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.