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iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max graphic
Gaming Gear

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max Spec Compared: Big Apple Battle

by admin September 11, 2025


The iPhone 17 Pro Max is here, packing a variety of upgrades from the cameras to the design. But how does it compare with its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max? Let’s take a close look at the specs and find out. Keep in mind that specs don’t tell the whole story so make sure to check out CNET’s ongoing coverage of the iPhone 17 Pro Max — as well everything else from Apple’s “awe-dropping” event — for more information. 

Watch this: iPhone 17 Pro Hands-On: Higher Price and Newish Design

03:41

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

iPhone 17 Pro Max: Design and display

Both phones are huge, with 6.9-inch displays that will be equally difficult to wrap your hands around and will stretch out your jeans pockets in just the same way. The two phones have largely the same dimensions. They both use Apple’s Super Retina XDR panels, so we don’t really expect to see any noticeable differences in overall quality here, and both phones have the Dynamic Island cutout at the top. 

The 17 Pro Max’s design has had some big changes, though, with a new camera bar that stretches across the width of the back, and the phone is made from aluminum instead of titanium. Apple says this design dissipates heat 20 times better than the titanium design of the previous model, helped too by the new vapor chamber, which uses de-ionized water to actively cool the phone while in use. Despite that, the 17 Pro Max is only 4 grams heavier than the 16 Pro Max. Will you ever notice 4 grams more? Almost certainly not. 

I guess it’s not a spec, but I do think it’s worth calling out the 17 Pro Max’s new cosmic orange colour — love it or hate it, it’s certainly a vibrant option, and I personally love seeing a bit of fun being injected back into our phones. I’d personally pick it over another shade of boring gray.

Tell me the orange doesn’t stand out.

Apple

The 17 Pro Max has Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and back, which Apple says is three times more scratch-resistant than before. Both phones are IP68 water-resistant.  

iPhone 17 Pro Max: Processor and storage

The 17 Pro Max uses Apple’s latest A19 Pro chip, which the company reckons is significantly faster, especially for graphically intense tasks like gaming, while its new neural accelerators are designed to help it handle AI tasks with better efficiency. The A18 Pro chip in the 16 Pro Max was already something of a beast, so it’ll be exciting to see how these two perform both on benchmarks and in real-world use. 

While both phones have a base capacity of 256GB, the new 17 Pro Max can now be specced up with a whopping 2TB of storage. You’ll pay handsomely for the privilege at $1,999 for that configuration, but if you plan to film a lot of ProRes Raw video with the phone, then it might be worth it. There’s also the option to attach an external SSD when filming at that quality.

iPhone 17 Pro Max: Cameras

Both phones pack the usual trio of standard zoom, ultrawide and telephoto cameras, but the 17 Pro Max makes some key upgrades. Most notably in the telephoto camera, which now has an optical zoom range up to 8x, which is a big step up over the fixed 5x zoom of the 16 Pro Max. Its sensor is physically bigger too, and its resolution has gone from a meager 12 megapixels on the 16 Pro Max to a much more generous 48 megapixels on the 17 Pro Max. Nice. 

Apple’s new cameras are so good it shot its whole keynote video using one. Well, that and an enormous cinema crane and multiple Hollywood-standard lights.

Apple/Screenshot by CNET

All three rear cameras are now 48 megapixels, although there are fewer hardware differences on the other cameras. 

The 17 Pro does have some upgraded video skills, however. This includes its ability to shoot in ProRes Raw, which captures unprocessed footage without any software adjustments like sharpening in order to give much greater flexibility in post-production. ProRes Raw isn’t on the 16 Pro Max, so it’s presumably demanding enough that it requires the extra power from the new A19 chip to manage it.

The 17 Pro Max also supports dual capture, which allows you to film with the front and rear cameras at the same time if that’s something you think you’d particularly want to do. Both phones can shoot 4K video at up to 120 frames per second, and if you want to slow things down even more, they will shoot 240 frames per second in 1,080p. 

The front selfie camera — or the Centre Stage camera, as Apple now calls it — has seen a boost up to 18 megapixels on the 17 Pro Max, along with a new sensor design that allows for vertical or horizontal cropping and better digital stabilization in video. 

iPhone 17 Pro Max: Battery and charging

Apple doesn’t give specific battery specs, but it has said that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the biggest battery ever seen inside an iPhone. That must mean it’s bigger than the battery in the 16 Pro Max, even though we don’t know its actual capacity. And that makes sense as Apple reckons you’ll get an additional four hours of video playback from the new model. How they actually fare in everyday use remains to be seen. 

Apple says the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s battery is the largest it has ever put inside an iPhone.

Apple/Screenshot by CNET

Apple also says that the 17 Pro Max will charge faster. Its 40-watt wired charging speed takes it from empty to 50% full in 20 minutes, a significant boost over the 35 minutes the 16 Pro Max would take to do the same. 

So those are some of the key differences — and similarities — between the new iPhone 17 Pro Max and last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max. The upgrades won’t feel huge if you’re already using an iPhone 16 Pro, so those of you already rocking last year’s model almost certainly won’t need to upgrade here, but if you’re on much older handsets then you’ll definitely notice the difference in the cameras and power — and, yeah, you can also have a bright orange Pro iPhone now, so that’s something.  

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max specs comparison chart

Apple iPhone 17 Pro MaxApple iPhone 16 Pro Max Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness 6.9-inch OLED; 2,868 x 1,320 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate6.9-inch OLED; 2,868 x 1,320 pixel resolution; 1 to 120Hz adapative refresh ratePixel density 460 ppi460 ppiDimensions (inches) 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 in6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inDimensions (millimeters) 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 233 g (8.22 oz)227 g (7.99 oz.)Mobile software iOS 26iOS 18Camera 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 48-megapixel (4x, 8x telephoto)48-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 12-megapixel (5x telephoto) Front-facing camera 18-megapixel12-megapixelVideo capture 4K4KProcessor Apple A19 ProApple A18 ProRAM/storage RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TBRAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBExpandable storage NoneNone (Face ID)Battery/charging speeds Up to 39 hours video playback; up to 35 hours video playback (streamed). Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger.Up to 33 hours video playback; up to 29 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15WFingerprint sensor None (Face ID)None (Face ID)Connector USB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneSpecial features Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. ProRes Raw video recording. Genlock video support. 1 to 3000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: silver, cosmic orange, deep blue.Apple Intelligence, Action button, Camera Control button, 4x audio mics, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance. Colors: black titanium, white titantium, natural titanium, desert titanium.US price off-contract $1,199 (256GB)$1,199 (256GB)UK price £1,199 (256GB)£1,199 (256GB)Australia price AU$2,199 (256GB)AU$2,149 (256GB)



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September 11, 2025 0 comments
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Shiba Inu loss
NFT Gaming

Don’t Expect New Shiba Inu ATHs: Machine Learning Algorithm Spits Out Max Price

by admin September 11, 2025


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

Shiba Inu is still trading well below its all-time high of $0.000088 that was recorded back in 2021, and despite the market having seen multiple rallies over the last year, the meme coin has not come close to this peak. According to CoinMarketCap data, the current SHIB price means that it’s still over 85% below its all-time high price, and will need a more than 700% increase if it is to beat it. While many in the community expect the Shiba Inu price to hit new highs soon, a prediction from a machine learning algorithm suggests this may be a pipe dream.

Shiba Inu Price Won’t Reach ATH In 2025

The machine learning algorithm at the CoinCodex website has predictions ranging from the short-term to the long-term for Shiba Inu. While the outlook is bullish, the roadmap to a new all-time high remains very blurry. Unlike many other large-cap altcoins on their way to new highs, the algorithm does not see the SHIB price following this path.

For the short term, the price is expected to see some increase, moving above the $0.000019 level. This one-month prediction carries into the start of the month of October, with the highest point expected to be a little over $0.000016 before retracing downward.

Then, for the 3-month prediction leading into most of the last quarter of the year 2025, expectations are that the price will more than double to clear $0.000033. However, this is not expected to last as the algorithm shows a correction back down toward $0.000016 by the month of December.

Source: CoinCodex

With the 3-month prediction spanning close to the end of the year, it suggests that there is no all-time high happening for Shiba Inu this year. Momentum also remains low as sentiment is still neutral, meaning investors remain indecisive on SHIB.

So, When Can SHIB Hit A New ATH?

Over the longer timeframe and spanning the next few years, the machine learning algorithm shows a bullish outlook, but there is no expectation of the Shiba Inu price hitting a new all-time high. For the year 2026, the highest peak was placed at $0.00003116, which is only a 138% increase from the current level.

The same is the case for the next few years leading up to 2030, and still no all-time high prediction for the meme coin. If the algorithm is correct, then Shiba Inu investors might be waiting a decade for a new all-time high to hit, especially if the market continues in its low momentum.

SHIB pushes for new local peaks | Source: SHIBUSDT on TradingView.com

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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September 11, 2025 0 comments
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Geekom A9 Max
Product Reviews

Geekom A9 Max mini PC review

by admin September 7, 2025



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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.

Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: 30-second review

The Geekom A9 Max is a stylish, premium-styled mini PC that incorporates the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with NPU and integrated AMD graphics. It is a small, stylish machine that has been designed to handle general office work, AI workloads and applications that utilise an AI, such as CoPilot or Photoshop, are given a generative boost.

As I’ve seen from this line of mini PCs before, the machine is well equipped, with the review sample arriving with 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB SSD that backs up the powerful CPU and integrated GPU. Sure enough, through the test, it proved to be an exceptional office-focused machine with more than enough power to handle heavy-duty day-to-day tasks, such as Microsoft Office and more intensive applications to a point.

The speed of handling large files and browsing documents on a 4K monitor all worked well within the processing abilities of this small machine. I also liked the fact that there were plenty of connectivity options, with LAN ports enabling me to plug directly into my NAS as well as the network for increased transfer rates.

Other connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi 7, proved robust, although I did have a few connection issues with the Eero 6 router. Once swapped to an updated Wi-Fi 7 network, the connection transformed in speed and reliability.

In use, the machine handled 1080p video editing in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve with ease. However, as I started to tackle a couple of 4K video edits, it became apparent that although the CPU was capable, the integrated GPU slightly held it back.

For social media edits, the machine proved superb, offering plenty of power and flexibility, especially in CapCut. One aspect I liked about the design, especially if you need to handle larger files, is the ability to install a secondary M.2 SSD to boost internal storage.

The volume of connection options came in handy, enabling easy integration within an office or studio setup, with four USB ports in a line across the front. Working in the creative sector, it’s also always nice to see an SD card slot at the side to quickly offload image and video files.

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By the end of the test, I was genuinely impressed with the performance. It handled Windows, Office, and creative applications with relative ease, up to a certain point, where the GPU seemed to hold back its potential.

A key feature of this machine is that it’s enhanced for any application that has AI integration, such as Photoshop, Copilot, Zoom, Teams background blur, noise cancellation, and real-time translation. During testing, I used the AI NPU in Photoshop and Lightroom for AI-powered selection, upscaling, and background removal.

The AI CPU also supports running local machine learning models and your own AI test bench, if that’s your thing.

I finished the test with a bit of gaming. The limitations of the GPU became more apparent at this point. While gaming at 1080p was OK, once graphics were enhanced and resolution increased, frame drops became noticeable. Lighter games like DiRT Rally ran fine and were playable.

However, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle required all graphics settings to be reduced, and even then, there were still occasional image breakups.

It was clear this stylish machine has been finely tuned for office and creative space use. It’s an ideal option with robust connectivity options and enough power for day-to-day office tasks and a bit more. It can handle many standard creative tasks, such as video editing and image enhancement, without many issues. Only when stepping up to high-resolution, high-bitrate 4K video did its limits become clear.

If you’re in the market for one of the best mini PC units, with high-quality, high-performance for the home or office, then the Geekom A9 Max is a superb option.

  • GEEKOM A9 Max AI Mini PC (2TB 32GB RAM) at Amazon for $999

Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? $999 / £999
  • When is it out? Now
  • Where can you get it? Widely available

The GEEKOM A9 Max AI Mini PC is available directly from Geekom US for $999 and Geekom UK for £999 at time of review. This includes 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB PCIe SSD.

It’s also available from most major online retailers, including Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)

Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
Graphics: AMD Radeon 890M
RAM: 32GB Dual Channel DDR5-5600 SODIMM (128GB MAX)
Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 SSD, 1 x M.2 2230 SSD
Front Ports: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 3.5mm stereo headphone
Rear Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 2.0 Type-A, USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt mode / PD, USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt mode, 2 x RJ45, 2 x HDMI 2.1, DC
Side Ports: SD Card slot
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Audio: 3.5mm Audio in
Camera: N/A
Size: 1135 x 132 x 46.9 mm
OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro
Accessories: VESA Mount

The A9 Max is a premium mini PC with a CNC-machined aluminium chassis, offering a durable and sleek aesthetic. Lifting it out of the box, there’s no doubt this machine has a distinct premium feel.

It measures 135 x 132 x 46.9 mm, making it fairly average in size for this style of computer, and with a slightly heavier weight, it feels more substantial than many cheaper mini PCs on the market.

The premium build and extensive connectivity pitch this mini PC towards professional and mid-to-high-end home environments. It wouldn’t look out of place in any design studio with its minimalistic design.

One feature that’s instantly apparent over many other mini PCs is the sheer volume of connectivity options, both wireless and wired. Around the body of the machine, there’s a row of four USB-A ports across the front, all of which are USB 3.2 Gen 2. The rest of the front is relatively minimalistic with just a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack.

On the side, there’s an SD card 4.0 slot to quickly download files from your camera or other devices.

Around the back, there’s another USB 3.2 Gen 2 alongside a USB-A and USB 2.0. Also present are two USB 4.0 ports, one of which supports PD power. These are joined by two RJ45 networking ports, two HDMI 2.1 FRL ports, and the DC-in socket.

Inside, once opened, both RAM and storage are upgradeable. The RAM is dual-channel DDR5 5600 MHz, upgradeable to 128 GB. Storage includes two M.2 2280 SSD NVMe Gen 4 slots, and our review sample came pre-installed with 2 TB.

The aluminium chassis also contributes to cooling, integrating with a large heatsink, heat pipes, and a fan. While not fanless, the cooling system is necessary for the powerful CPU, NPU, and GPU.

A VESA mount is included, so it can be wall-mounted or attached to the back of a monitor.

Ultimately, the A9 Max offers a stunning minimalistic design that offers plenty of processing power, connectivity and a boost in performance for applications that support AI.

Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)

The core highlight of this machine is its AI potential. Alongside the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, there’s an integrated AMD Radeon 890M GPU and NPU powered by the XDNA 2 engine. This offers up to 50 TOPS of NPU performance and a total AI acceleration of 77–80 TOPS, ideal for Copilot, local LLMs, object detection, voice recognition, and any AI-integrated applications such as Windows 11 and Adobe Photoshop with generative features.

On the back, display options include two HDMI and two USB4 ports, supporting up to 8K monitor output.

The machine also offers ample flexibility for upgrades. Dual-channel DDR5 SO-DIMM slots can be upgraded to 128 GB, and the two PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD slots support up to 8 TB, which is substantial for a machine of this size.

Network connectivity is also good with Wi-Fi 7 and dual LAN for fast wired and wireless connections, making it suitable for both setups and streaming. The fact that it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro means that it’s ready to be used as part of a mid to large scale business, but if you’re not a Windows fan it will also support alternative operating systems such as Ubuntu.

Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)

CrystalDiskMark Read: 6234.88MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 5371.08MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 15190
Geekbench CPU Single: 2938
Geekbench GPU: 41100
PCMark Overall: 7638
Cinebench CPU Multi: 20802
Cinebench CPU Single: 2026
Fire Strike Overall: 8631
Fire Strike Graphics: 9396
Fire Strike Physics: 30023
Fire Strike Combined: 3222
Time Spy Overall: 3622
Time Spy Graphics: 3284
Time Spy CPU: 10559
Wild Life Overall: 19157
Steel Nomad Overall: 546
Windows Experience Overall: 8.2

Getting started with the Geekom A9 Max is straightforward. Simply run through the Windows 11 Pro setup, which takes around five to ten minutes, then after the updates, it’s ready for your choice of applications to be installed.

Windows 11 Pro runs extremely smoothly from the outset, with the only issue I encountered being the wireless connectivity with my Eero 6 router. After switching to a Wi-Fi 7 router, both speed and reliability significantly improved, suggesting a conflict between the A9 Max and the Eero 6, which I’ve experienced before with Wi-Fi 7-enabled machines.

Running Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office applications went without issue. Using Microsoft Word with Copilot was fast and responsive, and that performance was pretty much reflected across all Office applications. In Adobe Photoshop, the generative fill feature processed quickly with good results.

Because applications were able to use the local AI CPU and NPU, there was no reliance on cloud-based AI, essentially helping to speed up the amount of processing time, especially with the Adobe Creative Apps, compared to machines that aren’t AI-enhanced.

The performance in Photoshop and Lightroom was impressive and far smoother than I expected for a machine of this size, which led me on to testing higher resolution video. Using CapCut, Adobe Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, initially for a simple 1080p edit with effects, the A9 Max handled everything smoothly. The 2 TB SSD and fast transfer speeds meant it could manage social media and small-scale video production, making it ideal for small-scale creative work.

However, when working with 4K footage shot on a Sony A7 IV, the GPU began to show its limits. Fans ramped up under load, timeline rendering slowed, and clip import times increased. That said, for a small form factor, performance remained impressive, and fan noise was generally well managed.

In gaming tests, DiRT Rally performed well, though it isn’t graphically demanding. Tekken 8 also played well, though effects had to be reduced; however, when it came to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the performance was less fluid, with dropped frames and occasional stuttering. The gaming highlighted how the integrated GPU is adequate for light gaming, but not for graphics-intensive titles.

Benchmark results confirmed real-world impressions. Windows 11 Pro and Office are performing well, reflected in a PCMark score of 7638 and a Windows Experience Index of 8.2, both typical for premium mini PCs. Office applications such as Excel and PowerPoint loaded quickly and allowed for fast multitasking, thanks to strong Geekbench CPU single and multi-core scores.

Creative applications also performed well as a whole, with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom running smoothly, and the Geekbench GPU score of 41100 highlighted the machine’s potential for mid-range graphics processing.

SSD speeds were particularly impressive, with a read speed of 6234 MB/s and a write speed of 5371 MB/s. These speeds helped with video editing, especially when handling larger files.

In Premiere Pro, 1080p editing went well, but at 4K, performance dropped as effects were applied. DaVinci Resolve was less stable overall and demanded more from the graphics system. While usable at 1080p, the experience was definitely less fluid as I had to wait for the renders to catch up.

By the end of testing, it was clear that the A9 Max is very capable for Windows 11 Pro, Office, and general productivity tasks. With internal upgrades available, there’s good potential. Even the base 32 GB RAM and 2 TB storage are enough for social media editing at 1080p. It’s worth noting that, like other Geekom machines of this level, replacing the RAM and SSD is relatively easy; simply take off the base, remove the antenna wires, and then remove the next plate to gain access. While some machines enable you to leave the antenna wires in place, here there isn’t quite enough length, and if you do leave them in place, they’ll disconnect from the wireless card, and refitting them can be a tedious and painstaking task.

Through the test the speed of the machine generally impressed with the only significant slowdown occurring during editing of high-bitrate 4K footage from a mirrorless camera. Standard 4K from a smartphone was manageable, though it has lower data rates by comparison.

In gaming, performance was average. The machine is clearly designed more for work than play. The extensive connectivity, four front USB-A ports, USB4 at the back, and dual LAN make integration into an office network easy, making it a great office-based solution.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)

Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)

The Geekom A9 Max is a great mini PC that looks fantastic, with a CNC-machined aluminium chassis that fits perfectly in any office or studio.

Its standout features include build quality and upgradeability, essentially as your needs grow, internal storage and RAM can be increased. For multimedia editing, more RAM would help with higher-bitrate video and effect-heavy workflows. Storage can also be expanded from 2 TB up to 8 TB, reducing the need for external drives.

The dual LAN ports allow high-speed connections to a local network or NAS. For small office setups, this is a real advantage, although it’s worth noting that LAN speeds are capped at 2.5 GbE, rather than the 5 or 10 GbE you might expect in a premium system.

If you find yourself regularly plugging and unplugging accessories, the row of front USB-A ports is a big time-saver; however, it’s a shame there’s no USB-C on the front for faster devices.

I also liked the fact that there’s the inclusion of the SD card reader, which makes it easy to quickly offload image and video files to the internal SSD, which offers exceptionally fast read/write speeds and helps significantly in workflows involving large files or media.

By the end of testing, it was clear this is a premium-level office machine. There are some omissions, such as the lack of a front USB4 port or faster LAN, but for its main purpose as an office-based machine, it delivers.

Should I buy a Geekom A9 Max Mini PC?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Value

A great machine that is a perfect solution for office use, though the quality does come with a price premium

4

Design

The solid CNC-machined aluminium chassis looks fantastic and feels incredibly robust

5

Features

With AMD’s latest CPU, NPU, and GPU all integrated into a single chip, this machine is office-ready

4.5

Performance

With AMD’s latest CPU, NPU, and GPU all integrated into a single chip, this machine is office-ready

4.5

Overalls

A great option for any office, especially if you use Copilot or other applications that utilise AI integration

4.5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

For more professional-level tech, we’ve tested the best business computers and best business laptops around.

GEEKOM A9 Max AI Mini PC: Price Comparison



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September 7, 2025 0 comments
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Marshallheadphone
Game Updates

Marshall Major V On-Ear Headphones Crash to Lowest Price Ever, Over 5x Cheaper Than AirPods Max

by admin September 5, 2025


Looking for the right pair of headphones? The three most important factors are do they look good do they sound good, and will they not empty my bank account? Well, you can go right ahead and check off all three boxes with the Marshall Major V on-ear wireless headphones. These Bluetooth headphones are stylish as heck, produce great sound, and pretty dang affordable. They’re normally listed at $160. However, Amazon has them as part of a limited time deal at the moment. They’re going now for as low as 38% off which drops the price by a solid $61. You’ll only be paying $99.

With the Marshall Major V headphones, you can expect to hear the signature sound Marshall is known for. You get a thunderous bass, smooth mids, and a crisp treble. Marshall is not like Samsung or Apple. They are exclusively in the audio business — a business they’ve been in for over 60 years, mind you. The brand has developed so many iconic product from huge amplifiers to headphones such as these. They’re priority is meeting the needs and expectations of musicians and anyone else who deeply cares about sound quality.

See at Amazon

Long Listening Time

A pair of Bluetooth headphones won’t really be worth that much to you if they can’t hold a charge, so how doe the Marshall Major V hold up? Well, these on-ear headphones are capable of lasting over 100 hours on one charge. You can listen to your music non-stop for over four days before you need to plug them in again. And when they do finally die on your, you can even choose to charge them wirelessly. You’ll get from zero percent back up to full is just about three hours.

The Marshall Major V are engineered knowing you’ll be schlepping them around with you wherever you go. That’s why they’re ruggedly durable. They can handle getting roughed up a tad. When they’re not in use, they fold up easily to nice, portable size so you can toss them in a bag without taking up much room.

These headphones even features a side button which you can customize to trigger a number of different actions. By default, this button will launch Spotify on the connected device.

Right now, Amazon has the Marshall Major V wireless Bluetooth headphones marked down by a solid $61. That 38% discount is bringing the price down from $160 to just $99 for a limited time. Pick between black, brown, cream, and midnight blue. Currently all are on sale, but the black and cream are sitting at the lowest price.

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September 5, 2025 0 comments
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The 50 Best Shows on HBO Max Right Now (September 2025)
Gaming Gear

The 50 Best Shows on HBO Max Right Now (September 2025)

by admin September 2, 2025


HBO Max may not have the shine it once did, but the streaming service (previously just Max) is still home to some of the best TV shows of the past 25 years, from The Sopranos and The Wire to Game of Thrones and The Leftovers.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the “it’s not TV” cable network or a HBO Max newbie trying to figure out where to start, the shows below should give you plenty upon which to feast your eyes.

Looking for more recommendations? Head to WIRED’s guide to the best TV shows on Netflix, the best TV shows on Amazon Prime, the best TV shows on Disney+, and the best TV shows on Hulu.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.

Peacemaker

John Cena reprises his role as Chris Smith, aka Peacemaker, a violence-prone vigilante who is willing to do whatever it takes in order to achieve peace—even if that means killing dozens of people. Ironic? Yes. It’s also deeply funny, with Cena seeming to relish the opportunity to play such an over-the-top character. The series, which just kicked off its second season, is a spinoff of The Suicide Squad and boasts DC boss/superhero auteur James Gunn as its creator, showrunner, writer, and most frequent episode director.

Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence

Just when you think you know everything about the case of disgraced mommy vlogger Ruby Franke, new revelations come to light. This four-part true crime docuseries aims to uncover what drew Franke to the teachings of Jodi Hildebrandt, how the latter rose to power within the Mormon community, and why the bond they shared took such an abusive turn. The series includes interviews with Hildebrandt’s former clients, as well as her niece, who was a first-hand witness to Jodi’s twisted manipulations.

The Yogurt Shop Murders

On December 6, 1991, a police officer responding to reports of a fire at a frozen yogurt shop in Austin, Texas, was horrified to discover the bodies of four teenage girls inside. All four girls, who ranged in age from 13 to 17, had been shot in the head, and at least one of the young women had been raped. More than 30 years later, the events of that night continue to haunt not just the friends and family members of the victims, but the law enforcement officials who investigated the gruesome crime, the individuals who were considered suspects, and even the media members who covered it. HBO’s enthralling new four-part docuseries takes a deep dive into the killings, which remain unsolved to this day.

The Gilded Age

While it hasn’t made quite the splash that Downton Abbey did, Julian Fellowes’ latest period piece is just as decadent—and really came into its own with its second season, then became addictive in its third. In this case, the drama moves stateside to document the struggle between New York City’s old-money aristocrats and the vulgar new-money types attempting to infiltrate their social circles. There’s also plenty of the Upstairs, Downstairs–type drama that Fellowes is known for, with the servants who cater to Manhattan’s elite playing a big part of the story here too. Somewhere in the middle of it all is Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson, Meryl Streep’s youngest child), a young woman attempting to navigate a world she only belongs to by proxy. Christine Baranski, Carrie Coon, and Cynthia Nixon lead a stellar cast. Its third season, which concluded in August, is getting some of the series’ strongest reviews.

Duster

Fifteen years after Lost said goodbye, J.J. Abrams and Josh Holloway re-teamed for this 1970s-set action-crime-comedy about a top-notch getaway driver (Holloway) who partners with the FBI’s first Black woman agent (Rachel Hilson) to take down a notorious crime boss (the always-pitch-perfect Keith David). With its quirky mix of genres, distinctly ’70s look, and unmistakable sense of humor, Duster feels a bit like what Quentin Tarantino might do as a TV showrunner. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be enough to keep it around; in early July, HBO announced that the series’ first season would also be its last.

The Mortician

HBO delivered one of its most iconic series in the mid-2000s with the family funeral home-set Six Feet Under. The Mortician is essentially the flip side of that critically acclaimed drama: It’s a three-part docuseries that explores the disturbing story of the Lamb Funeral Home, a real-life Los Angeles business that made headlines in the 1980s when it was alleged that its new owner, David Sconce, was engaging in reprehensible practices that seemed to value profit over human life. Years later, and after spending more than a decade in prison on two separate occasions (the second time for violating his parole), Sconce sits down to speak about his crimes, and still seems unmoved by the emotional damage he has caused.

The Rehearsal

Good luck trying to explain what The Rehearsal is to anyone who isn’t familiar with Nathan Fielder’s mastery of uncomfortable comedy. What begins as a series in which the awkward star/comedian attempts to help people prepare for big moments in life by rehearsing them until they get it right quickly turns into a bizarre social experiment in which Fielder himself becomes one of the key players. The less you know about it ahead of time, the better. Just be aware that you’ll be encountering people who responded to a Craigslist ad to take part in season 1, and that the second season sees Fielder stepping in to create a wild role-playing environment to improve communication between pilots, with the hope of preventing plane crashes. It might make you worry about exactly who is commandeering your next flight and give whole new meaning to the chorus of Evanescence’s 2003 hit “Bring Me To Life.”

Conan O’Brien Must Go

Conan O’Brien is at his zaniest in this offshoot of his popular podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. Whereas the popular audio series features O’Brien chatting with his fellow celebrities, this globe-trotting series sees the former late-night host surprising everyday people he has featured on said podcast. But it doubles as a kind of travel series, as he uses the time in these far-off places (which, in the first season, included Norway, Thailand, Argentina, and Ireland) to immerse himself in the food, traditions, and culture of his chosen destinations. Season 2 sees O’Brien visit New Zealand, Austria, and Spain over three episodes. It’s a short season, to be sure, but a third season is already confirmed.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us managed to succeed where Netflix’s Resident Evil (which was canceled after one season) and other live-action TV shows based on video games failed—by being really, really good. Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and the video game’s original director, Neil Druckmann, cocreated the postapocalyptic drama, in which one grizzled survivor (Pedro Pascal) is tasked with smuggling a smart-mouthed teenager (Bella Ramsey) who could be the key to finding a cure for the fungal infection-fueled pandemic that has turned most of America into zombie-like creatures. Props to everyone for generating so much interest in the (very real and parasitic) Cordyceps fungus—because fungi nerds like TV too. After a near two-year wait, the show’s second season arrived in April. Set five years after the events of the first season, it begins with Joel (Pascal) and Ellie (Ramsey) having seemingly found a permanent community, despite discord in their own relationship—and zombies that are getting smarter. But the latest season takes some unexpected turns that viewers who aren’t familiar with the video game may not see coming—a trend that will seemingly continue when its third season eventually arrives.

Hacks

Jean Smart has always been a legend, so it’s only appropriate that she plays a legend in Hacks. The HBO Max series debuted in 2021—not long after the streaming platform itself dropped—and became one of its first major hits. Four seasons in, the show follows the evolution of the relationship between world-renowned Las Vegas entertainer Deborah Vance (Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder, daughter of SNL legend Laraine Newman), a cynical young writer who is on the outs with Hollywood following a bad-take tweet that went viral. What begins as a reluctant “mentorship” slowly transforms into a loving and respectful friendship in which both women realize they have something to learn from the other. The show has won a slew of awards, including nine Emmys (three of them for Smart)—a streak that is likely to continue following the show’s dramatic fourth season, which ended with a development that already has fans wondering what season 5 (which is already ordered) might look like.

The Righteous Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones is Danny McBride’s latest effort to put forth a group of highly unlikeable people and find a way to make you like them even less but still want to keep watching. In this case, it’s a family of televangelists whose real god is greed and power. McBride assembled an all-star cast that includes John Goodman as the family’s patriarch, Adam DeVine and Edi Patterson as his fellow Gemstone children, and national treasure Walton Goggins as Uncle Baby Billy Freeman—a child-star-turned-grifter who has given the series some of its most memorable quotes and moments. (Can you say Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers?) The series’ fourth and final season, which added Megan Mullally and Seann William Scott to the mix, concluded in May, with all episodes streaming now.

When No One Sees Us

HBO Max’s first Spanish-produced series, adapted from Sergio Sarria’s novel of the same name, is a smart, slow-burning crime drama. US Army special agent Magaly Castillo (Mariela Garriga) is sent to a base in Morón de la Frontera, Spain, to look into the strange disappearance of a soldier. Not far away, Civil Guard sergeant Lucía Gutiérrez (Maribel Verdú) is investigating a suicide that has ritualistic elements of harakiri. Eventually, their investigations begin to overlap, and the two work together—despite protocol and politics—to understand what is happening around them.

Celtics City

In 2024, the Boston Celtics did their city proud when they ended the team’s 16-year drought by nabbing the NBA Championship. It was a reminder to sports fans, and the world at large, why the winningest team in NBA history is also the most storied, going back more than 70 years. This nine-episode docuseries, executive produced by Bill Simmons, traces the history of the franchise and the challenges players have faced both on and off the court. Most specifically: How Boston’s reputation as a racist city has impacted the team, including a reluctance on the part of Black players to want to sign on with the Celts. While it’s a series made for sports fans, it’s just as much a historical docuseries that will resonate with the state of the world in 2025.

The White Lotus

While it was originally imagined as a one-off limited series from the brilliantly screwed-up mind (in a good way) of Mike White—who cocreated the sadly overlooked Enlightenment with Laura Dern, another HBO show you should check out—The White Lotus has since morphed into a full-on, five-star franchise that just wrapped up its wild third season. The series dives below the surface of the seemingly fabulous lives of deep-pocketed guests who can afford to stay at one of the ultra-luxe resorts of the title’s locations (first Hawaii, then Sicily, followed by Thailand), and the people who trip over themselves to serve their every need. Somewhere in between, murder always seems to end up on the menu. The newest season proved to be deliciously addictive, with Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, and Aimee Lou Wood among the delightfully dysfunctional guests—plus a surprise cameo from Sam Rockwell as a wild character who won’t soon be forgotten. While fans of the series lamented the loss of Jennifer Coolidge as a recurring cast member, writer/actor Natasha Rothwell did her former would-be business partner proud (and Coolidge’s lying husband dirty) by reprising her role as Belinda Lindsey, the spa manager fans met (and rooted for) in Season 1. A fourth season has already been greenlit, but production won’t begin until 2026—meaning it could be 2027 before viewers see the next season of The White Lotus, wherever in the world the show goes.

The Pitt

First things first: Yes, The Pitt is a medical drama that reunites ER star Noah Wyle with executive producer John Wells. But that’s essentially where the similarities to that iconic NBC series end. Really, The Pitt has more in common with 24. Set in an underfunded hospital in Pittsburgh, the series plays out over 15 hours in real time as patients come and go (in some cases, shuffling off this mortal coil); medical students and interns learn the truth about their chosen profession; and seasoned doctors and hospital administrators butt heads over the nature of the US health care system. It’s an engaging watch that moves at a breakneck speed while offering a somber reality about medicine in a post-pandemic world. Season 1 was a near-perfect season of television, and its 12 Emmy nominations, including nods for Outstanding Drama Series as well as a much-deserved one for Wyle as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, are a testament to that. A second season—which will follow the same real-time format and take place over Fourth of July weekend—is already in production, with a planned January 2026 premiere.

Somebody Somewhere

Sam (the amazing Bridget Everett) is a forty-something woman who has lost her way. After returning to her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, to care for her dying sister, she is left broken and floundering following her sister’s death. Unsure of who she is, what she is doing, or where she fits in, she slowly starts to find her place thanks to Joel (Jeff Hiller), a coworker and former classmate. With his friendship and support, and reconnecting with her love of singing, Sam starts to learn that we don’t need to have the answers to know when something feels “right.” The Peabody Award–winning series is one of the best things to happen to TV audiences in a long time—and a reminder that “acceptance” is in the mind of the beholder. All three seasons are now streaming.

Dune: Prophecy

HBO Max is going all in on Frank Herbert’s Dune. In addition to Denis Villeneuve’s two recent Dune movies—which are both streaming here—there’s now Dune: Prophecy. Based on Brian Herbert (son of Frank) and Kevin J. Anderson’s prequel trilogy novels, the series is set 10,000 years before the events witnessed in the Dune films. In this world, it’s the women who rule as two sisters (Emily Watson and Olivia Williams) work to establish the secretive Bene Gesserit sisterhood, who have developed the power to ensure that all future members will be built to stand as powerful leaders. Comparisons to The Handmaid’s Tale are inevitable. There’s more to come: The series was renewed for a second season just days before its season 1 finale.

Like Water for Chocolate

Foodies and romance lovers alike will enjoy this latest adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s seminal 1989 novel. Set during the Mexican Revolution, it tells the story of Tita de la Garza (Azul Guaita) and Pedro Múzquiz (Andres Baida)—a young couple in love. Tita’s cruel mother, Mamá Elena (Irene Azuela), insists that her daughter will take care of her until her death, and thus refuses to consent when Pedro asks for Tita’s hand. Instead, he ends up marrying Tita’s sister Gertrudis (Andrea Chaparro) in an attempt to remain a part of Tita’s life, which only makes their circumstances more agonizing. Tita’s love does not exactly go unrequited: She expresses it in the food she cooks, which is felt by everyone who tastes it. (This is much less silly than it sounds.) A second, and final, season is currently in production.

The Sex Lives of College Girls

Mindy Kaling cocreated this HBO Max series, which puts a new spin on the teenage sex comedy—one in which the women are fully in charge. Nerdy Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet, yes, Timothée’s sister), aspiring professional funny person Bela (Amrit Kaur), snotty Upper East Sider Leighton (Reneé Rapp), and soccer star/senator’s daughter Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) are four college freshmen randomly thrown together as suitemates. But as they get to know each other, and themselves, their forced cohabitation develops into a true bond—one in which there’s no such thing as TMI and a “naked party” is just one way to unwind after a long week. Season 3—which saw Rapp depart the series and new roomie Kacey (Gracie Lawrence) take over her space in the quad—wrapped in January and will sadly be its last.

The Franchise

Armando Iannucci has never met a world he didn’t want to skewer (see: In the Thick of It, Veep, Avenue 5). In the case of The Franchise, which Iannucci co-created with Sam Mendes and Jon Brown, it’s the ridiculousness of superhero movies—and, more specifically, superhero cinematic universes—that is ripe for mockery. Daniel Kumar (Himesh Patel) is the first assistant director on an upcoming movie, Tecto: Eye of the Storm, that’s being made in the shadow of one of its franchise’s team-up movies, Centurios 2, so getting short shrift. Though his name will be buried in the credits, Kumar—who might have the production’s most thankless job—is determined to make a movie that rises above its material. And budget. And actors. And crew. Think of it as a satirical potshot at the MCU. Sadly, one season is all we’re going to get of Iannucci’s latest; HBO canceled the series in early January.

It’s Florida, Man

“What you’re about to see may be dangerous, petty, misguided, and most definitely stupid,” warns the voiceover in the trailer. “But it’s also all true. Sort of.” Danny McBride strikes again (as one of the executive producers) on this new late-night series that brings the unbelievable, infamous “Florida Man” headlines to life. Each episode recreates these Floridians’ stories with an A-list lineup of comedic actors, including Anna Faris, Jake Johnson, Randall Park, Juliette Lewis, Sam Richardson, and Ego Nwodim. Get ready for feral bunnies, mermaids being harassed by witches, and so much more. HBO Max has already given the green light to a second season, which is expected later this year.

The Penguin

While superhero/villain TV shows typically tend to be the domain of Disney+, The Penguin is different—in so many ways. Spun off from Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) and based on the characters famously created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, The Penguin takes a very prestige TV approach to its comic book origins. Which is likely partly why you’ve heard so many comparisons between The Penguin and The Sopranos—a likening that is somewhat overblown. (Though Colin Farrell’s Oswald “Oz” Cobb does bear a passing resemblance to James Gandolfini’s legendary mob boss.) Still, The Penguin is its own beast; it’s an origin story that documents Oz’s violent rise to power following the death of Gotham crime boss Carmine Falcone. While Farrell’s Penguin was one of the most compelling parts of Reeves’ The Batman, here it’s Cristin Milioti—who manages to be utterly charming despite playing a brutal psychopath—who steals the show as Carmen’s daughter Sofia Falcone, a mastermind battling Oz for control of Gotham’s underworld. While conversations are reportedly being had, there’s no word yet on whether a second season will be coming. (Reeves has stated that The Batman 2 is their current priority.)

Chimp Crazy

“You can’t tame wild things.” That’s Alan Cumming’s very simple summation of why it’s not a great idea to have a 250-pound chimp living in your home as if it were another family member. Chimp Crazy takes that notion to the extreme. Ostensibly, the four-part docuseries—which comes to HBO Max from the same people who brought us Tiger King—is about the lengths to which Tonia Haddix, a tanning-salon-loving exotic animal broker, will go to ensure she cannot be separated from her beloved chimp Tonka (despite what PETA believes is best for the primate). Ultimately, however, it’s an examination of the “chimp mom” community and the disturbing reality of what can happen when a human being puts their own needs above those of these highly intelligent primates, who need more than living in the suburbs can afford them. While there has been no word about whether there will be a season 2, Haddix’s recent arrest and four-year prison sentence certainly open up the possibility of there being more story to tell here.

City of God: The Fight Rages On

In City of God (2002), Fernando Meirelles’ Oscar-nominated feature, Wilson “Rocket” Rodrigues (Alexandre Rodrigues) is an aspiring photojournalist who uses his art to help make sense of—and bring attention to—the dangers of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. In this 2024 sequel series, it’s a full two decades after the events of the original film. Rocket has achieved his dream of becoming a successful photojournalist, but the dangers that residents of the favela face on a daily basis are still present. So he uses his camera once again to capture the corruption that happens when the drug trade, police, and militia collide.

Industry

You may not have had an “investment banking drama” on your bingo card as your next obsessive binge-watch, but Industry has got a lot more to offer than financial jargon. The British-American series is set in and around Pierpoint & Co., one of London’s most prestigious investment banks and the place that any up-and-comer wants to land a job at. The problem is, Pierpont is picky—and has a very limited number of full-time positions up for grabs. So what you get instead is an inside peek at a cutthroat industry coupled with an ensemble dramedy about the lives of the young professionals competing to make it to the top. Game of Thrones star Kit Harington joined the show—which many have deemed “the new Succession”—for its third season. Kiernan Shipka, Max Minghella, Jack Farthing, Toheeb Jimoh, and Amy James-Kelly have been announced as new cast members for the fourth season, which is expected to arrive in January.

House of the Dragon

While it would be silly to think any series could replicate the cultural behemoth that was Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon does a pretty admirable job (even if George R.R. Martin doesn’t necessarily agree with all of the creative choices that make it different from the book). Especially if you wished its predecessor had more dragon action. This prequel series, which is set approximately 200 years before Game of Thrones, is all about discord within House Targaryen and the beginning of the end of that ruling family’s dynasty. Just like GoT, there’s enough sex, violence, backstabbing, family dysfunction, and dragons to fill that void—and even the occasional darkly lit scene to get audiences all riled up.

The Sopranos

It has been more than 25 years since audiences were introduced to Tony Soprano and his family—both the blood kind and the other kind. Whether you’ve never seen the series that still tops many people’s lists as the greatest television show ever created, or it’s just been a while, it’s time to give it a rewatch. By now the basic premise is well known: Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is a New Jersey mob boss who struggles with depression and panic attacks. So he starts seeing a psychiatrist (Lorraine Bracco), which is a no-no in Tony’s line of work. Over the next six seasons, audiences are invited to experience the life of a mob boss—both the violent side and the mundanities it can bring. A quarter-century later, the series still holds up. For an extra dose of Sopranos content, be sure to check out the 2021 prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark, or Alex Gibney’s two-part docuseries, Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, both of which are streaming now.

Ren Faire

What would happen if Succession‘s Logan Roy were in charge of a Renaissance fair? It might look a lot like Ren Faire. This surprisingly engaging three-part docuseries follows the drama that ensues when George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival (America’s largest Renaissance fair) announces his retirement. While it would seem that the festival’s general manager would be first in line to take over, a kettle corn kingpin and former elephant trainer rise up to challenge that notion of succession. Who knew the Ren faire business was so cutthroat?

Fantasmas

Calling all Los Espookys fans: Julio Torres has a new series. And yes, it’s just as absurd and silly and funny as its horror-comedy predecessor. In this case, Torres plays a fictionalized version of himself who ends up wandering New York City looking for a lost earring. Along the way, he encounters all sorts of bizarre characters, with guest appearances from the likes of Steve Buscemi, Emma Stone, Ziwe, Paul Dano, Bowen Yang, and Aidy Bryant.

The Jinx

The Jinx is as unnerving as it is fascinating. Director Andrew Jarecki’s first brush with the history of Robert Durst came in the form of All Good Things, the 2010 feature starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst that fictionalized the life of Durst. But when Durst saw what Jarecki had done with that project, he requested they sit down for an interview, which spawned this true-crime docuseries that initially premiered in 2015—and eventually led to new charges being filed against Durst. We won’t give away too much, but suffice to say the words “killed them all, of course” will forever live in your mind. The Jinx Part Two picks up the story after Durst uttered that haunting phrase.

The Sympathizer

Viewers still lamenting the end of The Americans will find much to love about The Sympathizer, which was co-created by acclaimed filmmakers Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, this limited series follows the exploits of the Captain (Hoa Xuande), a police captain in the Vietnamese capital then known as Saigon, who also happens to be a communist spy. Eventually, he makes his way to America, where he continues gathering intelligence for the Viet Cong. While it may not sound like the premise of a black comedy, that’s indeed what it is—especially whenever Robert Downey Jr. is around. The Iron Man star makes for a formidable villain who viewers love to hate in each one of the four characters he plays.

Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show

One has to imagine that putting “Reality Show” in the title was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as this docuseries—in which comedian Jerrod Carmichael claims he’s attempting to “self-Truman Show” himself—is much more intimate and authentic than that label would imply. Carmichael’s goal is to be as honest as he can be about his life and struggles while the cameras are rolling. And if one were to judge his success based on how uncomfortable some viewers might be bearing witness to it all, the show is an absolute triumph.

Tokyo Vice

In 1993, American journalist Jake Adelstein landed a job at the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Shimbun as the newspaper’s first non-Japanese staff writer—a position he held for a dozen years. Nearly 30 years later, in 2022, HBO Max turned Adelstein’s life into a slick crime drama that sees the young journalist (played by Ansel Elgort) forge a deep connection with high-ranking members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, who allow him to get dangerously close to the violence and corruption that exist within the city. In summer 2024, HBO Max announced that the show’s explosive second season would be its last. But Tokyo Vice producers are still holding out hope that a third season will be greenlit elsewhere.

True Detective: Night Country

Did you take our advice and watch Deadloch and now you want more of that, but far darker and more creepy? We have just the solution: True Detective: Night Country. Truth be told, this anthology series has had a rough go. Following a wildly successful first season that crashed HBO Max’s predecessor, HBO Go, and had everyone talking about how time is a flat circle, the series’ second and third installments failed to capture the same momentum. Night Country is a return to form, as evidenced by its 19 Emmy nominations (the most of any HBO series in 2024). It stars Jodie Foster, who won her first Emmy for the role, and Kali Reis as a pair of investigators trying to uncover a conspiracy and solve a series of bizarre murders. Mysterious symbols are also involved. Yes, that’s pretty much the plot of every season of True Detective, but this season has corpsicles. As with all of those previous iterations, the less you know at the start, the better. Speaking of the less you know: A fifth season has been commissioned, with Night Country creator Issa López returning as showrunner. Very few details have been revealed except that the season is scheduled to be set in New York’s Jamaica Bay, and that Nicolas Cage is in talks to play the lead.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

“I really did the best under the circumstances of a person who hates people and yet had to be amongst them,” Larry David says in the trailer for the 12th—and final (yes, really)—season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. David—both the real-life comedian and the semi-fictionalized version of himself he plays on TV—has been dipping in and out of our lives for more than 20 years now. And he continually exceeded audience expectations with each new season of Curb. Even though he cocreated Seinfeld, one of the most game-changing TV series of all time, it’s Curb Your Enthusiasm to which he’ll always be more closely linked. Pretty good for a social assassin. Pretty, pretty good. While Curb might be dead, David’s partnership with HBO is alive and well; in July, it was announced that he’ll be bringing a new comedy sketch series to the network.

Rap Sh!t

Insecure impresario Issa Rae is the brains behind this laugh-out-loud comedy, which follows Mia Knight (KaMillion) and Shawna Clark (Aida Osman), two former high school friends and struggling rappers trying to make it on the Miami music scene. Ultimately, they decide to join forces to form a group, double their chances of success, and use social media as their launching pad—all with mixed results. As much as the series is about music, at its heart it’s really about the unending possibilities of youthdom and the beauty of women supporting women. At just two seasons long, it’s an easy binge-watch.

Starstruck

Jessie (Rose Matafeo) is a twentysomething New Zealander attempting to make ends meet as a nanny in London. One New Year’s Eve, she has a drunken one-night stand, only to sober up and realize she just slept with Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel), a major movie star. But what was presumably a one-off encounter turns into much more over time in this charming romcom series, which is a little bit like Notting Hill—only drunker.

Our Flag Means Death

Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi do what Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi do best as two very different kinds of pirates who cross paths in the 1700s. Darby plays Stede Bonnet, a fictionalized version of a very real member of the landed gentry whose version of a midlife crisis sees him abandon his family and hit the high seas for a swashbuckling adventure. Waititi, meanwhile, plays the infamous Blackbeard, who learns of Bonnet and seeks him out. What begins as a kind of mentorship eventually becomes the gay pirate action-comedy series you never knew you needed.

How to With John Wilson

If Steven Wright and Nathan Fielder decided to create a YouTube channel of how-to tutorials on topics like putting up scaffolding and covering furniture in plastic, it might look a lot like How to With John Wilson. So it probably comes as no surprise that Fielder is an executive producer of the series, which follows Wilson as he attempts to uncover the secrets of such universal dilemmas as how to make small talk. Wilson’s surprising mix of earnestness and deadpan delivery make the series surprising, enlightening, and extremely strange.

Project Greenlight: A New Generation

In 2001, just three years after Good Will Hunting made them bona fide Oscar winners, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck launched Project Greenlight, a competition that gave aspiring filmmakers the chance to make a real, live movie—which begat Project Greenlight, a reality series that chronicled the ups and downs (mostly downs) of that experience. While the competition was better known for the TV series it spawned versus the movies that it produced, it’s now more than 20 years later. And, as new mentors Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, and Gina Prince-Bythewood quickly realize, it’s all still a bit of a nightmare. Gray Matter, the movie that was created from the competition’s rebirth, is also streaming on HBO Max, so you can judge for yourself whether things are different this time around.

Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York

This four-part docuseries, based on Elon Green’s book Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust and Murder in Queer New York, looks at the murders of several gay men in the early 1990s. Set against the backdrop of rising homophobia during the AIDS crisis, director Anthony Coronna’s doc talks to the family members of those killed and the LGBTQ+ community advocates who pushed law enforcement to investigate the deaths happening in their community.

The Other Two

Chasedreams (Case Walker) is a 13-year-old internet icon whose overnight rise to global stardom has become the sole focus of his mom (Molly Shannon). Chase’s older siblings, however, are having a much harder time finding success. Brother Cary (Drew Tarver) is an aspiring actor who can’t even land the part of “Man at Party Who Smells Fart,” while sister Brooke (Heléne Yorke) is just trying to figure out who and what she wants to be. All three seasons of the series, which was cocreated by former SNL head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, are available to binge.

Barry

No one seemed particularly wowed when HBO announced that Bill Hader and Alec Berg were cocreating a series in which Hader would play a hitman with a conscience who attempts to go straight. But what might sound like a played-out trope has taken on new dimensions of humor, darkness, humanity, and plain old weirdness, with its recently concluded final season serving as a brilliant crescendo of all of that dark weirdness mixed in with a little time jump. Barry Berkman (Hader) is a traumatized marine whose newfound apathy toward the world and the very act of living makes him perfectly suited to work as a gun for hire. When a job takes him to Los Angeles, Barry stumbles upon an acting class led by Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, in what may be the role that finally supplants Fonzie as his most memorable), a failed but charismatic mentor. But transitioning back into the real world isn’t without consequences for Barry, who can spend an entire episode being hunted by a pint-sized martial arts master. All four seasons of the Emmy-winning series, each one better than the next, are available to stream in full.

Love & Death

Elizabeth Olsen seamlessly transitions from part-time superhero to cold-blooded seductress in this retelling of the story of Candy Montgomery—a churchgoing wife and mother who turns murderous after having an affair with a fellow parishioner (the always excellent Jesse Plemons). If the plot sounds familiar, that might be because it’s based on the true story of a murder that took place in Texas in 1980. Or perhaps it’s because Hulu got there first with its own limited series, Candy, starring Jessica Biel as the femme fatale.

Succession

Media empires run by dysfunctional families may rise and fall, but we’ll always have Succession. The Emmy-winning series concluded its four-season run in early 2023, but its legacy as one of the most surprising pieces of prestige TV will be felt for decades to come (especially after what happened at Shiv’s wedding … then “Connor’s Wedding,” not to mention on the balcony or in the hand-hold seen ’round the world). At a time when TV shows about rich people, real or imagined, are in ample supply, Succession manages to stand out by being as bitingly funny as it is painfully tragic. The jet-black family dramedy chronicles the Roy family and the people/cronies/tall men who orbit them, all of whom seem to be angling for control of Waystar Royco, the family-run global media conglomerate—whether by succession (get it?) or more hostile means. Think of it as King Lear meets Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., only funny. (Unless you’re invited to play a game of Boar on the Floor.)

A Black Lady Sketch Show

In 2015, Robin Thede made television history when she was named head writer for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore—making her the first Black woman to hold the head writer position on a late-night talk show. Four years later, she revolutionized the TV landscape once again when she gathered up a group of her funniest friends—including Ashley Nicole Black, (future Abbott Elementary creator) Quinta Brunson, Gabrielle Dennis, and Skye Townsend—and created A Black Lady Sketch Show, the first sketch comedy written, produced, and starring Black women. The four-season series has brought such A-list names as Angela Bassett out as guest stars with its no-holds-barred humor, and the entire series is available to stream now.

Rain Dogs

Costello Jones (Daisy May Cooper) is an aspiring novelist and working-class mom who isn’t always successful at making ends meet for herself and her wise-beyond-her-years daughter, Iris (Fleur Tashjian). So Costello is regularly forced to call upon her violence-prone—but wealthy—gay best friend, Selby (Jack Farthing), to unstick them from whatever jams they’ve managed to get caught in. The series is billed as a black comedy, which it definitely is, although the moments between the levity are sometimes so dark and raw that even the frothiest bits carry weight. This darkly nuanced and sometimes surreal meditation on class, sex, dysfunction, and the varying definitions of “family” makes for a compulsively watchable series. Sadly, the BBC-HBO coproduction was canceled after one season, so the eight existing episodes are all you get.

Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary creator/star Quinta Brunson (A Black Lady Sketch Show) has garnered all sorts of accolades with this ABC series and even managed to create streaming deals with both HBO Max and Hulu. The surprise hit follows the lives of a group of teachers who are working at one of the most woefully underfunded public schools in America while doing their best to inspire students. Yes, it all sounds very earnest—and it is—but it’s also the kind of funny we don’t see much of on network TV anymore. The series—which just finished up its fourth season and already secured a fifth season renewal—has racked up enough awards (Emmys, Critics Choice, Indie Spirit, and beyond) to fill a school trophy case.

I May Destroy You

Michaela Coel is a creative force of nature who delivered on what she promised with the title of this limited series, which she created, wrote, directed, and stars in. Arabella (Coel) is a Londoner living the millennial dream with a thriving writing career, thanks in part to her celebrity as a social media influencer. But Arabella’s Insta-perfect life begins to unravel when, after a night out with friends, she begins to recall—in fragments—being sexually assaulted. Eventually, the need to piece together exactly what happened to her, and who did it, consumes her completely and the past comes knocking at her door. Last August, Coel announced she was working jointly with HBO and BBC on a new series, First Day on Earth, that will be equally personal.

Avenue 5

Bad timing may have led to the unfortunately early demise of Avenue 5, which had filming on its second season delayed, and delayed again, due to Covid-19. But the space-set comedy from the brilliant mind of Armando Iannucci, creator of Veep (another classic streaming on HBO Max), and its even swearier predecessor, The Thick of It, is well worth your time, if only to see what could happen when space travel inevitably goes wrong. Hugh Laurie stars as the “captain” of an interplanetary cruise ship, with Josh Gad playing the role of eccentric tech billionaire/huge baby Herman Judd, whose planned eight-week tour of the galaxy turns dire when a gravitational disaster steers the ship off course. The series gets more bonkers as it goes along, and poop plays a massive part in saving thousands of passengers and crew members. Consider yourselves warned—and feel free to laugh at the inanity of it all. Loudly.



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September 2, 2025 0 comments
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Robbie and Dana look at the ER screen above reception
Gaming Gear

The Pitt season 2: everything we know so far about the hit HBO Max show’s return

by admin August 29, 2025



The Pitt season 2: key information

– Will arrive in January 2026
– Teaser trailer released in August 2025
– Production began in June 2025
– Main cast set to return
– New recurring characters revealed
– Season 2 will time jump to 10 months ahead
– Hopes for future seasons

The Pitt season 2 is coming in January 2026, only a year after the popular HBO Max show premiered on the streamer. The medical drama saw ER‘s Noah Wyle as the dynamic Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch taking charge of an incredibly stressful day at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital.

And traumatic it most certainly was, culminating in a rather dramatic finale that fortunately, viewers won’t have to wait too long to find some resolve. But, in true hospital fashion, as one intense shift ends, another begins (though with a time jump, which I’ll get into more below) as the medical staff begin another day with even more drama. Here’s everything we know so far from release date, confirmed cast, plot synopsis, and more.

Full spoilers for The Pitt season 1 to follow.

The Pitt season 2: is there a release date?

We’re so back.Season 2 of #ThePitt has begun filming. Stream Season 1 now on Max. pic.twitter.com/EfBYnrBzLuJune 16, 2025

The Pitt season 2 release date has been confirmed – and it’s January 2026. Revealed by Max CEO Casey Bloys in conversation with Vulture back in March, he said: “The second season will premiere in January of 2026, a year later. This model of more episodes cuts down on the gap between seasons.”

With season 1, we were treated to an epic 15 episodes worth of emergency room drama. And it appears season 2 will follow suit, Bloys added: “What I love about something like The Pitt is, I can get 15 episodes in a year. That’s a really great addition to what we’re already doing on the platform. And I’d like to do more shows in this model.”


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After a February 2025 renewal, the show headed into production on season 2 in June amid official news from HBO Max that the series had stayed among the top three of the streamer’s most-watched titles globally.

The Pitt season 2 trailer

The Pitt Season 2 | Official Teaser | HBO Max – YouTube

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The Pitt season 2 got its first official teaser trailer in August and it reveals more high-octane medical drama unravelling in the emergency room as doctors struggle with an overwhelming rush of patients in dire need of help.

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But, it did make us say, hang on, hasn’t The Pitt season 2’s first trailer spoiled a major season 1 cliffhanger? In the first five seconds, Dana can be seen back at work, standing behind the desk. Surprising news considering the season 1 finale saw her seriously questioning whether she could keep doing the job. She’s back and I’m not mad about it, quite the opposite.

The Pitt season 2 teaser trailer is also great confirmation for other cast members, alongside Dana, returning for the next installment.

The Pitt season 2 confirmed cast

The main cast will return for The Pitt season 2 (Image credit: HBO Max)

Spoilers follow for The Pitt season 1.

Thanks to the teaser trailer, here’s The Pitt season 2 confirmed cast we know so far:

  • Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch
  • Katherine LaNasa as Dana Evans
  • Fiona Dourif as Dr. Cassie McKay
  • Patrick Ball as Dr. Frank Langdon
  • Supriya Ganesh as Dr. Samira Mohan
  • Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa King
  • Isa Briones as Dr. Trinity Santos
  • Shabana Azeez as Dr. Victoria Javadi
  • Gerran Howell as Dr. Dennis Whitaker
  • Shawn Hatosy as Dr. Jack Abbot

Dr. Heather Collins won’t be returning for season 2 (Image credit: HBO Max)

There’s one character that won’t be returning for The Pitt season 2 and that’s Tracey Ifeachor as Dr. Heather Collins, as confirmed by Deadline. While it’s not clear the reasons behind her exit, Ifeachor posted on her official Instagram to say: “It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece.”

We also know about some new characters joining The Pitt season 2. Lawrence Robinson will play Brian Hancock, “a sweet, charming and kind-hearted patient who turns a soccer injury into a possible meet-cute with one of the doctors” (as per Deadline).

Sepideh Moafi also joins as a series regular playing an attending physician, as well as Charles Baker, Irene Choi, Laëtitia Hollard and Lucas Iverson in recurring roles, as exclusively revealed by Deadline.

Finally, in another reveal by Deadline, Zack Morris is also joining as Jackson Davis, “a patient brought to the ED after an uncontrollable outburst in the college library.”

The Pitt season 2 story speculation

The Pitt season 2 picks up on Langdon’s first day back (Image credit: HBO Max)

Full spoilers follow for The Pitt season 1.

For The Pitt season 2, the cast will pick up in the emergency room 10 months after the intense shift that unravelled in season 1.

This time jump was revealed during Deadline’s Contenders TV panel in April and it was further explained by the creative team that season 2 will take place over the Fourth of July weekend for another 15 hours and 15 episodes of medical emergencies.

And when it comes to the reason for this time jump, the show’s creator R. Scott Gemmill revealed to TVLine that it has a lot to do with Dr. Langdon’s recovery.

The season 1 finale saw Dr. Robby tell Langdon that if he wants to return to Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, then he has to check himself into a 30-day inpatient rehab. Of course, that’s not 10 months. But, recovery isn’t linear.

Gemmill said: “Thirty days is probably the minimum he would have to do. You can do 60, 90… and part of [the time jump] is driven by when he can shoot in Pittsburgh.”

He added: “Nine, basically 10 months later, gives a lot of room for us to have developed a few stories in the interim and catch up with everyone. And with it being Langdon’s first day back, we get to catch up as he catches up with all those people.”

And like season 1, the next season will follow the same 15-hour schedule running from 7am to 10pm and all the intense medical situations that can bring in, especially over the Fourth of July weekend.

While the season 1 finale saw Dana’s return unclear, she’s back (Image credit: HBO Max)

The recovery wasn’t just for Langdon though with Dr. Robby having to address his own mental health issues and speaking to TVLine in April, Gemmill said: “Getting himself mentally healthy against is part of his journey.”

With such stressful jobs, the pressure was unsurprisingly getting to the doctors and none more so than Dana Evans who we last saw packing up her things in the season 1 finale and telling Dr. Robby she was thinking about leaving the ER for good.

Fortunately, we know she didn’t commit to this, appearing in the first official teaser trailer very much still part of the team (despite a stern look pointed towards Dr. Robby).

And with new characters joining for season 2, there’s plenty of new faces – both doctors and patients – that I’m sure will bring their own personal dramas (and medical cases) to The Pitt.

What they won’t be doing in the 15 hours that will unfold on our screens though, is ever leave the ER. Gemmill explained: “The reality is that we don’t really leave our set. We don’t leave the ER. We did a few things at the very end where we saw people going home and stuff.

“But beyond that, I don’t expect us to go anywhere beyond the hospital and the ambulance bay until the last episodes of next season, and maybe we’ll see a couple other parts of the hospital.”

The real-life medical landscape is reflected in season 2 (Image credit: HBO Max)

And although they’re not stepping outside of the hospital, it doesn’t mean they can’t address real-time and real-life concerns that affect medical care in the US.

Speaking to Variety, executive producer John Wells explained that this includes President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, outlining a 12% cut to Medicaid spending: “The Medicaid changes are going to have a significant impact, and you don’t have to take a political position to discuss what the impact is actually going to be.”

Gemmill added: “We take out platform very seriously. I think one of the things when you can reach 10 million people – and this was true back in the day on ‘ER’ as well – is with that amount of people listening, you have to be responsible for what you put out there.”

Will The Pitt return after season 3?

Could The Pitt become an annual drop for HBO Max? (Image credit: Max)

With The Pitt season 2 landing on HBO Max in January, there’s no news yet of a season 3… and beyond. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll have to wait until January for news of more though, given season 2 was treated to an early renewal.

But, for now, I don’t have much to report other than Gemmill joking with Deadline that: “If there’s a season 12, we’ll do a musical. Right now, we kind of want to stick to what was working for us, but we’re still learning. It’s a process.”

While season 12 sounds crazy to talk about now (and a musical even crazier), ER did run for 15 seasons. So, maybe it’s not all that wild of an idea after all.

For more Max-focused coverage, read our guides on the best Max shows, best Max movies, The Last of Us season 2, and Peacemaker season 2.






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August 29, 2025 0 comments
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Everything Goes to Zero Against Bitcoin as BTC Rises: Max Keiser
GameFi Guides

Everything Goes to Zero Against Bitcoin as BTC Rises: Max Keiser

by admin August 27, 2025


  • Keiser’s important Bitcoin statement
  • Keiser names major driver of Bitcoin price

Max Keiser, a Bitcoin maxi, former financial journalist and currently the BTC advisor to El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele, has stressed the power of Bitcoin as an asset versus all other assets on the market in a recent tweet.

Keiser also hinted at an upcoming Bitcoin price surge, providing a significant reason for that. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is currently sitting at $110,758 after the 2.53% rise over the past 24 hours reversed, turning into a 1.42% decline.

Keiser’s important Bitcoin statement

Keiser has once again published an ultra-bullish Bitcoin forecast with an indefinite time frame, saying that everything goes to zero against BTC, adding this time that it is happening as Bitcoin ascends.

Keiser is an early Bitcoin adopter and evangelist who started accumulating BTC when it was trading at approximately $1, which was soon after its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, chose to step away to other projects, leaving his brainchild, Bitcoin, in the hands of an eager developer community.

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Keiser names major driver of Bitcoin price

In a tweet published earlier, Keiser quoted an X post of @Vivek4real_, who stated that the Bitcoin hashrate was breaking out, soaring above 900 EH/s. “Hash precedes price,” Max Keiser stated, explaining that Bitcoin miners are true risk takers, unlike Bitcoin buyers, and they “offer the best signal.”

Hash precedes price.

Why?

The miners, not the BTC buyers, are the true risk takers and offer the best signal.

Mining has been completely impervious to price. Miners know what’s coming.

Name another commodity where mining/ drilling is entirely price insensitive like… https://t.co/K2k8wgd9Hc

— Max Bitcoin (@maxkeiser) August 26, 2025

“Miners know what’s coming,” Keiser is certain, adding that with no other commodity mining/drilling is entirely price insensitive as with Bitcoin.





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August 27, 2025 0 comments
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The AirPods Max (USB-C) are available in a few new color options
Gaming Gear

Don’t Expect New AirPods Max 2 at Apple’s iPhone 17 Event, Report Says

by admin August 26, 2025


Some of us have been waiting for Apple to announce a new second-gen version of the AirPods Max, its high-end over-ear noise-canceling headphones that were released in December 2020. They were refreshed last year with USB-C connectivity, some new color options and USB-C audio in April of this year. But if a recent report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who’s usually a reliable Apple whisperer, proves accurate, we won’t be seeing the AirPods Max 2 at Apple’s iPhone 17 Event, which is likely to take place in early September based on previous iPhone events.

Read more: Everything We Expect to Be Announced at Apple’s iPhone 17 September Event

Gurman says what I’ve suspected for while: The AirPods Max are “too popular for Apple to stop selling them, and not popular enough for the company to invest a ton of time and money into creating a new version.” MacRumors posted an article Monday that summarizes Gurman’s comments in his latest Power On newsletter, which is behind a paywall. 

Citing industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a pretty good track record with Apple predictions, with a 72.5% accuracy rating over 142 rumors posts, a lighter version of the AirPods Max may only enter mass production in 2027 and that “Apple’s audio team is more focused on annual AirPods updates and supporting audio components across other products.”

While we probably won’t see a new version of the AirPods Max this year, many folks are predicting we will see the AirPods Pro 3 at Apple’s iPhone 17 Event this fall. As I talk about in my full roundup of everything we know about the AirPods Pro 3, there’s been a lot of chatter about the AirPods 3 getting Apple’s next-gen audio processor, the H3, which would help power new features and help improve not only sound quality but noise-canceling and voice-calling performance along with Apple’s Hearing Aid feature and a rumored new translation feature. 

Read more: Everything We Know About the AirPods Pro 3 Coming Soon

The AIrPods Max are only equipped with Apple’s H1 chip, so it doesn’t support all the features found in the AirPods Pro 2, which use Apple’s H2 chip. These features include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Apple’s Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features. While the AirPods Max remain excellent noise-canceling headphones and have been a fixture on CNET’s best noise-canceling headphones list since their release, it’s a shame Apple’s most expensive headphones don’t have its latest AirPods tech. But we’ll hopefully know a lot more about the future of its AirPods line in just a few weeks, so stay tuned.      



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August 26, 2025 0 comments
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The cast of The Gilded Age look at each other across a ballroom
Gaming Gear

The Gilded Age season 4: everything we know so far about the HBO Max show’s return

by admin August 24, 2025



The Gilded Age season 4: key information

– HBO confirmed renewal on July 28, 2025
– Current speculated release window between 2026 to mid-2027
– Main cast expected to return, Morgan Spector’s George less certain
– Plot details are currently under wraps

The Gilded Age season 4 was greenlit by HBO shortly before the penultimate episode of the third season aired.

According to Deadline, ahead of The Gilded Age season 3 finale, the drama series was “adding viewers at a rate nearly 50% higher than in previous seasons.” HBO’s head of drama series and films Francesca Orsi added: “We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season.

“Transporting us to 1880s New York City, Julian Fellowes and the enormously talented cast and crew have created a ‘cant-miss it’ entertainment experience from week to week, and we’re delighted to continue exploring these characters’ grand ambitions for what we promise will be a thrilling fourth season.”


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For the uninitiated, the hit HBO Max TV show is basically an American version of Downton Abbey (which was also created by Fellowes), following upper-class families in NYC at the turn of the 19th century. Old money has been against new money since the start of season 1, and thanks to the continued drama between Bertha (Carrie Coon), George (Morgan Spector) and Gladys’ (Taissa Farmiga) recent marriage, that’s not going to stop.

But things have changed in New York society, and that’s potentially about to change Bertha’s life for good. But what do we actually know about The Gilded Age season 4 so far, and what can we expect?

The Gilded Age season 4 release window speculation

(Image credit: HBO)

As of writing, no confirmed release date has been given for The Gilded Age season 4. This isn’t surprising considering season 3 isn’t even cold yet, and it’s likely going to be a while before we get anything more concrete than the renewal news itself.

That doesn’t mean we can’t made an educated guess, though. Season 1 premiered in January 2022, with by season 2 in October 2023, and season 3 in June 2025 (though it’s worth bearing in mind that the latter two seasons were impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes). Hopefully, this means the gap between seasons 3 and 4 won’t be as long as we’ve seen previously, giving us a rough timeline of summer 2026 to spring 2027 for new episodes.

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The Gilded Age season 4 trailer: is there one?

(Image credit: HBO)

Unsurprisingly, there’s no trailer for season 4 yet and there won’t be for a while (it’s not even started filming yet). We’ll be sure to update this page as soon as one drops.

The Gilded Age season 4 cast rumors

Morgan Spector (George) and Bertha (Carrie Coon) in The Gilded Age season 3. (Image credit: HBO)

Essentially, we’re looking at the main players from season 3 all returning, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet. Only John Adams (Claybourne Elder) actually died in season 3 – we’ll come back to George a little later – so there’s nothing to suggest anyone else will be leaving at this stage. Of course, an actor can always be written out if they want to or to save scheduling clashes, but let’s assume that’s not going to happen.

Here are the cast members we’d respect to return for The Gilded Age season 4:

  • Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell
  • Phylicia Rashad as Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkland
  • Cynthia Nixon as Ada Brook
  • Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn
  • Harry Richardson as Larry Russell
  • Denée Benton as Peggy Scott
  • Jordan Donica as Dr. William Kirkland
  • Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook
  • Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell
  • Ben Lamb as The Duke of Buckingham
  • Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn)
  • Audra McDonald as Dorothy Scott
  • Kelley Curran as Enid Winterton
  • Kelli O’Hara as Aurora Fane
  • Donna Murphy as Mrs. Astor
  • Ben Ahlers as Jack Treacher
  • Douglas Sills as Monsieur Baudin
  • Celia Keenan-Bolger as Mrs. Bruce
  • Simon Jones as Mr. Bannister
  • Jack Gilpin as Church
  • Debra Monk as Armstrong
  • Phylicia Rashad as Elizabeth Kirkland
  • Brian Stokes Mitchell as Frederick Kirland

Of course, there’s an elephant in the room: will Morgan Spector be returning as George? The jury is currently out after his unexpected departure. Other societal outcasts such as Nathan Lane (Ward McAllister) also have a question mark against them.

The Gilded Age season 4 plot rumors

Season 4 totally depends on what George chooses to do next. (Image credit: HBO)

Major spoilers follow for The Gilded Age season 3.

Let’s recap what we learned in the season 3 final episodes. George’s life hung in the balance in the closing scene of season 3 episode 7. He’d previously won out against Clay (Patrick Page) and Mr. Sage (Peter McRobbie), getting the business back on track in spite of their rivalry. However, this comes at a price. A courier soon visited George’s office, pulling a gun on his secretary before aiming it straight at George himself. The gun went off, the screen goes black and we had no idea whether he’s alive or died.

In episode 8, we find out that George was indeed shot, but managed to make a miraculous recovery. Hooray! Lives are saved and the Russells can return to being the stoic force in New York society that they’ve always been, right? Wrong. Once George is well enough to remember he’s being streamed live on HBO Max, he promptly tells wife Bertha that he’s not even sure if he loves her or trusts her, leaving for New York without so much as an amicable thought between them.

Just as Gladys announces she is pregnant right in the episode’s final moments, George is seemingly out of the picture. This means Bertha got everything she’d been working towards, but now has been left without a stable family unit of her own.

As far as Carrie Coon is concerned, Bertha won’t take any of this lying down. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she explained: “It’s heartbreaking, of course. But, at the same time, her wheels are already turning about how she’s going to fix it. You know she’s not going to give up on it. She’s indefatigable, of course. So I think she’s looking out that window and she’ll have a moment of grief, and then she’s going to get to work on some kind of plan.”

She later told Variety: “I don’t know [if they’ll get back together]. It depends what George wants.” She added of George’s reveal, “That feels very real to me in long-term relationships. One person can go through a very transformative experience that the other person doesn’t have access to, and it takes them a while to find their way back to each other.”

The Gilded Age Season 3 | Episode 8 Preview | HBO Max – YouTube

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However, Morgan Spector was optimistic, telling TVLine: “Because we know how good this couple can be together, it would be really fascinating to see them spend a season figuring out how to get back to each other.”

Obviously, Bertha and George aren’t all that’s going on the show. Marian and Larry are still on course to be wed, Peggy is newly betrothed to William (despite his mother’s objections) and Oscar may be headed toward a lavender marriage with Enid. Of course, we’ll be seeing Gladys’ pregnancy play out too.

“I hope I don’t have to play pregnant too long,” Taissa Farmiga told Marie Claire. I don’t want to have to wear a corset with a pregnancy belt. Let’s just throw this out there – maybe Julian reads this. But also I’ll do what I have to do!

“I think she will be more inspired by George’s parenting than by Bertha’s parenting. I think she’s going to want to give more of the emotional comfort that Bertha doesn’t give, even though we know Bertha loves her children. She loves them so much, but sometimes a child needs a hug and a gentle smile, not like a firm guiding hand. Sometimes it’s just acknowledging their feelings.”

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August 24, 2025 0 comments
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Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max
Gaming Gear

Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max portable monitor review: 43 inches of real estate spread across three displays

by admin August 20, 2025



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Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

We’ve covered the best portable monitors here on Tom’s Hardware for a while, and it’s hard not to be impressed with the gains that’ve been made in a few short years regarding availability, quality, and pricing. We’ve seen an explosion in low-cost monitors, with many now available for under $100 (and even under $50). The overall build quality and image quality of currently available monitors are remarkable.

With so many products vying for your attention, it’s hard to stand out from the pack. However, the Aura is bringing out the big guns with its Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max. We’ve reviewed several portable monitors that include “triple” in their name, but those products featured two external displays and counted your laptop’s internal display as panel number three. However, Aura includes three 15.6-inch 1080p panels, which unfurl to combine for 43 inches of total horizontal screen real estate.

It’s a lot to take in, and the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max is undoubtedly an impressive piece of kit that stands out in this space. However, its size and weight limit its effectiveness as a true portable monitor.

Design of the Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

The immense size of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max was evident from the moment I took possession of the shipping box. Not only was it the size of a box that would fit a large 17-inch gaming laptop, but it also weighs about the same. I opened the box to find a well-cushioned Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max folded up as tight as a bug in a rug.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Before attempting to unfold the device, I consulted the user manual (something I don’t often do, because I’m stubborn) to learn how to complete the process correctly. Upon consulting the document, the process was relatively straightforward. I unlocked two tabs that secure the supporting arms for the central display. I next lifted the side arms into the third detent on the bottom of the chassis rails, which positions the central display in the highest position above your desk (9.8 inches). I used the second (middle) indent without issue, putting the central display at 8.2 inches, but the first detent was unusable (3.9-inch height). The weight of the black aluminum frame and three displays caused the supporting arms to slip out of the first detent. When that happens, the entire unit collapses. However, I found that the first detent would have been too low for my tastes anyway, so I didn’t force the issue.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

With that said, with the supporting arms locked into the third detent, I swiveled the central display up from its stowed position so that it was facing me. I then unfolded the two flanking displays to provide the full 43 inches of screen real estate. When unfolded, the central display can be tilted forward or back, while the flanking displays can swing inward and outward.

The entire apparatus is surprisingly tight and sturdy, which is a welcome feature. The tightness refers to the large amount of force required to pivot the central display to your preferred viewing angle. The sturdiness is afforded by the all-metal construction, which contributed to the considerable weight of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max (7 pounds). The only disappointment was the issue with the collapsing arm while using the first detent.

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Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

With the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max in its fully workable position, I was able to observe its other intricacies. There are four physical buttons: power, up, down, and menu/exit. There are also three mini-HDMI ports, one USB-C port for video, and another USB-C port for powering the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max. A 65-watt power adapter with two USB-C and one USB-A port is included in the box, and the monitor supports 60-watt power pass-through. The Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max also includes two 2-watt speakers.

Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

KYY X90D

KYY X90A

Limink LK14

Panel Type / Backlight

IPS / WLED

IPS / WLED

IPS / WLED

IPS / WLED

Number of Panels

3

2

2

2

Screen Size / Aspect Ratio

15.6 inches / 16:9

15.6 inches / 16:9

15.6 inches / 16:9

15.6 inches / 16:9

Max Resolution & Refresh Rate (Per Panel)

1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz

1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz

1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz

1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz

Max Brightness

350 nits

300 nits

300 nits

400 nits

Contrast

1,200:1

1,200:1

1,000:1

1,500:1

Ports

2x USB-C, 3x Mini-HDMI

2x USB-C

2x USB-C

2x USB-C

Dimensions

14.1 x 16.5 x 1.1 inches

11.9 x 17.3 x 3.74 inches

11.9 x 17.3 x 3.74 inches

13 x 7.83 x 1.4

Weight

7 pounds

3.2 pounds

3.2 pounds

3.3 pounds

Price

$599

$239

$179

$299

Connecting and Using the Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

Before I connected the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max to my laptop, I once again consulted the included instruction manual to determine the required steps. At this point, I noticed that the company’s website is misspelled on both the front and back of the manual. The website is listed as aura-dislays.com instead of aura-displays.com. That’s a bit tacky, but getting the correct website pulled up in my browser wasn’t exactly rocket science.

The next issue I encountered was with the drivers necessary to get this three-panel monitor to function correctly. The manual pointed me to a link to Silicon Motion’s website to download drivers for the SM76x chipset. However, typing the URL into my browser gave me a 404 error. So, I instead typed “SM76x drivers” into my search bar, which took me right to the correct download page. Since I’m testing on an Apple MacBook Pro, I downloaded the appropriate software for macOS.

In this case, the software package installed Silicon Motion’s Instant View, allowing you to easily mirror or extend multiple displays on a Mac (or Windows) system. With Instant View installed, I next began plugging in the assortment of cables.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

I first used the included 65-watt wall adapter to run power to the USB-C input on the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max. I then ran a cable from the second USB-C port on the monitor to my MacBook Pro (M3 Pro). With this setup, only the left and central displays are activated. The right panel remained blank. So, I took the included mini-HDMI cable and plugged one end into the monitor and the other into my MacBook Pro. At that point, all three displays (four, including my MacBook Pro’s 14-inch panel) were alive.

When I first saw the overabundance of screens in front of me, I was initially overwhelmed, but quickly began my tests. The first step was to configure the displays in macOS settings to match their appearance in the real world. That meant my laptop’s internal display at the bottom, and the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max’s three displays positioned above. I then verified that all three displays were outputting at the specified 1920 x 1080 resolution at 60 Hz.

OSD on the Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

The Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max has a rather interesting on-screen display (OSD). Some multi-display portable monitors have no control buttons and no OSD, while others give you physical controls for each display panel (KYY X90D). However, the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max takes a different approach.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The monitor uses a single set of OSD buttons that control all three panels. Pressing the menu button once presents the OSD to control the left panel. Press the menu again, and it switches to the middle panel. Pressing it again moves to the right panel. Not only does this arrangement provide individual control for each display panel, but it also saves on manufacturing costs by not requiring two additional sets of redundant buttons.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

You have basic brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color controls here that you can configure per-monitor. You can also switch input sources, enable the low blue light filter, and adjust ECO modes. There’s nothing fancy about the OSD or the features it presents, but it’s wholly sufficient for the productivity-focused mission of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max.

Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max Display Performance

The Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max has three displays, as its name suggests. Each one is identical, offering a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate. While some portable monitors can run at up to 360 Hz, this is a productivity-focused monitor where 60 Hz is adequate. Each display panel is also covered with an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare.

Aura talks a big game with its claimed specifications, but our testing showed some discrepancies, at least regarding maximum brightness. Aura lists the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max as having a maximum brightness rating of 350 nits, but our light meter measured 244 nits with brightness set to 100 percent in the OSD, which represents a 30 percent shortfall. We ran the tests multiple times and tried every combination of available picture settings to rectify the brightness issue to no avail. That’s not a good start for a portable monitor that retails for $599.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

With that said, in my home environment, the brightness available with the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max is sufficient. I first tested the monitor downstairs in my living room, which has an overhead LED light in the ceiling fan, a couple of end table lamps, and natural light coming in from my back windows. The monitor was plenty bright in this scenario. I next moved the monitor to my home office, which is overly bright due to ten 75-watt (equivalent) LED lamps mounted on tracks. This is my typical work environment, and again, I had no complaints about the brightness.

Color performance put the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max near the top of the class for multi-screen portable monitors. The monitor covered 85.4% of the DCI-P3 color space and 120.6% of the sRGB color space. Those figures put it just slightly ahead of the dual-screen Limink LK14 and well ahead of the KYY K90A and K90D.

I used the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max for a wide variety of content, including web browsers (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari), image editing apps (Pixelmator Pro), and productivity apps (Microsoft Word and Excel). I also spent a reasonable amount of time playing movies and TV shows on the panels, given that there’s plenty of screen real estate to go around when you’re dealing with four total displays (when counting my MacBook Pro’s internal display).

I rewatched a couple of second-season episodes of Star Wars: Andor and even watched the entirety of the classic action flick Predator on each of the three panels. The colors looked rich and accurate, as I peeked at the vibrant dresses and cloaks worn by the guests, including Mon Mothma, who danced with reckless abandon at her daughter’s wedding.

Likewise, Predator is a nearly 40-year-old movie that I enjoy watching repeatedly. I zeroed in particularly on the final battle sequence between Dutch and the Predator, which takes place at night. While the blacks didn’t look as deep as you’d find on a Mini LED or OLED panel, the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max performed admirably for an IPS panel during dark scenes. I watched every bone-breaking punch, with gushes of blood shooting from Dutch’s mouth as he got pummeled. I also enjoy the reds, purples, greens, and blues that appear on screen when we get the Predator’s infrared thermal vision viewpoint as he gains the upper hand.

Although it’s easy to overlook when the displays take center stage with the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max, it also has two 2-watt speakers. As is the case with most speakers on portable monitors, they’re good enough for playing back OS sounds or taking the occasional Google Meet/Teams/Zoom call, but they are subpar for music and movie playback. Bass is non-existent, and the overall sound output is relatively muted despite the massive footprint of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max.

Bottom Line

The Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max is an impressive piece of hardware. It’s by far the largest “portable” monitor I’ve tested, given its 43-inch wingspan. That’s to be expected, as it’s also the first triple-monitor setup that has graced our labs, as we typically see dual-panel units.

The Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max impressed with its aluminum construction, colorful panels, and a variety of ports to accommodate various laptop configurations. However, its size and weight will make many think twice about transporting this device regularly for travel purposes. While it is manageable to carry to different meeting rooms in your office, carrying this 7-pound portable monitor in addition to your laptop on a work trip is quite a burden.

There are also some performance issues, such as the shortfalls in the stated maximum brightness and what we measured in the real world. And there’s an actual physical issue with attempting to use the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max in its lowest height position (it doesn’t work).

With a price tag of $599, we expect near-perfection from a portable monitor, but the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max falls a bit short due to its flaws. However, if you absolutely must have a triple-panel option that can be stowed when not in use, it’s worth considering if you can stomach the lofty price tag. If three additional monitors is overkill for you, consider the Limink LK14 at $299 or the KYY X90D at $239.



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August 20, 2025 0 comments
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