News
- The country of Georgia has finally arrived on Google Street View
- Google has highlighted several major sights worth seeing
- The imagery is available in Google Maps and Google Earth
Street View is still expanding, almost 20 years after Google first launched it, and the East European country of Georgia is the latest to be added to the platform — with some spectacular sites and landmarks included, besides all the roads and highways.
"Georgia is a country defined by the scale of its history and the dramatic diversity of its landscapes," says Google, who worked with the Georgian government to get the country on the Street View map.
Some 13,000 kilometers (8,078 miles) of roads have been added, and can be found in Google Maps and Google Earth. You can check out the Jvari Monastery (part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site), the medieval stone towers of Ushguli, and the Bridge of Peace that crosses the Kura River in the capital Tbilisi.
There's also Telavi in the Kakheti region, the center of a wine-making tradition in Georgia that goes back 8,000 years. Grapes from these vineyards are still fermented in traditional clay jars called qvevri, which are buried underground.
Another GeoGuessr levelThe Ushguli medieval villages can now be accessed via Street View (Image credit: Future)Another sight worth seeing: the Jvari Pass, high up in the mountains, part of the Greater Caucasus range. Spend a few minutes clicking around on the new Street View images and you'll find plenty of fantastic views.
Of course, you don't have to check out the biggest tourist spots or the most well-known roads. In Google Maps on the web, just drag the little yellow pegman (lower right) into the map somewhere — as you hover with your mouse cursor, Street View roads will turn blue, and that now includes Georgia.
As well as checking out potential spots to travel to, the new imagery is also a boon for GeoGuessr players trying to name the country from a Street View picture. One poster calls it a "beautiful country" that's a "great addition".
While many of us will be well used to Street View imagery in our part of the world, it isn't everywhere yet. Countries including Cyprus and Paraguay were only added last year, while it's missing in China and many African and Middle Eastern nations.
- 79% of data centers are exposed to climate hazards, 54% face chronic heat or drought
- Higher temperatures lead to more cooling demand, creating a vicious circle
- Component longevity is also at risk from heat and other impacts
According to new First Street research, four in five (79%) or the world's data center capacity is exposed to climate hazards like flooding, wildfire and winds, with more than half (54%) of data centers located in areas that face chronic heat or drought stress.
With hyperscalers investing billions to keep up with demands created by AI, First Street stresses that today's decisions could impact cloud computing for years to come.
But even without further investments, rising temperatures and the effects of climate change could put existing facilities under further pressure.
Hyperscalers are building data centers in at-risk areasBesides the obvious risk of component damage, higher temperatures also mean that data centers need more cooling than they previously did, driving up electricity and water consumption. Because chips and other components operate best at an optimal temperature, higher temperatures could even cause them to fail sooner.
Flooding, winds and storms also threaten electrical systems, network connectivity and fiber networks, potentially leading to outages.
The revelation comes just weeks after a separate study from insurer MS Amlin found that half (56%) of all new projects are being located in disaster-prone areas.
"Most underwriting for real assets still uses historical data, but the climate is no longer behaving the way the historical record would predict," CEO Matthew Eby said.
But with part and utility costs soaring, companies are being forced to reduce costs elsewhere, including locating campuses in cheaper areas that are often more at-risk. With companies already having to consider compute capacity, power availability, connectivity and local opposition, "climate risk is becoming an increasingly important determinant of long-term performance," First Street warns.
"Together, these risks affect NOI stability, cash flow durability, and long-term asset performance," the company added.
The early Amazon Prime Day deals have started to arrive, but the best Nintendo Switch 2 deal isn't actually on the main Amazon shopping site. Instead, you'll need to head over to Woot (a lesser-known Amazon brand), where you can use code CHEAPSWITCH2 to score a discount of up to $100 off the console.
• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale
Right now the Nintendo Switch 2 is listed for just $449 (was $499.99), but using the code lets returning Woot! shoppers bag an extra $30 off to take the price down to just $419. That's not all, though, as site newcomers get a generous $50 off instead, which sends the cost plunging to only $399.
This is the cheapest I've ever seen Nintendo's latest console go in the US, and I expect it to sell out fast, so make sure to take advantage of this discount while you can. Remember, you have to input CHEAPSWITCH2 for the best price!
Today's best Nintendo Switch 2 dealUse code CHEAPSWITCH2The Nintendo Switch 2 is already discounted to just $449 at Woot, but using code CHEAPSWITCH2 at checkout nets returning customers an extra $30 off and newcomers a whopping $50 additional discount. This is an absolutely ridiculous sale, so I'd grab it while stock is still sticking around.View Deal
More Prime Day deals in the US- Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
- Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
- Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
- Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
- Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
- Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
- Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
- Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
- Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
- Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
- Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
- Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34
If you want the most capable 16-inch laptop available right now without compromise, the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73) is $3000 (was $3500) at B&H Photo. This is an absolute beast of a machine for video editing, 3D workflows, gaming, and just about any demanding workload you can throw at it. And it's the cheapest RTX 5090 laptop I've come across.
The RTX 5090 laptop GPU is the headline here, and it earns it. Based on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture with 10,496 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR7 memory, it’s the most powerful consumer laptop GPU ever made.
The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is an Arrow Lake chip with 24 cores — 8 performance cores running up to 5.4GHz and 16 efficiency cores — and it’s a serious processor by any measure. Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI is as close as laptops get to a no-compromise flagship right now.
Today's top RTX 5090 laptop dealThis is the full-spec configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 cores, up to 5.4GHz), RTX 5090 laptop GPU at 175W with 24GB GDDR7, 32GB DDR5, and 2TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD split across two drives. The 16-inch OLED display runs at 240Hz, 2560×1600, 100% DCI-P3, with G-SYNC support. Connectivity is exceptional: Thunderbolt 5 (120Gbps), 5GbE wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, HDMI 2.1, and USB-A ports. Acer’s InfiniteRing RGB lighting and MagKey 4.0 keyboard round out a machine that means business. Free 2-day shipping. Also includes $129 in free accessories.View Deal
The 240Hz OLED display at 2560×1600 with 100% DCI-P3 coverage is outstanding for both visual work and high-refresh gaming. The combination of OLED’s infinite contrast and perfect blacks with a 240Hz panel and G-SYNC adaptive sync gives you a display that serves creative professionals well.
The connectivity package is where the Helios 16 AI pulls significantly ahead of most competitors. Thunderbolt 5 at 120Gbps is a generational leap over Thunderbolt 4 — it can drive an 8K display, transfer a 4TB SSD backup in under 10 minutes, or connect multiple high-bandwidth peripherals simultaneously. The 5GbE wired Ethernet port is fast enough to eliminate network bottlenecks entirely for anyone on a 2.5G or 5G home or office network. Wi-Fi 7 handles wireless connectivity with the same class-leading bandwidth.
Acer’s 6th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans and liquid metal thermal compound keep the system stable under sustained load.
Now, when I call this a beast, I mean it. It weighs around 2.6kg and the 330W power brick is substantial. This is a desktop replacement that travels, not an ultra-portable laptop. If you can live with those realities — and many professionals absolutely can — the Helios 16 AI delivers desktop-grade performance in a form factor that fits in a backpack.
- ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) camera tech is getting smarter
- A new company is bridging the gap between cameras and connected tech
- Tools to avoid ALPR cameras are rapidly gaining popularity
More than 5,000 law enforcement departments across the US use Flock Safety cameras to track billions of license plates every month, according to a report from NBC news, helping them build an enormous database of the movements of everyday people.
But Flock is just one company working on such tech, with hundreds of new automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras and devices springing up daily.
More recently, 404Media has highlighted a new tech firm that aims to add phone, AirPod and Smartwatch location data to license plate readers in order to build a clearer picture about who was driving what… and when. Understandably, rebellious drivers are now fighting back thanks to a new website called DeFlock.
Leonardo's SignalTrace system is designed to scan the airwaves for signals left by myriad Bluetooth and wireless connected devices in order to link these to a license plate as it passes, potentially placing an individual in a vehicle at a specific time and place.
Leonardo says its technology uses "non-intrusive intelligence gathering" to detect publicly broadcasted device identifiers, feeding this data into an advanced algorithm so that multiple devices traveling together could link an individual to a vehicle and vice versa.
The police and other law enforcement agencies are then able to access this data, but concerns have been raised about the potential for hacking or misuse by the authorities to track personal relations.
Analysis: Privacy advocates are pushing back (Image credit: Deflock.org)In a move that aims to hand back some control to the individual, a website called DeFlock has surfaced that allows anyone to plan routes that actively avoid Flock’s ALPR cameras altogether and generally provide a more privacy-focussed alternative.
Just like most digital route-planners, users plug in a start and end point for their journey, changing how aggressively they want the software to avoid cameras, according to Carscoops.
The site will then compare a normal route to the more private alternative, suggesting how many miles and minutes a detour would take.
Website user numbers are on the increase, as organizations, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have warned that Flock’s surveillance camera systems are designed to enable “mass surveillance” and are susceptible to “grave abuses”, according to its own investigations.
Last year, the EFF reported on how more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies ran hundreds of searches through Flock's national network of surveillance data in connection with protest activity over a ten-month period, for example.
With news that ALPR cameras could soon be linked to connected devices, some sectors of the general public are understandably concerned, with one Reddit user commenting: “the only hope for anything is a Digital Civil Rights movement”.
Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders are starting this week, and it's the perfect time to have a look at your console gaming setup, be it PS5 or Xbox Series X or S, and think about any upgrades you might want to make. It'll be the perfect way to ensure your setup is up to date with new gear that you're used to by the time the game arrives on your doorstep.
Be it upgrading your console to get the best performance, embracing a new display to make Vice City shine, getting a premium controller to ensure you have every action at your fingertips, or taking a step up audibly to ensure you get can hear all the sounds, there's likely to be something worth mulling over before GTA 6 comes in November.
As a result, I've taken it upon myself to suggest some brilliant products in key console setup areas that will make a difference to your GTA 6 experience, while also fielding some suggestions from the rest of our TechRadar experts. You'll find US and UK prices for each below, and if you're not in those regions, you can head to the bottom and find a list of the best prices available in your region as presented by our price-finding tech. If you're looking for an early retailer page to sit on for the game itself, then the below ones are worth bookmarking, too.
- US GTA 6 pre-order retailer search links: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy | Target | GameStop
- UK GTA 6 pre-order retailer search links: Amazon | Currys | Argos | Very | EE | ShopTo | The Game Collection | John Lewis
Yep, it'll be a big purchase to consider at any time of the year, but if you're going to be a GTA 6 player who wants the best possible experience with the game and be able to have all the bells and whistles it can offer, then it might be time to consider some more horsepower.
In terms of those rocking a last-gen console still (a PS4 or Xbox One) then this should be of great interest, and if you're already a regular PS5 owner or a Series S owner, then making the jump up to the PS5 Pro or Series X, respectively, might ensure you get the most out of GTA 6's likely graphical and technical prowess.
This is even more the case if you own a 120Hz-capable TV or monitor, as that'll help you get even more out of such a machine, especially the PS5 Pro.
Annoyingly, there are no cracking deals on the PS5 Pro in the US right now, but we still want to recommend it as perhaps the best console to get for GTA 6 given its spec sheet, PSSR, WiFi upgrade, and 2TB hard drive.View Deal
Sadly, there are no truly excellent prices on the ordinary Series X console in the States either, so the best 'value' pick — even though it's a bit more of an investment — is the 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition version here. Plus, its massive storage upgrade compared to other Xbox consoles might come in handy if the rumors of GTA 6's file sizes are to be believed...View Deal
The premium PS5 Pro is best acquired at EE right now in the UK, with the retailer knocking 45 pounds off the console's list price. We predict the PS5 Pro could be the definitive way to play GTA 6, given Rockstar's close relationship with Sony, so this is our top pick for the console to play the game on. View Deal
It looks like Very is the best place to go for a Series X console right now in the UK, with a neat 20 quid off the list price. If you're committed to the Xbox ecosystem and brand, and are either on Series S or Xbox One right now, then this is the UK upgrade to go for.View Deal
Let the game shineGTA 6 is likely to be a visual marvel of the video game medium, trumping almost all other video game worlds, environments, and aesthetics (well, nearly all, surely) and what better way to make sure you catch every detail and enjoy every colour, stripe, and crack in the sidewalk than by upgrading to a new and superior display.
The LG C5 is our single pick for those looking to go big for a Grand Theft Auto 6 big screen experience, as it has the best feature set, image processing, and picture detail for the price right now. It offers extraordinary bang-for-buck value, especially in the face of the newer C6 being out now.
For those looking for a monitor, the Alienware AW32255QF is a 4K curved beauty that is perfect for both PS5 and Xbox players, offering all the connectivity and specs you need, while also giving you a brilliant QD-OLED panel with a gorgeous curve to pull you into games.
I asked James Davidson, our resident TV expert, for his one single pick for those looking to go big for GTA 6 with a TV purchase, and this was his precise pick for US readers. It's a superb TV and offers exceptional value in the face of its new brethren, the C6 being out right now too. A great TV to cruise the streets of Vice City on.View Deal
James also recommended this precise variant of the brilliant LG C5 for UK readers too. And it's great value for money this week. To get this deal at Crampton and Moore, simply use code LG10 at checkout. View Deal
Sadly, there's no discount running on my favorite console monitor in the US right now, but it might be one to keep an eye on at retailers, including parent company Dell, linked here, over the rest of the week for Prime Day.View Deal
This is a good price on one of my absolute favorite monitors to buy right now, and it's the lowest price on the monitor —using Amazon data — since December, so now is a great time to strike!View Deal
Feel the burnIf you want to have all the tools and weapons available to you at all times in GTA 6 and want the utmost level of versatility and 'at your fingertips' control for GTA 6, then going for a better controller, one that offers more than the standard offerings, is a brilliant move.
It's an easy choice for both consoles for me, here, with Sony's DualSense Edge, especially when on offer, giving PS5 players a familiar and effortless way to upgrade their controller, while those on Xbox should definitely go for the Asus ROG Raikiri II, which is perhaps the very best third-party Xbox controller going.
You can save a neat 10 bucks off the brilliant DualSense Edge pad over at Walmart right now. Now that we're out of Sony's own Days of Play sale, this is a good price, but it's also one worth keeping an eye on over Prime Day week.View Deal
This is a wonderful price for the high-end first-party controller that will let you fully unleash in Vice City later this year.View Deal
Definitely one to keep an eye out for and price drops this week, but this is one of our absolute favorite premium Xbox (and PC) controllers and is absolutely excellent for anyone looking to get loads out of their pad.View Deal
It looks like the Asus ROG Raikiri II is a little hard to find at the obvious retailers in the UK, but Overclockers has it in stock — but sadly with no discount right now. Worth keeping an eye on this week though.View Deal
Hear every detail of Vice CityUpgrading your audio by going with a fantastic set of quality earcups from a trusted brand is one of the most tangible ways to improve your gaming experience in one fell swoop — and without having to do any huge sweeping changes to a set up.
The Audeze Maxwell 2, with its fantastic planar-magnetic drivers, is my favorite gaming headset for pure audio quality right now, and it will be perfect for anyone looking to hear every detail in Vice City.
It also comes in PlayStation and Xbox-facing variants so it's a cross-platform recommendation, and you'll find links for both below.
Sadly, no discount on the brilliant Audeze Maxwell 2 at the time of writing, but it's seriously good, so you won't regret it even at full price. Having said that, it's Prime Day week so that could bring deals, and the Maxwell 2ANC has been announced so might put pressure on the 'ordinary' Maxwell 2's price.
Xbox variant: $349 at AmazonView Deal
This is a pretty good price for the Audeze Maxell 2 in the UK as it often sells for north of £300. The sound is seriously so, so, good from this headset, you'll be wondering how you survived without it beforehand.
Xbox variant: Peter Tyson - £369View Deal
Give it room to breath on consoleRumors have abounded about the potential file size of Rockstar's next behemoth, and if even some of them come partially close, some extra storage space is likely to be very welcome indeed! However, we've all seen the price rises happening, so it's a bit of a struggle finding great value for money in any kind of memory right now. I've picked out the best prices on some great value offerings below though.
By far the best solution on PS5 — and perhaps even more acutely for those rocking a launch PS5 with its smaller hard drive — is an internal SSD. As for Xbox, there's only really one storage device to recommend, and that's the bespoke model for Series X or S that's made by Seagate or WD_Black — I've recommended the WD_Black variant below as it's always better value for money.
While not bombastic value for money, if you want a PS5 SSD to commit to right now or want to keep an eye on one from a trusted brand, this is it.View Deal
Acer's GM7000 is a trusted PS5 SSD with heatsink you can go for right now, and given the discount is probably the best deal on a 1TB drive I can find right now for a PS5 SSD.View Deal
Sadly, another one that's not on offer right now in the US, but offers decent value at its list price, and is also one to keep an eye on this week. It's a great drive, though, and the bespoke design means it connects straight to the console's motherboard for best performance.View Deal
Not a new price on this variant of the C50 by any means, but this offers robust value for money and was still selling at the list price of £150 in April.View Deal
Coffee machines are always a solid shout when Amazon Prime Day comes around, and more often than not you can score a fairly reasonable deal, especially for entry-level models like the Nespresso Vertuo Pop.
I've been out of the Nespresso game for a few years — my machine totally gave up on me and now it's resting in peace — but if I were to reboot my relationship with the best Nespresso machines, the Vertuo Pop would be the first place I'd start.
• Browse all the early Prime Day deals
In Amazon's early Prime Day sale, one of the most affordable coffee makers just got cheaper in both the US and UK. The Vertuo Pop+ has dropped to $98.98 from $159 in the US, while UK shoppers can pick up the standard Vertuo Pop for £59.99 (was £86.16). But be warned, the UK deal is only available for a few more hours, so take Amazon's big scary red countdown very seriously.
Best Nespresso Vertuo Pop dealsAs far as its pricing history goes, the Vertuo Pop+ is back down to its Black Friday price, which is always refreshing to see during Prime Day. That said, it's been way over a year since it hit an all-time-low price, which makes us think it won't get any cheaper as Prime Day kicks in. View Deal
UK shoppers be warned, there are only a few hours left before this deal expires and Prime Day officially begins, not to mention it's only 99p above its lowest price ever. Given the bright red countdown on its Amazon listing, it's likely this deal won't survive the morning. View Deal
Though there are deals on both sides of the pond, there are slight differences between the Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Pop+. The main one is the latter model has a larger water tank, meaning less trips back and forth to the sink for refills.
The Pop+ also has automatic lid closure and can accommodate larger mugs. But aside from their minor differences, both are solid options for beginners, or for those who were once in the Nespresso game, and now want to make a comeback.
We gave the Vertuo Pop a respectable 4 stars in our review for a number of reasons, but it was convenience and speed that impressed us the most. It's built on a one-touch system, which produces a tasty cup of coffee in four ways (Mug/Coffee, Gran Lungo, Double Espresso, and Espresso) in less than 30 seconds, a quick and easy way to get your morning caffeine fix.
The only downside to owning any Nespresso machine is the pods, meaning you have to keep restocking. Fortunately, the Vertuo Pop comes with a 12-capsule variety pack to get you started.
More Prime Day deals in the US- Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
- Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
- Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
- Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
- Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
- Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
- Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
- Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
- Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
- Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
- Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
- Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34
- Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
- Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
- Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
- Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
- Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
- Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
- Essentials: household goods from under £10
- Fashion: up to 50% off
- Headphones: up to 50% off
- Laptops: from £149.99
- Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
- Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
- TVs: from £129.99
- Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
- Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99
If you're looking for the most powerful mini PC you can get under $500, I've found it - after a lot of searching ahead of Prime Day, it turns out the real deal is over at Newegg, where the Brenuc Bren7P mini PC is down to $499 (was $599) right now.
This compact desktop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS — a high-performance 8-core, 16-thread Zen 4 chip with a 5.1GHz boost clock that sits comfortably at the top of the mini PC performance tier. Paired with DDR5 memory, a PCIe 4.0 SSD, and dual 2.5G Ethernet, this is a machine that genuinely earns the “powerful” label without needing a large chassis to do it.
The AMD Radeon 780M is the upgrade that really caught my eye. For video editors using hardware acceleration in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere, photographers using GPU-accelerated processing in Lightroom, or developers running GPU-compute workloads, the difference is immediately tangible. It also handles a broader range of gaming titles than Intel’s integrated graphics at playable frame rates.
Today's top mini PC dealFor the price, this is the most powerful mini PC - or PC of any size - you can get for less than $500. And that's because it's packing the high-performance Ryzen 7 7840HS, 16GB DDR5, 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and AMD’s Radeon 780M GPU. That makes a real difference for anything visually demanding, from photo and video editing to light gaming. You can even upgrade to 64GB RAM and dual M.2 NVMe storage.View Deal
The AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS is the real engine here. It’s a Zen 4 processor built on TSMC’s 4nm process — the same generation as the chips AMD put in its premium gaming handhelds — and it consistently benchmarks among the strongest mobile CPUs in the 15W–54W power envelope. Eight performance cores with simultaneous multithreading and a 5.1 GHz boost clock mean this chip handles sustained multi-threaded workloads like video transcoding, compiling, data processing, and running virtual machines without throttling, as lower-TDP mobile chips often do in compact chassis.
The dual 2.5G Ethernet ports are a standout feature in this category. Most mini PCs at this price ship with a single 1G port; dual 2.5G gives you 2.5 times the bandwidth per port and the ability to connect to two separate networks simultaneously. For home office users who keep work and personal networks separate, IT professionals who need multiple network interfaces, or anyone running a network-attached storage server or a home lab, this is a genuinely practical inclusion you’d typically pay more for.
USB 4.0 at 40 Gbps on the rear I/O is another connectivity highlight. At full bandwidth, it’s four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 2, and it supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, Power Delivery, and Thunderbolt 3-compatible devices. In practice, you can connect an external SSD and transfer a 4K video library in a fraction of the time it would take over USB 3.2, or connect a high-res display and still have bandwidth left over for data.
The triple 4K display capability (HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, USB-C) mirrors what the KAMRUI H2 offers, and the dual M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4 slots support up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and as much storage as you want. The tool-free interior access — four base screws and a pull tab — makes upgrades straightforward without needing specialist equipment.
Right now, the Brenuc Bren7P is the most well-rounded mini PC you can currently find under $500 — and the Radeon 780M is what tips it over the line. Check out more options in our guide to the best mini PCs.
It's a tale as old as tech time: a new flagship device appears on the scene, which means the device it's replacing gets a price drop, and potentially offers better value for money for the discerning gadget buyer.
For this guide, we're going to be looking specifically at the Oura Ring 4 (which launched in 2024) and the Oura Ring 5 (launched in 2026). The Oura Ring 4 is likely to see some great Amazon Prime Day deals, but should you go all in on the latest and most expensive model? Or is the older model the better investment when bought at a discount?
• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale
There's no doubt that both models qualify as two of the best smart rings on the market right now, but which one is right for you depends on your budget and what your priorities are. Here's how they compare.
Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: pricingThe (Image credit: Oura)While pricing varies as special offers come and go, the Oura Ring 5 launched for a starting price of $399 / £399 / AU$649, with some finishes costing extra at $499 / £499 / AU$799 – that's a little more expensive than the original Oura Ring 4 (note that the prices for Australia are for third-party resellers, not from Oura directly).
There's an upgraded charging case available for $99 / £99 / AU$159 for the Oura Ring 5, and then there's the monthly subscription: $5.99 / £5.99 / AU$9.99 a month or $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$109.99 a year. While a subscription isn't technically necessary to use an Oura Ring, you do need one to access the bulk of its features.
So what about Oura Ring 4 price drops? At the time of writing, the starting price is $349 / £349 if you go through the official channels, and we're seeing some good deals on the Oura Ring 4 already, which you can find below. Given that it's an older model, you're much more likely to see discounts on this smart ring on both the Oura shop and third-party retailers like Amazon.
Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: specs and featuresThe Oura Ring 4 launched in 2024 (Image credit: Oura)What you need to know first is that the Oura Ring 5 is notably slimmer than the Oura Ring 4: for the most affordable finishes, it's 6.09 mm (0.24 inches) wide and 2.28 mm (0.09 inches) thick, down from 7.9 mm (0.31 inches) and 2.8 mm (0.11 inches), which is a reduction of about 40%.
That can make a difference when it comes to comfort and day-to-day wear. The new model is lighter too, with those reduced dimensions, weighing 2 grams rather than 3.3 grams. Both models are available in a variety of ring sizes to fit your finger, though the Oura Ring 5 introduces a new sizing scheme that doesn't match its predecessor.
The new, slimmer Oura Ring 5 (Image credit: Oura)The Oura Ring 5 is also more scratch resistant, while both models offer the same level of waterproofing (down to a depth of 100 meters). Battery life has been improved on the new model too, with the official estimates standing at 5-8 days for the Oura Ring 4, and 6-9 days for the Oura Ring 5.
As for sensors and health tracking features, this is where the rings are mostly tied. Oura says the fifth-generation model is more accurate because of a change in the sensor layout, but the core sensor tech is the same between the two models, and the software experience through the app is the same for tracking steps, activity, heart rate, and more.
Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: VerdictThe Oura Ring 4 is still an excellent smart ring (Image credit: Oura)There's clearly a lot that's new and improved in the Oura Ring 5: it's slimmer and lighter, and offers better battery life. Oura says it's also more accurate, though that's not something we've finished testing ourselves just yet. That said, the tracking capabilities, sensors, and app features are more or less identical between the models.
Where the Oura Ring 4 really has the potential to outdo the newer model is in terms of pricing. As time goes on, you're likely to see bigger and bigger discounts on the fourth-generation model — and don't forget that we awarded it our Health & Fitness Device of the Year award for 2025. It's a seriously impressive bit of kit, and if the right discount comes along during Amazon Prime Day, it'll certainly be a better-value package than the Ring 5.
Regardless, you'll need to weigh up what's most important to you for your next smart ring, and how much you're prepared to spend to get it. Both of these premium smart rings from Oura will give you years of use — so we might be talking about the Oura Ring 6 before you need to think about upgrading again.
More Prime Day deals in the US- Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
- Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
- Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
- Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
- Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
- Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
- Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
- Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
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- Laptops: from £149.99
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- Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
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- Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
- Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99
The latest model in Fujifilm's long-running series of budget instant cameras might've only launched earlier this year, but I've just spotted the Instax Mini 12 at Amazon US for $79.95 (was $93.95), which is a record-low price ahead of Amazon Prime Day.
• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale
It hasn't been discounted that low since last year, making this the first opportunity anyone who's had the best instant camera on their wish list to bag a bargain. That's great timing if you ask me, because the Instax Mini 12 is a great camera for the summer. In the UK, there's another record-low deal on the same Instax Mini 12 camera for £69.99 (was £79.99).
From capturing holiday moments to being passed around at weddings, this is the perfect time of year to own an instant camera. The Instax Mini 12 produces great-looking prints, and is extremely easy to use — what's more to like?
Today's best Instax Mini 12 dealsInstax Mini 12: was $93.95 now $79.95 at Amazon
Snag a record-low price for the best instant camera around at Amazon. It's comfortable to hold and capable of producing attractive prints at a reasonable price. This is a limited-time deal, though, so I wouldn't wait for stocks to run out, as I expect this will be a popular deal throughout Prime Day. View Deal
Instax Mini 12: was £79.99 now £69.99 at Amazon
Don't miss grabbing a record-low price for what we rated as the best instant camera around. It was almost a year ago that prices hit this low, making this the perfect time to snap up the Instax Mini 12. With Prime Day running through to June 26, I'm not sure stocks will last for this, so be quick. View Deal
- Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
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- Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
- Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
- Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
- Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
- Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
- Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
- Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
- Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
- Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34
- Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
- Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
- Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
- Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
- Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
- Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
- Essentials: household goods from under £10
- Fashion: up to 50% off
- Headphones: up to 50% off
- Laptops: from £149.99
- Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
- Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
- TVs: from £129.99
- Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
- Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99