News
- Japan plans to hire millions of AI robots as its working population shrinks
- One domestic startup plans to build 100 workplace robots by 2027
- Japanese insurers are preparing for accidents involving increasingly capable workplace robots
The Japanese government has set a goal of placing 10 million robots driven by artificial intelligence into workplaces before 2040, hoping to offset a rapidly thinning workforce in its aging population.
By 2040, United Nations medium-variant estimates place Japan's population at 112,158,304, which is 6.2% lower than the 119,584,122 projected for 2030.
The median age would reach 54.0 years, with 35.3% of people at least 65 years old and only 10.4% of them children below 15.
Machines move into offices and wardsHospitals and factories in Japan already struggle to fill positions, which is why a growing number of employers are turning to machines for daily tasks.
Startup Zeals recently introduced the D1 in Tokyo, a wheeled machine with a humanoid form that costs from 5 million yen (about $32,000).
The indoor unit stands 129 cm tall, recognizes faces through a camera, and each of its two arms can lift a maximum of 5 kg.
Zeals intends to build 100 units by March 2027 and accumulate 10,000 hours of running time, selling through dealers and leasing partners.
The company writes its own software and buys components from American and Chinese suppliers, but it eventually hopes to use only Japanese parts.
In late August 2026, a hospital in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, trialed the robot for leading visitors and clearing tables in its dining space.
“It is important to gather training data and ensure that it is actually useful in real-world settings,” said Masahiro Shimizu, CEO of Zeals.
Kakuichi, a Nagano firm that sells steel and systems for managing energy, will onboard a humanoid machine among its new graduates in April 2027.
Play Robotics, a firm that studies humanoids, is helping Kakuichi install and run the Chinese-built robot called Miyazawa Noah.
Kakuichi intends to assign the robot to manufacturing, sales and other departments so that it builds skills by doing real work.
“Developing a humanoid robot is also about fostering employees who will make full use of it,” said Riu Tanaka, CEO of Kakuichi.
Insurers prepare for the dangers that the machines createMitsui Sumitomo Insurance has joined forces with Zeals to sell policies built for D1 users, counting on demand from hotels, hospitals, factories and logistics firms.
It acknowledges that the use of these robots will be associated with some mishaps, whether physical or cyber-related.
"There are risks of causing harm to people or property, as well as concerns about data breaches in cyber-attacks," said Masaki Oshiro, manager of the 1st Branch Office at the insurer's Tokyo East Branch.
In July, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance acquired shares in a Japanese firm developing physical AI, which lets robots learn new tasks on their own.
The purchase was meant to give the insurer a closer look at how such systems behave and what could go wrong with them.
Buying into a developer while already selling policies suggests the insurer is still learning what these robots can do and how often they fail.
So, while Japan makes moves to boost its workforce with robots, the performance and impact of these robots on its economy is uncertain.
Via Japan Today
As someone who writes about smartphones as part of my job, there's a special place in my heart for budget-oriented or mid-range handsets that outperform their price tags — especially those good enough to become fixtures in my list of the best cheap phones in Australia.
So I was pleased to find one of my top-rated picks, Samsung’s Galaxy A57, hitting an all-time low price of AU$519 as part of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, making it an even better value handset than ever.
Galaxy A57 (128GB, Lilac): was $749 now $519
Beating its last all-time low price on Amazon of AU$597, this price makes an already affordable mid-range phone an even more compelling buy if you’re in the market for a new Android handset that nails all the basics, while also looking and feeling like a flagship. Our review gave it 4 out of 5 stars for its thin and light chassis and vibrant display and I personally had a blast using it. The Navy colour costs slightly more at AU$539, while the 256GB model starts at AU$619.View Deal
I would go so far as to say that the Galaxy A57 is a much better value than Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 FE — especially with its price hike from its predecessor — with prices starting at AU$1,149.
With both handsets using 6.7-inch AMOLED displays, similar main and ultrawide camera specs, along with the same starting storage of 128GB and similar battery sizes, I’d be hard-pressed to recommend the more expensive Galaxy S26 FE unless you really want a telephoto camera, wireless charging and the full Galaxy AI suite.
The Galaxy A57 brings a fair few upgrades over the just-as-excellent Galaxy A56 from last year, including a much thinner and lighter chassis (6.9mm thick and 179g compared to the A56’s 7.4mm depth and 198g weight), a faster Exynos 1680 chipset that can now handle more AI tasks, and an IP68 durability rating (up from IP67).
If you don’t need flagship specs but want something that still feels like a premium handset, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy A57, especially at this rock-bottom price point.
Summer is over, but the arrival of fall has brought with it a ton of excellent new gadgets. TechRadar's product testers have been busy reviewing tech from across a wide spectrum of markets, and we've uncovered some truly outstanding new products.
Below, I've rounded up all the products that scored 4.5 or 5 stars out of 5 in our in-depth tests. Perfect scorers in our monthly Reviews Recap are usually few and far between, but this past month we've had a bumper crop. There's the Sonos Beam Ultra, which we called "the ideal mid-sized Dolby Atmos soundbar", and Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds, which piqued our interest with their user-replaceable batteries and then won us over with their impeccable sound quality.
For those who like to take their tech out-and-about, the DJI Osmo 360 II fixes the first gen's flaws and gives GoPro and Insta360 "a serious run for their money", and the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro delivers "near-perfect performance" for a price tag we've politely described as "aspirational". Oh and there's a new phone out from a little brand called Apple — maybe you've heard of it? We were pretty impressed with the iPhone 18 Pro, too.
Scroll down to browse all the best tech we've tested over the past four weeks, and tap the View details button for a summary of what we thought, plus a link to read the full review for each.
Note: only the products that are available in your region will appear below.
5-star products Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds Pros- Superb sound quality plus Dolby Atmos spatial audio
- Comfortable and premium design – and finally, user-replaceable batteries
- Lots of future-proof features
- Touch control area is a little small
- Ever-so-slightly bulkier than rivals
- ANC still lags a bit behind Apple, Sony and Bose
- Up-firing drivers and amazing Atmos effects
- Clear dialogue with effective Speech Enhancement
- Compact and beautiful design
- No HDMI passthrough
- DTS:X left out
- Excellent camera system with genuinely useful Pro controls
- Variable aperture adds creative flexibility
- Burgundy and Glacier colors are beautiful
- A20 Pro is very, very fast and enables long battery life
- No major design changes
- $100 / £100 / AU$100 more
- Slimmer and lighter
- Fully titanium redesign
- 3,000-nit AMOLED display
- New tools like Stamina mode
- Fast battery drain during GPS workouts, on modes other than Max Battery
- Now includes user-replaceable lenses
- Excellent all-round 360 image quality
- Cheaper than the Insta360 X6
- Price increase over original Osmo 360
- Not available in the USA
- Spectacular sound quality
- Brilliant K2HD and XBass / XSpace modes
- Intuitive touchscreen
- Great value
- More ‘portable’ models available
- Case must be purchased separately
- Cheaper options are out there
- Smart charging case is feature-rich and fun
- ANC surprisingly effective for open-fit earbuds
- Relaxed, comfortable fit
- Strong overall sound quality…
- Open-fit designs have drawbacks, sonically speaking
- Spatial audio could be better
- Not the most premium-looking buds
- Fantastic vacuuming
- Impressive mopping
- Very effective self-cleaning
- Relatively expensive
- No mop-only mode
- Small issues with phantom room mapping
- Far more musical than the Ace
- Excellent Dolby Atmos for movies
- Fantastic feature-suite with enhanced ANC and detailed EQ options
- Stunning design; responsive controls
- Some rivals still offer more detail
- Case doesn’t mirror the headphones’ premium look and feel
- Not fully foldable
- Truly excellent 4K picture quality
- Gimbal tracking works flawlessly
- Wide range of control and tweaking features
- Premium build quality
- Very pricey
- Will be overkill for most users
- No included lens cap
- Class-leading design touches
- Superb vacuum perfomance
- Highly reliable
- Possibly too complex for some
- Not cheap
- Some minor obstacle-avoidance quirks
- Excellent ergonomics
- Durable, quality feel
- Dock attachment enables seamless switching
- Pretty pricey
- Grips and case susceptible to fibers and dust
- Brilliant overall picture quality
- Fantastic for gaming
- Glare-free still a hit
- Pricey
- No Dolby Vision
- Still can't hit OLED's highs
- Exceptionally lightweight for this type of lens
- Sharp detail and smooth bokeh
- Rugged build quality
- Decent value, but some of Sony's super-telephoto zooms are cheaper
- Sony's super-telephoto zooms are more versatile
- Exemplary performance and gaming chops
- Enormous battery with fast charging
- Well priced for the specs despite price rise
- Despite still being great value, it costs more than the F8 Ultra
- Cameras are capable but not top-tier
- A handy self-timer for limiting camera shake and FOMO
- Eye-popping, pastel color options and a playful design
- Credit card-sized quality prints
- Self-timer doesn't have a countdown light indicator
- Ribbed design makes it slightly bulkier and heavier than the Instax Mini 12
- Great edge cleaning
- Long battery life
- Scraper prevents streaks
- Lies 180 degrees flat
- Superb dirt detection system
- Picks up large debris very well
- Long-lasting clean water tank
- Solution sprayer breaks down tough stains
- Base auto-refills tank with clean water and solution in seconds
- Base is large and bulky
- Dry settings don’t fully dry the brushroll
- Incredible HDR experience
- Huge, immersive ultrawide format
- Competitively priced
- You'll need a mega graphics card
- Edge dimming issue in some scenarios
- Vintage Sony design
- Excellent all-round performance
- Elegant minimalistic design
- Viewing angles are limited
- Lacks one or two gaming features
- Occasional color slip-ups in dark scenes
- Fantastic, detailed audio
- Feature-packed, handy smart charging case
- Comfortable, secure in-ear fit
- Middling ANC
- Call quality not as clear as expected
- Spatial audio in need of improvement
- Comfortable and light
- Multiple connectivity options
- Solid performance
- Lacks performance tweaks
- Included cable isn’t braided
- Low profile not for everyone
- Excellent results from versatile cooking modes
- Useful quick start guide and cook book included in box
- Intuitive controls and dishwasher-safe basket
- Large footprint not so good for small kitchens
- Takes time to understand cooking times
- No shake reminder or basket window
- Excellent air fry, steamfry and steam modes
- Consistently great results across all food types
- Set of tongs included in the box
- You can get big-basket fryers for less
- The glossy top shows dirt easily
- Large footprint means you need lots of counter space
- Easy to use and clean up
- Four settings: Hot Froth, Hot Milk, Cold Foam, and Matcha
- Elegant style
- Effective
- Pricey
- Takes up more space than a handheld frother
- Articulate, balanced and authoritative sound
- Ample power is one of several specification highlights
- Impressive standard of build and finish
- Fussy where positioning is concerned
- Finish makes quite a big difference to the aesthetic
- Stands are almost ‘must-have’ (and very expensive)
- Great overall picture quality
- Good gaming performance
- An evolution of standard mini-LED
- Reflective screen
- Average viewing angles
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
- Natural and textured sound across the frequency range
- Incredibly insightful treble response
- Striking aesthetic and great build quality
- Broad build isn’t my favorite
- No 3.5mm connectivity option
- Blends and processes a huge variety of foods and beverages
- Powerful blades easily blend ice and much more
- Comes with lots of different blades for dicing, slicing, shredding, and more
- Smaller blending tumbler is perfect for smoothies on the go
- SmoothSense and PrepIQ eliminate guesswork
- Sometimes you have to run a second cycle to full blend or process foods
- Quite a learning curve to figure out all of the features
- Has lot of parts to clean
- Needs a significant amount of storage/counter space
- Report claims production of budget smartphones could drop by 40% by 2030
- The increasing costs of RAM and chipsets thanks to the AI data center boom are key factors in the forecast
- In addition, basic product lines aimed at the lower end of the market are becoming less profitable as minimum spec phones are overlooked in favour of portable media production devices
It could be time to start saving for your next phone, thanks to the increasing demand for RAM, processors, and SoCs, new research has claimed. The AI data center boom has driven various price rises across the electronics industry over the past few years, and now it seems that the days of the budget smartphone could be numbered – and at best, they may be hard to come by for a while.
Forecasting by Counterpoint Research estimates smartphones below the $200 figure could shrink by 40% by 2030 - which equates to the market shrinking by 230 million devices.
While mid-range, premium, and ultra-premium devices are less affected by this, those on lower incomes – particularly in poorer countries – could find internet access is off-limits.
A sharp contractionCounterpoint Research’s study suggests the smartphone market will change considerably as higher device specifications justify higher price points in a landscape where component costs are climbing.
This “structural shock” can be traced to the current downturn, and will likely lead many people to keep their phones for longer (although those who can afford it will upgrade). It’s a scenario that could see the extension of replacement cycles by consumers and vendors alike (perhaps persuaded by market demand) and the refurbished handset market could also benefit. Handset insurance plans may also see longer subscriptions, too, further supporting the refurbished market and legacy stock supplies.
Over recent years, premium smartphones have driven the market, and the data apparently suggests this will continue. The prediction doesn’t suggest budget phones will go away entirely, but there could be new opportunities from the used phone market, dumbphones (like the Commodore Callback), and even niche/DIY solutions.
Connectivity riskMore premium phones and higher specced mid-range devices sounds good at face value. However, it does mean that regions where budget phones are vital to communications and internet access are likely to find it more difficult to achieve mobile internet connectivity.
“The smartphone market will recover in unit terms, but the affordable segment will not return to its previous standing,” said Yang Wang, a principal analyst at Counterpoint Research, noting the market size will be similar overall, but different in value.
“The opportunity now shifts toward better-specced mainstream devices and premium products, although higher tiers cannot absorb all the lost volume,” Wang adds, “there is also a wider connectivity risk, as the loss of affordable new smartphones could make it harder for first-time users in lower-income markets to come online.”
Counterpoint Research underlines that it expects the smartphone market to regain its 2025 volume by 2030, but with a much smaller budget segment.
As an audio reviewer, I am of course always excited when a new pair of headphones is announced. However, I’ve noticed a worrying trend in the last couple of years whereby every new premium pair seems to cost AU$699.
The Sony WH-1000XM6, Sonos Ace and Sonos Ace Ultra, Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, Edifier Stax Spirit S5, Nothing Headphone 1 Pro, Technics EAH-A1000 all cost AU$699 at launch, to name a few. The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless went even further with a AU$749.95 debut.
That’s a lot of money to pay for a set of cans — and that’s why the current Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale is worth sitting up for, as I’ve found a few pairs of truly talented headphones that have received significant discounts.
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: was $645 now $378
These flagship Bose headphones launched at AU$649.95, and are one of the earlier examples of premium pricing. Now they’ve been replaced by a second-gen model, which means their price can take a hit. I consider this first-gen set to be the best ANC headphones right now, owing to the fact they’re a lot more affordable, and that the ANC performance difference isn’t all that huge compared to their newer sibling. They’re extremely comfortable too, and they serve up a lovely, lively and engaging sound. View Deal
QuietComfort Headphones: was $448 now $243
This more mid-range pair of Bose over-ears also make my guide to the best noise cancelling headphones thanks to their ability to block out virtually all external sounds. As with the Ultra set above, they sound glorious, are comfortable and fold away for travel. They miss out on spatial audio, but otherwise are near-faultless. The best price is on the Moonlight Grey colour, but all others are available with significant discounts. [Ed's note: Moonlight Grey at AU$230.85 now appears to be sold out, but several other colourways are still available for around the AU$245 mark.]View Deal
HD 600: was $599.95 now $299
These open-back Sennheiser headphones are nearly 20 years old, but the fact they can still command their original AU$600 list price should tell you everything. They’re truly stunning, offering excellent dynamics and lively sound. As mentioned however, they’re open-back, which means they’ll leak sound, so they’re not ideal for use on the go, but rather for listening at home with some capable source equipment. View Deal
If the idea of a detailed, open-back sound sounds good to you, but you want it everywhere you go, the HD 620S could be for you. They’re a conventional closed-back design, and as our friends at What Hi-Fi? said in their review, “these headphones invite you to simply sit back and enjoy the detailed and smooth sound, no matter what genre you’re listening to”. View Deal
WH-1000XM6: was $699.95 now $513
I mentioned them in my intro, and thanks to this week’s Amazon sale, you can get the Dusty Pink colourway with a respectable discount. While still not cheap, they are arguably one of the best headphones available today, there's no doubting performance here, with beautifully balanced sound and great ANC. View Deal
Momentum 4 Wireless: was $649 now $240
Sennheiser has now finally released a newer version of its stunning Momentum headphones, but that only means this fourth-gen model becomes even more affordable. In our five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 review, we highlighted their effective active noise-cancellation, 60-hours of battery life and excellent sound quality. At this price, they certainly deserve your consideration.View Deal
EAH-AZ100: was $499 now $331
Earbuds can also enter at the premium end, and these Technics buds have been my number one since they launched. They deliver a sound packed with detail and clarity, and one that is entirely engaging. ANC is great, and they're brimming with useful features. View Deal
QuietComfort Earbuds: was $289.95 now $170.05
These mid-range Bose ‘buds punch well above their weight, and now they’ve dropped to AU$170, they’re an even easier recommendation for anyone seeking premium sound without paying premium money. Plus, the ANC is by far and away the best in its class, and they’re packed with genuinely useful features. View Deal
- Blaze Entertainment head of communications Sean Cleaver says it wants to collaborate with more companies on the Evercade
- Cleaver says it's been in contact with EA, Sega, and Bandai Namco, but "it's about when they're ready to do it"
- He confirms that Blaze has a three- to four-year roadmap and hopes to work with Rare again
Blaze Entertainment has revealed that it has a four-year-long roadmap prepared for the Evercade and has even spoken to several industry giants about collaborating.
In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom, where head of communications Sean Cleaver discussed the Evercade Nexus and the collaboration with Rare to produce the Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie ports, he revealed that Blaze would love to work with a number of other companies.
Cleaver said it's spoken with EA, Sega, and Bandai Namco, but in terms of actually collaborating on a project, ultimately, "It just depends what the company's policy is more than anything."
"We've spoken to EA, spoken to Sega, we've worked with Capcom on a number of things already that are built-in rather than cartridge," Cleaver said. "We've spoken to [Bandai] Namco. We keep up a constant dialogue with all of them because it's not about when we're ready to do it; it's about when they're ready to do it.
"You can rock up with a suitcase full of cash, but if it's not up for licensing, if they're unsure about it, if they have other business priorities, then it needs to be when they're ready to look at those franchises, look at those things, and get stuff done."
Cleaver added that "Obviously, we want to do more work with Rare," and hopes that will come to fruition in the coming years, before confirming that Blaze has a roadmap for the next three to four years.
"We've got what the retailers would call a long tail," he said. "We're not a one-and-done. We've been here for six years now. We're aiming to be here for at least another six more."
Amazon is back with another major sale event for 2026, Prime Big Deal Days, and the retailer brings a fresh batch of deals on Garmin devices over the next week.
The standout deal I've found is a 50% discount on the excellent Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition for AU$829, which is a steal for what you're getting. Our review called it 'essentially an AMOLED-screened version of the flagship Fenix 7 Pro', and its Sapphire display makes it virtually indestructible.
Amazon stocks a wide range of Garmin's offerings, like smartwatches and wearables, health-tracking devices, dash cams and dedicated GPS satellite navigation (sat nav) displays. The retailer is also where you can often find the best prices on these premium devices, and Prime Big Deal Days will see hefty discounts for even more savings.
Some of the deals I've found were at some point among the best Garmin watches like the Vivoactive 5, Forerunner 965 and the ultra-rugged Instinct 2.
Having used Garmin watches for years, I personally consider some of the brand's offerings the best smartwatches out there, prioritising fitness and health features with just enough smarts to be a capable extension of your smartphone.
It’s worth noting that the best deals will be exclusive to Amazon Prime members (which I have labelled), so it’s worth re-subscribing if you were a past member. If it’s your first time, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial and still get access to these discounts.
Whatever you’re looking for, whether it’s the top-of-the-line watch or you just need a replacement charging cable, there’s a Garmin deal for you at this year’s Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale.
Best Prime Big Deal Days 2026 Garmin deals in AustraliaEpix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition: was $1699.01 now $829
If you found the new Fenix 9 to be way out of your budget, the Epix Pro Gen 2 provides flagship-level features for almost half the price. While it’s been cheaper before (having dropped to AU$684 in July this year), you get the same core functionality of the Fenix 9 — like multi-band GPS tracking, a built-in LED torch, core mapping data, and premium materials like scratch-free sapphire lenses and titanium bezels — for a much lower price.View Deal
Fenix 7X Pro Solar: was $1529 now $989
If you like Garmin's older monochrome memory-in-pixel (MIP) display over AMOLED, this watch is basically the same as the Epix Pro above but with a larger display. View Deal
Instinct 2 Solar: was $679 now $339
This Garmin watch has a rugged exterior that's thermal and shock resistant, as well as water-rated to 100m, making it the perfect watch for bushwalkers and hikers. This version has solar power to help make the already long battery life go even further. This discount makes this great watch a tempting buy for hikers and trail runners alike.View Deal
Instinct 2 Dezl Edition: was $676 now $294
This version of the ultra-rugged Instinct 2 watch is designed for truck drivers looking to stay fit and track their health while they go on long-haul journeys. The Dezl edition includes prompts for doing short-break workouts with tutorials designed to fit within a driver’s designated break times. The battery is rated for 28 days, and this version has Garmin Pay contactless payments.View Deal
Instinct 2X Solar: was $769 now $379
The Instinct 2X is a beefier version of the Instinct 2 above, bearing a larger 50mm watch face (up from 45mm), a built-in LED flashlight, a more accurate multi-band GPS tracker and battery life rated to 40 days (up from the Instinct 2’s 28 days).View Deal
Instinct Crossover Solar: was $769 now $379
Want to add a bit more character to your rugged Garmin Instinct watch? The Instinct Crossover is essentially the Instinct 2 series, but with physical analogue hands on top of the screen and has a metal-accented bezel to provide a classic watch look. There are also upgrades over the base Instinct 2, like more storage (64MB vs 32MB) and an upgraded GPS chipset that accesses more satellite systems.View Deal
The Vivoactive 5 resembles a more conventional smartwatch, swapping out the monochrome display in the Instinct 2s above with a vibrant AMOLED screen. It also has some features found in more expensive Garmin watches like on-board GPS, on-device storage for offline music via Spotify, and fitness metrics like Body Battery and VO2 Max.View Deal
The Forerunner 965 swaps out the black-and-white display with a vibrant AMOLED screen to make it look closer to a modern smartwatch. Our reviewer gave it 4.5 stars for its 23-day battery life, premium and sturdy titanium bezel and the addition of new training metrics for runners like vertical oscillation, cadence, stride length, ground contact time and more without the need for a separate sensor.View Deal
While the Forerunner 265 is a step down from the 965 above, it’s still the Garmin running watch that we recommend for most people. This was the first Forerunner model to come with a touchscreen display when it debuted in 2023, and the AMOLED display is bright and crisp. Our reviewer called it the “one of the best watches Garmin has ever made”, praising its familiar yet different feel. If you want a smaller watch, the 42mm Forerunner 265S is available for the same price.View Deal
Garmin’s Venu range aims to straddle between smartwatch and fitness tracker, and the Venu 3S nails the assignment by combining fitness features like Training Readiness score, Race Predictor, advanced sleep tracking with functionality like a built-in speaker and microphone for on-watch phone calls, Garmin Pay and offline Spotify playback.View Deal
Garmin’s flagship Fenix line gets more and more packed with features each generation and the price has only kept going up ever since, with the 5-star rated Fenix 8 range starting at AU$1,849. The Fenix E comes in as a more stripped-down version for about AU$500 less, and this 50% discount makes it an even more compelling buy. It only comes in a single 47mm size, so you may have to look elsewhere for a different size.View Deal
Vivofit Jr. 3: was $149 now $94.05
Think Garmin watches are only for grown-ups? You can now also track your child's steps and estimated distance during playtime, sports or any activities with the Garmin Vivofit Jr. The battery is also rated for a full year, so you don't have to worry about recharging.View Deal
Dash Cam Mini 3: was $249 now $149
Garmin’s compact dash cam remains the market leader in this price range, shooting 1080p footage at 30fps while being small enough to practically disappear behind a rear-view mirror. It also has voice control, and the companion app works well for adjusting settings and downloading stored footage.View Deal
If you have an older vehicle without a built-in GPS display, the Garmin Drive 53 is a safer alternative to using your phone for navigation. The 5-inch screen is compact enough not to take too much room on your dashboard, but has enough screen real estate to see where you're going. Plus, I'd rather take Garmin's GPS technology over the built-in ones in most smartphones.View Deal
Want to get better insights into your fitness journey? Garmin’s Index S2 smart scale helps you better track changes to your weight and body composition over time, and is a great addition to your repertoire if you’re already in the Garmin ecosystem. It’s not the cheapest, but if you like to keep your fitness stats in one place, the Index S2 should fit right in seamlessly.View Deal
Prime Day 2026 in Australia: sale informationWhen is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 in Australia?Taking place earlier than it did last year, Amazon Australia's Prime Big Deal Days 2026 sale kicks off at midnight East Coast time on Tuesday, September 29 and will run for seven days. That means, Prime Day Garmin deals will end at 11:59pm AEST on Monday, October 5, 2026.
What kind of Garmin deals can I expect in Prime Big Deal Days?Amazon stocks a wide range of Garmin products, including smartwatches and wearables, health-tracking devices, dash cams and dedicated GPS satellite navigation (sat nav) displays.
From entry-level options to premium products that cost upwards of AU$1,000, there's something for everyone. The good news is I've seen upwards of 50% off on various Garmin tech, and occasionally even more for some older models.
To break this down a little more, I've seen the flagship-like Garmin Epix Pro 2 go for half price from just this year, while some older models like the Forerunner 955 and the Vivoactive 5 get some hefty price cuts, too.
Other products will get some discounts too, like dashcams and GPS sat nav displays, albeit for smaller price cuts compared to the wearables. Amazon also stocks a limited range, but there’s still plenty to go around.
How to choose the best Garmin watch for youWhen choosing a Garmin watch, there are three key points to consider: what sport you’re interested in, what level you are at, and your budget.
If you're starting your fitness journey and want a watch to help improve your habits, that's fantastic – a Venu watch will suit you perfectly. They're small and discreet, making them great for all-day wear, and they offer a good range of general fitness tracking tools.
Want something cheaper? The Garmin Vivoactive 6 will work very nicely for beginner runners and all forms of exercise, like fitness classes, and it's also great for sleeping in, as it's nice and light.
If you’re a little bit further into your journey and now enjoy serious running, cycling, swimming or all of the above, the Forerunner 570 and 970 are superb triathlon watches that will serve you well. Worried about scuffs and scratches? Take a look at the Instinct line; they’re built like tanks and have incredible battery life.
If you're seriously into your training and want the most profound insights into your health and fitness, the Fenix 8, Epix Gen 2 and their newer Pro variations are excellent choices. The Fenix 8 is perfect if you want to explore new routes, as its high-res OLED display is brilliant for mapping.
What’s the best beginner Garmin running watch?Beginners just starting their running journey are likely going to run shorter distances without worrying about complex running metrics. They'll also want to make a smaller investment, buying a cheaper running watch.
We recommend the Garmin Forerunner 165 for under AU$400, thanks to its reliable GPS tracking, heart-rate monitoring and easy-to-understand pace, distance and training data. If you’re on a budget, the Forerunner 55 is a solid choice — in fact, some top-tier pros still choose it!
Garmin’s other watches are also excellent options, but they're packed with features that many beginner runners might not need at first, such as full-colour maps, recovery insights and training plans.
- The RAF has jammed hostile satellites from the ground for a year
- Losing GPS would cost the British economy about £1.4 billion every day
- Jamming could stop hostile satellites from tracking Britain's nuclear-armed submarines
Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) is using ground-based electronic warfare equipment capable of interfering with satellites during sensitive military operations.
The technology can use powerful electronic signals to disrupt satellite communications and navigation, while lasers can interfere with satellite sensors.
British defence officials describe the country's terrestrial electronic warfare capability as world-leading, with the equipment already used for about a year against potential threats.
Ground-based systems can disrupt hostile satellitesThe equipment could be used when hostile satellites attempt to monitor British military activities or track strategically important assets.
Defence officials said the system could prevent adversaries from observing Britain's nuclear-armed submarines or sensitive special forces operations.
Such capabilities are becoming increasingly important as military forces depend heavily on satellites for communications, surveillance, navigation and other operations.
RAF head Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth said adversaries were carrying out increasingly irresponsible and provocative activities involving space-based systems.
In May 2026, British forces reportedly tracked five Russian satellites moving close to two Finnish commercial satellites.
Smyth also linked Russian satellite activity with GPS disruptions recorded across Europe and Canada.
Britain operates a small number of military satellites supporting surveillance and communications, while working closely with the United States Space Force.
The ground-based electronic warfare system therefore provides Britain with another means of responding when hostile spacecraft threaten military activities.
New RAF unit and economic risksRAF has also established a dedicated Space Effects Squadron, which is responsible for defending British space assets against hostile activity and related threats.
The Ministry of Defence says the squadron will focus on disrupting, degrading and denying hostile threats affecting British space capabilities, protecting satellites that support several critical military functions, including missile warning, communications, and navigation.
The government's concern extends beyond military operations because disruption to satellite services could affect major parts of Britain's civilian economy.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said losing GPS services could cost the British economy about £1.4 billion each day, amounting to roughly £10 billion every week if disruption continued at that level.
Streeting said everyday services depend on satellites, including weather forecasting, energy systems, financial transactions, satellite navigation and mobile communications.
A prolonged loss of satellite services could therefore affect businesses and public services far beyond defence operations.
The United States has also confirmed the deployment of an unspecified weapon in space to protect its satellites.
Russia and China have criticised the U.S. move, while Washington has accused both countries of developing space-based weapons.
Those capabilities reportedly include electronic jammers, lasers and projectiles designed to interfere with or damage satellites.
Via BBC
I told myself in the days leading up to Prime Big Deal Days in Australia that I probably wouldn’t see any rock-bottom prices on some of my favourite products, including coffee machines.
Well, Amazon has me rethinking everything with a, quite frankly, huge price drop on the stellar Philips Baristina — now just AU$359.
I only wrote about the oh-so cute coffee machine earlier this month, when it was AU$444. Shortly after that it dropped to AU$419. Both excellent prices. Now Amazon has dropped the price further, it simply has to be the espresso machine deal of the year in my book.
Baristina: was $599 now $359
This compact bean-to-cup espresso machine is far more capable than its looks may suggest. It takes care of the bulk of the process for you, including grinding, tamping and brewing a coffee for you. Results are excellent, although you may need some trial and error with beans, since you can’t adjust the grind size.
Also available in black for the same price.View Deal
I’ve made no secret of my love for the Baristina, and if only my partner didn’t drink such huge mugs of coffee, I would have one perched on my kitchen countertop. It’s my pick for the best budget coffee machine in Australia — even at full price — thanks to its ease of use, made possible by its rather genius ability to move the portafilter from one side of the unit to the other.
In short, it combines the best of bean-to-cup machines with the convenience of capsule models, as it handles all aspects of the coffee-making process while putting on a show.
Once you’ve inserted the portafilter into its first position, the Baristina will grind the correct dosage of beans before automatically moving it across to the brewing position. It’s quite remarkable and entirely unique.
As its price would suggest, there are a couple of compromises you need to make. Firstly, it can only brew a 40ml espresso or a 110ml lungo — there’s no extensive menu of drink options to choose from here — and you can’t adjust the grind size, which could potentially introduce a bit of an obstacle.
By this, I mean that you’ll likely need to conduct some trial and error with coffee bean varieties if you find your espresso tastes over- or under-extracted.
And for all the milk-based coffee drinkers out there, you need to know that there’s no way to steam milk. However, a colour-matching Philips Baristina milk frother is available separately.
In my mind, these are minor niggles that are either non-issues or can be easily resolved. The combination of good looks, intuitive features and consistently well-extracted espresso more than makes up for them. If your kitchen is crying out for an affordable coffee machine, the Philips Baristina is ideal.
Want more suggestions?If you’re in the market for a coffee machine, but the Philips Baristina doesn’t seem like the model for you, you’re in luck, as there are multiple coffee machine deals in the Prime Big Deal Days sale. If it’s some quick recommendations you’re after, look no further.
LatteGo 4400: was $1199 now $563.99
Another of my favourite coffee machines that I’ve used myself, the 4400 Series can make 12 coffee-based drinks, all of which are served perfectly, time after time, and it's a great option for smaller households due to it having two customisable profiles. Be sure to use the AU$175 coupon to get this price at checkout.View Deal
Semi Automatic Espresso Machine: was $999 now $679
I use this KitchenAid espresso machine all the time in the TechRadar office. I think it looks fantastic for starters, and it’s capable of producing a gorgeous shot of coffee. It does require manual control — which I’m a fan of — and you can adjust grind size, dosage amount, and the amount of water that passes through. It also has a built-in steam wand for milk-based drinks. Back to its Prime Day price for the stainless steel model, or with a 22% discount in other colours, this is a good, affordable option for any kitchen.View Deal
Vertuo Pop: was $199 now $92.15
Now back down to a no-brainer price, this little Nespresso pod machine is a perfect option for anyone who values true convenience. With a very compact footprint and plenty of Vertuo pods to choose from, you'll get delicious coffee at just the press of a button.View Deal
- You can now order the first Wi-Fi 8 router
- TP-Link's Archer 8 Ultra is available to buy in the UK and Australia, along with some other countries
- In the UK it's priced at £899.99 (around AU$1,700), but you can get the router for £669.99 (around AU$1,200) currently if you pre-order
TP-Link is now selling the first Wi-Fi 8 router to come onto the market, although the very latest wireless tech won't come cheap as you might expect.
The TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra is available to buy in the UK and Australia, as well as Germany and some other countries (not yet specified by the router manufacturer).
Pricing will naturally vary by region, but the cost in the UK is £669.99 (around AU$1,200) if you place a pre-order now, although that price tag will be bumped up to £899.99 (around AU$1,700) later on.
With the Archer 8 Ultra you get Wi-Fi 8 coverage of up to 3,600 square feet (or 3,000 square feet in Europe). In case you weren't aware, this new wireless standard is about improving performance in different ways other than raw speed.
The key advantages for Wi-Fi 8 over Wi-Fi 7 are that it deals more capably with interference in crowded signal-dense environments, and it's more reliable with a greater number of client devices connected. Wi-Fi 8 also ensures that there's a better signal at the extremities of the network.
TP-Link has told us a bit more about what its Wi-Fi 8 StabilityEngine tech achieves in the Archer 8 Ultra, noting the presence of features such as UEQM, MCS, and 2×LDPC. These are designed to "hold throughput steady in a noisy home, delivering up to 33% more consistent throughput at mid-to-long ranges and up to 24% more consistent throughput than Wi-Fi 7 under interference."
You don't really need to know the ins-and-outs of the various acronyms involved, save to say that they help the Wi-Fi signal drop off less sharply as you move further away from the router, and they cut down on dropped network packets (helping to keep a more stable connection).
TP-Link also boasts about its Multi-Floor Mode feature, which reshapes the Wi-Fi signal to take into account where devices are actually present. The firm says that this directs coverage to multiple floors when devices are spread over different levels, but it flattens to a "wide single-floor pattern" when they're not.
(Image credit: TP-Link)TP-Link further observes that as the Wi-Fi 8 standard matures – it's still in its draft form right now – firmware updates will be applied to the Archer 8 Ultra to keep it up to speed.
The Archer 8 Ultra also comes with the Aireal AI Assistant which allows less technically inclined users to employ natural language queries to understand and tweak their Wi-Fi coverage. This AI also keeps a constant eye on how the router is performing and continuously optimizes and prioritizes wireless traffic, with other benefits such as an Eco mode to bring power usage right down at night when everyone's asleep.
(Image credit: TP-Link)On the security front, this router has an integrated VPN at the hardware level encrypting the traffic of selected devices (it works with third-party VPNs too, if you already have one). Smart gadgets (Internet of Things devices), with their greater levels of potential security risks, are kept on their own network away from the main network (and the guest network is separate too, as you'd imagine).
There's also an optional TP-Link HomeShield service which offers real-time protection for your devices as well as parental controls.
Analysis: is it worth getting on board with the future of Wi-Fi today?(Image credit: TP-Link)With the Archer 8 Ultra now on pre-order, it's likely that the mesh Wi-Fi system TP-Link also revealed at IFA 2026 – the Deco 8 Ultra – won't be that far behind.
The price tag is predictably high with the Archer 8 Ultra, though, albeit pre-ordering does get you a pretty chunky discount. (The same will doubtless be true of the Deco 8 Ultra when it pitches up – the price of that will also depend on how many units you need based on the size of your home).
At any rate, now the Archer 8 Ultra can be yours, should you rush to pre-order to benefit from all the mentioned Wi-Fi 8 goodies? Well, no, because there isn't any consumer hardware (phones, tablets, laptops) that supports Wi-Fi 8 yet, and you need those client devices as well as the actual router. They won't arrive until next year, and they'll be thin on the ground even then.
So buying this TP-Link router right now is more about being future-proofed than anything else (though you will get some slight benefits from the Archer 8 Ultra with current Wi-Fi 7 or earlier devices). The thing is that if you're prepared to wait, the hefty early adopter premium on the Archer 8 Ultra (or other Wi-Fi 8 routers) will lessen, and really, that's your best bet as I've previously discussed at length.
If you do fancy grabbing the Archer 8 Ultra, though, definitely make sure you get that cheaper pre-order price.