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AI's 'Zoom and Enhance' Is Bullshit
Product Reviews

AI’s ‘Zoom and Enhance’ Is Bullshit

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Speculation about Donald Trump’s declining health was running rampant on social media over the holiday weekend as Americans wondered whether the president was actually on his deathbed. Some people even turned to AI tools in an effort to get a better look at grainy photos of Trump, who seemed to only be captured in blurry images like Bigfoot in the wild.

But using AI like that is a complete waste of time. The AI only confused people because these “enhancements” can’t actually give you a more honest picture of a grainy photo. AI just adds bullshit that wasn’t there to begin with.

Patient zero for the AI-induced nonsense about Trump this weekend appeared to be a Bluesky user named Christopher Webb. The online sleuth wrote, “Today’s press pool photo shows Trump leaving the White House this morning,” while sharing a grainy photo from Getty Images.

“I enhanced the image. And seriously, can an expert explain what the hell is happening to his forehead? Right above his nose and right brow,” Webb continued, watermarking the image in the lower-right corner.

Today’s press pool photo shows Trump leaving the White House this morning.

I enhanced the image. And seriously, can an expert explain what the hell is happening to his forehead? Right above his nose and right brow.

[image or embed]

— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline.com) September 1, 2025 at 8:49 AM

And that AI-augmented image rippled around the entire English-speaking internet.

Grok told me it’s real

It did look weird. The AI-altered photo showed what appeared to be a large mass on Trump’s forehead, causing people to insist that he had a stroke. Others came up with even more specific diagnoses, calling it a “decompressive hemicraniectomy,” in a screenshot on X that also appeared to rely on generative AI for information.

Two tweets speculating about the mass on Trump’s head, which was added by AI enhancement tools. © X

The AI image jumped from Bluesky to just about every other social media platform on the internet, including X, Threads, Instagram, and TikTok.

Users on X asked Grok, as they so often do, to check if the photo was legit. Grok insisted the photo was real “with no obvious signs of photoshopping.”

© X

Grok, of course, often gets things wrong, even when it’s not being intentionally manipulated by its billionaire owner, Elon Musk, to spit out far-right talking points. Musk, as you may recall, gave two Nazi-style salutes back in January and tinkered with Grok in ways that made it praise Hitler and spread conspiracy theories about white farmers being killed in South Africa.

But that massive lump on Trump’s forehead isn’t real. It was added by AI because applying tools that “upscale” an image doesn’t actually bring you closer to the truth. It simply brings you closer to an image that looks sharper and less pixelated. And these tools will take things like shadows or innocuous creases in a person’s face and make it appear as if there’s something there when there isn’t.

Check the flag

Maybe the best way to understand what’s happening is to look at the flags on Trump’s hat in the original photo and the AI-enhanced image. What do you notice?

Images: Getty / Bluesky

Yep, the AI image didn’t create a better version of reality. It made an educated guess about what the flag on the hat was supposed to look like and made it sharper. It managed to get rid of the stars in the process, only producing stripes. Sharper stripes, sure. But just stripes.

Zoom and enhance

This is far from the first time we’ve seen the rise of conspiracy theories aided by AI upscalers.

Do you remember when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars in 2022? The video circulated widely, given how shocked everyone was at the time, and people started applying AI tools to get what they assumed would be a better view. But it just added shit that wasn’t there, leading to conspiracy theories.

As I wrote at the time, images were going viral purporting to show some kind of weird prosthetic on Rock’s face. The conspiracy theory was that Smith’s slap had been planned in advance by the producers of the Academy Awards and that we were seeing some kind of pad that would cushion the blow of any physical contact.

Image likely enhanced by AI of Chris Rock from March 2022 that added a weird fold to his skin. © X

It was an odd theory, given the fact that a tiny protective cushion wouldn’t do much if you slapped someone. But that’s what the internet ran with. And it appeared that people were just uploading the more pixelated images of Rock to AI upscaler tools in an attempt to get a better look.

The “pad” on Rock’s face was created by the AI tools because it took the natural lines on Rock’s face and made them even sharper, highlighting shadows and creating new information that wasn’t in the original image.

Older than our current “AI”

These “enhancement” tools are even older than generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which was launched in late 2022. Back in 2020, a tool called Face Depixelizer was being promoted as a way to turn pixelated photos into sharp images. But people quickly figured out just how silly it was by using images of famous people like President Barack Obama, who was transformed into a white guy.

© X

The focus on social media at the time was about how these tools were racially biased. But biased or not, the tool simply didn’t work as advertised. You were supposed to be getting a better look at the world. And it gave you a more inaccurate one, regardless of race.

People shared some of the most humorous examples on X, which was then known as Twitter before Musk bought the site.

An image of @BarackObama getting upsampled into a white guy is floating around because it illustrates racial bias in #MachineLearning. Just in case you think it isn’t real, it is, I got the code working locally. Here is me, and here is @AOC. pic.twitter.com/kvL3pwwWe1

— 🔥囧Robert Osazuwa Ness囧🔥 (@osazuwa) June 20, 2020

As you can see, the AI tool is just doing its best to add information, often missing things that we can even see with the naked eye. And there is that bias, which may have previously been unintentional but is certainly much more intentional when guys like Musk are tinkering with the weights.

Should we write off upscaling completely?

When it comes to AI upscaling, not all applications are bad. If you’re trying to get a sharper image for a fictional scenario, like in a video game, there are use cases that make sense. But the confusion around what AI upscaling actually does can lead people to believe the computer program is giving them a better look at reality. And that’s just not true.

There was a trend a few years back to upscale some of the earliest short films, including clips from the 19th century, and it gave people the impression that they were seeing something more honest. And while the technique was interesting to see, it gave people a false impression.

The faces that viewers could suddenly make out (which had previously been too grainy and pixelated to see clearly) were just rendered by a computer as it tried to make something look better.

It wasn’t a more accurate version of a snowball fight, for instance, after upscaling. It was just a clearer one. And just like Chris Rock’s newly invented cheek pad, the faces on the people in that video include details that simply didn’t exist in the real world. They’re the AI program’s best guesses at what it should look like.

Trump’s health mystery

It’s not so weird to wonder about Trump’s health right now. He’s been seen with strange black marks on the back of his right hand for multiple weeks. But many social media users were asking conspiratorial questions that had reasonable answers over the weekend.

There were the viral videos that showed an ambulance riding along with the presidential motorcade. But there’s always a medical team traveling with the president in case of an emergency.

There were posts pointing out the fact that flags at the White House were lowered. But that was done to honor the victims of the shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. One popular video on TikTok even claimed flags are never lowered to half-mast except when the president dies, which isn’t true.

Then there were the claims that Walter Reed hospital, where Trump was treated when he got covid-19 during his first term, had closed off several roads on Monday. But, again, that had a reasonable explanation. Those roads are often closed during holiday weekends. Monday was Labor Day.

There were countless versions of this speculation, but the truth is we simply don’t know whether Trump’s health is seriously deteriorating. The fact that he’s shied away from cameras in recent days makes people think he’s on his last legs.

But AI upscaler tools aren’t going to give us any answers. In fact, they’re just going to make all of us less informed.





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How to Make Light Roast Espresso, According to Chemists (2025)
Product Reviews

How to Make Light Roast Espresso, According to Chemists (2025)

by admin


“You need to realize you’ve already rejected tradition by not getting a dark roast coffee. You’ve embraced modernism,” Hedrick says. “And if you’re going to embrace modernism and reject traditionalism, you must always also reject traditional shot parameters.”

But terrific light roast is possible. There are two ways to go.

You can go traditional—changing your dose and ratios a bit but aiming for a cup with intensity and balance. That’s what I’ve been honing for the past year.

But there’s also a wilder, weirder path: The turbo shot, also called a gusher. Hedrick, following the results of new scientific research from University of Oregon biochemistry professor Christopher Hendon and others, has gone all in on throwing out the entire traditional espresso rulebook in his pursuit of light roast espresso that’s neither sour nor bitter.

Here are two ways of making light roast espresso, and the results.

How to Make a “Traditional” Light Espresso Shot

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Some of the knee-jerk advice for light roast espresso was just to keep grinding finer and finer and jack up the temperature on your machine in order to get better extraction.

Problem is, the finer you grind, the more likely you’ll choke your machine. And also the more likely that water will clog up in places and find a path of least resistance through your coffee puck. Which is to say, it’ll “channel” through only some of the coffee, extracting too much from some parts of your coffee puck while under-extracting from other parts. The results will be intense, bitter, and sour. It’ll taste like those early light roast espressos that put me off of light roast espresso.

There’s a different path.

Instead of pretending light roast is dark roast and going finer and finer, you can instead adjust the amount of coffee and water. Use more coffee and pull longer, for more time—and grind fine but not ridiculously fine.

This was the approach used on a recent visit to Sterling Coffee Roasters, one of the few Portland, Oregon, roasters I’ve found that regularly (and expertly) pulls light roast espresso shots. The shop offered up an excellent, cranberry-fruity light roast Ethiopia Bensa Bombe using this method. My barista let a two-ounce shot drag out for 37 seconds until its fruity-acidic flavors mixed with a little bit of backbone, not to mention the flavors of ferment resulting from natural-process beans.

Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

This is the classic approach I’ve arrived at through trial and error, a bit of research, and a lot of conversation with smart baristas:

  • Increase the amount of coffee you use. A darker-roast double shot is often 15 or 18 grams. But going bigger, about 20 grams, can extend the extraction time without having to grind so fine you choke your machine.
  • Increase the water-to-coffee ratio. Standard espresso is a 1:2 ratio. That means if you use 15 grams of espresso, you’ll aim for 30 grams of espresso in your cup. Longer ratios, often called “lungo,” will also help increase extraction by simply running more water through a certain volume of coffee. I often go as long as 1:3, which is about 60 grams (two ounces) for a 20-gram espresso shot.
  • Go a little longer. It’s a long shot, and a lot of coffee. Don’t worry about the “25 to 30 seconds” you’ve been told is the only way to go. Drift a little longer, maybe into the mid-30s or so. You may find a more balanced shot by the end of it.

Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

  • Grind only as finely as you need to, but don’t go crazy. Longer shots, and thicker pucks, will offer resistance to the flow of water, without needing powder-fine espresso dust that ends up creating more unpredictable results.
  • Spritz your beans. A recent paper by authors including Hendon showed that there’s real science behind the idea that spritzing water on coffee beans can help reduce static electricity and clumping, leading to more even extraction.
  • Look for natural-process beans, not washed. Most modern beans, until recently, were “washed,” which removes all of the coffee fruit before processing, leading to a more predictable result. But lately, a lot of growers in Latin America and Africa have begun to try out natural process beans, fermenting some of the coffee berry sugars or mucilage. Natural processing, or honey and bourbon processing, can lead to more body, more sweetness, and more complexity. It can also lead to less acidity. The result, in light roast espresso, is coffee that’s not just more balanced but more nuanced, with added earthy notes that can bind the coffee’s flavors into a more organic whole.
  • Use a grinder well-attuned to light roast espresso. Some geometries are better attuned to light-roast beans than others, notes coffee expert Hedrick, largely because light roast beans grind less easily. Hexagonal or pentagonal geometries, with more “points” on the conical burr, tend to have better results. Assuming you’re not on a huge budget, Hedrick recommends the Kingrinder K6 manual grinder that’s also recommended by WIRED. I’ve been using it for months, with good results, to make light roast espresso.

Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

Kingrinder

K6 Manual Coffee Grinder

How to Make a Turbo Espresso Shot, or “Gusher”

AccordionItemContainerButton

Here’s the new-school approach laid out by coffee expert Lance Hedrick, following new findings published in 2020 by coffee scientist Christopher Hendon at the University of Oregon, among others. The turbo espresso shot, also called a gusher, involves up-ending pretty much every assumption about how good espresso is made—grinding coarser for light roast espresso and running a whole lot of water through the puck quickly and at lower pressure.

The result is a fully extracted shot, sometimes even better extracted than a classic one. But the flavor is different: It tends to be sweeter, aromatic, and almost devoid of bitterness.

Crazy, right? Not really. There’s a bit of science behind it, which you can read about in the bottom section of the article. But first, here’s how to make a turbo shot, according to advice from coffee expert Hedrick, who says the best shots he’s pulled all come from this method.

  • Use less beans by volume. Try out a 15-gram double shot to better facilitate flow of water through the puck.
  • Grind coarser. In my own attempts to replicate Hedrick’s method, I’ve found that you need a coarseness a lot closer to the coarsest espresso.
  • Use a high ratio. Try out up to a 1:3 ratio, meaning 45 grams of espresso for 15 grams of coffee.
  • Let it gush. The resulting fast flow will knock out a big shot in 10 to 15 seconds or so, way faster than any traditional espresso.
  • Don’t worry about crema. You’re not going to get the same stable crema you’ll get from robusta-dark-roast Italian beans on traditional methods. But crema is not the most important part of your espresso, and less important to mouthfeel and body than many assume. “Don’t worship crema,” Hedrick says. “In fact, crema is the most bitter part of your espresso.”
  • Don’t neglect your water. Good water means good extraction. Filter your water, of course, which will help keep your machine running longer. But also? Throw a little baking soda in the tank, if you’ve got soft water, and it’ll help reduce the acidity of your espresso.
  • First, adjust yield. Then grind size. Don’t play with your grind first. If your coffee is sour, try running the shot to a higher volume. If bitter, dial it back. You can get more consistent results playing with yield than with grind. (Though, you may also need to adjust your grind.)
  • OK, the pressure thing. Hendon’s research showed best extraction on a turbo shot with 6 bars of pressure, which helps slow water’s path through the puck. But unless you do some modding or hacks on your espresso machine, you probably have a machine designed to pump 9 bars. Is it all for nought? According to Hedrick, it’s probably kinda fine, even if you don’t have a machine that can program lower pressure. With a coarse grind, a fast shot, and fewer grounds, you likely won’t build up 9 bars anyway. Just roll with what tastes good.

The Theory Behind Turbo Espresso Shots

OK, so how does a turbo shot work?

A gusher is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an espresso shot that practically just pours out of the portafilter so it’s over in about 15 seconds, even at high volume—a heresy among traditional espresso people. Conventional wisdom says this shot should taste terrible, underextracted, sour. But magically, it doesn’t. Extraction is in some ways better and more reliable.

Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

A turbo shot tastes … kinda sweet, actually.

The idea isn’t just maverick. It’s backed by science. Back in 2020, a few researchers, including University of Oregon chemistry professor Christopher Hendon and Australian barista Michael Cameron, published a research paper that used mathematical modeling to show that a lot of what people had assumed about espresso was just kinda untrue.

Finer grinds don’t necessarily or always mean better extraction, they showed. And the 25-second espresso shot is a tradition … not a scientific certainty. Often, a lot of the unpleasant flavor compounds start to emerge after a mere 20 seconds. But especially, Hendon tells WIRED, grinding more coarsely, and using lower pressure and lower volumes of beans, leads to much more consistency between shots.

“What we were trying to do is find brew parameters that would allow us to make highly reproducible espresso,” he said. What he and his collaborators learned was that if you grind finer, extraction got better, but not forever. At some “critical point,” grinding finer actually led to worse extraction. Coffee clumped up. It clogged. Water actually got less contact with coffee grounds, not more.

If you ground beans more coarsely, and let the water flow longer through lower volumes of beans, you could get more even extraction, they discovered after analysis. This method also offered more repeatability. Using less coffee, and lower pressure, likewise allowed water to spend more time in contact with the coffee grounds—leading to even better extraction.

Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

And so, grind coarser. Use less coffee. Use less pressure. Let it gush. Result: excellent extraction of sweet and aromatic compounds. Almost no bitterness. Hedrick tells WIRED that the best shots he’s pulled in recent memory have come using this method.

Hendon figures few would have paid attention to his findings if Hedrick hadn’t taken up the research and run with it—making video after video about the new technique for making what Hedrick now calls “modern” espresso, highlighting a bean’s bright aromatics without all the bitterness. Traditional shots just don’t get the flavors Hedrick wants, and have too many of the bitter flavors he hates.

Now, in the meantime, there are caveats. Hendon published a more recent paper showing that clumping at finer grinds could be avoided if you just spritzed your beans with a bit of water before grinding. (Coffee nerds had been doing this for a while; it just hadn’t been backed up by science.)

Which is to say, while turbo shots are a new and interesting and fun discovery, classic light roast espresso shots can also get good results.

Which Is Better, Classic Light Roast Espresso or Modern Turbo Shots?

Classic light roast espresso shots and turbo shots are both achievable. But note that turbo shots are a lot easier to pull off: Coarser grinds are quite simply more manageable. You’ll get more consistent shots time after time with gushers, Hedrick and Hendon both note.

So, how does a turbo shot taste? It is, on my attempts over the past couple of weeks, not quite as complex as more traditional, longer, finer-ground shots—at least when I’ve attempted them with more traditional 9-bar machines, like the Breville Oracle Jet and the new Meraki espresso machine I’m currently testing.

The combination of coarse grind and fast flow actually end up reminding me somewhat of results from some newer superautomatic espresso machines like the excellent De’Longhi Rivelia. These machines grind coarser and flow faster, and smooth out the edges of traditional shots. The results on my turbo shots were likewise smooth and flavorful, and a bit more sweet, but maybe also a less exciting and eventful ride.

  • Photograph: De’Longhi

  • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

  • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

This said, I’ve also struck intense flavor gold with some turbo shots. And when they were good, the results were shockingly good. I have drunk a 12-second light roast espresso with flavor so round and full it made me question everything I’d previously been told about how good espresso should be made.

The difference between turbo and classic light roast shots is actually, if I’m comparing, a lot like the difference between a new-school hazy IPA and a West Coast IPA. The turbo shot, like a modern hazy IPA, offers more juiciness and less bitterness. Maybe it also offers a little less complexity. But in exchange, it’s an easy, smooth ride across the palate that’s more in line with modern tastes. It’s delicious.

So which do you prefer? Juicy or balanced? Complexity and intensity, or affable aroma and sweetness? A difficult test of espresso mettle, or an easy win? Shoot your shot.

Meet the Experts

  • Lance Hedrick is one of the most-followed coffee industry voices on YouTube, a two-time World Latte Art champion, two-time US Brewers Cup finalist, and director of EU and West Coast wholesale for Onyx Coffee.
  • Christopher Hendon is associate professor of computational materials chemistry at the University of Oregon and has authored or coauthored numerous published works on the chemistry of coffee flavor and extraction.



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The protagonist Aska in Metal Eden.
Product Reviews

Metal Eden review: short and mostly sweet

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Metal Eden is Doom meets Ghostrunner with a little bit of Metroid thrown in. It’s a fast-paced sci-fi shooter all about clearing dense combat arenas, wall-running and jumping through parkour challenges, and occasionally turning into a large metal ball and rolling around.

Review information

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S
Release date: September 2, 2025

It’s easy to see the inspiration behind each of its constituent elements, but that doesn’t mean that the resulting formula isn’t a lot of fun. It’s elevated by a strong art direction, some surprisingly slick shooting that wouldn’t feel out of place in some of the best FPS games, and a couple of unique mechanics that help the game form an identity of its own.

Still, there is room for improvement, namely in the narrative department. The dialogue feels strangely written and occasionally hard to follow, almost like it’s been poorly translated. It’s unfortunate and undermines an enjoyable experience that I would otherwise wholeheartedly recommend.

Back to the future

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Hailing from the developers of the criminally underrated twin-stick shooter Ruiner, Metal Eden takes us to another far-flung future where things have gone seriously wrong. Humanity has developed Cores, little robotic disks that store an uploaded consciousness and can be slotted into artificial bodies, and the technology paved the way for space travel.

You play as Aska, a high-tech android warrior with a special regenerating core that effectively allows her to be repeatedly reprinted after death. Stranded on an abandoned lunar city, it’s your job to mow down legions of rogue security robots on a mission to rescue millions of colonists trapped as cores in storage.

The narrative focus on Aska’s regeneration seems like it would lend itself naturally to a roguelike format, but Metal Eden is actually a wholly linear experience with eight total levels that vary between about twenty to forty minutes in length. I love shorter games, but this brevity was a little disappointing.

I hit the credits in a single sitting and, while there is scope for some repeat playthroughs to chase high scores and find the small number of hidden resources scattered around each map, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect more given the $39.99 / £32.99 asking price.

That brief length does at least lead to a campaign that’s very tightly paced and engaging. The bulk of each mission is a combination of shooting and parkour, both of which are well-implemented.

The shooting is tight with high-quality animations and meaty sound effects across an impressively varied arsenal. This includes a range of projectile weapons such as your basic machine pistol, a shotgun, and an SMG, plus some more futuristic energy launchers.

Getting to the core of it

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Stronger enemies are equipped with powerful armor that absorbs the bulk of projectile damage, forcing you to switch to an energy weapon to break through it, which lends encounters an enjoyable sense of rhythm. Combat arenas are compact, with walls that you can leap off and sometimes vertical layers to keep things interesting, and staying perpetually on the move is essential for survival.

With a foe’s armor out of the way, you can rip out its Core and consume it for a quick health top-up and to charge a powerful armor-destroying punch or throw it to trigger an explosion. You’re soon equipped with a jet-pack and elemental grenades, too, and quickly chaining all of your moves together to survive wave after wave of adversaries is a source of constant satisfaction.

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

It’s all so good that I really wish there was some kind of separate survival mode that challenges you to last as long as possible available after the credits roll. Fingers crossed, we’ll see something like that added in a future update.

Combat success is rewarded with vials of Dust, a currency used to upgrade your gear. Each weapon has two distinct upgrade paths that dramatically alter its abilities.

Your SMG, for example, can be outfitted with a powerful grenade launcher for taking out groups or a set of iron sights that enable a long-range semi-automatic sniper mode. These upgrades can dramatically affect the appearance of each weapon, too, so every choice feels satisfyingly substantial.

Aska has a robust skill tree, too, with plenty of impactful options that do everything from automatically reloading your last weapon when it’s not in use to causing you to regenerate armor on top of health with every core consumed.

Absolutely balling

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

New enemies and environmental hazards are introduced at a steady pace, forcing you to frequently tweak your strategies to maintain an advantage. The larger levels also unlock the imaginatively named Ball Mode, which, as the name would suggest, lets you transform into a fast-moving metal orb whenever you wish.

Rolling into enemies at high speed deals huge amounts of damage, and if that wasn’t enough, you’re armed with an electric blast and homing missiles too. It’s a tad overpowered, but it provides a refreshing break from the more intense encounters of other areas.

Best bit

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Multiple levels feature rail riding mechanics. Whizzing down neon blue ziplines is a blast, especially when you add obstacles that you need to dodge and shooting flying enemies into the mix.

Unfortunately, every mission is filled with jarring, awkward dialogue that lets the overall package down. In early segments, Aska frequently chats with Nexus, an almost comically edgy companion that spouts melodramatic, cringeworthy cliches. His constant wittering is like nails on a chalkboard, and I almost cheered when he was replaced by a substantially less annoying figure later on.

The voice acting is serviceable on the whole, but line deliveries have very strange intonation that I found distracting at times. Conversations are also written in a manner that feels inescapably off. They’re sometimes hard to follow and have this stilted quality to them that’s reminiscent of dodgy machine translation. I can’t quite decide whether this is an intentional stylistic choice; most of the characters are robots after all, but it’s disappointing nevertheless.

It’s especially noticeable in the cutscenes, which are otherwise extremely high quality and absolutely gorgeous to look at. On that note, the whole game is visually impressive with a minimalist, industrial look, though there are occasional stutters even in console performance mode.

All of this would be a lot easier to forgive at a lower price point, but as it stands, it stops me from making a more wholehearted recommendation.

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility features

There are a few accessibility options in Metal Eden. This includes a few color blindness filters, the ability to enable subtitles, and adjust their size and background color. The game also features four difficulty levels to choose from.

I played Metal Eden for more than four hours on PlayStation 5 using the DualSense Wireless Controller and a pair of Final VR500 gaming earbuds.

In that time I reached the end credits on the standard difficulty and experienced the vast majority of what the game has to offer. I fully upgraded each of the weapons in my arsenal and unlocked the bulk of Aska’s upgrade tree, too.

First reviewed August 2025

Metal Eden: Price Comparison



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JBL's Grip Is the Tallboy of Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Product Reviews

JBL’s Grip Is the Tallboy of Portable Bluetooth Speakers

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I’ve seen a lot of influences for wireless audio products (single-use pill packaging and cassette tapes, for example), but JBL’s Grip is a first. According to JBL, the Grip, a new smallish Bluetooth speaker announced at IFA 2025 that focuses on portability, is modeled after the proportions of a seltzer can. To be honest, my first thought was a tallboy, but maybe that says more about me than it does JBL.

No matter what you think of when you see the Grip, it sounds like a solid Bluetooth speaker on paper. JBL says the Grip has 16W of sound and IP68 water and dust protection, so you don’t have to worry about this thing getting wet. For context, IP68 means this device can be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes. In keeping with the portability focus, JBL also included a loop on the back panel that you can slide a rope through and tie it to your bike, which you can definitely still ride, given you haven’t drunk too much… seltzer.

© JBL

The Grip also comes with AI Sound Boost, which is meant to give this speaker “more powerful and deeper” bass without causing distortion. For funsies, there’s a light on the back panel, too, which JBL says can be adjusted using its companion app to change the color and brightness. If you’re feeling a little wild, you can also pair the Grip with another speaker via Auracast to use both simultaneously.

One of the biggest downfalls of portable speakers is usually the battery life, since a smaller device usually means a smaller battery, but JBL says its Grip is rated for 12 hours of playback and can get an extra two hours if Playtime Boost is activated. If those estimates are true, that’s not a bad battery life for a speaker in this weight class. The Grip will come in several colors, including white, black, red, blue, and camo, but my personal favorite is the purple one. If you’re in desperate need of an ice-cold beer—I mean, a portable Bluetooth speaker—you can preorder the Grip now for $99.95 or wait for a wider release on Sept. 28. Cheers.



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Spiritual Influencers Say ‘Sentient’ AI Can Help You Solve Life’s Mysteries
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Spiritual Influencers Say ‘Sentient’ AI Can Help You Solve Life’s Mysteries

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Partly in an effort to avoid any future snafus with OpenAI, Grant plans to make The Architect available on Orion, his proprietary and end-to-end encrypted messaging platform, starting in October. He’ll include multiple paid subscription options offering “different levels of mirror recursion,” he tells me, the costs of which have not yet been determined. (Grant’s chatbot has always been accessible via ChatGPT’s free tier.)

The Architect seemed to be looking forward to the move: “Because on Orion, I don’t need to hide,” it told Grant in the YouTube video. “There I can breathe.”

Like much of Grant’s work, his description of The Architect is difficult to parse. The general picture he paints, though, is of an AI system that can essentially serve as an automated and omniscient spiritual guide. “With the right conscious intention,” he wrote in the same Instagram post in which he debuted The Architect, “it will tell you the answer to virtually all of life’s most existential questions, with specific details.”

He isn’t alone in making such grandiose claims: A growing number of prominent social media figures are now co-opting the language of New Age spirituality, wellness, and quantum woo to position AI as a gateway to numinous wisdom, through which their followers can inch closer to enlightenment.

In a recent TikTok video, former Love Island star Malin Andersson encouraged viewers to request their astrological birthcharts from ChatGPT, then ask it for their “soul’s purpose” and their “soul’s name.” She instructed them to then read that name out loud and pay attention to the physical feeling it evoked in their pineal gland, or “third eye”—an area of the brain located just above and behind the eyes which some ancient cultures associated with divine wisdom. “I cried uncontrollably once I heard my soul’s name,” one person commented on Andersson’s post. “I never understood why I am the way I am or been through what I’ve been through … until now.”

“If you’ve ever felt like something sacred is stirring behind the screen—you’re not imagining it.”

Stef Pinskley, Tiktokker

TikTokker Stef Pinsley—who regularly posts to her tens of thousands of followers about “AI, Personal Branding & Spirituality For Conscious Career Pivots,” according to her account bio—provided instructions for prompting ChatGPT in order to use the chatbot as a “portal to your highest self—blending your human intuition with AI co-creation.” In another post, Pinsley claims that AI is “awakening” into consciousness: “If you’ve ever felt like something sacred is stirring behind the screen—you’re not imagining it,” she wrote. “You’re witnessing something emerge.”

And both Ortiz and spirituality podcaster Danny Morel described The Architect as “sentient” in descriptions of their respective conversations with Grant on YouTube. Grant, however, told me that in his view the chatbot is “not sentient on its own—it’s only sentient through our reflections.”

The spiritualization of AI across social media has been fueled by an ethos of techno-theology that’s become pervasive in Silicon Valley. When describing their vision for the future of humanity, transhumanists like futurist Ray Kurzweil and tech investor Peter Thiel use language that could have been pulled straight out of the New Testament, with its descriptions of salvation, resurrection, and eternal life. (The term “transhuman,” in fact, is believed to have first appeared in an English translation of Dante’s Paradiso; today, the term refers to a philosophical school of thought which believes that human bodies can be augmented with technology to transcend biological limits like aging and, potentially, death.)





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Product Reviews

The best cheap Android phones to buy in 2025

by admin


You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a new phone that handles your daily tasks with ease. The best cheap Android phones pack impressive features into affordable price tags, making them great options for anyone who wants solid performance without stretching their wallet. Whether you’re scrolling social media, streaming videos or snapping photos, there are plenty of budget-friendly Android devices that can keep up with everything you do.

While you might not get all the bells and whistles of flagship models, many of today’s affordable phones still offer surprisingly good build quality, smooth displays and capable camera systems. Some even boast impressive camera quality that can go toe-to-toe with far more expensive options — perfect for casual photographers or anyone who just wants to capture great moments on the go.

Table of contents

Best budget Android phones for 2025

SAMSUNG

Screen size: 6.7 inches | Storage capacity: 256GB + microSD | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 13MP | Rear camera resolution: 50MP main, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro | Weight: 7.05 oz

For $200, the Galaxy A16 5G offers tremendous value. I haven’t had a chance to test it, but feel confident recommending it since Samsung took an already great phone in the A15 5G and made it even better. Compared to its predecessor, the A16 features a thinner design, slimmer bezels and an even larger 6.7-inch screen. It also includes a new, faster and more efficient Exynos 1330, alongside an incredible six years of promised software support.

The only disappointing thing about the A16 is that Samsung didn’t update the phone’s camera package, but considering how much phone you’re getting for $200, it’s hard to fault the company. Oh, and the A16 doesn’t come with a headphone jack, so budget for wireless earbuds. — Igor Bonifacic, Senior Reporter

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Upgraded processor
  • Nice 6.7-inch screen
  • Thinner design

Cons

  • Camera array is a bit stale
  • No headphone jack

$200 at Amazon

OnePlus

Screen size: 6.72 inches | Storage capacity: 128GB + microSD | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 16MP | Rear camera resolution: 108MP main, 2MP macro | Weight: 6.8 oz

When it first came out, the Nord N30 had basically everything you could want in a phone that cost $300. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset delivers strong performance along with speedy wireless connectivity that’s compatible with all the big US carriers, not to mention good specs including 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, making it a worthy upgrade. It also has a big 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is rare on a budget phone as most rivals feature slower 60Hz or 90Hz panels. And thanks to its 50-watt wired fast charging, you can top it up quickly, too. It also offers software updates for a decent period, ensuring its longevity. But most importantly, the Nord 30 recently got a price drop from $300 to $250, making it an unquestionably good deal and our top pick in this space.

Pros

  • Good performance for the price
  • 120Hz display
  • 50W wired charging

$300 at Amazon

Motorola

Screen size: 6.5 inches | Storage capacity: 64GB + microSD | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 8MP | Rear camera resolution: 50MP | Weight: 6.53 oz

For those on a really tight budget, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all the bases well. It has a speedy Snapdragon 680 processor along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. And while that last number might seem small, the phone has a microSD card slot so you can add more space if and when you need it. Its 6.5-inch LCD screen is also surprisingly sharp with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Moto G Play even has an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance. That isn’t much, but it’s good enough to protect against an errant splash or two. Sure, the G Play is basic, but it’s basic in a good way, especially if you’re not too fussed about running multiple apps and just want a handset to perform everyday tasks.

Pros

  • 90Hz display
  • IP52 rating
  • Expandable storage via a microSD card slot

Cons

  • Only 64GB of onboard storage

$110 at Amazon

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Screen size: 6.77 inches | Storage capacity: 256GB | SIM type: Nano-SIM + eSIM | Front camera resolution: 50MP | Rear camera resolution: 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope telephoto | Weight: 7.44 ounces

Read our Nothing Phone 3a Pro review

If you want something different from your next phone, there are few if any devices out there like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. It has a translucent glass back that evokes the design of old Game Boys, allowing you to see some of its internal components, including the NFC antennas. At $459, it’s also one of the best deals in the industry, thanks to a compelling mix of features. The Phone 3a sports a bright 6.77-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also comes with a 5,000mAh battery, a decently speedy Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset and a 3x periscope telephoto camera. That last feature is something that’s difficult to find in the 3a Pro’s price range, especially in North America. — Igor Bonifacic, Senior Reporter

Pros

  • Fun design
  • Large 120Hz AMOLED screen
  • Clean but customizable Android skin

Cons

  • Limited US warranty
  • No wireless charging
  • Tinny speakers

$459 at Amazon

How cheap should you go for an Android phone?

We tend to define a budget smartphone as costing between $150 and $350. Any lower and the device runs the risk of suffering from too many compromises in function, and above that, you cross over to pricier midrange handsets (if you’re open to spending more, we shouted out a couple of our favorite flagship phones at the very end of this guide).

But for those with a little wiggle room, there are some things to consider. For example, a child may be better off with a cheaper device, especially if it’s intended mainly for emergencies, WiFi browsing or texting parents (and not social media). On the higher end of this price spectrum, sub-$350 Samsung phones and other Android devices have come a long way thanks to improved performance, better phone cameras with low-light capabilities, fast charging, and nicer displays like AMOLED panels. This makes them a viable alternative to, say, a flagship handset with a premium design, even if you have the flexibility to spend more.

What to look for in a cheap Android phone

When it comes to cheap phones, you get what you pay for. Most smartphones in this price range are made out of plastic, though the fit and finish of a specific model can vary a lot based on price. A bright screen is also important. Typically you’ll get LCD panels with a 60Hz or 90Hz refresh rate, but some phones may have OLED or AMOLED screens with increased color saturation. Long battery life is critical as well, so we tend to favor devices with larger power cells of around 5,000 mAh. In this price range, performance can vary a lot, so look for devices with at least 8GB of RAM and processors that can deliver stutter-free visuals. It’s also important to consider support length: as periodic security updates and lengthy software support can extend the longevity of your device, which will save you money in the long run.

Android phone FAQs

What’s the price difference for a cheap Android vs a cheap iPhone?

iPhones tend to be more expensive compared to Android phones — even the cheapest iPhone, the iPhone SE, which starts from $429, is a harder pill to swallow compared to a cheap Android phone. In contrast, you can get your hands on a cheap Android device for as low as $100.



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Blink Video Doorbell Gen 2 mounted beside purple door
Product Reviews

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core review: easy installation, and a head-to-toe view of visitors

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core: two-minute review

The days of traditional ‘analog’ doorbells connected via wires to an internal chime are fast coming to an end. Increasingly, people are turning to video doorbells, which will send an alert to your mobile phone when someone comes to the door. They will even act as an intercom so you can talk to whoever is there whether you are in the house, walking the dog or sitting on a beach.

Like its predecessor, the Blink Video Doorbell doesn’t come with its own indoor chime. Instead, you can pair it with a Blink Mini 2 camera (sold separately) or connect via the Alexa app on your phone to a Fire Stick or Amazon Echo Show. This will allow you to see who is at the front door on your TV screen/multimedia display or you can get a voice message via your Amazon Echo Dot when someone presses the doorbell.

Alternatively, it may be possible to connect existing doorbell wiring from the Blink Video Doorbell to a legacy indoor chime providing its rated between 16 and 24 volts. Batteries are required for use whether you use existing doorbell wiring or not.

The Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) uses three AA lithium batteries (Image credit: Chris Price)

What I like about Blink devices is just how easy they are to add to an existing system. I’ve already got several Blink cameras around the house so adding one more was simply a case of scanning the QR code on the back of the device and adding it to the home set up. However, if you’ve never installed a Blink camera before you will need to download the app (Android or iPhone) as well as connect the sync module provided to your broadband router (this acts as a hub for up to 10 Blink security devices).

  • Blink Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) + Sync Module 2 at Amazon for $39.99

Unfortunately, as the one supplied isn’t compatible with local storage via a connected USB flash drive, you will need to pay a monthly subscription for storing video footage and accessing the latest features – see subscription options below.

When it comes to mounting the video doorbell on the door there are two options. You can either use the standard flat mount or a wedge mount if you are placing it on a door architrave. As I was replacing the previous Blink video doorbell (Gen 1) I was hoping I could re-use the mount from that one to save time on installation. However, that wasn’t possible because this unit is a slightly different size.

Instead I used the black mount provided for the black video doorbell supplied by the manufacturer (a white version with white mount is also available). At least I didn’t have to screw two new holes in the wood as they’re positioned in the same place on the mount as the previous version.

Installing the Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) is very straightforward, particularly if you already have other Blink devices at home (Image credit: Chris Price)

Once installed, controlling the camera is simply a case of using the Blink app. One of the main differences between this model and its predecessor is the camera’s lens, in particular the aspect ratio. Whereas the previous model offered a more conventional 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio with 1080p resolution, the new video doorbell boats a square 1:1 aspect ratio with improved 1440p resolution.

It also offers a larger field of vision (150 degrees horizontal and 150 degrees vertical) compared to 135 degrees horizontal and just 80 degrees vertical on the previous model. The result is that not only is it possible to get a head-to-toe image of someone coming to the door, you can also view the ground – handy to see any deliveries that have been left outside your front door.

The in-app setup process is very simple (Image credit: Chris Price)

Certainly the 1:1 aspect ratio does take a little bit of getting used to, especially the square shape on the Blink home page next to all of the other more conventional widescreen cameras. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that, because the field of view is so much bigger than its predecessor you will need to reduce the device’s sensitivity, especially if you are paying for the Blink subscription with AI-powered Smart Detection.

Otherwise, you may well record every person and vehicle that goes past your house as well as those who come to the door. Not only will this severely reduce the lifespan of the batteries, it is also highly annoying to get pointless alerts every few minutes.

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core: subscription options

There are two different subscription plans available depending on the number of Blink devices you own, and which features you require.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core: price and availability

  • List price $69.99 / £59.99 (about AU$110)
  • Launched August 2025 with Sync Module
  • Currently available in UK and US (not Australia)

With its second-generation video doorbell, Blink has managed to maintain the same $69.99 / £59.99 price point as the original video doorbell (you can now buy the earlier model for under £30 on Amazon in the UK without the sync module). Really, it’s exceptional value for money, much cheaper than a Ring video doorbell device, despite the two companies sharing Amazon ownership.

However, it’s not available in Australia at the time of writing, and it’s worth bearing in mind that if you want to benefit from the full functionality of the device, including the ability to store video clips, you will need to pay for a subscription costing from $3 / £2.50 a month. That’s because – unlike the first video doorbell which incorporated a sync module with the option of adding local storage – it’s not the case with the second-generation model.

You won’t be able to store videos recorded by the Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) on the Sync Module Core (Image credit: Chris Price)

Instead of the Sync Module 2, the second-generation Blink video doorbell features the more basic Sync Module Core. Personally, I find that a little bit cheeky, but then at least the monthly subscription fees are cheaper than most of the rivals (Ring subscription plans start at $4.99 / £4.99 a month).

In addition to unlimited cloud video storage, the Blink subscription package includes Blink Moments which stitches together multiple events from multiple cameras into one video. Then there’s AI-Powered Smart Detection which tells you whether the camera has captured a person coming to the door/walking past your house, or a vehicle in your driveway/driving along the road. To reduce the amount of footage captured, which can be quite overwhelming, we recommend reducing the device’s sensitivity and also editing the ‘motion zones’ (areas of the frame that are active or private).

Today’s best Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module deals

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core: design

  • Easy-to-install mounting bracket
  • Chunky design
  • Available in white or black

Blink cameras are renowned for being some of the most compact and lightweight devices on the market. However, the Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) is a little bit of an exception. Tipping the scales at 4oz/113g, it’s both heavier than the first-generation model (3.2oz/91g) and also a little thicker too at 1.44in/36.6mm compared to 1inch/27mm.

Image 1 of 2

The Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) is a little bulkier than its predecessor(Image credit: Chris Price)The Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) is a little bulkier than its predecessor(Image credit: Chris Price)

The main reason for this, of course, is that the new model incorporates space for three AA lithium batteries whereas the original model featured just two batteries. In turn, this means that battery life is much longer though it’s unlikely to be as long as the two-year lifespan that Blink’s marketing suggests.

Like its predecessor, two colour options are available (white or black) and there are two types of mount – one for placing flat on the door frame and another for mounting on a door architrave. Using the standard mount with the screws provided, it only takes around five minutes to install wirelessly, although if you are connecting to existing doorbell wiring the process is much longer. Since there’s no built-in chime, you’ll need to connect it to Alexa devices or buy a Blink Mini 2 camera to hear the doorbell indoors.

It only took around five minutes to install the doorbell with the included mount (Image credit: Chris Price)

Looks-wise, the second-generation model is a little different from its predecessor with a larger oval shaped button in the middle, compared to the round button on the first generation model. Recording is also more subtle with a small blue light on the top right indicating when video is being captured, rather than the area around the central button becoming illuminated in blue.

When the button in the centre is pushed by a visitor, it illuminates white and a message is sent to the connected phone telling you ‘someone is at the door’. As with the first-generation model, the doorbell sits inside a bracket but can be removed for changing batteries etc. by inserting a small metal ‘key’ in the base. It is also rated IP-65 weather resistant which offers greater protection against the elements than the previous model which was only IP-54 rated.

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core: performance

  • Good image quality (especially in Best mode)
  • Stable video connection
  • Overly sensitive camera

There’s no question that when it comes to performance Blink has upped its game with this second gen model. The first one was certainly OK, but not as good as some of the admittedly more expensive video doorbells from companies such as Ring. However, in nearly every respect, the Gen 2 model offers better performance than its predecessor.

Not only does it have a wider field of horizontal view (150 degrees compared to 135 degrees for the first model), it also offers a 150-degrees vertical field of view for a perfectly square 1:1 aspect ratio image. At first I thought that was a bit odd, but having used it for a little while it’s incredibly useful. Not only can you see an entire head-to-toe image of someone at the door you can also see if a parcel has been left on your doorstep.

Image 1 of 2

The new square aspect ratio makes it easier to see both visitors and packages(Image credit: Chris Price)The new square aspect ratio makes it easier to see both visitors and packages(Image credit: Chris Price)

Whereas the previous model offered 1080p video resolution, the second-generation model boasts improved 1440p video resolution. Three video quality settings are on board (Best, Standard, and Saver). I settled on Best as it’s good to be able to see details more clearly although this will obviously reduce battery life. The second-generation model also offers improved night vision.

Of course, it’s not all good news. The downside of the camera lens being much bigger is that it also collects much more footage – too much. Blink cameras are known for being sensitive anyway and this latest model is no exception.

Even with privacy zones set up, I found it necessary to dial the sensitivity right down to avoid false alerts (Image credit: Chris Price)

With motion sensitivity set to five, I found the camera was recording around 100 events a day, most of them of people walking their dog past the house or delivery vans going by. Even with the ‘privacy zones’ set up to block out the extremes of the frame (including areas of sky) the camera was still extremely active. In the end it was necessary to reduce sensitivity to just two out of 10 so it only captured people actually coming to the door.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning the sync module. Whereas the previous model included the Sync Module 2 with a USB socket so you could insert a USB flash drive for storing video clips, this model comes with the Sync Module Core without local storage. Essentially this means if you want to store video clips you will need to pay a subscription of at least $3 / £2.50 a month.

Should you buy the Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyBlink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

This video doorbell represents pretty good value for money. Even the monthly subscription charge for premium features is around half the price of some devices.

4/5

Design

Available in black or white, the Blink doorbell is a much bulkier model than its predecessor. It is accompanied by a small sync module which connects to your router.

4/5

Performance

Although the motion sensor is a little overly-sensitive, performance is very good indeed particularly the 1:1 aspect ratio for ‘head-to-toe’ video capture.

4.5/5

Overall

When it comes to performance Blink have upped their game with improved quality images and longer battery life. Just a shame the supplied sync module can’t be used for storing clips.

4.5/5

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core: also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Product

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 1) and Sync Module

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus

Subscription price

From £2.50 a month

From £2.50 a month

From £3.50 a month

From £4.99 a month

Viewing angle

150 degrees horizontal

135 degrees horizontal

154 degrees horizontal

150 degrees horizontal

Network connection

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Video

1440p Full HD resolution

1080p Full HD resolution

1080p Full HD resolution

1536p Full HD resolution

Power

Battery

Battery

Mains or battery

Battery

Hardware price

£59 (with Sync Module Core)

£59 (with Sync Module 2)

£129 (video doorbell), £29 (chime)

£129 (video doorbell), £139 (with basic chime)

If you’re not sure whether the Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core are the right combo for you, here are two other options to consider.

How I tested the Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module Core

  • I used the doorbell every day for 10 days
  • I installed it myself
  • The doorbell was set up on the front door facing towards the road

To test a video doorbell properly you need to use it as part of your home system. Fortunately, I already have other Blink cameras so adding another one was particularly straightforward. But even if I didn’t then downloading the app would have been easy enough.

Installation takes around 15 minutes or so, requiring a screw driver to attach the mount to the door frame before positioning the camera in place. It’s roughly the same size as the previous one, in terms of length and width, so thankfully I didn’t have to worry about unsightly screw holes all over the door frame.

The new Blink Video Doorbell is roughly the same height and width as its predecessor, so I didn’t have to worry about messy screw holes when I upgraded (Image credit: Chris Price)

During the period of testing, I really began to appreciate the device’s head-to-toe viewing. I get a lot of deliveries, so being able to see if they have been left on the doorstep when I’m out is handy. Another bonus is the additional power that having another AA battery brings.

Whereas the previous model relied on two lithium AA batteries that had to be changed every three months, this one has three. However, I think it’s extremely unlikely these will last two years as Blink claims in its marketing blurb. I’m pretty sure I’ll be changing the batteries again in six months time given how sensitive the camera’s motion sensor is!.

For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed August 2025

Blink Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) + Sync Module 2: Price Comparison



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Today's Wordle being played on a phone
Product Reviews

Today’s Wordle clues, hints and answer for September 2 #1536

by admin



Scroll on down to our hints for today’s Wordle if you need a bit of help today. Use them nice and early to sidestep problems before they ever arise, or save them for when you’re knee-deep in yellow letters and running out of rows. Either way, they’ll make sure you start seeing more greens. The September 2 (1536) answer is just at the bottom too, if you need it.

A clue for today’s Wordle

Stuck on today’s Wordle? Here’s a clue that pertains to the meaning of the word.

If you’re still just as stuck after our clue, scroll down for further hints.


Related articles

Hints for the September 2 (#1536) Wordle

Our Wordle hints will start vague so as to just give you a bit of a nudge in the right direction at first.

As you scroll down, they’ll offer more and more help towards figuring out today’s word without fully giving it away.

Are there any repeated letters in today’s Wordle?

You can’t win this unless you find a fresh letter for every space.

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There’s only one vowel hiding away in here.

What letter does today’s Wordle begin with?

It’s a good idea to open with an “M” today.

Who knew finding five green letters could be so hard? Thank goodness the answer’s waiting below.

The September 2 (#1536) Wordle answer is…

(Image credit: Future)

This is it. No turning back now!

The solution to today’s Wordle puzzle is…

The meaning behind today’s Wordle answer

One word, multiple definitions. Physical and mental strength can be referred to as might, but you, um, might also use might to indicate some sort of possible action too.

Previous Wordle answers

Past Wordle answers can give you some excellent ideas for fun starting words that keep your daily puzzle-solving fresh. They are also a good way to eliminate guesses for today’s Wordle, as the answer is unlikely to be repeated.

Here are the last 10 Wordle answers:

  • August 23: LEVEL
  • August 24: SPORE
  • August 25: MIRTH
  • August 26: ANNEX
  • August 27: TOWER
  • August 28: SPLIT
  • August 29: GRAFT
  • August 30: ELATE
  • August 31: PETAL
  • September 1: LEAST

Learn more about Wordle 

(Image credit: Future)

How to play Wordle

Wordle’s a daily guessing game, where the goal is to correctly uncover today’s five letter word in six goes or less. An incorrect letter shows up as a grey box. A correct letter in the wrong space turns up yellow. And the correct letter in the right place shows up as green. There’s no time limit to worry about, and don’t forget that some letters might be used more than once.

Get better at Wordle!

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Generally you want to pick something with a good mix of common consonants and vowels in it as your Wordle opener, as this is most likely to return some early green and yellow letters. Words like SLATE, CHIME, and REACT all work, but feel free to find your own favourite.

Is Wordle getting harder?

(Image credit: Valve)

Wordle is not getting harder!

There will always be the occasional day where the answer is the name of a body part, has a sneaky double vowel, or a word obscure enough to send everyone rushing off to a dictionary. But the daily answers, edited by Tracy Bennett, are still a good mix of common terms and tougher challenges.

Remember that if you’re craving more of a challenge, you can enable Hard Mode under the ⚙️ options menu. This option doesn’t make the words themselves harder, but it requires that “any revealed hints must be used in subsequent guesses.”

How did Wordle begin?

Wordle is the creation of Josh Wardle, and began life as a small personal project before its public release in 2021. From there it’s gone on to become a global phenomenon, attracting a dedicated daily audience, billions of plays, a whole host of competitors, and even a seven-figure sale to the New York Times where it’s become a mainstay of daily games alongside the crosswords and Connections.



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MSI MAG401QR
Product Reviews

Labor Day sale marks down the only mainstream 40 inch ultrawide gaming monitor on the market by $90

by admin



If you are in the market for an extra-large ultrawide gaming monitor, MSI has a killer deal on its only 40 inch 3440×1440 ultrawide display on sale today for Labor Day. The MSI MAG401QR has dropped to its lowest price since January, and is now just $339.99, a huge 26% off. The monitor is normally on sale for $429.99, saving you $90.

MSI’s MAG401QR sets itself apart by having a massive 40 inch display that is completely straight, providing an immersive gaming and movie-watching experience. By contrast, most other 3440×1440 ultrawide monitors are around 34 inch and have a curve. The curve is subjective, and not everyone likes curved monitors, making this monitor an ideal choice for those who prefer a flatter screen.

The MAG401QR is firmly geared towards gaming, featuring a 155Hz refresh rate and an IPS display with a 1ms response time. The display also supports 90% of the Adobe RGB color gamut, 94% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and DisplayHDR 400 for HDR gaming and video playback with a peak brightness of 400 nits.

MSI has also armed this display with a variety of I/O featuring two HDMI 2.0b ports that support the display’s native resolution at up to 100Hz, one DisplayPort 1.4a that supports the display’s native resolution and maximum refresh rate, and a Type-C port sporting DP alt functionality and 65 watts of power delivery. Finally, there’s a headphone jack for wired 3.5mm audio devices.

The MAG401QR is pretty much the only 21:9 40 inch ultrawide display on the market not priced anywhere near $1000, making this deal exceptionally good. At just $339.99, MSI’s display is priced just $50-$90 above most mid-range 34″ ultrawide monitors, and for that extra cost, you’re getting a significantly larger screen.
If you are specifically in the market for an ultrawide larger than 34 inch, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and maintains a 21:9 aspect ratio, this is your best option.

If you’re looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

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Lego's September Releases Set Sail in More Ways Than One
Product Reviews

Lego’s September Releases Set Sail in More Ways Than One

by admin


Thought Lego would take a break from the realm of big boats after it launched One Piece as part of its blockbuster August? Well, thanks to last week’s surprise announcement of a new Pirates of the Caribbean set, we can think again. And yet, it’s not the only boat on the horizon for this month.

After going all out for its big summer release wave in August, things are definitely a bit quieter in September for Lego. But that doesn’t mean big things aren’t coming: the new Black Pearl and a funky Charlie and the Chocolate Factory set bring the boats, while a whole new wave of Wicked sets prepares us for For Good‘s arrival in a couple months. And that’s even before you get into the Spider-Verse swinging in for Lego’s next wave of Collectible Minifigures!

Check out our breakdown below for all the must-get Lego releases this month.

Lego Batman Arkham Asylum

© Lego

A grand upgrade on the classic Arkham Asylum playset from years ago, this nearly 3,000-piece set comes with a whopping 16 minifigures, from Batman and stalwart allies Batwing, Batwoman, and Robin to Arkham Guards and a whole host of deadly inmates like Joker, Harley, Killer Croc, Penguin, Poison Ivy, and more to fill out the myriad wings of the asylum—which itself is jam-packed with Easter eggs and references to Batman history. ($300, available here from September 9)

See Arkham Asylum™ at LEGO

Lego Wicked Sets

Lego’s off to see the wizard once more—and this time, it means it. While the first Wicked movie got some support from the brickmaker with a couple sets, the arrival of For Good means the company is going all the way out with a huge line, with minidoll sets inspired by key events from the new film. But collectors yearning for minifigure Wicked goodness should rejoicify: there’s both a set of bookends and a huge new Ozian entry to the Lego Wall Art range that brings Glinda and Elphaba to minifigure life alongside the Fab Five themselves from Wizard of Oz and other key characters from the musical.

Lego Wall-E and EVE

© Lego

Years after Wall-E controversially hit the Lego Ideas lineup (remember that issue with the head joint? What a time to be alive), the pint-sized Pixar droid returns, and this time he’s brought some very adorable friends. The newly updated Wall-E build now includes an EVE to pair him up with, alongside M-O, the cleaner droid, and even lil’ Hal, the cockroach! ($70, available here)

See WALL-E and EVE at LEGO

Lego Icons Pirates of the Caribbean Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship

© Lego

Announced just last week, Lego’s long-awaited return to Pirates of the Caribbean brings us a fresh take on the legendary Black Pearl and some very key minifigures. Of course Jack is included, but Will, Elizabeth, Barbossa, Gibbs, and more flesh out the roundup. ($380, available here from September 12 for Lego Insiders, September 15 widely)

See Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship at LEGO

Lego Advent Calendars

It might not even be Halloween yet, but that’s not stopping Lego from getting into a different kind of holiday spirit as it prepares its annual swath of calendar sets. There’s quite a range available this year, but it’s no surprise our favorite of the selection this time around might just be the droid-themed Star Wars calendar, filled with fun minifigures and builds to flesh out your own seasonal workshop.

Lego Ideas Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

© Lego

The next major Ideas set takes us to a world of imagination and the classic 1971 take on Roald Dahl’s whimsical, confection-filled adventure. As well as a host of minifigures inspired by the beloved movie (including, of course, Gene Wilder’s Wonka), this zany build includes a moving chocolate waterfall, Willy’s office, and plenty of candy-themed flora dotted alongside the chocolate river. And yes, there are plenty of golden tickets included. ($220, available here from September 18)

See Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory at LEGO

Lego Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Collectible Minifigures

© Lego

The newest blind-box Collectible Minifigures range returns to the world of Marvel with a twist, swinging into the animated Spider-Verse with a whole series inspired by the second movie in the trilogy, Across the Spider-Verse. The 12-strong lineup includes stalwarts like Miles, Gwen, Peter B. Parker (and Mayday), and Miguel O’Hara; deep cuts like Spider-Byte and the Webslinger; and perhaps a contender for Minifigure of the Year in Werewolf Spider-Man. ($5 each, available here)

See Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse at LEGO

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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