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Philips 27E3U7903 5K business monitor review

by admin October 4, 2025

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Pixel density is something Apple pays far more attention to than most PC builders. Problem is, achieving Apple’s signature “Retina” display experience with one of the brand’s own monitors is very pricey. But you can now get the very same 27-inch 5K form factor from the Philips 27E3U7903 for not far off half the price.

Up front and centre, this monitor matches the Apple Studio Display’s 5K resolution and 218DPI pixel density. It’s similar to the Apple panel in other ways, too. There’s a comparable feature set with excellent connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, plus an integrated webcam and microphone array.

This Philips even apes Apple with its boxy, metallic chassis aesthetic, and flat-wide base and stand. What’s more it even outstrips the Apple display by some measures. Philips has used the latest IPS Black panel tech to offer 2,000:1 static contrast, notably higher than the 1,200:1 ratio of the Studio Display.

Add in VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, broad colour support and other features aimed at creative pros and you have a super strong on-paper package. The one catch is that while the Philips 27E3U7903 is much cheaper than the Apple Studio Display, there are some very good 4K monitors available at a significant discount among our pick of the best monitors for MacBook Pro. You’re going to have to really want that 5K thing to justify this new Philips panel.

Philips 27E3U7903: Design and features

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(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)

Apple-aping design…
…but not quite quality
Excellent connectivity

Specs

Panel size: 27-inch

Panel type: IPS Black

Resolution: 5,120 by 2,880

Brightness: 500 nits SDR, 600 nits HDR

Contrast: 2,000:1

Pixel response: 4ms GtG

Refresh rate: 70Hz

Colour coverage: 99% DCI-P3

HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 600

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm

Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 x1, 1x Thunderbolt 4 with 96W PD upstream, 1x Thunderbolt 4 downstream,1x USB-C upstream, 1x USB-C downstream, 2x USB-A, headphone out

It’s obvious from the get go that the Philips 27E3U7903 is aimed squarely at the Apple Studio Display. That extends well beyond the basic 27-inch 5K form factor. The boxy, metallic-looking chassis and flat, wide stand and base, and glass screen cover all scream “Studio Display.” Even the way the fixed power cable sticks out of the rear is awfully Appley.

Where Philips can’t quite match Apple is for perceived quality. The 27E3U7903 is mostly plastic where the Apple monitor uses actual metal. So, it doesn’t feel nearly as expensive.

The Philip’s particularly chunky bezel also separates it slightly from the marginally slimmer Studio Display. To be clear it doesn’t feel cheap, either. But to at least some extent, you can see where the extra money goes on the Apple alternative.

Connectivity is both another strong point and another overlap with Apple. Philips has given this monitor Thunderbolt 4 with 96W of power delivery, plus Thunderbolt out for display daisy chaining, another three USB-C ports, USB-A, HDMI and ethernet.

That’s all tied together with full KVM switch functionality, picture-in-picture support and the aforementioned display daisy chaining. So, if you have multiple PCs, Mac, laptops, whatever, this display has you covered.

Next up, there’s a webcam with AI-enhanced autoframing and a microphone array, which again is redolent of the Studio Display’s Center Stage camera, plus stereo speakers.

For creators, there are features like a wide range of preset colour spaces including Apple’s favoured Display P3 support, 99% coverage of the DCI P3 gamut, support for Calman Ready automatic calibration.

The Philips 27E3U7903 is also VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. That level of HDR certification requires some level of local dimming. Philips doesn’t quote the number of zones. But as we’ll see this monitor almost certainly is limited to a very small number of edge-lit zones, as opposed to full-array local dimming.

Philips 27E3U7903: Performance

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(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)

Crispy 5K visuals
Very punchy backlight
Limited HDR capability

For 5K neophites, the first question is whether the upgrade in terms of pixel density compared to a 4K 27-inch monitor is obvious. And the simple answer is no, it’s not an immediately apparent and dramatic improvement in subjective, experiential terms.

No question, fonts and text are that little bit crisper and clearer. But 4K on a 27-inch panel is pretty good in that regard too. So, the benefits of 4K are a touch more subtle than that. One benefit, for instance, is that the 3,008 x 1,692 virtual resolution option in MacOS works particularly well.

For some creative workflows, it’s also very handy to be able to display a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixel 4K video stream in a window with space to spare for toolbars and controls.

But these are relatively niche upsides. For most users, it’s questionable whether the price premium versus numerous cheaper 4K monitors is worth it purely for 5K, and I say that as someone who really appreciates high pixel density in computing displays.

With that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to justify itself in broader terms. For starters, it’s certainly very punchy. The maximum brightness in SDR mode is well beyond what most users will ever want to dial up.

However, it’s good to have some brightness in hand, especially if you want to use this display in a setting with lots of ambient light. You’ll have no problem burning that off with the Philips 27E3U7903.

That said, in that context you’ll also have to contend with a fair bit of reflectivity from the glassy screen cover. That’s a very Apple feature and something you either like or dislike. But it certainly adds to a sense of heightened contrast.

On that note, this is an IPS Black panel with getting on for double the static contrast performance compared to most IPS monitors. From that spec alone, you might expect a dramatic improvement in black levels. The reality is much more marginal. This monitor still has more light bleed than a VA monitor, let alone an OLED panel with perfect per-pixel lighting.

That’s relevant for HDR performance, a notable weak point for this display. It has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification and basic local dimming. But while Philips doesn’t quote the number of zones, it’s very likely to be around 16 edge-lit zones.

You can toggle the level of local dimming in the OSD. But in all honesty, this type of local dimming is barely any different from a dynamic backlight. Ultimately, this is not a true HDR monitor, even if it is pretty bright.

As for broader accuracy and factory calibration, that’s a slight weak point. It’s most noticeable when using an Apple laptop where the sRGB preset is actually a better visual match for Apple laptop than the Apple-default Display P3 colour space. To be clear, this is not a poorly calibrated display. But given the lofty price tag, it could be a touch better.

Finally, the integrated webcam is superior to a typical laptop camera, but not truly comparable to the Center Stage camera in the Apple Studio Display.

Philips 27E3U7903: Final verdict

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(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)

If you’re a tech enthusiast, the very notion of 5K computing is pretty exciting. 5K has to be better than 4K, right? Yes it is, but the difference on a 27-inch display isn’t hugely dramatic.

There are advantages, such as slightly crisper fonts and the ability to view 4K content with screen real estate to spare for toolbars and other interface elements. But the benefits are relatively marginal. And I say that as something of a high-DPI aficionado.

With all that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to be absolutely excellent in broad terms to justify its premium pricing and not just by virtue of delivering that Apple Studio Display-style 5K experience.

Well, it certainly is excellent in terms of connectivity thanks to a plethora of ports, plus KVM switch and daisy chaining support. Elsewhere, the Philips 27E3U7903 is certainly good, but arguably not exceptional.

The IPS Black panel is certainly nice, with vibrant colours and a very powerful backlight. But the subjective experience doesn’t quite deliver on the expectations raised by the on-paper 2,000:1 contrast spec. Likewise, as with most, perhaps even all, HDR 600 monitors, the HDR experience is limited.

Slightly harder to forgive is the factory calibration. This is not a poorly calibrated display. But it’s not as excellent as you might expect at this price point, albeit for the most demanding workflows, you’ll be calibrating this monitor yourself, something for which it provides good support.

All of which means the Philips 27E3U7903 is ultimately a niche offering. If you’re tempted by Apple’s Studio Display but don’t fancy the price, this is a very appealing and effective alternative. If you want the absolute best possible pixel density, then likewise. But for most users, there’s better value to be had from a wide range of 27-inch 4K displays.

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(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)(Image credit: Philips // Future)

For more high-resolution displays, we’ve reviewed the best 5K and 8K monitors.

Philips 27E3U7903: Price Comparison

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

I tested Gmail and found it an excellent and reliable platform for business and personal use

by admin October 1, 2025

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.

Gmail is the world’s most popular email platform, with a stunning user base of over 1.8 billion. In other words, over 20% of the world’s population uses Gmail in individual or business capacity.

Given that Gmail is free, easy to use, and is operated by Google, the company behind the world’s leading search engine, it’s no surprise that Gmail is very popular. However, does that translate into Gmail being the best email provider for you? What are its features, and how does it fare against competitors? This guide will answer these questions.

I’ve thoroughly reviewed Gmail to help you determine whether it’s the best email platform for your personal or business needs. Read on to learn about Gmail in detail, including its pricing, ease of use, security, and key features.

Google Gmail subscription options:

1 month plan – $0 per month ($0 total cost)

Gmail: Plans and pricing

You can use the personal version of Gmail for free. However, like most things, it’s free up to a certain point. Users have up to 15 GB of free storage for pictures, videos, other documents, and other attachments in their email inbox. If you exceed 15 GB, you’ll either need to delete files to free up more space or pay for additional storage.

Extra Gmail storage requires a Google One subscription, with the lowest tier being $20 annually for 100 GB of storage. Ultimately, Gmail offers excellent storage capacity for free – most users don’t surpass 15 GB, except they’ve used Gmail for a long time or use email much more frequently than others.

Businesses can pay for an advanced version of Gmail via Google Workspace. The business tier increases the cloud storage allocated to each employee, and businesses can create emails attached to their custom domain. It’s the same Gmail interface, but with features designed for business use and a custom domain to give employees a more professional appearance.

Google Workspace plans start from $7 per user per month, which provides 30 GB of storage per account, double the free limit. The Standard plan costs $14 per user per month, providing 2 TB of storage per account. The Plus plan costs $22 per user per month and unlocks 5 TB of storage per account. These plans are reasonably priced, given the massive amount of storage space they provide.

Business plans are limited to 300 users, except for the Enterprise plan which has no limit (Image credit: Google)

Gmail: Features

Sending and receiving emails are the primary features you’ll expect from Gmail. You can compose emails and send them to your desired email addresses. The maximum number of recipients per email is 500 for free accounts and 2,000 for Google Workspace accounts. However, most users aren’t hitting this limit, so I see no issues here.

I like that Gmail lets you send scheduled emails. You don’t always have to send emails immediately after you type them. Instead, you can set the email to send at a specific time. This feature comes in handy in many endeavors, such as sending birthday wishes ahead of time and sending event reminders to colleagues.

In this era of artificial intelligence (AI), Gmail hasn’t been left behind. Google has invested significant resources in incorporating AI features that have made Gmail much more intuitive than before.

For instance, I enjoyed the Smart Reply feature, which crafts quick, automated responses to emails. The AI system reads your email and suggests quick responses, such as “Well noted, I’ll work on it,” “Here it is,” or “I’ve attached the document here,” among others. The suggested responses are based on the content of the email you’re replying to.

The Smart Reply feature may sound trivial, but it helped me a lot. It gets tiring having to retype mundane responses to personal and work emails – the feature saved me a lot of time here, which I spent creating detailed responses for the emails that needed them.

I also enjoyed the Smart Compose feature, which functions as an AI assistant when typing emails. It can read your mind… just kidding, it can’t. It analyzes the words you’ve already typed and suggests the next words and phrases. It’s right many times, but can be amusingly wrong. The good thing is that you can hit enter whenever it gets the right suggestion and ignore it if the suggestion isn’t right. Smart Compose saved me considerable time when typing emails.

Gmail boasts plenty of features to optimize the user experience (Image credit: Google)

Apart from intuitiveness, security is a key issue when choosing an email platform. Spam attacks have become more sophisticated due to AI tools that have made text generation a breeze. Hence, security is more important than ever, and Gmail delivers well in this criterion.

By default, Gmail has spam filters that analyze incoming emails and rate their likelihood of spam. If found to be spam, an email is automatically sent to the spam folder. From my experience, Gmail’s filters ensnare most spam messages, but some crafty ones occasionally make it through. When I encountered such an email, I immediately blocked the address and deleted their emails.

False positives can also occur. Some legitimate emails, such as password recovery attempts, might be sent to the spam folder, but you can always visit the spam folder and transfer such emails to your main inbox. If you mark an email in the spam folder as “Not Spam,” further emails from that address will land in your main inbox.

Another crucial security feature I liked is “Confidential Mode,” which allowed me to set expiration dates for emails. For instance, I sent an email containing sensitive information to a friend and set it to self-destruct a day after sending. I also set passcodes for specific emails, and the recipient needed this passcode to read the content– I gave them the passcode via SMS and other communication channels.

Likewise, with Confidential Mode, you can prevent recipients from copying, forwarding, or downloading the contents of your email. However, this feature doesn’t prevent users from taking screenshots of the photos and text – it just makes it difficult to transfer the content directly via email, so be careful about the information you send.

Gmail always prompts users to enable two-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security to your email account. With this feature enabled, no one can access your account simply by having your Gmail credentials. Logging in also requires a unique one-time PIN sent to your phone number or other Google-linked devices. Without this PIN, no one can log in to your account on a new device.

I advise always enabling two-factor authentication for your Gmail account. This overlooked feature protects you from most malicious attacks. According to Microsoft, two-factor authentication is the antidote to 99.9% of security attacks.

Gmail offers advanced encryption to protect emails during transmission, ensuring they can only be read by the intended recipients. All emails and their attachments are automatically scanned for malware, and any suspicious ones are blocked. Note that the scanning isn’t perfect; some suspicious attachments may slip through, so avoid opening any attachment from an address you aren’t familiar with.

If you’re like me, who frequently sends and receives emails, your inbox can easily get cluttered, and sorting through vast numbers of emails can get tiring. Fortunately, Gmail lets you organize your inbox and make your emails easy to navigate. You can create labels, such as “Work,” “Family,” “Newsletters,” and “Shopping,” and add specific emails to each of them, or automatically label emails based on the sender’s address. Whenever you want to view a specific group of emails, you can simply click on the relevant label.

For example, if you want to read your daily newsletters, you can click on the “Newsletters” label and see the new emails sent from the addresses you’ve previously marked.

Similarly, you can create custom filters to archive, forward, or even delete emails originating from specific addresses. Gmail’s labels and filters help you automate email sorting and reduce the time you spend navigating your messages.

Gmail seamlessly integrates with other Google tools you may be familiar with. For example, you can upload files to Google Drive and attach them to your email by clicking a few buttons. I found this feature handy when sending large files that would have taken a long time for the recipient to download– instead, the recipient could simply access the file online on Google Drive.

Google Meet isn’t the most popular videoconferencing app, but I liked its smooth integration with Gmail. I could start Google Meet calls directly from my Gmail interface and switch back to emails when done, while on the same browser tab.

Other notable integrations include Google Calendar, which allows you to create events from emails and set reminders, and Google Tasks, where you can convert emails directly into tasks on your to-do list.

Gmail: Interface and in use

Gmail’s interface is one of its main strengths. I think the user-friendliness is the main driving force behind Gmail’s popularity, although being affiliated with Google also helps a lot.

I’ve tested many email platforms, and Gmail stands out for its intuitiveness. Everything feels easy to navigate, even as a first-time user. It helps that first-time users don’t have cluttered inboxes that can make navigation more challenging. Yet, even with a packed inbox, I’ve discussed how filters and labels let you simplify navigation.

The features are neatly arranged on the left side of your dashboard, where you can quickly sort through them. You can switch between your main inbox and other folders smoothly. You can sort through spam, trash, sent, scheduled, and other email categories without a hitch. The Compose button is boldly displayed at the top-left corner, and the menu for composing and sending emails is easily understood at a glance.

Gmail’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for even amateur users (Image credit: Google)

You can access Gmail from your web browser or download the app on your desktop (Windows and macOS) or smartphone (iOS and Android). The app works exactly as the website, but has faster loading times and offline access.

Gmail: Support

I’ll rank Google’s support as decent. It’s not the most outstanding, but it isn’t bad either. Users have access to an extensive knowledge base that details all Gmail’s features and provides guidance on troubleshooting common issues.

If you encounter any problems, the knowledge base and official Help Center should be the first places to seek help. Likewise, if you’re a new user who wants to learn the ins and outs of Gmail, the Help Center should be the first place to consult.

Gmail is a free tool, so don’t expect much direct help as a personal user. Google has a support team, but they’re more focused on enterprise customers who pay for Google Workspace and other tools.

For paying Google Workspace subscribers, Google offers decent support. Response times vary according to your plan, but the support team doesn’t take long to reply to email complaints.

Gmail: The competition

Gmail is the most dominant email platform worldwide, but it has no shortage of competitors. Many free email platforms have tried to chip away at Gmail’s market share for a long time, with mixed results. The two rivals I’d like to highlight are Zoho Mail and Proton Mail.

Zoho Mail offers a free version for personal use, just like Gmail. However, this free plan provides just 5 GB of storage, unlike Gmail’s 15 GB. Zoho is more competitive on the business side, with plans that are more affordable than Gmail, although Gmail still offers more storage.

Businesses can subscribe to Zoho Mail for as low as $1 per month per user, while a Google Workspace subscription starts at $6 per month per user. Zoho Mail isn’t as user-friendly as Gmail. In fact, I got confused several times as a new user, but it’s a more affordable email solution for businesses with limited budgets.

Proton Mail is a secure email solution that offers end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, password-protected emails, and adherence to robust Swiss privacy laws, among other features. I wouldn’t say it’s more secure than Gmail, as Gmail offers many of the same features optionally. However, Proton Mail is more geared towards privacy and doesn’t have advertisements.

The drawback is that Proton Mail isn’t as intuitive as Gmail, and the free plan is much more limited, e.g., 6 GB storage compared to Gmail’s 15 GB storage. You’ll need a paid plan to enjoy most of Proton Mail’s features.

Gmail: Final verdict

Gmail is an email platform that I recommend any day and at any time, both for personal and business use. I can summarize the reason as “it just works.” Gmail provides the email features you’ll need, even on the free plan.

The paid plans are more expensive than other options, but the intuitiveness and seamless integration with other Google tools make it worthwhile if your business can afford it. Gmail is a solid choice that makes emailing an enjoyable experience.

We’ve also featured the best email clients.

Google Gmail deals

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October 1, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Kentucky State Senator Sued Over Bitcoin Mining Business

by admin September 30, 2025

In brief

Kentucky Senator Brandon Smith faces two lawsuits over his Bitcoin mining repair company Mohawk Energy, including claims of misrepresentation and breach of contract.
Smith, who authored Kentucky’s 2021 crypto mining tax incentive bill, denies all allegations and has filed counterclaims against both plaintiffs.
The legal troubles highlight growing pains in the U.S. crypto mining sector, which expanded 23% between 2022 and 2024.

Kentucky Sen. Brandon Smith (R-Hazard) is facing two separate legal cases related to a Bitcoin mining repair business he founded in Letcher County, Kentucky.

Smith is the CEO and co-founder of Mohawk Energy, which in 2022 pivoted from coal cleanup operations to ASIC repair and other Bitcoin mining services.

Local outlet, Lexington Herald Leader, reports that Ricky Dale Cole sued Smith in Letcher Circuit Court in January, accusing the lawmaker of misrepresenting the value of Mohawk Energy.

Cole claims that he sold a warehouse to Mohawk, agreeing with Smith to sell the premises below market price in return for a 20% stake in the business.

Yet Cole’s suit alleges that the company has refused to share info about its finances and that he has not profited from the deal. He also alleged that Smith made false promises and representations.

This suit comes in addition to a case filed in November 2023 by Huobi-subsidiary HBTPower, which alleges breach of contract and misrepresentation, following an agreement with Mohawk Energy in June 2022.

According to HBT’s allegations, Smith had made a deal to work with HBTPower employees to train his own workers and acquire the in-house ability to repair Bitcoin mining machines.

However, Smith and other Mohawk representatives eventually asked HBTPower personnel to leave Mohawk’s premises, with HBTPower claiming that Smith did not own the warehouse at the time he entered into a contract with the Chinese company.

Smith has denied the allegations against him, and has filed counterclaims against both plaintiffs.

Despite the legal difficulties surrounding Mohawk’s pivot to crypto, Smith remains optimistic about the industry’s future in the US and in Kentucky.

Smith had been instrumental in securing the passage of several crypto-related bills in Kentucky, including a 2021 bill—which he authored—that provides tax incentives for investments in cryptocurrency mining.

Speaking to Decrypt in his capacity as Mohawk Energy CEO, Smith said that the company is “excited” to return to its mission of “job creation and training” once the litigation is over.

“While it is unfortunate that Huobi and its shell subsidiary HBTPower breached their eight year contract and refused to start operating at the Mohawk plant, that does not impact Mohawk’s long term plans to bring more jobs and technology training to the region,” he said. “Our counter suits to the complaints explain our position.”

Mohawk’s difficult pivot came during a period when the U.S. cryptocurrency mining sector witnessed rapid expansion, with Bitcoin mining sites in the U.S. increasing in number by 23% between 2022 and 2024, to 48.

According to Shanon Squires, the Chief Mining Officer at Compass Mining, such growth has continued this year, as evidenced by Bitcoin’s hashrate reaching new all-time highs recently.

“In the U.S., that momentum is especially visible in states like Texas and Wyoming,” she told Decrypt. “The expansion seems to be mostly coming from existing companies, rather than from new players entering the market.”

While affirming that the American cryptomining industry has become increasingly professionalized in recent years, there is still some degree of variability, with some endeavors “popping up and fading” quicker than others.

She added, “While Bitcoin mining is no longer the ‘wild west’ it once was, companies still need to do their homework and work with established partners that have proven themselves through multiple cycles.”

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Dubai Royal-Backed Fund MGX Buys 15% of TikTok U.S. Business in Major Stake Deal: Report

by admin September 27, 2025

MGX, a fund backed by Dubai’s ruling family, will take a 15% stake in TikTok’s U.S. business as part of a restructuring meant to increase American control of the popular video app, the Washington Post reported Friday.

The investment, led by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brings MGX into a partnership with Oracle, the database giant co-founded by Larry Ellison. Together, the two will hold roughly 45% of TikTok’s U.S. entity. With other U.S. investors involved, American companies are expected to own more than 65% of the business.

TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, will remain a significant shareholder, keeping a 19.9% stake in the U.S. arm, according to the Guardian. That arrangement appears designed to ease concerns in Washington, where President Trump has repeatedly pressed for tighter scrutiny of the app’s ownership and data practices.

MGX’s role in the deal adds another layer of intrigue. Earlier this year, the fund bought $2 billion worth of USD1, a stablecoin launched by Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial. The token is backed by U.S. Treasuries, cash and equivalents, and is pitched as a way for people to access financial services without banks. MGX has already deployed USD1 in its investment in crypto exchange Binance, signaling its willingness to use the stablecoin in large-scale deals.

For MGX, the TikTok stake provides a high-profile foothold in the U.S. social media market, where the platform’s influence over culture and advertising continues to expand.

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

The Creative Chat Wireless headset during our review

Product Reviews

Creative Chat Wireless business headset review

by admin September 21, 2025

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.

The Chat Wireless from Creative is a lightweight Bluetooth headset designed for business use. It doesn’t seek to reinvent the wheel, but instead deliver exceptional comfort and crystal-clear audio at what I’d consider to be a very fair price.

As a chap who lives inside his headphones – for everything from conference calls to music playback and gaming sessions – I was keen to see how well they performed.

Spoiler alert: they’re definitely worth a look if you’re a professional. Yes, I have issues with the buttons, but the design, price, and overall quality of the audio and noise-canceling mic are excellent.

Creative Chat Wireless at Amazon for $69.99

Creative Chat Wireless: Price & availability

The Creative Chat Wireless headset is currently priced at $70 from Creative’s official US site – while in the UK, it’s retailing for £50 via Creative.

I’m also seeing it available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for the same price.

Compared to alternatives, it’s priced pretty much at the low- to mid-range – it’s certainly not as pricey as offerings like the Jabra Evolve 2 65 Flex I’ve reviewed, which far surpasses the $150 mark.

Creative Chat Wireless: Design & features

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(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

The design of the Chat Wireless headset is par for the course and in line with what I’d expect from a unit at this price. Inside the box, there’s the headset itself, a USB cable, the USB dongle, and a quick start manual.

In hand, the headset is impressively lightweight with plenty of give to fit a range of head sizes. The band is made of a firm plastic, neatly rounded on one side, which I think gives it an attractive, premium style compared to bland, budget headsets. Encompassing the top is padding for a more comfortable fit. As an accent, there’s bronze-colored metal connecting it to the pads.

I found the earcups well-cushioned, with a foam interior covered with a synthetic material. They fit nicely over the ear, but don’t envelope them in the way casual consumer headphones do. These also swivel inward for easier storage – although they aren’t foldable and don’t come with a case.

On the left earcup is a USB-C port for charging and separate volume up and down buttons. I particularly like how they’re positioned on either side of the band, so I wasn’t blindly fumbling for the correct one.

It’s also home to the stowable microphone, which rotates both ways and features a physical mute button. At the base of the mic is a Call button, used to turn the unit on and off or entering Bluetooth pairing mode.

All in all, the headset boasts a simple and efficient design with all the core features you’d expect.

Creative Chat Wireless: Performance

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(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Chat Wireless is light, tipping the scales at 0.3lb / 137g when I weighed them. It’s the sort of headset you can easily wear all day (and I did) without discomfort. If you’re taking a lot of calls, they’re pitch-perfect in this regard.

When wearing the headset, it’s surprisingly firm on the ears – and while there’s no noise-cancelling on the earcups, the snug fit did prevent extraneous background noise filtering in.

I found audio quality to be excellent, with just the right amount of bass and treble, while voices had the correct timbre. I used these for video calls using both Bluetooth and the USB dongle, as well as hooking up via Bluetooth to my phone to listen to music and podcasts, and a Nintendo Switch 2 while playing games. Each time, I experienced no tinniness here, which I sometimes find from cheaper devices.

Microphone quality came out incredibly clear. There is noise-canceling on the mic and in my own tests, this worked well. Which is useful, as I have an especially vocal cat that likes to make its presence known during calls. I experienced absolutely no issues throughout my use, and yes, the mute button on mic works instantly and well (a perennial fear of mine). A discrete voice will whisper in your ear to let you know when it’s muted or unmuted, and the LED simultaneously switches from blue (unmute) to white (mute), too.

All button presses feel soft and pleasant – neither too clicky nor too mushy, but somewhere in between. However, I did find when attempting to adjust the volume, I had to be quite firm in order for it to register. Light taps just won’t work here.

This wasn’t the case with the Call button, which was immediately responsive when answering calls and hanging up. Other features like holding the volume buttons to skip tracks during playback or tapping the Call button to play or pause worked well.

Where I did run into problems, though, was when hitting this button multiple times to activate the various functions, like redial or opening my AI assistant. It took some time to figure out the appropriate amount of time between each click. It needs to be neither rapid nor too drawn out. Experimentation is recommended.

But where it really counts – audio and mic quality – I was highly impressed, and confident I was being heard. Never once did I have to ask “Can everyone hear me?” or “Is this thing on?”

Creative Chat Wireless: Final verdict

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(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)(Image credit: Creative // Future)

Whenever I’m reviewing a device like this, I ask myself: Would I buy this with my own hard-earned cash? And, considering the cost and the overall audio experience, this one is a resounding yes. It’s impressively lightweight, and ideal for professionals in an office or home office setting.

I do have some issues with the buttons, which could be more responsive – but to some degree that might be user error on my part – and some may wish for extra features like a foldable design or a storage case. And if you prefer a wired connection, these aren’t the ones for you, as they’re wireless-only.

But for a low- to mid-range wireless unit that makes meetings more bearable, especially if you’re using them all day, they’re one of the best Bluetooth headsets I’ve used.

Should I buy the Creative Chat Wireless?

Buy it if…

✅ You wear a headset all day: The Chat Wireless is pleasantly lightweight for all-day use, and the earpads feel snug over the ear without pressing against them too hard. I found them to be very comfortable, even after wearing them for hours at a time.

✅ You want a well-priced headset with all the core features: It’s not overloaded with unnecessary features or expensive technology, but audio quality is great and the buttons deliver a multitude of additional functions for navigating calls and playback.

Don’t buy it if…

❌ You need wired and wireless connection: As the name suggests, this headset is wireless only using Bluetooth 5.4 or the USB dongle. Creative does sell the Chat USB, which has a slightly thicker design but near-identical price with – you guessed it – a wired USB connection.

❌ You want noise-canceling audio: While the mic does have noise cancelation, the earcups don’t have this feature. I didn’t find this to be an issue even in somewhat active rooms, but it may be a deal-breaker for those in noisy workspaces.

For more top picks, we’ve reviewed the best headsets for conference calls.

Creative Chat Wireless: Price Comparison

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September 21, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition review: I tested this convertible business laptop and the pros far outweigh the cons

by admin September 20, 2025

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The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is a convertible two-in-one laptop well-suited to both business and creative tasks.

It’s a highly portable machine, measuring 0.31 in – 0.64 in x 12.31 in x 8.57in and with a starting weight of 2.97lb (1.35kg). As I’d expect from a true ThinkPad – even a 2-in-1 model – it’s robustly built and ideal for home and office working.

As an Aura Edition laptop, it’s an AI PC running on an Intel Core Ultra chip which, according to Lenovo “accelerates your AI experience” without being a drag on the battery. Whether that’s a plus or a minus in your book will vary. In my experience it was…fine. But I’m not the world’s biggest AI user anyway.

But as a self-confessed ThinkPad fan, I was excited to check out the overall feel and performance.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 (Gen 10) Aura Edition (14-inch 512GB) at Amazon for $1,759.99

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Price & availability

Prices for the laptop start from $1892 / £1820 (currently discounted from £2250 at time of review).

At that price, the US version of the machine comes loaded with Windows 11 Home running on the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM, and 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 SSD.

In the UK, the base model runs W11 Home on the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip, 32GB RAM, and 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen5 SSD.

You can also spec-up the machine with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 268V vPro processor, 2TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro operating system.

Either way, the base model 14in IPS touchscreen display panel has a resolution of 1920 x 1200, with Anti-Glare. It hits 100% sRGB, has a brightness of 500 nits, and a 60Hz refresh rate.

There are two other screen options, too – either the business-oriented display with its ePrivacy filter, which is otherwise identical to the base model. Or the more complex 2.8K OLED Low Blue Light display with HDR 500 True Black with 100% DCI-P3, 500 nits, VRR 30-120Hz, making it the better pick for creators.

The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is available from Lenovo US and Lenovo UK, as well as online retailers.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Design & features

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Specs

As reviewed:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
RAM: 32GB
GPU: Integrated Intel Arc 140V GPU (16GB)
Storage: 1TB
Display: 14in OLED
Brightness: 500 nits
Refresh rate: 30-120Hz
Color gamut: 100% DCI-P3
Ports & connectivity: 2x USB-A, 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 1x Nano SIM, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x audio jack, 1x Kensington Nano Security slot, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 7
Operating system: Windows 11 Pro

The look and feel of the X1 2-in-1 is distinctly ThinkPad – I found it robust in hand thanks to its aluminum chassis, which boasts MIL-STD-810H construction. Not exactly a true rugged laptop, then, but durable enough for the most hardened commuters. Besides the silvery accents, the main body is a stylish space grey that I thought looked professional without being boring.

The 14in screen has a thin bezel that sits behind the glass, with an elevated notch where the camera sits. The camera itself is 5MP, comes complete with physical privacy shutter, and supports Windows Hello for a passwordless sign-in.

Along the right-hand side is a USB-A and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a Nano SIM slot. To the left, there’s another USB-A port, as well as HDMI 2.1 port, audio jack, a Kensington Nano Security slot, and a discrete power button that sits flush with the frame. In a world where laptop makers are gradually stripping back connectivity, I find this array generous enough, and I didn’t feel the immediate need to hook up a laptop docking station. Another bonus here is the support for Wi-Fi 7, perfect for future-proofing connectivity.

Now, I’m a big champion of ThinkPad laptops (I use the T14s on a daily basis, but I’ve been a fan since I first got my trusty old T431s). In my experience, they easily offer the best typing experience compared to other laptop brands. Alright, the new Lenovo models may lack the key travel of the older IBM ThinkPads (1.5mm vs 1.8mm), but even still, they’re a joy to use.

In this regard, I was a little wary of trying out X1 2-in-1 Gen 10, as some older X1 laptops had previously used a keyboard with a stubby 1.35mm travel depth. Lenovo has, thankfully, done away with that – here, you get the same 1.5mm backlit board you’ll find on the T-series ThinkPads. As such, using this for long writing sessions is a total breeze.

However, I spotted a few differences here compared to your more traditional business laptops. Of course, there’s the iconic red Trackpoint, but there’s also a fingerprint scanner for signing in without a password and beside it, a dedicated Microsoft Copilot button – clicking this unlocks the AI assistant, while granting easy access to all the usual Office apps.

Interestingly, Lenovo has switched the Fn and Ctrl keys around here, bringing it in line with most keyboards. Older ThinkPads place the Fn key to the left, rather than the right, and I have to change this using the Lenovo Vantage app.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Display

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

My review model featured an OLED screen at 2880 x 1800 resolution with 60-120Hz refresh rate. Colors are vivid and bright, near-perfect in reproduction due to the 100% DCI-P3 gamut. For those looking for a general laptop for photo editing as well as productivity tasks, this is a pretty safe bet, I found.

The laptop operates in four ways – laptop, tablet, tent, and presentation mode, and all four work very well. I experienced no issues here at all, with the screen orientation changing swiftly and without lag when I switched from one configuration to the next. The movement feels sturdy and smooth, and pleasingly there’s no additional play to the 360-degree hinges.

What I didn’t like, however, was how reflective the screen was. Turn off the laptop and it’s like staring into a black mirror. That might not be a deal-breaker for some, but it certainly gave me pause and if you’re going to be using this outside or in direct sunlight, you’ll want to crank up the brightness to mitigate it as much as possible.

As a touchscreen device, this unit also included a stylus, which magnetically clamps to the right side of the screen. Using this in tablet mode was a total joy. Input was instant and the whole experience felt smooth.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Performance

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

I experienced no issues when using the laptop – running Microsoft’s Office suite, browsing the internet, opening many, many, many, many tabs in Chrome, at this level, nothing seemed to slow down this machine.

Under heavier workloads, there is a tendency for the X1 to run a little warm, and there, I did experience some minor slowing. But even, the impact felt negligible and it’s unlikely to prove an issue for professionals using this for general business tasks.

For a convertible business laptop, then, I found it well-specced and impressively powerful enough for day-to-day operations. Ok, it won’t deliver the same performance you’ll find from a mobile workstation or gaming laptop, but that’s not what it’s been designed for.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Battery life

One of the stand-out areas with the X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is the battery life. The machine is rocking a 57Whr battery, which is hardly massive, but acceptable. Don’t let that fool you, though, because battery life is surprisingly spectacular.

The device itself is rated for up to 20.2 hours when benchmarked using MobileMark 25, according to Lenovo. But this assumes minimal use. Streaming video playback should net up to 16.3 hours. For those using this laptop on the go, it’s positively perfect.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Final verdict

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Overall, I enjoyed my time with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition – whether I was using it as a tablet or laptop.

It’s more than capable of handling the usual suite of business apps and software, and here, the laptop performs brilliantly. Everything feels smooth, responsive, and efficient, making it a good pick for those who prize productivity above all else.

True, it’s not the most powerful around, it’s expensive for what it is, and I’m still not a fan of the glossy screen, but all told, there’s little else to complain about.

Couple that durable design with a good port selection, excellent battery life, and a neat, multi-use design, and you have one of the best 2-in-1 laptops for professionals around.

Should I buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition?

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Convertible, durable, and distinctly ThinkPad in style

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance

Perfect for office duties as well as lighter weight creative tasks

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

A steeper cost than I’d like, but par for the course with a business laptop

⭐⭐⭐⭐

For more productivity performance, we tested the best business computers and the best business tablets.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 (Gen 10) Aura Edition: Price Comparison

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September 20, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Metaplanet Sets Up US Subsidiary To Strengthen Bitcoin Income Business

by admin September 18, 2025

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

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet today announced that it has set up new subsidiaries in the US and Japan to expand its Bitcoin (BTC) income generation business. In addition, the company also bagged the domain Bitcoin.jp – an indication that it will continue to spearhead BTC adoption in Asia.

Metaplanet Unveils Subsidiaries To Expand Bitcoin Business

In an announcement made earlier today, Tokyo-listed Metaplanet stated it had established a new wholly-owned subsidiary in the US called Metaplanet Income Corp. to expand its BTC income business.

It should be noted that Metaplanet recently concluded a massive $1.4 billion capital raise. The firm’s US subsidiary will provide Metaplanet the opportunity to pursue derivatives operations and related activities that produce cash flow and revenue.

Source: Metaplanet

The establishment of Metaplanet Income Corp. will help the firm have a clear separation between the Bitcoin income generation business, and its core BTC treasury operations. This will help the company enhance transparency, governance, and risk management.

Besides Metaplanet Income Corp, the firm has also established a Japan subsidiary called Bitcoin Japan Inc. Metaplanet CEO, Simon Gerovich, commented on the development, saying:

This business has become our engine of growth, generating consistent revenue and net income. We are cash flow positive, producing significant internal cash flow to support future initiatives.

Bitcoin Japan Inc., will primarily look after an array of BTC-based media such as conferences and online platforms, the Bitcoin.jp domain, and Bitcoin Magazine Japan. Notably, the domain was purchased from a private investor who had held it for over a decade.

Gerovich also commented on Metaplanet’s recent $1.4 billion capital raise, stating that almost 100 investors had joined the roadshow, with more than 70 of them ultimately investing. These investors include sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, and other similar financial entities.

Metaplanet’s long-term ambition remains to be the second-largest holder of BTC, behind Michael Saylor-led Strategy. According to data from Coingecko, Metaplanet currently holds 20,136 BTC on its balance sheet.

Source: Coingecko

In comparison, Strategy holds 638,935 BTC, and continues to extend its lead. However, to rank second, Metaplanet only needs to overtake MARA Holdings, which currently holds 52,477 BTC in its reserves.

Is BTC About To Fall?

Corporate adoption of Bitcoin continues to reach new heights, with a recent report noting that the total value of BTC treasury holdings recently surpassed $113 billion. Just a week ago, Metaplanet added to its BTC reserves.

That said, BTC whales recently dumped 115,000 – the largest distribution since 2022 – hinting that institutional demand for the digital asset may be temporarily waning. At press time, BTC trades at $115,670, down 0.7% in the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin trades at $115,670 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com

Featured image from Unsplash.com, charts from Coingecko, Metaplanet, and 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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September 18, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Intel could sell up to 49% of its foundry business to external investors, but a full IPO or spin-off is unlikely

by admin September 9, 2025

In recent months, we heard numerous rumors about Intel’s alleged plans to spin off its Intel Foundry manufacturing arm and then sell a significant stake to potential customers, or the U.S. government’s supposed intention to force Intel to spin off Intel Foundry and then make TSMC buy a 49% stake in Intel’s U.S. manufacturing operations. None of this has materialized, and it’s possible that it never will. However, at a recent industry event, Intel’s Chief Financial Officer said that the company could theoretically sell up to a 49% stake in Intel Foundry without running into issues with the U.S. government. However, given that Intel does not own 100% of Intel Foundry’s assets, would it make financial sense to spin off or IPO Intel Foundry?

“The structure of the government financing is that they also got warrants associated with Intel stock, it triggers off [if we sell] below or selling more than 50% of the business,” said David Zinsner, the CFO of Intel, at Citi’s 2025 Global TMT Conference. “I think, as long as we hold 51% essentially it does not trigger, and it is a five-year warrant. […] Our motivation will probably be not to sell below 51% because that would dilute investors significantly. Unless it made economic sense for investors for us to do that. So, the likelihood is, if we are selling stakes in Foundry, it would be something less than 49% that would be sold off.”

Keeping Intel Foundry an American foundry

According to Intel’s contract agreement with the U.S. government, under which Intel converted its grants into cash in exchange for equity, the company must control at least 51% of Intel Foundry over the next five years or risk triggering punitive clauses (a 5% warrant at $20/share). The same terms applied to Intel’s grants under the CHIPS and Science Act, so the company was obliged to maintain a majority ownership stake in its Intel Foundry for some time.

Semiconductor Co-Investment Program (SCIP)

While for now Intel controls and operates all of its semiconductor production capacities in the U.S., Ireland, and Israel, as well as packaging facilities in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Malaysia, and China, it should be noted that Intel does not completely own all of its fabs.

Back in 2022, Intel kicked off its Semiconductor Co-Investment Program (SCIP) arrangement, under which it attracted investors (and essentially raised $26 billion) without violating the CHIPS Act requirement or the U.S. government’s 51% ownership clause tied to a potential Intel Foundry spin-off.

However, this means that Intel lost 100% control of its advanced fabs. As a result, Intel’s leading-edge Fab 52 and Fab 62, located in the Ocotillo campus in Arizona, are co-owned by Intel (51%) and Brookfield Infrastructure (49%). The company’s Fab 34 in Ireland is also owned by Intel (51%) and Apollo Global Management (49%).

These arrangements under the SCIP program are not a spin-off, but asset-level co-financing structures, so the foundry unit stays inside Intel. Intel still owns and operates the fabs, but splits the capital investment with partners like Brookfield Infrastructure and Apollo Global Management. In each case, Intel retains exactly 51% equity and operational control, meaning it does not breach the U.S. government’s ownership clause for CHIPS funding or equity conversion.

In theory, if Intel decides to start building out its Silicon Heartland site in Ohio in the coming years (not sometime in the 2030s), then it can use the same SCIP program to raise the necessary capital and build new capacity without requiring a spin-off or IPO and without violating the contract with the U.S. government.

IPO is still a possibility

Potentially, Intel’s SCIP initiative does not stop a hypothetical IPO as there is a difference between corporate equity of Intel Foundry and project-level asset ownership (e.g., Fab 52, Fab 62, Fab 34). From an IPO perspective, selling 49% of Intel Foundry means selling a stake in the overall earnings and cash flow of the foundry business, not in each fab’s underlying real estate or assets.

The Intel Foundry division includes the full foundry business — such as process technologies that cost billions, design services, customer contracts, and global capacity — even if some fabs (like Fab 52/62 in Arizona and Fab 34 in Ireland) are only 51%-owned via joint ventures with Brookfield and Apollo. Intel still retains operational control of these fabs and consolidates their revenue, so they remain part of the foundry offering.

However, the partial fab ownership introduces minority interest adjustments in financial reporting, so investors would still value Intel Foundry based on its total capacity, customer pipeline, and roadmap, with appropriate discounts or disclosures for asset-level co-investments.

As a consequence, partial ownership of key fabs by third parties means Intel would likely raise less money in an Intel Foundry IPO, as investors will discount the valuation to reflect the fact that Intel does not retain 100% of the cash flow from those facilities. While Intel still controls Intel Foundry as a corporate entity and consolidates fab revenues, its share of profits from co-owned fabs is limited to 51%. Investors will factor in these minority interests and payout obligations when pricing shares. The added complexity also introduces risk, which may further reduce the valuation, which means that it may make no financial sense for Intel to IPO or spin off Intel Foundry.

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September 9, 2025 0 comments

Kristin Johnson Warns of Retail Risk, Regulatory Gaps in Prediction Markets

Crypto Trends

Offshore Crypto Exchange’s Won’t Use FBOT Framework To Do Business in US

by admin September 6, 2025

The recent Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) advisory on offshore exchanges serving US residents under the Foreign Board of Trade (FBOT) framework won’t bring offshore crypto exchanges back to the US, according to Eli Cohen, general counsel at real-world asset (RWA) tokenization company Centrifuge.

Cohen told Cointelegraph that settlement, clearing, and other regulatory requirements designed for the traditional financial system, required to serve US clients under the FBOT framework, are not tailored for crypto exchanges and will be difficult or impossible to fulfill.

The CFTC’s guidance also stipulated that only Licensed Futures Commission (FCM) exchanges, which are broker-dealers for futures contracts, and other highly regulated entities, are qualified to apply under the FBOT framework, Cohen said. He added:

“The main problem is that only regulated exchanges outside the United States can apply for the FBOT. So, you need to have an existing regulatory framework in your home country.” CFTC staff guidance outlining qualifying criteria to register under the FBOT framework and serve US residents. Source: CFTC

Many exchanges choose to set up businesses in Seychelles or other unregulated jurisdictions to avoid such a framework in the first place, Cohen added.

The best way to provide clarity for crypto exchanges is to pass a crypto market structure bill in Congress, codifying crypto regulations into law, and creating lasting change that does not shift from administration to administration, Cohen said.

Related: ‘Too few guardrails,’ CFTC’s Johnson warns on prediction market risks

CFTC’s “crypto sprint” promises clarity on regulations and an overhaul of the financial system

The CFTC’s “crypto sprint” is an initiative to overhaul crypto regulations to fulfill US president Donald Trump’s agenda of making the US the global leader in crypto.

Several policy recommendations were proposed in the Trump administration’s crypto report, which was published in July, including giving the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC joint oversight over crypto.

Both regulatory agencies have proposed several collaborative policy efforts, including the potential for financial markets to become perpetual, creating a 24/7 trading cycle across asset classes.

The proposed change would be a significant departure from legacy financial markets, which currently do not operate on nights or weekends and close during certain holidays.

Magazine: Coinbase and Base: Is crypto just becoming traditional finance 2.0?

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September 6, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

The U.S. is blocking state AI regulation. Here’s what that means for every business

by admin August 18, 2025

Congress didn’t just reshape tax codes with the “One Big Beautiful” bill; it also quietly reshaped the future of artificial intelligence. A lesser-known provision of the sweeping legislation is now on its way to becoming law: a 10-year freeze on state-level AI regulation.

In other words, no individual state can pass rules that govern how businesses develop or use AI systems. The message is clear for companies rushing to embed AI in daily operations: govern yourselves or risk learning the hard way why guardrails matter.

Nichole Windholz

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AI isn’t a side project anymore. It’s already embedded in cybersecurity platforms, CRMs, internal chat tools, reporting dashboards and customer-facing products. Even mid-size organizations are training AI models on proprietary data to speed up everything from supplier selection to contract analysis.

Without guardrails, AI can drift; fast

AI models aren’t static. Once deployed, they learn from new data, interact with systems and influence decision-making. That’s powerful but also unpredictable.

Left unchecked, an AI-driven forecasting tool might rely too heavily on outdated patterns, causing overproduction or supply chain bottlenecks. A chatbot designed to streamline customer service could unintentionally generate biased or off-brand responses.

Meanwhile, generative models trained on sensitive business documents can inadvertently expose proprietary information in future prompts. For example, a study released in January 2025 found that nearly 1 in 10 prompts used by business users when interacting with generative AI (GenAI) tools could inadvertently disclose sensitive data.

These aren’t abstract dangers; they’ve already appeared in public incidents. But it’s not just PR damage that’s at stake. AI errors can affect revenue, data security and even legal exposure. The absence of regulatory pressure doesn’t make these issues go away – it makes them easier to miss until they’re too big to ignore.

The smart play is internal governance: before you need it

Organizations are eager to integrate GenAI, with many teams already using these powerful tools in daily operations. This rapid adoption means that just passively monitoring things isn’t enough; a strong governance structure is crucial, one that can adapt as AI becomes more central to the business.

Setting up an internal AI governance council, ideally with leaders from IT, security, compliance and operations, offers that vital framework. This council isn’t there to stop innovation. Its job is to bring clarity. It typically reviews AI tools before they’re rolled out, sets clear usage policies and works with teams so they fully understand the benefits and limits of the AI they’re using.

This approach reduces unauthorized tool usage, makes auditing more efficient and helps leadership steer AI strategy with confidence. However, for governance to be effective, it must be integrated into broader enterprise systems, not siloed in spreadsheets or informal chats.

GRC platforms can anchor AI governance

Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) platforms already help businesses manage third-party risk, policy enforcement, incident response and internal audits. They’re now emerging as critical infrastructure for AI governance as well.

By centralizing policies, approvals and audit trails, GRC platforms help organizations track where AI is being used, which data sources are feeding it, and how outputs are monitored over time. They also create a transparent, repeatable process for teams to propose, evaluate and deploy AI tools with oversight so innovation doesn’t become improvisation.

Don’t count on vendors to handle it for you

Many tools advertise AI features with a sense of built-in safety, which includes privacy settings, explainable models and compliance-ready dashboards. But too often, the details are left up to the user.

If a vendor-trained model fails, your team will likely bear the operational and reputational costs. Businesses can’t afford to treat third-party AI as “set and forget.” Even licensed tools must be governed internally, especially if they’re learning from company data or making process-critical decisions.

The bottom line

With the U.S. blocking states from setting their own rules, many assumed federal regulation would follow quickly. However, the reality is more complicated. Draft legislation exists, but timelines are fuzzy, and political support is mixed.

In the meantime, every organization using AI is effectively writing its own rulebook. That’s a challenge and an opportunity, especially for companies that want to build trust, avoid missteps and confidently lead.

The organizations that define their governance now will have fewer fire drills later. They’ll also be better prepared for whatever federal rules eventually arrive because their internal structure won’t need a last-minute overhaul.

Because whether or not rules are enforced externally, your business still depends on getting AI right.

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August 18, 2025 0 comments