News
- Huawei claims backup compression ratios reaching an extraordinary 90:1 level
- Patented algorithms sit at the centre of Huawei's reduction strategy
- Four separate reduction stages shrink data before long-term storage
Huawei has unveiled a hardware compression card claiming a data reduction ratio reaching as high as 90:1 under suitable workloads.
The figure applies specifically to backup data carrying high redundancy, such as daily full virtual machine backups accumulated over time.
Huawei says this result sits 20% higher than the leading alternative currently available across the enterprise storage market.
A patented algorithm built around a nonlinear transformationThe card forms part of Huawei's all-flash OceanProtect Backup Storage systems, including two newly announced models, the X8100 and X9100.
Compression relies on a proprietary algorithm family Huawei calls HZU, described by the company as using a fast nonlinear transformation paired with lightweight context prediction methods.
Huawei says this approach outperforms the long-established Lempel-Ziv compression paradigm, boosting the achievable compression ratio by roughly 30% under comparable conditions.
The dynamic technique is patented, covering both the deduplication and compression methods used throughout Huawei's wider backup architecture.
Selecting the most suitable algorithm depends heavily on the specific backup policy and underlying data types involved in each deployment.
Earlier generation OceanProtect systems achieved a comparatively modest 72:1 reduction ratio, meaning the newly announced generation also runs up to 50% faster.
Reduction pipeline relies on dense SSD deploymentReduction happens across four distinct stages, beginning with preprocessing designed to clean incoming data before further processing occurs.
This is followed by multi-layer, inline, and variable-length deduplication, then HZBC compression, and finally byte-level compaction applied to whatever data remains.
The compression card additionally offloads up to 22% of processing demand away from the backup system's main CPU during operation.
That offload matters because OceanProtect systems rely on all-flash media rather than cheaper disk-based alternatives for storage.
Huawei specifically uses QLC storage media paired with an adaptive SLC zone reserved for frequently accessed hot data.
This combination is intended to support faster data recovery once backups eventually need restoring during outages.
Since SSD capacity costs considerably more than disk per terabyte, squeezing more effective storage out of the same physical drives directly improves the economics of an all-flash backup system.
In that sense, the compression algorithm and the SSD architecture work together, with the algorithm doing the actual reduction and the flash media determining why that reduction pays off.
Prospective customers will likely need to test the OceanProtect platform directly against their own backup data sets.
Whether customers experience reductions approaching 90:1 will likely depend heavily on datasets, retention policies, and real-world deployment conditions.
Via Blocksandfiles
If you want to up your coffee game at home, the Breville Bambino Plus is a fantastic addition, being compact enough to fit into any kitchen, while also being more than capable of brewing a delicious shot of espresso.
And right now it’s received a huge discount of AU$230 at Amazon, bringing it down to AU$499. That’s a great price, and normally I’d be singing its praises from the rooftops, but you can save even more by getting yourself an exclusive code from our dedicated Breville coupon page, then head directly to the maker and apply that unique one-time code at checkout.
Follow those steps and you can get the Bambino Plus for the even lower price of AU$449.10. Do note that the biggest saving only applies to the Stainless Steel, Black Truffle and Sea Salt colours. You can still get other colour options from Breville for AU$494.10 using the same discount code.
The Breville Bambino Plus is incredibly simple to use, and can take care of most of the coffee making process for you. Grind some beans into the porta filter, insert it into the group head and use the one-touch controls to brew. It also has a hands-free milk texturing system for expertly frothed milk, while ThermoJet technology means the machine is ready to use in seconds. There's very little you need to do to simply enjoy the results. View Deal
If you’ve ever thought going hands-on with an espresso machine would be too difficult to master, then the Bambino Plus is here to bust that myth. While it may look like a manual machine, it’s realistically a semi-automatic model.
You will need to adjust the grind size depending on whether you want a single or double shot, and then tamp the coffee grounds yourself, but Breville has preset the machine to grind the optimum amount each time.
To make things even easier, it benefits from the company’s Auto MilQ system to automatically foam milk, whether it be dairy or plant-based. To be honest, I was a little surprised to learn it had this feature, as I thought it would have been reserved for Breville’s more expensive models.
Our Breville Bambino Plus review gave it a strong 4.5 stars out of five when we originally put it through its paces. We called it a “fantastic machine that’s packed with smart features to help you make the smoothest and professional-looking coffee around”. We appreciated the fast heat-up time and the level of customisation on offer.
As with any coffee machine, you’ll need to keep on top of maintenance to keep it working at its best, and it won’t suit pod users, but that’s all there is to criticise. For many people, it’ll be one of the best espresso machines you can buy if you want a capable and more affordable choice compared to some premium options.
Update: Now Prime Day's over, the mini PC has risen in price. The cheapest I can find the K13 is $590 (was $900) at GMKtec.
That's twenty bucks more than its previous low price for most of the Prime Day sale. But still a significant saving. I've updated the deal block below with the new price and a link to the now expired Amazon deal. Alternatively, at Amazon, it's now priced at $680. That's the same as on Newegg, too.
In the UK, the K13 mini PC is still £539 with voucher (was £729) at Amazon.
Original article continues below
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Looking for the best value mini PC deal for Prime Day - then this is it. The GMKtec K13 just dropped to $540 (was $950) at Amazon.
I've checked, and that's its lowest ever price. I was price-checking my live Prime Day home office deals hub when I spotted the change - previously it was priced at $570 before it got the new $540 tag.
The system itself comes equipped with Intel Ultra 7 256V processor, 16GB LPDDR5, and 512GB SSD that's expandable up to a massive 16TB thanks to dual Gen4 NVMe slots. When we benchmarked the AI mini PC in our review, we found it "a thoughtfully engineered slice of modern computing" that showcases the best of what Intel does.
Today's best GMKtec mini PC deal(was $539.99 at Amazon for Prime Day)
Intel Ultra 7 256V | 16GB LPDDR5 | 512GB SSD
During tests, the K13 from the ever reliable GMKtec proved to be a powerful little system, especially for local AI. It's a uniquely portable and compact design, too, coming in a rectangle rather than the usual square box.
➡️ Amazon price check: now $680 at Amazon (Prime Day pricing expired)View Deal
Not in the US? Check below to find the best GMKtec K13 deal where you are.
In my guide to the best mini PCs, I included the K13 in the 'Also Tested category, where I highlighted its particular excellence as a mini PC for local AI and data speeds. The system is capable of 115 TOPS total AI.
There's also an ultra-fast 5 GbE LAN port and dual USB4 ports capable of daisy-chaining accessories like eGPUs, storage arrays, and capture cards.
With the RAM soldered to the board, expandability it limited to the storage - which supports dual 8TB lanes. Still, for anyone who needs 16TB total SSD capacity, this is golden.
In the final verdict of our review, we said: "if your use case is modern, efficiency-focused desktop computing, perhaps content creation, AI experimentation, clean-desk professional work, or a powerful behind-monitor media machine, then K13 makes a compelling argument. There is plenty to like here, and relatively few reasons to avoid this machine, not least the price."
Doubly so now the K13 hits a new low $540. I don't expect this one to stay at that price for long.
- Hisense launches a dedicated remote that connects to the kid-safe Vidaa Kids
- Kids can't access grown-up apps with the Safe Streaming remote
- Included across the 2026 Hisense TV range
If you're a parent, you probably don't want your kids to watch things on TV that aren't age-appropriate or safe for them to stream. But stopping that can be a pain. Hisense may have a better option: the first "Safe Streaming" remote control.
Hisense has teamed up with A Parent Media Co Inc, which owns the Kidoodle TV service, to deliver kid-friendly shows to its Vidaa TV operating system alongside the aforementioned remote. It'll be available across the entire 2026 TV range.
Rather than try to screen out dodgy stuff across your smart TV apps and channels, Hisense's solution removes them altogether. The kids can watch thousands of episodes on Vidaa Kids, and the remote is there to help them find their favorites such as Spongebob Squarepants, PAW Patrol: Pup Tales, Baby Shark and many more. There are over 50,000 episodes in total.
(Image credit: Hisense)A walled garden that's safer for kidsLike many parents I was anti-screens… until I became a parent. Sometimes parking a toddler in front of PAW Patrol is exactly what you need so you can prepare a meal, put a laundry load on or just get a few minutes' break.
But my kids didn't have access to the streaming and live channels today's smart TVs have; there's no way I'd leave young kids in front of the TV without supervision or a lot of parental controls switched on.
What Hisense is offering here is an easier life for parents of young children: rather than having to block specific apps on your TV or PIN-protect profiles in multiple apps, you can simply give the kids the Safe Streaming remote and let them get on with it.
Because it's all in one app you don't need to spend any time configuring the apps the grown-ups use, and there's no possibility of the kids getting frustrated across multiple streaming services.
The new remote will be included across Hisense's 2026 MiniLED and RGB MiniLED range, including the E8S, U7S, U7S PRO, UR8S and UR9S series, launching this month — but only on sets with the Vidaa operating system, meaning in the UK and Europe, but not in the US.
Thinking of buying a new TV?Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.
- Halo Campaign Evolved will feature original content and new features, too
- Creative director Max Szlagor says the remake was a process of "crafting it piece by piece"
- The game will be "more accessible" than the original
Halo Campaign Evolved isn't just a simple remake of Halo: Combat Evolved's campaign, according to Halo Studios, but a blend of original content and new features designed for a modern shooter.
In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Summer Game Fest 2026, where we went hands-on with the upcoming game, executive producer Damon Conn and creative director Max Szlagor explained how the team recaptured the feel of the original game and the challenges of making it a fresh experience.
"It's a combination [..] of this Halo simulation, which we've built up over 25 years, foundationally from [Halo] Reach, but pulling in additional pieces and pairing that with this beautiful Unreal [Engine] renderer," Szlagor said. "As far as challenges, it's really just looking at it piece by piece as we build the levels, the encounters with enemies, vehicles, weapons.
"It's just a lot of stuff that we've put together. We've got all the original content plus these nine new weapons, ones you couldn't use in the original game, so making sure those fit in nicely with the Energy Sword, the Fuel Rod cannon, driving the Wraith, [and] vehicle hijacking. Just crafting it piece by piece."
Conn explained that the "key" is "to bring it into more of a modern shooter," which means "make it more accessible" by revamping old features so that they're more approachable.
"You can find your way through levels a little bit easier now," the developer added, "whereas back in the early 2000s, you had to find your way, and it was really trial and error. Now we have much more poignant waypointing to help you along."
There will also be quality-of-life features built using Unreal Engine 5, including a sprint button, but players can also play the game "the original way" by disabling the option.
"I like to sprint around and use it as a traversal function," Conn said. "It doesn't really change the way I'm going to play the game, but it definitely lets me move through the environment in a way that I'm more used to."
Halo Campaign Evolved launches on July 28 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.
It's been another packed week of technology news, and TechRadar has been covering all of the stories that matter: the Prime Day deals, the Apple price hikes, new devices from Oura and Sonos, and plenty more besides.
If you haven't been able to check in regularly on our site, this weekly ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) round-up is here to get you up to speed. You can browse through the headlines that matter below, and click the links for the full articles.
Get yourself comfortable and review the past week below, and we'll be back again this time next week for another ICYMI summary.
7. We scoured the Prime Day deals(Image credit: TechRadar / Amazon)You may have noticed that it's been Amazon Prime Day this week — it's now spread across multiple days of course — and the TechRadar team has been busy searching across every Amazon category to bring you the best deals: we've found discounts on TVs, laptops, headphones, smartwatches, smart home gadgets, tablets, and plenty more besides.
No matter what you're in need of tech-wise at the moment, our US and UK round-up pages have a variety of deals that will fit, and a lot of these discounts are genuinely substantial — and many are still going. Together with the latest prices and links for each product, we've also included our expert tech advice in each case, so you know exactly why which offers are worth pursuing.
- Read more: We're tracking the best Prime Day tech deals live — 121 biggest discounts on Apple, Samsung, Kindle, Sony, and more
The Oura Ring 5 is a substantial step up from its predecessor: it's slimmer, lighter, and more durable, as well as offering extra battery life — and according to our review, you might even forget you're wearing it. Oura has managed to refine the device's appearance so it looks like a normal piece of jewelry, even with the cutting-edge sensors inside it.
"It's easily the most stylish and accurate smart ring around," our review states, though it's not perfect, and there's that usual Oura subscription fee to consider if you want to access most of the tracking features. If you're wondering whether the Oura Ring 5 is the right wearable upgrade for you, then we'll tell you everything you need to know below.
5. Meta revealed its cheaper smart glasses(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Meta has treated us to a bumper crop of new smart glasses, starting at $299 / £269 / AU$599 and developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. We've got all the details here, including how they feel to wear, and a rundown of the design and color variations you can pick from — you certainly can't complain that there isn't enough choice in this batch.
We've also got comments from Meta CTO and Head of Reality Labs Andrew 'Boz' Bosworth, who outlined the company's vision of a smart spec future, and said "it's pretty easy to make glasses that don’t look good, it turns out". That seems to be a humorous dig at some of Meta's rivals in the space, but see what you think of the new Meta Glasses range.
4. We reviewed the latest Sonos speaker(Image credit: Future)The Sonos Era 100 SL wireless speaker is more affordable than the Era 100 that launched before it, but as our detailed review will tell you, Sonos has been able to pull this off without making too many compromises. Most importantly, the quality of the sound doesn't drop even though the price does, so you still get a top-tier listening experience.
Our review takes you through every aspect of the Era 100 SL speaker, from how easy it is to set up initially, to the sort of performance you can expect from it — with London Grammar and DJ Shadow included in the artists whose music we used for testing — and there's praise for "quality sound", "great connectivity", and "iconic design" along the way.
3. The Steam Machine got an official price tag(Image credit: Valve)It's been a long wait for the Steam Machine, but we're nearly there, and now know that the starting price is set at $1,049 / £879 / AU$1,609, and we can thank the price inflation driven by the RAM crisis for that. If a Steam Machine is still within your budget, you'll be able to put in an order from June 29, more than seven months after it was first announced.
If you don't think that's good value, then we've put together a guide to building your own Steam Machine alternative below. You get full control over the budget and the specs of the components you choose, and it can be a lot of fun too (as we can say with confidence given the years of PC building experience on the TechRadar team).
- Read more: Disappointed by the Steam Machine’s official price? Build your own mini gaming PC instead with these deals
Speaking of the RAM crisis, it just hit Apple too: the company has racked up the pricing on many of its products, including iPads, MacBooks, and even the HomePod. The recently launched MacBook Neo, for example, now has a starting price of $699 rather than $599 in the US — a not inconsiderable rise of $100 or 17% in a single jump.
We've got all the details of how much more expensive each Apple gadget is now, with these price increases effective immediately on the official Apple Store. We've also got some ideas about where you can still find these Apple products at their original prices from third-party retailers — though you'll have to move fast to grab them.
1. GTA 6 pre-orders finally went live(Image credit: Rockstar)After two substantial delays, GTA 6 is finally going to go on sale on November 19, and you can get your pre-orders in now for the PS5, the Xbox Series X, or the Xbox Series S. You've got a $79.99 / £69.99 Standard Edition and a $99.99 / £89.99 Ultimate Edition to choose between, and we've got links for you to all the top US and UK retailers right here.
We're also going to keep an eye out for any bundles that these stores are offering, meaning you can pick up the game and a console at the same time — so check back often if you're interested. It's exciting that pre-orders are now live for what could be the video game of the decade, and we only have five more months to count down until launch day.
- A new type of pixel is capable of both controlling and analyzing light
- It's based on the Fourier mathematical tool
- We'll have to wait some time to get this in our gadget screens
Screens that double up as cameras could be packed into future gadgets, as researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a new type of pixel that can analyze and create images simultaneously.
These bidirectional pixels are able to both control and read the intensity, oscillation, phase, and polarization of light, and they're based on the fundamental physics of interfering light waves. The pixels are carefully sculpted at the nanometer level to direct light as it hits the surface and gets scattered.
At the same time as the light is traveling across the pixel and being scattered back out to the viewer, creating the required images and patterns, an analysis of the incoming light can be carried out as well — all on the same pixel.
The approach "establishes a scalable, universal architecture for vectorially programmable pixels with applications in adaptive optics, holographic displays, optical communication, and quantum information processing," write the researchers in their paper on the new pixel, which is published in Nature.
Scaling upTiny surface ridges are used to control the light (Image credit: Glauser YM, Vonk SJW, et al., Nature 2026)The pixel is termed a Fourier pixel after the mathematical tool that the component is based on. It's essentially a way of breaking down a complex output signal into a series of waves that can be controlled more easily — like the light fields here.
It's still early days for the research, and there will be challenges scaling this up. Right now the pixels need laser light as a source, and are fixed in what they can display — this isn't like a TV screen that can show anything, although there are several potential routes through which the tech could be developed in that direction.
The reactions on Reddit are perhaps a sign of our current technology times, as people have instantly latched on to the surveillance potential. "Screens that are also cameras, what could go wrong?" reads one poster, while another says that "I ain't ever buying a device with that technology". Fans of dystopian sci-fi have also been inspired to quote sections from 1984 about 'telescreens', which were two-way televisions and security cameras used to monitor citizens.
Interesting related piece of tech history of the day: the term 'pixel', originally 'picture element', was used in print for the first time in 1927, so next year marks a century since the words (now word) were originally introduced.
- A Chinese medtech firm has gained EU approval for its remote surgery robot
- Medbot’s Toumai system can now be moved and marketed freely in the European Union
- The approval comes after Toumai was used for the UK's first long-distance surgery
A Chinese medical technology firm has gained EU approval for its remote surgery robot following its use by a London surgeon to operate on a patient 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar.
Shanghai Microport MedBot’s Toumai is a three-part remote surgery system that allows doctors and surgeons to perform operations on the abdomen and pelvis.
The system is composed of a surgeon console, patient cart, and vision cart, with robotic ‘limbs’ allowing operators to perform operations. The system uses 5G connectivity to connect the surgeon console to the vision cart over long distances.
The approval follows Toumai’s successful use by a London surgeon to perform the UK’s first long-distance teleoperated surgery, a full prostate removal on a man with prostate cancer in Gibraltar.
Dr. Proskar Dasgupta performed the operation using the teleoperated system on 62-year old Paul Buxton in March 2026. Speaking to the BBC, Buxton said it was a “no-brainer” to take part in the experimental procedure and become “part of medical history”.
The robot will see you now(Image credit: Getty Images)Gibraltar, a small UK territory just south of Spain, has a single hospital within its borders, meaning residents may need to travel 1,500 miles north to the UK for more complex procedures.
However, Toumai and remote surgery systems like it allow patients to be treated by experts without traveling to meet them. Dr. Dasgupta said to the BBC that he felt “almost as if I was there” while conducting Mr. Buxton’s procedure.
On June 22, Shanghai Microport MedBot announced that the Toumai robotic surgery system had received the CE Mark — an EU stamp of approval required to sell products in its common market
As South China Morning Post reports, this allows the system to be "moved and marketed" freely in the EU, meaning the company is free to offer Toumai to healthcare providers in any of the EU’s 27 member states.
This will be welcome news for MedBot, which made 73 per cent of its revenue from overseas sales in 2025, up from 20 per cent in 2023.
- A designer working with NASA and agricultural experts has created a coffee that tastes like it was grown on Mars
- MA student Sarah Ali created the coffee as part of her 'Brew_Lab' project
- The project reflects on how climate change might affect the availability and composition of coffee
A designer working with experts at NASA and the UK’s Royal Botanical Society has produced a coffee that tastes like it was grown on Mars a hundred years from now.
The red planet-flavored Mars 2126 coffee — an ‘edible scent’ added to a regular cup of joe — is a product of Brew_Lab, a project by industrial designer Sarah Ali. The project is centered around a futuristic vending machine that brews coffee from three different dates in the future, based on climate projections.
Ali, 35, produced Brew_Lab to conclude her MA in Material Futures at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, and exhibited the project at Milan Design Week in April 2026, as well as CSM's degree show which runs until June 21.
“This is very much a climate futures project” said Ali to TechRadar, “and the way I got to Mars was through the fact that if we keep on doing what we do now, our future in 100 years time might be that Earth won’t be able to facilitate all the things we need it to.”
“It’s a little bit speculative,” she continued, “but what I found really cool was that people at NASA were already testing what food and drink would be like on Mars. There’s a lot of investment in that space.”
The Arabica successors(Image credit: Sarah Ali)As well as providing passers-by the chance to try a cup of Martian mud from 2126, the project also includes an edible scent designed to predict the taste of coffee grown in Sierra Leone in 2080. This uses the revived stenophylla species of coffee bean, which is more resilient to climate change than the industry-leading arabica bean.
The third and final flavor, Brazil 2027, is used to emphasize the frailty of the Arabica bean, with crop yields expected to fall by as much as 80% by 2050 (via University of Florida).
To design the scent profiles of each coffee, Ali used machine learning models fed by data from NASA’s Dr. Gioia Massa, and Kew Gardens’ Dr. Aaron Davis, a world- leading coffee expert.
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“Dr. Davis has studied 127 different coffee species, of which only 7 to 12 are likely to survive into our future” adds Ali. Brew_Lab uses rare, hardy racemosa beans for its Martian brew, and Ali explained that NASA’s research on agriculture allowed her to factor in the effect of gravity on our perception of taste on the final product.
“I thought of Mars because it’s a very extreme scenario”, Ali said, “and the extreme scenarios allow us to really understand what’s happening. How do we think about things differently, to avoid that future or prepare for it.”
Still, it might take a few years yet for the best coffee makers to add a ‘Martian’ setting.
Full spoilers follow for The Bear season 5, including its finale.
About Power On...Nowadays, everyone has an opinion they want to share with the world — and TechRadar senior entertainment reporter Tom Power is no different. That's why he created Power On..., aka a collection of articles that allow him to give his verdict on the industry's biggest stories, things that grind his gears, and more besides. For more pieces like this, check out the full series here.
I love The Bear. It's one of my favorite TV shows of the past decade. And, while I understand the criticism leveled at its third and, to a greater extent, fourth season, I don't necessarily agree with all of it.
Nevertheless, when it was announced that The Bear season 5 would be the FX TV Original's last hurrah, I'll readily admit that I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach. The reason? Other shows I've enjoyed that ended recently, including Stranger Things and The Boys — coincidentally, they also stopped after five seasons — failed to stick the landing with their finales.
I feared that The Bear would go the same way. You can probably sense my relief through the screen, then, that its series finale not only delivered a fittingly bittersweet conclusion to its overarching narrative, but avoided the pitfalls that its TV peers blindly stumbled into.
One of the biggest issues — among many other problems that I don't have the time nor space to cover here — that befell the hit Netflix and Prime Video shows' finales was that they didn't utilize their time well.
Where The Boys season 5 was concerned, the Amazon TV series' rushed ending gave the impression that it simply couldn't wait for its end credits to roll. In sharp contrast, Stranger Things season 5's finale was dragged out to the point where I was begging for its final credits sequence to begin.
Admittedly, The Bear season 5's pacing isn't perfect, but it uses its time more efficiently and wisely. Indeed, part of its success comes from how this season's plot is structured.
Carmy, Syd, Jessica, and the rest of the gang are dealt blow after blow in season 5's first half (Image credit: FX Networks)Unlike past seasons, The Bear's fifth installment is 24-esque in its storytelling approach. Vis-à-vis its eighth and final chapter notwithstanding, it takes place over the course of a single day.
In episodes 1 to 7, we follow the titular restaurant's ragtag but lovable crew as they navigate what could be their final-ever service, due to the eatery's lack of funds.
That possible scenario ends up being the least of their problems. A massive, unrelenting thunderstorm not only floods the restaurant but also results in the next food delivery being canceled, meaning the staff can only serve what little stock they have left. Throw an overbooked guest list and storm-related traffic issues in for good measure, meaning their table turnover has to be on point, and it's no surprise that tensions and tempers are soon running at an all-time high.
It ends up being smiles all around by The Bear's final-ever episode (Image credit: FX Networks)However, rather than do what past entries have done by slowly but purposefully building the pressure until things boil over, The Bear 5 deliberately shows how its eccentric — and, depending on who we're talking about, emotionally damaged — cast of characters have evolved over the five seasons.
A great example of this happens midway through the penultimate episode, titled 'Caramel'. Here, the storm's impact on the restaurant's power supply makes the lights flicker and leads to Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto dropping a lamb rib-based dish for one of the evening's most important diners.
Previous seasons would've seen Carmy completely spiral and take his anger out on his colleagues, which would've likely resulted in a verbal and/or physical altercation with occasionally confrontational associate — oh, and long-time family friend — Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich.
I lost count of how many times I fought back tears, clapped, and fist-pumped the air in The Bear's final two episodes
This time, though, Richie and Carmy's former protégé, Sydney 'Syd' Adamu, calmly prevents him from overreacting, keeping what's already been a nightmarish day on track.
That's just one of myriad instances this season I could point to that show how far these individuals, and the collective as a whole, have grown since the series first premiered on Hulu and Disney+. Compare that to Stranger Things and The Boys, whose approach to individual character development wasn't always on point, and, from a character study perspective, The Bear is — if you pardon the pun — a different beast altogether.
Every character gets their moment in the spotlight this season (Image credit: FX Networks)Speaking of character progression, each member of The Bear's primary ensemble gets their moment in the spotlight, as well as a fitting conclusion to their personal arcs.
And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. With Carmy's blessing and Uncle Jimmy's backing, Ebraheim finally starts to turn The Original Beef of Chicagoland into a franchise. Meanwhile, Sydney reaffirms her trust in Tina by appointing her as the restaurant's new chef de cuisine.
Furthermore, Marcus starts to make peace with his estranged father and proves that his recent award win wasn't a flash in the pan. Natalie, aka 'Sugar', and the Berzatto family matriarch Donna's previously strained relationship continues on an upward trajectory. Heck, even Gary, aka 'Sweeps', gets a genuinely crowd-pleasing moment; after the storm ruins the 1997 and 1999 year labels on two bottles of red wine, he correctly guesses the right one – using his wine-based powers of deduction – to serve to a diner who happens to be a wine connoisseur.
Yes, chef! Jessica and Richie are finally together (Image credit: FX Networks)The biggest wins are reserved for Carmy, Syd, and Richie, though.
Richie is offered the chance to attend an international hospitality summit in Japan. He's not only accompanied by Jessica on the trip, but showrunner Christopher Storer also gives fans what they've been wanting for this pair by ending the 'will they, won't they' subplot and establishing their romantic feelings for each other.
As for Syd and Carmy, Syd fully establishes herself as The Bear's new head chef, while Carmy quits the food business entirely and, putting his love and skill for drawing to good use, becomes an architectural intern.
However, the biggest cause for celebration is that, almost four seasons after they first set their sights on earning a Michelin star, they don't get one, but two.
You're lying if you say you didn't get teary-eyed during this scene (Image credit: FX Networks)Like so many other moments in season 5 – and after watching this duo endure hardship after hardship throughout the series – the emotional release I felt once they processed their achievements and shared a joyful hug was euphoric. It's the sign of great writing when you genuinely care about a bunch of fictional characters, and I certainly lost count of how many times I fought back tears, clapped, and fist-pumped the air in The Bear's final two episodes as its crew individually and collectively triumphed against the odds.
Stranger Things 5 and The Boys 5 occasionally struck an emotional chord, and there's no denying that they have their fair share of impactful moments. Held up to the light against another tale centered on a group of underdogs fighting the impossible, though, and it's clear The Bear just does everything better in a concluding chapter whose every bite is delightfully delicious.
If I had to choose a fictional, found family to be a part of... I'd choose The Bear every time
Though it ends in magical albeit bittersweet fashion, The Bear doesn't wrap up every storyline in a neat little bow, nor give every character the perfect send-off, but I suppose that's the point.
As a fixture of the Chicago food scene, the eponymous eatery doesn't end simply because Carmy is no longer a part of it — its story, and the lives of those past and present who were involved in it, continue whether we have a seat at the table to see what happens next or not. As Lucca reminds Marcus towards the end of its finale: "The Bear has something that no other place has... family" — and he's right. If I had to choose a fictional found family to be a part of out of the previously mentioned shows, I'd choose The Bear every time.
All five seasons of The Bear are out now on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (everywhere else), aka two of the world's best streaming services.
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 has only just landed on Netflix, but we're already thinking about season 3 (you can read our ending explained to learn why).
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3: key information- Was renewed at the same time as season 2
- Rumored release window of Summer 2027
- Production has wrapped
- Core cast is expected to return
- Is expected to adapt the third book in the original book series
Luckily for us, it had incredibly early confirmation. We've known all along that Aang (Gordon Cormier) needs to learn all four elemental bending skills in order to stop the Fire Nation, led by Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), from controlling the Four Nations.
As our current batch of episodes draws to a close, we're still far from reaching this conclusion. Enter Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3, which is already poised to take over.
From release window predictions to returning cast, here's everything we know about the next installment.
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 release window predictionIt's worth pointing out that, as of writing, Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 doesn't have a confirmed release date or window. However, internet rumors suggest we could be seeing new episodes at some point in summer 2027.
The Avatar will return. AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Seasons 2 & 3. Only on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/sUnY5w6JgfMarch 6, 2024
Seasons 2 and 3 were shot back-to-back, and filming for new episodes wrapped back in November 2025.
Worst case, we can expect season 3 at some point in 2028, given that there's been a two-year gap between seasons 1 and 2.
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 trailer: is there one?A trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 hasn't made its debut yet. Once one is released, we'll update this section.
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 castCommander Zhao's return in season 2 seems unlikely (Image credit: Netflix)We can expect the following cast to return for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3:
- Gordon Cormier as Aang
- Kiawentiio as Katara
- Ian Ousley as Sokka
- Dallas Liu as Zuko
- Daniel Dae Kim as Ozai
- Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Zuko
- Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula
- Miya Cech as Toph
- Chin Han as Long Feng
- Justin Chien as King Kuei
- Amanda Zhao as Joo Dee
- Crystal Yu as Lady Beifong
- Kelemete Misipeka as The Boulder
- Hoa Xuande as Professor Zei
- Lourdes Faberes as General Sung
- Rekha Sharma as Amita
- Madison Hu as Fei
- Dichen Lachman as Yangchen
- Lily Gao as Ursa
- Terry Chen as Jeong Jeong
Dolly De Leon as Lo and Li, Jon Jon Briones as Piandao, and Tantoo Cardinal as Hama were all originally tipped to appear in the second reason, but do not. Despite this, we can expect them to star in season 3.
More new names will likely be announced as we get closer to the show's release, so keep your eyes peeled.
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 plot predictionsSuki and Sokka will continue to support Aang in battle (Image credit: Netflix)Spoilers for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 ahead.
We're pretty confident that season 3 is going to directly adapt the third Avatar book, following Aang learning to firebend, infiltrating the Fire Nation, and preparing for his climactic showdown with Fire Lord Ozai before Sozin's Comet arrives. Not too much, then.
We also know that Zuko will eventually team up with Aang and the gang to make this happen, so we can expect to see some more emotional upheaval from him.
Obviously, finding out if Aang has actually survived the battle is a top priority for season 3. But the mere fact that season 3 has already been greenlit basically confirms that we'll be seeing Aang again anyway.
Will there be more seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender?(Image credit: Netflix)As of writing, nothing has been announced. Narratively, it makes sense for season 3 to be the last, if Books 1, 2, and 3 have all been adapted in each.
However, the fact that there are so many written and comic book continuations means that the possibilities could be endless. Even if we don't get a direct season 4, Netflix could invest in spinoffs galore.