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'Fortnite' Ditches 'Peacemaker' Emote After the Show's Big Reveal
Product Reviews

‘Fortnite’ Ditches ‘Peacemaker’ Emote After the Show’s Big Reveal

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This week’s Peacemaker episode ended with a twist fans have been calling for weeks, and now it’s affecting the show’s Fortnite presence.

At the end of Thursday’s “Ignorance is Chris,” the 11th Street Kids go to find Chris in the alternate universe he’s been hanging around in. Turns out it’s the Nazi dimension, made clear by Adebayo getting chased down by white people and the swastika in place of the 50 stars on the American flag. On Saturday night, Epic Games revealed it was disabling the “Peacemaker Hips” emote while it “inquires into our partner’s creative intentions. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days.”

Peacemaker’s dance emote from Fortnite has been disabled.

“As we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days.” pic.twitter.com/hwHqOiid1o

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 28, 2025

The “Hips” emoji references the show’s season two intro, which has its cast flap their arms up and down in a way that makes them look like swastikas. That dance may also have been hiding the Nazi twist in plain sight (boy, what a sentence), so Epic’s spent two weeks potentially unaware that it was charging people 400 V-bucks (or $3.29) to make their characters dance like Nazis. At time of writing, neither WB or James Gunn have commented on the emote being disabled.

Fortnite’s no stranger to emote-related controversy, but the apparent secrecy behind the Peacemaker dance’s intent makes this all so fascinating from different angles. Is Gunn and WB at fault for not giving Epic a heads up about the meaning, or did the developer not do its job in properly vetting it? Is this just what happens as IP collaborations become so normalized, which Fortnite itself has had a hand in? The aftermath of this will be interesting to watch play out, and probably make the emote itself feel like an important part of the game’s ever-evolving life.

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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What to expect from Amazon’s big fall hardware event on Tuesday
Gaming Gear

What to expect from Amazon’s big fall hardware event on Tuesday

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Amazon is hosting its 2025 fall hardware event on Tuesday, September 30th, and it could be a packed show. The company’s invite has a few not-so-subtle hints about new Echos and a new Kindle. It will also be Amazon’s next big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up its devices and services teams after a long career at Microsoft helping launch products like the Surface lineup.

Amazon has taken some big swings under Panay’s leadership, launching a suite of new Kindle products last year — including the first color Kindle — and announcing its AI-powered Alexa Plus assistant. What’s coming up next, then? Here’s what we think you can expect.

Amazon’s event invite image. Image: Amazon

At least one new Echo product

Amazon’s invitation appears to tease two products with the company’s iconic blue Echo ring, so it looks like we’ll get new Echo smart speakers of some kind during the show. Which ones, though?

A new standard Echo seems like a safe bet, as the company hasn’t released one since 2020. Perhaps that’s the one in the top left of Amazon’s event teaser. The shape on the top right looks a little bit like an Echo Studio, which is also due for an upgrade. It was last refreshed in 2023.

I might be totally off-base with my guesses, but if you’re shopping for new smart speakers and are already invested in Amazon’s Alexa and Echo ecosystem, you might want to wait to see what Amazon reveals at this event before you buy anything new.

This one is easier to tease out from Amazon’s event invite: one of the pictures is a color version of the Kindle logo. But hidden in the corner of the image is a clue that Amazon might announce a color version of the Kindle Scribe: tiny text in the corner includes the words “with the” and “stroke of a pen.”

Amazon announced the first Scribe, a tablet-sized E Ink device that pairs with a stylus, in 2022, and it released a second-generation version last year. But both were missing a color screen, which seems like the next natural upgrade.

A Reddit user recently shared images of a prototype Kindle that’s apparently a bit smaller than the 11th-generation Kindle and has “Kindle Petit Color” branding. The prototype has colors that are better than last year’s Colorsoft, too, the user says. The first Colorsoft had a rocky launch due to a discoloration issue affecting some units that Amazon had to address. I have lower confidence in this one, though, since Amazon very recently launched a cheaper Kindle Colorsoft without some of the features of the Colorsoft Signature Edition, like wireless charging.

New TV hardware and potentially a new TV OS

The bottom-left corner of the invitation features a picture that resembles a TV, suggesting that Amazon will announce new TV hardware of some kind. But the bigger TV-focused news might be Vega OS, a replacement operating system for its Fire TVs that isn’t based on Android, and the OS could launch as soon as this week, according to Lowpass’ Janko Roettgers.

Vega OS is a bit of an open secret already; Amazon job listings have directly mentioned it, and the company already uses the operating system on the Echo Show 5, Echo Hub smart displays, and the Echo Spot smart clock. If Amazon uses this event to share more about Vega OS on TVs, it would mark a big public reveal for the operating system.

Alexa Plus announcements or upgrades

Alexa Plus is a major initiative for Amazon as it looks to compete with other popular AI assistants, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. While the revamped Alexa is still technically rolling out in early access, Amazon could use this event as an opportunity to give an update on that rollout and announce new features coming to the assistant.

Other unexpected hardware

When David Limp, now the CEO of Jeff Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin, led Amazon’s devices and services, the company’s hardware events were often packed with a dizzying number of new and unexpected products that worked with Alexa, including things like Echo Buttons, the Echo Wall Clock, and even an Alexa-enabled microwave. All three of those are now in the Echo graveyard, but Amazon could have another surprise product up its sleeves again. With Meta all-in on smart AI glasses, maybe Amazon will upgrade its Echo Frames?

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Having resurrected The Crew, devs behind fan revival project are now working on a big mod to restore the racer to "greatness"
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Having resurrected The Crew, devs behind fan revival project are now working on a big mod to restore the racer to “greatness”

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Earlier this month, fan-made revival project The Crew Unlimited, brought Ubisoft’s decommissioned racer The Crew back to life in server emulated PC form. Now, its devs have put out an update outlining a couple of things they’re working on to try and take things to the next level.

This looks to be the first time the group have been able to catch their breath since releasing The Crew Unlimited on September 15th, having had to work flat out on fixes for teething issues in the immediate aftermath. Some of those problems stemmed from some players having acquired broken versions of The Crew’s game files from “shady sources”, with TCU’s devs saying they aren’t responsible for the server emulator not working in these cases.

That brings us to the ‘post-launch recap and what’s next’ post The Crew Unlimited lead Whammy put up on the project’s Patreon page late yesterday. “The reception has been quite overwhelming,” they wrote to kick off. “We’re extremely grateful for all the support we’ve received, it really means a lot to us. The amount of people who were eagerly awaiting the return of this decade old game really says a lot about how much this game means to people.”

Getting down to brass tacks, Whammy wrote that the team’s current focus is getting some more “important fixes” for their creation’s launcher and server out of the door, with the former also set for an interface rework. In the long-term, there are two larger initiatives they’ve got in the works, with one being a beefy overhaul mod and the other being a revamp of the project’s website that’ll integrate it with the game’s resurrected online multiplayer.

Starting with the mod, which the modders are collaborating with other Crew community members on, it’s “a collection of essential and lore-friendly fixes, improvements and content restorations”. The goal is to bring The Crew back “to a level of greatness it once had, while retaining all the new DLC content and features”, as The Crew Unlimited’s creators aren’t fans of the “abysmal state” Ubisoft left the racer in once its last updates rolled out. The group seem to particularly dislike the effect 2015’s Wild Run update had.

The second addition the works is dubbed “TCU Net 2.0”, and will be a revamp of The Crew Unlimited’s current website that’ll introduce a system of online features linked to the project’s in-game online experience. For instance, you’ll be able access the likes of “user profiles, scores, friends, posts, [and] rewards”. It sounds quite Rockstar Social Club-ish in principle at least, so it’ll be interesting to see if the modders can pull it off.

“As you can see, we have quite ambitious goals,” Whammy concluded. “But with enough time and your support, we believe we can achieve them.” Given the achievement that just getting their server emulator up and running likely was, it’s cool to see the team continue to aim high. The question remains as to whether The Crew Unlimited might face some lawyerly action from Ubisoft at some point, if the publisher believes it has a case, but all appears quiet on that front thus far.



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HBAR price poised for a crash as Hedera forms a risky pattern
GameFi Guides

HBAR price in pullback, but technicals point to big reversal

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The HBAR price has pulled back and entered a bear market after falling by 30% from its year-to-date high. 

Summary

  • Hedera price is in the second phase of the Elliot Wave pattern on the daily chart.
  • HBAR has also formed a bullish flag chart pattern on the daily chart.
  • The coin will benefit from the ongoing Hedera stablecoin growth.

HBAR price Elliot Wave analysis

Hedera (HBAR) token dropped to $0.2147, with its volume and futures open interest falling to $193 million and $357 million, respectively. 

Technical analysis suggests an eventual rebound in the HBAR price. A closer look shows that it rose from a low of $0.1265 on June 22 to a high of $0.3047 on July 27. This surge was the first phase of the Elliot Wave pattern. 

The Hedera price has now entered the second phase, characterized by a pullback that is between a 50% and 61.8% retracement of the first phase. 

This phase is then followed by the third wave, which is usually the longest. In this case, it may jump to last year’s high of $0.40, which is about 85% above the current level.

The coin has formed other positive chart patterns. For example, it has formed a bullish flag pattern, which is characterized by a vertical line and a descending channel. This pattern resembles a hoisted flag, and it often leads to a strong bullish breakout. 

Hedera Hashgraph price also remains above the 100-day Exponential Moving Average. That is a sign that bulls remain in control despite the recent pullback. 

HBAR price chart | Source: crypto.news

Hedera stablecoin growth and ETF approval

A potential catalyst for the HBAR price is the ongoing rebound of stablecoin supply. Data compiled by DeFi Llama shows that the USDC supply increased by $45 million over the last seven days. This rebound has brought its total supply to over $115 million.

Stablecoins are a crucial component of any layer-1 or layer-2 network, particularly following the signing of the GENIUS Act. This growth explains why Justin Sun’s Tron has become one of the biggest and most profitable networks in the crypto industry. 

The other potential catalyst for the HBAR price is that the Securities and Exchange Commission is considering multiple ETFs. An HBAR ETF is likely to boost the price due to rising demand from American investors.



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FBC: Firebreak's first big update is its literal breaking point, bringing lots of system overhauls next week
Game Updates

FBC: Firebreak’s first big update is its literal breaking point, bringing lots of system overhauls next week

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It’s been no secret that Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak landed like a piece of haddock at the fishmongers. This shouldn’t necessarily be a complete surprise, after all this is their first attempt at a live service game that’s all them (they also helped to make CrossfireX, and that didn’t go very well either). Still, to Remedy’s credit they’ve also committed to bring changes to the game, and those changes are coming in the form of a big update titled Breakpoint next week.


Moving swiftly along from the fact that this update’s name feels like a make or break point for FBC: Firebreak, Breakpoint is set to arrive next week on September 29th. There is some new stuff that’s coming with this update, but the main point of it is multiple system overhauls and quality-of-life improvements. I mean, Remedy literally said one of its goals with this update is to “Improve everything about the FBC: Firebreak experience.” That’s a tall order!


One of the big issues with the game is that onboarding just… didn’t really work. Many found it a bit difficult to parse, with systems not getting enough explanations. Now, right at the start of the game there’s an “Orientation” tutorial level that comes with a voiceover and tips to get you acquainted with the basics. You’ll find some new job overview videos to better understand the game’s different Crises too.


Speaking of the Crises, these work a bit differently now too. There’s now a Crisis Board, replacing the game’s job selection screen, which refreshes every 30 minutes, and you can choose specific Crises to play too. Remedy explains that each Crisis is “currently a curated version of one of the existing five (six with the update) Jobs with randomized rewards, objectives, and length.” There’s also a new Crisis to play through, based around that mold you might remember from Control. Nasty stuff, but more to do is always good.


The game’s economy and progression has been changed too, namely that you keep any gear, guns, or perks you’ve unlocked. On top of that there are three currencies to be found, and any currency you currently have will be split evenly between these three.


In terms of what’s next, Remedy says the next major update is coming in late November, which they’re currently calling “Rogue Protocol.” That one will have cross-platform voice chat, as well as a new game mode. After that, the next big update won’t be until March 2026.


Who knows whether this update will breathe enough life back into the shooter or not, but at least Remedy is giving it a good go. You can read about all of the changes and additions here.



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Peacemaker Season 2 needs to answer a big ‘Earth X’ question about Superman
Esports

Peacemaker Season 2 needs to answer a big ‘Earth X’ question about Superman

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It’s official: the alternate dimension in Peacemaker Season 2 is ‘Earth X’ (or a version of it), and now that’s been revealed, we need to talk about Superman. Spoilers to follow…

Until Episode 6, everything seemed so much better in the other world. Chris’ dad is nice and caring, his brother is still alive, Harcourt is in love with him, and Peacemaker didn’t murder Rick Flag Jr.

However, as many have predicted, its dark secret has been revealed: it’s Earth X, a parallel universe where the Nazis won World War II. That means there’s a swastika on the American flag instead of stars and there aren’t any people of color walking on the streets (it remains terrifyingly unclear where they are, if there are any at all).

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So, everyone is a Nazi, and the Top Trio are beloved superheroes. Where does that leave other characters… like Superman?

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Will Peacemaker Season 2 include Overman?

DC

Peacemaker has yet to reveal if there are any parallel versions of other DCU characters, like Lex Luthor or Rick Flag. However, now we know that it’s Earth X, the show could include a Superman cameo with a shocking twist.

In the comics, Earth X has its own version of Superman: Overman, also known as Kal-L. His origins are very similar: he comes from Krypton, his parents send him to Earth, but he lands in Sudetenland instead of Kansas, and he ends up becoming the most powerful ‘hero’ at the helm of the Fourth Reich.

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“My rocket from Krypton arrived in a field in the occupied Sudetenland in 1938. German rocket scientists retro-engineered the technology Herr Hitler used to win the war, and I… I and my kind inherited a Utopia built on human suffering. Mine is not any world you know,” he says in the comics.

It’s been widely speculated that Corenswet will appear in Season 2, especially after John Cena posted a selfie with him from the set. Gunn has also teased “one really, really, really big cameo near the end of the show.”

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To be clear, Corenswet’s normal Superman could still appear; if Chris returns to his own world, what better way to make him feel welcome than the world’s mightiest hero patting him on the back?

However, it’s hard to deny how effective (and scary) it’d be to see Corenswet as a Nazi version of the Man of Steel, even if it’s brief.

“It’ll be peak if we see David Corenswet as Overman in the finale,” one viewer wrote. “This is gonna sound crazy but hear me out, I need an Overman appearance in Peacemaker so f**king bad,” another commented.

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Before next week, watch the trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 7, keep tabs on the Season 2 soundtrack, and check out our list of the best superhero TV shows.



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Vintage Lord Of The Rings Book Box Set Is 55% Off For Prime Big Deal Days
Game Updates

Vintage Lord Of The Rings Book Box Set Is 55% Off For Prime Big Deal Days

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Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days sale features a wide assortment of excellent book deals, including steep discounts on a bunch of popular fantasy and sci-fi box sets. As usual, some of the most popular deals take readers back to Middle-earth. One of the standouts is a beloved 3-book box set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings with artwork by Alan Lee on the front covers and beautiful display box. Prime members can get this vintage hardcover box set for only $40.79 (was $90), which is the lowest price this year.

After you’re done checking out the vintage box set, read on for more superb deals on Tolkien box sets, such as The Complete History of Middle-earth for $80.65 (was $250), and budget-friendly Collector’s Editions like The Hobbit for $11.33 and The Silmarillion for $12.26. With Prime Big Deal Days set for October 7-8, you can expect to see even more great promotions on Tolkien books in the coming days.

$40.79 (was $90) | Artwork by Alan Lee

One of the most popular modern editions of The Lord of the Rings, the 1988 hardcover box set offers the most economical way to get editions with cover and box art illustrated by Alan Lee. Widely considered to be the best artist who has worked on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Alan Lee’s Middle-earth landscape paintings and Middle-earth maps are gorgeous.

The box set has wrap-around art on the slipcase that matches the covers of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Each cover resembles a painting, as the full-color illustrations have ornate frames with detailed patterns. These editions also come with fold-out maps of Middle-earth during the Third Age. Each book concludes with a section of appendices filled with fascinating reference material and background information.

The muted color palette combined with the classical typeface and faded yellow dust jackets makes these editions look appropriately vintage. Even over 45 years later, though, these editions are among the most beautiful you can buy today. It’s not surprising these hardcover editions and the box set remain in print. Across all three volumes, the 1988 edition of LOTR is 1,214 pages.

You can check out the cover designs of each of the three volumes below. Each hardcover is also sold separately, but you’d wind up spending roughly $50 and won’t get the lovely display box.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1988 editions)

As mentioned, the 1988 editions are the most affordable with cover art by Alan Lee, but there are editions filled with incredible illustrations by the artist. Last year, William Morrow published a remastered edition of the phenomenal 1992 Centenary Edition of The Lord of the Rings. The collector’s set carries a $325 retail price, but it’s also on sale in Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days sale. You can get The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set for only $135.09 (58% off). This three-volume set is packaged in a custom cloth board display box and features over 50 new illustrations and drawings by Lee. The books themselves have cloth board cases and are quarterbound in leather. Check out our dedicated story on The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set to see why these editions are so special.

In October, William Morrow will publish a four-book box set with Alan Lee’s illustrations for $139.50 (was $150). This edition is notable because it also comes with The Hobbit. All four hardcover volumes have wrap-around dust jacket illustrations. Before you preorder a copy: This edition originally released in 2020 in the UK, and you can buy that version for considerably less at Amazon, too.

All five matching hardcover editions are steeply discounted.

Amazon’s early sale has also brought deals on last year’s budget-friendly Lord of the Rings Collector’s Edition hardcovers. These editions are similar in size to the 1988 editions, but they have a more modernized look, with stained edges, foil-stamped cover art, maps on the interior covers, and ribbon bookmarks. Matching editions of The Hobbit and The Silmarillion were published, too.

All five of these $35 hardcover editions are on sale for $15 or less. The Hobbit is only $11.33, and The Silmarillion is just $12.26. There is a box set with the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings, but it’s cheaper to buy each book separately at the moment.

Amazon’s sale also includes The Complete History of Middle-earth, a massive 5,440-page box set collecting all 12 volumes of The History of Middle-earth across three hardcovers. The $250 hardcover box set has dropped to only $80.65–the lowest price ever. We also have a dedicated story about The History of Middle-earth that’s worth reading, as it also details the 2024 box set series featuring 15 History of Middle-earth books across four decorative box sets.

William Morrow continued its Tolkien box set project over the summer with a pair of beautiful hardcover collections. Tolkien Myths and Legends, a four-book box set containing epic poems and classic myths written or translated by Tolkien. This collection released in June, but it’s up for grabs for only $51 (was $125) for Prime Big Deal Days. The sixth box set in the series, a new edition of The Great Tales of Middle-earth–a hardcover collection of three posthumously published novels–released in August and is on sale for $75 (was $125).

More J.R.R. Tolkien Book Deals

Other notable Tolkien book deals include The Nature of Middle-earth, a collection of the author’s final writings on the fantasy world he brought to life. The Nature of Middle-earth’s hardcover edition is on sale for only $12 (was $32). The History of The Hobbit, meanwhile, is a 992-page hardcover containing Tolkien’s complete unpublished draft of The Hobbit as well as his illustrations and notes. It also has commentary by scholar John Rateliff that pulls back the curtain on how The Hobbit came to be. The History of The Hobbit is discounted to $18.81 (was $55) in hardcover. Another insightful behind-the-scenes book is The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded Edition. On sale for $13.85 (was $40), this 720-page hardcover includes hundreds of letters written to his editors and publishers, his family and friends, and even his fans.

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Hades 2 Reveals Every Big Change As It Finally Hits Version 1.0 On Switch 2
Game Updates

Hades 2 Reveals Every Big Change As It Finally Hits Version 1.0 On Switch 2

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Hades 2 is finally out of Early Access and Supergiant Games has rolled out the red carpet with patch notes showing every major change as the game enters version 1.0 on PC and comes to Switch 1 and Switch 2. The true ending to Princess Melinoë’s adventure is now live, along with fresh secrets and a bevy of balancing tweaks.

Supergiant Games put Hades 2 out in Early Access back in May 2024 and it was already pretty decent. The studio’s been adding more content and fine-tuning its more ambitious scope ever since. In addition to the True Ending and Epilogue, there are also new story events, gift events, keepsakes to discover and fresh artwork and music for players to enjoy. Most of the balance changes are buffs or bug fixes. Appearance rates for resources have undergone some changes as well—all Prestige are now Kudos—and Tablet of Peace and Rod of Fishing sequences have been sped up.

“While Hades 2 spent more than four-and-a-half years in development, including about a year and a half in Early Access, it’s also the culmination of all the experience we’ve gained together as a team since Supergiant Games started back in 2009,” director Greg Kasavin wrote in the game’s Discord. “Early Access development was foundational to the entire idea of the original Hades, and proved instrumental to this latest game as well. So, from all of us, thank you for inspiring us to do our best, and we hope you enjoy your time with Hades 2.”

Opinions may vary on how well this sequel builds on the foundations of the original, but Hades 2 is an impressive achievement for a studio that’s retained all seven of its founding members and continues releasing popular indie hits without a CEO or conventional business structure. “I don’t have some kind of magical explanation for why we’ve been able to stick around for this long while some others haven’t been as fortunate,” Kasavin told SFChronicle in a new interview. “I do attribute it to the value that we place on sticking together as a team, on keeping our ambitions relatively modest. We don’t have an ambition to grow big for its own sake.”



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The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.
Product Reviews

Honor MagicPad 3 review: an iPad Air beating tablet with one big problem

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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.

Honor MagicPad 3: One-minute review

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

The Honor MagicPad 3 is almost the perfect large tablet. With a bright and colorful 13.3 inch 3.2K display, complete with IMAX Enhanced certification, kicking back with a movie or TV show is an absolute joy. Even simply scrolling the home menu or your favorite social media website impresses thanks to a smooth 165Hz refresh rate.

The tablet’s eight speakers perform well, though lack bass overall; especially in comparison to the superior sound systems found on the likes of the cheaper Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. I think you should immediately disable the Honor Spatial Audio option in the settings menu for the best performance though. It’s on by default and gives a solid impression of depth, but makes everything sound artificial, tinny, and a little hollow.

Still, these minor audio quibbles are easy to overlook considering the tablet’s impressively slim and lightweight build. At just 5.79mm thick and coming in at 595g, it’s thinner and lighter than even the iPad Air. Honor has managed to cram in a truly massive 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery too, delivering incredible battery life. Seriously, this tablet can power through a full day of rigorous use and then some without breaking a sweat.

I was shocked when half a day editing Google Docs files in a café followed by two hours of 4K video viewing on the train, all at max brightness, ended with the battery barely below 80%. On top of that, the tablet holds charge between uses effortlessly – I often left it on standby stashed down the side of my bed after a night binge-watching Amazon Prime Video and picked it up a few days later to discover that it lost no charge at all in that time.

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re the kind of person that likes to leave a tablet around the house to use as needed, you never have to worry about finding it out of electrical juice. Some of this is likely due to the rather aggressive AI Power Management System, which might be worth tweaking if you need certain apps to continually refresh in the background, but it’s hard to complain when the resulting battery performance is this strong.

So what stops the Honor MagicPad 3 from being a best-in-class product? Sure, it’s a shame that the gorgeous screen isn’t an OLED panel and that there’s no fingerprint reader, but above all else it’s down to the patchy update support.

When quizzed, Honor told us that it plans “at least one major Android version update” and just “two years of security patches”, which is a depressingly short timeframe. In my eyes, the lack of Android version updates isn’t a dealbreaker, as you’re only really missing out on software features, but the two years of security patches is. You generally should avoid using devices once that timeframe is up, so the tablet effectively has a looming expiration date out of the box.

It’s a shame, especially when you can easily find tablets under $200 / £150 with more years of security update support. The brand did at least note that it will “constantly evaluate” its plans and “deploy software upgrades accordingly” which hopefully means there’s scope for this to change in the future.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

  • £599 retail price
  • Expect frequent discounts
  • It’s available in the UK, but not the US or Australia

The Honor MagicPad 3 comes in at £599 (around $800) for a model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is a very fair price for what you get, especially in comparison to the $799 / £799 iPad Air 13-inch that starts with a pitiful 128GB of storage. Sadly, there’s no Australian release.

Honor frequently runs promotions that slash that price, however, so expect it to be readily available for at least £100 less. In fact, it has already seen its price fall to £499 in the build up to release. Also be on the lookout for various free gifts, including the excellent Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard, which I tested alongside the tablet for this review, or Honor Magic Pencil 3 stylus. These promotions turn an already good deal into a great one.

The one thing to bear in mind here is that limited update plan. If you’re particularly concerned about getting the latest and greatest version of Android, or worry about using a device that’s no longer receiving security updates, then that otherwise showstopping price tag is a little less tempting.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Starting price

£599

Operating system

Android (MagicOS 9.0.1)

Chipset

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Memory (RAM)

16GB

Storage

512GB

Display

13.3 inch 3200 x 2136 (3K) LCD

Cameras

13MP, 2MP rear / 9MP front

Battery

12,450mAh

Connectivity

USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Weight

595g

Dimensions

293.88mm x 201.38mm x 5.79mm

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

  • iPad Air-beating slimness
  • Surprisingly lightweight
  • The back cover might be divisive

The Honor MagicPad 3 puts the 13-inch iPad Air to shame with a design that’s both thinner and lighter. It has a 13.3-inch screen with roughly 0.7cm bezels, flanked by a metallic body where you’ll find four large speaker grilles (that’s two along each short edge), a standard volume rocker and power button, a USB Type-C 3.2 port (with support for 66W fast charging) for topping up the battery or connecting an external display, and a small magnetised area where you can affix the compatible Honor Magic Pencil 3 for charging.

The only thing that I would add is a fingerprint reader, which is unfortunately absent. Luckily the face unlocking is quick and responsive and works well even in low light conditions, so it never feels like you’re really missing out on too much.

The back is relatively plain, aside from a camera module with a flash, a 13MP main sensor and a 2MP macro lens, and a row of small electronic contacts for the keyboard case. According to the Honor website, only one colour is available in the UK: a rather basic Grey.

I tested a White model, however, which is available in some other markets, and has an almost bumpy, textured back. It’s certainly a unique feeling, like having a third-party skin applied out of the box, which makes me think that it’s some kind of vinyl sticker.

(Image credit: Future)

I’m in two minds about this. On one hand, I really appreciate the added grip that this material brings, making it far easier to hold the tablet one handed. It’s impressively resistant to fingerprints and, if it came down to it, would probably offer a fair amount of protection from scratches.

It also looks great from a distance, helping the Honor MagicPad 3 stand out in a sea of plain slabs. On the other hand, the strange feel initially made me think that the back of the tablet was constructed entirely from plastic; this somewhat dampened my excitement out of the box.

I tested the Honor MagicPad 3 with the Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard and was very impressed with its performance. The case attaches to the back of the tablet magnetically, with the top half folding down to create a very distinct looking stand that shows off that snazzy back design. The keys are stable with plenty of travel and are very satisfying to press. It also has a large and responsive touchpad, with pronounced mechanical clicks and minimal flex.

It’s a really excellent keyboard and a massive upgrade compared to the Bluetooth model for the Honor MagicPad 2. My only possible complaint is that it seems to only be offered in the US English layout, which took a little getting used to and seems odd given the lack of availability in that region.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Display

(Image credit: Future)

  • Not an OLED, unlike the MagicPad 2
  • Still bright and vibrant however
  • Impressive 165Hz refresh rate

The Honor MagicPad 3 has an impressive 3.2K (3200 x 2136) IPS LCD screen. With up to 1,000 nits of brightness it’s perfect for indoor use and can hold its own outside on a sunny day.

A variety of media looks absolutely gorgeous on it with cheerful and vibrant colors and plenty of fine detail. At 13.3 inches, the tablet might as well be a portable TV and I love using it to catch up on everything from Amazon Prime Video shows to Netflix movies and YouTube videos.

Honor offers two interesting display features too: Super Dynamic Display and Vivid Display. Super Dynamic Display uses AI to ‘enhance HD video brightness and contrast’ while Vivid Display aims to ‘enhance video clarity and colors’ with the same technology. With both of these features enabled, videos look a tad brighter and slightly clearer but lose a little color accuracy.

The tablet’s display is IMAX Enhanced certified too, which is good news if you want to consume compatible content on services like Disney+ or Rakuten TV. Outside of video watching, the 165Hz refresh rate also makes browsing apps, system menus and websites feel especially smooth.

You should note that this isn’t an OLED panel though. I don’t think that this is unreasonable given the tablet’s cost, but it is significant when its predecessor, the Honor MagicPad 2, did have an OLED display at a similar price point, which had a significantly brighter screen that offered slightly better colors.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Cameras

(Image credit: Future)

  • Decent front camera
  • Serviceable rear camera
  • Abysmal macro lens

The Honor MagicPad 3 isn’t going to win any prizes for its camera setup, though that’s the case for almost any tablet.

The 13MP front camera is crisp and clear enough for an impromptu video meeting, but not something that you’re going to want to be taking your Instagram selfies with.

As for the rear, you’re getting a 13MP main shooter that suffers from aggressive post processing that smudges over most of the finer details in almost any shot. It’s fine for scanning documents or taking a quick snap of something right in front of you, but gets dicey if you’re photographing from a distance or with the 2x digital zoom.

There’s also a 2MP macro lens that takes images so blurry that it might as well not be there at all.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: software

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

  • MagicOS might not be your cup of tea…
  • But it’s easy to use, with lots of features
  • The desktop mode needs work

The Honor MagicPad 3 runs the brand’s MagicOS 9.0.1 operating system; a version of Android 15. It has minimal bloat, at least compared to alternatives like Xiaomi HyperOS, and offers a surprising number of genuinely useful features.

As a former iPhone 15 Plus user that now daily drives the Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RAR, I think its interface is incredibly intuitive. Its overall design is obviously more than a little ‘inspired’ by Apple, which could upset the Android purists out there, but it’s smooth, easy to use, and extremely responsive.

I might be a little biased here, as it’s my current favorite mobile operating system, but I find that it delivers the perfect balance between the slick aesthetics of iOS and the freedom and customization of Android. There are loads of options to tweak, from app icon shapes and sizes to home screen and charging animations.

A handful of quirky extras give the operating system plenty of its own personality. One of my favorites is the ability to create a humanoid ‘3D Avatar’ for your live wallpaper. When you unlock the device, you’re greeted with a short moving scene of the character going for a stroll through a park, chilling in a cafe, petting a fluffy cat, or a plethora of other possible situations.

Videos of new scenarios are automatically generated when the device is charging and, while undeniably a little unsettling at first, I’ve grown to love seeing what my little homunculus is up to every time I turn the tablet on.

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, being 2025 the software of the Honor MagicPad 3 also has a suite of AI features including AI-powered widgets that do a surprisingly good job of recommending installed apps based on your usage habits, real-time AI subtitle generation, AI writing tools that help you polish or rephrase your text, and automatic on-device AI deepfake detection for video calls.

This is on top of the Magic Portal – effectively the brand’s take on Google’s Circle to Search feature. As with most Android devices, Gemini assistant is also built in and can be summoned by holding the power button for a few seconds.

The only part of the software that I think needs work is the tablet’s desktop mode equivalent: Floating Window mode. It causes each to run in a little window on your screen that you can drag around like a PC desktop environment, but it’s unfortunately quite unresponsive at times.

Filling the screen with two side-by-side apps is awkward and as far as I can tell there’s no way to have a taskbar on screen at all times. It’s not completely unusable, as I still manage to get work done with some fiddling, but is nowhere near as slick or easy to use as the offerings from market leaders in this field like Samsung and Lenovo.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: performance

(Image credit: Future)

  • Robust performance thanks to powerful specs
  • Zero noticeable slowdown in general use
  • More than enough for gaming

Powered by the 2023 flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the Honor MagicPad 3 might not have the very latest chip but it’s certainly plenty powerful.

In general use, be that visiting your favorite websites or watching shows, you’re not going to notice any slowdown at all. Even when switching between multiple apps, the 16GB of RAM keeps everything cached and ready to go.

It supports Wi-Fi 7 for speedy downloads if you have a compatible router, plus Bluetooth 5.4. The 512GB of storage space is generous, especially at this price, so you’ll likely have room for all your favorite apps and plenty of spare space for downloaded videos. I keep multiple full series downloaded on the tablet at a time and haven’t come close to filling it up.

With specs like these, the Honor MagicPad 3 is also a surprisingly capable gaming device. Call of Duty Mobile runs flawlessly on the highest settings. More demanding games like Zenless Zone Zero impress too, with a rock solid 60 frames per second on high settings. With everything cranked up to the max, I found the very top middle portion of the tablet tends to get a little hot to the touch, but it thankfully never overheated or slowed down to a noticeable degree in my testing.

That said, if you intend to use the Honor MagicPad 3 for gaming I would highly recommend investing in a compatible Bluetooth controller as the large size of the tablet makes it very awkward to hold in your hands when you’re using touch controls.

  • Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: battery

(Image credit: Future)

  • 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery
  • Incredible battery life, beating all competition
  • Features the Honor E2 power management chip

Truthfully, it’s difficult to fully test the Honor MagicPad 3’s battery life because it almost never runs out of charge. With a gigantic 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery this thing is practically everlasting, easily powering through a whole week of on and off use without dipping below the 60% mark. We’re talking well above 20 hours of screen on time, absolutely decimating the battery performance of any other tablet that I have ever used.

It offers comfortably double the battery life of the latest iPad Air and is a dream for taking on long trips or flights. You can even use the tablet as an impromptu power bank in a pinch and still have more than enough left over for the rest of your day’s use. It’s incredible frankly, so serious props to Honor here.

In addition to its large size, the battery features Honor’s proprietary E2 power management chip. There’s also an AI power management system built into the OS. How much of a difference does all this tech actually make? It’s hard to say, but the results are impossible to argue with.

Should you buy the Honor MagicPad 3?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHonor MagicPad 3 report card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Honor MagicPad 3 is incredible value – if you can overlook the patchy update plan.

4/5

Design

Thin, lightweight, and visually attractive. The unusual rear design might prove divisive though, and it lacks a fingerprint reader.

4.5/5

Display

A bright and colorful display that’s perfect for watching movies or TV. It’s 165Hz, though the fact it’s not OLED is a downgrade compared to the previous MagicPad.

4/5

Cameras

Your average tablet camera setup. It gets the job done, but you should just use your phone instead.

2.5/5

Software

MagicOS isn’t for everyone, but it’s easy to use and brimming with quirky charm.

4/5

Performance

Great performance across the board. This tablet is more than powerful enough for general use, and excels at gaming too.

4.5

Battery

Some of the best battery performance of any tablet, period.

5/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

Not keen on what the Honor MagicPad 3 brings to the table? Here are two compelling alternatives to consider:

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0

Honor Magic Pad 3

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro

iPad Air 13-inch

Price

£599

$349.99 / £379.99

$799 / £799 / AU$1,299

Weight

595g

1.36lbs / 620g

617g

Size

293.88mm x 201.38mm x 5.79mm

189.1mm x 291.8mm x 6.9mm / 7.44″ x 11.49″ x 0.27”

280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.1mm

Screen size

13.3 inches

12 inches

13 inches

Processor

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Mediatek Dimensity 8300

M2

Speakers

8 stereo speakers

Quad JBL-tuned speakers

Stereo speakers

Connectivity

USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

USB-C, MicroSD card, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS

USB-C

Battery

12,450mAh

10,200mAh

9,705 mAh

How I tested the Honor MagicPad 3

I tested the Honor MagicPad 3 over the course of multiple weeks in the build up to its announcement and release. It’s become my go-to tablet and has accompanied me on a number of trips.

It’s also seen plenty of use at home, where I’ve been using it for a mix of media consumption and gaming. I tested the tablet in its standard 16GB + 512GB configuration, though in a White colorway that is not currently available.

I used it alongside the compatible Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard which was supplied alongside the tablet. The tablet even replaced my usual work laptop on a handful of occasions, where I evaluated the keyboard’s performance and its overall potential as a productivity device.

First reviewed September 2025



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ASTER
Crypto Trends

Is ASTER The Next Big Thing? Exploring The Crypto’s 2,000% Surge And Binance Ties

by admin


Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Aster (ASTER), a newly launched multi-chain decentralized exchange (DEX), is making headlines in the cryptocurrency market, having achieved a major 2,182% increase since its debut, and boasting a market capitalization of approximately $3.7 billion, according to CoinGecko data.

Inside Aster’s Ecosystem

What has significantly contributed to ASTER’s rise is the platform’s approach to bridging decentralized finance (DeFi) with traditional trading practices. The platform offers a non-custodial trading experience, allowing users to engage in both perpetual and spot trading while earning yield on their collateral. 

This dual capability positions it as a unique decentralized exchange (DEX), particularly given its offering of 24/7 stock perpetuals that include major equities, while operating across several networks, including the BNB Chain, Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Arbitrum (ARB). 

The ASTER token, which governs the platform, incentivizes participation, and distributes trading fees, include mechanisms like Rh Points, which are earned through trading volume and determine airdrop allocations, and Au Points, generated by holding yield-bearing assets. 

Binance Co-Founders Behind It

Aster’s development is closely linked to YZi Labs, the rebranded venture arm of Binance Labs. The backing of Binance co-founders Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Yi He, has significantly propelled the token’s adoption.

A pivotal moment in the cryptocurrency’s trajectory occurred when CZ publicly endorsed the project on social media, commending its progress and encouraging continued development. 

The community’s enthusiasm was further amplified by the significant investment from popular YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), who reportedly purchased $114,000 worth of the cryptocurrency, driving the price to new heights. 

The token’s credibility received an additional boost when Bybit became the first centralized exchange to list it, signaling institutional confidence and enhancing liquidity for traders.

Looking ahead, the new platform has ambitious plans to launch “Aster Chain,” a Layer 1 blockchain tailored for high-performance, privacy-focused derivatives trading. This upcoming development will incorporate zero-knowledge proof technology, ensuring anonymized trades.

The 1-hour chart shows the token’s continuous surge. Source: ASTERUSDT on TradingView.com

At the time of writing, ASTER is trading at $2.27, which is just 5% below its record high of $2.41 reached earlier on Wednesday. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.



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