Fitbit's next fitness tracker just got leaked
Fitbit looks set to release a new tracker called the Fitbit Edge, according to a report on Android Headlines that includes the above leaked image. Apparently, it will come in colors matching Google's Pixel 11 series.
The site claims the new tracker will replace the current Fitbit Charge 6 and will offer up to 7 days of battery life, GPS, an altimeter and a few limited apps like Google Maps and YouTube Music. It will support both Android and iOS and is believed to launch later this month with an estimated $149 to $199 price point.
Did you see this robot vacuum deal?
This robot vacuum is one of the best deals we've come across on Prime Day so far. We rarely give 5-star reviews, but this one earned it. And it's currently $1,179 on Amazon.
Now, that sounds like a lot, but when it normally sells for $1,699, you're actually getting a great deal.
Google says Intel-based Googlebooks may struggle with certain Android apps
The Googlebooks are finally here, offering a premium computing experience with a hybrid Android/ChromeOS approach. Well...almost. Google told Android Authority that some Googlebooks may struggle with Android apps built for smartphone-based Arm chips. Three out of the five Googlebooks at launch are using x86-based Intel chips and that's apparently causing a problem.
"Because many Android apps were originally designed for Arm chips, a small handful of complex apps or games need some developer tuning to run their best on Intel-based platforms," Google said. "We’re working hand-in-hand with app developers, Intel, and Qualcomm to continuously optimize performance and expand compatibility across the entire portfolio."
Remembering Steve Jobs
Exactly 15 years ago today, Steve Jobs passed away due to pancreatic cancer. On the anniversary, current Apple CEO Jon Ternus and former CEO Tim Cook posted in Jobs' memory.
The posts are on X, with Jon Ternus saying, "The way Steve taught us to care about every detail, every experience, every person, still guides our work today. Forever grateful."
Tim Cook wrote a slightly longer post. He said, "There are people who leave a mark on the world, and then there are people who change it entirely. Steve changed the world and so many lives in the process. He certainly changed my life forever. His spirit lives on in everything he created and everyone he inspired."
"The name's Bond... James Bond"
Today, October 6, is officially "James Bond Day" — marking the anniversary of the date the first Bond film, “Dr. No”, premiered in London in 1962.
Sixty-four years ago today, "Dr. No" premiered at the London Pavilion before expanding to the rest of the U.K. three days later. In the United States, the film premiered on May 8th, 1963 and only arrived in 450 theaters in the Midwest and Southwest.
If you want to test your own 007 knowledge, check out our James Bond Movies quiz right here. Want to revisit a specific Bond adventure? Here's your complete list of how to watch the 'James Bond' movies in order.
Google Japan's new keyboard
This keyboard looks and functions like none you've ever seen, and that seems to be the idea. The odd keyboard has keys rolling on a conveyor belt, which the company says could make typing “easier.” I don't personally struggle with typing on traditional keyboards, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for something new.
Unfortunately, you can't buy this conveyor belt keyboard, as Google doesn't plan to release it. If you're feeling adventurous, you can make one yourself from official blueprints, though.
Paper-like tablet
As much as tablets have improved our lives, I miss the feel of paper. Anthony Spadafora spent time with the TCL Note A1 tablet and its paper-like screen, and he called it "perfect for productivity without the distractions."
"I think this tablet is a great fit for those who want something simpler that’s easy on the eyes while also being incredibly thin and light — without the premium price you’d pay for an iPad Air. The Note A1 is exactly what its name implies: a handy device that comes with a stylus in the box for taking notes, brainstorming, and jotting down ideas," said Anthony in his article.
If you're in the market for a new tablet that does things differently, this might be one to consider. Of course, if you're an iPad fan, you might not like the Android aspect, but if you're an Android fan, it could be worth a shot.
NBA + GTA
The NBA's Miami Heat is partnering with Grand Theft Auto to bring Vice City to the team. The team will roll out a special new court and uniforms covered in Vice City branding, which sounds like a fun marketing tie-in.
"A Night in Vice City," which is what the Heat is calling their GTA event, takes place during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 18. That's the day before Rockstar Games' massive video game releases on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The timeline makes sense, and the city is the right choice, as Vice City is very much based on Miami.
Of course, you can actually buy merchandise from the collection if you feel so inclined.
Apple has 'enormous product pipeline' planned for 2027
According to a report this week from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has an "enormous product pipeline" coming next year under new CEO, John Ternus. But rather than concentrate these launches around events in the spring and fall, Ternus wants them to be introduced much faster throughout the year.
"As part of this frenzy of new devices, Ternus is rethinking the timing of announcements." Gurman wrote. "For much of the past decade, Apple’s product and engineering teams have focused on holding major launches in the fall and, occasionally, the spring. Ternus wants the company to introduce products more frequently — throughout the year."
Happy International Coffee Day!
Today is International Coffee Day, and since we love our daily cup of Joe here on Tom's Guide, we're celebrating all things coffee for today only. You can find a Live Q&A with our in-house coffee expert, a round-up of the best early Prime Day deals on coffee machines, and our pick of the best coffee machines you can buy.
"Super Intelligence" may have come from Zuckerberg
In recent weeks, you may have heard President Donald Trump refer to AI as "Super Intelligence." Those who followed along with Meta Connect 2026, may have noticed CEO Mark Zuckerberg also discussing Super Intelligence.
Well, there's a reason for that. A new Semafor report revealed that Zuckerberg was apparently a guiding hand in creating Trump's AI safety pact that was revealed this week.
The iPhone Duo is going to be popular
A new analysis from Counterpoint Research (via Bloomberg) says Apple will sell about 6 million iPhone Duo units by the end of 2026. With the phone slated to launch in mid-October, that leaves only two and a half months to hit that number.
I wouldn't be surprised if this number is accurate, but it still wouldn't be any less impressive if Apple pulls it off.
That is assuming Apple can ramp up production enough to meet the heavy demand...
Watch This Before You Pre-order iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo is generating a ton of buzz, but there's some trade-offs that you'll have to make for your $2,000. The question is what are you willing to give up in order to have a 5.4-inch phone and 7.6-inch tablet in a single device and (finally) true side-by-side multistasking.
In this YouTube video I break down everything you need to know before pre-ordering an iPhone Duo — and score each trade-off on a "dealbreaker" meter....
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max
Honor just announced the Magic 9 Pro Max smartphone with an absolute beast of a camera. The company partnered with German camera manufacturer ARRI to bring cinema-grade features to its new flagship. It promises more realistic-looking footage than what the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max produces, which is a big claim.
From a specs perspective, the 200MP OmniVision OV52A main camera, 50MP ultrawide-angle sensor and a 200MP Samsung S5KHPE telephoto lens sound promising.
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile processor with 2nm tech, this could be a phone worth keeping on your radar, especially if you're in one of the countries that'll actually get it.
The Meta VR Glasses has Apple asking questions about Vision Pro
The Meta VR Glasses may not be launching until next year, but they've already impressed early critics, including our own Scott Younker, who tried them at Meta Connect last week. Also impressed was Bloomberg's Mark Gurman who claimed in his Power On newsletter that the Meta VR Glasses are the product Apple's Vision Pro "should have been".
According to Gurman, Apple's Vision team is now working on a revamped headset codenamed "N224" that includes four different concepts. One of which offloads the internal components into an external puck in a similar way to Meta's headset. This would make the device lighter and less bulky but apparently not everyone at Apple is convinced.
Either way, the Vision Pro has failed to make much of a dent — probably due to the $3,499 price, even though Gurman notes it outclasses the Meta VR Glasses in several technical areas.
Australian Prime Minister confronts Sam Altman over OpenAI's government hack
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apparently spoken to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman regarding the company's AI hacking an Australian government website. Albenese was in New York and told reporters that no personal information is believed to have been accessed by the rogue AI — which compromised an Australian public health website back in June.
The Prime Minister reportedly told Altman his country feels "extreme concern about this incident" and expressed his "disappointment that it took the company way too long to inform the government what had occurred and the nature of the way that that notification occurred as well was unacceptable."
Apple working on a patch for iPhone 18 Pro reboot glitch
Apple is reportedly working on a software update that will fix a Face ID bug causing some iPhone 18 Pro units to freeze and reboot. First reported by 9to5Mac, the glitch appears to occur when users attempt to use Face ID to unlock a protected app like the Passwords app.
The site reports that Apple confirmed it is aware of the bug and is planning to release a software update early next week that will address the problem.
All the new hardware from Meta Connect 2026
Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled several new products and addressed the issues of privacy at this year's Meta Connect keynote. You can check out our full recap of the event for all the details, but here are all the major hardware announcements:
- Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) glasses — a refresh with longer battery life and a few new frame styles. Available today starting at $449.
- Ray-Ban Meta Audio — Meta's first pair of camera-free glasses. They will ship on October 13, and can be pre-ordered starting at $349.
- Meta VR Glasses — a new ultra thin VR headset aimed at entertainment and productivity. They will cost $1,299, and be available this spring.
- Muse Charm — AI device that holds an AI agent on your keychain. It will be available this fall, but pricing has not yet been announced.
Apple's Beats 360 over-ear headphones are here
It's very hard not to compare the new Beats 360 headphones with Apple's own AirPods Max 2. But when you match the two up, the newly-announced cans from Beats offer something Apple's more expensive headphones don't: proper sweat resistance. Yes, these are over-ear headphones with quick pairing, auto-device switching and Find My that you can actually wear to the gym.
They feature an official IPX4 sweat rating, swappable modular cushions that automatically adjust sound settings and, at $350, they're significantly cheaper than the $549 AirPods Max 2. Partly due to being built from plastic rather than aluminum.
- Read the full review: Beats 360 review: Gym-ready design meets surprising noise cancellation
Amazon reportedly blocks Meta's AI agent from buying products
The annual Meta Connect event kicks off later this week, and we're expecting several new devices and a lot of discussion about AI. However, it appears Amazon is putting a bit of a crimp in Meta's plans — by blocking its new AI agent from shopping on the site.
Meta introduced Muse earlier this month as an AI agent that "doesn't just answer questions, it actually does the work". That includes filling out forms, negotiating for you and even being able to pay for purchases through Stripe. But according to GeekWire, Amazon isn't playing ball. The site reports that people trying to use it to buy things on Amazon are being met with a pop-up saying the AI agent violates Amazon's Conditions of Use. The retailer has previously blocked agents from Google, OpenAI and Perplexity.
Alleged iPhone 20 Pro display details leak
It's been less than a week since the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max hit shelves, but leakers are already discussing Apple's plans for the 20th-anniversary iPhone next year. Prominent Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station has posted on Weibo alleged display specs for the rumored iPhone 20 Pro and 20 Pro Max.
According to the leaker, we'll see a brand-new design with a 6.41-inch, 2686 x 1236 quad-curved display for the 20 Pro and a 6.96-inch, 2912 x 1340 quad-curved display for the 20 Pro Max.
Both phones will reportedly eliminate the Dynamic Island completely and arrive with a punch-hole cutout instead.
In case you missed it...
The Steam Frame reviews started rolling out a few days ago, and they're mostly positive, with the massive caveat being the price. At $1,059, it will keep a lot of people from buying one.
Which begs the question: are you going to snag a Steam Frame even at that price, or are you going to skip it? Check out the poll below and give us your thoughts.
Tom's Guide Awards 2026: The full list
All week we've been running the Tom's Guide Awards, celebrating the best and the brightest brands, products and services across all the areas we cover. To break it down, we separated our awards into different categories and have been publishing them throughout the week. If you missed any, here's the full list:
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Hero Awards
- Tom’s Guide Awards 2026: Active Life
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Phones
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: TVs
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: AI
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Audio
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Computing
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Gaming
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Sleep
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Home Life
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Photography
- Tom's Guide Awards 2026: Cars
Claude introduces new Docs and Slides tools
Claude is introducing a pair of new tools that will let you use the AI tool to create documents and presentations without leaving the app. They're called 'Docs' and 'Slides' and feel like they'll work a lot like Gemini does with Google Docs and Google Slides.
"Ask for a document, and you and Claude write it together. Ask for a presentation, and Claude drafts the slides. You can edit directly, present straight from Claude, or download as PowerPoint or PDF," Anthropic wrote in blog post.
Both tools are in beta on paid plans, and Enterprise admins can choose when to turn them on.
September Pixel Drop is rolling out now
Google's September Pixel Drop update is rolling out now, giving a software boost to handsets as old as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Alongside bug fixes and security updates, there are a couple of new features Pixel owners will be getting.
One of them, Pause Point, was a Pixel 11 exclusive until now. It allows you to add a pause before opening any potentially distracting apps. Think of it as a self-imposed guardrail against doomscrolling. The September Pixel Drop also brings Scam Detection within notifications to nine new countries, including the U.K.
iOS 27 has an animation when you call someone on their birthday
iOS 27 has arrived, and we've already given you a list of the 7 features you should try first. But Apple has added a fun little tidbit to the Phone app that happens whenever you call a contact on their birthday. As spotted by X user Tiino-X83, the same fireworks animation users see on the Apple Watch will now appear on the iPhone screen, accompanied by a "Happy Birthday" message.
Nouveautés iOS 27 ! 📱Une animation s’affiche désormais lorsque vous appelez un contact le jour de son anniversaire ! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/V1TxKkpk0ASeptember 13, 2026
Apple Watch wearers have been used to getting the birthday fireworks (the same ones we see at New Year) for a while now. But according to the release notes for watchOS 27, wearers can also opt to see birthday reminders for close contacts on the Apple Watch Smart Stack.
Samsung reportedly pushing to hike its RAM chip prices even higher
The effects of the current RAM crisis are being felt across the tech industry, and Samsung — one of the world's top memory suppliers — is reportedly pushing for another 7% to 10% price hike on mobile DRAM and NAND chips.
That would mean a knock-on effect of even more expensive consumer electronics. Amazingly, Samsung's own handsets, like the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra, could also increase in price as a result. According to a report from SamMobile, Samsung's mobile division doesn't get any preferential treatment from its semiconductor division.
Third-party AI models with Siri AI
iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate have private hooks that let apps add Siri Extensions and replace Siri AI’s server backend with third-party models.First, here’s Claude running as a Siri Extension using the Model Delegation API in App Intents. Claude can appear in Siri’s “Ask…”… pic.twitter.com/OXKHQ4hDY8September 13, 2026
In a surprising turn of events, Apple appears to be allowing Siri AI to work with third-party AI models, including Claude and ChatGPT, at some point in the futrue.
Noted code digger pdfu found the AI tweak in iOS 27 and posted about it on X (embedded above), showing off how it will work when the time is right.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like users can get access any settings to change the AI tool used with Siri AI, but it's interesting that Apple has the framework in place to make it happen.
The battle rages on
Whenever Apple, or any other player, enters a new market, comparisons to existing devices are inevitable. Now that the iPhone Duo is pushing Apple into the foldable phone space, we're forced to compare it side by side with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
The real deep comparisons will come later, when review units arrive, but for now, we've started digging in based on our hands-on time with the phone and the specs. Here's a look at the head-to-head pieces we've done so far.
Xbox players get two free games this weekend for a limited time
Taking a break from raising prices, it seems like there's some good Xbox news to share at last. Each week, the platform gives away a couple of free games as part of its FreePlayDays perk, but the catch is you need to be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber to benefit.
Not so this weekend. Two out of the offered six games, Dustborn and Madden NFL 27, can be downloaded for free on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One — even without a subscription. The former will be available to download and play for up to two hours (there's a heavy discount if you want to purchase it outright after playing) while the latter will be free to play for the next few days. In a world where gaming is getting ever more expensive, this is a nice change.
Samsung throwing daggers
Let us know when you're done reheating our leftovers 😉September 9, 2026
Samsung has been known to throw jabs at Apple during events, especially when it feels Apple is borrowing its ideas. But for the newly announced iPhone Duo, Samsung didn't just throw a jab; it pulled out the bazooka.
"Let us know when you're done reheating our leftovers," wrote the SamsungMobileUS X account.
That's a vicious shot, to say the least. Of course, Apple is unlikely to fire back, as it usually takes the high road on these sorts of things. But if it did, I'd be curious what it would say. Maybe when the phone is released, Apple could fire back with some sales numbers (assuming it does well enough to justify that).
Do you think jabs like this are all in good fun, or do you think big businesses taking shots like this is unprofessional?
Apple 'Surprise and shine' event: All our early verdicts
Apple's 'Surprise and shine' event yesterday was packed with new products, the highlight of which was the foldable iPhone Duo that announced Apple's entry into the foldable market.
Our team is on the ground at Cupertino this week and we've got hands-on time with all the products announced during the event. Here's our early verdicts on everything Apple revealed:
- iPhone Duo hands-on
- iPhone 18 Pro Max hands-on
- Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on
- Apple Watch Ultra 4 hands-on
Hands-on with the Apple iPhone Duo
A few of the Tom's Guide crew was in Cupertino for the unveiling of Apple's first foldable phone, and following the presentation, Mark Spoonauer was able to get some hands-on time with the iPhone Duo.
His first impression? "Apple did it. It's the hardware and software that only they could really pull off."
Be sure to check out our video, and stay tuned for more.
Today is the day for Apple fans
Happy Apple Day! Later today, Apple's new CEO John Ternus will take the stage at Apple Park to unveil several new products. We're following all the build-up on our live blog and the Tom's Guide team are in Cupertino today to report directly from the event.
The leaks are coming right up to the last second, with the latest suggestion being that Apple's first ever foldable phone will in fact be called the iPhone Duo and not the iPhone Ultra. We don't have long to wait to find out!
Sony resurrects a classic pair of headphones
Six years later, Sony has brought back one of its best-loved pair of over-ear headphones as a refreshed model. The fan-favourite Sony WH1000XM4 headphones have been refreshed as the $300 WH-1000XM4C model with the exact same design and features as the 2020 debut.
However, the Japanese company has added a bunch of 10 new specific EQs as well as its Quick Access feature that lets you fire up your favorite streaming service by tapping the cans rather than digging out your phone. Unfortunately, those changes have meant a battery life reduction from the original 30 hours to 27 with ANC on. There are three colors to choose from and pricing is set at $299.99 / £219 / €250 / AU$449.95.
- Read the full story: Sony just refreshed three of its most popular headphones with replaceable batteries and punchier sound — say hello to the XM4C, CH730N and CH530
Our pick of Labor Day sales at Amazon
Amazon is currently offering 45% off sitewide to mark Labor Day today, and that means now's your chance to grab some epic savings.
Grilling essentials, running shoes, back to school tech and patio furniture are all covered. But you'll need to be quick as many of these deals won't last past today.
- Read the full story: These 45 Amazon Labor Day deals could disappear tonight — save up to 45% while you still can
Leaked video shows iPhone 18 Pro Max colors
The Apple September event is just a couple of days away, but a pair of alleged iPhone 18 Pro Max handsets have already appeared in a hands-on video shared on a Korean technology blog.
In the video, the unreleased phones look to be available in a store and show off the rumored Dark Cherry and Sky Blue color options. Design seems largely unchanged from the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to feature a new variable aperture camera, A20 Pro chipset and a slight battery bump.
Some of our IFA 2026 highlights
The IFA 2026 technology trade event is currently underway in Berlin, Germany and the Tom's Guide team is there in force to check out the latest announcements. So far we've seen stair-climbing robots, an exoskeleton that folds down into a backpack and a Motorola phone packed with Swarovski crystals.
Of course, there's also a ton of new laptops and we've been getting more hands-on time with Nvidia's impressive RTX Spark. Here are some of our highlights.
- I used Dell's latest MacBook Neo rival — and I'm not complaining about having another one
- I went hands-on with Lenovo’s RTX Spark-powered Yoga 9n 2-in-1 laptop — and it’s a creative powerhouse
- I tested Acer's wild Project DualPlay Mini — and it's a gaming handheld and laptop in one gadget
GTA 6 controllers
There's a new PS5 controller coming, and it's fully decked out in GTA 6 styling. It's not as in-your-face as I expected, but it does feature the main color scheme we've seen across all the Grand Theft Auto 6 content released so far.
I think they look pretty awesome, and I will definitely consider picking one up. But what about you? Sound off in the poll below and let us know whether the GTA 6 PS5 controller tickles your fancy or is a pass.
Anthropic: Fable 5.1 is 'world's most advanced' model for knowledge work
Anthropic has launched its Claude Fable 5.1 model with a claim that it's the "world's most advanced" for coding and knowledge work. The company's own benchmarking tests say the new model improves on Fable 5 in four key areas: agentic scientific research, agentic terminal coding and multidisciplinary reasoning, and agentic coding.
Crucially, it's also meant to be cheaper to run. In a blog post announcing the new model (and its restricted access version, Mythos 5.1), Anthropic wrote: "Fable 5.1 will cost an estimated 25% less than Fable 5 for typical workloads, wherever usage is billed by token. This is because we’re reducing our pricing on cache reads (where the model reads inputs that have already been processed and stored). For highly agentic work, the savings will often be much larger—up to approximately 45%."
Dell announces a MacBook Neo rival
Dell has announced a new budget laptop designed to sit underneath the recent XPS 13 and compete directly with the MacBook Neo. The Dell 14S is a 14-inch portable laptop revealed at IFA 2026 with configurations that'll include either the Intel Core 5 320 or Core 7 350.
The laptop can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage and it comes with two high-speed USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port and the 3.5mm headphone jack that's bizarrely missing from the XPS 13. At 2.53lbs it's lighter than the MacBook Neo's 2.7lbs and Dell states battery life is capable of up to 21 hours of Netflix streaming. We'll know the final price closer to the release date, with Dell saying the 14S is coming "later this fall".
Mark Gurman interview
Our Global Editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer sat down with Mark Gurman, one of the biggest Apple leakers in the industry. When it comes to first looks at devices and breaking news, few have Gurman's track record.
When the two Marks come together to chat, something interesting always comes from it, and you can watch the latest chat in the video embedded above or read all about it in article form right here.
Ternus takes the reins at Apple
Today is John Ternus' first day as CEO of Apple. After 15 years at the top job, Tim Cook stepped aside yesterday with an emotional memo to Apple staff. Cook wrote that he had experienced "the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader."
Cook, who took over from Apple's late co-founder, Steve Jobs, told the company's staff he took “enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable” as Ternus.
The new CEO, who was promoted from senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will have his first true test next week when he presents Apple's upcoming "Surprise and shine" iPhone 18 Pro event.
Cook also bid farewell in a public tweet yesterday, thanking Apple's global community for the inspiration it gave him.
Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO. My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration. My gratitude is endless, and I’m excited for the next chapter!August 31, 2026
The iPhone Ultra news ramps up
We're getting close to Apple's big "surprise and shine" event. The company is expected to finally launch its first foldable iPhone, which could massively shake up the folding phone market.
As we approach the event, the rumors and news about the iPhone Ultra have continued to ramp up.
Here's a rundown of the recent iPhone Ultra stories covered on Tom's Guide:
- iPhone Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — here's the flagship foldable I'd recommend
- I've tested every major foldable phone this year, and the iPhone Ultra can beat them all with this one killer feature
- iPhone Ultra tested with Apple Pencil but not happening at launch — this is how it could work
- iPhone Ultra — 11 things you need to know about the foldable iPhone ahead of the Apple Event
- Expert predicts iPhone Ultra's $2,500 price tag won't deter die-hard fans — it could see 10 million units sold in the next year
Less creepy Meta glasses
Meta is constantly trying to get around attempts to prevent people from recording others without their permission.
One workaround lets you start recording and then cover the light, but Meta is rolling out a patch that'll stop recording as soon as the light is blocked, keeping others safe and secure.
These so-called "anti-pervert" features are great and necessary to ensure people feel safe around those wearing Meta Glasses. Will users figure out ways around the safety blocks? Probably, but at least we know Meta is ready to deal with any new workarounds that may emerge.
"We have an update coming to increase the reliability of the capture LED on our AI glasses. The camera won’t start recording if the LED is blocked, but some people try to bypass this by starting a recording and then covering it up. A fix for this is starting to roll out - the camera will now stop working if the light is covered during a recording.”
We're gearing up for IFA
Berlin is about to come the capital city of the world of tech next week, and our team is gearing up to head over and cover all the latest announcements — testing brand new tech to see whether it's worth your hard-earned money.
Here are our predictions for what to expect!
GTA 6 looks incredible
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED
After all the leaks, we got our first full extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI, and to me, it looks amazing. This kind of graphical fidelity on a base PS5 is crazy work from Rockstar Games, and the team have managed to make Vice City feel truly alive — bringing some of the social RPG elements from Red Dead Redemption 2 and tying it altogether with some incredible-looking gameplay.
Fingers crossed my PTO request is approved for November 19 when this comes out. You can preorder your copy now.
Apple event
Did you see the huge news that Apple is officially having an event on September 9? The "Surprise and Shine" event will showcase the iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, and more.
After years of anticipation, we'll finally see Apple's first attempt at a foldable iPhone, and I couldn't be more excited. I love my iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I might just have to jump onto the Apple website and snag an iPhone Ultra when it becomes available.
As always, we'll bring you all the Apple event updates as they happen, so stay locked to Tom's Guide for all the latest information from the event.
More Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks show off that iPhone 17 Pro-style design
Noted leaker Ice Universe has just posted an image to X.com supposedly showing the design of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra and S27 Pro smartphones. This isn't the first leak we've seen of the phones and seems to support the rumor Samsung is adopting an iPhone 17 Pro-style camera plateau.
The Galaxy S27 Pro, meanwhile, is rumored to be sharing most of its specs with the S27 Ultra, with the exception of the S Pen. It's still many months before these phones will see the light of day, but it certainly looks like Samsung is taking the S27 Ultra in a very different design direction from the hallmark vertical camera array.
AirPods 5 tipped for launch at Apple's September event
According to Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg, Apple is getting ready to launch the AirPods 5 at the iPhone 18 Pro event next month. Gurman says it will be a simple upgrade, consisting of two models: one with ANC and one without.
These are set to replace the current AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC, which were released in 2024. It's still not clear whether the rumored AirPods Ultra, which are allegedly equipped with AI-enabling cameras, are also going to be revealed at the event.
Follow along with our Gamescom Live coverage
Are you keeping up with the latest from Gamescom? If you're not looking to sit and watch the entire two-hour show, you can follow our Gamescom live blog and see the biggest news and announcements as they happen.
There have already been some big games revealed, and some exciting DLC announced for existing games, so if you enjoy PlayStation, Xbox, Switch 2 or PC gaming, there's something there for you.
Did you see the Apple news?
Apple had a big morning, announcing some exciting devices in the form of a new Mac mini and a new Mac Studio. If you're a fan of Apple desktops, this is a great day for you!
Garmin launches Fenix 9 Pro
Fitness fans should pay attention as Garmin is hosting a special 'Play Harder' event today and has announced the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro. We're covering all the announcements over on our live blog right now.
The new flagship boasts a mapping engine that's 30% faster than the Fenix 8 and includeds 64GB memory and an AMOLED display is twice as bright as the Fenix 8. It's dive-rated up to 40m and available in three sizes: 43mm, 47mm, 51mm.
Walmart is finally going to start accepting tap-to-pay
Walmart has announced it will finally start adding tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay at checkouts. The retailer plans to roll out contactless payment options to all stores by the end of the year. Fuel stations will also have tap-to-pay by mid-2027.
"When we think about convenience, we think about a lot of things, but making shopping feel simpler and more seamless from start to finish is a big part," Walmart said in a press release. "And one of the moments where that matters most is at checkout."
"Whether picking up groceries, gifts or everyday essentials, they can check out using eligible contactless card, phone, or smartwatch," Walmart added. "Customers and members can also add their eligible Walmart, Sam's Club and OnePay cards to their digital wallets, giving them another convenient way to use their cards."
Statham's latest — the verdict is in
Jason Statham is, as our reviewer notes, a "remarkably reliable and consistent action star" and his latest outing is aboard a cargo ship hunting down human traffickers. We sat down to watch the Jean-François Richet-directed "Mutiny", which opens in theaters today, August 21.
Unfortunately, we've seen better from The Stath in the past. The sporadic action sequences in this movie are solid but unremarkable, and they aren’t quite enough to make up for the stretches of dull exposition in between.
- Read the full review: 'Mutiny' review: I wanted to love Jason Statham's new action thriller but it fails him
Google Photos tipped for 'Overnight backup' feature on Android
Google Photos may be on the verge of bringing out a new feature that, frankly, is long overdue. According to a report from Android Authority, the cloud photo app will soon offer an 'Overnight backup' feature that will handle your uploads each night while you're snoozing.
Currently, Android serves up a Doze mode that limits background processes, including backups when you're not using your phone to minimize battery drain. The report says the Overnight feature will require keeping Google Photos open, the device plugged in and unlocked. The screen will dim, but media backup won't be throttled.
This could come in useful when you're away and want to use hotel Wi-Fi to backup all your travel snaps. Sadly, there's no telling when (or if) Google will actually roll this out.
Googlebook leaks are coming thick and fast
Google is expected to officially unveil its first crop of Googlebooks next month after announcing the new laptops back at the Android Show in March. But this is Google we're talking about so, naturally, everything is leaking ahead of time.
Following similar leaks of upcoming Googlebooks from the likes of Acer, ASUS and Lenovo we've now gotten a first look at HP's offering. An image (above) posted to X by an account posing as notorious leaker Evan Blass, shows the laptop open with a two-pane Gmail layout and a cluster of Google apps on the taskbar.
If you need a primer on Googlebooks, check out our article on how they're set to differ from Google's traditional Chromebooks.
8 Apple products expected to be unveiled next month
Apple is gearing up for what could be its biggest September event ever. Alongside new CEO John Ternus taking to the stage, we could see up to eight new devices unveiled.
These would span phones, wearables and smart home devices tied to the new AI-powered Siri. Alongside the standard upgrades to the iPhone and Apple Watch, we're expecting the long-awaited debut of Apple's first foldable — the so-called iPhone Ultra.
- Read the full story: Apple iPhone 18 event — all the new products expected to be unveiled in September
iPhone Ultra will have 'extremely limited' availability
The iPhone Ultra is expected to cost over $2,000, and yet Apple's first foldable phone could be in such high demand that there is very little supply at first. A notable leaker says that availability for the folding iPhone will be "extremely limited." This is with Apple targeting a production run as high as 10 million units. Also, there's last-minute debate over what Apple will call this thing. My money is on iPhone Ultra and not iPhone Fold.
Did Google just leak its next Fitbit wearable?
Google may have inadvertently leaked its next Fitbit tracker. Reddit users are posting screengrabs of Pixel 11 adverts appearing on YouTube that also show a small wearable that definitely isn't the Pixel Watch 5 that launched alongside the phones last week.
Fresh from the success of the Fitbit Air and with the Fitbit Charge 6 now two years old, this could easily be our first look at a Fitbit Charge 7 or possibly even a brand-new screen-equipped tracker from Google.
What I'm watching this weekend: 'The Odyssey' but sillier
Damn, we're in a tight spot! We've arrived at another weekend, and that means the question of what to watch is rearing it's ugly head once more. I'm watching a DVD from my collection every Saturday to celebrate.
Even with Christopher Nolan's big adaptation still in theaters, and even though I can see it basically for free right now (that's the girl math I used to justify my $29/month AMC Stubs membership, at any rate), I'd still rather break out my ol' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" DVD and watch this endlessly quotable Cohen brothers for the umpteenth time. For some more recent recommendations on what to watch, check out my round-up of the best new movies on streaming this weekend.
Is Samsung's new foldable 'Ultra' enough?
I was impressed by the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in my testing, but there's some ways in falls short of the "Ultra" moniker versus the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This includes the lack of an S Pen and Privacy display. So is the Fold 8 Ultra worth $2,100? My video breaks down all the key differences and which flagship is right for you.
It's all about the Pixel Watch 5's new health and safety features today
The Pixel Watch 5 sports the same design, dimensions, display, and battery life as the Pixel Watch 4. So what's actually new? In addition to improved GPS tracking accuracy for outdoor workouts and faster/more efficient processing power, the Pixel Watch 5 supports three unique new wellness tools: Breathing Emergency Detection — which works similarly to Loss of Pulse Detection — Blood Pressure Trends, and Insulin Resistance Trends.
Our senior fitness writer, Dan Bracaglia, has gone hands-on with the new watch — read his early verdict of the Pixel Watch 5 here.
The battle of the screenless sleep trackers
Our fitness editor, Jane McGuire, wore the Garmin Cirqa and the Oura Ring 5 to track her sleep for 10 nights. Which came out on top? And are screenless sleep trackers the key to getting better sleep? Read this Garmin Cirqa vs Oura Ring 5 face-off here.
Previously unseen Nintendo carts have emerged
I used to be a big-time retro game collector, so when I see a story about rare classic games emerging, it always piques my interest. Apparently, nearly 100 never-before-seen Nintendo carts were found in a Wisconsin game shop.
It turns out, 100 copies of a rare version of one of the most common games of all time have popped up. This version of Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt, the NES pack-in, has different screws, labels, motherboards and manuals than other releases, making it highly collectible.
iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro pre-order date just tipped
Apple's September event could be the biggest for the company in years as it readies to launch its first foldable phone. And now we have a very good idea of when the event will take place — and when pre-orders could begin.
As reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the Apple September event will take place during the second week of September, likely landing on Wednesday, September 9. Read more about everything we expect to launch here.
Are you ready for the next iPhone?
According to a new Bloomberg report, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra could be available for pre-order soon. Following the September 9 event, Apple is expected to make pre-orders available on Saturday, Sept. 12 (a day later than normal because of Sept. 11 being the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks).
This would be the long-awaited debut of Apple's first folding smartphone. Will Apple dethrone Samsung in the foldable market once its device hits the market? It's certainly possible, though Samsung has had several years of building market share for Apple to compete with.
What to watch this week
It's a new week, which means new TV shows are dropping, and according to our dedicated entertainment team, these are the five shows that should be top of your streaming list.
First up, "Reacher" season 4 puts its famously unstoppable hero back on the case, while "Lanterns" takes a darker trip into the DC universe. Meanwhile, "My Brilliant Career" brings a literary classic to the screen, "Tires" season 3 returns to the world’s most dysfunctional tire shop, and "Women in Blue" season 2 is back for another round of female police drama.
Google Pixel 5 Watch teaser
Google put out a new video teasing the upcoming Pixel Watch 5, and it targets competing devices' visual stylings, implying that other smartwatches lack the good looks of Google's new model.
Check out the teaser for yourself and form your own opinion on whether the Google Pixel Watch 5 is more visually attractive than, say, an Apple Watch Series 11.
Watch our Z Fold 8 review today!
If you're looking for something entertaining to watch, check out our Galaxy Z Fold 8 review above.
Whether you're looking to buy the phone or just want to know what it's all about, this in-depth video is exactly what you need.
Bose refreshes the QuietComfort headphones after 3 years
Bose has refreshed its QuietComfort over-ear headphones three years after launching the first generation. The Bose QuietComfort (Gen 2) inherit the spatial audio Immersive Audio feature from the QuietComfort Ultra series. Using built-in motion sensors, the feature mimics a 3D soundstage for more immersive listening.
Although wireless, the QuietComfort (Gen 2) can also use USB-C audio for wired lossless playback up to 24bit/48kHz. The headphones will be available to pre-order tomorrow, August 8, from Bose.com for $359/£299.
Be careful with hotel Wi-Fi!
There's a scary new report out there about the dangers of hotel Wi-Fi. A new Microsoft warning says hackers have compromised many hotel WiFi networks, which means travelers need to be careful when connecting their devices.
"Since early May 2026, Microsoft Threat Intelligence has observed Storm-2945, a sub-cluster of Midnight Blizzard, conducting widespread but targeted traffic manipulation attacks involving hospitality sector networks served by captive portals worldwide," said Microsoft in a post.
Ted's back. And our verdict is in.
The World Cup may be over, but summer's not done with soccer yet. The inimitable Ted Lasso has returned for season 4 on Apple TV Plus and it's here to make a believer out of all of us.
Our Managing Editor, Streaming, Kelly Woo, took up a seat in the stands to see what the coach has to offer after season 3 all but signified the end of Apple's marquee show. You can check out her review right here — it contains some very light spoilers.
- Read the full review: ‘Ted Lasso’ season 4 review: I went in deeply skeptical. I came out a believer
Galaxy S26 FE leak
Three new images of the Galaxy S26 FE in black, light green, and dark purple colors have emerged from The Cipher Project on Telegram. It looks a lot like you'd expect, with similar styling to the more expensive Galaxy S26.
The FE phones are some of the best value propositions on the market, and we'll be interested to see what kind of punch this one packs once it's officially announced.
SpaceX delivers its first-ever quarterly earnings
SpaceX rocked the stock market in June when it landed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and closed with a value of just over $2 trillion. It's been a bumpy ride since then, and the rocket/telecom/social media/AI company just delivered its first public quarterly business report.
Elon Musk's company said revenue had grown 92% year-on-year to $7.8 billion, which sounds great until it revealed that spending was up a staggering 550% in the same time. The company burned through a cool $18.3 billion, and Reuters reports shares fell 7.5% in after-hours trading.
According to the BBC, during a call with investors afterwards, Musk said that people were "underestimating" SpaceX.
What is happening with AI and books?
AI is a useful tool, but it comes with some serious negative drawbacks. We spoke to Anthropic, and apparently, Millions of books are being destroyed to train AI.
Concerning books, recent reports from The Washington Post and 404 Media have exposed a disturbing trend — Anthropic (the company behind the Claude AI tool) has reportedly dismantled classic physical literature just so they could make the scanning process go faster in a bid to further train their AI models on their material. Here’s an explainer on why and how this trend has come to fruition.
So we went straight to the source, and the company said, "Claude is trained on a mix of publicly available web data, commercially acquired datasets, and data we generate ourselves. Sourcing books is a widely used approach for training large language models across the AI industry. None of our data acquisition programs buy and destroy rare or antiquarian books."
Google teases Pixel 11 Pro Fold ahead of next week's launch
Google is in full-on hype mode right now for its upcoming family of Pixel devices. The official Made by Google event is happening live from New York City next week on Wednesday, August 12. Among the launches will be the Pixel 11 Pro Fold that faces a tough fight from Samsung's recently-revealed Galazy Z Fold 8 and the upcoming iPhone Ultra.
Over on YouTube, Google has dropped an official tease of the new foldable, which we expect to feature a 6.4-inch outer OLED cover screen and an 8.0-inch inner folding OLED display. Rumors claim an upgraded Samsung M16 OLED panel will boost peak outdoor brightness and power efficiency. But the question really is how noticeable will the crease be?
- Read the full story: This is the Pixel 11 Pro Fold — and this is when pre-orders officially start
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra leak
There's a new leak regarding the Galaxy S27 Ultra, and there's some good and some bad.
First, the good: Samsung is rumored to offer a silicon-carbon battery, which is a huge upgrade for the high-end device. This comes from leaker TheGalox on X.
But there's also the bad side of the rumor: Samsung is apparently downgrading the telephoto cameras a bit. According to Ice Universe, refuting a portion of the leak regarding the battery, Samsung won't include two telephoto lenses on the Galaxy S27 Ultra, which will make the photographers among us unhappy.
Xbox price hikes in UK and Europe revealed — and they're higher than the US
Microsoft has confirmed price increases for its Xbox consoles in Europe and the United Kingdom — and the jump is even higher than we saw in the United States. We already knew that. from August 1, the 512GB Xbox models would see a $100 bump, while 1TB consoles would go up by $150. But it's worse across the pond.
The 1TB Xbox Series X is seeing a U.K/EU price rise from £499 / €599 to £669 / €799 — over 30%.
Meanwhile, the 512GB Xbox Series S price hike is over 43% — rising from £299 / €349.99 to £429 / €499.
Do you think Samsung is doing too much AI?
“We don’t want to overwhelm the consumer with AI,” Samsung EVP Jay Kim told Tom's Guide. “A lot of industry focus on AI is sort of as itself as a technology, but I think it’s shifting from technology to benefits. We’re looking at how you make this meaningful, how do you make this more easy to access?”
How do you think the company's latest phones are handling AI? Is it too much or just right?
LIVE NOW: Streaming expert Q&A
Time to get those questions in is running out! If you've ever wanted to talk to a bunch of experts who watch TV for a living, you'll want to join our live streaming Q&A and have some while getting great recommendations!
Google drops a big YouTube teaser for Pixel 11 Pro
Unlike Apple, Google has never been one for keeping secrets about its upcoming devices. The company has just dropped a teaser for the upcoming Pixel 11 Pro showing an outline of the phone and the launch date: August 12.
The focus of the tease is a colorful new circular indicator nestled inside the phone's iconic camera bar. To me, it looks unnervingly like the spinning rainbow wheel on a Mac that kicks in when an app is unresponsive.
If you're excited about Google's upcoming flagship device, check out our rumor hub here on everything we know so far about it.
The MacBook Ultra's OLED display tipped to come exclusively from Samsung
The upcoming MacBook Ultra is widely tipped to be arriving with a tandem OLED touchscreen, which would be a first for the MacBook line. Details are thin, but a new report from The Elec says Apple will rely exclusively on Samsung Display for the screen production.
The Korean-based site claims the 14-inch and 16-inch panels will be mass produced at Samsung's display manufacturing plant in the country's South Chungcheong Province in August.
The initial supply is said to be 2.5 million panels and frequent reports have suggested Apple could launch the MacBook Ultra in late 2026 or early 2027. Here's what we do know, though: it's not going to be cheap.
Apple Upgrade Program
There's a big change coming to Apple in the form of an Upgrade Program. The company will now lease iPhones, Macs, Apple Watches and iPads to buyers for lower monthly costs than purchasing them outright or financing them, thanks to a partnership with Klarna.
The negative side is that you never own the device, which could be a dealbreaker for some people.
The prices are pretty reasonable, with Apple Watches and iPads starting as low as $11.99 and going up from there.
As an example of the cost of a high-end item, Apple cites the 14-inch MacBook Pro 16GB with a $1,999 purchase price as $38.99 per month on a 36-month lease and $53.99 per month on a 24-month lease.
- Apple Watch: starts at $11.99
- iPad: starts at $11.99
- iPhone: starts at $17.99
- Mac: starts at $24.99
Google Maps' 'Immersive Navigation' rolling out
Google Maps' new 'Immersive Navigation' redesign is reportedly beginning its rollout to users on both Android and iOS. Announced back in March, Immersive Navigation was billed as a "complete transformation of the navigation experience" with new 3D visuals and more intuitive directions.
Now, according to users on Reddit, the option to switch it on is beginning to appear — and not just for those using the Google Maps beta.
Immersive Navigation uses Gemini to interpret both aerial photos and Street View to give a better representation of the world around you while driving.
Given the size and scope of this update, the rollout is likely to be slow — with U.S. getting availability first and other regions set to follow in the coming months.
Did you hear what Instagram is doing?
You know those harassing videos you see of people wearing Meta glasses in public? As terrible as they are, they were generating tons of views, which was leading people to do them more often.
Thankfully, Business Insider is reporting Instagram has decided to ban these types of videos from its platform, which means we should see a lot less of them in the future (there's always a chance some sneak through, but it'll be far less likely).
Of course, this doesn't change anything for platforms like TikTok, which could see people using Meta glasses to be just as horrible as they already were on Instagram, but perhaps we'll see other social video platforms step up and ban this type of harassing content, too.
Sorry, pickup artists and pranksters, the well might be running dry.
Happy birthday, Google Chromecast
Today marks the 13th anniversary of a small gadget from Google that ended up with a lasting legacy. On July 24, 2013, the original Google Chromecast burst onto the scene and changed TV viewing forever.
To celebrate, Tom's Guide Managing Editor for TV and Audio, Nick Pino, has put together this retrospective on Google's $35 dongle. As Nick says, it's hard to remember a time before the Cast icon.
- Read the full story: 13 years ago today, the $35 Chromecast changed TV forever
Samsung is feeling confident
Watch our interview with Samsung, where the company discusses Apple's eventual jump into the world of folding phones.
Apple device leasing
Apple is working to roll out an iPhone leasing program to boost sales.
While it sounds like a good idea in theory, we went through and crunched the numbers to see if it's really a deal worth your time.
Check out our Unpacked coverage
We had a ton of Samsung coverage go live yesterday and today, so if you're wondering about the latest foldable phones, we have you covered.
Here are just a few of the Galaxy Unpacked articles that Tom's Guide published recently:
- Samsung Galaxy Unpacked recap: Everything on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, smart glasses, Galaxy Watch 9, and more
- I just ditched my iPhone for the Z Fold 8 — Android 17’s new migration tool is pure magic, but there is one painful catch
- No, the Fold 8 doesn't have an S Pen — but Samsung is ‘exploring’ its return for future Folds
- I went hands-on with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — wide, weird and I want it
- I’ve been wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for nearly a week — 5 things I like and 1 thing I don’t
Google 'Jimothy'
If you've been following along with internet sensation Jimothy, go to Google.com and type in "Jimothy."
You're welcome!
