, but fortunately a lesser-known face will apparently have a bigger role at this year’s event: Alan Dye.

That’s because Mr. Dye is Apple’s vice president of human interface and one of the key players behind what could be the biggest iPhone software overhaul since iOS 7.

Interestingly, Alan Dye actually helped craft iOS 7 under the watchful eye of Jony Ive over a decade ago, and seemingly inherited his black-rimmed glasses. The rumors are that iOS 26 is going to have a more glass-like quality, including translucent and shine effects ported from visionOS.

I’m not against that, but I would also like my iPhone’s keyboard to work as well as did before iOS 18…

Debate: what’s been the biggest iOS upgrade?

We’re taking a quick break from the WWDC 2025 rumor mill to bring you an internal TechRadar debate – what’s been the best iOS upgrade from over the years at WWDC?

The votes are in. Senior AI Writer John-Anthony Disotto went old-school, rightfully highlighting the arrival of the App Store (iOS 2.0) and FaceTime (iOS 4.0) as massive moments. Nods of approval also greeted the suggestion of the Files app (iOS 11), from our Managing Editor (Entertainment), Matt Bolton.

A late contender from Jamie Richards (Mobile Computing Staff Writer) was iOS 16’s customizable lock screen overhaul, later aped by Android. All are valid suggestions in my book, with my personal take being iOS 4’s multitasking and folders.

As my friend noted about iOS 4 in 2010, “it’s like getting a new phone”. I wonder if we’ll be saying the same about iOS 26…

Your WWDC 2025 cheat sheet

If you want a quick, five-minute primer on what to expect at WWDC 2025 I'd suggest checking out our list of the 7 biggest things to expect, according to Apple experts.

We've combined our in-house specialist knowledge with the latest rumors from the likes of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman to give you the latest predictions across iOS 26, macOS Tahoe and more.

And if you haven't got time for that, well here's a quick list of the headline rumors so far:

• iOS 26 to get 'Liquid Glass' redesign that'll appear across Apple's software platforms
• iPadOS 26 to bring more Mac-like features like improved multitasking
• A new, dedicated gaming app that'll also come to macOS 26 Tahoe
• The arrival of watchOS 26 with new tracking features for outdoor exercise
• tvOS 26 to get the visionOS-like redesign and Apple Intelligence features
• Apple AirPods to get a new Live Translate feature among other iOS 26 upgrades

It’s time for WWDC bingo

Credit where it’s due – Apple blogger Basic Apple Guy has crafted the WWDC 2025 bingo card above, and it’s so strong I’d highly recommend not turning it into a drinking game.

We have staples like a “memorable Federighi moment” and flying into a secret location via a “whimsical transition”, but also a good mix of pre-event rumors. These include the expected reveal of macOS Tahoe and a Live Translation feature for AirPods.

I’ll reluctantly agree with the “no Mac hardware announced” entry, too – my wait for an M5 MacBook Pro will almost certainly continue into late 2025, despite macOS 26 likely cutting my 2018 MacBook Pro adrift from its Tahoe party.

Let’s be honest, we’d all much rather it was called macOS Taco, too…

Why isn’t it called macOS Taco?

Back to the important questions of WWDC 2025 – software name changes and an apparent missed opportunity with this year’s version of macOS.

According to rumors, Apple will today follow up macOS Sequoia with (drum roll) macOS Tahoe. This would, unfortunately, be a very sensible name that’s entirely in keeping with Apple’s strategy of naming its desktop OS after locations in California, with Lake Tahoe being a popular ski resort in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

But I also remember the innocent days when Google would give versions of Android names like ‘Donut’ and ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’, which is probably why I keep reading the new version of macOS as a rather delicious folded tortilla.

It’d probably get me more excited about it, anyway – so far, the rumors about new features been very thin on the ground apart from a new look, some fresh accessibility features, a new gaming app and, er, a Wi-Fi timesaver.

Poll: what you're most excited about in iOS 26

We recently ran a poll on our WhatsApp channel – which is well worth signing up to for the latest tech news – and over 1,000 of you told us what you're most looking forward to in iOS 26.

The winner, with 43% of the vote, was the visionOS-style overhaul that Apple insider Mark Gurman now says will be described as 'Liquid Glass'. Given the other rumored features on the list, that doesn't surprise me – it is, after all, expected to be the biggest visual change for iPhones since iOS 7.

Elsewhere, the rumored AI-powered battery management (which may simply turn out to be 'better battery management) came in second with 17% of the vote, while third place (with 12%) went to the live translation feature that's apparently coming to the Apple AirPods.

A significant minority are also looking forward to CarPlay news – and with the in-car platform rumored to be getting two upgrades, it seems likely that Apple will give it a prominent shout-out (alongside CarPlay Ultra).

The work is mysterious and important

It hasn't been a great year for Apple, but one success story has been Severance on Apple TV Plus. It’s been the cultural force that Apple used to be able to create with its tech launches. So will we see some kind of Severance teaser at WWDC?

Ben Stiller recently spoke to Variety about there being “two specific ideas” for spinoffs from the show, and that work has already started on Season 3. Still, it seems highlyunlikely that we’ll hear anything concrete about the latter, even if Mark Scout et al did get a mention at WWDC 2024.

If we’re lucky, we might get some Lumon Terminal Pro keycaps at least…

Will there be new hardware at WWDC?

The WWDC bingo card (scroll down for that) has an entry for "no Mac hardware announced" at this year's event – and I'm inclined to extend that to "no new hardware" across the board.

There haven't been any credible rumors or leaks suggesting otherwise, and we would typically have heard whispers at this stage if Apple was planning something unexpected like an M5 chip reveal.

The M5 isn't expected until later this year, when we should also the M5 MacBook Pro. But could Apple at least tease something at WWDC 2025? I'm not ruling that out, partly because it feels like Apple needs something to spark some excitement and positivity going into the next few months – and I'm not sure a software redesign is enough to do that.

It'd be out of character, and still very unlikely, but a short 'one more thing' glimmer of the iPhone 17 Air isn't impossible...

A taste of 'Liquid Glass'

Get ready to see a lot of frosted glass on your iPhone and other Apple tech – that appears to be the design language Apple is going for with iOS 26, as teasers like the above from Apple SVP of Marketing Greg Joswiak show.

The idea certainly makes sense for Apple – it's seemingly committed to visionOS, despite the Vision Pro being largely tumbleweed as a platform since last year's WWDC. And having a cohesive visual language across all of its major platforms would be a sensible improvement.

But Apple may also be legitimately accused of busying itself with window-dressing, while ignoring the bigger AI picture outside its front door. There also likely won't be drastic changes to the likes of iOS 26, otherwise Apple users could feel too disorientated.

Which iPhones will support iOS 26?

Watching WWDC events can be a nervy experience for those with older tech – after all, with every new platform upgrade like iOS 19 (or iOS 26), a few older models are cut loose from the new features.

For the next version of iOS, the latest rumors are that 2018 iPhones could miss out – that's the the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max (above). Those phones would still continue to get security updates for a while, they just wouldn't be able to upgrade to the latest iOS features or design.

Depending on what we see at WWDC 2025, that may not be a disaster. But it could also make some start to think about their upgrade plans...

Good morning and good afternoon, depending on where you are. Managing Editor of Mobile Computing Roland Moore-Colyer here, taking over from Mark.

So I'll be chewing over what to expect from WWDC today and what I hope to see.

Which Apple Watch models could support watchOS 12?

Building upon Mark's observations around compatibility, I expect we'll get a good look at watchOS 12 today.

That'll be the next generation of the Apple Watch operating system, which is tipped to get more AI features, blood pressure monitoring and more; though we're a tad limited on how much we think we know about watchOS 12.

But what'll be curious to see is how far back Apple will go to offer watchOS support for older Apple Watches. Expect support on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and original Ultra, as well as the existing Series 10, Series 9, Series 8, and potentially the Series 7. As such, expect support to not reach the Series 6 and older watches.

Read more: watchOS 12: 3 things I expect to see Tim Cook announce at this year's WWDC 2025.

What Macs could support macOS 16 Tahoe?

So onto macOS 16, which is tipped to carry the Tahoe moniker.

Expect compatibility to cover the MacBook Air M1 or later, MacBook Pro 2019 or later, iMac 2020 or later, Mac mini M1 or later, Mac Pro 2019 or later Mac Studio all models.

That should be a fairly robust lineup of Mac support, which is to be expected given Macs tend to last longer than other Apple devices in terms of usable lifespan.

Apple oracle predictions

Apple oracle and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has just popped up to offer three key points to look out for at WWDC:

"1. Apple’s AI strategy takes center stage, with updates like UI changes and OS improvements playing a secondary role.

2. No major breakthroughs in Apple's AI technology are expected. Still, with the market's limited expectations, Apple can meet them by clearly explaining how AI features will work on devices and outlining a development timeline.

3. Apple's on-device AI implementation will likely focus on several aspects: 1) Rebranding Apple Intelligence/Siri, 2) Integrating AI at the OS level to improve overall user experience, 3) Providing tools for third-party developers to incorporate AI into their apps, 4) Strengthening privacy protections through software and infrastructure, and 5) Forming partnerships with more leading AI service providers."

So let me quickly pick over Kuo's predictions.

"1. Apple’s AI strategy takes center stage, with updates like UI changes and OS improvements playing a secondary role."

Yep, I can see that happening but expect a rapid slew of small-ish updates.

On to the second Kuo point:

"2. No major breakthroughs in Apple's AI technology are expected. Still, with the market's limited expectations, Apple can meet them by clearly explaining how AI features will work on devices and outlining a development timeline."

Yep. Apple Intelligence has a rocky launch and potentially struggled to galvanise Apple fans. So I can see Cupertino taking time to qualify AI in terms of the Apple ecosystem.

Third big point from Kuo:

"3. Apple's on-device AI implementation will likely focus on several aspects: 1) Rebranding Apple Intelligence/Siri, 2) Integrating AI at the OS level to improve overall user experience, 3) Providing tools for third-party developers to incorporate AI into their apps, 4) Strengthening privacy protections through software and infrastructure, and 5) Forming partnerships with more leading AI service providers."

Pretty much agree with those, though the most interesting point will likely be the integration at OS level; I want Apple Intelligence to be seamless to use, and actually useful.

Bargain AirPods just in time for any WWDC upgrades

Two little deals worth flagging that comes just in time for WWDC and potential software upgrades for AirPods.

Both the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 have dropped to a bargain price, in the US thanks to Amazon. Check out the deals boxes below.

Fingers crossed for some Severance stuff

Let's bounce over to my college and streaming supremo Tom Power, who has some thoughts on how WWDC could tease out what's next for hit Apple TV Plus show Severance:

"Severance is the new jewel in the Apple TV+ crown (sorry, Ted Lasso!). The sci-fi thriller's second season was a massive hit earlier this year, with viewers new and old tuning in every week to not only see where the story would go next, but also to find out if any of their fan theories were correct," said Power.

"Audience interest has never been higher than it is now, so what are the chances of Apple announcing something Severance-related at WWDC?

"We won't get a season 3 teaser and I'd be equally shocked if Apple officially reveals one of the spin-off projects that executive producer/director Ben Stiller has teased. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple confirm filming is either underway on Severance season 3, or due to start shortly."

Happy WWDC day, folks! Phones Editor Axel Metz here, taking over from Roland for the next few hours as we approach KO time for today's Apple event (as a reminder, the livestream begins at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST).

Over the next few hours, I'll be digging through some more predictions, hopes, and dreams for all things Apple, before passing this blog off to our resident on-the-ground reporters, who are probably waking up in California right about now. Let's get to it.

A vision of the future?

Let's talk more about glass. Apple looks set to overhaul iOS with rounded, see-through visuals akin to those already in place throughout VisionOS, introducing menus, windows, and app icons that wouldn't look out of place on the wall of your shower.

Presumably, Apple is making this switch to a) bring its entire product ecosystem under one UI design roof and b) wow expectant iPhone fans with the illusion of newness. Of course, translucent visuals aren't anything groundbreaking – Microsoft debuted similar visuals with the Windows Vista Aero Effect way back in 2007 – but I'm not surprised that Apple is keen to embrace the more futuristic look and feel of VisionOS, which proved universally popular among reviewers (even if the Apple Vision Pro as a whole failed to take off).

Speaking of VisionOS, we haven't seen too many rumors hinting at a major overhaul for Apple's mixed reality software, especially if the current version of VisionOS is due to serve as the inspiration for iOS 26. That hasn't, however, stopped developers from talking about an imminent VisionOS update.

This just in from TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff, who is on the ground in California:

"Sitting in one of the hotels filled with WWDC attendees and listening to some developers talk about how they hope Apple shows off a tethered-to-iPhone and much cheaper Vision Pro. They also think a huge Vision OS update is coming."

Apple Intelligence at 1 – what's gone right?

Yes, you read that right. Apple Intelligence is a year old today, but rather than focusing on what's gone wrong with Apple's AI-based feature suite (broken promises, unreleased features, confusing marketing, and so on), our Senior AI Writer John-Anthony Disotto has taken it upon himself to give Apple Intelligence some rare kudos.

What Apple Intelligence features are actually worth using in 2025? According to John-Anthony, there are at least three:

1. Genmoji

"While Genmoji didn't go viral in the way I expected, it has become a staple on my iPhone, and I find myself generating a new emoji almost weekly. [...] Genmoji isn't groundbreaking, and it sure isn't worth upgrading your iPhone for, but it's fun, and I've found it to be my favorite Apple Intelligence feature over the last 12 months.

2. Writing Tools

Writing Tools is a tricky one to recommend, after all, as a journalist, the only thing I use it for is proofreading. That said, I think Writing Tools might be one of the best AI-powered content products on the market, up there with the likes of Grammarly. Throughout iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, you can select text and quickly proofread, rewrite, and even get advice on how to improve the copy. It's an excellent companion for writing emails, taking notes, and even sending text messages.

3. Visual Intelligence

Visual Intelligence is good enough to help anyone who incorporates it into the way they use their iPhone to be a genuinely useful Apple Intelligence feature. Whether that's pointing the camera at a flyer and adding an event to your calendar, or finding out the name of a plant you spotted in your garden, Visual Intelligence is useful, it's just not useful enough to be the standout Apple Intelligence feature on its own.

As for WWDC 2025, we expect Apple to focus more on iOS than Apple Intelligence specifically, but it will certainly be interesting to see how the company addresses (or not) its shaky AI rollout...

Touchdown at Apple Park

Boots on the ground!

TechRadar's Editor at Large, Lance Ulanoff, and US Managing Editor for News, Jake Krol, have arrived at Apple Park in California. They've got just over two hours to wait before WWDC 2025 gets underway, so we can expect to hear some musings about the weather, the catering, and the ambience in the meantime.

The sky above Apple Campus is looking a tad gray right now, but let's hope that's not an omen for what's to come (today's Cupertino forecast is positive, at least).

Good news, Apple TV fans

Unsurprisingly, iOS 26 is going to be the star of today's Apple event, but Apple TV – specifically tvOS – is in line for a visual refresh, too.

And there's good news on that front: a new report says Apple hopes to bring tvOS 26 to Apple TV models going back a decade, meaning models as far back as the Apple TV HD (2015) should benefit from whatever TV-related upgrades Apple has in store.

It looks like Apple is giving WWDC-goers a groovy selection of commemorative pins on arrival at Apple Park. The 'purple octopus atop an iMac keyboard' is my personal favorite of the above selection, though Lance has supposedly been told that there's 'one more pin' to find at today's event. Make of that what you will.

A big year for iPad?

Passing the reigns to TechRadar’s resident phones and tablets aficionado Jamie Richards for a second, who's keen to tilt the spotlight onto the iPad:

With this year’s WWDC, we’re looking at what could be the biggest software update the iPad has ever received.

In short, the latest rumors point to Apple pushing the iPad further into Mac territory, with better multitasking capabilities and the possible addition of the iconic Menu Bar. We don’t know yet whether these new features will come to all iPads, or just those equipped with the desktop-class M-series chipsets. I guess we’ll find out soon!

iPad users have been asking for a more Mac-like experience for years, and as an iPad user myself, I’m genuinely excited to see what Apple has in store.

Some more pre-show thoughts from around the TechRadar team coming up:

John-Anthony Disotto, Senior AI Writer:

"I'm gambling on a Siri live demo, I think we're being undersold the AI stuff to temper expectations."

Jamie Richards, Phones Writer:

"I'd love to see Freeform get an update to make it more efficient. As it stands, the app absolutely devours my iPad's battery. It's also [expletive] at PDFs."

Mark Wilson, Managing Editor for News, UK:

"I'm expecting a brief appearance from Mark Scout and maybe the Lumon Terminal Pro. Severance doesn’t have much overlap with a developer conference, but it did get a mention last year – and Apple will surely milk its success, even if it’s just a cameo."

Lance Ulanoff, Editor at Large:

"We’re early, so there aren’t that many people here. But the small group of developers that are here seems very pumped. Or it might just be all the Apple people pumping them up. Most of them, by the way, are wearing white or blue hats. We think white might be to signify the new 'glass' interface."

Good morning American Apple fans waking up on the West Coast. The rest of the world has been waiting for you! I am Phil Berne, your Mobiles editor, taking over this live reporting from the scene and across the world. We've been polling our editors for what they hope to see:

Matt Evans, Senior Fitness and Wearables Editor:

Apple loves to showcase its Apple Watch health and fitness features at WWDC, and there’s usually a spotlight on one particular health and fitness feature. watchOS 9 had advanced running metrics, watchOS 10 had the ability to turn your phone into a cycling computer, and watchOS 11 prioritized recovery and sleep.

Where could Apple go next?I’d love to see some strides made when it comes to strength workouts. Apple Watch users are crying out for useful first-party gym features, while third-party apps like SmartGym continue to steal Apple’s lunch. I’ve been testing the Whoop MG, and it’s got a fantastic strength workout builder in its fitness app that interfaces well with the on-wrist device.

I’d love to see this from Apple: with a few exceptions, Apple Watches are by far the most popular gym accessory from my (anecdotal) experience, and it’s time to throw those feature-starved gym rats a bone. Give us a strength workout builder in the iPhone’s Fitness app that we can export to our watches once complete, with heat maps of muscles worked with each exercise.

What else could we see from Apple today? Our Mobiles writer Jamie Richards says: I want to see Apple jump in and fix some of the weirdness that comes with the iPad's suite of default apps.

For example, Freeform is a great canvas app for notes and ideas, but it chews through battery like a starved alligator and has limited tools for PDFs. The Notes app needs the ability to adjust document size for easier diagrams. And why does the Files app allow me to create a new folder when downloading something, but prevent me from adding said download to the new folder without saving it elsewhere first? It's as confusing as it sounds.

These aren't deal-breaking issues, but I'd love to be able to say that iPad runs as smoothly as MacOS given the likely Mac-style updates

Let's not forget that WWDC 2025 is happening at the beginning of Pride month! Old school Apple fans are out in force in original Apple logo gear, which blends nicely with the Pride theme. Apple's own campus is also decked out in a massive rainbow arch. Kind of makes me miss the old days of Apple (before the iPod even, not just before AI)

We are less than 10 minutes from the start of the event, and the crowd is decidedly in Apple's camp. Our Editor-at-Large Lance has never seen so many people wearing Apple Vision Pro headsets out in public. Many of the Apple faithful have taken to customizing or decorating Apple's now-iconing face computer as well.

The live stream is about to start, and Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken the stage live in Cupertino at Apple Park. We'll have all the news once the keynote starts streaming, but stay tuned! We're just getting started.

Apple has started with Tim Cook talking about the new Brad Pitt F1 movie, after Apple VP Craig Federighi drove an F1 car around a track for a few laps.

Now Craig is talking about Apple Intelligence, the first topic Apple wants to address at WWDC 2025, no surprise.

The news is light so far. There will be more language, more powerful models, and it will show up in more places throughout the Apple ecosystem. Presumably every product will be touched by Apple Intelligence, for better and for worse.

Apple is also opening access for any app to tap Apple Intelligence, which means it will start to show up in even more apps beyond Apple's first-party offerings.

Apple is now showing off its big interface redesign, which will be called Glass. First we're getting a tour of all the glass on the buildings at Apple Park. Apple says this is the biggest redesign we've seen since iOS 7. The new design will be universal across the products lines, so your iPhone will start to look more like your MacBook.

The glass description is quite literal, as the interface seems to emulate the properties of glass beads and panels. This all looks very reminiscent of Apple's Aqua redesign for the original Mac OS X. The look is much more physical than the digital environments we're used to since iOS 7.

Apple is officially renaming its system software after the, um, next year? So in 2025 we'll get iOS 26. While it would make much more sense to name after the current year, I guess Apple wants to get a head start on not seeming behind next year. Of course, presumably we'll get iOS 27 in 2026. So it's like the year, plus one, which is not at all confusing.

Apple is adding features to Lock Screen photos, including 3D image effects, as well as new animations that artists will be able to add to album artwork that displays on the lock screen.

Now Craig is showing off a new Camera app. Apple has dramatically simplified the camera interface. The redesigned apps are coming very quickly. We're already moving on to new CarPlay interface designs on iOS 26. You'll have to check out our ongoing coverage to see more, there is quite a lot of new features and design concepts to see.

Apple's CarPlay is going to take over your entire car, not just a single screen. Now that there are multiple displays across your dashboard, Apple CarPlay Ultra will work on select cars, which started launching this year, to allow iPhone users more control over the entire interface of the display, including the speedometer and tachometer.

You can check out our live videos from the event here, showing off the new Liquid Glass interface.

Apple is adding more features to messaging and group chats. You'll see typing indicators when friends in your group are typing. You can now set backrgounds in messages that will be shared with your recipients and your groups. There will be more control for unknown senders, and better organization for your group chat lists. Group chats are a big part of iMessage's appeal.

Now we are moving on to Apple Intelligence, and how it will help create new emojis and other messaging tools.

If you want to check out more of Apple's Liquid Glass designs, we've got video direct from WWDC here on our TikTok channel!

Apple Intelligence is going to be catching up to Google's AI with more live translation features. Frankly, I didn't realize that Apple was so behind on translation, because there are so many options that are more advanced that I never bothered to rely on my Apple AI.

Now Apple is adding AI to Apple Music, mostly to help with lyrics, translating lyrics, and mixing your music tracks together. Apple's AI will also help you search and find your favorite music and artists.

Already done with Music, now we're on to Apple Maps. Apple Maps is going to recognize your preferred route, and offer your favorite path in Maps. So instead of taking the highway, Maps will remember your favorite breakfast stop where you always stop for coffee, and it will suggest that route instead.

Here is the new Apple CarPlay Ultra interface, in a live video from our reporters on the scene at Apple Park!

After buzzing through a number of new features (we'll have live videos on TikTok!), Apple is talking about gaming on iPhone. There is going to be a Games app to collect all of your games, just like you'll find on most popular Android flagship phones.

There is a tab for Apple's flagging Apple Arcade service, which will hopefully start to get some new games soon. The Games app will also work with a controller, so you don't have to disconnect to jump from one game to another.

Nothing too new here, especially if you've ever used a phone from Samsung, OnePlus, or Asus, which all offer similar apps with all of these features and more. Too bad Apple didn't have more news about actual, you know, games.

What do you think about Messages getting a Polls feature? You can let us know over on TikTok, and check out the new feature in action live from WWDC 2025!

Apple is showing off Visual Intelligence, a feature that uses the camera on your iPhone to feed images to a multimodal AI that can answer questions about what it sees. Frankly, Apple is so far behind on these features that this demo only highlights how bad the situation has become. Google's Gemini, among other AI apps, can do this with a live view from your camera, but Apple requires a screenshot of what you see before Visual Intelligence will get to work. Google also has Circle to Search, which should frankly just be an iPhone feature now, because it would seem an immediate improvement over the multi-step process we are seeing to get Visual Intelligence to help with image searching.

Now it's Apple Watch and WatchOS time! WatchOS is getting the Liquid Glass update, along with new Apple Intelligence features that will help with workout tracking.

Workout Buddy gathers data from your workout and your fitness history and offers advice and insight. It will give you a pep talk that will speak in a generative voice taken from a real trainer.

If you want to see the latest Liquid Glass elements and new features for Apple Music, check out our video on TikTok, live from Apple's WWDC 2025 at Apple Park!

We're seeing more updates to WatchOS and Apple Watch. There are a lot of Apple Intelligence features, but it's not clear where the AI processing is happening: in the cloud, on your phone, or on the Apple Watch itself.

Finally, Apple Watch is getting Notes! This long-requested app will finally let you synchronize and create new Apple Notes on your watch, and read your shopping lists from your wrist. There are also plenty of updates for messages on Apple Watch, as well as new gestures and features to support motion tracking.

AppleTV is getting its moment in the spotlight. There will be a new Liquid Glass interface update, with improved artwork and better interface navigation. Apple is showing off some of its upcoming originals for AppleTV+.

We're getting new seasons of Foundation, Slow Horses, Loot, the Morning Show, Platonic, as well as a slew of new movies with big Hollywood stars at the helm.

We are finally on to the crown jewel of Apple's OS collection, MacOS. The latest version of MacOS won't be MacOS 26, it will be called Tahoe, continuing Apple's convention of naming after places in California. The current MacOS is called Sequoia, for instance.

The new design will use the Liquid Glass design language. Now Apple is showing off new Continuity features, the selection of features that let you connect your iPhone and other Apple devices to your MacBook. There will be an actual Phone app on the Mac, which will give you all of your recent calls and other Phone-based features straight from your iPhone and iOS device.

Now we're seeing updates to Shortcuts, which may be Apple's most underrated and powerful MacOS features. Apple Intelligence will let you create new shortcuts with help from AI, like summarizing texts or creating images. You can use Shortcuts to access ChatGPT. Ugh. Don't do that. Just figure out the other cool Shortcut macros and leave AI image generation alone.

Whoa, Apple has remembered that Spotlight exists! This is the search feature that is system-wide on MacOS, and it has languished for years as other features advanced. Spotlight will now get more intelligent and will use more AI features to improve searching.

Spotlight will now be able to search within apps, even for individual features. You can search within apps to find the feature, and then there might be a quick key shortcut assigned to that setting to help you get things done even faster.

If you want to check out the new look of MacOS Tahoe, here's our live video from WWDC 2025! You can find this one and many more on our TechRadar TikTok channel.

Just like iOS 26, the new MacOS Tahoe will get a Games app, with new features that will help you connect with other friends and share content, as well as tools that help you tweak settings while you play.

There are also new developer tools that will hopefully help more developers port games to MacOS.

Okay, enough of MacOS Tahoe, now it's time for VisionOS and Apple Vision Pro news!

Before we get to Apple Vision Pro, if you want to check out more of MacOS and the new interface design changes, the new apps and new features, check out our live videos recorded from Apple Park at WWDC 2025!

Apple's VisionOS is getting widgets unlike anything you've seen. Widgets like a clock or photo album may be familiar on your phone, but on VisionOS these are spatial objects that look realistic, and they will stay wherever you put them in your virtual space. You can leave a clock on your mantel, or put a photo widget next to your desk, and they will be there every time you wear your Apple Vision Pro.

There is also a new photos app and a spatial gallery app.

The biggest new update may be to Apple's Personas, the visual representations of you when you chat while wearing Apple Vision Pro. The latest personas are much more realistic, with realistic facial expressions and hair.

After some business and enterprise news, Apple says Logitech's Muse and Sony's Playstation VR controllers will be supported by VisionOS. This could make Vision Pro a much more compelling gaming platform, especially if there are more partnerships with Sony or other gaming powerhouse companies on the way.

You'll be able to edit and preview spatial videos in Vision Pro. Apple is also working with GoPro and other camera makers to improve support for 180, 360, and other immersive video formats.

There are tons of Vision Pro updates coming, but now we're onto a huge update for iPadOS. Apple's iPad has been falling behind Android tablets when it comes to basic interface features for multitasking, so it's great to see Apple catch up its tablet devices.

Yup, Apple is improving multitasking windows, file handling, and new audio and video file management. First the new windowing system. Now iPad windows will have robust controls that let you resize, maneuver, and place your windows where you like. You'll be able to go full screen or use apps in a floating window instead.

While we're checking out the new windows and interface on iPadOS, we've also got live video of the new Personas on VisionOS! Check out the new look for spatial chatting on our TechRadar TikTok!

Ok, now Apple is talking about Files, and while this isn't very exciting, the poor file management was holding back the iPad from being a true computing powerhouse. The iPad ships with an incredibly powerful processor inside - no matter the iPad you buy - so it's great to see Apple finally take advantage of that power and give users more reasons to use the iPad as a full-time computer, even if you need to make money and get work done.

Some of the best apps for iPad are the professional strength audio and video editing tools: Logic and Final Cut Pro. Now, Apple is offering new workflow options for audio and video files, in addition to new recording methods. Apple is even optimizing recording audio from AirPod earbuds, with special tuning that will make the tiny microphones sound more natural and professional.

It's starting to feel like iPadOS and the latest iPad devices are the big winners of Apple's WWDC 2025. That's because iPadOS was sorely in need of an update to make it a more serious laptop-replacement, and that's exactly what we got today from Apple. Craig says "this is the biggest iPadOS release ever," and I completely agree. I can't wait to load the beta version of this new software on my iPad Pro!

One of the biggest rumors that actually came true was the partnership with Sony to use PlayStation VR controllers with Apple Vision Pro. If you want to see Apple Vision Pro using VR controllers - finally! - check out our live video recorded from Apple Park during WWDC 2025!

We're wrapping things up with Tim Cook again, and Apple finally confirms that every OS will be numbered with 26 at the end, from MacOS 26 to iPadOS 26 and everything in between. Apple says the new systems will be available as developer betas today, with public betas coming soon. We'll have more, with hands-on impressions and more news live from Apple Park as our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff and our News Chief Jake Krol dig for all the details!

The WWDC 2025 keynote is over, and you can catch our live video of Tim Cook from the stage at Apple Park saying goodbye. But don't leave yet! I'll be rounding up all the big news and linking to our top stores on all the big updates from today. There is so much to see, so check back here and go browse our TikTok for all of the latest!

The keynote may be over, but we're still sorting through all the news and developments. If you want to see Liquid Glass in action, with all of the new apps and features that come with it, the best place is our TechRadar TikTok channel. Here we've got the new iOS 26 Camera app, totally redesigned and simplified!

It seemed like nothing was left out today. Even Apple's tvOS got a big update, with new Liquid Glass styling and more features on the way. We've been doing a deep dive into the latest update, and we've figure out which Apple TV models will get the new tvOS, and which will be left out.

We've been wrapping up the biggest stories of WWDC 2025 so far, and it may have been one of Apple's biggest shows for folks who already own Apple products. Everything is going to get an update soon.

Our Senior AI Writer John-Anthony Disotto was overjoyed at Apple's iPadOS improvements. Did he actually cry in real life, or was he being metaphorical? You better believe there were tears of joy over iPad OS 26.

In fact, today's biggest update is probably iPadOS 26, the biggest iPad update ever, according to Apple. We've rounded up the 10 biggest iPadOS 26 upgrades you'll find on the new interface when it finally lands later this year.

No matter what Apple device you own, the big news today affects all of Apple's products: the introduction of Liquid Glass. That's not the name of the interface itself, that's just what Apple calls the signature design element - the glassy iconography that highlights text and features.

You can read all about the major design update that will ripple across every Apple platform in our coverage of the major redesign for iOS 26, macOS 26, iPadOS 26 and more. You can also see live video of the new interface software in action on our TikTok channel!

If you thought WWDC 2025 would be all about the iPhone and iOS, you're not entirely wrong. The new iOS 26 was announced, and it will play a major role in your car with an updated CarPlay and CarPlay Ultra. It will control your Apple Watch and watchOS, and Apple announced new Continuity features that integrate the iPhone with your Mac.

Gaming will play a major role in the future of the iPhone, with a new Games app on iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, offering new sharing and social capabilities. Of course, the iPhone will get the new Liquid Glass design concept, along with every other Apple device.

We have live videos of the new features in action, from our editors on the scene at WWDC 2025 at Apple Park. Take a look at the new Apple Gaming, coming to multiple platforms including the iPhone and iOS 26!

You can take a look at all of the latest Apple software right now on one condition: you must be an Apple Developer. If you are a developer, here's how to download the iOS 26 beta. I would not recommend you download any of this software unless you are a developer. It is still a work in progress, and many features may not work properly. But if you want to make new software for the latest Apple hardware, have at it!

We've also gathered a list of all the devices that will work with iOS 26. Apple has been expanding its support in the past few years to include devices that are up to six years old. Will your iPhone work? Check iOS 26 compatibility on our list of supported iPhone models.

Of course Apple Intelligence got an upgrade, and Apple is offering more multimodal capabilities with Visual Intelligence. We've got video of the latest Video Intelligence update, live from our coverage at Apple Park! Check out our TikTok channel below for the latest live impressions and hands-on.

What's the big feature we saw today that had most of the TechRadar office talking? Believe it or not, it was windows coming to the iPad. We have a lot of tablet experience, with Android, iPadOS, and even Windows tablets. Of all these, the iPad is dragging farthest behind with window support.

Why does this matter? Because an iPad is as powerful as a MacBook, and just as expensive. If Apple is going to sell this as a possible laptop replacement, it needs to help me be productive. And I need multiple windows to be productive.

You can check out our live video from Apple Park of the new windows on iPad feature, coming with iPadOS 26 in the weeks (or months?) ahead.

The morning after

The dust has now settled on WWDC 2025, and we're starting to now digest the unheralded iOS 26 features that didn't get the limelight plus the macOS Tahoe feature that's even getting our Managing Editor (Core Tech) considering switching back from Windows 11.

The issue that's got everyone talking, though, is iOS 26 and in particular Apple's Liquid Glass redesign – so if you want to hear the latest chatter (both positive and negative) about the polarizing new design material, pop over to our iOS 26 liveblog. There's a lot to catch up on.

Google I/O events are an often frustrating glimpse of the near future, with a lot of shiny software toys scheduled to land sometime "in the coming months". That often means a long wait of up to a year, so for Google I/O 2025 we've rounded every new announcement that you can actually try today.

Naturally, some of the features below come with restrictions – a few are only available to try now in the US, while some are restricted to subscribers of Google's AI Pro or AI Ultra tiers. But many have also rolled out worldwide, so there are new features to take for a spin even if you don't currently pay Google a cent.

What's missing from the list below and coming at a later date? Quite a bit actually, including some of the more futuristic ideas like Google Beam and Android XR, and it also isn't clear how long we'll have to wait for a worldwide rollout of AI Mode for Search, Veo 3, Flow, Virtual Try On in the Shopping app, and Google's top-tier AI Ultra plan.

Still, there are quite a few things from Google I/O 2025 to keep us amused in the meantime, so here's a list of the ones that are available to try today...

1. AI Mode in Search

• rolling out in the US now (other regions TBC)
• where to try it: in Google Search or in the Google app

Google completely upended its golden goose, Search, at I/O 2025 this week, announcing several new features to stave off the threat of ChatGPT – and the biggest was arguably the US rollout of AI Mode.

If you're in the US and aren't seeing the new tab in Search (or in the search bar of the Google app), it's likely because Google said it'd be a gradual roll-out "over the coming weeks".

We've been using it for a while, though, and have put together a guide on how to master the new AI mode. It shouldn't be your go-to for everything, but we've concluded that "if you’re researching, planning, comparing, or learning, AI Mode can be a real comfort". Google hasn't yet commented on when it'll get a worldwide launch, but we'd imagine it'll be sometime this year.

• Read more: Google Search just got its biggest-ever upgrade to lure you away from ChatGPT – here are 7 new things to try

2. Veo 3

• available today for Gemini Ultra subscribers in the US
• where to try it: in Google Flow

Arguably the biggest breakthrough moment at Google I/O 2025, Veo 3 is the first AI video generator that can deliver synchronized audio (including speech) alongside its video creations. And it's available to try now for a lucky few, if you're in the US and on the new Gemini Ultra plan.

Granted, that is a pretty small group of people, but we had to include it in this list because it is actually available today for those lucky peeps, and US enterprise users on the Vertex AI platform.

The amount of processing power required for Veo 3 could mean a relatively slow rollout elsewhere, and Google has hinted as much by also releasing new features for Veo 2 like the ability to give it reference scenes.

• Read more: Google's Veo 3 marks the end of AI video's 'silent era'

3. Google Flow

• available to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US
• more countries "coming soon"
• where to try it: the Google Flow page in Labs

Not sure how to weave all of your AI videos together into a cohesive whole? Google also addressed that issue with a new AI video editor called Flow – and like Veo 3, it's out now for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US.

It's a bit like a Premiere Pro that you can operate entirely with natural language, to avoid learning keyboard shortcuts or complex menus. To get an idea of how it works, check out Google's short tutorial.

Impressively, it goes as far as giving you menus of camera moves like 'dolly out' and 'pan right', so you don't even have to describe them. Google has also at least promised that it's "coming soon" to more countries, so we're hopeful of a wider rollout in 2025.

• Read more: Want to be the next Spielberg? Google’s AI-powered Flow could bring your movie ideas to life

4. Gemini Live

• available worldwide now on Android and iOS
• where to try it: in the Gemini app on Android or iOS

The big smartphone story of Google I/O 2025 was the full rollout of one of the best AI tools around on Android and iOS – Gemini Live.

Like ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode, Gemini Live is an AI assistant that you can chat to using your voice. The most useful part, though, is that you can also give it eyes using your phone's camera to get help with whatever's in front of you or on your screen.

To conjure the assistant, open the Gemini app on iOS or Android, tap the Gemini Live icon (on the far right of the text input box), and start chatting away.

• Read more: Gemini Live is now free for everyone on Android and iOS, and you can finally share your screen and camera on iPhone – here's how to try it

5. Imagen 4

• available worldwide in the Gemini app, Whisk, Vertex AI

Google didn't just level-up its AI-generated video at I/O 2025 – we also got a new Imagen 4 model for whipping up still images in higher resolution (now up to 2K) than before.

The latest Imagen (which is available now in the Gemini app, Whisk, Vertex AI and across Google Workspace) also showed that it's been working hard on one of its main weaknesses – handling text.

This means that scenes involving typography should no longer be a jumbled mess of weird characters and look more realistic. While Imagen 4 is available to use for free, it does come with usage limits – you can expect 10-20 image generations on a free plan, while Gemini subscribers get a more generous 100-150 generations a day.

• Read more: Gemini’s AI images have been updated to Imagen 4 with a ‘huge step forward in quality’ – here’s what you need to know

6. Gemini 2.5 Flash

• available worldwide now in the Gemini app

Okay, Gemini 2.5 Flash isn't brand new, but it was given a big upgrade at Google I/O 2025 – and it's now available to everyone to dabble with in the Gemini app.

In fact, Gemini 2.5 Flash is now the default model in Google's Gemini chatbot, because it's apparently the fastest and more cost-efficient one for daily use. Some of the specific improvements, over its 2.0 Flash predecessor, include a greater ability to understand images and text.

Wondering how it compares to ChatGPT 4o? We've already compared the two to help you see which might be the best for you. Spoiler: it's a close call, but Gemini 2.5 Flash is particularly appealing if you live in Google's world of apps and services.

• Read more: Google Gemini 2.5 Flash promises to be your favorite AI chatbot, but how does it compare to ChatGPT 4o?

7. Jules

• available worldwide in public beta
• where to try it: on the Jules website

Need a coding assistant to speed up your workflow? Google has just given Jules (first introduced as a Labs experiment last December) a wider public beta rollout, with no waiting lists.

Jules is a bit more than a coding copilot – it can autonomously beaver away on fixing bugs, writing tests and building new features without any input from you. It works 'asynchronously', which means it can work on various tasks without waiting for them to finish.

Google says Jules isn't trained on your private code and that your data stays within its private environment. With autonomous agents on the rise, it certainly looks worth dabbling with if you could do with some coding assistance.

8. Virtual Try-On

• rolling out in Search Labs in the US
• where to try it: in Google's Search Labs

Google Shopping has had a 'Try On' feature for clothes since 2023, but it got a big upgrade it got at Google I/O 2025. Rather than using virtual models to show you how your chosen clothes might fit, it now lets you upload a photo of yourself – and uses AI to help you avoid the hassle of changing rooms.

Once you've uploaded a full-length photo of yourself, you'll start to see little "try it on" buttons when you click on outfits that are served up in the Shopping tabs search results. We've taken it for a spin and, while it isn't flawless, it does give you a solid idea of what some clothes will look like on you. And anything that helps us avoid real-world shopping is fine by us.

• Read more: I tried Google's new AI try-on feature, and it's given me some new fashion ideas

9. Deep Research in Gemini

• available now worldwide in Gemini and the Gemini app
• where to try it: in Google Gemini

Google brought its 'Deep Research' feature to Gemini Advanced subscribers (now Gemini Pro) in late 2024. And now the handy reports tool has given a particularly useful upgrade – the ability to combine its research of public data from the web with any private PDFs or images that you uploads.

Google provided the example of a market researcher uploading their own internal sales figures so they could cross reference them with public trends. Unfortunately, you can't yet pull in docs or data from Google Drive and Gmail, but Google says this is coming "soon".

10. Gemini quizzes

• available worldwide on Gemini desktop and mobile
• college students in the US and UK can also get a free Gemini AI Pro upgrade for the whole school year
• where to try it: on Geminiand the Gemini app on Android or iOS

Google is particularly keen to get students using its Gemini app – not only did it extend its free access to Google AI Pro for school and university students to new countries including the UK, it also added a new quiz feature to help with revision.

To start a quiz, you can ask Gemini to "create a practice quiz" on your chosen subject. The most useful part is that it'll then make a follow-up quiz based on your weaknesses in the previous test. Not that you have to be studying to make use of this feature – it could also be a handy way to sharpen your pub quiz skills.

If you're a student in the US, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and the UK, you can get your free year of Gemini AI Pro by signing up on Gemini's students page – the deadline is June 30, 2025 and you will need a valid student email address.

11. Google Meet speech translation

• available to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers
• initially only in English and Spanish, more languages coming soon

We're particularly looking forward to trying out Google Beam this year, with the glasses-free 3D video calls (formerly known as Project Starline) heading to businesses courtesy of HP's new hardware. But a new video calling feature you can try now is Google Meet's near real-time translations.

Available now for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in beta, the feature will provide an audible translation of your speech (currently in English to Spanish, or vice versa) with a relatively short delay. It isn't seamless, but we imagine the delay will only reduce from here – and Google says more languages are coming "in the next few weeks".

• Read more: Google Beam could change your video calls forever with glasses-free 3D and near real-time translation

12. Google AI Pro and AI Ultra plans

• available now (AI Ultra is currently US-only)

Google switched up its AI subscription plans at Google I/O 2025, with 'Gemini Advanced' disappearing and being replaced by AI Pro and new 'VIP' tier called AI Ultra.

The latter is currently US-only (more countries are "coming soon") and costs a staggering $250 a month. Still, that figure does give you "the best of Google AI", according to the tech giant, with AI Ultra including access to Veo 3 with native audio generation, Project Mariner, and the highest usage limits across its other AI products. You also get YouTube Premium and 30TB of storage thrown in.

The AI Pro tier ($20 a month) still gets you access to Gemini, Flow, Whisk, NotebookLM and Gemini in Chrome, but with lower usage limits and cloud storage of a mere 2TB.

If you're an AI power user and like the sound of AI Ultra, Google is currently offering it at 50% off for your first three months. Don't tempt us, Google...

• Read more: Gemini AI Ultra is Google's new ultimate 'VIP' plan for AI obsessives – here's what you get for its staggering price tag

You might also like

• ‘I made a lot of mistakes with Google Glass’: Google’s Sergey Brin admits missteps but says Android XR has a bright future for one big reason
• iPhones just got Google’s best AI feature for free – and it could genuinely make me switch back from Android
• The 13 biggest announcements from Google I/O 2025

Google I/O is the tech giant's annual developer conference and one of the biggest events in the calendar for anyone with an interest in software, phones, wearables, AI, the web and, well, pretty much anything.

It takes place every May or June at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California, and the 2025 edition will be the 17th since it began in 2008.